The Congress's Delhi unit slammed the Centre over the increase in price of cooking gas and said it was the BJP's "new year gift" to the people.

The BJP government at the Centre has been an "utter failure" in controlling prices of essential commodities, alleged Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra.

"Modi government should immediately withdraw the hike of Rs 19 in the price of cooking gas cylinder, which is BJP's gift to the people on New Year's Day," Chopra said.

Oil companies raised the price of non-subsidised cooking gas by Rs 19 per cylinder on the back of a rise in international rates.

The price of non-subsidised LPG was raised to Rs 714 per 14.2-kg cylinder from Rs 695 previously.

Chopra said the Delhi unit will stage a protest outside the Petroleum Ministry in Shastri Bhawan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sudanese Praise Transitional Government for Death Sentences

By Michael Atit December 31, 2019

Family members and friends of late Sudanese school teacher Ahmed al-Khair ululated and cheered Tuesday outside a courtroom in the city of Omdurman as 29 intelligence officers were sentenced to death for the torture and killing of al-Khair in the eastern Sudanese town of Khasum al-Girba.

The 29 defendants had been found guilty of deadly abuse.

The court found that al-Khair was beaten and tortured to death by officers at a detention center after he was arrested in late January. Al-Khair died on Feb. 2, 2019, after spending a week in detention.

Hind Awadassaid of the Sudan Teachers Union called the sentencing a good beginning for citizens demanding justice.

"It is satisfactory to some extent and it is a good point for now immunity for the people who are in charge. So, the people are now equal in front of the law," Awadassaid told South Sudan in Focus.

Bakhit Mohammed Ahmed, a teacher and colleague of the late al-Khair, traveled from Khasm al-Girba to Khartoum to attend the hearing.

Ahmed said before the sentencing that he did not trust the Sudanese judiciary. He praised the transitional government for making sure justice was carried out.

"Until this morning, I had no trust in the Sudanese judiciary. This has quenched my sorrows for my colleague and turned it into joy," Ahmed told South Sudan in Focus.

Al-Mughira Massad al-Kitiyabi, a relative of al-Khair, said he was pleased with the verdict.

"This is what we were expecting. The ruling has a healing touch on our wounds and as his family members, we regard the execution as a good point for us, and just on the perpetrators and good for the whole Sudan," al-Kitiyabi told South Sudan in Focus.

Gasim Hussein, a lawyer representing al-Khair's family, said the ruling shows the Sudanese judiciary is upholding one of the principles of the Sudanese revolution.

"This is a new beginning of revising, executing a new history for Sudan, which has been produced by the revolution. Our revolution has contributed to this day and our people have been peacefully calling for a just Sudan and reforms within the judiciary system," Hussein told South Sudan in Focus.

Al-Khair's killing touched off nationwide protests against then-president Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who was deposed in April.

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Why not be kind? After all, it doesn't cost anything!

For a few years, I have tried to say or do something each day for someone who has no way to be a benefit to me. That usually happens in restaurants, motels, airports, and other places of business. Famous Baptist John Bunyan said, "You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." That is the essence that I have tried to practice, but without the eloquence of Bunyan.

Most of what we do each day is predetermined to benefit ourselves in some way. I will sell some books, appear on a talk show, book a speaking engagement, or make an investment decision. Of course, each contact I make will be reciprocal, since the people with whom I interact will get something they want from me.

Mutual reciprocity is a way of life, and it is not evil or even selfish. Even among family members, there is normally a reciprocal understanding: children obey parents and experience more freedom or money; they do well in school and good things follow. It is even biblical to live that way, but John Bunyan suggested that there is normal everyday living, and then there is superior living. Moreover, the inference is that those who try to live a superior or abundant life will be not losers, but winners by not seeking any personal advantage.

What a change in America if more of us practiced that living maxim every day not just during this time of year.

Recently, I put this into practice in my doctor's office waiting at the lab for a test. A crowd was already ahead of me. One was a young man, maybe twenty years old, who was mentally and physically handicapped, accompanied by a social worker. Those waiting for lab work had not recognized Christopher's presence, maybe because it was awkward to do so. He was so pathetic, and observers no doubt experienced some undeserved guilt for being healthy. And there was hopelessness knowing we were helpless. He was simply not there. It was so much easier that way.

As I sat beside him, he said, "My name's Christopher Edwards, and I can spell my name. C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R."

"Wow," I said. "I'm not sure I could spell that correctly, Christopher. That's much more difficult than John, Bill, or Don. My name is Don Boys  D-O-N. But that's much easier to spell than Christopher. You are to be commended for your accomplishment."

By now, people sitting around us had accepted both Christopher and me. Some of the awkwardness was gone. Some were even smiling.

Again he said, "My name is Christopher Edwards, and I can spell it. C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R."

"That is sure a worthy accomplishment, Christopher. I sure like that checkered shirt you are wearing. Is green your favorite color?"

"Yes, I like green. My name is Christopher. C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R."

There was silence. Then I heard my name: "Don Boys."

I walked into the lab for them to take my blood, or some of it, and I thought of my strong, bright, handsome, articulate son saying, "My name is Michael Boys and I can spell my name. M-I-C-H-A-E-L." I started to cry as I signed my name. As the lady took my blood, she looked at me for the first time and, seeing my watery eyes, asked if she had hurt me.

"No, you did a very good job. Thanks for your concern."

Walking out of the office, I realized that I had taken life, health, family, friends, and the goodness of God for granted. Through no talent, knowledge, or sacrifice of mine, I have an incredible family, all healthy (as far as we know), bright, talented, educated, and almost all in the service of others.

Jesus said, "I am come that ye might have life, and you might have it more abundantly." Everyone wants a life, a good life, but we often miss out on the abundant life  reaching out to others.

Christ spoke about this in His parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritans were a despised group of half-breeds who hated the Jews and were hated by them. It has been asserted that Samaritans had desecrated the Jewish Temple during Passover with human bones.

But this Samaritan did not respond to Jewish hatred and did not fit the vile stereotype. While traveling the seventeen-mile road from Jerusalem to Jericho, he saw a wounded Jew beside the road. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, put him on his beast, and took him to an inn where he could receive additional help. The innkeeper was shocked to find a Samaritan helping a hated Jew and going farther than humanity would require. He paid his motel and food bill and promised to pay more if necessary. No, something unusual was going on. The innkeeper observed an unlikely person exhibiting principle and acting nobly even at a personal cost.

Two religious leaders, a priest and Levite, had passed by the injured man; after all, they were too busy on an important mission to take time to do good. They were probably en route to do lectures at "The Jericho Symposium on Personal and Corporate Relief" and "Personal Kindness, a Major Religious Commitment." They passed by on the other side, fearing that they might be attacked or be contaminated by a corpse. Christ's Jewish listeners were to identify with the wounded man, realizing that help received from a hated Samaritan is grace from an unexpected source. It also shows the folly, foolishness, and falsity of hating anyone, especially group hate.

The priest and Levite, who were supposed to be servants of others, basically asked, "How will this affect me if I try to help?" Will the reciprocity be good or bad? They were badly flawed individuals.

Actually, the Samaritan is not to be commended for helping the wounded man; after all, humanity requires that of everyone. However, the Samaritan went beyond taking the man to safety and succor. He went much farther than living. He paid for the lodging and care and promised the innkeeper to repay him if the man's care was more costly. None of that was expected.

But Christ said, "Go and do likewise." We are to lift up the fallen, encourage the depressed, bind the wounds, strengthen the weak, and do so without realizing personal benefit.

Wimpy modern "snowflakes" should stop whining and make a contribution: get a job, visit a sick person, take dinner to a widow down the street, cut a neighbor's grass, tutor a struggling student, visit the city mission. Hug a drunk or druggie and say, "I love you, and Christ loves you."

It doesn't cost you to be kind. It pays here and in eternity. But we are all so busy about good, important, and necessary things we don't go the second mile and often not even the first mile. It reminds me of a real-life psychology experiment reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, when seminary students, in a rush to teach on this very parable, failed to stop to help a man slumped over in an alley between two buildings! Some of the seminarians even stepped over the man in a rush to speak on the subject  the Good Samaritan!

I drove away from the medical office, and as I turned left (something I seldom do), I thought of my healthy, bright son, daughters, wife, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Fighting tears, I said, "My name is Don Boys  D-O-N B-O-Y-S  and I'm very thankful I can spell my name."

I want to be thankful every day of the year.

Dr. Don Boys is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives who ran a large Christian school in Indianapolis and wrote columns for USA Today for eight years. Boys authored 18 books, the most recent being Muslim Invasion: The Fuse is Burning! eBook is available here, with the printed edition (and other titles) at www.cstnews.com. Follow him on Facebook at Don Boys, Ph.D., and visit his blog. Send request to DBoysphd@aol.com for a free subscription to his articles, and click here to support his work with a donation.
Virginia radio ham re-creates Fessenden broadcast

Washington Post reports proof that the worlds first radio show was broadcast 113 years ago on Christmas Eve doesnt exist, but the purported occasion is still marked annually during the holidays

The newspaper says:

Since 2012, radio engineer Brian Justin WI2XLQ has spent part of his holidays commemorating the apparent achievement of a Canadian inventor from his rural southwestern Virginia home. The audience is small, but it ushers in a sense of nostalgia for listeners, alongside mistletoe, hot chocolate and Hallmark movies.



Justin, 55, broadcasts a re-creation of what radio pioneer Reginald Fessenden claimed to have transmitted at 9 p.m. on Dec. 24, 1906, from a studio in Brant Rock, Mass.

Fessenden, who had worked with the U.S. Weather Bureau (renamed the National Weather Service) to improve Morse code transmissions, used a 420-foot tower in the coastal town to transmit and receive Morse code messages across the Atlantic.



Ria Jairam [ARRL Hudson Division Director]  call sign N2RJ  tuned in to Justins program, live-streaming the signal more than 400 miles away from Wantage, N.J. She captured, amid a host of snaps and pops, a presentation that sounded a lot like what Fessenden described, including the swelling strings of O, Holy Night.



Read the full Washington Post story at

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/12/31/its-ritual-virginia-man-recreates-purported-year-old-christmas-eve-radio-broadcast-each-holiday/



Ria Jairam N2RJ tweet

https://twitter.com/RiaJairam/status/1212054488682500096
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A huge crowd gathered in Hong Kong on Wednesday for an annual New Years Day protest march as the months-long pro-democracy movement extended into 2020.

The massive rally followed clashes between police and protesters in a densely populated shopping district on New Years Eve.

Police also used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons to break up groups of demonstrators who blocked traffic and lit fires in the street in the working-class district of Mong Kok.

Expand Close A protester makes the five demands gesture as Hong Kong people participate in their annual New Years Day pro-democracy march (Vincent Yu/AP) / Facebook

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Hong Kong toned down its New Year celebrations amid the protests, which began in June and have dealt severe blows to the citys retail, tourism and nightlife sectors.

Eric Lai, the vice convener of march organiser the Civil Human Rights Front, said he hoped to avoid a recurrence of the previous nights violence.

I really hope that this will be a peaceful protest, he said. We hope that the police can facilitate us, rather than provoking us, and to fire tear gas and water cannon at us.

Such marches have often descended into violence between hardcore, black-clad protesters and police.

Both sides have been accused of provoking clashes, and nearly 6,500 protesters as young as 12 have been arrested in scores of incidents on streets, in shopping malls and on college campuses.

Expand Close Police officers stand guard as huge crowds gather for Hong Kongs annual pro-democracy march (Lee Jin-man/AP) / Facebook

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Recent protests have drawn participants from across Hong Kong society, sometimes numbering more than a million and packing the central area from Victoria Park to the government office complex a short distance away.

Many people are concerned about an erosion of the former British colonys civil liberties it was promised after being handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, along with a shortage of well-paid jobs and a yawning divide between the citys ruling class and those merely getting by amid soaring housing costs.

This years event appeared to be significantly larger than in past years, although estimates of the numbers of participants often vary widely between organisers and police.

Riot police were positioned in side streets along the march route, but there were no immediate reports of clashes.

Tuesday nights police actions were focused on the more industrial and working-class districts on the citys Kowloon side where protesters were watching a New Year light show.

Expand Close Riot police gather outside a shopping area in Hong Kong (Vincent Yu/AP) / Facebook

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The protests began in June over proposed legislation that could have allowed residents to be extradited to China where they could face possible torture and unfair trials.

The legislation was later withdrawn, but not before the protests expanded to wider calls for reforms in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

On Tuesday, protesters also gathered at the Prince Edward subway station, where four months ago police had rushed in, beating and tear-gassing demonstrators who had no way to escape.

That incident is among many cited by demonstrators as cases of police abuse for which no-one has been held accountable.

Expand Close Protesters hold up their hands to symbolise the five demands of the pro-democracy movement as New Year fireworks light up the sky over Hong Kongs Waterfront (Lee Jin-man/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Protesters hold up their hands to symbolise the five demands of the pro-democracy movement as New Year fireworks light up the sky over Hong Kongs Waterfront (Lee Jin-man/AP)

In her New Year address, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the months of protests had brought sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage, and she vowed to tackle underlying social and economic problems in the coming year.

She said she would listen humbly to help bring an end to the protests but also reinforced the importance of the one country, two systems framework under which China rules Hong Kong and which brooks no challenge to the ruling Communist Partys ultimate authority.

In his own New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to the protests, saying: Hong Kongs prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation for the people of the motherland.
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The performance of a Kildare girl in coming second in the Ireland Miss Bikini competition has led to more photographers and brands taking an interest in working with her.

Twenty-two-year-old Kildare preschool teacher, Nicole Gill, took part in the Irish Miss Bikini in October, a competition which could have lead lead to a big money and travel prize in the United States.

Nicole, from Killina in Carbury, a former student of Scoil Mhuire in Clane and Killina National School, took part in the Irish event at the Red Cow on October 20.

The daughter of Tommy and Triona, Nicole is in the third year of her Maynooth University degree in early childhood care and education, came second in the competition, which had started out with 3,500 entrants. There were mixed emotions for Nicole.

It went really well. It was my first time to enter something and to come second out of an entry of 3500 I was amazed. Obviously I was a little bit gutted I didnt win if Im being honest but there can always be next year. On the night It was quite nerve wrecking doing a walk ,posing and publicly speaking in front of a crowd so if I gained anything from that night it was an experience.

Nicole said the competition has opened up new doors for her. I have now more photographers coming my way and brands interested in working with me which is a stepping stone.

A large number of her family attended the event.

Nicole was also very grateful for the support of the parents in the creche where she works. I will forever be grateful. On the night I received loads of good luck message and afterwards they were so supportive. Nicole said that meeting the other girls in the competition was the best part of it. I am still in touch with some of them.
San Francisco has managed to reap some considerable environmental and economic benefits since launching its duo of municipal electricity just over three years ago  CleanPowerSF and Hetchy Hetchy Power  according to new data from the citys Public Utilities Commission, which runs both programs.

Both programs allow San Francisco to purchase electricity from a variety of sources, including solar, wind and hydroelectric suppliers. At the time, city officials envisioned supplying San Francisco with a cleaner mix of electricity compared with what had been supplied by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and at competitive rates.

When we were launching these programs ... it was important to ask ourselves, Could we maintain affordability? Could we meet or beat PG&Es rates? And we succeeded in doing that, said Barbara Hale, the SFPUC assistant general manager in charge of power.

Combined, the programs serve roughly 80% of San Franciscos total electricity demand.

The Hetch Hetchy program powers San Franciscos municipal buildings, the Muni system, San Francisco International Airport and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, among other customers, with greenhouse-gas-free electricity.

From April 2016 to October 2019, the Hetch Hetchy program saved the city and its additional customers $137 million, compared to what they would have paid if they stayed connected to PG&E, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Because the SFPUC bought the power from carbon-free sources, customers also avoided pumping nearly 723 million pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Thats the equivalent of removing nearly 70,000 passenger vehicles driving more than 813 million miles from the road for a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The SFPUC automatically enrolled swaths of San Francisco in its CleanPowerSF program in stages. It wrapped up this year with about 360,000 dwellings participating in the program. Savings for CleanPowerSF have been comparatively modest.

Since it launched in May 2016, the program has saved customers more than $11 million, compared to what they would have paid with PG&E, according to the city. Rates are adjusted year-to-year, but currently, CleanPowerSF customers each save $21 annually compared with PG&Es rates.

Its not a huge amount, I acknowledge that, Hale said. But all costs are going up for households, so anything we can do to slow down those increases is helpful.

The savings would have been greater, Hale said, if the city didnt have to pay to use PG&Es last-mile infrastructure.

While the power is sourced and purchased by the SFPUC, the city still relies on PG&Es vast network of infrastructure to distribute the power to homes, businesses and government buildings.

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.

In recent months, both power programs have been thrust into the center of the citys attempts to reimagine its energy future, particularly around achieving its ambitious climate goals. The city has pledged to rid the citys energy supply of greenhouse gases by 2030 and become entirely net-zero emitters by 2050.

San Francisco officials  including Mayor London Breed and members of the Board of Supervisors  have signaled a desire to lessen the citys reliance on PG&E by buying chunks of the companys infrastructure, which would likely cost billions of dollars. The company has rejected San Franciscos initial overtures, but city officials insist the proposal remains a possibility.

The desire to divorce from PG&E has deepened in the face of repeated spats between the city and the utility company that arise when officials try to hook up power to city-owned facilities. SFPUC officials maintain that PG&E has mandated arbitrary technical requirements that force designers to retool their projects, leading to cost overruns and significant delays.

Programs like CleanPowerSF also have to pay PG&Es so-called exit-fees when they siphon customers away from the utility. The fees are meant to offset the costs that utilities incurred to purchase energy contracts and for other investments, many of which were inked before programs like CleanPowerSF launched.

Its challenging in part because state regulations require us to continue to pay for so much of PG&Es costs, as well as our own costs, Hale said. The savings would definitely be deeper if we didnt have to pay for costs PG&E is incurring.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
I live in a state where those in power have prioritized monetary benefits for a select few over the lives of our children. Those may be the most sobering words I have ever had to write.

Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania will spend an estimated $3 million over the course of the next three years to study the link between fracking and the rising number of childhood cancers in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The studies will also look more broadly at the effects that fracking is having on public health.

For the families that are suffering, this is a move in the right direction. Their persistent, determined pressure on the governors office made Wolf change course. But this news comes with a huge caveat: the Wolf administration has refused to halt all new permits for wells and infrastructure for the duration of this study.

As a parent in this region, I must ask why. Why would we put families at undue risk if there is any possibility that these drilling operations are linked to deadly cancers? Sadly, the answer comes down to money.

For far too long, Southwestern Pennsylvania has a legacy of trading our lives for our jobs. From coal mining to steel manufacturing, we have been told that families had to sacrifice our health in order to earn a steady living. There was simply no other way; what you hoped was that you would be able to pass along some sense of prosperity to your kids and grandchildren. You hoped that if you shouldered that responsibility yourself, that your own children and grandchildren would never have to make the same sacrifices.

But that conventional wisdom is something that many of us are now just beginning to question. Why must our communities be treated like sacrifice zones?

Thats why Gov. Wolfs decision stings. His administration has been a champion of the fracking industry, either giving us false assurances about the safety of drilling, or pointing to the industry-friendly talking points. With the shameful decision to not halt new permitting while these studies are underway, the state is asking us to not only trade our lives for supposed economic benefits, but to sacrifice our childrens well-being as well.

Try to tell that to the parents who have lost children, and their neighbors who mourn these tragedies--and wonder if their own children will be next.

That is why so many in our communities have stood up to say no. We look at the overwhelming amount of research that shows the clear harms that fracking has already done to communities across Pennsylvania, and we wonder why the state needs three years to come up with their own conclusion. And we cannot fathom how the state government could possibly allow more wells to be drilled if we think it is polluting our air and water and making our children sick.

No amount of money, and certainly no promise of a short-term job, is worth the health and safety of my child, and any other child in Pennsylvania. We will not wait three years for meaningful action. This crisis demands action now, and that means an immediate halt on all new permits for wells and infrastructure.

Our region is at a tipping point, Governor Wolf. Which side will you be on?

Megan McDonough is the Pennsylvania Organizing Manager with the advocacy group Food & Water Action. She lives in Elizabeth.
Kim Jong Un

Expressing deep frustration over stalled nuclear talks, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned of unspecified "shocking" action and that his country will soon reveal a new "strategic weapon" to the world as it bolsters its nuclear deterrent in face of "gangster-like" US pressure.

Kim also said North Korea was no longer obligated to maintain a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which President Donald Trump has touted as a major diplomatic accomplishment.

But Kim gave no clear indication that a resumption of such tests was impending and appeared to leave the door open for eventual negotiations.

Kim has used the diplomatic stalemate to expand his military capabilities by intensifying tests of shorter-range weapons. His arsenal is now estimated to include 40-50 nuclear bombs and various delivery systems, including solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile-defense systems and developmental ICBMs potentially capable of reaching the US mainland.

Kim has also strengthened his negotiating position, moving the diplomacy closer to an arms reduction negotiation between nuclear states rather than talks that would culminate in a unilateral surrender of the weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival.

Lee Sang-min, spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said North Korea carrying out its threat to showcase a new strategic weapon would be unhelpful for diplomacy.

Strategic weapons usually refer to nuclear-capable delivery systems such as ICBMs, but North Korea otherwise has been vague about what new arms it would display. It announced in December that it performed two "crucial" tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent.

Kim's comments published in state media Wednesday were made at a key, four-day meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee as talks between Washington and Pyongyang have faltered over disagreements on disarmament steps and the removal of sanctions.

Some experts say North Korea, which has always been sensitive about electoral changes in US government, will avoid serious negotiations in the coming months as it watches how Trump's impending impeachment trial over his dealings with Ukraine affects US presidential elections in November.

Kim may instead seek to strengthen his leverage by promoting a united front with Beijing and Moscow, Pyongyang's traditional supporters, which seek to establish themselves as major stakeholders in North Korean diplomacy. Both have called for the UN Security Council to consider easing sanctions on the North to spur progress in nuclear negotiations.

Kim last year had said the North would pursue a "new way" if the Trump administration doesn't make concessions to salvage the negotiations by the end of December.

Kim's defiant words entering 2020 indicate his "new way" could look very much like the one  a patient determination to wait out sanctions and pressure, which will possibly weaken over time, while cementing the country's status as a nuclear state.

Kim at the party meeting declared the North will never give up its security for economic benefits in the face of what he described as increasing US hostility and nuclear threats, the Korean Central News Agency said.

"(Kim) said that we will never allow the impudent US to abuse the DPRK-US dialogue for meeting its sordid aim but will shift to a shocking actual action to make it pay for the pains sustained by our people so far and for the development so far restrained," the agency said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Kim added that "if the US persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy," KCNA said.

"(Kim) confirmed that the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future, declaring that we cannot give up the security of our future just for the visible economic results ... now that hostile acts and nuclear threat against us are increasing," it said.

Trump late Tuesday urged Kim to stick to his alleged commitment to denuclearize. The leaders after their first summit in Singapore in June 2018 issued a vague statement on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without when and how it would occur.

"Look, he likes me, I like him, we get along, Trump said as he walked into a New Year's party at Mar-a-Lago. "But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization ... I think he's a man of his word so we're going to find out, but I think he's a man of his word."

North Korea has held to its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and ICBM testing since 2018, though last year it ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity by testing a slew of solid-fuel weapons that potentially expanded its capabilities to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including US military bases there.


About 2 000 representatives of nationalist organizations hold a torchlight procession in honor of Stepan Banderas birthday in Kyiv. This was reported by Ukrainian News with reference to its correspondent.

The event was attended by activists of Svoboda association, Right Sector, National Corps, Sokil, Tryzub, Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists, C14 right-wing organizations.



As of 18:30, participants of the event are marching from the monument to Taras Shevchenko to Independence Square, where they intend to hold a viche.

Related: Court annuls renaming of Bandera and Shukhevych avenues in Kyiv



Nationalists shout slogans: "Glory to Ukraine", "Glory to the nation - death to enemies", "Ukraine first of all" and "Glory to Stepan Bandera".



The column also carry a portrait of Stepan Bandera.



Nationalists shout slogans: "Glory to Ukraine", "Glory to the nation - death to enemies", "Ukraine first of all" and "Glory to Stepan Bandera".The column also carry a portrait of Stepan Bandera.
Writing a preamble to the constitution could be more difficult than changing the constitution itself, former treasurer Peter Costello has warned those campaigning for constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians.

Mr Costello pushed for Australia to become a republic in the 1999 referendum, which also proposed a preamble recognising Indigenous Australians. The move to make Australia a republic was defeated 55 to 45 per cent; only 31 per cent of people voted for the preamble, with 61 per cent against.

Progress towards an Indigenous "voice" to Parliament has been slow since the Uluru Statement from the Heart, agreed at a meeting of the First Nations National Convention in May 2017. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"The thing that amazed me about that republican referendum - the preamble was defeated heavier than the republic," Mr Costello said in an interview to mark the release of the 1998-99 cabinet papers by the National Archives of Australia.

The proposed preamble included the line: "We, the Australian people, commit ourselves to this constitution ... honouring Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, the nation's first people, for their deep kinship with their lands and for their ancient and continuing cultures which enrich the life of our country."
Developers have lodged plans for nearly 3,600 homes in four sites in Dublin and Cork.

In Dublin, there are proposals for 995 apartments in Swords and 730 apartments in Ashtown.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday dismissed reports of dissent among Congress and Shiv Sena leaders over cabinet expansion, saying that no one is unhappy.

The clarification came after reports surfaced that several leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government were reportedly upset with the cabinet expansion that took place on Monday.

"Order on portfolios might be released tomorrow. Nobody is unhappy with the portfolio allocations," Pawar said after a key meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of the coalition.

"In today's meeting, we discussed which responsibility should be given to which minister. Other issues were also discussed in the meeting," Pawar said.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that many MLAs wanted to be included in the Cabinet but there are less ministerial berths in the government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Adams Police Take Man into Custody in Reported Hostage Situation

Police blocked off an area around Valley Street.

An ambulance was parked at the scene.

Complete write-thru with information from the Adams Police Department; 11:43 a.m., Jan. 1, 2020.

ADAMS, Mass.  A possible hostage situation that lasted more than three hours ended around 7 p.m. on Tuesday with one person in custody.

According to a statement by the Adams Police Department, the report of a possible domestic violence/hostage situation on Notch Road was called in about 3:30 p.m.

The Adams Police Department activated the Berkshire County Special Response Team, and called for additional assistance from the state police and the North Adams Police Department.

Police say they had started receiving Facebook messages from a man stating that there was a threat of a firearm in the home and that he was unable to leave the home safely to the perimeter police had established around the area. Friend Street had been blocked between Lincoln and Maple Street and the connecting streets on Valley Street.

Officers attempted to maintain communication with the individual through Facebook and phone calls. It was apparent that as the situation continued and communications were continued that the individual who had originally contacted the police was possibly under the influence of an illicit drug and/or alcoholic beverages or having a possible mental health crisis.

The Special Response Team was able to move into the home and safely secured two men within the home. Officers reported that the person who had originally contacted the police had been destroying everything in the home and screaming at the top of his lungs. This person was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for an evaluation, and the other person was arrested on an outstanding warrant from New Hampshire and will face a fugitive from justice charge.

No further charges have been filed at this time and the incident remains under investigation by the Adams Police Department. Because of the nature of this call and the possibility of domestic violence, no further information will be made available.

The Adams Police Department stated it would like to thank all the outside agencies involved in this incident to include members of the Berkshire County Special Response Team, state police, North Adams Police Department, and the Adams Ambulance Service for their swift response and support throughout this incident.
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he does not want a war with Tehran after alleged pro-Iranian protesters attacked the US embassy in Iraq. Donald Trump was answering a reporter's question at his holiday retreat home in Florida. When asked about the possibility of war with Tehran, Donald Trump said that he likes peace and doesn't see that happening. The statement comes after Pentagon announced that around 750 soldiers are ready to be deployed to the middle east.

Attacks on US embassy in Iraq

Hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate in front of the US embassy on Tuesday in response to the airstrikes in Iraq and Syria conducted by the US forces. The airstrike occurred at about 11:00am on Sunday that killed at least 25 people and injured 51 others. According to Washington, the protesters are members of the same pro-Iranian Shia militia group Kataib Hezbollah that they targeted in Sunday's airstrike.

Read: Donald Trump Accuses Iran Of orchestrating Attack On US Embassy

After the protesters stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone area in Baghdad on Tuesday, the US sent two Apache helicopters to fly over the embassy in a show of force. Earlier in the day, the US also deployed 100 marines from a crisis response task force based in Kuwait to step up the security at the embassy. A defence official on Tuesday told international media that it was unlikely that the US soldiers coming to the middle east will be sent to Iraq, but will instead be stationed in a nearby country or countries so they can be deployed when the situation worsens.

Read: Pro-Iran Protesters Attack US Embassy Over Deadly Iraq Strikes

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said, "The Department of Defense is working closely with the Department of State to ensure the security of our Embassy and personnel in Baghdad. We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy."

Read: China, Iran Foreign Ministers Criticise 'bullying Practices' During Their Meet

"As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so. The United States continues to support the Iraqi people and a free, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq," Esper said in a statement, Department of Defence (DoD) issued on Tuesday.

Read: US Not Seeking ''escalation'' With Iran After Strikes: Official
But the bridge was commissioned in 2008 but finished just as president Xi Jinping called for a return to traditional Chinese features and culture

A replica of Londons iconic Tower Bridge in China has provoked scorn after local authorities splashed 1.5 million in renovations to make it more coherent with its Chinese surroundings.

The bridge  twice the size of the original with four turrets, spiraling 40 metres upward  was first completed in Suzhou, a city in eastern China, in 2012.

Tourists flocked to the picturesque city, dubbed Venice of the East, to walk along its canals and marvel at its 56 replica bridges.

Aside from the Thames bridge imitation, the city is also home to copies of other famous overpasses, such as Sydneys Harbour Bridge and the Ponte Sant'Angelo in Italy.

An aerial view of the replica shows where the distinctive, decorative elements of the original Tower Bridge have been removed by Chinese authorities

Couples gathered to snap wedding portraits in the area, posing in elaborate gowns and tuxedos in front of the imitation Tower Bridge with its copycat ornate mullions.

But the bridge  commissioned in 2008 at a time when it was still in vogue for cities across China to imitate Western architecture, erecting copies of everything from the Eiffel Tower to the White House  was finished just as president Xi Jinping called for a return to traditional Chinese features and culture.

History and culture are the soul of a city, and people should cherish the citys historical cultural heritage as their own lives, Mr Xi said. He even demanded specifically for an end to copycat architecture: Dont build such strange buildings.

Local authorities in Suzhou then scrambled to salvage what they could, finishing renovations last year by flattening the bridges distinctive turrets, removing decorative elements from the windows, and painting the whole structure gray, much to the chagrin of locals. The bridge now bears no resemblance to its original inspiration after the expensive makeover.

Before it was changed, the bridge looked nice. Now its gray, and looks lifeless  we dont go taking photos there now, said Liu Min, 22, who works in a photography studio that takes wedding photos.

Another view of the Tower Bridge replica, which shows where the blue supporting arches of the original have been modified

Its an overcorrection, said Yan Jieming, 30, an architecture expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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It is totally unnecessary to spend millions on it  if you didnt do it right from the beginning, theres no point to spend more money and energy on it, resources which could be used for meaningful construction in other parts of the city, he said.

Users online have likened the refurbished version to military pillboxes  drab concrete guard posts used in wartime  even joking that the renovation was simply a way to help create more jobs and boost the local economy. The bridge, which stretches across the Yuanhetang river, is about 45 metres wide and includes vehicle and pedestrian lanes. Tourists can ride elevators to the top of the turrets for a view of the city.

But even after splashing money on the fix, the Chinese version still doesnt function like the London original  the bridge isnt cantilevered, lacking mechanisms to open up to allow tall boats through.

The more changes made, the uglier it is, complained one person online.
BRIDGEPORT  It was a chilly Monday night when the citys first homicide victim of 2019 was fatally stabbed.

The deadly violence of the year started when 39-year-old Razzie Hancock was attacked after a domestic dispute with 41-year-old Kenyon Gay at a Bishop Avenue residence on Jan. 14.

After being stabbed once in the chest, Hancock made it outside before he collapsed on a nearby sidewalk. He was taken to Bridgeport Hospital but died shortly after.

Less than 24 hours after the stabbing, police had charged Gay with murder, possession of a dangerous weapon and second-degree assault.

Police Chief Armando Perez said Gay had allegedly walked in on Hancock and a woman. They argued. Gay then pulled out a knife, slashed the woman and fatally stabbed Hancock.

After his death, Hancock  a graduate of Bassick High School  was remembered by his family as a kind and humble man who will be missed deeply by all who had the honor of knowing him.

Perez at the time called the incident a tragic waste of life.

Hancock was the first. By the end of the year, more than a dozen more had lost their lives to violence.

In 2019, there were 17 homicide occurrences in Bridgeport with eight arrests made to date, said police spokesman Terron Jones on Dec. 31.

Despite the increase from 2018s 11 homicides, the citys total for 2019 was on par with the average over nearly two decades: between 2001 and 2019, the average number of homicides  rounded up to the nearest whole number  is 17.

Comparably, there were 12 homicides in New Haven in 2019, up from nine last year and seven the year prior.

Bridgeports total is an increase from the 11 homicides recorded in the city in 2018, but fewer than the 23 killings in 2017.

Perez and Assistant Chief Rebeca Garcia declined an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media about 2019 homicides.

So far, the Detective Bureau has made eight arrests in six of the cases from 2019.

Hancocks murder wasnt the only one to include a quick arrest.

When 50-year-old Eugene Rogers was shot to death on Reservoir Avenue the morning of Jan. 27, police charged 39-year-old Jayvell Washington with murder that same day.

Rogers, it turns out, was wounded when Washington also shot him in 2017.

The day before Rogers was fatally shot, 28-year-old Eric Salters was critically wounded in another morning shooting in front of the New England Tractor Trailer Training School on Barnum Avenue. He died on Feb. 4 as a result of his injuries.

Although police have not made an arrest in Salters killing, the department did release surveillance footage of a man they say is connected to the shooting.

Sujata Lee Edwards was the citys only female homicide victim of 2019.

The 36-year-old mother was gunned down on the night of Feb. 5 while looking out a window of her William Street home.

I never got to say goodbye to my daughter, Edwards mother Llesha OConnor said the day after her daughters death. Thats my baby.

Edwards cousin Karen Fletcher called her cousins death senseless the day after the deadly shooting.

A few days later on Feb. 11, 19-year-old Dyshon Williams was found shot to death near the Luis Munoz Marin School on Helen Street.

His body was found on the sidewalk roughly two hours after police responded to the area for a report of shots fired.

Perez said the teens shooting death was sparked by some kind of transaction gone bad.

In May, detectives charged 19-year-old Darrick Tunstall and 20-year-old Vaughn Thomas in connection with Williams killing.

On March 5, 34-year-old Jerrell Gatewood was shot in the torso in the area of Connecticut Avenue and Fifth Street.

Years earlier, on Sept. 8, 2013  Gatewoods 29th birthday  he was shot in the chest while working on his car on Connecticut Avenue. While he survived that attack, the shot six years later proved fatal.

On March 10, gunfire erupted on Hollister Avenue, claiming the life of 21-year-old Tyron Heard and wounding a 17-year-old and a 22-year-old.

Following Tyrons death, Heards family said he would be greatly missed by us all.

Heards killing signaled a quiet time in Bridgeports killing sprees, until 55-year-old Miguel Lopez was beaten to death inside Mambo Grocery on Noble Avenue on May 19. Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said after Lopezs death that the assault might have been sparked by a money dispute.

Lopezs family remembered him as a loving father, brother and friend to many. His family said Lopez loved helping others ... (and) was a good listener.

More than a month later, 40-year-old Anthony McKinstry was found lying in a pool of blood on Bishop Avenue with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Eugene Brown, 35, was charged with McKinstrys homicide in September.

The city saw three killings in July this year.

Richard McDonald, 22, was shot behind Building 4 of the Greene Homes apartment complex on July 4.

Sean Warren, 17  the citys youngest homicide victim of 2019  was shot in the chest during the late hours of July 13 in the area of Horace Street and York Avenue. He died at the hospital in the early morning hours of July 14.

No arrests have been made in McDonald or Warrens cases.

Dathan Gray, 32, was shot multiple times in the area of Revere Street and Newfield Avenue on July 27. Grays wife, 35-year-old Larise King, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with his death.

The city didnt see another homicide until 41-year-old Jose Perez-Ortiz was fatally shot on Sept. 1 after, police said, he tried to stab a man who then pulled out a gun and fired. Richard Brown, 26, was charged with manslaughter in connection with Perez-Ortizs killing.

Leo Giovanni Fernandez Spencer, 21, was shot in the head and neck while in a car on Gem Avenue near Whitney Avenue on Sept. 8. A friend tried to drive him to the hospital, but crashed on the Interstate 95 on ramp from Route 25 south, police said.

While no arrests have been made in Spencers killing, police released video footage of possible persons of interest in his death.

Spencers killing signalled another break in the violence until 53-year-old Darren Connolly was fatally shot in a Mill Hill Avenue home by a roommate on Nov. 22. Police have not charged anyone in connection with the deadly shooting.

Two people were found dead from gunshot wounds on Dec. 8.

Miguelangelo Ismal Afzal, 22, was found dead in an old Remington Arms factory building on Barnum Avenue. Police had been searching for him since he was reported missing by family on Nov. 21.

TyQuess Moore, 18, was found in a Newfield Avenue driveway after he was shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after.

No arrests have been made in connection with either December killing.

The 2019 homicide clearance rate  the number of cases where arrests have been made  currently sits at 35.3 percent. This years percentage is slightly lower than the 36.4 percent in 2018. In 2017, the clearance rate in Bridgeport climbed to 82.6 percent after a 70 percent rate in 2016.

The city has recorded slightly more than 100 non-fatal shooting victims in 2019 as of Dec. 13  an increase from the 97 recorded in Bridgeport by Dec. 27, 2018.

Anyone with information about any of these homicides can report it through the Bridgeport Police Department tip line at 203-576-8477. Callers may remain anonymous.
But federal prosecutors, who have filed hate-crime charges, said Mr. Thomas made journal references to Hitler and Nazi culture and also repeatedly searched online for information on local temples and on topics such as why did Hitler hate the Jews. He also looked for prominent companies founded by Jews in America, prosecutors have said.

The death penalty has been prohibited by New York State law since 2007. But in rare cases, federal prosecutors in New York have said they would seek the death penalty, as in the case of Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek man charged in a 2017 truck attack that killed eight people on a crowded Manhattan bike path.

It would seem an unlikely scenario in Saturdays stabbing. Juries have been generally reluctant to sentence federal defendants to death in New York State.

Last month, the Supreme Court said that it would not allow the Trump administration to resume executions in federal death penalty cases after a 16-year hiatus.

Mr. Neumann, who has seven children and many more grandchildren, was slashed three times on his head and was stabbed in the neck, the family statement said.

Mr. Neumanns arm was shattered in the attack, the statement said, but his condition is so dire that no surgery has yet been performed on the right arm.

The four other victims of the attack have all been released from hospitals.

On Tuesday, additional information about their injuries emerged, as well as new details about the man who helped to stop the rampage and then provided crucial information that the police used to locate Mr. Thomas.
Learn more about the best accredited online paralegal programs, including format, length, and common courses. Also, explore the paralegal career in terms of job duties and salary information.

View Schools

Best Schools for Online Paralegal Certificate Programs

To compile our list of the best online paralegal certificate programs, we took into consideration affordability, flexibility, and the services that are available to online learners.

1. Eastern Kentucky University

Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid Richmond, KY $9,666 99%

Eastern Kentucky University offers a 100% online post-baccalaureate certificate program that requires 30-31 total credits and is a charter member of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAFPE). This online ABA-approved program features quick 8-week terms, is designed to be completed in about 18 months, and is comprised of coursework in legal writing, legal research, and legal administration. As an online student, you get access to free career services and online tutoring. This online program requires a residency on-campus that takes place at the end of the program.

2. Community Care College

Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid Tulsa, OK n/a 89%

Community Care College has an online undergraduate paralegal studies program that requires 36 total credits and leads to a diploma. This online paralegal program can be completed in as little as 11.5 months, and you take coursework in contracts, criminal law, civil ligation, and family law. Community Care College's online program offers a flexible schedule, and you are taught by licensed, experienced attorneys and certified paralegals. Graduates of this program have gone on to work for county district attorney's offices and in private law firms.

3. Downey Adult School

Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid Downey, CA $3,599 64%

At Downey Adult School, you can earn a paralegal certificate in an online format with classes on legal terminology, tort law, legal research, wills and trusts, and civil litigation. This online paralegal program has a 100% program completion rate and a 100% placement rate. Downey Adult School offers free job placement services as well.

4. Clovis Community College

Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid Fresno, CA $1,304 63%

Clovis Community College has an online Certificate of Completion in Legal Assistant Studies program that takes 2 semesters to complete with about 30 credits needed. In this online program, you take classes that center on such subjects as legal writing, family law, criminal law and courts, and law office procedures and practice. Clovis Community College offers online, 24/7 tutoring services.

5. Itawamba Community College

Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid Fulton, MS $3,160 97%

Itawamba CC offers a 2-year Paralegal Technology program earning students an Associate of Applied Science degree or a 1-year 30 credit career certificate option; both of which can be completed 100% online. Courses covered in this program include topics like legal research, wills and estates, civil litigation, legal writing, and more. Upon program completion students are set to acquire voluntary certification through NALA or NFPA.

Rank School Name Location Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (in-state; 2018-2019) % Receiving Financial Aid 6 Madisonville Community College Madisonville, KY $4,248 98% 7 Hutchinson Community College Hutchinson, KS $3,520 92% 8 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS $3,110 91% 9 Ocean County College Toms River, NJ $5,095 57% 10 Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL $9,552 80% 11 Purdue University Global Indianapolis, IN $14,343 n/a 12 Hinds Community College Raymond, MS $3,130 91% 13 Western Piedmont Community College Morganton, NC $2,577 80% 14 Rasmussen College-Wisconsin Green Bay, WI $10,935 86% 15 Lake Superior College Duluth, MN $5,166 77%

All statistics provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition based on 2017-2018 school year, and school websites

Learn.org's school ranking methodology categorizes and assesses data from schools and other reliable sources, such as the U.S. Department of Education, and weighs the information based on quality, cost, value and other factors critical to students' academic decisions.

Overview of Accredited Paralegal Certificate Programs

Online paralegal certificate programs quickly prepare you for a career as a paralegal. To apply to a paralegal certificate program, you need to already hold an associate's or a bachelor's degree. The format and length of online paralegal certificate programs varies by university or college with some taking only 14 weeks to complete and others lasting about 1 year, 18 months, or longer. Most certificate programs require about 30 credits.

Paralegal certificate programs consist of online coursework that solely focuses on law topics as well as the researching, writing, and technology skills you need as a paralegal.

How to Choose an Online Accredited Paralegal Certificate Program

When deciding which online paralegal certificate program is right for you, there are several factors, including accreditation and program format, which you should take into consideration.

Accreditation

By attending a program accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), you will be assured that your program's curriculum, student services, and faculty have met a high, independent standard. The ABA requires that accredited programs fully prepare students for a paralegal career through classes that enhance your technology skills and understanding of legal concepts. ABA-accredited programs must provide library resources and support services. Faculty members must also be knowledgeable and responsive to students.

Another reason for choosing an accredited program is that many employers prefer job candidates who have graduated from an ABA-accredited program, and some paralegal certification credentials may require that you have attended an ABA-accredited program as well.

Real-World Requirements

Online paralegal certificate programs that are accredited by the ABA require 10 hours of traditional instruction in a classroom, which means that you may have to complete an on-campus residency at the end of your program that includes coursework and networking opportunities.

However, as of January 1, 2020, the ABA will allow programs to conduct traditional instruction through live videoconferencing or synchronous streaming classes. When deciding on a program, you should make sure that you are able to travel to campus for the required residency or attend any live classes from your home.

Program Length

The length of online paralegal certificate programs varies widely. If you are motivated to quickly move into the paralegal profession, then you should choose a program that can be completed in a year or less. However, be aware that this might mean that you may have to take classes in quick succession. For example, some programs offer accelerated 8-week classes. On the other hand, if you understand that your learning pace is a little slower or you have other work or family commitments, you might consider a program that progresses at a slower pace.

What You'll Learn in an Online Paralegal Certificate Program

There are several common courses in the realm of law and research that make up the curriculum of most online paralegal certificate programs. Below, you can explore some possible classes that you may take within your specific program.

Legal Writing

A class on legal writing introduces you to the different forms of legal documents, including memoranda of law, letters, case briefs, and interoffice memoranda. This course teaches you effective writing strategies as well as how to write legal analysis.

Legal Research

Legal research covers the methods and means for conducting legal research and teaches you how to research cases, statutes, and agency regulations in order to synthesize the information and create a memorandum. Some courses teach you how to research through books as well as conduct online research through WestlawNext.

Criminal Law

This is a foundational course that gives you an understanding of the different aspects of criminal law and the criminal justice system as well as an understanding of the role a paralegal plays within the criminal law system. You may study such topics as criminal proceedings' defense and prosecution, law enforcement practices, and the constitutional framework of the US legal system.

Wills, Trusts, and Probate

This course explores the role that paralegals play in the probate and estate planning process, focusing on document preparation and proceedings. Usually, you study a wide range of legal areas, including

Wills

Trusts

Estate planning

Durable powers of attorney

Charitable transfers

Intra-family gifts

Some courses examine ethical issues of paralegal work in terms of health care directives and living wills.

Family Law

This class examines the paralegal practice in all aspects of the family law field, focusing on such topics as separation, divorce, alimony, and property settlement. You also study child custody and adoption issues.

Business Law

Business law explores topics related to businesses and corporations, including

Contracts

Intellectual property

Administrative law

Consumer credit and collection procedures

Employment law

Taxation

You study how to apply law to business and individuals as well as the different kinds of business structures, such as partnerships and limited liability companies. This course serves to prepare you for work as a corporate paralegal.

Civil Litigation

This course examines civil ligation in regards to state and federal courts. You study the entire civil litigation process, including investigations, the discovery process, the production of documents, depositions, preparation for trial, and filing lawsuits.

Information About the Paralegal Profession

Below, you can learn more about the different aspects of the paralegal profession, including the level of education needed, job duties and skills, and salary information.

Educational Requirements

To become a paralegal, you can earn a paralegal studies associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. However, bachelor's degree programs in paralegal studies are hard to find. Many people choose to earn a bachelor's degree in a non-paralegal field and then earn a certificate in paralegal studies.

Certification

Becoming a Certified Paralegal (CP) or a Professional Paralegal (PP) is an optional credential you can earn. The reason you might want to achieve certification is that many employers prefer paralegal applicants who are certified, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Certified Paralegal (CP) credential is administrated through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). To earn this credential, you must have fulfilled one of the following requirements:

Graduated from an ABA-accredited paralegal program

Earned a bachelor's degree

Have a high school diploma with 7 years of paralegal experience

You must also take and pass the Certified Paralegal examination, which includes a multiple-choice knowledge exam and a written skills exam.

You could also earn the Professional Paralegal (PP) credential from NALS - The Association for Legal Professionals.

For this credential, you must have fulfilled one of the following requirements:

Earned a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies

Earned a bachelor's degree outside of paralegal studies with 1 year of paralegal experience

Graduated from an ABA-approved paralegal program

Graduated from a non-ABA-approved program that consists of significant coursework in law

Have 5 years of paralegal experience

You must also pass the NALS Professional Paralegal (PP) exam.

General Job Duties

Although your specific paralegal job duties depend on the type of environment you work within, paralegals mainly support lawyers by conducting a variety of different duties, including

Researching laws, legal cases, and regulations

Maintaining documents and filing systems

Structuring legal documents and evidence

Writing reports, correspondence, and contracts

Filing appeals, briefs, and other legal documents

Interacting with clients

Skills

As a paralegal, you must have good computer skills and need to be able to use technology, software, databases, and email. You must have good writing and communication skills, as you need to present evidence and documents to lawyers and clients. You must be able to meet deadlines and manage a range of responsibilities at the same time.

Types of Paralegals

The type of paralegal you are depends on the type of law practice or organization you work for.

Corporate Paralegals

A corporate paralegal works for businesses or corporations where, in conjunction with lawyers, they prepare a range of business documents, including contracts, stock plans, shareholder agreements, and even financial reports. You could also be required to stay on top of any government regulations or legal requirements that affect your employer.

Litigation Paralegals

Litigation paralegals primarily work for trial lawyers where they conduct a range of trail-related duties, including organizing evidence, helping prep for trials, conducting legal research, and drafting settlements.

Other Paralegals

As a paralegal, you could work within the realm of criminal law, personal injury law, bankruptcy, intellectual property law, family law, and immigration law among others. In addition, depending on the size of the organization you work for, you could be responsible for handling varied aspects of cases or just specific parts of a case.

Salary and Job Outlook

In 2018, paralegals made a median salary of $50,940 with the lowest 10% earning less than $31,400 and the highest 10% earning more than $82,050. On average, paralegals earn $24.49 per hour.

Paralegals working for the federal government had the highest salary, earning $67,340, and those in finance and insurance earned $62,020. The number of paralegal jobs are expected to increase 12% from 2018-2028.

Salary information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018
Despite New Yorks dwindling population, the impact to the states congressional districts is not expected to be as bleak as previously estimated.

Census Bureau estimates show the Empire State experienced the largest population decrease among all 50 states from 2018 to 2019, with 76,790 fewer residents. However, experts at the New York Census and Redistricting Institute at New York Law School predict only one congressional district will be lost from the count, bringing the number to 26 from 27.

Last year with similar state populations released and projections made, New York was on the cusp of losing two districts, Jeffrey M. Wice, senior fellow at New York Law School, said. That threat isnt as great.

The delegation has shrunk every decade since 1953, when it was at a high of 45 members, so its important to ensure everyone is counted in the upcoming census, Wice said.

The official count will be released in December 2020, and the congressional districts will be updated for the 2022 elections.

New York is one of 10 states that saw a population loss from 2018 to 2019, partially influenced by residents flocking to other states. The state's population decline was driven by more than 180,000 people moving to other states, leaving the total population hovering at about 19.45 million, according to census estimates.

Other states that saw a population decline include Illinois, which was second behind New York with a population loss of 51,250, West Virginia (-12,144), Connecticut (-6,233), New Jersey (-3,835) and Vermont (-369), among others.

Republican officials pointed to the states taxing and spending as prompting residents to flee to other states.

Nick Langworthy, chairman of the state Republican Party, said outmigration of New Yorkers is the greatest issue facing the state. They are flocking to states that arent constantly and at every level trying to get into your pocket.

You cant wipe away the fact that were on top of the list of states in the amount of population weve lost in the last year, and thats terrifying. If we dont do something to change the way the state is governed were going to lose a lot more of it, he said. We lead all the wrong lists and lose all the right lists. 

Langworthy added spending must be curbed and taxpayers relieved to stop the mass exodus.

Meanwhile, Democrats blamed New Yorks aging population and more seasonable climates elsewhere for the decline.

Jay Jacobs, chair of the state Democratic Party, said he was not surprised by the estimates due to those factors, but remained optimistic that New York could turn a new leaf.

Some of the things that New York is beginning to do and has begun doing under Gov. (Andrew M.) Cuomo will help turn that around as we become more of an economic engine, Jacobs said. All were reading right now are estimates, and I dont think people know exactly how many new folks come into New York.

Cuomo's office touted the efforts the state has made to make New York an attractive place to live.

This administration cut middle class taxes to historic lows, lowered business taxes, eliminated manufacturing taxes, and permanently capped property taxes while unemployment was cut in half and a record number of private sector jobs were created  all part of our effort to make New York state a better place to live, work, and raise a family," Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said in a statement. "Meanwhile, the state is undertaking a $60 million outreach campaign to make sure that every New Yorker is counted in the 2020 U.S. Census so that we are accurately represented in Congress and receive the federal funding we deserve.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The population figures will also affect the state legislative boundaries, but it's unlikely the size of the state Assembly or state Senate will change.

Shifts in population can influence the makeup of congressional districts and who is elected to lead them, as well as how federal funds are allocated. However, its too early to speculate which of New Yorks congressional seats could be in jeopardy, Wice said.

Sixteen other states also stand to lose at least one congressional district, he said, including California.

Langworthy said state officials should be concerned about the lost seat considering federal lawmakers fight for New Yorks share of funding for infrastructure repairs and transportation upgrades.

Our delegation has essentially been hollowed out, he said. We should be concerned about losing that stature in our delegation.

States and local governments across the country are allocating funds to ensure every person is counted in the 2020 Census. New York earmarked $20 million in this year's budget for "executing a count of New Yorkers," however details on how it will be spent  beyond focusing funds for outreach for hard-to-count areas and communities that lack their own resources for preparations  are lacking. In November, Cuomo announced another $40 million from existing resources also will aid in those efforts.

Jacobs said focusing on immigrant communities where people may be nervous to engage with government officials is important.

We dont want to be undercounted and the Democratic Party is going to be very vigorous in doing whatever it can to get people to participate, he said.

All of the district lines will be crafted by a special commission, with final approval of the boundaries belonging to the state Legislature and Cuomo. The most recent congressional lines were crafted by a federal judge.

Should a plan drafted by the special commission be dismissed by state lawmakers, the process would be left to those in power  Cuomo and the Democrats who reign in both chambers.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday paid tribute at the 'Jay Stambh' here on the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar also paid tribute at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial. Thousands of people visit Koregaon Bhima village to offer their tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Heavy security deployment has been made to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the event. As many as 10,000 police officers, over 500 CCTV cameras and 15 drone cameras are keeping strong vigil on the event.Pune District Administration has pressed 250 buses into service to carry the visitors while 50 other buses have been kept in reserve.Land spread on 250 acre at 15 different places has been earmarked for parking, said Pune District Magistrate (DM) Naval Kishor, adding that high mast lights have also been installed for proper lighting.Violence broke out during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1, 2018 in which one person was killed and several others were injured.Last week, police issued notices to 163 people, including accused Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, prohibiting them from entering the district for allegedly instigating riots and attempt to murder in the 2018 event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - A Tunisian gendarmerie patrol operating along the border Tuesday night arrested four sub-Saharan women whose nationality has not been revealed as they entered the Tunisian territory from from Libya
By AFP

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis apologised Wednesday for slapping a woman who had grabbed him as he greeted a crowd of devotees, shortly before he delivered a speech denouncing "every form of violence against women."

The image of a visibly annoyed Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of an admirer as he walked by Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve instantly went viral on social media. A personal apology followed.

"We lose patience many times. It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday," Francis confessed before celebrating Mass at the Vatican. Twitter enthusiasts commented on the pontiff's prompt riposte to the exuberant woman.

Francis had greeted children before the Nativity scene on Saint Peter's square and was turning away when a woman who had crossed herself then cried out something, yanked his hand and almost caused him to fall.

The 83-year-old pope grimaced and scowled before managing to break free, slapping her hand twice as a security guard intervened. The pontiff continued his tour, walking with some difficulty while maintaining a slightly greater distance from visitors, and gradually relaxed again as he met with other children.

Twitter comments revealed some support for his instinctive reaction. "I'm not a Catholic, but the woman is wrong. It even seemed as if the Pope experienced pain at one moment," one comment read. Others were less favourable, however. "Yikes. She was totally wrong but his reaction was not very Pope like," another commented.

In his first Mass of the New Year, the pontiff later declared that "every form of violence against women is a blasphemy against God, who was born of a woman. He noted that the service traditionally celebrates the life of Mary, "the woman who wove the humanity of God." The blessing of God for all, he said, was "not magic but requires patience, patience and love."

The Pope HITTING someone pretty much sums up 2019 pic.twitter.com/agNplscJMy  Danny Ocean (@The_UnSilent_) January 1, 2020

The pontiff then repeated "patience and love" in a comment that was not contained in a text distributed to media ahead of time and which seemed to be his reaction to what had occurred the night before. The pope is known to enjoy greeting the public, and also has a reputation for speaking his mind and having a determined temperament.

Francis emphasised Wednesday that women were the "sources of life" and deplored that they were "continually insulted, beaten, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they bear in the womb."

He underscored that in the Christian faith, "from a woman was born the Prince of peace," and bemoaned that women's bodies were "sacrificed on the profane altars of advertising, of profiteering, of pornography.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused the Shiv Sena of "betraying" the public mandate by forging an alliance with the NCP and Congress to form government after the state elections.

Addressing a rally here, Fadnavis asked people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls in Palghar.

It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena has to compromise with those who "abused" Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the "infighting".

The Sena not only "betrayed" the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.

Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the Shiv Sena bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.

"Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power," the leader of opposition in the Assembly said.

Hitting out at Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying" the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.

"Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices," he said.

Notably, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte attacked the party office in Pune on Tuesday to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry.

Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a "clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine" to form government, but later things took a different turn and citizens have a witness to the political developments in the state.

"It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet," the BJP leader said.

On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, "It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme."



The Shiv Sena made "tall claims" that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be wiped clean (of liabilities).

"They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit," Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses.

"Now, they have gone back on their word," he alleged.

Fadnavis said when the Shiv Sena is queried about it, the party points fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi (for assistance).

"Did you ask Modiji when you joined hands with the NCP and Congress? No doubt, Modiji will help you, but remember farmers and citizens of the state will make your (Shiv Sena's) political slate blank and show you the door," he said.

This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in Mumbai), but by the "Matoshree of Delhi", Fadnavis said in sarcastic remarks, apparently referring to the top Congress leadership.

On Uddhav Thackeray's comments that he gave a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra, Fadnavis asked if the CM said he would do so with the help of the NCP and Congress.

"Balashaeb will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move in the state politics," he said.

He asked BJP activists to go to every house in Palghar and tell them about the work done by the party in the last five years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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By Express News Service

CHENNAI: With the release of his latest book Amour - A Tale Of Two Lost Souls, co-authored with Ipshita Choudhuri, a student pursuing masters at Jadavpur University, 28-year-old Noufer Vettikat Aboobacker speaks to CE about love and the journey through it.

When did you discover your passion for writing?

I discovered it when I was in school. When I was younger, I tried to write some investigative stories. I had no intention of publishing or submitting it to a magazine. I was merely inspired to create.

How did you meet Ipshita Choudhuri?

We are old friends. We worked together to direct my short film in 2017, which went on to bag three awards  Best Fiction and the Audience Award at the 12 Months Film Festival, Romania and Best Fantasy at Global Film Festival Awards, Los Angeles. We made a good team and thats when we decided to write a book together sometime.

How was your experience of writing the book?

I am an engineer by profession. I work in a marine vessel at Abu Dhabi. We started writing the book midway of 2018. I was on the vessel, so we coordinated via WhatsApp messages and phone calls. Communication was our biggest problem because I couldnt receive calls when I was on the sea. It took one and half years for us to complete the story.

What was the inspiration behind the main characters?

We created Neer and Hassini out of sheer imagination. Hassini is a girl from Chennai. She is going to study engineering in Coimbatore. There she meets Neer (her senior in college).

What was the main focus of your book?

The main focus of our book was to portray the life of a girl growing up in an orthodox society. We wrote the story of a girls transformation at various stages of her life. It is mostly about satisfying the readers expectations for a good story, by showing a compelling character transformation. Hassinis life begins with happiness, but alas it ends with a tragedy.

Did you ever face writers block? How did you overcome it?

Yes, we faced it in between. Writers block is a personal thing and each of us has to approach it differently. When youre staring at a blank screen, obsessing over perfection is not the answer. Writing in bullet points helped. I sometimes wrote in my native language. It does not have to be perfect, it just has to be written. That was how I overcame it.

What is your favourite part of the book?

The scenes that take place in the college. Especially the initial stage of romance between Neer and Hassini. Many readers said that those portions took them back to their college life.

Any favourite authors?

Khaled Hosseini is one of my favourite authors...he is an awesome story-teller. I love the way his stories encompass the raw emotions of his characters, their tryst with destiny and with society. He can make me cry tears of joy, sorrow, grief and hope.

Are excerpts from the story taken from experiences in your life?

Of course there are some instances from real-life, but life cant be written as a book. So major portions came from our imagination.

What inspired you to write a love story?

You only get inspired by something that appeals to you and connects with you. Love is what connected with us and our readers.

Your thoughts on modern love?

I dont know what modern love is. I am old-school. I picture modern love to be more digital. Its materialistic, not eternal.

How important is a partner in a persons life?

It is tough to tackle life and conquer all its battles by oneself. A life partner is the best part of life  a person with whom we can share our issues and have an understanding.

In short, how would you explain your book?

A book about life, love and how fate can play a bigger role in our life.

What has been your biggest learning from love?

Love but dont expect.
Algeria's richest man Issad Rebrab walked free on time served early Wednesday after a court sentenced him to six months for tax, banking and customs offences.

Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison sentence for the 74-year-old head of Algeria's biggest privately owned conglomerate Cevital, who was one of several tycoons arrested in April as part of a sweeping corruption investigation.

The probe followed the resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika after weeks of mass protests against his 20-year rule.

Rebrab had already spent eight months in custody awaiting trial, more than his sentence, so he was released by the court.

He was fined 1.383 billion dinars (more than $11.6 million, more than 10.3 million euros).

Cevital subsidiary Evcon was fined 2.766 billion dinars (20.7 million euros).

Jordan-based Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, which was also prosecuted, was fined 3.169 billion dinars (23.7 million euros).

They were convicted of breaking laws on foreign exchange and fund transfers as well as forgery and false custom declarations.

While his businesses flourished under the two-decade rule of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Rebrab had backed the protests that forced the president to resign in April. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP)

Forbes magazine lists Rebrab as Algeria's richest man and the sixth-wealthiest in Africa, with a net worth of $3.9 billion in 2019.

Cevital employs 18,000 people, produces electronics, steel and food, and in recent years it has acquired businesses in France.

While his businesses flourished under Bouteflika's rule, Rebrab had backed the protests that ultimately forced the president to resign in April.

His company has said it was "astonished" by his arrest.
In a sign of growing factionalism in Uttarakhand Congress, party MLA Dharchula Harish Dhami said that he may contest as an independent candidate in 2022 state assembly elections.

Dhami has accused the state Congress Committee of ignoring former state chief minister Harish Rawat and said that factionalism is causing tremendous damage to the state Congress.

"If an attempt is made to erase Harish Rawat's name, I will think of contesting the 2022 assembly elections without party symbol," he said.

Dharchula is in the Pithoragarh district of the state and shares borders with Nepal.

Asked about Dhami's remarks, Uttarakhand Congress president Pritam Singh said it is for him to decide whether he wants to contest from the party or as an independent.

Factionalism has come to the fore in the state unit since the party conducted "Save Constitution, Save India" campaign on December 28. Rawat's name or his pictures were not seen in the posters.

There have been allegations of senior leaders being ignored since the change of guard in the state unit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nine people died after Indonesia's capital was hit by its deadliest flooding in years, authorities said Wednesday, as torrential rains on New Year's Eve left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged. Thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters as electricity was switched off in scores of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city's airports also shut. Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency called on residents to leave flood-hit areas. "The first priority is saving lives," said agency head Doni Monardo. A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to the disaster agency. "My son's body was covered with newspaper when my two other children passed by," said Fadrid, who identified himself as the dead teen's father. "People asked them whether they knew the victim. If they hadn't been passing by, we wouldn't have known my son had been killed," he told AFP. Among the victims was an elderly couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached as high as four metres (13 feet) after a river burst its banks. Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city's outskirts. "We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks," Ikhsan Asaad, an official at state firm PLN, told AFP. Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown. "We're currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people's safety," he added. Angelina Widiyanti was among scores of residents whose houses were flooded with their possessions ruined by the disaster. "We've had flooding several times before but it was never this high," she said from her home, where the power had been cut. "We weren't prepared for this." Authorities said about 19,000 people were evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta's satellite cities. "We're evacuating people right now," Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters. "Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding," he added. Images from across the region showed waterlogged homes and cars submerged in muddy floodwaters, while some people took to paddling in small rubber lifeboats or tyre inner-tubes to get around. The disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when several dozen people were killed when the city was inundated by monsoon rains. Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia's rainy season, which started in late November. On Wednesday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry. Many flights were transferred to Jakarta's main SoekarnoHatta International Airport.
Induction of women cadets in NDA first step towards gender equality in armed forces: Army chief Naravane

With Gen Naravane as frontrunner, CCS meet next week to pick new CDS

India may get its new CDS only by April

India reserves right to strike sources of terror: New Army Chief Naravane warns Pakistan

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: General MM Naravane warned Pakistan to desist from sponsoring terrorism and we reserve the right to pre-emptively strike at sources of terror.

In an interview to PTI, Naravane said India had "multiple options across (the) spectrum of conflict... to respond to any act of terror sponsored or abetted by Pakistan". General Naravane, who succeeded General Bipin Rawat, also said his focus would be on ensuring the Army maintained high standards of operational readiness to "face any threat at any time".

"The Pakistan Army's proxy war design received setback due to elimination of terrorists and decimation of terror networks (by India)," said Naravane.

Expert on counter terror and China, General Naravane will add great value to national security

Asked how he will deal with Pakistan-backed terrorism, he said, "Multiple options across the spectrum of conflict are on the table to respond to any act of terror sponsored or abetted by Pakistan."

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

On security challenges along the 3,500 km border with China, Gen Naravane said the focus has shifted from the western border to the northern border as part of re-balancing priorities.

"We will continue to improve capacity building along the Northern border so we are prepared when the need arises," he said.
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Cybercriminals have discovered ways to compromise smart TVs, including hacking them, the Portland office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently warned.

Smart TV owners should do their due diligence to secure the devices, the bureau urged.

Smart TVs are just as accessible to unauthorized parties as computers or other Internet-connected devices. Because many TVs now feature microphones and cameras, predators could commit serious privacy intrusions, such as cyberstalking users in their own homes, the FBI pointed out.

In addition, a smart TV could be a gateway to a home network, allowing hackers to gainpersonal information from the set or from other Internet of Things devices.

Take Control of Your Smart TV

To combat the potential cybersecurity threats the FBI called onowners to review the features of any smart TV purchased, and learn how to control them. Buyers should review the features before choosing a set, and thenread the manual.

Those who still have questions should search the Web using the model number and such words as microphone, camera and privacy, the FBI advised.

Users should not depend on the default security settings. They should change passwords when possible. If theyre unable to do that, they should turn off microphones and cameras when not in use. If a TV camera cant be turned off, a back-to-basics solution is to cover it with a piece of black tape.

The FBI suggested that users consider whether it is necessary to buy a model that utilizes cameras and microphones.

Smart TV owners also should research how a set gatherspersonal information, what data is collected, how that data isstored, and what the manufacturer might do with it.

Finally, buyers should assess the manufacturers ability toupdate the device with security patches, and check into how it hasaddressed these issues in the past, the FBI suggested.

Computerized Devices

Todays smart TVs have functionality that overlaps with computers  including the ability to browse the Web  and with those capabilities come many of the same cybersecurity issues.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Computers are great for bringing information into our homes, butanything that can carry data in can also carry data out, said JimPurtilo, associate professor in the University of Maryland Department of Computer Science.

A smart TV is just a computer system that some manufacturer hasconfigured for a specific role in our living rooms, so it isnt asurprise that theyre actually built to transmit, not just receive yet sometimes we forget that the camera and microphone are there for areason, he told TechNewsWorld.

Any device can be hacked  any device with a camera and microphonecan potentially be put to spying, noted Roger Kay, principal analystat Endpoint Technologies Associates.

Thats one reason I dont use a notebook in my office and wonthave an Echo in my home, he told TechNewsWorld.

TV Spies

The FBIs warnings come as smart TV functionality has increased,and as more and more viewers are watching streaming content. However,few consumers may remember past smart TV breaches and security shortcomings, if they even knew of them at all.

TV viewers may be tuning into spy thrillers such as Homeland, BerlinStation and Tom Clancys Jack Ryan  but more ominous than what they see on the screen is that their sets may be spying on them.

The Electronic Privacy InformationCenter, a consumer rights group, in 2015 called out South Korean consumer electronics giant Samsung for recording private conversations via the built-inmicrophones in Samsung smart TVs.

The group accused Samsung ofbreaking U.S. privacy laws, including the ElectronicCommunications Privacy Act and the Childrens Online PrivacyProtection Act.

Jessica Rich, then director of the Bureau of ConsumerProtection, addressed the issue in her opening remarks at the2016 Smart TV workshop hosted by the Federal Trade Commission.

WikiLeaks a year later asserted that Samsung smart TVs could be used to spyon owners. It described a program dubbed Weeping Angel  reportedlydesigned by the CIA and the United Kingdoms MI5/BTSS  that couldmake the TVs appear to be in the off mode while the microphones andcameras were still functioning.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

There are lots of ways to mitigate potential attacks, but awell-financed, determined state actor can get into your device,suggested Kay.

Such tools would not be used against American citizens, according to former CIA director Michael Hayden, who characterized theability to listen in on conversations as a wonder capability.

Of course, if the CIA can listen in, so too can manufacturers or hackers.

The FBI correctly warns about the potential that criminals mightwatch us via cameras on hacked TVs, but I dont know many consumerswho would feel relief if it was only tech firms watching and listeninginstead, remarked UMDs Purtilo.

The probability of hackage is low, but not zero, said Endpoints Kay, and withall these new devices, were creating a self-surveillance statewithout even being forced to.

Watch What You Watch

Though the potential for hacking is worrisome, what the manufacturers are gathering from TV owners is also a major cause for concern.

Multiple smart TV makers, including LG and Samsung, werecollecting information from users about the content they viewed, The Washington Post reported earlier this year.

They were monitoring content to help advertisers bettertarget ads, according to the report.

TV tracking has been a serious ongoing issue. TVmaker Vizio paid a US$2.2 million fine after it was caught secretlycollecting customer viewing data.

The FBIs cautionary recommendations are entirely valid, saidCharles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

Too often, consumers consider security to be someone elses job orresponsibility, he told TechNewsWorld. The problem is, that kind of passive fatalism sets people up to be victimized both by consumer electronics giants who usecustomers data for commercial gain, and by cybercriminals looking toprofit personally.

Beyond the TVs

Any device connected to the Internet  whether by a cable or wirelessly  could provide a port of entry to a home network and allow access to personal data.

It is all IoT devices that we need to worry about, said Roger Entner, principal analyst at Recon Analytics.

These are the open doors into your home, he told TechNewsWorld. These ports are left open so that consumers can access them, but inturn so too can everyone else.

Users need to be vigilant about locking down the systems.

You basically need to stop unauthorized access from those ports andput firewalls up, and where possible use the highest level of encryption, Entner recommended.

Scary Internet of Things to Come

Currently the dangers that the FBI and cybersecurity experts arewarning about are cyberstalking and compromise of personal data,but IoT could open the ports to even more sinister threats.

One possibility is ransomware, which demands that users pay a price to regain control of hacked devices.

Imagine how someone could make a quick buck by hijacking your TV,refrigerator or other connected device, said Entner.

This could involve someone turning up the volume on the TV  or worse,turning up the temperature to 90 degrees and then turning it off, he suggested.

Right now, as the smart home evolves, we are walking around like babesin the woods  like there is no evil out there, Entner said.

Consumers mistakenly think smart TVs, like doorbell monitors anddigital assistants, exist to offer services to us, noted Purtilo.

Its true that these technologies can offer us value, but their chiefdesign function is to convey information about us back to companiesthat monetize it, he said. They leverage our data to tailor betterpitches to sell things to us. The tech is great  for the companies.
(@FahadShabbir)

Mauritian authorities on Monday closed the only international airport in the island nation in preparation for the approaching tropical cyclone Calvinia, media reported

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th December, 2019) Mauritian authorities on Monday closed the only international airport in the island nation in preparation for the approaching tropical cyclone Calvinia, media reported.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, located 30 miles away from the nation's capital Port Louis, fully shut down at 12:10 p.

m. local time (08:10 GMT).

Authorities recommend that citizens stay at home or inside shelters.

Meteorologists declared a class 3 alert as winds reached 75 miles per hour, and Calvinia continues to gain strength as it approaches the southeastern coast of Mauritius.
Irelands deputy premier has urged Stormonts rowing parties to show leadership and generosity when talks to restore powersharing resume.

Simon Coveney said the new year offered a chance for a new beginning and urged all sides not to disappoint the public again.

Negotiations formally resume on Thursday after a pause for the festive period.

Mr Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith were in Belfast on New Years Day for pre-talks discussions ahead of the resumption of exchanges with the political parties on Thursday morning.

The parties have until a January 13 deadline to strike a deal to revive devolution.

On that date, legislation to give civil servants additional powers to run Northern Irelands struggling public services expires and Mr Smith will assume a legal obligation to call a snap Assembly election.

Simon Coveney (left) during a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith last year (NIO/PA)

On the journey up to Belfast ahead of the new round of talks, Mr Coveney reflected on the importance of the coming fortnight.

He tweeted: 2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides  weve got less than 2 weeks  lets not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING!

In a subsequent New Years Day video posted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlining his governments priorities for 2020, Mr Coveney added: We are determined to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to get the devolved government back up and running again, to get the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement functioning again, to bring communities together and to ensure that Northern Ireland can make decisions for itself.

The latest push to restore powersharing broke up the week before Christmas, with UK and Irish governments singling out the DUP as the party standing in the way of a deal.

The party rejected the claims, insisting it would not be bounced into a quick fix that falls apart when tested.

Story continues

Devolution can only be restored once the DUP and Sinn Fein  the regions two largest parties  agree terms to re-enter a mandatory coalition executive in Belfast.

The other three main parties  the SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance  are also involved in the talks process convened by the UK and Irish governments.

While they could take positions in any new executive, their sign-off on a deal is not essential and a government could be formed in their absence, with those parties having the option of going into opposition.

Quiet road, on way back to #Belfast early morning for talks to get #Stormont working again. 2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides  weve got less than 2 weeks  lets not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING! pic.twitter.com/FlYzoJ6X1W  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) January 1, 2020

Expectations of a breakthrough in the three-year powersharing impasse rose after the general election.

The DUP and Sinn Fein both suffered bruising results, with many interpreting the outcome as the public passing judgment on their failure to do a deal and providing a fresh incentive to do business.

However, proposals to reform a contentious cross-community voting mechanism in the Assembly have emerged as a key sticking point in efforts to finalise an agreement, with the DUP unhappy about what is being countenanced.

The DUP is also seeking changes to ensure the devolved institutions are more stable in future and cannot be readily pulled down.

Proposed legislative protections for Irish language speakers are another crucial element of the negotiations.

The Stormont parties are also seeking a firm commitment from the UK government on a financial package to accompany the return of devolution  money that would likely be targeted at the regions crisis-hit health service.

The leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein used their respective New Year messages to restate a desire to return to government.

DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted her party is up for a fair and balanced deal (Liam McBurney/PA)

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it must be a decade of decision rather than dithering.

The talks will recommence on Thursday, she said.

We will be there and stand ready to restore devolution through a fair and balanced deal. A Northern Ireland that is going to keeping moving forward must be one where everyone feels at home but must also be one where no-one feels their culture is being marginalised.

While Ms Foster warned that a focus on a potential border poll would lead to a wasted decade, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald insisted a united Ireland was within reach.

But the republican leader added: There is no contradiction in working for Irish unity and working for the restoration of the Executive and Assembly  they are all part of the Good Friday Agreement.

We have spent three years searching for agreement to re-establish the norths institutions and we got there in February 2018, but the DUP walked away from that deal. We cannot have that scenario again  the choice is now for agreement, or elections, but the current situation cannot continue.

It is in the interests of all our people that we establish good government and real power-sharing based on equality and respect.

The outstanding issues can be resolved. The time for acrimony and division is over. The time for slogans and soundbites is over. The test now for every party that has talked up getting back to work is to go back to the Executive table and deliver.

Mary Lou McDonald says the time for slogans and soundbites is over (Niall Carson/PA)

Stormont imploded three years ago this month when the late Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest at the DUPs handling of a botched green energy scheme.

That dispute soon widened to encompass traditional rifts over issues such as the Irish language and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.

A logjam over proposals to reform the petition of concern voting mechanism was one of the main reasons a deal failed to materialise before Christmas.

It was designed to protect minority rights but politicians have accused each other of misusing it for their own ends.

Discussions around change surround making it more difficult for one party to use the petition to block controversial legislation.

The parties are also considering amending Assembly rules to make it harder to collapse the institutions.
Most critics would agree that plays and films have had a difficult time capturing the magic of F. Scott Fitzgerald's brilliant novel "The Great Gatsby."

But Upstage Theatre of Stewartville is ready to try, anyway.

"It was one of my favorite books and it really seemed appropriate" for the first season of Upstage, said Olivia Cedotal, founder and director.

Fitzgerald's 1925 book about the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his love for Daisy, a woman he can't have, continues to reverberate through the decades. It is a portrait of the American Dream hollowed out by the pursuit of wealth and power.

"Absolutely, it's very relevant," Cedotal said. "People's greed is still ingrained in our society."

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At least four film versions and two stage versions of "The Great Gatsby" have been produced, with varying degrees of success. Fitzgerald's beautiful prose, and the depth of emotion he achieves, seems ironically to be more alive on the printed page.

"Each has its own magic," Cedotal said of the various forms of "Gatsby." "The story itself is hard to live up to."

The version being produced by Upstage was adapted by Simon Levy and debuted in 2006 at the Guthrie Theatre.

The challenge of staging "Gatsby" for a small theater is that much of the story takes place in the gilded mansions and on the expansive lawns of Long Island.

"We are leaving a lot to the audience's imagination," Cedotal said. "But we are still having all of the decadence." Projection screens will be used to establish the scenes, she said.

As for the cast, Matthew Chew is Gatsby, with Rachel Willoner as Daisy, Andy Walerak as her husband, Tom; Lindsay Schilling as Daisy's friend, Jordan; Raquel Hellman as Myrtle; Alex Sina as Myrtle's husband, Wilson, and Chris Kuisle as Nick.

"Nick was definitely the hardest character to cast," Cedotal said. "He's the storyteller, he's involved, he's also very layered. He's also very strong."

In the play, as in the book, Nick narrates the story, while also taking part in it. Like the audience, he gradually develops a soft spot for Gatsby, even while being repelled by Gatsby's excesses.

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"I don't think people understand him initially," Cedotal said of Gatsby.

It is also Nick who observes the way in which wealth allows people like Tom and Daisy to be careless with the lives of others.

To top off all of this intrigue, the story has strong Minnesota roots. Fitzgerald, of course, was from St. Paul, as is Nick, and we're told in the book that Gatsby dropped out of St. Olaf College.

That Minnesota connection was not a consideration in selecting the play, Cedotal said, "but it is a fantastic coincidence."

"The Great Gatsby" is the third play in Upstage Theatre's inaugural season of live theater in Stewartville.

"I wanted to provide more opportunities for our community to be involved and exposed to theater," Cedotal said. "It's been really well-received. We have had a lot of returning customers."

{{tncms-inline content="<p>What: "The Great Gatsby"</p> <p>When: 7 p.m. Jan. 10-11, Jan. 17-18 and Jan. 24-25, and 2 p.m. Jan. 26</p> <p>Where: Upstage Theatre, 501 Main St. N, Stewartville</p> <p>Tickets: $25, with student and senior discounts available; upstagetheatremn.com</p>" id="67838e2f-47b4-4993-ad39-ab56c5f0791e" style-type="bio" title="If You Go" type="relcontent"}}

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What: "The Great Gatsby"

When: 7 p.m. Jan. 10-11, Jan. 17-18 and Jan. 24-25, and 2 p.m. Jan. 26

Where: Upstage Theatre, 501 Main St. N, Stewartville

Tickets: $25, with student and senior discounts available; upstagetheatremn.com
I was absolutely in, and this is something I can use for anxiety and stress and also for inflammation of the joints which I have, he said. It will be interesting to see how this affects me, and maybe I can stop taking things like Advil. I dont think smoking cannabis is good for you, but there are other ways you can get the medical effects through edibles or patches.
Three persons including two brothers were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly duping people on the pretext of providing work visas for abroad,



police said.

A spokesperson for the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir police said the trio -- Kailash, his brother Vikas of Bishnah and Raj Kumar of Samba -- were on the run since a case was registered against them in August last year and were arrested from Bari Brahmana and Bishnah areas here, the spokesman said.

He said Sat Pal Sharma, a resident of R S Pura, had lodged a written complainant with the Crime Branch, Jammu, alleging that the accused had duped him of his money by promising work-permit visa in a foreign country for his son.

"After the allegations were prima facie established during the course of preliminary verification conducted by Crime Branch, Jammu, a case was registered against them under the relevant sections of law in August, 2019," the spokesman said.

However, he said the accused were not cooperating in the investigation and were evading arrest.

"After generation of intelligence input, crime branch sleuths laid successful traps and conducted raids with careful planning and arrested the accused for further investigation of the case," the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
google headquarters

Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Over 2,000 contractors working at Google's headquarters and other Google campuses across the Bay Area have unionized, Recode reported Tuesday.

The employees are the latest bloc of workers in Google's "shadow workforce" of contractors to form a union.

The union organizing comes as Google is facing a wave of internal activism from its own employees protesting the company's treatment of workers, sexual harassment policies, and government contracts.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Cafeteria workers who staff Google's headquarters and dozens of other Google campuses in the Bay Area have voted to unionize, according to a Recode report.

The vote represents the latest group of Google contractors to join a union  in September, a group of contractors working in Google's Pittsburgh offices unionized. Google employs tens of thousands of contractors that work in its offices but don't receive the same benefits as full-time Google employees.

The contractors' vote to unionize comes amid high-profile activism from Google's own employees over the company's treatment of workers. Four employees who were fired in November claimed they were being punished for labor organizing, an allegation that the National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating.

The cafeteria workers are organizing through Unite Here, which represents food service and hospitality workers, according to Recode. The workers are employed by Compass Group, which Google contracts to staff its cafeterias.

A Google spokesperson said it would keep working with Compass Group in a statement to Business Insider.

"We work with lots of partners, many of which have unionized workforces and many of which don't. We'll continue to partner with Compass," the spokesperson said.

In a statement to Business Insider, a Compass Group spokesperson said the organization would respect the unionization vote.

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"Compass Group firmly believes each of our associates has the right to make an informed decision about whether they want to be represented by a third party such as a labor organization. If they do, Compass Group will meet with the union and engage in good faith bargaining with the goal of achieving a mutually satisfactory agreement as we will do at Google Mountain View," the Compass Group spokesperson said.

Labor organizing efforts have been relatively sparse in Silicon Valley, primarily driven by contractors who don't receive the lux benefits tech companies offer to full-time employees. Contractors staffing cafeterias at Facebook's headquarters unionized in 2017, and thousands of security officers working in Silicon Valley formed a union the same year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Pakistan on Wednesday handed over a list of 282 Indian prisoners including 55 civil and 227 fishermen lodged in the country's jail to the High Commission of India as part of a bilateral agreement.

The Foreign Office said the "step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on May 21, 2008".

Both the countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1st of January and 1st of July.

The Indian government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, the FO said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australian bushfires which have already killed two people in this week claimed the life of a third person on Wednesday. A fourth has been missing and feared dead. Navy ships have rushed to provide supplies and assist the evacuations as fire-related deaths are increasing on the southern coast. In total, there have been 12 fire-related deaths across Australia.

Death toll likely to rise

The New South Wales police havent identified the missing man yet but said that he was 72 years old and authorities have been unable to contact his home. The body of the man was found charred in the car early on Wednesday on the south coast of New South Wales after emergency workers started accessing more damaged areas. The police have warned the public that the death toll will rise.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told local media that they can sadly confirm further three deaths as a result of the fires on the southern coast. He added that Police is also searching Lake Conjola where a house has been destroyed by fire and the occupant of that home is still unaccounted for. In Victoria state, four people remain missing, state Premier Daniel Andrews said.

Read: Australia Sending Aid To Wildfire Towns As Death Toll Rises

Read: Australian Firefighters Share Video Of Them Driving Through Bushfires

Apart from humans, large-scale livestock and animal casualties are also expected across Australias east coast, though Mogo Zoo which is home to Australias largest collection of primates, along with zebras, white rhinos, lions, tigers and giraffes was saved. The wildlife park was threatened by an out-of-control bushfire, though zookeepers and firefighters managed to save all 200 animals.

Twelve people have lost their lives including three volunteer firefighters in fire-related deaths since the blazes first broke out after a three-year drought in large parts of the nation created tinder-dry conditions. Australias capital Canberra has also been covered in thick smoke, reaching about 20 times hazardous levels and prompting health warnings. The smoke has also drifted to New Zealand where it has turned the daytime sky orange across the South Island.

Read: Before And After Pics Show Devastation By Bushfires In Australia

Read: Maps Show Impact Of Australian Bushfires On European Countries
New FDA labels include nutrition info for eating that whole bag of chips or pint of ice cream originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

On Jan. 1, the Food and Drug Administration's new nutrition labeling rules kick in, ushering in a host of changes to the way that manufacturers are required to label packaged foods.

Perhaps most notably, new guidelines require two side-by-side columns: one with nutritional information for a single serving, and a second with information for eating the entire package.

2020 Nutrition Labels (ABC NEWS)

Manufacturers that yield less than $10 million in annual food sales will have until 2021 to comply with the new rules.

"We know that Americans are eating differently, and the amount of calories and nutrients on the label is required to reflect what people actually eat and drink," Claudine Kavanaugh, director of nutrition and food labeling in the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement.

(MORE: Health experts explain complications of new red meat study)

While consumers might not notice a huge change at first glance, Beth Kitchin, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's department of nutrition sciences, appreciated the enlarged and emboldened calorie information on the new labels, as well as the new emphasis on serving size.

Serving sizes are based on Americans' eating habits, determined by the amount people said they consumed in federal food surveys over the past few decades.

With foods that can reasonably be consumed in one sitting, like a pint of ice cream, "the serving size is not what you think it is," Kitchin said. "It's a really good change because so many times I've talked with consumers who were deceived by that."

Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the new label changes an "important step forward."

(MORE: Optimism has a surprising benefit: Better heart health, study finds)

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He pointed to the fact that manufacturers are now required to disclose added sugars on labels.

"Because higher added sugar intake has been associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, it is important to distinguish added sugars from natural sugars in a product," Hu said.

Consuming too much added sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PHOTO: Customers shop in the grocery area at a Target Corp. store in Chicago, Nov. 16, 2019. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

Differentiating between naturally occurring and added sugar could also clear up confusion among Americans who think that all sugar is bad for them.

Kitchin said that Americans who are trying to lower their sugar intake sometimes eschew foods like milk, which has naturally occurring sugar, and miss out on nutrients along the way.

"In people's overexuberance to decrease sugars, they may be decreasing some healthy foods," she said.

(MORE: Pope Francis calls for better nutrition access on UN World Food Day)

In general, Kitchin hopes the changes will encourage customers to take more interest in reading nutrition labels and prompt them to compare foods' nutritional information before they buy.

"Hopefully, the information on the new label will not only help consumers make more informed decisions about their food and beverage choices, but also motivate food manufacturers to improve nutritional quality of their products," Hu added.
This appeared in Thursday's Washington Post.

- - -

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is withholding two articles of impeachment from the Senate, pending assurance that the Republican leader of that body, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, will agree to a full and fair trial of the House's charges against President Donald Trump. Whatever else may be said about the speaker's move, and however long her holdout lasts, it has certainly taken advantage of some inevitable holiday-season downtime to focus attention on the Senate's role in the process. So far, that has meant much-needed discussion of McConnell's obvious - and obviously political - intention to go through the motions of a trial on the way to an acquittal.

Now fresh reporting from the New York Times has emerged to strengthen the Democrats' minimum condition of a real trial: The Senate must seek witness testimony from key players in Trump's attempt to strong-arm Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his political rival, former vice president Joe Biden, using congressionally appropriated military aid and promises of a White House visit as leverage. The Times reports, based in part on previously undisclosed emails, that acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney tried to freeze the military aid on Trump's behalf as early as June, prompting puzzlement and backlash within the administration - to the extent that Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-national security adviser John Bolton convened a White House meeting with Trump to urge release of the aid. Trump, apparently fixated on the idea that Ukraine had tried to defeat him in 2016, balked, asserting, contrary to Defense Department certifications, that Ukraine was hopelessly corrupt.

More than ever, therefore, the Senate and the public need to hear from Mulvaney and Bolton, the latter of whom made an unsuccessful individual plea to release the Ukraine aid on Aug. 16, according to the Times. Their testimony, and that of Mulvaney's top aide, Robert Blair, and Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey, has always been crucial, which is why House impeachment investigators initially sought it and - undoubtedly - why the White House refused to allow it.

Certainly, the House's demand that the Senate call these witnesses is undercut to some extent by its own failure to persist in trying to compel their testimony, hoping to avoid gettingbogged down in an extended court fight with the administration. Yet the question of whether the Senate should exercise its subpoena power to obtain relevant testimony is a separate issue, politically, legally and morally. A Senate leader sincerely interested in operating as head of an independent branch of government would have left no doubt that he intended to do so. McConnell has done the opposite, giving rise to Pelosi's very legitimate concerns.
But as visitors thronged the Newseum in downtown Washington on its final day Tuesday, few seemed to notice the small gray plaque in the floor on the third level. Beneath it rest remains of four news photographers killed in 1971 when their helicopter was shot down during the Vietnam War.
Pupils join in a game about the Chinese solar terms at Fuzhou Wushan Primary School in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 31, 2019. Fuzhou Wushan Primary School on Tuesday organized a New Year celebration event featuring performance and games about traditional Chinese culture. [Xinhua/Song Weiwei]

Pupils perform a drum dance at Fuzhou Wushan Primary School in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 31, 2019. Fuzhou Wushan Primary School on Tuesday organized a New Year celebration event featuring performance and games about traditional Chinese culture. [Xinhua/Song Weiwei]

Pupils perform Taijiquan at Fuzhou Wushan Primary School in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 31, 2019. Fuzhou Wushan Primary School on Tuesday organized a New Year celebration event featuring performance and games about traditional Chinese culture. [Xinhua/Song Weiwei]

Pupils dance with umbrellas made of paper and bamboo frame at Fuzhou Wushan Primary School in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Dec. 31, 2019. Fuzhou Wushan Primary School on Tuesday organized a New Year celebration event featuring performance and games about traditional Chinese culture. [Xinhua/Song Weiwei]

(Source: Xinhua)
3 1 of 3 Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Tara O'Neill / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





BRIDGEPORT  A person was shot in Bridgeport soon after the start of the new year, according to police.

Officials said on Twitter that a victim suffering from a gunshot wound arrived at St. Vincents Medical Center at approximately 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Nine wind turbine generators and land, belonging to a Gujarat-based company, worth over Rs 18 crore have been attached by the ED in connection with its probe in an alleged bank fraud case, the agency said on Wednesday.

The Enforcement Directorate case pertains to a Surat-based company Nakoda Ltd, its chairman and managing director (CMD) Babulal Gumanmal Jain, his son and joint MD Devender Babulal Jain and others.

The company, the agency said in a statement, "had availed fund-based and non-fund based financial assistance from a consortium of 13 banks led by Canara Bank and later on defaulted in repayment of loans to the tune of Rs 2,107 crore."



Probe found that the Jains "conspired" with a trader Puneet Rungta and Chartered Accountant Jagdish Somani to carry out "fake" sale and purchases of fancy fabrics with the companies floated by the latter two, it alleged.

"On the strength of fake purchase invoices, Nakoda Ltd opened 1,212 Letters of credit (LCs) with banks amounting to Rs 4,207 crore. Investigation also revealed that out of the 1,212 LCs, 202 worth Rs 827.98 crore devolved due to non-payment by the company," the ED charged.

"These fraudulently obtained LC based funds were laundered by Nakoda Ltd through circular transactions with various firms and then utilised for re-payment of various loans including term loans, interest, banking charges and as working capital for meeting day-to-day expenses towards running its plant and factory."



"These are not the purposes for which the loans were sanctioned," the ED said.

A total of nine wind turbine generators and land of the accused company located at Kulasekarapatti village in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu have been attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it said.

The total value of these assets is Rs 18.08 crore, it added.

ED initiated probe in the case on the basis of a CBI FIR.

The total attachment in the case now stands at Rs 393.79 crore as assets worth Rs 375.71 crore have been attached by the ED in the past.

Further probe is underway, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 2 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction programme "Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020" with a cross section of students and teachers from India and abroad to beat exam stress has been rescheduled to January 20 on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam and other festivals across the country. The programme was earlier scheduled for January 16, 2020.

The HRD Ministry claimed in a statement that "A lot of excitement and enthusiasm is being seen among the students, teachers and parents to not only participate in the unique event but also to receive valuable tips from the Prime Minister who is keen to ensure that the students take exams in a relaxed atmosphere and do not come under stress, to ensure better results in the long run".

The HRD Ministry in partnership with MyGov has launched a 'short essay' competition for students of classes 9 to 12 for the third edition of Prime Minister's Interaction Programme with school students "Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020".

The First edition of the Interaction Programme with school and college students was held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on February 16, 2018 and the second edition in January 2019.

The third edition of Prime Minister's Interaction Programme with school students was proposed to be held on January 16. "However keeping in view the school holidays in southern States on account of Pongal/Makar Sakranti, it has been decided to hold it on January 20", the ministry said.
New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the traditional early family fireworks show, held before the main midnight event, on Dec 31, 2019. (Photo: AFP/PETER PARKS)

Sydney ushered in the New Year with a huge fireworks display, kicking off celebrations for billions around the world and ringing in the new decade.

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Australia's largest city for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

Fireworks displays were scrapped in Australia's capital, Canberra, and Sydney's western suburbs due to elevated fire danger and extreme weather conditions but fire authorities said it was safe to go ahead over the water.

Critics wanted Sydney to use the A$6.5 million (US$4.5 million) spent on the display to fight bushfires ringing the city, but officials say the event is worth A$130 million to the economy and cancelling it would not help those impacted by the fires.

"We have committed to harnessing the enormous power of the event to raise more money for drought- and fire-affected communities," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

More than 100,000 fireworks are scheduled to light up the skyline for 12 minutes to about one million spectators who usually throng foreshores and parks.

"Is Sydney seriously still getting fireworks tonight when half our country is on fire," Twitter user @swiftyshaz13 said.

Crowds have been warned to take care as strong winds gusted in the harbour, forcing the cancellation of a boat display that would have blasted water into the sky - just hours before the fireworks were due to start.

CELEBRATIONS AMID UPHEAVAL

As the clock ticks past midnight, major cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas will embrace the celebrations, but in many places the festivities will be marked by turmoil and political upheaval.

After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong will usher in 2019 with a series of rallies planned for New Year's Eve.

Protesters are set to form human chains across the city, stage demonstrations at major shopping malls and hold "suck the eve" gatherings at major countdown attractions including the city's famed Victoria Harbour.

"This year there are no fireworks, but there will probably be teargas somewhere," said 25-year-old IT worker Sam. "For us, its not really New Years Eve. We have to resist every day."

Thousands in India also planned to greet the new year with protests, angered by a citizenship law they say will discriminate against Muslims and chip away at the country's secular constitution.

In Paris, 250,000 to 300,000 people usually gather on the Champs-Elysees to welcome the New Year, but turnout could suffer amid a gruelling transport strike that has spelt weeks of misery for commuters.

Midnight in London will be marked by the chimes of Big Ben, which has been silent during a long restoration, as traditional fireworks are set off over the Thames for the last new year before Brexit.

It follows a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging to leave the European Union on Jan 31.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is set to deliver his annual New Year address, 20 years after he was elevated to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin's shock resignation in his 1999 end-of-year speech.

Russia will celebrate the new decade over several time zones, with Muscovites flocking to the centre of the capital for fireworks over the Kremlin.

New Zealanders were among the first to welcome the new year, with fireworks lighting up the night sky over Auckland.

LOOKING TO 2020

As partygoers embrace the festivities, attention will turn to 2020 and whether it will be as tumultuous as the previous year, which saw an explosion of demonstrations as people demanded an overhaul of entrenched political systems and action on climate change.

The protests in Hong Kong, sparked by a now-abandoned bill to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, have since morphed into a popular revolt against Beijing's control.

The city's biggest crisis since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997 appears set to spill over in 2020, with protesters already preparing the year's protest schedule and the government showing no sign of backing down.

Anti-government protests also swept Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East in 2019, including mass demonstrations that brought down leaders in Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan and Bolivia.

Climate change sparked rallies worldwide calling for action, initiated by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, as temperatures soared above records, Iceland lost its first glacier to climate change, and Venice was swamped by flooding not seen in decades.

US President Donald Trump again dominated headlines in 2019, culminating in his historic impeachment by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on two counts of abuse of office and obstruction of Congress.

The Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to convict Trump in a trial expected to begin in January but the controversy over claims he pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, a rival in his 2020 re-election bid, will linger until the November poll.
After admitting that four persons were mistakenly arrested in Muzaffarnagar, the state authorities on Wednesday decided to review the arrest of over 1,200 people, languishing in jails, for their alleged involvement in violence that erupted in about 15 districts during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in Uttar Pradesh.

Many among those arrested were also served notices for recovery of cost of property damaged during the violence.

In Muzaffarnagar on Tuesday, a government clerk Mohd Farrukh and three others -- Atiq Ahmad, Shoaib and Mohd Khalid -- were released after they spent over 10 days in jail as they were found innocent.

Additional superintendent of police (City), Muzaffarnagar, Satpal Antil confirmed that four men were released on the basis of police report, under Section 169 of Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr PC), which found that they were not involved in violence.

Inspector general (IG) of police, law and order, Praveen Kumar said that the earlier order to constitute a Special Investigation Teams (SIT) at district levels, under supervision of additional SPs, was meant to ensure that people are arrested only after verifying evidences regarding their involvement in the violence. He said the SITs will consider the cases of people if they or their family members present evidences to prove their innocence.

Kumar said director general of police (DGP) OP Singh had sent a detailed order, dated December 23, 20-19, to constitute SITs for investigation in all the 327 FIRs registered in connection with widespread violence in about 15 districts. He said the SITs were constituted so that no innocent person got arrested or was kept languishing in jail if wrongly arrested. Besides, police officers have been asked to conduct investigation on merit basis and arrest people only after collecting proper evidence against them, he added.

Additional district magistrate (ADM), trans-Gomti, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, who is heading a committee to analyse property loss during the violence, too, confirmed that one woman had turned up before him to prove innocence of her son. He said the womans son is in jail and she approached him after she received notice for recovery of costs for public property damaged during the violence.

Mishra further added that more people may turn up to prove their innocence in the coming days. He said the district administration will consider dropping charges as well cancelling notices sent to them if their involvement was not found in the violence.

The woman, requesting anonymity, said her 20-year-old son, a B. Com final student, was in jail after being arrested for violence in Lucknows Khadra locality on December 19. I have the evidences that my son was not a part of the protest but no one listened to us, she said and added, I am struggling to get him out on bail.

Meanwhile, Rampur district administration has given the show-cause notices to 28 people for recovery of damages worth  25 lakh. District magistrate Aunjaneya Kumar Singh said, Notices may be dropped against two persons as they have proven that they were not involved in vandalism. We have identified the real culprits.
Defending a controversial Information Technology Bill, a ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker on Wednesday said the proposed legislation, which allows the authorities to tap phone calls without court orders, is aimed at checking the interference of foreign intelligence agencies, including from India, in the country's internal affairs.

Despite stiff resistance from the main Opposition party, the Nepali Congress (NC), the government on Monday tabled the Nepal Special Service Bill 2019 at the National Assembly.

"Foreign intelligence agencies -- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- have been interfering in Nepal's internal affairs and their activities need to be checked," National Assembly lawmaker Ram Narayan Bidari said during a parliamentary discussion on the Bill.

"I think that the Bill will help to minimise their unwarranted interference in our internal affairs once it is enacted," he added.

The draft legislation allows Nepal's intelligence agencies, including the National Investigation Department, to access and gather information relating to suspects.

Bidari said the Nepal government should have information regarding the secret missions executed by the foreign intelligence agencies in the country.

"For this, the government should tap phone calls of foreign intelligence agents working in Nepal," he argued.

Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada also defended the Bill, saying that it aims at strengthening the country's intelligence capabilities to counter threats to national security, sovereignty and integrity.

Under the Bill, an audio or audiovisual conversation at the individual or institutional level that is suspicious can be put under surveillance, monitored or intercepted.

The NC has argued that the Bill is against the spirit of the Constitution and international principles of freedom.

NC lawmaker Prakash Panta said his party was against the proposed law, which has been introduced with the ill intention of silencing the opponents of the government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kim Jong-un says the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by North Korea in the near future - KCNA via KNS

North Korea is to abandon its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, Kim Jong-un has announced.

Addressing a meeting with party officials, the North Korean leader also said the country would unveil a new strategic weapon in the new future, the country's official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," he is quoted as saying.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future."

North Korea has not tested a long-range missile or nuclear warhead since 2017 under a self-imposed moratorium.

But in recent weeks the North Koreans had been more bellicose as tensions escalated on the Korean peninsula.

Kim had signalled that Pyongyang was preparing a "gift" which would be unveiled if the US failed to make significant concessions in negotiations by the end of the year.

He paved the way for the move at a meeting of 300 top officials.

The North Koreans had been demanding the lifting of sanctions as a price for stepping up the pace of peace talks which appeared to have stalled.

His announcement will be a blow for Donald Trump who thought personal diplomacy could end decades of hostility.

A series of summits raised hopes that the US president's unconventional diplomatic approach could bear fruit.

Mr Trump, who had derided Kim as "Rocket Man", struck a different note over the summer praising the leader of the rogue regime.

The US president on Tuesday said he believed Kim would stick to his commitments on denuclearisation.

"We did sign a contract, talking about denuclearisation. That was the number one sentence, 'denuclearisation', that was done in Singapore. I think he's a man of his word," a tuxedo-wearing Mr Trump told reporters before heading into New Year festivities at his holiday retreat in Florida.

In Florida Mr Trump repeated his previous comments that he and Kim "like" each other and have a very good relationship.

Story continues

"He is representing his country. We will do what we have to do," he added.

Hopes had been raised further when the two men met at the demilitarised zone (DMZ) which divides North and South Korea at the end of June.

The US president maintained that the suspension of nuclear tests was evidence that his approach had succeeded where others had failed and that Kim could be persuaded to give up his nuclear arsenal.

In Washington officials had sought to play down the threat from Pyongyang, despite the increasingly aggressive noises coming from North Korea.

But in recent months relations have worsened and the North Korean leader struck a harsh note at the meeting of the ruling Workers Party.

"The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.

"We can never sell our dignity," he added, saying Pyongyang would "shift to a shocking actual action to make (the US) pay for the pains sustained by our people".

Kim added that "if the US persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy," according to the agency.

Kim and President Donald Trump have met three times since June 2018, but negotiations have faltered since the collapse of their second summit last February in Vietnam.

The North announced in December that it performed two "crucial" tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent, prompting speculation that it was developing an ICBM or planning a satellite launch that would provide an opportunity to advance its missile technologies.

North Korea also last year ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity by testing a slew of solid-fuel weapons that potentially expanded its capabilities to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases there.
Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador used his end-of-year address to criticize his predecessors for allowing Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman to enjoy the same power as a world leader.

'There was a time when Guzman Loera had the same power or had the influence that the then-president had,' Lopez Obrador said Tuesday via a video message on Twitter.

'Because there had been a conspiracy and that made it difficult to punish those who committed crimes. That has already become history, gone to the garbage dump of history. That will never occur.'

US prosecutors allege that former public safety secretary Genaro Garcia Luna accepted millions of dollars in bribes from Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel and in exchange allowed it to operate without interference.

Luna was arrested and charged in federal court in New York with three counts of trafficking cocaine and one count of making false statements. He had been living in Florida and was arrested in Texas.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (pictured) criticized previous administrations during an online end-of-year address in which he asserted that Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman to enjoy the same power as a world leader

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (pictured), United State prosecutors say, built a $12.6 billion fortune by trafficking drugs across the Mexican border to the U.S. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says El Chapo remained in power because he benefited from the same power and influence that his predecessors once possessed

From 2006 to 2012, Garcia Luna served as the public safety secretary under President Felipe Calderon. Before joining Calderons government, Garcia Luna led Mexicos equivalent of the FBI, the Federal Investigative Agency, under President Vicente Fox.

Meanwhile, Guzman is serving life in prison in New York on drug conspiracy charges.

Lopez Obrador has challenged the United States government, insisting that the jailed drug lord's $12.6 billion fortune -estimated by U.S. officials - belongs to Mexico and should be redistributed among the indigenous communities.

Prosecutors estimated that El Chapo generated at least $11.8 billion in cocaine, $846 million in marijuana and $11 million in heroin.

In July, Lopez Obrador questioned whether the notorious Mexican cartel leader even had such amount of money stashed away.

Ovidio Guzman Lopez (left), along with his brothers, is believed to be a leader in the Sinaloa Cartel ran by his father, Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, before he was jailed in the US

Some thought that the treasure could be hidden in some where within the 'Triangulo Dorado' [Golden Triangle], an area near Guzman's hometown of La Tuna which is surrounded by the states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa y Durango in northwestern Mexico.

'It was once said that this character, this man, this person, was among the richest in the world and I didn't agree,' said Lopez Obrador days after El Chapo learned of his fate.

'I truly believe that higher figures were given when there were traffickers of influence with much more money.'

Even with El Chapo locked away at a Florence, Colorado, super maximum facility where no prisoner has ever escaped from, his legend continues as one of his daughters debuted a clothing and accessories line.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador alleged that El Chapo's drug empire benefited from high-level officials who were corrupted with millions of dollars

The famed capo's power and influence proved to be true in October when gunmen tied to the cartel, now operated by his three sons and former associate Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, unleashed a war-like attack that stopped security forces from serving an arrest warrant for his son, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, that would have had him extradited to the U.S.

Lopez Obrador and his government were criticized for giving into the cartel's demand after the military officers were ordered to stand down.

In the video message, Lopez Obrador also asserted that he had already put an end to the high-level corruption that was rampant in previous government.

Standing in front of an ancient pyramid from the southern city of Palenque, where he is vacationing at his ranch, also recounted his administration's successes in its first year and highlighted its challenges - foremost surging violence that generated more than 32,000 homicides.

The leftist leader, who entered office in December 2018, stressed it was now just as important to draw a bright line between criminal elements and authorities so that the two sides do not mingle as they had in the past.
Members of a few Left-aligned unions on Wednesday held a demonstration here to register their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Protesters carrying banners with slogans like 'kagaz nahin dikhayenge' (will not show papers) and 'citizens against divide' assembled at Sector 17 here.

Lashing out at the central government, the agitators declared that they would not show any papers to prove their citizenship.

"We have launched a movement called 'kagaz nahin dikhayenge'. It will be a non-cooperation movement against our own government," said Manjit Singh, one of the protesters.

"It is unacceptable that people be asked to show papers in order to prove their citizenship," he said, adding that "this is the first government which is going against its own people".

The Congress-led Punjab government had said that it would not allow the CAA to be implemented in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. Importantly, Scholar Education Group (HKG:1769) does carry debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Scholar Education Group

What Is Scholar Education Group's Net Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of June 2019, Scholar Education Group had CN46.3m of debt, up from CN45.3 a year ago. Click the image for more detail. However, its balance sheet shows it holds CN599.2m in cash, so it actually has CN552.9m net cash.

SEHK:1769 Historical Debt, January 1st 2020

How Strong Is Scholar Education Group's Balance Sheet?

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Scholar Education Group had liabilities of CN363.8m falling due within a year, and liabilities of CN252.9m due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had CN599.2m in cash and CN1.40m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling CN16.1m more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

This state of affairs indicates that Scholar Education Group's balance sheet looks quite solid, as its total liabilities are just about equal to its liquid assets. So it's very unlikely that the CN5.25b company is short on cash, but still worth keeping an eye on the balance sheet. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Scholar Education Group boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

Story continues

And we also note warmly that Scholar Education Group grew its EBIT by 15% last year, making its debt load easier to handle. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Scholar Education Group's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Scholar Education Group may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. During the last three years, Scholar Education Group generated free cash flow amounting to a very robust 100% of its EBIT, more than we'd expect. That puts it in a very strong position to pay down debt.

Summing up

We could understand if investors are concerned about Scholar Education Group's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of CN552.9m. And it impressed us with free cash flow of CN52m, being 100% of its EBIT. So is Scholar Education Group's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. Above most other metrics, we think its important to track how fast earnings per share is growing, if at all. If you've also come to that realization, you're in luck, because today you can view this interactive graph of Scholar Education Group's earnings per share history for free.

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Police brace for violence in Hong Kong ahead of New Year's Day

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 9:35 AM

Authorities in Hong Kong have deployed thousands of police officers across the semi-autonomous Chinese city as protests are planned for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day that could potentially disrupt festivities and shopping in the territory.

The city is now bracing for violence as posts on social media posts are calling on people to take part in demonstrations and wear masks under the banner "Don't forget 2019! Persist in 2020."

Police said more than 6,000 officers would be deployed to deal with potential unrest over the New Year period, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper.

Protest organizers have called for a major rally for Wednesday, which they say will draw tens of thousands of people. The rally has received police approval to proceed.

The previous such rally was held in early December, with an estimated 800,000 people participating.

In a Facebook post, police commissioner Chris Tang issued a warning, saying, "If you use violence, you will not get public support. We, police, will do all we can to arrest you."

On Monday night, hundreds of people gathered in the Central District for a protest rally.

The city has been rocked by protests since June over a proposed bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China. The bill was later withdrawn, but the protests continued and took on an increasingly violent form.

China has condemned violence in the semi-autonomous region, blaming foreign powers, including the United States and Britain  the former colonial power in the city  for stirring anti-establishment sentiment and interfering in the country's internal affairs.

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Amid the unrest over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across the country, the Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) on Wednesday, January 1, participated in a candlelight march at Jamia Nagar in Delhi against CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

Several protesters took to streets from the association gate to the Jamia Millia Islamia University's gate number 7. As per reports, they were holding candles and singing patriotic songs.

According to the Vice President of the AAJMI, Faraz, they support the students who are protesting against the Act. "We will keep protesting until the government take any action in our support. The Centre should pass some resolution in the Act if they want us to end our protest."

Protests against CAA

The mood in the capital has been tense since buses and police vehicles were set ablaze in an outbreak of violence near Jamia Millia Islamia University two weeks ago. The police had claimed that the protesters torched DTC buses and a fire tender was damaged. However, the students claimed that the police baton-charged them when they were holding a peaceful protest.

In the early hours of Monday, 50 students were released by the police from the Kalkaji police station and the New Friends Colony police station.

Several violent protests have been erupting across Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh against the newly amended Citizenship Act, followed by the Jamia violence. Along with it, students across the country staged protests in solidarity. The anti-CAA movement has spread to more places like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pondicherry, Patna and so on.

Read: Tamil orator Nellai Kannan who said 'Finish PM,Shah' during anti-CAA SDPI protest arrested

The Citizenship Act was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 9 and then by the Rajya Sabha on December 11. The Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Read: MHA clears the air about upcoming NPR updation, asserts 'no documentation required'

Through this bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, and put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.

Read: Archery Association of India elections to be held on January 18 in Delhi

Read: After Karnataka & UP, Vadodara police to recover damages from anti-CAA rioters

(WITH ANI INPUTS)
Latulip left the area in his boat and entered North Point Marina, which he owns, Brock said. The conservation officer, with assistance from the Cedar Lake Police, tried to contact Latulip, but he was behind a locked gate, Brock said. It was there that officers hear what they thought was more gunfire coming from the docks, he said.
CHONGQING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition on relics about the rat, the first of the Chinese zodiac animals, is organized in Chongqing to greet the coming lunar Chinese New Year.

The exhibition shows more than 90 rat-themed cultural relics in the Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum. Highlights include rat-shaped jade accessories and clothes made of rat fur from years past.

A green jade exhibit drew the most attention. The small item is in the shape of a lychee fruit, with a carved rat appearing to hold the fruit. It indicates prosperity.

The public can also join in rat-themed riddle-guessing activities in the museum.

The event will last until March 29, 2020.

In accordance with the Chinese zodiac cycle, the Year of the Rat will start on Jan. 25, 2020 and last until Feb. 11, 2021, when the Year of the Ox begins.

Twelve animals, namely the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, are used to represent the Chinese zodiac to record the years and reflect people's attributes.

According to the Chinese zodiac story, in the competition held by the Jade Emperor to decide the zodiac animals, the quick-witted rat asked the diligent ox to let him ride on the ox's back as it crossed a river, and jumped down before the ox crossed the finish line, winning the race and becoming the first of the zodiac animals.
Newly appointed Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday paid tribute to the brave hearts who have sacrificed their lives for the nation at the National War Memorial in New Delhi. Then, he received a guard of honour at the South Block. General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday took over as the 28th Chief of Army Staff, helming the 1.3 million-strong force at a time India faces evolving security challenges such as cross-border terrorism and an assertive Chinese military along the border.

'I am aware of my responsibilities'

In his first media briefing after taking charge, General Naravane began his address by extending his wishes of the New Year to the citizens of the country. He said, "I am proud to take charge of the post of Chief of Army Staff. I am also aware of the responsibilities that come with it. I pray to Waheguru Ji to give me courage and strength to perform my duties as the Chief of Army Staff. This is the beginning of a new decade and I have faith that our nation will make immense progress."

'Will pay special attention to human rights'

He added, "This will be only possible when our borders will be secured. I want to assure the people of the country. All three services are ready to defend the country. Our Army is experienced to face future challenges and we will keep preparing. We are capable of dealing with any threats. Our priority will be to be operationally prepared at all times. We will continue to build up our capabilities especially in the North and North-East areas. We will pay special attention to the issue of human rights." He also spoke about India's border issue with China.

Army Chief's warning to Pakistan

Gen Naravane, who was serving as vice chief of the Army, succeeds General Bipin Rawat, who was appointed the country's first Chief of Defence Staff, a post created to bring in operational convergence among the three services. Issuing a warning to Pakistan, the new 28th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Manoj Naravane, in his first interview after taking charge on Tuesday said that Pakistan cannot fool anyone anymore as it wages a proxy war. He said that India had been a victim of terror for a long time, but now the world was getting aware of it. Talking on the increased ceasefire violations, he said that the Army was fully ready to foil all infiltration bids along LoC.

READ | Outgoing Army Chief Gen Rawat hails Indian Army's teamwork, says 'COAS doesn't work alone'

READ | Here's what outgoing COAS General Bipin Rawat said about his successor General Naravane

Before being appointed vice chief, the alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy headed the Army's Eastern Command that takes care of India's nearly 4,000-km border with China. With Gen Naravane taking charge, all the three services heads, including Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria, are now from the 56th course of the National Defence Academy. In his 37 years of service, Gen Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

READ | COAS Gen Naravane warns 'Pak can't fool world anymore' in 1st interview post taking charge

READ | Colonel VN Thapar lauds COAS Gen. Naravane's statement, asks Pak to mind its own business
Caoimhe Gallagher Lawson from Creevelea, Drumkeerin was among the top learners of 2019 in Northern Ireland who received recognition for their studies at the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessments (CCEA) largest ever award ceremony held at the Titanic building in Belfast on December 17.

Caoimhe received recognition as the top candidate for GCE History of Art, achieving the highest marks in Northern Ireland in the subject. Caoimhe was a pupil at the Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. On announcing the award, the presenters said of Caoimhe "A keen student of the creative arts, this student is no stranger to the top slot. Recently her A2 Moving Images Arts film, The Room in Barren and Red was awarded joint first prize at the CCEA Moving Image Arts Showcase in November."

Attended by more than 650 guests, Celebrate with CCEA recognised the outstanding achievements of first place students in CCEAs GCSE and GCE qualifications, and learners nominated by teachers and tutors in CCEAs Technical Qualifications.

Caoimhe said, "I am very happy to win this award. I have tried to maximise the opportunities that I have been given so far. It is wonderful that coming from a very rural location in Ireland, I can still reach for my dreams. I was so inspired that the majority of winners at these awards were female. I think that anyone who applies their full brainpower and maximum effort, as well as seizing the opportunities on offer, can obtain whatever goal they want. My aim after completing my film degree is to get work first as a film editor and then move into work as a film director".

CCEAs Chief Executive, Justin Edwards congratulated the learners for their achievements saying: This evening, we are delighted to be hosting, an inclusive award ceremony, celebrating our Technical Learners of the Year, alongside our top students in GCSE and GCE qualifications."

Sixty eight schools and colleges were represented at the ceremony with awards collected for 96 different CCEA qualifications.

Caoimhe is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Film and TV Production at the National Film School in IADT in Dun Laoghaire.

She attended national school at Creevelea, Drumkeerin.

Caoimhe is the daughter of Blaithin Gallagher and Johnnie Lawson of Creevelea, Drumkeerin and the granddaughter of Anna Gallagher and the late Pat, veterinary surgeon, Mohill.
Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Around four lakh devotees including Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre thronged the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Wednesday morning to seek holy blessings as they usher in the New Year.

Devotees took a holy dip in the savour in the temple complex on the first day of the New Year after paying their obeisance.

After surviving cancer, the 45-year-old actress Sonali Bendre along with her husband Goldie Behl also paid obeisance at the golden temple on the first day of 2020 as well as for her birthday.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal also visited Golden Temple on New Year and offered their prayers.

Talking with this correspondent, Golden Temple manager Jaswinder Singh said, On the New Year, around 4 lakh people paid their obeisance here despite the severe cold conditions. There was a massive footfall even at the langar (community kitchen) which recorded double the visitors. The langar also arranged a special tea for the pilgrims. We have made special arrangements of langar, carpets have been laid in the `Parikarma. Extra employees of the SGPC task force have been deployed for better crowd management. To welcome the New Year, the sangat participated in the `pratham ardas this morning.

"I along with my family wanted to start our new year with the blessings of the almighty. There is no better way to start the year by paying obeisance at the Golden Temple, said a devotee Gurpreet Singh.

Another devotee Dr Preeti Bir said, "People from across the country have come here to celebrate the New Year. It's always nice to visit Golden temple."

The parking space around the holy shrine was unavailable and the devotees had to park their vehicles a few kilometres away and walk down to the temple.

Also, the hotels and guest houses were totally booked.


BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The swift water rescue team for CalFire Butte County has stepped it up a notch.

The Office of Emergency Services, or O.E.S., has certified the team as a 'type-one'.

To meet the 'type-one' criteria, the swift water team had to go through specific training and equipment requirements.

Battalion Chief and team leader Sean Norman said the team trained in the Feather River Canyon on weekends and at night, not only swimming but operating rescue equipment.

Butte County's team is only one of 13 teams in California and the team can now respond to water disasters nationwide.
The United States will be deploying additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days, following an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, defense officials confirmed.

After violent protesters, including members of various Iran-backed groups, gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in response to defensive U.S. air strikes on Iraq over the weekend, the Pentagon said that an additional 750 soldiers from the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division alert brigade were being rapidly deployed to Kuwait. This is in addition to the Marines who are already on location protecting embassy personnel.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement.

Preparations are being made to deploy additional troops over the next several days, it added.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed, according to Fox News. The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify this.

The alert brigade which has been told to prepare for deployment is known as the DRBthe Deployment Ready Brigadeand is made up of about 4,000 paratroopers, Fox News reported. The unnamed officials told the outlet that the brigade had a 96-hour alert window to be dispatched to the region.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Iraq supporting local forces, along with their coalition partners. Since May, about 14,000 additional U.S. troops have been deployed to the region amid increased tensions with Iran, according to the Pentagon.

Esper said he authorized the deployment of troops at President Donald Trumps direction and in response to recent events in Iraq.

At the direction of the Commander in Chief @POTUS, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the @82ndABNDiv to the @CENTCOM area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq.  Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) January 1, 2020

US Embassy Attack

Embassy protesters, including supporters of an Iran-backed terrorist group, breached the outer walls of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Dec. 31, prompting the deployment of around 100 Marines, part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task ForceCrisis ResponseCentral Command from Kuwait.

Their arrival came after hundreds breached the outer wall, threatening the lives of Americans inside.

None of the terrorists or protesters breached the embassy itself, the State Department said.

Some Iraqi security forces, which include members of the militia, were keeping the groups at bay, but only after the protest turned violent as the crowd hurled stones at buildings and chanted, Death to America.

A contingent of Marines was inside the embassy awaiting reinforcements and two Apache helicopters were flown overhead as a show of force.

Early reports said the U.S. embassy was being evacuated but the State Department later said all U.S. personnel at the embassy were safe and that there were no plans to evacuate.

The groups who breached the embassy were ostensibly angry after the U.S. conducted defensive strikes, on the headquarters of the militia and terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria. The Dec. 29 defensive strikes were approved by Trump in response to the death of a U.S. defense civilian contractor who was killed in a rocket attack on a northern Iraqi military base following weeks of similar life-threatening attacks on bases with U.S. personnel.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified! Trump said in a statement on Dec. 31.

To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time! Trump wrote.

Reuters and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
The Glass-Glen Burnie Foundation plans to sell 20 acres where 70 single-family homes are planned. (Duncan Slade for The Washington Post)

Some Winchester residents say the project violates the wishes of the late Julian Wood Glass Jr. and the mission of the foundation created with his wealth.
Indian Army Better Prepared For Challenges at Pakistan, China Border - Chief of Defence Staff

Sputnik News

09:16 31.12.2019

New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian government on Monday appointed Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a newly created post announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech this year. As CDS, the general will act as the principal military advisor to the Indian Defence Ministry.

General Bipin Rawat, who has assumed charge as the country's first first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said the Indian Army is better prepared to take on the challenges along the Pakistan and China border.

"Yes, they are better prepared. I thank all the soldiers of the Indian Army who supported me in the last three years of my tenure", Indian media agency PTI quoted General Rawat as saying while talking to the press.

The new chief also took the opportunity to thank his successor Lieutenant General Manoj Naravane, who is scheduled to take charge as the new army chief on Tuesday and hoped that the "Indian Army will see greater heights" under his command.

General Rawat was in charge when tensions prevailed between the Indian and Chinese armies at Doklam for almost two months, as Indian troops objected to road construction activities conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the region.

The Doklam region falls near the borders of India, China and, Bhutan. Military documents released by India and Beijing in July 2019 indicated that the infamous 2017 Doklam border stand-off between the two strategic rivals was still alive.

Similarly, tensions continue to exist along the Line of Control (LoC), the de-facto border between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. There have been constant ceasefire violations on both the sides leading to the death of 10 soldiers.

Tensions have been on the rise between the two nuclear-armed nations since 14 February when 40 Indian security personnel were killed in a suicide bombing attack in Kashmir that was claimed by a Pakistan-based terror group.

In August, India revoked Article 370 - the special status of Kashmir - turning it into a federally administered union territory and separating it from Ladakh, another union territory. This irked Pakistan, prompting it to raise the matter at the United Nations and other international forums.

 Sputnik

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At some point during my visit to The Blind Goat, chef Christine Has new spot at Bravery Chef Hall, I realized this was the kind of contemporary Houston Vietnamese restaurant I had been awaiting for the better part of two decades.

It began to dawn as the contrapuntal flavors, textures and temperatures in a barbecue brisket spring roll expanded from my palate through my entire head, leaving me laughing in delighted disbelief.

Smoky beef from pitmaster Grant Pinkertons place, soft cool rice vermicelli, crunch of tart green apple batons and slivered carrot, and twingey herbs shining under a stretchy translucent rice wrapper. What had seemed improbable on the weekend-special sheet tasted brilliant, modern, quintessentially Houstonian.

Whats that crackle? I asked, as I dunked my roll into a dark funk of peanut sauce deepened with mango. Fried eggroll skin, chef Jimmy of the counter crew told me proudly, enjoying my surprise.

The surprises just kept coming at this casual counter setup, styled as a Vietnamese gastropub by chef Ha, the Houstonian who famously won the 2012 season of Gordon Ramsays MasterChef competing as The Blind Chef and who went on to write a bestselling cookbook. I first tasted her food some years back at a pop-up, and I loved the quiet assurance of the handful of dishes she served.

The Blind Goat *** Bravery Chef Hall, 409 Travis 346-298-1660 Hours: L&D daily (closed New Year's Day): 11 a.m-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday Prices: starters $6-$10; entrees $10-$14; dessert $6 Must-orders: pork belly skewers with grilled scallion; beef carpaccio with corn nuts, peanuts and Vietnamese herbs; Quexo and wonton chips; goat curry; Vietnamese pork belly pizza; dry chicken pho; Texas BBQ brisket spring rolls (weekends only); Rubbish Apple Pie a la mode with fish sauce caramel Noise level: moderate Reservations: first come, first served Parking: street parking and costly garages around Market Square Website: theblindgoat.com See More Collapse

Now, in the handsome and urbane context of downtowns Bravery Chef Hall, Ha finally has a format to show off her considerable talents. Her kiosk, with its long, U-shaped counter and open kitchen, is conveniently opposite Bravery Wine Bar, so you can pop right over for a glass of one of 30 wines on tap  nicely curated by Bravery partner Shepard Ross and well matched to your food choices by his savvy staff. (Theres beer if you like, too.)

The setup feels casual and fun. The prices are incredibly modest for such high-quality dishes and ingredients. And Has tight, smart staff of cooks and servers is a distinctly Houston joy. When I started hiring, I wanted my kitchen to look like Houston, Ha told me on one of my visits when she was in attendance, as she often is: glad-handing customers, conferring with staff, explaining her dishes to newbies. Shes a radiant presence, often at the side of her husband, John Suh.

The couple has traveled widely since her MasterChef win, and one result can be sampled in the form of Has texturally thrilling Vietnamese pork belly pizza, its crust a crackly, delicate marvel of two translucent rice-paper sheets, stacked together and crisped over the kitchens busy grill.

The pizza comes with a pair of scissors for cutting it into wedges. Its surface is a well-calibrated mesh of meaty grilled pork belly, pickled carrot and onion, and a glaze of sate mayo that makes umami-rich Kewpie seem boring. Its wild and fun to eat. Its what the kids are eating in Vietnam these days, Ha explained.

Ill bet they arent eating anything like Has stimulating version of queso  here styled quexo  in which a thick, satiny cheese mix subverts expectations with tamarind, red chile and funky little currents of shrimp powder. Scooped up with airy fried wonton chips, its delightful stuff, engineered to a proper slip and slide in part by Suh, whose eyes will light up if you ask him how they achieved just the right Houston texture.

More classic items are memorable here, too. I thought I was tired of pork belly until I tried it in simple, eloquent skewers threaded with lengths of white scallion bulb, which turned soft and sweet on the grill. Coconut, soy and sesame all vibrated in the glaze, and the pork belly itself  sourced from local Black Hill Farms, which operates Bravery Chef Halls Cherry Block kiosk just down the way  was more about meat than fat.

Its nothing without the onion, teased chef Thuy, one of the kitchen crew who served the skewers that day. Indeed, these were scallion bulbs in exalted form.

Theres a certain flavor shimmer to Has sauces and glazes that makes everything taste fuller and livelier than you expect. Its there in the Sticky Wings sparkling with lime, garlic and fish sauce, the chicken raised without hormones or antibiotics. It emanates more quietly from Has justifiably famous goat curry, the tender chunks of goat sourced from Black Hill Farms, their subtle curry sauce thrumming with coconut and lemongrass, with lashings of pickled mustard greens to pick up the flavors.

That gentle goat stew has all the aplomb of a dish you might find at a great French bistro, and then some. It works either with a cushioning bed of rice or with a hunk of baguette for dipping. And it tends to sell out, which does not surprise me.

Even a standard like dry chicken pho  a noodle bowl with broth served on the side to sip or dip at will  soars with its fine ingredients and textural flourishes here. The organic, free-range chicken from Hillside Cluckers blooms with pure flavor. House-made chicken-skin cracklings and golden bursts of fried shallot snap and pop on the sidelines. Theres even a perfect, half-runny sous vide egg to float in your broth, a little touch of luxury.

The only dish that failed to move me over three blissful visits here was the fried tofu bowl with rice vermicelli. Somehow the fried cubes of tofu had a severity rather than a lushness to them, and their accents of tamarind, toasted coconut and pickled vegetables never clicked quite enough to win me over. I could see where the dish was going, but it didnt pull me along for the ride.

Everything else did. Even a rosy, sliced-beef carpaccio in slightly too much marinade tasted exhilarating in its citrus bath, alive with notes of hot chile and fish sauce, herbs and sweet fried shallot. I actually laughed with pleasure when I realized the roasted-peanut crunch was augmented with cracked corn nuts for increased poppiness.

Its one of those little touches that animate Has food, and make me eager to see what she and her crew will accomplish as they settle into their space here, and hone their routine. Theyve just instituted a spectacular-looking whole fried branzino as a Friday night special, replete with beautifully coiled rice vermicelli bundles, pickled carrot and daikon, herbs and roasted peanuts, all to roll in lettuce leaves and dip in fish-sauce vinaigrette.

Ill be back for that and for Has deftly spiced Rubbish Apple Pie, a hand pie that uses star anise, ginger and lemongrass to upend your idea of what apple pie can be.

And I will wait, expectantly, for whatever Ha does next. Ive long pined for second-generation Vietnamese restaurants in Houston that push the boundaries, level up on ingredients and cook in a recognizably Houstonian style. I mourned the closure of Wayne Nguyens inventive Maba Pan-Asian Diner at the end of 2018. But with the recent advent of Nikki Trans Kau Ba Saigon and Has The Blind Goat, not to mention the excitement generated by both Blood Bros. BBQ and Khoi BBQ, maybe the market for such ambitions will develop.

Im optimistic. Bravery Chef Hall was conceived specifically as a platform for fledgling restaurateurs to get their feet under them without having to spring for the funds necessary for brick-and-mortar operations. Its meant to be a launching pad. Already the halls sushi guys from Kokoro have been able to open a very promising hand-roll spot, Handies Douzo, in the Heights.

Ha, with her high standards and the tight, complex harmonics of her cooking, seems just at the beginning of her powers. She is destined for bigger things. For now, go enjoy her talents in one of the citys liveliest new culinary destinations.
MaharashtraDeputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar paid tributes at the 'Jay Stambh' near here on Wednesday on the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle.

Lakhs of people congregate every year at the 'Jay Stambh' (victory pillar) near Koregaon Bhima village to offer tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Violence broke out during the bicentenary celebrations of the Koregaon Bhima battle on January 1, 2018 in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the congregation at the victory pillar, an official said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Pawar said he came to offer tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.

"This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar also urged people to visit the war memorial in a peaceful manner.

"I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the NCP leader said.

Prakash Ambedkar also offered his tributes at the victory pillar.

Pune Police last week issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from December 29.

The notices, as part of preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago.

Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima.

Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the violence to the Elgar Parishad conclave held here on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made.

They are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists to the Elgar Parishad conclave.

Several Dalit groups observe the anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle, in which the British defeated the Peshwas of Maharashtra.

The memorial, located at Perne village on Pune- Ahmednagar road, was constructed by the British in the memory of soldiers who died in the battle.

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory as soldiers from the Mahar community were part of the East India Company's forces.

The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits.
A Nigerian lady, Jessica Ufuoma, is counting her blessings in the last few hours of December 31, 2019.

In her post, Ufuoma disclosed that her life changed forever when she moved out of Nigeria to Canada. She noted that she had felt she was living her best years while in her birth country but knew better after she relocated to Canada.

According to her, the quality of life in the foreign land is excellent as she rates it 100.

Nigerian lady Jessica Ufuoma celebrates her relocation to Canada. Source: Twitter

Source: Twitter

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported the story of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission former Twitter handler with savage responses Fshaw who left the agency and relocated abroad.

Fshaw in 2017 while abroad tweeted to God about buying his own house and on Tuesday, December 31, he announced on same Twitter that he bought a house in September of 2019.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: We have upgraded to serve you better

How leaving Nigeria for Canada for 16yrs changed my life | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
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The idea of post-apocalyptic prepping has become more and more alluring, especially for the super-rich who are fighting to get their hands on a luxurious nuclear bunker.

For years a number of countries have been attempting to meet a growing demand for survival bunkers that could protect the world's elite from things like natural disasters, asteroids or a global pandemic all while offering lavish amenities.

Larry Hall is the brainchild behind such luxury developments which he refers to as 'Survival Condos'. The project is a luxury complex housed 15 stories below ground in a former missile silo near Concordia, Kansas.

The missile silos were originally built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s during the Cold War for the Atlas F missile, and there were 72 of them around the country.

All of the apartments in Hall's first complex sold out, but people have the option to buy a full-floor, half-floor or a penthouse unit in a second Survival Condo that is currently under construction.

A full-floor apartment, spanning 1,800 square feet, will cost buyers $3million, while a 900-square-foot, half-floor unit is $1.5million. The ultra-wealthy can also make a penthouse selection starting at $4.5million.

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The idea of post-apocalyptic prepping has become more and more alluring, especially for the super-rich who are fighting to get their hands on a luxurious nuclear bunker. The missile silo was originally built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s for the Atlas F missile, and there were 72 of them around the country

A single residential condo in the complex is nearly 2,000-square-foot in size and cost anywhere from $1.5million to $4.5million

For years a number of countries have been attempting to meet a growing demand for survival bunkers that could protect the world's elite from things like natural disasters, asteroids or a global pandemic all while offering lavish amenities. This photo shows a living room room inside the 'Survival Condos' in Kansas

The common room at the Survival Condo boasts a large red corner leather sofa, pool table and dining area

Larry Hall is the brainchild behind such luxury developments which he refers to as 'Survival Condos' (kitchen pictured). The project is a luxury complex housed 15 stories below ground in a former missile silo near Concordia, Kansas

Some of the silo's key features include an indoor shooting range, indoor pool (pictured) and a dog park

The condo's pool has a running waterfall and sun loungers

The Survival Condo is a 15-story inverted luxury tower converted from a cold war era missile silo. This photo shows one of several bedrooms in the condo

The silo was purchased in 2008 by Larry Hall, an ex-government contractor, property developer and doomsday prepper. The former Kansas silo is now an underground apartment complex complete with a bar, swimming pool, shooting range and million-dollar penthouses. This photo shows a classroom inside the structure

Hall says the space can accommodate 75 residents, where they can survive for up to five years of social, political or environmental catastrophe. This photo shows the exercise area in the condo

The converted silo is home to real estate moguls, financial entrepreneurs and doctors, awaiting apocalyptic collapse. This image shows a bar area in the condo

There's even a small cinema (pictured) complete with reclining chairs and a game room for bunker residents to enjoy

The movie theater, which has 17 luxury recliners, plus chairs and tables behind, is also located in the Survival Condo

The Survival Condo features a game room equipped with a pool table (pictured) and board games

This image shows a paddle board game (left) and the rock-climbing wall (right)

Some of the silo's key features include an indoor shooting range, indoor pool, exercise facility, a rock climbing wall and a dog park.

The luxurious structures also include a movie theater, an elevator and arcade as well as a library and classroom.

It is designed to comfortably survive any apocalyptic disaster such as global health pandemics, cataclysmic weather and terror attacks, including a nuclear one.

The windows are designed to simulate normal patterns of sunrise and sunset, and display views appropriate to their angles to simulate the feeling of being above ground.

Hall said of his customers: 'They worry about events ranging from solar flares, to economic collapse, to pandemics to terrorism to food shortages.

'It is not stereotypical "survival nuts" as portrayed in movies, but individuals with the desire to provide care and protection for their family.

The condo also has a store where cleaning items like the ones seen above can be purchased by residents

The store features non-perishable items such as the canned foods seen in this photo

This image shows a deli foods, fish market and fresh bread area in the Survival Condo

This image shows Unit No. 7 in the Survival Condo. Each kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances

This image shows the dining room area and living space in one of the units at the Survival Condo

In this image, a different angle of the kitchen and living space is seen in Unit No. 8

This image shows a his and hers bathroom with two separate sinks and mirrors in Unit No. 8 of the Survival Condo

'These are luxury, nuclear-hardened bunkers that are engineered to accommodate not just your physical protection but your mental well being as well.'

He added: 'It's a lot of fun building these.'

The complexes, constructed when the US built missile launch facilities across the Midwest, have multiple safety features.

For example, the walls of the silo are made out of epoxy-hardened concrete. They are nine feet thick and designed to survive a direct nuclear strike.

The dome structure that covers the silo cap can withstand winds in excess of 500mph. The survival condos are designed to hold up to 70 people and have enough resources to keep them alive for years.

This includes air and water filtration systems, a range of energy sources (including wind power), and the capacity to grow plants and breed fish for food supplies. Armed guards also patrol the entrance.

One of the most important features of the Survival Condo is that it is equipped with a surgery room and a dental room.

Hall's creation may be the most luxurious one, but his business is one of several companies that are answering the demand for structures that can withstand disasters.

The structure is designed as an underground village that features modern kitchen amenities (pictured)

Developer Larry Hall says people comment on 'how well they sleep' in the nuclear luxury accommodation

The complex is designed to comfortably survive any apocalypse, such as global health pandemics, cataclysmic weather, and terror attacks

This image shows a bed inside a bedroom of Unit No. 8 in the Survival Condo complex

Bunk beds are seen in this image inside Unit No. 11 of the Survival Condo complex

This photo shows the washer and dryer inside Unit No. 11 at the Survival Condo

Vivos, which is billed as the largest prepper community on Earth for those who think life above ground is doomed, is another bunker option.

The company has multiple locations in South Dakota, Indiana and Europe. South Dakota is the home of 575 bomb-resistant bunkers that can comfortably sleep 10 to 20 people each.

Europa 1 is dubbed the 'modern day Noah's Ark. It was built in a former Cold War-era munitions storage facility in Germany.

According to Vivos, the Indiana location is similar to a 4-star hotel that features a theater, an exercise facility and kennels. Some of these spaces go for $35,000 per person.

In Texas, Rising S Bunkers claimed to have constructed a 37-room bunker spanning 9,000 square feet in Napa Valley, California, for an Oscar winner, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The home reportedly features a sauna, jacuzzi, shooting range, theater and bowling alley. The property cost $10.28million.

One of the most important features of the Survival Condo is that it is equipped with a surgery room (pictured)

The Survival Condo is also equipped with a dental room (pictured), according to the company's website

The complex features aquaponics (pictured), which is a system that combines conventional aquaculture - raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks - with hydroponics - cultivating plants in water

The survival condos are designed to hold up to 70 people and have enough resources to keep them alive for years

The missile silos were originally built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s during the Cold War for the Atlas F missile. The survival bunker goes 15 stories underground, with some floors dedicated to apartment units, and others used for recreational activities

The complexes are situated below ground in an obsolete nuclear missile site, in the middle of Kansas

The Survival Condo Project is a luxury complex housed 15 stories below ground in a former missile silo, in Kansas

Meanwhile, The Oppidum in the Czech Republic has been described as being 'the largest billionaire bunker in the world'.

The facility was once a joint project between the former Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia - now the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Last year it was revealed that Silicon Valley millionaires were buying up $8million bunkers that were then sent over to New Zealand and buried 11 feet underground.

As part of a Silicon Valley sub-culture, some believe that New Zealand will be the ideal location to go once the world ends.

In 2018, it was reported that PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel built a panic room in his New Zealand property.

Bill Gates is also rumored to have these types of facilities across all of his properties.
One of the thorniest challenges of this moment is the difficulty of finding language adequate to capturing President Donald Trump's actual, openly stated positions. They are often so profoundly ridiculous or nakedly corrupt, or so audaciously saturated with bad faith, that we struggle to find ways to clearly convey what he's genuinely telling us.

Case in point: Trump is now openly calling for his impeachment trial to be converted into something that is purely devoted to serving his own political needs - one that only includes witnesses that will help him keep smearing potential 2020 opponent Joe Biden, but has no meaningful relevance whatsoever to the corrupt conduct for which he has been impeached.

Incredibly, this comes as Senate Republicans push for a trial that features none of the witnesses who actually do have direct knowledge of that very same corrupt conduct.

Trump just made all this very explicit in a Tuesday tweet:

"The Democrats will do anything to avoid a trial in the Senate in order to protect Sleepy Joe Biden, and expose the millions and millions of dollars that "Where's" Hunter, & possibly Joe, were paid by companies and countries for doing NOTHING. Joe wants no part of this mess!"

Trump is again suggesting he wants Biden to testify - he has repeatedly called for testimony from Biden and his son Hunter - and claiming Democrats don't want a trial because they fear this outcome.

This is utter nonsense: House Democrats have not sent the impeachment articles to the Senate because they first want to see what sort of procedure Trump and his GOP enablers will accept.

The ones who actually fear witnesses are Senate GOP leaders, who are refusing Democratic demands for testimony from those with the most direct knowledge of Trump's freezing of military aid to extort Ukraine into announcing an investigation of the Bidens. They are doing this to protect Trump - and themselves - because he's guilty as charged, and they know it.

Let's reiterate that Trump's deeper claim - about the Bidens' alleged corruption in Ukraine - has been widely debunked. This narrative holds that as vice president, Biden pushed for the ouster of a Ukrainian prosecutor to protect Hunter - who got a lucrative contract to join Ukrainian company Burisma's board - and withheld loan guarantees as leverage.

Here are the facts: The campaign to oust that prosecutor constituted an effort to root out corruption in Ukraine - that prosecutor was turning a blind eye to it. The push was U.S. policy widely backed by international institutions, which were also behind using loan guarantees as leverage. There was an investigation into Burisma, but Hunter Biden's role was irrelevant to that, and it was dormant by the time of Joe Biden's effort.

It's fair to say Hunter Biden shouldn't have joined Burisma. Obama administration officials worried it created the appearance that he was milking proximity to his father and selling influence over Ukraine policy. Joe Biden probably shouldn't have allowed this - though it's unclear what control he had over Hunter Biden - and it has created an aura of vague sleaze that Trump is exploiting.

But what's not in dispute is what Joe Biden himself did in Ukraine, which is at the core of Trump's false narrative.

Indeed, there's a deep irony here: Biden actually did work for years to root out kleptocracy and corruption in Ukraine, explicitly describing this as essential to drawing it into the Western orbit, and away from Russian predation, serving our national interests.

By contrast, Trump actually does not care a whit about corruption in Ukraine. He used it as his cover story for extorting the Ukrainian president to help him advance his own kleptocratic and corrupt designs, subverting our national interests to his own.

Perversely, Trump has been weaponizing his fake concern about Ukrainian corruption to pressure Ukraine into helping him magically transform Biden's actual efforts against Ukrainian corruption into the only "real" corruption in this whole saga. It's pure disinformation warfare.

Let's be clear: This is exactly what Trump wants his impeachment trial to keep on doing. It isn't just that Trump is unrepentant about extorting a foreign power to smear a domestic rival to cheat through the next U.S. election. It's that he wants his trial to pick up that same mission where his aborted plot left off.

Now, Trump might not get his way. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is privately warning against having any witnesses, fearing an unpredictable circus. Trump has confided that he gets McConnell's argument.

It's unclear whether McConnell will pull that off, since he needs 51 GOP senators, and vulnerable ones might balk. But he might.

If so, here's a possible game plan. Trump is calling for testimony from the Bidens to lay the groundwork for an endgame in which no witnesses testify. Trump's propaganda network will then push the narrative that not hearing from witnesses Democrats want is fair and balanced retribution, given that we're not hearing from the Bidens, either.

As Jonathan Chait notes, the incentives driving our media discourage them from adequately grappling with the most spectacular absurdity hiding in plain sight: The idea that Biden is vulnerable to charges of self-dealing and nepotism, when Trump's presidency has instituted both of those on such a monumental scale that our system is literally incapable of dealing with them. Coverage focused on Biden's "vulnerabilities" obscures this absurdity from view.

Similarly, the endgame I'm envisioning banks on media coverage that fails to capture the utter absurdity of Trump's trial demands. Not hearing from witnesses with direct knowledge of Trump's extortion scheme will be placed on a plane of equivalence with not hearing from the Bidens. It's all just Washington tit-for-tat!

This, even though Trump's demand is based on a purely fabricated narrative of invented conduct that is utterly irrelevant to the corrupt conduct for which Trump is being tried - conduct that actually did happen.

Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates eventually responded to Trump's tweet:

"It makes sense that Donald Trump is going into 2020 bawling like he's about to get fired. He was caught red-handed committing an unprecedented offense that no American president - not even Richard Nixon - stooped to: undermining our national security by trying to force a foreign country to lie about the political opponent he fears the most. He's also literally the most corrupt president in the history of our country, and as the Vice President has said, he should finally stop breaking his promise to release his tax returns or shut up."
Flames sweep through a rural community at the Blue Cut Fire near Wrightwood, Calif., on Aug. 17, 2016. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Professor Argues Private Homeownership Helps Cause California Wildfires

Californians insistence on owning their own homes is reinforcing the states rampant wildfires, according to a professor whose recent column has sparked controversy.

Americans aspirations of home ownership and belief in the importance of private property are reinforcing the conditions that lead to wildfires, Kian Goh, assistant professor of urban planning at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, wrote Dec. 23, 2019, in a column at the left-wing magazine The Nation.

Gohs claims run counter to those expressed by President Donald Trump, who has offered a different explanation for the severity of wildfires in the Golden State.

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor, President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on Nov. 10, 2018. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests.

But to Goh, economic freedom and Americans quest for self-betterment are the real villains.

Our ideas about what success, comfort, home, and family should look like are so ingrained, its hard for us to see how they could be reinforcing the very conditions that put us at such grave risk, she writes.

To engage with these challenges, we need to do more than upgrade the powerlines or stage a public takeover of the utility companies, she writes, adding, We need to rethink the ideologies that govern how we plan and build our homes.

Goh also embraces the unproven man-made global warming theory, arguing there is a climate emergency that justifies overthrowing our ideologies of ownership and property, and toward more collective, healthy, and just cities.

Gohs arguments are similar to those expressed by 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, an Antifa supporter and Time magazines Person of the Year. Thunberg calls for overhauling colonial, racist, and patriarchal systems of oppression to combat climate change.

Goh writes that Americans who want to optimize their lifestyle and own their own homes are part of the problem.

Cheap energyboth the monetary price of subsidized gasoline and the hidden costs of fossil fuelsand the idealization of individual homeownership have created the scorching landscapes we face today. Cheap energy is untenable in the face of climate emergency. And individual homeownership should be seriously questioned.

Goh also speaks fondly of the Green New Deal, which critics say is a totalitarian plan to de-industrialize America at an estimated cost of more than $90 trillion, and which has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent now seeking the Democrats 2020 presidential nomination. The plan, which calls for massive government spending on public housing, invokes prior eras of government intervention, lending itself to revitalized thinking about the social value of public goods, she writes.

If we can reframe debates about the future of cities beyond rote acceptance of property ownership, it will free up space for us to think about new, more just, and climate-attuned modes of urban living, she adds.

But Goh acknowledges that getting Americans to abandon the ideals of the American dream that have been instilled for more than 150 years will be difficult.

As of press time, Goh hadnt responded to requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

Critics disagree with Gohs views about the causes of wildfires in California.

They say that for decades, environmentalists ideologically opposed to economic growth pushed for new federal and state regulations that made it more difficult for Californias forestry industry to operate.

By 2017, employment in the industry in that state fell to half of what it was 20 years before, Chuck DeVore, vice president of national initiatives at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, wrote in Forbes magazine in 2018.

As harvesting permit fees rose and environmental regulations intensified, industry employees left the field and the combustible fuel load in the forest predictably soared, according to DeVore. There used to be an orderly burning of wood wasteincluding brush and smaller trees cleared by thinning effortsfrom timber operations, but [no] longer were forest management professionals clearing brush and thinning trees.

What used to be burned safely in power generators is now burned in catastrophic fires, he wrote.
An Irish paramedic working in Australia close to the bushfires has said the rural fire fighters are unpaid heroes.

Philip Walker, who worked with the National Ambulance Service in county Louth before leaving for New South Wales in 2013, said, the nearest fire to me at the minute is at emergency level and (they) are evacuating people out of what you would call suburban areas.

He lives with his wife Assumpta and their children Ralph (7), Gabriella (6) and Nathaniel (2), near Newcastle which is two hours north of Sydney, and he works as an intensive care paramedic.

Speaking in the early hours of this morning from New South Wales, he said there has not been any rain, no back burning of dead grass, a temperatures of 45 degrees and, now winds blowing at 30-40km, it is a recipe for disaster.

Helicopters are taking water from peoples swimming pools to dump onto the fires and some 60 of the 200 bush fires in the region are out of control.

The closest fire to him and his family is about 65 km to the south but two weeks ago we had fires in small inland towns that would have been some 30km west of where I am living.

He said the problem with trying to tackle the fires is that it involves vast areas of bushland.

"It is not somewhere you can drive a fire truck to; you can have a two or three day heads up that there is a fire there but you cant get a fire truck to it. There are no roads into these places, it is like outback.

The rural firefighters are resourced and funded and he said, they are highly skilled at what they do. These are specialists who work specifically in these rural areas to fight bushfires and contain bushfires and protect property and life and farms.

You could have 20,000 hectares of a farm here (and) they are specifically trained to protect these types of area in the Australian bushland.

He said they do this for free and the guys on the ground are volunteers, of all ages, male and female and they travel hundreds of kilometres to help in other communities too.

He lives with 80 hectares of bushland at the back of his property and he has their passports and other important documentation as well as a weeks supply of clothes for their children, all packed in a box in the back of my car. The minute we are given the warning (to leave) we just jump in the car and drive.

There are days you wake up and you cant see the sky because it is covered in smoke. There could be a bushfire 50kms away from you and you are totally unaware of it one day and the next day your whole area is smoky, it all depends on the wind.

He said the fire fighters are unpaid heroes. They have their own businesses, have own careers. I know people who are GPs, vets, nurses, people who own own bakery is and they are all out doing this.

He said they cannot be thanked enough for what they are doing and, They do not want rewards. You see these guys falling asleep at the side of the road when they are taking a break in a field, just rolling their jacket up and making a cushion and having a sleep.

They might do 18-20 hour days, have a 3 or4 hour nap and then they are back in the truck again. We are talking around about 2,000 fire fighters currently deployed fighting fires around New South Wales.

As a paramedic he says he is asked to be on stand by and provide the fire fighters with support and help as they can get dehydrated and become unwell. We have a very small part to play in comparison to what these guys are doing.
A brave bushfire survivor has relived the terrifying moment she thought she was going to die when the trees surrounding her home 'spat fireballs'.

Sherrie Nye was at home in Mogo on the South Coast, of New South Wales, on Tuesday when the fires tore through the small town.

The environmental ranger broke down when recalling the moment she thought she'd be burned alive.

Sherrie Nye stands in plumes of smoke and recalls the moment she throught she'd be burned alive

'Yesterday I thought I was going to die. I thought I was going to lose my life.'

'I don't prey to the lord very often, but yesterday I've never preyed so bloody hard.'

'I held my dad's cross close to my chest and I preyed as had as I possibly could.'

Ms Nye called the Rural Fire Service when she and 20 others realised they were trapped - surrounded by flames.

Sherrie Nye hugs her brother after reliving her horrifying near-death experience on New Year's Eve

'We felt abandoned. We rang the RFS for help and they pretty much said that there was nothing they could do and that we had to fend for ourselves,' she told 7 News.

'The trees were throwing fireballs at us. I watched a neighbors house get stung by a fireball and just burn.'

While Ms Nye was lucky to have her home, many others in the community weren't so lucky.

'We've only got a small community and it has just devastated our community.

'But we're strong, we're resilient, and we will rebuild.'

Giraffes are seen stranded in an open field as bushfire moves in on Mogo Zoo. The animals were saved by zookeepers

Zookeepers at Mogo Wildlife park also battled the blaze on Tuesday.

Staff fought spot fires for hours to save hundreds of animals.

Zoo Director Chad Staples use his home to shelter smaller animals including monkeys and red pandas.

'At 6am we started putting water everywhere we could, wetting everything that could become fuel,' Mr Staples told Sunrise.

'Lions, tigers, gorillas and orangutans went into their night dens and we kept them calm.'

'We drove around and whenever we saw a flame spring up, we jumped onto it.'

The zoo is home to the nation's largest collection of primates.

RFS crews protect properties along the Old Hume Highway in southern NSW earlier in December

At least 200 homes were destroyed on the NSW south coast and the main streets of towns such as Cobargo and Mogo are unrecognisable.

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that eight people had died in bushfires in New South Wales and Victoria since Monday.

Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, were among those dead after they tried to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found passed away in the Gippsland region on Wednesday morning

The third person confirmed dead was found in a motor vehicle in Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola.

A total of 125 fires were blazing across NSW as of Wednesday evening.

Hope is fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland holiday region on the Victorian coast, following the deadly New Year's Eve blaze.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found passed away in his fire damage residence in Buchan in the Gippsland area on Wednesday morning.

His body was discovered by his nephew Jason who informed the rest of the family.

There are 46 fires still burning and 43 properties have been destroyed in the popular holiday destination.
Sonny Mehta, the Indian-born, Cambridge-educated editor who for more than 30 years presided over Alfred A Knopf and the New York publishing scene with seemingly effortless grace and erudition, died Monday at 77

Sonny Mehta, the Indian-born, Cambridge-educated editor who for more than 30 years presided over Alfred A Knopf and the New York publishing scene with seemingly effortless grace and erudition, died Monday at 77. Mehta published Nobelists and Pulitzer Prize winners as well as first-time authors, and here he is remembered by some of the writers whose careers he shaped.

John Banville

I loved Sonny for his grace, his insouciance and his sly, quiet humor. When he first told me of the mysterious, debilitating illness that attacked him some years ago, he described how one day he found himself fallen onto the pavement on Central Park South and unable, for the moment, to get up again. Naturally, people just stepped over him  Manhattanites always have somewhere very important to go to  but then a pretty young woman stopped, as pretty young women will, and knelt beside him and asked what she could do to help. Sonny, relating this to me, did one of his wistful smiles, and said, You know, she really was very pretty." Of course, soon his wife, Gita, urgently summoned, arrived to rescue him.

He loved the world and his loved ones, and was a great champion of good books in particular and of humane culture in general. The death of every noble man makes a slight, ignoble adjustment to the world. He would have wished us better times ahead. I shall miss him to the end.

Omar El Akkad

They used to warn you, before you first met Sonny Mehta, not to be intimidated by the silence. Don't let it throw you off, my agent told me, he just doesn't say much.

Truth is, he didn't have to. The best writing advice I've ever received came delivered from him in single sentences  simple yet deeply nuanced advice I would think about for months, each time arriving at the realization that what he suggested was exactly what the work needed. His gift, I think, was to read every manuscript twice at the same time  once for exactly what it was and once for everything it could be.

I'm not sure my friends outside the writing world believed me when I told them I had the finest editor in the world. But I did. More than anything I have achieved or ever will achieve, those rare afternoons spent in Sonnys office listening to him dissect the inner workings of a novel will always be the fondest memories of my career. He came to literature from a place of love, and that love is evident in every book he ever touched.

Bret Easton Ellis

I often felt intimidated by him. I first met him in 1986, when I was 21 and had been flown to England and was being introduced to the U.K. publishing world; Sonny had just published my first novel, Less Than Zero. The second night I was in London, I was at Sonny and Gitas home. Sonny was very solicitous, to the point of asking the young American writer where hed like to have dinner that night  we were with a group  and I suggested sushi? not really grasping the culinary limitations of London in the mid-1980s, expecting that Japanese restaurants and sushi bars were as popular there as they were in Los Angeles. I remember a distinct hesitation fell over the living room as we finished our drinks, and then Sonny waved it off and spent the next 45 minutes not only locating a Japanese restaurant that served sushi but one that was open and could accommodate a party of six. An hour later, we were seated in a somewhat deserted Japanese restaurant far from Sonnys house. I was mortified that I had caused this complication, and I remember telling Sonny: Really, you did not need to do this. Please, he said as he lit a cigarette, youre the writer. The writer always comes first."

Joseph J Ellis

When I somewhat surprisingly won the National Book Award in 1997, Sonny and his lovely wife, Gita, were seated at my table. He leapt up, tried to stand on the chair while cheering, then gave me a push to go up to the stage and accept the award. No one was more visibly happy for me than Sonny.

Deborah Garrison

I revered him, as everyone who worked with him did, without it being spoken or needing to be expressed. He wasnt interested in any of that. What always struck me about him as a leader was how profoundly interested he was in the opinions of his editors, and what a good listener he was. So few people on his level listen as keenly  it was a truly rare quality; he had to draw something out of you. When you finally got into his office to discuss a book you might want to acquire, it was like time stopped: He looked up and gave this his full attention and was so unhurried in this conversation about whether a writer or project would belong to us and why. There was always a crucial moment where hed pause and say very deliberately, Well, what do you want to do? He didnt pronounce We should do X or I want you to offer X ...  he just wanted to find out what you thought, how much you loved this project and where it would fit in for us and what you wanted to propose in going after it. It was like he was looking to see in us the spark and joy that he always felt in the presence of a great book, and we were kind of turning it over together and examining it  and nothing could be more important.

Carl Hiaasen

Sonny was my editor for the last 29 years, and a dear friend. He was always the most interesting person in the room  and yet the quietest. The first time I went to meet him, I was completely intimidated. I got to his office at 10 in the morning, and there was a bottle of Scotch already open on his desk. I thought, This is going to work out fine.

I remember when I was finishing one of my novels he announced he was coming to South Beach to do the final edit face to face, which wasnt our typical routine. I was worried that he didnt like the final draft and wanted to tell me in person.

When I arrived at his hotel, I found the manuscript in neat little stacks all over Sonnys room. We spent less than an hour going over his notes, and the rest of the night we hung out on Ocean Drive, eating and drinking. It was winter, and basically Sonny just wanted a fun trip to Florida. Looking back, I wish wed done it that way on every novel.

Salman Rushdie

I first met Sonny in London in 1982 when he was at Picador, in Britain, and about to publish the paperback of Midnights Children. I arrived at his office, and after he said hello, he handed me a copy of Ryszard Kapuscinskis book about Haile Selassie, The Emperor. "You have to read this, he said. Its the best book Im publishing this year. Humility was the first lesson he taught me.

In 1986 I visited Nicaragua and wrote a first draft of a reportage book about the Sandinistas and the Contra war, which Sonny, in Britain, and Elisabeth Sifton (another sad loss this year), in the United States, would publish as The Jaguar Smile. This was when I learned how great Sonnys editorial skills were. We went through the draft line by line, and he asked questions, wanted clarifications, demanded more depth and improved the text beyond all measure. The book in its published form owes everything to him.

In 1990 we had a profound disagreement over my novel Haroun and the Sea of Stories, which strained our friendship for some time; but five years later he was the passionate publisher of The Moors Last Sigh and insisted on accompanying me everywhere on my United States book tour, and then everything was all right again.

He was on the phone a lot during that book tour, because he was also publishing a novel by Dean R. Koontz at the time. Its doing very well, he told me. We just printed 400,000 hardcover copies. Once again, his great support for my work was accompanied by a lesson in humility.

When he was honored at the Center for Fiction gala last year, Sonny abandoned the taciturn habits of a lifetime and spoke at great length, and with deep emotion, about his life in books. All of us who heard him that day were greatly moved, partly because it was such a shock to hear him speak so openly  and so much!  and partly, I think, because we feared it was a sort of farewell. Its so sad, today, to know that it was.

Richard Russo

Many years ago, when I was in London to promote one of my early novels, Sonny Mehta somehow found out that I was in town and invited me for a drink at his flat in Knightsbridge. He also invited an Iranian novelist he wanted me to meet. The invitation was especially generous given that, if memory serves, I was then published in hardcover by Random House, though Vintage, Sonnys imprint, published me in trade paperback. He and I had met maybe once or twice before in New York. But of course hed read my early books and no doubt surmised from these that I was a small-town boy who would be feeling a bit out of his depth in London (I was), and that with this invitation he would make me feel both welcome and important. Anyway, at the end of a very pleasant evening we decided to go out for a bite to eat. It was raining, though, and the restaurant was a bit too far to walk to, so a taxi was in order. Outside Sonnys flat, the Iranian novelist said, "Well probably have more luck if we let Richard hail it." My first reaction was puzzlement. Why would someone like me, who hadn't a wealth of experience hailing big-city taxis, be more likely to succeed than my two urbanite companions? But before Id even fully articulated the question, I understood. I had light skin. I remember glancing at Sonny, whose sad expression seemed to say, "Hes right, you know." Even now I can feel the profound embarrassment of acknowledging this shared truth about the world we lived in, and the look on Sonnys face suggested that he, no doubt a regular victim of that same world, was also deeply embarrassed.

In fact, I think thats what Ill remember most about Sonny, the impression he so often managed to convey: not just that the world needed to be a kinder, fairer, better place than it was, but also that he might somehow be partly to blame, that hed been aware of the worlds imperfections for some time now and meaning to do something about them, but it had somehow slipped his mind and so, as a result, here we were with no choice but to genuflect before its ugliness. In a world where far too many people refuse to take responsibility even for what is clearly their fault, here was a man who felt responsible when he wasnt. A man, in other words, whose moral imagination could be counted on. The kind of man youd be pleased to give your book to when you yourself couldnt make it any better.

Edmund White

After my novel A Boys Own Story was turned down by my previous London publisher, Sonny bought it, surrendered his own office for interviews with every small gay bar publication, arranged for a sellout public event at a trendy theater, gave a chic party at his house, where his jet-set wife arrived after jumping out of a plane with Viscount Linley, the queens nephew, and where the beautiful whippet wore an expensive pearl necklace and half the guests were sniffing cocaine. He sold 100,000 copies, and the publicist, Jacqui Graham, won a prize. A heady moment for a simple guy like me from the Midwest.

c.2019 The New York Times Company
The fiancee of a firefighter who has been missing for 12 days has shared new CCTV footage of some of his last known movements before he vanished.

Anthony Knott, a 33-year-old father-of-four from Orpington, Kent, disappeared on December 20 after going to the pub in Lewes, East Sussex, with friends.

Police have carried out extensive searches on foot and in the River Ouse, but have now called these off - although will continue with 'further specialist search tactics'.

Mr Knott left The Lamb pub in Lewes at around 7.16pm on December 20 and was captured on CCTV approximately half an hour later walking nearby.

Now, Viv English, landlady at the Lansdown Arms in the town, has shared footage of him entering and leaving her pub with his friends - as well as standing outside.

His fiancee Lucy Otto shared the footage on her Facebook page along with a police update which said officers had done a 'huge amount of work to locate him'.

There has been no activity on Mr Knott's phone since 7.20pm on December 20 and it has been off since 1am on December 21, while his bank card has not been used.

Lucy Otto and her fiance Anthony Knott, a 33-year-old father-of-four from Orpington in Kent

Alongside her CCTV video, Mrs English wrote: 'Sorry, no new information but this is some clear footage of Anthony and his friends at and leaving the Lansdown Arms.

'Hope it jogs some memories. We immediately watched on until gone midnight, but do not see him again sadly. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'

Mr Knott, who works for the London Fire Brigade, is described as white, approximately 6ft and of medium build, with medium-brown short gelled hair.

He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved top, a dark denim suit-style jacket, jeans and black shoes. He is also said to have a distinctive gait, with a slight bounce.

Searches of the River Ouse in Lewes for missing firefighter Mr Knott continue on December 23

A police spokesman said yesterday: 'We continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Anthony Knott with a huge amount of work to locate him having taken place.

Mr Knott, 33, went missing on December 20 after a night out with firefighter colleagues

'Foot searches in the area of the Pells, Lewes have been exhausted following an extensive and thorough search led by specialist search advisors. Further specialist search tactics may take place in the next few days and the investigation continues.

'We would like to thank the public for their tremendous support, in particular those who have sent in potential lines of enquiry which officers are currently looking into.'

Mr Knott had been on a work night out with 12 fellow London firefighters, and police said there was nothing to suggest he had left the town.

Speaking last week, Miss Otto told Sky News: 'I just feel numb... it's very strange. It's the not knowing, it's terrible. I don't understand how someone can just walk out a pub and disappear.

'There's no eyewitness statements, there's not much CCTV, there's nothing really to go on. And to be gone for this long, I just don't get it, I just do not understand it.'

Police said there was nothing to suggest Mr Knott had left the town of Lewes

'I know the weather was really bad that day and there was bad flooding, I don't know if he's tried to come home and come across some water and hurt himself. But there's been search and rescue teams looking for him.'

She added that they had been 'really excited' for Christmas and had been looking forward to 'fun, family time'. She called for anyone in the vicinity of the pub to contact police with any details they can remember.

In a direct message to her fiance, she added: 'If... you're worried and you're thinking, 'Oh I can't come home, this is too big now', honestly, you don't realise how many people want you back regardless of the situation you left in - if that is the case. So just come home, please just come home.'

Police divers are pictured near the River Ouse in Lewes, West Sussex, searching for Mr Knott

On Monday, Detective Inspector Jon Gillings told BBC Breakfast that 'at present' police have no indication where he went on the night he went missing.

He added: 'We are focusing our search in the vicinity of the Pells, which is the direction he was last seen walking when he left the pub.

'But obviously there is now some additional CCTV which shows him heading in a different direction slightly later on at 7.40pm so we are also focusing a number of inquiries around that.'

When asked whether there is 'any indication at all of where he went', Mr Gillings said there was not.

Flooding in the area had made the search 'challenging', he said, adding that boats, dogs, drones and helicopters have all been used to assist with the ongoing search.

It must be a 'horrendous' experience for the family and specialist police officers are providing them with support, Mr Gillings said.

CCTV footage previously released by Sussex Police shows Mr Knott walking through Lewes shortly after detectives say his phone had been switched off.

Police have asked anyone with any new information to make contact with us, quoting Operation Barnstaple, so these new lines of enquiry can be progressed.
During a telephone conversation on December 31, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin agreed that the approval of lists for future mutual release should begin immediately, therefore, already in January 2020. Before the approval of the lists, it is impossible to say the names and how many people will be agreed to swap. However, we hope that, subject to fast work and technical capabilities, future mutual liberation will take place in the winter of 2020," she said.





Today, December 31, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It is reported that the leaders of the states congratulated each other on the upcoming holidays and the mutual exchange of held persons, which took place on December 29. The parties also congratulated the conclusion of the gas contract.

"During the conversation, the leaders of states also agreed to immediately proceed to agree on lists for the release of Ukrainians, among others Crimeans who are in Crimea and in Russia, and Russians held in Ukraine," - the Presidents Office said.

It is noted that the parties expressed the hope that a complete ceasefire along the demarcation line in the Donbas will begin in the near future.
The Bachelorette's Angie Kent and Carlin Sterritt have shared adorable pictures as they picnicked in Byron Bay on New Year's Day.

Carlin, 32, took to Instagram on Wednesday to capture the picture-perfect moment, which saw the couple lounge in the sun.

He captioned the post: 'Bringing in the New Year with this one. 2020 Vision'.

Scroll down for video

Say cheese! On Wednesday, The Bachelorette's Angie Kent (left) and Carlin Sterritt (right) shared an adorable gallery of snaps as they picnicked together in Byron Bay

In an accompanying video, the personal trainer and Angie, 29, are also seen rolling around, heartily joking in the background.

'He thinks I look really pretty right now,' Angie laughs.

Despite their fame, the couple clearly liked to keep things low-key on the day as they fooled around on a simple blanket while cattle grazed in the background.

Angie dressed for comfort in a loose fitting shirt while Carlin went topless and lounged around in some shorts.

Quiet time: Despite their fame, the couple clearly liked to keep things low-key on the day as they fooled around on a simple blanket while cattle grazed in the background

It comes after Angie revealed on Tuesday that 2019 was 'the best year of her life' after she soared from small-time celebrity to a household name.

The reality star said the key to her success was simply 'letting go' and seeing where life took her, in her epic, reflective rant.

'I started off my year living in Mumma Africa for I'm A Celebrity Australia... and re-found myself amongst the chaos and met some absolute soulmates in that jungle I called home,' she said.

So much fun: Angie Kent took to Instagram to celebrate 'the best year of her life'

'As soon as I landed back in Sydney the universe continued with the adventures and presented me with the opportunity to finally say yes to love,' she added.

The diminutive blonde then reflected on her time on The Bachelorette.

'I made connections way more than I ever dreamed I would. I had my heart hurt, and I hurt other hearts. All in the name of love and vulnerability. And nothing is more powerful than love.'
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Virginia Roberts Giuffre and her husband Robbie celebrate New Year's Eve

Virginia Roberts Giuffre has tweeted out her New Year's wish that the powerful friends of Jeffrey Epstein face consequences.

'Happy New Year to all the people in the world who want to see a change!! Lets make 2020 a year to be remembered in history as the year we took down the 1% who thought they were above the law!!' she tweeted on New Year's Eve.

The message featured a picture of her and her husband celebrating and was signed 'From Virginia & Robbie.'

Roberts claims Epstein, who died behind bars in August, forced her to have sex with his wealthy and powerful friends, including Prince Andrew when she was 17.

Prince Andrew, 59, who resigned from royal duties after a disastrous Newsnight interview last month, denies having sex with her and claims he can't remember meeting her despite a photograph of him with his arm around her.

Earlier on Tuesday, Roberts lashed out on Twitter at Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who is accused of acting as Epstein's pimp and procuring young girls for him and his friends.

Ghislaine Maxwell is pictured with Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, who says that the Duke of York slept with her after Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to London

Maxwell, the daughter of alleged Mossad operative Robert Maxwell, is one of several close associates of Epstein under investigation by the FBI.

She denies procuring underaged girls for Epstein, but she has so far not been interviewed by authorities and her whereabouts remain unknown.

'How is anyone, friend or family member, hiding such a monster?? 99% of the population would turn [in] Ghislaine Maxwell. Who's hiding who and why??' Roberts tweeted.

'Maxwells downfall will be her arrogance- in her eyes always above the law,' Roberts added.

Epstein's death in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14

Virginia Roberts claims Ghislaine Maxwell (right) recruited her into Jeffrey Epstein's (left) circle before the financier forced her to have sex with his wealthy and powerful friends

'She is diabolically evil. I would suggest to whoever is hiding her or knows whereabouts she is, to turn her in as shed easily throw anyone who gets in her way under the bus,' she continued.

Epstein died in federal custody while facing sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide by New York City's medical examiner, but his lawyers have disputed that finding.

Epstein's death in August, at age 66, came a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. Prosecutors said he recruited girls to give him massages, which became sexual in nature.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  Authorities arrested 11 people for littering in Luneta Park just as they welcomed the New Year, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said Wednesday.

Manila police arrested the revelers caught leaving trash around the public park in the middle of the New Year's eve festivities, he added.

PLtCol Ariel Caramoan, commander of Station 5 of the Manila Police Department, said two others were apprehended for drinking alcohol in public places in the city.

Still, Antiporda cited improvements compared to previous celebrations held at the park, also known as Rizal Park. He said garbage hauled this New Year was less than half the 50 metric tons of trash left behind on Christmas, and residents who lit firecrackers on Tuesday night were quicker in sweeping debris from the streets.

Presidential Decree No. 825 signed in 1975 penalizes the improper disposal of garbage.

The Environment official called on local governments to pass ordinances or implement a heftier 1,000 fine for anyone caught littering, as well as for those not segregating waste.

'Unhealthy' air

Air quality also spiked to "very unhealthy" levels as 2020 started, he said, noting an increase in the use of firecrackers compared to a year ago.

"From 11 p.m. to 2 p.m., the general air quality in Metro Manila was very unhealthy. But since na-disperse na ang paputok na ito na may metal contents, we encourage people to wear masks," Antiporda said in a media briefing, noting that 2019's New Year parties involved fewer pyrotechnics as it was a rainy evening.

He pointed out that cities around Bonifacio Global City in Taguig had heavily polluted air after a series of fireworks displays.
A nti-Islamic slogans have been painted on a building close to a mosque and cultural centre in south London, Scotland Yard said.

Officers were called at around 11am on Wednesday to a building near to the North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre on Brixton Road following reports that "anti-Islamic slogans" had been spray painted on a building near to the centre.

The force said it was working alongside Lambeth Council to remove the "offensive remarks" from the building in Brixton as soon as possible.

Inquiries are ongoing at this time as part of a full investigation, the force added.

Labour MP Florence Eshalomi tweeted about the incident.

The member of parliament for Vauxhall wrote: "Disturbing to hear of a racists incident at the North Brixton Islamic Cultural Centre- it was reported that anti Islamic slogans had been spray painted on building opposite the cultural centre"

Sadiq Khan said he was "disgusted" by the graffiti, which comes just days after anti-Semitic symbols were daubed across several shop fronts and a synagogue in north London.

The London mayor tweeted: "Disgusted to hear that Islamophobic slogans have been spray painted near the North Brixton Islamic Centre.

"@metpoliceuk are working with Lambeth Council to have them removed, but let me be clear: all prejudice is cowardly and criminals will face the full force of the law."
Former Khmer Rouge member Ao An last week said he agreed with the national judges at the pre-trial chambers of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal that his charges should be dropped, which was contrary to the decision handed out by their international counterparts. The pre-trial chamber of the hybrid court was split in its decision on whether to uphold the indictment against Ao An, who was a regional deputy commander in the Khmer Rouge regime. The three national judges asked for the charges to be dropped and the two international judges called for the case to proceed to trial. The chamber was ruling on appeals filed in relation to contrary rulings made by the co-investigating judges in 2018, where again the national judge called for the case to be closed and the international judge ruled that the case should proceed to trial. I would like to request all [international judges] to agree with the national judgesto end my case, said Ao An, from his home in Battambang provinces Kamreang district. Prior to the ruling, Ao An had also spoken to VOA Khmer at his home, while cleaning his backyard. He said that the court had wrongly charged him and that the case was invalid, in his consideration. Ao An has maintained his innocence calling for an end to the case. I ask all of you (judges) to drop charges and pardon me, for all these things I have not done, he said prior to the pre-trial chamber verdict. With a 3-2 split, the pre-trial chamber could not find the required supermajority on whether to drop the charges or proceed to trial, with no procedures in the courts framework.

Ao Ans legal team said the ruling confirmed that the former Khmer Rouge members charges should be dropped and that all five pre-trial chamber judges had agreed that contradictory closing orders violated the courts legal framework and they could not decide on how to proceed. Nevertheless, the judges were unable to reach a unanimous decision on how to proceed  and there is no rule or mechanism to clarify what happens next, the statement reads. Immediately after, the national co-prosecutors team issued a statement, seemingly agreeing with Ao Ans legal team that the charges should be dropped and case closed. The international co-prosecutor, instead, pointed to the judges use of the term considerations rather than decision, saying the conflicting orders were not a final ruling because of the lack of a 4 to 1 majority. Contrary to some media reports, the Pre-Trial Chambers Considerations do not acquit Ao An or conclude the case, said international co-prosecutor Brenda J. Hollis, in a statement released December 24, 2019. The case symbolizes the gridlock that the Khmer Rouge Tribunal finds itself in. After the conviction of Kang Kek Iew, or Duch, and Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, the court has not had any more convictions or cases moving to trial. Additionally, following Nuon Cheas death in August 2019, his and Khieu Samphans appeal of one of their charges also remains uncertain. Earlier in December, the hybrid court heard similar appeals to conflicting closing orders issues by co-investigating judges in the case of former Khmer Rouge naval commander Meas Muth. The co-investigating judges were again split on whether to proceed to trial. The former Khmer Rouge cadre has also maintained that he was not a senior member of the Khmer Rouge hierarchy and not most responsible for the atrocities committed under the regime, the two key factors that have to be satisfied to proceed with trials and that have caused deadlock in all the outstanding cases.

Speaking to VOA Khmer prior to his appeal hearing, Meas Muth said that charges against him needed to be dropped and that he should not be prosecuted for crimes he was not responsible for. "If as per the law, [I] am not in the jurisdiction of the tribunal because I am not the most senior leader or the most responsible person, why would the international judges still want to prosecute?" The decision on Meas Muths case is expected in early 2020 and will again be a bellwether for the courts future, and the cases of other accused persons, Ao An and Yim Tith. Bryant Ben, a Khmer Rouge victim now living in Long Beach, California, said the hybrid court needed to keep in mind all the victims of the regimes atrocities to resolve the procedural deadlock. In a statement released by the Center for Justice and Accountability, a U.S.-based human rights legal organization, Bryant Ben said the court had to render justice for the victims. The trial, no matter if its long time or sooner, for me as a victim I can never forget it, Bryant Ben said. Its so important that the court render justice for the victims who are not be able to stand up to directly to confront the case at the court.
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It was so scary and so surreal but also, something with hope, Ms Window said. We were going. At about 6pm, a convoy of 63 vehicles escorted by fire trucks snaked west along the Murray Valley Highway. From those whod sheltered from the fire in the school hall, only a dozen chose to stay behind. Ms Gates-Foale describes it as one of the saddest drives shes ever taken. On the outskirts of Corryong, they saw evidence of miraculous work by CFA crews, whod managed to save houses surrounded by scorched land. Through the little town of Colac Colac, where residents had been evacuated the previous night, everything was black. The couple watched the fire approaching Corryong from the balcony of the Courthouse Hotel. Hills that had been green two days earlier were smouldering. Trees by the roadside were still alight. They passed the blackened carcasses of dead cows, with bloated bodies and legs stick-straight. Fire was burning on both sides of the roadside.

Leading stricken families along a dangerous, fire-impacted road is the last thing emergency services personnel want to do. Yet, in a summer like this, normal rules dont always apply. Over a chaotic 24 hours, Ms Gates-Foale and Ms Window discovered this for themselves. Their ordeal began on Monday by the grassy banks of Nariel Creek where, since the 1960s, tie-dyed campers have welcomed the New Year with folk music and dance. At about 4pm event organisers said there was a fire approaching and laid out their plans to defend the campsite with wheelie bins of water. Ms Window had already made contingency plans in case of fire and identified the nearby town of Corryong as the place to go. She booked a room, packed up her family and left their caravan behind.

A few hours later, Isobel Maginn also left the campsite. A friend of Ms Window and Ms Gates-Foale, she has two young children. At about 9pm, a police car cruised through the Nariel Creek campground. I saw blue and red lights flashing and someone saying get out, she said. Im like, kid one, kid two, get in the car. Driving north along the road to Corryong, Ms Maginn was confronted by an ominous sight. Through the smoke haze and fading light, she could see the peak of Mount Pine alight. The fire looked like molten lava. At the pub the friends watched the fire on the mountain grow. At first, it was a glow on a distant peak. Then it leapt to Mount Mitta Mitta, the peak closest to the town. It was like a cancer, said Ms Gates-Foale. I cant believe how fast it spread. At the pub, the locals seemed unperturbed. They explained that, due to the topography of the local hills, fire would never reach Corryong. They encouraged the women to relax on their hotels balcony and enjoy natures show. Theres plenty of beer, they assured them.

Ms Window wasnt convinced. She could find no information about the fire other than a low level alert on an emergency app. She spent the hot night manically refreshing the app but despaired that no one else seemed to be taking the situation seriously. Everyone stands around like they think they know what is going on, she said. Im out on the street, Im having the closest thing Ive ever had to a panic attack. I felt my heart was ripping out of my chest. The scene from the Courthouse Hotel as fire moved towards Corryong, breaching two ridges including Burrawa Pine Mountain and Mount Mitta Mitta. She couldn't see any police or CFA crews in town. Close to midnight, she hailed a passing SES worker who had returned from the firefront with a smoke-streaked face. He told her shed be safer in Tallangatta.

In a mad dash, they strapped Adia in the car and drove towards Tallangatta, back towards the fire. They got as far as Colac Colac, where a police officer at a makeshift roadblock said the road wasnt closed but neither was it safe. He told them to go back to Corryong. Loading Back at the pub they slept for a couple of hours. They woke to the sight of distant houses and sheds exploding in fire. (Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp on Wednesday said between 10 and 15 structures were destroyed in and around Corryong.) By now the town was in darkness, save for the generator-lit glow of the IGA supermarket. The app finally updated and the news was not good; bushfire was upon them, it was too late to leave. When you read that, it is basically kiss your butt goodbye, Ms Window said. They drove through the smoke to the high school. There, inside the hall, they find a distressing scene. Elderly people are sleeping on mats on the floor. Children are choking on smoke. People are crying. Some have just lost their homes.
Three civilians were killed Wednesday in an air raid on a town south of Libya's capital Tripoli, a spokesman for the UN-recognised government said.

"Three were killed and three wounded in an air raid on Al-Sawani," Amin al-Hachemi, spokesman for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, told AFP.

Al-Sawani lies around 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the capital and under GNA control.

Tripoli's southern suburbs have been hit by deadly fighting since eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive against the capital in early April.

Several shops were badly damaged in the air raid, Hachemi said.

On their Facebook page, forces loyal to the GNA published pictures of badly damaged buildings and vehicles, and accused pro-Haftar forces of carrying out the raid.

GNA forces said in a statement that they had captured 25 pro-Haftar fighters on Wednesday.

Libya has been mired in conflict since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with rival administrations in the east and west vying for power.

According to UN figures published last month, clashes around Tripoli since April 4 have killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters, while over 140,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fans will likely debate who the strongest Avenger is, but according to Marvel head Kevin Feige, there is no debate. Recently, he revealed the identity of who the most powerful person in a postAvengers: Endgame universe.

Actors Elizabeth Olsen, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and Pom Klementieff, (Middle L-R): Actor Scarlett Johansson, President of Marvel Studios and Producer Kevin Feige, actors Robert Downey Jr., Zoe Saldana, Chris Hemsworth, and Letitia Wright, (Bottom L-R): Actor Tom Holland, Director Anthony Russo, actor Josh Brolin, Director Joe Russo, and actor Chadwick Boseman attend the Global Press Conference at the Avengers: Infinity War Press Junket in Los Angeles, CA April 22nd, 2018 | Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney

Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch is the most powerful hero

When asked about it at the New York Film Academy, Feige confirmed that Scarlet Witch, played by Elizabeth Olsen, was the most strongest Marvel hero right now in a world after Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Feige essentially said that Maxmioff had the ability to kill Thanos, but was unable to follow through.

He said, If you look at Endgame, Wanda Maximoff was going to kill Thanos. If he hadnt desperately  thats as scared as Ive ever seen Thanos. And if he hadnt said, Decimate my entire team to get her off of me, I think she wouldve done it.

Given comic events Scarlet Witch being the most powerful makes sense

It is perfectly plausible that Scarlet Witch is the strongest Avenger in the film universe because shes one of the most powerful characters in the comics and has defeated numerous villains.

Also, there is, of course, the elephant in the room  her lineage. In most of her character history in the comics, she has been the daughter of Magneto, although this was retconned.

How Wanda will be one of the most important people in the MCU going forward

With most of the original Avengers now gone, Scarlet Witch will be one of the key Avengers and could even be one of their de facto leaders. She, along with TChalla/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), The Falcon (Anthony Mackie) will be crucial in guiding Earths mightiest heroes.

As far as the next steps, Olsen will star as Scarlet Witch in Disney+s MCU series, WandaVision. She will also star in the Doctor Strange sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness with Benedict Cumberbatch. Both series are important pieces of work in phase four of the MCU because they will likely deal with time travel and the multiverse.

WandaVision will also introduce another character who will be very important to the Marvel movies going forward, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris).
Amazon homeless shelter bathroom

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Amazon is building a homeless shelter on its Seattle campus.

The shelter will be run by Mary's Place, a nonprofit that has worked with the company for years.

The nonprofit's executive director, Marty Hartman, said "it's not on corporations" to solve Seattle's homelessness problem.

She thinks Mary's Place is already on a path to ensure that no child in the county sleeps outside.

Visit Businessinsider.com for more stories.

It wasn't the news that Marty Hartman expected: In the spring of 2017, Amazon offered her a space in its Seattle headquarters to open a homeless shelter.

Her organization, Mary's Place, is a nonprofit that provides shelter for homeless families in Seattle. It had been operating a shelter out of a Travelodge hotel on Amazon's campus since 2016. The stay was supposed to be temporary, since Amazon planned to renovate the building for its own use.

"I was fully expecting that we would close and move on and just be grateful for the opportunity," Hartman told Business Insider. "We just really wanted to make sure that we were good neighbors and we got out on time. We had no idea that they had even been thinking about building us a permanent home."

Hartman expects to move into the new space sometime in the first quarter of 2020.

When the shelter opens, it will have the capacity to serve 275 people each night. That's a small portion of the local homeless population  about 12,500 people in King County, where Seattle is located  but it's expected to be the largest family shelter in Washington state.

The shelter will offer individual, private rooms for families, who are allowed to bring pets. In "hygiene areas," occupants can take baths (many shelters only have showers), and an industrial kitchen is expected to produce 600,000 meals per year.

The space is located across the street from the Amazon Spheres  prominent glass domes that double as an employee workspace and greenhouse.

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"It will be about a 46% increase in the number of shelter beds that we currently have," Hartman said.

Hartman doesn't blame Amazon for Seattle's homelessness crisis

Mary's Place first opened as a day center for single homeless women two decades ago.

"We were always open to seeing children, but we rarely saw any," Hartman said. "But in 2009 families started coming to us at a rapid rate and it broke our hearts."

Amazon homeless shelter

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

The following year, the organization opened its first night shelter for women and children.

Seattle saw a considerable rise in rents and home prices after Amazon built its campus there in 2010. From 2007 to 2017, the median rent in Seattle increased by nearly 42%, compared to 18% nationwide. Homelessness in Seattle has also risen by 9% each year since 2014.

While some residents attribute this escalating homelessness crisis to Amazon's presence in Seattle, Hartman blames a lack of affordable housing.

"It's not one entity that's going to solve this," she said. "It's not on corporations. It's not on congregations. It's not on government. It's not on foundations. It's all of us working together."

Amazon will pay the rent on the new space

Mary's Place now operates 10 shelters (not including the Amazon space). The nonprofit is known for repurposing dilapidated buildings  including a former bank, sheriff's office, and restaurant  and turning them into temporary homeless housing. One of its centers, located in a former hospital, is reserved for homeless families with critically ill children.

The Amazon shelter will be its largest space yet, with enough beds and blankets for around 400 families each year. The shelter will also have room for 75 additional people during weather emergencies. Two floors (30 rooms in total) will be reserved for families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

"I think it takes all the best of Mary's Place and puts it in one location," Hartman said.

Amazon has offered to pay for the space's utilities, maintenance, and security for the next 10 years  or as long as Mary's Place needs it. It's also covering the rent.

Mary's Place will be responsible for funding its own operations, programming, and staff in the space. The organization told CityLab that those expenses could amount to $2 million a year.

Amazon homeless shelter construction

Mitch Pittman/Amazon

Hartman said one of the biggest advantages of the new shelter is that it's centrally located in Seattle. That places it within the epicenter of the city's homelessness crisis, but it also makes it easier for people to volunteer.

"I see this shelter as a community center where you won't know who are guests and who are volunteers," she said.

Amazon employees can volunteer at the shelter

At the new shelter, Mary's Place plans to operate health and legal clinics, where Amazon has offered to provide pro bono counseling.

The seventh floor of the building has space set aside for Amazon employees to teach coding classes, read to children, or provide resume help or mock job interviews for adults. Hartman said Amazon employees are welcome to come chop vegetables, rock babies, organize birthday celebrations, or throw dance parties.

"We want everybody to come in and use their skills, but mostly to be in relationship," she said.

The organization's mission now, she said, is to make sure no child in the county sleeps on the street.

"That child outside tonight that might be on a feeding tube, that's waiting for a kidney transplant, that just wants to graduate from high school or their mom wants to see take their first step  those are things that we can solve," she said. "We can bring them in and they will move to housing. It'll just take a minute. It's one season of their life."

Read the original article on Business Insider
French ministers are looking into legal action and cutting a state allowance for novelist Gabriel Matzneff following accusations he sexually abused a 14-year old girl in the 1980s.

French publisher Vanessa Springora alleges the acclaimed author Matzneff groomed her into a damaging relationship as a teenager. Matzneff, now 83, was 36 years her senior at the time.

In Le Consentement (Consent), to be published in France on 2 January, she relates the psychological hold Matzneff had on her and the years of depression she suffered as a result.

She was 13 when she met the author in the 1980s at a dinner with her mother. Matzneff, then 50, bombarded her with letters, followed her in the street, and when she was 14 they began a relationship.

He would wait for her outside school and even moved into a hotel with her to avoid a visit by police to his flat, following a tip-off.

At 14, youre not supposed to find a 50-year-old man waiting for you at the school gate, youre not supposed to live in a hotel with him or find yourself in his bed, she writes.

In a message to LObs weekly magazine on Sunday, Matzneff wrote of "the beauty of the love" between him and Vanessa, but described the book as a hostile, mean, disparaging work designed to damage him.

The under 16's

Described as a #metoo moment for Frances literary circles, the book has reopened debate over the notion of sexual consent and sparked controversy over Frances erstwhile indulgent attitude towards its artists when it comes to sexual relations with minors, now punished as pedophilia.

Springora is the first of Matzneff's alleged victims to come forward and denounce him but his penchant for young girls has never been a secret.

He has written about his relationships with teenagers, including Springora, in novels and published diaries. He has also written about sex tourism in the Philippines with underage boys.

In 1974 he published an essay Les moins de seize ans (the under 16's) revealing his appetite for young girls.

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In 1990 he was invited on the popular literary show Apostrophes hosted by Bernard Pivot. An extract of the show - which has created a huge buzz on social media in recent days - shows Pivot questioning Matzneff with an amused tone about his sexual attraction for "the under 16's". The audience giggles, Pivot gives a wry smile.

The only guest to call Matzneff out is Canadian novelist Denise Bombardier who compares him to "these old men who entice children with sweets".

"Were it not for your literary aura," she said, "you'd have been brought before the courts."

Bombardier was vilified at the time for finding fault with an acclaimed writer who was simply reflecting the May '68 generation of sexual libertarianism.

She told media in Quebec that Springora had thanked her for speaking out against Matzneff.

Vanessa said that [my comments] had given her the strength, after 30 years, to write and decide to talk about it. I did what I had to do.

Moral products of a [changing] era

Bernard Pivot has been much criticised on social media.

You have been soft on a pedophile. You have expressed no disgust, no indignation, no empathy towards the victims," feminist collective #NousToutes said in a communique.

Pivot evoked changing times in his defence.

"In the 1970s and 1980s, literature came before morality; today, morality comes before literature," he tweeted on Friday. "Morally, thats progress. Were all more or less the intellectual and moral products of a country and, above all, an era.

Possible prosecution for promoting pedophilia

In her book, Springora describes how police interviewed Matzneff after an anonymous tip-off but there was no follow up. Now, 30 years later, the time limit for bringing a legal case has passed.

Whats more, the alleged acts from the 1980s are too far back to be covered by current laws in France which make sex with children under 15 a criminal offence, but accept that 15 year olds are able to give their consent.

Child protection campaigners would like to see Matzneff prosecuted for promoting pedophilia in some books still in circulation.

And French officials are keen to show they are taking the Matzneff allegations seriously.

Minister for the Protection of Children, Adrien Taquet, said he had instructed staff to determine if prosecution could be envisaged against Gabriel Matzneff.

He said the writer had "pushed horror to the point of relating his acts in his books [] and campaigned for pedophilia in his diaries.

Culture Minister Franck Riester meanwhile said he was looking into ending a centuries-old allowance given to writers by the state-financed National Book Centre and from which Matzneff benefits.

A literary aura is not a guarantee of impunity, he tweeted, echoing the comments made by Denise Bombardier back in 1990.

Matzneff also benefits from social housing in Pariss literary 5th arrondissement, dating back to 1994 when former president Jacques Chirac was mayor of Paris.

There have been calls to have Matzneff evicted but Paris City hall told French media that given his low income and age it had no legal basis on which to demand he leave the property.

The Humbert Humbert of the Left Bank

In 2013, Matzneff won a prize for his essay Seraphin, Cest la Fin, in which he criticised modern puritanism. The same year, Le Point magazine, which Matzneff still writes for, compared him to Humbert Humbert, the narrator of Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita. It described hilm as the Humbert Humbert of the Left Bank.

In 1977, Matzneff published a tribune in Le Monde in which he gave his support to three people convicted for having sexual relations with 13 and 14 year old teenagers.

The children were not victims of the slightest violence. [] There is a clear disproportion, between on the one hand defining a "crime" which justifies such severity, and the nature of the allegations", he wrote.

The tribune was signed by several major intellectual figures of the time: Louis Aragon, Roland Barthes, Simone de Beauvoir, Gilles Deleuze, Jean-Paul Sartre, former culture minister Jack Lang and French doctor Bernard Kouchner.

Ongoing support

Attitudes have changed with the times and thanks to testimonials from victims, pedophilia is now seen as scandalous, not a proof of love for a child.

That said, Matzneff continues to find support in some cultural circles.

Freedom of expression is important, says Etienne Gernelle, head of Le Point weekly for whom Matzneff continues to write a column on religion and spirituality.

Matzneff has never been convicted. The very same papers which, 30 years ago, said making love with children was good, in the name of 68 morals, would like to fire these same people.

Other supporters claim Matzneff is the victim of a witch hunt.

I loathe pedophilia but I also hate street justice, author and journalist Franz-Olivier Giesbert told Le Monde.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : The Swachh Survekshan (SS) League 2020, which monitors cities on the basis of cleanliness, quantifies cleanliness into three crucial segments -- usability of toilets, faecal sludge management and waste management.

SS League is conducted in three quarters - April-June, July-September and October-December - with the aim of sustaining the on-ground performance of cities along with monitoring of when it comes to cleanliness. A total of 4,237 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) cities participated in the league.

The measurement indicators within the Survekshan were redesigned to capture whether initiatives taken by cities are sustainable in the long run, thus going beyond ODF status and looking into the sustainability other crucial segments, which includes meeting protocols ward of a ULBs, and bylaws and regulatory compliance, contributing to quantify cleanliness in the country.

Indore ranked first consecutively in first and second quarter results of the SS League, among the cities where population is more than 10 lakh. Indore's success establishes that ULBs have efficiently complied with protocols, regulations and bylaws. This year a fourth assessment protocol, citizen feedback, was introduced under Swachh Bharat Mission, which includes certification of cities on ODF+/ODF++ and star rating of garbage free cities by independent third parties.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs secretary Durga Shanker Mishra had said Indore, which was number one in the past three sanitation surveys, continues to occupy the top slot in the first two quarters of 2019. Bhopal, second in the first quarter, was replaced by Rajkot (Gujarat) in the second quarter. Surat was at third position in the first quarter, but Navi Mumbai replaced it in the second quarter rankings.

Jamshedpur, in the category among with population between 1 lakh and 10 lakh, was at the top in both quarters. New Delhi Municipal Council ranked fifth in the SS League, and the other municipal corporations ranked very poorly on the table. South Delhi Municipal Corporation was at 138; East Delhi Municipal Corporation ranked at 240; and North Delhi Municipal Corporation ranked at 282.

A national-level survey of cleanliness of cities is slated to begin from January 4, leading to the final Swachh Survekshan 2020 rankings.

(Sumit saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in)
Irish voters can expect more than just political candidates knocking on their doors this year ahead of a general election, with activists out canvassing now too.

Environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) Ireland have been knocking on voters doors since as early as November.

XR is a global movement of activists who have raised awareness about climate change by occupying bridges in London and other major cities around the world.

Celebrities such as REMs Michael Stipe and Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood have publicly supported the movement.

There is an Irish group too, with branches around the country, who have carried out actions such as occupying OConnell Bridge and demonstrating outside Dail Eireann.

Now, members of this group have been knocking on voters doors.

[We have had an] XR canvas, just as people, said Paul McCormack-Cooney, a member of XR Ireland. Were not looking for a vote. Were not canvassing for a vote. Were canvassing on the part of the environment.

Paul McCormack-Cooney: I was just a typical person and I didnt think of myself as someone capable of influencing public opinion.

XR is not canvassing on behalf of any party or candidate, but instead using the campaigning tool as a way to raise further awareness about the environment ahead of a general election.

Mr McCormack-Cooney says the response from the public has been great, with people openly discussing their concerns about the environment with them, but explaining that their hands can be tied when it comes to action.

They [the canvasses] went great, he said. The feedback from people was that there are things they cant do because the Government hasnt made it possible, like they need their [current petrol or diesel] car and they cant yet afford an electrical one.

Mr McCormack-Cooney, who is 40 and a father of two, works in a major pensions firm and joined XR after feeling frustrated about the lack of climate action.

He works in communications in his company and says taking the message about climate to politicians is a major action people can take.

I would encourage people to talk to their candidates, he said. If they feel they cant communicate about the specific science of it you can go into their constituency office and say: This is what I care about, and then ask: What are we doing about it?

I always thought Id get caught on the facts, but I rely now on the IPCC [the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] reports and the thousands of scientists who show that there is no doubt about this [climate change] anymore.

A general election must take place before April 2021, when the current Governments term is up. However, it has been strongly indicated that an election will be held in 2020.
A man was critically injured when he pursued a suspect who stole his laptop computer in Oakland's Montclair district on Tuesday morning, according to police.

The incident occurred in the 2000 block of Mountain Boulevard shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police said.

Oakland police said they're still investigating the crime and ask that anyone who witnessed it to call them at (510) 238-3455.

San Francisco's longest-running musical revue Beach Blanket Babylon will take to the stage for one last time on Tuesday evening.

The final News Year's Eve performances start at 7 p.m. at Club Fugazi at 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard.

Tuesday's show marks the end of its 45-year run.

The show recounts a fast-paced, worldwide journey by Snow White as she looks for her Prince Charming and, on the way, meets ever-changing political and pop culture characters. Recent characters have included Donald and Melania Trump Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, Lady Gaga and the San Francisco Giants.

The show began in 1974 and was supposed to run only for six weeks, but became an instant hit.

The show has been performed in Las Vegas and London.

A man suffered life-threatening injuries Monday night after a woman stabbed him in San Francisco's Mission Bay neighborhood.

Officers responded to the stabbing around 8:30 p.m. near Terry Francois Boulevard and Mariposa Street, police said.

There, officers learned the victim had been attacked without provocation. The victim, a 53-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The suspect, a 53-year-old woman, was taken into custody by officers. Police did not release her name.

Police on Tuesday morning arrested a 33-year-old suspect, who had eluded them the day before, taking him into custody following a crash near Washington Hospital in Fremont.

Marquice McClinton didn't pull over Monday when officers attempted to serve a warrant, police said. Officers followed him on a short pursuit, but called off the chase.

He did the same thing on Tuesday when officers spotted him and again tried to pull him over, about 7:45 a.m., Fremont police said in a post on Twitter.

McClinton once again led them on a short chase through city streets, but this time he crashed into a parked car at Mowry Avenue and Civic Center Drive after officers disabled his vehicle, according to police.

McClinton was taken into custody on suspicion of multiple weapons violations, assault with a deadly weapon and evading.

He was medically cleared at a local hospital and taken to Santa Rita Jail. No other injuries were reported, but one patrol car had minor damage, police said.

The crash and investigation temporarily closed eastbound lanes of Mowry Avenue, between Paseo Padre Parkway and Civic Center Drive, police said.

San Jose Fire Department crews extinguished a fire at a home on the city's west side on Monday night, according to the fire officials.

The fire at 730 Live Oak Way was reported at about 8:52 p.m., fire officials said. Fire crews knocked down the fire at 9:38 p.m.

Two cats were rescued, but fire officials didn't say if there were residents home at the time of the fire or if anyone was injured.

A man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after he allegedly kicked and punched a woman he didn't know on Sunday night at the Richmond BART Station, according to BART officials.

The suspect, identified as Juan Huerta, 38, allegedly attacked a woman who was on one of the BART platforms. The woman had a stroller with her belongings when Huerta started to strike, kicking and punching her, BART spokesman Jim Allison said.

A person called police dispatch to report the assault and the man was taken into custody by an officer already at the station working on a separate issue, according to police. The victim suffered a contusion to her head and told police she doesn't know the suspect.

According to BART officials, the attempted murder charge stemmed from statements made and video evidence.

Passengers aboard Amtrak train 520 are being transferred to another train after a man was fatally hit on the tracks Tuesday morning.

The man was hit about 6 a.m. on the tracks just north of Richmond in unincorporated Contra Costa County, according to Amtrak and Union Pacific officials. The man's name has not been released.

There were no reported injuries to passengers or crewmembers. Passengers will transfer to train 521, an Amtrak spokeswoman said.

The incident is under investigation.

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.
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China has unveiled a regulation on implementing the foreign investment law to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors.

Premier Li Keqiang signed a State Council decree to publish the regulation. It will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020, the same day when the law becomes effective.

As a matching regulation to the foreign investment law, the regulation highlights the promotion and protection of foreign investment and details measures to ensure the effective implementation of the law.

The regulation encourages and promotes foreign investment via terms to protect the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, standardize the administration of foreign investment, improve the business environment as well as advance opening up to a higher level.

The regulation stipulates that foreign-invested enterprises will enjoy the same favorable policies as domestic companies, and will be treated equally in standard-setting and government procurement activities.

In addition, the regulation details measures to compensate foreign investors for requisition, ban forced technology transfer, protect business confidentiality as well as improve the mechanism for foreign-invested firms to file complaints.

The regulation clarifies the implementation mechanism of the negative list of foreign investment access and details registration and reporting system of foreign investment.

The regulation also stipulates investment policies for enterprises from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and legal responsibilities for violations of the regulation.




Imports of crude oil from Iran dipped to 1.7 million tonne (mt) in the current financial year (2019-20, or FY20), down from 23.9 mt in 2018-19, after India stopped imports from the West Asian country in May. In FY19, Iran was the third largest crude exporter to India.

Assuming the United States' (US') sanctions are not lifted, crude imports from Iran will be the lowest in at least 12 years, shows the available data compiled by Business Standard. On the other hand, industry players claim this to be one of the all-time low from Iran. This comes at a time of increasing imports from the ...
Patna: In what could have been a serious tragedy, the ground at the under-construction site near Hathua Market in Patna caved in more than 20 feet during the piling work on Saturday causing the boundary wall of the Hathua Market to collapse while also creating cracks in a few buildings around it.

The incident occurred around 8:00 pm when work at the under-construction shopping mall had just wrapped up for the day as the workers had dug the ground more than 50 feet to make provision for an underground parking lot.

People in the area had a rude awakening when they heard a sound as the Hathua Market wall collapsed to a rubble. The ground at the construction site had also sunk nearly 20 feet. About half a dozen houses and shops around the construction site had visible cracks forcing the occupants to evacuate the area.

Luckily no one was said to be hurt in the incident.

Senior police officials and engineers soon arrived at the site to take stock of the situation.

The president of the Hathua Market Traders Assocition Mukesh Jain accused the builder of violating many safety regulations and demanded legal actions against them. He also sought compensation for damage to their properties.
Do we make New Years resolutions just to ignore them? Are they merely promises doomed to fail? In this feature, we ask whether, statistically speaking, these resolutions work, and what increases the chances of success. Share on Pinterest How can we make a success of this years resolutions? New Years resolutions are an ancient tradition that continues to this day. The Babylonians started each year with pledges to pay debts and return borrowed items. The Romans began their year by promising the two faced god, Janus, that they would behave better. In modern societies, many people still promise to make changes as the new year dawns; this desire, in many cases, is fueled by the excesses of the holiday period. Most commonly, it would seem, New Years resolutions revolve around weight loss, quitting smoking, reducing drinking, and exercising more. Although resolutions are popular, they are not always successful. In this article, we will dissect the evidence and answer the question: Should we bother making New Years resolutions in 2020?

How effective are annual resolutions? A study from 1989 tracked 200 people living in Pennsylvania as they attempted to make changes based on New Years resolutions. On average, the participants made 1.8 resolutions, most commonly, to stop smoking or lose weight. Less frequently, people pledged to improve relationships, and a surprisingly low 2.5% were hoping to control their drinking habits. An impressive 77% managed to hold to their pledges for 1 week, but the success rate dropped to 19% over 2 years. Although that is a substantial drop out rate, it means that 1 in 5 of those participants achieved their goal. Of the 77% successful resolvers, more than half slipped at least once, and, on average, people slipped 14 times across the 2 years. A study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1988 followed the efforts of 153 New Years resolvers who were determined to quit smoking. At 1 month, 77% of participants had managed at least one 24-hour period of abstinence. Overall, though, the results seemed a little disappointing with the authors writing: Only 13% of the sample was abstinent at 1 year, and 19% reported abstinence at the 2-year follow-up. Another study, appearing in PLOS ONE , took a more general look at behavior. The research team tracked the food shopping habits of 207 households from July 2010 to March 2011. Unsurprisingly, the researchers found that, during the holiday period, expenditure increased by 15%. Three-quarters of this increase went on less healthful items. Also, as expected, when January rolled around, the sale of healthful items shot up by 29.4%. However, the sale of less healthful items did not drop in tandem with this health drive  people were buying more nutritious items, but still purchasing the same amount of unhealthful food. Overall, the number of calories they purchased in the New Year was higher than during the holiday period. The authors conclude: Despite resolutions to eat more healthfully after New Years, consumers may adjust to a new status quo of increased less-health[ful] food purchasing during the holidays, and dubiously fulfill their New Years resolutions by spending more on health[ful] foods. The authors believe that the key to successful resolutions is to focus on replacing unhealthful items with healthful ones, rather than buying both. That is sound advice, but not necessarily easy to implement.

Successes and failures of weight loss goals In 2009, GlaxoSmithKline released Orlistat, which they hailed as the first clinically proven over-the-counter weight loss aid in Europe. As part of their marketing push, the company also conducted an internet survey about weight loss that included questions about New Years resolutions. Although the survey was not meant to be a scientific study, it generated a substantial pool of data with 12,410 females from six European countries responding. A group of researchers took advantage of this dataset and published an analysis in the journal Obesity Facts . They found that around half of the women had made a weight loss New Years resolution in the past 2 years. As for success rates, they observed that women with a body mass index (BMI) of under 25, which health experts define as normal, were successful 20% of the time. However, of thos with a BMI of 30 or above  which doctors class as overweight or obese  only 9% reported some success. In the overweight group, three-quarters of the female respondents said that their primary reason for failing to lose weight was that it took too long to see results. Around one-third of those who were obese or overweight stated that they were not successful due to a lack of confidence.

What increases the chances of succeeding? In the Pennsylvania study we mention above, the scientists found no link between success rate and participants sex or age; similarly, the type of resolution did not influence how likely they were to succeed. The researchers contacted participants by telephone after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years. During these interviews, the researchers also asked participants what techniques they used to help them keep their resolutions, and how often they implemented each one. They found that the most successful resolvers were applying stimulus control at all five checkpoints. Stimulus control is the act of keeping things around you that remind you why you chose the resolution. For instance, someone who is quitting smoking might keep a picture of their young child nearby to remind them why they decided to stop. At the 6-month and 2-year mark, successful resolvers were using self-liberation (or willpower), and reinforcement management  rewarding themselves for being successful. Conversely, individuals who did not keep their resolutions most commonly employed self-blame and wishful thinking. The study we highlighted above that followed the fates of 153 smokers also looked at factors that made quitting more likely. The authors explain: The use of multiple strategies for cessation was associated with abstinence at the 2-year follow-up. A strong motivation to quit was found to be important for both initial success and long-term maintenance. Other studies that have investigated smoking cessation more generally have identified factors that increase the chance of quitting. These factors include staying away from smokey environments, abstaining from alcohol, stress management techniques, and will power. Another paper took a different approach. Publishing their work in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, the authors set out to understand why some people succeeded where others failed. To do this, they recruited two sets of participants: 159 New Years resolvers and 123 people who were interested in solving a problem at a later date. The researchers followed the participants for 6 months and charted their successes and failures. In agreement with other studies, the most common reasons for New Years resolutions were losing weight, increasing exercise, and quitting smoking. The authors found that the most successful resolvers used more willpower, stimulus control, reinforcement management, positive thinking, and avoidance strategies. Conversely, those who were less successful tended to use more wishful thinking, blame and criticize themselves, and make light of the problem.
The African continent is experiencing some of the highest population increases in the world. So far, the most populous nations in the world are in Asia, which has also, in the past, experienced a stronger population growth compared to Africa. That trend is, however, likely to change in the future. In 2020, five of the most populous nations in the world will be in Asia, but by 2100 five African nations that include Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Egypt will be among the ten biggest countries. Some Asian countries will continue to experience growth but at a slower rate. Countries like China and Bangladesh, which have had strong population growth in the past, are expected to shrink due to improvement in the standard of living and higher education levels.

Africa Today

Africa today is home to populous countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Egypt and smaller countries with populations of under 1 million such as Seychelles, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principle, and Djibouti. In some countries such as Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia, fertility is rising. In others such as Mozambique and Nigeria, fertility is high but stable  dropping by less than 1% per year. While in others such as Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, and Serra Leone, fertility is high but dropping at a rate of 2.5% or more a year. In some countries such as Mali, Somalia, Niger, Chad, and DRC, fertility rates are exceptionally high, exceeding six children per woman. Tunisia and Mauritius, however, have fertility rates that have fallen below replacement levels. Annual population growth rates on the continent range from 0.5% in countries like Mauritius and Libya to about 4% in countries like Niger and Equatorial Guinea. Countries vary widely in the level of urbanization. For example, countries such as Angola, Botswana, and South Africa are highly urbanized with urban populations accounting for about 60% of their total population. While countries like Burundi, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Rwanda have urban populations that are less than 20% of the total. Africa can, therefore, be considered one of the most demographically dynamic continents in this century. Going into the future, the continent, which is home to countries with some of the youngest populations in the world, will be a key source of the labor force that will drive the world economy.

Africa Going Into The Future

Africa is currently home to about 1.3 billion people, which translates to roughly 17% of the world's total population. By 2050, the continent's population is expected to rise to 2.4 billion, and in 2100, the population is expected to hit a staggering 4.2 billion. The continent is expected to become the second most populous continent after Asia, which is projected to have a population of 4.8 billion. Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria, which has a population of about 190 million people, is expected to have a population of 400 million people by 2050 and a population of about 733 million people by 2100. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which currently has a population of 81 million, will have a population of 195 million by 2050 and 362 million by 2100. Ethiopia, which currently has a population of 105 million, will have 294 million people, Tanzania, which has a population of 57 million, will have 286 million and Egypt which has a population of 97.6 million will have a population of 225 million by 2100.

Nigeria, which is already ranked 7th according to population projections for the year 2020, is expected to rise to third place by 2100. The country is also expected to lead an African dominated list of countries with the highest projected increases in population with a gain in population of about +527 million. Other countries that are projected to have the largest gains in population include DRC (+272 million), Tanzania (+226 million), Pakistan (+182 million), Ethiopia (+179 million), Angola (+155 million), Niger (+141 million), Egypt (+122 million), and Sudan (+98 million). The DRC, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Egypt will overtake Brazil, Russia, Bangladesh, and Mexico in the list of the top ten most populous countries. Mexico, which is currently ranked the tenth most populous will experience sluggish growth (+10% by 2100) while Brazil, Russia, and Bangladesh will experience population losses of -15%, -14%, and -8% respectively by 2100. China, which is the most populous country in the world, is expected to have the largest population decrease (-374 million) by 2100.

Reasons For The Rapid Growth

African nations have among the highest fertility rates in the world. At least thirty-two nations on the continent have a fertility rate of 4.5 or higher. Tropical regions of the continent have some of the largest populations with sub-Saharan Africa having a fertility rate of 5.2 children per woman in the period between 2010 and 2015. Overall, Africa had a fertility rate of 4.72 in the same period. Populous countries on the continent, such as the DRC, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Egypt, have fertility rates of 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.3, and 3.4, respectively. The rates are significantly higher than the global average (2.4) in 2017. Other African counties with high fertility rates include Niger, Somalia, Chad, and Burundi, with 7.0, 6.2, 5.8, and 5.5, respectively.

Mortality

In recent years, Africa has made remarkable progress in the reduction of mortality. Improvement in sanitation, nutrition, and improved capability in combating malaria and other tropical diseases has led to significant increases in the lifespan of most people on the continent. In 1950, the continent had an average life expectancy of fewer than 40 years, much like Europe in the 1700s. By the 1980s, average life expectancy had surpassed 50 years, and in the period between 2010 and 2015, life expectancy had reached 60 years. There is, however, regional variation in life expectancy with North African countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, all having a life expectancy of above 71 years. Western African countries such as Nigeria, on the other hand, have a life expectancy of just less than 55 years. Infant mortality has also fallen by 29% in the last decade. In the period between 2000 and 2015, countries that had achieved the largest reductions in infant mortality include Ethiopia (a decline of 41%), Rwanda (51%), and Congo (43%). The UN projects that by 2050-55 the average life span will have risen to 70 years.

Challenges Expected Due To Population Increase

Infrastructure in the continent is expected to come under tremendous pressure as the population continues to increase. Experts estimate that the continent needs around $170 billion annually to plug the infrastructure gap so that it can deal with that additional population increase. The estimate illustrates the financing challenge that the continent will have to overcome to deal with the additional numbers comfortably. African countries had made considerable strides in developing critical infrastructure following their independence. Civil wars and systemic corruption have, however, made the infrastructure gap worryingly wide as the population continues to expand. In 2018, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimated that the continent lost $148 billion annually as a result of corruption and other fraudulent activities. The figure represents approximately 5% of the continent's average GDP.

African cities such as Lagos, Kinshasa, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Kampala that are expected to experience a large population increase due to urbanization are expected to suffer some of the greatest infrastructure pressure. Unfortunately, most of the cities are already suffering from insufficient infrastructure. African governments have been forced to turn to international creditors such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, AfDB, the EU, and recently, China to finance infrastructure development. In 2018 the continent's external debt was $417 billion, which was about 20% of the debt owed to China. The World Bank has already classified at least 18 African countries as at a high risk of debt distress where the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds 50%. Experts believe that relying on high levels of debt to meet the $170 billion annual threshold set by AfDB is unsustainable, especially as the continent continues to hemorrhage resources due to corruption.
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. For example, long term Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Limited (ASX:HTA) shareholders have enjoyed a 100% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 21% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 9.1%.

Check out our latest analysis for Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia)

Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.

In the last 5 years Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) saw its revenue grow at 30% per year. Even measured against other revenue-focussed companies, that's a good result. It's good to see that the stock has 15%, but not entirely surprising given revenue shows strong growth. If you think there could be more growth to come, now might be the time to take a close look at Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia). Opportunity lies where the market hasn't fully priced growth in the underlying business.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:HTA Income Statement, December 31st 2019

If you are thinking of buying or selling Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) shareholders are up 9.1% for the year. But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 15% a year, over half a decade) look better. It's quite possible the business continues to execute with prowess, even as the share price gains are slowing. You could get a better understanding of Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia)'s growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Story continues

We will like Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) 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 AU exchanges.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
A new decade has arrived, meaning it's the perfect opportunity to reflect on your achievements and look forward to what's to come.

Celebrities marked the occasion just like the rest of us would, ringing in the new year with posts about their highlights from 2019, their goals, and their loved ones.

While Katy Perry shared a candid snap of her and Orlando Bloom tucked up in bed before midnight, Pixie Lott looked back on all she's learned in the last 10 years.

Elsewhere, Kylie Jenner spoke of "things [that] should have been better this year" in a post that encouraged fans to focus on their successes as opposed to their shortcomings.

From Kim Kardashian West sharing an unseen snap of her and husband Kanye West to Myleene Klass swimming with her children in the Maldives, read on for the best celebrity Instagram posts from those celebrating the start of 2020.

Justin Bieber

Kim Kardashian West

Dua Lipa

Katy Perry

Ashley Roberts

Pixie Lott

Alessandra Ambrosio

Kylie Jenner

Myleene Klass

Fearne Cotton

See how celebrities marked Christmas Day on Instagram here.
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Over the past ten years, animals were briefly detained by police for crimes they didn't even know they were committing. From donkey to parrots, there were animals who were arrested either because they were accused of spying for another country or detained for profanity. Here is a list of animals detained after being accused of the most hilarious reasons:

Donkeys prisoned for eating plants

Back in 2017, eight donkeys in Uttar Pradesh, India were detained for destroying expensive plants outside the jail. According to reports, they were released after four days of detention as they ate and destroyed plants which were bought for Rs 5 lakh.

Jalaun(UP): Police release a herd of donkeys from Urai district jail. They had been detained for destroying plants outside jail and were released after four days pic.twitter.com/Wl5UJrU2tT  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 27, 2017

Parrot arrested for profanity

In this case, back in 2015, an 85-year-old Janabai Sakharkar from India accused a pet parrot 'Hariyal' of hurling on her whenever she passed by it. However, when the parrot was taken to the police station it did not utter a word. The parrot was later handed over to the Forest Department for rehabilitation and released in the woods.

READ: From Olympics To Elections: Things To Look Forward To In 2020

Squirrel accused of stalking

In a bizarre incident, in 2015 a squirrel in Germany was reportedly arrested by police after a woman complained that it was following her around. It was later discovered that the animal displayed symptoms of exhaustion. According to reports, the squirrel was transferred to a rescue centre after recovering its strength.

Cat arrested for break-in

In another incident, in 2013 a white cat was detained in the grounds of a jail in Brazil with contraband goods for prisoners strapped to its body with tape. The white cat was apprehended while crossing the main prison gate. According to reports, the confiscated items included drill bits, files, a mobile phone and charger, plus earphones. After the arrest, the cat was taken to the animal centre.

A Cat got arrested In brazil for sneaking a mobile phone into a jail..... pic.twitter.com/7R6bKyS9  laura may (@loraturleyx) January 6, 2013

READ: Couple Who Got Engaged In KFC Gets Dream Wedding After Proposal Video Goes Viral

Lizard accused of spying

The former chief-of-staff of Iran's in 2018 reportedly said that the Western spies had used lizards to attract atomic waves and spy in Iran's nuclear program. He further also said that he wasn't sure about the details, but he reportedly added that the West had often used tourists, scientists and environmentalists to spy on Iran.

READ: Thailand: Cat Knocks Off 2,432 Piece Model Assembled In A Week

READ: Hong Kong: Teargas Fired As Protesters Take To The Streets
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
The holiday parties are over, the New Years resolutions are in and many likely revolve around a healthier 2020. For those who may have been overserved during Decembers festivities, or are just looking for a challenge, that could include cutting out the glass of wine with dinner or the cocktails during nights out with friends.
Destiny Shakespeare wasnt expecting her baby to arrive on New Years Day, but was hoping for it.

The Hamburg, Berks County, woman had a Jan. 6 due date. Her last checkup on Monday, however, indicated other plans with Destiny dilated by 3 centimeters. By 2 a.m. Tuesday, she began having contractions and told her mother, Lori Shakespeare, by 9 a.m. it was time to go to the hospital.

A practice push after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at 10 centimeters dilated led to Destinys water breaking. She then knew chances were good she would be ringing in New Year 2020 with her first child -- a baby girl.

"I was like, I want to have this baby (on New Years), lets do this, " Shakespeare said. Everyone, all the nurses, were so supportive. It was exciting.

Hope Louise Shakespeare was born at 12:00:30 a.m. Wednesday at at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township. She weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces. She was the first baby delivered in the Lehigh Valley in 2020.

Shakespeare said with a laugh she wasnt watching the countdown as she pushed Hope into the world after 14 hours of labor. The babys first name was chosen because Shakespeare said she wanted a name that would go hand-in-hand with her first name of Destiny. Destiny is a Latin name meaning ones fate while Hope is an English name meaning trust, faith. The babys middle name, Louise, is after Shakespeares paternal grandmother.

Hope is the 10th grandchild for Destinys mother, Lori. Destiny Shakespeare, who was raised in the Hamburg area, is a 2019 Hamburg Area High School graduate. She has plans to raise her child before embarking on a career as a medical assistant in the near future.

Another first baby of the new year arrived at 4:40 a.m. Wednesday in the Lehigh Valley. Ann and Jacob Atherly of Kunkletown, Monroe County, welcomed a daughter, Leah Elizabeth at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg campus in Bethlehem.

St. Lukes University Hospital in Fountain Hill had a 4:20 a.m. birth Wednesday, however, that family declined to make their name public, said Marissa Lewicki, a hospital spokeswoman.

Easton Hospital by 2 p.m. did not have any New Years Day births, said hospital spokeswoman Trish Hrina,

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by devastating wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Navy ships and military aircraft were taking water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads had been cut off by the fires.

Authorities confirmed three bodies were found at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales on Wednesday, taking the death toll in the state to 15.

More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region.

On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames.

Stranded residents and holidaymakers slept in their cars, and petrol stations and surf clubs were transformed into evacuation areas.

Dozens of homes were burned before winds changed direction late on Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town.

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission which would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

Expand Close Wildlife volunteer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet after being rescued from bushfires in the Blue Mountains area of NSW. Photo: REUTERS/Jill Gralow / Facebook

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Whatsapp Wildlife volunteer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet after being rescued from bushfires in the Blue Mountains area of NSW. Photo: REUTERS/Jill Gralow

Conditions cooled on Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing.

"We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state," Mr Crisp said.

In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 89 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesday's fires.

More than 100 fires were still burning in the state on Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level.

Expand Close Seeking shelter: A crowd of people at the beach who evacuated from the bushfires at Batemans Bay in New South Wales. Photo: REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp Seeking shelter: A crowd of people at the beach who evacuated from the bushfires at Batemans Bay in New South Wales. Photo: REUTERS

Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car, and a father and son who died in their house.

Firefighting crews took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning, before conditions were expected to deteriorate on Saturday as high temperatures and strong winds return.

"There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday," said New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers.

The early and devastating start to Australia's summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government has taken enough action on climate change.

Expand Close A burnt-out home in Sarsfield, East Gippsland. Photo: James Ross/AAP Images via AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp A burnt-out home in Sarsfield, East Gippsland. Photo: James Ross/AAP Images via AP

Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Mr Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australia's lucrative coal industry.

Mr Morrison won a surprise third term in May and among his government's pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030 - a modest figure compared with the centre-left opposition Labour Party's pledge of 45%.

The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nation's highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

"If he (Mr Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns," Mr Di Natale said.

About five million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with at least 17 people dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Year fireworks celebrations, but Sydney's popular display over its famous harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revellers.

The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant that, on Wednesday, Canberra, the nation's capital, had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world.

The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
Ludhiana (Punjab) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested an Additional Director General (ADG) of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) posted in Ludhiana and a middleman with Rs 25 lakh for allegedly taking bribe.



Searches are also underway in Ludhiana, Noida and Delhi.

According to the DRI website, ADG Chander Shekhar was posted in Ludhiana. (ANI)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 00:01:37|Editor: yan

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JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- South African trade federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), on Wednesday welcomed the implementation of paid parental leave which comes into effect on January 1.

COSATU's parliament coordinator Matthews Park said workers have spent years fighting for this new law.

"This is a historic and long-fought for victory for workers, parents, children, and families across South Africa," he said.

This new paid parental leave means fathers would be entitled to 10 days of paid leave when their children are born. Mothers already benefit from maternity leave. Employers are expected to pay parents their income while on leave.

It also means children born through surrogacy would benefit from the law. "This is now an Act of Parliament, assented by the President and promulgated. It is not a matter of negotiations but it is a law," he said.

The new law was signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October.

Parks said unions should communicate with their members to ensure they are aware of the new law.

"COSATU is pleased that its efforts and workers' hard-fought struggles have borne fruit with this achievement," he said. "Unions are called upon to ensure that all workers are aware of their rights and able to exercise them freely."
Apple plans to launch a high-end gaming computer in 2020, according to a report by Patently Apple.

The website cites supply chain sources in Taiwan that claimed the company will unveil a Mac or Macbook computer aimed at esports enthusiasts, with a $5,000 (R70,000) price tag.

Indications are that the company will either release a large-screen all-in-one Mac or large-screen MacBook laptop.

No details have been revealed about what hardware could be expected.

Although Apples machines offer powerful components, gamers have long favoured Windows PCs over Macs.

The main reasons are the optimised game compatibility of Windows, improved upgradability on desktop PCs, and more affordable hardware in a relatively expensive segment.

Apple Arcade

Apple has hinted at becoming a contender in the gaming market in recent months.

The company launched a subscription service for its own video gaming platform, Apple Arcade, in September.

Arcade is focused on mobile and online games, and gives subscribers access to more than 100 titles.

These games are considered to be more mainstream and do not require the type of graphics or processing power needed to run titles played in competitive esports tournaments.

The esports industry has seen significant growth in recent years, and is projected to be worth over $1.5 billion by the end of 2023.

Now read: The best video games coming in 2020
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Snow showers this morning. Becoming partly cloudy later. High -11C. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low --24C. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Fazle Abed, who started a temporary relief effort for refugees in Bangladesh that became one of the largest nongovernmental organizations in the world, died on Dec. 20 in a hospital in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. He was 83.

His daughter, Tamara Abed, said the cause was complications of glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

Mr. Abed founded what was originally known as the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee in 1972, and is now known simply as BRAC, to help refugees returning to their homeland after the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.

Today it has around 90,000 employees in 11 countries and aids more than 100 million people in gaining access to health care, education and microfinancing to start businesses.
Russian Prime Minister: All Gas Issues With Ukraine Have Been Settled

Sputnik News

10:29 31.12.2019(updated 10:57 31.12.2019)

Moscow and Kiev have signed documents ensuring the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine starting 1 January 2020, after a long dispute over Ukrainian lawsuits against Gazprom.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has stated that all issues over gas transit with Ukraine have been settled, noting it was a necessary compromise.

"Now all problems have been resolved, mutual claims have stopped. The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will continue on conditions that suit both sides. The signing of the documents shows that even the most difficult issues can be discussed and negotiated", he said.

The Russian-Ukrainian protocol, signed last week after negotiations in Minsk, envisages the delivery of 65 billion cubic metres (over 2 trillion cubic feet) in 2020 and 40 billion cubic metres (1.5 trillion cubic feet) per year thereafter for four more years.

It also settles the situation regarding direct gas supplies to Ukraine at a discounted European hub price. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Kiev expects to receive at least $7 billion in revenue during the five-year period of the contract.

 Sputnik

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The Trump administration has expanded an experimental program designed to expedite the processing and deportation of asylum-seekers from all over the world, implementing the new policy in the busiest sector of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The program, dubbed Prompt Asylum Claim Review, or PACR, expanded earlier in December to Texas' Rio Grande Valley, a highly transited and patrolled area along the southern border. Hundreds of asylum-seekers have been subject to the policy since it debuted as a pilot program in the El Paso sector in October.

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesman confirmed the expansion Tuesday, saying the policy is no longer in the pilot phase. The spokesman also confirmed that more than 1,000 migrants have been placed in the program so far. In late October, Deputy CBP Commissioner Robert Perez said "several dozens" of asylum-seekers had been subject to the policy, which he noted was "modestly getting out of the gate."

The program, one of a series of restrictive policies the administration rolled out in 2019 to deter U.S.-bound migrants, has been shrouded in relative secrecy since it started. In October, the Department of Homeland Security said it was a "whole of government approach" to fast-track the processing of migrant men and families subject to a sweeping asylum restriction, while providing them access to "protections and due process."

But advocates and immigration lawyers have described a completely different policy, saying it denies asylum-seekers due process, restricts access to attorneys and effectively ensures their prompt deportation. Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its branches in Texas and Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the program.

Border Patrol Immigration

In this Wednesday, November 6, 2019, photo, Border Patrol agents holds a group thought to have entered the country illegally, near McAllen, Texas, along the U.S.-Mexico border. Eric Gay / AP

Story continues

According to the attorneys, migrants subject to the PACR policy are not placed in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program, which has required about 56,000 asylum-seekers to wait in northern Mexico for the duration of their U.S. immigration proceedings.

Instead, these asylum-seeking migrants are detained by CBP agents and quickly given "fear of persecution" screenings while in the agency's custody.

The policy is a significant change from previous procedures because asylum-seekers not returned to Mexico were typically detained by Border Patrol for a few days or weeks and then transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers, where they would undergo what is called "credible fear" interviews overseen by asylum officers.

Lawyers have typically been granted access to clients in ICE facilities to offer them advice before the interviews, but under the PACR program, they are not allowed to see and speak to their clients, who are detained in CBP facilities.

Asylum-seekers encountered near the Rio Grande Valley are being detained in "soft-sided" facilities inside the port of entry connecting Donna, Texas, with Mexico.

Not only do migrants not have access to counsel during their fear of persecution interviews, but the screenings under the experimental initiative are also more difficult to pass, the attorneys said.

This is because most non-Mexican migrants encountered by U.S. officials after July 16 are not eligible for asylum under a regulation allowed by the Supreme Court. The rule denies migrants access to the asylum system if they traveled through a third country to reach the U.S. and did not seek protection there.

The migrants subject to the PACR program can only seek lesser forms of relief known as withholding of removal and protection under the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Migrants seeking these protections  which do not offer a pathway to U.S. citizenship, unlike asylum  have a much higher bar to reach to demonstrate they would face persecution if returned to their home countries.

If they fail these more difficult interviews, which attorneys say most migrants will because of the short amount of time to prepare and the higher standard to pass them, migrants may request to have an immigration judge review the assessment.

Immigration judges stationed at the court at the Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico have been conducting reviews of credible and reasonable fear interviews of migrants detained in El Paso via telephone. A spokesperson for the immigration court system did not respond to questions about who is reviewing the results of fear of persecution interviews for migrants in the Rio Grande Valley.

Advocates have said some migrants subject to the policy were deported within two weeks of their apprehension  a departure from the typical months-long duration of an asylum case for those not placed in the program.

In addition to the third-country transit ban on asylum and the "Remain in Mexico" program, the Trump administration has taken other controversial measures this year to lower border apprehensions, which have dropped for six consecutive months since a 13-year monthly high in May.

The U.S. in 2019 secured agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to send asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border to those countries and have them seek protection there, despite rampant violence and widespread poverty. So far, only the accord with Guatemala has been implemented, with the U.S. rerouting some asylum-seekers from El Salvador and Honduras there in recent weeks.

Iran-backed protesters withdraw from U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad

Kim Jong Un says North Korea no longer bound by nuclear test moratorium

Headless torso found in cave identified as 1916 outlaw
Canadas reputation is on a roll. The 2010 Olympics triggered a pride and collective consciousness that rallied our nationhood and took our country to the world. Now, as we close the decade, our brand is stronger than ever.

Were recognized not just for being nice and polite, but also for our secure banking system, our exports and our openness to the world. Our bold cultural goods are reaching new and growing audiences and are an economic driver in the digital age.

Canadas cultural exports, from literature, music, to art, design and screen-based content  which means everything we watch in movie theatres, TVs, smartphones, tablets or computers  are well poised to ignite the worlds imagination with our stories, our creativity and our innovation.

A window of opportunity has opened. There is a growing national consensus on the advantages that these industries offer the country.

Canadas screen-based sector has a wealth of talent, both on and off-screen, that last year created 179,000 well-paid, full-time jobs across the country and added $12.8 billion to our GDP.

Investing in Canadas creative content is not just good cultural and economic policy, its also an integral part of our public diplomacy efforts in an increasingly fragmented and polarized world. Creative content builds on Canadas strong brand value.

Despite the revolutionary changes going on in media, including the influx of foreign streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime  a massive shift that comes with both risks and opportunity  Canadas screen-based sector has demonstrated success.

Smart investment in this industry is required if we are to retain our impact on the country and the world.

The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel is due to publish its final report in January. Steven Guilbeault, the new minister of Canadian Heritage has begun to meet key players in the industry and see firsthand the breadth and depth of Canadas creative and production community.

Beyond the numbers and the political considerations, we need to look no further than our screens for evidence of success. Canadas stories are exceptional and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world.

Kims Convenience won the Most Popular Foreign Drama award at the 2019 Seoul International Drama Awards and has garnered millions of fans in Korea.

Schitts Creek and its talent have amassed a cult following in the U.S. and become role models  and meme generators  for a new generation of LGBTQ Americans. The show also earned four Emmy nominations this year.

Canadas Indigenous stories and creators have garnered critical acclaim and awards from Venice to Berlin and Cannes.

Canadians are also playing integral roles in the development of new forms of content and innovative user experiences, like video games and virtual reality.

Montreals The Darwin Project has won critical acclaim because of its reinvention of the popular Battle Royale gaming genre.

Our embrace of multiculturalism, diversity and equitable representation has made Canada a powerful magnet for talent and perspectives that enrich our culture.

Its no surprise that, according to research conducted by Parrot Analytics, television produced or co-produced in Canada today has the highest rate of global travelability  the ability for content to attract audience demand outside of the country where it was originally produced and aired  compared to any other market.

Canadas content travels and sells well. Its time to equip our screen-based industry with the tools and resources that will make it extraordinary. Our current system just isnt going to cut it in the face of aggressive international players.

The government has clearly stated all players in the screen-based sector, whether Canadian or not, will play by the same rules. This will help create a fair, competitive environment in this growing sector.

This golden age for Canadas media is the time to collectively embrace the opportunities ahead. We must give ourselves new tools to capitalize on our investments of the last 80 years, leverage our success and ensure brand Canada continues to thrive in the world. .
P ope Francis has been caught on camera slapping away a woman's hand after she grabbed him at a New Years Eve celebration.

The Catholic leader, 83, reacted sharply to the pilgrim after she pulled his hand towards her in the Vatican City's St Peter's Square last night.

The Pope smiled and waved as he greeted worshippers on his way to see a Nativity in the large cobbled esplanade.

But his good humour was challenged when the eager onlooker yanked him by the fingers and refused to let go, prompting him to hit her hand away before walking off.

It is unclear what the woman told Pope Francis as she brusquely seized his attention, but she can be seen calling after him as he turned away frowning.

The pontiff then composed himself to offer a New Years address preaching peace, dialogue and reconciliation.

In the message he lamented the innocent victims of painful humiliation and exclusion across the world and urged international communities to pursue a genuine fraternity based on our common origin from God and exercised in dialogue and mutual trust.

The desire for peace lies deep within the human heart, and we should not resign ourselves to seeking anything less than this, he said.

Pope Francis made no reference to the uncomfortable moment in his latest Twitter posts to his 18.2 million followers.

Sharing a link to yesterday evening's thanksgiving service at St Peter's Basilica, he wrote that it was "beautiful to stand before the nativity scene."

In a previous message, posted on Christmas Eve, he offered comfort to anyone whose "hands seem empty".

"Dear brother, dear sister, if your hands seem empty, if you think your heart is poor in love, this night is for you.
Speaking at his holiday retreat in Florida, US President Donald Trump on December 31 told the media that he believed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will stick to his commitments on denuclearization. Trump said that the US signed a contract with North Korea and that the major clause in it was 'denuclearization'. He claimed that Kim is "a man of his word" and that Kim and he "liked" each other and have a very good relationship.

Read: Trump Comments On Iraq Embassy Attack And North Korea's Kim

Trump referred to a 2018 historic summit he held with Kim in Singapore when the two adopted a statement on "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" and agreed to "establish new US-DPRK relations". There were speculations of betterment when Trump met both Moon Jae-In and Kim Jong-Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ), which divides North and South Korea, at the end of June 2019. Until now, Trump claimed that the suspension of nuclear tests was evidence that his approach had succeeded where others had failed and that Kim could be persuaded to give up his nuclear arsenal.

Read: North Korean Leader Kim: World Will Witness 'new Strategic Weapon'

The White House announced on Sunday that if North Korea went ahead with its threat of a 'Christmas gift' the United States would have to consider using tools other than personal diplomacy and such measures could reignite tensions over its nuclear program.

Read: North Korea's Kim Jong Un To Unveil 'new Path' In New Year Speech

Kim announced end on nuclear moratorium

Kim Jong-un on January 1 announced that North Korea will abandon its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The North Korean leader also told that the country would unveil a new strategic weapon in the new future, while addressing a meeting with party officials. The announcement comes as the US has not met its deadline to reduce sanctions and go for unilateral denuclearization which was set on December 31.

Kim said that there is no ground for North Korea to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer. He also announced a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK, reported the North Korean news agency.

Kim told the media that the US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of North Korea and is adopting a brigandish attitude, quoted North Korean news agency. Kim had warned that if the US persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy.

Read: North Korea To End Moratorium On Nuclear, Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Tests
PODGORICA, Montenegro - Several thousand people on Wednesday held protests in Montenegro against a religious property bill that is opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church and Russia.

The church insists that the law allows the state to impound its property, including monasteries, churches and other assets. The Montenegrin government has denied it wants to do so.

The Montenegrin parliament approved the legislation on Friday amid protests by pro-Serb opposition lawmakers who tried to prevent the vote, triggering turmoil in the assembly.

Led by Serbian Orthodox Church priests, pro-Serb Montenegrins have been holding protest marches since last week. Sporadic incidents were reported with the police, who have detained 45 people in the past several days.

Peaceful religious protests were held Wednesday in the capital Podgorica and several other towns.

The law says religious communities with property need to produce evidence of ownership from before 1918, when Montenegro joined a Serb-led Balkan kingdom and lost its independence.

Montenegro split again from Serbia in 2006 but some of its 620,000 citizens declare themselves to be Serbs and want closer ties with Belgrade. Montenegro defied another historic Slavic and Orthodox Christian ally, Russia, when it joined NATO in 2017.

Russias Foreign Ministry on Tuesday joined the Serb churchs criticism of the Montenegrin law, expressing serious concern and saying it is aimed at pushing the Serbian church out of Montenegro, according to the Russian embassy in Podgorica.

In response, the Montenegrin foreign ministry described Moscows statement as interference in the affairs of an independent NATO member state.

Montenegro has accused Russia of being behind an attempted coup in 2016 that was aimed at preventing the Adriatic nations pending NATO membership at the time. Moscow has denied involvement.

Montenegro also wants to join the European Union.
Jimmy Fallon and Rachel Dratch in SNLs Debbie Downer sketch. Photo: Courtesy of SNL/YouTube

Youre not supposed to break. It devalues a sketch, alienates your co-stars, and negates the social contract between audience and performer. Lorne Michaels hates it. Giggling in the middle of a sketch is the quickest way to find yourself in the doghouse at Second City, the Groundlings, and any other comedy program worth its salt.

And yet, some of the most iconic moments in television history are made when a performer loses their mind after a really good, really stupid joke. That moment of hysterical chaos, when the narrative is off the rails and everyone is racing for cover, cannot be bottled up by anything thats written to be funny. That brutal truth has become one of the dark arts of sketch comedy. Players like Jimmy Fallon have built an entire career around walking that tightrope  a professional, a game line-reader, but always the first person to break due to either an overactive funny bone, or the fatal understanding that once you start to laugh, the crowd will probably do the same. As much as you might want to disrespect breaking, you cant dispute its effectiveness. We wanted to round up the many hysterical ways comedians have compromised their art, so here are the 14 greatest breaks of all time.

(As a note, yes, this list probably couldve been composed solely of Saturday Night Live moments, but we wanted to make sure that other, less monolithic comedy institutions got their shine.)

The Dead Parrot Sketch, Monty Python (1976)

Michael Palin had undoubtedly heard John Cleese do his aggrieved Dead Parrot character thousands of times when the duo performed it live at Monty Pythons 1976 benefit show for Amnesty International. That, I think, is what makes Palins break so funny. Even after the Python mystique had fully assimilated into the cultural lexicon, its still shockingly easy to bust up when Cleese is screaming directly into your face.

Tim Conways Elephant Story, The Carol Burnett Show (1977)

Half the fun here is watching Carol Burnett do her damndest to not break. This outtake from the mythic Carol Burnett Show  in which Tim Conway tells an off-script, interminably long, and extremely deranged story about a circus elephant  probably remains the most famous sketch from the shows 11-year run. That was a meta-game between the cast; there were few things Conway loved more than making Burnet break. I dont know if anyone, before or since, has gotten a louder pop than when Vicki Lawrence finally, mercifully, shut him up.

Andy Kaufman Gets in a Fight, Fridays (1981)

This is the most high-concept break on this list. A belligerent Andy Kaufman, refusing to read his lines during a 1981 sketch on the variety show Fridays, gets the cue cards dropped in his lap by an incensed Michael Richards. Things quickly escalate into a scene-stopping brawl, and one week later, Kaufman returned to the screen with a taped apology. Naturally, Kaufman being Kaufman, this was all part of the plan  another one of the many ways he toyed with the grammar of live television. Nobody revealed that the fight was a set-up until Melanie Chartoff came clean in 2007, but the physical boundaries of what was possible during a sketch show would never be the same.

Matt Foley, SNL (1993)

Saturday Night Live is the greatest watching-celebrities-crack-up show of all time, and that art was perfected forever and ever by Chris Farleys Matt Foley and a disorientingly young David Spade and Christina Applegate. Spade is barely asked to do anything during the sketch. The job is to sit there, and try not to laugh, as Farley puts on the apex physical performance of his incandescent, cruelly-too-short career. Whats fun about watching someone break is knowing that youd be doing the exact same thing in their shoes. For a moment in 1993, we were all laughing uncontrollably as Foley took a dive through the living-room table.

Arctic Tern, Whos Line Is It Anyway? (2002)

Heres an unpopular Whose Line Is It Anyway? opinion: Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles were the true stars of the CD Infomercial game. I could take or leave the Wayne Brady songs. This riff was a classic as soon as it beamed out to tube-TVs across America. (Arctic Terns are actually a real bird, but they certainly dont sound like the Backstreet Boys.) The show was always at its finest and most chaotic when all Mochrie wanted to do was make Stiles laugh.

Lorraine Goes to the Dentist, MADtv (2003)

It had neither the live kinetic energy nor the all-star glitz of Saturday Night Live, but I think most children of the 90s have a special place in our hearts for MADtv. One of its all-time highlights? Mo Collins as the acerbic high-maintenance geriatic Lorraine, paired with the forever underrated Michael McDonald. They were dynamite together. Watch as Lorraine takes a trip to the dentist, stifling her laughter, as McDonald is softly rude to the worst patient in the world.

Prince Charles Scandal, The Daily Show (2003)

Its not the most sophisticated bit in the world, but theres something about watching Jon Stewart crack up as Stephen Colbert deepthroats a banana that reminds us of a kinder, simpler time.

Debbie Downer, SNL (2004)

It doesnt work. The entire character distillate of Debbie Downer is that shes a pathological bearer of bad news with a rigamortis frown on her face. But during her debut in 2004, Rachel Dratch couldnt help but twinge out some involuntary laughs during her depressing factoids about mad cow disease, train derailments, and that flatulent trombone blaring off from the band pit. Those giggles slowly roll through Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, and guest host Lindsay Lohan, (Fred Armisen, in typical fashion, mostly keeps it together), and the sketch absolutely kills despite the fact that its fundamental premise is ruined. Thats the magic of breaking!

Stefon, SNL (2008-2013)

Stefon represents the only time an SNL character was specifically built around breaking. The cue cards would famously be rearranged or rewritten for each onomatopoeic club name up until the moment the show went live, forcing Bill Hader to say, like, Hooyagoosyoughoooou with no rehearsal. No actor has ever struggled through a difficult script more admirably, and it really speaks to Haders charm that simply watching him laugh was enough to build a legacy.

Munchma Quchi, The Colbert Report (2011)

There is so much joy in watching Stephen Colbert lose his mind in the middle of an extremely stupid pun. We always appreciated how the teleprompter could completely blindside the legend during his Comedy Central days, leading to long, hands-over-mouth pauses as Colbert attempted to ground himself back into his stoic OReilly form. The best part about this joke? Its pretty easy to imagine a Fox News blowhard taking Munchma Quchi at face value.

Place in Edinburgh, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (2011)

Craig Ferguson improvised constantly during his after-midnight tenure on The Late Late Show, so there are plenty of lunatic sequences of brilliance to choose from. But this riff, centered around some bizarre conceit about Geoff the Robot owning vacation homes around the world, is a ten-car pile-up of a joke. Ferguson breaks simply because he cant believe hes allowed to be this silly on network television. We couldnt believe it either. Thats always been crucial to his appeal.

The Californians, SNL (2012)

What a ridiculously simple premise: Californians giving directions. Its funny, because Californians love giving directions, and this miraculous ensemble of modern SNL royalty (Armisen! Hader! Wiig!) could not hold it in as they graciously roasted their adopted home state. The sketch that aired live was great, but true breaking aficionados prefer the dress rehearsal take, where things come to near-screeching halt after some impassioned traffic advice from Armisen.

Close Encounter, SNL (2015)

Everyone has their own favorite genre of Saturday Night Live breaks, but theres no doubt that Lorne Michaels pioneered the often-imitated, never-replicated art of getting an allegedly serious actor to lose their mind during a hosting stint. (More on that later.) Ryan Gosling, as it turns out, is no match for a chain-smoking Kate McKinnon monologue about getting abducted by the horniest aliens of all time.

Jamie Foxx as George Jefferson, Live in Front of a Studio Audience (2019)

This is the most recent break on this list, and also the most trans-dimensional. Jamie Foxx took up the George Jefferson mantle for ABCs 70s sitcom throwback special Live in Front of a Studio Audience. Foxx flubs a line, and briefly slips out of character to shame himself while the rest of the cast members quietly cackle in the dark. For the viewer, its an alternate reality where we got to witness a version of The Jeffersons where Sherman Hemsley breaks the fourth wall, which we imagine would be a much different show.
Indias Opposition chief ministers have emerged as unexpected allies in the battle against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and its possible companion, the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Days after Parliament passed the CAA, chief ministers from Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, to name a few, took a resolute stand against the CAA and the NRC. As protests across the country gained strength, Naveen Patnaik and Nitish Kumar, whose parties voted for the CAA in Parliament, were forced to take a position against the NRC, taking the tally of the state governments opposed to the NRC up to 11.

The impact of this resistance may have its limits. Citizenship is a Union government subject, and states have no role in determining the legal framework. They are, however, entrusted with the task of implementing the law. In the current framework, the district collector has the authority to process applications for citizenship and forward them on for clearance to the home ministry, via the state government. Moreover, the state machinery is essential to administering the NRC. In principle, states can simply stop processing citizenship applications and refuse to deploy its machinery for the NRC, effectively impeding the process. But here is the catch. The CAA has inserted a clause that, for all practical purposes, empowers the central government to redraft implementation rules and create a direct chain of command with the authority specified by it to deal with citizenship applications of persecuted minorities  thus bypassing state government authority. Added to this, most state governments, with the exception of West Bengal, are yet to take a stand on the National Population Register (NPR), approved by the Union Cabinet last week, which effectively serves as the foundation for the NRC.

Regardless, the political symbolism of this resistance is significant. This is the first time that chief ministers have collectively taken a strong, vocal stand against the Narendra Modi governments agenda, and asserted their federal rights. Could this be a turning point in Indias current journey towards majoritarianism? As the battle against the CAA and the NRC rages on, will states emerge as a countervailing force to the centralising authoritarianism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?

Despite the rhetoric of co-operative, competitive federalism, since coming to office in 2014, the Modi government has carefully sought to centralise political, administrative and financial powers with relatively meek opposition from states. After its re-election in May 2019, the government embarked on far more aggressive agenda of centralisation  one that seeks to impose a unitary notion of citizenship and identity. The first and most significant step in this direction was the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Beyond the specific context of Kashmir, the move to strip Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status and downgrade the state of Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory undermined the central tenet of Indias federal aspiration  the aspiration to peacefully accommodate Indias multiple linguistic, ethnic and religious identities.

Despite the enormity of the events of August 2019, and the challenge they presented to the sanctity of Indias federal aspiration, most state governments and regional parties actively supported the Modi governments decision. In fact, in August, as I wrote in these pages, India had embarked on a dangerous journey toward centralisation. Federalism had few takers and even state governments had failed to fight its cause.

The last few weeks have witnessed a reversal in this trend. The core message emanating from the surge of protests across the country is of a categorical rejection of the unitary notion of citizenship being imposed by the BJP, and a reclamation of Indias pluralism. It is through this reclamation that Indias federal aspiration is witnessing a resurgence. State governments have been quick to respond to protests, asserting their federal rights, and taking a stand against the CAA and the NRC.

This resurgence of federalism comes against the backdrop of the BJPs loosening grip on power in states. Voters are increasingly beginning to respond to the state and national politics with different impulses. Trends in the last three state elections (Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra) seem to indicate that state elections are becoming increasingly local where contestations are being defined by state-specific issues. And, as we learnt from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in December 2018, unlike in previous election cycles, voter preferences in state elections changed dramatically when voting for the national government. For the first time in decades, national and state politics are beginning to look very different. One way to interpret this emergent trend is as a sign of a deepening of federalism.

State elections are now emerging as the primary site for asserting localised identity claims that the BJPs extremely centralised party structure, and its majoritarian idea of India, has had difficulty responding to  remember Amit Shahs brief flirtation with the idea of Hindi as the national link language. And, arguably, it is these electoral shifts that have emboldened the state governments to reassert their federal rights and challenge the BJP.

But these early signs of resurgence must be viewed with cautious optimism. In the face of increased resistance, it is likely that the BJP will harden its ideological stance and deepen its centralising instincts in the fiscal and administrative arena, leaving states with little room for manoeuvre. Resistance will require more than grandstanding and statements in support of Indias secular, plural fabric. States will have to take a principled stance against the BJPs attempts to consolidate majoritarian identity, and articulate a convincing ideological alternative anchored in federalism and secularism even as it risks vote banks. Are states up to the task?

Yamini Aiyar is president and chief executive, Centre for Policy Research

The views expressed are personal
United States Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday confirmed that Washington will send approximately 750 troops to the middle east immediately. The decision came amid the ongoing protests in Iraq and the attacks that broke out in Baghdad outside the US Embassy. Hundreds of protesters gathered to demonstrate in front of the US embassy in response to the airstrikes in Iraq and Syria conducted by the US forces.

Read: Pro-Iran Protesters Attack US Embassy Over Deadly Iraq Strikes

Department of Defence statement

Esper released a statement on Tuesday that read, "The Department of Defence is working closely with the Department of State to ensure the security of our Embassy and personnel in Baghdad. We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in the country, and to ensure our right of self-defence. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy."

Read: Donald Trump Accuses Iran Of orchestrating Attack On US Embassy

The United States also urged the Iraqi government to take action against protesters who Washington believes are members of Hezbollah, a Shia militant group supported by Iran. Esper in his statement said, "As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so. The United States continues to support the Iraqi people and a free, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq."

Read: Trump Expects Iraq To 'use Its Forces' To Protect US Embassy In Baghdad

After the protesters stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone area in Baghdad on Tuesday, the US sent two Apache helicopters to fly over the embassy in a show of force. Earlier in the day, the US also deployed 100 marines from a crisis response task force based in Kuwait to step up the security at the embassy. A defence official on Tuesday told international media that it was unlikely that the US soldiers coming to the middle east will be sent to Iraq, but will instead be stationed in a nearby country or countries so they can be deployed when the situation worsens.

Read: Angry Protesters Attack US Embassy In Baghdad Against Airstrikes
The Genesis GV80 / Courtesy of Genesis



By Nam Hyun-woo



Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand Genesis said Wednesday it will launch its first SUV  the GV80  this month in a bid to strengthen its lineup.



Unveiling the design of the much-touted flagship SUV, Genesis said it will roll out in the domestic market by the end of this month and make its global debut as early as this summer.





Genesis GV80 / Courtesy of Genesis



The three-row GV80 lies in the large SUV segment, but showcases a coupe-like roofline. Surrounded by quad lamps, its crest-shape grille is filled with diamond patterns, and the two lines on the flank of the vehicle embody its volume and dynamism, the company said.



The vehicle's interior focuses on minimalism, despite its technology. The cockpit is surrounded by high-mounted control surfaces, which are highlighted by silver dials, allowing the driver to tweak the features.



There also are a slew of new driver-assist technologies. Among them is a machine learning-based smart cruise control that uses the vehicle's artificial intelligence to analyze the driver's driving pattern and mimic it.



Other technologies include navigation-based auto slow down, lane change assist and several features in Hyundai's Highway Drive Assist II package. Infotainment features also have been improved.



The GV80 will feature an augmented reality navigation system for the first time among Korean brands. Other features, such as Genesis car pay, an in-vehicle payment system, and enhanced voice command, will enhance convenience, the brand said.



Also included is Hyundai's original Road-noise Active Noise Control, which reduces noise by emitting sound waves.





Genesis GV80 / Courtesy of Genesis



Genesis did not reveal the GV80's powertrain specs, but said it will be based on a rear-wheel-drive platform. All-wheel drive will be optional.



"Over the last four years, Genesis established itself as a respected luxury brand with superior vehicle quality and a lineup of class-leading sedans with charismatic and discriminating style," said William Lee, executive vice president and global head of Genesis. "With the launch of the GV80, Genesis will elevate expectations for excellence within the luxury SUV market."





Genesis GV80 / Courtesy of Genesis
Stony Creek Backwash, where 15,000 mangroves were planted in the 1970s, is a nature reserve in Spotswood with a large variety of birdlife including the Australian Grebe, Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret and the Dusky Moorhen. And the Inflatable Regatta  which started off as a couple of mates floating down the Yarra  has turned into an annual event that attracts thousands of people after the organisers accidentally made their Facebook page public a few years ago. Inflatable Regatta founder Courtney Carthy at the proposed site of the swimming pool at Enterprize Park. Credit:Scott McNaughton People will put a coffee shop up in a shoe box in Melbourne but the Yarra is this wonderful under-utilised resource, said Inflatable Regatta founder Courtney Carthy. Mr Kelly believes the renaissance of the river is in part thanks to a community dream of a future swimmable Yarra, which he says has captured the imagination of Melburnians.

Yarra Pools is a community-led group advocating for a 50-metre swimming pool and wetlands in the turning basin precinct of the Yarra adjacent to Enterprize Park, an under-used section of the rivers northern bank. The concept design, developed with WOWOWA Architects, is inspired by urban river pools such as the Copenhagen Havnebadet, which has promoted a clean harbour and transformed the use of the harbour front. The concept design for a public swimming pool and wetland on the banks of the Yarra in the CBD. Credit:WOWOWA Yarra Pools president Felicity Watson says there are many thousands of years of history of swimming in the river. The Wurundjeri could perform wondrous feats in swimming and diving, according to Yarra: A Diverting History,swimming on their sides with hand struck out from shoulder as a steering apparatus, and the other hand and feet acting as powerful propellers.

In 1910 Harry Houdini jumped into the Yarra bound in chains and handcuffs as part of an escape stunt. Escape artist Harry Houdini preparing to jump into the Yarra. And an annual three mile swim was held from MacRobertson Bridge to Princes Bridge from 1913 to 1963, after which it was cancelled due to pollution fears (it was briefly resurrected in the late 1980s). Our ultimate goal is to create a swimmable Yarra River and introduce back all the recreational activities that used to happen, Ms Watson said. She said a business case study for the pool, which was funded by Melbourne Water, determined more than 350,000 people would use a swimming pool in Enterprize Park in a year.

Ms Watson said she was thrilled the recent Yarra River - Birrarung strategy, which was endorsed by Melbourne City Council last month, formally recognised the communitys desire for a Yarra pool. Recent community-led ideas like the Yarra Pools focus on the idea of swimming to raise water quality issues and provide new recreational opportunities, the strategy says. Ms Watson says Yarra Pools also wants to work with the State Government to ensure a swimmable Yarra River is part of future plans for the river. We need to start getting serious about working towards the goal and committing resources, she said. It is currently illegal to swim in the Yarra south of Gipps Street in Abbotsford without a special permit (such as for the Birdman Rally during Moomba). This is because of boat traffic not the quality of the water.

However the Yarra and Bay 2017-2018 report card found water quality in the Yarra catchment was poor. It said water quality deteriorated as it passed through more urbanised areas with nutrients and pollutants in run-off coming from roads and other hard surfaces. Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly in 2015. Credit:Joe Armao Even so, says Mr Kelly, for an urban river the Yarra River is surprising robust. There are lots of cormorants and darters, which are fishing birds, which shows there are fish in the river, he said. However there is no denying the river is coming under increasing pressure due to climate change and increased populations in the catchment.
Some local families are struggling financially to make it through the winter and could use a bit of community support.

The Connecticut Post has partnered with LifeBridge in Bridgeport for the 11th consecutive year to give readers a chance to help their fellow community members in need of a little bit of help through the Giving Fund project.

The Post will share 10 stories each week that are provided by LifeBridge. Although the names of the individuals have been changed to protect their privacy, the stories are true. All money donated goes directly to the cases.

There will be a coupon provided in print for readers who choose to mail in a donation. Readers should ensure they indicate a case number for their donation.

Online donations are also accepted through LifeBridges website. For those, there is a comment box under the recurring gift option. Readers do not need to check the box if they intend to make a one-time donation. In the comment box, though, readers should write Giving Fund and the case number of the family they want to help.

The total donation for cases 51 through 60 is $3,395.

Case 051  Tracy

Tracy is a 22-year-old mother with a 3-month-old son. Her son was born prematurely and has been in the hospital since birth. He has undergone several surgeries and is getting stronger each day at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven. Tracy, who lives in Bridgeport, works 40 hours a week at a fast food restaurant in Westport. Tracy goes to New Haven daily to visit her son  some days before her shift, other days after. The commute has taken a financial toll on Tracey, who is working hard to prepare for when her son can finally come home to live with her. She has recently started counseling at LifeBridge to deal with the stress of her situation. A gift of $350 would help cover the cost of some baby supplies for Tracys son.

Case 052  Louise

Louise is a 56-year-old single woman who is a survivor of domestic violence. She currently lives with her 16-year-old son, who is autistic, and is struggling to cover the cost of rent and other expenses. She currently has a home health aide certification and is employed. She works 12 hours each week and is struggling to make her payment deadlines. She received an initial eviction noticed on Dec. 19 and is concerned about her and her sons future; shes worried they might be forced to go to a shelter  which she thinks would be a difficult transition for he son. A gift of $500 would help Louise with her back rent so her and her son can stay in their apartment.

Case 053  Stew

Stew is a 39-year-old single man living in Meriden who has dealt with many losses and traumatic experiences. He saw his father get shot, his uncle get killed and various other violence incidents. Stew has survived domestic violence and emotional abuse. He suffers from symptoms of PTSD and pursues therapy to heal. In 2015, Stew was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury, which affects his overall function and makes him unable to work much. He currently works part-time but hasnt been able to get paid because of financial issues with the business owners. A gift of $250 would help cover the cost of his overdue rent bill until he gets paid.

Case 054  Tara

Tara is a 24-year-old single mother with a 1-year-old son. Her and her son have been in and out of homeless shelters in Bridgeport and she has been searching for a job for months. She has previously received job offers, but had to decline because of childcare issues. Tara has signed up for ABCD, assistance for daycare, but is on a waiting list. She has a long history of trauma and loss and receives mental health services at LifeBridge. A gift of $150 would help cover the cost of some basic necessities for Tara and her son.

Case 055  Angel

Angel is a single mother living in Bridgeport with her two children. She has been working to support her family while taking night courses to complete her Associates Degree. She has a stable, early-morning job secured for 18 months. She uses public transportation to get her kids to school and daycare and herself to work. Her biggest concern for the moment is keeping up with her winter fuel bills. A gift of $420 would cover the cost of six monthly bus passes so Angel has one less thing to worry about for the next few months.

Case 056  Edwin

Edwin is a 20-year-old Bridgeport native struggling with depression. He is eager to secure a job and has previously worked in landscaping. For winter job duties, he needs a weather-proof hooded winter parka, specific grade work boots and OSHA-approved specific gloves. A gift of $325 would pay for the required winter gear and allow him to qualify for a winter position in the field he knows best.

Case 057  Shana

Shana was born in Bridgeport and has been a Fairfield County resident her entire life. When her child developed a medical condition that required her to frequently take time off, she wasnt able to hold a steady job. This issue led to her struggling to keep up with basic expenses on the money she makes from temporary and part-time work. Currently she is struggling to cover the costs of groceries and heating bills. A gift of $400 would cover Shanas heating bill for the next two months.

Case 058  Mark

Mark is a 25-year-old Bridgeport native. He never had a stable living situation growing up and struggled with a learning disability, but still managed to stay in school. He is nearly done with completing courses to get his Associates Degree at Housatonic Community College. He has maintained seasonal and temporary jobs since he was 16 and has held a permanent job for the last two years. He has secured his own apartment and wants to finish up studies to complete his degree. He has managed to cover the cost of groceries with $25 each week. A gift of $300 would allow him to buy a Stop & Shop gift card and cover his grocery costs for the next three months as he works to get back on track with his degree.

Case 059  Elsa

Elsa is a 25-year-old unemployed woman living alone in Bridgeport. She migrated to the United States in April 2008 from Jamaica at the age of 14. She has survived physical, verbal and emotional abuse. She was living with a relative in the U.S. but was removed from the relatives custody and placed in several foster homes until she ended up in a group home in Pennsylvania. In 2012, she signed herself out of the home on her 18th birthday because of trouble with staff and others living in the home. She came back to Connecticut to live with a friend until she was approved for housing and benefits. Elsas mother bought her a ticket to visit her and her siblings in Jamaica for early 2020, but Elsa does not have any luggage to travel with. A gift of $200 would help her buy luggage to visit her family.

Case 060  Joe

Joe is a recent Bassick High School graduate who moved to Bridgeport with his mother and younger sister during his senior year of high school. His mother works long hours as a nursing assistant to support Joe and his sister. Joe started his first year at Gateway Community College this fall and is the first person in his family to attend college. To help his mother with bills and rent, Joe works the late shift at the Amazon warehouse in North Haven three days a week for 11- to 12-hour shifts. His shifts wrap up around 7 a.m., at which point he heads home, showers and then heads to a day of school, where he is taking a full course load. Joe takes the train to New Haven daily and then pays bus fare to North Haven. A gift of $500 would help Joe and his family with some bills or to start saving for a car.
We have nothing. We dont have that kind of money they are asking for.

Those were the words of one of the nephews of couple Narine Maraj, 62, and Mattie Maraj, 52, who were kidnapped on Saturday evening after leaving their Madras, St Helena, home to tend to their animals at a family-owned farm in Piarco.
Guy Walsh will be an integral player in establishing San Antonio as the nations top producer of research and workforce talent in data intelligence and cybersecurity.

20 FOR 2020

A YEAR-END SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT UTSA'S BOLD FUTURE

JANUARY 1, 2020  Editors note: The university's new national security center is a core initiative in Downtown Campus expansion. [First published July 10, 2019]

The University of Texas at San Antonio has announced the selection of retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Guy M. Walsh as the founding executive director of its National Security Collaboration Center. The NSCC, a core initiative in UTSAs Downtown Campus expansion, will advance research, education and workforce development in cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing while anchoring the creation of an emerging high-tech corridor to support San Antonios future.

Walsh brings a wealth of experience in building strategic alliances between federal and state government, academia and industry partners. He is among the nations foremost leaders in national security as the strategic initiatives lead for U.S. Cyber Command, the Department of Defenses newest Combatant Command, which is co-located with the National Security Agency at Fort George Meade, Md. His expertise includes cybersecurity operations, international affairs and partnerships, risk mitigation and crisis response, strategic planning and execution, and local and state emergency management.

Walsh is laser-focused on leading well-trained and ready government-university-industry collaborations to defend and protect the nation.

BERNARD ARULANANDAM, Vice President for Research at UTSA

Simply put, Guy Walsh is a highly successful, highly disruptive leader whose steady hand has transformed our nations cyber strategy. Hes the kind of leader that universities dream about recruiting, said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. By working closely with the partners in our National Security Collaboration Center and by tapping his robust network of government, university and industry leaders, in addition to pursuing and securing cooperative agreements and grants for UTSA, Guy will be an integral player in establishing San Antonio as the nations top producer of research and workforce talent in data intelligence and cybersecurity.

In 2011 Walsh was handpicked by the NSAs director and commander of the U.S. Cyber Command to operationalize cyber as the newest combat organization in the Department of Defense. His strategic vision led to the creation of Cyber Commands Guard and Reserve Directorate in 2011, where he established numerous partnership and policy initiatives in collaboration with senior officials on the national security staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, National Guard Bureau, National Governors Association, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice.

In 2015 Walsh was a founding member and deputy director of the Capabilities Development group, charged with integrating USCYBERCOMs prioritized cyberspace capability development to rapidly deliver joint operational products and services required for generating, facilitating and monitoring effects in and through cyber space. He was also a founding member, co-developer and champion for CYBER GUARD, a Tier 1 level exercise to develop a whole of nation (federal, state and private sectors) response to cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure and key resources.

Guy Walsh is laser-focused on leading well-trained and ready government-university-industry collaborations to defend and protect the nation, said Bernard Arulanandam, UTSA vice president for research, economic development and knowledge enterprise. His collaborative approach will help create the foundation of our National Security Collaboration Center, a powerful knowledge ecosystem that is cohesively tackling the nations greatest most pressing challenges in national security and global defense.

In addition to his national security expertise, Walsh has significant military operational experience. A career A-10 Close Air Support pilot, Walsh graduated from the USAF Academy, serving as a flight, squadron and group commander prior to his appointment as the commander of the Air Forces 175th Wing, part of the Maryland National Guard. While overseeing the Maryland groups war fighting and emergency readiness from 2002 to 2009, Walsh led the Maryland Air National Guard response to support Hurricane Katrina operations in Louisiana and Mississippi.

In June 2009 Walsh was appointed by President Obama and the Secretary of the Air Force to serve as the inaugural commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. As the senior Air Force commander delivering airpower for U.S and NATO combat operations in Afghanistan, the 451st Wing was composed of 1,400 personnel charged with conducting full-spectrum combat air operations in support of 100,000 U.S. and coalition forces. Under his leadership, the 451st AEW provided close air support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop, aero medical evacuation, command and control and combat search and rescue operations throughout Afghanistan.

It is an honor and privilege to lead UTSAs National Security Collaboration Center, said Walsh. My recent team building experiences commanding combat operations in Afghanistan and being on the ground floor in establishing the U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade have prepared me well for mapping a path for government, industry and academic to collaboratively deliver outcomes improving national security. Im eager to connect with the San Antonio communityCyber City USAand build on UTSAs track record as a leader in cyber innovation.

Walsh joins UTSA at a time of immense growth. The university, which is home to the nations top cybersecurity program, defends cyber space through creative approaches in business, science, engineering, and liberal and fine arts. Five centers and institutes advance that work, which focuses on solving global security challenges in todays increasingly technological world.

The National Security Collaboration Center is giving government, university and industry entities the ability to collaborate on scientific investigations and business enterprises by providing research laboratories with state-of-the-art hardware and software; a computational innovation factory and business incubator to develop prototypes and concepts for the public good; a visualization laboratory to translate big data into images for large-scale, high resolution digital walls; and a high-performance computing center to support the research and development of algorithms and systems for addressing computational and data-intensive problems.

San Antonio is home to one of the largest concentrations of cybersecurity experts and industry leaders outside Washington, D.C., which uniquely positions the city and UTSA to lead the nation in cybersecurity research and workforce development.

Walsh begins his new role at UTSA immediately.
To apply artificial intelligence to the task, the authors of the Nature report used mammograms from about 76,000 women in Britain and 15,000 in the United States, whose diagnoses were already known, to train computers to recognize cancer.

Then, they tested the computers on images from about 25,000 other women in Britain, and 3,000 in the United States, and compared the systems performance with that of the radiologists who had originally read the X-rays. The mammograms had been taken in the past, so the womens outcomes were known, and the researchers could tell whether the initial diagnoses were correct.

We took mammograms that already happened, showed them to radiologists and asked, Cancer or no? and then showed them to A.I., and asked, Cancer, or no? said Dr. Mozziyar Etemadi, an author of the study from Northwestern University.

This was the test that found A.I. more accurate than the radiologists.

Unlike humans, computers do not get tired, bored or distracted toward the end of a long day of reading mammograms, Dr. Etemadi said.

In another test, the researchers pitted A.I. against six radiologists in the United States, presenting 500 mammograms to be interpreted. Over all, A.I. again outperformed the humans.

But in some instances, A.I. missed a cancer that all six radiologists found  and vice versa.

Theres no denying that in some cases our A.I. tool totally gets it wrong and they totally get it right, Dr. Etemadi said. Purely from that perspective it opens up an entirely new area of inquiry and study. Why is it that they missed it? Why is it that we missed it?

Dr. Lehman, who is also developing A.I. for mammograms, said the Nature report was strong, but she had some concerns about the methods, noting that the patients studied might not be a true reflection of the general population. A higher proportion had cancer, and the racial makeup was not specified. She also said that reader analyses involving a small number of radiologists  this study used six  were not always reliable.
One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller

Written and illustrated by Kate Read

Two Hoots, 36 pages, $26.99, ages 2-5

One famished fox, two sly eyes, three plump hens were all set for drama (even tragedy!) in this stylish British picture book, but perhaps its not the drama were expecting. With the clear vermillion, scarlet and orange of fox and hens making a visual conflagration in the dark hen house, the suspense of the story is more than matched by the glowing excitement of the illustrations. This has the teacherly elements of counting and vocabulary, but even more compellingly, shows just how few words you need to tell a hair-raising story.

All the Ways to Be Smart

Written by Davina Bell, illustrated by Allison Colpoys

Scribble, 32 pages, $24.99, ages 4-7

For any child who has ever worried about being smart, Australian author Bell and artist Colpoys offer an expansive, reassuring look at the many ways there are to be that way. Smart is not just ticks and crosses, smart is building boats from boxes. Painting patterns, wheeling wagons, being mermaids, riding dragons Smart at saying hi and bye to people when they feel all shy The energy of Bells rhyming couplets reflects the very inventiveness the book celebrates, the ebullience of kids imagination, emotional intelligence and practical talents. Climbing trees, making slime, inventing games Colpoys illustrations, showing a busy, multiracial, multi-gifted cast, convey joyous variety and abundant compassion.

Fings War

by Benny Lindelauf

Enchanted Lion, 411 pages, $25.50, ages 12 and up

A sequel to Nine Open Arms (Enchanted Lion, 256 pages, $25.50), this novel by acclaimed Dutch author Lindelauf also reads well as a stand-alone. Fing (Josephine) Boon, growing up in a dilapidated house in a family of nine, is just becoming a teenager as World War II affects her home town in the Netherlands. First, it seems not much has changed. Then her brothers and father are taken away to a labour camp in punishment for a prank. As her grandmother lapses into uncharacteristic silence, Fing puzzles through the ideologies and loyalties of her neighbours, boyfriend and sisters  especially her sister Jess, whose physical weakness hides the most resistant, subversive will of them all. Theres no retrospective moral certainty governing Lindelaufs depiction of Fing, whose innocence, confusion and ignorance slowly, and often painfully, diminish as events and the fallout of her own actions unfold under the German occupation. With complex characterization (no simplistic life lessons here) and a vivid, absorbing setting, this is a deeply satisfying work. Highly recommended.

The Year We Fell From Space

By Amy Sarig King

Arthur Levine, 262 pages, $22.99, ages 10-14

In an American story simpler in style and more explicit in message, King plots the difficult changes twelve year old Liberty endures in the period after her parents separate. Liberty loves the night sky, and has spent many nights drawing star maps and connecting the dots into new constellations she sees there. But when her parents separate, she cant find any pattern that makes sense  especially in her own feelings and actions. In prose thats accessible, even comforting, King depicts a girl who struggles with her own irrational behaviour and uncertainty about her fathers mental health, seeing it in in the context of a cosmos much bigger than most of us contemplate.

Moomin: The Deluxe Lars Jansson Edition

Written and illustrated by Lars Jansson

Drawn & Quarterly, 448 pages, $74.95, all ages

This compendium, which brings together twenty stories from Finnish cartoonist Lars Janssons Moomin comic strips from the 1960s and 70s, has great attractions for diehard Moomin fans (Lars inherited the strip from his sister Tove, the originator of Moomins). But how does it play out in the 2020s? Light-heartedly critical and political in its time, some of its humour is now not quite so amusing. Yet at its best, the generosity and innocent sense of play characteristic of the Moomins and their friends has a strangely profound charm. How nice! declares Moominmamma when she discovers that an old friend of Moominpappa has stayed the night. Id better sweep the floor if you are going to sleep under the table, Mr. Wimsy. The aplomb with which Moominmamma accepts all guests definitely has its place in the world.
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 Dexin China Holdings Company Limited (HKG:2019).

Over the last twelve months Dexin China Holdings has recorded a ROE of 28%. Another way to think of that is that for every HK$1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn HK$0.28.

Check out our latest analysis for Dexin China Holdings

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Dexin China Holdings:

28% = CN2.7b  CN9.6b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.)

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 Signify?

ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies.

Does Dexin China Holdings 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. Pleasingly, Dexin China Holdings has a superior ROE than the average (8.4%) company in the Real Estate industry.

SEHK:2019 Past Revenue and Net Income, January 1st 2020

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.

Story continues

How Does Debt Impact ROE?

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, 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. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking.

Dexin China Holdings's Debt And Its 28% ROE

Dexin China Holdings clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.55. I think the ROE is impressive, but it would have been assisted by the use of debt. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time.

The Bottom Line On ROE

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

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 check this FREE visualization of 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.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
"Light to moderate snowfall is likely to occur at many places from January 2 as western disturbances will be active with significant fall in day temperatures, Manmohan Singh, Director of the Met office here, told IANS.

Shimla, Jan 1 (IANS) Hill stations of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday experienced partially sunny conditions on the first day of the year 2020, a weather official said here. However, temperatures were close to the freezing point at several places with chances of snow from January 2.

The probability of snowfall in Shimla, Kufri, Narkanda, Manali, Kalpa and Dalhousie is high.

He said that western disturbances would decrease significantly on January 4 and there would be fall in minimum temperatures.

If one misses this opportunity to enjoy snowfall in the hills, the Met office says another western disturbance is likely to hit the state from January 6 to 8.

The western disturbance is a storm system originating from the Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

Shimla on Wednesday saw a low of 1.4 degrees Celsius, while it was minus 2.6 degrees C in tourist resort Manali.

The night temperature in Keylong, the headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti, was minus 10 degrees C, in Kalpa in Kinnaur district minus 4.1 degrees and in Dharamsala town 2.2 degrees C.

vg/skp/
A handful of travelers spent the early hours of the new year trapped inside a massive pileup of tumbleweeds that shut down a highway in eastern Washington for 10 hours.

State Route 240 was closed in both directions at mile point 10 near West Richland as Washington Department of Transportation workers cleared the road -- using what appeared in photos to be a snow plow.

The Associated Press quoted Washington State Trooper Chris Thorson, who said five cars and one 18-wheel semi truck were trapped in the tumbleweeds over New Years Eve night. The road did not reopen until about 4:30 a.m. New Years Day.

People were still stuck at midnight and rung in the new year trapped under the weeds, Thorson said.

Thorson posted on Twitter that tumbleweeds were piled 20 to 30 feet in places.

By 8 a.m. Wednesday, officials reported that one abandon car was still trapped in the tumbleweeds, but no one was found inside.

In this image taken Tuesday evening, Dec. 31, 2019, and provided by the Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Transportation using snow plows to remove a pile of tumbleweeds along State Route 240 near Richland, Wash. (Trooper Chris Thorson/Washington State Patrol viaAP)AP

A pretty incredible sight from SR 240 where tumbleweed closed he road for 10hours last night. Big thanks to our crews who worked through the night to clear roadway. https://t.co/23RaWImGCH  WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) January 1, 2020

-- Samantha Swindler; sswindler@oregonian.com; @editorswindler

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Over the last decade, scientists learned a great deal about the climate, much of it concerning the connection between global warming and extreme events  heat waves, hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires.

There has been, for many years, an understanding that a warmer world would be a more temperamental one, and measurements upon measurements show the average temperature is rising in step with those predictions.

But until recently it was hard to prove that our changed atmosphere was having an influence on extreme events, which, after all, have been drowning and parching and starving people long before anyone started burning fossil fuels.

Asking whether climate change caused a particular wildfire or hurricane is the wrong question, said Benjamin Cook, a climate researcher with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

But in the last decade, the ability to model the climate has advanced so much, he said, that people can determine whether human-generated global warming made a storm wetter or a drought longer than it otherwise would have been. Such attribution, he said, is the biggest advance of the 2010s.

This is important because extreme events are really where the impacts of climate change are being felt, he said. Its not necessarily alarming to hear that global temperatures will creep up another couple of degrees, but its another thing to realize that human actvity contributed to a string of deadly heat waves in Europe  with temperatures climbing well above 108 in Paris  as well as the apocalyptic fires that destroyed what had been some of the most beautiful parts of California. Theres a clear climate change signal, he said.

If theres any controversy now among scientists, its over whether they were too reluctant to sound the alarm about extreme events in the past. There was a reluctance to make recommendations based on probabilities and reasonable assumptions. Now theres evidence to back them.

Over the last decade, climate researchers have been filling in gaps in their data on past temperatures, and improved models that are calibrated against the past to predict the future. Thats led to better predictions for weather as well, thanks to more complete data, better science, and more computer power.

Theres more data on cloud formation, on precipitation, on ground water and on whats happening underneath ice shelves, said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA-Goddard, Institute for Space Sciences.

All that basic knowledge has come about from an exceptionally productive ten years of remote sensing.

The Arctic is warming faster than lower latitudes, and this is affecting the wind patterns especially the jet stream. Researchers say that a weakening of those winds is part of the reason storms such as Hurricane Harvey stall, and dry air lingers in other places for weeks.

Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, now on sabbatical in New Zealand, said that hes been arguing since 2010 that extreme events are now happening in a different environment.

Because weve increased the earths atmospheric carbon by more than 40%, the oceans are warmer, and the air above the ocean is warmer and wetter, and the sea level is already a little higher.

That contributes to making storms more intense, with heavier, prolonged rainfall, as people witnessed with Harvey in Houston and Florence in the Carolinas. The planets dry climates are getting drier, and the wet, wetter.

Global warming is also heating the worlds oceans, and this, too, is not uniform. Trenberth said and they can now track marine heat waves, which are killing coral and sea life from the Gulf of Maine to the Great Barrier Reef. A decade ago they could measure the oceans temperature down to 700 meters, he said; now they can track it to 2,000 meters.

We can actually see that heat penetrating down into the oceans. The oceans have absorbed most of the energy thats been trapped on Earth by added greenhouse gases. Some are worried theyre losing their capacity to buffer global warming.

A decade ago, there was already more than enough evidence to justify an effort to cut emissions. Scientists had reached a consensus that it was time to act.

But a disinformation campaign was creating a different picture to general public, with hackers stealing scientists personal emails, and various bloggers and media outlets launching personal attacks against them.

Adding fuel to the situation was a loss of trust in all of science following the so-called replication crisis, in which social science was exposed as contaminated with flimsy and erroneous results. Much of established nutrition research was overturned, and many medical findings were deemed impossible to reproduce.

But this had nothing to do with basic, well-established physics and Earth science. The periodic table didnt get torn up, electricity still works as predicted, and Einsteins pedestal has only been elevated.

It was way back in the 1800s that French mathematician Joseph Fourier realized that our planet should be frozen down to the equator, considering it orbits at a distance of 93 million miles from the sun.

It didnt take long to realize that the small fraction of our atmosphere made up of carbon dioxide was keeping our planet warm, and that adding substantially to that will make it a lot warmer.

Whats notable is what hasnt changed over the last 10 years, said Penn State climate scientist Richard Alley. Carbon dioxide goes up the temperature goes up, ice melts, and theres a migration of plants and animals.

Thus the climate forecast for the 2020s is warmer and more eventful.
BERKELEY (BCN)

A man was arrested Sunday following a shooting last Thursday near the campus of the University of California at Berkeley, police said Tuesday.

Rashad Albert, 26, of Berkeley was arrested following the shooting in the area of Telegraph and Durant avenues, just a block from the campus.

At 7:25 p.m., police received numerous reports of gunfire. Officers responded four minutes later to the 2400 block of Durant Avenue and found bullet holes in a business storefront as well as bullet casings on the sidewalk.

Police said witnesses told them that numerous people were nearly hit by bullets. The shooting apparently happened during dispute among several people.

After Albert was identified as a suspect, police obtained a warrant for his arrest. Albert was arrested following a disturbance he allegedly caused at a separate business where he apparently threatened to shoot the employees.

Police said prosecutors with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office Tuesday charged Albert with assault with a deadly weapon, and among other offenses, possession of a gun by a felon.

Police said they identified Albert as the alleged shooter based on surveillance videos and witnesses.

Detective Andres Bejarano wrote in a probable cause statement that Albert is a gang member. Bejarano said Albert was on probation for possessing a gun as a felon.

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.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday shared a list of its nuclear installations with India under a bilateral agreement.

The list was handed over to an Indian High Commission official in accordance with Article-II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India signed on December 31, 1988, the Foreign Office said in a statement here.

"The list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, at 1030 AM (PST)," it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi handed over the list of Indian nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission at 1100 AM (IST), the FO said.

The agreement contains the provision that both countries inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on the 1st of January every year.

This is being done consecutively since January 1, 1992, according to the FO.
More United States Marines were deployed to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, amid an unprecedented attack on an American diplomatic mission in Iraq.

Militiamen and their supporters were protesting against deadly U.S. air strikes over the weekend, and later stormed and torched a security post at the entrance of the U.S. embassy but did not breach the main compound.

U.S. officials said the Marines deployed from Kuwait were currently on the ground at the embassy to protect personnel who were huddled inside the facility.

President Donald Trump said on Twitter that the embassy "is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request...."

The White House had said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that Trump, who is on a two-week working vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, spoke by phone to Iraq's prime minister to emphasize the need to protect U.S. personnel and facilities.

Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence in Baghdad, and went on to tweet: "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!"

Tehran denied it was behind the attack on the embassy.

The protests, led by Iranian-backed militias, followed U.S. air strikes on Sunday that killed at least 25 fighters on bases operated by the Kataib Hezbollah, a group Washington considers to be a terrorist organization.

The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.

Tuesday's attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between Washington and Tehran, and poses a new challenge for Trump as he enters the 2020 election year.

Democrats upset that Trump ditched the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by former President Barack Obama were quick to pounce on the incident as a failure of Trump's Iran policy.

Story continues

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren said in a tweet: "Trumps reckless decisions to walk away from the Iran Deal and now to launch airstrikes in Iraq without Iraqi government consent have brought us closer to war and endangered U.S. troops and diplomats. We should end the forever wars, not start new ones."

Trump also dismissed comparisons made on Twitter to the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which became a trending topic on the social media platform Tuesday.

In another pair of tweets, Trump said he was closely monitoring the situation and that it was: "The Anti-Benghazi!"
Iran's supreme leader Wednesday strongly condemned deadly US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to confront threats after US President Donald Trump issued one against the Islamic republic.

"I and the government and the nation of Iran strongly condemn this American crime," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state television.

They were his first remarks since Sunday's deadly US strikes on the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network in western Iraq.

The United States carried out the raids in retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American civilian contractor at a base in northern Iraq on Friday.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "orchestrating" that day's storming of the US embassy in Baghdad by protesters angry at the American air strikes.

Trump said: "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."

In response, Khamenei retweeted the post and said: "That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran.

"First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran," the supreme leader in his televised address.

"Secondly, be logical... The people of this region hate America. Why don't Americans understand this?" he said.

"You Americans have committed crimes in Iraq, you have committed crimes in Afghanistan. You have killed people."

Khamenei said Iran was ready to respond to any threat.

"If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly," he said.

"We are strongly committed to the interests of our country... We are strongly committed to the dignity of our nation. We are strongly committed to the progress and greatness of the nation of Iran.

"Should anyone threaten these, we will confront him without any hesitation and will strike our blow," Khamenei said.

"We will never... drag the country towards war. But if others want to impose anything on this country, we will stand against them with all our might."

US-Iran tensions have soared since Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.

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Four New Year's Eve revellers ended their night in hospital after sustaining injuries from fireworks, including one man who burnt his own hand after lighting 20 sparklers.

Police were called to six firework incidents across the state in the early hours of Wednesday, including one which sparked a grass fire at Galvin Park Reserve in Werribee that burnt about half a hectare, despite repeated warnings from authorities about the dangers of illegal fireworks.

No one has been arrested over the incidents and all of those injured were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

A 25-year-old man was with a group of 20 revellers at a Healesville soccer oval, when a firework struck him in the chest and face at about 12.20am on Wednesday. He was taken to Maroondah Hospital.
Scotch on the rocks

A man clutching eight bottles of whisky was one of 35 people rescued yesterday after the 128-foot British schooner Mandalay foundered on a reef off Miami. He told rescuers he had lost all his luggage but had saved the liquor because it was New Years eve. The Coast Guard said the schooner was washed off the rocks south of Miami and sank shortly after the last survivor was rescued. The Mandalay was returning from a 10-day cruise in the Bahamas.

Escape bid

Police have foiled an attempt by armed gunmen to free three of the men jailed for the 2,500,000 Great Train Robbery. Twenty criminals in army uniforms were to have made the bid last night. The train robbers held at Durham are Gordon Goody, Roy The Weasel James and Thomas Wisbey. The plot to release them was smashed when police were told of the escape plan by an underworld informant living near London.

Freak wave
If I will die, let it ...
Bonfires, bells, crackers and a crackdown on music - the way Brisbane has welcomed in the new year since the colony became a city keeps changing as time marches on.

New Year's Eve in 1890 was a quiet night for Brisbane police, with 56 constables on duty in the city, 24 in South Brisbane and 14 in Fortitude Valley.

Brisbane's New Year's Eve celebrations have changed over the years. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP

"Particular instructions were issued to the men regarding the suppression of larrikinism and the prevention of the letting off of fireworks," The Brisbane Courier reported that year.

The Courier added that the city's authorities, "with the best of intentions", had banned people from playing musical instruments in the streets that night.
In early December, I was at my doctors office for an annual physical and was providing background information to a worker at the front desk.

Date of birth? she asked.

Jan. 1, 1956, I replied.

Oh, a New Years baby, she said, her voice rising slightly.

Even as a senior citizen, Ive found a Jan. 1 birthday gets peoples attention and has its advantages. Its guaranteed to get the year off to a good start and caps off the holiday season in style. Theres also a certain orderliness in having the calendar change to a new year and my chronological odometer roll over on the same day.

My birth came earlier than expected; my mother has told me my due date was Jan. 8. As a longtime newspaperman, I like to joke that I was meeting deadlines since the day I was born. I would later be told that a Jan. 1 birthday is among the least common, along with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as women choose not to have labor induced on those days.

Over the years, a New Years birthday has proven to be a good conversation starter. The most frequent questions Ive heard are: Were you the first baby born, and what time were you born?

With an arrival of 7:50 a.m. at 9 lbs. and 3 oz., I wasnt the first baby born that year in South Jersey. However, I did get a consolation prize. My dad and my maternal grandfather both worked at the DuPont Chambers Works plant in Pennsville, and I was the second baby born with a link to a company employee.

The Chambers Works News, the company newspaper, published a story in the Jan. 13, 1956, edition with a family portrait of my parents, sister, and me. My parents received more than $100 worth of prizes, including baby-related products and an album of family pictures, according to the story.

It only took a few years to appreciate the benefits of a New Years Day birthday. As a student, it was a guaranteed day off from school. With a birthday one week after Christmas, it represented a chance to ask for a present that I did not receive. On the flip side, I later came to realize my parents may have held some gifts in reserve for my birthday.

Being born on Jan. 1 has at least one measurable drawback. By not entering the world before midnight on Dec. 31, I cost my parents a deduction on their 1955 income tax return.

Decades later, I learned there is a belated payback of sorts. Under Social Security rules, people born on Jan. 1 are considered to have been in the previous year and month. In my case, thats December 1955. Social Security follows English common law that finds that a person attains an age on the day before their birthday. That regulation shaves two months off my Full Retirement Age  down from 66 and 4 months to 66 and 2 months  and allows me to go on Medicare a month before my 65th birthday.

In this case, a (mostly) happy new year for me: the IRS taketh but Social Security giveth.

Tom Wilk is a former Inquirer copy editor. He is the coauthor, with Jim Waltzer, of Tales of South Jersey: Profiles and Personalities (Rutgers University Press).
Uruguayan authorities had shared through a public announcement that it had seized a record-breaking six tons of cocaine worth approximately $1 billion. They had dubbed the cocaine seizure in Uruguay as one of the largest holdup for illegal drug traders in the history of Uruguay.

Officers from the Navy and Customs had apprehended 4.40 tons of illegal drugs in the port of Montevideo. The drugs had been placed in 4 containers of soy flour. The containers' supposed destination was Lome (capital of Togo).

1.50 tons of illegal drugs were later identified on a ranch.

Four were arrested for their possible connection with the illegal drug transporting activities involving the cocaine seizure in Uruguay.

Recently, Uruguay is becoming a delivery point for most illegal drug transactions coming from Latin America to countries in Europe and Africa.

The recent arrest before the six tons haul of the country was just a month ago. The illegal drugs (cocaine) were discovered in a container in Montevideo. It was reported that the container contained 3 tons of cocaine that was destined to be delivered in Benin through Tenerife (an island in Spain).

They seized 4.40 tons were found by authorities when irregularities were observed from the port of Montevideo pointing to the containers.

Suspicion arose when it was noticed that the export company had not been delivering soya products in the past. Also, African nations do not consume that much soya. It was also observed that one-third of the illegal drug cocaine that Europeans consume made its way to Europe through Africa.

A spokesman of the Navy named Diego Perona had shared to reporters that the first container open contain a minimum of 3,000 bricks of the illegal drug cocaine. Each of the bricks weighed 1.10 kilograms or 2.40 pounds. It was scheduled that the containers were to be transported through an Italian ship.

Jaime Borgiani, the director of Customs, said that the expected value of the 4.40 tons of cocaine seized amounts to $1 billion in the market in Europe.

Borgiani said that the origination of the cocaine was unknown. What is known is that it came from trucks that originated from a ranch Southwest of the Soriano Department which is 290 kilometers from the port of Montevideo.

According to the interior ministry, the country's police had made a raid operation in the ranch and had found cocaine in the area. The police had also obtained an additional 1.50 tons of cocaine in the ranch. The four arrested were the owner of the ranch, his son, and his two workers.

The obtained illegal drugs from the cocaine seizure in Uruguay by the authorities were posted on Twitter by the ministry.

According to Borgiani, the post was a move to show the world and the drug traders to not mess with the customs of the country of Uruguay. He shared that the country is exerting much effort to end the illegal acts involving drugs in the country.

There is an increasing trend in the trade of cocaine because of the rising global growth of the plant where the cocaine came from. This is the highest it had reached in more or less two decades.

In the early parts of the year, the drugs agency EU had announced that authorities from Europe had been seizing a rising number of pure cocaine. Some illegal drug traders were even operating "cocaine call centers" for the immediate and flexible delivery of their customers' orders.
Realme has decided to follow Xiaomis footsteps by including ads in its own user interface, that is, the ColorOS.

Realme has more than often called out Xiaomi over serving ads to their smartphone users. "No Ads on UI" has been one of the key highlights Realme has offered to its users. And now, almost a-year-and-a-half later, Realme is going to serve advertisements on its smartphones.

Realme doesn't explicitly call it advertisement, instead, it uses the phrase "commercial content recommendations." The company said it will start showing these recommendations, which will promote applications and commercial links.

It says the new feature is going to help "maintain a healthy and sustainable business model."

All Realme smartphones running on ColorOS 6 and newer versions of the company's UI will get an update which will bring the recommendation updates to users' smartphones.

Where will you see ads?

If you are using a Realme smartphone, you will get to see these ads in two places. First place is the Phone Manager app and the second place is the Security Check page, which appears after users install a new app on their smartphones.

Realme says the implementation of the "commercial content recommendations" would ensure that users' privacy is protected and complies with the relevant laws and regulations.

Realme earlier this year said its phones don't have ads on UI like Xiaomi (Realme/Screenshot)

ALSO READ: Manu Kumar Jain explains why Xiaomi shows ads on its smartphones

But you can disable it,

Now, the good part. While the company is introducing ads on ColorOS, it has designed a fail safe for users who don't want to be bothered by these pesky ads.

Simply said, you can turn off these ads anytime. All you need to do is go to the Settings app > tap the Additional Settings option > scroll down to Get Recommendations option > And toggle the button off.

It is interesting to note that the Get Recommendations option refers 'Download Management' as one of the places where content recommendations will appear. At this point, it remains uncertain if that is the third place where Realme will be placing the ads. In any case, we will get to know the details soon.
Exhibitions

Art/TF

Deck the Walls exhibit is on display through Jan. 16 at Twin Falls Center for the Arts, 195 River Vista Place. The exhibit features the work of guest artists Angela Batchelor, Ronda Cutlip, Ashley Dubois, Lynnae Hymas, Allison Meyerhoff, Ken Patterson, Tim Pryor, Gene Sherman, John Tatton and Jason Taylor, and Full Moon Gallery member artists. Hosted by Magic Valley Arts Council and Full Moon Gallery of Fine Art and Contemporary Craft. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; closed holidays. Free. 208-734-2787 or magicvalleyartscouncil.org.

Art/TF

Book Arts Invitational exhibit is on display through Feb. 1 in the Jean B. King Gallery at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturdays; closed holidays. Free. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Arts/Ketchum

Behind the Sagebrush Curtain: Women Modernists in Montana and Idaho arts exhibit is on display through Jan. 10 at Sun Valley Center for the Arts, 191 Fifth St. E. The exhibit includes prints, drawings, paintings and ceramics by seven 20th-century artists who were active in Montana (Gennie DeWeese, Edith Freeman, Isabelle Johnson, Helen McAuslan, Frances Senska and Jessie Wilber) and in Idaho (Sara Joyce). Free exhibition tours: 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 with Sara Joyces family discussing her work. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; closed holidays. Free. Sunvalleycenter.org or 208-726-9491.

Daily

Games/TF

Pickleball Time will be closed Jan. 1. Regular hours are from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the indoor courts at 302 Third Ave. S. Extra paddles, balls and snacks are available. Fee varies from $3 to $4 for up to 3 hours of play. Information: Tom at 208-420-9512.

Tai Chi/TF

Magic Valley Tai Chi Club, a Tai Chi/Wellness Program, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, next to Hobby Lobby at the Magic Valley Mall, 1485 Pole Line Road E. Learn Yang Tai Chi, Sun Tai Chi and Qi Gong. For information, contact the instructor during opening hours.

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Archery/Filer

Magic Valley Bowhunters 2020 Resolutions Shoot is at the indoor range at 691 U.S. Highway 30. Features 300 Vegas seeding lines at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., and three end brackets start at 1 p.m. Open and bow hunter classes for men, women and youth. Shooters fees are $50 for sponsored and $25 for non-sponsored. Also 80% payback. Lunch available for $5. Info: Mark, 208-595-4069; Larry, 208-308-4266; or magicvalleybowhunters.org.

Thursday, Jan. 2

Stories/TF

Story Time will feature a mystery childrens story, 11:30 a.m. at Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Free admission for all ages. Herrett.csi.edu.

Music/TF

Organ music by Pat Blessin, 11:30 a.m. Thursdays before lunch at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W. Lunch is $5 for seniors 60 and older; $6 for non-seniors; $3 for children 9 and younger. 208-734-5084.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features The Accidental Astronauts, 1:30 p.m.; Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 2:30 p.m.; and Legends of the Night Sky: Orion with live sky tour, 3:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Art/TF

Oil painting classes by Don Oman, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 2 through Jan. 30, at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., for beginners or experienced painters. Cost is $25 per person for each class (2 hours session). Register: Oman, 208-734-0509, or Jeanette Roe, 208-734-5084.

Auditions/Oakley

Oakley Valley Arts Councils auditions for Lets Murder Marsha, 7 to 9 p.m. at Howells Opera House, 160 N. Blaine Ave. Directed by John Paskett and assisted by Mike Harris, Brenda Pierce and Theresa Jenks. The cast is for three men and four women characters. Be prepared to read from a provided script. Performances will be March 5-7, 9, 12-14, 16, 19-21. The contemporary comedy set in Manhattan has a cast for Tobias Gilmore, a Wall Street broker; Marsha Gilmore, his wife; Virgil Baxter, a friend and neighbor; Persis Devore, a lady with a secret; Bianca, the Gilmores maid; Lynette Thoren, Marshas mother; and Ben Quade, Biancas boyfriend.

Friday, Jan. 3

Art/TF

Oil painting classes by Don Oman, 1:30 and 4 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 3 through Jan. 31, at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., for beginners or experienced painters. Cost is $25 per person (2 hours session). Register: Oman, 208-734-0509, or Jeanette Roe, 208-734-5084.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features The Accidental Astronauts, 1:30 p.m.; Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; Legends of the Night Sky: Orion with live sky tour, 3:30 p.m.; and Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter with live sky tour, 8 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Music/TF

Gary and Cindy Braun, 6 p.m. at Twin Falls Sandwich Co., 128 Main Ave. N.

Music/TF

Boot Juice, 10 p.m. at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Reservations are recommended.

Dancing/Jerome

The Shadows Band featuring country and classic rock music, 7 to 10 p.m. at Snake River Elks Lodge, 412 E. 200 S. Admission is $5 per person for the dance; everyone is welcome. Dinner and drinks available for purchase, dinner served 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 4

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features The Sun: Our Living Star with live sky tour, 1:30 p.m.; Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; Legends of the Night Sky: Orion with live sky tour, 3:30 p.m.; and Led Zeppelin, 8 p.m.; admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. Also Mesmerica 360, 5:30 p.m., presented by producers of the program; tickets only available through eventbrite.com. Information: 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Games/Burley

Bingo, presented by Mini-Cassia Veterans of Foreign Wars, with games at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at the VFW Hall, 554 Hiland Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Open to the public, ages 18 and older. Net proceeds go to support local veteran organizations. Info: Clark Dickson, VFW commander, at 208-650-9652; or Russ Ludlow, bingo manager, at 208-274-3938.

Music/Declo

The Fugitives with country and classic rock, 8 p.m. to midnight at Shakers, 826 Idaho 81. No cover.

Auditions/Oakley

Oakley Valley Arts Councils auditions for Lets Murder Marsha, 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 4 at Howells Opera House, 160 N. Blaine Ave. Directed by John Paskett and assisted by Mike Harris, Brenda Pierce and Theresa Jenks. The cast is for three men and four women characters. Be prepared to read from a provided script.

Snowshoe walk/Arco

Ranger-guided snowshoe walk, 1 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 4 through Feb. 29, at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, 1266 Craters Loop Road, west of Arco. Learn about winter wildlife and look for tracks. Snowshoes are available for use (donations accepted). Conditions may not be suitable for younger children. Sign up on day of the walk at the visitor center. Also group snowshoe walk for ages 10 and older, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in January and February; reservations are required: 208-527-1335 or crmo_information@nps.gov.

Sunday, Jan. 5

Yoga/TF

Beer Yoga, 9 a.m. at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Cost is $10, plus a free drink of choice. Bring your own mat.

Games/TF

Bingo, hosted by Twin Falls American Legion Post 7, Sundays at 447 Seastrom St. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 1:45 p.m. Open to the public.

Games/TF

Bingo is open to the public Sundays at the Moose Lodge, 835 Falls Ave. Doors open at 1 p.m. and game starts at 2 p.m. The Order of the Moose gives donations to charities from this event.

Dance/Jerome

Jerome Senior Centers dance and potluck, 2 p.m. at 520 N. Lincoln St. Cost is $5. 208-324-5642.

Monday, Jan. 6

Art/TF

Oil painting classes by Don Oman, 1:30 and 4 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 6 through Jan. 27, at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., for beginners or experienced painters. Cost is $25 per person (2 hours session). Register: Oman, 208-734-0509, or Jeanette Roe, 208-734-5084.

Art/TF

Paint Night, 6 p.m. at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Cost is $30; sign up at artofhoppiness.com.

Dancing/TF

Social Mondays beginning ballroom dance classes, 7:30 p.m. at XrossWay Ballroom, 1385 Parkview Drive, No. 102. Learn the basic steps of ballroom dancing, followed by social dancing. Free; everyone is welcome. Registration isnt required. Xrossway.fit/ballroom-dance.

Presentation/Burley

Fighting Social Medias Influence on Teen Mental Health with self-proclaimed social media activist Collin Kartchner, at the King Fine Arts Center, 1 Bobcat Blvd. A parent/community dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and his presentation begins at 7 p.m. The presentation is sponsored by Mini-Cassia Pause-Suicide prevention awareness and support.

Tuesday, Jan. 7

Art/TF

Oil painting classes by Don Oman, 1:30 and 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 7 through Jan. 28, at Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., for beginners or experienced painters. Cost is $25 per person (2 hours session). Register: Oman, 208-734-0509, or Jeanette Roe, 208-734-5084.

Reptiles/TF

Reptile Revue with snakes, lizards and more, 6 p.m. at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Free. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 7 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Next week

Trivia/TF

Trivia Night, 6 p.m. Jan. 8 at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N.

Workshop/TF

Make Your Own Bullet Journal, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth Ave. E. For those interested in getting more organized, the library assists to craft a simple journal and shares tools to keep track of many items. Free. 208-733-2964, ext. 200.

Dancing/Jerome

Magic Valley Singles Square Dance Clubs square dancing workshop, 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at Jerome Senior Center, 520 N. Lincoln Ave. Lessons at 7 p.m. and advanced at 8:15 p.m. Lessons for new dancers who started in October. Cost is $3 per person. Info: Lyone, 208-736-9445, or Becky, 208-316-9666.

Film/TF

Special viewing of Foster, an HBO documentary, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Orpheum Theatre, 146 Main Ave. W. Free to the public.

Art/Ketchum

Look, Play and Create program, 10 a.m. Jan. 9 at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, 191 Fifth St. E. The session includes art activities for children ages 1-5. Free. Sunvalleycenter.org or 208-726-9491.

Music/TF

Kit and Sherry, 6 p.m. Jan. 10 at Twin Falls Sandwich Co., 128 Main Ave. N.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and Jan. 17; and Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter with live sky tour, 8 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Comedy/TF

Comedy Night with Paul Sheffield, 9 p.m. Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Reservations are recommended.

Dancing/Burley

Dance and game night, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Golden Heritage Senior Center, 2421 Overland Ave. 208-878-8646.

Fest/TF

Cabin Fever Day activities at Herrett Center for Arts and Science: free solar observing, weather permitting, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 11; reptile meet and greet, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and free full-dome experience, including trailers of new shows and a live sky tour, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the Faulkner Planetarium. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features The Sun: Our Living Star with live sky tour, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and Jan. 18; Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 2:30 and 7 p.m.; Legends of the Night Sky: Orion with live sky tour, 3:30 p.m.; and Led Zeppelin, 8 p.m.; admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. Also Mesmerica 360, 5:30 p.m., presented by producers of the program; tickets only available through eventbrite.com. Information: 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Astronomy/TF

Star Party with telescope viewing, 6:15 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Centennial Observatory at Herrett Center for Arts and Science; weather permitting. Free. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Dancing/Jerome

Buttons n Bows Square and Round Dance group will hold a dance Jan. 11 at the Jerome High School, 104 N. Tiger Drive. Pre-rounds at 7:30 p.m. and squares at 8 p.m. All mainstream and plus dancers welcome. Cost is $5 per person. Finger foods are welcome.

Fest/Paul

West End Fire and Rescues annual Christmas tree burn and hot dog roast at 1 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Paul Park near the water tower. Anyone is welcome to bring along a Christmas tree to burn.

Astronomy/TF

Telescope Tuesday observing session, 6:15 p.m. Jan. 14 in the Centennial Observatory at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Admission is $1.50, or free with planetarium show admission. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Planetarium/TF

Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts and Science features Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, 7 p.m. Jan. 14. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. 208-732-6655 or herrett.csi.edu.

Magic show/TF

Kex the magician, 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Reservations are recommended.

Book talk/Filer

Lets Talk About It book discussion of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Filer Public Library, 219 Main St. The series theme is Humor and Satire. Participants can check out the book at the library. 208-326-4143.

Book talk/Hailey

Hailey Public Librarys Pushing the Limits book discussion series, 5:15 p.m. Jan. 15 at 7 W. Croy St. The discussion features a Motion theme, Endurance: Shackletons Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Free. To register, contact Kristin Fletcher at 208-788-2036, or haileypubliclibrary.org.

Dancing/Jerome

Magic Valley Singles Square Dance Clubs square dancing workshop, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at Jerome Senior Center, 520 N. Lincoln Ave. Potluck at 6:30 p.m., followed by lessons, 7 p.m., and advanced, 8:15 p.m. Lessons for new dancers who started in October. Cost is $3 per person. Info: Lyone, 208-736-9445, or Becky, 208-316-9666.

Stories/TF

Story Time, featuring the childrens book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Free admission for all ages. Herrett.csi.edu.

Film/Ketchum

Sun Valley Center for the Arts Film Series presents The World Before Your Feet, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Magic Lantern Cinemas 100 Second St. The 2018 documentary is by Director Jeremy Workman and is about Matt Greens quest to walk every street in New York City. Green discusses his journey at the screenings. The event is part of Sun Valley Centers Big Idea project The Bottomlessness of a Pond: Transcendentalism, Nature and Spirit. Tickets are $10 for Sun Valley Center members and $12 for nonmembers and are available at sunvalleycenter.org or 208-726-9491.

Books/Kimberly

Lets Talk About It book discussion features Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Kimberly Public Library, 120 Madison St. W. The series is themed American Classics and hosted by the Kimberly library, 208-423-4556, and Hansen Community Library, 120 Maple St. W., 208-423-4122. Books are available at both libraries. Program discussion is led by a scholar selected by Idaho Commission for Libraries.

Music/TF

Jon-n-Jenni and Quinn, 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 17 at TF Brickhouse, 516 Hansen St. S. Jon and Jenni Jacobson, a husband-and-wife musical duo, showcase a repertoire of acoustical music ranging from bluegrass and old-time to Celtic and swing. David Quinley adds his acoustic bass styling.

Music/TF

Schall Sisters, 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at Twin Falls Sandwich Co., 128 Main Ave. N.

Theater/Buhl

Buhl High School Drama Departments dessert theater production of Murder at the Prom at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18 in the high school cafeteria. The drama departments annual fundraiser is a murder mystery with dessert. Tickets are $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and students. Tickets are available from any cast member or at dblaszkiewicz@buhlschools.org.

Music/TF

Mains and Monitors, 10 p.m. Jan. 18 at Koto Brewing Co., 156 Main Ave. N. Reservations are recommended.

Workshop/Ketchum

Winter Animal Tracking Workshop with Wood River Valley resident and tracker Ann Christensen, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Environmental Resource Center office, 471 Washington Ave. N. The program begins with an introduction to local winter animals, their life histories, winter adaptations and basics about animal tracking. A snowshoe tracking adventure follows north of Ketchum. Bring water, snacks, warm clothes and snowshoes. Suggested donation is $10 for ERC members and $20 for nonmembers; register: 208-726-4333, alisa@ercsv.org or lindsay@ercsv.org.

Comedy/Rupert

Comedy Night with Lucas Bohn, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Historic Wilson Theatre, 610 Fremont St. His G-rated show Lesson Plans to Late Night 2.0 is for all ages. Bohn, a comedian from New York City, went from teaching into comedy. Tickets are $20 and available at historicwilsontheatre.com.

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The youth skipped parties and the elderly shun the comfort of watching TV at home on the New Years eve as thousands of people protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rang in 2020 with singing the national anthem at Delhis Shaheen Bagh.

Many people roamed around the venue and thronged kiosks for chai to bear with the winter chill, while many more stayed put under the tarpaulin shed listening to speakers taking the stage one by one.

Several roamed around waving national flags while others displayed creative placards against the new law and chanted Aazadi, Aazadi.

As the clock struck 12, the protesting crowd burst into a cheer to greet the fellow protesters the new year, and moments later broke into the national anthem in unison which was followed by the slogan Inquilab Zindabad.

Amid the thousands was a group of young working professionals who had come in from various parts of Delhi, skipping party invitations to usher in 2020.

Of course, I would have been celebrating all through the new years eve had the situation been normal, a 30-year-old man, who works in a private firm, told PTI.

Asked for his name, the man requested anonymity and added, I dont want me being here to be identified with any religion. Its for a bigger cause, its to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. A city-based artist, who identified herself as Phool Kumari, used the platform to also protest against the arrests of some artists in south India who were held by the police over their anti-CAA kollams recently.

We are living on Orwellian reality. Absurdity is the new normal. Government is using its brute force at wrong places. Arts, and protests, in general should not be held against the citizens, the 26-year-old artist said, busy writing with chalk captions on posters that were used by some protesters at the venue.

Local men and women too remained at the ground well past 12, in solidarity for the cause they said was the most important now.

Otherwise we would have watched TV at home, a woman said requesting anonymity.

Shaheen Bagh, near Jamia Millia Islamia, has been a protest venue for a section of people opposed to the CAA and the NRC since December 15.

Besides Delhi, protests have been witnessed across the country over the contentious law.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 16:31 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207a992 1 Politics Prabowo-Subianto,defense-ministry,tim-mawar,Kopassus Free

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has appointed five retired generals to be the ministry's special assistants, including the former commander of the infamous Tim Mawar (Rose Team) of the Armys elite Special Forces (Kopassus).

The five listed in a 2019 defense ministerial decree on special assistants to the minister were the Mawar team commander, Maj. Gen. (ret) Chairawan Kadarsyah Kadirussalam Nusyirwan, Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Lt. Gen. (ret) Hormangaradja Pandjaitan, Vice Adm. (ret) Didit Herdiawan and Air Rear Marshal (ret) Bonar H. Hutagaol.

The decree stated that the appointments took effect on Dec. 6, as kompas.com reported.

Tim Mawar was previously implicated in a series of kidnappings and disappearances of prodemocracy activists in the late 1990s, when the minister was heading Kopassus.

Prabowo's spokesperson, Dahnil Anzar, said that Prabowo had appointed the special advisors because they had established abilities for the defense department.

He cited as an example Sjafrie, who was the deputy minister of defense and the secretary-general of the ministry under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration.

"The defense minister really needs his capabilities to provide input and give special attention to Prabowo's work as minister," he said on Monday. (ars)
A Louisiana couple living in Puerto Rico died on New Year's Eve after their catamaran boat exploded and caught fire.

Gather (Gate) and Ginna Tannehill had been on their boat - a 42ft long watercraft called the Miss Adventure Lagoon - when a blaze broke out on the marina of Puerto Real in Cabo Rojo, local outlet Noti Uno reported.

Authorities were called about the explosion at round 6.45pm on Tuesday night.

Gather (Gate) and Ginna Tannehill had been on their boat when a blaze broke out on the marina of Puerto Real in Cabo Rojo

A fire is said to have started in the kitchen of their 42ft long watercraft, dubbed the Miss Adventure Lagoon

According to Sergeant Stuart Ares of the Explosives Division of the Mayaguez Police Department, the fire is believed to have started in the boat's kitchen area.

He added that Gate's body was completely burned while his wife died of suffocation from smoke inhalation. The couple are said to be in their 60s.

A friend of the couple's, Dario Vissepo, took to Facebook and explained that he had just seen the pair at his store prior to their boat catching fire.

'We might be back later for your (store) New Year's party,' the man said Gina told him moments before she died.

The couple's friend added that the Tannehills had just spent a year travelling the Caribbean, returning to Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve. Vissepo said that the couple had planned on making Puerto Rico their forever home

Vissepo shared that he and two others tried to use 'whimsy boat water hoses' to quell the fire before firemen arrived on the scene.

The couple's friend added that the Tannehills had just spent a year travelling the Caribbean, returning to Puerto Rico on Christmas Eve.

Vissepo said that the couple had planned on making Puerto Rico their forever home.

'Gina & Gate where blessed with being such wonderful warmhearted human beings, always with a smile and super friendly,' the man said of his friends.
Northern Ireland didnt have to wait long for its first new arrival of 2020 and the race to be the first baby born in the new decade was won by little Shane Tierney in Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

Born to Derry mum Tamara Tierney, Shane weighed in at 8lb 2oz and arrived just seconds after the final chime of Big Ben at 12.01am.

A staff nurse at Altnagelvin, Tamara (26) hadnt expected to be back at the hospital until Shanes due date of January 8.

A few complications brought her in early to the maternity ward and having started the process on Monday, Tamara said shed lost track of the days and was amazed when Shane was born to the cheering of midwives as the clocked turned past midnight.

Thats the first I knew the New Year had arrived, right at the same time as Shane, she said.

To be honest, I was just so glad he was here. You get to the stage where you just want to see him arrive safely.

Thankfully he did and hes doing so well today.

His dad Sean-Paul is over-the-moon too. Grandparents have all been in and my mum was there for the birth. I think she was secretly hoping Shane would hold on for an extra minute or two as midnight was getting closer.

Just a minute later baby number two arrived at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald as new born Pixie Troupe entered the world.

The little girl, daughter of mum Keiva Troupe and dad Warren Stokes, from Bangor, held on just long enough to make a dramatic 2020 arrival at 00.02am.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Keiva Troupe with partner Warren at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald after giving birth to a baby girl named Pixie, weighing 7 pounds 13.5 ounces at 12.02 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Laura Small pictured at the Royal Victoria Hospital after giving birth to a baby boy named Rory weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces at 02.04am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Lucie Berkiova from the Czech republic at the Royal Victoria Hospital after giving birth to a baby boy named Armani weighing 5 pounds 9 ounces at 08-19 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Laura Small pictured at the Royal Victoria Hospital after giving birth to a baby boy named Rory weighing 7 pounds 4 ounces at 02.04 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Keiva Troupe pictured with partner Warren at the Ulster Hospital in Dundomnald after giving birth to a baby girl named Pixie, weighing 7 pounds 13.5 ounces at 12.02 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Mum Lisa Woods with her New Years Baby girl, Poppy who was born at 01.51AM and weighed 8 lb 13 oz at the Royal Hospital in Belfast. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Keiva Troupe pictured with partner Warren at the Ulster Hospital in Dundomnald after giving birth to a baby girl named Pixie, weighing 7 pounds 13.5 ounces at 12.02 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Presseye/Stephen Hamilton Mum Lisa Woods with her New Years Baby girl, Poppy who was born at 01.51AM and weighed 8 lb 13 oz at the Royal Hospital in Belfast. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker Mum Lisa Woods with her New Years Baby girl, Poppy who was born at 01.51AM and weighed 8 lb 13 oz at the Royal Hospital in Belfast. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker / Facebook

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Whatsapp Keiva Troupe with partner Warren at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald after giving birth to a baby girl named Pixie, weighing 7 pounds 13.5 ounces at 12.02 am. Pic Presseye/Stephen Hamilton

Feeling fresh and almost ready to introduce her latest family member to her new home, hair stylist mum Keiva said she was overjoyed as the birth took place to the sound of New Year fireworks outside the labour ward window.

I was brought in on Monday so I thought she would have been here before now, but she seemed determined to hold on a little bit longer, said an overjoyed Keiva.

The labour started just before midnight so we werent sure if shed be a 2019 or a 2020 arrival, but as soon as the fireworks started she decided the time was right.

We could hear the fireworks so it was a very special moment.

Pixie, who weighed in at 7lb 13oz, has already delighted 8-year old brother Michael and step sisters Ruby and Renae.

Michaels so pleased to meet her, said Keiva.

The rest of the family havent arrived yet but Ill be expecting quite a few visitors this afternoon. Then well be ready to bring Pixie home. Warrens a little tired

Its been a fantastic start to the new decade for us all.

We decided to find out early on that we were expecting a little girl to make sure we were organised, just in case she arrived before Christmas.

But New Years Day was her due date and she arrived right on time.

Im expecting the house to be pretty busy when we get home!

Hot on the heels of Pixie, little Jamie Porter entered the world at 12.33am at the Ulster Hospital.

The first child of mum Hannah and dad Jason, from Finaghy, Hannah says she always had a feeling her son was going to hold on to make a dramatic entry in the New Year.

Hes a bit overdue, she said. He was due in December but I think he was much too comfortable in there!

But hes here now and its lovely to meet him.

Weighing in at a healthy 7lb 11oz, little Jamie was waiting patiently for grandparents to arrive to celebrate the new year in style.

I think I need to get my head down and sleep for a couple of days though, said Hannah. Im a little bit sore, but seeing Jamie makes it all worthwhile.

A busy start to the new decade at The Ulster Hospital continued an hour later with the third arrival of 2020 as Hillsborough woman Katy Irwin welcomed a baby boy at 1.42am.

Altnagelvin delivery suite proved to be a busy place as well, with three further arrivals.

The New Year family dramas continued when Kate Miller from Limavady gave birth to a 7lb 13oz baby boy (no name yet) at 1.52am.

Baby boy Baille OConnor was born at 11.09am weighing 6lb 10oz.

And to round things off he was followed by little girl Faye Hasson from Derry at 11.35am weighing 8lb 11oz.

There were three further proud mums from Belfast as they welcomed new arrivals at the Royal Jubilee Maternity in the first few hours of 2020.

Mum Lisa Woods welcomed a baby girl, named Poppy at 1.51am weighing 8lb 13oz

A few minutes later Lara Small became mum to little Rory, her son born at 2.04am weighing 7lb 4oz.

And rounding off a hectic start to the New Year for the midwives, Lucie Berkiova was delighted to introduce her new baby boy.

Armani was born at 8.19am weighing 5lb 9oz.

Not to be left out, the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen welcomed little Arthur Brown. Mum Laura and dad Sean became parents at 2.44am, their little one weighing 7lb 7oz.
Every year sees a reshuffling of airline routes and schedules, and 2020 is no different - with over a dozen new flights set for take off from the country's main airports.

Cork Airport had an impressive 2019, growing by 8pc to become the fastest growing airport on the island of Ireland this year," according to its Managing Director, Niall MacCarthy.

So what's new for 2020?

On March 30, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will launch a new daily service to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - operated by KLM Cityhopper using Embraer 175 and Embraer 190 aircraft.

Ryanair will also fly direct to Zadar from Cork from May 3 next (in other Croatia news, Aer Lingus is set to increase its Cork-Dubrovnik service from two to three flights per week).

Air France is also set to double its frequency on the Cork to Paris-Charles de Gaulle route, with the addition of a second daily service from March 29 to October 2020.

New flights from Dublin Airport in 2020

Dublin experienced a record year in 2019, with passenger numbers expected to easily surpass last year's 31.5m by the time final figures are tallied.

However, the loss of services like Cathay Pacific's route to Hong Kong and a Hainan flight to Beijing contributed to a year-on-year decline for the month of November - its first monthly decline since March, 2014.

2020 sees three new routes from Aer Lingus, including its first direct service to Rhodes, a summer schedule due for a twice-weekly rota from May 23.

Two other new services were announced as part of its Summer 2020 schedule - a twice-weekly flight to Brindisi in Puglia also taking off on May 23, and twice-weekly flights from Dublin to Alghero in Sardinia commencing on May 24.

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Long-haul routes coming to Dublin in 2020 include El Al flights to Tel Aviv in Israel - a non-stop, three-times weekly service taking off on May 26, and a new Juneyao service to Shanghai (via Helsinki) from March 29.

United Airlines has also announced a new, daily, year-round route to San Francisco from Dublin set to take off on June 6. The non-stop service will use a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, competing with Aer Lingus's service.

Ryanair, meanwhile, has announced several new summer departures from Dublin.

The airline will fly to Verona (three-times per week), Marseille (5p/w), Palanga in Lithuania (3p/w) and Podgorica in Montenegro (2p/w) during summer 2020, it has announced.

New flights from Ireland West in 2020

Lauda, the low-cost Austrian airline owned by Ryanair, announced its first ever service from regional Ireland last November - a twice-weekly service from Ireland West Knock to Palma de Mallorca.

Taking off this March 31, the route will operate every Tuesday and Friday for the summer season.

New flights from Shannon in 2020

Shannon arguably had the toughest year of all Irish airports, shedding over 120,000 seats due to the loss of Boeing 737 Max flights with Norwegian and Air Canada.

Ryanair has also said it will discontinue Shannon services to Bristol, East Midlands and Ibiza.

There is some good news for 2020, however, in the shape of a new, direct route to Vienna with Lauda. The summer service will commence from the end of March 2020.

Expand Close Stacey Browne, Aer Lingus, Rose Hynes, Chairman Shannon Group, Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Aer Lingus, Mary Considine, CEO Shannon Group and Lesley Murphy, Aer Lingus at the announcement of the airline's new services. Photo: Arthur Ellis. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stacey Browne, Aer Lingus, Rose Hynes, Chairman Shannon Group, Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Aer Lingus, Mary Considine, CEO Shannon Group and Lesley Murphy, Aer Lingus at the announcement of the airline's new services. Photo: Arthur Ellis.

Other new routes for this year include four-times weekly flights to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) from March 29, and a three-times weekly route to Barcelona from May 2.

Both are operated by Aer Lingus, and will run until October 31.
Juan Fresnada, (pictured), was attacked as he walked down the street with his 29-year-old partner, Bayron Caceres, in the Bronx

A teenager, 18, has been arrested and charged over a fatal attack on a 61-year-man who was defending his partner when they were set upon on Christmas Eve.

Juan Fresnada was attacked as he walked down the street with his 29-year-old partner, Bayron Caceres, at 1.28 am in the Bronx last Tuesday.

He was beaten so badly that he suffered swelling to his brain and a fractured skull. Caceres was not seriously injured.

Abu Conteh, 18, has been charged with murder, gang assault and robbery for the brutal attack which saw Fresnada robbed of just $1.

Fresnada was rushed to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on Saturday, four days after the assault.

He took several blows as he tried to protect Caceres from his assailants outside a McDonalds on Third Avenue in Concourse Village.

Conteh was arrested at his home a few miles away from the crime scene and brought to the 42nd Precinct station house after he was identified as one of Fresnanda's alleged attackers, according to the New York Daily News.

Juan Fresnada was attacked as he walked down the street with his 29-year-old partner, Bayron Caceres, (right) at 1.28am on Christmas Eve

Cops have also identified Conteh's accomplices and are working to track them down, officials told New York Daily News.

Footage captures the incident and police issued the alleged assailants in surveillance shots in a bit to find them.

Conteh's mother, Isataturay Conteh, told the outlet that he did not assault Fresnada.

'He saw people fighting and he knows those people in the video but he never touched that man.

The NYPD has released this surveillance footage still image to try to identify the assailants

Footage captures the incident and police issued the alleged assailants in surveillance shots in a bit to find them

'I dont know all his friends. Abu goes to school and comes home. We expect him always around 7 or 8 pm.'

'Hes stubborn. Even when the cops came for him this morning he was being stubborn. Hes stubborn but a good kid.

'Its not him who killed this man. We go out like a family. We cook together, we eat, Hes close with his siblings.'

Caceres told The New York Daily News how Fresnada protected him. He refers to him as his husband but the pair were not legally married.

Fresnada took several blows as he tried to protect Caceres from his assailants outside a McDonalds on Third Avenue in Concourse Village

Conteh was arrested at his home a couple miles from the crime scene and brought to the 42nd Precinct station house after he was identified as one of Fresnanda's alleged attackers

Fresnada and Caceres were leaving the McDonalds just before when a thief came up to them and demanded money from them

He claimed: 'I'm nervous about it. Im thinking a lot about it.... A lot of people told me that I should cover my face when I was talking to the news.

Referring to the arrest he added: 'Im skeptical. I dont know what might happen. Hopefully justice comes on the way. If I have to go to court, if I have to go the grand jury, if I have to do something to recognize this guy, I will do it.

He added: 'My dream was to live another 20 years and I would push him in a wheelchair when he is 80. And we would travel the world together.'

Caceres claimed he did not believe the assault was a hate crime as they were called no homophobic names.

The couple have lived in the Bronxs Morrisania neighborhood since 2016.
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NATO expresses concern over events in Kazakhstan

Almaty airport to be closed until January 9
What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (First Citizens Bank) announced that its acquisition of Entegra Financial Corp. (Entegra) was effective yesterday (Dec. 31).

Frank B. Holding Jr., chairman and CEO of First Citizens Bank, said: We are pleased to welcome the customers and associates of Entegra Bank as we build on our foundation in Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and North Georgia. The merger will allow us to better serve customers across these markets with a wide range of financial products and services, while maintaining the exceptional service they expect.

The 18 Entegra branch offices will initially operate as Entegra Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. Entegra customers should continue to bank as they normally do at their existing branches. At a later date, Entegra Bank accounts based at 15 branches will be converted to First Citizens Banks systems.

In addition, within six months, as required by the Department of Justice, three Western North Carolina Entegra branches  Holly Springs (30 Hyatt Road, Franklin, N.C.), Highlands (473 Carolina Way, Highlands, N.C.) and Sylva (498 East Main, Sylva, N.C.)  are being sold to Select Bank & Trust Company (Select Bank) of Dunn, N.C. These three branches are being divested as required under agreements with the Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve following their competitive market analysis. Customers of these three branches will receive information from Select Bank at a later date about the transition of their accounts.

At this time, all Entegra Bank customers should continue to bank as usual. They should use their current checks and cards. They will continue to have the same online and mobile access to their accounts. Customers with questions about their accounts can contact a representative at any of the Entegra Bank division branches or call 800.438.2265, between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., Friday, Eastern time. For questions about First Citizens Bank, they can call the First Citizens Customer Care Center, 888.323.4732, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern time daily.

Story continues

Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First Citizens Bank serves customers at more than 550 branches in 19 states. First Citizens Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (First Citizens) (FCNCA), which has $37 billion in assets. For more information, call toll free 1.888.FC DIRECT (1.888.323.4732) or visit www.firstcitizens.com. First Citizens Bank. Forever First.

Cautionary Notes Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made in this Press Release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words expect, anticipate, intend, plan, believe, seek and estimate, and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements not based on historical information may also be considered forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include statements about the benefits to First Citizens Bank of the merger with Entegra and Entegra Bank (collectively, the Merger), First Citizens future financial and operating results, plans, objectives and intentions. Forward-looking statements also include statements about when the sale of three Entegra branches to Select Bank (the Branch Divestiture) will be completed. All forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from any results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, (1) disruption from the Merger, or recently completed mergers, and the Branch Divestiture with customer, supplier or employee relationships, (2) uncertainties as to the timing of the Branch Divestiture, (3) the risk that the Branch Divestiture may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, (4) the possibility that the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger or the Branch Divestiture may be greater than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected or unknown factors, events or liabilities, (5) reputational risk and the reaction of the parties customers to the Merger and the Branch Divestiture, (6) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from the Merger may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized, (7) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions, and (8) difficulties experienced in the integration of the businesses. Additional factors which could affect the forward-looking statements can be found in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by First Citizens and Entegra and available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. Except as may be required by applicable law, neither First Citizens nor Entegra undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this communication, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.




Haiti - 216th Independence : Wishes of the American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo





As part of the 216th anniversary of the Independence of Haiti, this Wednesday 1st 2010, the Secretary of State of the United States Mike Pompeo, made a statement, in which he does not fail in his wishes to pass between the lines a barely veiled message of US government expectations.



Statement by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo :



"On behalf of the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Haiti on the 216th anniversary of your independence.



The story of Haiti's founding  from a rebellion of the enslaved to the creation of a republic based on democratic principles  is testament to what can be accomplished when people are determined to work together for the greater good. Haiti's Independence Day reminds us that greatness is within our reach when citizens and political leaders put their community and their country first. We hope the New Year will bring all parties together in an inclusive dialogue that ends the political gridlock and results in a government that responds to the pressing needs of the Haitian people.



The ties between the United States and Haiti have grown stronger because of our shared aspirations and the deep connections between the American and Haitian people.



I wish the people of Haiti a happy Independence Day as well as a New Year filled with peace, unity, and progress in solving national challenges."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















This year weve witnessed instances of corruption from the White House to the State House, Maryland Democratic Party chair Yvette Lewis said in a statement. The Maryland Democratic Party demands ethical conduct of all of its members, and it is our expectation that all individuals in a position of public trust  no matter their party  serve in the interest of their constituents.
OMAHA, Neb.  A Purple Heart veteran from Nebraska who suffered his second traumatic brain injury is making a miraculous recovery.

Christmas Eve marked three months since Tony Belt fell 18 feet in a work accident, KETV reported.

"The doctors told me he probably wasnt going to make it to the weekend, said Kyli Belt, Tonys wife.

He survived that weekend, but doctors still said he would never wake up.

Tony is a fighter. He spent eight years in the Army, deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2006, he was shot in the head, an incident that ended his military career and sent him home with a Purple Heart.

Last week, he started moving his left side, opening his eyes, said Kyli last week as Christmas approached.

He has only been able to communicate by giving a thumbs up or down.

Now, therapists at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital have put the soldier to work. His three sons, ages 4, 3 and 7 months, all pitch in too.

They talk to him and play with him. The baby even lays in bed with him, said Kyli.

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Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has rubbished all reports claiming he skipped Maharashtras swearing-in ceremony on December 30 because his brother did not make the cut.

Addressing the media, he said, he is not disheartened that his brother Sunil Raut will not be a part of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays Cabinet.

The senior Sena leader went on to add that his brother had never sought a ministerial berth in the first place and that he is content knowing Uddhav Thackeray is the new CM.

He said: It is a three-party government, where able people are in every party. So, whatever is given in the quota needs to be accepted.

Sanjay Raut further said: We have never asked for anything. Instead, we believe in giving to the party. My brother Sunil has never demanded a ministerial berth. People are spreading rumours; we will always be loyal to the Thackerays.

Notably, Sanjay Raut had played a pivotal role in forging Sena alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress party to form the government in Maharashtra after the Bharatiya Janata Party had arbitrarily announced Devendra Fadnavis as the CM of the state.

Yet, when Uddhav Thackeray expanded his Cabinet on December 30, adding 36 more ministers from all three parties to hold important portfolios, Sunil Raut was not a part of it. Ten of the MLAs allotted ministerial posts are from the Congress party while NCPs Ajit Pawar has been made Thackerays deputy.

(With inputs from PTI)
In terms of food trends and topics, the introduction of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchens fried chicken sandwich was surely the fast-food phenomenon of 2019. And who can forget the Starbucks cup brouhaha from Game of Thrones? Or the great fuss over White Claw as the official, often unavailable drink of summer? Or the uproar over the banana-taped-to-the-wall food-based art project from Art Basel in Miami Beach, Fla.?

Important issues were seriously discussed, too: the food industrys environmental responsibility; the emphasis on more healthful eating and more sustainable seafood; the growing (or maybe overgrown?) food-hall phenomenon; the keto foods and pressure-cooker crazes.

What will be some of the hot topics for 2020? Read on.

The virtual restaurant

The rise of virtual restaurants is an interesting phenomenon. These online enterprises offer restaurant food without the restaurant: Food is cooked in a commercial kitchen, then delivered built for speed and efficiency. Not a bad idea, considering food-delivery apps such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Favor and GrubHub nibble at the $863 billion American restaurant industry. In Houston, chef Gabe Medina launched a multiconcept virtual restaurant under the umbrella of Click Virtual Food Hall. Even Rachael Ray has jumped on the bandwagon, choosing Houston as one of the dozen U.S. cities for her first virtual restaurant, a partnership with Uber Eats. According to the National Restaurant Association, 60 percent of restaurant meals are consumed off-premises, and that is expected to grow to 80 percent by 2025.

Meatless mainstreaming

The advances made by companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have gone a long way to making plant-based-meat products more digestible to a meat-eating public. Its common now to see consumers of all stripes opt for meatless burgers at fast-food franchises and reach for the plant-based proteins in the supermarket aisles. Since nearly 90 percent of these consumers use traditional meat and dairy, its fair to say people arent necessarily becoming vegetarians or vegans, said Darren Seifer, food-consumption analyst at NPD Group. Rather, consumers are integrating these products as additional options for their daily repertoire. According to the Plant-Based Foods Association, retail sales of plant-based foods grew by 11.3 percent in the U.S. last year, compared to a 2 percent rise in overall food sales.

More sustainability

The great drinking-straw backlash over the past couple of years got many people thinking twice about automatically reaching for that single-use piece of plastic. Now bans of single-use plastic shopping bags have been introduced in 72 countries as the global community contemplates ecological and environmental issues posed by plastics. The food-service industry has responded with reusable cups, biodegradable straws, portion-controlling dispensers to limit overuse and waste, compostable packaging and wood-fiber utensils. Look for the industry to incorporate a wider range of resource-efficient, circular practices in the name of sustainability, management-consultant company Technomic says.

Hyper-regional cooking

Southern cuisine, which has been riding a wave of popularity in the past 10 years, is about to go hyper-Southern. But thats only part of a trend that recognizes how the global pantry is delving even deeper into very specific regions of umbrella cuisines. Regional food will be broken into micro-regions, chef Josh Habiger of Bastion in Nashville told Food & Wine. Southern will break up into Appalachian, Lowland, Creole, etc. Indeed, Unilever Food Solutions predicts that flavors from western regions of Africa  kola nuts, moringa, plantains, chiles, yams, peanuts and sorghum  will be hot, as will foods of Mexicos Oaxaca, Michoacan, Yucatan, Campeche and Baja regions. Even mainstream American barbecue and fried chicken are enjoying regional flourishes that consumers can now readily identify.

Finding beauty in ugly produce

In 2019, both Walmart and Whole Foods experimented with selling less-than-perfect produce, a sign that larger companies are thinking about the enormous waste of misshapen and imperfect fruits and vegetables. According to ReFED, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing U.S. food waste, as much as 40 percent of food is wasted globally; Americans throw away 63 million tons of food a year. ReFED also states that the U.S. spends more than $218 billion (1.3 percent of GDP) growing, processing, transporting and disposing of food that is never eaten. According to FoodBev magazine, a number of companies are either selling imperfect produce or learning how to recover millions of pounds of produce a year and redistributing it to local food banks. Even governments are buying into the notion of reducing food waste. Australia, for example, has set a goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by 2030.

The birria boom

Made of slow-cooked meat steeping in its own bright-red, heavily spiced, aromatic juices, birria is no stranger to Mexican border cuisine, but it is now making inroads into mainstream dining. The Los Angeles food culture is going through a Tijuana-style birria taco moment as the most popular food trucks serve meaty tacos with corn tortillas dragged through the red juices. Shredded and stuffed into a griddled semi-crispy taco, birria comes with a braising liquid for dunking, observed Baum & Whiteman, international food and restaurant consultants, in their annual prediction of food trends. In November, New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells doled out two stars to a birria taco truck in Queens. Locally, the new Candente Mexican restaurant in Montrose is serving a plate of birria de res tacos that comes with a cup of beef consomme and bone marrow.

Grandma/grandpa food

At age 69, the Michoacan grandmother Dona Angela became an internet sensation with millions of YouTube views of videos of her cooking channel De Mi Ranchero a Tu Cocina. Her cooking is simple and unpretentious and in a matter of months of its August 2019 debut captivated the food world. Fortune magazine notes Ethiopian, Ecuadoran, Indian and Italian grandmothers are becoming internet stars, too. The YouTube channel Pasta Grannies has become popular enough to spawn a cookbook published in October. Food & Wine suggested that grandparent food could be a 2020 trend. I think tradition will be very important in 2020, the food of our grandparents, chef Josh Kulp of Honey Butter Fried chicken in Chicago told the magazine. Foods that represent personal and shared histories, without fuss.

Flour power

In its list for top trends for 2020, Whole Foods Market makes a case for baking flours besides wheat. Consumers on the baking bandwagon are seeking out ingredients used in traditional dishes, like teff flour used for Ethiopian injera, Whole Foods writes. In addition to everyday all-purpose flour, the home pantry might be stocked with cauliflower flour, coconut flour, almond flour, chickpea flour, peanut flour and tigernut flour. Flours made from starches, tubers and seeds are now part of the alt-flour movement. Consumers look for more ways to boost their bake, super flours delivering protein and fiber join the trend, Whole Foods adds.

The rise of legal CBD

Think what you will about the health and wellness benefits of CBD (cannabidiol), the nonpsychoactive compound of the cannabis plant. But CBD has begun to find its way into a variety of food products, with more coming to market: sparkling waters, breakfast cereal, tea, popcorn, hot sauces, snack chips, chocolate bars and candy. Chefs are creating special menus for dinners for the canna-curious as bartenders shake up CBD cocktails. Though the global market for both legal and illegal cannabis stands at $150 billion, the legal market is projected to grow to 77 percent of total sales, reaching $166 billion by 2025, according to Food Business News. In Texas, a bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June expanded the kind of hemp products that can be legally purchased in Texas. Hemp-based products, including CBD oil, are legal as long as they contain no more than 0.3 percent THC, the psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants.

greg.morago@chron.com

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Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar left for New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon after celebrating the New Year in Goa, an official said.

Varadkar, who is on a private visit to India, stayed at a plush resort in North Goa district to welcome 2020.

He arrived in the coastal state on Monday.

"His entire trip was private and he did not even avail any police security for it," a senior police official said.

The Irish prime minister flew in an Air Asia flight from the Dabolim Airport in Goa to New Delhi in the afternoon, he added.

On Sunday, Varadkar, who is of Indian origin, visited his ancestral village Varad in the coastal Sindhudurg district of neighbouring Maharashtra along with his family members.

It was his first visit to the village, said Varadkar, who became prime minister of Ireland in June 2017.

His father Ashok Varadkar, a doctor, moved to the United Kingdom in the 1960s.

The visit was a "special moment" as three generations of his family gathered at Varad, the Ireland prime minister said after the villagers felicitated him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tiffany Trump's boyfriend, Michael Boulos, has shut down rumors that they are engaged, insisting that the party invitation announcing the news is fake.

The 22-year-old heir to Boulos Enterprises took to his Instagram Story on Wednesday to address the false reports after ringing in the new year with the first daughter at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

'Want to wish everyone a happy new year!!' he wrote. 'FYI though, the letter/invitation that has spread around in the past two days is not real, it's been completely made up...'

Nope: Tiffany Trump's boyfriend, Michael Boulos, shut down rumors they're engaged after ringing in the new year at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida

Fake: The 22-year-old heir to Boulos Enterprises explained that the alleged engagement party invitation that is making the rounds online (pictured) is 'not real' and 'completely made up'

Michael ended his message with two 'face with tears of joy' emoji to show how comical he finds the situation.

Hilarious: Michael ended his message with two 'face with tears of joy' emoji to show how comical he finds the situation

It appears that the news station MTV Lebanon was the first to report that Michael and Tiffany, 26, were allegedly engaged to be married.

The so-called invitation for the fete has been making the rounds on social media, which is what likely prompted Michael to put an end to the reports.

The card, which was made to look like it came from the president himself, reads: 'President Donald J. Trump and Miss Marla Maples are honored in the announcing the engagement celebration of Tiffany Ariana Trump and Michael Charbel Boulous.'

The message goes on to say that the party will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. at the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago.

'Confirmation of your attendance is mandatory by January 1st 2020. Submission of all credentials to the U.S. Secret Service must be complete by 2:00 p.m. on January 1st 2020,' the corner of the invitation reads.

Rumors: The so-called invitation for their engagement party has been making the rounds on social media, which is what likely prompted Michael to put an end to the reports

Reunited: After spending Christmas apart, Michael and Tiffany walked the red carpet together at the annual New Year's Eve bash held at Mar-a-Lago

Tiffany and Michael have been dating since they met in Mykonos, Greece, in the summer of 2018, and they have both spent plenty of quality time with each other's parents.

After a year together, they were spotted browsing engagement rings at the Samer Halimeh New York store in London in June 2019, but nothing seems to have come from the shopping trip  at least according to Michael.

Tiffany did, however, pick up a $663,000 diamond 'friendship' bracelet while at the jeweler's Knightsbridge store.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, the manager of the store, Maan Chakhchir, said the couple is 'very down-to-earth and clearly very happy together.'

'Cruising into 2020': Both of them posted snapshots of themselves at the party using festive social media filters celebrating the new year

Highlights: Michael snapped a picture of the table at the party, while Tiffany showed off her bedazzled '2020' clutch

Not yet: The couple was spotted browsing engagement rings at the Samer Halimeh New York store in London in June, but Tiffany only picked up a $663,000 diamond 'friendship' bracelet

'They seem very much in love. If they get engaged, I know that Mr. Halimeh would be perfect for designing the ring,' he said at the time.

Tiffany and Michael spent Christmas apart, with the first daughter celebrating the holiday with her mother, Marla, in Montana, while he was in Cotonou, Benin, with his family.

The two reunited Palm Beach to ring in 2020 at the annual red-carpet New Year's Eve bash at Mar-a-Lago.

Tiffany was radiant in a light blue gown with a black lace overlay, and she carried a festive bejeweled clutch with '2020' written in pink rhinestones.

Michael, meanwhile, looked dapper in a traditional tux as he walked alongside the first daughter on the red carpet.

Family affair: Tiffany, Michael, and his parents, Massad and Sarah Boulos, attended a holiday party hosted by the president and first lady at the White House earlier this month

Holiday apart: Tiffany spent Christmas in Montana with her mother, Marla Maples, while Michael was with his family in Cotonou, Benin

Both of them posted snapshots of themselves at the party using festive social media filters celebrating the new year.

The next day, Michael put an end to the rumors that they're engaged. He also posted a photo of a camera lens focusing on a mountain scene that says, '"2020" The Year of Clarity and Vision.'

Michael may not have popped the question, but he and Tiffany are closer than ever, despite having a long-distance relationship.

A few weeks before Christmas, Michael and his parents, Massad and Sarah Boulos, joined Tiffany and her family at a holiday party at the White House.

After spending the remainder of the holiday in Florida, the first daughter is slated to be back in Washington, D.C. on Monday to start her last semester of law school at Georgetown University.
Somalia: Saturday Bombing of Mogadishu Shows Somalia Has a Long Way to Go in Combating Terrorists

Dalsan Radio, 31 December 2019

A truck bomb killed at least 90 people on Saturday in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia--the country's deadliest terror attack in more than two years. Read more 
A street performer dressed as a toy soldier to help direct traffic and sent pedestrians into hysterics in the Philippines.

Footage shows the man dressed head-to-toe in forest green clothing mimicking the Army Soldier from Toy Story.

He stands in the middle of a busy intersection in Baguio City, the Philippines, to try to control the traffic flow.

A street performer donned an toy army soldier costume to direct traffic and pedestrians in Baguio City, the Philippines

He waves his arms to direct cars across one path before turning and encouraging pedestrians to come forward.

Within seconds, bystanders follow his command and hastily cross the junction, in the clip from December 6.

The soldier then stops at the front of the road, waiting for pedestrians to make their final journey,

Crowds of people were safely ushered across the busy intersection by the comical performer who spoke in a squeaky voice

The camerawoman can be heard laughing as she watches the street performer pretending to discipline a man wanting to cross and reluctant to follow his orders.

He waves more pedestrians away from the road and captures the attention of a little boy who can be heard shouting 'oi' after him.

One gentleman gives the soldier a high five while he is negotiating the road during rush hour.

The busy street became the performer's stomping ground for one evening. Street performers are to complete an application and pay a regulatory fee of P350 which will be at the discretion of the City Mayor before they can legally perform

More onlookers giggle as they listen to the man's squeaky voice added for comedic effect.

With the increasing number of buskers in the city, Baguio has released an ordinance which requires street performers to obtain permits from the city hall before they can legally perform in the street.

Entertainers are to complete an application and pay a regulatory fee of P350 which will be at the discretion of the City Mayor.

Since Baguio City has now been recognised in UNESCO's Creative Cities list, local artists contribution must be emphasised.
PD: KCK homicide stemmed from previous dating relationship KANSAS CITY, Kan. - UPDATE, Dec. 31 | Kansas City, Kansas Police said Tuesday they believe the incident originated from a previous dating relationship. The Wyandotte County District Attorney's office is reviewing the case. UPDATE: Kansas City, Kansas Police announced the arrest of a person in connection with Monday morning's triple homicide.

Dating life for a single-mom ended in tragedy . . . Here's the best report out there right now:
I have enjoyed the comic strip One Big Happy in the past. Sunday, Dec. 22, I was shocked and saddened when I read the last panel of this strip, when Ruthie said, . at this mean and hatey school we cant say Christmas.

These are some things that identify a school as mean and hatey:

 A student being told by a staff member that his hair is wooly.

 A student who is atypical in gender identification or sexual orientation being shamed or shunned by staff.

 A special education student being physically or emotionally abused by staff because of some way that disability manifests itself.

 A principal who supports a teacher who doesnt want a child with a difference in her or his classroom.

 An atmosphere that excludes students who do not belong to the predominant religion.

 Any behavior that separates students into us and them.

This is what I would hope for from any parent or concerned adult when a child reports something unsettling as being school policy:

 Check with the school administrator to see what the actual policy is.

 If it is still unsettling, ask about why the policy is in place and what it means when the policy is followed.

 If you still dont understand or agree, tell your child that, even if we dont agree, we should show respect to the staff by following the policy.

 If necessary, put the child in another school, but simply say its because I dont agree with a certain policy.

There are many celebrations this season. Have a Happy Holiday (Holy Day), no matter which holiday you observe!

Lethia Draves, Decatur

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Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently held a series of brainstorming sessions on the use of Big Data to improve the public transport network as part of RTAs efforts to realise its vision of Safe and Smooth Transport for All.



Through these workshops, five teams from different RTAs agencies and sectors competed in the optimal use of big data to generate ideas contributing to the improvement and operational efficiency of the public transport network in Dubai. Ideas and proposals debated in these workshops will be examined and viable ones will be referred to the concerned RTA bodies for further necessary action, said Adel Shakri, director of Planning and Business Development at RTAs Public Transport Agency.



Upgrading the public transport network is a key strategy of RTA as it is directly linked with customers service and happiness. RTA always seeks to broaden and improve the scope of public transit means, such as metro, tram and buses, and big data is the best way forward to realise these objectives.



The concept of big data is becoming a focal point in the global business as it opens new horizons and solutions to issues challenging the improvement of the sector.



Big data is shaping into a key asset considering the extremely valuable knowledge and informational wealth contained. It contributes immensely to the anticipation of future requirements and potential solutions to the sustained development of various sectors. The public transport network is invariably entwined with peoples lives and we have to anticipate their future needs. We also need to develop optimal solutions to anticipated challenges in the use of big data, concluded Shakri.  TradeArabia News Service


A large group of protesters, angry over American airstrikes targeting an Iranian-supported militia, attacked the outer edge of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday.

The protesters threw stones, set fires and damaged property and vehicles. Security forces fired tear gas at the group in an effort to bring the situation under control.

American President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack. Writing on Twitter, he said: Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!

Anger over U.S. airstrikes

The protesters were voicing anger over U.S. airstrikes that took place on Sunday killing at least 25 people. U.S. officials said the strikes answered a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base on Friday that killed a U.S. defense contract worker.

The raids targeted areas held by a militia group called Kataeb Hezbollah. The group has ties to Iran, but is separate from the group Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Iraqi government called the U.S. airstrikes a flagrant violation of Iraqs sovereignty.

The Associated Press reported that Iraqi security forces made no effort to stop the protesters as they marched toward the embassy in the Green Zone.

The protesters, many of them in militia uniforms, shouted Death to America. They threw stones over the embassy walls and set fire to three trailers used by security guards outside the wall.

Others smashed the gates used by cars to enter the embassy and came about 200 meters away from the main building. A group of U.S. soldiers were seen on the roof of the main building, pointing their guns at the protesters. Hours after the violence started, about 30 Iraqi soldiers arrived near the embassy to help control the crowd.

The AP reported that the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq was traveling outside of the country before Tuesdays attack took place. Some embassy staff left through a rear gate and others remained inside safe areas within the embassy.

By Tuesday evening, the protesters set up tents outside the embassy. Yellow flags belonging to Iran-backed Shiite militias were flown and anti-U.S. graffiti painted on the wall. A spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah said the sit-in outside the embassy will continue until American troops leave Iraq and the embassy is closed.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq to support local forces in the fight against the Islamic State.

Im Mario Ritter Jr.

Mario Ritter Jr. adapted this story for VOA Learning English with reporting from AP and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sanctioned adj. describing something that is officially approved or permitted

orchestrate v. to organize or plan

consequences n. (pl.) results of an action

flagrant adj. not to be ignored

sovereignty n. the ability of a country to rule itself
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government in an emergency meeting on Wednesday approved amendments to the Army Act, nearly four weeks after it assured the Supreme Court of passing a legislation on the extension and reappointment of an Army chief within six months.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had extended Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa's tenure through a notification on August 19. However, on November 26, the Supreme Court suspended the government order, citing irregularities in the manner the army chief, a close confidant of the prime minister, was granted an extension.

On November 28, Bajwa got a six-month conditional extension from the apex court, ending an unprecedented legal wrangle that shook the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and pitted the powerful military against the judiciary.

Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, who headed a three-member bench, announced the verdict after getting an assurance from the government that Parliament will pass a legislation on the extension/reappointment of an Army chief within six months.

In Wednesday's meeting, which was presided over by Prime Minister Khan, the amendments made to the clauses related to the Army chief's tenure and extension were passed unanimously, the Dawn News reported.

The amended Bill will now be presented before the Parliament in order to come into effect. Though the details regarding the amendments are not yet clear, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak said that it include a proposal to extend the tenure of all the three services chief.
Welcome to a new decade.

2020 is officially here, and you weren't the only one who stayed up late Tuesday to see the clock strike midnight. The rich and famous did, too.

Houston's most famous faces took to social media Tuesday night and Wednesday morning to celebrate the arrival of a new year  and showed the many ways they party along the way.

See how Houston celebrities brought in the New Year, according to their social media accounts, in the gallery above.

With so many fans hitting up social media in celebration, New Year's is a perfect time for celebs to get any great pictures or important announcements up online. While plenty posted their reflections on the previous decade and their excitement for 2020, others got a little more unique with it.

For one, Astros pitcher Lance McCullers and his wife Kara took the opportunity to announce the recent birth of their daughter, Ava.

2020 VISION: How the world welcomed a new decade, only on HoustonChronicle.com

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who performed during "Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve With Ryan Seacrest," posted an old video from her days on the Pearland High School drill team

KPRC anchor Dominique Sachse took a different approach. When many were flaunting their best NYE looks, a clearly ill Sachse posted a selfie from her bed as she tried to fight off a stomach bug. Hopefully, she's already feeling better today.

From J.J. Watt to Joel Osteen, click through the gallery above to see the many New Year's celebrations of famed Houstonians.

Jordan Ray is a homepage producer for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter. Read his work on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | jordan.ray@chron.com

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The BJP leadership has decided to launch a campaign blitzkrieg in West Bengal to counter the TMC's "misinformation programmes" regarding Citizenship (Amendment) Act and reach out to refugees.

The West Bengal BJP leadership had hoped that that the new citizenship law would be its "political trump card" ahead of the 2021 assembly polls in the state.

But an aggressive campaign against the CAA by the Trinamool Congress, other opposition parties, civil society groups, students and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's declaration not to implement the CAA in the state, has put the saffron party on the backfoot.

Apart from launching state-wide campaign against the new legislation, Banerjee has participated in six protest marches and three rallies in various parts of the state.

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has organised only one mega march in the city, led by party's national working president J P Nadda, and rallies by the state president to counter the anti-CAA protests led by the chief minister.

According to state BJP sources, a blueprint of Bengal-specific programmes and campaigns has been prepared to to reach out to the masses and allay fears and misinformation campaign about the CAA.

"The blueprint of the campaign has already been given a nod by the party's central leadership. The multi-pronged campaign, targeting a cross section of people across the state, will begin from this month," a senior BJP leader said.

It has also been decided that during the campaign not a single word will be uttered about the proposed NRC in the state as it might send a wrong message, the BJP leader said.

According to state BJP sources, the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act will determine the course of West Bengal politics in the days to come with the state bracing for a deeper polarization between the TMC and the BJP on communal lines ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls.

"We will leave no stone unturned to reach out to the masses on the issue of the CAA. Just to appease her vote bank, Mamata Banerjee is opposing the CAA and trying to stop refugees from getting citizenship.

"But we will not let that happen, we will expose the misinformation campaign through our counter-campaign. There is already a huge support in favour of the CAA," BJP national general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

State BJP vice president and MP Subhas Sarkar and state BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu, in coordination with the central leadership, are looking into the campaign strategy in the state.

According to state BJP sources, the campaign programme will include door-to-door visits, street corner meetings, seminars, street plays, advertisements in local newspapers, audio visual capusules on movies about refugees coming to India after partition and using social media to create a positive narrative on the CAA.

"We will form a special team of around two to three lakh activists across the state, who will be trained to carry out door-to-door campaigns.

"Out of these, 20,000 cadres would be selected to look after campaigns in their respective areas," Sarkar told PTI.

According to a senior BJP leader, the specially trained activists would not only make people aware about the CAA but also help them in applying online for citizenship as the state government is not keen on implementing it.

The state BJP also plans to send one crore thanks giving letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Act.

According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants, and be given Indian citizenship.

According to state BJP sources, the CAA will benefit more than 1.5 crore people across the country, including over 72 lakh in the West Bengal.

Hindu refugees are a deciding factor in nearly 80 assembly seats in the state, whereas Muslims constitute a sizable chunk of voters in around 90 constituencies.

Apart from this, Hindu refugees are also spread in around 40-50 other seats, comprising between 10 and 15 per cent of the electorate.

"Our target is to reach out to one crore people across the state with the message of CAA. The new act does not take away citizenship rather it gives citizenship to refugees. We have identified refugee pockets and special focus would be given to these areas," Basu said.

As a part of its audio visual campaign, it is using footage of the exodus of refugees from East Pakistan in 1947, and portions of footage of movies on refugees crisis and will upload it on social media platforms.

The BJP has made a six-minute video using footage of great Calcutta killings in 1946, dialogues from Bengali films, with an objective to showcase the plight of refugees in post- partition years and make people understand the need for the amended Citizenship Act.

"We will also organise special meetings with certain sections of the society such as doctors, engineers, artists, writers, lawyers, teachers, religious leaders and professors, where we would make them understand the need for CAA," Sarkar said.

The TMC mocked the decision of the saffron party to launch a campaign on the issue of the CAA, saying it would "fall flat" as it has already been rejected by the people of the state.

"Their campaign will not find any resonance among the masses as people have voiced their protest against the divisive bill," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said.
Chief Justice John Roberts expressed concern on Tuesday about disinformation amplified by the internet and social media as he focused his year-end report on the weakening state of civics education in the United States.

'In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the public's need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital,' Roberts said in his annual report on behalf of the federal judiciary.

The chief justice warned that Americans 'have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside.'

Roberts' comments come as legislators and officials have raised concerns about the persistence of foreign propaganda and false news aimed at sowing discord in the political system in the lead-up to the 2020 election.

Intelligence agencies and an inquiry by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that Russia engaged in a campaign of hacking and propaganda to sway the 2016 presidential race toward Republican President Donald Trump.

Mueller did not establish that members of Trump's campaign conspired with Russia during the 2016 election.

US Chief Justice John Roberts (pictured) expressed concern on Tuesday about disinformation amplified by the internet and social media as he focused his year-end report on the weakening state of civics education in the United States

Roberts said in his report that an independent judiciary was a 'key source of national unity and stability' and called on his judicial colleagues to promote public confidence and trust by reflecting on their duty to judge without fear or favor.

He has previously lamented the perception in an increasingly polarized society that lower courts and the Supreme Court are becoming politicized, and that judges are guided primarily by their partisan affiliations.

Trump has repeatedly criticized federal courts and judges who have blocked his policies, while some Democratic lawmakers have suggested that the Supreme Court's conservative majority is motivated mainly by politics instead of interpreting the law.

Roberts, 64, named to the court in 2005 by Republican President George W Bush, is poised to preside over Trump's looming US Senate impeachment trial, a highly visible yet largely ceremonial role.

By the end of June, the Supreme Court is expected to decide several major cases involving a number of hot-button issues including abortion rights, Trump's move to kill a program that protects young immigrants, dubbed 'Dreamers', who were brought to the United States illegally as children, and Trump's bid to keep details of his finances secret.

Roberts listed in his report a number of ways his judicial colleagues had helped advance public understanding of the law and civics knowledge.

He cited the example of Merrick Garland, chief judge of the Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, who volunteers as a tutor at a local elementary school.

Garland's 2016 nomination to the Supreme Court by Democratic President Barack Obama was not taken up by the Republican-controlled Senate.

Roberts' annual report was released just a few days after the death of his mother, Rosemary Roberts, who died on Saturday at age 90.

Read the full report below:
Pune : , Jan 1 (IANS) Thousands of Dalits from all over Maharashtra, along with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar gathered here to celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the historic Koregaon-Bhima War, here on Wednesday.

Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, who is the chief of Republican Party of India, Maharashtra Ministers Nitin Raut (Congress), Jitendra Awhad (Nationalist Congress Party) and others are expected to join the celebrations later on Wednesday.

Since dawn, the Dalits who had started arriving in Koregaon-Bhima since Tuesday, converged at the Victory Pillar (obelisk) erected here, and later Ajit Pawar and Ambedkar also offered floral tributes.

In the famous Koregaon-Bhima War of January 1, 1818, a small 800-strong force comprising the Mahar caste of the Bombay Native Infantry of the East India Company confronted a battalion of the huge 28,000 men army of the Bajirao Peshwa II, which retreated after a 12-hour long fight.

Since then, every year, thousands of Dalits from all over Maharashtra and other parts of the country gather here to commemorate the British forces' victory over the Peshwa's army.

In view of the ongoing countrywide protests, the Pune district police and administration have made stringent security arrangements to ensure peaceful celebrations with over 10,000 police and some 500 officers deployed in and around Koregaon-Bhima since Tuesday.

All schools and colleges are shut for the day, the traditional weekly market has been cancelled, the Pune-Ahmednagar highway has been closed or restricted for traffic, and all sensitive spots are being monitored by CCTVs and drones.

Ahead of Wednesday's celebrations, the police have served notices to over 250 WhatsApp group admins and around a dozen pages were deleted from Facebook to prevent spread of misleading information via social media networks.

Besides, the Pune Police had slapped notices to more than 725 people, including right-wing leaders like Sambhaji Bhide Guruji and Milind Ekbote and banned their entry to the village.

The initial plans of the Bhim Army to take out a rally here were dropped as its leader Chandrasekhar Azad is booked for the CAA protests.
Mary Lee Stigall looks out at Lake Dunlap from her backyard on Friday, May 19, 2019. "I am just changing my mindset. I think of it like a beach. What are you gonna do? Stop your feet and get angry? No, we just have to wait for them to figure it out," said Stigall.
Ravi Rais book The Tattoo on My Breast is a captivating love story set in the countrys most harrowing age.

At the stroke of the midnight hour on August 15, when the world was sleeping, India woke up to life and independence. However, a price was paid in the form of millions of people, separated from their loved ones in the name of freedom, dying and displaced. And while millions of archives speak of the political side of things, the narrative about lovers being torn apart because of Partition is limited. Among those covering the issue is veteran writer and producer Ravi Rai in his book The Tatoo on My Breast. A love story set in Sukkur, a small town that is now in Pakistans Sindh province, the book aims to highlight the pain of the Sindhi community during the Partition era.

I want the new generation to know about the kind of emotions and love they had for the country and what all they have gone through to attain freedom, says Rai, who is Sindhi himself and intends to contribute to his community with this book. They have risen from ashes and it is an inspiring story, so people should know about it, he adds.

Revisiting the past through an extended Sindhi family living in Sukkur, Rais protagonist Sadhana, the grand daughter of a wealthy Sindhi merchant, leads the story with her love interest Rehman, a meek boy next door. While the two are unaware of their emotions for each other in the beginning, the parallel story about the head of the family Dada and his son Govind  both following Gandhian and Hindutva ideologies respectively  helps ground the love story in Partition-era Sindh.

Rai tries to immerse the reader in the setting of the story, using details such as food, culture, folklore, costume, language, and even names to explain how Sindhi families lived in those times. Interestingly, I have taken all the references for names and food from my family members. The only thing that I had to work hard was to transport my readers to Sukkur because I havent ever gone there, shares the author, adding that he found himself transported to Sindh while doing his research on the area.

When asked why he chose a love story, he confesses that it was important to make the topic more accessible while explaining things happening around that love story. My hero is Dada, who experiences the pain of Partition the most. But at the same time I wanted to tell a love story because there are many love stories which were torn apart owing to the incident, reveals the author, opining that any love story becomes bigger when it is backed by history.

While the book portrays a beautiful love between Sadhana and Rehman, it also paints a clear picture of the horrors that the women caught in the Partition had to endure. Sadhana, who gets married to her cousin, loses her husband barely 15 days into the marriage and returns to her parental home. She realises her love for Rehman and plans to escape from her family to be with him, but they are pulled apart once again due to riots, this time for good.

Although the story seems to end here, Rai brings a little twist to the story by introducing the philosophical concept of reincarnation  the love saga is revisited through Abella Alejandro, a 23-year-old Spanish human rights activist who realises that she is the reincarnation of Sadhana, and begins searching for her Rehman. Abella searches high and low for her long-lost lover, all the while continuing her humanitarian work for the Rohingya Muslims in Burma. I kept it open for the readers. Although Sadhana lives with her husband, one never forgets their first love. Thats what I wanted to bring in the story, he explains.

When asked about the books catchy title, Rai explains the history behind women getting tattoos on their body. He says that women would tattoo their husbands names on their hands, believing that even if their skin goes the name would remain. Women were also kidnapped by mobs and made to get tattoos on their private parts.

My protagonist too gets herself a tattoo on her breast for her loved one, so that her love becomes immortal, muses the author in conclusion.
Graham was being sought in the jewelry store case when police said he was charged on Dec. 30 with robbing a bank in Arlington County. Police there alleged he passed a note to a bank teller in the 2200 block of Wilson Boulevard demanding money and implying he was armed. He escaped with an undisclosed amount of money.
It escapes too many observers that the remedy for the highly visible deficit in social progress is not government. Government deals with the facts of life and reality; it does not alter or reinvent them. The curative is not the heart, too easily played on by manipulators of emotion. And it is not the mind, which is in place to adapt to reality, not replace it. If the enlightenment claimed by progressives has proved anything, it is that the misappropriation of reason and science by people playing god for more than two centuries has produced a mockery of social justice and wellbeing.

One must be blind, asleep, bribed, drugged, or possessed not to notice the absurdity of men having babies, boys becoming girls, girls becoming boys, babies killed for convenience before, during, and after birth, mother and father branded as obsolete concepts, and expressions of truth denounced as hate speech . . . to mention a few products of progress that expose a mental pathology that dismisses any profession of enlightenment and claim to authority.

Must it really be explained that being truly progressive should not mean imposing a worldview and way of life held by a circle of men who worship power, not justice and that justice depends on more than might? You can spend a lifetime reading about this in classics and best-sellers, or by going where youre not wanted to see for yourself how might, whether subtle or obvious, does not make right. For the avowed progressives who occupy positions of power, the answer appears to be yes, it must be explained, judging from their cowardly reluctance to climb out of their ideological rabbit holes and confront the actual world.

Adapting to life would be a staggering problem were it not that its fundamentals have been known for thousands of years. The enlightened activists, charged with enough zeal and self-righteousness to ignite the next revolution in social justice should not be lecturing those of us who could teach them what they missed in their upbringing and education.. Their smarts allow them to spurn the greatness of a heritage that gave them their means to live well in an uncertain and dangerous world, thanks to the work, the voices, the sacrifices, even the martyrdom of the many who came before them. Instead of starting with the givens of life, which minds smarter than ours have begun with throughout history, so-called progressives continue to dump the wisdom of ages and draw on their diminishing source of knowledge, relying on an ever weakening grasp of reality, in a foolhardy assault on reality to spread a worldview infested with Marxist ideology.

Whether they know it or not, progressives suffer from a progressive dumbing that has been taking place over several generations of Americans, a process accelerating during the last century. The fact of dumbing must be kept in mind when trying to understand the present unhealthy state of America. Among the many dots to connect, two very important ones are: 1, the work of early progressive educators and 2, the assumption that public educators have the right to overrule parents in raising their children.

This assumed absolute of child rearing  that outsiders have authority over ones children  exposes the hypocrisy of those who do not believe in absolutes (most are faux liberals),yet insist on imposing their absolutes! This is a not-too-subtle application of might makes right. Progressives and false liberals must act with stealth and deception in order to advance a worldview inconsistent with the natural function and nature of parents in the rearing of their children.

How, it must be asked, is such virtual dictatorship possible in a democratic republic like America? The acknowledged father of progressive education, John Dewey (1859-1952), answered that question this way: The political and governmental phase of democracy is a means, the best means so far found, for realizing ends that lie in the wide domain of human relationships and the development of human personality [The Ethics of Democracy, 1888]. What this jumble of words signifies is that democracy is a step in the evolution of human development  toward what end is not specified. This Marxist with credentials in behaviorism dismissed the fact that the Constitution of the United States, which underlies and informs our democratic government, a product of minds smarter and wiser than any in Deweys day or ours, was not designed to change people. The concept of democracy as consent of the governed is in fact not to be tampered with and made a tool for turning the governed into subjects of the state. And this clearly stated relationship between the state and the governed is not negotiable.

This fact does not keep progressives from pushing to transform America into what it is not by brainwashing the people into voting their own membership in an autocracy, Deweys hoped for outcome: democracy used as a path to dictatorial rule by the few. What part of government of the people, by the people, for the people does this undemocratic idea come from? What part of reason, what part of enlightenment justifies switching democracy into autocracy?

The historical move to groom American children for living in a global autocracy, under the guise of progress, started in the public schools in the late 1930s. Out to change the world and society into a global dictatorship, Marxists and fellow ideologues sanctioned  and today continue to sanction  death, destruction, and oppression if that is a consequence of realizing their progressive vision for the world. And so it is that the most outrageous means to put America on a track to dystopia continues to animate a core of faux progressives and liberals, whose actions betray their loathing of America while shamelessly pretending loyalty to it.

By any measure consistent with reason, the progressive project does not benefit anyone and puts the lie to so-called enlightenment and justification of authority. Political leaders who continue to ignore the results of the failed progressive experiment and continue to bank on science as a prop for justifying their obsession with a faux progress have only themselves to blame for the social disorder that takes them down too, along with the victims they claim to be saving.

It is important to note that humane leaders with a modicum of intelligence have throughout history heeded an enlightenment that transcends their own intelligence and that of their associates and advisors. They have in some degree understood that it is the very intelligence that gave them their bodies, their brains, and their aim in life. This moral principle in human life  tragically ignored in modern times  is in fact as essential as breathing.

Whether the rejection of a transcendent moral principle comes from an excess of faith in reason-plus-science or from hatred of God, a door is left open to every serious disorder and injustice possible against we, the people, whom progressives claim to be helping.

It is plain from the results of their efforts how unenlightened our activists of change are, as they press forth to smash what is left of the country that gave them their freedom and abundance of opportunity to prosper, a country whose Constitution gives everyone the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness  a country they despise with pathologic vehemence and determination to destroy  proving that tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that dont have brains enough to be honest (Benjamin Franklin).

Caricature by Andre Koehne

Anthony J. DeBlasi is a veteran and lifelong defender of Western culture.
New Delhi [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unique contest for the students of Class IX to XII to reduce exam stress -- Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2020 program -- has been rescheduled to January 20 from January 16.



"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction programme 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020' with a cross-section of students and teachers from India and abroad to beat exam stress has been rescheduled to January 20, 2020, at 11 am, on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam and other festivals across the country. The programme was earlier scheduled for January 16, 2020," according to an official press.

On December 5 last year the Prime Minister had announced the competition.

"Exams are approaching and so is Pariksha Pe Charcha! Let us keep working together to ensure stress-free examinations. Here is a unique contest for students of Classes 9 to 12. The winners will get to attend PPC 2020 early next year!" Modi tweeted.

The PPC 2020 programme sought not only to reduce the stress of examinations from the young students, but the selected students also get the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and ask him questions.

Participants were instructed to write their responses of any one of five themes in a maximum of 1500 characters. The entries for the competition were invited online from December 2 to December 23 last year through www.mygov.in.

The themes given for the PPC 2020 were 'Gratitude is Great', 'Your future depends on your aspirations', 'Examining Exams', 'Our duties, you take' and 'Balance is Beneficial'.

The best responses will be featured in Modi's Interactive Session with students scheduled in New Delhi on January 20.

This is the third edition of the PPC. The first was held in Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018, where the event was also held on January 29, 2019. (ANI)


Since the debut of Apple Watch in 2015, the company has improved the smart wearable for better not just in terms of fitness tracking, but also the incorporation of the life-saving heart rate sensor, ECG (Electrocardiogram) with AFib (Atrial fibrillation) detection and Irregular Rhythm Notification (IRN) read-out features in the recent models.

In the past three years, Apple Watches have become the go-to smart wearable for health-conscious people around the world and also beaten several centuries-old Swiss-based time piece-makers to top the charts in terms of sale. But, if you haven't got the Apple Watch yet, this report may make you motivated to get one soon.

Reliable French website, Watch Generation has tumbled on an unreleased Apple Watch with a reference to RED branding in a products' listing on the Cupertino-based company's database.

This many believe that Apple may finally bring a Product (RED) Watch, most probably Series 5 soon.

It can be noted that Apple has been selling Product (RED) iPhones and also related accessories such as mobile cases with crimson shades. There were rumours of Watch launching with similar colour but never materialised so far. Maybe, we might see that turn true before the end of Q1 2020, as the Red iPhones always used to debut during the Springtime.



Apple iPhone 8, 8 Plus Product (RED) series (Picture Credit: Apple)



For the uninitiated, for the past several years Apple has been collaborating with a non-governmental organisation (RED). The companies use a certain percentage of the money gained by selling the aforementioned special iPhones, to contribute it to the upliftment and treatment of AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrone) people in Africa.

With the state-of-the-art heart health monitoring system, noise app, menstrual cycle tracking features, Apple Watch Series 5 is undeniably the best smart wearable out there in the market.

Read more | Apple Watch Series 5 review: Top-notch health companion



Apple Watch Series 5's ECG feature (DH Photo/Rohit KVN)



Now that it might come with Product (RED) branding, people are likely to get one, so that they can also feel a bit of satisfaction of knowing, some part of the device's price money is going help the underprivileged people in Africa.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cyber security and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
'You know something. What you know, you can't explain. But you feel it. You felt it your entire life. Something's wrong with the world. You don't know what, but it's there. Like a splinter in your mind... driving you mad.

It is all around us... It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes... to blind you from the truth... That you are a slave... Born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison... for your mind.

You take the blue pill... the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill... you stay in Wonderland... and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. '

The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix, the idea that the world we live in is not quite what we think it is, is a deeply powerful metaphor.

The 'red pill' meme that came out of this film has permeated our culture for years but never so much as in the last several years in the online world.

The red pill journey

It is now common to hear people talk about 'taking the red pill' or being 'red pilled'. So what does it mean to be red pilled?

Being red pilled means coming to the realization that what one was taught about the world and how it works by the culture and mainstream institutions is not entirely true or even outright false. Through a process of critical thinking and exploration of alternative viewpoints one begins to wake up from the Matrix or 'blue pill conditioning'.

For many young people growing up in a liberal progressive age this has meant discovering that often traditional and conservative ideas that have been dismissed as being outdated or even harmful actually have much value, truth and beauty.

The new counter-culture

In some ways the burgeoning counter-culture the red pill is creating is similar to the counter-culture of the 1960s. In the same way, disillusionment with the culture is creating an unprecedented search for truth and meaning. Ironically today's counter-culture is a rebellion against the legacy created by the 1960s rebellion!

What they have in common though is a sense that modern society is shallow, consumeristic and deeply broken. Many can feel that there is something artificial about the values that Hollywood, the media, the education system and corporate advertising are selling them.

Realizing that the modern zeitgeist offers little more than self loathing, post-modern relativism, cultural destruction and empty consumerism for young white people the red pill journey is leading them to look for a sense of who they are in the past in their ancestry and heritage.

Western Christian heritage and the God pill

As I have observed the development of this movement over the last several years I have felt that it will inevitably begin to find its way to Christianity, the heart and soul of western heritage.

And this is what is starting to happen now. As the counter-culture moves from superficial critique of social justice warriors to exploring deeper philosophical and spiritual terrain more and more the question of faith in God is on the table.

The red pill terminology has taken on some evolution over the years. As the culture goes in a more destructive direction every day the term 'black pilled' has come about to describe the sense of hopelessness that things seem beyond repair and the decadence and decay cannot be turned around.

Rejecting the black pill, some commentators have recently started to use the term the 'God pill' to describe the realization that a rediscovery of faith in God is the only thing that will save western civilization.

It is only natural that a movement centered around a longing for connection with its ancestors, in the midst of a society that is rootless and seemingly terminally ill, would eventually make the connection with the faith of its ancestors.

One example is a You Tuber called Blonde in the Belly of the Beast who recently posted a powerful video about the Notre Dame fire in Paris. She gives voice to what many have felt, that the fire of Notre Dame is deeply symbolic of the modern west. The symbol of western Christendom burning has given her a powerful revelation that Christianity is the heart of the west and must be rediscovered if the west is to survive. This has inspired her to seek a spiritual connection with God.

Signs of the times

The dissident right is marginalized from mainstream culture and mainstream Christianity but it is a place where God is clearly at work.

The West is in a similar time of cultural upheaval as was experienced in the 1960s. In the same way that the 1960s and 1970s spiritual search was an incredible opportunity to engage with people about the Christian faith, it is the same now.

The moment opening up before us is similar to the days of the Jesus people movement. The hunger for spiritual truth and meaning led to an openness to the gospel among the counter-culture. Many Christians at the time missed it but there were those like Calvary Chapel in California that understood the times and were very fruitful as they reached out to them with the gospel.

In those days many hippies came to Christ in the Jesus People revival that swept the world.

The question for us today is will we also recognize the signs of the times and respond with faith, prayer and engagement?

Conor is from Adelaide South Australia. He is a gardener and is involved in ministry. He loves God, music, reading and thinking deeply about philosophy and current events in the world.

Conor Ryans previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/conor-ryan.html
Now fresh reporting from the New York Times has emerged to strengthen the Democrats minimum condition of a real trial: The Senate must seek witness testimony from key players in Mr. Trumps attempt to strong-arm Ukraine into announcing an investigation of his political rival, former vice president Joe Biden, using congressionally appropriated military aid and promises of a White House visit as leverage. The Times reports, based in part on previously undisclosed emails, that acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney tried to freeze the military aid on Mr. Trumps behalf as early as June, prompting puzzlement and backlash within the administration  to the extent that Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-national security adviser John Bolton convened a White House meeting with Mr. Trump to urge release of the aid. Mr. Trump, apparently fixated on the idea that Ukraine had tried to defeat him in 2016, balked, asserting, contrary to Defense Department certifications, that Ukraine was hopelessly corrupt.
For 'a person who has dedicated his life to teaching students, guiding them to restoring monuments and preserving our built heritage, I never dreamt that my home will one day be demolished.'

IMAGE: A view of flats built on the coastal zone in Maradu, Kochi. Photograph: PTI Photo

All the 40 years Dr M S Mathews was a professor of civil engineering at IIT-Madras, he was involved in the restoration of temples, monuments, and other heritage structures.

For his incredible effort, the Construction Industry Development Council bestowed Dr Mathews with the Vishwakarma Award in 2013.

The irony is that the home of the man who restored so many monuments is being demolished now.

His house was located in one of the five waterfront apartments in Maradu in Kochi which the Supreme Court ordered to be demolished for violating Coastal Regulation Zone rules.

"The current worth of a flat similar to the one I bought here is Rs 1.2 crores. We got only Rs 25 lakhs as compensation. I cannot buy a flat I want with this amount. I accept that I will have to live in a one room rented apartment for the rest of my life. We hope that on January 22nd, the Supreme Court will give clear orders so that the owners will be fully compensated," Dr Mathews tells Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com.

When you booked the flat, were you aware that the flats were being constructed in the vulnerable coastal area coming under the CRZ iii category though the panchayat had given permission to build apartments there? According to the panchayat, it came under the CRZ ii category.

No, we were not at all aware in 2006 as the coastal regulations were not very serious or clear then. It became a serious matter only much later. By 2010, we had finished paying for the flat.

Reports say the panchayat gave permission to the builders in 2006, without getting necessary clearance from the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority.

We were in the dark about what was going on between the builders and the panchayat. They were supposed to get permission from various authorities and the owner did not come into the picture.

Nine months after issuing permission, the panchayat sent a notice to the builders alleging that they had violated CRZ rules. But the builders got an interim stay from the high court in 2007.

One of our assurances and strengths was that whenever the builders went to the high court, they won. So, there was no anxiety on our part that something was amiss.

In those days, the maps were also not properly drawn up. They were to a 1:50,000 scale in which it is not possible to identify with certainty coastal zones i, ii or iii.

In fact, some of the cases were dismissed by the high court saying that sufficiently accurate maps were not available. It was much later that the concerned authorities made proper scale maps.

Now, we have a map of 1:5000 where things are very clear and this happened as recently as February 2019, but before March 8th 2019!

IMAGE: Dr M S Mathews.

Now, does it come under CRZ iii or CRZ ii like the panchayat said earlier?

Right now, it comes under CRZ ii where such buildings are allowed, and not in CRZ iii.

How did the Supreme Court order the demolition of the flats?

That is because the judgment was based on the fact that when it was constructed, it was under CRZ iii, as stated by the committee.

But in the new map, it is under CRZ ii and it is legal to construct buildings there...

Yes. It is buildable as per the new map.

The fact that it is legal in the new map did not stand in the Supreme Court?

To the best of my knowledge, it was not brought to the attention of the Court that it is under CRZ ii now.

In your case, and perhaps with many others too, you purchased the flat with your retirement money and your house is gone now...

My life's entire savings except for the monthly pension I get has been put into this flat. Now, I have no hope of owning a flat like this. I am too old to start working again.

The current worth of a flat similar to the one I had bought here is Rs 1.2 crores and we got only Rs 25 lakhs as compensation.

I am grateful that I got Rs 25 lakhs, but I cannot buy a flat I want with this amount. I am accepting the fact that I will have to live in a one room rented apartment for the rest of my life.

We hope that on January 22nd, the Supreme Court will give clear orders so that the owners will be fully compensated.

Do you feel all this is unfair? You taught future generations for decades. You helped build an IIT. You restored many temples...

I feel it is unfair on two points. It is a personal irony for me that my entire life has been spent in restoring houses of worship in India, Cambodia, etc while my own humble house is being demolished now.

Another important point is when the government gives me a thousand rupee note, it says it promises to give the bearer Rs 1000.

Similarly, any instrument given to me by my government, I place absolute trust that it is a valid document. This is based on the legal principle of Promissory Estoppel.

Which document are you talking about?

The receipts of the property tax I have been regularly paying. When I am given the tax receipt, it is similar to giving me a thousand rupee note.

When I am given a receipt for the tax paid, I inherently assume that it is a valid construction, valid flat and it belongs to me and it is my personal property.

It is beyond my comprehension that overnight, it became illegal.

Even if it is declared illegal, I must be fully compensated for the trust that I have placed in the receipt.

The trust was not between two private parties; it was between a private individual and the government.

This event has shaken my trust in government documents!

Who is to be blamed in this situation? The panchayat gave permission to the builders in 2006 without getting the permit from the Kerala coastal authority. But the high court gave an interim order in 2007 for the builders to continue with the work. The only losers are the people who invested money in the project...

There are several participants in this: The owner, the builder, the municipality, the Kerala coastal zone authority and the government of Kerala.

But the owner has been punished in the whole saga when all the others have to share the blame for whatever has happened.

IMAGE: One of the five waterfront apartments in Maradu, Kochi.

After your retirement, you were assigned the task of setting up IIT-Palakkad. After the assignment was over, you came here to relax...

After my retirement from IIT-Madras, I was appointed as a professor at IIT-Palakkad with special permission from the President of India as you cannot work after 65 in IITs.

So, for me along with five other professors to work in IIT-Palakkad to set up the institution, the authorities had to get express permission from the President of India.

We successfully set up the IIT, using our cumulated knowledge in introducing the IIT culture there.

After that, I thought I would have a peaceful retired life in Kochi and write books based on the knowledge I have accumulated over the years. But it was not to be.

My days were spent meeting various government officials in Kerala and Delhi, also going to the court in Delhi. But all the efforts the other owners and myself made, could not save the apartment.

Currently it is being demolished while a year ago, a bench of similar strength asked another apartment builder close to us that had violated the same guidelines, to pay a fine, and it was not demolished.

Is there any precedent like this?

There are precedents of demolitions here and there, but not to such magnitude. Here, they were demolishing four 20 storey buildings. This is demolishing property worth about Rs 400 crores. Technically also, it is a humongous task.

In fact, IIT-Madras had proposed various alternatives to demolition. One is the principle of Polluter Pay which is an internationally accepted concept.

Those who are responsible for the violation pay a fine as determined by the authorities, and use that money to compensate for the problems created by these illegal constructions like afforestation, creating more mangroves, urban forests, etc.

It is better to compensate than destroy human habitats.

Also, even if the owners were asked to leave, instead of demolition, these buildings could be used for public purposes, converting them to hospitals for children, modern digital libraries, and research laboratories.

The authorities should have opted for constructive options rather than destruction?

Yes, there are various internationally accepted norms in situations like these. In the US, instead of destroying, they ask the owners to stay there and pay a rent to the government which would be used to compensate problems caused to the environment.

By destroying these many buildings, you increase the carbon emission to the environment. The carbon dioxide released is harmful for the people and the planet, contributing to climate change and global warming.

Another important point is we are a poor country and we are in an extreme shortage of housing nationally. So, instead of destroying what is already there, you can have the Polluter Pay principle applied at the highest possible level, so that it will put the fear in the minds of future violators.

I am of the view that the environment must be protected and violations should not occur.

Do you feel generally owners tend to ignore the coastal regulation rule?

In fact, many other flat owners have taken loans from banks and while giving the loan, all the documents were scrutinised by the legal departments of the banks.

The very fact that the banks gave approvals for loans show they did not find anything illegal in the documents, besides the three positive judgments of the Kerala high court.

How do you think the legal departments overlooked this?

Kerala is an estuarine state with a complex coastal zone, not having a regular sea coast like, for example, Tamil Nadu. Kerala has a complex system of backwaters seeping into the land.

That makes the study, the documentation and the gazette notification a far more complex process.

Only in the last decade or so have the satellite maps and geographic information systems been fully developed, by which the accurate study of the backwaters and water bodies became possible.

Only after that, zones could be demarcated accurately and properly gazetted maps could be released by the authorities.

The Supreme Court asked a technical team to assess the area before giving its verdict.

In my opinion, a technical team consisting of 3 or 4 persons cannot determine in which CRZ zone the area belongs to.

That is because just like in earthquake maps of India, a 3 or 4 member committee cannot determine whether an area in India is in Zone 2, 3, 4 or 5.

These determinations are done by several statutory bodies through several iterations, standardised, evaluated, validated and released by the Bureau of Indian Standards, and other government bodies.

Against the backdrop of such national evaluations, a 3-member state committee cannot come to a place and say, yes, this comes under CRZ iii or CRZ i. It is not clear on what basis the 3-member team decided that the area was CRZ iii.

The same area has been notified to be in CRZ ii in February 2019 by ministry of environment and forests. The committee has also not adhered to the legal dictum Audi Alteram Partem before submitting its report as mandated by the Supreme Court.

How emotional was it for you to see your home being demolished?

Emotionally, it is quite shocking to me, to a person who has dedicated his life to teaching students and guiding them to restoring monuments and preserving our built heritage.

I never dreamt that my home will one day be demolished. We do not know whom to turn to for succour.

I fail to understand why only these four buildings are being demolished when there are hundreds -- if not thousands -- of buildings in Kerala and elsewhere that are in violation of coastal regulation zone rules.

Shobha Warrier covers news and business for Rediff.com. She can be contacted at shobhaw@rediff.co.in
Three prominent Maryland Democrats - the mayor of Baltimore, a longtime Prince George's state delegate and the chair of Baltimore's state delegation - resigned in 2019 in connection with illegal activity.

This week, the Maryland Republican Party saw the opportunity to raise funds off their rivals' misdeeds.

"2019: Dems' horrible, no good year," reads the heading atop a fundraising email sent Tuesday by the Maryland GOP. Below it is a graphic of the Maryland Democratic Party's logo behind bars.

Former Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh pleaded guilty in November to fraud and tax-evasion conspiracies to illegally hide profits from sales of her children's books. Former state delegate Tawanna Gaines pleaded guilty in October to federal wire fraud charges, admitting she used $22,000 in campaign donations to purchase fast food, get her hair styled and purchase a pool cover, among other things.

Most recently, charges were unsealed in December against former state delegate Cheryl Glenn, who built her reputation fighting to legalize medical marijuana. She was charged with bribery and wire fraud for allegedly taking nearly $34,000 in bribes to push legislation that benefited marijuana companies and other businesses.

But the actions of those individuals do not define the party or the "inspiring, hard-working legislators in the General Assembly," said state Sen. Cory McCray, D-Baltimore City.

McCray, vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, said that when he thinks about Democrats, he thinks about House Speaker Adrienne Jones, D-Baltimore County, and Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore City, new leaders he described as "above reproach."

"I think of people like Will Smith, who has a young family and just returned from serving his country," McCray said, referring to the Montgomery County state senator who deployed to Afghanistan in 2019.

"This year we've witnessed instances of corruption from the White House to the State House," Maryland Democratic Party chair Yvette Lewis said in a statement. "The Maryland Democratic Party demands ethical conduct of all of its members, and it is our expectation that all individuals in a position of public trust - no matter their party - serve in the interest of their constituents."

In deep-blue Maryland, where Republicans lag in voter registration by a margin of more than 2-to-1, Democrats hold veto-proof majorities in the House of Delegates and Senate.

Gov. Larry Hogan was the first Republican to win re-election since 1954, but Republicans' efforts to use his popularity to win down-ballot races were largely unsuccessful in 2018.

The fundraising email sent by the Maryland GOP on Tuesday, New Year's Eve, asked for donations of $10 or $25 to help build a "war chest now so we can hit the ground running in 2020."

"Our New Years Resolution is to hold ALL MARYLAND DEMOCRATS ACCOUNTABLE!" the email reads. "There has been a long list of corrupt Democrats breaking laws and pleading guilty - almost like they're making their own dirty dozen!"

Corine Frank, executive director of the Maryland GOP, did not respond to requests for comment.

Del. Dereck Davis, D-Prince George's, said the betrayal of public trust that has been committed is serious - and that trying to use it as a fundraising tool undermines the seriousness of the situation.

"This so much more important than 'Hey give me some money,' " Davis said. "These types of things cause a crisis in government, and when you fundraise of off them then you belittle the issues."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held telephonic conversations with top leaders of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, conveying New Year greetings and emphasising India's commitment to regional peace and security as well as 'neighbourhood first' policy.

Modi spoke to King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

The prime minister also spoke to his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

"The prime minister conveyed to the leaders his New Year greetings and good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf," the PMO said in a release.

It said Modi emphasised India's commitment to 'neighbourhood first' policy and the vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of India's friends and partners in the region.

In his conversation with Hasina, Modi congratulated her on being re-elected as the president of the Awami League for the next three years.

The prime minister also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali.

"He also stated that the upcoming birth centenary of Bangbandhu and 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government," the PMO said.

In his conversation with the Bhutanese King, Modi highlighted important achievements of the last year which have led to further consolidation of special ties between India and Bhutan.

The prime minister also mentioned that he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit of the King to India.

In his talks with Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Modi expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka would further enhance their friendly ties in the year 2020.

Speaking to Prime Minister Oli, Modi expressed satisfaction over the progress in India-Nepal relations in 2019 with the completion of several projects.

"He specifically noted the completion of Motihari (India)- Amlekhgunj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline in a record time," the PMO said.

"Both the leaders also agreed to an early inauguration of the Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar and the housing reconstruction project in Nepal through video conference," it said.

In his conversation with the prime minister of Sri Lanka, Modi reiterated India's commitment to further expand the close and extensive cooperation with the island nation.

Modi also wished the President of the Maldives Solih.

"President Solih warmly reciprocated prime minister's wishes and expressed his keen desire to further deepen and strengthen the ties with India by enhancing the existing bilateral cooperation and exploring newer areas for working together," the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man has died in hospital a day after he and his new wife were allegedly gunned down by his father-in-law.

Veton Musai, 29, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, a day after his wife Lindita died at the scene.

The pair were allegedly attacked in their home in Yarraville, western Melbourne about 10.30am on Tuesday.

Mrs Musai's father, 55-year-old Osman Shaptafaj, remains in a critical condition in hospital with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Veton Musai, 29, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, a day after his wife Lindita

The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies

Victoria Police were investigating a family dispute as the motive behind the chilling attack ahead of the New Year.

The couple reportedly had other guests at their home when the incident took place.

They were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.

A gun was found at the end of the street on public land. Investigators are now trying to piece together what drove the man to allegedly open fire.

The couple married about a year ago but were dating for at least five years

Lindita Musai, 25, (pictured) was allegedly shot dead and her husband Veto Musai, 29, critically injured on Tuesday morning in a hail of bullets at their western Melbourne home

A 55-year-old man was rushed to hospital after allegedly shooting himself twice (pictured)

Friends and family of the pair were on Tuesday seen in tears on the suburban street as they comforted each other.

Mr Musai's cousin shared his grief on Facebook after the 29-year-old died in hospital.

'I don't know how to put the words together.. Allah knows best why things happen the way they do,' he started, before adding he 'can't even begin to explain' how he's feeling.

'The only thing keeping us strong is belief in God. How a father can take his own daughter's life is beyond comprehension... But the devil truly is among us.

The couple had wed earlier this year and were allegedly shot on the front porch of their house on Tuesday morning

Mr Musai's cousin shared his grief on Facebook after the 29-year-old died in hospital

'May Allah bring the two gorgeous souls together again in Jannah.'

The young couple had only been married a year, but had been a couple for at least five. Friends described their wedding as one of the 'best they'd ever been to'.

'Such a lovely couple, such a lovely family... One of the best weddings I've been to in Australia,' a friend of the family wrote on Facebook.

Mrs Musai was employed as a receptionist for Colliers International in Melbourne's CBD while her husband worked at a nearby bank.
DuckDuckGo calls itself the search engine that does not track you. Usually search engines, including search giant Google, collect and store data and link that data with the users account.

DuckDuckGo calls itself the search engine that does not track you. Usually search engines, including search giant Google, collect and store data and link that data with the user's account.

This information is used to personalise search results, but since DuckDuckGo does not track the user it does not personalise the search results.

DuckDuckGo, launched in 2008, has 38.8 million daily and 31 billion total searches as of June 2019.

Recently, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey had said he has switched to DuckDuckGo, even though the brand has a mere 0.28% market share in the search engine market, while Google has a massive 81.5% share, stated the Newsmarket report as of September 2019.

Here's a look at the five privacy features that DuckDuckGo has and Google does not:

1. Google uses information shared by websites and apps in order to deliver personalised content and ads for users, so when a user goes to a website that uses Google's advertising service AdSense, analytics tools automatically send information such as URL, user's IP address to Google.

In DuckDuckGo, the user is not tracked nor is the IP address tracked, as a result nobody can take advantage of the search history.

2. Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo forces sites use an encrypted connection wherever available, which again protects the user from data breach.

3. DuckDuckGo search is anonymous, as a result each time the one uses it the search history is clear, leaving no trace of information. Google on the other hand by default saves a user's search history.

4. There is a feature in DuckDuckGo called the Smarter Encryption, which basically means that more of user's browsing will use encrypted connections (HTTPS), shielding it from any potential hacker or data breacher.

5. DuckDuckGo offers one page search result with infinite scroll that implies till the time a user scrolls down more search results will keep on appearing while in Google the user has to switch to the next page after the result on a page ends.
New Delhi:

Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas ringed in the New Year with a passionate kiss. The video of their lovey-dovey moment has gone viral on the internet and we just can't get over the cute couple. The intimate moment is from a Jonas Brothers concert in Florida last night.

In the video, Nick, Kevin and Joe are seen performing on the stage and as the clock striked 12, Priyanka along with Danielle and Sophie Turner joined the brothers on the stage to welcome New Year with champagne. Priyanka and Nick then shared a passionate kiss on stage while fans cheered for them. The couple then raised a toast to 2020.

Meanwhile, Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra celebrated their first wedding anniversary last month. "My promise. Then, today, forever. You bring me joy, grace, balance, excitement, passion... All in the same moment. Thank you for finding me. Happy first wedding anniversary husband," read an excerpt from Priyanka Chopra's post.Nick Jonas, on the other hand, wrote, "One year ago today we said forever... Well forever isn't nearly long enough. I love you with all of my heart."

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra has wrapped shooting of The White Tiger opposite Rajkummar Rao. The Netflix film, being directed by Ramin Bahrani of Fahrenheit 451 and 99 Homes fame, is an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's novel of the same name. Priyanka took to Instagram to share the news, saying it was a real pleasure to work on the project.

"Happy tired.. but so excited to have wrapped #thewhitetiger. It was such a pleasure to work with the best in the business in every department. The most hard working crew.. and such a delightful cast. "Thank you for all your brilliance. I can't wait to see the finished product and share it with the world," Priyanka wrote alongside her own photo.

Netflix is producing the project in association with Mukul Deora. Priyanka is also serving as executive producer. Adiga's book follows the extraordinary journey of a self-made man from tea-shop worker in a village to successful entrepreneur in a big city. Murder, love and deceit become the ultimate price for ambition.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Chandigarh, Jan 1 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday greeted the people on the New Year with the promise to give them a peaceful, harmonious, secure and progressive state.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister called upon the people to welcome 2020 with the commitment to work collectively and zealously to preserve the ethos of secularism, sovereignty, communal harmony and national integration.

He also urged the people to take a pledge to make Punjab the country's frontrunner state through inclusive growth, so that the fruits of development percolate to the grassroots.

In his message, the Chief Minister exhorted the people across the globe to follow the teachings of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, whose 550th Prakash Purb has been commemorated recently with great religious fervour.
CNN hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen downed shots during New Year's Eve coverage in Times Square while a reporter jumped into a bath of rum with a drag queen mermaid.

Viewers watching CNN's live coverage in New York also caught host Cooper turning the air blue with a risque story about Hollywood stars live on air.

The host even downed shots of tequila live on air from Times Square before a reporter took a dip in a bathtub filled with sparkling rum with a drag queen dressed as a mermaid.

Cooper later recalled his mom, the now deceased Gloria Vanderbilt, wondered ahead of an interview if she would be asked who had the 'biggest' manhood in Hollywood.

He told how both were backstage before going on air to be interviewed by Anderson's New Year's co-host Andy Cohen for an interview featured on his Bravo program, 'Watch What Happens Live'.

It would be Cohen during Tuesday's live coverage from Times Square in New York with Cooper, who would recall the risque question.

Both hosts were downing tequila, loosening up their commentary and spicing up the evening's festivities live from Times Square

CNN correspondent Randi Kaye climbed into a rum-filled bathtub with a drag queen dressed as a mermaid at a bar in Key West, Florida

Both were also downing tequila, loosening up their commentary and spicing up the evening's festivities.

CNN correspondent Randi Kaye was reporting live from a New Year's Eve celebration at a bar in Key West, Florida, when she joined a drag queen in a bathtub.

She had stumbled upon what she described as the 'queen of the sea' in a liquor-filled tub and carried out an interview before jumping into the bath.

Kaye said told viewers: 'I don't think I've ever seen a tail so huge.'

The drag queen quipped, 'that's not the only thing that's huge here, honey', causing co-host Cohen's jaw to drop to the floor and anchor Cooper to shake his head and turn away.

After Kaye asked the mermaid how the rum tasted, she was then pulled into the bathtub, causing the bar to roar with cheers.

She then took a swig of rum right from the bottle and poured the booze onto the mermaid.

Viewers watching CNN's live coverage of New Year's Eve caught when host Anderson Cooper recalled his mom, the now deceased Gloria Vanderbilt, wondering if she would be asked who had the 'biggest' manhood in Hollywood

Cooper's recollection of the personal question his fashion icon mom, who passed away in June, was from a backstage moment before going on Cohen's interview show, and had been mentioned during an interview with Seth Myers and reported on by the Hollywood Reporter

Cooper gagged on the evening's libations, admitting he doesn't drink although that didn't stop him

During Cooper's earlier discussion with Cohen, the co-host tried to censor his recollection of the question.

'He's not going to ask me who's got the biggest bleep... of anyone I've ever been with,' an increasingly tipsy Cohen says.

Cooper, who is listening to someone on an ear piece and appears to ask if the manhood reference can be said on live television verbatim, decided to clarify with the exact quote.

'She turns to me out of the blue and goes, 'He's not going to ask me who's got the biggest c--k in Hollywood, is he?' That's what she said'.

Cohen waves his hands and responds, 'Anderson just said it, ok'.

Cooper's recollection of the personal question his fashion icon mom, who passed away in June, was from a backstage moment before going on Cohen's interview show, and had been mentioned during an interview with Seth Myers and reported on by the Hollywood Reporter.

Twitter user @Twickantweets had to ask if Cooper really made the reference

Twitter user @busybookilfe was among many who couldn't resist tweeting the Cooper's words and admitting 'drunk Anderson is the best thing ever'

Several people on Twitter, including Natasha Jasso Smith, professed their love for 'Anderson'

Even the Housewives Tonight podcast had no shame getting some indirect promotion on Twitter, acknowledging the manhood reference

However, no one could see it coming on live coverage from Times Square, even as the CNN host and Cohen were getting loosened up on alcohol shots, which Cooper gagged on at moments.

A few Twitter users expressed disbelief at what they had just heard come from Cooper.

Cooper did apologize for using the 'C' word on air, although viewers on Twitter appeared to be more than forgiving of both him and Cohen for getting raunchy.

Despite Anderson's apology for making more than a few viewers make a double-take, the manhood references and drinking continued.

At one point, the cameras cut to retired basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, who towers at more than 7 feet, and was asked by a yet even more intoxicated Cohen, 'Your shoe size is 22, so how big are you?'

At least one Twitter user thought the New Year's Eve duo were better at hosting the festivities than at their day jobs.

There were few complainers, as viewers expressed their enjoyment of Cooper and Cohen's stint as a pair of hosts gone wild.

Podcaster and comedian Justin R. Young put it bluntly: 'They are so much better that this than news!!!' he tweeted about Cooper and Cohen

Twitter user Thomas Abt couldn't contain his enjoyment with a few choice vulgar words of his own

Patrick Barlow, a self-described 'dad, husband, evaluator, and hashtag afficianado,' as well as a 'dork', said his evening was complete, thanks to Cooper's manhood reference
The following is a statement from John Berrey, Chairman of the Quapaw Nation, in connection with the Cherokee Nation v. Stitt litigation. The lawsuit was filed by the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, and the Choctaw Nation on December 31, 2019, in order to determine whether the tribes can continue to operate Class III gaming under the terms of their government-to-government agreements with the state of Oklahoma.

Last July, Governor Stitt sent a letter to Oklahoma tribal leaders announcing that he intended to renegotiate the existing tribal-state gaming Compact in its entirety  regardless of the plain language of the Compact. In fact, the Compact provides that it shall automatically renew for successive 15-year terms so long as Oklahoma continues to authorize other entities to conduct electronic gaming. The Quapaw Nation consistently has stood with the other tribes in inviting the governor to discuss the provisions subject to re-negotiation  including compact rates. But we have insisted that the governor do so under the process provided in the Compact.

Governor Stitt has refused to honor the language of the Compact. Instead he has increasingly created uncertainty about Oklahoma Indian gaming operations. The governor has been making unwarranted threats against the businesses that support Indian gaming, and he has been implying that gaming industry jobs are in jeopardy. The governors actions have begun threatening the stability of tribal gaming, and thereby the revenue bases of tribal governments and the countless gaming industry jobs across the state that provide livelihoods to Oklahomans.

To obtain a resolution of this issue, the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, and the Choctaw Nation today filed a federal lawsuit seeking a judicial determination that the Compacts automatically renew on January 1. The Quapaw Nation stands firmly behind these tribes.

The automatic renewal provision was and is a very important part of the Compact. Tribes entered into the Compact with the comfort that this provision would ensure decades of stability and certainty. Many tribes have taken risks and have invested substantially in gaming  and in Oklahoma  on this basis, and have financed and built quality facilities  including fine, destination resort hotels  and they have built a firstrate hospitality industry the state never had before. They would not have done so if a governor could simply walk away from the Compact overnight.

Indian tribes and their gaming operations are important to Oklahoma  particularly to the many communities where they have created futures for Oklahomans where none existed before. We deserve to be treated with respect and as contributors to Oklahomas future. The tribes have a memory of many agreements that were made with them but not honored. We expect Governor Stitt to honor the agreement the state made with the tribes, the Compact.

Join the Conversation
Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use Auckland International Airport Limited's (NZSE:AIA) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Based on the last twelve months, Auckland International Airport's P/E ratio is 20.16. That means that at current prices, buyers pay NZ$20.16 for every NZ$1 in trailing yearly profits.

See our latest analysis for Auckland International Airport

How Do You Calculate Auckland International Airport's P/E Ratio?

The formula for P/E is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Auckland International Airport:

P/E of 20.16 = NZ$8.75  NZ$0.43 (Based on the year to June 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future.

Does Auckland International Airport Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. If you look at the image below, you can see Auckland International Airport has a lower P/E than the average (29.9) in the infrastructure industry classification.

NZSE:AIA Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 1st 2020

Auckland International Airport's P/E tells us that market participants think it will not fare as well as its peers in the same industry. While current expectations are low, the stock could be undervalued if the situation is better than the market assumes. It is arguably worth checking if insiders are buying shares, because that might imply they believe the stock is undervalued.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. Earnings growth means that in the future the 'E' will be higher. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

Story continues

Auckland International Airport shrunk earnings per share by 20% over the last year. But over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have increased by 21%.

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Theoretically, a business can improve its earnings (and produce a lower P/E in the future) by investing in growth. That means taking on debt (or spending its cash).

Such spending might be good or bad, overall, but the key point here is that you need to look at debt to understand the P/E ratio in context.

How Does Auckland International Airport's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

Net debt totals 21% of Auckland International Airport's market cap. This could bring some additional risk, and reduce the number of investment options for management; worth remembering if you compare its P/E to businesses without debt.

The Verdict On Auckland International Airport's P/E Ratio

Auckland International Airport trades on a P/E ratio of 20.2, which is fairly close to the NZ market average of 19.5. Given it has some debt, but didn't grow last year, the P/E indicates the market is expecting higher profits ahead for the business.

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.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
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The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) strong leadership and the politics of alliances may seem to be anathema to each other. However, as the BJP finds itself under the weather due to electoral downslides in the state elections held in 2019  the same year it convincingly renewed its electoral mandate at the Centre  it may have to shed its pride and reach a compromise with allies.The BJPs shock defeat in the Jharkhand polls showed that a milder Hemant Soren could beat a tough-talking and solo flyer Raghubar Das because of a significant alliance stitched together by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Similarly, in Maharashtra, a soft-spoken Uddhav Thackeray led his Shiv Sena out of a three-decade-old alliance with the BJP to become Chief Minister after the election results  because he could not stand the continuance and countenance of BJPs Devendra Fadnavis in the hot seat.These developments in both the states showed that a hard-headed BJP would rather risk loss of power than reach a compromise with its allies or potential allies  this could be interpreted as a sign of weakness.The huge mandate in 2019 for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is often seen an albatross around the BJPs neck in the states where the allies play a crucial role. A strong showing in the Lok Sabha polls has often led to the BJP not willing to concede a larger number of seats to the allies and instead face the test alone; but with disastrous results.In Jharkhand, the national party did not just lose the government, it also lost over 17 per cent of the seats held previously. Though the BJPs vote share rose by 2 per cent as compared to last elections, its strength dwindled. In May, the BJP had won 11 of 14 Lok Sabha seats. In terms of assembly seats, the BJP was down to 25 from the 37 it had won in 2014. The BJP refused to continue with its old partner the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) Party. A pact could have ensured its return to power.In Maharashtra, the BJPs junior partner refused to be overawed by Modis Lok Sabha poll success and chose to break bread with old rivals  the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress.The big takeaways in Maharashtra, Haryana (where it won lesser seats this election than what it did in 2014, but managed to form the government with the support of the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP)) and Jharkhand were that the voter choices are different when it comes to the assembly elections and the parliamentary elections. It also showed that there are limitations to the voter-pull power of Modi. Though his ability to add star-value to the campaign remains intact, the Prime Minister cannot help the BJP win elections easily in the states  whether it is Gujarat or Jharkhand  when the state factors dominate.Therefore, cobbling up alliances, projecting popular regional faces and tackling internal problems well ahead of time are of paramount importance for the BJP. After all, in the elections that the BJP fared poorly, strong regional leaders consolidated on caste- and community-bases.In 2020, can the BJP act differently? Or will the policies of the Modi government leave little room for the BJP to retain old alliance partners or woo new ones?There are two important elections in 2020  Delhi and Bihar. Delhi does not offer much of a choice. The BJP has to go it alone because it is the principal challenger to Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).However, it is in Bihar where the BJP will be put to test again. The saffron party has to retain the advantages it has gained since Janata Dal (United)s Nitish Kumar returned to its fold after a two-year partnership with Lalu Prasads RJD. His partys voter-base helped the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, leading to the decimation of the Opposition in the state. The NDA  of which Ram Vilas Paswans Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is also a constituent  won 39 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats. Of the 243 assembly segments in Bihar, non-NDA parties could show win in just 18.That said, bickering between local BJP and JD(U) leaders has been on the rise. It is clear that after the Jharkhand polls, the BJP will have to accommodate the demands of the JD(U) in the assembly, which will be held around October 2020.So far, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, who is close to Kumar, has managed to ensure that the ties remain unaffected.However, the Prime Ministers pursuance of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which is seen as a forerunner to implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC), has ruffled the feathers. Kumar firmly opposes the NRC exercise, though the JD(U) voted in favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in Parliament.Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who still serves as JD(U)s vice-president in-spite of his growing clientele among opposition parties, is said to be keen that Kumar leave the BJP-fold so that he can be projected as the Oppositions prime ministerial candidate in 2024.

Kumar is a careful politician and the BJP has to walk the tightrope, not getting carried away by the grandeur of the Lok Sabha poll results.
Dublin welcomed its first baby of the new decade this morning.

Her mother, Patience Setuke, delivered the child just 12 seconds after midnight.

She said: "As it was approaching midnight, the doctors were saying probably we can wait for another few hours but with the situation didn't allow us to that so unfortunately we had to go with the emergency and that's how I became the first mom to give birth in Ireland."

Patience is from South Africa and lives in Kildare. Her baby girl was born in the Rotunda Hospital and weighed just over 7 lbs.

No child has been delivered in the Coombe Hospital since midnight.

However, another girl was born in Cork University Maternity Hospital at 22 minutes past midnight.

Children were also born in Galway, Waterford and Tipperary before 1am this morning.

More than 392,000 babies are expected to be born today across the world, according to UNICEF.

2.5 million newborns died in their first month of life in 2018 and UNICEF is calling on countries to invest in health workers to save babies.
(Newser)  An employee who found the equivalent of $20,000 in cash at a UK waste facility could've made a claim to the money if its owners werent found within six weeks. Instead, the staffer ensured an unwitting couple were significantly richer in time for Christmas. The New York Times has the story from Midsomer Norton, England, where a couple had dropped off boxes at a dump after cleaning out the home of a deceased relative, who had a habit of hiding cash. Upon discovering that one box containing a household item also contained a separate box with stacks of bills, a staffer at the facility alerted team members, who called police, then analyzed CCTV footage to see who had left the money behind.

story continues below

After using on-site license plate recognition cameras to identify a vehicle, officers interviewed a couple from Burnham-on-Sea, without revealing that anything had been found, until they were sure the money was theirs. "Shocked" that they'd unwittingly thrown out $20,000, the couple in their mid- to late 60s thanked the staffer who found the box with an undisclosed reward, per the Times. Police, meanwhile, praised employees' actions as going beyond the "reasonable enquiries" that would typically be expected. "Without their diligent attitude, integrity and assistance, the family would never have known about the money found, and we would not have been able to return it to them, especially in time for Christmas," a police statement reads, per Metro. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
Colombo:

Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, in his first New Year message, said that he would create a prosperous country for all communities to live in peace and vowed not to allow any force to obstruct the realisation of peoples expectations. Rajapaksa, a former defence secretary who is credited with ending the countrys long civil war, was sworn in as the island nations new president on November 18, a day after he won the closely fought presidential election in the island nation.

In a short speech after his swearing-in ceremony in November, Rajapaksa thanked the powerful Buddhist clergy in the country for backing his presidential bid. He openly acknowledged the support of the Sinhalese community and lamented that the minorities have not supported him.

The new government is the outcome of unity among the people who love their country. We will not allow any force to obstruct the realisation of peoples expectations. The sole aim is to create a conducive environment where all can live harmoniously in peace, Rajapaksa said in a statement.

The president assured that he would create a prosperous country for all communities to live in peace. The country is in need of a strong and vibrant economy which gives priority to nationalistic aspirations. Such an economy will further cement our resolution for independence, he said.

During his visit to India in November, he said that it would not be easy for him to address the Tamil minority demand for a political solution when the Sinhala majority was standing opposed to any form of power being shared with the Tamils. He later outlined economic development as the answer to address the issues faced by the Tamils.

Rajapaksa, along with his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa, led a decisive campaign that helped end the island nations three decade long civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

However, the brother-duo were accused of condoning sexual violence and extrajudicial killings allegedly by Lankan security forces during the civil war, which ended in May 2009 with the death of LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.

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Carlos Ghosns flight to Lebanon may or may not turn out to be a good choice for him personally, but it may be very good news for the future of Nissan  and perhaps for Nissans operations in Britain.

The starting point here is that Ghosn, backed by Renault, saved Nissan. Nothing that has happened since his arrest can take away from that achievement. But in recent years he became the advocate for the French side of the partial merger of the two companies, in effect allowing Renault to milk Nissan for the funds to keep it going. For the past decade, at least until this year, Nissan made more profit than Renault. Yet it was the junior partner in the relationship, owning only 15 per cent of Renault, while the French side owned 43 per cent of Nissan.

Japanese fears that Ghosn was the voice of France were confirmed when the immediate reaction of the Renault high command to his arrest was to question the reasons for his detention. Only as the case against him was revealed did French support fade. Ghosn denies any wrongdoing.
Realme X50 5G is slated to make its official debut next week January 7. The company in a bid to build curiosity among fans has teased the device on social media platform Weibo.

The upcoming Realme X50 5G flaunts a true full view display with a pill-like dual-camera module in the top left corner. Thanks to the punch-hole design, it does not obstruct while viewing multimedia content on the phone. Also, the bezels are really thin around the edges-- top, left and right, but the base has a bit thicker chin, but not much. Rest assured, Realme X50 5G will offer a good viewing and gaming experience.

With more than five days left for the launch date, Realme is expected to show off more features of the new device.

Other key features expected to come to Realme X50 5G:

Word on the street is that the Realme X50 5G is said to sport a 6.67-inch full HD+ LCD screen and would come with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G octa-core processor backed by 4,500mAh battery with VOOC 4.0 charging (30W) support. With this, the phone can fully power up from zero to 100-percent under one hour.

As far as the photography hardware is concerned, Realme X50 5G is expected to sport quad-camera-- 64MP+ 13MP telephoto lens+ 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP(for macro shot)--with LED flash and more. On the front, it houses dual 32MP+8MP snapper.

Read more | Realme X2 launched in India

With 5G, Realme X50 5G owners can enjoy high-speed Internet anywhere between 5Gbps and 10 Gbps. This means 4K resolution multimedia or HDR or high-resolution contents with sizes 8GB or more can be downloaded in just seconds.

Realme X50 5G price expected to start at 2,199 (approx. Rs 22, 518). There is no word on whether it will come to India or not, but going by the launch patterns of the past Realme devices, the company is expected to bring Realme X50 to India within a month's time. However, it is unlikely to boast 5G network support, as there is no infrastructure to offer high-speed internet speed beyond 4G-LTE.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cyber security and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
A trainee doctor has been jailed this week for five years for disfiguring three schoolgirls in sulphuric acid attacks.

Shamil Chaparov, 20, splashed his victims leaving them 'shrieking' in pain from burning skin as he rode past on a bicycle wearing a hoodie and a medical mask.

The girls - then aged 14, 15 and 16 - suffered 'grave' and 'moderate' chemical burns in the incidents in September 2018.

The vicious attacks in Budyonnovsk, Russia, left the town in 'panic' and the medical student has been detained after the DNA of 2,000 local males was analysed.

He splashed acid into the face of one girl then three days later did the same to two other teenagers.

Shamil Chaparov being arrested after the DNA of 2,000 males in Budyonnovsk, Russia, was analysed by police following the 'random' acid attacks

One of the teenage victims name in the Russian media as Polina E. Chaparov was jailed for five years for the attack on her and two other teenage girls

Video footage captured the moment police overpowered the trainee doctor on his bicycle as he left his studies at a medical college.

Chaparov had 'no reason' for the random attacks, said the Russian Investigative Committee.

Prosecutors are reported to have demanded a 17-year jail term and there has been criticism of the five-year penal colony sentence.

Critics said he should have been 'sentenced to an acid bath', with one posting online: 'He should be subjected to exactly what he did to others.'

Chaparov's genetic fingerprint was found on the bottle used in the attack, say law enforcement sources.

A video shows him handcuffed on the ground as police search after police detained him on his bike.

One of the victims, named as Lena, said: 'We thought he was weird.'

He rode up to victims on his bike, demanded money, and when they said they did not have any, threw acid in their faces.

Police detained Shamil Chaparov over the two separate acid attacks on three girls within three days in the Russian town of Budyonnovsk

The acid attack suspect was captured on CCTV as he cycled in the town of Budyonnovsk

Witness Svetlana, a hairdresser, said: 'We saw how skin started burning off her arm. We called the ambulance straight away.'

Natalia Kozlova, a shop assistant, who tried to wash off the acid, said: 'Her left side was all brown. She was shrieking in agony.

'She screamed: it's all painful, everything's burning. Her left arm was badly injured. Her hair was boiling hot, they say it fell out later.

Prosecutors reportedly demanded a 17-year jail term for Chaparov and there has been criticism of the five-year penal colony sentence he received

'Her T-shirt also fell into pieces in my hand while I was washing her. Most likely her back was injured.

'Her lips turned into white bubbles and then exploded, skin on her arm peeled off exposing her flesh.'

'It was impossible to look at her, we were crying with her. An ambulance arrived first, then her mum. When she saw what was done to her child she also needed medical help.'

All three victims needed plastic surgery after the horrific attacks.

Russian interior ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said 1,000 people with criminal records were checked during the investigation.

Those who had undergone drugs and psychiatric treatment were also investigated.

In all, the DNA of 2,000 males was analysed, said reports and police also studied all possible CCTV footage.

'As a result of this work, the suspect was located and identified,' she said.

A female medical student classmate said Chaparov was 'calm and balanced'.

'He never had any aggression,' she said.
New Delhi

Nearly 100,000 revellers poured out onto the streets of central Delhi to celebrate New Year day, leading to massive traffic jams at popular hang out spots of the city  Connaught Place, Khan Market, India Gate and near Delhi Zoo  on Wednesday evening.

Delhi Traffic Police estimates showed that till 7pm on Wednesday, nearly 100,000 people had gathered in central Delhi. While the police had closed several roads leading to Connaught Place to curtail the swelling rush of masses, it became for the security personnel to manage those on foot.

To control crowd in these area, the entry and exit to five Metro stations  Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market and Mandi House  were closed after 6.30pm. Interchange facility continued at Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet lines) and Mandi House (Blue and Violet lines).

Police officials managing traffic said the India Gate roundabout (C-hexagon) was completely packed oN Wednesday. The crowd of visitors there spilled onto the main roads and this further affecting vehicular movement. Similar problem of pedestrians hitting the roads were seen around Delhi zoo, because of which roads around Pragati Maidan and ITO saw traffic moving at a snails pace.

We had to barricade one carriageway to let pedestrians pass safely on the Pragati Maidan road. We were also directing those on foot to take the skywalk. If all these people had crossed at the signals, we would have faced more problems, a senior traffic official said.

The worst affected stretches on Wednesday evening were, ITO, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, Connaught Place Outer Circle, Janpath, C-Hexagon, Indraprastha Marg, Bhairon Marg, Vikas Marg, Tilak Marg, Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Ashoka Road, Lok Kalyan Marg, Khan Market, Lodi Road and Gol Dak Khana.

Traffic spillover was also witnessed at Sardar Patel Marg, Teen Murti Marg, Dhaula Kuan, Moti Bagh crossing, Barapullah, AIIMS flyover, Sri Aurobindo Marg and Ring Road near South Extension.

As traffic jams continued for several hours, many frustrated commuters took to social media to narrate their plight.

Indian wrestler Sangram Singh was among those who were stuck in the crawling traffic on Wednesday.

In a tweet he said, In #Delhi some important step should be taken against traffic, on Janpath road ye haal hai to baki kya hoga. I request Delhi people, plz take cab to go to local places. Trafic problem will be solved mostly. (In Delhi some important step should be taken to control traffic. If this is the condition on Janpath, what will be the state of the other roads. I request Delhiites to take cabs to travel to nearby places. At least, the traffic problem will be solved) (sic).

Some commuters also expressed their concerns over missing their flights owing to traffic coming to a standstill.

Need some help..Stuck in the Delhi traffic since last 2 hours..we have 22 tickets(family) and I think we are gonna miss the flight to Mumbai - 8.35pm flight 1/1/2020 , request you to guide us, tweeted a commuter, Shrey Joshi, tagging a private airline.

Wednesday was a deja vu moment for the national capital. Last New Year day, the city police had faced a tough time managing around 250,000 people who had gathered around India Gate and Connaught Place.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31)  A US lawmaker has warned that even Filipino-Americans may suffer should President Rodrigo Duterte push through with his threat to require travel visas for US nationals entering the country.

Senator Richard Durbin (D-Illinois) said Duterte's ploy would unduly target fellow Filipinos.

"Illinois is proudly home to a vibrant, hardworking Filipino community. The Duterte regime should stop threatening the travel of these Filipino Americans and so many others who travel between our nations, and instead release Senator de Lima or assure a quick and credible trial," Durbin said in a statement on Tuesday. "This strong-arm tactic is an insult to the Filipino American community and the country's democracy."

Durbin and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), have been banned from Philippine soil for drawing up the resolution that bans all Filipino officials who played a role in putting Sen. Leila De lima in jail, from entering the United States. The measure was eventually signed by President Donald Trump as part of the US federal budget for 2020.

EXPLAINER: How the US budget law bans Philippine officials

Malacanang retaliated by announcing that the Philippines may require visas for all US citizens entering the country should the ban on some Philippine officials be implemented. Under the current setup, US citizens visiting the Philippines do not need to apply for a visa for a stay of not more than 30 days.

Implementation of the travel ban policy is now on the hands of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has the power to name Philippine officials to be covered by the sanction.

The US is the country's third biggest market for tourism with 872,335 Americans visiting the country as of end-October this year, according to the Department of Tourism.

Durbin maintained that De Lima has been imprisoned for "highly questionable charges," even as Malacanang insisted that her detention due to supposed involvement in illegal drug trade has legal basis.

"Her release, which has been championed by groups such as Amnesty International  and now the US Congress is unfortunately symbolic of the larger price one increasingly pays for peaceful dissent and honest journalism under President Duterte in the Philippines," Durbin added.

In a separate statement, De Lima thanked Durbin and Leahy for "bravely" standing their ground despite Duterte's attacks.

"This bipartisan support from high-ranking law-and-policymakers in the US has given me a gift I have been longing for: vindication. Because these veteran US public officials would not be standing with me if they had any doubt about my innocence or the fact that my persecution is an attack, not just against me personally, but against human rights and human rights defenders," the senator said.

De Lima has been detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center inside Camp Crame, QuezonCity since February 2017 for supposedly abetting illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison while she was Justice secretary from 2010 to 2015.
If I can stop one child being radicalised, that will be the day I will know Martyn hasnt died for nothing, Figen Murray says.

Her son, Martyn Hett, was one of the 22 people killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.

The 29-year-old was among thousands of Ariana Grande fans pouring out of the venue when Isis supporter Salman Abedi blew himself up in the crowd.

A year after the attack, his mother started a mission to stop other young people being drawn down the same path as the terrorist.

She has so far spoken to more than 6,000 secondary school pupils across England, urging them to confront the terrible impact of the Manchester bombing and helping to steel them against the extremism that caused it.

I really feel that I could just stop that one child who may be going down the road of being radicalised  if they hear my story it might just make them stop, she tells The Independent.

The 58-year-old has visited schools across England, from Blackpool to Southampton, including the one attended by Abedi himself.

Ms Murray first went to the Burnage Academy for Boys with Mike Haines, the brother of aid worker David Haines who was among the hostages beheaded by Isis in 2014.

I remember walking into the building through the front door thinking, Thats weird, Im breathing the same air that he breathed, thats really strange, she says.

But Ms Murray returned to do her own talk, at first speaking to a year group but then going into individual year-9 classes.

As at other schools, Ms Murray told the children about Martyns death and the familys experience, before inviting them to ask questions.

Murray is now studying counterterrorism (ITV)

She says that many children ask why she forgave Abedi and how she copes: I had one girl say to me, I lost my little sister a few years ago and can you give me hints on how to grieve?

I talked to her about maybe keeping a diary, writing her letters. I told her I chat to Martyn all the time. I talk to him a lot, I think about him a lot.

Children also ask Ms Murray what she would tell her son if she could. She answers: Id say, Please dont go to the concert, stay with me.

Martyn was one of the first victims to be identified on social media, and a journalist who went to the family home hours after the bombing told his sister of his death before it was confirmed.

 Manchester bombing victim's parents 'not giving in to hatred'

Martyn worked as a writer and PR manager, but had thousands of followers on Twitter and made popular YouTube videos, becoming well-known for his tattoo of Coronation Streets Deirdre Barlow and a winning appearance on Come Dine With Me.

He made the news in November 2016 after sharing a photo of unsold items knitted by his mother for a craft fair, sparking a deluge of customers for Ms Murrays online shop.

In his last tweets on 22 May 2017, Martyn documented a day drinking prosecco and seeing Ariana before the concert and shared photos with his partner, sending his last joke less than an hour before the blast.

Ms Murray says she started forgiving Abedi for the bombing after seeing a photo of him in a newspaper just three days later.

Recommended The young man beloved online who died in Manchester bombing

I stood for ages looking at it thinking, Oh my good hes so, so young, what the hell did you do that for?

Weeks later, she was reading a newspaper again following the Finsbury Park attack, where a right-wing extremist ploughed a van into Muslims near a London mosque.

On the front cover was a picture of the terrorist, Darren Osborne, surrounded by a human chain of worshippers and an imam who were protecting him from the angry crowd.

In all that chaos and confusion and terror, these men made a decision to protect this guy, Ms Murray says.

They decided what to do in that moment, and I had to decide too.

She contacted the BBC and appeared on television the following day to publicly forgive Abedi.

Now her aim is to provide a way for children, particularly in Greater Manchester, to discuss the bombing and wider issues around terrorism and bereavement.

Mariah Carey was among those paying tribute to Martyn following the attack (Instagram/Twitter/Martyn Hett)

Ms Murray is hoping to safeguard them against radicalisation, saying that in an average group of 100 teenagers between 60 and 80 put their hands up when asked if they have seen terrorist material online.

One of my daughters went on Facebook and saw a beheading video years ago, she says. The internet targets secondary school children and it is rife.

Her talk ends with a call for action, where children are asked to write down acts of random kindness that they will carry out.

As she continues to tour schools, Ms Murray is also campaigning for increased security at event venues and studying part-time for a masters degree in counter-terrorism at the University of Central Lancashire.

A video of a terror training exercise gave her a flashback to Martyns body, but she is persevering with the course to understand what terrorism is about.

Its not just whats happening and how it came about, but what is being done about it, she says. The course is helping to give me answers.

Ms Murray says her four surviving children support her crusade, which has become part of the familys grieving process.

She jokes that Martyn is sat on my shoulder giving me earache.

I dont know what else to do with myself, she says. I feel Im working with Martyn in his memory, and now Im more Martyns mum than I ever had been. I cant bring him back but I can do this and make sure other mums dont go through this grief.
A Border Security Force jawan on Wednesday suffered a bullet injury in the firing by Pakistan army in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said.

The jawan was manning a forward post and was hit by a bullet in the left leg from across the border in Mankote area of Mendhar sector, the official said.

He said the injured was shifted to hospital and his condition was stated to be stable.

There was a brief exchange of fire between the two sides following the incident, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a New Year speech in which he reviewed the achievements of 2019 and extended New Year wishes for 2020.

The following are some highlights:

High-quality development in 2019

China's GDP is expected to edge close to 100 trillion yuan, President Xi Jinping said in his New Year speech on Tuesday, with the per capita figure nearing 10,000 U.S. dollars.

Xi praised China's good economic performance in the past year, adding that significant breakthroughs had been achieved in the three tough battles.

Coordinated regional development further accelerated and about 340 impoverished counties and more than 10 million people have been lifted out of poverty, the president said.

Xi also mentioned several significant achievements during 2019, such as China's lunar probe Chang'e-4 landing on the far side of the Moon, the launch of the Long March-5 Y3 rocket and the opening of Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Reform and opening-up generates vigor for development

In the New Year speech, Xi said China had pressed on with reform and opening-up over the past 12 months.

He said the policy has continuously "generated vigor" for China's development across all sectors and the people are experiencing the benefits.

Xi cited several examples of progress, from reform of Party and government institutions to the establishment of Free Trade Zones, from tax cuts of more than 2 trillion yuan to lower costs for medicine and cheaper and faster internet connections.

"New changes are taking place and everywhere and the country is taking on a fresh look," Xi said.

China's national defense and military reforms

In the speech, Xi stressed China's efforts in pushing forward reforms in national defense and military systems in 2019.

A grand military parade was held in Beijing on National Day on October 1 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

He meanwhile highlighted the 70th anniversary celebrations for the establishment of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the PLA Air Force.

Also in the past year, China hosted the 7th Military World Games, and the country's first self-developed aircraft carrier was commissioned.

"The people's army will always serve as a great wall of steel that guards our country," Xi stressed.

China's commitment to peaceful development path

President Xi reaffirmed that China would unswervingly walk along the road of peaceful development and remain a builder of world peace for the creation of a beautiful future for mankind.

He also hailed China's major diplomatic achievements over the past 12 months.

With Xi undertaking several overseas trips in 2019 and diplomatic ties now established with 180 countries, China continued to open its arms wide to embrace the world.

Four major events were hosted at home in the past year, which the president said showcased a civilized, open and inclusive China to the rest of the world.

"We have friends in every corner of the world," he declared.

China is willing to join hands with people of all countries in the world to jointly build the "Belt and Road Initiative" and push forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi stressed.

'One Country, Two Systems' wins hearts of the people

Xi said the "One Country, Two Systems" principle is "fully applicable, achievable, and popular" as he spoke of its successful implementation in ensuring prosperity and stability in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Referring to the situation in Hong Kong SAR, Xi said prosperity and stability in the region have always pulled at the heartstrings of all people in the Chinese mainland.

"Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation of our motherland."

He also delivered his sincere wishes to Hong Kong residents, stressing that a harmonious and stable society sets the premise of a sweet and peaceful homeland.
Fact-checking organisations are warning that not enough is being done to combat disinformation in Georgia. They say there are anti-Western websites mirroring Russian claims that Georgia hosts a secret biological weapons laboratory run by the United States. Al Jazeera was given special access to the laboratory at the centre of the allegations.

Al Jazeeras Robin Forestier-Walker reports from Tbilisi.
Embittered hikers have complained Snowdon is 'a bit steep' and too 'cloudy' in bizarre reviews left on social media.

More than 582,000 walkers climb Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, each year to witness expansive and beautiful views of Britain from its peak.

But in a series of reviews left on TripAdvisor, those who climbed to the 3,560ft peak lamented the poor weather, the cold temperatures, and the 'abysmal' wheelchair access.

Others complained about the 'terrible' car parking facilities, and insisted they would rather go to the Lake District where 'they know how to look after their tourists'.

Embittered hikers have complained the summit of Snowdon is 'a bit steep' and too 'cloudy' in bizarre reviews left on TripAdvisor (stock image)

Steven, from Leicester, rated his experience in the Snowdonia National Park as poor. He said: 'We spent weeks researching the best route to take being we were novice climbers.

'We spent weeks walking up hills in prep for it. We watched YouTube videos of people doing the chosen path, the Ranger Path, and all I can say is DON'T DO IT'.

Steven went on to describe his hike as 'most terrifying experience of our lives', writing that 'the path is relentless starts straight away going up hill'.

He added: 'The higher you go the worse the terrain become. You clamber, and I mean clamber over rocks, steps and jagged rocks. You cant walk more then 20 yards without stopping.

'In our case it started out really sunny and by the time we got a quarter the way up the weather changed. It lashed it down, it hailed and there was wind of around 40 mph. It nearly blew us of our feet.

More than 582,000 walkers climb Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, each year to witness expansive and beautiful views of Britain from the peak (stock image)

Others took to TripAdvisor to complain about the 'terrible' car parking facilities, and insisted they would rather go to the Lake District where 'they know how to look after their tourists'

'Be warned when I say don't attempt it, we seriously did not think we would get of alive'.

Another visitor, from Portugal, warned that the hike is 'not for the faint hearted' and lamented the lack of toilets.

They added: 'It's not for the faint hearted. Also don't expect to be able to use the loo as there are no trees bushes or rocks to hide behind and the toilets at the half way house were shut when we got there'.

In one bizarre review, a walker complained the the hill was 'quite steep' and could be improved with 'concrete paths and maybe some toilets halfway up'.

The outlandish post went on to complain the 'mobile reception is pretty poor' and told others not to 'rely on it for Facebook and Snapchat'.

Another visitor, from Portugal, warned that the hike is 'not for the faint hearted' and lamented the lack of toilets (stock image)

In one bizarre review, a walker complained the the hill was 'quite steep' and could improved with 'concrete paths and maybe some toilets halfway up'

Others on TripAdvisor said the trails were too 'overcrowded' and complained the 'cloudy' peak ruined views of Snowdonia.

'Sadly the summit was hidden in cloud and the views very murky,' said one. 'There were clouds of flies at the very top. Not a good look! All in all a bit disappointed'.

But of the 2,520 reviews left of the National Park on TripAdvisor, some 82 per cent rated the experience 'excellent'.

On the Visit Snowdonia website, it warns the 'terrain is challenging at the best of times' and asks visitors to check their equipment before embarking on their walk.

The site also warns the trail can be 'hard work', the weather 'unpredictable' and advises 'temperatures can plummet high up in the peaks'.

Hikers can chose from six different paths to reach the peak of the impressive mountain, which is second only in height to Ben Nevis in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands.
"For quite a few years I have not allowed comments on this blog because when I did allow them readers turned the comments section into a theist-atheist pitched battle of nastiness. I decided I did not want to be responsible for creating one more platform for uncivil discourse in our culture."

Thanks, blog readers, but now I'm on to other things As the archives of this blog will attest, I started it in December 2004 when I was still a full-time columnist at The Kansas City Star. I've loved the daily rhythm of doing it -- as, earlier, I loved the...

Actually, it looks like he'll staying busy with more rewarding stuff but his parting shot should hit home for our community . . .Read more:
Patchy communications and an active fireground made it difficult to account for the missing people. We simply havent got into a number of areas, Mr Andrews said. Thousands of people stranded in East Gippsland towns face an anxious wait with temperatures expected to soar again on Saturday. After a hot Friday, Mallacoota is facing a windy 43 on Saturday, with a late change. Mick Roberts died at his Buchan property. Credit:Nine News Dylan Wissell said his stepfather, Mr Roberts, was a larger than life character around Buchan with a wide circle of friends and a large, adoring family.

"He was tough on the exterior but he had a heart of gold," Mr Wissell said. "He was a good man. He was a bit of a rock to me, to be honest. He was always there if I needed a bit of a yack." Mr Wissell said he believed Mr Roberts had been painting his house with friends in the days leading up to the fires. "I rang him on Sunday and left a voicemail about my concerns about the weather coming up and he left me a message later that day saying not to worry, that the tanks were full and [they were] pretty right for a firefighting set-up, but obviously he wasn't as prepared as he would have hoped, he said. "As as far as I know, they decided to head to the river and I think there was one or two other guys with Mick and they ran to river. And Mick, for whatever reason, turned back to the hay shed at first and then to the house.

"The other guys went down to the river and huddled there thinking they were going to die. Next thing, Mick is missing." A naval ship, HMAS Choules, which is capable of carrying 700 people and can deliver water, food, fuel and medical supplies, is expected to be off the coast of Mallacoota by mid-morning on Thursday. Is is unclear whether it will be used for evacuations. HMAS Choules will arrive in Victoria on Thursday. Credit:Steven Siewert However, five ADF helicopters, including two Black Hawks, will be used to conduct evacuations.

Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said authorities were considering evacuating Mallacoota residents by sea but said the ships arriving were not equipped to take thousands of people at once. Ambulance Victoria's acting director of emergency management, Justin Dunlop, said people in Mallacoota were being assessed to determine if anyone needed to be medically evacuated. He said some paramedics were continuing to assist the community despite not knowing if their own homes had survived. A second vessel, the MV Sycamore, which can carry a helicopter, is also expected to arrive off the coast of East Gippsland early on Thursday, a day earlier than originally expected. The boats and helicopters were bringing tonnes of water and food supplies that will last two weeks.

Authorities said 24 structures had been destroyed in Buchan, 19 in Sarsfield, 10 in Mallacoota, up to 15 in Corryong and up to 15 in Cudgewa. Mallacoota local Rachel Mounsey said a whole street and one half of another had been lost near her. Half of the street has gone in my street. Theres probably eight gone. Stanley Avenue is basically wiped out. A whole street gone," Ms Mounsey said. Musician Justin Brady was able to save his instruments  including a violin, harmonica and mandolin  but his home on Karbeethong Hill did not survive. During the fire he took refuge for hours in a boat near a jetty where 50 people sheltered.

"It was apocalyptic," he said. "I lost everything pretty much. Melburnian Bradyn Taglieri is one of 5000 people who were stranded in Mallacoota. He said that after a very long day on Tuesday taking shelter at the boat ramp, fires were still burning around the town and the power was still out. The local IGA supermarket remained open through the night with supplies. We all had to make masks out of our clothing and wear sunglasses as the smoke was too much for the eyes, he said.

Im not overly stressed about [leaving]. My only concern is about getting back to work, but Im sure the boss would understand, Mr Taglieri said. Myself and a few others have put our hands up to go out and help clear some of the roads to speed the process up, but thats all we can really do at the moment. The people of Cann River  in between Orbost and Mallacoota and with a population of about 200  are low on food, water and fuel and also feel their little East Gippsland town is a low priority. There was some good news for the town on Wednesday when the CFA downgraded the two out-of-control fires in the area from emergency status to "watch and act". But that hasn't reduced concern among locals, many of whom spent the past two nights seeking refuge in the local school and who are feeling the pinch as their town is running low on supplies because the Princes Highway remains closed.
OLATHE, Kan. -- A woman is charged with killing an Olathe woman last week. Prosecutors charged 38-year-old Mollie Fitzgerald with second-degree murder. The district attorney said she stabbed 68-year-old Patricia Fitzgerald to death on Friday. Police found the body of Patricia in a home in The Links subdivision, which is in the northwest part of Olathe -- off K-10 and Cedar Creek Parkway.
U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester are co-sponsoring draft legislation in the U.S. Senate entitled the "Montana Water Rights Protection Act, ostensibly to approve the Flathead irrigation water compact approved by the Montana Legislature. However, the bill goes far beyond this agreement.

As concessions to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe (CKST), they receive $1.9 billion, 36,000 acres of public land and the National Bison Range (NBR).

The NBR was established by Congress at the request of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to preserve bison from extinction, and was purchased from CSKT as grazing land at the going rate of $1.56/acre ($807,000 in todays currency). The original bison herd of 40 animals was purchased with private funds by the American Bison Society.

Since then, millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on infrastructure and other big game animals, transforming the NBR into a world-class game park, often called the Crown Jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge system. Its current assets are valued at $25 million, its commercial value is far higher, and like our national parks, the value to future generations cannot be expressed in monetary terms.

In 1972, the CSKT received the current equivalent of $129 million as compensation for reservation land taken for governmental purposes, including townships, schools and the NBR. Like 40% of land on the Flathead Reservation that is non-tribal owned, the NBR is owned by the federal government for all Americans. Giving a national wildlife refuge to a sovereign nation would set a terrible and inappropriate precedent, and would not be ignored by other Indian tribes in the country. It should not be done without the publics permission.

The NBR has absolutely nothing to do with water rights, and should not be used as a bargaining chip with the CSKT. Control of the NBR by the CSKT would also mean the loss of decade of management expertise by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a very complex ecosystem.

It is doubtful that the senators have either the right or authority to give away federal lands. Anyone who is opposed to federal land giveaways should be opposed to this bill. Simply said, it is a bad bill from several perspectives and should be withdrawn, renegotiated and rewritten.

Save the National Bison Range! Call or write to Senator Daines (202) 224-2651; 320 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; and Senator Tester (202) 224-2644; 311 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510, to express your opposition to this federal land giveaway.

Philip L. Barney is president and Wayne Schile is vice president of Protect Public Lands LLC in Polson.

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Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev on Wednesday hit out at the central government, saying that it has hurt the common people by raising railway fares and LPG cylinder prices.

"The new year has begun today but we are disappointed that on this occasion, the government has hurt the common people by raising the fares of railway tickets and prices of LPG cylinders. Doesn't the government see the pain of common people?" Dev told ANI.

"We are all aware that more than two crores and 30 lakh people travel by railways. For a journey of around 2,000 kilometres, fares of sleeper class have been increased by Rs 20 and those of AC class have been increased by Rs 80," she said.

"We were expecting that common people will get relief in the new year but the government has albeit increased problems for the populace," Dev further said.

The fare of ordinary non-AC classes increased by one paisa per kilometre and by two paise in mail/express non-AC classes. Fare has been hiked by 4 paise per kilometre in AC classes, while suburban fare and season tickets will remain the same.

"If you think about it, the hike of one paisa sounds small but, add to that the state of the economy, rise in unemployment, fall in rural consumption, where even 'dal' (pulses) and normal cooking oil is unaffordable, how is the common man going to enter 2020 with all these issues. I feel that injustice has been done towards the poor people," Dev said.

The price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been hiked by Rs 19 per cylinder. On New Year's Eve, the Ministry of Railways revised the basic passenger fare which will be effective from January 1, 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Frank Donchez/Twitter(OLATHE, Kan.) -- A small plane crashed moments after takeoff from the Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kansas, killing two on New Year's Eve.



The single-engine Mooney M20S was engulfed by a post-crash fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.



"You could see a black cauldron of smoke as you approached the airport," Olathe Fire Capt. Mike Hall said at a press conference. "It's a sad sight."



The aircraft had residual fuel leaking from one of the wings when first responders arrived, Hall explained, but firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 20 minutes using foam and dried chemical powders.



Although flight data is not available, according to ATC audio, the pilot was cleared for departure "to the South, down towards Arkansas" at 4:03 p.m. CST.



A spokesperson for the Johnson County Med-Act told ABC News three ambulances were dispatched to the crash scene only two minutes later.



The airport is expected to be closed "for a day or two," Deputy Director for the Johnson County Airport Commission Larry Pete estimated, as officials wait for National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration officials to arrive.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


By Jorge G. Castaneda





MEXICO CITY  By approving the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the U.S. House of Representatives has removed a major potential obstacle to the trade pact. The Mexican Senate has already approved the deal, and the U.S. Senate and the Canadian Parliament are expected to do so early next year. Once it enters into force, the USMCA  which will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)  will have far-reaching consequences for Mexico in particular.



The House vote came more than a year after the three countries' leaders signed the USMCA in Buenos Aires in November 2018  a longer wait than many had anticipated, but shorter than others had expected after the Republicans lost their House majority in last year's midterm elections. Officials and analysts in the three countries had been hopeful that Congress would approve the agreement, given the important concessions on jobs, labor, the environment, dispute settlement, dairy products, and intellectual property that U.S. President Donald Trump had wrested from the Mexican and Canadian governments. They were right to be optimistic.



Yet, as recently as the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in late November, the Trump administration had not even sent the USMCA bill to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi  raising the prospect of the deal being postponed until after the 2020 U.S. presidential election.



There were both political and substantive reasons for the apparent impasse. The political issue was obvious: If Pelosi supported the USMCA (thereby showing that the Democrats could "do the people's business"), she would give Trump a win at the same time that the House was impeaching him.



But if she opposed the pact on the grounds that it failed to meet the demands of U.S. labor organizations, she would expose the Democrats to Trump's charge that they are interested only in overturning the result of the 2016 election. In the end, Pelosi came down squarely in favor of reaching a deal, calculating that the benefits of a constructive approach outweighed the drawbacks of giving Trump something to crow about.



The substantive difficulties, meanwhile, related mainly to the enforcement of the USMCA's labor, environmental, intellectual-property, and dispute-settlement provisions. In particular, American labor unions (notably the AFL-CIO) and many congressional Democrats demanded that the agreement be revised to allow U.S. officials to conduct unannounced in situ inspections of plants and companies in Mexico.



Such checks, they argued, would determine whether Mexico was actually fulfilling the pact's provisions regarding collective bargaining and contracts, working conditions, union elections and leadership, and other issues. After Mexican negotiators initially rejected this demand, further talks eventually resulted Dec. 10 in an agreement acceptable to everyone: Trump, House Democrats, the AFL-CIO, and the Mexican and Canadian governments.



Like NAFTA, the USMCA is far more important for Mexico's economy than it is for America's. Moreover, the labor and environmental provisions in the new agreement are essentially directed at Mexico. But although these additional measures are welcome, they come at a difficult time for the country's economy.



When NAFTA was finally approved in the U.S. back in 1993, it included only side agreements on labor and the environment, with practically no enforcement mechanisms, let alone sanctions for non-compliance. By 2017, when Trump forced Mexico into renegotiating NAFTA, U.S. Democrats, labor unions, and environmental activists were complaining that Mexico had taken the U.S. for a ride over the previous quarter-century by failing to improve its labor practices and environmental regulation. These critics may have exaggerated their case  Mexico's new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, had already persuaded the country's congress to approve wide-ranging labor reforms  but they had a point, and in the USMCA negotiations, they and others focused on enforcement of such provisions.



As a result, the revised USMCA contains a series of much-needed enforcement mechanisms. For starters, the pact shifts the burden of proof regarding alleged violations of labor or environmental provisions from the accuser (in most cases the U.S.) to the accused (usually Mexico). It also establishes a rapid-response system of independent panels to receive complaints and determine whether labor rights were violated, and to impose sanctions if they were. Finally, eight American attaches (five of them focusing on labor issues, and three on environmental matters) will be sent to Mexico under the pact to "monitor and enforce" the country's compliance with its obligations in these areas.



The labor attaches will report to an Interagency Labor Committee every three months, and in principle will be entitled to hear complaints  including via a 24-hour telephone hotline  and investigate alleged violations of Mexican labor laws. The Mexican authorities have questioned whether these provisions were in fact agreed upon in Mexico City on Dec. 10, while the country's business community was blindsided by the measures and is uncomfortable with them. But they probably will remain in place, because it was these Mexican concessions that persuaded U.S. unions and Democrats to back Trump's deal.



At the same time, it will be difficult to eliminate overnight some of Mexico's most significant, though embarrassing, competitive advantages. Low wages, deplorable working conditions, tame labor unions, and utter disregard for the environment have all been crucial ingredients of the country's export boom over the last quarter-century.



It is likely, and certainly desirable, that the USMCA, by effectively introducing a labor and environmental protectorate, will force Mexico to abandon these shameful practices. But doing so at a time when Mexico's economy is stagnant or falling into recession may make matters worse. Similarly, the new labor and environmental provisions will surely make the private sector  both foreign and domestic  even more reluctant to invest in a country governed by an erratic and ideological president.



The USMCA may well succeed in marginally improving America's position regarding jobs, investment, labor, the environment, and dispute settlement. But if the pact is intended to boost Mexico's economic growth and welfare, and bolster the rule of law, it will not achieve these goals any time soon.





Jorge G. Castaneda, former foreign minister of Mexico, is professor of politics and Latin American and Caribbean studies at New York University. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).




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Dramatic satellite images have captured the horrifying scale of Australia's bushfire crisis as swathes of country are engulfed by smoke and flames or else left a charred ruin.

Images taken by European weather satellites on New Year's Eve show blazes raging around Batemans Bay and Milton, on the New South Wales coast, and a huge area of burned bushland to the west of Sydney.

It comes as the fire death toll was raised to 17 - with eight dead in the last week alone including a newlywed firefighter who was crushed when a fire tornado flipped his 10-tonne water truck over.

Samuel McPaul, 28, was killed on Monday when he was battling a blaze in Jingellic, on the border between New South Wales and Victoria states, when freak winds created by the blazes overturned the vehicle he was in.

He leaves behind pregnant wife Megan, who he married just 18 months before the accident, and who has praised the firefighters who were with her husband the day he died.

Australia is experiencing its worst fire season in recent memory, as blazes sparked by lightning and fanned by freak winds tear through vegetation left tinder-dry by years of drought.

A satellite image taken above Batemans Bay in New South Wales on New Year's Eve shows the ferocity of fires that are ripping through bushland across Australia, leaving at least 17 dead

An image of the Clyde Mountain Fire, currently burning near the city of Milton on the New South Wales coast, shows the extent of the devastation with a huge swathe of the country burned black

Another area of bushland smoulders to the west of Sydney as firefighters struggle to contain hundreds of blazes burning across Australia in the country's worst fire season in recent memory

Samuel McPaul, 28, a firefighter from New South Wales, was killed on Monday when freak flipped over the 10-tonne water truck he was riding in. He leaves behind pregnant wife Megan (together left and right), who he married just 18 months ago

Hundreds of fires across five Australian states have burned an area larger than the Netherlands, killed at least 17 people, destroyed entire towns and stretched the fire service to its limit

Hundreds of blazes across five states have scorched an area larger than the size of the Netherlands, destroyed entire towns and pushed the Australian fire service to its limit.

Emergency services warned on Wednesday that conditions could be about to get worse, urging people to evacuate affected areas as soon as possible to ensure their safety.

It comes after some 4,000 tourists and locals got trapped on a beach in Victoria state, near the border with New South Wales, after ignoring an earlier evacuation order.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned: 'We are getting indications with the forecast for Saturday that it is going to present a broader geographic area worse than what we saw yesterday.

'We all need to prepare ourselves for more challenging conditions.'

He said the areas the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawara and Shoalhaven.

Police said they will reopen roads to Bateman's Bay on Wednesday as fire conditions improved. Some roads to the rest of the south coast are expected to reopen allowing tourists to get out of the area and return home.

Earlier on Wednesday eerie satellite images captured taken 760kms away captured the extent of Australia's bushfire disaster.

The confronting satellite images were captured from the SENTINEL-2 satellites which orbit the earth at an altitude of 786 km.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found dead in his fire damage residence in Buchan on Wednesday morning

One image of the Clyde Mountain fire, 200km south of Sydney, showed the extent of the damage spanning hundreds of kilometres, giving a perspective to the massive challenge faced by mainly volunteer firefighters.

Though conditions moderated on Wednesday, giving the firefighters a chance to contain and douse some fires, hot and windy conditions were forecast to return on Saturday.

Another image showed the devastation of the fires at the coastal town of Batemans Bay early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread.

NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.

The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.

Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, as found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement

A kangaroo can be seen moving away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra on the NSW South Coast

Firefighters are seen struggling against the strong winds which are blowing embers on them in an effort to secure houses near bushfires on Tuesday

Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.

A 70-year-old woman who was missing from Conjola Park was found alive on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons were in Batemans Bay experiencing the devastation firsthand.

'It's very difficult to console people when they've lost everything. We need to make sure they're supported,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'It's very difficult for those that have lost everything and people are going through various stages of grief and loss. And all we can do is support them in every which way we'll do.'

Some communities have seen up to 80 per cent of their homes and businesses destroyed.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast.

'So we know that the damage that's been occasioned right throughout the south-east corner of New South Wales is a heavy toll. And more importantly we're seeing unfortunately the tragedy of lives lost as well,' he said on Wednesday afternoon.

'As the Premier quite rightly indicated, we need to prepare ourselves for that number to climb with information coming out this afternoon.'

Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020

A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra on Tuesday

Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowra

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are in Batemans Bay (pictured) experiencing the devastation firsthand

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast

Andrew Constance, the Minister for Transport and Roads and Liberal member for Bega, was also in Batemans Bay and described Tuesday as being a 'bugger of a day'.

'Yesterday morning the fire moved at a pace that no-one expected. It shot around the back of places and hit Mogo pretty hard and burnt through to the beach,' Mr Constance said.

'It's devastating. But we'll pull together. A great community.'

Damage has also been wrought in the Snowy Mountains and towards Tumbarumba, as well as on the NSW Central Coast.

Some of the worst-affected communities along the coast battled bushfires into Tuesday night with no power and limited telecommunications.

At least 50,000 homes are currently without power on the South Coast.

'The damage to the electricity network from these latest fires is significant and widespread, with at least 40 poles being destroyed in the past 24 hours,' Endeavour South Coast regional manager Janine Cullen said.

Many spent New Year's Eve without power as energy companies worked through the night to have it restored.

Ulladulla, south of Conjola Park, saw the power turn back on early Wednesday after fires tore through the area on Tuesday.

As of 4pm on Wednesday, 102 fires were burning statewide with 40 uncontrolled. Seven blazes were at watch-and-act level while no emergency warnings were current.

Dangerous bushfire conditions will return on Saturday, with 40C temperatures and gusty winds set to create worse conditions than this week's blazes.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim.

'We are assuming that on Saturday weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday,' she said.

Australian Bushfire Crisis: What you need to know WHERE ARE THE NSW BUSHFIRES? More than 110 blazes continue to burn across NSW on Wednesday. A fire burning south of the Snowy Mountains Highway in the Ellerslie Range near Kunama and Laurel Hill was at "emergency" level at 4.30pm. The blaze has ripped through more than 100,000 hectares. Six fires were burning at a "watch and act" level including the 229,000ha Currowan blaze on the south coast, the 68,000ha Clyde Mountain fire near Batemans Bay, the 178,000ha Countegany blaze east of Cooma and the 104,000ha Green Valley fire east of Albury. An out-of-control blaze is also burning in Werri Berri, north of Bemboka near Bega. More than 2500 firefighters are battling the blazes. WHAT IS THE DEATH TOLL? Seven people have died since Monday evening, taking the number of deaths this season in NSW to at least 15. A 70-year-old man was found dead on Tuesday outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, a man's body has been discovered in a burnt-out car near the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah, another man in a vehicle in Sussex Inlet and a body outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo. Young father Patrick Salway, 29, his dad Robert Salway, 63, and volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul, 28, were confirmed dead earlier this week in separate blazes that ravaged the state's south. A 72-year-old man remains missing at Belowra, west of Narooma, while a 70-year-old woman is missing after her home in Conjola Park was destroyed by fire on Tuesday. HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST? More than 175 homes have been confirmed destroyed on the south coast since Monday including 89 in Conjola Park, 40 in Malua Bay and 15 in Rosedale. At last count, 1087 homes have been confirmed destroyed across NSW since July. THE WARNINGS Wednesday's fire danger rating is severe in the central ranges and a total fire ban has been declared in that area. Total fire bans are also in place in the southern slopes and southern ranges where the fire danger rating is very high. Fire danger is also rated as very high in the greater Sydney region, the Monaro alpine region, north western NSW, the ACT, the Hunter, and the northern slopes. FORECAST Hot, dry and windy conditions were expected to bring elevated fire danger to the southern and central ranges and southern slopes on Wednesday. Parts of the state got some reprieve from the soaring temperatures on Wednesday with forecasts of 27C in Nowra, 34C in Penrith in western Sydney, while the mercury was expected to climb to 36C in Tumut in the Riverina and 42C in the Hunter. Sydney was under a smoke haze on Wednesday morning with a fair-air quality, and cloudy and windy conditions forecast. Dangerous fire conditions are expected to return to the south coast on Saturday where the temperature is forecast to reach 43C. THE ROADS Motorists are advised to avoid travel to the south coast and Snowy Mountains Riverina area where fires caused widespread power outages and major road closures. The Snowy Mountains Highway is closed between Tumut Plains Road and Adaminaby. The Princes Highway remains closed between Falls Creek and Milton, Batemans Bay and Moruya, Brogo and Tilba Tilba, and Narrabarba and Cann River (Victoria). Advertisement

Temperatures will hit 45C in some part of the country as horror conditions are expected for Saturday

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled

Residents of Cobargo, NSW, inspect the damage the fire left after it ripped through the town on Tuesday

Then: Cobargo as it was before bushfires sparked by the worst conditions Australia has had in living memory ripped through the town

'That is something all of us have to brace ourselves for.'

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska explained to Daily Mail Australia how conditions will be similar to Tuesday - with extremely hot temperatures followed by powerful gusts.

'Yesterday temperatures peaked before a southerly came through,' she said. 'Saturday will be the next big day to look out for.'

The mercury will start to rise on Friday when 'large areas' of the state will have temperatures of more than 40C and these hot conditions will intensify on Saturday.

A southerly was expected to come through during the late afternoon and the strong winds expected will pose issues for firefighters.

'The dry and strong winds will make the blazes burning across the state flare and drive them in a new direction,' the forecaster said.

She said the winds will also cause embers to fly further, sparking fresh outbreaks.

Despite the cooler conditions on Wednesday, parts of the state - including the north west of the Great Dividing Range - remained 'quite warm'.

Hazardous smoke conditions were also expected following the southerly change.

Victoria was set to experience similar conditions to New South Wales on Saturday.

Temperatures are set to rise before gusty winds will develop in the western part of the state around dawn before hitting the east in the afternoon.

The change is set to bring some isolated showers and thunderstorms.

The eastern part of the state will be covered in a smoke haze from the East Gippsland fires which menaced the town of Mallacoota on Tuesday.

A horse escaped from the nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra as bushfires ravage the area on Tuesday

Now: Devastation in Cobargo. Authorities have confirmed more than 200 properties were destroyed in yesterday's NSW blazes

Three people are confirmed dead and there are concerns for five people who are missing after fires left scenes like the one in Cobargo across the state

Three thousand firefighters were deployed to help battle the blazes and protect homes, businesses and vehicles

Cobargo has been destroyed by fires on Tuesday after blazes ripped through the town and burned several buildings

Hope was fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland region.

There were 46 fires still burning and 43 properties destroyed in the popular holiday destination.

After a day sheltering on the beach on Tuesday, tourists and locals in Mallacoota spent the night sleeping in a local cinema.

Many spent New Year's Eve on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

Batemans Bay had been 'absolutely destroyed,' according to local Federal MP for Gilmore Fiona Phillips.

'It's just been absolute devastation. The building loss we believe around the Batemans Bay area and Mogo is in the hundreds. It's very, very significant,' she said, according to the ABC.

'The industrial area at Batemans Bay has certainly suffered significant damage and the Mogo CBD is unrecognisable.'

Ms Phillips said hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the area.

Federal MP for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly said at least 200 homes have been lost on the Far South Coast.

The situation was made more difficult by mobile phone outages throughout the affected areas, meaning families and friends have been unable to reach their loved ones.

In the wake of devastating infernos which claimed the lives of as many as eight people on the NSW south coast and Victoria's East Gippsland region, authorities have warned it's only going to get worse at the weekend

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim

The fires in Cobargo not only destroyed homes and buildings but two men lost their lives

Cobargo wasn't the only town destroyed - Batemans Bay was also devastated, according to local Federal MP

Patrick Salway, 29, (pictured with his pregnant wife Renee) died fighting the fires with his father Robert Salway

Bereaved widow Renee Salway took to social media on Tuesday (pictured) and said she is 'broken'. 'I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will,' she wrote

Fires have been burning in Australia - such as this one near Tahmoor known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 - since September

'No communication is a rarity in today's world so it's an uncomfortable feeling,' Melbourne man Nic Baxter told AAP on Tuesday evening, as he waited to hear from his father in Batemans Bay.

Military aircraft and vessels came to the assistance of emergency services on Wednesday in New South Wales and Victoria, evacuating people from danger zones.

Army Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters were deployed to rescue thousands stranded on a beach in the fire-ravaged area.

The United States and Canada were understood to have been asked to provide 'specialist aviation resources' to help Australia's emergency efforts.

Waterbombing aircraft helped efforts to stop a 250ha blaze reaching residential homes at Blue Haven on the Central Coast.

Major roads, including several parts of the Princes Highway linking south coast communities, were likely to remain closed for some time due to hazards.

Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

A home lost to a bushfire on Hassall Road in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:01:58|Editor: Xiaoxia

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Somali Special Forces (Danab Brigade) killed 20 al-Shabab extremists in the country's southern region of Lower Shabelle on Tuesday, a military officer said Wednesday.

Ismail Abdi Malik, commander of the 16th Unit of Somali Special Forces, told journalists that "our forces have taken control of many villages during the operation, such as Mordinle, Bula Maskin, Faqayle, Bula Bashir and we inflicted heavy casualties on the militants, killing 20 of them during the offensive."

He added that the army will maintain operations until it drives the militants out of the whole region.

Residents said there was an intense confrontation between the government army and al-Shabab militants.

Al-Shabab is an Islamist militant group allied to al-Qaida. Based in Somalia, it seeks to establish an Islamic state in the country and reached its peak in 2011 when it controlled parts of the capital city of Mogadishu.

The Somali army, with support of the African Union forces, drove all al-Shabab militants out of Mogadishu in August 2011. Since then, the army has been fighting with the militant group in the country's southern and central regions. In retaliation, al-Shabab has launched a series of deadly terrorist attacks across the Eastern African country.
PERTH, Australia (AP)  Sydney will set off its iconic New Year's Eve fireworks after being granted an exemption to a total fire ban Monday, with other Australian cities canceling their celebrations due to a worsening wildfire risk.

Pressure had built for Sydney's spectacle to be scrapped before the New South Wales Rural Fire Service approved the event on Monday. The popular celebrations are expected to attract around a million people to Sydney's famous harbor front and generate 130 million Australian dollars ($91 million) for the state's economy. An estimated 1 billion people worldwide watched last years display on television.

Australias most populous state has bore the brunt of wildfires that have killed 10 people and razed more than 1,000 homes across the country in the past few months. Of the 97 fires burning across New South Wales on Monday, 43 were not yet contained. A total fire ban was in place in Sydney, Canberra and other places to prevent new wildfires.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service said Monday that the latest fatality is a volunteer firefighter who died near Jingellic. Two other firefighters suffered burns.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to hit 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) in Sydney, with hotter weather in the western suburbs. Thick smoke that has shrouded the citys iconic landmarks was also expected.

Hot air is coming out of the center of Australia, its particularly dry and then unfortunately conditions are expected to worsen in New South Wales as we head into Tuesday, Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Sunday that the fireworks should go ahead to show the world Australias resiliency.

New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the spectacle should be called off. The risk is too high and we must respect our exhausted volunteers, he wrote on social media before the exemption was granted.

The western suburb of Parramatta decided to forego a fireworks display. Council was not granted an exemption to proceed with its fireworks display, due to the total fire ban in place and a range of associated risks, Mayor Bob Dwyer said Monday.

Story continues

In Victoria, Australias second-most populous state, out-of-control wildfires were forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to evacuate. Melbourne, Victorias capital, peaked at 41 C (106 F) on Monday, with areas southwest of the city reaching 44 C (111 F).

Lightning started 16 fires in Victoria overnight. Cooler temperatures were expected to sweep into the state late Monday, but windy conditions and thunderstorms heightened the risk of wildfires spreading.

Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said fires had generated their own thunderstorms, creating unpredictable and dangerous conditions.

He said there had been no confirmed loss of properties in the region.

Victoria Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said the worst could be ahead. This is not yet over. Were really only halfway through what is ahead of us here, she said.

In Canberra, Australia's capital, fireworks were canceled and event organizers said other activities, including live music performances, could also be canceled.

It is a sensible decision for us not to proceed with the fireworks, the capital territorys Emergency Services Agency Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said.
An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of smoke rising from a fire set by pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters in the U.S. embassy compound, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday as hundreds of Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American Embassy in Baghdad for a second day and set fire to the roof of a reception area inside the compound. Read more

BAGHDAD (AP)  Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world.

The attack and its volatile aftermath prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East an d U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay a European and Central Asian trip.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest U.S. airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

 READ MORE: Trump threatens Iran after embassy attack

The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a U.S. contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at U.S. Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias  many backed by Iran  called on its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

By late afternoon the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies. U.S. Apache helicopters circled overhead.

"After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly," said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. We rubbed America's nose in the dirt. Trump has vowed to exact a big price for an attack he blamed squarely on Iran.

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the U.S. airstrikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse. The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

We dont care about these planes that are flying over the heads of the picketers. Neither do we care about the news that America will bring Marines, said Mohammed Mohy, a spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah. "On the contrary, this shows a psychological defeat and a big mental breakdown that the American administration is suffering from, he said, before withdrawing from the area.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Iran's economy.

Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October fueled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Iran's heavy influence over the country's affairs. Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

The Pentagon sent an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait. Pompeo postponed a trip that was scheduled to start in Ukraine late Thursday so that he can monitor developments in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly."

Iran later summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires, who represents American interests in Tehran, to protest what it said was war-mongering by U.S. officials.

Public consular operations at the embassy were suspended and future appointments cancelled, it said in a statement.

Tensions have steadily risen since Trump withdrew the U.S. from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and embarked on a campaign of maximum pressure through economic sanctions. Iran has responded by abandoning some of its commitments under the deal.

U.S. officials have blamed Iran for the sabotage of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in September that caused a spike in world oil prices. But the Trump administration has not responded with direct military action, apparently fearing a wider conflict.

The U.S. has sent more than 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression. At the time of the attack, the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

The U.S. and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iran has close ties to Iraq's Shiite majority and major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilize tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed. The U.S. and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory over the extremists in December 2017.

The political influence of the Popular Mobilization Forces has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of the anti-government protesters, who have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq.

They have also set up a sprawling protest camp in central Baghdad, and for weeks have been trying to enter the Green Zone. Iraqi security forces have beaten them back with tear gas and live ammunition, killing hundreds.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

Iraq's government vehemently condemned the airstrikes on the militia, saying it violated national sovereignty. But Iran and its allies might have also seen the attack as a way of diverting attention from the anti-government protests.

Iran has been trying to provoke the U.S. into helping it solve its Iraq problem, said the Crisis Group, an international think tank. The Trump administration, by responding to the attacks in Kirkuk and elsewhere with airstrikes, has obliged.

Krauss reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Robert Burns in Washington contributed.
As the Big Ben chimed and heralded 2020 at midnight, Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday set out what he called a fantastic agenda in a remarkable decade as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union on January 31.

Seeking unity among those who supported or opposed Brexit, Johnson, who led the Conservative party to a landslide election win in December, said the bongs of the Big Ben ushering the new year and decade were the starting gun being fired for much to follow.

The UK is due to technically leave the EU on January 31, but will move into a transition phase until December 31, during which nothing much will change in practice, with the UK continuing to be an EU member but not joining debates, plans and talks in Brussels. New trade and other arrangements are expected to be finalised during the transition phase.

Johnson said in his message: As we say goodbye to 2019 we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long. We can start a new chapter in the history of our country.

Of course the first item on my agenda is to fulfil the will of the electorate and take us out of the European Union. This should have happened already, but we were thwarted by a Parliament determined to use every trick in the book to stop us leaving the EU.

Referring to the Conservative party winning many seats in areas traditionally supporting Labour, Johnson insisted that he will be a prime minister for everyone and promised to deliver on the trust reposed by non-Tory voters.

He said: I know that many of you do not consider yourself natural Tories and may only have lent me your vote. I am humbled by your support and will work every day to keep it. I am also acutely aware that there are millions of people who did not vote for me and were disappointed by the result.

If you are one of them, I want to reassure you that I will be a Prime Minister for everyone, not just those who voted for me. I know that you love this country no less, simply because you voted for another party or wanted to Remain. More than that, I want to work with you, as friends and equals, as we build the future this United Kingdom deserves.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was panned by party members and supporters for his new year message that did not mention the partys catastrophic general election result, saying only that it had been quite the year.

According to Corbyn, the party was now the resistance to Johnsons government, but Phil Wilson, who lost in the Labour stronghold of Sedgefield (long held by Tony Blair) tweeted: No Jeremy Corbyn you are not part of the resistance to Boris Johnson you are one of enablers of Boris Johnson.

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As many airlines worldwide await the final word on aircraft, the US aviation watchdog FAA has said a "thorough process" is being followed for testing the plane but no timeframe has been set for completion of the work.

In the wake of two fatal accidents involving MAX planes, regulators across the globe, in 2019, imposed a ban on flying these fuel-efficient aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also ordered grounding of these planes in India.

Since then, Boeing has been working on addressing the problems with MAX aircraft.

In India, SpiceJet is the only domestic carrier having MAX aircraft in its fleet. The budget airline grounded 13 737 MAX planes in March last year.

A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the regulator is following a thorough process for returning the to passenger service.

"We continue to work with other international aviation safety regulators to review the proposed changes to the aircraft. Our first priority is safety, and we have set no timeframe for when the work will be completed," the spokesperson told PTI.

For several weeks, testing of various types are being done on the proposed modifications to the aircraft flight control system. The process would continue in the coming weeks until certification is complete.

A senior airline official said test flight of MAX plane is likely to be done by the FAA and the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) together in January, possibly in the third week. Once the test flights are successfully completed, then it might take at least one month for certification process, the official added.

The airline is a MAX aircraft customer.

Queries sent to Boeing, EASA and SpiceJet regarding MAX planes did not elicit any immediate response.

In December, Boeing announced suspension of 737 MAX production starting in January due to certification moving into 2020.

Jet Airways, which was shuttered in April 2019, was also operating these planes.

In December, aviation consultancy CAPA India said the continued grounding of the 737 MAX has had a significant impact on SpiceJet.

This is because of the inability to benefit from the improved fuel efficiency of the aircraft or to access the sale-and-leaseback revenue generated from their induction, it had said in a report.

In March 2019, a Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines' 737 MAX aircraft crashed after taking off from Addis Ababa and killed 157 people. The fatal incident came less than five months after a 737 MAX plane, operated by Lion Air, crashed, killing over 180 people in Indonesia in October 2018.
In person, Driver has the polite but firm bearing of the Marine he was before attending Juilliard, and he cant really be drawn into saying more just for the sake of it: At one point, after completing a thought, Driver informed me, Thats the end of the sentence. The only time he was given to hemming, hawing or the occasional embarrassed smile was when we discussed the awards show hed be attending that night.

I think everybody, in every job, wants validation, he ultimately said, though he wondered whether that desire could be fraught for actors to acknowledge, since they have little to hide behind. Its not separate from who I am, Driver said. I dont have an instrument, I dont play the cello. Its yourself, so in a way, its more vulnerable.

At least he will be on this journey with Baumbach, the director who has become his most frequent and trusted collaborator. They have been working together since Frances Ha in 2012, when Baumbach found himself enamored with the way Driver, cast as a hipster clad in a cardigan and porkpie hat, managed to breathe unexpected life into his lines.
New FDA labels include nutrition info for eating that whole bag of chips or pint of ice cream

New FDA labels include nutrition info for eating that whole bag of chips or pint of ice cream originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

On Jan. 1, the Food and Drug Administration's new nutrition labeling rules kick in, ushering in a host of changes to the way that manufacturers are required to label packaged foods.

Perhaps most notably, new guidelines require two side-by-side columns: one with nutritional information for a single serving, and a second with information for eating the entire package.

2020 Nutrition Labels (ABC NEWS)

Manufacturers that yield less than $10 million in annual food sales will have until 2021 to comply with the new rules.

"We know that Americans are eating differently, and the amount of calories and nutrients on the label is required to reflect what people actually eat and drink," Claudine Kavanaugh, director of nutrition and food labeling in the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a statement.

(MORE: Health experts explain complications of new red meat study)

While consumers might not notice a huge change at first glance, Beth Kitchin, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's department of nutrition sciences, appreciated the enlarged and emboldened calorie information on the new labels, as well as the new emphasis on serving size.

Serving sizes are based on Americans' eating habits, determined by the amount people said they consumed in federal food surveys over the past few decades.

With foods that can reasonably be consumed in one sitting, like a pint of ice cream, "the serving size is not what you think it is," Kitchin said. "It's a really good change because so many times I've talked with consumers who were deceived by that."

Dr. Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called the new label changes an "important step forward."

(MORE: Optimism has a surprising benefit: Better heart health, study finds)

Story continues

He pointed to the fact that manufacturers are now required to disclose added sugars on labels.

"Because higher added sugar intake has been associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences, it is important to distinguish added sugars from natural sugars in a product," Hu said.

Consuming too much added sugar has been linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PHOTO: Customers shop in the grocery area at a Target Corp. store in Chicago, Nov. 16, 2019. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

Differentiating between naturally occurring and added sugar could also clear up confusion among Americans who think that all sugar is bad for them.

Kitchin said that Americans who are trying to lower their sugar intake sometimes eschew foods like milk, which has naturally occurring sugar, and miss out on nutrients along the way.

"In people's overexuberance to decrease sugars, they may be decreasing some healthy foods," she said.

(MORE: Pope Francis calls for better nutrition access on UN World Food Day)

In general, Kitchin hopes the changes will encourage customers to take more interest in reading nutrition labels and prompt them to compare foods' nutritional information before they buy.

"Hopefully, the information on the new label will not only help consumers make more informed decisions about their food and beverage choices, but also motivate food manufacturers to improve nutritional quality of their products," Hu added.
According to Sal Rozenberg, the director of operations for 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar near the Empire State Building, the fake igloo wars have hit. His lounge, where rooftop drinkers are lent fluffy red robes, first offered plastic domes in 2015. Now he gets two or three emails a week from other bar owners about where to get their own fake igloos. Hes not always forthcoming in his responses.

I find out where the people emailing are located, he said. If they are in a different city or state I give them contacts and links and all that. If they are from New York City, I tell them about the company that built our original ones, not our current ones that are metal and so much better, he continued. I want to have the better product.

Most New York bars seem to be using the same type of structure: plastic sheeting, zippered door, accommodates eight. It can be ordered online and costs as little as $800. While the domes look simple, installing them, which requires hours of manual labor involving about 400 pieces, is tough, said Mark Briskin, the general manager of the Park Terrace Hotel, which has two fake igloos on its roof.
Meera Suresh By

Express News Service

KOCHI: A city-based lawyer has approached the National Consumer Redressal Forum in Delhi against a tour operator seeking punitive damages worth Rs 25 crore with regard to the death of her husband during the Holy Land tour to Jordan, Palestine, Israel and Egypt, organised by the company in October.

In her complaint, Jessy Manuel, hailing from Varapuzha, alleged the services provided by Oasis Voyages Pvt Ltd, a tour company, were not up to the standards, following which she lost her husband to a medical emergency in Egypt.

According to the complainant, the negligent services and the unfair trade practices adopted by Oasis Voyages led to the death of KO Manuel, a lawyer and social worker following pneumonia and cardiac arrest. Her complaint also names Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd as a co-accused after the insurance claim was rejected.

My 65-year-old father suffered a cardiac arrest during the tour in Cairo. However, the members of Oasis Voyages failed to provide any assistance for hospitalisation," said Dr Athul Joseph Manuel, son of the complainant.

Moreover, they deserted him in Egypt without arranging better medical care or option for transferring to India. The travel health insurance policy obtained by Oasis Voyages for the whole group was of no use as the policy provider (Reliance General Insurance) had no local office in Egypt. Later, it was discovered that the policy was void, as in the group insurance taken by Oasis, the pre-existing condition was shown as nil, he said.

He added the sole purpose of filing the complaint was to ensure such tours are done in a responsible and accountable manner.

For an international tour, of which the majority of the members are senior citizens, this is a serious lapse. We want government intervention in the conduct of such tours. We suffered a lot of emotional and physical trauma in Egypt and dont want anyone else going through the same, said Dr Athul.

Company version

When contacted, Shine Thomas, representative of the Oasis Voyages Pvt Ltd, the company had done everything possible during the incident in Cairo. There are no flaws on our side. Our representative had visited Manuel and his relatives in the hospital. He had provided them with financial aid and phone for their use in Cairo. The company had also provided details of the insurance policy. We will fight the case in court, said Shine. The representatives of Reliance General Insurance Company Ltd did

not comment.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday accused the BJP of being against "good and cheap" and demanded an explanation from it over the hike in CBSE examination fees that "burdened six lakh families" in the city.

Talking to reporters, he claimed that the Delhi BJP leaders asked the Centre to increase Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) exam fees after the city government decided to pay the fees of the students.

The CBSE in August increased the fees for class 10 and class 12 board exams by up to Rs 1,150, the first hike in five years.

"When Delhi government announced to pay the fees of CBSE exams for class 10 and 12, then why did the BJP hatch a conspiracy to stop it? BJP leaders should answer why they were plotting to make the of lakhs of children in Delhi expensive," Sisodia said.

The deputy chief minister also alleged that all the policies of the BJP have been against "good and cheap" education and sought an explanation from the saffron party over hike in CBSE examination fees.

"By increasing the fees, the BJP put the burden on Delhi's six lakh families. This shows that the BJP is against education," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A new Texas law designed to protect against surprise medical bills contained a loophole that could have exposed patients to just the kind of costly surprises the law was supposed to prevent.

But the Texas Department of Insurance closed the loophole by approving emergency rules in early December.

The legislation, which takes effect today, aims to protect patients who have health insurance under state-regulated plans from becoming entangled in billing disputes between medical providers and insurers.

It seeks to safeguard patients from a practice known as balance billing, in which they are billed for expensive out-of-network charges  the difference between the cost of a medical service or procedure and what an insurer will pay.

Senate Bill 1264 bans balance billing in all emergency and some non-emergency care. Instead, insurers and providers will negotiate prices for out-of-network care through an arbitration process laid out in the law.

There is one exception, however, and thats where the trouble arose. Under the law, patients who need non-emergency care can waive their billing protection if they are told ahead of time whether any of their providers are out-of-network.

More Information Senate Bill 1264 Effective Date: Jan. 1, 2020 Bans balance billing in all emergency and some non-emergency care for patients with state-sponsored health plans Insurers and providers negotiate process for out-of-network care through arbitration Exception: Patients who need non-emergency care can waive their billing protection if they are told whether any providers are out of network and given a cost estimate Waivers will only be offered in cases where a patient has a choice between an in-network or out-of-network provider. The patient will have 10 business days to make a decision. See More Collapse

Those patients would be required to receive a written estimate of the higher cost.

The medical community and patient advocates clashed over how much time before treatment a patient should be given before deciding whether to sign a waiver and pay the higher cost  or cancel the procedure. Some argued for three days; others wanted at least a week.

But doctor and hospitals groups said they didnt want to be bound by a state-imposed timeline.

For subscribers: Texas protection against surprise medical bills hits snag, backers fear a loophole

A rule proposed by the Texas Medical Board sparked a further outcry from the laws authors, consumer groups and the states insurance trade association. They argued that the rule, as written, would broaden the waiver to apply to situations where patients didnt have a choice of providers. They said patients should be asked to sign the waiver only in cases where they wanted to be treated by an out-of-network physician.

Some legislators and advocates expressed concern that a blanket exception would be confusing for patients and result in continued surprise bills.

After reporting by Hearst Newspapers and other news outlets made the proposed language more widely known, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in late November expressed his disapproval of the rule and threatened not to reappoint medical board members who went along with it. The boards 19 members are appointed by the governor, subject to approval by the state Senate.

In early December, the medical board relinquished its control, sending the matter back to the Texas Department of Insurance.

The emergency rules written by the insurance agency in December specify that waivers will only be offered in cases where a patient has a choice between an in-network or out-of-network provider. The patient will have 10 business days to make a decision.

For subcribers: Texas official warns health insurers: Anti-surprise bill law will mean big changes

Itll come up so infrequently now because they put a guardrail around that opt-out form, which makes it all contingent on the patient having the choice, said Stacey Pogue, a senior health policy analyst at the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities. Its exactly the kind of patient-centered approach that the legislators had in mind when they passed one of the strongest surprise medical billing laws in the nation.

State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, one of the co-authors of SB 1264, said he, too, was pleased with the new rule.

We wanted to make sure that it was patient-originated, patient-focused, Hancock said. Obviously you never know until its fully implemented, but it certainly seems like our concerns were addressed in the rulemaking from TDI. I think all parties are happy, and patients in Texas will be protected with this new law.

Jamie Dudensing, CEO of Texas Association of Health Plans, the states insurance trade association, thanked state leaders for resolving the issue.

Our organization is grateful for the TDIs efforts to correctly implement the consumer protections in Senate Bill 1265 and ensure Texas patients no longer have to worry about surprise billing, Dudensing said.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
An expected wave of lawsuits made possible by a new state law continued Tuesday as attorneys announced new filings in Oakland and San Francisco by victims of alleged childhood sexual abuse by priests.

The lawsuit are permitted by California's Assembly Bill 218 of 2019, which opened a three-year window for childhood sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the molestation occurred.

The statute also allows a tripling of financial damages compensation in cases where an effort to hide evidence of child sexual abuse is proved.

On Tuesday, two men in their 50s sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging they were sexually abused by priests at Our Lady of the Rosary in Union City.

James Brogan, 56, who grew up in Hayward, alleges he was sexually assaulted by Father George Crespin beginning when he was 11 years old.

The state law allows plaintiffs to withhold their identities when they file lawsuits, but Brogan chose to reveal his name in his lawsuit.

Brogan said at a news conference in Oakland that he was thinking of his three teenage daughters when he decided to come forward.

"My point in being here is if I could save one child by alerting parents to watch out for what can happen in this world with a lot of bad people," he said.

"One of the hardest things I've ever done is to step forward," he said.

In a second lawsuit against the Diocese of Oakland, an unidentified plaintiff alleges he was abused at ages 10 and 11 by former priest Stephen Kiesle, who was later convicted twice of abuse and was defrocked.

The lawsuits claim the diocese was negligent in exposing the children to foreseeable risk, failing to monitor and supervise the priests and failing to protect the children.

The diocese said in a statement Tuesday that it had not received the lawsuits and does not comment on pending litigation. The diocese said it recommends anyone with information about an allegation of sexual misconduct to contact local law enforcement authorities and diocesan Chancellor Stephen Wilcox.

Wilcox said in the statement, "We welcome the opportunity to review new information, and continue to pledge to support justice and healing for survivors and protection for all children."

Bishop Michael Barber said, "The needs of victims and survivors, and the protection of children and vulnerable adults are our first priority."

Lawyers in the two Oakland lawsuits, who are from the firm of Jeff Anderson & Associates, also announced a lawsuit filed Monday in San Francisco Superior Court against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Society of Jesus.

Plaintiff Robert Goldberg, 61, who chose to be identified, alleges in that lawsuit that former Jesuit priest Donald McGuire abused him 1,000 times over a period of years, beginning when he was 11 years old. McGuire died in prison in 2017 while serving a 25-year sentence for sexual abuse of other boys.

The attorneys said that on Wednesday, they will announce a lawsuit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey and Palma High School in Salinas, and a second lawsuit against Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose.

On Monday, two men represented by the same law firm sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County Superior Court, alleging they were abused at age 10 or 11 by former priest Gary Timmons at a church youth camp in Mendocino County.

The three-year window period provided by the new law extends from Wednesday to the end of 2022. The statute also allows lawsuits filed after the law was enacted in October 2019 to proceed, thus permitting lawsuits to have been filed before Jan. 1.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A woman crosses a flooded area in an inflated inner-tube in Bekasi, near Jakarta

Nine people died after Indonesia's capital was hit by its deadliest flooding in years, authorities said Wednesday, as torrential rains on New Year's Eve left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged.

Thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters as electricity was switched off in scores of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city's airports also shut.

Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency called on residents to leave flood-hit areas.

"The first priority is saving lives," said agency head Doni Monardo.

A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to the disaster agency.

"My son's body was covered with newspaper when my two other children passed by," said Fadrid, who identified himself as the dead teen's father.

"People asked them whether they knew the victim. If they hadn't been passing by, we wouldn't have known my son had been killed," he told AFP.

Among the victims was an elderly couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached as high as four metres (13 feet) after a river burst its banks.

Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city's outskirts.

A family evacuates their home after heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Jakarta

"We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks," Ikhsan Asaad, an official at state firm PLN, told AFP.

Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown.

"We're currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people's safety," he added.

Angelina Widiyanti was among scores of residents whose houses were flooded with their possessions ruined by the disaster.

"We've had flooding several times before but it was never this high," she said from her home, where the power had been cut.

"We weren't prepared for this."

Authorities said about 19,000 people were evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta's satellite cities.

"We're evacuating people right now," Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters.

"Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding," he added.

People walk past a car stuck in floodwaters in Jakarta

Jakarta residents hit by flooding took shelter from heavy rain under flyovers

A horse pulls a carriage through a flooded road in Jakarta

Images from across the region showed waterlogged homes and cars submerged in muddy floodwaters, while some people took to paddling in small rubber lifeboats or tyre inner-tubes to get around.

The disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when several dozen people were killed when the city was inundated by monsoon rains.

Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia's rainy season, which started in late November.

On Wednesday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry.

Many flights were transferred to Jakarta's main SoekarnoHatta International Airport.

Explore further Floods in Indonesia kill 29, dozen missing

 2020 AFP
Good morning. Happy new year. Hows the cabeza? Todays reading is from Kingsley Amiss Lucky Jim, the true Gospel of hangover literature:

Dixon was alive again. Consciousness was upon him before he could get out of the way; not for him the slow, gracious wandering from the halls of sleep, but a summary, forcible ejection. He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of the morning. The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth has been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night, too, hed somehow been on a cross-country run and then been expertly beaten up by a secret police. He felt bad.

You too? Or did you get to bed by 10 with a big download of Scott & Bailey on Amazon? Either way, todays an excellent time to experiment with bloody Marys: I like R.W. Apple Jr.s recipe (above), but the Caesars of Canada are pretty great and lately Ive been messing around with a no-recipe recipe for the bloody bulls they serve at J.G. Melon as well: vodka, beef broth, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco and a ton of lemon juice. Combine to taste.

In other consume-to-feel-better news, try the steak tartare Gabrielle Hamilton told us about a few years ago, to serve with a cold glass of the hair of the Champagne dog that bit you the night before. Or maybe lugaw, a Filipino rice porridge thats a close cousin to congee, also to jook. Would you like a big greasy cheeseburger on a sesame bun? Baked tofu under a spicy peanut sauce? Fried eggs on buttery toast with ketchup, with a glass of Coke on ice? Weve got 21 recipes for hangover helpers on NYT Cooking, and heres one more Ill give you for free: a scalding hot shower followed by an icy cold one. Rinse and repeat, then go eat a dozen oysters. Nap time!

The abstemious dont need this advice, of course. Theyre ready to put the flesh, fat and sugar of 2019 behind them, and live their best lives with clear eyes and full hearts. (Thats you and me, kid.) Melissa Clark is here to help. Shes got a terrific story in The Times today about how to eat less meat in 2020, along with recipes to make that a joy.
Amit Shah to visit Ram Lalla, Hanumangarhi temple today, to address 3 public rallies in UP

Targeting Akhilesh, Shah asks why Lord Ram had to live in a tent

Amit Shah reviews operational preparedness of SSB

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the headquarters of border guarding force SSB here and reviewed its operational preparedness along the Nepal and Bhutan frontiers, officials said.

Shah, who was accompanied by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other senior officials of his ministry, was briefed about the "organisational structure, deployment, operational achievements and various facets as well as concerns" of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

This is his first visit to the RK Puram-based headquarters of the border-guarding force after becoming home minister.

He was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon arrival, the officials said.

Union HM Amit Shah unveils new insignia for CRPF's VIP security wing

The minister has recently visited the headquarters of other Central Armed Police Forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police for operational review.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

The officials said the home minister was briefed and given a presentation by senior SSB officers, led by Director General (DG) Kumar Rajesh Chandra, about the forces' deployment along the 1,751-km India-Nepal and 699-km India-Bhutan borders.

Shah stressed that the SSB should ensure sanctity of the two open borders and while criminal elements are checked effectively, genuine travellers of the three countries are provided easy access across the fronts, they said.

He directed the force to use technology tools to guard these borders along the eastern flank of the country, the officials said.

Amit Shahs landline numbers spoofed: Police arrest two for demanding Rs 3 crore

The minister was also informed about the recent procurement of SUV vehicles, arms and ammunition of the SSB, they said.

The SSB was raised in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in 1962 and it is primarily tasked to guard India's borders with Nepal and Bhutan apart from rendering other duties in the internal security domain including anti-Naxal operations.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 7:32 [IST]
Ahead of Delhi Assembly polls, BJP president Amit Shah will address the party's booth workers conference at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on January 5.

"Booth workers conference is going to be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on January 5. The booth workers are the real strength of BJP. president Amit Shah will address this conference," said Union Minister Prakash Javadekar while addressing a conference.

"BJP will contest these elections with a positive agenda and win the elections ... Our main issue will be the complete development of Delhi for which we have always been working," he said.

"This is the fight between falsehood and truth, between anarchism and nationalism. BJP stands by the truth and nationalism whereas Aam Aadmi Party stands by falsehood and anarchism," added Javadekar.

Javadekar held the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress responsible for the violence during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the capital, said a release.

The BJP leader also issued a form for 'Jahan Jhuggi-Wahan Makan' which will be distributed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in the unauthorised colonies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The year began on a sombre note for Meghalaya as all attempts to rescue 16 labourers trapped in a flooded mine fizzled out, exposing the inhuman conditions under which the poverty-stricken people are made to work in the state by coal mafia, despite NGT ban on rat-hole mining.

The rescue operations, which involved the Indian Army, Air Force and the Indian Navy, along with the NDRF, Coal India, Kirloskar Brothers, were called off after 212 days, with the retrieval of just two highly decomposed bodies from the 370-foot deep coal pit in East Jaintia Hills district.

The entire operation cost the state exchequer over Rs 3 crore, while the families of the victims were given an interim relief of Rs 3 lakh each.

In a major embarrassment to the Conrad Sangma-led dispensation, the Supreme Court ordered his government to pay Rs 100 crore as fine imposed for failing to abide by the National Green Tribunal norms.

The court, however, allowed mining operations in privately and community-owned land, subject to the permissions from authorities concerned.

The penalty order hit hard the cash-starved state, which is preparing for the 2022 National Games.

A citizens' report filed in the apex court named several state legislators, who allegedly have stakes in the largely unregulated coal mining and transportation industry.

Notwithstanding the chinks in its armour, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) bagged one of the two Lok Sabha seats in the state. The other one was secured by the Congress.

In June, the NPP became the first political outfit from the northeast to get the 'national party' status by the Election Commission, having established its presence in four states in the region.

On the political front, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had initially managed to steer clear of the crisis over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act by securing his state 97 per cent exemption from the law that seeks to give citizenship to non- Muslim minorities who escaped religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and moved to India before December 31, 2014.

With the central government implementing the Inner Line Permit in neighbouring Manipur, however, protests broke out in pockets of Meghalaya, demanding that the regime be extended to the state.

Night curfew was imposed in parts of Shillong, and mobile internet and messaging services withdrawn during the violent protests and vandalisation, which lasted over a week.

To douse the fire, Sangma tabled a resolution in the Assembly to urge the Centre to implement the ILP regime in the state, which was unanimously adopted by the House.

Amid the agitation, Governor Tathagata Roy's political activism on Twitter raised eyebrows, with the Centre warning him against making statements that do not go well with his gubernatorial post.

At the beginning of the year, Roy had asked people to "boycott everything Kashmiri" following the Pulwama terror attack, which led to the death of 40 CRPF personnel.

The prolific Twitter user also courted controversy when he insisted that anti-citizenship bill protesters should "go to north Korea".

In July, Meghalaya lost its Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy, who died following multi-organ failure.

Three-time legislator Metbah Lyngdoh succeeded him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The conflict between the Puducherry Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy and Lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi has managed to be in the spotlight for quite some time now. There have been reports of conflicts between the two over various administrative and governance issues ever since they took over their respective offices in 2016.

Puducherry chief minister Narayanasamy on Wednesday took to his official Twitter handle and released a series of Tweets attacking the Puducherry Lt Guv Kiran Bedi.

In his tweets, he called the Puducherry Raj Nivas (Governor's office) for acting as an office of BJP. He further stated that the people of the state had voted for a democratic government and were against the Lieutenant General's ''autocratic parallel governance''. The chief minister further stated that Bedi was trying to cut down the revenue models of the state created by the elected government. He also called out the Lieutenant Governor for using the opposition party MLAs to give petitions for the issue she wanted to raise.

READ | Puducherry CM slams Kiran Bedi over 'autocratic parallel governance'

Earlier in the week, AIADMK MLA Vyapuri Manikandan met Kiran Bedi and submitted a petition asking for a probe to be conducted on Chief Minister Narayanasamy's official Singapore visit and obliged that the Lt. Governor should act and stop from legalising the casino and lottery at Puducherry, which was announced by the Chief Minister a few days ago.

READ | 'Raj Nivas now a BJP office': Puducherry CM's tussle with L-G Kiran Bedi reaches new peak

'I don't instigate opposition'- Kiran Bedi

When the CM announced about the government planning to legalize casino and lottery in the Union Territory, Bedi expressing her discontentment said that these kinds of activities should not be legalised, as the people of Puducherry do not want to involve themselves in gambling and lose their hard-earned money. She also stated that there are multiple ways in which the government can increase its revenue.

Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi reacted to the tweets by stating that "I don't instigate opposition, they are free to give any petitions. I don't scuttle, I just prevent leakages and diversions to ensure that the government stays within the budgetary limits"

In one of his tweets, the Chief Minister had also slammed the Lieutenant Governor for not abiding by the orders of the Madras high court. Reacting to which Bedi said, "Wait for the final orders, the Home ministry has challenged the orders of Madras high court."

READ | Puducherry BJP petitions Kiran Bedi against plan to set up casinos

READ | Lt Guv Kiran Bedi shares a list of challenges to focus on Puducherry in 2020

Lt. Guv Kiran Bedi:"I don't instigate the opposition, they are free to give the petitions"
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 14:32 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c32077713 1 City jakarta,flood,New-Year-2020,Jakarta-flood Free

Severe floods in Jakarta have claimed two lives. Authorities began evacuating residents after heavy downpours inundated the capital from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning.

A 16-year-old resident of Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, identified as Alvico Arif Ardana, died from an apparent electric shock after floods inundated his residential area on Wednesday, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Com. Yusri Yunus said.

"The witness, a neighborhood unit [RT] head, received information from residents that that there had been an electric shock victim," he said in a written statement on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com.

He added that the victim was found close to a power pole and that the case had been reported to the Kemayoran Police. Yusri said the family had agreed not to undergo post mortem or to file a lawsuit.

Kompas TV reported another flooding-related death in Cipinang, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has designated several areas in East Jakarta to be prioritized for evacuation, including Cawang, Kayu Putih and Cakung, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Agus Wibowo in a statement on Wednesday. BNPB head Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo would oversee evacuation efforts in a helicopter, the statement said.

East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency head Gatot Sulaeman told The Jakarta Post that more than 500 residents had been evacuated from 10 points in Pulo Gadung, Ciracas, Makasar, Jatinegara, Duren Sawit, Kramat Jati and Cakung, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Anies said, in a recorded statement to Jakarta administration staffers received by the Post, that all government offices and schools should be ready to be used as shelters for evacuees. He ordered road safety to be ensured, including through the preparation of alternative routes for public transportation affected by the floods.

Commuter train operator PT KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (KCJ) said adjustments had been made on some routes as the tracks were flooded in parts. The operator had temporarily stopped serving the Lintas Duri to Tangerang route and trains were unable to pass Tanah Abang station. Those traveling from Rangkasbitung, Maja, Parungpanjang and Serpong would have to alight at Palmerah Station or Kebayoran Station.

Riders on the Bogor, Depok and Nambo to Angke Jatinegara route in both directions would have to alight at Manggarai Station. Trains serving the Citayam to Bojong Gede route would have to slow to 40 km per hour due to flooding. (ars)
The NSW Young Liberals are demanding the federal government make sweeping policy changes to tackle the "extraordinary challenges presented by human induced climate change".

In a significant move that puts them at odds with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, his branch of the Young Liberals say their generation's future depends on an overhaul of government policy.

NSW Young Liberal president Chaneg Torres.

Mr Morrison has rejected calls to change the government's climate policy despite the ongoing bushfire emergency, maintaining Australia is pulling its weight in terms of lowering emissions.

But the NSW Young Liberal president Chaneg Torres said the governing body of the party's youth wing voted unanimously at its December meeting to push for new climate change policies.
By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retailers including Walmart Inc will add "Do Not Sell My Info" links to their websites and signage in stores starting Jan. 1, allowing California shoppers to understand for the first time what personal and other data the retailers collect, sources said.

Others like Home Depot will allow shoppers not just in California but around the country to access such information online. At its California stores, Home Depot will add signs, offer QR codes so shoppers can look up information using their mobile devices and train store employees to answer questions.

Large U.S retailers are rushing to comply with a new law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which becomes effective at the start of 2020 and is one of the most significant regulations overseeing the data collection practices of U.S. companies. It lets shoppers opt out of allowing retailers and other companies to sell personal data to third parties.

In addition to retailers, the law affects a broad swath of firms including social media platforms such as Facebook and Alphabet's Google, advertisers, app developers, mobile service providers and streaming TV services, and is likely to overhaul the way companies benefit from the use of personal information.

The law follows Europe's controversial General Data Protection Regulation, which set a new standard for how companies collect, store and use personal data. The European law gave companies years to comply while CCPA has given them a few months.

Draft regulations around the law were released in October. Retailers did not anticipate having to add signs in their stores, which are required by the regulations but were not part of the original statute. Requiring signs in stores is not an effective use of retailers' dollars, said Nicholas Ahrens, a vice president at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, who leads its tech policy.

A Walmart source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters the company is "working through a lot of ambiguities in the law, for example, the language around loyalty programs and if retail companies can offer them going forward."

Story continues

There is also lack of clarity on what constitutes "sale" of information, retail lobbyists and attorneys advising retailers said.

Walmart spokesman Dan Toporek said the retailer supports efforts that gives customers control of their information.

Home Depot spokeswoman Sara Gorman said the California law introduces new requirements but does not change the company's "deliberate approach to customer data and privacy."

Target spokeswoman Jessica Carlson said a "Do Not Sell" button on its website, will be visible to all U.S. shoppers and California residents will have access to information outlined under the new law. Target already allows its shoppers to opt out of sharing their information with third parties for marketing purposes, she said.

Amazon.com Inc is taking a different approach. "We do not plan to put a 'Do not sell' button on our website because Amazon is not in the business of selling customers' personal data and it never has been," a company spokeswoman said in a statement.

Amazon will launch a revised privacy notice and will review the final regulations to "understand what signage may be required to inform customers how to find the privacy notice" at its stores, the spokeswoman added.

DELETE MY DATA

Some national chains such as Sherwin-Williams, which sells paints and coatings, have already begun adding links on their websites in California, Reuters has found. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

Both Walmart and Amazon have ramped up investments in drawing out "data maps" in the past few months, which lets them collate the extent of personal information collected by different business units, where and how this information is stored, what they do with it and who it is shared with, sources said.

A Walmart source said the company's different business teams including technology, marketing, advertising, payments and security are investing resources in auditing and making decisions on how to respond to requests from customers to see their data or those who ask for it to be deleted.

An economic impact assessment prepared for the California Attorney General's office by an independent research firm found compliance with the regulations will cost businesses between $467 million and $16.5 billion between 2020 and 2030. Industry estimates peg initial compliance costs at over $50 billion.

The California Attorney General recently told Reuters in an interview that privacy law enforcement will look kindly on those that demonstrate an effort to comply.

But sources told Reuters they expect plaintiff attorneys to bring lawsuits in the new year against a range of businesses that may fail to meet the law's requirements.

Many companies affected by the law have lobbied extensively for a federal privacy bill that might override the law in California. But their efforts have so far made little progress.

(This story has been refiled to add missing quotation mark in paragraph 12)

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Vanessa O'Connell, Steve Orlofsky and Nick Zieminski)
Pope Francis made some headlines yesterday, slapping away an over-eager fan in a Vatican reception line.

A visibly annoyed Pope Francis slapped a womans hand Tuesday when she pulled his arm and yanked him toward her as the pontiff greeted pilgrims at St. Peters Square. The 83-year-old pope was walking down a line of admirers, clasping their hands and smiling, NBC News reported. Francis was on his way to see the large Nativity scene set up in the cobbled esplanade in the center of Vatican City and turned away from the crowd, Reuters reported.

Now, a lot of us are willing to permit the 83-year-old pontiff some allowance on that, given that the fan was over-eager to the point of being rude, grabbing the man's arm, yanking him back, not letting him go. The pope pretty vividly smacked her. The pope's an old man, after all, and he'd just shaken a lot of children's hands earlier, and he was probably tired. Fans need to learn to treat celebrities as if they're people with feelings instead of wondrous toys.

<iframe width="600" height="337" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KBjv9V1eEh4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

All the same, it represented a slide downward of sorts for the pope, on his last strong point, his public image, his way with crowds, the studied press narrative that he was simple and humble and 'smelled of the sheep,' as he put it, back in the days when Time made him Man of the Year.

Back in 2013, when he was elected pope and Time named him that, because his simple humble people-friendly manner was considered a response to the pomp and circumstance of Pope Benedict, and exactly what made him a breath of fresh air:

In a matter of months, Francis has elevated the healing mission of the churchthe church as servant and comforter of hurting people in an often harsh worldabove the doctrinal police work so important to his recent predecessors. John Paul II and Benedict XVI were professors of theology. Francis is a former janitor, nightclub bouncer, chemical technician and literature teacher. And behind his self-effacing facade, he is a very canny operator. He makes masterly use of 21st century tools to perform his 1st century office. He is photographed washing the feet of female convicts, posing for selfies with young visitors to the Vatican, embracing a man with a deformed face. He is quoted saying of women who consider abortion because of poverty or rape, Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations? Of gay people: If a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge. To divorced and remarried Catholics who are, by rule, forbidden from taking Communion, he says that this crucial rite is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.

Like we say, he's human. And he has since made an apology of sorts for his "poor example."

But you wonder what's going on with that. Most celebrities in the public eye know enough not to slap or get angry at over-eager fans. Drew Barrymore has been spotted at Los Angeles International Airport exhausted from a trans-Atlantic flight, graciously greeting all her adoring fans on her way out even as she must have totally wanted to get out of there. Elizabeth Warren, much as we might disagree with her politics, has posed for 70,000 selfies from all her rallies, patiently posing with all comers. I recall reading somewhere in Church doctrine that a serenely prayerful person needs to try to have a pleasant smile on their face as much as possible. The Montessori schools model their children with a taught philosophy of "grace and courtesy."

Bottom line, you'd think a person in the public eye would know enough not to slap a fan regardless of their personal feelings, particularly someone who's cultivated a reputation as the friendly 'people's pope.'

Well, he did it, Now he's just a mean old man who slaps away over-eager fans. What a decline, what a sad state of affairs as his papacy matures. He's no longer a nice old man who wears the simple papal white, cancels his own newspaper subscriptions and pays his own hotel bills as he was in the past, he's the guy who slaps over-eager fans now.

And it coincides with a few negative biographies out there, too, describing him as an irrascible dictator pope who's quite unpleasant to staff and difficult to work with actually.

It also coincides with the philosophical and theological slide downward his papacy, though -- the constant gutting of Church tradition, the deemphasis on any heeding of Church laws, the nonsensical blather about global warming, the social justice warrior ethos and fealty to state socialism, the betrayal of Hong Kong and China, the silence on Venezuela, the invitations to the Vatican of avowed materialist communists such as Naomi Klein while groups such as the Heartland Institute have been shut out of all dialogue, the weakness on doctrine and the failure to sanction sleazy politicians who use the Church to win votes but enable acts at complete odds with Church teaching, such as respect for life. And don't forget the Church pedophile scandals, which often involved leftist prelates.

Maybe the pope is tiring out on some front, having wrecked so much of what was good in the Church with his replacement of individual salvation with advocacy for state socialism. Ugh. Now he's a mean old man, to boot. It's like a mask has come off.

Image credit: VOA, via shareable YouTube, screen shot
Texas EquuSearch

Volunteers with Texas EquuSearch are searching for a 31-year-old Vietnamese man who disappeared last week under "strange circumstances" from downtown Houston.

Rich Kim, of Houston, was last seen on Friday, Dec. 27 in downtown Houston, according to an EquuSearch news release. A fully activated search for Rich will begin on New Year's Day.
31.12.2019 LISTEN

The NDC Proforum wishes to salute all Ghanaian professionals both home and abroad as the year comes to an end. We also extend special recognition of enormous sacrifices made by colleague professionals back home to hold on and manage amid the gross mismanagement by the NPP government. The Proforum NA wishes all a happy and a year of change in 2020.

We are by this statement soliciting the support of teachers, health workers, bankers, lawyers and all Ghanaians in recognized professions to join forces with NDC to salvage the Ghanaian dream. The Proforum - NA calls for continual prayers and a unified front as professionals to prevail on the good people of Ghana to oust the Akufo-Addo government. The task ahead has already started.

The NDC government promises a vigorous deliberation with professionals both home and abroad to tap and integrate the best ideas for President John Mahama to resume his transformational agenda. We need all hands-on-deck; Ghanaians have had enough and await the second coming and continuation of the transformational agenda come 2021.

The NDC government in-waiting is committed to the welfare of every Ghanaian, tackling corruption head-on and sanitize the confusion in what should be a proper implementation of the free SHS.

The NDC Proforum  NA wish to assure all professionals that the party will utilize every Ghanaian talent under the sun to help steer the country back to prosperity.

We wish all a Happy New Year 2020

We wish all a year of change

We wish all good health for the task ahead; may God see us all through 2020

God bless our homeland Ghana and redeem Ghana from NPP misgovernment.

Signed

Arnold Appiah

President
More than half of Earth's rivers freeze over every year. These frozen rivers support important transportation networks for communities and industries located at high latitudes. Ice cover also regulates the amount of greenhouse gasses released from rivers into Earth's atmosphere.

A new study from researchers in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Geological Sciences found that annual river ice cover will decline by about six days for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperatures. This decline will have economic and environmental consequences. The study, "The past and future of global river ice," was published Jan. 1 in the journal Nature. It is the first study to look at the future of river ice on a global scale.

"We used more than 400,000 satellite images taken over 34 years to measure which rivers seasonally freeze over worldwide, which is about 56% of all large rivers," said Xiao Yang, a postdoctoral scholar in the UNC-Chapel Hill geological sciences department and lead author on the paper. "We detected widespread declines in monthly river ice coverage. And the predicted trend of future ice loss is likely to lead to economic challenges for people and industries along these rivers, and shifting seasonal patterns in greenhouse gas emissions from the ice-affected rivers."

The team also looked at changes to river ice cover in the past and modeled predicted changes for the future. Comparing river ice cover from 2008-2018 and 1984-1994, the team found a monthly global decline ranging from .3 to 4.3 percentage points. The greatest declines were found in the Tibetan Plateau, eastern Europe and Alaska.

"The observed decline in river ice is likely to continue with predicted global warming," the study explains.

For the future, the team compared expected river ice cover through 2009-2029 and 2080-2100. Findings showed monthly declines in the Northern Hemisphere ranging from 9-15% in the winter months and 12-68% during the spring and fall. The Rocky Mountains, northeastern United States, eastern Europe and Tibetan Plateau are expected to take the heaviest impact.

"Ultimately, what this study shows is the power of combining massive amounts of satellite imagery with climate models to help better project how our planet will change," said UNC-Chapel Hill Associate Professor of global hydrology Tamlin Pavelsky.

###

George Allen, assistant professor of geography at Texas A&M University, worked with Xiao and Tamlin on the study. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory funded the work.
BJP leader Gopal Krishna Agarwal on Wednesday said that Kerala Assembly's passing of a resolution seeking withdrawal of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is wrong and unconstitutional and it will give rise to anarchy.

"This is absolutely wrong and unconstitutional. The parliament has legally passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill and made it into an act after presidential assent. After that, a state assembly cannot pass a resolution on the act. It will give rise to anarchy. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should take care that the constitution is the supreme law," Agarwal told ANI.

Earlier yesterday, after the Kerala Assembly passed the resolution regarding CAA, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that no state legislature has the power to pass any law with regard to citizenship.

"Citizenship, naturalisation and aliens are entry 17 on the Union list. Therefore, it is only the Parliament that has the power to pass any law with regards to citizenship, not any Assembly, including Kerala," Prasad had said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram.

Taking a jibe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Prasad said, "The constitution has a mandate -- Parliament - List 1, State Assemblies - List 2. I would again urge the Chief Minister to kindly have better legal advice."

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday had passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the CAA.

Before the resolution was passed against the Act, Vijayan, in a special Assembly session, targeted the RSS and said that citizenship law is part of an agenda.

"The CAA is part of an agenda. Muslims are being considered as internal enemies by RSS, that is controlling the ruling dispensation at the Centre," the Chief Minister alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The long-awaited light-duty vehicle emission rules will hit light-duty vehicle makers working in EU member countries on January 1.

Vehicle manufacturers will have to sell many more hybrid and electric vehicles or pay costly fines, a situation similar to China's rules. For automakers with product lineups with few EV offerings, they'll need to sell lots of conventional cars and trucks, and use the profits to pay the fines. Industry analysts expect plug-in hybrid, battery electric vehicle, and hybrid vehicle sales to soar in the near future.

Earlier this year, the EU approved carbon emissions targets for 2030 that will be 37.5 percent lower than the 2020-21 fleet limit of 95 grams per km. The auto industry had lobbied for a more reasonable reduction target of 20 percent, arguing that they needed more time to prepare and to avoid taking huge financial hits.

Automakers and their supplier partners argued that starting the process over 2020-21 and through the 2030 target will cause a very costly switch over to electrified vehicles in their lineup of new vehicles sold.

Commercial truckmakers will be next. In Europe, heavy-duty trucks will have to emit 30 percent less greenhouse gases by 2030. EU regulators say that about 20 percent of Europes carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases come from light-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks add to that emissions share even more.

Shareholders worry that profit will be hurt as these electrified vehicles cant be sold at higher prices than conventional gasoline and diesel models. For them, it means they wont be profitable until battery costs come down; and there are other costly expenses such as installing charging stations and switching over to maintaining these vehicles that the vast majority of consumers and fleets have never experienced. Related: Why The Saudis Suddenly Agreed To This Mega Oil Deal

When the new rules take hold at the start of 2020, automakers must meet strict new exhaust emission rules or face substantial fines. The upper limit is set at 95 grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer of driving. Going over that limits will mean a fine is given at 95 euros ($106.44) for every gram per kilometer above the limit, multiplied by the total number of cars sold by the manufacturer. For example, if the new rules had been in place during 2018, automakers would have owed more than 33 billion euros ($36.9 billion).

Automakers have been given a big incentive to bring EVs to their dealerships. Every car sold that emits less than 50 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer gets double credit in the regulatory scheme.

But that wont be happening for some companies  theyll have to build the cost into their business plans for coming years. Felipe Munoz at automotive consulting firm Jato Dynamics says some automakers will still need to sell lots of conventional gas-and-diesel-powered vehicles and use the profits to pay the fines. They really have little choice under the stringent new rules.

It is very difficult for carmakers to change manufacturing infrastructure in such a short period of time, Munoz said.

Automakers are postponing ramping up for high volumes of hybrid and electric vehicles until they have to, adds Julia Poliscanova, the clean vehicles director at the European Federation for Transport and Environment.

What theyre planning to produce is more or less what they need to hit their CO2 targets, Poliscanova said.

The US will have to continue to wait and see how the Trump administration is ruling on light-duty vehicles and later on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles  though it certainly will be at a less strict standard. Related: How Tech Is Making Oil Work Safer

On August 28, 2018, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule. That would freeze motor vehicle carbon dioxide and fuel economy standards at the 2020 model year levels  and it will rescind Californias power to regulate emissions of vehicles sold in the state.

The EPA and NHTSA later decided to break the revised rule into two stages. On Sept. 27, 2019, Part One was published which determined one national standard would be followed and that Californias tailpipe carbon dioxide emission standards are void and of no force. This set of a wave of legal actions by California and other states, and a split among major automakers backing California or the Trump administrations new standards.

Part Two has yet to be finalized. It will revise the Obama administrations tailpipe carbon dioxide and mileage standards for 2020-2026 model year vehicles. Unconfirmed reports say that the standards will be raised year-over-year, but it will be softer and less rapid than the Obama-era rules.

The argument being made in the SAFE rules is that relaxing the fuel economy rules should help limit the cost increases that block millions of middle-income consumers out of the market for these newer, cleaner, safer, and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Critics say that its really about gutting strict emissions rules and taking away roadblocks for selling more gasoline and diesel.

By Jon LeSage for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 00:04:37|Editor: yan

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BERLIN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A fire that broke out in a German zoo in the early hours of the New Year has killed more than 30 animals, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported on Wednesday, calling it "one of the worst zoo accidents in decades."

The fire in the zoo of the west German city Krefeld might be triggered by a sky lantern that has first set the roof of the monkey house on fire, local media quoted police as saying. Police are currently investigating into the accident.

Among the animals killed in the fire were orangutans, gorillas and smaller monkeys such as golden tamarins and pygmy marmosets, as well as fruit bats and birds.

Two chimpanzees survived the fire and were anesthetized and moved to a neighboring house.

The zoo, home to almost 200 species and a total of around 1,000 animals, has over 400,000 visitors a year and 75 employees. The monkey house was opened in 1975, with a floor area of 2,000 square meters.
The order from Chinese officials was blunt and urgent. Villagers from Muslim minorities should be pushed into jobs, willing or not. Quotas would be set and families penalized if they refused to go along. Make people who are hard to employ renounce their selfish ideas, the labor bureau of Qapqal, a county in the western region of Xinjiang, said in the directive last year. Such orders are part of an aggressive campaign to remold Xinjiangs Muslim minorities  mostly Uighurs and Kazakhs  into an army of workers for factories and other big employers. ...
Energijos skirstymo operatorius, AB, company code 304151376, registered office at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter  the Company). The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by the Company is 894 630 333, ISIN code  LT0000130023.

The Company informs that it plans to release its financial results in 2020 according to the following:

Reporting date Reporting information 31/01/2020 Preliminary financial results for 12 months of 2019 28/02/2020 Annual audited financial statements for 2019 and annual report for 2019 verified by auditors / Notice of convocation of ordinary general meeting of shareholders 28/02/2020 Preliminary financial results for 1 month of 2020 31/03/2020 Preliminary financial results for 2 months of 2020 30/04/2020 Interim financial statements and interim report for 3 months of 2020 29/05/2020 Preliminary financial results for 4 months of 2020 30/06/2020 Preliminary financial results for 5 months of 2020 31/07/2020 Preliminary financial results for 6 months of 2020 31/08/2020 Interim financial statements and interim report for 6 months of 2020 31/08/2020 Preliminary financial results for 7 months of 2020 30/09/2020 Preliminary financial results for 8 months of 2020 30/10/2020 Interim financial statements and interim report for 9 months of 2020 30/11/2020 Preliminary financial results for 10 months of 2020 30/12/2020 Preliminary financial results for 11 months of 2020



The Company plans to convene an ordinary general meeting of shareholders until 30 April 2020.

More information: Tomas Kavaliauskas, Representative for Public Relations of Energijos skirstymo operatorius, +370 617 51616, tomas.kavaliauskas@eso.lt
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 21:16:19|Editor: xuxin

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DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli has pledged to continue his fight against looters of public funds in 2020 saying the east African nation has been robbed of its resources by a few greedy individuals, the presidency said on Wednesday.

The statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication said Magufuli made the pledge to continue fighting looters of public funds in his New Year message to the nation.

"This country was being robbed of its resources by a handful of greedy individuals. And they are still robbing this country. I will continue dealing with them head on," said the president at the end of his short trip at Rubondo Island National Park on Lake Victoria.

"The money recovered from looters of public funds has helped us to construct standard gauge railway and offer free education," said Magufuli.

Meanwhile, Tanzania's Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein on Tuesday praised citizens for cherishing unity and peace throughout 2019.

In his New Year message to the nation, Shein said unity and peace among Tanzanians enabled them to implement development projects in a conducive environment.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party at the party's headquarters in Pyongyang, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Jhoo Dong-chan



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated that his regime will lift its moratoria on nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, a move that will likely perplex U.S. President Donald Trump.



During a four-day Worker's Party meeting in Pyongyang, Kim told senior North Korean officials that the test bans, which he agreed to in talks with Trump early last year, were no longer necessary, the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday.



Unsurprisingly, he also said Pyongyang was planning to unveil what he called a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.



In response, the U.S. president didn't seem to be upset. By mentioning Kim's agreement in Singapore about denuclearization, Trump stressed he still had a "good relationship" with the North Korean leader and added he has no questions that Kim will keep his word in refraining from conducting such tests.



Intelligence officials in Seoul said it appeared Kim was not going to give a New Year's Day address, which he has delivered annually since 2013, this year. The KCNA has not mentioned any upcoming speech and Pyongyang's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, didn't publish the text of a 2020 address in its Wednesday edition.



At the party meeting, the North Korean leader criticized Washington, saying Pyongyang was being pressured to accept "gangster-like demands" during the denuclearization talks. "The world will see a new strategic weapon possessed and developed by North Korea in the near future," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.



"We will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the United States and guaranteeing our long-term security," Kim reportedly told the officials.



While the remarks are widely interpreted as Kim expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the talks  with the U.S. demanding North Korea present a comprehensive and detailed plan for denuclearization before sanctions are lifted  political analysts in Seoul said it was unlikely that the North would conduct any immediate military provocations soon.



The North Korean leader also left room for continuing the dialogue, as he added any move by Pyongyang would depend entirely on Washington's attitude.



"There is no ground for us to remain unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.



The Ministry of Unification here downplayed the remarks, noting the North still remained open to dialogue on nuclear disarmament.



"We hope the talks between the U.S. and North Korea resume as soon as possible to fulfill their Singapore joint declaration," ministry spokesman Lee Sang-min told reporters in a briefing.



"North Korea mentioned the possible introduction of a new strategic weapon. Such an action will not be very helpful for the denuclearization talks or stability on the Korean Peninsula. The government will continue to do its best to fulfill its commitment to build trust with North Korea."



Sejong Institute Research Planning Vice President Cheong Seong-jang said Kim's remarks signal that that the North will not stop developing its nuclear and missile technological capabilities.



Meanwhile, President Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida: "He (Kim Jong-un) did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization. ... That was done in Singapore, and I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out."



While the U.S. leader was apparently shrugging off Kim's threat, some observers said the latter's remarks were aimed at "buying time" to get the concessions he wants  sanctions relief and a security guarantee.



"Kim believes time is on his side," Cheong said. "I don't think the North will come to the table with any sincere intentions even if it resumes talks with Washington in the near future. Kim said during the meeting of the Workers' Party that he won't exchange the country's security and future for anything. This means the North will never give up its strategic weapons, and will strengthen its missile capability this year."



Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said Pyongyang was making it clear that sanctions lifting should come before denuclearization. "It is also notable that he didn't mention President Trump or the South Korean government."



North Korea has tested missiles capable of reaching the entire U.S. mainland, and has conducted six nuclear tests. The suspension of the nuclear and ICBM testing has been the core point of the nuclear diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang for the last two years. Trump and Kim have met four times so far, however, no visible progress in denuclearization has been made so far.



North Korea has missed its own year-end deadline for the restart of the denuclearization dialogue.



However, any resumption of ICBM testing would also frustrate China, North Korea's long-time backer. Beijing is also involved in a trade war with Washington and wants geopolitical friction in the region to be kept to a minimum.




Bexar County Jail

A man was arrested in San Antonio Tuesday in connection with an Eagle Pass shooting that left one man dead and another injured.

Mark Ivy, 33, faces three felony charges of murder, tampering or fabricating physical evidence, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, court records show. He was remanded on bail, meaning he will remain in custody until a trial because authorities believe he is likely to try to flee.
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Bitterroot College is partnering with Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital to restructure its Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course to include classroom teaching and clinical experiences for acute care.

MDMH acute care coordinator Brittany Leatham-Olney said it is an addition to the focus on long term care training that offers hands on skills and opportunities in The Living Centre in Stevensville.

We decided to restructure the program and are redoing the syllabus, learning materials and are now structuring with Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital so we can focus on acute care, Leatham-Olney said. We are still focusing on the long term, and we still have a partnership with The Living Centre. Now our students will do clinicals at both locations to get a well-rounded focus of education and experience.

The goal is have more CNAs able to do both long term care and acute care and feel confident with their training.

We want them to see both sides to see what their niche is, Leatham-Olney said. We have some students that would be great in hospice, long term or acute care, so this is expanding this out for them.

Bitterroot College has offered the CNA training since 2013 with clinical trainings at Discovery Care Center in Hamilton and The Living Centre in Stevensville. This is the first year the training will also be held at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital.

Leatham-Olney is the coordinator and the main clinical instructor for the program, and Crystal Wetherald, LPN, is the instructor at The Living Center.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (Nationwide) the median annual wage for nursing assistants was $28,540 in May 2018 and the overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 9% from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to assist and care for elderly patients. In 2018 there were 1,564,200 nursing assistant and orderly jobs available, nationwide.

The most recent Bitterroot College courses have reached the maximum enrollment of 10 students.

Our hospital currently has three positions open, and Im sure the long term facilities have a need as well, Leatham-Olney said.

Bitterroot College class requires that students are age 16 or older, but do not have to be high school graduates. Since it is workforce training, college admission is not required.

The six-week CNA class is structured with long days on Saturdays and Sundays, and evenings only on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that current high school students or others with full time jobs can attend.

At the very end they do have to take certification testing through Head Master (an online exam), but we put it on, Leatham-Olney said. Our students are so well prepared for that test. I attribute it to Crystal. Then they are ready to go be CNAs.

For the newest CNAs, the pay begins at $9 to $11 per hour with additional $4 for night shift.

Thats a good chunk of change, $16 per hour for a high school student, then they can go up from there, Leatham-Olney said.

A CNA certification fills the need for hospitals and care facilities while putting students on a path to a medical career.

It gets their foot in the door, Leatham-Olney said. At MDMH we have three CNAs who will graduate from nursing school this month. Then theyll test and become nurses and well have new CNA spots to start the trend all over again. They have already been hired by a hospital and get to start our new grad nurse program. It is great experience. Those that start as CNAs get more exposure, terminology and routines.

Registration begins Jan. 2 and the next class begins Jan. 25.

Other Health Profession and Workforce Training programs at Bitterroot College (college admission not required) include Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Dental Assisting, EKG Technician, Medical Administrative Assistant and Pharmacy Technician.

Bitterroot College offers prerequisite courses for admissions to Montana's distant delivered Practical Nursing and Registered Nursing programs as well as Montana State Universitys bachelor of science in nursing program delivered at the University of Montana. Bitterroot College also offers prerequisite courses for a variety of health profession degree programs including Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, Radiologic Technologist, Respiratory Care and Surgical Technology. College admission is required for these classes.

For more information contact Bitterroot College at 103 S. 9th St., in Hamilton, call 406-375-0100 or email bc@umontana.edu.

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Boris Johnson has ordered a major probe into the leaking of confidential Government documents to Labour during the election campaign.

Government sources said the Prime Minister is concerned that a Labour mole could be operating at a high level within Whitehall.

Mr Johnson faced embarrassment when a confidential Treasury document that appeared to contradict some of his claims on Brexit was leaked to Jeremy Corbyn a week before polling day.

Boris Johnson (pictured) has ordered a major probe into the leaking of confidential Government documents to Labour during the general election campaign

The document  understood to have been circulated to a relatively small number of officials  claimed that the PMs Brexit deal could require checks on goods passing between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The Labour leader brandished a copy of the secret Treasury analysis during his final TV debate with Mr Johnson.

At the time, the PM dismissed Mr Corbyns claims as nonsense and a senior Government source said it was an initial appraisal by junior civil servants, which had not been signed off by those at the top.

However, it is now at the centre of a leak inquiry.

Jeremy Corbyn and Mr Johnson taking part in their final TV debate of the 2019 general election campaign, in which the Labour leader brandished a copy of the secret Treasury analysis

Officials are also concerned about the release of a confidential Government paper which questioned whether the UK would be fully ready to leave the EU by the end of the Brexit transition period.

A separate Cabinet Office inquiry is already under way into the release of minutes from UK-US trade talks.

A Government source said: There was a pattern through the campaign of unhelpful documents being released. The intention was to embarrass the Government.

The insider added: It does suggest we have a Labour mole and we are going to root them out.
In the backdrop of Indian airline companies reporting huge losses in the second quarter of 2019-20, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday that "some predatory pricing is taking place" in airfares and the government is concerned that if this continues, more airlines will shut down. He, however, ruled out any government plan to regulate fares.

"The interesting thing that we have observed is that on Delhi-Mumbai route 20 years ago the average fare was of Rs 5,100. Today, the average fare is Rs 4,600. Some predatory pricing is taking place. It means people are selling tickets below their cost," Puri told reporters. "One of our concerns is that if there is predatory pricing, then the airlines will stop functioning. This is not Air India's problem only. Jet Airways got shut down. Before that, it was Kingfisher airline," he said.

IndiGo and SpiceJet, India's two biggest airlines, reported Rs 1,062 crore and Rs 463 crore loss respectively in the second quarter of 2019-20. Other airlines have also reported losses in Q2 of this financial year. When asked if the minister thinks that predatory pricing is the reason for ill-health of the airlines, the minister replied, "No, there are many reasons... predatory pricing is one of the factors. But a profitability of an airline is dependent on number of things."

Asked if the trend of predatory pricing has come down after regular discussion with the airlines, he replied, "Oh yes, absolutely." "It is constant battle. An ideal situation from an airline's point of view is that they grow and they are also able to charge more fares. What fares they charge is their business. Our advice to them is to charge realistic fares," he added. "It should not be too high. And it is not in your business interests if you are imposing predatory fares," he said.

When asked if the government is planning to regulate fares, the minister replied in the negative. "No regulation. It has to be done within deregulation system.... If I put a cap on fare, the airline will start charging that cap only... that cap will become the normal fare," the minister said. "So, within a deregulated structure, we have to bring about an equilibrium," he noted. "Government, periodically, at my level or at secretary's level, we sit down with the main aircraft operators and tell them it is in your interest not to allow such practices which undermine the civil aviation sector," he said.
News

Interior, South Dakota - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Interior, South Dakota, woman convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Krystin Spotted Calf, age 36, was sentenced on December 18, 2019, to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Spotted Calf was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2018. During the early morning hours of August 11, 2018, Spotted Calf struck the victim, her step-father, Jeffrey Lynn Janis, Sr., multiple times with a tire iron after a dispute. Janis was pronounced dead at the Bennett County Hospital Emergency Room from blunt force trauma to the head.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.

Spotted Calf was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
A wedding guest who attempted to turn heads by wearing a figure-hugging gown inspired by Kim Kardashian saw her plans to look glamorous backfire.

The unnamed woman from Mexico donned a brown number which embraced her silhouette and put the emphasis on her cleavage ahead for festivities.

The dress seemed to be inspired by the Thierry Mugler number Kim Kardashian West wore to the Met Gala in 2019, which was so tight she had to ask her sister to help her in the bathroom.

However, according to the members of That's it, I'm Wedding Shaming, her attempt at Kim K glamour was more cockroach-couture than sexy.

A wedding guest from Mexico drew criticism online when she decided to wear a skin-tight brown dress (pictured) to a friend's wedding

The guest seemed liek she was trying to emulate the Thierry Mugler number Kim Kardashian West wore to the Met Gala on 6 May 2019 in New York (pictured)

Members of That's It, I'm Wedding Shaming said the dress was an example of 'what not to wear' and some said they wouldn't appreciate a guest wearing such a get up at their own wedding

The person who posted the picture explained they thought the dress was a joke, because the Mexican equivalent of April Fool's day takes place on December 28.

However, it seemed that the guest did wear the figure-hugging number, with a sheer effect that showed off her bad.

The geometric lines on the dress were also decorated with shiny beads which drew comparisons to a piece of ham, and a cockroach's belly.

Members of the wedding shaming group noted that the guest had an amazing figure, and said she would have looked much better in any other dress of her choosing.

While Kim Kardashian stunned with the bespoke Mugler minidress (left), the number was so tight she reportedly needed the help of her sisters to go to the ladies room during last year's Met Gala

Wedding shamers took to their keyboards and compared the dress to a piece of ham or a cockroach's belly

'Is the wedding at a BDSM club in New York City?' one wrote.

'I'd be so mad if someone wore this to my wedding,' said another.

'On todays episode of what not to wear anywhere ever in your life,' bluntly commented one.

'Reminds me of a cockroach's belly,' quipped another.

'She has a body to die for, so why pick a dress that looks like she's been bandaged from head to toe,' asked another.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States will send additional forces to support American personnel in Baghdad after Tuesday's attack on US Embassy in Iraq.

"US has taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats serving in Iraq," said Esper, as quoted by CNN.

Citing international responsibilities, Esper also called on Iraqi government to assist in the protection of American soldiers in Iraq.

The US has also sent two Apache helicopters to fly over the embassy in a show of force, CNN reported quoting US official as saying. An additional military unit based in the United States has also been put on standby to deploy if the situation in Baghdad significantly deteriorates.

The move comes amid fallout over US airstrikes against five facilities the Pentagon says are tied to an Iranian-backed militia blamed for a series of attacks on joint US-Iraq military facilities housing American forces.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad and said that the Islamic Republic will have to pay a big price if any American is killed.

Moreover, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has also urged protesters to end the violent siege of the American embassy in Baghdad and stressed that "aggression against embassies was an act that security forces would not tolerate."

Previously, dozens of protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashed windows, set fire to outbuildings and overturned vehicles outside the US Embassy.

This development came after the US conducted strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.

The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the embassy.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy shortly after funerals were held for fighters of Kataib Hezbollah militia killed in Sunday night strikes that the Pentagon launched in response on a rocket attack on a Kirkuk base.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on the last trading day of the decade on Tuesday but were still on track for monthly and annual gains, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade row and Middle East unrest. Brent has gained about 23% in 2019 and WTI has risen 36%. Both benchmarks are set for their biggest yearly gains in three years, backed by a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies.

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices edged lower on the last trading day of the decade on Tuesday but were still on track for monthly and annual gains, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade row and Middle East unrest.

Brent has gained about 23% in 2019 and WTI has risen 36%. Both benchmarks are set for their biggest yearly gains in three years, backed by a breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies.

On Tuesday, trade volumes remained low as many market participants were away for year-end holidays.

Brent crude was down 32 cents at $66.35 a barrel by 12:40 p.m. EST (1740 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 17 cents to $61.51 a barrel.

Graphic: Oil holds steady in 2019 despite supply shocks, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/7847/7829/oil%202019.png

"This year's oil trade is winding down amidst some subdued, low-volume trading conditions," Jim Ritterbusch, president of trading advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates, said in a note.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Phase 1 trade deal with China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House.

The breakthrough in the talks has already boosted factories' output and Chinese manufacturing activity expanded for a second straight month.

China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), an index showing economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors, was unchanged at 50.2 in December from November, but still remained above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction.

Tensions in the Middle East also kept traders on edge as thousands of protesters and militia fighters gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to condemn U.S. air strikes against Iraqi militias.

Security guards inside the U.S. embassy fired stun grenades at protesters and the U.S. ambassador and other staff were evacuated due to security concerns. The U.S. strikes could pull Iraq further into the heart of a proxy conflict between the United States and Iran.

"Considering that Iraq is the second-largest OPEC producer with production around 4.6 million barrels per day, market participants may add a risk premium to oil tension if tensions last for longer," UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

"That said, we need to see if the latest protests spread also in the south of the country, where most of the crude is exported."

U.S. crude oil production in October rose to a record of 12.66 million barrels per day (bpd) from a revised 12.48 million bpd in September, the U.S. government said in a monthly report on Tuesday.

Looking ahead, U.S. crude inventories are expected to fall by about 3.2 million barrels in the week to Dec. 27, potentially its third consecutive weekly decline, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.

Graphic: OPEC Production, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/7848/7830/OPEC.png

Oil prices are likely to hover around $63 a barrel next year, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, benefiting from deeper production cuts by OPEC and its allies, and hopes that a U.S.-China trade deal could jumpstart economic growth.

"Oil prices, though largely expected to trade positive, will face headwinds from subdued global growth momentum and robust U.S. shale output levels in the first quarter (of 2020)," said Benjamin Lu, an analyst at Phillip Futures.

(Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London and Jane Chung in Seoul, editing by David Evans, Louise Heavens and Nick Macfie)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Image of a young man watching a YouTube channel that uses derogatory terms to refer to Korean women. A loose network of young, mostly male YouTubers, host a vibrant community for Korea's new far right, feeding right-wing views to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. / Gettyimagesbank



By Lee Suh-yoon



One was a young jobseeker. Another, an instructor at a college prep academy. There was also one who claimed to have run a successful online fashion mall business in women's clothing.



All three are now part of a loose network of dozens of young, mostly male YouTubers who play hosts at YouTube's most vibrant community  the far right. Their channels feed right-wing news commentary and worldviews to hundreds of thousands of viewers on a daily basis.



These young YouTubers differ from the traditional far-right conservatives known for mobilizing seniors for raucous rallies supporting now-jailed former President Park Geun-hye. The topics are more varied  often linked to a trending news event  and videos neither start with typical blatant proclamations of one's political ideology nor endorse right-wing politicians blindly. They refer to themselves as "freedom-loving youth" on the official channel description.



The emphasis is heavy on "objective logic" as their main medium of interpretation, leading to long explanatory monologues spiked with deliberate disinformation and misleading analogies. Many capitalize on the anti-feminist backlash to attract young male viewers, accusing feminists of falsely "making things confrontational between men and women" in exasperated, self-righteous tones.



Before YouTube took off, these young right-wing men kept to themselves on their own websites, the most famous of them being "Ilbe." Such community sites are waning now. Teenagers, especially, base most of their online activities on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.



When these far-right communities arrive at YouTube, a more public platform that provides popular content uploaders with a stable source of income, the problems are amplified.



"YouTube is open to anyone, and if you watch one, you are automatically exposed to more and more of such videos via the YouTube algorithm. It's easy to come across them because these YouTubers aggressively link every trending news topic with their content in real time," Kim Aeonkyung, secretary general at Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media (CCDM), told The Korea Times.



"As a tool for spreading hate speech and misogyny, YouTube is a much more potent tool than Ilbe."





Far-right YouTubers hold a press conference in Seoul, Nov. 8, to protest Google's recent ad-stripping penalties in Korea for YouTube channels that were deemed to contain hate speech. /Yonhap
[January 01, 2020] Dark Cubed Launches D3 For Good

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dark Cubed is committed to turning the tables on hackers in 2020 by donating at least 2,020 licenses to charitable organizations in the United States. Each Dark Cubed license will serve to protect and secure non-profit networks from harmful cyberattacks, phishing attempts, and ransomware attacks. "We are on a mission at Dark Cubed to protect those who cannot protect themselves," said Vince Crisler - CEO of Dark Cubed. "We took a hard look at the current state of cyber security and decided it was time for a security company to do the right thing for those organizations that are serving the most needy in our communities." Non-profits often hold troves of valuable data for attackers but can find it impossible to invest in expensive cybersecurity tools for their networks. While large companies have multi-million-dollar information security budgets, nonprofits' IT budgets are typically only a fraction of a percent of thatsize. Even more important, every dollar spent on security is a dollar that the non-profit has to redirect from its primary mission. This makes cost-effective cybersecurity technologies critical for both non-profits and the constituents they serve. Dark Cubed's CTO, Juan Vela, said of this effort, "I have spent my career working at some of the most innovative cyber security companies, and I am excited to help make the world a better place in 2020 by giving away our company's technology to non-profits; it feels good to give back."



Non-profit organizations go above and beyond to serve those who need it the most. Dark Cubed has immense respect for these organizations and is excited to embark on this important mission in the new year. About Dark Cubed

Dark Cubed is an Alexandria, Virginia-based company innovating in the cyber security market through a focus on effective, scalable cyber solutions for small and midsized companies. The company offers a low-friction, low-cost, highly-scalable software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to deliver enterprise-grade security capabilities to customers at a fraction of the cost of other solutions on the market. If you would like more information about this topic, please call Eric Clay at 703-220-4915, or email [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dark-cubed-launches-d3-for-good-300980313.html SOURCE Dark Cubed

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Iraq's military said pro-Iran paramilitary groups have withdrawn from outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, a day after a mob attacked the compound, prompting U.S. authorities to deploy hundreds more troops to the region.



The January 1 statement by Iraq's military command followed a call earlier in the day from the Popular Mobilization Forces umbrella group for its supporters to withdraw from the compound.



The umbrella group, which is made up of mainly Shi'ite militia members, had been one of the lead organizers of the angry protests at the American facility in response to U.S. air strikes in Iraq earlier in the week.



The crowds chanted "'Death to America!" and set fires as they breached an outer perimeter of the embassy on December 31.

They did not, however, enter the main compound. Many of those involved were seen carrying flags of the Kataib Hizbullah, or Hezbollah Brigades, a paramilitary group supported by Iran.

The violence prompted U.S. troops protecting the facility to fire tear gas to try and disperse the crowds, who had camped out overnight.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that he called Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih to warn them of "their obligation to protect our U.S. personnel and property."



The confrontation at the Baghdad facility was the some of the worst mob violence to target U.S. forces in Iraq. It also appeared to be the worst to target against a U.S. diplomatic facility anywhere since the assault against a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012. Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed.



The Baghdad protesters were angry over U.S. air strikes on December 29 that killed at least 25 members of an Iran-backed militant group. Reuters reported that 12 militiamen were also wounded.



The United States said the air strikes were aimed at five targets, and were in response to repeated Kataib Hizbullah attacks on bases that house U.S. troops, including one on December 27 that killed a U.S. defense contractor and injured U.S. and Iraqi forces.



The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is located in a heavily fortified government district known as the Green Zone. It has been targeted by rocket and mortar attacks in the past, but access to the district is strictly controlled.



After the initial mob attack on the facility on December 31, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said 750 additional troops would be sent to the Middle East and more in the coming days



"The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world," Esper said in a statement.



U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, blamed Iran specifically for the attack on the embassy.



Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities, Trump said in a post to Twitter December 31.



They will pay a very BIG PRICE! Trump wrote, adding, Happy New Year!



Despite the threats, Trump later told journalists he does not want, or foresee, war with Iran.



Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening," he told reporters as he visited the resort he owns in Florida.



Iran's supreme leader on January 1 condemned the U.S. air strikes, while blaming Washington for the violence in the country.



"The Iranian government, nation, and I strongly condemn the attacks," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media.



He also dismissed U.S. accusations that Tehran orchestrated the protests.



"If Iran wants to fight a country, it will do so openly, he said while adding that "Americans need to understand that people in the region, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, hate them for their crimes."



Meanwhile, Tehran summoned a senior official from the Swiss Embassy, which represents U.S. interests in Iran, to complain about American "warmongering" in neighboring Iraq, the Foreign Ministry said.



Tehran has denied it was behind the violent protests at the U.S. Embassy.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, IRNA and Mehr
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday exchanged new year's greetings and expressed confidence that the year 2020 will prove to be successful in further elevating bilateral ties between the two neighbours.

During the telephonic conversation, Oli also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Nepal.

"This morning I had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We exchanged new year's greetings and best wishes," tweeted Oli.

"We shared that the year 2019 proved to be successful in elevating bilateral ties to a new height and expressed our confidence that the year 2020 will be equally successful in taking our relations to the next level by resolving pending issues. I renewed my cordial invitation to Modi for a visit to Nepal," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday talked to Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and conveyed good wishes for 2020 to him and the people of the strategically important Indian Ocean island.

The telephonic conversation came weeks after Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid paid an official visit to India for the 6th India-Maldives Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi.

Indian Embassy in Maldives said: "Prime Minister @narendramodi had a telephonic conversation with President @ibusolih. Conveyed good wishes for 2020 to him and the people of Maldives".

As a close friend and maritime neighbour, India is committed to partnering with the Maldives for its development, Prime Minister Modi said last month.

Modi paid a two-day visit to the Maldives in June, his first bilateral trip after his reelection for a second term.

He also visited the Maldives in November 2018 to attend President Solih's swearing-in ceremony.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its hard to make sense of a decade in real time. In a way, however, its even harder to properly assess it with the benefit of hindsight.

For example, we tend to look back on the 1950s as a kind of Happy Days parade of sock hops and button-down blandness. It didnt necessarily feel that way to people who actually were living through a period that included the Korean War, the Red Scare blacklists, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, film noir, the H-bomb and the Montgomery bus boycott.

Weve similarly caricatured the 1970s as a period of polyester, mood rings, disco balls and shallow consumerism  what Tom Wolfe famously dubbed the Me Decade.

That tidy encapsulation, however, doesnt come close to capturing the contradictions of a time marked by Watergate, plane hijackings, the Symbionese Liberation Army, the Jonestown massacre, the dawning of punk rock and hip-hop and the flowering of feminist and gay-rights movements.

So if were hoping to make sense of the decade that ended Tuesday, we might as well start now, before some of the inconvenient quirks get ironed out by the calcifying distance of time.

This decade began with the country still reeling from the aughts, a period bookended by the 9/11 terror attacks and the meltdown of our financial system  and filled in with ill-fated wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and anti-terrorism overreach from the civil liberties nightmare that was the Patriot Act.

We were a traumatized nation, jumpy and distrustful of our institutions. The majority of us had trusted the president and the intelligence community in the aftermath of 9/11, and we paid a severe price for that trust.

We hadnt questioned the structural integrity of Wall Street and now saw it exposed as an elaborate network of Ponzi schemes. Congress was a joke, and the media had fragmented to the point where everyone could retreat to their own chosen confirmation-bias silos.

This collective sense of desperation produced populist uprisings on opposite ends of the political spectrum.

The tea party movement railed against a Wall Street bank bailout and led the opposition to the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act. It regarded federal deficit spending as a moral abomination. It aligned itself with the Republican Party but viewed political parties as corrupt institutions that needed to be shaken up.

Occupy Wall Street shared the tea partys hatred for the bank bailout, but wanted to see more  not less  federal intervention in the economy.

It was a rebellion against ever-widening income inequality, a response to the fact that three-fifths of this countrys income gains from 1979 to 2007 had gone to the wealthiest 1 percent.

The tea party and Occupy Wall Street ultimately faded as movements, but their messages insinuated their way into our political system. They set the stage for a 2016 election that defied precedent and made fools of political prognosticators.

The tea party and Occupy Wall Street shared a belief in disruption, in the need to spike the punch bowl and shock the system out of its complacency.

As a result, when Republican voters in 2015-16 saw traditional politicians such as Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio engaging in time-honored, nuanced campaign rhetoric, they tuned out.

When they saw Donald Trump  a New York mogul and reality show host  ridiculing his opponents and promising to get Mexico to pay for the construction of a coast-to-coast border wall, they saw someone who cut through the niceties and the false politeness and the worn-out diplomatic norms. And they gravitated to him.

On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders, a politically independent, self-described democratic socialist from Vermont, gave Hillary Clinton, the prohibitive favorite, all kinds of trouble by insisting that this countrys problems could be solved only with fundamental disruption of our economic system.

Clinton won the Democratic nomination, but couldnt fully convert the hearts and minds of Sanders loyalists. As a result, even with a popular-vote plurality of 3 million votes, Clinton lost the 2016 election to Trump in a stunning upset.

Trump since has solidified his base by depicting career public servants as deep-state cockroaches, a plague for which he is the necessary bug repellent. Its an argument targeted at a conservative audience, but its one thats eerily reminiscent of the way the 1960s counterculture viewed U.S. intelligence agencies and the federal bureaucracy as the enemy.

In other words, hes tapping into some deep reservoirs of American distrust.

History has demonstrated that blind faith in our most powerful institutions is a dangerous thing. The question we face as we enter a new decade, however, is whether weve crossed the line from healthy skepticism to dangerous paranoia. And whether we can even tell the difference anymore.

Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
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The Kano State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it had secured the conviction of 107 drug peddlers in 2019.

The state NDLEA commander, Ibrahim Abdul, made the disclosure at a press briefing on Tuesday in Kano as part of activities to review the activities of the agency in the outgoing year (2019).

He said the command had during the year under review seized a total of 8,031,207 kilogrammes of exhibits.

According to him, 906 suspects were also arrested among which 103 were females, 803 were males, while 107 of the number were prosecuted.

He said that only one female was among the prosecuted suspects, while 76 cases were presently pending at a Federal High court in Kano.

The command had seized 4,525.473 kilogrammes of cannabis, 2,927,669 kilogrammes psychotropic and 3,455 kilogrammes of cocaine.

The command also seized 167 grams of heroin and 160,900 kilogrammes of other exhibits during the period under review, Mr Abdul said.

He said the statistics represented a sharp decline in the number of arrests and seizures which may not be unconnected with the sustained interdiction, operation and drug demand reduction activities.

The statistics put the state at number six against the previous ranking where it was highest in drug abuse and trafficking in the country.

The NDLEA commander further said that one major success recorded was the arrest of two suspects with the seizure of 2.927 kilogrammes of cocaine.

We discovered a manual clandestine laboratory at Walalambe, in Tarauni Local Government, where one Moses Umedi was arrested.

He was arrested with 900 grams of codeine powder, 25 kilogrammes of cough syrup with codeine and 60 kilogrammes of some precursor chemicals/materials, Mr Abdul said

He said the command recorded many successes through the support of the state government, security agencies and the general public.

(NAN)
Extending his wishes for New Year 2020, Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong on Wednesday termed the past year remarkable for India-China ties while asserting that joint efforts are required to take bilateral ties to new heights.

Weidong said the "remarkable" year 2019 had witnessed the steady progress of relations between both the nations.

"Today marks the start of 2020 New Year. Wish you a very happy new year and all the best. The year 2019 witnessed the steady progress of China-India ties with many highlights, including the 2nd Informal Meeting in Chennai & other meetings on multilateral occasions between our leaders," tweeted Weidong.

"As well as the successful holding of the 22nd SR talks, 2nd meeting of the High-Level P2P & Cultural Exchanges Mechanism, frequent mutual visits, deepening practical cooperation and exchanges & proper management of differences. A remarkable year for China-India ties", the ambassador outlined.

Weidong also pointed out that this year will mark the 70th anniversary of China-India ties and events will be held to celebrate the same.

"2020 NewYear marks 70th anniversary of China-India diplomatic ties. 70 celebration events & activities will be held by the two sides. Let us seize the moment, follow the strategic guidance of our leaders, make joint efforts to take bilateral ties to new heights in the future," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is prostate weighting f over 500g and is usually public in men older than fifty years. A case of 78-year-old man was referred to Sina hospital complaining of urinary frequency. His total prostate-specific antigen was 17.3 ng/mL and the volume of his prostate was measured at 350 mL by transrectal ultrasound. Simple prostatectomy was done and a huge adenoma was enucleated in an open retropubic manner weighting 1070g. "Giant BPH" is a rare pathology of the prostate gland. In this study, we report a successful enucleation of a giant BPH (1070 g) without any significant complications.

Urology case reports. 2019 Oct 19*** epublish ***

Seyed Mohammad Kazem Aghamir, Fatemeh Khatami, Mohammad Reza Rahimi, Fateme Guitynavard

Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31709153
Apple AAPL was recently sued by a New York University cardiologist over Apple Watchs use of his patented heartbeat monitoring invention, per Bloomberg.



A suit was filed by Dr. Joseph Wiesel, a teacher at NYU School of Medicine, claiming the Apple Watch infringes his patent for a method to detect an irregular heartbeat.



The doctor said he first contacted Apple in September 2017, giving the California-based tech giant detailed information about the patent. The company refused to negotiate, which led to the lawsuit being filed.



The doctor wants the court to order Apple to pay him royalties and to block the company from using his invention without permission.



Apple Inc. Price and Consensus

Apple Inc. Price and Consensus

Apple Inc. price-consensus-chart | Apple Inc. Quote

Will the Lawsuit to Hurt Apple Watch Sales?



The news comes at a time when Apples smartwatches are witnessing increased adoption in the market.



Notably, per Strategy Analytics data, 6.8 million smartwatches were shipped by the company in third quarter 2019, up 51% from the year-ago quarter figure of 4.5 million units.



This was largely driven by Apples focus on integrating health monitoring features in its watches due to growing awareness about health and fitness among consumers.



Notably, Apple Watch Series 5, which released in September, comes with added features like Cycle Tracking, the Noise app and Activity Trends.



The removal of the heartbeat monitoring feature could turn out to be a huge blow for the product, which is known to have saved multiple lives in the past. Thus, it is crucial for the company to reach a settlement with the doctor in case the lawsuit turns out to be legitimate.



Intensifying Competition



Apple is facing competition in the fitness smartwatch segment from companies like Fitbit FIT, Garmin GRMN and Samsung, which are gaining traction in the market.



Notably, Fitbit, which was acquired by Alphabets GOOGL Google in November, launched the Versa 2 smartwatch, which comes with features like Sleep Score, Smart wake and estimated oxygen variation graph while Garmin rolled out Vivoactive 4 and 4S smartwatches with features like advanced sleep tracking, respiration tracking and Body Battery energy monitoring.



Moreover, Samsung is rapidly penetrating the fitness tracking smartwatch space with its expanding family of Galaxy Watches.



Although Apple currently dominates the smartwatch segment, the loss of key features like heartbeat monitoring could hurt its competitive position in the long run.



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With the hopes that new beginnings inspire in most everyone, Ohioans rang in 2020 this morning  a new year in the cavalcade of their lives, and of their states history. Customs being what they are, many revelers made resolutions about bettering themselves, or their neighborhoods.

Life demonstrates that human progress, in thought and deed, in some shape or fashion, will continue. So will times passage, what the poet Isaac Watts called the ever-rolling stream of clock and calendar. The questions arent about whether change is looming, but at what pace and with what results. Among the unknowns are two that stoke robust Greater Cleveland conversations: Will the Browns ever get their act together? For the Indians, will 2020 be the year?

On the politics front, one prominent date is March 17, St. Patricks Day, and not just because of the zest with which Greater Clevelanders of every faith, and none, salute Irelands patron: This year, March 17 is also primary election day. Thats when Ohio voters will nominate parties candidates for Novembers general election. Ohio Republicans are virtually certain to support President Trump for re-nomination. (In 2016, they backed then-Gov. John R. Kasich for the GOP nomination; Democrats supported Hillary Clinton for that partys nomination.) At 2020s primary, Ohios Democratic voters will help trim their partys long roster of men and women who want to challenge the presidents re-election.

Ohios presidential choices can be decisive. In 1804, when Ohio voters  then limited to white male inhabitants above the age of 21 years  got their first crack at voting for president, they backed Thomas Jeffersons re-election. That was the first time, not the last, that Ohio voters went with the presidential winner. Since 1860, Ohio has only backed a loser four times: In 1884; 1892; 1944; and 1960.

A new year triggers hope. Ohioans, for example, likely hope  because, so far, theres no alternative  that the General Assembly will finally fix Ohios school funding mess. Children who were age 6 when the Ohio Supreme Court ordered school funding reformed in 1997 are now age 29 or 30, and many are now parents. The same money problems that plagued the public schools of their childhoods plague their childrens schools today. A 2020 resolution for the legislature: Fix school funding.

Likewise, the General Assembly should resolve to get out from under the handgun lobby, whose campaign donations and campaign threats have cowed the legislature into a do-nothing or at best a do-very-little stance on gun-safety laws. The roster of innocent men, women and children killed by handguns in Ohio is bloody testimony to what needs doing by the General Assembly. Ohios state senators and state representatives should make those tough decisions they promised to make  when they were campaigning.

Meanwhile, the arrival of 2020, a leap year with a clean slate and 366 fresh days, might also suggest this resolution to each of us: To put ourselves in the shoes of others, or take some weight off their shoulders, before lobbing snark at fellow human beings who are addicted, or hungry, or who are caged because they wanted to work in America to feed their families. In this imperfect world, we all have to live together. Picking fights doesnt make that any easier.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
2 1 of 2 San Bruno Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 2 San Bruno Police Department Show More Show Less



San Bruno police responding to reports of a suspicious person at a gas station early Wednesday arrested a San Francisco man for being a felon in possession of an illegal firearm and a high-capacity magazine.

Omar Rashwn Williams, 28, was booked into San Mateo County Jail. In addition to the firearm charges, he was arrested for possession of multiple controlled substances, police said.
Battle in Syria's Idlib aims to eliminate terrorism: President Assad

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 5:36 PM

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the army's operations against terrorist groups in the northwestern province of Idlib are aimed at eliminating terrorism as a threat to security and safety of the Arab country's nation.

According to Syria's official news agency SANA, Assad made the remarks in a meeting with senior aide of the Iranian foreign minister for political affairs Ali Asghar Khaji and his accompanying delegation in Damascus on Tuesday.

The Syrian president added that the ongoing counter-terrorism offensive in Idlib Province, the last major stronghold of militants in Syria, is a top priority.

Syrian forces have gained ground after a week-long assault against the last terrorist enclave in Syria's northwest, the biggest such push in more than three months.

The Takfiris were using the villages as a launching pad for their mortar attacks on areas in southern Idlib, which have returned to government control.

The Syrian army recently said it had regained control over more than 20 villages and hilltops and was coming close to one of the 12 Turkish observation posts in the northwest.

The Iranian official, for his part, said Iran has always supported and will continue to support any move aimed at serving the interests of the Syrian people and preserving the Arab country's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

During the meeting, the Iranian diplomat and Syrian president also exchanged views about bilateral relations the latest developments in Syria.

Iran, Syria united in fight against terrorism: Syrian Deputy FM

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad also said on Tuesday that Tehran and Damascus are united in the fight against terrorism and urged the world to support the two sides.

In a meeting with Khaji and his delegation, Mekdad slammed the illegal presence of US and Western boots on Syrian soil and said the Arab nation views the foreign forces as aggressors and occupiers.

In reaction to the United States' latest military aggression against Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, he said the PMU is one of the Iraqi government's forces in the battle against terrorism and must be supported.

For his part, the senior Iranian diplomat said, "We have become accustomed to bloody US messages, the last of which was the aggression against the Iraqi and Syrian territories."

Khaji arrived in Damascus on a day-long visit on Tuesday to hold talks with Syrian officials about ways to improve bilateral cooperation.

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Uttar Pradesh's Minority Minister Mohsin Raza accused Popular Front of India (PFI) of misleading the Muslim youths and spreading Islamic extremism in the country. He also called PFI a front for the banned group SIMI and claimed that the organisation received its funding from Pakistan's intelligence wing ISI.

He further alleged that the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which supports organisations like PFI, too get their funding from ISI.

"When Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised in Lucknow, member of the "tukde-tukde" gang Umar Khalid was also there," Raza said.

Live TV

While earlier today, the UP government wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking a ban on PFI, alleging that the organisation played a key role in triggering violence during the recent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.

The MHA, on the other hand, is considering a legal option before imposing a ban. It is also likely to talk to security agencies before reviewing the past activities of the Delhi-based organisation.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh, who has also suggested banning the PFI, in a report had blamed the PFI volunteers of spreading violence in the state during anti-CAA protests and that nearly 22 of its members have been arrested by the police.

''A number of SIMI activists are now in the PFI and have been instigating violence in the state. Nearly 22 of their members have been arrested during recent protests. The PFI is active in seven states including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Asam, West Bengal, Keala, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh,'' the DGP said in his report.

So far as many as 19 people have died in clashes in UP during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Cameras on his doorstep. The police and reporters watching his every move. Still, one of Japanas most famous faces gave them the slip.

Carlos Ghosnas audacious escape from Japan has left the country flabbergasted. Its leaders are responding to questions with official silence. Even his top Japanese lawyer said he was shocked and bewildered when he saw the news on television Tuesday morning.

Mr. Ghosn, the deposed chief of the Nissan and Renault auto empire, confirmed on Tuesday that he had fled Japan to avoid a trial on charges of financial wrongdoing. He has maintained his innocence ever since his arrest more than a year ago, and in a statement issued after he arrived in Lebanon, he assailed what he described as a arigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied.a

aI have escaped injustice and political persecution,a he wrote, adding that he planned to tell his story next week.

In the meantime, politicians in Japan wondered whether shadowy figures or even a foreign government were involved. The aggressive local media scrambled for clues.
- The federal government affirms the disengagement of 25 ambassadors and heads of foreign mission

- The government says the disengagement of the ambassadors and heads of missions takes effect from December 31, 2019

- Ferdinand Nwonye, a spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, says the affected officials are to hand over to the most senior personnel in their embassies and missions

The Nigerian government, on Tuesday, December 31, disengaged a total of 25 ambassadors and heads of foreign mission, Ferdinand Nwonye, a spokesperson of the foreign affairs ministry, has confirmed.

Legit.ng understands that the affected ambassadors and heads of mission had earlier been informed of the plan to disengage them at the end of 2019, but they had insisted that the sack was sudden.

The ambassadors had complained that the letter of disengagement sent to them by the foreign affairs minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, in November 2019, did not give them time to complete diplomatic activities and prepare for their return to Nigeria.

Onyeama, according to Daily Sun, had reminded the affected officials that they were supposed to have left their positions since 2018, but that their tenures were extended by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The report quoted Nwoye as earlier saying the demand by the ambassadors that they should be given time to pay farewell visits to the presidents of their host countries and carry out other last-minute functions was selfish.

The ministry's spokesperson was quoted as saying a telegram was sent to the ambassadors asking that they hand over to the most senior officers in their respective embassies and missions.

They should have been disengaged by now. When officers, including ambassadors are recalled, they have to leave.

They can decide from there to go elsewhere. But they should surely disengage from the mission," Nwoye said adding that they cannot remain in office.

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There is even another telegram that instructed that the most senior foreign service officer should take over from them, the spokesperson said.

Legit.ng earlier reported that President Buhari recently carried out a major change in the power sector with the appointment of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The appointment was disclosed on Tuesday morning, December 31, in a statement by the federal ministry of power.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.

Man vows to vote President Buhari for a third term in office | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
If you own shares in Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) 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. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The other type, which cannot be diversified away, is the volatility of the entire market. Every stock in the market is exposed to this volatility, which is linked to the fact that stocks prices are correlated in an efficient market.

Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. Any stock with a beta of greater than one is considered more volatile than the market, while those with a beta below one are either less volatile or poorly correlated with the market.

View our latest analysis for Genco Shipping & Trading

What we can learn from GNK's beta value

As it happens, Genco Shipping & Trading has a five year beta of 1.03. This is fairly close to 1, so the stock has historically shown a somewhat similar level of volatility as the market. Using history as a guide, we might surmise that the share price is likely to be influenced by market voltility going forward but it probably won't be particularly sensitive to it. 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 Genco Shipping & Trading's revenue and earnings in the image below.

Story continues

NYSE:GNK Income Statement, January 1st 2020

How does GNK's size impact its beta?

Genco Shipping & Trading is a noticeably small company, with a market capitalisation of US$443m. Most companies this size are not always actively traded. Companies this small are usually more volatile than the market, whether or not that volatility is correlated. Therefore, it's a bit surprising to see that this stock has a beta value so close to the overall market.

What this means for you:

Genco Shipping & Trading has a beta value quite close to that of the overall market. That doesn't tell us much on its own, so it is probably worth considering whether the company is growing, if you're looking for stocks that will go up more than the overall market. In order to fully understand whether GNK is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as Genco Shipping & Tradings financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for GNKs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for GNKs outlook. Past Track Record: Has GNK 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 GNK's historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how GNK measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with this free list of prospective options.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
A roadside zoo in Western Maryland where five endangered animals died appealed its case Sunday after a federal court ruled that two surviving lions and a tiger must be surrendered to a sanctuary.

In the past three years, two tigers, a lion and a lemur died at Tri-State Zoological Park in Cumberland. In 2017, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sued the zoo in U.S. District Court in Maryland after conducting undercover inspections. PETA asserted in court documents that owner Robert Candy housed animals in an unsanitary habitat and offered poor veterinary care, among other allegations.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sided with PETA, writing in an opinion that the facility engaged in "flagrant and persistent violations" of the Endangered Species Act, and ordered that the zoo no longer keep endangered species.

Xinis found the zoo, housed on 16 acres that once were a campground, housed animals in "fetid and dystopic conditions" where "filth and feces dominate."

"The uncontroverted testimony reflects that every animal at issue suffered under Tri-State's living conditions," Xinis wrote following a six-day trial in federal court. "Rotting vegetables spilled over large receptacles, decaying meat sat in piles outside the kitchen and in the furnace room under the nearby reptile house, and decomposing carcasses were left for days in the enclosures for the tigers and lions."

On Sunday, the zoo appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Nevin Young, an attorney for the facility, said it planned to challenge PETA's standing to bring the case.

The animals remain at the facility while the case is under appeal, Young said, and the zoo planned to a file a motion to stay the lower court's order to remove them.

"I agree that the judge's finding of facts don't look good based on the unopposed testimony from PETA experts," he said. "I think a lot of statements they made are false."

In a statement, PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Brittany Peet said the "landmark ruling sends Tri-State and every other roadside zoo a clear message that keeping social species in isolation and sentencing sick animals to slow, painful deaths will not be tolerated."

"For more than a decade, PETA has fought tooth and nail for the animals at Tri-State, and we're pleased that the court has given these survivors a new lease on life," the statement said.

According to the judge's opinion, with inadequate nutrition and little to do in a "bacteria-ridden wasteland" serviced by inexperienced veterinarians, animals died.

"I'm not a specialty in any of those zoo animals," one vet told the court, according to the judge's opinion.

Mbube, a lion, was euthanized in 2016 after "a slow and painful demise" from an unknown illness, the opinion said, and a necropsy was never performed. Bandit, a lemur, died in 2018 after a two-year respiratory infection and "chronic stress" that may have led it to mutilate itself. And two tigers died this year - one, Kumar, of a stroke after "years of captivity in a fetid, concrete swimming pool," and another, named India, of sepsis "likely brought about by exposure to contaminated food or water and perpetuated by poor sanitary conditions and a lack of preventative care," the opinion said.

The opinion also questioned the health of "three living protected animals" currently at the zoo - a lion, a white lion and a tiger - and said the court would "permanently enjoin Defendants from owning or possessing any endangered or threatened species." The animals were ordered removed to a sanctuary.

"The Court finds that the public interest is best served by ensuring that the remaining protected animals are not forced to endure life at Tri-State any further," the opinion said.
Just as the new year began, Utica police investigated a double homicide on Tilden Ave.

Naythen Aubain is accused of killing his 90-year-old grandmother, Katherine Aubain, and 87-year-old landlord Jane Wentka, who lived in the downstairs apartment on Tilden Ave.

It was a graphic and heartbreaking case that kept Utica police busy around the clock for the two and a half days.

Right now, the case is moving along in Oneida County Court toward a psychiatric defense.

Aubain's next court date is Jan. 8.

TOP HEADLINES

Alleged killer officially charged in deaths of grandmother, landlord

Double homicide suspect: 'I chopped her up, I chopped up the landlady too'

Aubain case adjourned as defense awaits psychiatric report

----------

Later in January, Utica police were called to West Street for a reported domestic dispute.

There they found Freddie McKinney who was attacked by her grandson Andre Anderson.

Anderson stabbed McKinney and set her and her apartment on fire.

During Andersons trial, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.

TOP HEADLINES

Utica man pleads not guilty to murder, arson charges in grandmother's death

Andre Anderson found guilty of first-degree murder in grandmother's death

Utica man sentenced to life in prison for murdering grandmother

----------

In July, the Boilermaker was delayed for the first time ever due to an incident on Poe Street in Utica.

When police arrived to the scene, they found the body of 17-year-old Bianca Devins of Utica.

They also found the suspect, Brandon Clark, with a self-inflicted stab wound to his neck.

Clark made the call to 911, reporting a murder-suicide.

Clark is charged with second-degree murder. A trial date is set for Feb. 24.

TOP HEADLINES

Homicide not far from Boilermaker course delays start of race

Homicide of Utica teen Bianca Devins: A timeline of events

Court reviews Clark's statements during Huntley hearing

----------

In Rome, a grim search lead police to search local dumpsters, then the Western Oneida County Waste Disposal Transfer Station, to the final, heartbreaking conclusion at the Ava Landfill.

Thats where police found the body of Kerrilee D'Avolio. The suspect in her murder, her husband, Jason D'Avolio.

Months after the body was found, the autopsy was finally released to the defense and the prosecution.

A grand jury indictment alleges that DAvolio intentionally killed his wife by shooting her in the back of the head.

DAvolio is charged with second-degree murder. He is due back in court Jan. 22.

TOP HEADLINES

Mother of three presumed dead, body believed to be in Rome dumpster

UPDATED: Jason D'Avolio charged with second-degree murder in wife Kerrilee's death

Jason D'Avolio in court, pleads not guilty to wife's murder

----------

In Otsego County, a grand jury indicted three teens and one adult in the death of Kenneth Robinson.

Dylan Robinson, the victim's son, Alexander Borgreen, Anias Soto and Nicolas Meridy were indicted on second degree murder, burglary and attempted robbery charges.

Robinson, Borgreen and Meridy are also charged with arson.

In October, they allegedly broke into the victim's home in Worcester, with the intent to steal marijuana.

Robinson was shot in the chest and head and his home was set on fire.

A fifth suspect, Alexis Lottermann, was later charged with burglary in this case.

TOP HEADLINES

UPDATE: DA confirms victim's son charged in Worcester murder

Man, 3 teens plead not guilty in Worcester murder case

Another teen charged in Worcester man's murder
Police claimed to have arrested three members of banned outfit Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) on January 1 in connection with a threat letter issued to East Tripura MP Rebati Tripura for voting in favour of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Parliament.

"Three members of NLFT have been arrested in connection with a threat letter issued to East Tripura MP Rebati Tripura for voting in favour of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)," said Bhanu Pada Chakraborty, SP North Tripura District.

NLFT had written a threat letter to Lok Sabha MP Rebati Tripura stating that he has betrayed the Borok people by voting in favour of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha and hence should be socially boycotted. Rebati Tripura is Member of Parliament from Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency.

"Surely, the CAB failed to address the roots of political conflict in Twipra and aggravates the wounds. The emerging outcome of it not only undermines the Borok people's case against the illegal immigrants and infiltrators but put the very existence of our people in great danger. It consolidates the hold of illegal immigrants and enslave us is our ancestral land," read the threat letter

The NLFT is a banned outfit based in Tripura. The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state and is an active participant in the insurgency in Northeast.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Candace Owens dropped from Jameela Jamil podcast over 'only women can give birth' tweet

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Christian conservative commentator Candace Owens says famous British podcaster Jameela Jamil rescinded her invitation to appear on her show because she commented on Twitter that only women can give birth.

The 30-year-old Owens announced on Twitter Monday that Jamil, an actress and former BBC Radio 1 host, canceled her appearance because she felt Owens' tweet caused her trans-identified co-workers to feel "unsafe."

SAD TO ANNOUNCE that @jameelajamil has revoked my invitation to her podcast bc I tweeted only women can give birth, Owens said. Apparently the statement made her trans co-workers feel unsafe.

Owens added that her refusal to untether herself from biological realities has cost her once again.

In her tweet, Owens shared a screenshot of a message sent to her representative by Jamil explaining that Owens was being disinvited from appearing on the podcast because we have trans people working with us who would be offended by people who say only biological women can have babies.

You are both free to say whatever you like about this publicly, Jamils message read. Im sure you will have an entertaining spin. But nothing is worth my friends and coworkers feeling unsafe.

Jamil and Owens had a Twitter exchange the day before on Dec. 29.

It began when Owens commented on a Daily Mirror article with a headline reading Transgender man gives birth to nonbinary partner's baby with female sperm donor.

Woman gives birth to partners baby with male sperm donor, Owens tweeted in response to the Daily Mirror article. There. I fixed it for you.

Owens tweet drew a response from Jamil on Twitter.

OR... Nice to see a young couple in love, have a happy little baby, Jamil wrote in response to Owens tweet. Their gender is none of my business, worrying about it and mocking them is a pointless waste of time, (its just bullying) and they are hurting nobody. I wish them well. There I fixed it for you.

Minutes later, Owens fired back a tweet in response to Jamil.

LOL only women can get pregnant and only men can impregnate them is now considered a form of bullying, Owens wrote. @jameelajamil  keep us posted when 2+2=4 becomes a form of bullying as well.

Jamil is the founder of the I Weigh campaign that preaches body positivity and radical inclusivity. On her personal Twitter page, Jamil says her gender pronouns are she/her.

Owens tweet about being disinvited from the podcast drew the attention of Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.

Radical political correctness makes me feel very safe, Gaetz sarcastically wrote in a tweet.

The Christian Post reached out to Jamil for comment regarding Ownes' interview being canceled. A response is pending.

Owens is known for being a former Democrat turned Republican who's a supporter of President Trump and hosts her own podcast, The Candace Owens Show, where she interviews guests and talks about politics and current events. Owens is also employed by PragerU, which publishes video content that advances Judeo-Christian values. In 2019, Owens testified before two congressional committees to give her testimony about race and hate crimes and co-hosted the Black Leadership Summit.

Owens formerly worked with the conservative activist group Turning Point USA.

In November 2018, Owens spoke at Liberty University in Virginia and accused liberals of "making fun of Jesus Christ" and trying to replace God with government in peoples lives.
Representative image

India issued a record number of visas to Bangladesh nationals in 2019, said the Indian high commissioner to Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das, as she expressed satisfaction over the growing people-to-people contact between the two countries, according to a report by The Wire.

At the event held at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), visa number 15,00,000 was issued, shared the office of High Commission of India in Bangladesh in a tweet on December 31.

On the occasion, the high commissioner handed over landmark five-year multiple entry visas to three Muktijoddha  freedom fighters of the 1971 liberation war  the report stated.

Speaking at the event, Das said the number of annual visas has been increased more than double in the last few years. Were seeing the results. Even a few years back, we used to issue 6.5 lakh to 7 lakh visas yearly. This year, we issued 15 lakh visas, Das was quoted as saying.

According to the data states in the report, India issued 13.8 lakh visas in 2017, which increased to 1.46 million visas in 2018.

The neighbouring nation constitutes about 20 percent of foreign visitors to India, the report said.

The reason behind the surge in Bangladesh tourists to India was said to be shopping and business.

The report has come while the relationship between the countries is reportedly witnessing up and down due to the passage of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), causing much concern in Dhaka that it could lead to an influx of migrants from India.

The Bangladesh government has recently shut down mobile telephone networks along the country's borders with India, hitting around 10 million subscribers.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), in its order to telecommunications service providers- Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi and Banglalink- on December 29, 2019, said network coverage in the border areas should be suspended until further notice "for the sake of the country's security in the current circumstances", said a PTI report.
Its often helpful to say to your parents Im doing this for you; Id like you to do something for me, Frances said. People who are good parents perk up on that one and will ask, OK, what can I do for you? Then, you can tell them, You can let me help you more.
For the fourth consecutive time, the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance is approaching a sold-out exhibit hall for the organization's 2020 National Medigap industry conference.

"We increased the number of booths from 85 this year to 124 for the 2020 Summit but we are nearing another sell-out," shared Jesse Slome, AAMSI's director. According the conference organizer, only seven exhibit booth spaces remain for the 2020 conference that takes place May 13-15, 2020 in Northwest Chicago.

"This looks to be the largest Medicare Supplement-focused industry event to date," Slome forecasts. Over 850 industry leaders registered for the 2019 conference that was held in Atlanta. In addition, several hundred insurance agents who market Medicare insurance and related senior insurance products attend the free agent day held in conjunction with the event.

The 12th conference, now held annually, has historically sold out in recent years according to Slome. "If you want to meet with insurance companies that offer Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage policies as well as those companies that distribute or support Medigap, this is the one place where they all gather," he adds.

Information on the conference can be accessed via the Association's website. The Medicare Supplement Insurance Conference Exhibit Hall layout showing the remaining seven booth locations can be seen online at www.medicaresupp.org/2020-conference-exhibit/

Headquartered just outside of Los Angeles, CA., the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance is an advocacy and informational organization that supports the industry and insurance professionals who market Medicare insurance options.
In November, Hong Kong expressed its support for the protests at the polls, overwhelmingly electing pro-democracy politicians to neighborhood offices. It was a stinging rebuke to Communist Party officials in China, and it ushered in the longest period of relative calm since the protests began.

Wednesdays march was the second large-scale demonstration that the police had authorized since the election, and tens of thousands took to the streets, if not more. But hours after it began, the police rescinded their permission, citing an outbreak of violence and vandalism. Large numbers of people were still waiting to march at the events staging area when the police made the announcement.

The Civil Human Rights Front, which organized the march, called the polices decision absurd and accused them of escalating tensions by firing tear gas at a crowd. It said in a statement that unless protesters demands were met, Hong Kongers shall not back down, and peace shall not resume with ongoing police brutality.

By nightfall, familiar scenes were playing out on the streets, as protesters built barricades, lit fires and squared off against the riot police. Several dozen people were rounded up by the police in the Causeway Bay area; witnesses said some of them had been bystanders. A pro-democracy lawmaker, Ted Hui, was pepper-sprayed directly in the face by a police officer, after the officer tore off Mr. Huis protective goggles.
LifeStyle

The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand.
'Fair City' stars paid their respects at the funeral of Dublin actress Jean Costello.

Costello (76) died on St Stephen's Day at the Mater Hospital, surrounded by her family.

She was well known to viewers having played Rita Doyle on 'Fair City' for 24 years. A large crowd gathered for the funeral at St Agatha's church on North William Street yesterday.

Costello's partner Seamus was comforted outside the church by mourners, while others carried photographs.

Mourners also paid their respects to Jean's other loved ones, including her sons Noel, Joseph, Myles and Christy.

Many former co-stars were there, including Ciara O'Callaghan, who plays Rita's feisty daughter Yvonne Doyle in the soap.

'Fair City' couple Bryan Murray and Una Crawford O'Brien, who are also an item off-screen, paid their respects too. Former Labour TD Joe Costello and Dublin director Peter Sheridan also attended the funeral.

Costello left the show in 2013 after becoming ill and was written out of the soap following the on-screen death of her character.

She had been involved since the show's first episode and her character was married to Bela Doyle, played by stalwart actor Jim Bartley. Following Costello's death, 'Fair City' executive producer Brigie de Courcy said: "Everyone in 'Fair City' is deeply saddened to hear about the sad passing of our former colleague Jean Costello.

"Jean was a stalwart in 'Fair City' when she played the role of Rita Doyle.

Video of the Day

"She entertained millions of Irish people for over 20 years, as she was one of Carrigstown's most-loved characters."
HEALTH CENTER: Eliza Oliver helps her daughter, Taelyn, step down from the exam table after her wellness check at Community Health Center. The child's doctor, who worked at the now-closed hospital, has been given a medical scribe who takes notes. The visit this time seemed more "personal," Oliver says. (Sarah Jane Tribble/Kaiser Health News/Tribune News Service
PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-01 00:31:34

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 31, 2019 / The future of digital marketing is as bright as ever. From crafty content creators and technologists to self-made entrepreneurs and leaders, people and businesses all over the world follow well-known digital marketing gurus to learn about the latest marketing trends.As 2019 comes to an end, we would like to highlight some of the top marketing influencers in the world who have made a huge impact on the industry. These digital marketing experts have influenced thousands of people, and have inspired the world with their ground-breaking achievements enabling digital transformation at every stage. Not only have they invited more opportunities for businesses but they have also provided hope to millions of small start-ups to execute their businesses effectively.These marketers are the go-to experts that businesses should follow if they want to take their marketing game to the next level. Here are the top 20 marketing influencers of 2019:1. Neil PatelNeil Patel is the co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and Kissmetrics. He is an entrepreneur, a blogger, and a digital marketing expert. He started his career at the age of 16 when he launched his first website. Later, he realized the importance of digital marketing and started helping out small scale start-ups.Currently, he is helping businesses generate maximum sales and traffic through his recent venture called NP Digital. In 2017, he was featured as one of the leading digital marketers on Forbes. Today, his work and contributions have been acknowledged by well-recognized brands and professionals.He has received over 14 million views on Youtube. He is a New York Times best-selling author and was recognized among the top entrepreneurs under 35 by the United Nations. One of his recent work is called Hustle', an inspiring book about following dreams and chasing opportunities.2. Gary VaynerchukBelarusian American entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk graduated from college in 1998. He joined his family's wine business at the age of 14 and expanded the business from $3 to $60 million a year.Gary decided to leave his family business in 2011. With the help of his brother, he established his own digital media agency and named it VaynerMedia. The agency offers strategic marketing and social media services to businesses and Fortune 500 companies which includes Mondelez and PepsiCo.Listed as one of the best A-List agencies by AdAge, the agency managed to earn a revenue of $100 million in 2016 successfully. With Gary's consistent marketing efforts, VaynerMedia has collaborated with digital filmmakers and platforms like Vimeo to connect with brands. Today, Gary is considered one of the world's leading digital and social media experts.3. Nabeel AhmadThe youngest person on this list, Nabeel Ahmad is a 22-year-old serial entrepreneur, investor, TEDx speaker and well-known marketing strategist. He has founded 5 companies, and has helped many businesses get to the next level by using effective marketing and PR strategies.Nabeel has been recognised as "one of the top marketing experts in the world" by International Business Times. Earlier this year, Entrepreneur magazine named him as one of the top 15 inspiring entrepreneurs to watch in 2020, alongside industry leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone.He is the founder of Vertabyte, a digital media agency that works with some of the biggest companies in the world. Apart from that, Nabeel Ahmad is the founder of Mogul Press, a PR firm that specializes in personal branding and media placements.Nabeel's expertise on marketing related topics is often sought by some of the world's biggest and most renowned media outlets. He is a frequent contributor on Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business2Community, Business.com , and more than 30 other major publications.4. Rand FishkinAfter dropping out of the University of Washington, Rand Fishkin joined his mother's small business to work and support his family. He co-founded an SEO software company called MOZ which he left in 2014. Now, he operates his own company with the name of Sparktoro which offers software and data insights to people.He is a well-recognized face in the search engine optimization industry and a digital marketing guru. He loves to help people become better at marketing and learn more about fundamental marketing and technology. He promotes marketing through his Whiteboard Friday video series, blogs, and books.Awarded as the best-selling author of Lost and Founder, he continues to educate people on marketing. In 2009, Business week featured his name among the 30 best young tech entrepreneurs under 30.5. Timothy FerrissAs an angel investor and advisor, Tim Ferriss has advised several startups such as Shopify, Evernote, Trippy, and more. After graduating in 2000, he founded BodyQuicken in 2001 which used to provide online nutritional supplements. Later, he sold his venture to a private-equity firm in 2010.Tim is a leading author and podcaster. His podcasts cover topics like character development, meditation habits, and morning routines. As an expert advisor and marketer, he has helped many startups raise millions of dollars.His notable contributions include The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body. He was also listed as one of the notable angel investors by The New York Times while CNN declared him as one of the best angel investors in technology.6. Grant CardoneAt the age of 61, Grant Cardone is the CEO of Cardone Capital and a well-renowned sales trainer. He is also the owner of seven privately held companies and one of the top social media influencers in the world as listed by Forbes in 2017.His primary venture, Cardone Training Technologies offers a dynamic sales training platform to currently Fortune 500 companies and small- or large-scale businesses. Recently, he invited more than 50 entrepreneurs and more than 34,000 professionals from all over the world to join his 10X Growth Conference in Miami, Florida. Grant's vision is to strategize sales operations for businesses and improve their revenues.He has worked with well-established companies like Google, Toyota, Ford, Sprint, and more. He is a New York Times best-selling author and speaker. His book "The 10X Rule" was among the top-selling books in 2017. He owns a youtube channel, with more than 1.27 million s
Malaysia Appoints University Institute to Probe China's Alleged Abuses Against Uyghurs

2019-12-31 -- Malaysia has appointed an international institute at a local university to prepare a study examining reports about alleged rights abuses committed by Beijing against Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Monday.

The government has selected the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) in Kuala Lumpur to study and verify the news reports on the alleged repression of the Uyghur community in Xinjiang, China, the state-run Bernama news service reported, citing Saifuddin.

A foreign ministry official who sought anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, that the minister made the statement during a public event in Pahang, east of Kuala Lumpur.

"Malaysia will neither blindly support any reports provided by the Chinese government nor openly criticize China," the English daily New Straits Times quoted Saifuddin as telling reporters. "We want to ensure the truth behind each and every report that we receive about the incidents there."

ISTAC is housed at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), a campus established in the 1980s in Selangor state with the goal of becoming a leading international research center in the field of Islamic thought, culture and civilization, according to the university's website. Malaysia, along with several other Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh and Pakistan, were co-sponsors of the university when it was founded.

Saifuddin also recalled that during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sept. 12, he promised that Malaysia "will adopt a civilized approach" about the controversy around the plight of the Uyghurs, which includes reports that Beijing began locking up 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslims at internment camps in Xinjiang.

"We need to verify this, including the Uyghur separatist movements at the Xinjiang province and whether there were elements of terrorism in the issue," the minister said, according to the New Straits Times.

China began incarcerating Uyghurs in a vast network of internment camps in April 2017 over accusations that members of the minority Muslim group harbored "strong religious views" and "politically incorrect" ideas.

Saifuddin's comments came after China's ambassador, Bai Tian, denounced pro-Uyghur protests that took place outside the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and Friday. Hundreds of demonstrators waved banners and signs urging China to "stop genocide of ethnic Uyghurs."

"We will never accept irresponsible, utterly groundless accusations based on falsehoods," the Chinese envoy said Sunday.

He made the statement days after Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appeared to have taken a tougher stance, as he vowed not to extradite Uyghurs who seek refuge in his country.

Although Beijing initially denied the existence of internment camps, China has tried to change the discussion, describing the facilities as "boarding schools" that provide vocational training for Uyghurs, discourage radicalization and help protect the country from terrorism.

"If Uyghurs are fleeing to Malaysia to seek asylum, Malaysia will not extradite them even if there is an application from China," Mahathir said. "They are allowed to go to the third country because they have valid fears over their safety."

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.

Copyright  1998-2019, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Micah Downey  the 26-year-old American star of the hit Australian reality series, Bride and Prejudice  died at age 26, announced his ex-fiancee Milly Johnson, who is pregnant with their second child.

In a post to Instagram on Tuesday, Johnson, 23, revealed Downey passed away suddenly on Saturday.

It is so sad & unbelievably surreal that I am making this post, Johnson, who announced her pregnancy just last month, wrote in the caption. I am struggling to put into words how sad & heartbreaking this is. I just hope he is at peace wherever he is & that he will always be watching over his babies.

A bad, bad dream, she added. I cant believe youre not here. Rest In Peace Micah.

Downeys cause of death was not immediately known.

According to Seven News, the show followed the couple as they attempted to persuade Johnsons mother into supporting their relationship.

In November, Johnson shared a heartbreaking post that announced the couple had broken up during the shows filming and shortly before their wedding that month.

RELATED: Bride & Prejudice Sneak Peek: Chris and Lous Wedding Is at Risk After an Explosive Fight

RELATED: YouTuber Emily Hartridges Boyfriend Mourns Her in Teary Video Days After Fatal Scooter Crash

Leading up to the decision I made, I felt sick, heartache, deep sadness and then I just felt numb, she wrote. Breaking up with someone is awful and also a very private moment. In our case it was done with many eyes on us on national television. Not easy.

Story continues

We had been on and off for some time. I loved him. He is the father to my son and baby on the way, Johnson continued.

RELATED VIDEO: Rapper Camron Mourns the Loss of His Girlfriend After Her Sudden Death: The Love of My Life

It was such a hard decision to make not only breaking off the wedding but also breaking up with Micah for the last time.

Everything I hoped and dreamed for just came crushing down, she added.

According to the Daily Mail, the former couple share a young son, Julian, who is featured prominently on Johnsons Instagram page.

Johnson revealed to followers in November that was heavily pregnant with their second child despite calling off their wedding.
(Natural News) The federal government is ramping up its Ebola propaganda campaign once again with a new announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about a newly released Ebola rapid diagnostics test, which just so happens to coincide with the release of a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Ebola vaccine that the agency claims has a 100 percent effectiveness rate.

Just three days before this new Ebola vaccine was publicly announced, the CDC issued an Ebola health advisory urging healthcare providers that are interested in testing for Ebola virus in ill returning travelers to isolate the patient and contact their state or local public health authorities for further instructions  which of course will include recommendations that suspected Ebola patients be injected with Ebola vaccines.

In tandem with the FDA, the CDC is urging healthcare providers to take [a]n assessment of epidemiologic risk factors for Ebola, as well as compile a clinical presentation and history as quickly as possible in order to ensure patient care is not compromised. And wouldnt you know it, but the FDA is waiting in the wings with its brand spankin new Ebola vaccine that its now urging these same healthcare providers to administer to their patients for public safety purposes.

CDC is available to provide consultation, technical assistance, and confirmatory testing as necessary, this agency further announced about how it plans to tag-team the FDA in ushering in awareness, aka panic, about the alleged threat of an Ebola pandemic.

The federal government has been bringing in potentially Ebola-infected refugees from the Congo and dispersing them throughout the country  but theres nothing to see here, folks!

It is our view that this is all being done in synchronization as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign. The federal government appears to be intentionally creating the conditions necessary for a future Ebola outbreak, or series of outbreaks, to occur, and it now conveniently has all of the solutions ready and waiting, including diagnostics tests and Ebola vaccines.

The ultimate goal, here, seems to be to create a major public health crisis in order to push mass vaccination with these new FDA-approved Ebola vaccines, the contents and side effects of which are currently unknown. After all, our own government was caught back in the summer importing migrants from the Congo into our country via Texas, and sending them to the four corners of America and the general public was none the wiser.

Many of these migrants very well could have been infected with Ebola, though well never truly know since none of them were tested before being dispersed all across the country to unknown locations. And now the CDC and FDA are unveiling their vaccine cure just in time for what appears to be a planned epidemic.

CDC says rapid diagnostic test for Ebola may result in false-positive results

But these so-called solutions are flawed at best, seeing as how the CDC itself openly admits that its new rapid diagnostics test for Ebola isnt necessarily accurate. Known as the OraQuick Ebola Rapid Antigen Test, this test may result in false-positive results, admits the CDC, though the agency is still pushing it in circumstances where more sensitive molecular testing is not available.

All OraQuick test results, both positive and negative, are considered to be presumptive by the CDC, which means that they must be further verified through rRT-PCR testing that is available at 69 LRN laboratories located in 49 states and at CDC in coordination with state and local health authorities.

But once again  and it cant be stated enough  Ebola is a problem that never would have been a problem in the first place had the federal government not facilitated the bringing in of refugees from Ebola-stricken countries. And truth be told, there still isnt really an Ebola problem, at least not yet, despite the fear-mongering coming from the CDC and FDA.

But one thing is clear: Our countrys overlords sure are trying hard to make Ebola a problem. The stage is set, so to speak, for an eventual Ebola outbreak or two, and the government obviously plans to fear-monger the gullible public into accepting its remedy in the form of mass chemical injections  all for peoples protection, of course.

If the government really wanted to prevent an Ebola crisis here in America, they never would have shipped in Congolese migrants and resettled them all across the country. They also wouldnt have turned away Patient Zero from receiving a proper Ebola test during the last Ebola crisis that was reported back in 2014, leaving this patient to potentially infect others.

As you may recall, confirmed Ebola patients were actually sent to local hotels all around New York City several years back, putting other hotels guests and their close contacts at risk of infection. And local health officials were insistent that this was no big deal, and that people shouldnt worry.

There have been so many instances like this of what appeared to be incompetence that, upon closer investigation, proved to be intentional acts of disease violence by our own elected officials. In other words, the purpose is to intentionally cause an Ebola epidemic, though this evil agenda has thus far been unsuccessful.

But this is not to say that it wont become successful in the coming weeks or even days as nefarious government entities work tirelessly to weaponize this deadly disease here in the West. Its only a matter of time before the right combination of factors sends Ebola spreading like wildfire, which is the catalyst that the deep state needs to advance its Ebola vaccination agenda.

Remember, by the time we hear about something, the government agencies have known about it for a while and kept it to themselves so as not to cause a panic, writes Daisy Luther for The Organic Prepper. It could be wise to get ahead of the curve with any preparations you may need to make.

While these recent developments must be purely coincidental, she further jokes, and Im not suggesting that a widespread outbreak is imminent in the United States, I suggest you pay attention to the patterns that are beginning to emerge.

For more related news about corruption within our government agencies, be sure to check out FDA.news and CDC.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheOrganicPrepper.com

NaturalNews.com
Ciaran Gillespie took umbrage at the way he was spoken to

A man crossed the road to his neighbour's house late at night and slashed a tyre on his van after being earlier refused a lift, a court has heard.

Ciaran Gillespie (32) carried out the "sinister" attack on the vehicle after he "took umbrage" at the way he was spoken to by his neighbour.

Gillespie had a serious drink problem and had relapsed weeks before the incident.

Judge John Hughes adjourned the case, ordering a probation report on the accused and compensation to be paid.

Carpenter Gillespie, of Elton Drive, Ard Na Greine, Dublin 13, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Gda Owen Herlihy told Dublin District Court he attended Slademore Avenue, Ard Na Greine, last May 16.

A passenger-side tyre had been slashed on the victim's van and CCTV footage showed the accused coming across the road from his own house at 4.10am.

The damage was to the value of 189.

Gillespie's only previous convictions were for motoring offences.

He made admissions to gardai and said he had no recollection of the incident.

Addiction

Defence solicitor Miska Hanahoe said that when he was arrested the next day, Gillespie was still not sober.

Gda Herlihy said "there was a level of intoxication".

Gillespie had no history of aggression or violence, but had a very serious, long-term alcohol addiction, Ms Hanahoe said.

At the time of the incident, he was living across the road from the victim, and "took umbrage at the way he was spoken to when he asked him for a lift".

He had been in rehab but relapsed "in a major way" three weeks earlier, Ms Hanahoe said.

The accused apologised, was ashamed, embarrassed and remorseful about what happened.

He had now moved back to his native Donegal and was dealing with his addiction.

Judge Hughes told Gillespie his neighbour had "owed you nothing, he didn't owe you a lift, he may have had good reason for not wanting to give you a lift".

He said he was not going to speculate as to the logic of what had happened, adding: "He knows he is a person who can't drink a drop he knows he can't drink in moderation."

He said he had sympathy for the accused's addiction, but warned that "it's very difficult to get alcohol in prison".
A huge New Year's Day pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong ended with clashes between police and hardcore protesters, as demonstrators sought to carry their movement's momentum into 2020.

Hong Kong has been battered by nearly seven months of unrest -- its biggest political crisis in decades -- which has seen millions come out on the streets demanding greater democratic freedoms.

Organisers claimed more than a million people gathered for Wednesday's rally, which had approval from the authorities, and marched across the international financial hub's main island in an attempt to put pressure on the government to meet their demands.

But after a peaceful start, violence erupted near the march within hours, with police and masked protesters facing off in several neighbourhoods on the city's main island.

The Civil Human Rights Front, the umbrella group which organised the march, said authorities ordered them to end it after the clashes began.

"We believe the total turnout for today's march has surpassed the 1.03 million on June 9," the group announced, referring to the massive rally last year that kicked off the protest movement in earnest.

In now-familiar scenes, riot police used pepper spray, tear gas and water cannon, while hardcore protesters lobbed petrol bombs, built makeshift barricades and vandalised businesses they consider pro-Beijing -- including Starbucks and branches of the HSBC bank.

The Wednesday clashes were, however, small compared with some of the chaos witnessed in the city in recent months.

As darkness fell, AFP journalists saw police surround and detain around 100 protesters. The police department did not immediately confirm the number of arrests.

The unrest in Hong Kong was sparked last year by a proposal to allow extraditions to mainland China. It has since morphed into a larger revolt against what many fear is Beijing's tightening control over the semi-autonomous city.

Despite the continued unrest, China and the Hong Kong administration have refused to accede to the protesters' demands, which include fully free elections in the city, an inquiry into alleged police misconduct, and amnesty for the nearly 6,500 people arrested during the movement -- nearly a third of them under the age of 20.

"It is sad that our demands from 2019 need to be carried forward to 2020," the CHRF's Jimmy Sham said at the start of the rally.

Activists have accused the police of brutality and rights violations, while city authorities -- and the central government in Beijing -- have accused pro-democracy protesters of rioting.

China has also alleged that the unrest has been fanned by foreign powers, and has bristled at criticism from rights groups and governments of the way the protests have been handled so far.

Hong Kong saw in the new year with an evening of peaceful protests that descended into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and the police overnight.

The protest movement has become quieter since the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote in November -- seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government -- and violent clashes at some of the city's university campuses.

But protesters have vowed to continue their fight for greater freedoms.

"Hong Kong people have been pushed to a hopeless situation. That's why today we have to come out," a masked protester said in a speech at the rally on Wednesday.

The unrest that began in June last year is the biggest crisis the former British colony has faced since its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

There have been at least two protest-linked deaths since the beginning of the unrest, and around 2,600 injuries.

Under the terms of that handover, Hong Kong enjoys unique freedoms unseen on the mainland, but fears have increased in recent years that they are being chipped away as Beijing exerts more control over the territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After more than 60 years spent sealed up in a library storage facility, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled this week.

Scholars hope the letters will shed light on the extent of a relationship that has been speculated about for decades.

Many consider Hale to not only be his close friend, but also his muse, and they hope their correspondence will offer insight into the more intimate details about Eliot's life and work.

Eliot was famed for penning 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' - on which Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, and recent Hollywood film, 'Cats' is based.

Lifelong friends, Hale and Eliot exchanged letters for about 25 years beginning in 1930.

In 1956, Hale donated the letters under an agreement they wouldn't be opened until 50 years after either her or Eliot's death, whichever came second. Eliot died in 1965 and Hale died four years later.

Biographers say Eliot ordered Hale's letters to him to be burned.

The two met in in their early 20s in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1912, but did not rekindle their friendship until 1927.

Emily Hale and T.S. Eliot pose in a 1946 family photo in Dorset, Vermont. After more than 60 years of sitting sealed up in a storage facility at Princeton University Library, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled, revealing the extent of their relationship that scholars have speculated about for decades

Eliot was already living in England and Hale taught drama at U.S. universities, including Scripps College in California.

Students, researchers and scholars can read the letters at Princeton University Library, New Jersey, starting from Thursday.

Anthony Cuda, an Eliot scholar and director of the T.S. Eliot International Summer School, said: 'I think it's perhaps the literary event of the decade. I don't know of anything more awaited or significant. It's momentous to have these letters coming out.'

Their relationship 'must have been incredibly important and their correspondence must have been remarkably intimate for him to be so concerned about the publication,' Cuda says.

T.S. Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1888 and gained notoriety as a poet early in life. He was only 26 when 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' became his first professionally published poem.

His best known works include 'The Waste Land,' 'The Hollow Men' and 'Four Quartets.'

The first poem in the 'Quartets' series, called 'Burnt Norton,' piques the interest of enthusiasts of the poet, says Eliot scholar Frances Dickey, because of lines that suggest missed opportunities and what might have been with his muse.

The poem is named after a home in England that Eliot visited with Hale in 1934.

'His relationship with her seems to be deep and meaningful and it's a door he chose not to open,' she said.

Letters between poet T.S. Eliot and longtime confidante Emily Hale are displayed in Princeton, N.J. Thursday. From January 2 students, researchers and scholars can go to the Ivy League school in New Jersey to see these letters that many are saying may reveal more intimate details about Eliot's life and work

The letters could also reveal details about Eliot's conversion to Anglicanism, something he deeply cherished, Dickey says.

Dickey, who served as one of the editors on 'The Complete Prose of T.S. Eliot', said the poet was deeply ashamed of his marriage to his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood, whom he was with for more than 15 years.

Dickey said the letters could reveal just how close he and Hale were and if the two ever considered marriage.

'Was this an epistolary romance they would carry across the Atlantic?' Dickey said. 'What role did she play in his emotional life?'

Eliot's letters to Hale began after that first marriage ended. Whatever else she was, Hale was a link to the life Eliot had left behind in the United States as a young man, Dickey said.

'He was really thinking more about the United States and his childhood during the period where he was in correspondence with Hale,' says Dickey. 'I have a feeling that having a relationship with an American woman helped him to uncover his past in a way.'

The unsealed boxes, which also contain photographs, clippings and other ephemera, were actually opened at the library's special collections area called Firestone Library in October for cataloging and digitizing.

Daniel Linke, interim head of special collections at the library, was part of the team working on the 14 boxes. He said there was very minimal, if any, reading.

He said that scholars from around the world will be traveling to Princeton in the first days they are available since they are copyrighted and won't be made available online.

'It will be the special collections equivalent of a stampede at a rock concert,' Linke said.
No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops.

Russian occupation forces over the past day, December 31, five times violated the ceasefire in Donbas, the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters reports.

The enemy opened fire at the positions of Ukrainian military units, using weapons installed on armored personnel carriers, as well as grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and other small arms.

Read alsoUkrainian soldier wounded amid two enemy attacks on Dec 30

Ukrainian troops came under fire near Avdyivka, which is in the area of responsibility of the Skhid [East] tactical grouping.

Four attacks were recorded in the area of responsibility of the Pivnich [Nort] tactical grouping.

No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops.

From day-start on January 1, 2020, Russian occupation forces did not open fire.
The family of a man who was stabbed in the head in a Hanukkah attack in New York has released a graphic photo of him in his hospital bed as they say he may never regain consciousness.

Josef Neumann was among the five people injured when Grafton Thomas, 37, allegedly stormed into a rabbi's home in Monsey during a Hanukkah celebration last Saturday.

Neumann's family say the knife used in the attack penetrated his skull and impacted his brain.

He also suffered three cuts to the head, a cut to his neck and his right arm was shattered.

The harrowing photo released on Tuesday shows him unconscious and hooked up to a respiratory machine in his hospital bed.

Josef Neumann was among the five people injured in the Hanukkah stabbing attack in Monsey, New York last Saturday. His family released this harrowing photo of him in hospital and said they fear he will never regain consciousness

Neumann's family said that his condition is so severe that doctors had not yet been able to perform surgery on his arm.

'Doctors are not optimistic about his chances to regain consciousness,' his family said.

'If our father does miraculously recover partially, doctors expect that he will have permanent damage to the brain; leaving him partially paralyzed and speech-impaired for the rest of his life.'

Neumann has seven children, multiple grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

According to a criminal complaint, Neumann was among those injured when the alleged attacker - with a scarf covering his face - entered the rabbi's home next door to a synagogue and said 'no one is leaving'.

The alleged attacker, Grafton Thomas, 37, has pleaded not guilty to charges including five counts of attempted murder. He is also charged with federal hate crimes after his handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references were found

The suspect, wearing a hood and scarf, makes his way up stairs to Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg's Shul carrying the blade

Thomas was arrested within two hours of the attack. When police pulled his car over in Manhattan, he allegedly had blood all over his clothing and smelled of bleach but said 'almost nothing' to the arresting officers

Thomas then allegedly took out a machete and started stabbing and slashing people in the home packed with dozens of congregants.

The five victims suffered serious injuries - including a severed finger, slash wounds and deep lacerations.

Thomas has pleaded not guilty to charges including five counts of attempted murder.

He is also charged with federal hate crimes after authorities said they found his handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references and that he had recently used his phone to look up information on Hitler and the location of synagogues.

Thomas was arrested within two hours of the attack.

When police pulled his car over in Manhattan, he allegedly had blood all over his clothing and smelled of bleach but said 'almost nothing' to the arresting officers.

Authorities say they discovered a blood-stained 18-inch machete and a knife smeared with dried blood and hair from Thomas' car after the attack.

The stabbings, which occurred on the seventh night of Hanukkah, came amid a series of violent attacks targeting Jews in the region that have led to increased security, particularly around religious gatherings.

Thomas allegedly took out a machete and started stabbing and slashing people in the rabbi's home, which was packed with dozens of congregants

The attacker stormed into the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibush Rottenberg at around 10pm last Saturday and began wildly swinging a knife at some 60 worshipers gathered for a candle-lighting ceremony for the seventh night of Hanukkah

An attorney retained by the alleged attacker's family, Michael Sussman, said Thomas had been hearing voices and may have stopped taking psychiatric medications recently.

A criminal complaint said journals recovered from Thomas' home in Greenwood Lake included comments questioning 'why ppl mourned for anti-Semitism when there is Semitic genocide' and a page with drawings of a Star of David and a swastika.

A phone recovered from his car included repeated internet searches for 'Why did Hitler hate the Jews' as well as 'German Jewish Temples near me' and 'Prominent companies founded by Jews in America,' the complaint said.

On the day of the stabbings, the phone's browser was used to access an article titled: 'New York City Increases Police Presence in Jewish Neighborhoods After Possible Anti-Semitic Attacks. Here's What To Know,' the complaint said.

Sussman said he visited Thomas' home and found stacks of notes he described as 'the ramblings of a disturbed individual' but nothing to point to an 'anti-Semitic motive' or suggest Thomas intentionally targeted the rabbi's home.

'My impression from speaking with him is that he needs serious psychiatric evaluation,' Sussman said. 'His explanations were not terribly coherent.'
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Around 150 BJP workers including the partys senior leaders H Raja, Pon Radhakrishnan, L Ganesan and CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday were detained after they courted arrest near Mahatma Gandhi statue at Marina beach when they staged a dharna demanding immediate arrest of Nellai Kannan, the orator from Tirunelveli, for his remarks against the PM and Home Minister.

The BJP men shouted slogans for about 10 minutes urging the state police to arrest Kannan for his "objectionable remarks" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah a few days ago, while attending a public meeting organised by SDPI protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Raja told reporters that the party would announce the next course of agitation on Thursday evening. Raja and others who had courted arrest are kept at a wedding hall and are likely to released soon.

Police said they had not granted permission for anyone to hold a protest on or around Marina beach.

Nellai Kannan, who was admitted to a hospital in Tirunelveli was moved to Madurai on Tuesday. However, on Wednesday, his whereabouts are not known.

ALSO READ | Tamil orator Nellai Kannan booked over alleged provocative remarks against Home Minister, PM

Kannan landed in trouble after a video of his purported speech at a meeting against CAA held by the Social Democratic Party of India on Saturday at Tirunelveli went viral on social media and the BJP lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution.

Kannan is a Tamil litterateur and has taken part in several television shows based on literature and oratory.

State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi on Monday lodged a police complaint, alleging that Kannan called out the names of Prime Minister and Home Minister at the meeting and told the gathering he was "shocked as to why Muslims have not yet killed the Prime Minister and Home Minister."

(With PTI inputs)
Job Title: Procurement Officer

Organization: International Rescue Committee

(IRC)

Duty Station: Uganda

About US:

The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives

and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and

gain control of their future. It was created by Albert Einstein more than 80

years and has been working in Uganda since 1998. It has particularly working in

the conflict zones where tens of thousands of people have been kills and over

1.6 million displaced. Following a peace agreement in 2006, Ugandans are

returning home and looking to rebuild their lives. The IRC is there to protect

women and children from violence and exploitation by fostering a safe

environment and encouraging education, and is supporting farmers and small

businesses, and helping communities promote peace and long-term development.

Job Summary: The Procurement Officer is responsible for the

efficient coordination and management of procurement functions for IRCs office

in Bidbidi-Yumbe. Supply Chain must be able to rapidly procure Program

supplies, services and equipment, whilst ensuring best practices and

maintaining audit-compliant records.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



The implementation and / or maintenance of

standard IRC procurement policies and procedures.



Ensuring that procurement is carried out in

accordance to IRC and donor-specific polices.



Attend all the procurement committee meetings.



Coordination with Finance, Admin and program

departments to ensure integrated internal controls, timely payment of vendors

and full, audit able support documentation.



Ensuring that a transparent and responsive

procurement process is implemented and maintained.



Routine communication, coordination and planning

with the relevant requesting staff / programs regarding the order and delivery

of supplies.



Ensuring that all Supplies, services and

equipment required are delivered in time.



Establishment and maintenance of ethical,

professional working relationships with suppliers.



Maintain supplier information for regularly

purchased items, and be informed of current local market conditions.



Support and provide the appropriate training for

procurement and program staff as required.



Manage Procurement staff (Assistant etc).



Advise the Supply Chain manager of

procurement-specific issues or improvements.



Any other duties or tasked delegated by Supply

Chain Coordinator.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The applicant must hold a BA (Procurement and

Supply Chain /Logistics Management)



Two years of experience in the same field.



At least three years work experience in

procurement, at least one year in a supervisory capacity.



Strong sense of personal integrity.



Attention to detail.



Strong supervisory skills.



Ability to multi-task.



Team spirit and problem solving abilities.



Knowledge of generic procurement procedures and

practices (IRC or NGO experience advantageous).



Familiarity with major donor and local

regulations / laws advantageous.



Holder of a valid driving license



Competent in spoken and written English



Good mathematical skills.



Competent use of PC especially spreadsheets.



The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the

values and principles outlined in IRC Way  Standards for Professional

Conduct. These are Integrity, Service,

and Accountability. In accordance with

these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection

from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment,

Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send

their applications online at the link below.

Click

Here

Deadline: 4th January 2020

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline






Kim Jong Un declared he was no longer bound by his pledge to halt major missile tests and would soon debut a "new strategic weapon," adding to President Donald Trump's foreign policy concerns in a politically charged election year.

The North Korean leader told a gathering of party officials in Pyongyang that U.S. actions left him no choice but to reconsider commitments that underpinned three unprecedented meetings with Trump over the past 18 months, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. Kim called for "shocking actual action" to make the U.S. "pay for the pains" suffered by North Korea under the Washington-led sanctions regime, KCNA said.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," Kim said, referring to the country's formal name. The speech came during an unusual four-day party meeting and appeared to replace the televised address Kim has delivered every New Year's Day since 2013.

Trump's immediate reaction was muted, with the president repeating his past assertion that Kim had agreed to denuclearize. "We're going to find out, but I think he's a man of his word," Trump told reporters in Florida.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a tweet on Wednesday that the U.S. should "fully resume" military exercises with South Korea in response to Kim's threat. "Hold congressional hearings on whether U.S. troops are truly ready to 'fight tonight,'" he said.

Kim's threats were broadly in line with expectations that he would attempt to ratchet up pressure on Trump after North Korea's year-end deadline passed without a breakthrough in nuclear talks. Kim is seeking sanctions relief and security guarantees that the Trump administration has so far refused to provide without a disarmament commitment from Pyongyang.

Major weapons tests would renew the threat of war on the Korean Peninsula and undermine Trump's efforts to tout his diplomatic outreach with Kim as he seeks re-election. While North Korea fired off a record number of ballistic missiles in 2019, it has refrained from testing nuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles that could deliver them to the U.S. for more than two years.

Kim said that recent U.S. actions, including continued military cooperation with South Korea, had forced him to reconsider his pledge. "Under such condition, there is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," Kim said, according to KCNA.

"I'd expect this announcement to be followed by a test rather quickly," said Ankit Panda, a specialist on North Korea's weapons and an adjunct senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists. "They may seek to do something truly dramatic to awaken the United States into appreciating the costs of the failed bout of diplomacy in 2018 and 2019."

Kim left some room for negotiations by avoiding direct criticism of Trump and not explicitly calling off talks or announcing new weapons tests. The threat to revive tensions could put Kim's own recent diplomatic gains at risk, alienate supporters such as China and Russia and increase international support for more sanctions.

"We hope that Chairman Kim will take a different course," U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told Fox News after the KCNA report. "We are hopeful that Chairman Kim will make the right decision and he will choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war."

North Korean state television showed clips of missiles rocketing into the sky over a looped hour-long video of Kim's remarks Wednesday morning. Weapons featured included missiles fired from mobile launchers and a rocket lifting off from what appeared to be an underwater platform. One image showed a view of the Earth from space.

Kim didn't specify what his "new strategic weapon" was, or when it might be deployed. He has made more specific threats in past new year's addresses, such as when he previewed a run of successful ICBM tests in 2017.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

"We avoided the worst scenario, which would have involved Kim declaring a resumption of ICBM and nuclear testing and the suspension of talks with the U.S.," said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a specialist on North Korea at the Seoul-based NK News.

Still, Kim had some ominous words for the U.S. North Korea "will never allow the impudent U.S. to abuse the DPRK-U.S. dialogue for meeting its sordid aim but will shift to a shocking actual action to make it pay for the pains sustained by our people so far and for the development so far restrained," Kim said, according to KCNA.

Panda, of the Federation of American Scientists, said the comment suggests that North Korea might seek to go further than 2017, when it lofted three ICBMs into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

"A fourth one is perhaps not likely to meet the North Korean bar for 'shocking,'" Panda said. "The possibilities, then, are uncomfortable."

- - -

Bloomber's Shinhye Kang, Josh Wingrove and Glen Carey contributed to this report.
(Newser)  Bronx subways are known to be edgy, but this? A rider was caught on cellphone video picking up a young woman and carrying her off the train as she screamed to be set free, NBC News reports. Police say the incident occurred Sunday at Morrison Avenue-Soundview Station in New York City. In the video, posted on YouTube, a man believed to be 48-year-old Sonny Alloway taps the leg of a woman sleeping next to another man. She gives him a brief look and covers her face with her coat to catch more z's. But when the train stops, Alloway picks her up and carries her off. "No. ... Let me go!" she cries as he puts her on the platform bench. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

story continues below

She wiggles free and runs safely on the train, while Alloway stays on the platform. But as one Twitter user puts it, "The Bronx is FAST!" Another posted video shows vigilantes attacking Alloway on the street, kicking him in the head and stomach as he tries covering himself on the ground, per the New York Daily News. "You like raping little girls?" a man cries. Alloway later took shelter in a deli, where police found and arrested him. "Force was used, but he's a big guy, like six feet," says a law enforcement source. "Things got heated, and there was a fight." Alloway, who had a few bruises, was charged with unlawful imprisonment. Sources say his rap sheet includes arrests for assault and drug possession. (Read more New York City Subway stories.)
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has said that he is ready to take "shocking actual action" just weeks after threatening to deliver an unpleasant 'Christmas gift'. The state media of North Korea reported on December 1 that Kim made the announcements during a four-day meeting of the ruling Workers Party in Pyongyang. He added that the nation would never abandon its security for economic benefits. Kim's statements came after the US missed a year-end deadline for fresh talks on denuclearisation. The state secretary of the US, Mike Pompeo said that he hopes North Korea would choose peace.

READ: Donald Trump Hopeful Of Nice 'Christmas Gift' From North Korea

North Korea to test ICBM

According to US Military commanders, the new path that Pyongyang could take would be to resume testing of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and nuclear bomb tests which had stopped back in 2017. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement said that he hopes North Korea chooses peace over confrontation and does not resume testing a long-range or nuclear missile. While talking to local media, Pompeo said that he still hopes to convince North Korean leadership that the best course of action would be to get rid of their nuclear weapons. According to sources, the US Air Force flew an RC-135 plane over South Korea on Monday and Tuesday. In a speech delivered at the Workers Partys 7th Central Committee meeting, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for 'diplomatic and military countermeasures' to preserve North Korea's security.

READ: North Korea's Kim Jong Un To Unveil 'new Path' In New Year Speech

US warns North Korea

According to the reports, the White House announced on Sunday that if North Korea went ahead with its threat of a 'Christmas gift' the United States would have to consider using tools other than personal diplomacy and such measures could reignite tensions over its nuclear program. On December 11, US Representative to the United Nations Kelly Craft, while speaking at the Security Council, warned North Korea against further missile and nuclear tests. She had raised concerns about Norths indication of intercontinental ballistic missile tests which will bring the US in its range. Craft said that the US has sought to engage in robust diplomacy with the DPRK, but the signs were deeply troubling.

READ: North Korean Leader Calls For 'military Countermeasures'

READ: North Koreas Kim At Day 3 Of Ruling Party Meeting
A female deli worker who was kissed on the neck against her will and pinched by a male colleague has been awarded 20,000 for ongoing sexual harassment.

At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), Adjudication Officer Gaye Cunningham has ordered the employer, a supermarket, to pay the worker 20,000 for the distress suffered by her and the effects of the discrimination and sexual harassment.

Ms Cunningham stated that she was satisfied that all of the incidents of harassment and sexual harassment as alleged by the complainant did occur.

She said: Furthermore, I am satisfied that these incidents were extremely serious in nature in terms of the impact and effect they had on her personally and her working environment.

Ms Cunningham also found that the supermarket failed to put appropriate measures in place to stop this harassment and sexual harassment from occurring or to reverse its effects.

Ms Cunningham has also ordered that all staff within the supermarket company who have staff management functions receive appropriate training in its policies on harassment and sexual harassment and bullying and harassment.

The deli worker commenced working for the supermarket in May 2018 and she alleged that the verbal and physical sexual harassment by a male colleague began approximately one month after.

The deli worker gave evidence that the alleged perpetrator physically assaulted her by pinching her, by trying to kiss her and at one point kissed her on the neck against her will.

She said that he made inappropriate sexual comments about young girls who came into the shop and when asked to stop as they were clearly young school girls, he replied that they looked old enough.

The complainant gave evidence of incidents where she felt personally threatened when, for example, the alleged perpetrator pinned her against or near a fridge and made lewd and sexually suggestive comments to her.

She stated that a manager witnessed some of the behaviour of the alleged perpetrator and when asked to intervene, the manager laughed and told the man to stop as the deli worker was from Limerick and she would stab him.

The complainant said that she was subjected to almost daily sexual assault/harassment.

The woman made a formal complaint concerning the sexual harassment and a second female employee had also made an allegation that the man had touched her inappropriately.

The man was moved to work in the storeroom. However, after a few days there, he went on sick leave.

The deli worker was not told what was happening with her formal complaint and she stated that she was then left with no option but to resign her employment and she handed in her notice on January 18, 2019.

The deli worker said that her male colleagues behaviour was a violation of dignity in that it created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment for her.

The deli manager did admit at the WRC to telling the alleged perpetrator to stop as the complainant was from Limerick and she would stab him.

However, he considered this a joke and did not think the complainant was upset about this.

The owner of the store said that he put the allegations to the male deli worker and he denied them.

The owner said that the male worker went out on sick leave, ceased contact with the business and, it is believed, returned to his home country.

The owner stated that the investigation into the complaints could not be concluded as the former male deli worker had left the country.

Ms Cunningham found that the fact that the supermarket failed to conclude its investigation and make a decision is the most egregious flaw in the process.

Ms Cunningham stated that the employer was keen to point out the natural justice afforded to the alleged perpetrator but did so at the expense of the complainant and closure for her of this appalling experience.
TROY  The Battles of Saratoga and British General John Burgoynes subsequent surrender on Oct. 17, 1777 are commemorated everywhere as the Turning Point of the American Revolution - except on the massive 500-ton granite Rensselaer County Soldiers and Sailors Monument in the center of Monument Square.

Due to an oversight made in 1891, the committee in charge of the monument's construction approved Burgoynes surrender date as June 28, 1778 for the bronze plaque listing the battles of the American Revolution. It has never been corrected.

What would Molly Pitcher say since thats the date she became famous at the Battle of Monmouth, said Kathy Sheehan, historian for the city of Troy and Rensselaer County.

This is what happens when a committee is in charge and nobody checks their sources, added Sheehan, who is based at the Hart Cluett Museum, 57 Second St., less than two blocks from Monument Square.

It's a mistake that Sheehan said has mostly gone unnoticed.

Saratoga --- Burgoynes Surrender, June 28, 1778 is inscribed above the much smaller listing of Monmouth. Meanwhile, accurately inscribed lower down on the plaque is the other major British surrender effectively ending the war by Lord General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. Immediately following the word Yorktown is Cornwalliss Surrender, Oct. 19, 1781.

The Battle of Monmouth in Freehold, N.J., was where Pitcher gained fame by stepping into her husband's role as a gunner during a key battle against the British army. Pitcher was bringing water to her husband and his fellow soldier when she discovered her husband had fallen in battle and took his place as a gunner "for the remainder of the battle, according to the Library of Congress American Folklore Center.

Troy's monument mistake is not unique. In May, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund issued a seven-page report on errors involving the names on The Wall as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is commonly known. In 2018, New York state adopted a law to correct the misspelling of the name of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City by adding the second Z which had been left off when the bridge opened in 1964 and in the contractual paperwork for its construction that dated back to 1959.

Just like the spelling of Verrazano without the second Z in the contracts, the surviving records for the Rensselaer County Soldiers and Sailors Monument also show the error for the date of Burgoynes surrender. That document has editing for the Mexican War, also called the Mexican-American War, portion of the bronze plaque, but none for the American Revolution battles above it.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

When guides for the monuments archives were put together at the Hart Cluett Museums library nearly a quarter century ago, the error was caught and noted. But it went unfixed and unnoticed until the Times Union asked Sheehan about the discrepancy in the dates. She reviewed the records for the monuments construction to see if the mistake was mentioned.

James Corsaro, who is retired from the New York State Library as a librarian for manuscripts and special collections, was involved in organizing the monuments six boxes of documents. He said he didnt remember who would have caught the mistake on the plaque, but that noting it in the records was the correct thing to do.

Corsaro, along with the Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway executive director Michael P. Barrett and local scholar P. Thomas Carroll agree that the monument with its eight bronze plaques honoring veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the Civil War shouldnt be changed to correct the incorrect surrender date.

The 93-foot-tall monument, topped by the 17-foot-high bronze statue "Call to Arms," is a significant part of the citys heritage and an iconic landmark, the historians and scholars agree. The cornerstone for the monument was laid on Memorial Day 1890, and it was dedicated on Sept. 15, 1891.

The documentary history for the monument outlines the give and take on building the massive granite edifice and the decisions made to get it finished. The Burgoyne surrender error just went through without any apparent discussion.

Its a mistake, Sheehan said. Its part of the legacy of the monument.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An appeals court on Tuesday reduced the bond for a Strongsville Catholic priest accused of sending and receiving child pornography.

A three-judge panel at the 8th District Court of Appeals unanimously agreed to grant the Rev. Robert McWilliams writ of habeas corpus and lowered his bond to 10 percent of $50,000.

The decision by Judges Sean C. Gallagher, Mary Eileen Kilbane and Kathleen Ann Keough means McWilliams will have to pay $5,000 plus fees to secure release from the Cuyahoga County Jail. He will have to wear a GPS ankle monitor if he leaves jail.

McWilliams is being held on three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and one count each of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and possessing criminal tools.

McWilliams bond had originally been set at $100,000 following his Dec. 5 arrest at St. Joseph Church. Common Pleas Court Judge Sherrie Miday lowered the bond to $50,000, and McWilliams filed a motion to get the bond reduced to either $5,000 or 10 percent of $50,000.

Common Pleas Court Judge John J. Russo denied that request last week, leading McWilliams to appeal to the 8th District on Friday. McWilliamss lawyer argued that he posed no danger to the community and would show up for court, and that the only reason he was being held in jail was because he didnt have enough money to post the bond.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalleys office objected to any lowering of McWilliams bond, arguing that it was not excessive given the seriousness of the crimes he is accused of committing.

The charges against McWilliams involved incidents that happened from April 2016 through his arrest on Dec. 5, 2019, according to court records.

Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force officers on Dec. 5 raided McWilliams living space and office in the rectory at St. Joseph Church on a search warrant out of Geauga County. They seized electronic devices, including a cellphone, iPad and laptop associated with McWilliams, the diocese said in a statement later that day.

Officers found additional images of child pornography on the devices that were not connected to the Geauga County investigation, which led to the charges in Cuyahoga County, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Carl Sullivan said.

Authorities in Geauga County believe McWilliams was using a second cellphone number to contact children he knew so he could pretend to be someone else, and use extortion to get the children to send him nude photographs, Sullivan said during a Dec. 17 court appearance.

That investigation remains ongoing, prosecutors said.

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The bombs smashed into a child care center, a refugee camp and a school. They destroyed makeshift clinics and hospitals, disabling essential services for tens of thousands of people.

Over the past year, attacks on buildings in northwestern Syria, which are supposed to be off limits during wartime under international law, grew so frequent that the head of the United Nations launched an inquiry to document the violations.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres's establishment of the investigation is seen by many diplomats as a success at a United Nations largely stymied by division in the powerful Security Council. Russia, a Syrian government ally and a major perpetrator of these attacks, has cast 14 vetoes in the Security Council since the start of the war in Syria, blocking accountability efforts and hindering humanitarian aid deliveries into Syria.

Since April, at least 60 health facilities in northwestern Syria have been damaged in strikes, and at least 29 of them were on the off limits list. But the United Nations, at least so far, is looking at just seven incidents. A United Nations spokesman would not say how the inquirys sites were determined.

Human rights and medical groups that support hospitals in Syria have criticized the inquiry as insufficient, saying it fails to match the gravity of the violations. The inquiry, for example, is looking at only one attack likely to have been carried out by Russia, despite previous investigations by The New York Times that found Russia bombed hospitals at least five times in May and November.

Seven incidents on the United Nations list investigated by The Times. Satellite image by Landsat and Copernicus, via Google Earth

Diplomats also told The Times that Russia had pressed Secretary General Guterres to keep the findings of the inquiry secret. A United Nations spokesman, Farhan Haq, said the U.N. was still considering whether the report, or parts of it, would be made public. In addition, Mr. Haq said the inquiry was meant to be a fact-finding mission, not a criminal investigation to determine responsibility.

The Times obtained the list of attacks under examination from four officials briefed on the inquiry, and investigated those incidents in an attempt to determine culpability. Our reporting suggests that the Syrian military was most likely responsible for at least four of the attacks, the Russian Air Force for one and rebel groups for one or two.

To reconstruct individual attacks, The Times relied on witness statements, forensic analysis of photos and videos, weapons identification, satellite imagery and cockpit recordings of Syrian and Russian pilots during bombing missions.

We correlated this information with thousands of flight logs recorded by Syrian ground observers, who listen in on radio transmissions, track the flight paths of warplanes and identify aircraft by sight and sound.

Several of the attacks happened in late April and early May, when the Syrian government and its Russian allies began a major offensive to retake the last insurgent-held parts of Syria, in Hama and Idlib, provinces in the countrys northwest.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 1. Ariha Child Protection Center Suspect Syrian Air Force

The child center was put out of service during a weekend of airstrikes most likely carried out by the Syrian Air Force.

The center provided health and recreation services for the children of Ariha, Idlibs second-largest city.

It was a safe space for children to go back to their childhood and move away from weapons and what they see in the streets, said Baraa al-Smoudi, executive director of Ihsan Relief and Development, an organization that supported the center.

In September 2018, the centers coordinates were entered onto the United Nations list of facilities meant to be off limits. But less than a year later, airstrikes on consecutive days damaged the center beyond repair, and killed over a dozen civilians, including several children, who were nearby.

Where

The center was nestled between apartments in a busy high-rise residential area in central Ariha. Several apartment buildings were also severely damaged in the airstrikes.

When

Witnesses began reporting airstrikes at 11:22 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.

The strikes hit two apartment blocks just 50 yards from the Child Protection Centers entrance. The force of the blast blew in the centers doors and windows, Mr. al-Smoudi said.

Videos verified by The Times show the gruesome aftermath of that July 27 attack.

Airstrikes destroyed apartment buildings just 50 yards from the childrens center on July 27. Ariha Today, Hadi Alabdallah, @shamalmjd1, via Twitter, Maxar Technologies, via TerraServer.

Warplanes returned almost exactly 24 hours later, at 11:18 a.m. on July 28. This time, pilots bombed the street in front of the center and a building adjacent to it.

The center was relocated after airstrikes hit it and buildings adjacent to it on July 28. @belalbayoush654, via Twitter, Maxar Technologies, via TerraServer.

Who

Our timeline of evidence and an analysis of the damage suggest the strikes were likely carried out by the Syrian Air Force.

At 11:14 a.m., minutes before the airstrikes, flight spotters log a MiG-23 fighter jet, which only the Syrians fly, circling Ariha.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Jabal Akrad Lattakia Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 11:12:05 a.m. Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib Other Fixed-Wing Fixed Wing North West 11:12:13 a.m. Mha.m.bal Idlib Other Fixed-Wing Fixed Wing Circling 11:13:04 a.m. Ariha Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing Circling 11:14:30 a.m. Ha.m.a Military Airbase Ha.m.a Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing North 11:15:15 a.m. Jabal Akrad Lattakia Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 11:15:58 a.m. Approximate time of the Ariha apartment block strike: 11:22 a.m. Tal Tuqan Idlib Drone Drone Circling 11:25:36 a.m. Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib Drone Drone Circling 11:31:04 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Russian Fixed Wing South East 11:34:05 a.m.

The airstrikes happen close to 11:22 a.m. An eyewitness who describes himself as a citizen journalist posts a video reporting the continuous shelling of Ariha after that.

And at 11:29 a.m., cockpit recordings capture a Syrian pilot, codenamed Baz 4, confirming that he has finished his operation, a phrase we have heard Syrian pilots use countless times to confirm a bombing run is complete.

July 27 audio of Syrian pilots Pilot Wehad, Baz 4 finished.

No other airstrikes in Idlib are reported at the time of the Ariha strikes, and Russian pilots are not conducting strikes at this time, according to audio files obtained by The Times. This suggests that the Syrian pilot was most likely responsible for the strike.

On July 28, flight observers again logged a MiG-21 fighter jet, another model that only the Syrian Air Force flies, circling Ariha and four miles away at Jabal Al-Zawye at 11:15 a.m.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Khan al-Sobol Idlib Other Fixed-Wing Fixed Wing North West 11:13:59 a.m. Jabal Akrad Lattakia Su-24 (Fencer) Fixed Wing Circling 11:14:31 a.m. Kafr Zeita Hama Other Fixed-Wing Fixed Wing Circling 11:14:45 a.m. Ariha Idlib MiG-21 (Fishbed) Fixed Wing Circling 11:15:27 a.m. Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib MiG-21 (Fishbed) Fixed Wing South 11:15:46 a.m. Jabal Akrad Lattakia Su-24 (Fencer) Fixed Wing Circling 11:15:59 a.m. Approximate time of the Ariha street strike: 11:18 a.m. Jisr al-Shughour Idlib Su-24 (Fencer) Fixed Wing Circling 11:18:02 a.m. Hama Military Airbase Hama MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing North 11:18:16 a.m. Jabal Akrad Lattakia Su-24 (Fencer) Fixed Wing Circling 11:18:49 a.m.

Airstrikes are first reported just a few minutes later at 11:18 a.m. on a local Facebook page, Ariha Today.

The Times has spoken to experts on the Russian and Syrian Air forces, former Soviet and Syrian pilots, and conflict analysts. The pattern of airstrikes on both days  when weapons are dropped and hit several locations at once  is typical of Syrian attacks. An incident report by the conflict monitoring group Airwars also listed the Air Force as suspects.

Children were among at least 11 people killed and 25 people injured on July 27, according to Ariha Today. At least four people were killed in the July 28 strikes.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 2. Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital Suspect Syrian Air Force

The surgical hospital was disabled by airstrikes highly likely to have been carried out by the Syrian Air Force.

Kafr Nabl Surgical was a well-known hospital that provided services to around 14,000 patients per month, according to Physicians for Human Rights, a nonprofit advocacy group that has investigated attacks on health care.

Repeated attacks on the hospital throughout the Syrian conflict forced administrators to move it underground. After attacks rendered it unusable in early 2019, it was restored in March with support from the World Health Organization and the Japanese government.

Officials say the U.N. is investigating only the July 4 incident, but other attacks on the hospital in 2019, including Russian attacks in May and November, have wrought greater damage, including death and injury to patients and workers.

Where

Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital is located in opposition-controlled Idlib Province. On the day of the attack, the front lines were over 15 miles south of the town.

Since 2016, the hospital has been run by the U.K.-based charity Hand in Hand for Aid and Development, which suspended services after the July 4 attack.

When

The hospital came under fire at 2:52 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. local time on July 4, according to the British charity.

Local activists said that the town of Kafr Nabl suffered its heaviest bombardment that day since late April, when the Syrian military and its allies launched a campaign to retake northwestern Syria.

Who

Flight logs, cockpit tapes and visual evidence provided to The Times tie the airstrikes to the Syrian Air Force.

Kafr Nabl Surgical was first attacked at around 2:52 p.m. with three barrel bombs that rocked the hospital in quick succession, according to the British charity. Barrel bombs are crude unguided bombs that are dropped out of a helicopter. They have been used extensively by the Air Force.

Around that time, flight spotters recorded an Mi-8 helicopter circling above Kafr Nabl at 2:43 p.m., 2:47 p.m. and 2:57 p.m.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 2:39:35 p.m. Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 2:40:14 p.m. Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter North 2:40:25 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 2:43:33 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 2:43:40 p.m. Khan Sheikhun Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 2:44:09 p.m. Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter North 2:44:56 p.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing North West 2:45:39 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 2:47:12 p.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing West 2:48:33 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 2:49:07 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing South 2:50:25 p.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing North West 2:51:05 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 2:51:19 p.m. Approximate time of first airstrike (helicopters): 2:52 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter South 2:57:46 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 2:57:56 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 3:03:02 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib Drone Drone Circling 3:10:53 p.m.

Yaser Kaddour, the hospitals administrator, filmed it being rocked by one of the barrel bombs. He said it was the third explosion.

Hand in Hand for Aid and Development

The audio recordings capture a Syrian pilot confirming an attack at this time. At 2:51 p.m.  seconds before the barrel bomb reportedly exploded  a crew member is heard saying I executed one.

Cockpit recording of a Syrian pilot Pilot I executed one.

Mr. Kaddour was lucky to survive. He went to the hospitals entrance to document the attack, and filmed the remains of an apparent barrel bomb. In the video, an airplane is suddenly heard overhead. Then, another airstrike.

Hand in Hand for Aid and Development

The time of this next strike  at 3:40 p.m., according to the British charity  is corroborated by local news media reports just two minutes later of renewed raids on Kafr Nabl by MiG-23 warplanes. These planes are flown only by the Syrian Air Force.

Renewed raids of MiG-23 warplanes with four vacuum rockets at once on the city of #Kafranbel. kafranbelnews, via Telegram

Flight observations from plane spotters show that a MiG-23 was seen circling over Kafr Nabl at 3:39 p.m. and 3:41 p.m.  one minute before and after the attack.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing North West 3:37:12 p.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing North West 3:38:02 p.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing West 3:38:21 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing Circling 3:39:27 p.m. Approximate time of second airstrike (air-to-surface): 3:40 p.m. Kafranbel Idlib MiG-23 (Flogger) Fixed Wing South 3:41:15 p.m. Hama Military Airbase Hama Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter North 3:41:21 p.m. T4 West Airbase Homs Su-22 (Fitter) Fixed Wing North West 3:47:46 p.m. Shayrat Airbase Homs Su-22 (Fitter) Fixed Wing North 3:49:14 p.m.

Following the July 4 bombings, the Hand in Hand charity expressed concern that the United Nations system of sharing coordinates of protected facilities with warring parties was not preventing attacks and had become inept. Four months later, Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital was bombed again, this time by a Russian pilot, a Times investigation found.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 3. Martyr Akram Ali Ibrahim Al-Ahmad School Suspect Russian Air Force

The Russian Air Force was bombing the town, and most likely carried out the attack.

The secondary school was located in the town of Qalaat al-Madiq. A maternity and childrens hospital built inside the school compound served around 8,000 people each month, said Ibrahim Shamali, the media officer for the Hama Health Directorate.

Staff members evacuated most of the hospital on April 26, when Russian and Syrian forces began an offensive to wrest control of the town from opposition armed groups.

On April 28, Russian airstrikes on Qalaat al-Madiq forced both the hospital and school to be abandoned. Attacks on the town killed five civilians and wounded seven, according to the Hama Media Office.

Eleven days later, Syrian government forces took the town.

Where

Qalaat al-Madiq sat on a front line in Hama province dividing armed opposition groups from President Bashar al-Assads military for more than a year before government forces took the town on May 9. It had been the target of Russan and Syrian government attacks on numerous occasions, and there were multiple reports of shelling and airstrikes throughout April and early May.

Both the hospital and secondary school were located at the northern end of the town, alongside two primary schools. An opposition-run education office was located across the street.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via TerraServer

When

The airstrike on the school and hospital compound occurred sometime between 1:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m, according to Mr. Shamali and the international charity that supported the hospital. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said that the first projectile landed on or near the education offices and the second in the street between them.

A video filmed by a witness around 7:30 a.m., and verified by The Times, showed heavy damage to both the education offices and the hospital.

This clip from a video filmed inside Hospital 111 shows extensive damage to the facility. It was abandoned after the April 28 attack.

Photos provided by the network also confirmed heavy damage to both.

The local education office, located about 130 feet north of the school and hospital, was also heavily damaged by the April 28 airstrike. Syrian Network for Human Rights

At 12:07 a.m., local news outlets began reporting Russian airstrikes on the town. Over the next 19 minutes, Wisam al-Hamwi, a reporter, would tweet about three strikes, at 12:07 a.m., 12:15 a.m. and 12:26 a.m.

Russian warplanes launch an air raid in the city of Qalaat al-Madiq in the western Hama countryside. @wseemalkade, via Twitter

At 1:11 a.m., a local news agency reported a fourth Russian airstrike, and at 1:31 a.m., an Amman-based member of a Syrian activist network tweeted about a fifth airstrike.

Urgent: Russian occupation warplanes target Qalaat al-Madiq with a fourth raid with high-explosive missiles and are still circling. Gaftleknews, via Telegram

Hama countryside

Russian warplanes strike Qalaat al-Madiq

Five air raids on the city until now

God protect them @yaseenalbakhi, via Twitter

Who

Witnesses reported five airstrikes in the two hours after midnight. Flight logs and audio recordings made clear that a Russian pilot was bombing Qalaat al-Madiq at that time. Experts on the capabilities of the Russian and Syrian air forces have also told The Times that only Russian planes typically carry out night strikes.

Syrian ground observers recorded Russian warplanes above Qalaat al-Madiq at 12:09 a.m., 12:14 a.m. and 12:33 a.m., matching the times that Mr. Al-Hamwi reported the first three strikes.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Drone Drone Circling 11:45:36 p.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Drone Drone Circling 11:54:36 p.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Russian Fixed Wing North East 12:06:23 a.m. Strikes begin on Qalaat al-Madiq: 12:07 a.m. Madiq Castle Hama Russian Fixed Wing Circling 12:09:42 a.m. Madiq Castle Hama Russian Fixed Wing Circling 12:14:51 a.m. Hmemim Airbase Lattakia Russian Fixed Wing South East 12:22:56 a.m. Madiq Castle Hama Russian Fixed Wing Circling 12:33:09 a.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Russian Fixed Wing East 12:36:26 a.m. Tah Idlib Drone Drone Circling 12:36:54 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Ilyushin 76 Fixed Wing South West 12:38:34 a.m.

The fourth and fifth airstrike reports  those most likely to be the attacks on the school and hospital compound  also matched observations of Russian warplanes over Qalaat al-Madiq at 1:11 a.m. and 1:24 a.m.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Zmar Aleppo Ilyushin 76 Fixed Wing South West 12:38:34 a.m. Tal Tuqan Idlib Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:08:48 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Russian Fixed Wing North West 1:08:51 a.m. Possible first strike on Hospital 111 and school area: 1:11 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:11:30 a.m. Madiq Castle Hama Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:11:57 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:15:34 a.m. Tal Tuqan Idlib Russian Fixed Wing North 1:17:52 a.m. Zmar Aleppo Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:23:13 a.m. Madiq Castle Hama Russian Fixed Wing Circling 1:24:03 a.m. Tal Tuqan Idlib Russian Fixed Wing South West 1:27:15 a.m. Jarjnaz Idlib Russian Fixed Wing South West 1:28:03 a.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Drone Drone Circling 1:28:22 a.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Russian Fixed Wing South West 1:28:38 a.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib Russian Fixed Wing South West 1:28:39 a.m. Possible second strike on Hospital 111 and school area: 1:31 a.m. Kafranbel Idlib Russian Fixed Wing South East 1:33:12 a.m. Ma'rrat al-Nu'man Idlib Russian Fixed Wing North East 1:34:14 a.m. Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Russian Fixed Wing West 1:38:49 a.m.

Cockpit recordings indicate Russian responsibility for the strikes. We know that Russian Pilot 44 was active over Qalaat al-Madiq at that time because he had received latitude and longitude coordinates that point to this location in the town.

Russian Pilot 44 receives coordinates Control 944 one more coordinates adjustment. Pilot 44 I am seeing a big difference in minutes. Control 35 25 18,46  [36] 23 23,79 Level 211.

At 11:54 p.m, Pilot 44 tells his dispatcher that it will start raining soon. It appears unlikely this was a reference to the weather  which was dry.

Pilot 44 prepares attack Pilot It will start raining, five minutes.

Over the next half an hour, Pilot 44 launches three weapons at the same time that Mr. al-Hamwi, the journalist, and other local sources report airstrikes. Russian pilots follow a consistent pattern: they calculate the minute they will strike, and then confirm to ground control that a weapon has been launched.

At 11:56 p.m., Pilot 44 calculates a strike for the fifth minute, meaning 12:05 a.m. At that time, he says sent, a term Russian pilots use to confirm the release of a weapon.

Pilot 44 confirms the first strike is launched at 12:04 a.m. Pilot 5th minute. Pilot Sent.

At 12:13 a.m., the pilot launches his second airstrike, just before the journalist Mr. al-Hamwi tweets about a second attack.

Pilot 44 confirms second strike at 12:13 a.m. Pilot 14th minute. Pilot 4 sent.

And a third strike at 12:20 a.m, just five minutes before Mr. al-Hamwi reports a third attack from the ground.

Pilot 44 confirms third strike at 12:20 a.m. Control 44 repeat. Pilot 21st minute. Control 21st minute. Working with one stamp.

After this time, there are no Russian cockpit recordings that correspond to the times of 1:11 a.m. and 1:31 a.m.  the strikes most likely to have damaged the hospital, school and education offices.

Gaps in the cockpit tapes are not unusual. The Times has translated and decoded months of Russian pilot recordings. We have heard pilots switching to different radio frequencies, and sometimes the audio recordings fail because of technical difficulties.

Because we know Russian Pilot 44 was bombing Qalaat al-Madiq less than an hour before the school strike, however, and flight logs show only Russian warplane activity above the town near the time of the attack, the Russian Air Force is the most likely culprit.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 4. Rakaya Primary Health Care Center Suspect Syrian Air Force

Reports from a charity, local news media activists and flight logs suggest that a Syrian helicopter attack damaged the facility.

The health center provided free pediatric and gynecology services to people from Rakaya Sijneh and nearby villages in Idlib Province. Each month, it served nearly 2,000 people, according to Syria Relief and Development, the United States-based charity that supported it.

No injuries or casualties were reported in the attack, because operations had been suspended a few days earlier due to the significant increase of aerial bombardment in the area, the charity told The Times in an email.

Where

The health facility is located in the center of Rakaya Sijneh, a village in the southern countryside of Idlib. On May 3, the town was under the control of armed opposition groups and the nearest front line was around seven miles away.

Rakaya Primary Health Center is located in the center of the village, as seen in this undated photo. Rakaya Village, via Facebook

When

The American charity said that the center was damaged at noon by a barrel bomb that exploded around 50 feet away.

Few other reports corroborate the time. But Orient News, a Dubai-based pro-opposition channel, tweeted at 4:02 p.m. local time that the facility had been bombed.

#Urgent | The health center in Rakaya village south of Idlib was put out of service due to bombing #Syria #Orient @OrientNews, via Twitter

Photos published by a British-based monitoring group and verified by The Times confirm that damage was caused inside and outside of the health center. And satellite imagery analysis confirmed that the external damage was caused between late April and May 4, around the time of the attack.

A suspected barrel bomb attack damaged Rakaya Primary Health Center on May 3, 2019. Syrian Network for Human Rights

The Times verified this photo of damage to the health centers exterior. Syrian Network for Human Rights

Who

The attack on the health center happened in early May, when Rakaya was under near daily bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces.

Syria Relief and Development, the American charity, as well as the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations and the Syrian Network for Human Rights all reported that Syrian helicopters had dropped at least one barrel bomb near the health center.

At 11:50 a.m., around 10 minutes before the strike was reported, flight spotters recorded a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter, a type commonly used to drop barrel bombs, above the nearby town of Maarat Hurma. It was headed southeast  in the direction of Rakaya, which is around 3.5 miles southeast of Maarat Hurma.

location province aircraft type aircraft category heading local time Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 11:46:57 a.m. Kafranbel Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter Circling 11:48:39 a.m. Hbit Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing North East 11:50:27 a.m. Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Mi-8 (Hip) Helicopter South East 11:50:48 a.m. Hbit Idlib Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing Circling 11:51:56 a.m. Bdama Idlib Drone Drone Circling 11:57:51 a.m. Ma'ret Hurma Idlib Drone Drone South 11:58:17 a.m. Approximate time of Rakaya Primary Health Care Center attack: 12:00 p.m. Jabal Shahshabo Idlib Drone Drone North 12:01:53 p.m. Hama Military Airbase Hama Yak 130 (Mitten) Fixed Wing North 12:03:58 p.m. Jabal Al-Zawye Idlib Drone Drone Circling 12:06:10 p.m.

The Russian Air Force was not spotted in the area around the time of the attack, and cockpit recordings of Russian pilots did not indicate any activity at the time the strike was reported.

The absence of Russian activity combined with other evidence  including satellite imagery, flight observations and reporting by three organizations  suggests that a Syrian military helicopter was most likely behind it.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 5. Nayrab Palestine Refugee Camp Suspect Opposition militants or pro-Syrian government forces

The camp was most likely shelled by accident. Its unclear who was responsible.

Four children were among the 10 people killed when rockets hit the Nayrab Palestine Refugee Camp near Aleppo on May 14, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Another 30 people were injured.

The attack forced the relief agency to suspend six schools that served 3,000 children.

When

Rockets hit residential buildings around 7:14 p.m., witnesses said, as families were preparing to break their Ramadan fast. The United Nations agency confirmed the time, as did a witness who live streamed the aftermath.

The Times verified these witness photos of the strikes.

A rocket strike on Nayrab Palestine Camp was photographed at dusk on May 14, 2019. . Image via Facebook/alnyrab.

The attack happened on the eve of an annual commemoration of what Palestinians call the catastrophe, or nakba, marking the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes in 1948. The Nayrab camp has existed since that time.

Where

The densely populated camp is home to around 18,000 people in a government-controlled area near a Syrian military airport. Opposition fighters targeted the airport with rockets a week earlier, according to the research firm I.H.S. Markit.

The Times confirmed that rockets hit two locations in the camp, but we were unable to determine what direction they had come from.

A plume of dust and smoke rises over Nayrab Palestine Camp after a rocket strike on May 14, 2019. . Image via Hawar News Agency

Who

Analysts at I.H.S. Markit and the Carter Center, which monitors the Syrian conflict, told The Times the attack had most likely not been deliberate, because belligerents were not known to occupy the camp. Opposition forces trying to attack the Syrian airbase again may have overshot, or errant missiles may have been fired from the military base.

The Times has not yet been able to attribute blame.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights blamed opposition militants linked to Al Qaeda, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, while Syrias state news agency, SANA, blamed unspecified insurgents. The pro-opposition Shaam News Network reported that the rockets had been accidentally launched by Iranian Forces at Aleppo's 80th Brigade Army base, and not by insurgents.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 6. Kafr Nabudah Primary Health Care Center and Surgical Unit Suspect Syrian Air Force or Army

The health facilities were destroyed when the town was pummeled for days. Syrian government forces were probably responsible.

The surgical unit was supported by the Hama Health Directorate, an opposition group that oversees health care in insurgent-held parts of Hama province. According to the World Health Organization, it performed an average of 32 surgeries and 767 outpatient consultations per month before it was attacked.

The health center was supported by the Syrian American Medical Society, a humanitarian group known as SAMS that is based in the United States.

Where

The health center and surgical unit were located on the northwestern end of Kafr Nabudah and served a community of around 16,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. The health center was located about 275 meters to the east of the surgical unit, down the street.

The Kafr Nabudah Primary Health Center and Surgical Unit were located on the northwestern end of the town, which was close to a front line. Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth

Kafr Nabudah was one of several towns located on a front line between Syrian government forces and armed insurgent groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the National Liberation Front.

When

In late April and early May, the Syrian government and its Russian allies began a major offensive aimed at retaking territory in the last insurgent-held parts of Hama and Idlib provinces.

On May 1, predawn ground shelling by Syrian government troops damaged the surgical unit, a dispensary, and an office and ambulance dispatch center of the Syrian Civil Defense. All of the facilities were located near one another.

The shelling injured a nurse, damaged the surgical unit and dispensary, and partially destroyed the Civil Defense building, according to a report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights. A second round of shelling that day damaged a Civil Defense car and an ambulance as they tried to respond to the first attack, the network said.

Over the following days, indiscriminate shelling and bombing of Kafr Nabudah intensified as Syrian government forces advanced on the town and battled insurgent groups in surrounding villages.

Videos posted by the Syrian Army unit known as the Tiger Forces show its members participating in the assault on Kafr Nabudah in the first week of May 2019. Syrian Tiger Forces, via Facebook

At least two videos show Syrian government helicopters dropping barrel bombs on different locations within Kafr Nabudah in the days before its capture.

This video, which The Times edited for length, shows a Syrian Air Force helicopter dropping a barrel bomb on Kafr Nabudah. Salah al-Sheikh

And a review of satellite imagery shows widespread damage across Kafr Nabudah from April 29 to May 10, as Syrian government forces assaulted and captured it.

Four satellite images taken on April 29, May 2, May 7 and May 10 show how attacks by the Syrian Army and Air Force caused destruction across large swaths of Kafr Nabudah, including the approximate locations of the health facilities. Planet Labs

Because doctors, journalists, activists and people opposed to the Assad government fled Kafr Nabudah in the days before its capture on May 8, the Hama Health Directorate was not able to document the destruction of the surgical unit, the agency told The Times. Similarly, SAMS and activists were not able to document the health centers destruction.

Given the multiday assault on Kafr Nabudah and the indiscriminate nature of the shelling, it was not possible to independently confirm the exact date the two health care facilities were hit. But it is highly likely they were destroyed between May 1 and May 8.

Who

Physicians for Human Rights, an advocacy group that has documented attacks on health care facilities in Syria, provided The Times with three images and a video taken after the capture of Kafr Nabudah showing government forces raising the Syrian flag above the dispensary and the surgical unit.

After the town was captured, a Syrian Army soldier spray-painted Kafr Nabudah Post Office on the wall of the former Kafr Nabudah Surgical Unit. Physicians for Human Rights

In addition to the videos showing Syrian government barrel bombing of Kafr Nabudah, the governments 25th Special Mission Forces Division, more commonly known as the Tiger Forces, posted numerous videos documenting their participation in the fight to seize Kafr Nabudah and nearby towns. The videos show the Tiger Forces and their commanders appearing to direct artillery and airstrikes on Kafr Nabudah and using rocket launchers on a nearby town.

In one video, Zein al-Abidin Darwish, a well-known, one-eyed commander in the Tiger Forces, stands in the center of the ruins of Kafr Nabudah after its capture, symbolically stepping on the ground to mark his forces victory and referring to the citys former inhabitants as sons of whores.

Syrian Tiger Forces, via Facebook

Finally, Syrian government Mi-8 attack helicopters and Yak-130 fighter-bomber jets were spotted a total of 19 times over Kafr Nabudah on May 7 and May 8, suggesting they were also highly active in the attacks, in addition to ground forces. Ground observers also logged three Russian jets over the city between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on May 8, and two Su-24 jets, which could have been flown by Syrian or Russian pilots.

Satellite image by Maxar Technologies, via Google Earth 7. National Hospital in al-Suqaylabiyah Suspect National Liberation Front, an armed opposition group

Opposition militants who bragged about shelling the area were probably responsible for damaging a hospital.

The National Hospital provides services to the people of al-Suqaylabiyah and the surrounding countryside, according to the hospitals director.

Where

For years, al-Suqaylabiyah has sat on a front line dividing Syrian government forces from opposition militants, who have repeatedly shelled the town, causing extensive damage and injuries.

The hospital was reportedly damaged when dozens of rockets hit the town on May 26, according to several news and official reports.

A pro-government television report showed damage to the hospital compound. The nearby Younes al-Aji School and civilian homes were featured in other reports of the shelling. The Times verified that they are within a mile of the hospital.

There are conflicting reports about whether the attack caused fatalities. Deaths were reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the pro-government Syrian News Channel and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. But later reports mentioned only two injuries, including to a hospital staff member.

When

The attack happened in the afternoon of May 26, the Syrian News Channel said. That is the only time estimate The Times found.

Hours later, at 11:44 p.m. local time, a pro-government news outlet tweeted that terrorist attacks by rockets resulted in the injury of a nurse and the destruction of the hospitals emergency department, a claim later repeated by others.

A nurse wounded and destruction in the emergency department, as a result of terrorist attacks by rockets on Al-Suqaylabiyah National Hospital in Hama. #hawa_alsham @lahawaalsham, via Twitter

Who

A coalition of opposition groups shelled al-Suqaylabiyah and other towns on May 26 during a counteroffensive to retake nearby Kafr Nabudah. The groups included Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the dominant rebel group in the area, and the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front.

A militia within the National Liberation Front claimed on May 26 that it had killed Syrian and Russian soldiers when it shelled their positions in al-Suqaylabiyah. Some news media repeated that claim, as did opposition supporters on Telegram, a popular messaging app in Syria.

The militants posted videos showing members using what appear to be 122-millimeter artillery shells and a multiple rocket launcher.

National Liberation Front, via YouTube

Weapons remains filmed in al-Suqaylabiyah (below) resemble the 122-millimeter rockets that militants claimed to use.

Alleged weapon remnants were shown on Syrian state-run TV. The remains resemble parts of rockets fired by multiple rocket launch systems. Syrian Arab News Agency, via YouTube

Even if the N.L.F. intended to attack legitimate military targets, multiple rocket systems are not precise. They target a general area, and are indiscriminate when fired at densely populated areas like al-Suqaylabiyah.

The combination of opposition-affiliated news media statements, suspected weapon remnants, witness statements and damage throughout the town suggest that rockets fired by one or more armed opposition groups caused the damage and injuries reported at the National Hospital.

It is possible, given their claims and other evidence, that the N.L.F. is responsible. The N.L.F. did not respond to a request for comment.

Broad Destruction,

Narrow Inquiry

The seven incidents selected by the United Nations comprise a small number of the widespread attacks in 2019 on facilities that are meant to be safeguarded. Medical and human rights groups worry that no one will be held accountable.

The Timess finding that the United Nations has shared with military forces operating in Syria the precise location of at least 29 sites that have come under attack raises questions about whether the system designed to protect those sites has failed.

Russian pilots bombed four hospitals in a 12-hour period in May. And one of those same hospitals again in November. None of these attacks is among those currently being investigated by the United Nations.

Russia Bombed Four Syrian Hospitals in 12 Hours.

In interviews with The Times, leaders of relief groups that support health facilities criticized the narrow scope of the inquiry.

We don't think thats adequate, said Dr. Mufaddal Hamadeh, president of the Syrian American Medical Society. Some sites really do not represent the true story.

One notable attack not yet being investigated, Dr. Hamadeh said, was on a major hospital in Maarat al-Numan. In November, after the inquiry was established, pro-Syrian government forces were also suspected of bombing a camp for displaced people in Qah, in the Aleppo countryside. Its location, too, was shared by the United Nations, but the attack is not currently on the inquirys list.

The inquiry is continuing, and investigators may yet broaden its scope.

Khaula Sawah, vice president of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations in the United States, said that if governments and the international community did not hold the perpetrators accountable for what they do, they will continue their work, they will escalate their actions.
New Delhi: The new Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, on Wednesday said India now needs to pay more attention to the China front, and asserted that military capabilities will be bolstered all along the northeastern frontier. He also expressed the hope that maintaining peace and tranquillity on Indias border with China will lead to an eventual solution to the boundary dispute.

Gen. Naravane also said special attention will be paid to human rights. He said India has land borders with two major nations, and both were equally important.

While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (Pakistan border), the northern front also now requires an equal amount of attention. It is in that context that we are now going in for capability development and enhancement of our capacities even in our northern border, which includes northeastern parts of our country, said Gen. Naravane.

He pointed out that India has a Line of Actual Control with China and the border question was yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders, he said. I am sure the situation will prevail. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution, he said.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Gen. Naravane said development will happen only when the borders of the country are secure. He said his priority will be to keep the Army ever-ready to meet any challenge.

He also said the armed forces were ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation. I am assuring the people of the country the armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are capable of dealing with any challenge, Gen. Naravane added.
Ive seen three presidents in my lifetime  Roosevelt, Reagan and Trump  who all had the same characteristics.

They understood our Constitution. Roosevelt didnt express shock and sorrow over Pearl Harbor. He called it an outrageous criminal act that would be responded to. America ultimately defeated the Japanese. Reagan told Gorbachev to tear down the wall dividing Germany. It came down. Both Roosevelt and Reagan were blunt and wouldnt put up with the threatening criminal acts of two enemies.

Today we have a president who has questionable moments, but is tough like Roosevelt and Reagan in dealing with the threats from other countries. He wont raise taxes to insane levels. He wont put up with our borders being violated or with trade acts with other nations that would put a wretched jolt into our economy, or with politicians who demand we cease the manufacture of fuels that power our aircraft and automobiles because of their effect on the climate.

What Ive seen under this man is a country with a prosperous market, fair taxation, a military that will protect our country and is demanding reasonable tough negotiations with any foreign nation. Yes, he is blunt, but he also respects our Creator.
Who among us hasnt done this? Sometimes we are desperate to hear from God, and since we know He speaks through His word, we open the Bible and point to a verse. There have been times in my life I have done this and have been amazed at what the Lord showed me and how He met my need. But a certain time in particular stands out because God taught me the requirement for discernment when using this method.

One day, after receiving the news that my Non-Hodgkins lymphoma had returned, I was desperate to read a verse that would give me encouragement and strength. I used the Open and Point Method to discover what the Lord might want to say to me. Shockingly, the verse I pointed to was this: I will prepare your grave, for you are vile (Nahum 1:14). After I got over the shock, I relied on the knowledge I had gained from years of walking with the Lord, and I knew this message was not meant for me. I know my Shepherds voice, and I also know not to misapply His word. This Scripture, in its context, was meant for Ninevah, which was a faithless and ruthless society. Gods word, incorrectly handled, can cause us to fear or mistrustbut fear is never from God. If you decide to use the Open and Point Method, do it with wisdom, always considering the context of the verses you are reading.

Remedy: Consider the need for discernment and wisdom, and use it when applying what you read.

Photo Credit:  Getty Images
A care home has been ordered to close after regulators branded it one of the worst ever seen in Northern Ireland.

Valley Nursing Home in Clogher, Co Tyrone will shut its doors in 51 days unless the owners can successfully prove that the home is safe. In the meantime, health bosses have been tasked with finding alternative accommodation for the 75 people currently living there.

The home provides nursing residential care to people with a range of complex needs, including stroke survivors and dementia patients.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) gave notice to cancel the registration of the home last Friday.

It came after the latest series of RQIA inspections on December 3, 16 and 17 highlighted "significant concerns" relating to management of the home, the health and welfare of residents, infection control prevention and the environment in the facility.

Chief executive of the RQIA, Olive Macleod, said: "This is a home we have been monitoring very closely, particularly since July of this year."

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"We have inspected it on 10 occasions and we have met with the provider, the person who owns the home, and we're not seeing a sustained improvement. In fact, we are seeing a deterioration.

"There have been failings across the board, the patients have been failed by the management. The staff have worked really hard to support the patients, but they haven't had a good quality of life in this home.

"Their dignity hasn't been protected. It is one of the worst homes we have seen in Northern Ireland, particularly since I have joined the organisation.

"A home needs a good manager and it hasn't had a manager for many months.

"There have been turnaround managers that haven't turned it around and have left the home and the patients to their own devices."

A meeting was held on December 20 to discuss the RQIA's intention to close the home.

The management of the home was given an opportunity to explain what steps it planned to take to address the failings.

However, the watchdog said: "RQIA was not assured during this meeting about your capacity to improve. Given the lack of sustained improvements since July 2019, and the potential for matters outlined in this notice to negatively impact on the delivery of safe and effective care to patients, this notice of proposal has been issued."

A member of staff who answered the phone at the home on Tuesday night hung up when asked to comment on the action being taken by the RQIA.

The most recent publicly available inspection report of the home, from a visit in September, revealed a litany of distressing failings there.

It said: "Staff knowledge in relation to the management of needle stick injuries, dilution rates for disinfectants and management of blood spillages was lacking."

The report said inspectors have found dirty patient equipment in the home, including commodes and raised toilet seats.

Only 60% of staff demonstrated good hand hygiene. Mattresses were heavily stained, while there were also a number of stained and torn duvets, all of which were described as "not fit for purpose". A significant gap was also uncovered with regards to cleaning - in one unit there was no entry recorded between August 17 and September 17.

The report continued: "Throughout the home more attention to detailed cleaning was identified. High and low level dust was evident in both patient and non-patient areas. In the patient areas there was debris evident on floor corners, cobwebs in bedrooms and a clinical room; ceiling fans and radiators were dusty.

"Non-patient areas such as dirty utility rooms and treatment rooms required de-cluttering and cleaning.

"Senior management do not have oversight of the quality of cleaning practices in the home. More attention to detail and better governance arrangements are required."

Reacting to the proposed closure, Aidan Hanna from NI Patient Voice welcomed the move.

However, he added: "While I believe this is good news, it is concerning that the home has 56 days [as of last Friday] to dispute the notice. There are also serious questions to be asked as to why it has taken the RQIA so long to take this step.

"I believe the home has been given far too many chances.

"If you look at the inspections from the last three to five years, they have been completely dreadful."
Two fatal shootings on New Years Eve pushed the homicide count in Philadelphia past the total for 2018 and made it the worst year for killings in the city since 2007.

A third fatal shooting occurred late Tuesday night. A woman was shot dead inside a home in the 5600 block of Frontenac Street in the Summerdale section of Northeast Philadelphia. A man was transported from the scene to Einstein Medical Center with a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was reported in critical condition. What actually happened in the house was still being sorted out, police said.

The deaths came one day after Mayor Jim Kenney announced his pick of Danielle Outlaw, the police chief of Portland, Ore., to become Philadelphias new police commissioner. One of her top priorities  besides changing the scandal-plagued department  will be to figure out a way to stem the rise of deadly violence in the city.

After the two earlier shootings Tuesday, Philadelphia had 355 homicides in 2019, topping last years final tally of 353. The death of the woman Tuesday night appeared likely to be counted as 356.

The last time the city recorded a higher figure was 2007, with 391 slayings.

The first homicide on Tuesday occurred shortly before 11 a.m. in the 3500 block of Germantown Avenue. (Just last week, two men were shot in the same block, which is next to Temple University Hospital.) A 47-year-old man was shot in the chest and left arm. Police responding to the scene rushed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead minutes later.

Just after 2 p.m., an unidentified man was shot in the back and right arm while he was in the 4000 block of North Seventh Street in Hunting Park. Police took him to Temple, where he was pronounced dead at 2:28 p.m.

No arrests were reported in either case.

At the beginning of 2019, Kenney introduced a set of initiatives to reduce gun violence through a public health approach. Vanessa Garrett Harley, deputy managing director for criminal justice and public safety, said recently that it was too early to know if they had made a difference.

In stark contrast is New York City, which was expected to end 2019 with fewer homicides than Philadelphia. The population of New York City is 8.4 million compared with 1.58 million in Philadelphia.

At the height of the crack epidemic, both cities suffered record-high homicide totals. Philadelphia topped 500 in 1990. New York had more than 2,200 that year.

During the 1990s, New York experienced a sharp decline in crime, as did some other major cities. Philadelphia lagged but eventually saw similar reductions.

New York reached a modern low of 292 homicides in 2017. Philadelphia achieved its low in 2013 with 246. It stayed almost unchanged with 247 homicides in 2014, but the number has been rising ever since.

David Kennedy, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, said in an email Tuesday night that New York has learned from its mistake[s] and adapted and evolved over the time, as well as consistently organized law enforcement with city government and community action to prevent homicide and gun violence.

"Theres clear evidence now that cities that focus on concrete, evidence-based violence prevention can make real, steady progress. Philadelphia simply hasnt  until now, perhaps  done that, Kennedy said.
"Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as...
In 2019, the flow of foreign investment into Vietnam contained a number of noticeable new trends. In terms of investment, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) increasingly account for a large proportion and rapid growth rate. Although capital is still focused on manufacturing and processing, it is growing faster in infrastructure services. Meanwhile, investment in agriculture is still low.

Dr. Phan Huu Thang, former director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment

The statistics on foreign investment attraction results in the first 12 months of 2019 reflect such a fact. Specifically, the total newly-registered and added capital reached $22.8 billion, and decreased compared to the same period in 2018. Meanwhile, investment capital through M&As reached nearly $15.5 billion, up 56.4 per cent on-year. It is understandable that foreign investors increasingly prefer M&A deals, as they take a shorter time for completing procedures for transferred projects compared to directly establishing new legal entities to implement projects.

When investing directly, for projects with a scale of several tens of millions of US dollars or more, or with a land use scale of a few dozen hectares or more, it usually takes at least a few years to carry out investment procedures.

In addition, it is quite difficult to estimate the cost of direct funding, while investing through M&A often consists of a clearer budget package. Thus, it is also easy for the investors representative to report to the shareholders council or a higher level with the authority to approve the decision on the cost of the deal.

Regarding international partners, as of December 20, 2019, investors from South Korea ranked first with the registered capital of over $7.92 billion, followed by those from Hong Kong ($7.87 billion) and Singapore ($4.5 billion).

It is worth noting that the number of registered capital from markets such as China and Hong Kong saw a breakthrough compared to previous years, and Hong Kong ranked first in the ranking of outside financiers into Vietnam within one year.

Investment has continued to follow general trends for many years. Accordingly, capital flows most strongly in the field of manufacturing and processing, real estate, wholesale, and retail. However, it is regrettable that potential fields that Vietnam is in need of and encouragement of investment  such as high-tech agriculture  have not attracted much foreign capital as of yet.

Capital flow adjustment policy

When comparing the figures of $22.8 billion of direct investment and $15.5 billion through the M&A channel, it can be seen that the direct investment capital still plays a leading role. However, the increase of such funding via M&A also raises the question of whether it is necessary to design policies to adjust the capital flow or let the market and investors decide by themselves.

As of now, there has not been any official assessment comparing advantages and disadvantages between these two forms. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately assess the specific benefits that each form brings to overseas investment in Vietnam.

In fact, there should be in-depth study on the issue to supplement policy orientation to attract such investment. For example, is it necessary to determine a predetermined ratio of each phase (for example, every five years) attracted to a percentage of the direct channels and a percentage by the M&A channel? There are also industries and fields that need and do not need to encourage investment under the M&A channel. For example, in beer production, Vietnam has a market and has the capacity to succeed, so Vietnam should not encourage funding in this particular area.

In order to comprehensively assess the results of foreign investment attraction in 2019 through the M&A channel, the state management agency needs to consider in detail outstanding large deals in the past year, to see clearly the negatives and positives from which to draw lessons on state management in foreign investment in upcoming period.

Regarding the rapid increase on investment capital from China and Hong Kong, there have been studies showing that it may be due to the influence of the US-China trade tensions and the current instability situation in Hong Kong. In addition, the project screening and orientation for attracting international partners to Vietnam has not been clearly defined and agreed in the whole system of management of attracting foreign investment.

Many experts specialising in studying such funding in Vietnam still have certain concerns on the quality of the projects relocated to Vietnam, and who the investors actually are. So now may be the time to install a filter for foreign investors so that the country can choose those that are really capable and come with initiatives that are environmentally friendly, because the red carpet period is over with all investors.

A new filter is needed to select and protect the prestige of investors  those who always comply with international laws on investment of the host country. At the same time, such a procedure protects the development of foreign investment in Vietnam in the coming period.

Suffering the effects

It can be generally considered that overseas investment attraction in Vietnam continues to be successful with consecutive increases in inflow compared to previous years. The credit rating of Vietnams business environment continues to be highly appreciated by reputable international rating organisations. International funding has made positive contributions to Vietnams socio-economic development in past years, including adding important capital sources, promoting exports, contributing to the state budget, attracting high technology, creating jobs, and contributing to enhancing the role and position of Vietnam in the process of international economic integration.

However, along with these successes, the most important thing is the management of such investment. For example, the Our City urban area project in the northern port city of Haiphong was found to have held a large-scale gambling organisation involving hundreds of non-nationals. This case shows the lessons that must be learned in all localities across the country in the management of immigration. Besides that, it is necessary to review projects on all sectors, including long-delayed ventures, enterprises with tax debts, using Vietnamese and foreign labourers, and more. It is also necessary to pay particular attention on 100 per cent foreign-invested enterprises.

The relocating trends in 2019 of foreign investment flows are temporary and short-term, and will become long-term trends depending on two main factors: the context and situation of international trade and investment; and the initiative in attracting foreign investment for Vietnam in the short or long term.

The international context will greatly affect investment attraction of every country but not all countries have to suffer adverse effects. Previously, Vietnam was not only surrounded by sanctions but also experienced a regional financial crisis, but the country knows how to proactively overcome these challenges. Thus, up to the present time and in the face of external turmoil, the opening or closure of any venture is our own initiative and right.

Ensuring there is a proper filter, Vietnam will determine the trend of foreign investment inflows in the coming period, bringing the highest efficiency and space for true investors in the country.

In August 2019, the Party Central Committee issued Resolution No.50-NQ/TW on directions to perfect institutions and improve effectiveness of foreign investment co-operation by 2030. This is a particularly important resolution that needs to be seriously implemented from the central to local levels. It will promote activities of attracting and using foreign investment in Vietnam in the coming period in the right direction, bringing higher socio-economic efficiency and sustainability in all aspects of economy and society, security, defence, culture, and foreign affairs. Most importantly, it will surely get the consensus and appreciation of international partners, especially that of true investors.
Anna Vakili celebrated the end of 2019 in style as she headed on a glamorous night out with her lookalike sister Mandi on Tuesday.

The Love Island star, 29, marked the end of the decade by heading to exclusive Mayfair nightclub Tramp- an iconic celebrity hotspot.

Anna showed off her hourglass figure in a strapless black lycra gown, while Mandi exhibited her ample cleavage in a plunging gold dress.

Anna Vakili (left) celebrated the end of 2019 in style as she headed on a glamorous night out with her lookalike sister Mandi (right) at Tramp nightclub in Mayfair on Tuesday

Adding extra pizzazz to her outfit, the reality starlet complemented her figure-hugging dress with a dazzling diamante choker.

The reality star wore her raven tresses in a sleek straight look and accentuated her bronzed tan with a full face of make-up.

Mandi, meanwhile, gave Anna a run for her money as she slipped into the busty floor-length dress, which came complete with a racy thigh-high slit.

Glamorous: Anna showed off her hourglass figure in a strapless black lycra gown

Bling: Adding extra pizzazz to her outfit, the reality starlet complemented her figure-hugging dress with a dazzling diamante choker

Mandi amped up the glam our with a 1,690 Gucci Dionysus handbag and perspex heels.

The girls appeared in high spirits as they tottered into the club for the New Year's Party- where tickets for a table cost 200 per person.

The outing comes after Anna's recent holiday in Dubai, where she hit out at body shamers with a slew of sizzling bikini selfies.

Busty display: Mandi, meanwhile, gave Anna a run for her money as she slipped into the busty floor-length dress, which came complete with a racy thigh-high slit

Designer garb: Mandi amped up the glam our with a 1,690 Gucci Dionysus handbag and perspex heels

Expensive taste: The girls appeared in high spirits as they tottered into the club for the New Year's Party- where tickets for a table cost 200 per person

In her typically bold fashion, the reality star responded to backlash from cruel trolls by penning on her widely-followed social media account: 'All the fat shamers can kiss myyy FAT a** stretch marks and all.'

And in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Anna talked about her incredible figure and how she deals with trolls.

'I still get trolled but I am getting stronger. I filter out bad comments.

'If I get a DM I read the first few words and if I can tell its going to be negative I just block and delete straight away. Thats my way forward.'
NASA photo of the eruption of Klyuchevsky volcano on 30 September, 1994, the volcano's largest explosion in 40 years. The large

Background:

Kliuchevskoi is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. Kliuchevskoi rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred at Kliuchevskoi during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of its 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

---

Source: Klyuchevsky information by the GVP (Smithsonian Institution)
Lucknow, Jan 1 : Mafia dons from Uttar Pradesh, both slain and jailed, have been found to be 'active' on social networking sites, especially Facebook.

The slain dons are being kept 'alive' by their friends and supporters who keep posting items from time to time to revive memories of the dons and connect with people.

The jailed dons are also active on Facebook though they insist that it is their sons/nephews who manage their pages because the people from their constituency want to remain connected.

Virendra Pratap Shahi, the don from Gorakhpur who is said to have built the city into the crime capital of north India in the 70s and 80s, was shot dead in Lucknow in 1997.

His Facebook display photo screams "Sher-e-Purvanchal" and carries a photograph of a roaring lion.

Greetings on various festivals are extended to his supporters on his behalf. Supporters, in turn, pay their respects to the slain don on his death anniversary and keep reminding people that he was the original "Sher-e-Purvanchal".

Twenty-two years after his death, his page has 1,767 likes and 1,768 followers.

His supporters post his photographs and relate anecdotes about his good deeds that earned him the title of 'Robin Hood of the East'.

Another slain don 'active' on Facebook is Shriprakash Shukla. One of the most dreaded gangsters in the history of Uttar Pradesh, Shukla's activities in the underworld had led to the creation of the Special Task Force in Uttar Pradesh in 1998. The same year, the gangster was shot dead by STF in Ghaziabad.

His Facebook page proudly calls him a 'don' and leader of 'Gangster group-G2'.

Though the criminal was shot dead in 1998, his FB page keeps him 'alive' and claims that he even started a 'relationship in January 2015' and then got 'married in January 2015'.

The significance of January 2015 is not yet known.

There is even a post, purportedly from Shukla, that says, "I am a gangster and gangsters don't ask questions." The cover photo of the slain don is the one that exists in police records and was published in newspapers.

The cover photo of Shukla that was taken after his encounter and showed a close-up of his blood-splattered face was earlier the display photo but has now been removed.

Munna Bajrangi, who was shot dead inside Baghpat jail last year in July, also has a Facebook page but there are no posts on it. His profile claims that he is 'self-employed' and has about 20 friends.

The most interesting Facebook page is of an "emerging don," Aman Mani Tripathi, son of former minister Amar Mani Tripathi who is serving a life term in connection with the murder of a poetess in 2003.

Aman Mani is also an independent legislator.

Aman Mani is out on bail in a kidnapping case and is facing a CBI probe for the "accidental murder" of his wife Sara. His cover photo shows him with his supporters.

While he was in jail in 2016 for the murder of his wife, he had been regularly posting on his Facebook page, but stopped after the media reported it.

Interestingly, Aman Mani's friends list on Facebook includes former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, IPS officer Atul Sharma and IAS officer Sanjay Prasad.

Among the jailed dons who are active on social media is Mukhtar Ansari. He has been behind bars in Agra jail since the past 15 years for the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai and other cases.

His page is managed by his family members and gives information about welfare programmes in his constituency.

Ansari does not directly post anything on the site, but his aides claim that he remains updated about the activities on his page.

Another don who recently made his debut on Facebook is Brijesh Singh. He was arrested from Odisha in 2008 and is lodged in Varanasi jail. He is also a member of the UP legislative council.

His Facebook page has 1,619 followers and 4,072 friends and his account is managed by his nephew, Sushil Singh, also a BJP MLA.

According to police sources, some of the jailed dons manage their own accounts from behind bars while gang members handled the accounts of slain dons.

A senior police official said, "This is how their supporters and gang members keep alive their clout even when they are not physically present. We keep an eye on such accounts." (Amita Verma can be reached at amitaver@hotmail.com)
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he does not want - or foresee - a war with Iran.

Trump was speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

One journalist asked him about the possibility of tensions sprialing into a war with Iran.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANSWERING REPORTER'S (UNINTELLIGIBLE) QUESTION ABOUT IRAN, SAYING:

"I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn't last very long. Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody. So I don't see that happening. No, I don't think Iran would want that to happen. It would go very quickly."

Trump earlier warned of retaliation against Iran, following violent protests led by Iranian-backed militia at the U.S. embassy in Iraq's Baghdad.

He also made reference to a similar attack on a U.S. consul in the Lebanese city of Benghazi in 2012.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP REPLYING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION ABOUT THE U.S. MILITARY RESPONSE TO THE ATTACKS ON THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD, AND SAYING IN REFERENCE TO THE DEADLY ATTACK ON THE U.S. CONSUL IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA, YEARS EARLIER:

This will not be a 'Benghazi'. Benghazi should never have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi. But we have some of our greatest warriors there. They got in there very quickly. So as we saw, there was a potential for problem. They got in and there was no problem whatsoever."

The protests followed U.S. air strikes on sunday on bases operated by Iranian-backed militia.

25 fighters were killed, and dozens more were wounded.

Those strikes were in retaliation for the killing of a U.S. civilian... in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.
"Go, go gadgets" has long been the attitude in my house. Perhaps yours, too: A smartphone made it easier to stay in touch. A smart TV streamed a zillion more shows. A smart speaker let you talk to a smart thermostat without getting out of bed. That's progress, right?

Now I've got a new attitude: It's not just what I can get out of technology - I want to know what the technology gets out of me.

For the past year, I've been on the trail of the secret life of our data. What happens when you put your iPhone to sleep at night? Does Amazon's Alexa eavesdrop on your family? Who gets to know where you drive - and where you swipe your credit card?

Trying to get straight answers has been, literally, a full-time job. I've digested the legal word salad of privacy policies, interrogated a hundred companies and even hacked into a car dashboard to grab my data back. There are lots of stories about online threats, but it feels different watching your personal information streaming out of devices you take for granted. This year I learned there is no such thing as "incognito." Just stepping out for an errand, I discovered, lets my car record where I shop, what I listen to and even how much I weigh.

Learning how everyday things spy on us made me, at times, feel paranoid. Mostly, my privacy project left me angry. Our cultural reference points - Big Brother and tinfoil hats - don't quite capture the sickness of an era when we gleefully carry surveillance machines in our pockets and install them in our homes.

With each discovery, I've looked for ways to change my own relationship with technology. I've stopped installing new smart-home devices that let corporations or police log what's happening at my house. I switched web browsers and credit cards. When possible, I use a pseudonym or a throwaway email address.

Still, I'm going to level with you. After a year of wrestling my data from corporate America, I hardly feel in control. Being paranoid isn't enough to save us in the age of surveillance.

But no, privacy isn't dead. A path to reclaiming it - fuzzy and almost too late - is starting to emerge. We just have to be angry enough to demand it.

- Data is power

While we're busy living increasingly online lives, it's hard to know what's at stake in our data.

Most of the headlines focus on leaks and the unintended consequences of data collection, like hackers stealing credit card numbers. You hear about creepy but vague violations, like when Apple and Amazon hired people to review recordings taken from their voice assistants. In a world where so many others are collecting our personal data, it's legitimate to worry whether they're doing enough to protect it.

But there's a more fundamental problem: Why is so much of our information being collected in the first place?

When I began my privacy project, I learned something about the now-ubiquitous Alexa I hadn't quite understood when I first brought home an Echo speaker. Every time Amazon's artificial intelligence activates, it keeps a recording. Amazon had four years of my family's conversations.

There's more: Amazon also keeps reports on appliances you connect to Alexa - in my smart home, every flip of a light switch or adjustment on the thermostat. Last week, Amazon reported that Alexa users received "millions" of doorbell and motion announcements during the 2019 holiday season, "from carolers to delivery drivers and holiday guests." Surveilling that many homes is a thing the company brags about. (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, but I review all technology with the same critical eye.)

Amazon isn't building its dossier on you just to be creepy. It wants your voice and your data to train its AI, the technology it hopes will rule our future economy.

While we've been wondering at the new capabilities of connected apps and devices, many of them have been quietly turning our private experiences into their raw materials. These companies act like the data belongs to them, rather than us. Largely unhindered by law, a hidden economy of data brokers gobbles every data morsel it can. Author Shoshana Zuboff gave this data grab a sharp name that I hope sticks: "surveillance capitalism."

There are lots of ways your data can, and will, be used against you. Governments frequently compel companies to hand over what they know. Tracking your credit card lets retailers know how much you're willing to pay. Tracking what you watch on TV lets politicians micro-target your fears. Tracking your web surfing lets marketers glimpse your desires - to get you to buy things you may not really need.

These corporations understand that data is a form of power. It's time to take ours back.

- The arms race

Opting out is more easily said than done.

I tried putting my Alexa speaker on mute, but that defeated the purpose of having a voice-operated assistant in my house. Turning it back on, Amazon would let me delete its recordings of my voice and smart-home activity - but only after the fact, and if I remembered.

Around every corner in my connected life lay one of these traps. Data-collecting companies, especially when they're trotted in front of lawmakers, like to say they give us "control." But often it's a false choice between forgoing some new capability vs. letting them mine your life. That's not how technology has to work.

In my privacy project, I found that every swipe or tap of a credit card lets as many as a half-dozen kinds of companies grab information about what, where and how much we spend. Since I can't live without a credit card, I switched most of my purchases to the new Apple Card, which restricts its bank, Goldman Sachs, from selling customer data.

That's good, but Apple didn't do anything to stop data collection by the Mastercard network its card runs on, or by retailers and point-of-sale system operators. Sometimes companies say they protect our privacy, but I find they often use a narrow definition of privacy. Same for your smartphone: Apple brags, "What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone," but doesn't stop app makers from sending your personal information to third-party tracking companies.

Facebook, Google and lots of other data-collecting companies offer privacy control panels that hardly anybody ever uses. I don't blame anyone for keeping away: I've tried adjusting the terrible default settings for Google, Facebook and Amazon, but the companies keep changing the controls and the types of information they collect. Using a virtual private network, or VPN, doesn't do much to stop them from grabbing data from a device you use while logged in to one of their services.

The arms race is exhausting. After I discovered how much Google's Chrome let tracking cookies ride shotgun while I browsed the web, I switched to Mozilla's Firefox, which has default cookie-tracking protection. But even it struggles to defeat a newer, more pernicious form of tracking called fingerprinting, already used on a third of the most-popular sites.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The truth is, most of us don't have the time or expertise to defend ourselves from the smartest minds in Silicon Valley, many of whom say they want to improve the world but hooked their own financial success onto grabbing as much data as possible.

- Data co-pilots

We won't regain our privacy if we leave it up to individuals. If we're going to survive the age of surveillance, we're going to need help.

That starts with laws. Privacy isn't just an individual right. It's a public good that, when done right, keeps everyone safe, whether they're paying attention or not. This ought to be obvious: Our data shouldn't have a secret life.

America doesn't have a broad privacy law, like Europe's General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. But after years of U.S. lawmakers just talking about data, we're starting to see some action. So far, that has come mostly in the form of regulatory fines. We should demand laws that not only require companies to come clean about what they're taking but also place some limits on it.

Starting in January, California will bring us closer to a general data law with its new California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA. It treats our data like we own it, and gives California residents new powers to demand that companies show us what they've collected and who they share it with. It might force some (but not all) of the companies I investigated in my privacy project to open up.

Transparency means that vigilant citizens - and pushy journalists - can hold companies accountable through public debate about what sorts of data collection are acceptable. Transparency is also good for business: It helps consumers trust what's happening behind the digital curtains.

But better seeing our data gets us only so far. My inbox is already flooded with updated privacy policies and data disclosures from companies rushing to comply with the CCPA. Managing all the data I generate is more than even I can handle.

When we're sick, we go to a doctor. To keep our computers safe, we install anti-virus software. We rely on professionals to help out with lots of complex aspects of modern life: Why not have professionals help with data, too? Call them your privacy co-pilot.

A fledgling privacy service called Jumbo shows what's possible. From your phone, it logs into Google, Facebook, Amazon and others and spruces up your privacy on your behalf. In clear language and colorful illustrations, it explains the real choices we have and makes recommendations like you'd get from a really clued-in friend. It's my favorite app of the year.

The first time I used Jumbo, I was shocked that it identified a half-dozen privacy settings for Facebook and Google that even I had missed. Now the app goes in on a regular basis and deletes my Alexa recordings, Google data and Twitter posts, reducing the data trail I leave behind me.

Right now Jumbo is tiny and faces an uphill battle when it adds a paid version in the coming months. But the privacy co-pilot market is burgeoning with new ideas, joining the likes of password managers and security-focused WiFi routers. California's new law smartly carves out protection for third parties to manage our data for us. Now we need clear professional rules for how these companies represent us and prove their trustworthiness.

I don't know exactly how this will evolve. But we're more likely to win when there are laws that stop data collection from being a secret - and when we have companies fighting to protect our privacy, not just exploit it.
Samasta Hindu Aghadi leader Milind Ekbote, who was arrested by Pune rural police in March, 2018 and later released on bail in a case of attempted murder and instigating violence in Bhima Koregaon in January 2018, has been served summons by the Bhima Koregaon Inquiry Commission.

This was confirmed by commission lawyer Ashish Satpute on Tuesday evening. After the Pune schedule was over, the next list was drawn up. Summons have already been served to them, said Satpute.

Besides Ekbote, the summons were served to three others including Dalit cultural group Kabir Kala Manch member Harshali Potdar, Dalit politician and professor, Jogendra Kawade, and additional commissioner (East Region) of Mumbai police, Lakshmi Gautam.

Potdar, a resident of Mumbai, has been named in the Elgar Parishad case being investigated by Pune city police. She was among the more than 500 people who had submitted affidavits to the inquiry commission. Potdar was summoned in December, 2019 and had asked the commission for a postponement on account of typhoid, according a source at the commission.

Kawade had started his deposition before the commission but had asked for a postponement after the Maharashtra assembly elections.

The four are scheduled to appear before the commission in Mumbai between January 6 and 10.
(Newser)  A fight in a Mexican prison has left 16 inmates dead and five wounded. It took nearly three hours Tuesday for guards to regain control of the men's prison in Cieneguillas, the New York Times reports. The victims had been shot, stabbed or beaten to death, per the AP. Officials said four guns were found after the riot, possibly brought in by visitors on Tuesday. An investigation has begun, per Reuters, and security is to be increased at prisons.

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Violence in Mexico's crowded prisons has been a problem. Nearly 50 inmates were killed in a gang fight in a Monterrey prison in 2016, per the Times. In 2017, a fight left at least 28 inmates dead in a prison in Acapulco. A prison fight in October ended with six inmates dead in the state of Morelos. (Read more prison riot stories.)
The Oakland property at the center of a legal tug-of-war between a group of homeless mothers and a Southern California-based real estate company has revealed an extensive network of homes owned by the business, according to an investigation by NBC Bay Area.

Wedgewood Inc is the owner of the vacant West Oakland three-bedroom home that was illegally occupied by the homeless women back in November; the group was served an eviction notice by the company, but is currently fighting the eviction in court, arguing that housing is a human right. The women have since organized as the group "Moms4Housing" and they are looking to call attention to the housing crisis in the Bay Area.

In its investigation of the company, NBC Bay Area identified at least 98 LLCs owned by Wedgewood that operate in the Bay Area. It "owns at least 125 properties across eight Bay Area counties"  not including Solano County  with 31 of its LLCs owning property in the Bay Area since 2015. The company specializes in buying homes on the cheap, renovating and flipping them. The 125 homes only reflects the number of houses currently owned by the business, not the number of properties it has taken on in total over the years.

READ ALSO: Bay Area population growth rate lowest in 15 years

Moms4Housing called Wedgewood a "displacement machine" and that "investor-owned properties should be given back to communities who have been displaced by soaring rents," Mother Jones reported.

"[Moving into the vacant property] was an answer to a desperate need," Dominique Walker, one of the occupants of the West Oakland home, told the magazine. It should be illegal to have vacant houses and have people sleeping on the streets. I feel like theres a moral crisis. Theres a profiteering crisis  I think thats where the crime lies.

According to the magazine, the West Oakland property had been unoccupied for two years before Wedgewood snapped up the property in July. The property remained vacant until Walker and another mother began squatting at the home. By the magazine's estimation, there are 4,000 "vacant parcels" in Oakland, about the same reported number of homeless individuals living in the city.

"We feel like we have a right to this space and this home," Walker said to Mother Jones. "This home belongs back in the hands of the community from which it was taken."

RELATED: Owners of occupied house tell Oakland councilmembers to encourage women to leave

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Patrick McKinney said at a Monday hearing that he would rule on the eviction case at an unspecified later date, saying, "I want to carefully consider the issues that have been raised."

Wedgewood has rejected all suggestions that the company should negotiate to sell or give the property to the two women, stating in a letter issued Sunday that, "We will not meet or negotiate with the squatter's organization that broke into our house and is illegally occupying it."

To read more about Wedgewood and its Bay Area properties, along with other states the company operates in  and lawsuits filed against the company  head over to NBC Bay Area.

Dianne de Guzman is a Digital Editor at SFGATE. Email: dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com
They both rose to fame on Married At First Sight last year.

And on Tuesday night, Tamara Joy and Melissa Lucarelli rung in 2020 together - and even shared a cheeky kiss - as they partied the night away in Melbourne.

Tamara, 30, shared videos to Instagram of herself and Melissa on the dancefloor, before kissing on the lips at midnight on New Year's Eve.

New Year's pash! On Tuesday night, Tamara Joy (left) and Melissa Lucarelli (right) rung in 2020 together - and even shared a cheeky kiss - as they partied the night away in Melbourne

'My first kiss of 2020,' Tamara captioned the video.

On the night, Tamara stunned in a pink miniskirt and white crop top, which showed off her curvy figure.

Meanwhile, Melissa opted for a pink flowing mini dress.

Pretty in pink! On the night, Tamara (pictured) stunned in a pink miniskirt and white crop top, which showed off her curvy figure

Standing out! Meanwhile, Melissa (left) opted for a pink flowing mini dress

Fancy seeing you here! They were joined at the Together New Year's Eve party by fellow MAFS star Carly Bowyer (left), who wore a black leather mini dress

Ready to party! The girls appeared in high spirits as they danced and sipped on cocktails

Stepping out! Another familiar face at the event was Paddy Colliar (right), who appeared on Ali Oetjen's season of The Bachelorette in 2018

They were joined at the Together New Year's Eve party by fellow MAFS star Carly Bowyer, who wore a black leather mini dress.

Another familiar face at the event was Paddy Colliar, who appeared on Ali Oetjen's season of The Bachelorette in 2018.

Tamara made headlines in September when she debuted her new nose at a Sydney cafe after undergoing rhinoplasty.

New look: Tamara made headlines in September when she debuted her new nose at a Sydney cafe after undergoing rhinoplasty

Enhancements: In addition to getting a nose job and lip fillers, the Melbourne-based socialite has also undergone a breast enlargement

Candid: 'I had a bit of a booty and I really wanted to balance that out, that's why I did it,' Tamara recently told Yahoo! Lifestyle, referring to her boob job

Cosmetic makeover: Tamara is pictured left, before her nose job; and right, after

In addition to getting a nose job and lip fillers, the Melbourne-based socialite has also undergone a breast enlargement.

Tamara spoke candidly about her cosmetic enhancements in an interview with Yahoo! Lifestyle in March.

'People do it for all different reasons and I guess mine was just more so... I had a bit of a booty and I really wanted to balance that out, that's why I did it,' she said, referring to her boob job.

She added: 'If it makes you feel better about yourself, why not?'
Shoptre.it scored 54 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 4 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

shoptre.it is very popular in Google Plus. It has 11 google+ shares.

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PAGE TITLE Shop3 - ricariche telefoniche, telefonino, tvfonino. Acquista o ricarica online in tutta sicurezza. DESCRIPTION Shop3 - Il primo negozio online di 3 a prezzi incredibili! Solo su Shop3...una vera occasione! KEYWORDS shop3, shop, 3, tre, h3g, telefonia, telefoni, cellulari, compra, schede, usim, ricarica, ricariche OTHER KEYWORDS



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Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

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Khalid Mohammed/AP

Iranian-backed militia swarmed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday chanting Death to America, sparking widespread concern among officials in Iraq and Washington about further targeting of American outposts in the days to come.

The protest escalated Tuesday afternoon in Iraq as individuals holding the flags of Kataib Hezbollah, which launched rocket attacks that killed an American contractor on Friday only to be hit by U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, scrawled graffiti on the walls of the compound and used long concrete poles to try and break through the doors and windows.

Is U.S. Embassy Attack in Baghdad Part of an Iran Trap?

Others climbed on top of one of the American buildings, hoisting the Kataib Hezbollah flags to the roof. The crowds eventually dispersed, but U.S. officials said they would send additional troops to the area to protect embassy staffers. The State Department said there were no plans to evacuate the compound.

The embassy protest took place after the U.S. launched a strike on Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, killing 24 people and wounding 50, according to a press statement from Kataib Hezbollah. Two days before that, the U.S. said the group launched rockets at a base near Kirkuk, Iraq, killing one American contractor.

We responded defensively to the Iranian proxy attack that killed an American citizen and wounded American and Iraqi soldiers, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday. Now, Iranian backed groups are threatening our embassy in Baghdad.

The rocket strike in Kirkuk represented the culmination of tensions between the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that have been mounting as the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign against Iran intensified and the U.S.-Iran relationship veered towards aggressive confrontation.

After a series of attacks on Japanese, European, and Saudi oil tankers in the Gulf attributed to Iran in May, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from the U.S. embassy in Iraq and its consulate in Basra, citing intelligence showing an increased risk to U.S. officials from Iranian-backed proxies in Iraq.

Story continues

The move, according to the Pentagons Lead Inspector General of Operation Inherent Resolve, established to fight the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has affected all operations of Mission Iraq, limiting the missions ability to help Iraq become a more resilient, independent, democratic country, and to support counter-ISIS efforts.

The U.S. military footprint in Iraq also has shrunk due to growing tensions with Iran and the militias it supports. For more than a year Iraqi politicians have called on the United States to withdraw all of its troops from the country, saying their continued presence would make an already volatile situation all the more perilous.

Over the summer, a series of unexplained explosions at Iranian-backed militias ammunition storage facilities led to allegations that Israel had targeted Iranian ballistic missiles stored at the facilities. U.S. officials denied any involvement in the explosions, but Iraqi officials facing an onslaught of conspiracy theories and Iranian-backed militia outrage, restricted the the anti-ISIS coalitions use of Iraqi airspacea move that hurt the Coalitions ability to counter the ISIS threat in Iraq, according to the most recent Pentagon report.

The swarm attacking the U.S. embassy on Tuesday alarmed Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill, concerned that the Trump administrations maximum pressure policy had sparked an irreversible escalation with Tehran that could kickstart, at a minimum, a stand-off with Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Trumps reckless decisions to walk away from the Iran [nuclear] Deal and now to launch airstrikes in Iraq without Iraqi government consent have brought us closer to war and endangered U.S. troops and diplomats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a Democratic presidential candidate, said on Twitter. We should end the forever wars, not start new ones.

Republicans took to social media to denounce the medias use of the term protesters to describe the mass of people who encircled the U.S. embassy Tuesday, saying those who participated were directly linked to the Iranian-backed militias.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said the protesters were members of the Hezbollah militia operating in Iraq. Theres zero question, Rubio declared on Twitter. Photos surfaced on social media Tuesday showing leaders of Kataib Hezbollah at least mingling with the protesters at the American embassy.

Both the Senate and House foreign affairs committees called for briefings on the situation from top State Department officials. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, announced Tuesday on Twitter that he had met President Donald Trump in Florida to discuss the situation in Iraq, saying the president was determined to protect American personnel and that he expected Iraqi partners to step up to the plate.

No more Benghazis, said Graham.

Not everyone believes that the flareup over Iranian-backed militias will mark the beginning of the end for the U.S. military presence in Iraq. We both still realize we need each other and I dont think this will serve as a break. It is a low point; I dont think its a breaking point, one former senior military officer told The Daily Beast.

Iraq is in between two nation states, both of whom they need help from, both of whom they want good relationships with, and both of whom are at each others throats. Not to be too sympathetic to the Iraqi government, but they are in a very precarious position politically and they dont have the depth or breadth of experience to work their way through it, he said.

While its unclear yet whether Iraq will apply further restrictions on the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition in the wake of the U.S. strikes, experts say the impact of either a withdrawal or expulsion of U.S. forces would be clear.

The effectiveness of the CT [counter terrorism] effort would be rapidly degraded by a U.S. pullout, and ISIS would likely begin to rebuild some higher-end attack capabilities, particularly car bomb and suicide bomber networks, Alex Mello, a security consultant, told The Daily Beast.

The impact would likely be felt hardest among Iraqs Counterterrorism Service (CTS) and other elite special operations units which U.S. special operators have spent years training and have fought alongside when the ISIS caliphate still stood.

But Mello says conventional troops among Iraqi Security Forces would also feel the effect of a U.S. drawdown. Theyve become accustomed to operating with U.S. support, particularly relying on airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance coverage during clearance operations. If U.S. combat air support was also withdrawn, ISIS would be able again to mass openly in large groups and potentially threaten to overrun Iraqi forward operating bases and larger combat outposts.

Maximum Pressure on Iran Is Working. Thats Why Its Lashing Out. Lets Keep It Up.

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The 35-year-old New Hampshire man fatally shot in Lawrence on New Years Eve has been identified by authorities as Wilson Javier.

Javier, of Salem, New Hampshire, was shot in Lawrence around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Essex District Attorneys office.

No arrests have been made as of Wednesday afternoon.

Lawrence police were called for a report of gunshots at 7B Summer St. just before midnight. Javier was discovered by police when they arrived on the scene. He had been shot.

Authorities rushed Javier to Lawrence General Hospital where he was pronounced dead soon after arriving there, the district attorneys office said.

The killing remains under investigation.
The year 2019, which has just ended, was a bad year for the economy though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP managed to divert attention from it and craft an emphatic victory in the May Lok Sabha elections. But the Modi government has no option but to face up to an economy that refuses to look up in 2020.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman held two important pre-Budget meetings, one with the captains of industry, and the other with public sector bank honchos in the last week of December. The industry bigwigs urged the minister to take steps to ensure that it was easier to do business in India, remove the hurdles, though these were not listed. It was clear that businesses were listless, and unable to make things happen.

This comes somewhat as a surprise after Indias rank in the ease of doing business had improved by leaps and bounds, moving to the 63rd position among 190 nations in 2019, up from 142 in 2014, according to the World Banks reckoning. It was clear to them as it was to the finance minister that there was a demand deficit, a fact that has been highlighted through 2019 but which was ignored in the political hurly-burly of the Lok Sabha polls in the summer.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party returned to power with greater strength, an increase of 20 seats, from 282 in 2014 to 302 in 3019. But the political highs would not sweep away the economic blues which were lingering in the shadows. One of the magnates told the finance minister to cut back on the income-tax rate, which would leave more money in the pockets of the people to go out and spend and get the economy to chug along. But it seemed a suggestion of despair rather than a positive step forward.

The banks non-performing assets (NPAs) are hovering in the danger zone, with a glimmer of hope flickering before going out. This had naturally dampened the credit offtake, which had helped keep the NPAs slightly down, but there was an increase in the proportion of stressed assets of the banking and non-banking lenders. The only assurance the finance minister could offer the bankers was that there would be no harassment from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG), and that they should not defer taking decisions to lend or not to lend for fear of retribution if their decisions were taken in good faith. It is not clear how much the bankers actually felt reassured.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the members of Assocham that they should boldly invest, an exhortation that sounded repetitive and hollow due to the deceleration in growth rates in the past six quarters and more, echoing the dismal economic situation of 2013.

After presenting a wishy-washy Budget in July, the finance minister was forced to announce a series of remedial measures through August and September to kickstart the economy. The meetings with the bankers and industrialists in late December reflected the fact that the economy is still in the doldrums. The International Monetary Funds chief economist Gita Gopinathan confessed that she had been taken by surprise. She said that without an increase in private investment and private consumption, the economy cannot be expected to come out of the dumps. The only silver lining appeared to be that the macro fundamentals of the economy were stable.

The apparently assertive and decisive steps taken by the government on the political front, such as the abrogation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, its bifurcation and its demotion to a Union territory, and the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), have raised the political temperature in the country and created a sense of unease across India. The countrywide student protests that the CAA has triggered is also an echo of the bleak economic climate, and it seems that the Narendra Modi government is not willing to connect the dots between the anger and frustration of the young and the economic slowdown on the brink of a crisis. The government cannot hope to divert the focus away from the economy by attention-grabbing and provocative political decisions and speeches.

The ministers of the Modi government, however, remain adamant that there is no problem on the economic front or over the political decisions they have made, and they are far from seeing that the tense political situation will further aggravate far from positive economic conditions. There is the vicious circle of a depressed economy leading to political unrest on the one hand, and political turbulence pushing the economy into negative territory on the other. The governments confrontational politics and the brittle economy are feeding into the each other, making the situation more explosive than ever.

Mr Modi has not been the man to step back and review the issues at hand. He seems to move forward against the current. This could have been a heroic virtue in different times, but his tendency to stick it out in the face of counter-currents could only prove counterproductive. Both politics and the economy do well when there is a spirit of bonhomie. That spirit is entirely missing. The government is out of sync with economic and political sentiments across the country. The equivocal and aggressive stance of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues does not help matters.

The Prime Minister seems to be of the view that he is taking difficult decisions for the good of the country. But he seems to forget that he needs to take the people into confidence and share with them the facts of the situation, both on the political and economic fronts. It is not enough for him to say that he is doing what is good for the country, and that the people should trust him. People in a democracy are not willing to be led like sheep. They demand information from the government. One of the main problems in the country today is that people do not know what is happening in the Kashmir Valley, what is the scope of CAA, the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC), and the facts and figures relating to the economy. This government must overcome its reluctance to be open and communicative about the challenges facing the country.
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Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 17:09 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207c8ae 1 City New-Year-2020,Jakarta-flood,landslide,Greater-Jakarta,bogor,East-Jakarta,Central-Jakarta Free

Severe flooding in Greater Jakarta has claimed at least 26 lives and forced thousands of people to abandon their homes after heavy downpour from Tuesday evening until Wednesday morning inundated many parts of the Indonesian capital.

The Social Affairs Ministry reported on Thursday that 10 of the 26 deceased were from Bogor regency, West Java. Ranging in age from 5 to 60 years, they had been swept away by floodwaters in the districts of Sukajaya, Nanggung and Jasinga. Another fatality was reported in Bogor municipality, caused by a landslide.

East Jakarta, one of the most affected areas, recorded five fatalities: two due to hypothermia, another two caused by drowning and one by electric shock.

Three residents were killed in a landslide in the neighboring city of Depok, while another three in Bekasi died from being swept away by floods, getting struck by debris and from electric shock, respectively.

Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, Tangerang and South Tangerang in Banten reported one death each.

National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) spokesman Yusuf Latif admitted that the agency was struggling to reach several areas to evacuate victims as the flooding had cut off access.

Yusuf said 38 teams with two dinghies each had been deployed on Thursday, marking an increase from 13 teams deployed on Wednesday.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has prioritized several areas of East Jakarta for evacuation, including Cawang, Kayu Putih and Cakung. As of 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 31,232 people have been evacuated to 269 shelters across the city, according to official data.

The massive flooding also affected thoroughfares and public transportation in the city, with commuter train operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) having made adjustments to routes affected by flooding.

Passengers taking the train from Bogor to Jatinegara Station would have to alight at Kampung Bandan Station, while the Duri to Tangerang route was changed to Batuceper to Tangerang. The operator noted there may be long queues for the route connecting Rangkasbitung in Banten with Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, as only five tracks would be in use nearing Tanah Abang Station.

Pools of water were still spotted in parts of the route, the operator said, forcing trains from Bogor to Kota Station as well as from Cikarang/Bekasi to Kota and from Tanjung Priok to Kota to run at just 40 kilometers per hour.

City-owned bus operator PT Transjakarta has also made adjustments, including temporarily halting operations on the Corridor 3 route between Harmoni and Kalideres.

Editors note: This article has been updated with information gathered by the Post from the Social Affairs Ministry, the Jakarta Police, the Jakarta administration and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.


Six months ago, Propublica began beating the drum about "Free File," a bizarre, corrupt arrangement between the IRS and the country's largest tax-prep firms that ended up costing the poorest people in America millions and millions of dollars, every single year.

The scam is one of those baroque, ultimately boring and complex stories that generally dies in the public imagination despite its urgency, because "boring and urgent" is the place where the worst people can do the worst things with the least consequences.

With that warning, here's a short summary: in most wealthy countries, the tax authority fills out your tax return for you, using the information your employer already has to file every time it pays your wages. If all the numbers look right to you, you just sign the bottom of the form and send it back, without paying a tax preparer. If, on the other hand, you want to claim extra deductions, or if something complicated is going on with your finances, you can throw away that free tax return and fill in a form from scratch, either on your own or with the help of a professional.

When Americans asked to have the same courtesy extended to them  a move that would save the vast majority of Americans millions and millions of dollars they were currently paying to the likes of HR Block and Intuit/Turbotax, every single year of their entire working lives  the tax-prep industry mobilized to kill the proposal. The industry (which is highly concentrated and dominated by a small handful of firms whose top execs have mostly done time in all their competitors' board rooms, making them into essentially one giant company whose different divisions have different shareholders) lobbied the IRS very hard, and won a resounding victory.





That victory is called "Free File." Under Free File, each tax prep company is required to serve a slice of working Americans with free, online tax-preparation. The arrangement was hailed as a victory for public-private partnerships, harnessing the efficiency of the private sector to perform this public duty of the state. Importantly, it meant that the IRS would not expand its headcount or budget, both of which had been slashed by successive right-wing presidents and their legislative enablers. The move was cheered by anti-tax extremists like Grover Nordquist, who was delighted by the "efficiency" of you saving a bunch of pieces of paper the government already had, typing them into an online form, and hoping that a company's website came up with the same calculations that the government had already made about your tax-bill.





Part of the Free File deal banned the IRS from creating a competing offer and it banned the IRS from advertising the existence of the program or telling people where to find the free offering.

As soon as the ink was dry on Free File, the tax-prep companies set about to sabotage it. Intuit  a massive company led by a bizarre cult figure  and its competitors hid their Free File offerings deep in their sites, and used the "robots.txt" system to instruct search engines to hide them. They took out search ads for the phrase "Free File" that directed users to paid offerings with the word "free" in their names. They created "Free File" systems that would make you go through hours of work entering your data before surprising you with a notice that you didn't qualify for Free File because you'd paid interest on a student loan (or some other normal thing) and then ask you if you wanted to pay to keep your work and finish your tax-return in the non-free system.

There's a simple name for this kind of activity: fraud.

But it was a fraud in plain sight, one that went on for years and years, and which created a stealth tax on the majority of Americans, which they had to remit not to the IRS, but to the tax-prep companies, which used the money to lobby to make it even harder to get away from handing them your money every year.





Enter Propublica, whose relentless reporting did the seemingly impossible: it made a complicated, boring important thing into something that millions of Americans cared about. Something they cared about so deeply that they actually managed to shame the IRS into taking action.





Remember, the IRS is an administrative agency, under the direct control of the Trump administration. That means its commander-in-chief is a guy who said dodging his taxes means that he's "smart." While the IRS has many good, hardworking staffers, it has also been demoralized and gutted by the right, who have convinced millions of poor people that it's somehow in their interests if it's easier for rich people to duck their taxes.





Despite all this, the IRS has enacted new Free File rules: first, these rules ban tax-prep companies from hiding their Free File offerings, and it bans them from using deceptive names for non-Free File offerings (Turbotax will no longer be allowed to confuse Americans by offering "Turbotax Free"  which is not free  as a competitor to "Turbotax Free File," which is).

Second, the rule allows the IRS to develop its own competing Free File product, which means that the government agency that already knows how much tax you owe will allow you to review its findings each year and then either challenge them, or simply click OK, without paying a single cent of tax to Intuit or HR Block, and free you from filling in lengthy, bureaucratic forms.





This outcome is nothing short of miraculous: it did not come as the result of Congressional action. It did not come as the result of the Trump administration's inattention (the release came out the same day that the Trump administration revised its tax rules to allow money launderers to retain billions in the loot they've stashed offshore).





It came about as the result of fucking journalism. Propublica wrote its way into a better world, with relentless, deep, accessible reporting that made this boring, important thing come to life.

I am sympathetic to the idea that talking about politics isn't doing politics, but that's not entirely true. Learning about what's going on and telling the people you know about it and getting them to tell others is part of how we make change. Propublica's excellent reporting wouldn't have mattered if people hadn't read it  and talked about it.





And Propublica has done this repeatedly over the past year, deeply reporting on naked, grotesque corruption in ways so vivid and undeniable that they actually changed things, and not in some abstract, boring way, but in ways that matter to the immediate, lived experience of real people who had been brutalized and poisoned and jailed and mistreated with impunity, for years, until Propublica wrote about it.

Here are some examples, just from the stories I paid attention to this year (Propublica does so much good work that I can't manage to cover all of it):

* Reformed South Carolina's "magistrate judge" system that let "judges" with no legal background and less training than barbers sentence poor people (most of them Black) to prison in defiance of their constitutional rights;

* Dismantled Illinois's system of Quiet Rooms where special ed kids were put into solitary confinement, sometimes for days at a time;

* Shamed a "Christian" hospital into ending its practice of suing thousands of patients, many of them its own employees, for inability to pay their medical debts, and forcing it to jettison the private army of debt collectors it kept on its payroll.





* Killed an Illinois scam whereby affluent parents temporarily gave up custody of their own children so they could steal college grants earmarked for poor children;





* Got two Louisiana cops fired for encouraging people to murder Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez;

In addition, Propublica has done lots of reporting that hasn't yet created political transformations, but has changed our debate and laid the groundwork for change to come: called attention to the penniless hero of the ransomware epidemic; discredited a "walking polygraph" system used by police forces to frame their preferred suspects with sheer junk science; documented the link between pharma company bribes and doctors' prescribing; named every former lobbyist in the Trump administration; tracked every penny of the 2008 bailout money; documented Wayne LaPierre's self-dealing from the NRA's war-chests; documented the grifty conservative PACs that scammed millions out of scared old white people with racist Obama conspiracies and then kept the money for themselves; published a blockbuster story on the theft of southern Black families' ancestral lands through a legal grift called "heirs' property"; debunked the "aggression detection" mics being installed in America's classrooms; outed a "ransomware consultant" that was working with ransomware crooks to simply pay the ransom, while pretending that they were able to get you your files back without enriching the crooks who locked them up; named and shamed Alabama sheriffs who lost their re-election bids and then spent thousands of public dollars on frisbees or stole discretionary funds, or destroyed food earmarked for prisoners, or drilled holes in all the department computers' hard-drives in a form of "vindictive hazing"; followed the payday lender industry to a Trump hotel where it staged an annual conference, funneling millions to the president's personal accounts shortly before Trump reversed Obama's curbs on predatory lending; documented how TSA body-scanners single out Black women for humiliating, discriminatory hair-searches; revealed the secret history of wealthy people destroying the IRS's Global High Wealth Unit; and did outstanding work on the Sackler family, a group of billionaire opioid barons whose products kickstarted the opioid epidemic that has now claimed more American lives than the Vietnam war.





2019 was a dumpster-fire of a year and 2020 could be worse  or it could be the dawn that breaks after our darkest hour. Finding Propublica's victory lap on Free File on New Year's Day was just the sunrise I needed to give me hope for the year to come. Sometimes, simply finding the truth and telling it to the people can make a change.

I'm a Propublica donor, and an avid reader. I admit that sometimes when I see that PP has published another 15,000-word expose, I am slightly dismayed at the thought that I'm about to lose 1-2 hours of my life to digesting and writing up the new story, but that dismay is always overcome by excitement at the thought that they have turned over a new rock and found something genuinely awful beneath it, and that, with all our help, we can sterilize that foetid sludge with blazing sunshine.

The addendum to the deal, known as Free File, comes after ProPublica's reporting this year on how the industry, led by TurboTax maker Intuit, has long misled taxpayers who are eligible to file for free into paying. Under the nearly two-decade-old Free File deal, the industry agreed to make free versions of tax filing software available to lower- and middle-income Americans. In exchange, the IRS promised not to compete with the industry by creating its own online filing system. Many developed countries have such systems, allowing most citizens to file their taxes for free. The prohibition on the IRS creating its own system was the focus of years of lobbying by Intuit. The industry has seen such a system as an existential threat. Now, with the changes to the deal, the prohibition has been dropped. The addendum also expressly bars the companies from "engaging in any practice" that would exclude their Free File offerings "from an organic internet search." ProPublica reported in April that Intuit and H&R Block had added code to their Free File pages that hid them from Google and other search engines, diverting many users to the companies' paid products.



IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax [Justin Elliott and Paul Kiel/Propublica]

(Image: Phil Catterall, CC BY-SA, modified)
This year has not been an easy one for Englands royal family. Prince Philip has been in the hospital multiple times, Prince William and Prince Harry seem to be fighting, and Prince Andrew has been embroiled in a scandal over his involvement with the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein.

As if all that werent enough, there have been storm clouds over Prince William and Kate Middleton  a relationship that has seemed rock-solid up until now. As the new decade begins, has Duchess Kate been able to forgive her husband for the hurtful stories and embarrassment?

Rumors of Prince William having an affair

Prince William | Chris Jackson  WPA Pool/Getty Images

In the spring of 2019 rumors started to circulate about Duchess Kates longtime friend, Rose Hanbury. The story was that Middleton and Prince William had cut ties with Hanbury and her husband, David Rocksavage.

The two couples had been very close at once, but apparently that wasnt the case any longer, and the tabloids were sure they knew why. People quickly assumed that the rift was caused by an affair between Prince William and Hanbury, and soon the media was abuzz with speculation about what happened when.

The British tabloids are infamous for their relentless hounding of the royal family, and the relationship between them is strained at best. However, there was so much interest in the story that it had to cause the couple a great deal of embarrassment, whether the affair actually happened or not.

Tense times on television

During this upheaval, Duchess and Prince William have given the public very few clues about what might be going on between them. They are famous for being more reserved than the affectionate couple Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, so that makes it harder to see if things have changed between them.

Royal watchers believe they got a glimpse of some tension between the two on a recent television appearance. They were on the set of a holiday special called A Berry Royal Christmas when Prince William reached out to touch Duchess Kates shoulder. She appeared to flinch away from his hand, rejecting the touch.

Because the couple is so reserved about showing affection, its hard to be certain that the tiny moment revealed anything about their relationship. The Duchess of Cambridge may have only been trying to maintain decorum, not refusing to allow her husband to touch her. She could have also merely been tickled by his touch.

Then again, it could have been what many people assumed it was: an angry wife letting her husband know hes not yet forgiven.

Moving on with dignity

No one except the couple will ever know for sure how this scandal has played out between the two of them. But from what the public can see, their marriage remains strong.

After all, one of the strengths of their union is how well they function together as a team. From the beginning of their relationship, it was clear how well suited they were for each other.

As the years have progressed, Duchess Kate and Prince William have shown that they are growing into the expectations of them as the future king and queen consort. They not only present a gracious appearance, but they also work well together on important issues. They have thoughtfully honored the memory of Princess Diana, and they tirelessly support important charities.

No one ever wants to deal with the heartbreak of infidelity  even if its just the shame of people speculating about the state of their relationship. We dont have to know exactly what happened to know that this has been a hard year for Prince William and Duchess Kate. While people are certain that the couple will hang in there, fans all over the world are hoping they will be able to be happy together again.
ADAMS - The Berkshire County Special Response Team was activated Tuesday afternoon to assist police with a report of domestic violence on Notch Road that escalated to a hostage situation.

Adams police were called to the scene when a man inside the home contacted police through Facebook to say that he was being held hostage by another man inside the home. He also said there was a gun in the home and he was afraid for his safety.

Police established a perimeter away from the home, and called the North Adams police and Massachusetts State Police for assistance, and then activated the Special Response Team.

Police remained in communication with the man inside the home via Facebook and through telephone calls. Officers determined the man they were communicating with was possibly on drugs, drunk or having a mental health crisis.

When response team officers entered the house, they found the man who had been in contact with officers in crisis. He was described as destroying everything in the home and screaming at the top of his lungs, police said.

The man was taken by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center to be evaluated.

The other man inside the house was taken into custody as a fugitive from justice when officers determined there was a warrant for his arrest in New Hampshire.

No additional charges have been filed. The incident remains under investigation. Police are not disclosing the names of either man because of the nature of the call and it involved domestic violence.
Ours is a peculiar era. It feels like living in the Dark Ages mightve, except that then  in Europe between Romes fall and the Renaissance  people didnt know it was the Dark Ages. Our eras more like being in one of those movies where people look up as a vast alien ship glides over, cutting off all their light.

I ran into an old friend outside Home Hardware on Christmas Eve morning and it was like that. We stood in the pleasant but worrisome warmth, as he lamented how wed failed to make the world a better place.

Gloom comes too easily at this time of year, which is why people party and try to feel good, or not so bad. There are bright spots, said someone who qualifies as young. When I asked for examples, he shot back: Bernie and Greta  an interesting combo, agewise.

I, too, can think of positives: the young are smarter; the left is less dogmatic (though the right is more); anti-racism and feminism are more sophisticated and subtle than they used to be, though back then it seemed like theyd already figured everything out.

Making meaningful change will always be a hard, disrupted slog and, even if you succeed, it wont last forever. Thereve been revolutions with the loftiest intentions, no matter how you judge their results, and yet, they all end. The French Revolution ended swiftly. The Russian one lasted less than 100 years.

In fact, there was a period of grace on the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain and Portugal now are, that lasted 800 years, from about AD 700 to 1500. Under Muslim rule (by Moors, from Morocco), Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in relative, productive harmony. Its known as the convivencia, coexistence. They debated their differences respectfully, in public, and wrote books on them. The Greek classics made their way back into Europe via Arabic translations. Thus ended the original Dark Ages.

But eventually, by 1492, Catholic monarchs ousted the Moors and initiated the Inquisition, requiring conversion, exile or death at the stake. This coincided with invading the Americas, African slavery and historys vastest genocides, of Indigenous peoples. Whats my point? Perspective. Eight hundred years, then poof.

Later on Christmas Eve, I ran into someone whod come here from Iberia as a young man. He confided that, when he was 10, his father told him confidentially that although they were outwardly Catholic, theyd once been Jews and remained so secretly. They were Marranos. This explained particular family rituals, like putting a candle in the window at Christmas, supposedly to guide travellers but really, to commemorate Hanukkah. His siblings never knew but he, as eldest son, was told. The traditions persisted for centuries.

He asked his father why they didnt now re-emerge as Jews. Because Hitler might return, or the Inquisition, said his dad. Thats perspective to the hilt.

But even if things cycle around, they dont return in exactly the same form, and that allows us to hope they can improve, somewhat at least. Our own era however may have unique cause for pessimism. Its about time. (Christmas, you could say, is about hope. New Years is about time.)

What if we lack the time that would allow us to hope for a better future  individually and as a species? Other eras mightve also felt they lacked time, that it would all end catastrophically. But their fears were apocalyptic, based on prophecies, or of a nuclear conflagration, which could be prevented.

Today though, based on the science, humanity may be almost out of time to stop a climate disaster and this accounts for a deep anxiety among the young. Thats rational, and the only rational response is to act as fast as you can to stop it.

Then theres Nietzsche, who believed Everything Always Recurs, since time is infinite, so no change will ever last, which theoretically should produce despair.

Yet it could equally generate hope. If everything always repeats, you might as well focus on the present and do all you can to appreciate and improve it. If you combine Eternal Recurrence and lack of time, you get a formula: enjoy life and fix things fast. Happy New Year.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Phase 1 of trade deal with China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House, though considerable confusion remains about the details of the agreement.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Phase 1 of trade deal with China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House, though considerable confusion remains about the details of the agreement.

The president wrote in a tweet that he would sign the deal with "high level representatives of China" and that he would later travel to Beijing to begin talks on the next phase.

Last week, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would host a signing ceremony to ink the Phase 1 deal.

The Phase 1 deal, struck earlier this month, is expected to reduce tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of American farm, energy and manufactured goods while addressing some disputes over intellectual property.

However, no version of the text has been made public, and Chinese officials have yet to publicly commit to key planks, such as increasing imports of U.S. goods and services by $200 billion over two years.

China bought $130 billion in U.S. goods in 2017, before the trade war began, and $56 billion in services, U.S. data show.

The United States launched a trade war against Beijing a year and half ago over allegations of unfair trade practices, such as theft of U.S. intellectual property and subsidies that unfairly benefit Chinese state-owned companies.

The United States Trade Representative said the Phase 1 deal includes stronger Chinese legal protections for patents, trademarks, copyrights, including improved criminal and civil procedures to combat online infringement, pirated and counterfeit goods.

Issues such as industrial subsidies would be addressed in a later deal, U.S. authorities said.

The escalating tit-for-tat tariffs, which began in July, 2018, have roiled markets and crimped economic growth worldwide.

Though it was not immediately clear who would represent the Chinese delegation at the signing, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday that Vice Premier Liu He would visit Washington to sign the deal.

Asked Tuesday when the deal might be signed, China's foreign ministry spokesman referred questions to China's Department of Commerce.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz and Alexandra Alper; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Nick Zieminski)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
CALGARYHilary Chapple came out in 1984. She became an activist in the early 1990s and has been advocating for LGBTQ rights in Alberta ever since.

When Chapple became homeless in 2012, she said being LGBTQ made it even more difficult. Even at a shelter, a place where many find community beyond just a warm bed, Chapple experienced discrimination.

She wanted to advocate for better training and help shelters and agencies be more inclusive, but found there wasnt much research on the LGBTQ homeless experience. So she took matters into her own hands.

Though not an academic herself, Chapple developed a survey for LGBTQ people in Calgary with previous or current experience of homelessness. She got 24 respondents with diverse backgrounds  from ages 18 to 82, transgender, non-binary, lesbian, gay and everything in between, and also took the survey herself.

Despite the respondents differences, overwhelmingly Chapple got the same answer: they had all experienced discrimination, they all had mental health issues, and most said they didnt feel inclusive services, such as LGBTQ-specific counselling, were available at places they accessed help. Fourteen said they didnt feel their shelter promoted inclusivity or diversity.

Chapple is setting out to change that by designing an information and training session for shelters and other agencies to help them implement more inclusive policies and practices. Its not always malice, she said, but a matter of ignorance, and she hopes agencies that take the training will be able to improve their services.

I know this is the right thing to do, said Chapple, who hopes to take the training program beyond Alberta.

Forced to leave home: Why LGBTQ people are overrepresented among the homeless

Independent scientist and researcher Alex Abramovich has been researching LGBTQ youth and homelessness for the past decade, after noticing the same gap in academia that Chapple did.

LGBTQ people are overrepresented in the homeless population, Abramovich said, but often have more trouble accessing services and are under represented in housing programs and in shelters.

He added that identity-based family conflict could be a major factor for why that is.

Theyre forced to leave home or theyre kicked out of the house, and oftentimes, theyre forced to leave because of the discrimination or violence thats happening.

Finding stable housing is hard, especially when youre experiencing mental health issues, said Chapple, and discrimination makes it harder.

Dignity and respect is not tied to a set of keys, she said.

Though more than half of the respondents said they had been treated respectfully at a shelter with regards to their sexual or gender identity, several others recounted experiences with homophobic staff, said Chapple. One respondent said they were told being gay was a sin.

One major problem Chapple sees is a lack of inclusivity training for shelter staff, as well as issues with the intake process for clients.

Her own training program begins with an overview of the common mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ people. For example, she highlights the fact that almost all of her respondents said they struggled with mental health, such as PTSD or depression. The majority of them first experienced homelessness before the age of 20.

In the training, which she plans to charge for, Chapple recommends that shelters also review their intake processes for binary enforcement, such as only offering male and female options.

They actually want to do better

Chapple cites Abramovichs research to back up her findings, highlighting that LGBTQ youth are at a higher risk of mental health concerns.

In 2015, Abramovich worked with the government of Alberta to develop a strategy to tackle LGBTQ youth homelessness.

A lot of these services, they actually want to do better, said Abramovich. They want to provide the support, but they just dont know how, they dont have the training, or they dont have the tools and the resources to do so.

There have been some positive changes, he added. For example, this year the federal government started including gender and sexuality information on its annual Point-in-Time survey, which attempts to chronicle how many people are homeless on a given night in Canada.

And his work in Alberta resulted in a report with a number of recommendations, all of which were accepted by the government, Abramovich said. Included in the recommendations was training for shelter staff created by local agencies, and a guideline for inclusivity for shelters to adhere to.

However, Abramovich notes that the next step would be to make inclusivity standards and training programs mandatory for all shelter staff, otherwise those who need it most might never receive it.

Chapple said she wants to see training based on lived experience, which is part of why she created a program of her own that she hopes will help end the homophobia LGBTQ people experiencing homelessness say they are often faced with.

Its got to stop. This is 2019. Knock it off.

Many of Chapples survey respondents said they didnt have enough LGBTQ-specific services, which is why she wants to establish more, such as a weekly support group. Her training program explicitly recommends shelters form groups of their own, and ensures that LGBTQ adults are consulted in the creation of updated policies or training.

Abramovich said this is a key component thats missing from how many cities address homelessness.

In Toronto, the YMCA has a small transitional housing program for LGBTQ youth, he said. And in Alberta, the Boys and Girls Club has Aura, which matches LGBTQ youth with host families.

Its services like these that make LGBTQ people more comfortable reaching out for help, and can often make a big difference early on, he said.

We have these different strategies that focus on homelessness and poverty and housing. So within those strategies, we have to prioritize populations ... that are disproportionately represented, he said. This is a very serious safety issue.

Chapple also wants to conduct a similar survey in Edmonton and compare the results. Eventually, she said shed like to take this training beyond Alberta.

She said she knows she can make a difference with her work.

Ive done it already. Why would I not keep going? she said. I believe in me.

Clarification - Jan. 1, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version to make clear that there is a fee for the training.

Correction - Jan. 1, 2020: This article has been updated to reflect that the survey had 24 participants, plus Hilary Chapple herself.

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Closeup of the map Trump presented to the media in the White House in Washington on 4 September 2019, showing the projected path of Hurricane Dorian. The projected path of Hurricane Dorian has been extended into Alabama by amateurish drawing with a Sharpie, Trumps favorite type of pen. When asked by reporters whether the map had been altered, Trump said he didnt know how it had been amended. Photo: Tom Brenner / Bloomberg

31 December 2019 (Desdemona Despair)  In 2019, the climate data show Earths climate system unraveling mostly as predicted, although faster than expected by some. But the really scary chart was penned by none other than the President of the United States himself.

Trump would not be gainsayed by the National Weather Service and insisted that Hurricane Dorian posed a threat to Alabama, even though NWS was quite confident in predicting no impact. A stroke of his Sharpie remedied the offending chart. Science in the U.S. now hangs on political whim.

Its like the President of Brazil saying that scientists studying deforestation in the Amazon are lying about their data. And its like Australias PM Scott Morrison denying that the megafires consuming his country are a climate catastrophe. The authoritarian style is to assert absurd claims as truth, against all facts, to solidify the support of followers; dissonance reduction is a powerful tool of social control.

Desdemona has worried frequently about the time when the overwhelming volume of scientific data would reveal abrupt climate change to any reasonable observer. Will we mobilize at the required world war scale, or will we listen to authoritarian madmen and kill the messengers?
All 20 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) have requested the HRD Ministry to exempt them from reserving positions in the teaching staff for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

The premier business schools, which currently do not offer reservation in teaching positions, have been asked by the Ministry to provide quota in faculty positions for SC, ST, OBC and EWS candidates.

According to officials, the B-schools have made the request saying they adopt a fair recruitment process and give equal opportunities to all, including disadvantaged sections of society.

The IIMs have so far been following the 1975-order of the Department of Personnel & Training that exempted scientific and technical posts from the reservation policy. IIM- Ahmedabad is caught in a battle on the issue in the high court.

In November 2019, the Human Resource Development Ministry wrote to all institutes to ensure implementation of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act.

A separate communication was sent to all IIMs on Wednesday to ensure 'reservation of posts in direct recruitment', considering the institute as a unitas specified in the Act that came into effect on March 7, 2019.
Male [Maldives], Jan 01 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a telephonic call with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and conveyed him and people of Maldives good wishes for 2020.



"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had a telephonic conversation with President (Ibrahim Mohamed Solih). Conveyed good wishes for 2020 to him and the people of Maldives," tweeted India in the Maldives.

Earlier, Modi held a telephonic conversation with his Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli and exchanged new year's greetings.

Both leaders expressed confidence that 2020 will prove to be successful in "elevating bilateral ties" between the two neighbours. (ANI)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 02:00:47|Editor: huaxia

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Tunisian Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs, Naziha Laabidi (M) and Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin (R) sign an agreement in Tunisia's capital Tunis, on Dec. 31, 2019, in the presence of the representative of UNICEF in Tunisia Lila Peters. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine)

TUNIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China signed on Tuesday an agreement with Tunisia to donate materials and equipment to the Tunisian establishments operating for the benefit of the country's children.

The agreement was signed at an official ceremony in Tunisia's capital Tunis by Tunisian Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs Naziha Laabidi and Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin, in the presence of Lila Peters, representative of the UNICEF in Tunisia.

The Chinese donation will strengthen and develop the information system of early childhood centers in Tunisia, according to the agreement.

"This is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs and with UNICEF for the benefit of Tunisian children," said Wang.

This cooperation will contribute to the development of Tunisian children's future, the Chinese ambassador added.

Meanwhile, Laabidi expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its support and assistance to Tunisia, especially the country's children "which constitute a national wealth."

"Our objective is to reduce the gap between children in all Tunisian regions in order to achieve equity and justice, while guaranteeing a good life for each child," she told Xinhua.

Expressing optimism about the level of partnership between Tunisia and China, the minister said this partnership reflects the common will of the two countries to move forward for a better future.

For her part, Peters said the year 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"On the occasion, several early childhood centers in many Tunisian provinces were inaugurated to welcome between 150 and 300 children," said the UNICEF's representative. 
Embattled tech group iSignthis has copped blow, with the corporate regulator launching court action to freeze the assets of yet another of the one-time market darling's customers and a sponsor of the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has successfully obtained interim freezing orders over the assets held by financial derivatives trading group Maxi EFX Global AU Pty Ltd, which operates the EuropeFX platform.

EuropeFX joins a cavalcade of iSignthis customers that have run afoul of regulators both in Australia and internationally amid allegations they are linked to online trading scams. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe

EuropeFX is a second-tier sponsor for the Rabbitohs, with the club naming the platform its "official foreign exchange partner" in July.

iSignthis, which provides "know your customer" technology to online trading and gaming businesses, revealed in September, 2018, that EuropeFX was a "contracted merchant" to its business.
Kenya is the third-largest producer of green tea in the world, after China and India

In a humming factory in Kenya's highlands, tea is hand-plucked from the fields, cured and shredded into the fine leaves that have sated drinkers from London to Lahore for generations.

But Kenya's prized black tea isn't fetching the prices it once did, forcing the top supplier of the world's most popular drink to try something new.

In the bucolic hills around Nyeri, factory workers are experimenting with a range of boutique teas, deviating from decades of tradition in the quest for new customers and a buffer against unstable prices.

Like the bulk of Kenya's producers, they've been manufacturing one way for decades -- the crush, tear and curl (CTC) method, turning out ultra-fine leaves well suited for teabags the world over.

Now however, between conveyor belts whizzing tonnes of Kenya's mainstay CTC into heaving sacks, huge rollers also gently and slowly massage green leaves under the watchful eye of workers, all freshly trained in the art of what is known as orthodox tea production.

The end result -- a whole leaf, slow-processed variety, savoured for its complex tones and appearance -- is still being perfected at Gitugi, a factory in the foothills of the Aberdare Range that has been trialling these teas since June.

It has been costly shifting into orthodox, and a cultural change for workers and farmers, said Antony Naftali, operations manager at Gitugi, in Nyeri some 85 kilometres (52 miles) north of Nairobi.

But the risk was necessary: prices for stalwart CTC at auction nosedived 21 percent in 2018-2019 compared to the prior financial year, underscoring the urgency to diversify and extract more from every tea bush.

"We have relied for so many years on traditional CTC. But the price has dropped. We want to reduce the pressure... but also, to explore this new market," Naftali told AFP.

- Market turmoil -

Even since prices have recovered somewhat, any fluctuations are still keenly felt in Kenya, the world's biggest exporter of CTC.

Story continues

Tea is a staple drink in Kenya, though, unlike other major producing countries, it consumes far less than it exports.

The humble cuppa is a pillar of the economy: one in 10 Kenyans depends on the tea industry, according to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), which represents 650,000 smallholder farmers by selling and marketing their tea.

The poor returns this year sparked angry protests on estates, and tea companies registered losses.

Part of the problem is oversupply.

Higher prices in recent years spurred investment in tea planting, resulting in Kenya's best-ever haul in 2018 -- at 493 million kilos (one billion pounds).

But Kenya also has long relied on too few buyers, shipping 70 percent of its tea to just four markets.

Its top three customers -- Pakistan, Egypt and Britain -- have all seen a weakening of their currencies in recent times, making tea imports pricey.

Other big buyers -- Iran, Sudan and Yemen, chief among them -- have struggled to make payments.

"Our key markets are in turmoil," Lerionka Tiampati, KTDA chief executive, told AFP.

"When you cannot control the price, then there's not very much you can do. But what we are doing is we are trying to diversify the product."

- Reading the leaves -

Orthodox production opens doors to markets where whole leaf, bespoke teas and custom infusions are rewarded with higher prices, says Grace Mogambi, KTDA's manager of specialty products, who has travelled the globe to learn what drinkers want.

Studying samples in Gitugi's cupping room, Mogambi reels off the qualities desired by discerning tea drinkers: Russians like whole leaves, Germans prize tips, Saudis demand jet black and Sri Lankans dislike stalks.

"Consumer taste preferences are changing. Drinkers are becoming more aware of the type of tea they prefer," said Mogambi, clad in a white laboratory coat, before swirling a mouthful of tea and ejecting it into a spittoon.

"If I'm spending more money on a cup of tea, I prefer given characteristics to be present."

But orthodox and specialty lines represent only a tiny fraction of Kenya's exports, and critics say the KTDA -- which accounts for 60 percent of the country's tea production -- has been slow to adapt.

The board decided in 2000 to launch an orthodox range but, by the end of 2019, just 11 of its 69 factories were expected to be producing teas other than CTC.

Some like Kangaita, a factory at the southern flank of Mount Kenya, have been cultivating purple teas -- a rare speciality unique to the region.

Other craft varieties include white premium, a loose leaf packaged in deluxe pyramidal teabags.

These appeal also to younger tea drinkers, a growing market demanding something other than run-of-the-mill black tea.

"Youthful tea drinkers are definitely looking for wellness, and other health benefits in tea," said Gideon Mugo, chairman of the East African Tea Trade Association.

Major brands outside the KTDA have been targeting the youth segment.

Kericho Gold produces a line of "attitude teas" packaged in bright boxes, including one for "love" and another marketed as a hangover cure.
It is a busy New Year in one household after they had a baby boy arrive beside the Christmas tree in his family home just in time for Santa Claus.

I was eight days overdue and didnt want to miss Christmas with our other boys, said Lisa ODonoghue who now has four sons after baby Conor arrived on December 23.

He did not wait for the ambulance to arrive before making his way into the world and was delivered into the waiting arms of his proud dad Brian.

Lisa, who is a nurse, said: It is not our first time waiting for a baby at Christmas time.

Tiernan was born on the 22nd December which was his due date and we made it to the hospital with him.

As well as six-year-old Tiernan, the couple also have Oisin (aged 11) and Cathal (aged 8) and Lisa said with this baby, there was no move on him at all.

"He was due the 15th of December so we were getting closer and closer to Christmas and I didnt want to miss Christmas with the other boys so I was hoping he would either come before Christmas or after.

Her wish came true when she went into labour at home in Bettystown, Co. Meath, around 4pm on the 23rd.

It was agreed she would stay at home until the contractions were five minutes apart.

We rang the midwife at 9pm and said to expect me sometime during the night.

Lisa lay on the couch in the sitting room and when Brian went to help her up an hour later, I rang the maternity unit back and said I wouldnt mind a bit of gas and air and the midwife said to come on ahead in.

Brian helped me up off the couch and the minute I stood up the contractions just hit me one after the other.

It was just like I needed to push straight away. It was unbelievable, it literally just took seconds.

She told Brian to phone for an ambulance and they put the call on speaker.

While Brian gathered towels and a shoe lace, Lisa was moments from delivering her baby.

She said:

Three pushes later Brian caught the baby, he was delivered in the sitting room, beside the Christmas tree.

It was just 10 minutes since they made the call for the ambulance and five minutes later the ambulance arrived.

Brian was warned by the ambulance service that the baby was going to be slippy when he was born and to be sure he caught it. Lisa said: he was waiting for the baby like he was waiting for a rugby ball, he was like a quarter back.

He tied the cord off with the shoe lace until the ambulance arrived and he dried off the baby. The baby arrived in his waters, which is meant to be a sign of a lucky baby.

When Brian, who is a Garda stationed in Santry, Dublin, rubbed down the baby, he began breathing and let out a cry.

Brian said: When he first came out, he wasnt crying, I expected him to start crying immediately.

After dabbing his face down with the towel, he started crying and I was thank God for that. I never wanted to hear him scream so much in all my life.

Lisa said Brian was a great support, I would not have been able to do it without him.

Brian said Lisa, is wonderful and I am so proud of her. They both thanked the paramedics Ben and Ciaran and were delighted to be able to return home on Christmas Eve with their new baby.

Brian said: He was born beside the Christmas tree and just in time for Santa.
Cleon Smith. (West Midlands Police)

Police are hunting a dangerous man from Birmingham over a vicious domestic assault in which a woman was attacked with a meat cleaver.

West Midlands Police has issued an urgent appeal for help finding Cleon Smith, 42, who is sought in connection with the attack in Handsworth, northwest Birmingham, on Monday.

Police say Smith dragged a 42-year-old woman from her car and repeatedly struck her with a cleaver, leaving her with cuts to her head and a wound to her hand.

A 21-year-old woman was also in the car and her hand was cut.

Smith is also suspected of fracturing the 42-year-old womans cheekbones in Moseley three days earlier, punching her about 20 times and hitting her with a baton.

Police have used warrants at 10 separate addresses in Birmingham to find Smith but to no avail.

#WANTED: Have you seen #Birmingham man Cleon Smith? He's wanted over two violent domestic assaults on a woman, including a meat cleaver attack. The victim suffered cuts and a fractured cheekbone. Call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555111. More: https://t.co/h5dBCEsth3 pic.twitter.com/XRn6uV2lvh  West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) January 1, 2020

Superintendent Nick Walton said: Smith is a dangerous offender who we want to speak to about two violent assaults on a woman where weapons were used.

We need to get this man in custody as soon as possible and Id urge anyone whos seen him or has information that could help our enquiries to get in touch.

We dont need peoples names and information can be passed to us in confidence; we just want information to help us trace Smith.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message online.

Alternatively, they can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

People can contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat at WMP Online or by calling 101.
A man who previously pleaded guilty in the deaths of two women found dead in a burned car is now charged in another murder.

Birmingham police on Tuesday announced the arrest of 36-year-old Cameron Rayford. He is charged with murder in the Dec. 23 Roosevelt City shooting that killed Justin Rayshun Johnson and wounded another man. He was taken into custody by the departments Crime Reduction Team.

Birmingham police and fire medics responded that Monday at 1:11 p.m. to the house at 5929 Martin Luther Avenue in Roosevelt City. Sgt. Johnny Williams said they arrived to find Johnson suffering from a gunshot wound.

Johnson was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. A second victim was located near the scene with a gunshot wound to the hand and is expected to be OK.

Williams on Tuesday said the investigation showed the deadly shooting was the result of a verbal altercation.

Rayford was arrested in March 2012 and charged with capital murder in the slayings of Kimberly Roy, 29, of Hueytown, and Sandie Lyn Mitchell, 28, of Midfield. The two women were found in a burned vehicle on Nov. 20, 2001.

Birmingham police at the time of his initial arrest said people got tired of seeing a man they believed got away with killing two women walking the streets of Roosevelt City. Finally, they said, someone came forward in January of 2012, and helped investigators build a case against Rayford.

Investigators said a drug-deal-gone-bad led to the two deaths. Kimberly Roy struggled with drug addiction for more than 10 years, but her father said at the time of Rayford's arrest that she was a born-again Christian. Mitchell, her parents said, was survived by a daughter who was seven at the time of her mother's death.

In May 2012, Rayford was released from jail after posting $150,000 bond and fled the state. A year later he was arrested by sheriffs deputies in Virginia for driving 100 miles per hour. Authorities learned that he was out on bond for capital murder and wasnt supposed to leave the state of Alabama.

Rayford, who was 18 at the time of the 2001 killings, pleaded guilty in 2014 to a reduced charge of provocation manslaughter and drug trafficking. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, he received a 20-year split sentence with four years of confinement. He was put on probation for the trafficking charge.

Because of time served, Rayford was expected to actually serve about 2  more years behind bars upon his sentencing. It wasnt immediately clear when Rayford was released from prison.

He had initially faced the death penalty. Prosecutors at the time said the case was settled because of witness issues.

Court records show Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter on Nov. 20, 2019 issued a warrant for Rayfords arrest on a probation violation charge. The order did not say what Rayford had done to violate his probation and it was not clear if he had ever been arrested on that warrant before Monday.

Rayford was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on his new murder charge shortly before 10 p.m. Monday. He is being held without bond.
They recently celebrated their one-year 'anniversary' of meeting for the first time.

And on New Year's Day, Lachlan Gillespie (a.k.a. The Purple Wiggle) revealed he has now met his girlfriend Dana Stephensen's four-year-old son, Jasper.

The 34-year-old children's entertainer shared a photo to Instagram of himself, Dana and Jasper posing together on a trampoline.

It's getting serious! On New Year's Day, Lachlan Gillespie (a.k.a. The Purple Wiggle) revealed he has now met his girlfriend Dana Stephensen's four-year-old son, Jasper

He captioned the snap, '2020,' alongside several purple love heart emojis.

Dana also posted another family photo, which showed her and Lachlan smiling with Jasper sitting on their shoulders.

She then uploaded a third picture to her Instagram Story, which was captioned: '[I'm] the luckiest girl because of these two.'

Milestone moment: The 34-year-old children's entertainer shared this photo to Instagram of himself, Dana and Jasper posing together on a trampoline

Getting along well! Dana posted this photo to her Instagram Story, which she captioned: '[I'm] the luckiest girl because of these two'

Family ties: Dana shares her son with her ex-husband, photographer Michael Kai (left)

Dana, 34, shares her son with her ex-husband, photographer Michael Kai.

The dancer previously spoke to Daily Mail Australia in 2016 about motherhood, after returning to the stage just nine months after giving birth.

'Motherhood teaches you so much and it opens up this treasure box of new things that you explore and performing is so much about life experiences,' she said at the time.

'Pregnancy is one of the most formative life experiences I've had and it informs so much of my work [as a ballerina] now.'

Way back when: In December, Lachlan shared a tribute to Dana on Instagram to celebrate one year since they first met. He posted this photo of The Wiggles performing with several dancers from The Australian Ballet, including Dana

In December, Lachlan shared a tribute to Dana on Instagram to celebrate one year since they first met.

He posted a photo of The Wiggles performing with several dancers from The Australian Ballet, including Dana.

'One year ago today we met and performed with the @ausballet,' he wrote.

Fans were quick to notice the significance of the snap, with one writing: 'You two look very content and in love. Happy you have found contentment once more.'

They're not hiding anymore! Lachlan confirmed his romance with Dana in October, when he shared a selfie of the pair to Instagram

Lachlan confirmed his romance with Dana in October, when he shared a selfie of the pair to Instagram.

He had previously separated from Wiggles bandmate Emma Watkins (a.k.a. The Yellow Wiggle) in August 2018, after two years of marriage.

Emma - who has since found love with Wiggles musician Oliver Brian - spoke about her split with Lachlan on The Project in December.

She said the exes were still close despite their break-up, adding: 'We're basically back to being best friends again which is nice.'
First person to legally obtain 'nonbinary' gender status now calls it psychologically harmful

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The first person to obtain legal nonbinary gender designation on ID cards and U.S. documents has called the scheme a sham and recently changed his legal sex marker back to male to accurately reflect his biological sex.

James Shupe, who used to go by the name Jamie when he identified as female, successfully petitioned the same court that allowed him to obtain "nonbinary" legal status to allow him to restore his sex marker on his birth certificate to "male," according to PJ Media.

Documents exclusively given to the outlet show that Shupe's petition described "non-binary"  a gender identity that is said to mean neither male nor female or perhaps some of both  as a "psychologically harmful legal fiction."

Shupe now says he hopes his successful petition will prevent others from seeking that same legal recognition.

"The charade of not being male, the legal fiction, it's over," Shupe said in an interview with PJ Media.

"The lies behind my fictitious sex changes, something I shamefully participated in, first to female, and then to nonbinary, have been forever exposed. A truthful accounting of events has replaced the deceit that allowed me to become America's first legally nonbinary person."

He added, "The legal record has now been corrected and LGBT advocates are no longer able to use my historic nonbinary court order to advance their toxic agenda."

"I am and have always been male. That is my biological truth, the only thing capable of grounding me to reality."

In March, Shupe announced on Twitter that he had come to faith in God. He is also speaking out about the harms inherent in transgender medicine.

"I ended up in the psych ward three times because of hormones. I had blood clots in my eyes because my estrogen levels were 2,585 instead of 200, low bone density, problems controlling my bladder, and emotional instability," Shupe told the outlet.

"Blood tests indicated I was dropping into kidney disease territory (EFGR below 60) for about 18 months, I had chronic dermatology issues and skin reactions to estrogen patches, I passed out on the kitchen floor from Spironolactone."

In 2015, The New York Times published an article about his transition from male to female. The following summer an Oregon judge issued a court order for his sex to be legally changed from female to nonbinary  designated with the letter X  on his birth certificate.

Earlier this year, Shupe also asked the Social Security Administration to change his identity on documents back to male. The government agency reportedly refused to accept a letter from a doctor saying that he was indeed a biological male, and instead required him to use their template stating he had undergone a gender transition to male.

"It's an incredibly painful thing to walk back a landmark court decision that made you internationally famous and admit the whole thing was based on lies and deceit," he said.

In an interview with The Christian Post earlier this year, when asked what he would tell young people who have begun believing they are transgender or nonbinary, Shupe said he knows they have been led to think that gender identities are real but they are not.

"To the children, I say: I understand that you are reluctant to take the advice of older people and would prefer to test things out yourself, but you can't walk this harm back. You only have one body. You only have one reproductive system. Please don't ruin it chasing the fantasy that you are something other than your biological sex," Shupe said.

"While your suffering is real, a gender transition is not the answer to your problems. Right now there is no reward for being the person who resists succumbing to gender dysphoria. That's going to change and you should be proud to be a part of that change."
Koregaon Bhima: On the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle, thousands of people from across the country arrived to pay tribute at the `Jay Stambh` here on Wednesday (January 1, 2020). The battle was fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Along with common people, several leaders from different political parties including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, paid tributes at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial.

Heavy security arrangments were made to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the event. As many as 10,000 police officers, over 500 CCTV cameras and 15 drone cameras are keeping strong vigil on the event.

Live TV

The district administration has made arrangments for water, medical, parking, cleanliness and other facilities for the convenience of people coming to Bhima Koregaon. Pune District Administration has pressed 250 buses into service to carry the visitors while 50 other buses have been kept in reserve.

Late Babasaheb Ambedkar used to come to the place where a memorial was established to commemorate the valour Mahars (Dalits).

Notably, violence broke out during the bicentenary celebrations of the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1, 2018 in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Last week, police issued notices to 163 people, including accused Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, prohibiting them from entering the district for allegedly instigating riots and attempt to murder in the 2018 event.
MANILA, Philippines  The government has been calling on the public to ditch fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices for safer noise-maker alternatives to avoid any injuries during the celebration of the holidays.

However, there are some people who just cant help themselves from setting those firecrackers off so UNTVs Lifesaver program has prepared first-aid tips on how to treat burns and injuries related to the use of fireworks.

Lifesaver program host, UNTV News and Rescue Manager Benedict Galazan, said there are different first aid treatments for different types of fireworks accidents.

He, however, stressed that these are only temporary measures as victims should be immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.

Here are the first-aid tips:

For first degree burns, the burned or injured area should be washed under cool running water for 10 to 15 minutes to ease the pain and remove traces of chemical powder.

Cover the burned area using a clean cloth and, if necessary, immediately bring the victim to the hospital.

First-degree burns are considered mild and result in pain and reddening of the skin.

For second degree burns, run cool water on the wound for 10 to 15 minutes to stop the bleeding and ease the pain.

Cover the wound with a clean cloth or plastic wrap then bring the victim to the nearest hospital.

Second-degree burns affect the epidermis and lower layer of the skin and may cause pain, redness, and blistering.

When blistering occurs, the swollen area of the skin should not be popped.

Yung mga blister o paltos ay huwag puputukin. Kasi iyan po ang pinaka-defense mechanism ng katawan yan na kapag may heat na naramdaman ang katawan, magpo-produce siya ng liquid para yun din ang makatulong sa pagcool-down ng burn, Galazan said.

For third-degree burns, run the wound on cool water for 10 to 15 minutes to stop the bleeding and ease the pain.

Carefully put pressure on the injured area to control the bleeding.

Do NOT apply toothpaste, cream or any oil-based ointment to the wound or burn.

Cover the injured area with a clean cloth or plastic wrap then bring the victim to the hospital.

Story continues

Third-degree burns affect the dermis and deeper skin tissues and may result in white or blackened, charred skin that may be numb.

For injured fingers, hands and other limbs, Lifesaver advises to run the injured part under cool water. Do NOT use ice.

If the fingers are still intact, run it as well on cool water.

If some fingers or other body parts are dismembered or lost, apply pressure using a tourniquet or any device (bandage and stick, rope or belt) to a limb or extremity to limit  but not stop  the flow of blood.

Also, try to look for the dismembered finger, and wrap them in a clean cloth. Place them inside a sealed plastic bag and put it in ice.

Bring the victim and the dismembered body part to the nearest hospital.

Dismembered limbs need to be brought with the victim to the hospital as these may still be reattached through surgery.

For eye injuries, flush the affected eye with cool water to remove any traces of firecracker powder.

Do NOT scratch or touch the injured eye.

If it is bleeding, use gauze or a paper cup to cover and protect the injured eye. Be careful not to put pressure on the eye.

Bring the patient to the nearest hospital

For ingestion or firecracker or its powder, here are the first aid tips:

Let the patient drink raw egg whites. Health experts recommend six to eight egg whites to a child and eight to 12 to an adult.

The patient should not attempt to throw up the ingested firecracker to prevent further damage.

Bring the victim to the nearest hospital.

Remember, if the wound is larger than the size of the palm of the hand, immediately bring the victim to the nearest hospital or call emergency medical services such as 8-911-UNTV.

Watch the episode of Lifesaver below for more first aid tips on firecracker burns:

 RRD (Correspondent Harlene Delgado contributed to this report)

The post Lifesaver: How to treat fireworks-related burns and injuries appeared first on UNTV News.
Two of the men have savings they could put toward housing, according the lawsuit, but they fear that if they move out of (Wayside Cross Ministries) their lives and their employment will be destabilized and they will also be at risk of homelessness due to lack of funds and the difficulties that people with felony backgrounds (especially those who have been convicted of sex offenses) have in finding housing.
The 2010s made one thing clear: Tech is everywhere in life.

Tech is in our homes with thermostats that heat up our residences before we walk through the door. Its in our cars with safety features that warn us about vehicles in adjacent lanes. Its on our television sets, where many of us are streaming shows and movies through apps. We even wear it on ourselves in the form of wristwatches that monitor our health.

In 2020 and the coming decade, these trends are likely to gather momentum. They will also be on display next week at CES, an enormous consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas that typically serves as a window into the years hottest tech developments.

At the show, next-generation cellular technology known as 5G, which delivers data at mind-boggling speeds, is expected to take center stage as one of the most important topics. We are also likely to see the evolution of smart homes, with internet-connected appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and vacuum cleaners working more seamlessly together  and with less human interaction required.

The biggest thing is connected everything, said Carolina Milanesi, a technology analyst for the research firm Creative Strategies. Anything in the home  well have more cameras, more mics, more sensors.
The sun is climbing in the Bangalore morning sky as a man in his late fifties strips to his underwear and prepares to lower himself into a pit of sewage.

Kaverappa looks down into the shaft behind a house on the southern rim of Indias technology capital. Then he hooks his fingers and toes into grooves in the concrete pit, 10 feet deep, and begins to descend.

A foul, sulphurous smell floats up. Soon his legs, arms, chest and shoulders are coated with near-black fluid, the product of a years worth of toilet waste.

Such work  emptying septic tanks and sewers by hand  is both dangerous and illegal in India. But for Kaverappa, who goes by only one name, it is an ordinary day. He wants to leave the job behind but feels there is no alternative. We dont have anything else, he says.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has received international plaudits for his campaign to build millions of toilets across the country. But the cleanliness drive has failed to eliminate the countrys most stigmatised and hazardous sanitation work: dealing with human waste by hand.

Some families have done this work for generations, and others are dependent on it to survive

Even in Bangalore, an expanding metropolis that is home to software giants and multinational firms, deaths of sewer workers occur with depressing regularity. At least three people have died cleaning sewers in the city since March; across India, activists have documented 112 such deaths this year, more than one every three days.

Despite a 2013 law forbidding the practice, cleaning sewers and removing blockages is still done by hand and without any safety equipment in many parts of the country. Employers who violate the law are not punished.

Modis cleanliness drive has scored key victories: The number of people with access to toilets has increased dramatically since 2014. But the race to celebrate progress has obscured crucial gaps. For instance, a survey carried out by Indias national statistical body revealed that a quarter of rural Indians still do not have yet access to toilets, contrary to the governments claims.

After emptying the pits, workers dispose of the sewage in a nearly field (CS Sharada Prasad/Washington Post)

Whats more, the toilet-building drive is creating its own challenges, experts say. Many of the toilets built in the campaign are in rural areas with no sewage systems. A large percentage of the toilets are connected to basic holding pits that do not convert waste into fertiliser, according to VR Raman, the head of policy at WaterAid India, a nonprofit organisation that works to improve access to clean water. Such pits will require emptying. You can imagine on whom the society is going to depend [for that work], he says.

Kaverappa, a small, wiry man who goes barefoot everywhere, has experienced this dynamic first-hand. More than 15 years ago, as Bangalore was expanding, more and more houses were built on the citys southern periphery. Where there were houses, there were toilet pits to clean. Someone in the neighbourhood came to Kaverappa and asked if he could empty the pits  not because he had done the work before, but because he is Dalit, the community formerly known as untouchables.

This occupation is a caste-based occupation all over India, says K Obalesh, the founder of an organisation started in 2005 that works to eradicate manual scavenging  the practice of dealing with human waste by hand without protective gear, whether in dry latrines, holding pits, sewers or septic tanks.

Some families have done this work for generations, and others are dependent on it to survive, Obalesh says. The general attitude among state and local authorities is one of acute negligence he adds. Theyre not interested in implementing [rehabilitation] schemes and breaking the cycle.

Workers open a sewage pit behind a home in Bangalore (CS Sharada Prasad/Washington Post)

There is no comprehensive count of how many workers engage in manual scavenging in India. The government recently carried out a survey in a quarter of Indias districts and found at least 40,000. But such figures understate the scope of the problem, activists say. Obalesh estimates that there are 20,000 such workers in the state of Karnataka alone.

A few cities are starting to introduce technology in an attempt to end the practice. In Delhi, local authorities have procured more than 200 trucks with specially designed jets and rods to eliminate the need for humans to enter sewers.

But some of the drains and sewers in the country are so old  or located in such narrow lanes  that no machinery fits that purpose, according to Nirat Bhatnagar, a partner at Dalberg Advisors, a development consulting firm.

It will take far more than building toilets to solve such sanitation challenges

Meanwhile, it will take far more than building toilets to solve such sanitation challenges. Bezwada Wilson, a prominent activist who heads an organisation called the Sanitation Workers Movement, calls the governments approach madness. They are constructing toilets, but they have not developed the infrastructure for where the human excreta will go and how this is getting emptied, he says.

Muttaiah, 63, a social worker in Bangalore who goes by only one name, says he was on his motorbike when he saw one man standing above a manhole and another inside it. He says the man inside the stinking manhole was working without any safety equipment  no gloves, no shoes, no supplemental oxygen. The men told Muttaiah that a local contractor hired by a city engineer had paid them to clean the sewer. Muttaiah took photos and videos and went to the police to file a complaint. If there are convictions and somebody is punished, it will be a strong message to the society, he says.

Kaverappa inspects a pit of toilet waste (CS Sharada Prasad/Washington Post)

E Vishwanath, the chief engineer for solid waste management with the Bangalore city government, disputes such reports. We have supplied all the safety equipment, he says, although some workers may not be using it.

The law entitles manual scavengers to a one-time rehabilitation payment and a loan to help them transition to a new profession. In practice, however, such benefits are difficult to access. Kaverappa knows what he would do if he was given a loan: buy a tanker truck with suction hoses that would allow him to get out of the pit.

When asked what equipment he uses now, Kaverappa holds out his two hands. Like his father before him, he has been a manual labourer all his life. His earliest memories are of working: he began breaking stones to use in construction and road-building from the age of seven. How could I go to school? he asks. If I go to school, then there would be nothing to eat at home.

25% of rural Indians are still without access to toilets

When he was 20, he began loading stones into trucks, together with several other men from the Dalit community. It was backbreaking work from dawn to dusk, and he lost the top of his right index finger in an accident. Kaverappas two younger brothers died of tuberculosis and kidney disease before the age of 40. His son died at the age of 17 from a spinal injury that he says doctors never took the time to explain.

Climbing down into pits to empty faecal sludge with nothing more than a bucket was difficult at first, says Kaverappa, especially the smell. Unlike loading trucks full of rocks, however, it is over within a few hours. He earns about $100 a month.

He and two relatives arrive to empty two deep pits full of bubbling waste behind a spacious two-storey home. One of his relatives, who pours the buckets of waste into plastic drums, has been drinking  a common tactic to cope with this type of work. Even as the men are emptying the pit, people inside the home are using the toilet, sending fresh waste cascading into the cylindrical hole.

After the pit is partially empty, Kaverappa clambers down and lifts bucket after bucket of thick waste over his head. When the job is done, he climbs out and stands in the nearby lane, his small frame smeared with muck. Two women walk by in brightly coloured tunics and flowing pants, purses swinging. They do not even glance at him as they pass.

 Washington Post
Time is not always governed by the calendar. The 20th century ran a few years shy of 100, getting a late start with the outbreak of World War I in 1914 and ending, depending on who you ask, either with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 or the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

In the middle of that short century, however, the 1960s were a "long decade." The events and cultural markers we associate with the 60s are not neatly confined between 1960 and 1969 but stretch, as British historian Arthur Marwick has posited, from 1958 to 1974. Marwick chose the latter date, as he explains in The Sixties, because it was then "that the mass of ordinary people began to feel the effects of the oil crisis [which started in late 1973], because some of the crucial developments initiated in the 60s only culminated then ... and because only in August, with Congress drastically cutting aid to Saigon and Nixon resigning, did the anti-war movement feel it was achieving victory."

The felt boundaries of a decade, then, are not necessarily limited by its actual years. The tenures of presidents, the progression of war and peace, the course of economic booms and busts, even the meandering of style in clothes and music can all shrink or expand a decade beyond its normal limits. And I suspect, like the 1960s, the 2010s will be measured long.

I don't say this with pleasure. My sense is that many of us want this new year to be a clean break. We are politically exhausted and eager for a new era of normalcy, whatever our political affinities tell us that means. We are tired of a constant feeling of apogee, of careening from one crisis  one threat  to the next. Unfortunately, there is no reason to think 2020 has brought this wild decade to a close.

"I would say the current 'decade' essentially began with the 2008-2009 financial crisis," argues Jasmin Mujanovic, a political scientist at Elon University whose tweet thread on the long 2010s provided the language I was seeking for this column. "Mind you, one could also make an argument for re-framing all of this in light of 9/11," Mujanovic told me, "but I'm of the belief that the financial crisis was a watershed moment in its own right, one that carried with it a lot of the features and anxieties of the post-9/11 world but unleashed a new, still more existential form of politics in much of the West, in particular."

Story continues

Particularly for my generation and our Boomer parents  I graduated college nine months after Lehman Brothers collapsed, and many of my peers saw their families' homes repossessed as they came into adulthood  2008 feels like a clear dividing line, the first time 9/11 was superseded as a preoccupying catastrophe. But if the financial crisis started the 2010s, what closes the decade is difficult to predict.

I'm inclined to name 2021 as the soonest conceivable end date, a timeline only possible if President Trump loses his re-election campaign. Mujanovic's forecast is longer. "I can't see most of the major dynamics of the present  the war in Syria, the rise of the Western far-right, Russian revanchism, American decline and Chinese ascendancy, the internal crisis of the European Union combined with the chaos of Brexit, the cataclysmic realities of accelerating climate change, etc.  playing themselves out before 2025," he said. "And realistically, I think we're going to be having many of the same conversations well into the 2030s." That would be a long decade indeed.

It is a strange thing to conceptualize a long decade while you're still in it, a bit like breaking the fourth wall of history to monologue to  well, everyone. But there is some value in thinking of our time this way. It adjusts our expectations for 2020, tamping down unrealistic hopes and fears alike. There will be change in the coming year, as in every year, but we can mostly anticipate continuity. Take a breath.

More practically, forecasting a long 2010s encourages taking the long view on what Mujanovic called a "cluster of intertwined crises that demand our constant attention." Their resolution is not nigh. We will be dealing with present problems and their effects for years to come. "I think all of us would do well  especially those with real political influence and power  to step back and think about where we want the world to be in 20 or 30 years," Mujanovic advised. That means thinking past the next election cycle and the one after that, which is basically contemplating eternity so far as the American polity is concerned. It is a contemplation we must brave.

My annual New Year's Eve cocktail party marked the end of the year and only the year. For whenever the end of the long 2010s may arrive, it won't be this New Year's Day. We aren't getting off that easy.

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Source: Xinhua| 2019-12-31 22:48:29|Editor: huaxia

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Xinhua file photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

Under the agreement, Russia will ship through the Ukrainian gas transportation system a total volume of 225 billion cubic meters of gas in the next five years.



MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine have signed a package of documents extending Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine for five years, Russia's gas giant Gazprom said in a statement late Monday.

"After five days of continuous bilateral negotiations in Vienna, final decisions were made and final agreements reached," Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said in a statement.

"Gazprom has done everything possible and once again confirmed that it is a responsible supplier and a reliable partner," he added.

Under the agreement, Russia will ship through the Ukrainian gas transportation system a total volume of 225 billion cubic meters of gas in the next five years, including 65 billion cubic meters next year and 40 billion cubic meters each year from 2021 to 2024.

Gazprom and Ukraine's state-run energy company Naftogaz have signed a settlement agreement, which recalls all arbitration and legal claims against each other related to previous gas transit contracts and Gazprom agreed to pay 2.9 billion U.S. dollars in compensation to Naftogaz, according to a ruling of the Stockholm Arbitration.

Gazprom and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine have signed an amicable settlement agreement, which provides for the termination by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine of all current and possible future demands to Gazprom.

"The certainty of future gas transit creates a necessary environment for continuation of the domestic gas market and broader energy reforms, secures gas transmission jobs and future contracts with Ukrainian industrial producers related to the maintenance of the Ukrainian gas transmission system," Naftogaz said in a statement late Monday.

Last week, Ukrainian Energy and Environmental Protection Minister Oleksiy Orzhel said in an article that Ukraine will receive around 15 billion U.S. dollars in revenues over five years of Russian gas transit.

Ukraine is a key transit route for Russian gas to Europe. The current gas transit contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom that expires on Dec. 31, 2019 had threatened to disrupt supplies to Europe.

Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission have held many trilateral consultations to prevent a disruption of Russian gas shipments.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that the Russia-Ukraine gas contract for the next five years is a compromise that needed to be found.

"Now all of the matters are settled, mutual claims terminated. The transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will continue on conditions that suit all sides," Medvedev wrote on his Facebook account.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of the package gas transit deal during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

"The constructive nature of the held talks was noted, as their results create a favorable atmosphere for solving other bilateral problems," the Kremlin said in a statement. 
Turkey to implement deals with Libya in 2020: Erdogan

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 4:28 PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara will materialize its two agreements with the Libyan government on defense and maritime rights next year, a few days ahead of a parliament vote on deploying troops to the North African country.

Erdogan's comment came on Tuesday, just a day after the Turkish government sent to parliament a bill authorizing troop deployment to Libya.

"The Memorandum of Understanding on Security and Military Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Delimitation of the Maritime Jurisdiction Areas between Turkey and Libya brought about gains of great strategic importance for our country," the Turkish president said in his New Year message.

Ankara signed the security and military cooperation accords with Libya last month, angering a camp that has been laying claims to power in the country.

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between two rival camps: one based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and the other, the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, in the capital, Tripoli.

A renegade general, Khalifa Haftar, is the self-proclaimed commander of an array of militia groups and apparently supports the eastern camp.

In April, Haftar's forces launched an offensive to capture Tripoli. Despite intense and deadly clashes between the two sides, Haftar has so far failed to achieve his objective, and his offensive has stalled outside the capital.

On Saturday, Haftar's forces seized a Turkish ship, but released it after searching it for weapons.

Ankara says it is determined to back the Libyan government against Haftar's militia and restore stability to Libya.

The Turkish parliament has already approved the bilateral security and maritime accords. The Libyan government has also ratified the agreements.

But the Turkish parliament needs to issue a separate mandate for troop deployment to Turkey.

On Tuesday, Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop called an extraordinary meeting of the parliament on January 2 to vote on the motion.

The Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey's biggest opposition party, objected to the bill on Monday. However, Erdogan's Justice and Development (AK) Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), another major party in the parliament that is allied to the AKP, together have sufficient votes to pass the deployment motion.

The maritime deal between Turkey and Libya has also angered neighboring Greece, which slammed it as an "infringement on its sovereignty" that could complicate Athens' decades-old disputes with Ankara over Cyprus and maritime rights in the Aegean Sea. Greece has already expelled the Libyan ambassador to Athens over the deal.

The Turkish leader, however, rejected Athens's claims.

"These two memoranda have expanded and enhanced much further the process we had initiated via an agreement with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)," Erdogan further said.

"The projects aimed at entirely excluding Turkey from the Mediterranean have thus been wholly thwarted with our recent steps," Erdogan said, referring to initiatives by Greece, Greek Cyprus, the Israeli regime, and Egypt for an expanded use of the hydrocarbon reserves of the Mediterranean basin.

The memorandum of understanding on the maritime jurisdiction areas with Libya is regarded as strategic for Ankara as it strengthens its hands against claims by Greece and the Greek Cypriot government.

"The full implementation of these agreements will be facilitated by the support we will lend to the legitimate Tripoli government in Libya," Erdogan said.

Libya has been the scene of chaos since 2011, when former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled after an uprising and a NATO military intervention.

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The dying Christmas wish of a terminally-ill Army veteran who lives in Florida seemed far-fetched until a group of dedicated citizens came together to make it a reality.

The only thing that 76-year-old Albert Septein wanted for his predicted last Christmas on Earth was to make a snow angel, as he used to do during his childhood in Connecticut, WFLA reports.

Sadly, snow is borderline unheard of in balmy Tampa, Fla., where the Vietnam War vet, who is fighting stage 4 melanoma, believed to have been caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during his years in the service, lives.

Septein's cousin, Joe Maestre, decided he wanted to make his relative's last Christmas a memorable one after learning of his terminal diagnosis.

"I asked him, What would you like for Christmas?'" Maestre told WTVT. And he says, 'I want to make a snow angel.' I said, 'Well, you got it, you got it.' And he laughed! He said to me, 'In Tampa? Youre crazy.'"

Crazy as the wish may have sounded to the man who made it, Septein's community still rallied to make it a reality.

Members of the Black Dagger Military Hunt Club Inc, a volunteer-based non-profit group providing outdoor experiences for military veterans, were able to bring a snow machine to Septein's front yard and surprise him with a ton of fresh powder, flattened and ready for him to make his angel.

In one video of the event, posted on Facebook by Robin Winters, the vet is seen wiping away tears as he first lays eyes on the snow. He then walks toward it, firmly plants his walker in the ground and flops down backward to the tune of cheers and applause from onlookers.

Maestre said his cousin's reaction was worth every bit of trouble he went through to make his wish come true.

"I dont think there's words to explain it," Maestre told WTVT. "The look on his face, the feeling in his heart. The tears that he had. This has been the most wonderful day in the last year."
(CNN)  President Donald Trump threatened Iran Tuesday, warning the country's leaders they will be held responsible for any death or destruction after protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump tweeted from Florida. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."

Protesters attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, scaling the walls and forcing the gates of the compound, as hundreds demonstrated against American airstrikes on an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq.

As night fell, protestors set up tents near the embassy, suggesting another day of upheaval lies ahead. Iraqi counterterrorism forces were deployed around the perimeter of the embassy, while the Pentagon announced additional Marines would be sent to Baghdad and more troops would be deployed to the Middle East in response to the embassy crisis.

'It's going to be tense'

Trump stressed safety in a set of tweets and drew a direct comparison to the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead, even as a senior administration official told CNN the White House is "very concerned" about the potential for further escalation come New Year's Day morning.

"Tomorrow, during the daytime, it's going to be tense," the official said.

Another senior administration official said the administration is "not going to assume it's an escalation, but also is not going to be unaware" of the potential for further deterioration with Iran, adding that "it's a complicated situation."

The administration hopes everything will calm down and go back to normal, the official said, but is prepared for all contingencies and is keeping a close eye on the situation.

This official added that Trump emphasized in a call with the Iraqi prime minister that Iraq has a responsibility to protect the US embassy and personnel.

For now, US officials are closely watching the situation and hopeful that a bolstered Iraqi response and US moves to reinforce security will be enough. Trump insisted in a Tuesday tweet that the embassy was safe.

"The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site," Trump tweeted. "The Anti-Benghazi!" he added in a separate post.

The US military is expected to soon deploy additional military forces to the Middle East in response to the situation, a US defense official told CNN, on top of about 100 additional Marines from a crisis response task force based in Kuwait that arrived in Baghdad today to bolster embassy security.

The number of troops could be as large as "a brigade type element" or a few thousand additional US soldiers drawn mostly from the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, according to the official, who said they could arrive in a matter of days at the earliest.

The attacks on the embassy are a response to US airstrikes on Sunday gainst an Iran-backed militia that formally sits under the control of Iraq's prime minister. The airstrikes have caused tension with Baghdad, where officials accused the US of attacking without sufficient evidence, violating Iraqi sovereignty and threatening the country's security.

Iran pushes back

While Trump, US officials and lawmakers placed blame for the protests squarely on Iran, a foreign ministry spokesman in Tehran vehemently denied the allegations.

In a Tuesday statement, Abbas Mousavi called the US allegation "obscenity" while "Iraqi people are overwhelmed with bloodshed [in which] at least 25 people died," a reference to the death toll of US airstrikes on the militia, Kataib Hezbollah, in Iraq on Sunday.

"How and on what basis do you expect the Iraqi people to remain silent on all these crimes?" Mousavi said, adding that the United States has "ignored" Iraqi independence and called on Washington to "reconsider its destructive policies in the region."

Both the White House and militia representatives signaled Tuesday that the situation could escalate, while US officials stressed their readiness to protect American personnel, flying Apache helicopters over the embassy in a show of force and announcing the military reinforcements.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham cast the protests as an Iranian "escalation," saying that "it will be the President's choice how and when we respond."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah, told CNN that the embassy protests were only a "first step."

"The American administration should understand the following: the first step was to protest near the American embassy, we are waiting their reactions to determine the second step," Mohamad Mouhiye said, calling for the US to shut down the embassy and withdraw from Iraq.

"First, close the doors of the evil embassy, which we consider a spy building and an operations room to administer and sabotage Iraq's wellbeing," Mouhiye said. "We also call on the US to withdraw their military forces which are in Iraq illegally," he said.

"This protest was a stand against US political dominance," he said.

No evacuation plans

The embassy, in Baghdad's green zone, has been put under lockdown, an embassy spokesperson told CNN, but a State Department spokesperson insisted "there has been no breach." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News Tuesday evening that there are currently no plans to evacuate the embassy or pull out US troops.

US ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller has been on vacation for more than a week, but a State Department spokesperson said Tueller is returning to the embassy.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Pentagon is working closely with the State Department to ensure the safety of the embassy and staff in Baghdad. He also reminded Iraq of its obligations under international law.

"We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense," Esper said. "As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so."

It is not clear how many people are inside the embassy, but it is the US' largest diplomatic mission in the world, with around 16,000 staff. The compound covers around 100 acres, around the same size as the Vatican City.

The pro-Iranian demonstrators were mostly from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a coalition of predominantly Shiite militias. Formed in 2014 to fight ISIS, the PMU were recognized under a 2016 Iraqi law as an independent military force that answers directly to the prime minister.

Despite the Iraqi law, most observers see many of those groups, including Kataib Hezbollah, as maintaining strong links to Iran and its security forces, from which they receive funding and other support, as well as some direction.

Three leaders of powerful militia groups were also seen at the protest, including Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The US carried out five airstrikes in Iraq and Syria on Sunday on facilities controlled by Kataib Hezbollah, killing at least 25 people and wounding 51, in the first significant US military response to weeks of deadly rocket attacks by the Iran-backed group on US-Iraqi targets.

US officials said the strikes were carried out with F-15 Strike Eagle fighter planes and targeted weapons storage facilities and command and control locations used by Kataib Hezbollah. The Pentagon said the locations had been used "to plan and execute attacks" on joint US-Iraq forces.

The strikes and ensuing protests come at a time of high tensions between the US and Iran, and have stoked fears of a new proxy war in the Middle East.

Washington has tightened the economic squeeze on Tehran this year through its "maximum pressure" campaign, while Iran has responded with what it calls for "maximum resistance," including reducing its compliance to the international nuclear deal.

The Trump administration pulled the US out of that deal in May 2018, sparking a campaign of provocation between the two nations that has included attacks by Iran or its proxies on US allies and oil infrastructure and shipping.

Trump blames Iran

Trump confirmed Tuesday that Sunday's airstrikes were a response to a recent attack that killed a US contractor. He blamed Iran both for the contractor's death and Tuesday's attack on the embassy.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!" Trump tweeted.

The airstrikes and embassy attack have created new tensions between allies Washington and Baghdad and come at a time of unrest, as mass protests across Iraq challenge the nation's government.

Baghdad warned Monday that its relations with the US were at risk following the strikes. Questions have also been raised as to whether Iraqi forces allowed the protesters to reach the US Embassy, a highly fortified building in an area that is usually restricted.

Pompeo spoke with Iraq's embattled Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih on Tuesday, the State Department said in a statement.

"The Secretary made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq. Both Abdul-Mahdi and Salih assured the Secretary that they took seriously their responsibility for and would guarantee the safety and security of US personnel and property," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

Abdul-Mahdi earlier called on protestors to leave the area around the embassy, warning them against acts of aggression.

"We ask everyone to immediately leave these places, and we recall that any aggression or harassment of foreign embassies and representations are an act that will be strictly prohibited by the security forces and will be punished by law with the most severe penalties," Abdul Mahdi said in a statement.

But he also described those killed in the US airstrikes as "martyrs" and supported a funeral for them in the capital's streets.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump threatens Iran after protesters attack US embassy in Baghdad."
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Mauritius-headquartered telecoms group IHS Towers said on Monday it has agreed to buy Brazilian telecoms infrastructure company Cell Site Solutions (CSS) from Goldman Sachs and Centaurus Capital LP for an undisclosed amount, to expand in Latin America.

The acquisition is part of IHS's strategy to become the a leading owner, operator and developer of shared telecommunications infrastructure in emerging markets.

"Brazil's topography and compact urban areas, coupled with the recent economic upturn, provide favorable macroeconomic factors for 4G and 5G deployment," IHS's chairman and chief executive Sam Darwish said in a statement.

The transaction, which was first reported by newspapers O Estado de S.Paulo and Valor Economico, is subject to regulatory approval, IHS added.

According to the company, CSS has approximately 2,290 towers and other telecoms infrastructure sites across Brazil, Peru and Colombia.

(This story crrects to say company headquartered in Mauritius in headline and first paragraph)

(Reporting by Gabriela Mello, editing by Louise Heavens)
Yangon, Jan 1 : Myanmar President U Win Myint on Wednesday called for the participation of people in their tasks of Union Peace, building a Democratic Federal Union and development programmes.

Speaking on the occasion of new year 2020, the President expressed his belief that the hardships and challenges that the country is facing can be successfully overcome by holding onto truth, justice, honesty and transparency, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The President said the government has been making unrelenting efforts for the emergence of the Democratic Federal Union Constitution that guarantees equal rights, peace and development which have been yearned for so many years by all ethnic nationals.

The government has also been working strenuously with the collective strength of the people, by laying down firm noble goals and programmes for sustainable peace, prosperity and development for a happy and prosperous life of the people, he added.

First Vice President U Myint Swe, in his new year message, wished the country and all ethnic nationals to be free from harm, to gain the long-awaited national reconciliation and peace in no time, as well as to build a happy and prosperous state.

Second Vice President U Henry Van Thio, in his part, urged the people to safeguard the interests of the nation, the reputation and integrity of all ethnic nationals.
MARKHAM, Ont. - Ontario's police watchdog is investigating a fatal collision that started with a pursuit.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MARKHAM, Ont. - Ontario's police watchdog is investigating a fatal collision that started with a pursuit.

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The Special Investigations Unit says the incident happened at around 7:15 p.m. on New Year's Eve in Markham, Ont., after police began following a coupe.

It says the coupe crashed into a Toyota Corolla.

The SIU says the driver of the coupe wasn't seriously injured, and the 68-year-old man driving the Corolla was killed at the scene.

York regional police say the driver that was being followed was arrested for alleged impaired driving.

The SIU is automatically called in to investigate reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published, Jan. 1, 2020
Editor: Susan Minasian Grais, CPA, J.D., LL.M.

Companies continue to walk through challenges stemming from the 2017 tax reform law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), P.L. 115-97, which ushered in new rules, new compliance and reporting obligations, and new risks. Calendar-year taxpayers have filed their first federal and state tax returns under the full provisions of the TCJA, but Treasury and the IRS continue to issue and finalize guidance in key areas. The rules are complex, and many companies are finding they still have unanswered questions.

The TCJA's rules affect various business functions and require greater communication among them. They also have implications for current, future, and, in some cases, past tax years. Companies need to be mindful of effective dates, transitions, and phase-in rules for different TCJA provisions as outlined in the statute and any Treasury or IRS implementing guidance. They also need to consider potential interactions among different provisions in the law that may have implications for tax planning and compliance.

To help with this process, what follows are five areas that may continue to pose TCJA implementation challenges for companies.

Tax compliance

The volume of TCJA changes means companies are facing increased compliance challenges. These include new and expanded federal, state, and international tax computations; new disclosure statements; and new forms and schedules. Many of the TCJA's computations require new data feeds  which may necessitate increased investment in tools and resources to collect, analyze, store, and submit the required information.

As Treasury and the IRS issue additional interpretive guidance, companies may need to revisit and adjust their return positions; for instance, new guidance may result in businesses needing to report uncertain tax positions (UTPs) or file amended returns.

In addition, absent guidance on the level of authority for return positions, businesses must decide how to make reasonable estimates and document support for those decisions and computations.

Forward-thinking companies understand that compliance is an ongoing exercise. When evaluating TCJA compliance readiness, some questions to consider include:

Has the company sufficiently planned for the increased filing obligations and computations stemming from the TCJA? Does this planning include future years and the possibility of amended returns?

How has the company addressed accounting method implications of the TCJA for tax year 2018, and how will it manage accounting methods on an ongoing basis?

Are updates the company made to existing processes and systems proving sufficient to manage the TCJA's increased data and reporting requirements?

How is the company assessing whether it can scale its investments in people, processes, and technology to meet emerging tax reform needs?

Tax controversy

Regulatory guidance related to the TCJA is still being finalized, and some of the key rules implementing the law remain in flux. For businesses, this means continuing uncertainty, increased compliance burdens, and the potential for unintentional errors in the interpretation of complex and evolving laws.

For many taxpayers, the eventual finalization of TCJA guidance may lead to changes to financial statement tax reserves, UTP disclosures on tax return filings, and potential amended returns. It could also lead to protracted tax controversies related to post-TCJA tax return years. Now, more than ever, it is important for companies to thoroughly document tax return positions, particularly in areas where interpretation of the law is still evolving. Once involved in a tax controversy, it is also important to understand the available IRS procedures and options to effectively resolve disputes and manage audits. As companies prepare for anticipated controversy, some implementation questions include:

What steps can the company take to properly document its return positions, especially in areas in which regulatory guidance is unclear or not yet finalized, or where information may be limited and estimates must be used?

What should the company consider proactively disclosing to the IRS regarding its tax return positions?

What systems does the company have in place to manage and coordinate its existing tax controversies?

International tax

The TCJA's changes to the U.S. international tax system have required businesses to revisit their structures, supply chains, and overall tax planning. While Treasury has issued administrative guidance on several key international tax provisions, businesses continue to wrestle with how these rules interact with each other and with long-standing Internal Revenue Code rules.

Companies are also preparing for a potential uptick in tax controversy related to the TCJA's international provisions as the IRS looks at how they have applied the new rules.

Treasury is expected to issue more international tax guidance, but, in the meantime, some implementation questions include:

How to address the company's residual tax (U.S. and local) on global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) that is not in fact low-taxed?

How do the earnings-stripping rules apply to controlled foreign corporations?

What documentation does a company need for the foreign-derived intangible income (FDII) deduction? Are changes needed within the organization to support those requirements?

What transactions, internal or external, have the potential to accelerate any remaining transition-tax liability? What limitations exist on M&A activity?

What business changes, if any, will a company need to make to apply the high-tax GILTI exception if it is finalized and made available to taxpayers?

Executive compensation

Companies continue to face complexities related to the tax treatment of executive compensation and fringe benefits that came along with tax reform. The TCJA expanded the Sec. 162(m) $1 million deduction limit that applies to compensation paid to top executives of publicly held companies for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017. Private companies that issue public debt, as well as foreign private issuers, are subject to the limitation. Changes in the definitions may also pull in other issuers that do not have publicly traded common stock but are subject to other SEC reporting requirements. CFOs had previously been excluded from the category of "covered employees" under Sec. 162(m) but are now explicitly included, as are other executive officers who meet the definition of a named executive officer for any period, even if they terminate employment or are no longer in a "proxy officer" position. Thus, the category of covered employees will grow over time.

The law included transition relief that allows employers to rely on prior law for compensation arrangements governed by a written binding contract in effect on Nov. 2, 2017, if it was not materially modified subsequently. As they analyze the applicability of this transition relief, companies need to have proper documentation and recordkeeping processes in place. If they have arrangements under a binding contract, they need to make sure any changes are not "material modifications." Applying the compensation deduction limitation may also be particularly challenging for some corporate structures in which compensation payments are made among related entities, as well as for companies pursuing mergers and acquisitions.

The TCJA also eliminated employer deductions for a variety of employee fringe benefits and work-related expenses, such as membership dues, commuting expenses (including some employer-provided parking), and employer-provided moving expenses.

These changes to the tax treatment of executive compensation paid by companies and to fringe benefits raise the following questions:

What companies are pulled into the new definition of "publicly held" for purposes of the $1 million deduction limit?

For companies with existing compensation awards that continue to be deductible under the binding contract exception, is there proper documentation to support this position?

With CFOs and a growing number of employees added over time to the covered employee group, is the company taking steps to track the members of this group of employees?

How are the company's compensation programs being structured to account for the TCJA's changes?

What changes should be made to the company's existing policies and benefit programs to account for the law's changes to the deductibility of fringe benefits?

State taxation

Every state that has an income tax relies in some way on the Code to determine the state tax base. Some use the taxpayer's determination of federal gross income, adjusted gross income, or taxable income as their starting point with specific subtractions or adjustments, while others incorporate specific Code provisions.

The 50 states differ on their approaches to TCJA conformity. In most cases, states have conformed to provisions that increase revenues. Few states have provided rate reductions consistent with the TCJA's base expansion trade-off, resulting in a relative increase in the state tax burden for most businesses. Adding to the complexity, some states have reversed their positions on TCJA conformity, creating great uncertainty in state tax forecasting.

Businesses should continue to monitor state legislative and administrative responses to federal tax conformity, understand the impact on their multistate tax liabilities, and consider the steps they should take to respond.

Among the key questions to ask:

Should a company join in the state legislative Internal Revenue Code conformity discussions that are continuing to unfold?

Which of the company's legal entities own foreign subsidiaries that are subject to the federal transition tax, GILTI, FDII, and base-erosion and anti-abuse tax, and in which states might they be subject to those taxes?

Do the states in which the company operates administer these international tax provisions in the same way as the federal government? Do these international tax provisions conflict with the states' existing base-erosion provisions (such as their related-party addback and tax haven rules), and are the states prohibited by other laws (including the U.S. and state constitutions, as well as statutory limitations), from taking the federal government's approach?

How have the states in which the business operates conformed to the TCJA's 30% business interest expense limitation rule? Is it determined on a consolidated basis and the same way as the federal limitation, or does the state require a different, separate computation? What is the state tax impact on the business's existing debt structure, including on existing intracompany debt, and what other limitations do those states impose on interest deductibility?

More challenges ahead

These questions provide a glimpse into some of the complexity companies face implementing the TCJA. Issues will continue to emerge as the rules are finalized and companies try to make planning decisions while applying guidance that continues to evolve. Companies need to monitor and evaluate guidance as it is issued, as well as consider educating and engaging with policymakers on implementation challenges affecting their business operations.

EditorNotes

Susan Minasian Grais, CPA, J.D., LL.M., is a managing director at Ernst & Young LLP in Washington, D.C.

For additional information about these items, contact Ms. Grais at 202-327-8788 or susan.grais@ey.com.

Contributors are members of or associated with Ernst & Young LLP. Versions of many of these items were previously published as Ernst & Young Tax Alerts.
Carlos Ghosns stunning escape from Japan makes him one of the most famous white-collar fugitives in recent years, joining the likes of Malaysian businessman Jho Low and Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya.

The former head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, who was facing trial for financial crimes, defended his move to Lebanon by saying in a statement hell no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system.

Its unclear how Ghosn escaped as hes been under house arrest and close surveillance since being granted bail in April following his initial arrest in November 2018. Hes a citizen of Lebanon, which doesnt have an extradition treaty with Japan, and is held in high esteem there. He also holds Brazilian and French citizenship. Ghosns lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said his legal team has all of his passports, adding that its likely he entered his ancestral home country using a different name.

Heres a look at some high-profile fugitives from the business world in recent years :-

Jho Low

Malaysia is still trying to bring in Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the siphoning of billions of dollars from state-owned investment fund 1MDB. The scandal led to Prime Minister Najib Razak losing a 2018 election, ending 61 years of his partys rule, and has entangled individuals and businesses far and wide, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Jho Low has denied wrongdoing that he wouldnt get a fair trial in Malaysia.

Malaysian authorities last week complained about a lack of cooperation from other countries in their search for Jho Low. In September, Inspector-General Abdul Hamid Bador said the financier was in a jurisdiction that has an extradition treaty with Malaysia and talks were being held with a party suspected of protecting him.

Marc Rich

The commodities trader fled to Switzerland hours before being indicted in 1983 on more than 50 counts of wire fraud, racketeering, trading with Iran during an embargo, and evading more than $48 million in U.S. income taxes. The charges stemmed from a multimillion-dollar chain of U.S. crude-oil deals that roiled the global petroleum industry in the early 1980s.

The businessman was celebrated for inventing the spot-oil market before becoming one of the most wanted white-collar fugitives in American history for 17 years. After leaving the U.S., he founded a commodities trading company that became the forerunner of todays Glencore Plc.

Marc Rich, Fugitive Commodities Trader in 1980s, Dies at 78

On the last day of his presidency in January 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned Rich, who repeatedly maintained his innocence. Rich died in 2013.

Christopher Skase

The entrepreneur died in Majorca in 2001, a decade after fleeing Australia as his media and hotel empire Qintex Australia Ltd. collapsed. The businesses included Seven Network Australia Ltd., the countrys second-largest television network.

Skase successfully fought bids to extradite him to Australia. An order to expel him was in place but suspended by the Spanish government a month before he died of cancer at the age of 52.

Vijay Mallya

The so-called King of Good Times has been subject to extradition efforts by Indian authorities for years. Mallya is based in London, where this month he was taken to court by a dozen state-owned Indian banks petitioning for him to be declared bankrupt over 1.15 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) in unpaid debts.

Mallyas business interests stretched from liquor to motor racing to airlines. He was the founder of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.

Nirav Modi

The celebrity jeweler was arrested in London in March for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of $2 billion. He was denied bail due to substantial risks hed flee the country to avoid extradition to India.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov



Director of Turkey's Entrepreneurs Association Nihat Tanri Kolo has said that his country seeks to boost ties with Iran despite sanctions, Iran's state-owned Irna news agency reported on December 30.

Kolo made the remarks during the meeting between a group of Turkish entrepreneurs and economic activists from several Turkish provinces and representatives of the Iranian state and private sectors in Irans north-western Zanjan province.

Addressing the meeting, Kolo noted that promoting communications with neighboring and Muslim states is a priority of Turkey.

As for the establishment of special industrial towns for Turkish investors in Zanjan, he added that talks to that effect have been held between the two sides.

In turn, Head of Zanjan Forensic Department, as well as Head of World Association of Peace and Friendship Physicians in the province Hossein Babaei, hailed the existing opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.

He added that Zanjan boasts of suitable capacity in the field of health tourism.

A number of Turkish and Zanjani activists in the fields of industry, trade and handicrafts stressed the need for further improving interaction, describing it as a base for a bright future for the economic and commercial exchanges between the two sides.

Turkish-Iranian bilateral relations are evolving on the basis of the principles of non-interference in domestic affairs, mutual respect and good neighborliness. Efforts are made to further enhance the political dialogue both on bilateral and regional issues, through reciprocal visits and mechanisms such as High Level Cooperation Council and joint commissions in different sectors.

On November 17, 2019, Chairman of Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board Nail Olpak said that presidents of Iran and Turkey set a goal to increase the trade volume from $9.5 billion to the level of $30 billion.




Gorakhpur, Jan 1 : One person has been arrested for posting a derogatory remark against Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the social media.

Ritesh Barnwal was arrested by the Cantt police after Congress leaders submitted a written complaint against him on Monday.

Congress district President Nirmala Paswan met Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr Sunil Gupta and showed him a screen shot of the remark after which a case was registered against Barnwal under the IT Act. The cyber cell is now investigating the matter.

Barnwal is being interrogated and will later be produced in court.

Congress workers had staged a protest against the incident and had demanded immediate action against he accused.
The woman was not immediately identified. She, like others in the crowd, was separated by a white barrier from the pontiff, who was proceeding through the square along with a team of security and lieutenants. The woman had crossed herself as the pope moved slowly in her direction. As she pulled the pope toward her, she also said something to Francis that was not easily decipherable.
In the black-and-white photo, two men wearing mustaches pose proudly in military uniforms with guns at their waists. The taller man on the left has been confirmed as independence fighter Hong Beom-do. But the identity of the short and stout man standing next to Hong has been shrouded in mystery for decades. Recently the identity of the mam was confirmed to be independence fighter Choi Jin-dong. / Courtesy of Ban Byung-yool



Decades-long mystery solved as historian confirms independence fighter's identity



By Kang Hyun-kyung



A photo taken in 1922 was surrounded in mystery until only recently.



In the black-and-white photo, two men wearing mustaches pose proudly in military uniforms with guns at their waists. The taller man on the left has been confirmed as independence fighter Hong Beom-do, a heroic figure admired by Koreans for his successful military campaign in the Battle of Fengwudong in northeastern China against Japan in 1920. Victory in the battle was one of the Korean militias' successes and a source of pride for fellow oppressed Koreans back on the peninsula at that time.



But the identity of the short and stout man standing next to Hong has been shrouded in mystery for decades. Finally, it has been solved.



Ban Byung-yool, a professor of Korean history at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, confirmed the unknown man in the vintage photo is independence fighter Choi Jin-dong (1883-1945).



Ban learned that Choi's daughter Choi Kyung-joo, who is now living in Hawaii, spoke up after seeing the photo of her father. "Through Choi's niece, I heard that the daughter remembered the photo and said she saw it hung on the wall of her house when she was young," Ban said. On behalf of the historian, Choi's niece sent the photo to Choi Kyung-joo to see if she could identify him.



Ban said his curiosity about the unknown man grew after obtaining the old photo in July last year at a film and photo archive in a neighborhood of Moscow. It popped up briefly in a documentary featuring the opening ceremony of the World Congress of the Communist International, better known as Comintern, an international organization that advocated and strove to spread communism worldwide. The photo was taken in January 1922 during the conference held in Moscow.



Ban shared the video with other historians at a meeting in August last year. At that time, he said, he and other Korean scholars had no clue about the man posing next to Hong in the photo.



Representing Korea, Hong and Choi attended the conference to strengthen solidarity among communists in which communists from Korea, China, Japan and Mongolia joined.



Under the direction of then Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, Soviet officials took lots of photos which they gave to the participants. Also those photos were used extensively to promote communism overseas.



During the 1922 Comintern conference in Moscow, Ban said Hong received a certificate from Lenin with his autograph on it which confirmed him as the Korean military commander. Lenin also presented him with a rifle and 100 rubles. Choi appeared to have received the same gifts. The guns at their waists in the old photo are from Lenin, Ban said.



"Hong was publicity-savvy and made the most of the photos. He cut himself out from group photos or photos he took with others and handed them to Korean-Russians with his autograph on the back as a gift whenever he met them," Ban said. "The 1922 photo was one of those he shared with others, although Hong's version only has him without Choi. Some of Hong's photos were made public thorough ethnic Koreans and that's why there are several photos of him and how he was identified and recognized by Koreans today."





Ban Byung-yool, a professor of Korean history at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies / Courtesy of Ban Byung-yool
A total of 778 cases were registered against motorists for drunken driving since the New Year's eve yesterday till today 6 am in the city, Mumbai Police on Wednesday informed.

According to a press release, the police checked more than 5,300 vehicles, as a part of a campaign, and nabbed 778 motorists, out of which 578 were driving motorbikes and 200 were driving cars, till 6 am on January 1.

The Mumbai Police had organised an anti-drink-and-drive campaign in the city yesterday as a part of precautions taken during New Year celebrations, where they caught motorists who drove after consuming alcohol.

The release stated that around 615 people were caught driving in an inebriated condition in the city last night. The police have also booked cases against other citizens for rash driving and over speeding.

DCP Pranay Ashok, Mumbai Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), said, "Traffic police with the help of locals were deployed at all important junctions in various parts of Mumbai and its suburban areas from Colaba to Dahisar. Keeping in mind the safety of pedestrians and motorists, we have carried out a special anti-drink-and-drive campaign across the city."

Earlier, Mumbai Police had announced that they will be deploying around 40,000 police personnel to maintain law and order in the city.

"Mumbai Police in order to maintain law and order during the New Year celebrations in the city will post 40,000 police personnel around the city for the supervision," said the Mumbai Police in an official release.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newsfrom Japan

New York, Dec. 30 (Jiji Press)--Former Nissan Motor Co. <7201> Chairman Carlos Ghosn said Monday that he has left Japan for Lebanon to escape "political persecution."

"I am now in Lebanon," Ghosn said in a statement, confirming media reports that he arrived in the country after leaving Japan, where he was awaiting trial on his alleged financial misconduct.

He said he "will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied."

The system is "in flagrant disregard of Japan's legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold," according to the statement.

"I have not fled justice," he continued. "I have escaped injustice and political persecution."

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
The Orthodox faction of the Malankara Church on Wednesday said it would challenge the Kerala government's proposed ordinanace permitting conduct of burial rituals of Jacobite parishoners in their family cemetery now under the former's control if it goes against the spirit of Supreme Court verdict on possession of church properties.

The Jacobite faction, which lost its control over 1,000 churches after the 2017 apex court order, welcomed LDF government's move as a "brave decision" taken to ensure "a dignified burial" for bodies of their faithful in churches currently controlled by the Orthodox faction.

Reacting to the government's decision announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, the Orthodox faction said if the ordinance was being brought to counter the Supreme Court verdict, that would be seen as a bid to "challenge" the legal system of the country.

"If the essence of the ordinance is against the spirit of the Supreme Court judgement, we will challenge it legally," Malankara Orthodox Church secretary Biju Oommen said in Kottayam.

"We don't think that the government would come up with such a legislation", he said.

Senior Jacobite priest and church spokesperson Kuriakose Mor Theophilose said they were grateful to the Kerala government for its "brave decision" to bring in ordinance to ensure their faithful a "dignified burial".

"Bodies of our faithful were being denied a dignified burial after the apex court order. Our human rights and fundamental rights were being violated during this period. We hope that the Orthodox faction will cooperate and support this ordinance," he told PTI.

Senior priests of the Jacobite Syrian Church have accused the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of denying "a dignified burial" for bodies of their faithful in churches currently controlled by the latter following the Supreme Court order.

The state cabinet decided to take the ordinance route after all efforts to resolve the issue through discussions failed, Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Planning a trip with your friends is something we all do, however, how many of these plans do really get executed is the question of the hour? Very often a cohesive group of friends, drop a vacation plan just because they somehow do not zero down on an ideal vacation destination mutually. But do not to worry now, as below we have specially curated a list of some ideal destinations where you can enjoy the fullest with your friends. Thus, if going for a little jaunt with your BFFS is on your mind; then take a look at a plethora of ideal destinations across the globe.

Also Read: From Panther Creeks To Bhandardara: Check 5 Offbeat Destinations For Year-end Getaways

Ideal vacation destinations you need go with your BFFS

Bangkok

Bangkok is synonymous with parties, nightlife and massages of all sorts. The city is famous for its outlandish flamboyant nature, which makes it an ideal destination to visit with your friends and have a good time. Bangkok offers delicious local cuisines to and great shopping experience to its travellers. The weather is pleasant in Bangkok during most of the months, and so is the city's vibe. When travelling with friends, then make sure you plan a trip of minimum four-five days, in order to absorb the beauty of the city.

Also Read: Wondering About Best Places To Go In Asia During December? Here Are Our Picks

Laos

While talking about the best places to visit for vacation, there's no way fail to mention Laos is the perfect destination for nature-lovers. Laos is a landlocked country which is located in Southeast Asia. It is a multi-cultural society which is famous for its serene beauty and rural villages, a place you will visit with your friends thoroughly. Your group will get to witness beautiful caves, ancient temples and serene waterfalls. Luang Prabang, the capital city is home to some ancient Buddhist temples. Elephant rides can also be enjoyed when in Luang Prabang while capturing the scintillating view of waterfalls nearby.

Also Read: Check These Five Camping Destinations With A Sea View Near Mumbai

Georgia

Who doesnt love scintillating waterfalls? The Panther Creek Falls is a truly fascinating site located in the enthralling country of Georgia. As the name suggests, it is an ensemble of many waterfalls clubbed together in a massive one. The serene waterfall is located in Atlanta. You can also enjoy trekking with your friends at this ideal destination. Also do not forget to make some lifelong memories by clicking photos at this staggering waterfall.

Also Read: Five Stunning Instagram-worthy Spots You Must Visit In Mumbai
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 00:31:40|Editor: yan

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday began a 10-year fishing ban on key areas of the Yangtze River to protect biodiversity in the country's longest river, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Starting from this year, the ban will be observed in 332 conservation areas in the Yangtze River basin, which will also be expanded to all natural waterways of the river and its major tributaries from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.

Fishing will also be prohibited on natural waterways of large lakes connected to the Yangtze such as the Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake for 10 years starting from no later than Jan. 1, 2021.

Fishing bans will be further imposed on other natural waterways in the Yangtze River basin, said the ministry, the scale and length of which will be subject to the decision of provincial-level fishing authorities.

The fishing moratorium is regarded as a key move fighting depleting biological resources and degrading biodiversity in the Yangtze River, which has long been suffering from human activities such as overfishing, pollution and damming, said Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Yu Kangzhen.

Biological deterioration has reduced fishing activities along the Yangtze as well, which now only produces 0.32 percent of China's total freshwater aquatic products. In recent years, annual catch from the Yangtze has fallen to less than 100,000 tonnes from more than 420,000 tonnes in the 1950s.

The 10-year ban is estimated to affect more than 110,000 fishing boats and nearly 280,000 fishermen in 10 provincial regions along the river. The ministry has promised to provide social security services, financial support and vocational trainings for fishermen who have to find new ways of living.

For instance, fishermen moving ashore could work as patrollers and protectors of the river as members of the team executing the fishing ban, said Yu.

Efforts will also be made to protect rare species and enhance monitoring over aquatic life in the Yangtze, and to improve protection and management strategies in accordance with biological resource restoration progress, according to Yu.

Yang Zhiming, a fisherman in Yanwanghu Township of Hanshou County, central China's Hunan Province, has come ashore and now manages business such as killing chicken and goose for customers at a local market.

Yang bought a place at the market with a 20,000-yuan subsidy for fishermen from the local government in 2008. "My family fished when there was fish in the river and picked and sold cress and Chinese tarragon when there was fishing ban in spring, and we were able to make a living," he said.

"Now, the 10-year fishing ban has started, my family don't have to worry too much because we can do some business in the market," he said.

"The Dongting Lake is home to us fishermen. We stop fishing to protect our home," he added.
India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged details of civilian prisoners and fishermen lodged in each other's jails. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India handed over to Pakistan lists of 267 Pakistani civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen in its custody.

Pakistan has handed over a list of 282 Indian prisoners -- 55 civilians and 227 fishermen -- lodged in the country's jail to the High Commission of India as part of a bilateral agreement. The lists were exchanged in keeping with the provisions of a 2008 agreement under which such lists of prisoners are shared on January 1 and July 1 every year.

Read | Here's why India & Pakistan exchanged a list of their nuclear installations

The Indian government called for an early release and repatriation of Indian civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistan's custody. In this context, Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of four Indian civilian prisoners and 126 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan, the MEA said.

Read | Pakistani journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry jailed over religious hatred case

In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in Pakistan's custody.

The Indian government has also asked Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of a medical experts team and facilitate their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan.

Read | Over 500 people killed in 370 terror attacks in Pakistan in 2019: report

India has also asked Pakistan to organise early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to that country and to organise an early visit of the four-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of 22 Indian fishing boats. India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other's country, the MEA said.

In this context, India has also urged Pakistan to expedite necessary action at its end to confirm the nationality status of 82 Pakistan prisoners, including fishermen, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation by Pakistan.

Read | Cong condemns Pakistan for pushing armed infiltrators into '
New Delhi/IBNS: Taking charge as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the armed forces stay away from politics and work only as per the government's directives.

"We keep ourselves away from politics and work as per the directives of the government in power," Gen. Rawat said.

He made the comment in the backdrop of the claims that the Armed forces are politicised.

Gen. Rawat being the Army chief few days ago had courted a controversy by making a political statement on the leaders who are protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which will grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain but not Muslim refugees who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before 2015.

Gen. Rawat had said, "When a leader moves forward, everybody follows. It is not that simple. It appears simple but it is a complex phenomenon...."

"Leaders are those who lead people in the right direction but not those who lead people in an inappropriate directions as we are witnessing in the large number of college and university students who are leading masses of crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns. This is not leadership."

The post of CDS has been constituted for the first time in the country following the announcement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day.
The US flew a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy on Tuesday after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the compound, setting fires and chanting Death to America!

Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen fighters, hundreds of protesters spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone, demanding the ouster of US troops from Iraq and voicing loyalty to a powerful Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US President Donald Trump blamed Tehran and warned that it would face punishment if Americans are killed.

Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities, Trump said on Twitter late Tuesday.

They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat, wrote Trump, adding Happy New Year!

- Surprise, fury -

The message came at the end of a day in which Washington officials appeared surprised and furious over the ease at which the protestors entered the Green Zone, reaching the US embassy compound for the first time in years.

They carried flags of the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), a component of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network.

As live broadcasts showed the protestors battering down the high-security doors of the embassy reception building, smashing windows and burning a sentry box, the State Department and Pentagon demanded Iraqs leaders provide security to the compound -- which was already heavily fortified.

In phone calls with both Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq, the State Department said.

Hours later a contingent of US Marines flew in from Kuwait, by which time some of the demonstrators had receded and others settled in for a sustained protest, preparing food for the evening.

Trump directly blamed Iran for orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq.

They will be held fully responsible, he said.

Tehran countered that the United States is itself to blame for air strikes that killed about two dozen Kataeb Hezbollah fighters on Sunday.

The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi peoples protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran, said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

- Strategic patience -

The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship. Allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washingtons influence in the country.

US jet fighters on Sunday struck five Kateab Hezbollah outposts in Iraq and Syria after a series of rocket attacks on US-occupied facilities in Iraq over the past two months that are blamed on the group and its alleged Iranian sponsors.

One of those attacks, in Kirkuk on Friday, left an American civilian contractor dead and exhausted what US officials called Trumps strategic patience with Tehran.

The president has shown a lot of restraint, Brian Hook, the State Departments Special Representative for Iran, told reporters Monday.

We very much hoped that Iran would not miscalculate and confuse our restraint for weakness. But after so many attacks, it was important for the president to direct our armed forces to respond in a way that the Iranian regime will understand.

- First lesson to US -

But it added to the growing calls by some political factions in Iraq to push US troops out of the country nearly 17 years after they entered and overthrew Saddam Husseins regime.

Dozens of Iraqi lawmakers have called for a review of the agreement allowing about 5,200 US troops in Iraq, saying the airstrikes over the weekend violated the countrys sovereignty.

An Iraqi government statement said the attacks force Iraq to review its relations and its security, political and legal framework to protect its sovereignty.

The protesters who besieged the US embassy on Tuesday carried posters reading: Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!

Late Tuesday Kataeb Hezbollah hailed the protest outside as a first lesson to Washington, so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid.

This may well be the low point of US policy in Iraq, said Iraq expert Fanar Haddad of Singapore Universitys Middle East Institute.

- No evacuation plans -

But US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. Ambassador Matthew Tueller, who had been on holiday leave, was on his way back to the embassy.

During the day Trump also called Abdel Madi to emphasise the need to protect US personnel and facilities in Iraq, the White House said.

He later tweeted his thanks to Abdel Mahdi and Saleh for their rapid response upon request to the embassy attack.

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It can take years for an idea to come to fruition.

For Michael Petroni, it was a few years worth of the idea growing inside his head to get to the end of the road.

On Wednesday, Petronis latest project, Messiah, will be seen by the world as it begins streaming on Netflix.

Im excited, he says. This show is going to create a lot of discussion, and thats the design of the show. Its a show that I want the viewers to participate in. Thats part of the experience.

Messiah follows CIA agent Eva Geller, played by Michelle Monaghan, who is investigating al-Masih, played by Mehdi Dehbi.

The series chronicles the worlds reaction to al-Masih, whose followers claim he is sent from God  which causes civil havoc. Geller then embarks on a global, high-stakes mission to uncover whether he is a divine entity or a con artist.

Its one of those ideas that is staring you in the face, says Petroni, the shows creator and writer of four episodes. You have the source material, and you have to find a way to change it for the TV series. When I thought about applying this in the real world, I wanted to see, how would the world react to this? With religion and politics as two things pulling this world apart, how would we be able to convey this to an audience?

The production filmed partly in New Mexico  Albuquerque, Mountainair, Estancia, Belen, Santa Fe and Clines Corners  from June to August 2018.

The production employed about 500 New Mexico crew members, 40 New Mexico actors and about 1,800 New Mexico background talent workers, the Film Office said.

Petroni says the entire production was like a traveling circus, because it filmed in many locations around the world.

Even though the entire shoot was long, over 100 days, we had to adapt to the various changes in landscape, Petroni says.

When location scouting was going on, Petroni says, New Mexico became a front-runner quickly.

(The state) is very film-friendly, he says. There are lots of deserts, and the landscape is so different from area to area. There is an amazing crew of New Mexicans ready to take on the challenge.

Dehbi was drawn to New Mexico and took solace in the summer monsoon season.

We were there for three months, Dehbi says. We traveled a lot for location shooting. The first thing I did was stay in Santa Fe for two weeks. I needed to recharge myself before getting into this character.

Dehbi felt comfortable playing Al-Masih.

The character was overwhelming in a beautiful way, Dehbi says. It was a brilliant and beautiful adventure to channel this characters spirit.
VICTOR, N.Y. -- The New York Assemblys minority leader was arrested on drunk driving charges after a crash in Victor on New Years Eve, according to police.

Ontario County Sheriffs deputies arrested Brian Kolb, 67, and charged him with driving while intoxicated.

According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, deputies responded to a crash at 7980 County Route 41 in Victor on Tuesday evening. Kolb had been driving a 2018 GMC Arcadia. No one was injured.

Kolb, a Republican, was first elected to the Assembly in 2000 to represent the 131st district. His district covers Ontario County and part of Seneca County, including Geneva, Canandaigua and Seneca Falls.

He ran for governor, briefly, in 2018.

According to the Daily Messenger, a newspaper in Canandiauga, Kolb released a statement apologizing to his constituents and saying he takes full responsibility for a terrible lapse in judgment.

Just a week before the crash, Kolb wrote a guest column for the Daily Messenger newspaper titled Drive Safely this Holiday Season.

December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and its message is important: do not operate a vehicle if your ability to do so is impaired, Kolb wrote. Drunk driving is not only dangerous to the driver, but to vehicle passengers, bystanders and other drivers.
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Two Indian Army soldiers were killed early on Wednesday in a gunfight with heavily-armed Pakistani infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kalal area of Nowshera sector in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Two Indian Army soldiers have been martyred during a cordon and search operation in Kalal area of Nowshera sector. The operation is still in progress. Further details are awaited, said Defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand.

The infiltrators were intercepted in the Khari Thrayat forest when they were trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said.

The search operation was launched following information about the movement of suspected terrorists, the officials said. The infiltrators opened fire on the troops and during a fierce gunfight, the two soldiers were killed, they added.

The officials said a massive operation is on in the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:17:25|Editor: xuxin

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ANKARA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish parliament will hold an emergency meeting to vote on a draft motion Thursday for sending troops, semi-state Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

The government expects the motion to pass at the parliament, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay was quoted as saying.

The motion requests for a one-year mandate to deploy troops in Libya on the grounds that developments in the North African country threaten Turkey's interests, including Turkish businesses and its Turkish vessels sailing in the Mediterranean, according to the draft text.

The draft motion also said sending troops to Libya aims to prevent "illegitimate mass migration threat and formation of a favorable environment for terrorist organizations and armed groups."

The motion said the government would decide on the size, timing, and scope of the deployment.

Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced they would back the motion and they have sufficient votes to pass the motion.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), the Good Party and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) objected the motion, saying Turkey should use diplomacy instead of militarily getting involved in the Libya conflict.

Libya has been locked in a civil war, splitting power between two rival governments: the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in capital Tripoli and another in the northeastern city of Tobruk which is allied with the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar.

Turkey supports the GNA upon the latter's request, in order to fight Libya's east-based army led by Haftar. Last month, Turkey sealed a controversial maritime boundaries delimitation agreement with the GNA along with the security cooperation deal.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday paid tributes on the 202nd anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle at the Jay Stambh in the village.

The Republican Party of India (RPI) A leader praised the preparations made by the administration to ensure safety and security on the spot as lakhs of people were scheduled to arrive at the spot.

"The preparations have been managed very well by the government. Many people had different intentions, there was even an intention of creating a riot here but whatever information was needed to be provided to the police has been given by us. I appreciate the police and all the parties involved in government for doing a very good job," Athawale told media here.

The Union Minister also appealed to people who had arrived at the spot to maintain peace.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar paid tribute at the 'Jay Stambh' here on the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar also paid tribute at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial.

Lakhs of people visited Koregaon Bhima village to offer their tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Heavy security deployment were made to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the event. As many as 10,000 police officers, over 500 CCTV cameras and 15 drone cameras are keeping strong vigil on the event.

Pune District Administration has pressed 250 buses into service to carry the visitors while 50 other buses have been kept in reserve.

Land spread on 250 acre at 15 different places has been earmarked for parking, said Pune District Magistrate (DM) Naval Kishor, adding that high mast lights have also been installed for proper lighting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Protesters and militia fighters gather to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (Image: Reuters)

Reports coming out of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, suggest that angry protesters are demonstrating outside the United States (US) embassy in the city, bringing to mind the events of the Iranian Revolution and the storming of the US embassy there in 1979.

Then, American officials were held hostage and a standoff between the two governments had ensued. The question now is, while the situation in Baghdad remains tense, is it as bad as 1979?

But first, why the demonstrations?

Demonstrators stormed the US embassy reportedly after the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, killing at least 25 fighters. According to reports, the airstrikes were carried out in Western Iraq and eastern Syria on December 29.

The airstrikes were reportedly carried out on the bases of the Shia Kataib Hezbollah group, an Iran-backed organisation active both during the Iraq War and the Syrian Civil War.

According to reports, the US claimed that the airstrikes were carried out in retaliation to a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that had killed an American civil contractor.

However, officials on all the sides involved are looking at the developments from a wider context of the escalating tensions between the US and Iran, which have been locked in a tussle for months now.

Iraqi security forces walk as the Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces) fighters set the U.S. Embassy wall on fire, as they protest to condemn air strikes on their bases, in Baghdad, Iraq December 31. (Image: Reuters)

What happened at the US embassy?

The protesters stormed the embassy reportedly after funerals were held in Baghdad of the militias killed during the US airstrike.

According to BBC, thousands of mourners, which included senior militia leaders, poured into the Green Zone (GZ). The GZ is where foreign embassies and Iraqi government offices are located.

According to The Guardian, the demonstrators also managed to breach the main gate of the embassy and light fires, also reportedly lobbing bricks and smashing security cameras. Following this, the US responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd and reportedly evacuating the embassy.

The BBC report states that while the compound of the embassy itself was not breached, the demonstrators had managed to reach the reception area by scaling the wall.

How has the US reacted?

US President Donald Trump directed his reaction over the developments at Iran, stating in a tweet that Iran "will pay a very big price" for any damage or loss of life. He added that "this is not a warning, it is a threat".

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the region.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," he said.

The deployment comes after the US had already flown in a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy.

How has Iran reacted?

On its part, Iran has denied Trump's accusation about being involved in the attack on the embassy and condemned the "audacity" of the claim, according to BBC.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reacted on January 1, saying Iran "strongly condemns" the United States' "malice".

Responding to Trump's tweet, Khamenei tweeted, "That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad & we will respond to Iran. First, you can't do anything. Second, if you were logical which you're not you'd see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan... have made nations hate you".

How has Iraq reacted?

Caught in the midst of the two warring factions, Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the US airstrikes had violated his country's sovereignty.

According to CBS news, Mahdi also wrote on his Facebook account that "any aggression or harassment towards a foreign embassy or mission is an act that will be firmly dealt with by Iraqi security forces, and will be severely punished by the law".

Protesters and militia fighters set fire to a reception room of the U.S. Embassy. (Image: Reuters)

So, is it as bad as 1979?

The dramatic turn of events seemed to have mirrored the violent protests of 1979, but observers have pointed out that at that time, the country was going through a revolution.

This time around, while the countries might be the same, the location differs. Moreover, according to reports, even as the muscle-flexing between the leaders of Iran and the US might continue, the situation on the ground seems to be in control.

The Baghdad incident also comes seven years after the 2012 attack by armed militants on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of the US ambassador and three other Americans and led to multiple congressional investigations.

What are the wider implications?

The Baghdad incident might be just the latest in the ongoing US-Iran tussle. According to experts, the incident suggests that Trump's strategy of putting economic pressure on Iran to force the country into a broader nuclear deal might not be working as he had hoped.

The protest also highlights the limitations of the American military mission in Iraq, and the Middle East. Robert Ford, a former US diplomat who had served in Baghdad, told CNBC TV18 that the Americans might have miscalculated the airstrikes and the reactions it would garner.

"The Americans fell into the Iranian trap," Ford said, reasoning that the Iraqi anger turned towards the US post the strikes, diverting from Iran.
Hong Kongs pro-democracy protesters marched to Victoria Park on New Years Day against Beijings attempt to influence the policy of the semi-autonomous region. Thousands of Hong Kong residents reportedly gathered on a grass lawn and help placard that read Freedom is not free. Many pro-democracy leaders, who recently got elected in the local polls, were also present during the march and mingle with the crowd.

On New Years Eve, Hong Kong police fired tear gas and water cannons on protesters which turned violent afterwards. Eric Lai, the vice convener of the Civil Human Rights Front, hoped that the march wont witness any violence, unlike the previous day.

I really hope that this will be a peaceful protest. We hope that the police can facilitate us, rather than provoking us, and to fire tear gas and water cannon at us, said Lai.

Read: Overnight Clashes Extend Hong Kong Protests Into New Year

The violent protests erupted due to proposed legislation that would have allowed extraditions to the mainland and became violent with every passing day. Protesters were furious over Chinas increased interference and felt that rights promised to them were getting eroded with time. More than 6,000 protesters have already been arrested as a result of the demonstrations but other protesters want to keep fighting for their rights.

However, China has repeatedly denied the allegations of interference and blamed the west for stoking unrest in the region. President Xi Jinping, in his New Years address, said that Beijing will resolutely safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under one country, two systems.

Read: Revelers, Protesters To See In The New Year In Hong Kong

Seeking asylum in Taiwan

Recently, Taiwan started witnessing an influx from Hong Kong with protesters seeking asylum. Asylum seekers from Hong Kong feel that there are too many external forces acting in the semi-autonomous region of China which could change the course of events dramatically. They fear that the city will never be the same after what happened in the past six months. Protesters are of the opinion that Taiwan is democratic and has freedom of speech, unlike China.

Read: Protests In Hong Kong Brought Sadness And Rage: Leader Carrie Lam

Read: Hong Kong Protesters Begin New Year With 'Persist In 2020' Rally

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi:

Nine more infants have died in the last two days at Kotas JK Lon hospital, taking the toll to 100 for the month. The death of 10 children at the government-run hospital during a 48-hour period on December 23-24 had triggered opposition criticism.

On Monday, the officials had said in the last five days, fourteen more infants lost their lives at the J K Lone hospital which took the number of deaths to 91 this month at the facility. "The 14 infants, including six newborns, died in the period between December 25 and December 29 in NICU and PICU units of the hospital," the newly appointed superintendent of the hospital, Suresh Dulara, said.

Hospital authorities, however, said the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 was less than 1,005 in 2018. According to the hospital superintendent, the children died mainly due to low birth weight.

On Tuesday, a BJP parliamentary team comprising of MPs Locket Chatterjee, Kanta Kardam and Jaskaur Meena visited the hospital and expressed concern over its infrastructure.

The panel said two to three children were found on single beds and the hospital did not have enough nurses. Earlier, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had served a show cause notice to the Congress government in the state.

Pigs were found roaming inside the campus of the hospital, its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo had said. A Rajasthan government committee ruled that the infants were given the right treatment.

Earlier, 77 infants had died till December 24 including 10 within 48 hours on December 23-24, he said. On the cause of deaths, Amrit Lal Bairwa, Head of Department of Pediatrics, said that they are analysing the reasons behind the 77 deaths till December 25.

Out of the 14 infants who died later, four succumbed to severe pneumonia, one to Meningoencephalitis, four to Congenital pneumonia, three to pneumatic septicemia, and one to respiratory disorder, he said.

A team from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights team visited the hospital, where 940 children have died this year, after which its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo issued a show cause notice to Vaibhav Galtiya, Secretary of Medical Education Department in Rajasthan government, and sought an action taken report from him on its findings.

It is evident that there was no glass in windows panes, gates were broken and as a result the admitted children were suffering with extreme weather condition, Kanoongo said.

He also said that the general upkeep and maintenance of the hospital is in the worst condition. Pigs were found roaming inside the campus of the hospital, he said in the notice. Kanoongo also said that there was acute shortage of staff and sought the action taken report within three working days.

Earlier, Galariya said a three-member team comprising Dr Amarjeet Mehta, Dr Rambabu Sharma and Dr Sunil Bhatnagar that is probing the infant deaths will submit its report in two days following which action will be taken.

The BJP, which has targeted the Congress government in Rajasthan over the child deaths, said it has formed a committee comprising four MPs to look into the matter.

The panel comprising Lok Sabha MPs Jaskaur Meena, Locket Chatterjee and Bharati Pawar, and Rajya Sabha MP Kanta Kardam has been asked to submit its report within three days to the partys working president J P Nadda.

Meanwhile, state BJP leaders and former health ministers Rajendra Singh Rathore and Kalicharan Saraf visited the hospital on Monday and interacted with the staff.

The two said they will send a report to the central government detailing the reasons behind the child deaths and recommendations to check such incidents in future and improve facilities at the hospital.

They slammed the Ashok Gehlot government for trying to defend itself with the argument that the number of such deaths was less now then under the BJP rule.

Such deaths should not have occurred. Do they want to compete on the number of deaths... if they want to do so, there cannot be anything more unfortunate than this, Rathore told reporters.

He also demanded that state health minister Raghu Sharma visit Kota within next 24 hours to take stock of the situation here.

Saraf claimed that when the BJP government came to power in 2013, the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 47 which was brought down to 38, and mother mortality rate (MMR) from 244 to 186.

Congress workers staged a protest outside the hospital over the visit by BJP leaders and alleged that they were politicising the issue.

Rathore dismissed the allegation and said that they have come with a positive approach and will recommend steps to ensure that such deaths do not recur.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is MP from Kota, had on Sunday expressed concern over the death of infants and urged the state government to act with sensitivity. He had visited the hospital to take stock of the situation and directed the officials to make adequate arrangement to ensure such incidents do not occur in future.

Meanwhile, social workers objected to visits by political leaders to the hospital, which is the largest government hospital in Kota-Bundi parliamentary constituency.

The visits of the leaders have further worsened the situation as the doctors and medical staff attending to the patients get distracted, said Anwar Ahmad who heads an NGO.

According to official data, the hospital has witnessed a decline in such deaths in last six years. In 2014, 15,719 patients were admitted, out of which 1,198 died. In 2019, 16,892 patients were admitted out of which 940 died.

Officials said Secretary Galariya has directed the hospital administration to complete the tender process for getting necessary equipment at the earliest, besides laying oxygen pipeline for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), availing services of nursing staff on contractual basis and increasing sampling process frequency.
By Stephanie Kelly NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell 1% on Tuesday, the last trading day of the decade, but notched the biggest annual gain in three years, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade war and ongoing supply cuts from major oil producers. Brent gained about 23% in 2019 and WTI rose 34%, their biggest yearly gains in three years, backed by the recent breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies. Forecasters do not expect oil prices to move sharply in either direction next year

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil prices fell 1% on Tuesday, the last trading day of the decade, but notched the biggest annual gain in three years, supported by a thaw in the prolonged U.S.-China trade war and ongoing supply cuts from major oil producers.

Brent gained about 23% in 2019 and WTI rose 34%, their biggest yearly gains in three years, backed by the recent breakthrough in U.S.-China trade talks and output cuts pledged by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies.

Forecasters do not expect oil prices to move sharply in either direction next year. Brent crude is expected to hover around $63 a barrel, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, down modestly from current levels, as OPEC production cuts offset weaker demand.

Over the past year, increased U.S. oil output offset the supply reductions undertaken by OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia and stemming from U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and Iran. Lackluster demand, including in developed economies, remains a primary concern headed into 2020.

"Oil prices, though largely expected to trade positive, will face headwinds from subdued global growth momentum and robust U.S. shale output levels in the first quarter (of 2020)," said Benjamin Lu, an analyst at Phillip Futures.

U.S. crude oil production in October rose to a record of 12.66 million barrels per day (bpd) from a revised 12.48 million bpd in September, the U.S. government said in a monthly report. The pace of growth is expected to slow in 2020.

Brent crude fell 67 cents, or 1%, to settle at $66.00 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 62 cents, or 1%, to settle at $61.06 a barrel.

On Tuesday, trade volumes were low with many market participants away for year-end holidays, amplifying the market's moves.

Graphic: Oil holds steady in 2019 despite supply shocks, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/7847/7829/oil%202019.png

U.S. President Donald Trump said the Phase 1 trade deal with China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House. The deal has boosted factories' output and Chinese manufacturing activity expanded for a second straight month.

China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which tracks economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors, was unchanged at 50.2 in December from November, just above the 50-point mark separating growth from contraction.

Investors were nervous about the Middle East, where thousands of protesters and militia fighters gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad to condemn U.S. air strikes against Iraqi militias.

Security guards inside the U.S. embassy fired stun grenades at protesters. The U.S. ambassador and staff were evacuated due to security concerns.

"Considering that Iraq is the second-largest OPEC producer with production around 4.6 million barrels per day, market participants may add a risk premium to oil tension if tensions last for longer," UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

"That said, we need to see if the latest protests spread also in the south of the country, where most of the crude is exported."

Graphic: OPEC Production, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/7/7848/7830/OPEC.png

(Additional reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London and Jane Chung in Seoul, editing by David Gregorio/David Evans/Louise Heavens/Nick Macfie)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Letters that poet TS Eliot wrote to his muse and confidante Emily Hale are to be unveiled after more than 60 years in storage (Shelley Szwast/Princeton University Library/AP)

After more than 60 years spent sealed up in a library storage facility, about 1,000 letters written by poet TS Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled this week, and scholars hope they will reveal the extent of a relationship that has been speculated about for decades.

Many consider Hale to not only have been his close friend, but also his muse, and they hope their correspondence will offer insight into the more intimate details about Eliots life and work.

Students, researchers and scholars will be able to read the letters at Princeton University Library from Thursday.

I dont know of anything more awaited or significant. Its momentous to have these letters coming outAnthony Cuda, TS Eliot International Summer School

I think its perhaps the literary event of the decade, said Anthony Cuda, an Eliot scholar and director of the TS Eliot International Summer School.

I dont know of anything more awaited or significant. Its momentous to have these letters coming out.

Hale and Eliot were lifelong friends who exchanged letters for about 25 years, beginning in 1930.

The pair met in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1912 but did not rekindle their friendship until 1927.

Eliot was already living in England and Hale taught drama at US universities, including Scripps College in California.

In 1956, Hale donated the letters under an agreement that they would not be opened until 50 years after either her or Eliots death, whichever came second. Eliot died in 1965, Hale four years later.

Biographers say Eliot ordered Hales letters to him to be burned.

Expand Close Emily Hale and TS Eliot pose in a 1946 family photo in Dorset, Vermont (Princeton University Library/AP) / Facebook

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Their relationship must have been incredibly important and their correspondence must have been remarkably intimate for him to be so concerned about the publication, said Mr Cuda.

TS Eliot was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1888 and gained notoriety as a poet early in life. He was only 26 when The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock became his first professionally published poem.

His best known works include The Waste Land, The Hollow Men and Four Quartets.

The first poem in the Quartets series, called Burnt Norton, piques the interest of enthusiasts of the poet, says Eliot scholar Frances Dickey, because of lines that suggest missed opportunities and what might have been with his muse.

The poem is named after a home in England that Eliot visited with Hale in 1934.

I have a feeling that having a relationship with an American woman helped him to uncover his past in a wayEliot scholar Frances Dickey

His relationship with her seems to be deep and meaningful and its a door he chose not to open, said Ms Dickey.

The letters could also reveal details about Eliots conversion to Anglicanism, something he deeply cherished, she added.

Ms Dickey, who was one of the editors of The Complete Prose of TS Eliot, said the poet was deeply ashamed of his marriage to his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood, who he was with for more than 15 years.

She said the letters could reveal just how close he and Hale were and if the two ever considered marriage.

Was this an epistolary romance they would carry across the Atlantic? said Ms Dickey. What role did she play in his emotional life?

Eliots letters to Hale began after that first marriage ended.

Whatever else she was, Hale was a link to the life Eliot had left behind in the United States as a young man, Ms Dickey said.

He was really thinking more about the United States and his childhood during the period where he was in correspondence with Hale, she said. I have a feeling that having a relationship with an American woman helped him to uncover his past in a way.

It will be the special collections equivalent of a stampede at a rock concertDaniel Linke, Princeton University Library

The unsealed boxes, which also contain photographs, clippings and other ephemera, were actually opened at the librarys special collections area called Firestone Library in October for cataloguing and digitising.

Daniel Linke, interim head of special collections at the library, was part of the team working on the 14 boxes. He said there was very minimal, if any, reading.

He said scholars from around the world will be travelling to Princeton in the first days they are available since they are copyrighted and will not be made available online.

It will be the special collections equivalent of a stampede at a rock concert, he said.
Donald Trump speaks to reporters first lady Melania Trump before his New Year's Eve party: AP

Donald Trump has claimed he likes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he hoped the North Korean leader would keep his word by upholding a denuclearisation agreement.

The US president responded to the supreme leaders latest claim Pyongyang would continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a new strategic weapon  accusing the Trump administration of having gangster-like demands.

Speaking told reporters at his new year's eve party at Mar-a-Lago, Mr Trump said: He likes me, I like him, we get along ... hes representing his country, Im representing my country, we have to do what we have to do.

But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearisation ... That was done in Singapore, and I think hes a man of his word, so were going to find out.

Mr Trump also said he would be happy to have a trial in the US Senate following his impeachment by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. I dont really care. It doesnt matter.

As far as Im concerned Id be very happy with a trial because we did nothing wrong. The impeachment  I call it impeachment light, he added, predicting any Senate trial would go very easy.

The president suggested he would win the 2020 election comfortably if the media treated him differently. If youre honourable Im going to win the election by a lot. If youre not honourable Im just going to win the election by a little. So Id rather have you be honourable.

Mr Trump also addressed the attack on the US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, having earlier said he held Iran responsible.

I think hes a man of his word, Trump says of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pic.twitter.com/bYQLXeBYPA  QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 1, 2020

Washington drafted in Apache attack helicopters and scores of US Marines to reinforce the embassy compound after storming of the site by Iraqi militia members and their supporters.

Story continues

We had some great warriors come in, said Mr Trump. This will not be a Benghazi  this will never, ever be a Benghazi, he added, referring to the deadly attack on a US diplomatic compound in Libya in 2012.

The president has deployed 750 US soldiers to the Middle East, as about 3,000 more are prepared for possible deployment in the next several days.

Mr Trump also said the federal government will soon announce a new strategy to tackle underage vaping, promising. He was vague about what the plan would entail, but suggested certain flavours in cartridge-based e-cigarettes would be taken off the market for a period of time.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Food and Drug Administration would ban the sale of most flavoured e-cigarettes.

Read more

Trump follows Iran threat with bizarre tweet about mixed martial arts

Kim Jong-un threatens new strategic weapon and rails against the US

Trump threatens Iran over embassy attack in furious tweet
As the first trailer for A Quiet Place Part II opens, the world has apparently returned to relative normalcy. Evelyn Abbott (Emily Blunt) even drives down a small-town street with her three children in tow. The peace lasts for only a few seconds, and then the deadly extraterrestrial creatures who terrorized her family in the original horror movie, a sleeper hit in 2018, reappear to create havoc.

The sightless monsters, who attack and kill anything that causes sound, force the Abbott family out of their farmhouse and on the run. But after Evelyn trips a wire that triggers a noisy trap, she discovers a group of mysterious renegades (including characters played by new cast members Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou) hiding out. They warn her that the enemies arent just aliens. As Murphys character puts it, The people who are left are not the kind of people worth saving.

Once again directed by Blunts real-life husband, John Krasinksi (who co-starred in the first installment), A Quiet Place Part II will be unleashed in theaters on March 20.
Kansas City Free Ride Home

Greyhound starts new program that offers free ticket home to runaway kids KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Greyhound has partnered with the National Runaway Safeline to offer runaway kids a free ticket home as part of the Home Free program. Greyhound's website says that "To be eligible for a Greyhound ticket home, the child has to call the NRS helpline, be between 12 and 21 years old, be named on a runaway report and be willing to be reunited with their family."

KC Cupboard Is Bare

Food Pantries Strain To Serve More People Food pantry use is up in many Midwest communities, despite a reasonably strong economy and low unemployment rate. There can be several reasons for the increased need for free food. "What we're seeing statewide is that we have pretty low wages in Iowa," says Natalie Veldhouse, a research associate with the Iowa Policy Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit.

Highway Danger From Above

Police investigating objects hitting cars on I-435 The Overland Park Police Department is now investigating, after two women say their cars were hit by an object flying off the 69 Highway overpass as they drove on I-435. Both women filed police reports on Monday, detailing how their cars were smashed on the heavily traveled roadway.

More Meth Town Gunfire

Independence police investigating after one person was shot Monday night INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) -- Police are investigating after a shooting took place Monday night. Independence police were called to the area of 100 S Fuller regarding a shots fired call just after 5:30. When officers arrived, they located one individual who had been shot. The individual was transported to an area hospital.

JoCo Runaround

Overland Park police locate suspect who fled scene after vehicle pursuit The Overland Park Police Department said it has taken into custody the third suspect that was wanted after a vehicle pursuit that started around 10 a.m. Monday in Lenexa at 95th Street and Marshall Drive.Police said the pursuit ended near West 103rd and Conser streets in Overland Park.

Hotness On Vacay

Josephine Skriver Shows Underboob In New Instagram Pic From Italy Josephine Skriver shared a brand new Instagram update with her followers today. She was seen in a small top, one which allowed her to show off some underboob. The post also revealed that the Victoria's Secret Angel is in Italy. In said share, the model was seen sitting next to a large window overlooking a cobblestone street.

Fashionista Postscript

What the Hell Happened: Victoria's Secret Cancels their Fashion Show | Arts | The Harvard Crimson If you haven't been keeping up with the latest news in the world of women's lingerie, you may be shocked to hear that the once beloved Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is cancelled indefinitely. Not Twitter cancelled (that was months ago), like, cancelled cancelled.

Prez Trump Promises Payback

Trump says Iran will 'pay a very BIG PRICE' for damage caused by violent protests at the US embassy in Baghdad President Donald Trump threatened Iran Tuesday afternoon, saying that the country would be held responsible for damage caused by violent protests at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Declaring the situation the "anti-Benghazi," he announced on Twitter that the embassy personnel, despite a violent attempt by demonstrators to storm the facility, were safe.

Community Conversation

Northeast Newscast Episode 120: How KC CARE Health Center is serving the community Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!Enter your email address and click on ...

Deadly JoCo Traffic

One person killed after vehicle crashes into tree in Overland Park OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- One person is dead following a single-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon in Overland Park. Police responded to the incident just after 3 p.m. near W. 112th Street and Lowell Avenue. When officers arrived on scene they found the driver was pinned in the vehicle and unresponsive.

2020 Attraction For The Plebs

Monster Jam returns to Kansas City for another high-octane weekend KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Monster Jam returns to Kansas City for another high-octane weekend. The Triple Threat Series features six different racing, freestyle and skill competitions on three different Monster Jam vehicles at Sprint Center from Jan. 17-19. Tickets are on sale now. Click here for more information.

Temps Drop Tonight

Mostly sunny Tuesday with highs in 40s Hide Transcript Show Transcript THING. THAT WAS PRETTY FUN I WILL NOT BE UP. CAPITAL FEDERAL CITY VIEW CAM, A CLEAR SKY AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WIND, ENOUGH TO DRIVE OUR 29TH DOWN TO 21 IN WIND CHILL VALUE. NOTICE THE CLEAR SKY, IT HERALDS THE SUN WE ARE EXPECTING THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY.

One last glimpse of pop culture hotness, community news and a few more interesting items.And this is thefor right now . . .
The "Automotive Engine Belt Hose Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Automotive Engine Belt and Hose market worldwide is projected to grow by US$9.3 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.4%.

Passenger Cars, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 6.2%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$15.1 Billion by the year 2025, Passenger Cars will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 5.5% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$326.3 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$281.9 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from the rest of the European markets. In Japan, Passenger Cars will reach a market size of US$799.3 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 9.4% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$2.5 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders.

Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.

Competitors identified in this market include:

Bando Chemical Industries Ltd.

Continental AG

Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc.

Hutchinson SA

Nichirin Co., Ltd.

Schaeffler AG

Sumitomo Riko Co., Ltd.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Key Topics Covered:

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Automotive Engine Belt Hose: An Insight

Asia-Pacific: Largest Market for Automotive Engine Belt Hose

Global Competitor Market Shares

Automotive Engine Belt Hose Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2019 2025

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS DRIVERS

Employing Latest Fuel Efficient Technologies Impels the Market Growth

Technological Improvements in Materials Used for Production Drives the Market

Escalating Vehicle Production Bodes Well for the Market

Rising Demand from Aftermarket Sales Provides Great Opportunity

Optimal Nvh Levels Impels the Market Growth

Low Durability: A Major Constraint

Maintenance-Free Drive Belt: Need of the Hour

Electric Vehicles Pose a Great Challenge for the Market

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

An Introduction to Automotive Engine Belt Hose

Timing Belt

Serpentine Belt

Hoses

Global Automotive Engine Belt and Hose Market: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Leading Applications

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts Figures

US Automotive Engine Belt Hose Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 2025

CANADA

JAPAN

CHINA

EUROPE

Market Facts Figures

European Automotive Engine Belt Hose Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2019 2025

FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

SPAIN

RUSSIA

REST OF EUROPE

ASIA-PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

INDIA

SOUTH KOREA

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

LATIN AMERICA

ARGENTINA

MEXICO

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

IRAN

ISRAEL

SAUDI ARABIA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

AFRICA

IV. COMPETITION

V. CURATED RESEARCH

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2020hb

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200101005043/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:33:55|Editor: Xiaoxia

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Tuesday carried out an induction for newly deployed police officers to strengthen law and order in the Horn of African State.

A statement from AMISOM said that 37 police officers from Kenya, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia underwent an eight-day induction process before commencing their tour of duty in Somalia.

"During their time of service in AMISOM, the police officers will train, mentor, and advise their Somali police counterparts to help build their capacity in order for them to take effective charge of policing in the country," said AMISOM.

It said the training covered emerging issues in peacekeeping operations, human rights, Somalia culture and operational support to the country's police force.

Augustine Magnus Kailie, the AMISOM police commissioner urged the officers to respect diversity and work diligently to build the capacity of their Somalia counterparts amid myriad security threats.

Emelia kyekye, a police officer from Ghana pledged to respect local customs and offer the much-needed expertise to boost law, order and peace in Somalia.

"We are now in a better position to train and mentor our Somalia counterparts on modern policing that is key to strengthen the rule of law and stability in the country," said kyekye.

Joseph Ongaya, a Kenyan police officer hailed the induction course, saying it broadened his world views and ability to interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his position not to run for office in 2023.

Buhari, in his New Years message to Nigerians on Wednesday, promised to stand down at the end of his tenure in 2023.

Read Also: Buharis Third Term Agenda Kicked Off In September: Falana

The president has been accused of harbouring a third term agenda.

This speculation was given more weight when. Femi Falana(SAN), alleged that the third-term plan had kicked off in September 2019.

However, in his new year message, the president again dismissed the claim, saying: I understand very well the frustrations our system has in the past triggered. I will be standing down in 2023 and will not be available in any future elections.
Scott Morrison declared that the upcoming Test match between Australia and New Zealand would be played in the shadow of tragedy.

As children of the two teams played a few overs on a lawn that crunched like tinder underfoot at Kirribilli House on Wednesday, the Prime Minister acknowledged the bushfire crisis away from the idyllic harbour setting.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins the Australian cricket team at Kirribilli House before the Sydney Test against the New Zealand side. Credit:Steven Siewert

"This Test and this whole season has been played out against terrible events both here in Australia and also in New Zealand with the White Island [volcanic eruption]," the Prime Minister told those gathered for the New Years Day function in support of the McGrath Foundation and the Pink Test that begins on Friday.

He thanked the Australian captain Tim Paine and Black Caps vice-captain Tom Latham for their teams decision to wear black armbands to commemorate the lives lost in the fires and expressed his gratitude to New Zealand for its on the ground support.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goldgroup Mining Inc. (Goldgroup or the Company) (TSX:GGA, OTC:GGAZF, BMV SIX:GGAN.MX) provides a response to DynaResource, Inc.s (DynaUSA) news release from December 20, 2019. The Company is currently awaiting the written judgment of the 11th Federal Circuit Collegiate Court in Mexico to be published to assess its contents and reasons for judgment. The Company will continue to pursue all legal avenues in Mexico to achieve a favorable resolution to the DynaUSA dispute.



In addition, the Company will continue the enforcement of the final judgment from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (the Court) which confirmed the Companys previously announced favorable award in the arbitration against DynaUSA. See news releases dated August 31, 2016 and May 14, 2019. The order accompanying the final judgment, dated May 9, 2019, rejected every argument DynaUSA raised since the favorable result Goldgroup reached in the 2016 arbitration.

Further legal proceedings might occur in the U.S. or Mexico. As of the date of this release, however, Goldgroup has a final judgment and detailed order confirming the expansive relief set forth in the arbitration award.

About Goldgroup

Goldgroup is a Canadian-based gold production, development, and exploration Company with a significant upside in a portfolio of projects in Mexico, including a 50% interest in DynaResource de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which owns 100% of the high-grade gold exploration project, San Jose de Gracia located in the State of Sinaloa. In addition, the Company operates its 100%-owned Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine, in the State of Sonora, Mexico.

Goldgroup is led by a team of highly successful and seasoned individuals with extensive expertise in mine development, corporate finance, and exploration in Mexico and Ecuador. Goldgroup's mission is to increase gold production, mineral resources, profitability and cash flow, with a view to building a leading gold producer.

For further information on Goldgroup, please visit www.goldgroupmining.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Investor Relations

Toll Free: 1-877-655-ozAu (6928)

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance, may be considered "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusions, forecasts and projections contained in such forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements reflect Goldgroup's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to Goldgroup. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the Cerro Prieto project. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Goldgroup and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors including, without limitation: uncertainties related to actual capital costs, operating costs and expenditures, production schedules and economic returns from Goldgroup's projects; uncertainties associated with development activities; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources and precious metal recoveries; uncertainties related to current global economic conditions; fluctuations in precious and base metal prices; uncertainties related to the availability of future financing; potential difficulties with joint venture partners; risks that Goldgroup's title to its property could be challenged; political and country risk; risks associated with Goldgroup being subject to government regulation; risks associated with surface rights; environmental risks; Goldgroup's need to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with potential conflicts of interest; Goldgroup's lack of experience in overseeing the construction of a mining project; risks related to the integration of businesses and assets acquired by Goldgroup; uncertainties related to the competitiveness of the mining industry; risk associated with theft; risk of water shortages and risks associated with competition for water; uninsured risks and inadequate insurance coverage; risks associated with potential legal proceedings; risks associated with community relations; outside contractor risks; risks related to archaeological sites; foreign currency risks; risks associated with security and human rights; and risks related to the need for reclamation activities on Goldgroup's properties, as well as the risk factors disclosed in Goldgroup's Annual Information Form and MD&A. Any and all of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although Goldgroup believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. Goldgroup expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as may be required by, and in accordance with, applicable securities laws.
The City of Kelowna will review the work done by the Journey Home society in reducing homelessness next year before deciding whether to provide additional funding to the group in 2022 and 2023. Police are shown here moving a tent city on Leon Avenue last November.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday greeted the citizens on the occasion of the New Year.

"Have a wonderful 2020! May this year be filled with joy and prosperity. May everyone be healthy and may everyone's aspirations be fulfilled. Best wishes to all of you for the year 2020," the Prime Minister said in a tweet.

On December 31, Modi also tweeted a compilation of the country's achievements in 2019 and aspirations for 2020.

Rahul Gandhi, who is also a MP from Kerala's Wayanad parliamentary constituency, in a tweet said, "Happy New Year to each and every one of you. Have a wonderful year! Welcome 2020." His sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also greeted the citizens and said, "Happy New Year to each and everyone of you."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Trump warns Iran of 'BIG PRICE' to pay for attacks on US



Washington, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



US President Donald Trump warned Iran Tuesday that it faces significant retaliation if Americans are killed or its facilities damaged in attacks by the Islamic Republic.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump said on Twitter, after pro-Iranian protestors stormed the US embassy in Baghdad.

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," wrote Trump, adding "Happy New Year!"

Trump meanwhile thanked Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh for "their rapid response upon request" to the embassy attack.

Trump spoke with Abdel Mahdi earlier by telephone, stressing the need to protect Americans and US facilities in Iraq, the White House said.
Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

Severe flooding hit Indonesias capital as residents were celebrating the new year, killing at least nine people, displacing thousands and forcing the closure of a domestic airport.

Tens of thousands of revellers were soaked by torrential rain in Jakarta as they waited for New Years Eve fireworks.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said monsoon rain and rising rivers had submerged at least 90 neighbourhoods and triggered a landslide in Depok, a city on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Mr Wibowo said the dead included a 16-year-old high school student who was electrocuted.

Expand Close Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta (Achmad Ibrahim/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

More than 19,000 people were in temporary shelters after floodwater reached up to 10ft (3m) in several places.

Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters after conducting an aerial survey over the flooded city that as much as 370 millimetres (14.5in) of rainfall  more than three times the average amount  was recorded in Jakarta and West Javas hilly areas during New Years Eve, resulting in the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers overflowing.

He said about 120,000 rescuers had been deployed to evacuate those affected and install mobile water pumps as more downpours were forecast in coming days.

Authorities warned flooding was possible until April, when the rainy season ends.

He vowed his city administration would complete projects on the two rivers, including a dam and a sluice, to prevent flooding.

Television footage and photos released by the agency showed dozens of cars floating in muddy water, while soldiers and rescuers in rubber boats were struggling to evacuate children and the elderly who were stranded on the roofs of their squalid houses.

Expand Close A man carrying a boy wades through floodwater (Achmad Ibrahim/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A man carrying a boy wades through floodwater (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

The floods inundated thousands of homes and buildings in poor and wealthy districts alike, forcing authorities to cut off electricity and water supplies and paralysing transport networks, Mr Wibowo said.

Director-general of civil aviation Polana Pramesti said the flooding also submerged the runway at Jakartas Halim Perdanakusumah domestic airport, which had to be closed, stranding some 19,000 passengers.

Flooding also highlighted Indonesias infrastructure problems as it tries to attract foreign investment.

Jakarta is home to 10 million people, or 30 million including those in its greater metropolitan area.

It is prone to earthquakes and flooding and is rapidly sinking due to uncontrolled extraction of ground water. Congestion is also estimated to cost the economy 6.5 billion US dollars (4.9 billion) a year.

President Joko Widodo announced in August that the capital will move to a site in sparsely populated East Kalimantan province on Borneo island, known for rainforests and orangutans.
Mumbai, Jan 1 : As a Mumbai court permitted a consortium of banks to use seized assets of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya to repay his debt, Twitterati was abuzz with mixed reactions.

The ruling was stayed till January 18 to enable parties affected by the order to appeal before the Bombay High Court.

#VijayMallya trended on Twitter.

One user tagged @kingfisherworld and asked: "The caption 'New year same beer' sounds so boring! Has #VijayMallya run out of all money to hire a good creative writer also?" Another user said: "India opens it's door for all Hindus who are religiously persecuted in Pakistan. UK opens it's door for all Hindus who are economically and politically persecuted in India as claimed by #VijayMallya and #LalitModi." One post read: "Posing with 'assets' of Kingfisher Calendars not so long ago to courts allowing banks to use assets seized from him today, not a good start for #KingofGoodTimes. #VijayMallya! #HappyNew2020." One user asked" "Wasn't @TheVijayMallya settling the matter for Rs 6,000 crore itself a few years ago? Just saying... #VijayMallya." A user commented: "Lagta hai Vijju tera maal aaya nahi gaya (it seems Vijay, your money has not come but gone)." One user asked what will happen to the loan of those who can't prove their Indian citizenship and have bank debt running into crores. To this another remarked: "He will become Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi."
The Pentagon sent an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait. Pompeo postponed a trip that was scheduled to start in Ukraine late Thursday so that he can monitor developments in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.
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The women of the Danish royal family put on a dazzling display as they arrived in Copenhagen for their annual new year's celebration tonight.

Crown Princess Mary, 47, led with the glamour in a velvet burgundy gown adorned with diamonds and rubies as she attended her family's traditional New Year reception at Amalienborg Palace in her country's capital.

She joined her sister-in-law Princess Marie, 43, her aunt-in-law Princess Benedikte, 75, and her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe II, 79, in celebrating the new year.

The women put on a jaw-dropping display, kitted out in eye-catching diamond tiaras, ruby and pearl necklaces and emerald jewels.

Mary's velvet gown, cut with long sleeves to shield the Australian-born princess from the cold, fitted her lean frame perfectly.

With her usual impeccable taste, Mary paired the stylish gown with lavish jewellery - a ruby necklace and earrings adorned with generous diamond clusters, and a stunning matching tiara and bracelet.

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Princess Mary looked stunning in a burgundy gown as the Danish royal family hosted their traditional New Year's reception at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen today

Princess Marie, 43, the crown princess's sister in law, looked a picture in a navy blue gown with an empire cut and sapphire jewellery (pictured)

The fitted belt of the gown was also adorned with a floral brooch with rubies, as was a beautiful ring on her right hand.

As per tradition, she also sported the Order of the Elephant at the front and centre of the stylish outfit.

The Order is Denmarks oldest and most distinguished royal order of chivalry, and can be dated back to 1460.

While the length of her gown covered her whole height down to the pavement of the palace, the royal's step revealed she was wearing shoes of the same colour as the gown.

Her red clutch bag added a pop of colour to the eye-catching ensemble as she posed for pictures before retreating inside.

Not one to overdo it, Mary kept her hazelnut locks styled in a simple bun, and sported light makeup that put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes with a dash of mascara and dark eye-shadow.

Queen Margrethe II, 79, wore a floral gown in aquamarine and a sumptuous fur thrown over her shoulders. Her emerald jewellery shone as much as she beamed this evening

Princess Benedikte, 75, the younger sister of the reigning Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, added some glitz to her purple gown with a pair of heels, and stuck to silver jewellery and pearls

With her usual impeccable taste, the Danish royal paired her jewellery to her dress, from her beautiful tiara and earrings to her necklace, bracelets and ring (pictured)

Mary's sister in law, Princess Marie, the wife of Prince Joachim, 50, also looked a picture in a navy blue number with an empire cut.

Also sporting the order of the elephant, the royal sported sapphire jewellery which matched her gown perfectly.

Queen Margrethe II, 79, the mother of Mary's husband, Frederik, 51, sported a lovely aquamarine gown with a fur thrown over her shoulders.

She paired the delightful number with emerald gems on her tiara, necklace and bracelet.

Her younger sister, Princess Benedikte, 75, sporting purple, stuck to silver jewellery adorned with purple to accessorise her outfit.

Crown Princess Mary turned heads in the beautiful gown as its eye-cathing train wrapped her legs in the velvet fabric (pictured)

Sequins and pearls! Princess Benedikte looked stylish as she joined the royal family for the reception tonight

Princess Marie looked darling as she beamed by her husband Prince Joachim, side at the reception, Joachim looked dashing in his navy blue uniform

Love birds! Princess Marie and Prince Joachim held hands as they stopped for a few moments on the red carpet leading them into the royal party

Both royals were smiling, wearing their very best ahead of the evening of celebration in Copenhagen. Joachim and Marie (pictured) married in 2008

The traditional New Year's Eve ball began in 1693 when Christian VII gave the Elephant Order statues to the Danish Ordinances on January 1.

While it used to be an exclusive celebration for kings and knights of the day, the circle later extended to include royal ladies, the cabinet's leadership and selected institutions closely related to the empire.

It has since become a way for the reigning Queen to give a New Year's address to her family and close associates.

Princess Mary kept her makeup subtle, with a dash of mascara and eyeshadow which put the emphasis on her deep sea blue eyes

Queen Margrethe II (left) beamed in aquamarine as she was joined by her younger sister Benedikte, in purple, (right) for the festivities
In a bid to maintain law and order, the district administration in Indore detained 16 criminals on Tuesday under the Security Act.

District Collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav issued the orders for detaining the criminals under 'Operation Clean', according to the release by the district administration on Wednesday.

The Security Act provides for preventive detention in certain cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Market Reports On South Africa Provides the Trending Market Research Report On South Africa Bottled Water - Market under Food & Beverage category. The Report offers a collection of South Africa Market Trends, South Africa Market Analysis, South Africa Business Trends, And South Africa Market Size And Growth.

Bottled water continued to experience strong demand in South Africa in 2019, supported by the water crisis caused by the ongoing drought and water-borne diseases. This performance was driven by the most affordable option presented by the largest category of still bottled water, which experienced a declining unit price, making it even more accessible to a wider audience. The rising health trend and environmental concerns are also supporting the ongoing strong demand for bottled water with cases o...

Bottled Water in South Africa report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2014-2018), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market  be they legislative, distribution, packaging or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2023 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Request a free sample copy of South Africa Bottled Water Market Report@

http://www.marketreportsonsouthafrica.com/marketreports/sample/reports/192997

Product coverage: Carbonated Bottled Water, Flavoured Bottled Water, Functional Bottled Water, Still Bottled Water.



Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.



Why buy this report?

* Get a detailed picture of the Bottled Water market;

* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

* Understand the competitive environment, the markets major players and leading brands;

* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.



Table of Contents

Bottled Water in South Africa

HEADLINES

PROSPECTS

Boost for bottled water due to drought and environmental factors

Gradual move away from carbonates supports demand for flavoured bottled water

Increasing number of smaller players entering category will drive down margins of bottled water brands

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Coca-Cola South Africa retains dominance of bottled water but experiences some competition from smaller players and private label

Tsitsikamma Crystal Spring Water expands through innovative use of flavours and pack sizes

Refill initiatives to offer safe affordable drinking water is likely inspire further development

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: Volume 2014-2019

Table 2 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: Value 2014-2019

Table 3 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 4 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: % Value Growth 2014-2019

Table 5 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Bottled Water: % Volume 2015-2019

Table 6 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Bottled Water: % Volume 2016-2019

Table 7 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Bottled Water: % Value 2015-2019

Table 8 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Bottled Water: % Value 2016-2019

Table 9 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: Volume 2019-2024

Table 10 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: Value 2019-2024

Table 11 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 12 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Polarising LSM groups help shape soft drinks in line with unstable economic environment

Bottled water benefits from health trend and increased sugar tax on other soft drinks

Competition intensifies as private label gains favour amongst price-sensitive consumers

Producers look to attract more affluent consumers with interesting flavours and health-positioned products

Stable performance for soft drinks with more positive economic outlook predicted to lead to stronger performances for some categories

MARKET DATA

Table 13 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: Volume 2014-2019

Table 14 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 15 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2014-2019

Table 16 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2014-2019

Table 17 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Category: Volume 2019

Table 18 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Category: % Volume 2019

Table 19 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2019

Table 20 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value 2019

Table 21 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: Volume 2014-2019

Table 22 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 23 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2014-2019

Table 24 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2014-2019

Table 25 Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: Volume 2014-2019

Table 26 Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 27 NBO Company Shares of Total Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2015-2019

Table 28 LBN Brand Shares of Total Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2016-2019

Table 29 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2015-2019

Table 30 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2016-2019

Table 31 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks: % Value 2015-2019

Table 32 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks: % Value 2016-2019

Table 33 Penetration of Private Label in Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: % Volume 2014-2019

Table 34 Penetration of Private Label in Off-trade Soft Drinks by Category: % Value 2014-2019

Table 35 Distribution of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Format: % Volume 2014-2019

Table 36 Distribution of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Format and Category: % Volume 2019

Table 37 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: Volume 2019-2024

Table 38 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 39 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2019-2024

Table 40 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2019-2024

Table 41 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: Volume 2019-2024

Table 42 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 43 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2019-2024

Table 44 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024

Table 45 Forecast Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: Volume 2019-2024

Table 46 Forecast Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

DEFINITIONS

SOURCES

Summary 1 Research Sources

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Market Reports on South Africa is thus the one-stop solution for the entire market research requirements with regards to South Africa. We provide you with insight and analysis on the countrys economic outlook at the national, regional and city level, presenting a deep understanding of disparities and evolutionary paths. Get a complete, consistent and concise view of your markets with comprehensive industry reports. Our latest regional data-banks, forecasts, and detailed risk ratings will help you to identify risk and opportunities in every industry and develop strategic plans to deal with the competitiveness in South Africas market.

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Hong Kong was readying for a massive pro-democracy rally Wednesday after seeing in the New Year with an evening of peaceful protests that morphed into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and police. The city has been battered by more than six months of unrest with millions marching, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while protesters have responded with petrol bombs. Thousands gathered before midnight across the financial hub, including along Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong. Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" as they lit up their phones. Smaller crowds in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades, before riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response. Police had also used water cannon to disperse protesters in the same area, and in nearby Prince Edward officers arrested several protesters staging a candlelight vigil. Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighbourhoods. They chanted slogans, sang "Glory to Hong Kong" -- a protest anthem -- and held up posters calling for people to fight for democracy in 2020. "Thanks to 2019, which tore off the ugly masks of the police and the government and let the people see the truth," said protester Kris, a medic who joined protest. "The movement is kind of like at its bottleneck now. Hopefully a huge turnout at tomorrow's march could bring back people's passion," he added. - Independent inquiry - In late November, the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government's handling of political unrest. The protest movement has since become quieter but sporadic clashes have persisted. But protesters have vowed to continue their effort to push for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability. The Civil Human Rights Front, the chief organiser of marches, is hoping for a huge turnout at Wednesday's rally to urge the government to respond to the demands of the pro-democracy movement -- which include an independent inquiry into the police, amnesty for arrestees and fully free elections. Police have arrested nearly 6,500 people since June -- nearly a third of them aged under 20. "The youngsters have sacrificed a lot for justice... 2019 is a wake-up call," a 63-year-old retiree, who gave his surname as Shiu, told AFP. "People will be more determined in the new year. People know that the future of Hong Kong depends on whether we can achieve the five demands." The demonstrations were sparked by a now-abandoned bill to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, but have since evolved into a popular revolt against Beijing's control -- the biggest crisis since the former British colony's return to Chinese rule in 1997. More than six months of protests have called for democratic reforms in the Chinese city Pro-democracy protesters and revellers gather in Hong Kong to welcome in 2020 Police tactics have frequently been criticised as heavy-handed Protesters vowed to continue their effort to push for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability in Hong Kong
Absolutism, whether political, aesthetic or religious, leads to favoring those who conform to our beliefs and condemning everyone else. In the arts, this can result in near hysteria at the discovery of sexism, racism or exoticism in the masterpieces of earlier ages. Consider an example from recent literature: I find Vladimir Nabokovs Lolita funny, complex, beautifully written, endlessly rereadable. Through the power of Nabokovs art, the books narrator, a middle-aged man fixated on a pubescent girl, does all he can to present himself as the besotted victim in a doomed romance. In fact, the novel offers  among much else  a critique of the privileged status that Western society has accorded to romantic passion since the Middle Ages. In our cultural mythology, love doesnt just conquer all, but it justifies all sorts of bad behavior, too. Not for Nabokov. Being in love is ultimately no excuse for monstrous actions, even if Humbert Humbert insists on his pitiable and helpless thralldom to a middle-school dame sans merci. Nabokov quietly lets us know that Lolita cries herself to sleep every night.
T he trailer for A Quiet Place: Part II has dropped and fans are buzzing over the new cast in the highly-anticipated sequel.

The Irish actor Cillian Murphy joins Emily Blunt who is seen on the run with her children during the terrifying glimpse into the film.

Murphy's name began trending on Twitter within an hour of the trailer's release as fans shared their excitement for the upcoming sequel.

The film is a follow-up to the 2018 thriller about a family trying to survive with their children in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by monsters with acute hearing.

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family (Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe) must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence.

Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realise that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

The new trailer also gives fans a peek at Djimon Hounsou, who also joins the cast.
Randle said she hopes to come away from the experience with a better understanding of just where she will fit in with medical professionals and where specifically to focus her energy in the field of biomedical science. She thinks her interest and talent will lead to medical technology and engineering, where she can develop something new.
The US Senate is expected to hold a trial this month to consider whether President Donald Trump should be removed from office after the House of Representatives in December approved two articles of impeachment that charge him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Here is more detail about the two articles of impeachment approved by the Democratic-controlled House. ABUSE OF POWER In the impeachment context, abuse of power is generally defined as using the vast powers of the presidency for personal benefit. Abuse of power is not specifically ...
management interviews spi 3months

January 10, 2022 08:14 PM IST Vedanta rolls out massive vaccination drive for children of employees in age group of 15-18 years The move is in line with the companys vision and commitment to ensure the health and well-being of its people, their families and communities.

January 10, 2022 07:58 PM IST Domestic air passenger traffic at 111 lakh in December; up 52% YoY: Report The total domestic passenger traffic had stood at 73 lakh in December 2020, according to a report by the rating agency.

January 10, 2022 07:03 PM IST Moderna improves forecast for 2022 sales from COVID-19 vaccine The company also said it was developing a booster vaccine candidate, called mRNA-1273.529, that targets the fast-spreading Omicron variant and expects it to advance into clinical trials in early 2022.

January 10, 2022 06:58 PM IST SEBI puts in place framework for operationalising gold exchange New Delhi, Jan 10 Capital markets regulator Sebi on Monday came out with a framework for operationalising the gold exchange, wherein the yellow ..

January 10, 2022 06:31 PM IST Take-Two to buy FarmVille maker Zynga in deal valued at $12.7 billion Take-Two, also known for "Red Dead Redemption", offered $9.86 per share, representing a 64 percent premium to the last closing price of Zynga. Zynga's shares rose about 50 percent in trading before the bell, while those of Take-Two fell nearly 9 percent.

January 10, 2022 05:03 PM IST Axis MF looks to collect Rs 500 crore from CPSE plus SDL 2025 index fund The new fund, which opens on January 10 and closes on January 20, tracks the Crisil IBX 70:30 CPSE plus SDL-April 2025 benchmark and the portfolio is specifically designed to invest predominantly in AAA-rated Central public sector units and rated SDL securities, the fund house said in a statement on Monday without offering a targeted AUM during the offer period.

January 10, 2022 04:04 PM IST Tech Mahindra partners Pyze to provide enterprise modernization solutions The partnership is aimed at accelerating digital transformation and application modernization using low code and legacy process optimization. Through this partnership, low-code developers, IT teams, and business teams will be able to reduce process inefficiencies faster.

January 10, 2022 02:30 PM IST Lets target adding 75 unicorns in 2022: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal He added that startups can play a key role in socialising and democratising healthcare across the globe at a time when the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.

January 10, 2022 02:26 PM IST Grover v/s Kotak impact: HDFC Bank notifies customers on use of unparliamentary language HDFC Bank, in a web page titled use of unparliamentary language by customers addressed customers rude behaviour towards staff, and gained kudos on social media.

January 10, 2022 02:18 PM IST Edelweiss group partners Indian Bank for co-lending to priority segment Agriculture, micro enterprises and advances to weaker sections of the society are amongst the categories that form the priority sector in lending space.

January 10, 2022 02:13 PM IST Local consortium bags SsangYong from court receivership SsangYong is burdened with high debt and its vehicle sales last year fell to 84,496, down about 21 percent from a year earlier, a regulatory filing from the automaker showed.

January 10, 2022 02:06 PM IST Urbanista forays into Indian market, aims 5% market share in premium headphone, TWS segments The company, which has a presence in more than 90 countries around the world and more than 30,000 global stores, is aiming to have a slice of the headphones and earphones market, a segment now growing faster after the pandemic.

January 10, 2022 01:53 PM IST Now, Keralas CPM government battles opposition to expensive train project Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced an attractive compensation package of Rs 13,265 crore for the people who stand to lose their homes and land to the project. For the project, 1,383 hectares require to be acquired, which may need the demolition of 9,314 buildings and relocation of 10,000 families

January 10, 2022 01:09 PM IST Skoda drives in all new Kodiaq at Rs 34.99 lakh The new Kodiaq comes equipped with 2-litre petrol engine mated to a seven-speed transmission sending power to all four wheels.

January 10, 2022 01:03 PM IST Power Gummies raises $6million funding from 9Unicorns, others The series A round also saw participation from Vcats, DSG Consumer Partners, Wipro Consumer Care Ventures, Sharpp Ventures (Marico Family office) and NB Ventures, a statement said.

January 10, 2022 12:58 PM IST Vistara fleet crosses 50 aircraft; 12 planes added in last 21 months In addition to this, Vistara said it has flown 30 million passengers since its launch on January 9, 2015 in both domestic and overseas markets, the airline said in a statement.

January 10, 2022 12:52 PM IST Alembic gets USFDA nod to market generic product The company has received tentative approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for its medication in strength of 400 mg, the drug maker said in a statement.

January 10, 2022 11:54 AM IST How far is the economy above its pre-pandemic level? The governments GDP estimates for the second half of 2021-22 are 6.7 percent higher than for the same period of 2019-20

January 10, 2022 11:42 AM IST Government finalises medical insurance for retired Air India employees "Retired employees will get the Central Government Health Scheme facility for their OPD requirement and National Health Insurance Scheme for their hospitalisation requirements," a top government official told a publication.

January 10, 2022 11:18 AM IST IMF says emerging economies must prepare for Fed policy tightening In a blog published Monday, the IMF said it expected robust US growth to continue, with inflation likely to moderate later in the year. The global lender is due to release fresh global economic forecasts on January 25.

January 10, 2022 10:49 AM IST All major auto OEMs and component makers have applied for production-linked incentive scheme At least 100 applications have been received so far and CNBC-TV18 confirmed some applicants as Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, Hero Motocorp, Mahindra Group, MG Motor, Sona Comstar Tata Motors, Toyota Auto Parts and TVS

January 10, 2022 09:47 AM IST Equitas SFB  why look at it amid the disturbing third wave of COVID-19? The improving liability profile along with a healthy capital position and the secured diversified asset book gives Equitas SFB an edge albeit the COVID-19 disruption.

January 10, 2022 09:34 AM IST Top Cryptocurrency News Today: Biggest moves in Bitcoin, NFTs and stablecoins and more A daily round-up of the most interesting articles on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tether to help jump-start the day

January 10, 2022 09:29 AM IST Foxconn India iPhone plant to reopen on January 12: Govt officials The Foxconn plant, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, was closed on December 18 following protests over 250 of its workers being treated for food poisoning. Apple has since placed the factory on probation after discovering that some dormitories and dining rooms did not meet required standards.
Still, his plays, which go down easy and eat you from the inside, dont present as tragedies. Not initially, anyway. His characters are brainy, funny, sexy, chic. Just like us. And then, almost imperceptibly, comedy stops. Catastrophe starts. And you think  or at least I thought, watching his Yerma and remembering the atavistic, irrational desire for another child I had felt after my daughter was born  that could have been me. I cried. I also ordered a pair of overalls like those Billie Pipers character had worn. I had never shopped a tragedy before.

Stone made Medea in 2014 with actors from Ivo van Hoves Toneelgroepamsterdam. Van Hove had suggested the play to him. A story of a woman  a barbarian, a sorceress  who kills her children to punish the husband who betrayed her, it offers one of the greatest and most challenging parts for an actress to play. For women, this play is really a confronting piece, obviously, Byrne would tell me when I visited rehearsal in New York late fall.

Stone knew he didnt want to make a shocker or a melodrama. Too often, he thought, productions asked, How terrifying can this human be? How afraid of women should we be? Instead, he wanted to take the unthinkable  a mother who murders her children  and make it thinkable. I made it for the women I know that would never want to sit through that show, he said. Its not helpful to make a horror story.

For a month before rehearsal began he read books, mostly schlocky true crime books, searching for a contemporary analogue. He found it in Debora Green, an oncologist convicted in 1996 of poisoning her husband with ricin and then killing two of her children in a house fire. He took some aspects of her story, that she had given up her career to raise her children, that she likely suffered from undiagnosed postpartum depression, and prepared to graft them to the original.

I asked him how it had felt, the deep dive into infanticide. Had it been difficult? No, he said, its not my trauma. One of his sisters, a psychiatrist, had mentioned that in most of his work children die. But not parents, which looks a lot like displacement. What I do is tell traumas that are obliquely related to mine, but not the actual trauma that I went through. Because Ive always found my life kind of uninteresting, he said.

He built Medea, on the bodies of that first cast, in about six weeks. He would write a scene, the actors would play it, that would tell him where the next scene needed to go. Medea became Anna, a biochemist with two children and a faithless husband who takes credit for her research. He had set Yerma, in a glass box, emphasizing the main characters isolation. But for Medea, he envisioned an all-white set  spare, clinical, a kind of laboratory for human experiment.
The Washington Post recently published a surprising indictment of MSNBC host, Stanford graduate and Rhodes scholar Rachel Maddow.

Post media critic Erik Wemple wrote that Maddow deliberately misled her audience by claiming the now-discredited Steele dossier was largely verifiable  even at a time when there was plenty of evidence that it was mostly bogus.

At the very time Maddow was reassuring viewers that Christopher Steele was believable, populist talk radio and the much-criticized Fox News Channel were insisting that most of Steeles allegations simply could not be true. Maddow was wrong.

Her less degreed critics proved to be right.

In 2018, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), and the committees then-ranking minority member, Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), each issued contrasting reports of the committees investigation into allegations of collusion between Russia and Donald Trumps campaign team and the misbehavior of federal agencies.

Schiffs memo was widely praised by the media. Nunes report was condemned as rank and partisan.

Many in the media went further. They contrasted Harvard Law graduate Schiff with rural central Californian Nunes to help explain why the clever Schiff got to the bottom of collusion and the former dairy farmer Nunes was way over his head and had no idea whats going on.

Recently, the nonpartisan inspector general of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, found widespread wrongdoing at the DOJ and FBI.

He confirmed the key findings in the Nunes memo about the Steele dossier and its pernicious role in the FISA application seeking a warrant against former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.

In contrast, much of what the once-praised Schiff had claimed to be true was proven wrong by Horowitz  from Schiffs insistence that the FBI verified the Steele dossier to his assertion that the Department of Justice did not rely chiefly on the dossier for its warrant application.

When special counsel Robert Mueller formed an investigatory team, he stocked it with young, progressive Washington insiders, many with blue-chip degrees and resumes.

The media swooned. Washington journalists became giddy over the prospect of a dream team of such all-stars who would demolish the supposedly far less impressively credentialed Trump legal team.

We were assured by a snobbish Vox that Special counsel Robert Muellers legal team is full of pros. Trumps team makes typos.

Yet after 22 months and $32 million worth of investigation, Muellers team found no Russian collusion and no evidence of actionable Trump obstruction during the investigation of that non-crime.

All the constant media reports that bombshell Mueller team disclosures were imminent and that the walls are closing in on Trump proved false.

Mueller himself testified before Congress, only to appear befuddled and almost clueless at times about his own investigation.

Many of his supposedly brightest all-stars, such as Lisa Page, Peter Strzok and Kevin Clinesmith, had to leave his dream team due to unethical behavior.

In contrast, Trumps widely derided chief lawyers  69-year-old Ty Cobb, 78-year-old John Dowd, and 63-year-old radio and TV host Jay Sekulow  stayed out of the headlines.

They advised Trump to cooperate with the Mueller team and systematically offered evidence and analyses to prove that Trump did not collude with the Russian to warp the 2016 election.

In the end, Muellers hunter-killer team was forced to agree.

When the supposed clueless Trump was elected, a number of elites pronounced his economic plans to be absurd. We were told that Trump was bound to destroy the U.S. economy.

Former Princeton professor and Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman insisted that Trump would crash the stock market. He even suggested that stocks might never recover.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers said Trump would bring on a recession within a year and a half.

The former head of the National Economic Council, Steven Rattner, predicted a market crash of historic proportions.

In contrast, many of Trumps economic advisers during his campaign and administration, including outsider Peter Navarro, pundit Steven Moore, former TV host Larry Kudlow and octogenarian Wilbur Ross, were caricatured.

Yet three years later, in terms of the stock market, unemployment, energy production and workers wages, the economy has been doing superbly.

The point of these sharp contrasts is not that an Ivy League degree or a Washington reputation is of little value, or that prestigious prizes and honors account for nothing, or even that supposed experts are always unethical and silly.

Instead, one lesson is that conventional wisdom and groupthink tend to mislead, especially in the age of online echo chambers and often sheltered and blinkered elite lives.

We forget that knowledge can be found at all ages, and in all places.

And ethics has nothing to do with degrees or pedigrees.

Victor Davis Hanson is a classicist and historian at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and the author of The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won, from Basic Books. You can reach him by e-mailing authorvdh@gmail.com

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2019 deadliest year for Colombia's ex-FARC combatants: UN



Bogota, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



The past year has been the deadliest for ex-FARC combatants in Colombia since the former guerrilla movement signed a peace agreement with the government in 2016, the UN reported Tuesday.

The UN verification mission in Colombia, responsible for monitoring the accord which ended more than 50 years of conflict, expressed alarm at the mounting number of deaths. It said 77 ex-guerrillas had been murdered over the past 12 months.

In the mission's end-of-year report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for "more effective measures to protect the lives of former combatants, particularly considering that 2019 has been the most violent year for former FARC members since the signing of the peace agreement.

"Family members, including children, of former combatants killed since the signing are facing particular vulnerabilities; specific measures should be considered to support them," Guterres said.

In a radio interview Tuesday, President Ivan Duque expressed concern about the murders, saying, "the tools of denunciation and protection must be improved."

The total of 77 deaths in 2019 surpasses the 65 murders recorded in 2018 and the 31 in 2017.

"The total number of killings has now reached 173, in addition to 14 disappearances and 29 attempted homicides," it said.

The UN cited figures from local authorities indicating that 80 percent of the attacks are related to criminal groups and organizations linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining.

"There are still challenges regarding the dismantling of the structures behind these murders," the report said.

It noted that only nine of the 67 suspects arrested are considered to have been the planners of the attacks.

Guterres will present the report to the UN Security Council.

FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, transformed itself into a political party after some 7,000 former combatants disarmed as part of the peace agreement.

But dissident members who rejected the deal, along with other armed groups, continue to threaten the peace deal, particularly in remote areas.

As these organized crime groups seek greater control of territory vacated by the FARC, they often see ex-combatants and community leaders as their enemies.

"The vast majority of former FARC combatants continue to make efforts to reintegrate into civilian life and remain committed to the peace process, despite continued uncertainties and attacks against them," the UN report said.

It also expressed concern about the number of killings of human rights activists and community leaders, 86 in the past year alone.

Since the signing of the peace deal in November 2016, 303 activists have been murdered, including 12 women, the report said.
In the past, Europe had often assumed a moral high ground regarding the protection of civil liberties, including the protection of privacy. However, that position has, in the recent past, been significantly eroded. Terrorist attacks that have swept across Europe have forced most nations to step up surveillance in a bid to bolster security. Europes biggest superpowers such as Germany, France, and the UK have also passed laws that seemingly grant their surveillance agencies virtually unfettered powers while conducting mass interception of communication across Europe without adequate oversight and procedural safeguards from abuse. European leaders who once rebuked the NSA its dodgy mass surveillance practices are looking more open to the methods they once criticized. Indeed, European countries are increasingly becoming more welcoming to the notion of mass surveillance in the name of perceived security. The rhetoric is especially popular today in Europe due to the rise in populist issues such as immigration, the refugee crisis, and a perceived rise in security threats. A list of the most surveilled cities in Europe was recently published showing that London and Berlin were the most surveilled cities in Europe. Other cities on the list include Warsaw, Vienna, Istanbul, Madrid, Budapest, Athens, Paris, and Sofia.

London, Berlin, Warsaw, And Vienna

London has the highest level of surveillance in Europe. According to a survey conducted by Comparitech, the city has an estimated 627,707 cameras used to monitor 9,176,530 people. That translates to 68.4 cameras per 1,000 people. It is the highest-ranking western capital on the top 10 list of highly surveilled cities (a list predominantly composed of Chinese cities). The high number of CCTV cameras in London can probably be explained by incidents of terrorist attacks that have occurred in the British capital over the last few years. The surveillance potential of cameras installed to deter city crime has also increased significantly since the beginning of the Artificial Intelligence era. Currently, advanced technology is used with the capability of reading car license plates and, in some instances, isolates human behavior.

Berlin, which has the second-highest level of surveillance in Europe, has also faced several instances of terrorism in the past. The incidents have probably led to the installation of CCTV cameras to deter such activities. Currently, Berlin has 11.18 cameras per 1,000 people, roughly 16 times less than London. Chancellor Angela Merkel has in the past voiced support for the use of video surveillance in the protection of critical infrastructure. The nations rail operator Deutsche Bahn has stepped up its use of CCTV surveillance to monitor human traffic in various stations. The Federal Criminal Police (BKA) is also employing diverse techniques in surveillance, such as monitoring websites and chat rooms linked to criminal and terrorist activities. Berliners are, however, uncomfortable with the increased surveillance. Germans have a historic fear for state intrusion that dates back to Stasi secret police in the East and the Nazi-era Gestapo. Protesters have been spotted wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan Stasi 2.0 about the increased surveillance. To the reprieve of many, the constitutional court recently ruled that the cyber spying violates rights to privacy but was acceptable in cases that were exceptional under the auspices of a judge. The ruling, however, failed to adequately address other forms of spying, such as the use of CCTV surveillance. The German government is currently experimenting with facial recognition software at the Berlin Sudkreuz railway station in a bid to boost security, a move that is raising privacy concerns in a nation that is scarred by a history of oppressive state surveillance. Many experts across the globe have challenged the perception that increased surveillance increases security and safety. Several studies have also concluded that there is little correlation between mass surveillance and security. For example, Warsaw, which is ranked third with an estimated 13.9335 cameras in a city of 1,775,933 people, is regarded as much safer than Berlin and London.

The increased surveillance in Warsaw is informed by an increase in terrorist attacks in neighboring countries such as Belgium and a realization that the region is no longer immune to the threat of terrorism. The Polish authorities are aware of the nations considerable role in the European Union and the risks that come with such a strategic position. The country has also adopted laws that enable closer surveillance of the public, particularly foreigners. Vienna, which is ranked fourth, has 7.38 cameras per 1,000 people is considered much safer with a crime index of just 23.28 compared to London and Berlin, which has a crime index of 52.24 and 40.30, respectively. Despite the low crime index, Austrian authorities are currently considering broadening surveillance. Interestingly, among the top four European cities, a decline in the crime index and an increase in safety levels is observed as the level of CCTV surveillance declines.

Istanbul, Madrid, And Budapest

Istanbul has the fifth-highest level of surveillance in Europe. The city has an estimated 107,000 cameras in a city that has 14,967,667 people, translating to 7.15 cameras per 1,000 people. Istanbul has, in the past, witnessed terrorist attacks such as the Ataturk Airport attack that lead to the death of more than 40 people and causing injury to more than 230 people. The country also recently faced a coup attempt that was blamed on US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who denies the claim. The nation has since sought to improve security in major cities such as Istanbul through various means, including CCTV surveillance. Recently the citys surveillance capabilities were thrust into the spotlight when Jamal Khashoggi was allegedly killed at the Saudi Consulate, causing an international uproar. Leaked footage showed Khashoggi walking into the consulate but did not show him getting out.

Madrid is ranked sixth on the list. The city has an estimated 29,000 cameras and a population of 6,559,041 people, which means that there are 4.42 cameras for every 1,000 people. The city has, in recent years, increased CCTV surveillance in a bid to improve security. Additional cameras are being installed, and surveillance systems have also been integrated. Budapest is ranked seventh with 3.4 cameras per 1,000 people. The Hungarian government has invested significantly in pre-investigation surveillance of the population. The government recently authorized $131.3 million in spending to enhance such a surveillance system. Laws have also been passed, allowing secret surveillance of citizens before the initiation of official investigations.

Athens, Paris, And Sofia

Athens is ranked the eighth most surveilled city in Europe. The city has 10,612 cameras used to watch over a population of 3,154,152, which translates to 3.36 cameras for every 1,000 people. Paris, a city of over 10 million people, has an estimated 33,479 cameras translating to 3.06 cameras per 1,000 people. The city has, in recent years, suffered from numerous terror attacks that have put the country under immense pressure to increase surveillance. Until recently, surveillance cameras were used primarily for monitoring traffic. The purpose has since expanded to the surveillance of people. Additional surveillance has also been introduced to help neutralize the terror threat. The city of Sofia, Bulgaria, is ranked tenth on the list, with 2.35 cameras per 1,000 people.

AI Surveillance

Technology in Artificial Intelligence is rapidly proliferating around the world. A growing number of nations are deploying advanced AI surveillance tools to track, surveil, and monitor citizens to accomplish many objectives, some that are lawful and some that violate human rights. China is a major driver of Artificial Intelligence surveillance worldwide. Chinese surveillance technology has been supplied to at least 63 countries across the world. The supply of such technology is often accompanied by soft loans that encourage governments to obtain such technology. Such tactics have been used with countries such as Kenya, Mongolia, Laos, and Uganda.
[Tucho ng]



BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua)  China ushered in the new year with a variety of festivities across the country.

In western Beijing, more than 1,000 hardy individuals braved the freezing cold to enjoy an evening gala at the Shougang Industrial Park Tuesday night. The public counted down to the arrival of 2020 and celebrated by singing and hugging.

Previously an old steel factory, the Shougang Industrial Park has transformed into the headquarters of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games organizing committee.

In the financial hub Shanghai, about 9,000 Chinese and foreign tourists visited the historic Shanghai Longhua Temple to make wishes for the New Year.

Visitors spoke highly of the cultural activities at the site.

"In Japan, we also go to temples to pray for a good new year," said Japanese tourist Kaoru Iijima. "The activities in Shanghai are just so colorful! I would recommend the great food here to my friends too."

In the Tibetan areas in southwest China's Sichuan Province, some locals danced around bonfires to celebrate the coming of the new year.

"I invited many friends to join the dance to welcome a wonderful new year and wish for the prosperity of our motherland," said Tsering Tashi, a villager in Sichuan's Yajiang County.

Music blasted out in many venues in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, as concerts helped ring in the year 2020. Lantern and balloon shows also drew large crowds.

More than 10,000 people crowded into a border village Tuesday night in northeast China's Jilin Province to enjoy a fireworks show.

Fangchuan Village sits on the border of China, Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many tourists climbed up a local tourist attraction to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the special place.

"It is just beautiful!" exclaimed tourist Che Xiaomei. "I made a wish for the new year: I hope my family and friends will have the best of luck."



(Source: Xinhua)
Illinois' governor granted more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions on Tuesday, describing the step as a first wave of thousands of such expungements anticipated under the state's new marijuana legalization law.

The expungement process is a key part of the law, which takes effect Wednesday and made Illinois the 11th state to legalize marijuana for people 21 or older. When they crafted the policy, Illinois lawmakers said they wanted to repair some of the damage caused by law enforcement's efforts to combat sale and use of the drug, particularly in minority communities.

Democratic Governor JB Pritzker announced the pardons at a church on Chicago's South Side. He said clearing the misdemeanor offenses from individuals' records will make it easier for them to get jobs, housing and financial aid for college.

State officials estimate that 116,000 convictions involving 30 grams or less of marijuana, including for possession of the drug, are eligible for pardons under the new law. Illinois State Police are responsible for identifying those convictions and sending the records to the state's Prisoner Review Board, which then forwarded eligible cases to the governor's office for pardons.

Pritzker's pardons allow the state's attorney general to ask courts to formally clear or seal the records.

"We are ending the 50-year-long war on cannabis," Pritzker said in a statement. "We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core."

Other states that have begun permitting marijuana's sale and use created procedures for people to expunge minor drug offenses, but Illinois officials wanted the process to be almost automatic for people with non-violent marijuana arrests or convictions on their records.

"We know that Black Illinois residents are far more likely to be arrested and convicted for marijuana possession than whites," said Ben Ruddell, criminal justice policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. "This is a good step forward as we begin the legal sales of recreational marijuana."

Story continues

Pritzker's office said 92 of the state's 102 counties are represented among the pardons announced Tuesday.

"The 11,017 pardons that Gov. Pritzker is granting today are thousands of lives forever changed  and hundreds of thousands more will be changed in the coming months," said Toi Hutchinson, a former state senator who now is an adviser to Pritzker on marijuana policy. "Those who were unfairly targeted by discriminatory drug laws can finally get ahead and build a new future for themselves and their families."

Some people still will have to act independently to have marijuana convictions expunged. People who have been convicted of offenses involving between 30 and 500 grams of marijuana in Illinois can file court petitions to clear those records. Local prosecutors and legal aid organizations also can take that step independently.

State officials estimate that 34,000 records are eligible for that process.

Law enforcement agencies have a five-year period to expunge records of minor marijuana arrests that did not result in a conviction, starting with the most recent cases.

Officials estimate that 572,000 arrest records fall into that category. Marijuana arrests accompanied by violent offenses aren't eligible for expungement.

Illinois regulators said more than 40 dispensaries have been issued licenses to sell recreational marijuana starting Wednesday, but not all of them plan to participate immediately. Industry leaders have warned consumers to expect long lines and potential shortages of products.

"This is Day One of the end of prohibition. This is not a finished product on Day One," said Representative Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the legislation in the House.

She noted that the Illinois law ensures that the needs of patients who depend on marijuana for medical use will be met. She says advocates have acknowledged since the beginning that supply will be an issue at first. "There will always be hiccups," she said.

Thousands trapped by Australia's wildfires

"CBS Evening News" headlines for Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Thousands of NYPD officers ready for New Year's Eve security
The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is five years old. The new integration union treaty entered into force on January 1, 2015. Currently, the union includes Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The EEU proclaims the free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, as well as a coordinated, consented or unified policy in the economic field.

As tasks for the next five years, the union considers the deepening of integration, the creation of single markets for natural gas and oil, as well as a single financial and transport markets, Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), told TASS. At the same time, the head of the EEC Board is confident that over the past five years the EEU has made progress in both creating favorable conditions for the people and building a comfortable business environment.

"We have institutionalized the fight against barriers within the union," Sargsyan added. "In order to prevent the emergence of new barriers, we have begun working actively with legislators to harmonize the norms of law."
Nobody in their right mind would criticise the Taoiseach when they hear him say the government he leads wants to see a continuing fall in unemployment, though they might not unreasonably dismiss it as a useless statement of the overwhelmingly obvious.

There are, however, grounds for a degree of scepticism when he announces that he wants to be in a position to create 50,000 new jobs this year.

On what calculations and forecast of economic trade winds is this target based? How many of these new jobs will spring up in the private sector?

Will they be in traditional businesses, Big Tech or services that havent yet been imagined?

How many of those new jobs will simply replace jobs lost? He notes: Jobs will be gained, jobs will be lost, theres always a certain amount of churn in the labour market  as, indeed, there is always a certain amount of churn in which politicians lose their jobs.

Or is that 50,000 an attractively upbeat round-number for a soundbite?

The Government does have some good news on jobs to report. Unemployment in skilled trades has fallen from 13% in 2013 to 2.6% in 2018, says the Further Education and Training Authority. The number of people employed in 2018 rose by 63,000, lifting the total to 2.26m.

Yet there reasons to be cautious about the extent to which prudent governments in free market economies such as ours can control labour markets. Ireland is not immune from the market forces that are radically reshaping large swathes of the UKs economy. More than 140,000 high street retail jobs were lost there in 2019.

A Centre for Retail Research study found that 38,100 people were thrown out of work as a consequence of chainstore closures. More than 78,000 jobs vanished in cost-cutting programmes  very often replacing people with machines  by large retailers, and as a result of small, independent shops simply closing down, driven out of business largely by levels of taxation and other costs that do not as yet afflict online retailers.

The study calculated that 16,073 UK shops closed in 2019 (approximately 61 every working day), up from the 14,583 closures in 2018.

None of this has prevented Britain reaching and maintaining record levels of employment, albeit that much of it is in jobs offering low pay and scant security. The upshot is that more people are in work, but poorer.

Other warnings for Ireland of possible trouble ahead have come recently from the Fiscal Advisory Council, which has judged that the Government is too reliant on corporation tax from a small pool of international companies, and from the National Competitive Council (NCC), which sees this dependence on Big Tech and pharma corporations as a potentially unsustainable economic model.

One third of Irish exports, according to the NCC, come from only five corporations, thus masking stagnant or falling productivity in the much larger pool of smaller companies.

Ireland, says its chairman, is relying on one big engine as we fly into stormier skies.

Fine Gael and its rivals will doubtless want to convince voters in the few months ahead that theyve thought through robustly the promises theyll be making about jobs, state spending and the economy.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted nation on the news years eve. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote: "Have a wonderful 2020! May this year be filled with joy and prosperity. May everyone be healthy and may everyone's aspirations be fulfilled."

On Tuesday, PM Modi hoped that the year 2020 marks the continuation of people-powered efforts to transform India and empower the lives of its citizens. He made these remarks responding to a tweet which posted a song wrapping up the achievements of the Modi government in the past year.

Have a wonderful 2020!



May this year be filled with joy and prosperity. May everyone be healthy and may everyones aspirations be fulfilled.



aa aaa aa aaa 2020 aa aaaaAaaa aaAaaaaaaaAaa  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2020

2019 was an amazing year for India. We changed things that we thought could never change. We achieved things which we never thought were possible. Here is a small recap... Hope you like it @narendramodi ji, said the NaMo 2.0 Twitter handle.

The prime minister described the video as a lovely compilation. He said the video covers quite a lot of the progress the government achieved in 2019. Here is hoping 2020 marks the continuation of people powered efforts to transform India and empower the lives of 130 crore Indians, the prime minister tweeted.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Unrelenting storms will pound the northwestern United States well into 2020 and escalate the risk of flash flooding, mudslides and avalanches as ski resorts continue to be bombarded with heavy snow.

"Expect rounds of strong winds from the storms with the potential for power outages," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.

"Snow levels will vary with each storm," Thompson said. "At times rain may reach to pass levels, and at other times, snow may dip to just above sea level through next week."

Satellite imagery shows clouds and moisture arriving in the Northwest on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.

The main thrust of the storms through this weekend will focus on British Columbia and western Washington. A general 3-6 inches (80-150 millimeters) of rain will fall, but an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches (300 millimeters) is likely on the west-facing slopes of the Olympics, Cascades and Coast Mountains.

The cumulative effect of each storm will make the hillsides unstable. With each round of drenching rain, the risk of mudslides and other debris flows will increase over the lower elevations.

Episodes of heavy rain in low and intermediate elevations will cause streams and rivers to run high with the risk of flooding.

Meanwhile, above the passes over the high country, a heavy load of snow, on the order of 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) with local amounts to 9 feet (3 meters) will pile up over the next week. The snow load from each storm and periodic gusty winds can make the snowpack unstable with an increasing risk of avalanches.

Even at intermediate elevations, heavy snow with some storms and a wintry mix and rain with others can also heighten the avalanche risk.

Intermittent rain and snow will progress farther inland over eastern Washington and Oregon, including areas often sheltered by precipitation due to the proximity of the Cascades. Periodic, locally heavy snow will fall over the Blue Mountains and the various ranges that make up the northern Rockies into next week.

Story continues

The first weather system of the barrage affected the region Tuesday into Wednesday with gusty winds, rain and and snow across the Cascades and the rest of the Intermountain West.

Winds were strong enough with the storm to force the closure of the Hood Canal Bridge in northwestern Washington.

Here's another look before we closed the span to vehicles. The waves were crashing onto the driving surface of the bridge about 30-feet above the water. pic.twitter.com/4kombz0tIK  WSDOT Tacoma Traffic (@wsdot_tacoma) December 31, 2019

This storm also brought some snow to the Salt Lake City area on New Year's Day.

A second storm will waste no time rolling in from the Pacific later Thursday to Thursday night. This storm is likely to bring heavy precipitation and difficult travel over the passes in the Washington Cascades. Snow levels will start off low, near 1,500 feet Thursday afternoon, before rising.

The heavy precipitation will be accompanied by gusty winds late this week. Gusts averaging 25-50 mph are expected to buffet the Washington coast with more powerful gusts to near 60 mph (97 km/h) likely in British Columbia.

Another storm during Friday night and Saturday is likely to be the most potent of the bunch in terms of wind.

The unrelenting onslaught of storms will not end after this week, but the origin and nature of storms may evolve as January progresses, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

"It is possible that a shift in the storm track develops later next week where storms move from north to south across British Columbia and the northwestern U.S. instead of straight in from the west off the Pacific Ocean," Thompson said.

"As this occurs, enough cold air may sink southward to allow snow to fall at very low elevations along the coast," he added.

It is possible that a storm or two will bring rare snow down to near sea level during the second and third week of January.

Download the free AccuWeather app to check the forecast in your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Imperial Valley News Center

U.S. Appeals Court Strikes Individual Mandate; Directs Lower Court to Reconsider Broader Health Care Law

Washington, DC - Seventeen of the nations leading patient advocacy groups are remaining steadfast in their commitment to protecting patients throughout the next phase of legal proceedings involving the health care law known as the Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the individual mandate without a tax penalty as unconstitutional. It sent the case back to the District Court to determine if the mandate can be severed from the rest of the law and to consider whether a ruling should be limited to just the plaintiff states or apply to all states.

The Attorney General of California, who has been leading the defense of the ACA, indicated that California will be filing a petition to request that the Supreme Court of the United States hear an appeal. The law, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions and minimum insurance coverage standards, will remain in place in the meantime.



The patient groups filed a joint amicus brief in support of upholding the law. Following is the groups statement:



The Fifth Circuit ruling will cause more uncertainty for millions of Americans who live with serious, acute and chronic health conditions and who rely on the Affordable Care Act to access comprehensive health coverage.

The critical patient protections remain in place for now, including for people who just purchased healthcare for 2020, but the long-term viability of these essential protections continues to be at risk. Those protections include prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more for coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, requiring health plans to offer essential benefits needed to prevent and treat a serious condition and eliminating arbitrary dollar limits on coverage.

Millions of Americans have benefited from these fundamental protections. Todays ruling continues to threaten the future of these basic protections and leaves those who rely on the laws benefits in a state of flux.

On behalf of the millions of patients our organizations represent, we will continue to advocate for the quality care patients need and the lives that depend on this law throughout the legal process.

The patient groups on the brief include the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Global Healthy Living Foundation, Hemophilia Federation of America, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Kennedy Forum.
Fireworks are synonymous with New Year's Eve celebrations all over the world. The worst part? It happens every year, despite knowing the harmful effects - they produce so much smoke, dust, and hazardous gases like sulphur dioxide and make the already disappointing air quality, worse.

AFP

Apart from that, its a massive nuisance for pets and even people who suffer from autism - the bangs and crashes of the crackers can cause anxiety and even death in some cases.

But its use is rampant.

To usher in the year 2020, cities across the world had to be part of the ritualistic firework display. Even a city like Sydney, which faces an unprecedented wildfire crisis, carried out an elaborate display of fireworks. More than 100,000 fireworks exploded in the skies above Sydney Harbour at the stroke of midnight, to entertain a crowd of 1 million people.

The skies above Sydney were cloaked in smoke from the nearby blazes and 11 people have been killed in the infernos, which are continuing to rage across the city. But even that did not stop the authorities from organising the grand display; in fact, the Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he supports the decision to go ahead with the fireworks, saying the event shows his country's resilience.

One thing we can always celebrate in Australia is that we live in the most amazing country on earth and the wonderful Aussie spirit that means that we will always overcome whatever challenges we face, he said.

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

But the show did go on and more than 100,000 fireworks lit up the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the city centre.

You and I know, thats no way displaying a countries resilience - it actually only aggravates the already emergent situation. However, people need that momentary joy and forget about the larger repercussion.

Take Delhi for instance - every year during winter, relentless crop burning and fog mixed with the thick smoke emanating from burning fields pushes AQI to unforeseen lows. The Central Pollution Control Board has written to authorities in Noida and Ghaziabad, asking them to restrict bursting of unauthorised firecrackers in compliance with the Supreme Court ban, even during Christmas and New Year.

But despite that, people felt the need to burst crackers as the clock struck 12.

According to AFP, in Hong Kong, after more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, 2020 was ushered in with tear gas and water cannons.

AFP

As the clock struck midnight in North Korea, a large crowd gathered for a concert in the centre of Pyongyang cheered as the fireworks burst in the sky above a neon-lit stage, hosting a tightly choreographed dance performance.

The use of fireworks is ubiquitous across the world, but how much longer till we realise that they are harmful and unecessary; not using them won't take anything away from our celebrations.
Unlike on Tuesday, when thousands marched around the embassy in response to deadly American airstrikes over the weekend and some forced their way through the outer wall, the protesters did not get into the compound.

President Trump tweeted that Iran was responsible, writing: They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, responded with a taunt, saying Mr. Trump cant do anything.

Analysis: While the aftermath of the attack seemed to be under control, it played to Mr. Trumps longtime worry that American diplomats and troops in the Middle East are easy targets, and it highlighted the vulnerability his administration faces amid impeachment and an election year.
We will barely have tiptoed into the new decade before the debates over free speech - who has it, who deserves it and what happens when it intrudes on another person's rights - will roar on louder than ever. Whatever else the events of last year have taught us, it's clear that the free speech crisis isn't just some sort of conspiracy theory invented by the right.

You may think we live in a free country, speech seems freer than ever, with social media giving all of us the chance to publish whatever we want about anyone or any subject.

But while we might be freer than ever to speak, lots of us don't feel free.

Why not? Maybe because the new freedom is too quickly used to brand a person, say, as a racist, a sexist or a transphobe. And if you cross the PC brigade, you could end up 'cancelled'. It has happened here. A few times. And it will happen again. Clashes at a recent Dublin demo underlined how polarised, tribal and ugly the debate is. There was a heavy Garda presence as the two groups faced off and three people were arrested.

The vast majority of us don't want more limitations on the freedom of speech. A 2017 'Claire Byrne Live' poll conducted by Amarach Research asked 1,000 adults: "Do you support placing limits on free speech to protect people from being offended?"

Some 65pc said no, 16pc said they didn't know and just 19pc of people said yes.

I'd say most of us agree that mocking someone because of their sexual orientation or gender, being outright racist or sexist isn't OK. We know what is right and what is wrong, what is hate speech and what is not. But do we want saying mean or unkind things to be criminalised when some forms of hate speech are already a criminal offence here under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989?

Besides, how should hate speech be defined - one person's hate speech could be another's legitimate expression of opinion. And crucially, who does the defining? Who should get protection against hate speech? How is the notion of hate speech to be reconciled with free speech?

Your idea of what constitutes hate speech probably isn't the same as mine. Or as your neighbour's. Or probably Dr Sonja Falck's. She wants calling people a 'nerd' and 'geek' classed as a hate crime.

Dr Falck recently said the "divisive and humiliating" anti-IQ terms are hate crime's "last taboo" and warned that the harmful words should be categorised in the same way as homophobic, racial and religious slurs are under UK hate speech legislation.

The 1989 Act prohibits certain forms of threatening, abusive or insulting conduct that are intended or likely to stir up hatred against a group of persons because of race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, membership of the Travelling community and sexual orientation in Ireland. The threatening, abusive or insulting conduct can take the form of actions likely to stir up hatred, broadcasts likely to stir up hatred, and preparation and possession of material likely to stir up hatred.

Is this legal framework adequate to deal with hate speech?

As with many things, it depends who you ask and people are organising into two wildly opposing sides. The Government has indicated it intends to strengthen and expand the scope of existing hate-speech legislation, as "one element in a wider suite of measures across all areas of government which are designed to address hatred and intolerance".

Free speech matters. This includes freedom for the press to say what it would like, freedom for citizens to say what they'd like, and freedom to assemble, petitioning the Government or protesting peacefully.

More specifically, it allows us to say or articulate our thoughts or feelings without having to worry about government censorship or other punishments from the State.

As the man of the moment, George Orwell, wrote: "If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." And that, my friends, applies to the left as much as it does to the right. In a world where so many of us are only seeing the views of people we agree with because of our social media bubbles, all of this requires more careful thought than ever.

The debate will rage in op-eds, online, on Twitter and elsewhere in 2020.

I'll be on the free speech side. It's having a bad time. I'm worried it is being misunderstood.

And if we don't do something about free speech soon it might stop meaning anything at all. Free speech is journalism's paramount principle and stricter laws would mean that everybody would be afraid to say or think anything interesting - it doesn't bear thinking about.

We should think very carefully before taking the first steps down a very slippery slope that begins with wanting to have trigger warnings on Disney films and could end up in Soviet Russia's Glavlit.

The Government must consider very, very carefully the impact of hate speech laws on freedom of expression for unpopular opinions or the right to protest.

We all must add our voices to the debate and not leave it to two extremist sides to fight it out.
Many Australians will already have begun dreaming of winter, if only for its temperatures. But this year winter will also mean the return of the Olympic Games, closer to home than they have been since we last hosted them.

The Tokyo Games will take place under the shadows of Russia's exclusion for systematic doping of athletes and  depending on the outcome of an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency that is expected later this month  the presence or absence of Chinese swimming star Sun Yang. In each case, questions have been raised not only about athletes and their national governing bodies but also about the system of global rules set up to combat doping.

It seems that on this and many other fronts, 2020 will be the year when we decide whether or not rules actually matter.

The United States begins the year poised between the drama of presidential impeachment and its resolution, with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi having paused the process in an argument with Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell about the rules. Senator McConnell has already rejected the idea that he should be an "impartial juror", describing the argument over President Donald Trump's actions as essentially partisan. But surely it matters what was done and not simply which stripe of politician did it?

By the time the Olympics begin in July, both major US parties will have chosen their presidential candidates. It is an open question whether either will have chosen someone who can lead their nation back into the rules-based global system that the US and its allies, including Australia, helped build after World War II. The alternative is that nations fall back on their own definitions of self-interest in dealing with questions of trade and environmental preservation, rejecting such "jurors" as the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations' Paris Agreement.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and threatened a demonstration of a "new strategic weapon" soon. Analysts said the announcement, reported by state media on Wednesday, amounted to Kim putting a missile "to Donald Trump's head" -- but warned that escalation by Pyongyang would probably backfire. Washington was swift to respond, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging Kim to "take a different course" and stressing that the US wanted "peace not confrontation" with the North, while Trump played down the development. Pyongyang has previously fired missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland, and has carried out six nuclear tests, the last of them 16 times more powerful than the Hiroshima blast, according to the highest estimates. A self-imposed ban on such tests -- Kim declared they were no longer needed -- has been a centrepiece of the nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington over the past two years, which has seen three meetings between Kim and the US president, but little tangible progress. Any actual test is likely to infuriate Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Kim's "promise" to him not to carry them out, and has downplayed launches of shorter-range weapons. Negotiations between the two sides have been largely deadlocked since the breakup of their Hanoi summit in February. The North set the US an end-of-2019 deadline for it to offer fresh concessions on sanctions relief, or it would adopt a "new way". "There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the official KCNA news agency cited Kim as telling top ruling party officials. "The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," he added, referring to the North by its official name. The full meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party was an indication of a major policy shift. State television showed veteran newsreader Ri Chun Hee reading out the KCNA dispatch over footage of Kim addressing the officials and general imagery of the country. The broadcast appeared to stand in place of Kim's usual New Year speech -- normally a key moment in the North Korean political calendar. Kim acknowledged the impact of international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes, but made clear that the North was willing to pay the price to preserve its nuclear capability. "The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying. Washington had "conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop" and sent high-tech military equipment to the South, he said. - 'Geopolitical chicken' - For months, Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington has insisted it take more tangible steps towards giving them up. "North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to Donald Trump's head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee," said Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington. "Kim Jong-un is playing a dangerous game of geopolitical chicken," he added. The strategy was risky, he said, as Washington was likely to respond with "more sanctions, an increased military presence in East Asia and more fire and fury style threats coming from Donald Trump's Twitter account". Kim's moratorium comments were "ominous", said Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha University in Seoul, but added that he could be looking to "elicit concessions by approaching Trump's red line without crossing it". The US has already indicated that it will react if the North carries out a long-range missile test. Speaking to Fox News and CBS after Kim's announcement, Pompeo said a resumption of nuclear and missile tests would be "deeply disappointing". "We hope that Chairman Kim will take a different course... that he'll choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war," Pompeo said. "We want peace, not confrontation," he added, with Seoul's unification ministry adding that a strategic weapon test "would not help denuclearisation negotiations". Trump himself was emollient, saying that he thought Kim was "a man of his word" and that at their Singapore summit, "we did sign a contract, talking about denuclearisation". UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over North Korea's announcement and "very much hopes that the tests will not resume," his spokesman said. "Non-proliferation remains a fundamental pillar of global nuclear security," he added. An ICBM launch would be likely to frustrate China, the North's key diplomatic backer and provider of trade and aid, which always stresses stability in a region it regards as its own back yard.
We just got a preview of how the media are going to spin the crimes committed by the Russia Hoax coup plotters. Andrew McCabe, the man who ran the FBI after James Comey was fired by President Trump, clearly committed a crime during the 2016 election by lying to the FBI, claiming that he had not leaked information about the Bureaus investigation of Hillary Clintons emails to the Wall Street Journal. Lying to the FBI is the crime that was used to destroy the life of General Michael Flynn, even though his "lie" was not intentional, as the agents who conducted the interview believed he had committed no crime.

The first clue that the progressive spin machine is operating is that the Daily Beast posted this article late in the afternoon on New Years Eve, a time when it would get little attention, but also getting it on the record, for future reference  for example, at sentencing time.

The second clue is the title, which presents McCabe in as positive a light as can be mustered for a liar: hes remorseful and already apologized: FBI Agents: McCabe Apologized for Changing His Story on Leak.

Betsey Swan and Sam Brodey write:

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe faced scorching criticism and potential criminal prosecution for changing his story about a conversation he had with a Wall Street Journal reporter. Now newly released interview transcripts show McCabe expressed remorse to internal FBI investigators when they pressed him on the about-face.

Here is how the lie happened:

The apparent leak drew scrutiny from the bureaus internal investigation team, which interviewed McCabe on May 9, 2017, the day President Donald Trump fired James Comey from his post as FBI director. The agents interviewed him as part of an investigation regarding a different media leak to the online publication Circa, and also asked him about the Journal story. In that interview, McCabe said he did not know how the Journal story came to be. On second thought, McCabe decided to fess up. Cynics might assume he realized that evidence showed his guilt, that he was toast But a few months later, his story changed after he reviewed his answer. On Aug. 18, FBI officials met with McCabe in an attempt to work through what they said was conflicting information they had gathered about the possible leak to the Journal. I need to know from you, an agent said he told McCabe in a sit-down meeting, did you authorize this article? Were you aware of it? Did you authorize it? McCabe then looked at the story he had reviewed months earlier. The FBI investigator described his response this way: And as nice as could be, he said, yep. Yep I did. The investigator then said that things had suddenly changed 180 degrees with this. The interviewers stopped taking notes on what McCabe was saying, and the agent indicated their view of McCabe had changed: He was no longer a witness or victim. In our business, we stop and say, look, now were getting into an area for due process, the agent said. But the agent said that the team did not raise that line of thought with McCabe. I was very careful to say with all due respect, this is what you told us. This has caused us some kind of, you know, sidetracking here now with some information other people have told us.

McCabes lie caused the Bureau to waste its resources investigating false leads. The agent told this to McCabe, who ought to have understood it:

I remember saying to him, at, I said, sir, you understand that weve put a lot of work into this based on what you told us, the agent said. I mean, and I even said, long nights and weekends working on this, trying to find out who amongst your ranks of trusted people would, would do something like that. And he kind of just looked down, kind of nodded, and said yeah Im sorry.

It's mercy of the court time.

But only in the final paragraph of the piece does it acknowledge that McCabes lie was a crime. Even then, the writers turn it into a rebuke of President Trump:

Lying to federal investigators is a crime, and the Inspector General referred its investigation of McCabe to the U.S. Attorneys office for Washington D.C. McCabe has not been charged with any crimedespite numerous Trump tweets calling him a criminal.

Yes, John Durhams criminal investigation is not yet issuing public indictments. That doesnt mean that President Trump is wrong. It does mean that the Daily Beast is spinning on McCabes behalf.

The media have been helping McCabe all along. Below, he is seen being welcomed onto The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last February:

YouTube screen grab

Hat tip: Roger Luchs
New Delhi:

The Tamil Nadu Police arrested orator Nellai Kannan after BJP cadres, led by senior state party leaders, staged a protest demonstration in Chennai on Wednesday, demanding his arrest for his 'provocative' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The protesters, including BJP National Secretary H Raja, raised slogans against Nellai Kannan for his alleged remarks, and they were detained by police.

The demonstration was held near Gandhi statue point on the Marina beach front and the protesters were taken away to a marriage hall at nearby Mylapore and detained there.

Later, they were allowed to leave and the BJP said the next course of action to seek Kannan's arrest would be decided by the State leadership.

The police said they had not permitted anyone to stage a protest on or around Marina beach and hence it was a violation and a case would be registered against the protesters.

Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and other senior leaders, including L Ganesan and C P Radhakrishnan, took part. Kannan landed in trouble after a video of his purported speech at a meeting against the Citizenship Amendment Act, held by the Social Democratic Party of India on Saturday at Tirunelveli, went viral on social media and the BJP lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution.
Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay in Singapore during the New Year celebrations. (Image: Reuters)

People record fireworks on their mobile phones at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, India. (Image: Reuters)

Fireworks explode around the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, during New Year celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Image: Reuters)

People attend a ceremony to celebrate the New Year in Seoul, South Korea. (Image: Reuters)

Fireworks explode over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill in Athens, Greece during New Year celebrations. (Image: Reuters)

People attend New Year celebrations in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Image: KCNA via Reuters)

Fireworks explode in the sky over the Kremlin during the New Year celebrations in Moscow, Russia. (Image: Reuters)

Anti-government protesters tear down Christmas and New Year's decorations during a demonstration on New Year's Eve outside Mong Kok police station in Hong Kong, China. (Image: Reuters)

Midnight fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia (Image: PTI/AP)

Demonstrators hold up phones with their flashlights on as they celebrate New Year during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi, India. (Image: Reuters)
by Ross Jared Joswick | Pistons Correspondent | Tue, Dec 31st 11:55pm EST

Jerami Grant scratched out four points (2-4 FG), two rebounds and one block in a 130-104 setback against Houston.

Fantasy Impact:

Jerami Grant regressed significantly after a string of above-average performances. He still received 18 minutes, albeit uneventful ones. With injuries to the starting five lingering, this was a chance for Grant to further shine. He mostly squandered it. However, he still remains a worthwhile option in deeper leagues as a bench player with high usage and upside.
Its January and Blue Monday - the most depressing day of the year  is almost upon us.

Esther McCarthy cheers herself up and finds three people with jobs that make us happy  from chocolatiers to parachutists.

Spreading joy is all part of their job - and those who are in the business of making others happy find that the warm glow is often reciprocated.

There really is a feel-good factor if your work involves giving a lift to somebodys day.

Surveys have frequently indicated that those who have occupations which enhance the wellbeing of others are happiest in their jobs.

Professions such as teaching, physiotherapy and nursing often feature highly among the happiest jobs.

A CNBC Workplace Happiness poll carried out earlier this year shows that the vast majority of workers (35%) rank meaningfulness as the most important factor in their job happiness, far ahead of even salary (20%).

We spoke to three people for who spreading joy and pleasure is all part of the day job.

The Parachutist

Picture: Zan Dee Photography

Tony Donnelly is a director and chief parachute instructor at the Irish Parachute Club in Clonbullogue, Co Offaly.

The non-profit organisation trains skydivers and also runs tandem jumps with experienced divers, often for people who are fulfilling a bucket-list dream or jumping to raise funding for a charity.

Its a very rewarding job, he says. From our perspective every jump is different because you dont know how the person is going to react when the door opens and theyre in freefall.

"You get a great thrill out of their reaction. Ninety nine per cent of people say: That was amazing as we land. Its just the thrill they get.

He gets particular enjoyment out of spending time with groups of friends who jump together to raise funding for charities.

You have a great bit of craic with people on the way up but when the door opens up its complete silence! A lot of charities have benefited immensely from the money that is raised.

As jumps take place when weather conditions are good, the views are frequently breathtaking, he says.

Its when the parachute actually opens that it goes from a deafening roar to complete silence.

"On a clear day in Offaly you can pick out the Pigeon House Towers (Poolbeg) in Dublin and the river Shannon in the west. You can pick out The Blessington Lakes.

Wheelchair users and others with a disability sometimes come to jump, and Tony loves that they get to do so on the same terms as anybody else.

The people I love working with most are people who are not able bodied. A person who uses a wheelchair is the exact same as someone who is able bodied for that 20-minute jump.

"They always say its one of the best things theyve ever done.

One person I jumped with, Jennifer was her name, was a gymnast and at 17 she broke her neck.

"A year later she was doing a parachute jump for a charity. She was an amazing girl.

The Jewellery Designer

Jenny Huston runs Edge Only, a business whose jewellery is ethically made in Ireland.

From in-love couples planning their engagement rings, to those who mark a new baby or an anniversary with a special gift, Huston has frequently felt the personal joy that comes with making someones day.

The former DJ in 2FM changed career path to pursue a long-held interest in jewellery design.

She works with highly trained goldsmiths, many of who learned their profession under the tutelage of Hustons own mother, herself a goldsmith.

It was driven by a desire to be more creative. I loved what I was doing in RTE but I wanted the challenge of starting a business.

"I bit off far more than I expected. I had a bit of a safety net, I had a lot of connections.

"I felt confident that there was a gap in the market but I think I underestimated it.

Really it was an awareness that there were people like me who wanted great jewellery but a little more casual. Who designs for those people?

And I felt men were really ignored in the market, it catered for bankers and bikers but nobody in between.

Theyre all my designs, I give the goldsmiths specifications and images to back it up and we go back and forth. I design and I leave the masters to do their job because its very skilled and there are many tools involved.

She still adores the buzz of seeing a stranger in the street wearing one of her designs, and the messages she gets on social media from thrilled recipients of an Edge Only gift.

Its increasingly satisfying now especially that there is traction. Youre constantly getting messages of delight and thats the best thing in the world.

"As a DJ I was elevating other peoples talent, but I underestimated the joy of creating.

She finds working closely on bespoke projects for special occasions, where she gets to see the very best of people, is particularly fulfilling.

Ive become quite mushy because you see people in love and its a lovely feeling. One man read an article about me and he came in with the clipping.

"He was looking for an anniversary gift for his wife and they were renewing their vows.

He wanted the ring to tell their story. Rubys and emeralds to signify they were from England and Ireland, also starboard and port to signify their love of sailing.

"And the two diamonds for both of them.

Another recent commission involved the recreation of a lost and much-loved necklace for a woman, commissioned by her husband, to mark a big life event.

He basically had it recreated for the arrival of their first child. He had photos of her wearing it so we were able to recreate it.

"Its amazing to see how thoughtful people can be.

You start to think of these things as quite simple. Its such a happy and romantic time for people, but there are a lot of decisions to make which can be quite intimidating.

"Im blown away when they send me photos of their wedding day holding hands and wearing the rings.

The Cocolat Maker

The very cornerstone of Leanne De Cerbos business is making food that makes others look and feel good without punishing themselves.

She set up her business, Urban Kitchen, to develop her delicious Cocolat range which is vastly different from traditional chocolate - free from dairy, gluten and low in sugar.

She uses ingredients like coconut oil and cacao, often using superfoods such as berries and chia seeds to enhance flavour.

Cacao - the cocoa bean in its raw state - contains ingredients that work with your serotonin levels to make you feel happy and relaxed.

The Cocolat collection features four ranges and 40 flavours.

A former magazine editor who wanted to start her own business, De Cerbo started experimenting with ingredients and flavours in the kitchen of her Dublin home.

Id been doing a course in social media and I hated it. I loved doing dinner parties and pulling out the stops at Christmas. I loved making chocolate at Christmas.

The basic cocolat is where it started. All of it is plant based. I wanted to do something different.

"I didnt want to replicate something else. I started messing around with things like a blackberry mojito chocolate that I make in the summertime.

She started bringing her wares to The Supernatural Food Market to road test which flavours people loved most - and enjoyed the spirit of the market so much she still has a stall there.

Children come up to me and love the chocolate. Its dark and rich so I didnt think they would go for it, but they do.

"Its great getting peoples feedback and telling me how much they enjoy it. Its a great community and you get to know people.

"There is one little girl and she has an immunity condition and she cant digest some things.

"She couldnt have any of the range and I felt so bad for her. I created a type of cake made especially for her and it made me so happy.

The year, she will be involved in a website called Green, featuring various producers who make food that looks good, tastes good and does good.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday refuted allegations about him being politically inclined, and asserted that the services work on government directions.

"We stay far away from politics, very far. We have to work according to the directions of the government in power," General Rawat said during a media interaction when his reaction was sought on allegations about his political inclination.

On December 26, then Army Chief General Rawat had said that leading masses and crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns is not leadership, in a reference to the countrywide anti-CAA protests. "Leaders are not those who lead people in an inappropriate direction," he had said.

Several leaders across the political spectrum had taken exceptions to his statement and condemned the then Army chief's remark.

Communist Party of India (CPI) released a statement on General Rawat's remark, accusing him of violating Section 21 of the Army Act. The remark violated service rules which prohibit him from making any kind of comment unrelated to Army matters, it said.

Taking a dig at him, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had said, "Leadership is knowing the limits of one's office. It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you head."

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had also expressed similar sentiments. "I agree [with] General Saheb but also leaders are not those who allow their followers to indulge in the genocide of communal violence. Do you agree with me General Saheb?" he questioned.

Several parts of the country witnessed a spate of protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), many of which turned violent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for orchestrating an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and vowed to hold the country fully responsible.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many, Trump tweeted. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!

Dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday, smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area, prompting tear gas and sounds of gunfire, angered over deadly U.S. airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia.

Iraqi security forces made no effort to stop the protesters as they marched to the heavily-fortified Green Zone after a funeral held for those killed in the U.S. airstrikes, letting them pass through a security checkpoint leading to the area.

Dozens of protesters pushed into the embassy compound after smashing the gate used by cars to enter the embassy. The protesters, many in militia uniform, stopped in a corridor after about 5 meters (16 feet), and were only about 200 meters away from the main building. Half a dozen U.S. soldiers were seen on the roof of the main building, their guns were pointed at the protesters.

The airstrikes on Sunday  which killed 25 fighters of the Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia in Iraq  were conducted in retaliation of a rocket attack last week on an Iraqi military base that killed an American contractor and injured U.S. troops. Iran said there would be consequences for the U.S. strikes.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report

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It has been quite the year at Westminster. Boris Johnson blundered his way to absolute power  despite shutting down parliament unlawfully and failing to die in a ditch  while Jeremy Corbyn managed to lose control of his party. Its time to look back at the most absurd year since the last one.

John Bercow pinned to his chair in late-night chaos

Well never know which swear words Her Majesty the Queen hurled around Buckingham Palace when told her governments suspension of parliament was unlawful. So the award for the single wildest moment of the whole prorogation debacle goes to the scenes in the Commons in the wee small hours of 10 September  when a group of MPs grabbed then-speaker John Bercow in his chair and tried to stop him officially shutting the place down. Bercow absolutely hated being the centre of attention, of course. Prior to having his arms and legs pulled about by desperate parliamentarians at two oclock in the morning, some Labour MPs held up homemade banners saying silenced while others sang socialist anthem The Red Flag. Not to be undone amid the chaos, the separatist revolutionaries in the SNP belted out Flower of Scotland. It was all pretty great, to be honest. Oh prorogation  when will we see your like again?

Mark Francois odd staring contest with Will Self

The Brexit-adoring Tory MP Mark Francois  a walking, talking Venn diagram intersection where smug meets stupid  was the years most reliably daft TV performer. Despite his strange inability to feel shame of any kind, Francois stare-off with Will Self on the BBCs Politics Live in March delivered 2019s most awkward moment. After the politician demanded an apology when the writer suggested racists voted to leave the EU, they locked eyes for 15 delicious seconds of pure hatred. Francois made another meme-able appearance on Politics Live in September, when he predicted this country will explode if we didnt quit the EU by Halloween. And he came up with the most hauntingly thick remark of election night, comparing the dismantling of Labours heartlands to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Are you hallucinating? asked host Andrew Neil. He was not. He was simply being Mark Gino Francois.

 Will Self says every racist voted leave in televised clash with Conservative MP Mark Francois

PM politely but firmly told: Leave my town

Johnson buffooned his way to ever-greater amounts of power in 2019. Remember when he slopped floodwater around a branch of Specsavers, making the floor muckier than when he started? And when he stood before a phalanx of police cadets and said hed rather die in a ditch than ask for a Brexit extension? When he hid from an interviewer inside a giant fridge? Pocketed a reporters phone because he didnt want to look at a photo of a sick boy on a hospital floor? The trouble is, it all fed into the myth of Boris the amusing rascal.

There were times the illusion was shattered. First some applause for the Uxbridge lady who called Johnson a filthy piece of toe-rag, then some for Luxembourgs leader Xavier Bettel who empty-podiumed our PM. And give LBC host Nick Ferrari some credit for asking him directly how many children he has (we still dont know, folks). But perhaps the very purest Johnson encounter  the closest the PM came to actually being humbled  came in the Yorkshire parish of Morley, when a man shook his hand, got right up in his face, and said: Please leave my town.

 Boris Johnson told to 'leave my town'

Jacob Rees-Mogg reclines on green benches

The honourable member for the 18th century, as he is known, carries the self-satisfied air of a public school prefect whos ordered a new boy to warm his toilet seat. But after he was made Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg became even more unbearably pompous. His arrogance reached its physical apotheosis when he slouched into a horizontal position on the front bench, like a colonial diplomat in an opium den. It sparked a thousand memes: Rees-Mogg as Homer Simpson on the couch; Rees-Mogg as Ophelia in the river; Rees-Mogg vaulting the high jump. The cabinet member was quietly shunted off to the shires during the election campaign after he suggested Grenfell victims lacked the common sense to flee the building. Now that northerners are fashionable again, could the southern Moggster lose his precious role as the Commons head boy next year?

Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Show all 5 1 /5 Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Hunchback of Notre Dame with a Brexit spin Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Les Miserables reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined A Room with a View of Britain's future Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Roman Holiday relocated Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Sound of Music reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club

Dominic Cummings confronted by livid Labour MP

If Rees-Moggs old-fashioned, double-breasted suits perfectly fit his condescending manner, Dominic Cummings managed to demonstrate his disdain for politicians, civil servants and the world in general by dressing like a scruffy skater boi from the early noughties. The closest we got to seeing how the PMs terrifying, all-powerful consigliere does business came in September when Labour MP Karl Turner squared up to him in Portcullis House, blaming death threats hed received on No 10s anti-parliament messaging. Cummings didnt seem so terrifying. In fact he looked a bit scared. But he did manage to fire off the first-rate insult: I dont know who you are. Earlier in the month Cummings was spotted wandering the Portcullis corridors with a glass of wine, and was said to have shouted at Corbyn while passing him in the corridor: Come on Jeremy lets do this election! Labour MP and bystander Cat Smith described the scene as some loud bloke who stunk of booze.

 Karl Turner confronts Dominic Cummings over death threats

Jennifer Arcuris weird GMB appearance

Boris Johnsons close personal friendship with the ex-model became the close personal friendship from hell after The Sunday Times revealed Jennifer Arcuri was given a total of 126,000 in public money and access to overseas trade missions led by the then London mayor. Door-stepped by the tabloids, the US tech entrepreneur boasted: I make men trip over their d***s. But when she appeared on Good Morning Britain in November, she turned as coy as a southern belle. She declared herself shocked to even be asked if she had sex with him. Arcuri did reveal that Johnson asked her to do some pole-dancing tricks and was saved in her phone under the name Alexander the Great. But a savage Lorraine Kelly told Arcuri she hadnt give us enough juicy details. Whats the point in you coming on air to clear the air and not saying anything? Too right Lorraine.

 Jennifer Arcuri refuses to deny she slept with Boris Johnson

Pat Mountains cringeworthy interview

Despite Arcuris best efforts, the outstanding TV interview of the year was, without question, Ukips interim leader Pat Mountain on Sky News. It wasnt so much of a car crash as a spectacular, Evel Knievel-style nose-dive into a canyon. Mountain struggled to explain immigration policy so badly she gave up and asked host Adam Boulton if he had any ideas. Denying her party was racist, she was asked if Ukip had any black candidates. No we havent got any. Well, we have got... erm... you must think Im dreadful... We do have, I think hes Indian. There will be other Ukip leaders  and they will all be imbeciles  but will they ever truly reach peak Mountain? We should give an honourable mention to failed Labour candidate Jane Aitchison for her hilariously bad interview on BBC Radio 5 Live. Taking a 12-second pause to explain why a fellow candidate said they would cheer Tony Blairs death, Aitchison finally decided to say: People do celebrate deaths sometimes.

 UKIP interim leader Pat Mountian says the party has no black candidate but there may be an 'indian person'

Ice sculptures spark meltdown at Channel 4

Both Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage declined to attend Channel 4s climate change debate in late November, prompting the cheeky broadcaster to shell out 950 for two ice sculptures as stand-ins. The gimmick led Michael Gove to stage his own stunt. Like a posh student half-heartedly trying to argue his way past the nightclub bouncers, the cabinet minister turned up demanding he be allowed on TV to argue the Tories case. To add to the madness, Stanley Johnson arrived in the foyer and asked to be let on as well. They were lovely and charming but neither are the leader, said Channel 4 Newss editor Ben de Pear, who explained the melting ice was a visual metaphor. Thanks Ben, I think we got it.

 Michael Gove brings his own film crew to Channel 4 debate

Justin Trudeau leads gossip session at the palace

Donald Trump arrived in London for a Nato summit in early December (just after a WhatsApp group comprised of Gibbo, Burnsy, Cheeks, Josh and Morty  those absolute legends  managed to start a wild rumour the Queen was dead). But he left town in huff after Johnson, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron and Princess Anne were caught out in an apparent gossip-fest, smirking at Trumps expense over drinks at Buckingham Palace. The US president managed to meddle intermittently in British politics this year, sounding like a giddy, matchmaking schoolgirl when he called up Nigel Farages LBC show in October. Trump told Farage that Johnson respects you a lot  I dont know if you know that or not. He has a lot of respect and like for you. I wish you two guys could get together.

 Trudeau, Macron and Johnson caught on camera making fun of Trump

Tory candidate caught staging fake doorstep chat

For sheer amateur-hour incompetence, it was hard to beat Lee Anderson  the Conservative flagbearer for Ashfield caught getting his friend to pose as an anti-Labour swing voter for the cameras during the general election campaign. Wearing a hot mic while he set up the fake encounter, Anderson was heard to say: Make out you know who I am ... but not a friend, alright? He still won the seat. Elsewhere on the campaign trail, Labours Karl Turner was bitten by a ferret, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson called the cops on a bunch of Extinction Rebellion activists dressed as bees who glued themselves to her battle bus, and Tory James Airey had to remove his election poster from a country lane after a resident complained it made local horses skittish. The Westmoreland candidate said: Im sorry that my face scares not only children but animals now as well. Meanwhile Jack Gebhard, the Tory candidate in Wansbeck, blamed the council after his name was misspelled on the ballot papers. I am 26 years old, I have been spelling my name for 26 years and it is not the case I have misspelled my own name, said Jakc, sorry Jack.
Ever wanted to hang out with a piece of art that you really liked? And not just while perched on a stiff bench at a museum. But really hang out with it  near your sofa at home or over your kitchen table or on your bedroom wall.

The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College is making all this possible with a new program called Roommate: Living with Tang Art, which is being launched in conjunction with the Tang Student Advisory Council, a volunteer group of students. The premise is this: Students sign up to take home a piece of art made available from the vast collection in Tang's archives, most of which is usually hidden from public view due to limited exhibition space. The program works like a lending library, except instead of borrowing a book that may cost $30, you are borrowing irreplaceable artwork.

"The most important thing about the program is how it extends access to art," said Ian Berry, director of the Tang. "It allows for our students to get to know our art collection, the artwork and artist in a way they've never been able to do before."

Other colleges that have had similar programs include Oberlin College, MIT, the University of Minnesota and, more recently, nearby Williams College. The idea of valuable artwork sharing a room with Friday night beer pong could give one pause.

Berry said that, yes, that leap of faith is part of the program's essence: "We are entering into a relationship with our students and we are honoring them with our trust."

The staff at Tang and the student advisory council have worked together for months on which 50 pieces of art in Tang's 16,000-item collection would be made available to students. Donors were also brought into the conversation. On Jan. 23, these pieces will be loaned on a first-come, first-served basis and the lucky ones will have the artwork for the rest of the spring semester.

Malchijah Hoskins, a member of the student advisory council, said that when he first began working on the program, he already knew where he wanted to hang an art piece in his dorm.

"What most excites me about Roommate," Hoskins said, "is that ... we are bringing museum art into our most intimate spaces and that offers so many opportunities for personal and societal reflections."

This past semester members of the advisory council took a sampling of art to their living spaces. They worked with Kelsey Renko, a Tang staff member who is coordinator for the student art loan program. The students in the pilot program wrote about the experiences and had their photos taken with the art they chose.

Here are a couple of the written examples:

Caroline Coxe (Class of '20): "I hung the photo I chose, 'Leave My Car Alone (Portrait of Y. Kusama)' by Harrie Verstappen, above my kitchen table in my apartment so that all of my friends could enjoy the piece, too. ... It's a portrait of her installing a work of art in the streets early in her career; it feels like my house gets to share a really intimate moment with this world-renowned artist. And, for me as an artist, it reminds me of many artists' humble beginnings, which is reassuring at this point in school."

Kira Lee-Mundschau (Class of '20): "I hung 'Three Women' by Romare Howard Bearden above the couch in my shared living room. ... The artwork undoubtedly has transformed the way I perceive my living room spatially, emotionally, and aesthetically. Having a large, framed work by a well-established artist in that space imparts a sense of refinement and sophistication in the room while simultaneously making the room feel more relaxed and homey. Plus, the colors of the print perfectly match those of the pattern of my couch."

Berry said that loaning the art extends the museum's reach to the students beyond the museum's confines and allows the art to become more part of the community.

"Our intention is that we will have a group of artwork that will continue, that some of the art will have many students associated with it," Berry said, foreseeing years' worth of journal entries that show students' varied reactions and perspectives. "We can imagine a reunion with those students returning and sharing their experience."
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - "Despite the war effort that absorbs a significant part of the budgetary resources, we are continuing to transform the country in all areas," Niger's head of state Issoufou Mahamadou said on Tuesday in a New Year's address to the nation
Its still early in the 2018 races for California governor and U.S. Senate, but already we know five things:

 In this stormy, polarized political climate, Republicans arent likely to vote for a Democrat even if there isnt a strong GOP candidate on the ballot.

 So the original theory behind Democratic state Treasurer John Chiangs candidacy for governor that he could attract business-minded Republicans just isnt working out.

 Democratic state Senate leader Kevin de Leons challenge of centrist U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein is drawing some GOP support, but that cant last if Republicans ever learn about the tenacious liberal.

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 Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom always has been the front-runner for governor and still is, but former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is inching up and making the race competitive.

 Feinstein is running far ahead in her bid for a fifth full term as the relatively unknown, underfunded De Leons attempt to attract Berniecrats falls flat.

The June 5 primary election will select the top two vote getters in each race, regardless of party, and advance them to a Nov. 6 runoff.

What we know now comes from public opinion polls. The most recent one was released Nov. 30 by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

It showed that among likely voters, Newsom led the gubernatorial contest with 23%, followed by Villaraigosa at 18%. Then came Chiang and Republican businessman John Cox, both at 9%. After that was Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, 6%, and Democratic former state schools chief Delaine Eastin, 3%. Nearly a third of the likely voters hadnt decided.

In the Senate race, Feinstein was outrunning fellow Democrat De Leon by 45% to 21%. A third were undecided.

A month earlier, a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll found Newsom leading Villaraigosa by 10 percentage points.

Chiangs camp disputes the PPIC findings, saying its own private poll in October used a narrower, more realistic definition of a likely voter. And in that survey, Chiang trailed Villaraigosa by only 2 points. But Newsom had an even larger lead, 14 points.

The public polls are neutral and accessible, so I go with them.

What stood out in the PPIC survey was Villaraigosa creeping up on Newsom. Villaraigosa, 64, is also a former Assembly speaker and Newsom, 50, made his political name as San Francisco mayor.

Villaraigosas hopes largely depend on whether Latinos finally turn out to vote in decent numbers. Theyve been under-voting in California for decades. But President Trumps determination to build a border wall and escalate the deportation of immigrants without documentation affects relatives and friends of many unnerved Latino citizens. And they just might be motivated to vote next year.

Therell also be Latinos running in most other statewide races.

Villaraigosa would be the first Latino in history to be elected California governor. One Latino, Romualdo Pacheco, served for a few months in 1875 after ascending from lieutenant governor when the governor, Newton Booth, was elected to the U.S. Senate.

In the PPIC poll, Latinos favored Villaraigosa over Newsom by 42% to 11%.

Latinos werent helping De Leon much in the Senate race, however. They backed Feinstein 48% to 26%. Nearly half of Latino voters drew a blank on De Leon.

The challenge for De Leon is the fact that although he has held a very powerful position in Sacramento, voters say theyve never heard of him, says Mark Baldassare, the PPIC president and pollster. How do you get known in this climate?

With money. And De Leon doesnt have much. Feinstein can raise tons.

But De Leon is getting a boost from Republicans  no doubt because his name isnt Feinstein, a decades-long GOP nemesis. And there arent any GOP candidates running for the Senate. Republicans favored De Leon over Feinstein in the poll by 25% to 18%. But Democrats supported the incumbent senator by 66% to 16%.

Republicans presumably will flee De Leon once they realize he pushed through sanctuary state legislation and has promoted other liberal bills such as tough gun control and state single-payer health insurance.

Those leftist efforts, however, arent attracting Berniecrats. Liberals favored Feinstein 57% to 20%.

In the gubernatorial race, Chiang  selling himself as a good money manager  was supported by only 2% of Republicans. Nearly half of Republicans backed the obscure GOP candidates. And more than a third were undecided.

It could be that the soft-spoken Chiang, 55, lacks the oratorical flair sought by todays agitated voters who are attracted to firebrands.

But in this era, Republicans really dislike most Democrats. And vice versa. The PPIC poll showed that 91% of Republicans have an unfavorable impression of the Democratic Party. And 92% of Democrats feel that way about the GOP.

Baldassare found little public interest in the gubernatorial race, compared with the last time the office was being vacated in 2010. Only 25% of likely voters were paying attention to who might succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. But 43% were following the race when Brown ran for his third term.

Their attention has been diverted to Washington, the pollster says.

He also wonders whether voters will be turned off from voting by all the sexual harassment scandals in politics.

I dont know about that. But I do think it will be even tougher than usual for little-known candidates to be heard over all the roaring from Washington and accusations of sexual misbehavior.

More from George Skelton 

Coverage of California politics 

george.skelton@latimes.com

Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter

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Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters marched through Hong Kong streets on Wednesday in their largest demonstration in weeks.

The New Year's Day protest was authorized by the government, but police withdrew the permission after claiming that some "thugs" had thrown bricks and petrol bombs, damaging banks and shops. Officers tried to disperse the crowds using tear gas and pepper spray. Police arrested five males, of which the youngest was 13 years old.

Organizers of the march denounced police for "forcing" them to halt the demonstration, accusing authorities of lying about protesters' actions "to separate Hong Kongers." Leaders of the pro-democracy movement said the New Year's Day protest was "quite peaceful."

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Two visuals helped link Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Uttarakhand in the just-ended year. Both triggered opposition attacks on him.

One picture showed him meditating in a cave at the Kedarnath shrine. The other was his appearance on "Man vs Wild" TV programme, hosted by Bear Grylls, showing the two at the Corbett Tiger Reserve.

The opposition accused the prime minister of violating the poll code and exploiting the Kedarnath visit for political gain.

A hooch tragedy that claimed 100 lives, an avalanche that killed eight international climbers and 12 deaths due to a cloudburst in Uttarkashi district marred the year.

The prime minister's Corbett visit happened to take place on the day when terrorists attacked a CRPF convoy in Kashmir's Pulwama, killing 40 security personnel.

At a poll rally in Dehradun, the then Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of posing for cameras when "jawans were being killed by terrorists in Pulwama".

However, the programme aired several months later by Discovery Channel generated a huge interest among viewers who saw PM Modi in a new avatar.

Pulwama resonated in the state, which sends a large number of its men to the armed forces.

Two of the jawans killed in the terror attack were from the state.

Helped in part by nationalist sentiment generated by the Pulwama terror attack and the Balakot airstrikes against Pakistan, the BJP retained all five Lok Sabha seats in the state.

It was for the first time that any political party had won all parliamentary seats in Uttarakhand in two consecutive general election.

This despite the fact that two of the BJP's sitting MPs did not contest and the party had to gamble on two new faces.

The Congress tried hard to upset the BJP's chances by fielding former chief minister Harish Rawat against state BJP president Ajay Bhatt in Nainital and PCC chief Pritam Singh against Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah in Tehri.

The BJP expelled its Khanpur MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion after a video went viral, showing him dancing with guns in hand.

The ruling BJP suffered a setback after Prakash Pant, who held the finance and parliamentary affairs portfolios in the state government, died battling cancer at a hospital in the US in June.

The party successfully fielded his wife Chandra from Pithoragarh, where bypolls were held in November.

Uttarakhand also witnessed the worst ever hooch tragedy in its history as around 100 lives were lost in Haridwar and neighbouring Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Most victims had consumed liquor after the "tehravin", the 13th day of mourning ritual, following a relative's death in Balupur.

In September, another hooch tragedy rocked Dehradun when seven people died after drinking spurious liquor in the Pathariya Peer slum area.

In June, an eight-member team of mountaineers from the US, the UK and Australia, led by noted British mountaineer Martin Moran, perished in an avalanche on its way to the Nanda Devi peak in Pithoragarh district.

Seven bodies were recovered in a month-long search and rescue operation.

Over 12 people were killed and many reportedly missing following a cloudburst in Arakot of Uttarkashi in August.

Another tragedy took place when a helicopter engaged in relief and rescue operations in rain-ravaged Uttarkashi district crashed on August 21, killing all three on board.

As the year drew to a close, the Uttarakhand assembly passed the Devasthanam Bill, paving the way for the creation of a Chardham shrine board to run affairs of the Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, triggering protests by "teerth purohits", who accused the government of not taking them into confidence before drafting the legislation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran will be held accountable for lives lost in attacks on any US facilities.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter hours after protesters angry about US air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

"The US Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site," Trump said.
The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on January 1 said that the attack on the US embassy in Iraq was organised by terrorists, further also naming those who were behind it. Pompeo took to Twitter to share the information. He also shared photos that showed all four men outside the US embassy in Iraq, which was attacked on Tuesday.

The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists  Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali  and abetted by Iranian proxies  Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy. pic.twitter.com/2QfGGrfmDd  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 31, 2019

On December 31, thousands of Iraqi Shiite militia supporters attacked US Embassy compound in Baghdad while protesting against airstrikes that killed 25 pro-Iran fighters. According to media reports, some of the protesters also marched through the high-security checkpoints in military fatigues to which Iraqi forces didnt react. The mob broke into the Embassy compound shouting Death to America and one of them hanged a poster on the wall that read, America is an aggressor. US security forces stood at the roof pointing guns at the protestors while some marines fired tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the aggressive crowd.

READ: Pompeo To Visit Ukraine As Senate Weighs Impeachment Trial

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Iran for orchestrating attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad. Referring to the attack that killed an American contractor and injured many, Trump said that the US retaliated to it and always will. Trump notified the Iraqi government to use its forces for providing security to the US Embassy.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

READ: US Secretary Of State Pompeo Announces Upcoming Visits To Multiple Countries

Anger among pro-Iran groups

The attack triggered anger across the country, especially among pro-Iran voices, which forced Adel Abdel-Mahdi, currently a caretaker Prime Minister, to convey that he tried his best to stop the airstrikes on targets within Iraq. Iraqi PM said that there was insistence from the US officials to carry out the attack. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the strikes were carried out to send a strong message and precision defensive strikes were conducted at five sites of Hezbollah Brigades.

READ: Pompeo Slams Iran For Using Violence, Censorship To Prevent Memorials

READ: China Criticises US Secretary Mike Pompeo Over Syria Aid Veto
Texas has long faced the destruction feral hogs can have on land and wildlife. Now feral hogs' rampant damage is stretching as far north as Canada, with particularly prominent populations in U.S. northern border states, including Montana and North Dakota, the New York Times reports.

"In the past 30 years, the hogs have expanded their range to 38 states from 17," according to the Times.

And this spread isn't natural, it's being caused by people, scientists explain. Dale Nolte, manager of the feral swine program at the Department of Agriculture, told the outlet that there's "every reason to believe they are being moved in the backs of pickup trucks and released to create hunting opportunities.

NATURE ODDITIES: The weirdest Texas game warden stories of 2019

While Texas has developed creative hunting practices to stave off the swine epidemic, from air balloon strikes to the "HeliBacon," a helicopter that can be chartered for pricey hog-hunt excursions. However, for some states, hunting creates an incentive for hosting hog populations rather than a solution.

In those places, "people to distribute feral pigs for sport," the Times explains. "Hunting makes the animals warier and scatters sounders, or family groups, which go on to multiply in new family groups."

The swine have been capable of surviving the extreme winters in northern states and have been steadily multiplying. Their effects have not yet been as carefully documented as they are in the south. What experts do know is that state officials should plan to contain hog populations sooner rather than later.

This rings especially true and urgent in recent months.

These hogs are not typically known to be predatory, but a November encounter proved deadly for a woman in Anahuac, Texas. Christine Rollins was found dead with animal bites on her body. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office determined it was a feral hog assault that caused Rollin's death. However, that's an extreme and rare example of what these swine can do. If they cause human casualties it's usually by spreading disease through contaminated waters, including E. coli outbreaks in produce.

HUNTING: Culberson County mule deer buck could be record-breaker

It's more common that the invasive species attacks ecosystems rather than people. They destabilize habitats and ravage private properties, agricultural crops  to the tune of $52 million in one recent finding and wetlands by trampling on them. Even worse, they breed quickly. Their gestation period is roughly 120 days and they can breed as young as six months old.

Because of their negative effects on the environment and on communities, officials in The Woodlands  where this issue is particularly pronounced  are hosting an educational seminar on Feb. 20 at Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), 8801 Gosling Road, in The Woodlands. The lecture will discuss how to tackle the growing problem and will feature guest speaker Chris Watts, a wildlife damage management biologist with the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension and the Texas Wildlife Services Program.
In Florida Trump repeated his previous comments that he and Kim alikea each other and have a very good relationship. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

Palm Beach:

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will stick to his commitments on denuclearization, even as the strongman threatened a new strategic weapon. We did sign a contract, talking about denuclearization. That was the number one sentence, denuclearization that was done in Singapore. I think hes a man of his word, a tuxedo-wearing Trump told reporters before heading into New Year festivities at his holiday retreat in Florida.

The president was referring to a 2018 historic summit he held with Kim in Singapore. The two adopted a vaguely worded statement on complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and agreed to establish new US-DPRK relations.

But the failure to reach an agreement over sanctions relief and what the North was willing to give up in return led to the collapse of the leaders second summit in February in Hanoi. The North had set a year-end deadline for Washington to offer fresh concessions on sanctions, but they failed to materialize.

On Wednesday, North Koreas state media reported that Kim had declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and threatened a demonstration of a new strategic weapon soon.

In Florida Trump repeated his previous comments that he and Kim like each other and have a very good relationship. He is representing his country. We will do what we have to do, Trump said.

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Assam Rifles ambush case: NIA charges six terrorists

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: The National Investigation Agency has filed a chargesheet against six the Assam Rifles ambush case. Those who have been charged also include 3 absconders.

The case relates to the ambush on a road opening party of the 4th Assam Rifles at Chamol-Sajir Tampak road, Chandel district, Manipur on December 15, 2017.

The attack was carried out by the cadres of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) in which two Assam Rifles personnel were grievously injured and one of them succumbed to his injuries later. Two of the terrorists were also killed in the action.

NIA wing at Chandigarh inaugurated

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

Investigation has established that PLA, a proscribed organisation and MNPF conspired to wage war against the Government of India and in furtherance of this conspiracy they carried out ambush on 4th Assam Rifles resulting in the martyrdom of one Assam Rifles personnel and serious injuries to another. During the investigation identity of the perpetrators was established, 03 of the accused were arrested, searches were conducted at various place of Manipur and various incriminating documents and materials were seized.

Further investigation in the case continues.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 7:28 [IST]
It's been a worrying few months for Tziporah Malkah, who has been visited by police and ambulance crews at her Sydney apartment on several occasions recently.

But despite fears for her well-being, the 46-year-old former model appeared to be in a cheerful mood on Monday as she went for a swim at Bondi Beach.

Tziporah, previously known as Kate Fischer, showed off her recent 50kg weight loss in a black bikini, after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure earlier in 2019.

Scroll down for video

No worries! Despite fears for her well-being, Tziporah Malkah appeared to be in a cheerful mood on Monday as she went for a swim at Sydney's Bondi Beach

The Sirens actress was joined by a female friend as she strolled down the beach, caught waves and shared plenty of laughs.

At one stage, she was spotted holding hands with her female companion, who wore a white singlet and colourful shorts.

Coincidentally, she was just a stone's throw away from the Bondi apartment she once shared with ex-fiance James Packer in the late '90s.

All smiles! The 46-year-old giggled as she soaked up the late December sun

Just peachy! Tziporah flaunted her toned derriere in a cheeky pair of bikini bottoms

Her relationship with the 52-year-old billionaire was thrust back into the spotlight last month, when she made bizarre claims about his late father, Kerry Packer.

Tziporah told The Weekend Australian she had 'intense' sexual chemistry with the media mogul, who died at the age of 68 in December 2005.

'Kerry wanted me and I wanted him too. He was 6'1'' and his hands were massive, of course, and he had these penetrating eyes,' she said.

Busting out! Tziporah struggled to contain her ample assets in the low-cut bikini top

Leggy display: Her long, toned legs were surely the envy of many on the beach that day

'He was amazing and I loved him. We engaged each other intellectually and flirted a lot.

'Kerry and I never touched each other. Not really. We would only hug - but the chemistry was intense.'

Tziporah claimed Kerry was jealous of her relationship with James, a theory which was also alluded to in a recent theatrical production about the family, Packer & Sons, by playwright Tommy Murphy.

James and Tziporah met in 1993 and were engaged in 1996, but broke up in 1998.

Wet and wild! Tziporah frolicked in the surf and splashed some salty water onto her face

Need a hand? Showing off her impressive strength, Tziporah yanked her pal through the water

There have been concerns for Tziporah's welfare recently, with police and ambulance crews showing up at her Kings Cross apartment.

She has filmed several of these encounters and uploaded the footage to social media, while assuring fans she is doing just fine.

In her Weekend Australian interview, she clarified that she is a 'psychopath' but 'not insane'.

She added that the only reason she is visited so frequently is due to her worrying mother, politician Pru Goward.

Who's that girl? At one stage, she was spotted holding hands with a female friend, who wore a white singlet and colourful shorts

Tziporah insisted she has 'no mental health problems' to speak of, before adding: 'I'm a Jew - isn't that crazy enough?'

Many Australians will remember Tziporah for her engagement to billionaire James Packer in the late '90s.

She famously appeared in the film Sirens, about the hedonistic and creative lifestyle of artist Norman Lindsay, alongside Elle Macpherson and Portia de Rossi.

Summer stunners! The former runway model and her friend looked particularly close

Life's a beach! Tziporah laughed uproariously as her pal led her down the beach

Tziporah split with James after a two-year engagement in 1998 and later relocated to the U.S., eventually becoming an American citizen.

Upon her return to Australia several years ago, however, she found herself broke, homeless and living in anonymity.

Eventually she found work in aged care in Melbourne, but was thrust back into the headlines in 2016 when unflattering photos of her wearing a bedsheet outside of her house were splashed across the tabloids.

She has since embraced her return to the spotlight, appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2017 and signing with celebrity agent Max Markson.
Over 34,000 vacant government posts in Gujarat would be filled up this year, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday while urging youths and students to have faith in the dispensation led by him.

In his New Year message to youths of Gujarat, Rupani slammed the Congress over the issue of unemployment and transparency, alleging that the opposition party was creating confusion among people for "political gains".

"A lot of confusion has been created since sometime among youths and students by some people for political gains. I want to tell you that my government will ensure that the hard work of youths does not go in vain," Rupani said in a video message shared on his Facebook account on Wednesday.

"In the last three years, we have given government jobs to 1.18 lakh youths. In the current year, we will conduct recruitments to fill up another 34,000 to 35,000 government posts," he said.

During the Congress rule (before 1995), there was a "ban" on recruitment. It was the BJP government which opened the doors for youths, Rupani said in his message.

Referring to the paper leak and cancellation of exam for non-secretariat clerks in the state recently, Rupani said the exam would be conducted soon and in a "foolproof manner".

"We are committed to conduct the exam with greater transparency. After receiving complaints from youth, we cancelled the exam after proper inquiry. Even the police arrested all the accused involved in it (paper leak). Now, we will conduct the exam in a foolproof manner," he said.

Last week, six people, including the principal and administrators of a school, were arrested here in connection with the non-secretariat clerk exam paper leak case.

The state government last month cancelled the exam conducted on November 17, stating that the question paper had been leaked.

Rupani said his government would provide employment to over 12 lakh youth in the private sector by conducting over 5,500 job fairs across the state.

He, however, did not specify any timeline for it.

"We want the youth to be job-givers instead of just job-seekers. Efforts are also being made to ensure that students get jobs as they pass out from universities. I want to tell you that Gujarat's unemployment rate is lowest in the entire country," Rupani said in his message.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, was seen at what can be described as a relaxation spot outside the country. The form...

Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, was seen at what can be described as a relaxation spot outside the country.





The former governor smiled to the camera as he enjoyed the comfort of the camp bed he laid on.





The location where he took the picture is unclear and the precise time is not known but checks showed that they are recent pictures.





In reaction, some Nigerians said the the former governor who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N2.2 billion fraud deceived the court that he needed to seek medical treatment abroad.

On December 7, a federal high court sitting in Lagos had granted him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.





Below are some of the reactions on Twitter:



I hope



Our practice of Rule of law is a mockery of a noble concept. See Former Gov. Fayose of Ekiti 'largessing' in the abroad after securing bail in a Nigerian court for health reasons.I hope @officialEFCC will tender these pictures to the court at the next hearing...if ever.Our practice of Rule of law is a mockery of a noble concept. https://t.co/x5RmZvlVk1 December 31, 2019



 Former Governor Ayodele Fayose is currently undergoing his medical treatment abroad as you can see from these images.... pic.twitter.com/7oI2iA136T December 31, 2019





Men like Fayose justify our fears. When Buharists express doubts about the ability of the 'Nigerian' rule of law to advance the cause of justice in many cases;some people look at us with contempt as if we are Barbarians pulling at the gates of modern civilization.Men like Fayose justify our fears. pic.twitter.com/0AKuZh0QxA December 31, 2019



His doctors are around, behind the scenes, battling to save his life.



You can see that he is in an emergency marine ward for a special aquatic surgical procedure.



The pictures were taken by a theatre nurse.



Please pray for Peter - Egbujo Fayose, in a foreign hospital abroad.His doctors are around, behind the scenes, battling to save his life.You can see that he is in an emergency marine ward for a special aquatic surgical procedure.The pictures were taken by a theatre nurse.Please pray for Peter - Egbujo pic.twitter.com/ohXeWskain December 31, 2019

Former Governor Ayo Fayose who was granted bail to travel out for medical treatment abroad. pic.twitter.com/7aH2lXu89r December 31, 2019

Big scam



I hope judge that granted him medical checkup abroad will understand better he was scammed by fayose



Our judiciary needs to step up to deal seriously with looters



God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria  Bakare Temmytayoh (@1st_December) December 31, 2019

@MBuhari pic.twitter.com/x29s9pTVLT Fayose after stealing money belong to poor Nigerian. He claimed he was sick does he looks like a sick person. God will judge all the criminals in Nigeria. PMB pls fight for the poor all of them must go to Jail pls. @GovAyoFayose December 31, 2019



A court in Nigeria granted him bail to go abroad & take this treatment.

Rule of law is what we operate

This is a modern hospital abroad.

Nigeria that has no common dispensary,when are we going to build hospitals like this? Judiciary is d last hope? Fayose undergoing surgery.A court in Nigeria granted him bail to go abroad & take this treatment.Rule of law is what we operateThis is a modern hospital abroad.Nigeria that has no common dispensary,when are we going to build hospitals like this? Judiciary is d last hope? pic.twitter.com/eW1Bic1YtT December 31, 2019





Nigeria Judiciary is our problem! See why "rule of law" cannot engineered growth in a developing state! The Judiciary that granted Dasuki bail! That granted Sowore bail! That granted bail to Fayose on fake health is anti-growth, anti-depressant and really anti-people.Nigeria Judiciary is our problem! See why "rule of law" cannot engineered growth in a developing state! pic.twitter.com/0lSDZCuQPv December 31, 2019

Former Governor Ayo Fayose undergoing his medical treatment abroad....... As approved by the court. As you can see, he's on a life supporting machine, with the most experienced doctors around him. This is the thief that court supposed tie down to Abuja not Yele sowore pic.twitter.com/dMtVKE5lDZ December 31, 2019

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, the Rock, undergoing trial in Nigeria for corruption while in office receiving treatment in his hospital abroad. Nigeria is in a mess. https://t.co/530u35Oiqs December 31, 2019



Ayo Fayose enjoying himself abroad claiming his on foreign medical treatment  Foreign medical trip my foot.Ayo Fayose enjoying himself abroad claiming his on foreign medical treatment  pic.twitter.com/dIvtXc48IU December 31, 2019
MEXICO CITYAt least 16 inmates in a central Mexico prison were killed, and five more were wounded in a riot that closed out a violent 2019 for the country, authorities said.

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernandez told local press that authorities confiscated four guns that they believe were introduced to the Cieneguillas state prison during prison visits Tuesday. He said the prison had been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday, and no guns were found.

The melee broke out around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the prison was brought under control by 5 p.m., according to a statement from the state security agency.

Fifteen of the victims died at the prison, and one died later at a hospital.

One prisoner was detained with a gun still in his possession, and the other three were found inside the prison, the statement said. Camberos said not all of the victims died from gunshot wounds. Some were stabbed, and others beaten with objects.

No guards or police were wounded, Camberos said. He did not offer a possible motive, but such killings frequently involve score-settling between rival cartel members or a battle for control of the prisons illicit business.

Mexico has a long history of deadly prison clashes. In October, six inmates were killed in prison in Morelos state.

In September, Nuevo Leon state closed the infamous Topo Chico prison, the site of many murders over the years. In February 2016, 49 prisoners died there during rioting when two factions of the Zetas cartel clashed.
Russia, Ukraine Finalize Deals for Gas Transit to Europe

MOSCOWRussian and Ukrainian gas companies say they have finalized a slew of contracts ensuring uninterrupted transit of Russian natural gas to Europe.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the agreements that were signed late Monday, saying they will allow Ukraine to get at least $7 billion in transit payments from Russia over the next five years.

Zelenskiy on Facebook said the documents ensured Ukraines energy security and well-being and let Europe know that we wont fail it when it comes to energy security.

The deal that comes just 24 hours before the current transit contract expires on Tuesday will ease European fears of an interruption in Russian gas supplies. Russia ships about 40 percent of its European gas deliveries through pipelines that cross Ukraine.

Russias Gazprom state-controlled gas giant and Ukraines Naftogaz energy company described the agreements signed in Vienna late Monday as a hard-won compromise that followed five days of strenuous talks.

A ship works offshore in the Baltic Sea on the natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 from Russia to Germany on Nov. 11, 2018. (Bernd Wuestneck/dpa via AP)

The agreements formalized a tentative deal reached earlier this month that envisaged shipments of 65 billion cubic meters of natural gas through Ukraine in 2020 and annual shipments of 40 billion cubic meters thereafter.

Those amounts are smaller than what Russia has sent through Ukraine in previous years. Russia has been working intensively to build new delivery networks that bypass Ukraine.

They include the prospective Nord Stream 2 undersea pipeline between Russia and Germany. Russian officials vowed that it would be completed next year despite United States sanctions forcing a Swiss company laying sections of the pipeline to suspend work. They said that Gazprom has its own assets to complete the construction.

The Russia-Ukraine gas agreements come as the two neighbors remain locked in a tug-of-war that followed Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimea and Moscows support for a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

It follows the Dec. 9 talks in Paris between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany on settling the conflict in the east. The negotiations marked Zelenskiys first encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they talked about the gas issue, paving the way for the deal.

A passenger train from Russia crosses a bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. (AP Photo)

The Ukraine-Russia gas deal envisaged payment by Russia of $2.9 billion to settle an arbitration claim resulting from previous transit disputes and waived any other claims related to the 2009 transit contract.

Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev hailed the agreements as a compromise ensuring that Ukraines gas transport network will operate without loss over the next five years and demonstrated Ukraines reliability as a transit partner for the EU.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller described the set of agreements as a big package deal that restored the balance of interests between the parties.

Gazprom has shown again that its a responsible supplier and a reliable partner, Miller said.

By Vladimir Isachenkov
Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Army Commander Lt. General Shavendra Silva as a new acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne stepped down from the post.

Wijegunaratne, who resigned on Tuesday, was the highest-ranking military officer in the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. Since Wijegunaratne's successor was not decided, Silva has been entrusted to oversee the duties, reported local media. He will assume office from Wednesday, reported Daily News. Silva took over as the country's army chief in August last year.

Outgoing CDS, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, was accorded with a Tri-service Guard of Honour salute at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall premises (BMICH) yesterday.

The United Nations has alleged that Silva committed grave human rights abuses in Sri Lanka's long-running civil war. He was in charge of a Sri Lankan Army division that encircled the final stronghold of the Tamil Tiger rebels or the LTTE in the final stages of the war in 2009, Al Jazeera reported.

Silva's 58th division has been accused of violating international human rights laws, including shelling a hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It is alleged that Mr. Melendez-Morales met his minor victim on social media and just days later arranged to meet her at a hotel, where he sexually abused her, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. This type of deviant behavior will not be tolerated, and anyone suspected of preying on our children for sexual gratification will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Al-Azhar Observatory for Countering Terrorism said that more than 30,000 extremist Israeli Jews broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in 2019 under the protection of Israeli police.



The observatory added, in its annual report that was released on Wednesday, that the number is the highest ever to be recorded since Jerusalem was occupied in 1967.



It attributed this to the support and encouragement offered by the occupation government to the far-right religious Zionist groups and the extremist Temple Mount organizations to serve its own "political gains" and implement Israel's policy that aims at Judaizing the occupied holy city and obliterating its Arab identity and Islamic heritage.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:48:28|Editor: yan

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MAPUTO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi in his New Year message on Wednesday called on all citizens to continue to maintain a spirit of solidarity for any kind of adversity, violence, natural disasters among other challenges.

"We call for us to continue to maintain the spirit of solidarity that has always characterized us as Mozambicans, supporting, whenever possible, our brothers who are victims of these contingencies," reads the message.

The presidential message says that the country is going through a context of great pain due to unjustified violence perpetrated by individuals opposed to the country's progress.

"Armed violence in the country is unjustified and undermines the efforts that have been made towards the country's development," reads the message, adding that Mozambicans should face the challenges with resilience.

Nyusi wished in the message a year of great peace, tranquility, achievements, with the improvement in the conditions and quality of life of Mozambicans.

"Now is the time for a moment to leave everything behind and focus on what we want and to look forward to the new year 2020," reads the message.
A 25-year-old woman was allegedly held captive for two days and gang-raped by three men in Laharpur town of Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district, police said on Wednesday.

"A woman has alleged that she was held captive for two days and gang-raped by three men here. A medical examination of the woman is being conducted," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Madhuban Singh told reporters here.

Police said that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway.

Further details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Rudy Giuliani is daring Donald Trump to give him the case and allow him to argue in Trumps defense at the presidents impeachment trial.

NBC News reported:

I would testify, I would do demonstrations, Id give lectures, Id give summations, or Id do what I do best, Id try the case. Id love to try the case, Giuliani told reporters as he made his way into a New Years Eve celebration at the presidents Florida resort on Tuesday night.

Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor, suggested hed lead the presidents defense with a prosecution.

I dont know if anybody would have the courage to give me the case, but if you give me the case, I will prosecute it as a racketeering case, which I kind of invented anyway, he said, referring to his pioneering use of racketeering laws to take down New York mob leadership in the 1980s.

It was 30 years ago, but lets see if I can still do it, he said.

I dont know if Id be any good at it, or if anyone is crazy enough to give me the case, but I would love to be Trumps impeachment trial lawyer is not exactly the most convincing sales pitch that one could hear.

If there is one person who could get Donald Trump convicted at a rigged impeachment trial, its Rudy Giuliani.

It would be fascinating and fun to see Rudy Giuliani hijack the Senate for weeks and ramble insane conspiracy theories, as Mitch McConnell loses his mind over Rudy dragging out the trial for days, weeks, or even months.

Trump is not going to allow Giuliani to be his impeachment trial lawyer, but the fact that it is even a possibility suggests that 2020 could be even crazier than 2019.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So before you buy or sell Ergomed plc (LON:ERGO), 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 in the company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year.

See our latest analysis for Ergomed

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Ergomed

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Founder & Executive Chairman Miroslav Reljanovic for UK606k worth of shares, at about UK3.03 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of UK3.93. Because it occurred at a lower valuation, it doesn't tell us much about whether insiders might find today's price attractive.

In the last twelve months Ergomed insiders were buying shares, but not selling. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

AIM:ERGO Recent Insider Trading, January 1st 2020

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Does Ergomed Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 26% of Ergomed shares, worth about UK48m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

Story continues

What Might The Insider Transactions At Ergomed Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in Ergomed 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 Ergomed, 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.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Hundreds of parents in Northern Ireland have been threatened with court action over their children's poor school attendance.

More than 1,000 were told they would face court action, with almost 400 fined.

Pupils were absent without authorisation for a series of reasons, including family holidays which did not have school approval.

Rates of unauthorised absence in Northern Ireland are higher than other parts of the UK, figures show.

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A total of 1,112 parents or guardians here had court action initiated over their child's poor school attendance in the five years to last April.

During the same period, 374 parents or guardians were fined by the magistrates' courts.

The figures were released by the Education Authority after a Freedom of Information request by the Belfast Telegraph.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education explained that if a pupil's absence "causes concern" or if it falls below 85%, they are referred to the Education Welfare Service.

Former Education Minister Peter Weir said that while parents have responsibility for ensuring a child attends school, there are individual stories behind each case.

Figures obtained by this newspaper show:

School attendance in the 2017/18 academic year was just over 94%;

Of the near 6% of time missed due to absence, 3.9% was authorised absence and 1.9% unauthorised absence;

Some 170 parents/guardians had court action initiated against them in 2014/15, 267 in 2015/16, 190 in 2016/17, 311 in 2017/18 and 174 in 2018/19;

Forty-two parents/guardians were fined in 2014/15, 96 in 2015/16, 58 in 2016/17, 119 in 2017/18 and 59 in 2018/19;

A spokesperson for the Education Authority said parents must ensure their children attend school on a regular basis, adding that the organisation's responsibilities on pupil attendance are delivered through the Education Welfare Service.

In cases where parents do not cooperate with the advice and guidance of the Education Welfare Service - and where a pupil's attendance remains a matter of concern - the Education Authority may then consider legal action.

"While every effort is made to promote attendance, actions will be taken through court in some of the more exceptional cases, which could result in a parental fine," the Education Authority added.

Mr Weir, who was the last Education Minister before Stormont's collapse in 2017, said absenteeism has been an ongoing issue because of the nature of pupils missing school.

"It would be interesting to see how the numbers compare with other jurisdictions but it shows that 99.9% of parents will ensure that their children are present and at school on a regular basis," he said.

"There has to be some level of parental sanction but as part of that there may be a story behind some of those cases.

"It's also the case, and I know that it's something being looked at by others, that absenteeism relates to specific problems around bullying and problems of that nature.

"There will be stories behind some of those figures but in general it is important that there is good attendance because education is very much the key to improving life experiences."

A Department of Education spokesperson said schools should discourage holidays during term time due to the impact they have on pupils' learning and that holidays should be categorised as an unauthorised absence. Only in exceptional circumstances, agreed with the principal, should holidays be authorised by schools, the department said.

"Parents and carers have a legal duty to ensure that their children of compulsory school age receive a full-time education and if a child is registered in school, their parent/carer has a legal duty to ensure they regularly attend that school," the spokesperson added.

The Department of Education publishes an annual bulletin on school attendance, which is measured in half days.

Its latest statistics cover the 2017/18 academic year, when the overall attendance rate for primary, post-primary and special schools was 94.2%. Some 5.8% of half days in primary, post-primary and special schools were missed due to absence - 3.9% authorised and 1.9% unauthorised.

Illness remains the most common reason for authorised absence in all schools, along with medical or dental appointments.

A regional comparison shows Northern Ireland had the highest rate of unauthorised absence in the UK.

At primary school level its 1.6% rate compared to 1% for England and 1.3% for Wales.

At post-primary level, the 2.2% rate of unauthorised absence in Northern Ireland was above 1.6% in Wales and 1.5% in England.

Figures for Scotland are compiled every two years, and 2017/18 statistics were not available.
Jet fuel prices have been hiked by 2.65 per cent to Rs 66,266 per kilolitre across the country after a hike in global oil prices, thereby recording an average of 11 per cent year-on-year hike.

As per the notification from state-owned oil companies, the revised Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices in Delhi stands at Rs 64,324 per kl, up 2.6 per cent (Rs 1,637) while the revised price in Mumbai is Rs 64,530.

In Chennai and Kolkata, the price has been hiked to Rs 65,620 per kl and Rs 70,589, respectively. Prices of ATF are revised every month, depending upon international oil prices.

Meanwhile, non-subsidised (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) LPG or cooking gas prices have also been increased by Rs 19 and Rs 19.5 paise in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, marking fifth straight monthly hike in the LPG prices. Since August, LPG prices have been increased by Rs 140 per cylinder, thereby burning a hole in common man's pocket.

As per the Indian Oil Corporation, which supplies Indane brand, a non-subsidised LPG cylinder will be available for Rs 714 in Delhi and Rs 684.5 in Mumbai from today onwards. The prices have been hiked by Rs 21.5 and Rs 20 per cylinder in Kolkata and Chennai, respectively.

Also read: Kerala to cut jet fuel tax to 5% for domestic airlines, to suffer revenue loss of Rs 100 crore
Sean Hill at The New England Review:

And flags change or, rather, are subject to change. As I mentioned before, the Georgia state flag I grew up with featured the Confederate battle flag. We learned the stories behind the Betsy Ross flag with its thirteen stars and the current United States flag and its fifty stars, but how we came to have the state flag I grew up with wasnt taught in school. Turns out Georgia didnt have an official flag until 1879. Before that, it had a state seal, which was adopted in 1799, and local militias had to incorporate the coat of arms from the state seal into their hand-sewn banners. That 1879 flag, Georgias first official state flag, was modeled on the Stars and Bars, the first national flag of the Confederacy. The Confederacy itself changed its flag several times during the war, and the flag of Robert E. Lees army, the Confederate battle flag, was incorporated into subsequent iterations. In 1956 the Georgia General Assembly changed the state flag, replacing the bars on the field with the Confederate battle flag itself. Some lawmakers claimed they wanted to honor Confederate soldiers for the then upcoming centennial of the Civil War. But given that the legislation to change the flag came on the heels of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, placing the Confederate battle flag on the state flag seems to make a pretty clear statement of how those lawmakers and many of their constituency felt about integration. It was an expression of their support of the Confederacys white supremacist cause, then in the form of Jim Crow segregation.

more here.
Trump warns Iran after Iraqi protesters storm US embassy in Baghdad



Baghdad, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



The US flew a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy on Tuesday after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the compound, setting fires and chanting "Death to America!"

Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen fighters, hundreds of protesters spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone, demanding the ouster of US troops from Iraq and voicing loyalty to a powerful Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US President Donald Trump blamed Tehran and warned that it would face punishment if Americans are killed.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump said on Twitter late Tuesday.

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," wrote Trump, adding "Happy New Year!"

- Surprise, fury -

The message came at the end of a day in which Washington officials appeared surprised and furious over the ease at which the protestors entered the Green Zone, reaching the US embassy compound for the first time in years.

They carried flags of the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), a component of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network.

As live broadcasts showed the protestors battering down the high-security doors of the embassy reception building, smashing windows and burning a sentry box, the State Department and Pentagon demanded Iraq's leaders provide security to the compound -- which was already heavily fortified.

In phone calls with both Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq," the State Department said.

Hours later a contingent of US Marines flew in from Kuwait, by which time some of the demonstrators had receded and others settled in for a sustained protest, preparing food for the evening.

Trump directly blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq."

"They will be held fully responsible," he said.

Tehran countered that the United States is itself to blame for air strikes that killed about two dozen Kataeb Hezbollah fighters on Sunday.

"The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi people's protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

- 'Strategic patience' -

The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship. Allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washington's influence in the country.

US jet fighters on Sunday struck five Kateab Hezbollah outposts in Iraq and Syria after a series of rocket attacks on US-occupied facilities in Iraq over the past two months that are blamed on the group and its alleged Iranian sponsors.

One of those attacks, in Kirkuk on Friday, left an American civilian contractor dead and exhausted what US officials called Trump's "strategic patience" with Tehran.

"The president has shown a lot of restraint," Brian Hook, the State Department's Special Representative for Iran, told reporters Monday.

"We very much hoped that Iran would not miscalculate and confuse our restraint for weakness. But after so many attacks, it was important for the president to direct our armed forces to respond in a way that the Iranian regime will understand."

- 'First lesson' to US -

But it added to the growing calls by some political factions in Iraq to push US troops out of the country nearly 17 years after they entered and overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime.

Dozens of Iraqi lawmakers have called for a review of the agreement allowing about 5,200 US troops in Iraq, saying the airstrikes over the weekend violated the country's sovereignty.

An Iraqi government statement said the attacks "force Iraq to review its relations and its security, political and legal framework to protect its sovereignty".

The protesters who besieged the US embassy on Tuesday carried posters reading: "Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!"

Late Tuesday Kataeb Hezbollah hailed the protest outside as a "first lesson" to Washington, "so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid".

"This may well be the low point of US policy in Iraq," said Iraq expert Fanar Haddad of Singapore University's Middle East Institute.

- No evacuation plans -

But US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. Ambassador Matthew Tueller, who had been on holiday leave, was on his way back to the embassy.

During the day Trump also called Abdel Madi to emphasise the need to protect US personnel and facilities in Iraq, the White House said.

He later tweeted his thanks to Abdel Mahdi and Saleh for "their rapid response upon request" to the embassy attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 02:22:45|Editor: zyl

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Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) meets with Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli in Tunis, Tunisia, on Jan. 1, 2020. Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli said on Wednesday that he had offered the lineup of his new government to President Kais Saied. (Tunisian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

TUNIS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli said on Wednesday that he had offered the lineup of his new government to President Kais Saied.

"The names of the government ministers will be announced to the public on Thursday," Jemli said during a press conference in the capital city of Tunis.

The government will be submitted to parliament for a vote of confidence. It has to obtain a majority of 109 out of a total of 217 possible votes.

On Dec. 23, Jemli announced he would form a government of independent ministers who do not represent political parties.

The announcement came after the consultations on the new government with various political parties came to a dead end.
Sapphire Lutheran Homes in Hamilton has been selected as a Double Feature City for the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks program.

Dominic Farrenkopf, director of Community Life at Sapphire Lutheran Homes, said SLH has hosted Montana Shakespeare in the Parks for six years and is excited to be bringing it back again in 2020.

The biggest difference is that we dont have to choose between the two plays the troupe offers. Instead, we get both, Farrenkopf said. As a Double Feature City, we will feature two nights of Shakespeare.

Sapphire Lutheran Homes will host A Midsummer Nights Dream at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, and Cymbeline at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29. Both performances are free and open to the public.

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks was founded by Dr. Bruce Jacobsen and its first season was in 1973. The original amateur acting company featured students and community members and they performed only Shakespearean scenes. The first season featured 13 performances in seven Montana cities.

The mission of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is to engage and enrich both rural and underserved communities with professional productions of Shakespeare and other classics and, through educational outreach, to inspire creative expression and appreciation of the arts in young audiences.

Sapphires mission is to provide compassionate, innovative services and amenities to seniors enabling them to enhance or maintain their quality of life, so offering our residents a unique cultural experience on our campus fits nicely, Farrenkopf said. We also seek to build faithful and active community partnerships and hosting Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is becoming a tradition that we are committed to keep alive and vibrant.

Since its inception, MSIP has performed more than 2,250 times, playing to nearly 750,000 people.

The crowd sizes have varied over the years at Sapphire, but audiences average 500 people. Farrenkopf said the Hamilton audiences are always very engaged with the performance and generous in offering monetary support by placing contributions in the donation boxes. Even though the performance is free, donations are welcome.

Based on the crowd size, generosity of playgoers and the reception the players receive in Hamilton, our request to be a Double Feature City has been granted, Farrenkopf said. I started asking two years ago and was pleasantly surprised when they offered us the opportunity to host both plays in 2020.

Farrenkopf also serves as Hamiltons mayor and feels that it is an honor to be selected as a Double Feature City.

Events like Montana Shakespeare in the Parks can help local merchants and restaurants and offer tourists and visitors to Hamilton a quality cultural experience, Farrenkopf said. MSIP is free to attend because of generous local sponsors. We will be seeking additional sponsorships this year as we will be paying for both plays. Also, because the actors will stay overnight and have some free time Wednesday, we will be looking to offer local experiences to the traveling troupe, further enhancing their Hamilton stay.

To be involved in these aspects, contact Farrenkopf at 406-363-2800.

Enjoy the summer shows and bring a blanket or lawn chair and a picnic dinner if you desire.

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carlos ghosn

AP Photo/Francois Mori

Carlos Ghosn has fled prosecution in Japan, storing himself away in a box designed for musical instruments on a private jet on December 30, according to media reports.

Ghosn said in a statement that he would "no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied."

The former Nissan CEO was awaiting trial in Japan on financial-misconduct charges and had been forbidden from leaving the country as a part of $13 million bail agreement. Prosecutors in Japan have alleged that Ghosn earned a salary of about 10 billion yen, or $88.7 million, from 2011 to 2015 but reported only half of that. Ghosn, who is 64, could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 million yen if found to have committed wrongdoing.

Keep reading to learn more about the rise and downfall of Carlos Ghosn.

Story continues

Ghosn was named COO of Nissan in 1999 and later CEO in 2001 after the Renault-Nissan Alliance was formed. In 2016, Mitsubishi joined. The three act as separate entities, while also identifying as a global grouping.

Carlos Ghosn

Antonio RIBEIRO/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Source: BBC

Ghosn was known for his cost-cutting methods  closing factories and cutting jobs while increasing profits and output. Nissan quickly surpassed Honda as the No. 2 automaker in Japan under Ghosn's leadership ...

ghosn

YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images

Source: BBC, The New York Times

... for which he was greatly compensated. According to BBC's review of company records, Ghosn made over $17 million in 2017 in salary, share options and bonuses. As company success grew, so did Ghosn's net worth. As of 2018, his net worth was around $120 million.

GettyImages 2845555

Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images

Source: BBC, Bloomberg

Ghosn flew around the world using a series of Nissan-owned Gulfstream private jets, including a G650, which can seat up to 19 passengers, sleep up to 10, fly more than 8,000 miles, and can cost more than $67 million.

Gulfstream G550

Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

As chairman of Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi  three car companies on two continents halfway around the world from one another  Ghosn spent a considerable amount of time flying on Nissan's corporate jets between France and Japan. He also had frequent stopovers in the United States, Brazil, and Lebanon.

Source: Business Insider

According to a report from Bloomberg, Nissan paid over 8,000 euros a month for an Amsterdam apartment that was used exclusively by Ghosn.

amsterdam netherlands

Shutterstock/S-F

Source: Bloomberg

And in Beirut, Nissan reportedly paid nearly $9 million in 2012 for a salmon-colored mansion for Ghosn to live in when he traveled.

Beirut

Shutterstock/Iryna1

Source: Bloomberg, The New York Times

In Tokyo, Nissan paid nearly $9,000 a month for Ghosn and family to live in a flat for only a "few days each month on average." But then, all of a sudden, Ghosn's world came crashing down.

GettyImages 1064035528

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

Nissan would soon begin seizing keys and blocking access from six of its properties frequented by Ghosn and his family.

Source: Bloomberg

On November 19, 2018, prosecutors surrounded Ghosn's Gulfstream after it touched down in Japan. Prosecutors alleged that Ghosn hid his earnings from Nissan filings for years.

Gulfstream G550

Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Source: The New York Times

On November 19, 2018, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa confirmed the arrest of Ghosn after a months-long investigation into alleged financial crimes, like underreporting compensation to regulators. The Nissan board voted just two days later to remove Ghosn from his position as chairman.

Nissan CEO Saikawa

REUTERS/Issei Kato

Source: Bloomberg

A week after Ghosn's arrest, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko announced the company would be ousting Ghosn from his role, too.

GettyImages 1065329760

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Bloomberg

Ghosn was reportedly kept in the same facility that previously housed death-row inmates and given limited access to the outside world. Reports indicate that he was allowed to bathe twice a week and had 30 minutes a day of exercise.

Ghosn Tokyo

MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Bloomberg

In a January 2019 court hearing, Ghosn denied any wrongdoing on his behalf, and said he was "wrongly accused and unfairly detained based on meritless and unsubstantiated accusations." The next day his detention appeal was denied.

Ghosn bail

Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images

Source: Bloomberg

On January 23, Ghosn resigned as chairman and chief executive officer of Renault, French finance minister Bruno Le Maire told Bloomberg Television in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Ghosn

STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images

Source: Reuters, Bloomberg

Bloomberg reported in February that Ghosn may have used Renault funds inappropriately to "pay for his wedding party at the Chateau de Versailles"  marking the first indecency reported by the company toward its former head executive.

GettyImages 533101836

Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Source: Town and Country Magazine, Bloomberg

At the end of February, Ghosn hired lawyer Junichiro Hironaka, who said Ghosn's arrest was a result of a conspiracy inside Nissan. Hironaka said he believes Ghosn is innocent.

Junichiro Hironaka

BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images

"The prosecutors have made a criminal case out of an issue that should have been handled inside the company," said Hironaka at a press conference.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

In March, Ghosn, wearing blue workman's clothes and a baseball cap, was released after 108 days in a Japanese jail and after paying a nearly $9 million bail.

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn leaves the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Japan, March 6, 2019, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Reuters

Source: Business Insider

According to The Wall Street Journal, Ghosn went to a court-approved residence in Tokyo. A trial was said to be happening later in 2018.

A man presumably former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn, center with blue cap, leaves Tokyos Detention Center in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, after posting 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) in bail once an appeal by prosecutors against his release was rejected. (Kyodo News via AP)

Associated Press

Source: The Wall Street Journal

He was forbidden from contact with anyone outside of the country by phone or computer. "I am extremely grateful for my family and friends who have stood by me throughout this terrible ordeal," Ghosn said in a statement released in March.

Carlos Ghosn

KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Ghosn was rearrested on April 4 on new charges and then released on a $4.5 million bail later that month.

FILE - In this April 3, 2019, file photo, former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, center, returns to his residence in Tokyo. Japanese court approves release for detained Nissan ex-chair Ghosn on 500 million yen, or $4.5 million, bail.(Kyodo News via AP)

Associated Press

Source: Business Insider

Nissan is now struggling. In July, the automaker announced that it will cut at least 12,500 jobs  about 9% of its total workforce.

FILE PHOTO: A line worker checks frames for imperfections at Nissan Motor Co's automobile manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, U.S., August 23, 2018. REUTERS/William DeShazer/File Photo

Reuters

Source: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal

Ghosn and Nissan settled their case with the SEC on September 24. The company will pay a $15 million fine, and Ghosn himself will pay $1 million, the Times reported.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

Source: The New York Times

Hari Nada, the Nissan senior vice president who reported Ghosn and is set to testify against Ghosn in a Japanese trial, was found to have also improperly overpaid himself during an investigation by an outside law firm on October 7.

FILE PHOTO: The logos of car manufacturers Renault and Nissan are seen in front of dealerships of the companies in Reims, France, July 9, 2019. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo

Reuters

Source: Bloomberg

On December 30, 2018, Ghosn fled to Lebanon from Japan, violating the terms of his bail agreement. Media reports said he hid in a box designed for musical instruments on board a private jet. Ghosn said in a statement that he had "escaped injustice and political persecution" in Japan.

Davos Private Jet

AP Photo/Keystone/Urs Jaudas

Source: Business Insider

Ghosn is now believed to be hiding out in his home in Beirut, Lebanon, where he has citizenship. On January 2, Interpol issued a warrant for Ghosn's arrest, but Lebanese officials have not said if they will take action.

Carlos Ghosn home Beirut

Jacob Russell/Getty Images

Source: Reuters

In their first public statement after Ghosn's escape, Japanese prosecutors said it was "easy for him to flee" because of his wealth and power. Prosecutors said they also feared that Ghosn would destroy evidence and defended their decision to detain him for months after his initial arrest.

FILE PHOTO: Former Nissan Motor Chariman Carlos Ghosn leaves the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Japan April 25, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

Reuters

Source: The Guardian

Read the original article on Business Insider
The holidays aren't a happy time for everyone. This New Year's Eve, HugTrain is coming to San Francisco to offer free hugs to lonely locals at the Golden Gate Bridge before midnight.

You won't be surprised to hear that HugTrain was founded by a Canadian. Arie Moyal is from Montreal and started traveling Canada and the US offering free hugs during the holiday season in 2009. This year is HugTrain's 11th annual trip, and will be led by a new "HugMaster": Anton Zyngier. HugTrain is sometimes just a one-man campaign, according to SFist.
Kanpur, Jan 1 : In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The panel will also probe whether the students violated prohibitory orders clamped in the city on the day of the march, whether they posted objectionable content on the social media and whether the Faiz poem is anti-Hindu.

The poem reads thus -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge." It was the last line that has turned into a bone of contention. Translated into English, it means, 'When thrones will vanish, only Allah's name will remain' -- implying the misleading translation by the professor.

The poem had been written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: "In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which have obviously been misinterpreted -- "When all idols will be removed, only Allah's name will remain." The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately." Fifteen other students have also signed the complaint filed by the professor against the protesting students.

Meanwhile, IIT students have said that the faculty member who lodged the complaint has been banned on a social networking site for posting communal content.

In an article published on the IIT-Kanpur student media portal, the students clarified what exactly happened on the day of protest and how their chant was given a 'communal and misleading' turn. They stated that they had recited a few lines of the Faiz poem in reference to the police crackdown on the Jamia students.
(Photo: Unsplash/zhang kaiyv)

Wang Yi, pastor of the Early Rain Church in Chengdu, Sichuan province, was imprisoned on charges of "inciting to subvert state power" and "illegal business operations".

His church said on Facebook that the pastor had been jailed for "proclaiming the gospel".

In addition to the prison sentence, the pastor has lost his political rights for three yeas and been fined 50,000 RMB (around $7,100 or 5,500).

CSW chief executive Mervyn Thomas said the charges were "baseless".

Pastor Wang's imprisonment is the latest stage in an ongoing struggle between the Chinese authorities and the Early Rain Church after he and over 100 other members of the congregation were detained on 9 December 2018.

Among those detained was his wife Jiang Rong, who was later released on bail.

The crackdown on the church came after Pastor Wang publicly criticised the government's treatment of unregistered churches and new religious regulations introduced by China last year tightening the state's control of church activities.

Earlier last year, the pastor was detained overnight and accused of "picking quarrels and causing trouble" after the authorities detained or removed over 200 members of Early Rain Church to stop them from holding a prayer vigil for victims of the Wenchuan earthquake of 2008.

In August this year, the UK Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the detention of the pastor and his wife had been arbitrary.

Mr Thomas called for the immediate release of Pastor Wang and other detained Early Rain church members.

"CSW condemns the sentencing of Pastor Wang Yi, who has been convicted on baseless criminal charges simply for standing up for his beliefs," he said.

"We call on the Chinese authorities to drop the charges against Pastor Wang and to release him and all remaining members of Early Rain Church from detention."
Leading electric two-wheeler maker has put on hold investment of up to Rs 700 crore by a year with the sector taking a nosedive as FAME II, scheme aimed to promote electric vehicles, has failed to deliver, according to a top company official.

Calling for a complete revamp of the policy, the company wants the government to include low speed two-wheelers for subsidy arguing that for mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India these cost effective vehicles are critical.

"From an industry standpoint, there was a certain trajectory which was going on when we had FAME I. With the coming in of FAME II, whatever be the logic and reason, the manner in which FAME II was introduced, the whole industry took a downturn and now the industry is recovering from that," Managing Director Naveen Munjal told PTI.

As per Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle (SMEV), sales of FAME II qualified electric two-wheelers in April-December 2019 period stood at just 3,000 units as against 48,671 units in the year-ago period when FAME I was in place, a decline of 93.84 per cent.

Under FAME I, low speed two-wheelers with top speed of up to 25km/hr had qualified for incentives of up to Rs 17,000 and Rs 22,000 for high speed ones.

However, under FAME II, which came into effect from April 1, 2019, electric two-wheeler are mandated to have a minimum range of 80 km per charge and minimum top speed of 40 kmph to qualify for an incentive of Rs 20,000.

CRISIL had predicted that more than 95 per cent of the electric two-wheeler models produced earlier would not be eligible for incentive under FAME-II.

When asked about the impact on the company's future investments, Munjal said, "we had to push back the plans. Fund raise has been pushed back to next year, so are the investments."



Earlier in August 2019, the company had said it was looking to invest around Rs 700 crore in the next three years to ramp up production capacity of its electric scooters to 500,000 units annually from about 100,000 units. It was looking to raise fund for the same by roping external investors.

Munjal said the company lost four months in the beginning of the year on completely homologating products for FAME II.

"It has taken a lot of time. Technically, one year is almost wiped out from our balance sheet," Munjal said, adding it made no sense to go ahead with investments as the company had to first get the products out of the door.

He, however, said the company is now getting back on track and has started working on capacity increase, "which we should have done six months back".

Calling for a total re-look at FAME II, Munjal said, "FAME II has not delivered for sure... The policy has to be completely changed. If the industry has to pick up then it has to be from ground-up. What we have been saying is that it has to be the low-speed vehicles, which have to be targeted for masses."



Arguing that 95 per cent of electric two-wheelers is low-speed in India, he said, "If you have to really make this (EV) industry work, you have to focus at the base of the pyramid and the base is the low-speed. Everything else can ride on top of it, we are not saying you dissuade others."He cited examples of Europe, China, US and Japan, where low speed electric two-wheelers are supported by the government for mass adoption.

"When we look at electric two-wheeler mobility around the world, it is all low-speed," he said adding efficiencies are at only at a particular speed band in electric two-wheelers and high speed EVs are expensive thereby making it unsuitable for a "price sensitive" market like India.
BAGHDAD  After a second day of tense protests at the American Embassy in Baghdad, thousands of pro-Iranian demonstrators dispersed on Wednesday, ending a siege that had trapped American diplomats in the embassy compound overnight and winding down a potentially explosive crisis for the Trump administration.

The demonstrators had swarmed outside the embassy, chanting Death to America! Some tried to scale the compounds walls, and others clambered onto the roof of the reception building they had burned the day before.

In contrast to Tuesday, when some demonstrators forced their way into the compound and set some of the outbuildings on fire, the crowd on Wednesday was smaller and no protesters breached the compounds gates.
New Gen M M Naravane on Wednesday hoped that maintaining peace and tranquillity along India's border with China will lead to an "eventual solution" to the boundary dispute, and asserted that military capabilities will be bolstered along the northern frontier.

A day after taking charge as 28th Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Naravane also said that his force will give special attention to issues relating to human rights.

On the prevailing situation along the border with China, Gen Naravane said the Indian Army will enhance its capabilities along the frontier as the focus in the past was on the boundary with Pakistan.

"We have the Line of Actual Control with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders," he told reporters.

"I am sure that the situation will prevail. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution," he added.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

"While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going in for embranchment of our capacities along the northern border," Gen. Naravane said.

He also said that the armed forces were fully ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation.

"I am assuring the people of the country that armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge," he said after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

Gen Naravane said his priority would be to keep the Army operationally prepared at all times.

"This will happen as a result of modernisation. We will continue to build capabilities, particularly in north and northeastern regions. We will also lay emphasise on raising security awareness among our rank and file and also pay special attention to the issue of human rights," he said.

In his 37 years of service, Gen Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
Iran blasts 'audacity' of US to blame it for Iraq violence



Tehran, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



Tehran hit out Tuesday at the "audacity" of Washington to blame it for violent anti-US demonstrations in Iraq, warning the United States to review its policies in the region.

"The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi people's protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

His statement came after US President Donald Trump accused Iran of killing an American civilian contractor and "orchestrating" the storming of the US embassy in Baghdad earlier on Tuesday.

Mousavi said the claim was an insult to the people of Iraq.

"How and based on what logic do you expect the nation of Iraq to be silent in the face of all these atrocities?" he asked.

In response to rocket attacks that killed the contractor in northern Iraq, the US launched air strikes Monday on an Iran-backed militant group that killed 25 people in western Iraq.

"The Americans ignore the Iraqi nation's liberty and drive for independence on one hand, and on the other forget their own role in supporting Saddam and Daesh," Mousavi said, referring to former dictator Saddam Hussein and the Islamic State group.

The statement rejected US charges against Iran, warned against any "reckless and wrong reaction" and urged the White House to "reconsider its destructive policies in the region".
Two persons were killed and three others injured when their car fell into a well while they were returning from a New Year party in Maharashtra's Aurangabad city in the wee hours of Wednesday, police said.

The mishap took place near Daulatabad Fort around 2 am when a group of five friends was on way home after celebrating the New Year.

One of them, who was driving the car, apparently lost control over the wheels near the fort following which the vehicle fell into a roadside well, an official at Daulatabad police station said.

A passer-by saw the car plunging into the water body and raised an alarm, he said.

Some locals alerted the police who rushed to the spot and managed to rescue three persons from the car.

Two others, identified as Saurabh Vijay Nandapurkar (29) and Virbhas Kasture (34), both local residents, could not be saved, the official said.

The three rescued persons, all in their 30s, sustained injuries in the mishap and were admitted to a government hospital, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the sun rose this morning on a new year, bleary-eyed people across the United States poured out their half-drunk champagne bottles, gathered up their empty beer cans and turned to Twitter to share their resolution with the world.

Dry January has begun.

For those experimenting with temporary sobriety, there is pride in abstention. These droughts are self-imposed and finite  and come with social media bragging rights. But the last time we entered a decade known as the 20s, Americans were staring down the barrel of a government-mandated dry spell, with no end in sight. For those who partook of the hard stuff, this first dry January was greeted not with determination and #goals but with denial and despair.

Prohibition is most closely associated with the 1920s, but its seeds were planted a century earlier, when the national temperance movement began decrying alcohol as the root cause of societal evils including laziness, promiscuity and poverty. Eliminate the drink, they said, and Americans will be a happier, healthier and more prosperous people.

The movement gained traction around the turn of the century, in large part thanks to womens groups who saw temperance as a way to combat domestic violence. On Jan. 16, 1919  more than a year before women could vote nationwide  the teetotalers achieved their ultimate goal: The Eighteenth Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors anywhere within the United States, was ratified.
Supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups who stormed the US embassy's perimeter and hurled rocks during two days of protests withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops and threatened reprisals against Tehran.

The demonstrators, angry at US air strikes against the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group that killed at least 25 people, threw stones at the building while US forces stationed on the rooftops fired tear gas to disperse them.



But by mid-afternoon, most appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw, issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shiite militia, which said the demonstrators' message had been heard.



Young men used palm tree branches to sweep the street in front of the embassy compound, while others packed up equipment and vans arrived to take people away. Some left to set up a protest camp in front of a nearby hotel.



Iraq's military said all protesters had left by the evening.



Meanwhile the US embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday said consular services were suspended until further notice. Due to militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are cancelled. U.S. citizens are advised to not approach the Embassy, said a statement posted on the embassy website.



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also cancelled a plan trip to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus due to the need for the secretary to be in Washington, DC to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," a State Department spokeswoman said Wednesday.



Iraq caught in US-Iran shadow war



The protests mark a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East.



US President Donald Trump, who faces re-election in 2020, on Tuesday threatened to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want war.



The unrest followed US air raids on Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah bases in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a US contractor in northern Iraq last week.



On Tuesday, crowds chanted 'Death to America!', lit fires, and smashed surveillance cameras. They breached an outer perimeter of the embassy but did not enter the main compound.



Entering the highly secured Green Zone



The huge embassy compound, built along the banks of the Tigris River in central Baghdad's fortified "Green Zone" during American occupation following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam

Hussein, is the biggest US diplomatic mission in the world.



While Iraqi protesters staging anti-government demonstrations over the last few months have been unable to enter the green zone, the ease with which Shiite militia and their supporters accessed the embassy compound has raised questions about the Iraqi governments security abilities.



Washington said its diplomats were safe and was rushing hundreds of extra troops to the region.



The anti-American action comes after months of protests in Iraq against the government and the Iran-backed militias that support it. Many Iraqis complain their country has become a battlefield for a proxy war for influence between Washington and Tehran, and their leaders are too beholden to outside powers.



Iraq's government has long faced frictions in its close relations with the two foes. Trump spoke to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday and demanded Iraq protect the embassy.



Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday condemned the US attacks. Iran summoned a Swiss envoy, who represents US interests in Tehran, to complain about what it described as "warmongering" words from Washington.



Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence.



US officials said 750 extra troops would initially be based out of Kuwait and as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in coming days.



More than 5,000 US troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. The air strikes have galvanised calls inside Iraq to expel them.



Many in the crowd outside the embassy said ending Washington's presence in Iraq was their main goal.



You delivered your message



Despite decades of enmity between Iran and the United States, Iran-backed militias and US forces found themselves on the same side during Iraq's 2014-2017 war against Islamic State (IS) group fighters, with both powers helping the government recapture territory from militants who had overrun a third of Iraq.



Since then, US troops have yet to leave, while the Iran-backed militias have been incorporated into the security forces.



Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who has announced plans to step down in the face of anti-government protests in which more than 450 people were killed, is backed by Iran and its allies.



The militia may have decided to pull back from the embassy to avoid making him look weak or to avert clashes with government forces.



Overnight, demonstrators had pitched tents and camped outside the embassy walls, then brought food, cooking equipment and mattresses during the morning, indicating plans to stay before the withdrawal call.



But by Wednesday afternoon, the PMU called on its supporters to leave the embassy and gather outside the Green Zone out of "respect" for the state.

"You delivered your message," it said in a statement.

(FRANCE 24 with AP and AFP)
By Online Desk

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has identified four persons from the Indian Air Force, who will be trained to become astronauts for the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.

Many of Gaganyaan's systems are yet to be tested, ISRO chief K Sivan said, adding, the crew training would be a major activity in 2020. He was interacting with reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Gaganyaan is a crewed orbital spacecraft that will send astronauts to space for at least seven days by 2022. It is a part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.

In December, a senior IAF officer said that the air force had shortlisted 12 persons as 'Gagan Yatris' (astronauts) for the Gaganyaan project, of which seven have gone to Russia for training.

The rest of the selected people would be sent once the batch of seven returns from Russia, the officer had said.

Sivan also said India's next moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, had been approved, and would mostly be launched next year.

"The land acquisition for a second space port has been initiated and the port will be in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu," the ISRO chief said during a press conference.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday (January 1) said that all the three services will work as a team to enhance integration and do better resource management. Talking to media after paying tribute at National War Memorial, General Rawat said his immediate task is to bring uniformity in procurement procedures of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. He added that more tasks will be chalked out in due course of time.

General Rawat remarked that he will prefer not to comment on PoK now and armed forces are not supposed to provide details of their plans publicly. He stressed that the CDS will remain neutral and Indian armed forces have nothing to do with the political developments in the country. General Rawat noted that the armed forces work as per the orders of the Government in power and will continue to do so.

"We stay far away from politics, very far. We have to work according to the directions of the Government in power," said General Rawat.

Earlier on Wednesday (January 1), newly-appointed Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane paid tribute to the martyrs at National War Memorial in Delhi and said that the country's armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality and always ready to make supreme sacrifices in the line of duty. ''I pray to Waheguru ji to give me courage and strength to perform my duties as the Chief of Army Staff. All three services are ready to defend the country,'' General Naravane said.

Live TV

Speaking to media, Gen Narvane said, ''Our priority will be to be operationally prepared at all times. We will pay special attention to respect human rights.'' Gen Naravane had on Tuesday taken charge as the 28th Army Chief and asserted that he has a good idea of not only the training part of the Army but also the operational part.
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 2 (ANI): Allaying fears of the Muslim community with respect to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister G Kishan Reddy here on Wednesday assured the community that there is nothing against them in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.



"There is nothing against Indian Muslim or other communities in the Act. The Act is not against any religion or citizen," said G Kishan Reddy.

While addressing a press-conference, Reddy who is MoS, Home Affairs also said: "You have full right to protest under democracy but I would like to ask why are you protesting? Against whom the Act is?"

"Even if you are doing mindless protest you have the right to do so but you don't have the right to destroy public property and set buses and other public property on fire. You don't have the right to pelt stone," said G Kishan Reddy.

Since the enactment of CAA on December 12 last year, protests have erupted in various parts of the country including the national capital.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI)
(Newser)  Tales of warrior women on horseback with bow and arrowyou know, like in Wonder Womanare looking truer by the day. A new find adds to growing evidence that female warriors really did fight and die on the Eurasian steppes, the Washington Post reports. A team led by archaeologist Valerii Guliaev uncovered a 2,500-year-old tomb with four such women buried alongside spears, arrowheads, and horseback-riding equipment. It's in western Russia, where Ancient Greek lore describes "Amazon" women doing battle with Hercules. Guliaev says they're actually Scythian nomads who lived in small tribes, fought with bow and arrow, and wore trousers for horseback riding, per the Smithsonian.

story continues below

Other female Scythian remains have turned up before, many with war wounds, but this is the first with multiple generations: a girl around 12 or 13, two women in their 20s, and one around 45 or 50. It's also the first to include a well-preserved golden headdress still on a woman's skull, meaning Guliaev likely uncovered the site before anyone else. It remains unclear whether these women had their own armies or stayed home to protect family and livestock while men fought in far-off wars, per Haaretz. But scientists say the women were definitely fighters, and DNA confirms their gender. "If you think about it, a woman on a horse with a bow, trained since childhood, can be just as fast and as deadly as a boy or man," says author Adrienne Mayor, who wrote a book called The Amazons. (Read more burial site stories.)
Nineteen people were arrested for the attack on the Congress office here by 'supporters' of party MLA Sangram Thopte who were protesting against his non- inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, the police said on Wednesday.

The MLA, however, said it was not known whether they were his supporters, but said the act was condemnable and he accepted the party's decision.

A group of workers, said to be Thopte's supporters, attacked the Congress Bhavan here on Tuesday.

They shouted slogans against the Congress leadership for not giving ministerial berth to Thopte, MLA from Bhor in the district and son of former minister Anantrao Thopte.

The police arrested 19 supporters of Thopte late Tuesday night for rioting and unlawful assembly, an official of Shivajinagar police station said.

"We arrested 19 people who were involved in rioting, stone-pelting and vandalism. They were later released on bail," he said.

Thopte said identity of the culprits was not known.

"I am sure they were Congress workers but they have not been identified, it is not ascertained if they were my supporters," he said.

There was disappointment among workers over his being left out of the ministry, but Tuesday's violence was "condemnable", the MLA said.

"I will not support any such action," said the three- time MLA.

As to the post of minister, decision of the high command was acceptable to him, he said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers.

Meanwhile, Thopte's photo on a banner put up on the premises of Congress Bhavan was blackened on Wednesday.

A video circulating on social media showed an unidentified man climbing a ladder and blackening Thopte's face and writing "gaddar" (traitor) on its forehead.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In her New Year message on Tuesday (December 31), Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin underlined the importance of social equality.

The 34-year-old Marin noted that the strength of the society should not be measured on the basis of the strength of the most affluent, but through how the most vulnerable cope with their lives. Marin raised the question whether everyone in Finland has the possibility of a good life.

The world's youngest prime minister acknowledged in her message that much in Finland depends on the world economy, but the government can provide a stable and predictable environment for enterprises.

"Fast policy changes should be avoided while reacting to the cyclical situation," she said.

Marin also said the 2020s will be the "decade of decisions" for repelling the climate change. She reiterated the government pledge that Finland would be carbon neutral by 2035. She believes that Finland and Europe could lead international climate work and benefit from that role economically.

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier voiced concerns over the rise of anti-Semitism and far-right extremism in his Christmas speech, calling on all citizens to fight against them.

He mentioned the deadly attack near a synagogue in Germany's eastern city of Halle in October which killed two people nearby and later injured two others.

In his Christmas message, Czech President Milos Zeman praised the low unemployment rate, stable economic growth, relatively low state debt and the growth of the average wage and old-age pensions in the country.

Zeman also drew attention to the problem of "slowness" in construction proceedings and the construction of transport infrastructure in his country.

Greece is welcoming 2020 with optimism, having learnt valuable lessons from past mistakes, leaving the financial crisis behind and moving forward with confidence and unity, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his New Year message.

"We are entering the 3rd decade of the 21st century which brings unprecedented challenges: from geostrategic instability on the planet and the climate crisis to the 'explosion' of technology and its consequences. All this requires open thinking and bold actions," the Greek leader noted.

He added that Britain can also turn the page on the division, rancor and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held the country back for far too long.

Albanian President Ilir Meta said the solidarity the country demonstrated after the tragic 6.4-magnitude earthquake on November 26 is a solid and enduring foundation that inspires all and gives the people confidence for the challenges ahead.

"Each of you deserves more positivity, a fairer Albania, more loving, compassionate and more humane," Meta said, adding "this first of all requires an inclusive and united Albania, always guided by the national and public interest."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in his first New Year message at 10 Downing Street, urged people of Britain to join together to make the 2020s a decade of prosperity and opportunity.

"The first item on my agenda is to fulfill the will of the electorate and take us out of the European Union," said Johnson.

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, in her New Year address to the nation, placed special emphasis on tolerance and compassion.

Speaking live from Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen on Tuesday, the Queen underscored the planet's vulnerability to climate change.

"It is a common challenge for all of us today, and it is important that we are all aware of how we live and what we do," said the 79-year-old Queen.
Istanbul: Shortly before, the agreement has been reached between Turkish Airlines and Boeing Company on the damage caused by the stoppage of 737 MAX aircraft. The American company Boeing has agreed to pay $ 22.5 million (about Rs 1600 crore) as compensation. The operation of these aircraft is stopped all over the world after the accident of two Boeing Max planes. First Brazilian Airlines Gol removed 11 aircraft from service. After this, Southwest Airlines of America also removed two airlines.

Jammu and Kashmir gets big gift on New Year, people will get benefit

According to information from sources, the first Max plane crash took place in Indonesia on October 29, 2018, while the second plane crashed in Ethiopia on March 10 last year. In these two accidents, 346 people lost their lives. Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 24 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. But the operations of these aircraft have been stopped since last March. Prior to this agreement, there was news that Turkish Airlines Max has started the court proceedings against Boeing in respect of loss due to planes.

Chief Minister and Union Minister clash on Social media

Due to the accidents in October and March last year in 2018, the American company Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft, which made aircraft and rockets, was taken out of flight by many countries. Later, there was a crack in the important part of 38 old Boeing aircraft, after which questions have been issued about the safety of these aircraft.

Uttar Pradesh: Governor Anandi Ben Patel and CM Yogi greeted the people of the state in a special way
It was so much easier for my wife to pack up everything and go to her relatives in a neighboring community to use their kitchen instead of having to constantly go back and forth opening bottles of water, Roudez said. Im sure thats not just my family, there are other families that may have changed plans.
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - At least one Burkinabe gendarme was killed and a dozen terrorists were shot dead on New Year's eve in an attack on the gendarmerie in Djibo, Soum province in the Sahel, a security source told PANA
One of the most spectacular stories of 2019 started off in the first days of the outgoing year. Some 150 kilometers off the Nigerian coast, the oil major Total and its project partners brought onstream the Egina FPSO, the largest-ever built by the French firm. Then most of the news revolved around the new approaches employed for the purpose  most notably a third of the FPSO modules were built in Nigeria, boosting the projects localization statistics. Yet as 2019 comes to a close, one can say with sufficient certitude that Egina has effectuated something which was previously unthinkable. Not only did it become the most expensive Nigerian crude, it conquered the European continent and became something of a brand there.

First, lets look at the dry numbers. Egina is heavier than the average Nigerian crude, standing at 27.5 degrees API yet shares the low Sulphur content of its offshore peers at 0.17 percent. Given its high gasoil yield, the relative heaviness of Egina helped to transform it into a sort of ideal grade to refine for firms that aim to create IMO 2020-compliant bunker fuel. Total was hoping for something similar when it launched production in January 2019, however the divergence of Egina versus all the other grades became surprisingly wide in the past 2 months. The January 2020 official selling price (OSP) of Egina was set by NNPC at a $4.35 per barrel premium against Dated Brent, whilst other Nigerian grades were assessed at a $2.5-3 per barrel premium (see Graph 1).

Graph 1. Nigerian official selling prices (OSPs).

Source: NNPC.

Since OSP only give a certain indicative price range, they do not reflect Eginas real market value which was recently assessed at a roughly $6 per barrel premium for FOB deliveries (late November witnessed trades going as high as a $7 per barrel premium). This is evidently also true for Bonny Light or Forcados, too, yet Eginas pullaway is by any standard noteworthy. One year ago, Egina was on par with Forcados, one of the main winners of the pre-IMO 2020 period, today it yields an almost $1.5 per barrel premium over it. So, what is that unique about Egina? Briefly put, being distillate-rich and low in sulphur it turned out to be the ideal grade for Northwest European refiners (see Graph 2). All of the December loaders will end up in Europe, all but one did so in November 2019. Related: How Tech Is Making Oil Work Safer

Graph 2. Egina Exports in 2019 (kbpd).

Source: Thomson Reuters.

Refining Egina brings about a high yield of middle and vacuum distillates (around 80 percent in total), with gasoil accounting for more than half of the crudes yields. High distillate yields throughout the second half of 2019 have compelled Europes refineries equipped with cracking units to see Egina as a highly suitable feedstock. Moreover, somewhat in contrast to some West African peers, the crudes acidity is not a problem either  at 0.24 mg KOH/g it stands much better than rival Bonga (0.46 mg KOH/g) or Djeno (0.70 mg KOH/g), which anyways move predominantly eastwards. Still, given their preference for heavier low-sulphur crudes ti is remains an open question whether Asian refiners, especially Chinese ones, would like to include more Egina in their refining slates.

Graph 3. Europes Share in Nigerian Exports in 2019.

Source: Thomson Reuters. Related:Will Oil Bulls Rule 2020?

Interestingly, as soon as Egina ramped up production to its expected plateau of 200kbpd, Nigerias state oil company NNPC started to claim that Egina should be excluded from the West African countrys OPEC production tally as it is a condensate and not oil. This raised some eyebrows in the oil community as condensates generally have an API density of 45 degrees and higher, there is no precedent for crudes of 27 degrees API to be considered condensate. In an attempt to fortify its claim vis-a-vis OPEC, the Nigerian oil minister went to explain that the Egina field produces only 30-40 percent of crude, whilst the rest of production is condensate. Nigerias new 2020 OPEC quota is 89kbpd higher than before (1.774mbpd now versus 1.685mbpd before)  in a move that was not covered widely in media as Nigerias non-compliance with the Vienna agreements seems already to become the norm  hence, some leeway was made for new oil output from Egina.

With the above being said, what comes next after this? The Egina project, at 16 billion overall cost, was the most expensive one Nigeria has heretofore witnessed, yet recent moves by the Nigerian government which is poised to increase its tax intake from deepwater fields may indicate that another project of this scale might not be around the corner anytime soon. Egina was the second field to be commissioned from the Oil Mining Lease (OML) #130, after shareholders CNOOC (45%), Total (24%), Petrobras (16%) and SAPETRO (15%) launched Akpo in 2009. The 200MMbbl Preowei field might be the following project brought onstream, perhaps even by means of a tie-in to the Egina FPSO, however the assumed 2019 final investment decision did not materialize and was postponed into 2020, most probably because of the governments royalty tinkering. Thus, the future of Nigerian deepwater might be tangibly slower than anticipated.

By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A New Year gathering was held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Tuesday in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the gathering.

Senior leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the gathering along with senior members of non-communist parties, leaders of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, leading officials of central departments, members of different ethnic groups and people from all walks of life.

Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects embodies the dream that the Chinese nation has been diligently striving for, Xi said.

As long as the Chinese people of all ethnic groups rally closely around the CPC, give play to the political advantage of the CPC leadership and the institutional advantage of the socialism with Chinese characteristics, the first centenary goal can be secured, said Xi.

The year 2019, which marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, is a key year for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Xi said. "We have worked together to tackle tough issues, done a lot of hard work and harvested a lot of fruits."

Noting that the year 2019 witnessed continued efforts in deepening reform in all areas, Xi said the total number of reform schemes carried out since the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee had increased to 2,217.

Xi also highlighted Party-building efforts including the education campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" among all CPC members and anti-graft work.

At the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the notable strengths of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics were made explicit, he said.

The year 2020 is the concluding year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), Xi noted.

Stressing efforts to deepen reform in all areas and work to maintain stable growth, advance reform, make structural adjustments, improve people's living standards, guard against risks and ensure stability, he demanded securing a decisive victory in the battle against poverty, and ensuring sustained sound economic development and overall social stability.

Xi pledged efforts to safeguard lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus and make new contributions to world peace and development.

Over the past year, the CPPCC has seriously implemented decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and made important contributions to the development of the undertakings of the Party and the country, Xi said.

The New Year gathering was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Wu Weihua, chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, made remarks at the gathering on behalf of the central committees of non-communist parties, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and personages without party affiliation.
Fianna Fail will put only limited spending hikes in its general election manifesto to avoid accusations of being "reckless" with the economy.

Ditching its Celtic Tiger-era lavish spending policy, Micheal Martin's party will propose increases of 11bn over five years, well within expected economic growth rates.

Fine Gael will make economic stability a key part of its election campaign and point to Fianna Fail's role in the economic collapse a decade ago.

Fianna Fail has also written to the Dail's independent economic adviser to see if it will run the rule over the costings of its election promises.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will be sticking to his prudent budgetary policies as he outlines his party's plans for the next five years.

Fine Gael feels Fianna Fail is still vulnerable on the economy following the banking crisis and economic crash.

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However, after backing four Fine Gael budgets, Fianna Fail will feel it has regained confidence.

"We have to work within what is predicted economically. There'll be no way to put the reckless tag on us. Michael McGrath (Fianna Fail finance spokesman) is very prudent anyway," a party source told the Irish Independent.

"It's all Brexit dependent, obviously. Unless something untoward happens with Brexit, then things will change. There can't be anything that jeopardises the country's economy."

Fianna Fail's manifesto will be published in the opening days of the general election campaign proper.

The party is currently projecting 11bn in current expenditure increases in the five years of budgets from 2021 through to 2025, the lifetime of the next government. This figure includes expected public service pay rises.

"The manifesto is 99pc done now. Obviously, work will be ongoing until the day before the launch," the party source said.

Fianna Fail is also open to having its figures assessed independently.

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) provides independent and impartial information, analysis and advice to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

This information is also used by the political parties in setting out policies.

Fianna Fail is awaiting a reply from the PBO to its query on what role it can play in verifying the cost of election promises.

"We're trying to do it all by the book," the party source said.

The broad economic outlook of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail is likely to be largely similar in the coming election campaign.

But Fianna Fail is still seeking to rebuild its reputation for economic competence.

The collapse of the Celtic Tiger economy was exacerbated by the high levels of growth in expenditure in the years running up to the crash.

The additional resources directed towards the political priorities of health, social protection and education ultimately proved unsustainable.

The day-to-day spending on health increased more than three-fold from 4.5bn in 1999 to almost 15.5bn in 2009.

The cautious approach now adopted by Mr Donohoe is aimed at ensuring any spending increases are affordable both now and in the future.

But it is being contrasted with former Fianna Fail finance minister Charlie McCreevy's mantra of 'when I have it, I spend it'.

Since September, Fine Gael has been targeting Fianna Fail with a string of accusations that it is "reckless" on economic matters.

Mr Martin's membership of the Fianna Fail governments that presided over the Celtic Tiger boom and bust will be a line of attack in the campaign.
In the middle of autumn, a prescribed burn caused plumes of smoke to be seen above the tree tops in Flagstaff. But when the wind did not deliver as forecast, the smoke settled in the streets of downtown Flagstaff and caused unhealthy levels of smoke to waft into the homes of residents, jabbing at the health of locals and tourists in the area.

As forest officials continue to create a more healthy ponderosa pine ecosystem by cutting thick sections of forests and conducting controlled burns of pine needles on the forest floor, fire and smoke will be a fact of life for people who live around the four forests of northern Arizona.

On the other side of the coin, forest thinning efforts often face vehement opposition on the issue of smoke. For years, no alternative has existed beyond asking healthy and at-risk residents to stay inside and shut their doors and windows.

But now Coconino County is testing its newly purchased technology, called an Air Curtain Incinerator. The air curtain is prized for its ability to burn with less smoke, cleaner than normal pile burns, which county managers are considering using as a tool to keep large amounts of smoke out of communities.

To the untrained eye, the air curtain looks like a dumpster. Once leftover tree bits, or biomass, begin to burn inside the incinerator at over 1,500 degrees, a fan acts like a lid and stops the smoke from escaping the incinerator until the harmful smoke is burned away. Once the air curtain warms up, it can burn tons of biomass per hour without smoke escaping the top, said forest director Jay Smith. The air curtain cannot burn at the same rate as pile burns can accomplish, but its value is in how little smoke it produces.

When you put slash in and it breaks that [air] curtain, it will let a little smoke out. Otherwise, you dont even know its burning, Smith said. Youll see heat waves, and thats about it.

Smith said the technology is not new. Incinerators are used to burn municipal waste in landfills, or excess waste after hurricanes, but is now just getting into the forestry field. The incinerator costs $120,000 and an extra $10,000 for training and additional equipment.

Particulately dangerous

Particulate matter, or PM-2.5, is what concerns Arizona Department of Environmental Quality officials the most. ADEQ monitors smoke impacts on communities in areas like Flagstaff.

Erin Jordan, spokesperson for Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, said smoke impacts people with healthy lungs and respiratory systems differently than young children, elderly or people with pre-existing conditions.

Being exposed to particulate matter for hours and days can aggravate lung disease, causing asthma, acute bronchitis, increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, and an increased risk of heart attack or irregular heartbeat, Jordan said. Long-term exposure, over years, has been associated with problems like reduced lung function and developing chronic bronchitis.

According to the U.S. Forest Service studies, the air curtain incinerators' ability to reduce the amount of airborne particulate matter is more than just smoke and mirrors. Pile burns can cause 25.5 pounds per ton of particulate matter emissions, compared to an average prescribed burns causing 36 pounds per ton of emissions. The air curtain only creates 1.1 pound per ton worth of emissions.

ADEQ supports any proactive efforts by permittees to better protect public health and the environment, Jordan wrote in an email. Since these incinerators can reduce the impacts of smoke on nearby residents compared to open burns, ADEQ supports their permitted use.

The benefits this technology could have on communities has led Aaron Green, district manager of the Arizona Department of Forest and Fire Management, to work on finding creative solutions to expand their use across northern Arizona and regions with ponderosa pine forests.

They could be amazingly beneficial for helping communities doing firewise work inside communities having homeowners bring their slash down to these units that are stationed in community for a weekend or two, not running into any difficulty, Green said.

Optimizing new technology

If the piles of tree bits are not burned, they need to be taken elsewhere, said Coconino County Supervisor Art Babbott. He said leaving leftover biomass on the forest is no longer considered a best practice after the Museum Fire, which spread and burned nearly 2,000 acres, creating risks of post-fire flooding in Flagstaff due to leftover biomass.

If not burned, the piles would likely be hauled to Phoenix to be made into pallets, a viable but costly alternative for biomass at this point. A single haul costs around $700 to $1,000 for material that has relatively little value, leading to high costs for private businesses, Smith said.

If we had a power plant that was within 30 miles of Flagstaff, that could change the scenario quickly, Babbott said. But [the air curtain] could be used in small communities.

The county is required to obtain a permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality before starting a burn and is getting permits for 35 tons of biomass per day; however, the air curtains capacity is much higher. As burning goes, 35 tons of tree bits a day is not a lot -- large pile burns can go through up to 100 tons of dead and downed branches and needles in an hour.

Jordan told the Arizona Daily Sun that permits beyond the 35-ton limit exist, but require a more complex permitting process, like modeling to show the smoke would not exceed federal or state regulations.

The county had not tried the more complex permit system, Smith said, but was open to exploring its future use. When the county was testing the air curtain in early December, Smith said the county was considering buying larger air curtains or multiple air curtains to work within the bounds of the 35-ton permit.

At this point, only time will tell where the air curtain will fit in the forest thinning toolbox, and whether it can become an avenue for cleaner burns near peoples homes.

Scott Buffon can be reached at sbuffon@azdailysun.com, on Twitter @scottbuffon or by phone at (928) 556-2250.

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Many on both ends of the political spectrum are aware of the fact that social justice is simply Marxism, masquerading as a new ideological movement. Like Marxism, social justice's goal is to make the world a more balanced and equitable place.

As Marx phrased it in Das Kapital, "[i]n order to establish equality, we must first establish inequality" (1). By finding the inequalities of the world, the Marxist can then begin eliminating the obstacles that impede equality. The more of these sources of inequality the Marxist eliminates, the closer we move to an equitable socialist utopia. This is why Marx was so adamant about abolishing certain fixtures of society.

Among the ills of society perpetuating inequality that need abolition, according to Marx, were history, private property, the family, eternal truths, nations and borders, and religion (2). By destroying these sources of inequality, the Marxist is one step closer to the equitable world the Marxist knows is possible. Marx believed that economic issues are the driving force of conflict in the world (3). Eliminating class structure was the central goal of Marx's Communist Manifesto.

Marx's Manifesto influenced a group of intellectuals known as "The Frankfurt School" (4), who expanded on Marx's foundational premises. They shifted the front from class to cultural struggle. One of these intellectuals, Gyorgy Lukacs, is credited as the first person to advocate for the application of Marx's economic principles to cultural struggles: "he justified culture to the Marxists by showing how to condemn it in Marxist terms. And in doing so ... he provided crucial concepts to ... the thinkers of the Frankfurt School" (5).

The Frankfurt Schoolers elaborated on and furthered Lukacs's cultural Marxism. While the foundational tenets of economic Marxism are still present in their cultural Marxist works, there is a tenet that militates more with cultural than economic Marxism. In shifting fronts from class to culture, a different aspect of Marxism mandates emphasis.

That aspect is Marx's desire to abolish individuality. As Marx himself wrote: "And the abolition of this state of things is called by the bourgeois, abolition of individuality and freedom!" (6). The social justice warriors of today are using this tenet of Marxism most frequently and strongly in their quest to create an equitable society.

The modern social justice advocate uses the abolition of individuality as a tool to strip human beings of their individuality and bifurcate society. A bifurcation is a logical fallacy where a person makes things one or another, with no area in between. For example, a bifurcation would be the faulty assumption of saying a person is either a Trump-supporter or a Hillary-supporter. What about those who like Bernie Sanders or Ted Cruz? What about those who like both Trump and Hillary? What about those who like neither?

For Marx, his bifurcation was the bourgeois versus the proletariat. You were either a rich person or a working stiff. There was no in between. For the social justice warrior, you are either privileged or oppressed. Look at the diagram below for a visual interpretation of the bifurcation the social justice warrior uses (7):

This diagram is the axis of privilege versus oppression. You're either privileged or oppressed, with little to no in between. The more demographic characteristics one has from the privilege side, the more unfair advantages he has in life that are unearned (8). These unearned advantages must be taken from the privileged and given to the oppressed (9). This is where the abolition of individuality really comes into the picture.

Thomas Sowell, visionary economist, referred to social justice as "the quest for cosmic justice" (1999) (10). He articulated that:

One of the many contrasts between traditional justice and cosmic justice is that traditional justice involves the rules under which flesh-and-blood human beings interact, while cosmic justice encompasses not only contemporary individuals and groups, but also group abstractions extending over generations, or even centuries. (11)

Social justice is not just about living individuals involved in the current world; rather, it is about abstractions, generalizations, and the past. Sowell explained that "cosmic justice must be hand-made by holders of power who impose their own decision on how these flesh-and-blood individuals should be categorized into abstraction, and how these abstractions should then be forcibly configured to fit the vision of the power-holders" (12).

The social justiceMarxist strips the individual of individuality and then turns the person into an abstraction. If a human being is an individual, then we can be held accountable only for our own actions; we cannot be held accountable for the actions of another person, let alone the actions of a group of people who lived and died long before our time. If we are not individuals, then we can be turned into abstractions. As abstractions, we can then be blamed for the actions of others who classify as members of these abstractions. Those in power are the ones dictating the terms of these abstractions.

For an example of this, take race relations. If I am an individual, I had nothing to do with slavery, Jim Crow, waging war with the American Indians, or anyone who did anything hundreds of years before I was born. However, if my individuality is abolished, I am not a unique individual with specific characteristics. I can be broken down into an abstraction designated by those in power.

When the rubber meets the road between theory and practice, it looks something like this: "you're a straight white male, and straight white males have committed crimes against people of color, therefore you have committed crimes against people color." Knowing the Marxist tenet driving this, the implicit basis for stripping white males of privilege and then assigning those privileges to people of color is no longer camouflaged.

Sowell really understood the latent heart of the issue: "It is about putting particular segments of society in the position that they would have been in but for some undeserved misfortune" (13). Sowell astutely recognized that it is not about real justice, but rather about an ideological matrix built to take things away from one segment of the population and give them to another. Sowell concluded this thought by saying, "This conception of fairness requires that third parties must wield the power to control outcomes" (14).

These third parties are the politicians, academics, movie stars, and athletes. These people are using Marxism, many without even knowing it, to advance certain peoples and ideas, while simultaneously penalizing others for issues they are not responsible for.

This is possible only by abolishing individuality. In a world with individuals, we are responsible only for our own actions. In a world without individuality, we, as individuals, can be held accountable for the actions of others. It does not matter if these crimes and abuses were committed by the dead against the dead from hundreds of years before either party was born.

The next time you hear someone advocating to rectify injustices committed by the dead against other dead people, pay attention. This is merely the Marxist charade to abolish individuality.

Endnotes

1. Marx, as quoted by Kirk, 1954, p. 264.

2. Marx, 1848.

3. Ibid.

4. Scruton, 2015; Walsh, 2015; and Kengor, 2015.

5. Scruton, pp. 117118.

6. Marx, 1848.

7. Haidt, and Lukianoff, 2018.

8. Macintosh

9. Ibid.

10. Sowell, 1999.

11. Ibid, p. 31.

12. Ibid, p. 46.

13. Ibid, p. 12.

14. Ibid, p. 12.

References

Haidt, J. & Lukianoff, G. (2018). The coddling of the American mind: how good intentions and bad ideas are setting up a generation for failure. New York, NY: Penguin Books.

Kirk, R. (1953). The conservative mind: from Burke to Elliot. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books.

Kengor, P. (2015). Takedown: from communists to progressives, how the left has sabotaged family and marriage. Washington, D.C.: WND Books.

McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege: unpacking the invisible knapsack. Retrieved from: https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf

Marx, K. (1848). The communist manifesto. Retrieved from: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch02.htm

Scruton, R. (2015). Fools, frauds and firebrands: Thinkers of the new left. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Continuum.

Sowell, T. (1999). The quest for cosmic justice. New York, NY: Touchstone Books.

Walsh, Michael. (2015). The Devil's pleasure palace: the cult of critical theory and the subversion of the West. New York, NY: Encounter Books.
Puneet Agrawal, a leading industrialist from Madhya Pradesh, and five of his family were killed on Tuesday night when an elevator at his farmhouse fell from a height of more than 70 feet in Indores Patalpani area on Tuesday night.

Among the ones who died from the fall were Puneet Agrawals daughter, Palak Agrawal (27), son-in-law Palkesh Agrawal (28), grandson Nav (2), relatives Gaurav (40) and Aryaveer (11). Nidhi, a relative of the Agrawals, was the other person inside the lift who survived the fall but is hospitalised currently under serious conditions.

Town inspector of the Badgonda police station Robert Girwal said, Puneet Agrawal, his family members and relatives were at his farm house in Patalpani area on Tuesday evening. While celebrating the New Year party they were coming down in a lift in an under-construction tower in the farm house after watching the picturesque beauty in the area from the top floor of the tower when the lift fell from a height of more than 70 feet.

The town inspector further added, The dead bodies were handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination. A forensic science laboratory (FSL) team will reach the spot in the daytime. An investigation is on to find out how the mishap occurred.

According to police, the lift was being operated by a guard at the farm house with a remote controlled device. Agrawals son Nipun stayed back at the tower while his wife stayed back home, hence they survived the mishap.

Police also said the Puneet Agrawals company PATH India Limited was one of the leading construction companies in central India.
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released a statement on the series of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey over the past week.

Feinstein was Wednesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words:

Saturdays horrific attack at a rabbis home in Monsey, N.Y., was the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks in New York and New Jersey that should shake all of us to our core.

No one in this country should be fearful of practicing their religion, yet thats exactly what were witnessing. To enter a home and viciously stab five worshippers with a machete is an unthinkable act of terror, plain and simple.

I agree with Senator Schumer and others that we need a comprehensive federal investigation into these attacks, including the motivations of the perpetrators and how we can prevent future attacks. We must stem the tide of these hate crimes.

Freedom of religion is a foundation of our way of life, and more must be done to ensure that freedom is available to everyone.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 amd 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
Santa Fe County is magical throughout the holiday season, and we invite all to visit, to unwind and spend the holiday season with us.

Enjoy a dose of small town charm, visit the village of Madrid for early holiday shopping, Dec 7-22. And definitely dont want to miss the Madrid Christmas Parade, starting at 4pm on Dec 7.

The annual Pecos National Historical Parks Farolito Walk on Dec 16 offers an opportunity to dive into New Mexico culture and the areas incredible natural landscapes.

On Dec 17 join us for the Pecos National Historical Parks Las Posadas, where each year St. Anthonys Parish in Pecos celebrates this event in representation of Mary and Josephs journey to Bethlehem.

For those planning a holiday getaway later, bring in 2020 at the Fourth Annual New Years Eve on the Plaza in Americas oldest capital city surrounded by food, fun and culture.

For more information on events in the Santa Fe area, visit santafenmtrue.com.
Moroccan justice has decided to grant provisional release to journalist and human rights activist Omar Radi, who was detained last week for a tweet criticizing a judge.

Radi, 33, will appear in court on January 2 and will be released, according to his lawyer Omar Benjelloun.

The vocal journalist was arrested on Thursday for his tweet posted in April, criticizing the verdict of an Appeals judge against members of the Rif Hirak.

Radi had requested a pretrial release on medical grounds as he suffers from a severe form of asthma and other ailments. His arrest triggered uproar from human rights activists who staged demonstrations requesting his release.
Spain's acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Unidas Podemos (Together We Can) leader Pablo Iglesias embrace as they present their coalition agreement at Spain's Parliament in Madrid. Photo: Reuters

The Spanish parliament plans to discuss whether to confirm Pedro Sanchez as prime minister of a minority government, while his Socialist Party is seeking the support of a Catalan pro-independence party.

The speaker of the lower house, Meritxell Batet, is expected to make a formal call tomorrow for a debate and vote on Mr Sanchez.

Spain has been in political gridlock without a proper government for most of the year after two inconclusive elections. On Monday, Socialist Party leader Mr Sanchez and the head of the far-left party Unidas Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, restated their intention to form a coalition. Since the two parties together fall short of a majority with 155 seats in a 350-member parliament, the Socialist Party is currently courting the Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC). The Socialists need the ERC's 13 politicians to at least abstain in order to secure acting prime minister Mr Sanchez's confirmation in office in a second vote on January 7. ERC's governing body is scheduled to meet tomorrow to decide whether to facilitate Mr Sanchez's confirmation in office. Yesterday, the Catalan newspaper 'Ara' said the Socialist Party agreed that a Sanchez-led government would hold a dialogue with the regional Catalan government and then put the results of that dialogue to the Catalan public.
The Modi governments cash-for-farmers programme has been able to benefit only half of the 140 million farmers targeted in 2019-20 due to implementation hurdles, according to figures presented in Parliament. The next disbursal, now due, is likely to leave out those who have not been able to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar, the universal 12-digit biometric identity number.

Under PM-KISAN, the government provides income support of 6000 a year to farmers with a valid enrolment, paid in three equal cash transfers of 2000 -- one every four months. It was launched on 24 February 2019, when the first instalment was paid.

At the current rate of expansion, the government is unlikely to spend the entire 75,000 crore budgeted for 2019-20. As on October 21, 2019, the government has spent 32,577 crore, or 43% of this.

Aadhaar-based enrolment and cash transfers, slow internet connections in many rural centres, and messy land records have slowed the programme, the farm ministry told a parliamentary panel this month.

Cash transfers under the programme take place every four months: December to March, April to July and August to November. In the first instalment period (December 2018 to March 2019), nearly 70.2 million farmers received a total of 14,055 crore. In the second tranche (April to July 2019), only 59.2 million were paid a total amount of 11,845 crore. The third instalment saw 33.3 million farmers benefiting, with a payout of 6,677 crore.

Theres a reason those numbers look out of place. After all, if 70.2 million farmers received the first instalment, whey did only 59.2 receive a second instalment and only 33.3 million a third? The agriculture ministry counts the first tranche paid to a farmer, even if it was paid for the second period due to late enrolment, as the first instalment paid. This means even if a farmer enrolled in the second period (April to July 2019) and got his instalment for this period as his first ever cash transfer, he will be counted among those receiving the first instalment (December 2018 to March 2019). This inflates the total number of farmers, as shown above.

In all, of the targeted 140 million farmers, nearly 71 million farmers have so far received the payouts, as the ministry noted before the parliamentary panel. I would like to make it clear that the total number of farmers who have got the benefit is right now 7,17,42,959, a ministry official said in the report to Parliament.

That leave another 69 million to be targeted by March.

Based on these, 33.3 million farmers benefited from the scheme between December 2018 and March 2019 (they have received three instalments), with an additional 25.9 million benefited from it between April and July (they have received two), and an additional 11 between August and November (they have received only one).

According to the schemes design, farmers registered for the scheme in the first stage would have received all three instalments released so far since the start of the scheme. Farmers who registered during the second period would not have receives the first instalment but would have received the next two, because the benefits are not retrospective.

The agriculture ministry cited in its report to the committee multiple hurdles in the programme, rolled out to squash large-scale protests by farmers in the run-up to the last general election in May 2019. India has continued to remain in the grip of an agrarian crisis caused by low food prices and extreme weather events.

Problems in Aadhaar authentication, or the process of validating the biometric identity with a beneficiarys bank account, have limited the number of potential payouts, according to the report.

Aadhaar linking was optional for the first tranche that covered the December 2018-March 2019 period. For the second instalment covering the period April-July 2019, Aadhaar authentication was compulsory, except for north-eastern states and the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.

As teething problems began showing, the government relaxed the requirement of Aadhaar till November 30, 2019. But all farmers need to mandatorily complete their Aadhaar details after this date to get cash transfers. Payouts for the currently due tranche for the December 2019-March 2020 period will be done based on Aadhaar validation. The government has made Aadhaar compulsory for all welfare handouts to plug leakages.

Demographic authentication of Aadhaar data is slowing down the release process as there are a lot of cases where the names entered in the data base of PM-KISAN do not match with the names as available in their Aadhaar, the ministry said in the report.

In Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, lack of proper land records pose a difficulty in identifying the actual beneficiaries, the ministry said. Eligible farmer families are identified on the basis of operational land holding data according to the agricultural Census Data 2015-16, which is then extrapolated to 2018-19, an official said. Its the job of state governments to provide accurate beneficiary data and payments are continuously updated.

Payments are made through a centralised financial software, which rejects beneficiaries in case of Aadhaar or land record mismatch. Poor internet connections also hamper uploading of data to the PM-KISAN database, the ministry said. The software validates a payment only when theres an accurate match of three data points: Aadhaar, land record and bank account.

The ministry added that in states such as Punjab, land has been transferred but records are not available. The country has 140 million operational land holdings, which refers to the number of land parcels owned by total households.

The government needs to redesign the scheme. Commonly, land records are in the name of head of the family, while the land is cultivated by his sons. So, who should get the money has become a matter of family disputes, said Yudhvir Singh, the national general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union.

According to Singh, farmers are finding it difficult to correct even small details, such as mismatches in spelling of names. Experts such as Ashok Gulati of the think-tank ICRIER say a sufficient amount of national income support to cover farming costs can help cut down wasteful subsidies.

According to calculations by Gulati, published in an April 2018 paper, a national-level income transfer scheme to all farmers will cost  1.97 lakh crore under the assumption that all farmers get 10,000/ha irrespective of what crops they are growing and whom they are selling. This is only slightly more than the 170 lakh crore that the country spends on its food subsidy bill.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Zia Haq Zia Haq reports on public policy, economy and agriculture. Particularly interested in development economics and growth theories. ...view detail
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A shooting near San Francisco's Fort Mason on New Year's Eve left two men hurt, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The shooting was reported at about 9:35 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Franklin and Bay streets. Officers arrived to find the two victims, who were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The shooter remains at large and police did not immediately release any information about the suspect or what led to the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or to send a text message to TIP411 with "SFPD" at the start of the message.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
US President Donald Trump warned Tehran it would "pay a very big price" after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the American embassy compound in Iraq, as his government said it is sending hundreds more troops to the Middle East. Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen paramilitary fighters on Sunday, hundreds of protesters spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone Tuesday, demanding the removal of American troops from Iraq and voicing loyalty to a powerful Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack was "orchestrated by terrorists," one of whom he named as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Muhandis has been identified as second-in-command of the Tehran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which includes Kataeb Hezbollah, the group that was targeted in the US air strikes. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the region. "This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," he said. Prior to the announcement, a US official told AFP that "up to 4,000 (troops) may ultimately be deployed". The US had already flown a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after the attack Tuesday, which left smoke and flames rising from the embassy entrance and further heightened tension between Tehran and Washington. Esper's announcement is the latest move by Washington to step up its defences in the region since US President Donald Trump in May 2018 pulled out of a multinational nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed crippling economic sanctions. Trump blamed Tehran for the embassy attack and warned that it would face punishment if Americans are killed. "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump said on Twitter. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," wrote Trump, adding "Happy New Year!" However, Trump later told reporters that he did not foresee war with Tehran. - Surprise, fury - Trump's message came at the end of a day in which Washington officials appeared surprised and furious over the ease at which the protestors entered the Green Zone, reaching the US embassy compound for the first time in years. Live broadcasts showed the protesters battering down the high-security doors of the embassy reception building, smashing windows, burning a sentry box and chanting "Death to America!" The State Department and Pentagon demanded Iraq's leaders provide security to the compound -- which was already heavily fortified. By the time a contingent of US Marine reinforcements flew in, some of the demonstrators had pulled back and others settled in for a sustained protest, preparing food for the evening. Tehran said the United States is itself to blame for air strikes that killed about two dozen Kataeb Hezbollah fighters on Sunday. "The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi people's protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi. - 'Strategic patience' - The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship. Allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washington's influence in the country. US jet fighters on Sunday struck five Kateab Hezbollah outposts in Iraq and Syria after a series of rocket attacks on US-occupied facilities in Iraq over the past two months that are blamed on the group and its alleged Iranian sponsors. One of those attacks, in Kirkuk on Friday, left an American civilian contractor dead and exhausted what US officials called Trump's "strategic patience" with Tehran. - 'First lesson' to US - It also added to the growing calls by some political factions in Iraq to push US troops out of the country nearly 17 years after they entered and overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime. The protesters who besieged the US embassy on Tuesday carried posters reading: "Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!" Late Tuesday Kataeb Hezbollah hailed the attack as a "first lesson" to Washington, "so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid". US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. Ambassador Matthew Tueller, who had been on holiday, was on his way back to the embassy. Smoke billows from the entrance of the US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad after supporters and members of the Hashed al-Shaabi military network tried to break into the building, during a rally to vent anger over deadly US air strikes An Iraqi supporter of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network lifts a picture of Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in front of the US embassy in Baghdad A sentry box burns at an entrance to the United States embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad Map of central Baghdad locating the US embassy American soldiers take positions around the United States embassy in Baghdad, Iraq after supporters and members of the Hashed al-Shaabi military network breached the outer wall of the mission Iraqi protesters tear a security camera off a wall at the US embassy compound in Baghdad
By Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean prosecutors indicted former Justice Minister Cho Kuk on Tuesday on a dozen charges including bribery, two months after he resigned over a scandal involving family investment and university admissions for his children.

The accusations are a setback for President Moon Jae-in after the liberal leader named Cho, a former top aide, to the cabinet post to lead reform of the prosecutors' office, which critics saw as being susceptible to political pressure.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted Cho and his wife on Tuesday morning over family investment and use of their position to gain the admissions for the children, it said in a statement.

Cho faces a dozen charges, ranging from bribery and document fraud to manipulation of evidence and violations of public service ethics law, it added.

Together with his wife, Chung Kyung-shim, he is being prosecuted for falsifying documents regarding family investments and efforts to gain university admissions.

Cho will remain free as he stands trial. Chung, who is also a university professor, was arrested in October on the same charges.

Cho's lawyer, Kim Chil-joon, did not immediately respond to telephone calls or a text message to seek comment.

The Yonhap news agency quoted him as saying the prosecutors had handed down "a political indictment based on their imagination and fiction".

Moon's office called the investigation result "meager" and said it would deepen people's distrust of the prosecutors.

"The investigation shook the president's authority," said Yoon Do-han, Moon's press secretary. "The result raised questions about the intent of the investigation."

Cho's resignation and indictment were a spectacular downfall for the former star legal scholar known for progressive thinking who was one of Moon's closest political allies and viewed by some as a potential presidential successor.

Story continues

Moon came to power in 2017, promising to clean up corruption after weeks of large street protests led to the impeachment of predecessor Park Geun-hye.

Cho stepped down in October after just one month in office, saying the graft scandal around his family had become a political burden for Moon's government.

His appointment was followed by street protests for and against the president on a scale not seen since 2017, hitting Moon's public support ratings.

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Editing by Jack Kim and Clarence Fernandez)
BALLSTON SPA  A progressive activist who is known for challenging Republican policies on the state and federal level is attempting to unseat state Assembly GOP incumbent Mary Beth Walsh in 2020.

Joe Seeman, a retired software developer for the state Education Department, said that he wants to run for the 112th district seat to represent the average people.

The district includes portions of Greenfield to the north and Glenville to the south, including Clifton Park and Halfmoon.

Ive been fighting for decades, for the interests of the average middle class, working class people, said Seeman on Tuesday. Ive been fighting for a clean environment, fighting healthcare, fighting for an economy that serves the average people, not just the rich. Ive been fighting for democracy, fighting against big money corrupting our political system. ... Its a continuation of what I have been doing all my life.

Seeman, who has led protests at the state Capitol and in recent years at Congresswoman Elise Stefaniks Glens Falls office, also said that he feels he has been effective on the streets and believes he can be effective in the Assembly chambers as well.

Im running for the future of upstate New York, Seeman said. New York can be a leader. It can be Americas leader and America should be leading the world.  Thats why Im running to keep fighting, to fight on the inside.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The 59-year-old, who describes himself as a middle-class, hard-working person, said his platform will focus on green energy jobs that cant be outsourced, public healthcare to alleviate the burden of employers, rescuing the environment from climate change, fair taxation and fair school funding.

A member of Saratoga Progressive Action and a long-time volunteer of Citizen Action of New York, he is also a state committee member for the Working Families Party. He said he will run as a Democrat and on the Working Families Party line.

He also said that he promises to run a civil campaign that will not attack Walsh.

It will not be a typical campaign, Seeman said. I wont go after her in any dirty way. Im not going to call her names, ridicule or belittle her. The campaign is about going to the people, listening to the people, talking to the people. I'm open to different ideas. I'm a firm believer you can learn from your opponent."
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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - More than a month before he charged into Hanukkah celebrations with a machete, prosecutors say, Grafton Thomas used his cellphone to search the Internet: "Why did Hitler hate the Jews."

That query - entered three more times over the following weeks - was just one red flag authorities found when they combed Thomas' belongings, officials said. There were more online searches, for temples "near me." There were journals with the words "Nazi Culture" on the same page as a Swastika and a Star of David.

The discoveries detailed by an FBI agent would bring Thomas to court Monday on federal hate-crime charges, a day after he was charged with attempted murder in the stabbing that wounded five people at a rabbi's home in New York's Rockland County. The 38-year-old defendant answered routine questions, telling a judge he was "coherent," before shuffling away slowly, feet shackled, to be held without bail.

Thomas' family has said the suspect has "no known history of anti-Semitism" and attributed any responsibility in Saturday's rampage in the New York suburb of Monsey to "profound mental illness." But the federal criminal complaint points to Thomas' handwritten journals and online history as evidence that the man sought to target Jews in an assault that quickly renewed fears of rising anti-Semitic violence.

Thomas, a resident of Greenwood Lake, New York, did not enter a plea for the latest charges at his court appearance in White Plains, where he faces five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon and causing injuries. He pleaded not guilty on Sunday to five state counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary.

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Thomas' attorney in court Monday declined to comment.

Even before Monday's charges brought a potential motive into focus, many officials and community leaders had denounced anti-Semitism and expressed concern about a spate of attacks on Jewish residents. Saturday's stabbing was 13th anti-Semitic incident in three weeks in New York state, the governor said, calling the Monsey stabbing "domestic terrorism." Earlier this month, four people were fatally shot in what officials called a targeted attack on a Jersey City kosher grocery store.

The hate-crime charges were a welcome sign of accountability to Yossi Gestetner, who lives seven minutes from the rabbi's house and headed over the night of the stabbing. He doesn't think the anti-Semitism described in the complaint has heightened his community's fears, though - because "the concern that hate exists was already out there."

"People in the Orthodox Jewish community have been expressing concern for a very long time that there is a strain of hatred targeted toward them," said the co-founder of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council. He said of Thomas: "We saw today . . . he chose Orthodox Jews."

Authorities found Thomas within hours of the attack, driving with blood on his clothes in a car that smelled of bleach.

The suspect's browser history showed queries related to Nazis, Jews and synagogues dating to at least Nov. 9, according to the complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. A day before the stabbing, the complaint says, Thomas accessed an article on New York's decision to ramp up police presence in multiple Jewish neighborhood amid fears of anti-Semitic violence.

Journals discovered in Thomas' home also include anti-Semitic statements, an FBI officer writes in the federal complaint. One page questions "why [people] mourned for anti-Semitism when there is Semitic genocide."

Another says that "Hebrew Israelites" have taken from "ebinoid Israelites," an apparent reference to the Black Hebrew Israelites, a movement that officials said the suspects in the Jersey City shooting expressed interest in. Organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center have pointed to members' anti-Semitic beliefs, prosecutors note.

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Thomas' family sought to dispel accusations of anti-Semitism in a statement released Sunday through a lawyer, saying he was not a member of any hate groups and "was raised in a home which embraced and respected all religions and races."

The family pointed to Thomas' "long history of mental illness and hospitalizations," adding that attorney Michael Sussman plans to seek a mental health evaluation.

"We believe the actions of which he is accused, if committed by him, tragically reflect profound mental illness," Sussman said, for which "Grafton has received episodic treatment before being released."

Sussman's office did not respond Monday to inquiries.

In federal court Monday, defense attorney Susanne Brody asked that Thomas get medical attention in jail, saying that he is on two medications and that she understands "there are issues with bipolar and schizophrenia."

Little more about the defendant's mental health was discussed as the defendant said he understood the proceedings and declared himself indigent and eligible for free counsel.

Brody said it's not clear whether the state's case against Thomas will proceed, and the Rockland County district attorney did not immediately clarify Monday.

Federal prosecutors said the hate-crime charges should send a "crystal-clear" message, as the filing drew approval from groups that had called for concrete steps to address anti-Jewish attacks.

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"As alleged, Grafton Thomas targeted his victims in the midst of a religious ceremony, transforming a joyous Hanukkah celebration into a scene of carnage and pain," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement, calling the eighth day of Hanukkah and the new year moments "for renewed hope and resolve: To combat bigotry in all its forms - and to bring to justice the perpetrators of hate-fueled attacks."

Other officials have vowed action to prevent more violence.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who directed the state's Hate Crimes Task Force to investigate, is calling for harsher punishments for mass attacks motivated by hatred of an identity group. Officials in Rockland County said police would partner with private security to give area synagogues armed guards - a measure that community members say some congregations have already taken in recent months amid concerns about attacks across the country.

As most leaders focus on anti-Semitism, one federal official on Monday attempted to link the attack to unauthorized immigration.

"The attacker is the U.S. Citizen son of an illegal alien who got amnesty under the 1986 amnesty law for illegal immigrants. Apparently, American values did not take hold among this entire family, at least this one violent, and apparently bigoted, son," Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and a longtime immigration hawk, said in a now-deleted tweet. Signed by President Ronald Reagan and passed on a bipartisan basis in Congress, the landmark 1986 law granted legal status to 2.7 million undocumented immigrants who entered the country before 1982.

DHS, the domestic anti-terrorism agency where Cuccinelli is second-in-command, did not immediately respond to requests for information about his allegations. Hours later, Cuccinelli's tweet was deleted.

Saturday's stabbing shook a county where a third of the population is Jewish and where officials said anti-Semitism has risen in recent years as increasing numbers of Orthodox Jews have made homes there.

Concerns in the Orthodox community flared last month after a 30-year-old rabbi said two people approached him from behind on a secluded street in Monsey and beat him for several minutes - though Police Chief Brad Weidel has said there is no evidence that the man was targeted for his religion.

Then came Saturday attack as dozens celebrated the seventh night of Hanukkah inside the home of Hasidic Rabbi Chaim Rottenberg. Face covered with a scarf, the assailant told those gathered, "No one is leaving," according to Monday's federal complaint.

Witnesses say he unsheathed a machete, described by one person as a sword nearly the size of a broomstick, and started slashing at random, moving through the entryway, then into the dining room and eventually toward the kitchen, where people fled through a back door.

Attendee Joseph Gluck said he eventually hit the attacker in the head with a small coffee table from the entryway. Both men moved outside, and Gluck realized that the man was headed toward the synagogue, where congregants locked the doors after hearing the commotion at the rabbi's house. Gluck screamed warnings, then watched as the man tried a second door.

The attacker fled to a car and sped away, officials say, but Gluck was able to write down the license plate number. Authorities caught the suspect in Harlem around midnight.

Authorities found Thomas with a machete and a knife, both showing what seemed to be traces of dried blood, Monday's federal complaint says.

Yisroel Kraus, a 26-year-old teacher who was celebrating Hanukkah at the rabbi's home with his family, said it was lucky that people had already started to filter out for the night when the attacker starting swinging at "everyone he could."

"If he had come 10 minutes earlier, the place would have been packed," Kraus said. "No way to move. No way to run. It was a miracle. It was a Hanukkah miracle."

- - -

Katie Mettler, Marisa Iati and Kevin Armstrong contributed to this report.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the hate crime charges were filed in Manhattan. They were filed in White Plains.

This article was written by Shayna Jacobs, Deanna Paul, Maria Sacchetti and Hannah Knowles, reporters for The Washington Post.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying China will firmly safeguard international fairness and justice and promote the political solution to the Iran nuclear issue, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

"The Chinese side supports all constructive efforts that help ease the current tension and uphold the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," Wang said.

Wang said the United States has withdrawn from the JCPOA, also known as Iran nuclear deal, and taken a maximum pressure tactic against Iran, which was to blame for the current tension of the Iran nuclear issue.

China will firmly defend international fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, and work to promote a political and diplomatic settlement of the Iran nuclear issue, Wang said.

Speaking highly of the important role China has played in safeguarding the Iran nuclear deal, Zarif said the Iranian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level.
It's hard to believe that Joe Biden can be so many things all at one time. He is the acknowledged leader on the clown tour in stupid utterances. He's the leader in denying that one of his relatives is a crook. And now he has taken what appears to be an insurmountable lead in driving away votes from whoever the Democratic candidate may be.

This is a report from my little corner of the world in Southwest Pennsylvania, where the Republican Party would like to make Joe Biden our Republican Campaigner of the Year. How so, you may ask?

This small part of the state is the second largest gas-producing region in the nation. Pennsylvania is also the third largest coal-producing state in the nation and much of that coal is mined in this region. The economy of Southwest Pennsylvania is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and its related supply chain. Washington County, where much of this mining and drilling occurs, had been Democratic since 1930, although it has been moving in a conservative Republican direction, voting for Republican presidents since 2008.

In 2016, when Hillary Clinton said she would shut down the coal industry, this area went wild. Republican registration boomed, and Democrats lost voters. This Democrat-majority county voted for President Trump by 60% with a 75% turnout. A month ago, for the first time in 90 years, Republicans swept the county row offices and took control of the County Commissioner's office. You bet we are now Republican, and you bet we can thank Hillary and the idiotic impeachment process in part. Mostly we thank President Trump for doing a great job delivering on his promises.

The president's job performance is just what these blue-collar, hardworking men and woman wanted to see. It's what our local economy wanted to see. People are working, making more money, feeling good about the future, and they are more solidly for Trump than ever.

Then along comes Joe. First, he pledged to "end America's use of fossil fuels if elected president." Then he followed up by saying, "We would make sure it is eliminated, and no more subsidies for either one of those [oil or gas], period."

Then, if anyone had any doubts that Joe Biden was living at the low end of the intelligence curve, he recently suggested that all the coal miners and other blue-collar workers who lose their jobs could learn to write computer programs. "Anybody who can go down 3,000 feet in a mine can sure as hell learn to program as well," Biden told an audience in Derry, N.H. "Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for God's sake!" You can't make up stuff this stupid.

What Joe has done in Southwest Pennsylvania is to assure that President Trump's 60% margin in 2016 may be 70% in 2020 and that Pennsylvania will most certainly be in the Republican column whether Biden is the candidate or not. He has probably done the same thing for West Virginia and Ohio. It doesn't end there. The automobile industry would be similarly devastated by such a proposal, as would other Midwest manufacturing states.

Talking about high-tech and unworkable "clean energy" solutions only makes the snowflake states happy, and they are in the Democratic column already.

So take heed, anyone in the energy industry, the energy supply chain, the automotive industry, the airline industry, the logistics industry, or the plastics and chemical industries. The Democrats, whoever the candidate is, are coming after you. Joe Biden was just the one stupid enough to clearly state it ten months before the election.

Dave Ball is the author of conservative political commentary, a guest on political talk shows, an elected official and a county party official.

Image: Marc Nozell via Flickr.
One of the promises President Trump made to American voters is that he would shrink the federal government. With the latest announcement that the National Security Council is set to lose as many as 330 people, the President is closing in on that goal.

The National Security Council has been at work in Washington, D.C., since 1947. Congress created it at the beginning of the Cold War to coordinate policy between the various government national security entities, such as the military and the CIA.

President Truman was unenthused, resenting Congress's impingement on his ability to handle foreign affairs. Nevertheless, he accepted its existence and Truman, followed by subsequent presidents, kept manipulating its shape and make-up to help make it a more congenial partner when working with the White House to defend American interests against overseas actors.

In the wake of 9/11, the NSC was reorganized, with a new Director of National Intelligence replacing the head of the CIA at the NSC's helm and taking a place in the President's cabinet. Under President Obama's watch, the NSC grew in size and power, with as many as 450 people assigned to it when he merged the NSC and White House staff supporting the Homeland Security Council into a single National Security Staff.

When President Trump assumed office, he set about again reorganizing the NSC structure and chain of command in significant part to cut down on the number of people mandated to attend various meetings.

President Trump is once again re-working the NSC, this time to bring it in line with his promises to make the federal government smaller and more responsive, as well as to break the flow of sensitive information NSC staff to the media:

The White House National Security Council staff is being downsized sharply in a bid to improve efficiency within the policy coordinating body by consolidating positions and cutting staff. A second, unspoken thrust of the overhaul is a hoped-for end to what many critics see as a string of politically damaging, unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information. Leaks of President Trumps conversations with foreign leaders and other damaging disclosures likely originated with anti-Trump officials in the White House who stayed over from the Obama administration, according to several current and former White House officials. White House National Security Adviser Robert C. OBrien is leading the NSC reform effort. He revealed in a recent interview with The Washington Times that 40 to 45 NSC staff officials were sent back in recent months to the agencies where they originally worked, with more likely to be moved out.

The move will also backtrack from Obama-era changes that turned the NSC, originally an advisory committee, into a significant policymaking agency:

The NSC staff became bloated during the prior administration, Mr. OBrien said. The NSC is a coordinating body. I am trying to get us back to a lean and efficient staff that can get the job done, can coordinate with our interagency partners, and make sure the president receives the best advice he needs to make the decisions necessary to keep the American people safe. In the Obama administration, NSC officials wielded enormous power. NSC staff members were known to telephone commanders in Afghanistan and other locations in the Middle East with orders  a violation of the militarys strict chain of command, said military officials familiar with the calls. I just dont think that we need the numbers of people that it expanded to under the last administration to do this job right, Mr. OBrien said.

This downsizing is consistent with other White House efforts to trim the federal government, something that will help with both costs and efficiency. Betsy DeVos has cut 600 staff positions at the Department of Education, although that's a decrease of only 14%. President Trump also relocated two resarch departments in the Department of Agriculture from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, bringing them geographically closer to the agriculture they study. Government workers were not happy:

The vast majority of staff at ERS and NIFA declined to relocate to the new office space in the Midwest. USDA said it plans to aggressively hire new employees to fill the absences.

While one can be sympathetic to people who resist having to uproot their lives, government work was never meant to benefit the bureaucrats. It should, instead, work for the taxpayers, by providing core services efficiently and cheaply
This is going to be a momentous presidential election year, as we face the very real possibility that an impeached president could be re-elected for the first time in U.S. history. But there will be plenty of other events that will matter in 2020, too.

Heres what Axios newsletter authors and reporters will be watching  from the future of tech regulation to the impact climate change and job automation will have on all of our lives. (Sign up for their newsletters here.)

Politics: To what extent will President Trump and his campaign be able to convert a Republican-led Senate trial into enduring political advantage? By November 2020, will impeachment be just another forgotten series of Trump news cycles, or will it have given him additional tools to wield or weaknesses to manage?  Jonathan Swan

Business: People can't stop talking about it: Will 2020 finally be year the next recession hits? As Magic 8 Ball might say, "reply hazy."  Jennifer A. Kingson

Tech: On the policy front, we will be watching to see if the techlash-related hand wringing actually leads to greater regulation or antitrust enforcement. On the pure tech front, 2020 will be a little early to see truly consumer-ready AR glasses  but expect to see more experimentation, both in smartphones and beyond.  Ina Fried

Media: How will big tech companies police their systems for malicious content and political manipulation ahead of the 2020 election?  Sara Fischer

Health care: Congress punted surprise medical bill and prescription drug legislation last month, saying that it can be addressed this year  giving the health care industry more time to lobby against the measures. And on the campaign trail, moderates will keep duking it out against progressives over whether a public option or Medicare for All is the best vision for the future.  Caitlin Owens

Energy: Ill be keeping an eye out for whether the worlds biggest oil companies, under pressure from advocates, will make more concrete and deeper climate commitments.  Ben Geman

World: Will the U.S. and North Korea return to fire and fury after missing Pyongyangs end-of-year deadline for a breakthrough in the nuclear talks? How will the U.S. election factor into that, as well as into the U.S.-Iran standoff?  Dave Lawler

China: 2020 is a make-or-break year for Huaweiand for U.S. attempts to keep it out of global 5G networks. Will Canada and European nations follow U.S. warnings and give 5G contracts elsewhere (or simply delay), or will the promise of cheap Chinese 5G prove too alluring to resist?  Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian

Future: I'm watching how robots and machines will continue to gnaw away at jobs. Experts predict that 2020 will be the year that the economy really starts to feel the impact of automation-fueled job losses. Look for these waves of disruption to hit the American heartland the hardest as big cities keep getting the bulk of new job creation.  Erica Pandey

Cities: The Census will be top of mind for city leaders to ensure residents are counted appropriately. In addition, the frequency of cybersecurity attacks targeting state and city governments will likely continue to increase, forcing more officials to make the hard choice between paying a ransom demanded by hackers or spending the millions it takes to rebuild systems.  Kim Hart

Transportation: Electric vehicles are beginning to enter the mainstream, with more models to choose from in dealer showrooms, but widespread adoption will depend on how quickly battery prices fall and charging stations spread. The industry is working hard on both challenges, but in the meantime, buyers are finding that hybrids are a good placeholder.  Joann Muller

Space: All eyes will be on SpaceX and Boeing as both companies aim to get NASA astronauts launching to the International Space Station this year. Will 2020 finally be the year that sees humans sent to orbit from U.S. soil for the first time since the end of the space shuttle program?  Miriam Kramer

Sports: I'll be watching the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Games. Who will emerge as the face(s) of Team USA  and the Olympics as a whole  now that global/generational superstars like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt have retired?  Kendall Baker
DALLAS, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (ALYI) today highlighted Africas $4 billion motorcycle ride hail market featured in a recent TechCrunch article emphasizing the anticipated explosive growth in Africa over the next decade. ALYI management sees ALYI as well positioned leader prepared to capture the wave of investment and growth coming to Africa in 2020 and beyond.



ALYI is currently developing $300 million in electric vehicle projects in Africa targeting the shared-ride market, leading with electric motorcycles for the shared-ride market. The company has signed orders for electric motorcycles with a side car to be produced in Kenya for shared ride providers in Kenya. ALYI has also recently announced a $100 million cryptocurrency investment strategy targeted at expanding beyond the companys existing $300 million in electric vehicle projects in Africa.

ALYI has secured institutional commitment to support an annual African electric mobility technology conference and symposium to advance the deployment of electric powered transportation solutions specific to Africa. The focus includes environmental sustainability but also overall transportation efficiency applicable to the African transportation infrastructure, economy, and consumer. ALYI CEO, Dr. Randell Torno, contends that the immediate opportunity for electric powered transportation growth in Africa by far exceeds the electric powered transportation opportunity anywhere else in the world and that the electric mobility technology innovations that will be developed for Africa will ultimately form the foundation of commercial electric powered transportation everywhere. In short, Africa is the global proving ground for electric powered transportation. Dr. Torno just concluded meetings in London last week where he secured institutional brand name commitment that will serve as the anchor event and attraction at the annual African electric mobility technology conference and symposium. The planed conference and symposium location is Nairobi, Kenya.

Story continues

For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.

Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact:

Randell Torno

info@lithiumip.com

+1-800-713-0297

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df6ac0c2-6c26-45ec-b16a-940aa6032e04
* Parliament adopted revised labour code

The National Assembly passed sweeping revisions to the labour code, which will come into force on January 1, 2021. Under the new legislation, the retirement age will increase to 62 for men and 60 for women. Workers will also have one additional public holiday, either before or after the National Day on September 2.

* Vietnam ratifies ILO Convention 98

The National Assembly adopted a resolution on Vietnam joining the International Labour Organisations Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining. The move affirms Vietnams determination and efforts in the implementation of relevant commitments in the CPTPP and fulfilment of its duties as an ILO member. The adoption of Convention 98 also facilitates the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

* Severely wounded veterans honoured

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with several other agencies, held a conference in July to honour 500 severely wounded veterans, representing 1.2 million wounded veterans across the country, as part of various activities to mark Vietnams Remembrance Day.

* Breakthrough in voluntary social insurance coverage

In 2019, there were an additional 281,000 people voluntarily registering for social insurance, raising the total number of people covered by social insurance on a voluntary basis to 551,000, surpassing the target set in the Party Central Committees resolution two years ahead of schedule.

* National forum on enhancing Vietnamese workers skills

The government held a conference on enhancing the skills of Vietnamese workers in November, affirming a vision and aspiration to prepare an army of highly skilled workers, helping to enhance economic competitiveness and to meet the requirements of the fourth industrial revolution and international integration.

* Guest workers reach new record

In 2019 Vietnam sent 148,000 people to work abroad, raising the total number of Vietnamese guest workers to a record high of more than 550,000. Japan currently hosts the largest number of Vietnamese workers, followed by Taiwan (China) and the Republic of Korea.

* Poverty rate drops to below 4%

In 2019 the national rate of poor households under a multi-dimensional approach fell by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago to less than 4%, thanks to a wide range of poverty reduction programmes. Meanwhile, in poor districts the rate dropped by nearly 5 percentage points to below 29%.

* Jobs created for more than 1.6 million workers

In 2019 Vietnam created jobs for an estimated 1.635 million people, surpassing the full-year target by 3.2%. The number of jobs created at home reached about 1.508 million. The urban unemployment rate was 3.12%.


By John J. Metzler





NEW YORK  Peering into the crystal snow globe, it's time to predict, prognosticate and presage into the year ahead. Without a pun we need the proverbial 2020 vision to decipher the political and security landscape that awaits us in the new year with both long-running static conflicts and newly unpredictable crises.



Here are among the things we can expect.



Static conflicts



Syria's devastating civil war enters its ninth year with no clear end in sight but continuing as a churning humanitarian hell for millions. Few can imagine the sanguinary killing zone that has slogged on since 2011.



The U.N. Security Council remains dangerously deadlocked by a superpower standoff and thus even humanitarian concessions for the suffering Syrian civilians fall by the wayside. Millions of refugees and internally displaced people later, the fight for Syria's future continues with a devil's mix of Islamic jihadi terrorist groups facing the Russian-backed Assad regime.



Korea's face-off continues. Despite tough U.N. economic sanctions, the Pyongyang leadership still refuses to denuclearize. Diplomatic efforts by the U.S. have stopped the ticking clock but have failed to resolve the clear and present danger from North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to East Asia and the U.S. A renewed crisis could erupt in the New Year on the divided Korean Peninsula.



There's the glaring humanitarian crisis in forgotten Yemen, Libya's strife, Afghanistan's deterioration, and the everlasting conflict in the Congo.



In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro's socialist regime is holding on despite the once prosperous economy now in free fall. Four million Venezuelan refugees have created Latin America's largest humanitarian crisis. The outcome remains far from resolved; most Latin American countries and the U.S. back the democratic opposition, but Maduro is supported by Cuba and China.



Elections



Britain's recent election saw the Conservative Party win a thumping majority over Labour. Prime Minister Boris Johnson now finally appears to have a clear Parliamentary path to the controversial Brexit through which the United Kingdom will formally leave the European Union at the end of January.



But beyond the Brexit euphoria, the U.K. faces serious political fault lines, especially in Scotland.



Presidential elections are scheduled for Taiwan in early January; the outcome of the democratic contest will decide the island's commercial relations with and security from Mainland China.



China's aggressive actions and brazen disregard of Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" formula poses a poignant reminder to Taiwan's voters to cherish and safeguard their political freedoms. Given Beijing's abuse of Hong Kong's "guaranteed" rights, why would Taiwan risk a deal with the People's Republic? Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen will likely be re-elected.



In November the United States goes to the polls in a nearly theatrical presidential election. The politically embattled Trump administration has, despite the naysayers, delivered impressive economic gains for the American people.



Record-low unemployment, impressive growth in long-lost manufacturing jobs and a roaring stock market are among accomplishments charting prosperity. The old slogan, "It's the economy, stupid!" shall likely bear out in the polls in the face of a divided and detached Democratic party opposition. Congressional approval of the administration's upgraded USMCA free trade pact with Canada and Mexico assures further jobs and growth.



New flashpoints



Turkey's authoritarian leader Tayyip Erdogan's muscle-flexing in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, comes as Ankara signed an agreement with Libya that creates an exclusive economic zone from Turkey's southern Mediterranean shore to Libya's northeast coast. This impinges on the maritime interests of Greece and Cyprus and looks to create a Turkish Mare Nostrum.



Jihadi resurgence in the Sahel; the huge swath of sub-Saharan Africa from northern Nigeria, through Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Here French military units battle Islamic militants in a forgotten war far from the headlines. On the outcome of this turmoil hinges whether large numbers of migrants would ultimately head to Europe.



Iran's grim reality of both incompetence and corruption sparked growing domestic dissent to the Islamic regime. Seething anger among disenchanted young people has led to pro-democracy demonstrations in 2018 and as recently as November where 1,500 protesters were killed by security forces. The political pot could boil over in the new year.



Wild card wishes



Let's refuse to politely overlook human rights abuses in China, Cuba, Burma or North Korea. It's time to condemn the persecution of Middle East Christians.



Hold hope that Argentina's new populist left-wing Fernandez government somehow tries to stay sensible and refrain from its Peronist fantasy.



Sadly uncertainty seems to be the watchword of the new decade. Happy New Year!





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."




MANISTEE COUNTY  January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, and District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) wants to spread awareness about the importance of cervical health to women everywhere.

One virus that impacts thousands of women every year is HPV (human papillomavirus). HPV is a very common infection that spreads through sexual activity, and it causes almost all cases of cervical cancer. At any given time, 79 million Americans have HPV, but many people with HPV dont know they are infected. Yearly, 13,000 HPV cases in women will turn into cervical cancer.

Theres a lot that can be done to prevent cervical cancer:

 Seek out regular screening tests and follow-up care. Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening tests and follow-up care;

 Women begin receiving routine Pap tests at age 21;

 Talk with A healthcare provider about any concerns. Get the conversation started, make it a priority; and

 Elect to have yourself or your child receive the HPV vaccine. Ideally, pre-teens should receive the vaccine by age 11 or 12. However, the vaccine can be administered up to age 26 in men and women.

Vaccinating pre-teens, both girls and boys, at age 11 or 12 ensures they are protected before ever being exposed to the virus, said Dr. Jennifer Morse, Medical Director for DHD#10. Of course, teens and young adults can receive the HPV vaccine if they didnt get it as pre-teens. Women up to age 26 and men up to age 21 can still get the vaccine.

DHD#10 can bill most insurances to cover the cost of vaccination, and for those with limited or no insurance, DHD#10 uses a sliding-fee scale to help cover the cost of vaccine administration.

DHD#10 also offers free Breast and Cervical Screenings to women up to age 64, regardless of insurance status. This program can assist women with clinical breast exams, pap smears, pelvic exams, cervical cancer screening, and screening mammograms (must be 40 years or older for mammogram).

Call 888-217-3904, option #2 to make an appointment at a DHD#10 office.
Falling rates of measles vaccinations could put people at risk from deadly animal viruses.

The vaccine crisis is thought to have contributed to 142,000 deaths from measles worldwide last year.

And an expert has warned that it may also make it easier for similar viruses in cattle and dogs to make the jump to humans.

It is not yet clear whether canine distemper - caused by a virus which has already mutated to affect monkeys - has the ability to actually infect humans.

Falling rates of measles vaccinations could put people at risk from deadly animal viruses. The vaccine crisis is thought to have contributed to 142,000 deaths from measles worldwide last year. (Above, illustration of the measles virus)

An expert has warned that the vaccination crisis may also make it easier for similar viruses in cattle and dogs to make the jump to humans

But Professor Jonathan Ball, an expert in emerging viruses from Nottingham University, said if it could, we may have been protected in the past because most people were vaccinated against the similar measles virus.

Now, humans are likely to be at greater risk from viruses such as canine distemper and PPRV, which usually infects sheep and goats.

That is because the viruses are genetically similar to measles, which our immune system needs to have been vaccinated against in order to recognise and fight them.

Professor Ball, who wrote about the issue for the BBC, said: 'For animal viruses to infect humans, they need to have the right genetic changes to make the jump and people have to be susceptible.

'That means they need people who are not vaccinated or have never been infected with measles before.

It is not yet clear whether canine distemper - caused by a virus which has already mutated to affect monkeys - has the ability to actually infect humans. (Above, a dog infected with canine distemper)

'However, there are only a handful of animal viruses this applies to, and, while they can kill animals, we don't know what they would do to us or how infectious they might be.'

The Daily Mail is running a major campaign called 'Give Children Their Jabs' amid falling uptake of all 10 routine childhood vaccinations.

Cases of measles in England tripled in a year from 259 to 971 between 2017 and 2018.

While there is probably no threat to the UK directly from animal viruses because they don't tend to circulate here, measles belongs to a group of highly similar viruses called morbilliviruses, found in mammals, and potentially able to cross the 'species barrier' into humans.

Cases of measles in England tripled in a year from 259 to 971 between 2017 and 2018 (file image)

They latch on to the same receptor in human cells as they do in animal cells.

Such viruses could still infect people in the UK if they were brought over from other countries by people already infected, or Britons unknowingly picked it up while abroad.

It is believed that measles originally came from a similar virus in cattle.

Canine distemper, which is already threatening endangered cats and has infected seals and monkeys, could need as few as two mutations in its surface proteins to allow it to infect human cells.

It suppresses the immune system and can lead to infections such as pneumonia.

A similar mutation could also occur in a virus called Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPRV), which has already spread from sheep and goats into cattle after they stopped being vaccinated for a similar virus.
By Baek Byung-yeul





Korea's exports posted a double-digit fall in 2019, due primarily to declining semiconductor prices and a deepened trade row between the United States and China, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday.



Despite the weak performance of the export-driven economy, experts and the government expect the external shipments will rebound in the coming months because the chip business is forecasted to see a recovery in demand and increase in price.



According to data by the trade ministry, the amount of exports in 2019 was estimated at $542.4 billion, down 10.3 percent year-on-year. This marked the first time in 10 years for the annual export to post a double-digit percentage fall.



Among 13 major export items, export of 12 products decreased year-on-year except vehicles. Especially, exports of semiconductors tumbled the most after seeing a 25.9 percent decrease to $93.9 billion.



The ministry said the declining chip performance was mainly due to falling DRAM and NAND flash chip prices, which saw 60.9 percent and 9.1 percent decreases year-on-year respectively.



Despite the series of unfavorable factors, Korea was able to post a combined trade volume of more than $1 trillion for three consecutive years.



The ministry explained only nine countries have accomplished the feat so far. The country also managed to record a trade surplus of $39.1 billion, extending the surplus in trade balance to 11 straight years.



Trade Minister Sung Yun-mo said he expects the country's 2020 exports will rebound on the back of a series of favorable conditions  the U.S. and China are set to sign the first phase of a long-awaited trade deal soon, as well as rebounding global chip prices and increasing export sales of ships, vehicles and oil-related products.



"Korea will make efforts to revamp its export structures to rebound from losses in the first quarter of this year," Sung said in a statement.



Mun Byung-ki, senior researcher at the Institute for International Trade at the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), echoed the minister's view, saying business and household consumption expenditures will increase this year.



"The sluggish export performance of Korea mainly stemmed from the prolonged U.S.-China trade feud. Due to the unstable business environment, companies and households reduced their consumption expenditures in 2019. Companies are set to raise their expenditures as the trade feud between the top two economies is expected to be eased," he said.



"Also, the semiconductor industry is forecasted to be buoyed by increasing demand and chip prices."


US President Donald Trump reportedly threatened Iran where it stated it will be held responsible for the attack on the American Embassy in Baghdad and will pay a big price. Trump took to Twitter to explicitly mention that it was not a warning but a threat.

The US President also thanked Iraqi President and Prime Minister for their rapid response and said that the Embassy in Baghdad has now been safe for hours. He said that the great warfighters rushed to the site with most  lethal military equipment in the world.

....Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Earlier, Trump had blamed Iran for orchestrating an attack on the Embassy after some protestors managed to enter the high-security compound on December 31. Referring to the attack that killed an American contractor and injured many, Trump said that the US retaliated to it and always will. Trump had notified the Iraqi government to use its forces for providing security to the US Embassy.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Read: Donald Trump 'predicts' A Fantastic New Year Amid Iraq, Iran, & Impeachment

Death of US contractor

On December 28, a US defence contractor was killed and others got injured after as many as 30 rockets were reportedly fired at the Iraqi military compound near Kirkuk. In response, the United States launched airstrikes against the pro-Iran group killing 25 fighters. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi said that the US carried out attacks to show its firm support for terrorism and its neglect for the independence and sovereignty of countries.

Read: Donald Trump Accuses Iran Of orchestrating Attack On US Embassy

The retaliation was followed by thousands of Iraqi Shiite militia supporters attacking US Embassy compound in Baghdad to protest against airstrikes that killed 25 pro-Iran fighters. According to media reports, some of the protesters marched through the high-security checkpoints in military fatigues to which Iraqi forces didnt react.

The mob broke into the Embassy compound shouting Death to America and one of them hanged a poster on the wall that read, America is an aggressor. US security forces stood at the roof pointing guns at the protestors while some marines fired tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the aggressive crowd.

Read: Trump Expects Iraq To 'use Its Forces' To Protect US Embassy In Baghdad

Read: Trump, Putin Discuss Terrorism & Arms Control On Phone Call: White House
A man has been airlifted to hospital after suffering a fall while hiking in the Burren in Co. Clare this afternoon.

The man is understood to have been injured in a fall at around 12.30pm on Turlough Hill near Bellharbour close to the Clare/Galway border.
Supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups who stormed the U.S. embassy's perimeter and hurled rocks in two days of protests withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops and threatened reprisals against Tehran. The demonstrators, angry at U.S. airstrikes against the Tehran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group that killed at least 25 people, threw stones at the building while U.S. forces stationed on the rooftops fired tear gas to disperse them. But by mid-afternoon, most appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw, issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shi'ite militia, which said the demonstrators' message had been heard. Young men used palm tree branches to sweep the street in front of the embassy compound, while others packed up equipment and vans arrived to take people away. Some left to set up a protest camp in front of a nearby hotel.

Members of the Iraqi pro-Iranian Hashed al-Shaabi group and protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim, an Iraqi district bordering Syria, on December 31, 2019. AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP / Getty Images

Iraq's military said all protesters had left by the evening.

Embassy suspends operations

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said on Wednesday that all public consular operations were suspended in the wake of the attacks. "Due to militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are canceled. U.S. citizens are advised to not approach the embassy," it said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State tweeted that he spoke on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister al-Mahdi, who agreed that Iraq would continue to uphold its responsibility to "keep U.S. personnel secure" and would move the Iran-backed attackers away from the embassy. Pompeo tweet Earlier in the day, Pompeo postponed his trip to Ukraine and four other countries, citing the Iraq attacks. Pompeo was to arrive in Ukraine late Thursday in his first visit to the country at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, then on to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus. He delayed the trip "to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Wednesday. She said he intends to reschedule soon. The protests mark a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump, who faces re-election in 2020, on Tuesday threatened to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want war. The unrest followed U.S. air raids on Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah bases in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a U.S. contractor in northern Iraq last week. On Tuesday, crowds chanted 'Death to America!', lit fires, and smashed surveillance cameras. They breached an outer perimeter of the embassy but did not enter the main compound.

Biggest US embassy

The huge embassy, built along the banks of the Tigris River in central Baghdad's fortified "green zone" during American occupation following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, is the biggest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world. Washington said its diplomats were safe and was rushing hundreds of extra troops to the region. The embassy said all public consular operations were suspended and all future appointments canceled. The anti-American action comes after months of protests in Iraq against the government and the Iran-backed militias which support it. Many Iraqis complain their country has become a battlefield for a proxy war for influence between Washington and Tehran, and their leaders are too beholden to outside powers. Iraq's government has long faced frictions in its close relations with the two foes. Trump spoke to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday and demanded Iraq protect the embassy.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei makes a speech regarding Trump's withdrawal decision from Iran nuclear deal during a press conference in Tehran, Iran on May 09, 2018. Iranian Leader's Press Office | Handout | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday condemned the U.S. attacks. Iran summoned a Swiss envoy, who represents U.S. interests in Tehran, to complain about what it described as "warmongering" words from Washington. Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the violence. U.S. officials said 750 extra troops would initially be based out of Kuwait and as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days. More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. The airstrikes have galvanized calls inside Iraq to expel them. Many in the crowd outside the embassy said ending Washington's presence in Iraq was their main goal.
After the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that there is a constitutional obligation on every state to implement the laws made by Parliament.

"There is a constitutional obligation on every state to exercise the executive power in such a way that ensures the compliance with laws made by Parliament," Prasad told reporters here.

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution seeking the withdrawal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Before the resolution was passed against the Act, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a special Assembly session targetted the RSS and said the citizenship law is part of an agenda.

"The CAA is the part of an agenda. Muslims are being considered as internal enemies by the RSS, who is controlling the ruling dispensation at the Centre," he alleged.

The new law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 'Stranger Things' fame Millie Bobby Brown welcomed her new year by sharing a sweet throwback music cover on social media where a young Millie is seen singing to Adele's 'Someone Like You'.

The 15-year-old star shared an old home video of herself belting out the ballad to mark the new year.

She also penned a rather emotional caption marking her achievements alongside the throwback video. In the clip Adele is seen performing on a TV while a young Millie picks up a hot pink microphone and starts crooning.

"At the beginning of this decade, I was 6 years old. going to school. making my class listen to me sing 24/7. probably not even thinking about where I'd be at the end of the decade. this video was taken in 2011 when I was 7 and utterly obsessed with @adele and still utterly obsessed. no change," she wrote in the caption.

The online commentators couldn't help but go in awe to see little Millie in the nostalgic video.

Millie, whose career took off in swift speed, further wrote: "This decade has been life-changing, like seriously, I found my passion in 2013 when I knew I loved being on camera. in 2014 -2015 I was begging casting agents to believe in me. in late 2015 Carmen Cuba, the duffer bros, Shawn levy, and dan cohen but most of all @netflix believed in me. From there I've been all over the world meeting all of you. Met the most genuine people. grown-up and learned many things."

The young actor starred in Netflix show 'Stranger Things' which is an American science fiction series having three seasons on its list already and the fourth season is reportedly going to be on the floors soon.

Looking ahead, she said, "I'm turning 16 soon and I can confidently say I'm living my dreams out. this is what I want for every young person right now. thank you to everyone for all of your support. love you forever.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli has greeted Narendra Modi on New Year on January 1. Oli has expressed confidence that the year 2020 will prove to be successful in further elevating bilateral ties between the countries. Oli also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Nepal over a telephonic conversation. The Nepali PM conveyed the message over his twitter handle.

This morning I had telephone conversation with @PMOIndia Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modiji. We exchanged new year's greetings and best wishes. We shared that the year 2019 proved to be successful in elevating bilateral ties to new height  K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) January 1, 2020

and expressed our confidence that the year 2020 will be equally successful in taking our relations to the next level by resolving pending issues. I renewed my cordial invitation to Modiji for a visit to Nepal.  K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) January 1, 2020

READ: Nepal Celebrates 16th Edition Of Elephant Festival To Bring Humans And Mammals Together

India-Nepal Bilateral ties

In 2019, India's relations with Nepal continued to grow with high-level bilateral visits and increased energy collaboration, including the inauguration of the first-ever cross-border petroleum pipeline in South Asia. In February, the Nepal-India Joint Secretary-level meeting was held in Pokhara during which the top officials from both sides reviewed the bilateral trade and transit treaty. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and PM Oli held talks on a wide range of issues, including railways and waterway projects in March.

The two sides also reviewed the progress of post-earthquake reconstruction of projects in housing, education, health and cultural heritage sectors after which India has pledged the assistance of Rs 450 billion.

READ: Nepal Police Detains 122 Chinese Nationals In Kathmandu On Suspicion Of Fraud

Oli last visited India when Modi was re-elected and invited Modi to Nepal. The leaders jointly inaugurated the 69-km long Motihari-Amlekhjung oil pipeline through video conference in September. EAM S Jaishanker visited Nepal to attend the fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission which reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with special focus on the areas of connectivity, economic partnership, trade, transit, power and water resources. Nepal issued three commemorative coins marking the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak, who visited Kathmandu five hundred years ago.

Nepal stood with India in its fight against terrorism as it strongly condemned the February terrorist attack in Pulwama.

READ: Nepali Parliament Prepping Up To Elect A New Speaker

Disputes over Kalapani

Besides the amicability, Nepal raised objections to India's updated political map showing Kalapani and Lipulek areas under its territory, claiming that these areas lie within the Nepalese territory. Nepals ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya claimed the same. Yet the Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has claimed that the age-old bilateral ties between Nepal and India have not deteriorated due to the border dispute.

READ: First Time: Nepal To Help India In Checking 'third Country' Suspects, Terror Operatives

(With inputs from agencies)
ODonovans 38-year run with department comes to end

KEN THOMAS

WAUPUN  Detective Brian ODonovans office was filled with a stack of boxes Tuesday.

Photos of himself and fellow police officers had been packed, and the detective could not put his hands on a photo of his former 300-plus pound self to demonstrate his successful weight loss.

And despite his sadness at leaving the center of his life for the past 38 years, he knows it is time to remove his badge and sample what retirement has to offer.

ODonovan grew up on a farm outside Waupun. He thought that farming would be his future until a family disagreement led him down another path.

I started out part-time as a lake patrol for the town of Fox Lake and then began as a part-time officer for the city of Fox Lake, ODonovan recalled. I got my first full-time job in March of 1981 in the city of Beaver Dam. In December, following the death of an officer, I came back to Waupun.
But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider.
President Muhammadu Buhari approved a former mid-level civil servant to head a crucial electrification agency, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Perhaps to conceal the fact that the appointment would be questioned by Nigerians, the appointee was described in a public press statement as an expert with vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.

A spokesperson announced Tuesday that the president approved the appointment of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency.

Aaron Artimas, the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Power, made details of the appointment known in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement said that Mr Ahmad is a renewable energy expert who holds two masters degrees in development studies and project planning. He is also said to have vast knowledge and experience in power sector development.

PREMIUM TIMES check revealed, however, that Mr Ahmad was a level 12 public official and son of Salihijo Mohammed Ahmed, a former managing director of Afri-Project Consortium. Mr Salihijo was a major project consultant to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). He died on July 7, 1999.

While alive, he was a strong ally of Mr Buhari, who was then the Chairman of PTF.

Mr Buhari was appointed to head the PTF by the late military head of state, Sani Abacha.

Appointment

On Tuesday, the statement announcing the appointment of Mr Ahmad said he has vast experience in the power sector development.

But insiders who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES disputed the claim.

Details seen by this newspaper showed that Mr Ahmad graduated in 2006 with BSC Electronic Engineering. After graduation, he served the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in 2007 and was employed in 2008 at the infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) where Mansur Ahmed, one-time Chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, NESG, headed.

Mr (Mansur) Ahmed is said to be one of the new appointees relatives.

In 2010, while at ICRC, there was a directive that the employment grade of Mr (Salihijo) Ahmad and a few others should be adjusted. Subsequently, his position was adjusted to Grade Level 9 Step 2, according to internal correspondence seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

While still at ICRC, he was posted on secondment as a personal assistant to the then Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.

His last known promotion in the civil service Grade Level 12, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. One source said he left the ICRC in 2018.

Insiders say contrary to the vast experience the new MD is not known as a knowledgeable and experienced expert in the Nigerian power sector.

Nepotistic appointment?

The new appointment yet again raises questions about Mr Buharis penchant for appointing people into positions of authority not necessarily based on track records of excellence and expertise.

Since it came into power in 2015, the Buhari-led government has been charged with several allegations of nepotism in the appointment of public officials and other key governmental decisions.

In November 2018, PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Buhari approved the appointment of his son-in-law, Junaid Abdullahi, as Executive Secretary at the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA).

His appointment took effect from September 22 for an initial period of four years.

PREMIUM TIMES first reported on November 5 that Mr Abdullahi, a retired airline pilot, had been quietly appointed head of the border agency. He was married to Zulaihat, the presidents first daughter, who passed on in November 2012 aged 40.

On Tuesday, the latest appointment raised questions about the presidents record of appointing officials based on other considerations apart from competence and experience.

Officials React

When contacted, the newly appointed MD, Mr Ahmad, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES request to speak with him on the issue. When this newspaper called his known telephone number Wednesday morning, he did not respond. He has also not responded to multiple text messages sent to him as at the time of filing this report Wednesday afternoon.

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When contacted on why the president made such appointment, Mr Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, advised our reporter to contact either the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, or the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

My advice is that the President must not be the news source of first instance. It is either you get in touch with the Minister of Power who oversees the affairs of the agency and may have made the recommendation to the president for the appointment, or the SGF, who may have issued the appointment, Mr Shehu said.

Mr Shehu later called back to request for some time to get across to the Minister of Power for his side of the story.

Separate calls and messages sent to the minister of power were not answered.

EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated to reflect new information obtained that Mr Ahmad left ICRC as a level 12 officer in 2018.
GANDER, N.L. - Gander is known for opening its arms to stranded passengers in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, but the central Newfoundland town's history has been linked to aviation since long before the planes were rerouted to its airport almost 20 years ago.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The International lounge of Gander International Airport, in Gander, N.L., is shown on Friday, November 15, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

GANDER, N.L. - Gander is known for opening its arms to stranded passengers in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, but the central Newfoundland town's history has been linked to aviation since long before the planes were rerouted to its airport almost 20 years ago.

Reg Wright, president and CEO of the airport, says the "glamour of aviation really coloured what the community was."

"It's not the warm centre of the universe, Gander isn't, but it always did have that sort of a glittering constellation of stars that were coming through, and people from all over," says Wright.

No space represents that legacy better than the airport's international lounge, opened by the Queen in 1959. After being sealed off from the public for decades, the lounge  which Wright calls a "time capsule"  is set to reopen this year.

It's considered one of Canada's best-preserved examples of modernist architecture. Bright orange and yellow seating overlook a stunning lower level that features an expansive mural, "Flight and Its Allegories," by Canadian painter Kenneth Lochhead and a sculpture, "Welcoming Birds," by Arthur Price.

At the lower level's airport bar, locals used to congregate in hopes of a chance encounter with a Hollywood star or other luminary. That was when planes would stop to refuel in Gander, a convenient mid-way point for transatlantic flights  a relatively new luxury in the mid-20th century.

That changed when security measures tightened in the late 1970s and the lounge was closed off. History buffs feared the space could be lost due to the high cost of preserving it, but those fears have abated amid a recent wave of tourism.

Wright estimates more than 200 bus tours and even more solo guests visited the airport this year to see the legendary lounge  more guests than staff can accommodate, on top of running an airport.

"I thought it would be better that we fling the doors open, let people enjoy the space and learn about Gander's stories, rather than keeping it behind the seal," Wright said.

A $1.5 million restoration project was announced last year, with the airport authority putting up $500,000 and another $1 million split between the provincial and federal governments.

Wright attributes the recent interest in the space to pop culture, pointing to the success of the Broadway musical Come From Away, set in the days after 9/11 in Gander, as well as a renewed interest in modern design aesthetics from fans of the 1950s-set drama Mad Men.

Travellers with an eye for architecture and design also pop in after visiting the famous Fogo Island Inn, a few hours north of the town.

Admission will be free, Wright said, with the hope of eventually licensing some local guides. The room will be left mostly as-is, with some fresh paint and interpretive materials like storyboards to help people guide themselves through the space. There are also plans for a small theatre to screen films.

An ambitious June opening date has been set, and Wright hopes to have at least some of the touch-ups ready for the summer tour season.

It's not expected to be a huge money-maker for the airport, but Wright is hopeful the reopening can introduce younger generations to the airport lounge as a place for the community and its visitors to gather.

"It's always been a hub for the local community, and a conduit to the international world," Wright said. "We can do that again, which is pretty exciting."

Peter Blackie grew up in Gander, witnessing the many changes as the small forest town grew around the aviation industry. He remembers waving to the Queen as she drove through Gander in 1959, the year he worked a summer job at the airport.

"It was kind of a magic place for most of my life," Blackie said of the lounge he saw open to the world that summer. "All of a sudden we came from World War Two terminal buildings into this rather fancy, gorgeous facility."

Dean Cull, another Gander native who works with the Gander Airport Historical Society, started working out of the international lounge as an airline dispatcher in the 1980s. His job put him in contact with some high flyers: Tom Cruise became a weekly guest in his office when he was flying back and forth to Ireland shooting a film in the 1990s.

Such interactions with celebrities, generals and political leaders became part of a day on the job for Cull, but his strongest memories come from meeting crew members and passengers from around the world.

He was working during a time when the airport was better known for its frequent defections rather than brushes with celebrities. Some local residents called the airport the "hole in the Iron Curtain" for the hundreds of refugee claimants, mostly from Eastern Europe, who de-planed at Gander and told officials they wished to stay in Canada.

Cull remembers seeing Kim Phuc, a Vietnamese woman who was famously photographed as a child fleeing a napalm attack during the Vietnam War, who claimed asylum in Canada during a stop in Gander.

One of Cull's favourite features in the lounge speaks to the history of everyday people passing through the space: the top of Arthur Price's "Welcoming Birds" statue, worn down by passengers who touched the artwork for good luck.

"You'll notice that the top of the birds are actually smooth because of so many people over years actually rubbing the statue," he said.

Cull hopes the reopening shares some of the airport's hidden stories and invites community members back into the space he remembers enjoying as a kid.

"We just want to open it up to the to the people again," he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2020.
Heights of the new Parliament building and other structures under the government's ambitious Central Vista redevelopment plan are likely to be lower than the iconic India Gate, sources said.

They said that the central government will construct eight seven-storey buildings in Lutyens' Delhi to accommodate offices of various ministries. These will be built after demolishing a few major buildings.

The redevelopment plan is also likely to include a triangular Parliament building next to the existing one, which is expected to be completed by 2022, sources said, adding that there is also plan to shift the prime minister's residence near the Parliament complex.

The existing Parliament building will remain the same, and offices of ministers and MPs will be in a new building.

They said that Vigyan Bhavan, Shastri Bhawan, Krishi Bhawan and Transport Bhawan are among buildings that are likely to be demolished during the redevelopment of Central Vista.

However, no heritage buildings will be demolished.

In September this year, the Narendra Modi government had unveiled its mega plan to redevelop the over three-km stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Lutyens' Delhi.

The government on September 2 floated a request for proposal for the "development or redevelopment of Parliament Building, Common Central Secretariat and Central Vista".

"We will construct a new building of Parliament in a plot near the existing one. We will also construct eight new buildings which will accommodate offices of various ministries. Heights of all these buildings will be lower than the India Gate," one of the sources said.

The height of India Gate is around 42 metres.

They said that by February, tenders for the project will be floated after getting permissions from all authorities concerned.

In September, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said the British ruled India for 190 years and they had good architects who built buildings which are now part of the country's cultural heritage.

"North and South Blocks should be made museums that reflect 190 years (of British rule)...What will happen to the Parliament building? We will construct a new building which will connect Parliament through an underground pathway," Puri had said.

The minister had said buildings that had been built in 1960s and 70s should have been torn down many years ago.
NYPD officers try to control the arrival of people to celebrate New Years eve in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 31, 2019. Because of the mild weather, a larger than usual crowd of people visiting from all over the world is expected to watch the ball drop. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

Thousands Gather in Times Square to Ring in 2020

Thousands of wrapped-up revelers made their way to Times Square in New York for a night of celebrations as they prepared to ring in 2020.

Up to 1.5 million people are estimated to crowd Times Square for Tuesday nights confetti-filled festivities and traditional crystal ball drop that will count down to the new decade, according to the NYPD.

Celebrators attend the Times Square New Years Eve 2020 Celebration in New York City on Dec. 31, 2019. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

A slate of performers including American rock band X Ambassadors, Post Malone, and Alanis Morissette entertained merrymakers with performances as they held out for the midnight countdown during the New Years Eve celebration in the heart of Manhattan.

This years festivities will see temperatures of about 34 degreesa contrast to last years celebrations which saw thousands brave pouring rain as they watched the glowing New Years Eve ball complete its midnight descent to mark the start of 2019.

New Years Eve 2020 Live from Time Square https://t.co/Isw2LVAF5t  Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) December 31, 2019

Many spectators donned purple and yellow sequin oversized top hats handed out by organizers as they waited in anticipation for the stroke of midnight.

Twins Erica and Kendra Carson, 22, told the New York Post it took them nearly 24 hours to drive from Bowmanville, Ontario, to make it to the famed Manhattan crossroads.

I have always watched it on television but to see it in person, to join in the countdown, people getting excited, screaming with all the people and the confetti falling all over us, its going to be very surreal, Kendra told the news outlet.

Safest Place on Earth

The NYPDs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism, John Miller, has said he expects Times Square this year to be be the safest place on the planet Earth on New Years Eve.

Nobody else puts that kind of effort into an event like this, Miller said.

Thousands of police officers will be on duty for Tuesday nights festivities, along with specialized units armed with long guns, bomb-sniffing dogs, and other measures.

For the first time, police drones are expected to keep watch over the big, confetti-filled celebrationa year late after rain grounded the departments unmanned eye-in-the-sky last year.

People wait to celebrate New Years eve in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 31, 2019. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said there are no specific, credible threats to the event, which brings hundreds of thousands of people to midtown Manhattan and attracts millions of TV viewers.

Shea said spectators should feel safe but encouraged them to remain vigilant and encouraged people to alert an officer or call a police hotline if they feel something is amiss.

This is going to be one of the most well-policed, well-protected celebrations in the entire world and well have another safe and enjoyable New Years Eve, Shea said.

Celebrators attend the Times Square New Years Eve 2020 Celebration in New York City on Dec. 31, 2019. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Streets in and around Times Square will be closed to car traffic hours before the ball drops, and police cars and sand-filled sanitation trucks will be positioned to stop vehicles from driving into the crowd.

Everyone showing up for the celebrations should expect to be wanded with metal detectors before being ushered to one of 65 viewing pens set up around Times Square to prevent overcrowding.

NYPD officers perform security checks as revelers arrive to celebrate New Years Eve in Times Square in New York City on Dec. 31, 2019. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

Backpacks, chairs, and coolers are banned, as well as personal drones. The NYPD says alcohol is strictly prohibited.

There arent any bathrooms, and anyone leaving wont be allowed back to their original spot.

The tradition of watching a giant ball drop from a pole on top of the narrow building at the head of Times Square in midtown Manhattan began in 1907.

The ball in current usea glittering, LED-studded sphere made by Waterford Crystal and Philips Lightingmade its debut in 2008. Weighing 11,875 pounds and measuring 12 feet in diameter, it sits year-round on the roof of One Times Square.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
By Tomoyuki Tachikawa, KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2020 - 20:59 | World, All

The security environment in East Asia in 2020 is set to hinge on whether tensions between North Korea and the United States will escalate, as leader Kim Jong Un has accused Washington of missing a deadline set by Pyongyang for nuclear talks.

Concern is growing that Pyongyang will resume nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile tests to compel U.S. President Donald Trump to lift economic sanctions as he is eager to secure diplomatic achievements ahead of the presidential race in November.

Some observers, however, said Kim, whose primary goal is to ensure the continuation of the monolithic political system led by him, may refrain from actions that would pose direct threat to Washington, given that the risk of military conflict would increase.

If the United States shows no sign of coming to a compromise, Kim might try to strengthen ties with China and Russia, which have voiced willingness to loosen the sanctions that have apparently dragged down North Korea's economy.

In that case, South Korea's left-wing administration of President Moon Jae In could again attempt to reach out to the North, possibly undermining relations between Washington and its ally Seoul as well as affecting the security structure in East Asia.

On Wednesday, North Korea's state-run media quoted Kim as saying at the four-day plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea that ended Tuesday that North Korea will unveil a new weapon "in the near future."

Criticizing Washington for putting North Korea's security in jeopardy, Kim has also effectively reversed his commitment to discontinuing nuclear or ICBM tests, the media reported.

So far, Trump has emphasized Kim has promised with him that North Korea will not carry out such tests and he has repeatedly described the moratorium as his big achievement.

A diplomat in Beijing said Kim suggested Pyongyang will launch an ICBM that could reach the continental United States "in the next couple of months" for the first time since November 2017.

"In the run-up to the presidential election, Kim may think Trump does not want to be humiliated by North Korea. To extract concessions from Trump, Kim could decide to fire an ICBM soon."

Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan in Tokyo, echoed the view.

Kim "has leveraged provocations to gain concessions, instill fear and buy time. It is a strategy that has worked and so I expect he will continue with his brinksmanship to ensure regime survival," Kingstone said.

In contrast, a diplomatic source said Kim has just called a "bluff," adding he is aware that if he goes over the edge, Trump could really use U.S. military forces to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

"Trump is a joker in the pack. To get the credit, he could take military action. Kim is seeking security guarantees from the United States. I don't think he will conduct nuclear or ICBM tests," the diplomat added.

Struggling to proceed with negotiations on sanctions, Kim, who has pledged to rebuild the nation's economy, would turn his eyes to China and Russia, which maintain friendly ties with North Korea but are divided over security issues with the United States.

"Improving its relationship with China and Russia is likely to be one of North Korea's key foreign policy priorities for the foreseeable future," said Tong Zhao, a fellow at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy in Beijing.

"Pyongyang's top leadership is too smart to waste the strategic opportunity to make the most out of rising and likely long-term major power competitions among the United States, Russia and China," he added.

In December, China and Russia submitted a draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council to ease economic sanctions against North Korea on the grounds that it has suspended nuclear and ICBM tests for more than two years.

"Taking that into account, North Korea would not make a move that would frustrate China and Russia," the diplomatic source said.

As for South Korea, if the North steps up provocations, Moon, who has extended an olive branch to Kim, would be forced to bolster security cooperation with the United States and Japan, some pundits said.

In 2019, ties between Seoul and Tokyo arguably plunged to the lowest point since normalization in 1965 in the wake of a string of South Korean court rulings the previous year ordering compensation for wartime labor.

South Korea has also been at odds with the United States over security matters, which foreign affairs experts suspect has made Trump distrust Moon.

Nevertheless, Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said, "The more provocative North Korea becomes, the more likely President Moon will want to show efforts to improve relations with the United States and Japan."

"The decision to back down on GSOMIA could be an example of this," he added, referring to the General Security of Military Information Agreement -- a military intelligence-sharing pact between South Korea and Japan.

In late November, Tokyo and Seoul averted the termination of GSOMIA as South Korea conditionally backpedaled at the last minute on its earlier decision to scrap the agreement, citing security anxiety over the North.

A source familiar with the situation of South Korea, meanwhile, said if Beijing and Moscow get closer to Pyongyang, Seoul could join hands with them, aiming for a thaw in inter-Korean ties.

"South Korea may keep a distance from the United States and deepen relations with China and Russia, which challenge U.S. military presence in the region. That would be a bad scenario for the United States and Japan in security terms," the source said.

Regarding Japan, a close U.S. ally, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed readiness to meet with Kim "without conditions" in hopes of making a breakthrough over the issue of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.

But a Japanese government source said Kim has little intention to hold a summit with Abe, which would not bring benefits to North Korea at this juncture.
At least 16 inmates in a central Mexico prison were killed and five more were wounded in a riot that closed out a violent 2019 for the country, authorities said.

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernndez told local press that authorities confiscated four guns that they believe were introduced to the Cieneguillas state prison during prison visits Tuesday. He said the prison had been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday and no guns were found.

The melee broke out around 2:30 pm. Tuesday and the prison was brought under control by 5 pm, according to a statement from the state security agency.

Fifteen of the victims died at the prison and one died later at a hospital.

One prisoner was detained with a gun still in his possession and the other three were found inside the prison, the statement said. Camberos said not all of the victims died from gunshot wounds. Some were stabbed and others beaten with objects.

No guards or police were wounded, Camberos said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Gujarat government will seek approval to set up five new medical colleges in Panchmahal, Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi-Dwarka, Botad and Morbi districts under a Central government scheme, deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday.

He said the total estimated cost for setting up the colleges will be Rs 1625 crores, of which Central share will be 60 per cent.

Patel said each new medical college will have 100 seats for MBBS.

The total MBBS intake in Gujarat would cross 6300, after the Centre approves the five new medical colleges, he said.

Speaking to reporters in Gandhinagar, Patel said that existing government-run hospitals in Panchmahal, Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi-Dwarka, Botad and Morbi districts would be attached to the new colleges after upgrading them as per Medical Council of India (MCI) norms.

"The Union government has identified 75 districts in the country which do not have a medical college. Few months back, we had sent a proposal to build medical colleges in Narmada, Porbandar and Navsari districts. Now, we are sending another proposal to the Centre to approve medical colleges in these five districts," said Patel.

To run a medical college, the attached hospital must have at least 300 beds as per the MCI norms.

Thus, the state government will first upgrade these five hospitals as per the norms before building the medical colleges, said Patel, adding that each college would cost Rs 325 crore, taking the total expenditure to Rs 1625 crore.

The proposed medical colleges are situated in Godhra town in Panchmahal, Khambhalia in Devbhumi-Dwarka, Veraval in Gir-Somnath, and in Botad and Morbi.

"As per the central scheme, 60 per cent of the Rs 1625 crore cost for the five colleges will be borne by the Centre while the state government would contribute 40 per cent. We will a give the land free of cost. Each college will have the intake capacity of 100 MBBS seats," said Patel.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 Flash

A Palestinian group said on Tuesday that Israeli gunfire killed 149 Palestinians in 2019, mostly in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians slain by Israeli gunfire or shelling in 2019 is 149, of whom 112 are from the Gaza Strip and 37 from the West Bank, said Mohammed Sbeihat, secretary general of the National Gathering of Palestinian Martyrs' Families.

The majority of the killed Palestinians were in their early 20s, he said, adding Israeli authorities are still withholding 15 bodies of them as a sort of punishment to their families.

"The number of slain children reached 33, which is about 23 percent of the total death toll, and represents an increase of five percent compared to 2018," Sbeihat noted.

A total of 12 Palestinian women were killed by Israeli gunfire, he added.

"The bloodiest month of the year was November, during which 44 Palestinians were killed," said Sbeihat.

In the past five years, 807 Palestinians were killed by Israel, with an average of about 161 each year, according to the Palestinian group.

The group is a governmental body that provides social care for families of Palestinians killed by Israelis since 1967.
As the world geared up to bring in 2020, more than 3,000 people gathered at Delhis Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia Islamia on New Years Eve in solidarity against the Citizenship Amendment Act, ringing in the new decade by singing the national anthem and chanting Inquilab Zindabad

As the world geared up to bring in 2020, more than 3,000 people gathered at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia Islamia on New Years Eve against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The protesters decided to walk into the new decade while singing the national anthem and raising 'azadi' slogans.

Braving the biting winter cold in the National Capital, women of all age groups  from a 90-year-old senior citizen to a mother of a 20-days-old baby  were seen at the peaceful protest. Senior citizens and children also attended the protest.

Tents were pitched and discussions on the CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC), National Population Register (NPR), Indias freedom struggle, the Constitution and the ideologies of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar were discussed.

The stage gave a platform to poets, professors, civil society groups, civic leaders, actors and students, belonging to Jamia, JNU and other colleges and schools to voice their opinions against the amended Citizenship Act.

A band performance was also held, driving home the central message to save the country from the legislation passed by the Narendra Modi-led central government.

Protesters held the tricolour even as the food, tea, fire wood, blankets, mattresses, heaters, water and medical supplies from well-wishers were distributed among the people. Such help to agitators has been offered ever since protests gained momentum on 15 December, days after the Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill by the Parliament.

No-CAA and no-NRC stickers are now found everywhere, even as protesters chanted 'Azaadi' and 'Inquilab Zindabad'.

Anti-CAA protesters also staged demonstrations at several other places in Delhi, including Connaught Places Central Park and Sakets PVR Anupam complex.

The protests at Shaheen Bagh have been going on for over two weeks even as temperatures continue to hover around the single-digit figure in Delhi. The stir on Tuesday was helmed by women, who led peaceful protests at a distance of few feet from the area that saw violent clashes on 15 December.

During the protest a fortnight ago, buses were set on fire after protestors and the police clashed. Several students and policemen were injured and around 100 students were detained. The police also allegedly entered the Jamia Millia Islamia campus and was accused of brutality against students.

According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who had come to India till 31 December, 2014, from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan because of religious persecution will not be treated as illegal immigrants and be given Indian citizenship.
On a gorgeous Florida evening, a truck crashed into me. As I lay in intensive care, I learned who had been driving it.

This is the shirt; the one that wrapped itself around my alabaster skin the evening death came for me. A paper-thin cotton shield designed for fashion that assumed the role of armour. Its pairing  black terry cloth sweatpants  failed to survive, some of the threads disintegrating on impact, the rest embedding themselves into the meat of my right thigh.

Are you prepared to get rid of this thing yet? my mother gently inquires every 12 months, as I tenderly unfold the fuchsia halter top from the back shelf of my cherry wood armoire and hug it close to my body. The question has become a tradition during our annual clothing cleanout.

I cannot help but notice that its straps have lost their shape, the fabric its lustre, as though it too was stripped of its life that night.

In 2001, on a gorgeous and humid South Florida night, the smell of an oncoming rainstorm hung heavy in the air. And I, walking across a road to get to my car, as I did countless times in the past, would never make it.

I cannot recall the exact moment my 100-pound (45kg) frame collided with more than 3,000 pounds (1,360kg) of steel, but I can remember an erratic driver behind the wheel of a pick-up truck barrelling towards me.

I tried to run. But there was no way to save myself.

I fool myself into thinking that if I can just stay conscious, death cannot have its way with me tonight.

I have relived those few steps that were the final moments of my then life ad nauseam. My mind to this day, clearly connecting a spider web of memories as though it was yesterday  of sandals pounding into the gritty asphalt, my legs picking up speed, my heart springing into action from adrenaline. I was still safe, still healthy, still Marisa in these moments. Until I was not.

Its proof, mum, I snap back, mindful of my sour tone the second the words fall off my lips.

A reminder of beating death. How can you get rid of something like that?

But perhaps what is a token of survival for me is a symbol of loss for my mother. Though her child survived, a clear line of demarcation was set that evening and its trauma relived by the two of us, far too often to count.

Woozy from morphine, I distinctly remember a trauma surgeon telling her: If she makes it until the morning, we will have a much clearer picture of her prognosis. I was not more than two feet away but I feared he may have given up on me already.

I just wont sleep, my brain played on repeat. I fooled myself into thinking that if I could just stay conscious, death could not have its way with me that night.

Marisa and her mother, Pat [Photo courtesy: Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana]

I will walk again

I lay flat in my hospital bed in the trauma intensive care unit for weeks, forbidden to fully sit up, allowing my five liver lacerations time to heal without added pressure on the organ.

Machines rung out, singing choruses to one another, a battle cry that there was still life among those of us unwilling to give up.

The nurses told me that of the handful of patients in the trauma unit, I was the only one conscious. Conscious but held prisoner.

I was acutely aware of my injuries  broken ribs, internal bleeding, fractured pelvis, lacerated liver, and a head injury to name a few; aware of my loss  my college career now on hiatus, the need to go to rehab to learn how to walk again; and aware of the uncertainty of life  how our patience and resolve are tested when the unexpected happens.

I could not rationally make sense of the event during my waking hours, often falling down rabbit holes searching for clues I must have missed along the way.

Countless hours each day were filled with silent pep talks, reminding myself of my knack for compartmentalising and processing past traumas or difficult life circumstances in order to move forward.

My liver will heal.

I will go to rehab.

I will start walking again.

And I will return to school.

I focused on the fact that I was a few semesters away from completing nursing school. The reality that extraordinary nurses were caring for me and helping me progress each day provided even more motivation to recover.

I will help someone through their trauma one day, I told myself.

This was my plan for the future until three uniformed men entered my room one afternoon, their body language serious but their eyes filled with compassion and concern.

After brief, formal niceties, one man moved a seat away from the wall, placing it near the head of my bed. He is the detective on the case, one I would communicate with regularly in the days ahead.

Marisa, we arrested the person who ran you over. He was under the influence at the time, it looks like alcohol and crystal meth, he sighed and averted his eyes from mine to his knee, where his thumb flicked the corners of paperwork he was carrying in his hand.

I noticed his brunette hair. There were hints of red undertones signalling it had been kissed by the Florida sun. He was handsome, not old enough to be my father, not young enough to be a peer.

There is no ideal way to tell you the next part, so I will just come out and say it because we need to get a statement from you. The individual who hit you was your ex-boyfriend. We arrested him and he has been charged with attempted murder.

And then I crumbled 

Back then, I did not have a handbook to consult nor much guidance when it came to processing the fact that someone I once loved so incredibly deeply almost took my life. There was no search engine I could run to that would share the experiences of others who had been through it. Those around me could not grasp it.

I found myself alone, forced to sit with the reality of the situation, 24 hours a day, isolated in my hospital room, unable to move.

Domestic violence is an event that can often breed silence from those you love most, those you need the most. A silence that sometimes befalls out of confusion, fear of saying the wrong thing, anger, or just time needed on their end to make sense of it all. I do not blame anyone for not knowing what to say. But sometimes I felt that hearing anything was better than silence, which allowed my mind to descend further and further into darkness.

My 23-year-old brain was barely hanging on to its ability for rational, logical thinking and the conversation with these three men sent me spiralling. Twenty-four-hours later I would have my first of what would become crippling panic attacks.

I had held it together for weeks, acutely focused on the fact that I had survived getting run over by a truck travelling at 50 miles per hour (80km/h). I likened myself to a superhero  literally run over by a truck and lived to tell the story.

And then I crumbled 

Marisa about two years after she was hit, extremely sick and still in recovery from injuries and Lupus, which was triggered by the incident [Photo courtesy: Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana]

The nightmares started shortly after that meeting with the police. Almost every time I slept, I reimagined the moment of impact, but in my dreams, I never survived. Instead, the tyre of the truck ran over my face instead of my body, crushing my bones and brain deep into the pavement. It was always my face, my brain that was struck.

I could not rationally make sense of the event during my waking hours, often falling down rabbit holes searching for clues I must have missed along the way. It felt like my brain was on hyperdrive during the day, screaming for something, anything, to make sense, while in my dream state, my brain discovered its own way to silence it all.

I would wake to the monitors at the side of my bed beeping frantically. Sweaty, nauseous, and unable to catch my breath, I would rouse disoriented.

Marisa, I am going to give you something to help you calm down. Dont sit all the way up, the nurse would order me, in a voice that held both compassion and control.

Wet from sweat and urine, shaking, teeth chattering. I longed for my mothers hand. Then the drugs would work their magic, all would be quiet again, and for a few moments it would feel like the last few weeks in the hospital were just a nightmare.

My monster, PTSD

Marisa, are you familiar with PTSD? the hospital psychiatrist asked me.

I had been recommended for an evaluation after it became clear that the shock of the event had worn off but that I was drowning in a sea of emotions, fear and panic.

Isnt that something people from war experience? I responded.

My only familiarity with the term was hearing it spoken by someone at college, her dad crippled by its symptoms after returning home from Vietnam, sick from Agent Orange. There were no social media conversations about PTSD back in 2001, no one discussing the link between trauma and the disorder.

It is not just an after-effect of war, I learned. It can also happen from surviving a natural disaster, domestic violence, abuse, severe injury, or witnessing an atrocity. And my symptoms were classic, the psychiatrist told me  distressing recollections of the event, nightmares, feeling jumpy, being easily irritated  I could check off so many of the symptom boxes, I became embarrassed and tried to downplay what I was experiencing. But there was no hiding it.

And so began a 17-year journey with my monster, PTSD  post-traumatic stress disorder.

Marisa receiving IV treatments, which she does about four times a year for health issues stemming from being hit [Photo courtesy: Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana]

Although the disorder originally seemed like the driver on the journey to my recovery, I eventually learned how to demand it take its place in the passenger seat, slowly increasing my level of control. Today, I like to think of it as something stowed away in the boot. It still travels with me, but for the most part, it does not control my path.

PTSD is rooted in trauma. It can occur when someone witnesses or experiences a shocking or life-threatening event, one in which they feel their life or someone elses is in danger. The trauma and stress-related disorder is believed to affect eight million adults in the United States alone in any given year.

While much of the initial research on trauma and PTSD was conducted on male war veterans, todays research shows women have higher rates of PTSD. Trauma that can lead to PTSD in men may include combat trauma, natural disasters, or an accident, whereas, with women, rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and domestic violence typically top the charts.

Both my quiet time in recovery and my almost two-decade-long journey with PTSD have taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my life  that my thoughts have enormous power.

Marisa and her mum Pat, as she receives a proclamation from Monroe County, as Mrs New York 2015, for her work advocating for people with Lupus [Photo courtesy: Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana]

They have the power to make me physically sick  to trick me into believing I am having a heart attack, or that my throat is closing when I am in the midst of a panic attack.

They have the power to take me back to the moment of impact and completely disorient me from the task at hand.

They have the power to corrupt and override my dreams, goals and achievements.

They have the power to ruin my life, this one life I was so honoured to have  if I let them.

I have not found all the answers to my struggle with PTSD but I have found that psychotherapy, exposure therapy, prayer, and sometimes, medication, have given me back most of the control I believed I had lost that evening in Fort Lauderdale.

Today, my breath still becomes silent and my heart immediately picks up pace almost every time I hear the whoosh of a car whiz by me, smacking me in the face with its wind, as I walk my terrier down the sidewalk. I see a flash of my bright fuchsia halter top covered in blood. My natural instinct every single time is to run. To protect myself.

Instead, I stand tall, inhale slowly, and remind myself I am getting better. I look down and lock eyes with my dog and whisper, Its ok. We are safe.
So, when Teoh was required to appear in court in September the media had a heyday, with new photos of the telco boss walking in to the Melbourne's Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building splashed across the newspapers and his moment on the stand extensively analysed. This included eyebrow-raising revelations that Teoh's business plans even for billion-dollar decisions are rarely written down but instead held in his mind or presented to the board in brief one-page documents and excel spreadsheets. Loading However, when he gave a rare interview to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age after the company's annual general meeting in early-December at the KPMG offices in Barangaroo, Teoh was in good spirits. It had been a quiet meeting with few questions from a usually outspoken shareholder group and those that lined up to meet him after the formalities were deferential. "I think what we have done actually benefits a lot to the telco industry and most importantly to the consumer," he says. "I think we have done a lot in changing that to make the market more competitive, so I do hope that [should] the merger happen the competitiveness in the telco industry continues."

Despite his stoic response, the fanfare of 2019 clearly irritated the telco's long-serving executive team, who are loyal supporters of their chief. TPG general counsel Tony Moffat dished out a rebuke to the media coverage during the AGM saying it had "reflected negatively" on the company. Teoh agreed with Moffat's perspective, saying that it is "quite unfortunate that a lot of things that were important" were either behind closed doors in court or, in his opinion, not represented in the news. 'Sensitive' "But the pen is not in our hand," he says, adding jokingly: "We can't win, can we?" When it comes to predicting any potential outcome of the case he is even more circumspect, saying the issue is "sensitive" and declining to comment.

The merger outcome is one of the topics that is difficult for him to talk about and there are likely many reasons for this, including that the judgment has not yet been made and, in general, executives don't like to seem as though they are pressuring judges or speaking out of turn about what might happen next. Loading It's clear though that despite owning about a third of TPG's shares himself, this deal is more than just about money for the telco boss. It's also about legacy and improving the industry he has been involved in for so long. "I started when I came to this country [in 1986 from Malaysia] and I had to make a living, like anyone else migrating to Australia," he says. He started out selling computer parts, such as motherboards and hard drives with his wife, and today his family is still a big part of the business, with his son Shane sitting on the board. "At that time we were selling parts, they were all excellent quality and with good service [and] aggressive prices. We were fortunate at that time there weren't many good companies around so ... it was growing so quick. It was ballooning so fast," he says.

"When I think back, at that time I couldn't imagine how it could grow so fast," he says. "My wife and I started that with $US2000 ($2890). It was a fun time." But is it still fun? Teoh pauses at this question. The whole thing is the merger would benefit the Australian telecommunications industry He says the market is now "more competitive", pointing out the National Broadband Network as one of the reasons it has become crowded, and says it was difficult when Telstra was a monopoly provider. The NBN Co, which finishes its rollout in 2020, has drastically changed what it means to run a telco by acting as a wholesaler and it has forced many service providers to look at other areas for revenue  such as high-speed 5G.
Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

PM @AdilAbdAlMahdi: While we condemn the US air strikes on Iraqi military units, and acknowledge that symbolic funeral marches for the martyrs is a solemn act of remembrance, those taking part must stay away from diplomatic buildings and compounds.  Government of Iraq -   (@IraqiGovt) December 31, 2019

Due to the brave and efficient work of American security forces and U.S. Marine guards, crowds of Iraqi nationals - many in militia uniforms - were on Tuesday repulsed in their attempt to take over the American Embassy in Baghdad, Fox News and other outlets are reporting.The violent protests apparently were orchestrated by Iran - in retaliation for a successful U.S. airstrike on an Iranian-backed militia group on Sunday.The embassy attack wasnoted Fox News.Protesters managed to get past some initial security checkpoints.They vandalized certain parts of the embassy compound.But U.S. officials stressed the embassy has not been evacuated, sensitive data has not been compromised, and the ambassador, who is out of the country on a previously scheduled vacation, is safe.President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the events in this tweet.If the militia group had been successful in the attack on the embassy, this turn of events could have been reminiscent of the Iranian hostage situation that lasted from late 1979 until the day in January 1981 that President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.The radical Islamist Iranian government held 51 U.S. diplomatic hostages during the latter days of the Jimmy Carter administration.The resulting national security and diplomatic fallout, not to mention a failed rescue attempt, are considered major factors in Carter's landslide loss to Ronald Reagan in the presidential election of November 1980.Back during his 2016 election campaign, President Trump warned about the folly of the Iraqi adventure.And he's made efforts to draw down the American presence in the strife-torn nation. Fox News noted.The government of Iraq sent out this tweet below this morning in response to the violence.In it, the Iranian-sponsored militias the U.S. attacked in airstrikes are termed "Iraqi military units."This is how out-of-control our effort has become in Iraq. The government there, a regime the U.S. funds and defends, is making common cause with Iran against the United States. The president is completely justified in extricating our forces there from such an endless quagmire.
A driver livestreamed himself travelling at over 100mph then crashed his car as he left the freeway in Connecticut, according to police.

Connecticut State Police posted the driver's video of the crash on Monday showing him reaching 102mph before turning down a slip road and rolling the Nissan Versa.

Kenneth Hofler, of Middletown, was using his phone to record himself driving over the Gold Star Memorial Bridge on Saturday morning, officials said.

A trooper followed Hofler as he sped onto an exit on I-95, where he drove through a guardrail and rolled over.

A driver livestreamed himself travelling at 102mph (right) along I-95 before leaving the highway and rolling the Nissan Versa (left)

The 23-year-old was reportedly driving with a suspended license at the time of the accident.

Hofler's video shows him filming the road ahead and his speedometer before losing control on the off-ramp and dropping his phone.

He was detained and taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, police said.

Connecticut State Police posted the video on Facebook and joked about the driver's antics.

The post read: 'Sometimes a Trooper's accident report writes itself.

'The operator of this vehicle was kind enough to publicly livestream himself traveling over the Gold Star Memorial Bridge while driving at reckless speeds prior to being involved in an accident.

Kenneth Hofler was charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, driving an uninsured car, police said

A trooper followed Hofler as he sped onto an exit on I-95, where he drove through a guardrail and rolled over. He was taken into custody after he climbed out of the wreckage

'Speeding and live streaming is not only dangerous, it is illegal.'

A state trooper took Hofler into custody after he climbed out of the wreckage.

He was charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, driving an uninsured car, making an improper turn and possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, according to the Hartford Courant.

The case is not listed in court records, and it's unclear if he has an attorney to speak for him.

At the time of the crash, Hofler was free on a $35,000 bond from an October arrest when he was found in possession of more than one ounce of marijuana.

Hofler has a criminal record that dates to 2014. He was issued a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance and possession of marijuana.
The year we left behind was an ugly one for technology, security and online civility. The dream of an internet that provided the worlds knowledge at everyones fingertips has turned into a nightmare of hacking, trolling and fake news.

At the end of the third quarter, the Virginia cybersecurity management company RiskBased Security estimated that 2019 will go down as the worst year ever for breaches of personal information online. Nearly 8 billion peoples records were exposed through the third quarter, and theres a pretty good chance information about you was among them.

And you need only spend a few hours cruising feeds on Twitter or Facebook to see how being online makes it seem perfectly normal to abuse and harass each other.

Lets make 2020 a year in which we clean up our act in terms of security, safety and civility. Here are five tech resolutions to get you started.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Hacker harasses child through home security camera

Make multiple backups

Whenever folks ask for help recovering data after a hard drive dies or a phone is stolen, my first question is always, You do have a backup, right? I have to admit to a little schadenfreude when they confess to never having gotten around to it.

Well, now is the time to get around to it  particularly since tools for doing a backup are so much easier to use, and are often baked into the gear we use. Both Microsoft Windows and Apples macOS have been built-in backup features. IPhones and iPads both can back up to Apples iCloud service, or to a Windows or Mac computer  or both. Android devices can use Google Drive backup.

In fact, I recommend doing multiple backups of different types. I let my iPhone back up to iCloud, and every Saturday I make it a habit to also back it up to my Mac mini. That desktop machine has an external hard drive connected to it, so its constantly making a backup via Time Machine. And guess what? That includes the backup file that was created from my Saturday habit.

Because my photos are important to me, I also back them up using the Google Photos app on my iPhone. Ive got my photos stored in multiple locations, which is the best strategy for backing up.

This year, Im going to a third-party, cloud-based backup to the mix, such as iDrive or BackBlaze. Then, I can backup the backups for my backups.

Use stronger passwords

Years ago, I recommended that readers use several passwords for online sites and services. I suggested it was OK to use the same password for all sites of one type. Subscription sites might get one password, and while social media sites get one, and so on. Those were simpler times, but I was naive, and maybe even a little stupid. This is very bad advice.

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You should have a different password for every app and online site you use  period. If you reuse a password, then once it has been discovered via a data breach, it becomes unsafe to use it anywhere else. (Test to see if your commonly used passwords have been compromised at haveibeenpwned.com/passwords. If you get any hits, change them ASAP!)

Fortunately, tech has made a lot of progress in terms of passwords and is even getting close to better alternative.

All modern browsers  and many device operating systems  have built-in password managers that can generate unique, hard-to-crack passwords for every account you have. Yes, what they generate is not easy to remember, which why is p4ssw0rd is a lot easier to guess than !45z9-233$O-UUi7#. So long as youre using the same browser or device, its remembered for you.

For example, Googles Chrome browser has this feature, and so long as you are logged into Chrome on the devices you use, those complex passwords are synced. The same goes for iOS on an iPhone or iPad. And both of these systems let you look up your password and login for a site if you need to see it.

And on devices that use fingerprint or face recognition ID for access, you can log in simply with a glance or the touch of a fingertip.

You can also use a third-party password manager, such as 1Password or LastPass, if youre willing to pay. But for me, this just adds complexity when the solution is already included in the software and hardware.

Update your software

If youre of the if it aint broke, dont fix it school of software updates, Ive got bad news for you, Bubba. If you havent updated your software  your apps or the operating system they run on  then it is definitely broken.

All software has bugs, and over time developers find and fix them. They also add new features and security measures, and if you dont keep up, you could pay for your recalcitrance in awful ways, including getting your devices hacked and personal information stolen. (In which case, youd definitely the backup youre going to make after reading this column.)

And its not just operating systems and programs. Anything with software at its core needs to be updated, from Wi-Fi routers to smart home products to car infotainment systems. Make it a January project to get all your gear up to date.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How to update your router's firmware

Dont share misinformation

The internet is a great source of information, but as weve learned in the past decade, its also a source of misinformation. The shareable nature of social media has a lot to do with this, though people have been sharing bogus news digitally since the dawn of email.

It drives me nuts when I see someone post a picture of an historical figure, politician or a personality with a quote attributed to that person  except that person never said any such thing. Its pretty easy to run the quote through a Google search to determine its provenance or lack of it.

The same works for headlines. Before you share a story on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn from a source you dont immediately recognize, visit the site to see what else is there. Or, Google the headline or a unique sentence in the story. In addition, Facebook has a button on every news story thats shared that provides detailed information about the quality of the source. Look for the i to the right above the headline of a story you want to share.

You can usually check the veracity of a storys topic at Snopes.com, which has been fact-checking fake news since 1994.

Dont be a jerk

Finally, resolve to be kinder and gentler online. Stop and think before you send an email or post a comment in anger. Pause before sending off messages that contain insults or use a snide tone. Ask yourself, Does this really need to be said now, and in this way?

Probably not.

When Im hot under the collar about something and I respond via email or a posting, I typically walk away from the computer, tablet or phone for an hour or so, then come back to what I wrote. More times than not, I find a less combative, less churlish way of making my point. Usually replacing it with a calm and reasoned response yields better results.

There are enough trolls, jerks and know-it-alls on the internet as it is. Resolve in 2020 not to be among them.

dwight.silverman@chron.com

twitter.com/dsilverman

houstonchronicle.com/techburger
As part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act of the US, which President Donald Trump signed and was adopted earlier this month, US sanctions aimed at halting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany have been signed into law. The latest round of sanctions involving visa, finance and property restrictions will target individuals and companies involved in the construction of the pipeline and provide a window of 60 days to the Trump administration to identify sanctionable entities. These entities will have an additional 30 days to wrap up their work. Broadly, these sanctions are a continuation of the US sanctions on Russia imposed since 2014 during the Ukraine crisis and are largely aimed at curbing Russias strategic reach into Europe, to cripple its economy and to open another front for Americas own energy sales.

Russia has come out strongly in criticism of the sanctions and has called the US measures unfair trade practice, with the Russian government warning that it will undertake countermeasures while meeting its expected deadlines on the pipeline. More importantly, Germany, which is a direct recipient country of the existing Nord Stream 1 and the upcoming Nord Stream 2, has refused to retaliate against Russia and has criticized the US sanctions against Moscow.

The Nord Stream 2 is a $10.5-billion gas pipeline running from Russia to Europe through the Baltic Sea. The total capacity of two strings of the 1,224 km-long Nord Stream 2 is 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The entry point of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline into the Baltic Sea will be the Ust-Luga area of the Leningrad region. Then the pipeline will stretch across the Baltic Sea. Its exit point in Germany will be in the Greifswald. The new pipeline will run alongside the already constructed Nord Stream 1 and will double the amount of gas being transported to 110 billion cubic meters per year. The pipeline is intended to provide Europe with a sustainable gas supply while providing Russia with direct access to the expanding European gas market. This has fuelled criss-crossed tensions between the US, its NATO allies and Russia. It has divided European Union members as well as caused concerns within the trans-Atlantic alliance.

The US sanctions have brought quite a few issues to the fore that merit assessment. First of these is the efficacy of sanctions in curbing the expansion of Russian influence not just in Eastern Europe but beyond. Sanctions imposed on Russia by the US since 2014 have not met their intended goals. Despite severe economic sanctions, Russia continues a predictable export graph of its energy and defence exports. Three examples in this regard stand out. US sanctions have not prevented Russia from advancing the TurkStream, a pipeline for gas exports to Turkey and South and Southeastern Europe. The sale of Russian S-400 air defence systems to Turkey and India are progressing despite US sanctions on Turkey and a similar threat to India. Lastly, the fact that more than 90% of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has already been constructed prevents the sanctions from acting as a substantive deterrent.

The other issue concerns the overarching energy geopolitics involving the US, Russia and the EU, the last of which has been internally fractured by the ongoing tussle. The US sanctions on energy exports from Russia intends to reposition energy supplies from Washington as an alternative, bolstered by its shale gas boom. However, these sanctions have divided the EU countries among themselves. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline geographically circumvents both Poland and Ukraine, who favour these sanctions and fear Russias growing influence in the region as it could use the energy pipeline as a strategic tool for arm-twisting these countries. Germanys opposition to the sanctions have constricted the space for the US to meddle in the EUs internal affairs besides further exposing the chinks in the trans-Atlantic ties under the Trump administration.

The completion of this project, along with the functional Nord Stream 1 pipeline, will likely leave the two other land-based energy pipelines passing through Poland and Ukraine less wanted. The US, as a supporter and aid-provider of Ukraine, but more importantly as an arch-enemy of Russia, is expected to remain involved in this scrimmage with Russia. The $300 million in military aid to Ukraine in the latest US defence budget is expected to push Ukraine to obtain lethal weapons, further escalating regional tensions. Besides, NATOs readiness for a war with Russia and Moscows own unsubdued eagerness to integrate other parts of Ukraine with itself keeps the region on the boil.

Despite being an energy leader, the US suffers from a tyranny of geography in Eastern Europe. Its attempt to replace Russian energy exports to the region are likely to falter, mainly due to logistical issues of exporting energy across the European continent to its south-eastern parts as easily as Russia does. Moscow has an advantage of geography over Washington in the region. The subsurface nature of the sea-pipeline reduces its vulnerability to blockades by hostile sovereign nations.

Europes heavy reliance on imported energy further blunts most regional countries opposition to Russia as the predominant energy exporter to the region. As such, the Nord Stream 2 furthers Russias economic and strategic interests in the region and beyond. The project assumes future relevance in the light of expected growth in the LNG demand of Europe.

The Nord Stream 2 stand-off is an example of the significance of energy in the future geopolitics and geostrategy of the world. It also reflects Russias continued relevance in shaping regional and global politics.

(Mishra is Deputy Director, Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies, New Delhi; Surbhi is a doctoral scholar in Russian Studies at JNU, New Delhi)
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Linkedin Pasha Laksamana Putra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, January 2 2020

Data matters: World Bank Group projects are using Big Data to help governments reimagine solutions, improve service delivery and work toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals. (worldbank.org)

In recent years, the fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) and digitalization have become buzz words for the government. Several initiatives to create a digital Indonesia have been started, such as e-ID, e-procurement, e-tax filing and many others.

Furthermore, we have almost completed the Palapa Ring project, which will increase connectivity across the vast archipelago. The question is whether the government is ready to exploit the digitalization gold mine that could produce reliable and uniform data across Indonesia.

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Trump didnt hijack the GOP and bend it to his will. He did something far easier: He looked at the party, saw its fault lines and then offered himself as a pure distillation of accumulated white grievance and anger. He bet that Republican voters didnt really care about free trade or mutual security, or about the environment or Europe, much less deficits. He rebranded kindness and compassion as PC and elevated division and bigotry as the admirable goals of just being politically incorrect. Trump didnt make Americans more racist; he just normalized the resentments that were simmering in many households. In short, he let a lot of long-suppressed demons out of the box.
Nearly three years after assuming office, the "Trump is like Hitler" chant continues. A Washington Post headline reads: "It's not wrong to compare Trump's America to the Holocaust. Here's why." The article continues that Trump is racist and authoritarian, therefore he is like Hitler. Another headline reads, "Donald Trump Enters the Eccentric Dictator Phase of His Presidency." It argues that that Trump cares nothing for laws and elections. In spite of the fact that elections continue as scheduled, his political opponents (even within the Republican Party) remain alive, no one has been sent to concentration camps, the Democratic Party still exists, and the media relentlessly criticize him, Trump continues to be compared with the world's dictators. But this delusional way of thinking is just one of several ways that Trump's biggest haters resemble Hitler, too.

Those who maintain that Trump resembles Hitler distort reality, as Hitler did. For example, Hitler argued that Jews controlled world governments. Some evidence could be found to support this contention, but it was mostly false, like the argument that Trump is like Hitler. Instead of seeing the whole picture, Hitler and Trump's biggest haters see only what suits their minds. Everything else gets ignored, making them close-minded.

Hitler was also close-minded. Biographer Ian Kershaw writes, "Doubtless Hitler did read much. However, reading for him had purely an instrumental purpose. He read not for knowledge or enlightenment, but for confirmation of his own preconceptions." If you study those who compare Trump and Hitler, you will learn that they read, but it merely serves their preconceived (far-left-wing) notions. They read left-wing websites like Vox and HuffPo, left-wing newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and left-wing books, like Michelle Obama's autobiography, a must-read for Trump-haters. Reading merely reinforces pre-existing beliefs. Learning is secondary.

If you listen to those who compare Trump and Hitler, you will note that they view Republicans the same way Hitler viewed Jews: as inherently evil and incapable of good. Find someone who thinks Trump is like Hitler, and you will see someone who despises the whole Republican Party. Their hatred extends far beyond Trump (and, like with Hitler, this hatred probably has a deeper, non-political origin). Republicans and Jews get dehumanized, as if they were inferior people. The fact that Republicans have done good things can't be comprehended. Evidence and logical reasoning get subordinated. Like in George Orwell's 1984, facts aren't facts, except when they serve a certain purpose that corresponds with what one's mind wants to be true.

Hatred and rage (as opposed to love and tolerance) also characterize those who compare Hitler and Trump. They are guided not by facts, evidence, or reason, but by a vitriolic hatred toward a specific group. There are plenty of good Republicans in D.C., but those who compare Trump and Hitler can't bring themselves to see this. Respectfully disagreeing is not part of their way of thinking, like Hitler. They hate Republicans in the collective, although they may have Republican friends (Hitler liked specific Jews, too).

Emotions and selective usage of facts lead to some demonstrably false arguments that go something like this: all dictators attack the media, therefore if one attacks the media, he is a dictator. That is illogical. It is like saying all Christians believe in God, therefore, if you believe in God, you are a Christian. Hitler used similar reasoning in Mein Kampf when he mistakenly reasoned that since Jews were disproportionately communists, most communists were Jews. Again, truth gets subordinated. The whole picture must be examined, not just selective pieces.

People are often more similar to than different from those they hate the most. (The psychological explanations for this lie outside the scope of this work.) Communists and Nazis resemble each other more than they do centrist, independent-minded people. The latter, more objective people who don't compare Trump and Hitler (and this is most Americans) tend to have a better grasp on reality. They are less hateful and more tolerant. They are liberal, in the actual sense of the word.

On big, important issues, neither Trump nor those who associate him with Hitler are like Hitler. Neither party seeks to end elections, or ban opposition parties, or send those different from its own members to concentration camps. However, on some smaller issues, both bear a striking resemblance to Hitler. Trump has lied, he glorifies the military, and he routinely attacks his political opponents. But those who compare Trump with Hitler are guilty of hatred, intolerance, dehumanizing "the other," delusions, and irrational arguments. If Trump is like Hitler, then so are they.

David Byrne earned his Ph.D. in history from Claremont Graduate University. His book Ronald Reagan: An Intellectual Biography can be purchased here. His Twitter account is here.

Image: Louis P. Hirshman via Wikimedia Commons.
Congress leader KTS Tulsi on Wednesday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP GVL Narasimha Rao for filing plea seeking contempt proceedings against Kerala Chief Minister over new citizenship law it, saying that state legislature has a freedom of speech.

"State legislature has a right to pass the resolution. I do not understand where they have breached the law. They have a right to voice their concerns on the decisions taken by the Legislative Assembly," the Congress leader said while speaking to ANI.

On Tuesday, Rao filed a petition with the Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu seeking to initiate breach of privilege and contempt proceedings against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hours after the state Assembly passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Notably, before the resolution was passed against the Act, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a special Assembly session targetted Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and had stated that citizenship law is part of an agenda. "The CAA is part of an agenda. Muslims are being considered as internal enemies by RSS, which is controlling the ruling dispensation at the Centre," he alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some of the fastest population growth in the nation brings opportunities and challenges for South Carolina. Among the challenges: constant construction to accommodate all the new people. Here, work continues n November on the New Market Square Apartments on Huger Street on the Charleston peninsula near Palmetto Brewing Co. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
Military sexual trauma victim Ethan Hanson. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Award-winning photojournalist Mary F. Calvert has spent six years documenting the prevalence of rape in the military and the effects on victims. She began with a focus on female victims but more recently has examined the underreported incidence of sexual assaults on men and the lifelong trauma it can inflict.

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Last March, Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., a retired Air Force combat pilot, disclosed that she had been the victim of multiple sexual assaults by fellow officers, putting the issue of sexual assault in the military on the national agenda. Two months later, a required biannual Department of Defense report found that sexual assault within the ranks had increased by 38 percent over two years. Much less attention has been given to the problem of sexual assault against men in uniform. The report estimated that 20,500 Service members, representing about 13,000 women and 7,500 men, experienced some kind of contact or penetrative sexual assault in 2018, up from approximately 14,900 in 2016.

Although the military has made efforts to encourage victims to come forward, most assaults are still not reported, and victims who do make reports sometimes still face retaliation. Although men are less likely to be victimized than women, the stigma and psychological trauma can be equally devastating. A DOD report released on Nov. 5 determined that military sexual assault might be more likely to cause PTSD than combat.

Arizona Sen. Martha McSally. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Male victims of sexual assault in [the military] remain in the shadows and are not receiving the care and support they need, said retired Marine Corps Col. Scott Jensen, the vice chair of Protect Our Defenders, an organization that combats military rape and assault. When it comes to actual reporting of sexual assaults, it is telling that male victims actually file a report at such a low rate [18 percent] when we know from DODs own 2016 survey that 42 percent of overall victims are male. A system that addresses men and women in the same way without sensitivity to the nuances and differences between survivors of different genders is destined to fail. Much more attention to both preventing and responding to male survivors is necessary to ensure that those who are suffering feel comfortable and supported enough to report.

Story continues

This can only happen when a cultural shift occurs that reduces the stigma of reporting a sexual assault in a hypermasculine culture. That type of change will not occur without focused, aggressive and demanding leadership on the part of the leadership of DOD.

The effects of military sexual trauma (MST) in male victims include depression, substance abuse, paranoia, hypervigilance, anger and feelings of isolation. Victims may turn to alcohol or drugs or end up homeless, even suicidal.

There are few treatment programs in the U.S. military for male MST victims. Most men are lumped in with combat PTSD sufferers, who often resent the presence of rape victims and treat them as phonies and pariahs. The Department of Veterans Affairs has few beds reserved for MST victims nationwide, and most are assigned to women.

Here are a few of the male victims stories:

Jack Williams

(Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Jack Williams, 72, spends the night at a highway rest stop in Everett, Wash. Williams was raped by an instructor when he served in the U.S. Air Force in 1966. He reported the rape immediately but the response by his superiors was to threaten him with a homosexual discharge. Back in 1966 if you admitted you'd been raped that was the same as saying you were a child molester, he says. My PTSD has been so bad for all these years. ... All those years I have not been able to sleep in a normal way like normal people do. I have to carry extra clothes with me because I soil myself. ... I feel that the government should have to bear the expense of repairing me even though I am old.

Jack Williams. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Ethan Hanson

Katie Hanson with her husband, Ethan Hanson. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Six years after he was sexually hazed in a shower during Marine boot camp, Ethan Hanson still cant shower, even at home. The assault, he says, was punishment by his drill instructor for talking and laughing with other recruits in the shower. When I come into contact with steam, hot water, anything that makes my skin slippery, it's back to being in that shower again. ... It makes me want to vomit up every bit of bile I have.

Ethan Hanson. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Paul Lloyd

Paul Lloyd. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Ten years ago, Paul Lloyd was raped by a fellow soldier in the shower during Army boot camp. After the attack he spent 14 days in the hospital but never reported the crime. A few months later he was given a general discharge from and went home to Salt Lake City to try to rebuild his life. He was comforted by his wife, Rachel, after a flashback in the grocery store.

We were at the store. I was looking at some stuff and started smelling some candles and found a candle that triggered me back into a flashback. It's similar to the scent of the shampoo I was using at the time of the assault. When it happens, you're back there; you're back in that little three-by-three-square shower, cold tile and hot water and cold water running down. You do, you feel psychologically, not just physiologically, your mind goes back to the pain at the time of the assault being thrown up against the wall multiple times, being forced to do things, forced having your jaw open. It's hell, and there's no escape from it, he said.

Paul Lloyd. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

To escape the nightmares that follow his flashbacks, Lloyd sometimes stays up late doing chores like cleaning the house. The flashbacks keep me from sleeping and so I clean, I over clean, Im obsessed because I have to get my mind off of what had happened. I think the worst I've ever gotten is four days without sleeping, like an actual good night's rest or even just a decent rest. I just obsess. Its something that I have complete control over when I clean and thats why I do it.

Billy Joe Capshaw

(Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Billy Joe Capshaw was 17 years old when he joined the U.S. Army to help support his family in Hot Springs, Ark. His mother signed for him and he was shipped off to Germany where he spent the next 18 months being raped and tortured by his roommate  the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who after his discharge committed at least 17 murders, dismembering and in some cases eating the victims. (Dahmer was killed in prison by another inmate in 1994.) Capshaw reported the abuse, but, he says, the Army did nothing to protect him. At one point he jumped out of a third-story window to get away from his rapist but was literally dragged back into the room. Dahmer was eventually discharged for alcohol abuse. Soon after, Capshaw was given an honorable discharge and sent home, where he stayed in his room for five years.

I had to get 26 years of therapy because of this. I look like a leopard. I got spots all over me, I mean, just horrible scars and its just ruined my life. And just being attached to the name of Jeffrey Dahmer, I can never hold a job.

Billy Joe Capshaw. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Capshaw stays up late drinking and watching music videos on his computer. The kitchen light is always on. When I first got to Germany I was 17 years old and I think it was in February when I got there, in 1979 or 1980, said Capshaw. I met Jeff and we became roommates. I think the first or second night he started acting funny and by the third night Id been raped and I didnt know what to do, I really didnt. I didnt know who to go to or any of that stuff. He was drinking heavy and I told him what happened the next morning. He just looked at me like, Who cares? Kind of a blank look.

Billy Joe Capshaw. (Photo: Mary F. Calvert)

Capshaw sleeps on his living room couch with the kitchen light on. He says he cannot sleep in a dark room or a bed because he was raped in a bed. If you knew how hard it is to admit your rape, he says. Im getting stuck for words. Its hard to admit. Wow. If youre a man, its very hard to admit you get raped. It takes away from everything you were ever, ever, ever told in life by your mother, your father, everything. It takes away your sexuality; it takes away from you emotionally. Youre vulnerable in a lot of ways.

You feel that way all the time. We feel like somebody knows it thats the only way to get better is to admit it. I mean tell people and now theres not such a stigma about it because its been going on so long.

Text and photography by Mary F. Calvert

Jerry Adler/Yahoo News contributed to this report

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
One man displayed a black handgun and pushed the employee into a back room, police said. The two remaining men then stole currency from the cash register as well as cigarette cartons, police said. The trio then exited the store.
THE COUNCIL has taken a County Limerick farmer to court for water pollution in relation to silage pit run-off.

The farmer - Peter OMahony, of Glenfield, Kilmallock - said it is not getting into the river.

Will Leahy, solicitor for Limerick City and County Council, said it relates to two separate farm holdings - Glenfield and Ballingaddy North, Kilmallock.

There are problems with both of them. The two yards are both full of silage. The matter cant be fixed until the silage is gone off it, said Mr Leahy.

The council issued two section 2 notices under the Water Pollution Act which require measures to be taken to prevent water pollution.

Mr OMahony represented himself as his solicitor wasnt in attendance at Kilmallock Court on the day.

I have nearly 100,000 spent on those yards. They are built to hold 200 acres of silage but due to the good weather 400 acres was put on them. There must be a crack in the floor, said Mr OMahony, who applied for an adjournment until late March so the silage will be gone and he can investigate the matter fully.

Aidan Leonard, agricultural scientist with the council, said they received a complaint in July in relation to Glenfield.

It was that effluent was contaminating a drain. We took samples. They were discoloured and there was an odour off it. There was a pollutant in the drain. It is a threat to the water network, said Mr Leonard.

Mr Leahy asked Mr Leonard where does the silage run-off go?

It enters a drain and spreads out on a field. There is no direct entry to the river Loobagh.

He [Mr OMahony] built a concrete silage base. There is a catastrophic failure in it. It is very difficult to determine where it is coming from, said Mr Leonard.

Judge Marian OLeary asked if it is affecting the complainant?

Yes, said Mr Leonard.

The court heard that it is a similar situation in Ballingaddy North.

Too much silage went in to the yard. It probably went in wet.

It is potentially more serious because it is upstream of the water plant. When the alarm went off in the plant, significant works were carried out. He dug trenches and dammed it. There is less effluent going in than before, said Mr Leonard.

Mr OMahony said it is not getting into the river.

The effluent is being sucked out. The pit split. Its not getting into the river. That was my only concern. It is going into a dyke on my land, said Mr OMahony.

Mr Leahy asked if an engineer can go out to investigate.

Mr OMahony said it is under 400 acres of silage.

Were guessing there is a crack in the floor. Until the silage is gone you are wasting your time, said Mr OMahony.

Mr Leonard said the effluent is spreading out diffusely on land.

Judge OLeary adjourned the case until April 21 and in the meantime ordered that the councils engineers and Mr OMahony liaise with each other about the issue.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Two Alaska men on a snowboarding trip to British Columbia died when they were caught in an avalanche, according to provincial officials.

The two men and a third friend who survived the avalanche were from nearby Haines, Alaska, and were in their early 20s, Anchorage television station KTVA reported. Their names were not immediately released.

The avalanche occurred Monday in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, according to BC Coroner Service spokesman Andy Watson. The park is between Haines and Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.

Royal Canadian Mountain Police notified the Haines Volunteer Fire Department that they had received a signal from an emergency locator west of Three Guardsman Mountain in the mountain pass between the cities, Canadian Press reported.

Canadian authorities launched a rescue operation that included a helicopter, emergency support and the Haines Junction Search and Rescue team, the fire department said. Rescuers found one person alive and the two others who died.

The B.C. coroner office will investigate to determine how and where the men died.

Christmas week saw storms, snow and strong winds that led to an increase in dangerous conditions for that corner of British Columbia, said James Minifie, lead avalanche technician for Avalanche Canada.

The area where the snowboarders were found is fairly remote mountainous terrain and is used for recreation by Canadian and American citizens, he said. High avalanche conditions persist in the area, Minifie said, and users should have an emergency plan and carry satellite-enabled communication.

Canadian authorities are making arrangements to transport the bodies back to the United States, according to the fire department.
PERTH, Australia - Australia deployed military ships and aircraft Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires. Authorities confirmed three bodies were found Wednesday at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales, bringing the death toll in the state to 15.

More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region.

Some 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. Stranded residents and vacationers slept in their cars, and gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Dozens of homes burned before winds changed direction late Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town.

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

I think that was our biggest threat in terms of what are we doing with the children if we need to go in the water to protect ourselves given the fact that they are only 1, 3 and 5, tourist Kai Kirschbaum told ABC Australia. If youre a good swimmer it doesnt really matter if you have to be in the water for a longer time, but doing that with three kids that would have been, I think, a nightmare.

Conditions cooled Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing.

We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state, Crisp said.

In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 89 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesdays fires. More than 100 fires were still burning in the state Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level. Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car and a father and son who died in their house.

Firefighting crews took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning, before conditions were expected to deteriorate Saturday as high temperatures and strong winds return.

There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday, New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.

The early and devastating start to Australias summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australias lucrative coal industry.

Morrison won a surprise third term in May. Among his governments pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030  a modest figure compared to the centre-left opposition Labor partys pledge of 45%.

The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nations highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

If he (Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns, Di Natale said in a statement.

About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with at least 17 people dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Years fireworks celebrations, but Sydneys popular display over its iconic harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revelers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant Canberra, the nations capital, on Wednesday had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world.

The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is examining the types of documents a person from a persecuted minority community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will require while applying for Indian citizenship under the new law.

According to the newly-amended Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), those who have come to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 after having faced religious persecution in their native country will not be treated as illegal immigrants but would be eligible for Indian citizenship. However, it will be applicable only to members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities.

According to a report in The Economic Times, the proposed guidelines suggest that there will be separate columns for the country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan) and community (Hindu, Sikh, Christians, Parsis, Buddhist or Jains) which applicants will have to declare while seeking citizenship under the newly amended Citizenship Amendment Act.

Marriage certificates issued by a gram panchayat or municipal corporation in Pakistan are among the documents that are under consideration, the report suggests.

The new rules are expected to emphasise on a detailed Intelligence Bureau (IB) or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) report. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

According to reports, currently, 31,313 people belonging to the aforementioned communities, who were given Long Term Visa over claims of religious persecution, stand to gain from CAA.

The number of immediate beneficiaries was provided by Intelligence Bureau (IB) to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 2016 version of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The JPC report, citing the IB, was tabled in Parliament in January 2018.

"As per our records, there are 31,313 persons belonging to minority communities (Hindus: 25,447, Sikhs: 5,807, Christians: 55, Buddhists: 2 and Parsis: 2) who have been granted a long term visa on the basis of their claim of religious persecution in their respective countries and want Indian citizenship. Hence, these persons will be immediate beneficiaries," the IB Director had informed the panel.

While CAA has received the Presidents assent and is now a law, it has not been notified yet.

The notification on the rules would subsume previous orders issued by the Home Ministry for grant of long-term visas and citizenship.

It may also propose a mechanism to overcome challenges posed by some states, the report adds. Chief ministers of West Bengal, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have said that they would not implement CAA.

The power to grant citizenship rests with the Centre. However, it delegates the responsibility to district magistrates or collectors in states.

The ET report cites officials as saying that CAA also allows the Centre to set the conditions, restrictions and decide the manner for granting certificate of citizenship.
Scott Morrison saw in the new year by hosting an exclusive event where guests enjoyed front-row views of the $6.5 million fireworks display from Kirribilli House.

Family and close friends gathered at the Prime Minister's home on Sydney's North Shore on Tuesday night for dinner.

The mood was reportedly 'sombre' as they watched as the sky lit up with the controversial New Year's Eve event.

Many people were outraged when they heard the Prime Minister was celebrating when so many people across the country were suffering due to the bushfires.

A spokesperson for the PM denied Mr Morrison hosted a party, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'The PM had a few close friends and family members over for dinner.'

Scott Morrison (pictured) hosted a New Year's Eve event where guests watched the $6.5 million fireworks display from Kirribilli House

'Scott Morrison and Jenny holding a party at Kirribilli House tonight to watch the fireworks is significantly more tasteless than the actual New Year's Eve fireworks themselves,' one person wrote on Twitter.

'Scott Morrison's acts of leadership today: one Facebook post, one tweet and a private party at Kirribilli House to watch the fireworks,' another wrote.

'I'm happy to sit on the fence about fireworks, but I'll never forget that Scott Morrison is holding a party at Kirribilli House tonight. I hope there's some fireworks aimed straight at the bastards.'

However, some people jumped to the Prime Minister's defence, saying he was allowed to have a bit of fun.

'For goodness sake, all you ruined the poor mans Hawaiian holiday and now you're upset about a NYE party at Kirribilli House,' wrote one supporter.

'Not having either isn't going to miraculously make the fires go out, I'm mean he's a Christian but he's not Christ The Saviour.'

Sydney was illuminated in a $6.5 million New Year's Eve firework spectacular despite calls to cancel the event amid devastating bushfires.

Mr Morrison backed the decision, claiming it 'strikes a positive note'.

Sydney's iconic fireworks display on New year's Eve could be scrapped if fire risks are rated as catastrophic on Tuesday

'On New Year's Eve, the world looks at Sydney, every single year,' he told The Australian.

'They look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success. They all think to themselves ''what an amazing place'' and they are right.'

More than a quarter of a million people had signed a petition seeking to cancel Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks.

The petition, which was started six weeks ago, had 261,000 online signatures by Saturday evening calling for them to be scrapped due to the bushfires.

At least 200 homes have been destroyed on the NSW south coast and the main streets of towns such as Cobargo and Mogo are unrecognisable.

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday three people have died and there are grave fears for a fourth person in the NSW South Coast blazes.

This extraordinary picture was snapped in the East Gippsland town of Bairnsdale late on Monday night

Firefighters have confirmed Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, are among those dead after they tried to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega. The third person confirmed dead was found in a motor vehicle in Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola.

One hundred fires are blazing across New South Wales as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, hope is fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland holiday region on the Victorian coast, following the deadly New Year's Eve blaze.

There are 46 fires still burning and 43 properties have been destroyed in the popular holiday destination.

After a day sheltering on the beach, tourists and locals in Mallacoota spent the night sleeping in a local cinema.

Many spent New Year's Eve on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister's officer for comment.
A Sadhu or a Hindu holy man pays the vendor through Paytm, a digital wallet company, after buying a book during the annual religious festival of Magh Mela in Allahabad

From February 1, businesses will be fined Rs 5,000 per day if they fail to accept payments through digital payment facilities, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a circular dated December 30. This will be applicable to companies with an annual turnover of over Rs 50 crore.

The move is to encourage digital transactions and a less-cash economy.

A new section (Section 269SU) has been inserted in the Income Tax Act, 1961 as a part of the Finance Act, 2019, which makes it mandatory for every person having a business turnover of more than Rs 50 crore to provide facilities for accepting payments through prescribed electronic modes, with effect from January 1.

As per the Section lOA of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007, inserted by the Finance Act, no bank or system provider is allowed to impose any charge on a payer making payment, or a beneficiary receiving payment, through prescribed electronic modes. No charge including the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will be applicable on or after January 1 on payment made through prescribed electronic modes.

The said businesses are required to install and operationalise facilities for digital payment on or before January 31. "However, if the specified person fails to do so, he shall be liable to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 per day from February 1 under section 271DB of the Act for such failure," the circular said
By West Kentucky Star Staff Dec. 31, 2019 | 06:10 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY





According to the Murray-Calloway County Hospital, Giving Tuesday, often stylized as #GivingTuesday for the purpose of hashtag activism, refers to the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The movement works to create an international day of charitable giving at the beginning of the holiday season.







This year, multiple donors agreed to match donations, and several families throughout the area made donations which resulted in a total of $7,360 being raised on Giving Tuesday. The money will go towards the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.







The following donations were made:







 Dave and Judy Eldridge - $1,600



 Tripp and Sharon Furches - $1,600



 Anonymous Donor - $10,000



 Anonymous Donor - $2,000



 Nancy and Don Travis - $500



 John and Heather McConnell - $500







Tripp and I grew up in Murray and love our community. We feel its so important to support your local community both financially and through opportunities to serve. Its important to set an example for the next generation on how to serve. And cancer has touched many in our family so that is certainly a cause that is important to us, said Sharon Furches.







The campaign supports building a new cancer center, which will make an impact on patients and families in our region, who have been affected from cancer. The campaign also supports local cancer treatment options to continue to be provided in the area.







Neighbors, colleagues, family, and ourselves can receive new hope with cancer care that goes beyond high quality. The result will change cancer statistics and affect families in our region for years to come.







Once construction begins on the new Regional Cancer Center, the project is expected to take 18 months. The new facility will be located on the first floor of the North Tower of the hospital. The main entrance will be located on 8th Street, across from the current Ambulance building.







If you would like to learn more about the Enduring Hope campaign, contact Keith Travis at 270-762-1908 or visit the website linked below.

Local donors are contributing towards Giving Tuesday in support of the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.

On the Net:
As the clock struck midnight on the east coast, revelers rang in the new year with fireworks, champagne, and renditions of Auld Lang Syne."

In a hospital room in Jersey City Medical Center, Emelys Contreras, 31, and Anuiry Restituyo, 38, had another reason to celebrate: their child, Esther Restituyo, had just been born.

Born at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2020, Esther is among the very first births of the new decade in America (barring Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

In their room in Jersey City Medical Center Wednesday morning, the Phillipsburg couple seemed tired but happy.

It is amazing, Contreras told The Jersey Journal. It feels great.

Esther was delivered in a planned C-section, but Contreras said the exact timing of the delivery was uncertain.

I didnt know she was going to come out exactly at twelve," Contreras said. I thought it was going to be like 12:01, 12:02.

At her birth, Esther measured 19 inches long and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces. She is the couples third child.

Esther beat the closest competition by hours. The next baby born in a Hudson County hospital wouldnt be until 3:39 a.m., also at Jersey City Medical Center. Hudson Regional Hospital reported their first delivery of the year at 9:16 a.m., and Palisades Medical Center reported their first at 1:13 p.m.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis was happily congratulating the children and the rest at St. Peter's Square. Then something happened that he slapped a woman's hand. When he was greeting all the people, only then a woman in the crowd held his hand. The Pope got a little angry and slapped the woman. This entire incident is captured in the video.

Trump offers clarification after being threatened, says, 'No war with Iran...'

According to media reports, the Pope was shaking hands with the children present in the crowd, as he started walking away from the crowd, a woman grabbed his hand and pulled him, Pope got a little angry with this behavior of the woman. He shook the woman's hand and hit her hand hard and went away. Pope also rebuked the woman loudly. The people present there were surprised to see this whole incident.

Imran was kind to transgender people in Pakistan, said this

On the occasion of Christmas, Pope Francis appealed for peace to many troubled regions of the world. He called for an end to the ongoing armed conflict in several African countries, including West Asia, Venezuela, and Lebanon. He said that shows the path to your many children suffering from the war in different countries.

A woman grabbed Pope Francis towards her when he was greeting pilgrims at St. Peter's Square. The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain and the visibly disgruntled pope swiftly wrenched his hand free https://t.co/2nap3R0iQ4 pic.twitter.com/9xooCrAWx3  Reuters (@Reuters) January 1, 2020

Kim's big announcement, says, "Lifting ban on missile tests..."
NASA has spent nearly a decade without a US-made spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts to space. SpaceX wants to make it clear that's about to change.

Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO and chief engineer, tweeted a new simulation video on Monday demonstrating how the first crewed flight of the company's Dragon capsule will play out.

It's common for aerospace companies to distribute animated footage to drum up hype before important missions  and Musk is known for adding drama and flair.

The animation shows astronauts riding in a Tesla Model X, which swings open its gull wing door onto a sunset-drenched launchpad as instrumental music swells.

Astronauts will board the spacecraft, Crew Dragon, through an aerial walkway after it's attached to a rocket and hoisted onto its launch pad.

The spacecraft will ride into orbit atop one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets then break off and fire up its own thrusters. After spending a day or more carefully maneuvering through space, the capsule will autonomously latch itself onto a designated docking port at the International Space Station.

The ISS is essentially a giant orbiting laboratory, and it has continuously hosted a rotating crew of astronauts since 2000.

SpaceX is slated to launch its crewed missions from NASA's Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That's the same pad that hosted the 1969 launch of Apollo 11, which carried the first astronauts to land on the moon. Pad 39A was also used for numerous space shuttle missions before that program retired in 2011.

It won't be clear exactly when Crew Dragon will be ready for its first crewed flight until the spacecraft undergoes final testing. NASA hopes that will happen in the first few months of 2020.

The United States has relied on Russia's Soyuz capsule, which launches from Kazakhstan, to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station for the past eight years.

NASA opted to ask the private sector to develop a replacement for the space shuttle so NASA could focus on exploring deeper into the cosmos. Boeing and SpaceX were selected in 2014 and awarded contracts worth $4.2 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively.

NASA hoped at the time both spacecraft would be ready by 2017. But the companies suffered numerous delays and development setbacks.

Boeing launched its capsule, Starliner, into space for the first time earlier this month for an uncrewed demonstration mission. But Starliner failed to put itself on the right path to link up with the ISS.

Crew Dragon's uncrewed test flight in May went off without a hitch. Shortly after, however, the capsule exploded during a ground test.

SpaceX worked to resolve the issue over the past few months. Its last major testing milestone before the spacecraft can fly crew could be next month: Crew Dragon will demonstrate its emergency abort system, which would eject the capsule and its passengers away from a rocket if it misfires on the way to space.

Correction: An earlier version of this story included the incorrect contract award values for Boeing and SpaceX.
UPDATE 9.20am: Cordons are currently in place at the entrance to the Bowentown Holiday Park, following a homicide investigation being launched.

The investigation comes after a man died in the area in the early hours of this morning.

A police spokesperson says they attended reports of a disorder on Seaforth Road, Bowentown, shortly before 1am.

A SunLive photographer at the scene says cordons are in place.

Four police cars are at the cordon and detectives are on scene.

He says people are still inside the campground looking around, and police are taking details of people going through the cordon.

He says many holidaymakers have approached him, wondering what is going on.

Many residents heard nothing, but there were reports of cars being broken into.

EARLIER:

A homicide investigation is currently underway at Waihi Beach following the death of a man early this morning.

A police spokesperson says police attended reports of disorder on Seaforth Road, Bowentown, shortly before 1am.

On arrival, they located a man in critical condition.

Emergency medical treatment was administered, however, he died at the scene.

A scene guard remains in place.
 Flash

Chinese tourists are expected to make 450 million domestic trips during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, said a report released Tuesday by the country's major online travel agency Trip.com Group.

A total of 415 million trips were made across China during the Spring Festival holiday in 2019, up 7.6 percent compared with last year. About 4.6 billion domestic trips were made in the first three quarters this year, up 8.8 percent year on year.

"The rapid growth will continue during the week-long holiday beginning Jan. 24," said Peng Liang, a tourist data researcher with Trip. com Group.

Two thirds of the tourists having placed their orders on Trip.com will travel with their children or parents for the festival, a traditional occasion for family get-together.

Warm southern cities and northern snow and ice destinations are the most popular choices among both group visitors and independent travellers.

As more Chinese travel during holidays, the world will also benefit, said Peng. So far Chinese tourists have booked outbound trips to over 1,000 destinations in 102 countries and regions on Trip.com.
Indias biggest internal security headache would be the migrants from Bengal, radicals from Kerala

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: Illegal immigration and radicalisation are two major national security concerns. The bulk of these problems are contributed by Bengal and Kerala. In many cases, both are directly interconnected and both these states do not appear to have woken up to the problem despite being warned. Is it the politics of vote bank? Let us call it that.

Kerala:

Kerala, unlike West Bengal, has one major positive. It is a 100 per cent literate state. However, attached to the problem of radicalisation.

The issue of radicalisation is not a new one. Basheer, a resident of Kerala, who was studying aeronautical engineering and was part of the extremist faction of the Students Islamic Movement of India had organised a convention in Bombay. Later it was found that this was a convention sponsored by Pakistan to create a liaison between the Khalistan terrorists and the SIMI.

The radicalisation of Tamil Nadu and what is keeping the NIA busy there

Pakistan had brought in Lal Singh, who was part of the Khalistan movement. Pakistan wanted the SIMI to grow and the target was South India. Basheer had even surveyed the Madras Stock Exchange that year with an intention of bombing it. The plan did not work out and two years later Dawood Ibrahim helped bomb the Bombay Stock Exchange. Now, this was a case that dates back to 1991.

NIA officials probing the Kerala ISIS case say that the prime concern is that all those who have left for the ISIS in Afghanistan are educated. The officer says that a person by the name Shihas had played a major role in building up the module. He had managed to rope in several persons including one Nashidhul, who was initially opposed to the ideology of the ISIS.

During investigations, the NIA learnt that the brainwashing was so strong that many who did not subscribe to the view of the outfit ended up getting convinced. They are repeatedly told that as Muslims they are living on unholy land and they could lead a better life and become good Muslims only if they subscribe to the view of the ISIS.

Shihas incidentally was linked to the Peace Foundation that is run by Zakir Naik. He managed to convince many to attend classes at the Peace Foundation. The officer adds that the spread of this foundation is large in Kerala and this we have noticed is the crux of the problem.

Illegal immigrants and Bengals land jihadis mandates we need an NRC now

When it comes to Kerala, the key concern remains radicalisation and Wahhabism. Allowing Wahhabism is a danger to our integrity. We should not let pockets of our country be dominated by such radical thoughts, says former officer with the Research and Analysis Wing, V Balachandran.

Bengal:

The biggest opposition to the NRC has been from Mamata Banerjee. She is the same lady who tore papers in the well of the House as an MP when she was not allowed to raise this issue when the CPM was in power in Bengal.

Back in 2012, the Intelligence Bureau had reported that the issue was catching up like wildfire in the states of West Bengal, Kerala, Telangana (then AP) and Karnataka. The report stated that there are all sorts of people. Many are here in search of a livelihood, but then there are many who indulge in illegal activities such as smuggling as drugs and sometimes arms.

They come into the country through West Bengal and gradually move into other parts of the country. While touts and middlemen help them with documents, there are others who take advantage of their poor living conditions and lure them with money in order to carry out illegal activities.

NRC essential for security and self-respect of nation says BJPs national secretary

In this context, we must take a look at what former Pakistan prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had said in his book. He had said, "it would be wrong to think that Kashmir is the only dispute that divides India and Pakistan, though undoubtedly the most significant.

One at least is nearly as important as the Kashmir dispute, that of Assam and some districts of India adjacent to East Pakistan. To these Pakistan has very good claims."

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his book, Eastern Pakistan: Its Population and Economics, said, "because Eastern Pakistan must have sufficient land for its expansion and because Assam has abundant forests and mineral resources, coal, petroleum etc., Eastern Pakistan must include Assam to be financially and economically strong".

A former officer with the Research and Analysis Wing, Amar Bhushan says that this is a dangerous issue. He says that in the early 1990s, the Research and Analysis Wing carried out a daredevil operation in Bangladesh against the activities of the Jamaat-e-Islami. The intention behind the operation was a larger one and India was clearly worried about the rise of illegal immigration which the Jamaat was carrying out at the behest of the ISI.

The agenda was a larger one and after losing out on Bangladesh, the ISI wanted to infiltrate as many Muslims as possible in a bid to either merge a portion of India with Bangladesh or divide the nation.

Radicalisation of Hindus as dangerous as that of Muslims, Digvijaya Singh warns

Bhushan who has written about this mission in his latest book- The Zero Cost Mission/The Wily Agent says that they were alarmed by the spurt in illegal immigration into India.

Militancy was not exactly the problem and the Jamaat was not too big an outfit back then. The problem was that they were helping the ISI's larger design of increasing illegal immigration into India, Bhushan tells OneIndia.

The illegal immigration that takes place assumes worrying propositions. An intelligence file clearly suggests that illegal immigration from Bangladesh are part of a devious agenda to set up a Greater East Pakistan/Bangladesh.
Sydney: Recently, a fire in the forests of Australia (Daanal) has taken its form. At the same time, Australian authorities confirmed the death of three more people on Wednesday. Many people are missing in this disaster, some of whom are feared dead. In Mallacoota, southeastern Australia, a total of 4000 people have had to flee to the sea to save their lives, including local and New Year holiday tourists.

Imran was kind to transgender people in Pakistan, said this

According to media reports, the areas around the forests have become vulnerable to smoke. Along with this, the increased temperature due to fire has added to the difficulties. At the same time, officials are facing difficulties in relief and rescue work. But many people are standing in the seawater to avoid the flames. At the same time, a total of 12 people have died in Australia by this fire, three volunteer firemen are also among those who died.

CAA: Assam Tourism lost 500 crores due to violence

After 3 years of drought, the situation has become more serious due to this fire. At the same time, this fire has completely destroyed the 40 lakh hectare area. If assessed as terrain, the fire has caused havoc in a larger area than Japan. This fire is spreading more rapidly due to hot winds. Instructions have been issued to evacuate about 30 thousand tourists. In Mallakuta, three disaster relief teams are engaged in the supervision of four thousand people on the beach. At the same time, it has been learned that fire has erupted in more than 100 places in New South Wales and thousands of firemen are engaged in extinguishing it. A dead body of a person has been recovered in a burnt car on Wednesday morning. Thousands of houses have been turned into ashes. People who have reached the seashore have been asked to wear life-saving jackets so that they can land in the sea if needed. The administration has said that if necessary, the stranded people are to be evacuated by sea or by air.

Bank fraud: ED gives a major blow to media group, attachment of crores of assets
A t least 16 inmates have been killed and five more were wounded during a riot in a Mexican prison.

The riot broke out at around 2.30pm local time on Tuesday in Cieneguillas state prison in Zacatecas central Mexico.

The prison was brought under control by 5pm, according to a statement from the state's security agency.

Fifteen of the victims died at the prison and one died later in hospital.

One prisoner was detained with a gun still in his possession and the other three were found inside the prison, the statement said.

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernandez said authorities confiscated four guns they believe were introduced to the prison during visits on Tuesday.

He said the prison had been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday and no guns were found.

Mr Camberos said not all of the victims died from gunshot wounds.

Some were stabbed and others were beaten with objects.
Bhima-Koregaon case: Sudha Bharadwaj to be released from jail on payment of Rs 50,000 surety

Bhima Koregaon: When a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister was unearthed

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: Maharashtra braces for the Bhima Koregaon Anniversary. The spotlight is on the event being held to mark the 202nd anniversary. Security is tight in the wake of the protests around the newly amended citizenship law.

Further, it may be recalled that last year there was large scale violence that had broken out, following which the Pune police unearthed a major plot. Among the many anti-national acts that the police had cited, it also said that there was a plot hatched to kill the Prime Minister.

In a 5,000-page charge sheet, the Pune police spoke about an assassination plot that was hatched by the naxalites.

In the charge sheet filed, the police said that some of the naxal leaders were conspiring to kill the PM and had planned on procuring arms and ammunition with an intention of waging war against the country.

Bhima-Koregaon Anniversary: Maharashtra braces for historic day, security heightened

The police also said that the Maoists are trying to mobilise and incite Dalits and the Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune last December as part of this strategy.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

The Maoist-backed conclave "aggravated" the violence at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, the charge sheet said.

The over 5,000-page charge sheet named 10 persons, including activists Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhavale, all arrested on June 6.

Besides, it named five Maoist leaders believed to be underground: Dipak alias Milind Teltumbade, Kishan Da alias Prashant Bose, Prakash alias Rituparn Goswami, Deepu and Manglu.

"Maoist leaders including...Rona Wilson and fugitive Kishan Da were conspiring the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waging war against the country for which they were planning to procure arms and ammunition," it stated.

The police cited several documents seized from the Maoist leaders to make the claim on Modi's assassination plan.

The larger conspiracy of CPI (Maoists) was to overthrow the democratic system in the country, and the accused were working in that direction, the charge sheet claimed.

The charge sheet, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC, was filed in the court of District & Sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane here.

The Elgar Parishad had been organised with "inspiration, money and directions" of Maoists, it alleged.

After Uddhav assures to drop Bhima-Koregaon cases, BJP asks is this Bal Thackerays Shiv Sena

"It is the policy of the CPI (Maoists)... to mobilise Dalit community's sentiments and mislead them and provoke them to take violent path against the system," it said.

"As a part of this strategy, Sudhir Dhavale and other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM, a cultural group) spread hatred by giving inciting speeches, presenting distorted history and staging provocative skits and songs," it said.

On the directions of CPI (Maoists) Dhavale and KKM, under the banner of Bhima-Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerana Abhiyan, galvanised Dalit organisations and organised Elgar Parishad on December 31, the charge sheet said.

"During the conclave, inciting speeches were made, inflammatory songs and street plays were played...all these things aggravated the violence on January 1, 2018, at Bhima Koregaon (in Pune district) during 200th commemoration of Bhima Koregaon battle," it said.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar, the investigating officer, said Pune Police recorded the statement of surrendered Maoist leader Pahad Singh.

"Singh gave details of Milind Teltumbade's role. He revealed that Teltumbade has the responsibility of spreading Maoist network in urban areas and he is particularly involved in mobilizing the Dalit community for Maoist activities," he said.

Singh's statement is part of the charge sheet.

Bhima Koregaon: Why do you have 'War and Peace' at home, Bombay HC asks Vernon Gonsalves

Vishrambaug police here had initially registered a case on the complaint of Tushar Damgude who alleged that "provocative" speeches at Elgar Parishad led to violence at Bhima Koregaon in which one person was killed.

In August, Pune Police arrested rights activist Sudha Bharadwaj, Telugu poet Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and Gautam Navlakha in the case. The charge sheet does not name them.

Dalits at a commemoration event of the Bhima Koregaon battle -- in which the forces of the Peshwa, ruler of Pune, were defeated by the British East India Company -- came under attack on January 1.

While Dalits see the victory as an assertion of their identity as the British forces included Mahar (a formerly untouchable caste) soldiers, some Hindu right-wing organisations were opposed to the celebration.
EasyJet has become the latest airline to transition to more gender-inclusive language, the company confirmed this week.

The budget-friendly British airline has advised crew members to move away from greeting its guests as "ladies and gentlemen" in order to create a more "inclusive" and "welcoming" environment for travelers.

We want our crew to be welcoming to everyone onboard and so have provided some guidance to them of how to best do that in a way that is inclusive for everyone," a representative told Fox News on Dec. 30.

The spokesperson clarified that crew members are not "banned" from using "ladies and gentlemen" but have been provided guidance on how to welcome all customers in a friendly and inclusive way.

American Airlines announced earlier this month that it will follow in United Airlines's footsteps and offer non-gender binary options to its passengers when booking their tickets. In October, Air Canada also revealed that it will drop its "ladies and gentlemen" greeting in an attempt to be more inclusive.

"We work hard to make sure all employees feel like valued members of the Air Canada family, while ensuring our customers are comfortable and respected when they choose to travel with us," the airline said in a statement.
President Muhammadu Buhari has the prerogative to appoint anyone he believes can deliver on his official mandate, the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, said on Wednesday.

The minister was reacting to an exclusive report by PREMIUM TIMES on the controversial appointment by the president of a former mid-level civil servant, Salihijo Ahmad, as the managing director and Chief Executive Officer of a crucial electrification agency, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The REA was created by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act in 2006 to facilitate the provision of affordable power supply for residential, commercial, industrial and social activities in the rural and semi-urban areas of the country using renewable energy sources.

Checks by the newspaper revealed that the new REA boss is a former Level 12 public official at the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) which he is said to have exited in 2018. He is also the son of late Salihijo Mohammed Ahmed, a former managing director of Afri-Project Consortium.

Prior to his death on July 7, 1999, the elder Mr Ahmed was a project consultant to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) then headed by Mr Buhari, who was appointed to the position by the then military ruler, Sani Abacha.

Sources in the power sector queried the appointment, saying the claim by the power minister that the new appointee has vast experience in the sector is false. They also queried how a mid-level public official just over a year ago could be appointed head of such a crucial agency if not for his family links.

Additional findings by this newspaper showed that while Mr Ahmad does have experience from his brief stint in the power sector both as a public servant and since he ventured into private practice in 2018, his description as having vast knowledge and experience in power sector development may have been exaggerated.

Before our story was published, PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mr Ahmad and the power minister, none of them replied.

However, the minister through his spokesperson reached out after the story was published.

In his response, the power minister, Saleh Mamman, justified the controversial appointment, saying he has confidence in the presidents decision on the appointment.

Earlier, President Buharis spokesperson, Garba Shehu, told our reporter in a telephone chat that his principal likely relied on the recommendation of the minister to make the appointment.

My advice is that you get in touch with the Minister of Power who oversees the affairs of the agency and may have made the recommendation to the president for the appointment, Mr Shehu said.

The ministers response, however, indicated the appointment was directly by the president.

In a response sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello, the power minister said:

The president has the prerogative for appointments and he has severally said he would only work with individuals he can vouch for and the minister wholly agrees with this.

The president is serious about power reforms and has said it several times. Besides, Nigerians are right now more concerned about what anyone can deliver in this bid.

Political appointments are not based on civil service levels. What many care about right now is what the new REA boss has to offer and we have confidence in the presidents decision.

The former leadership of the REA wasnt helping to solve the darkness crisis of the country as many reports have shown. We must, therefore, support the president in his effort to sanitise the sector, the minister said.
Indian American taxi driver Baljeet Singh Sidhu said he was attacked in his Richmond, California, home by a man who wielded a barbecue pit pan. United Sikhs is asking law enforcement to investigate the incident as a hate crime. (KTVU video screen grab)
While Chief Ministers of non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states like Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal have announced that they would not implement CAA, Communist Party of India-Marxist-ruled Kerala was the first to take the legislature route to register its opposition to the law.

New Delhi : The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding scrapping of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, becoming the first state in the country to do so.

Setting aside their political differences, the ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front and Opposition Congress headed United Democratic Front, once again came together to launch a joint fight against the Centre on the CAA, which has seen unprecedented protests all over the country.



While all the members of two fronts unanimously supported the resolution at the special session and vehemently criticised the central government, the lone BJP MLA in the 140-member house opposed the resolution, terming it as "illegal and unconstitutional."

Vijayan, who moved the resolution and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who seconded it, alleged that CAA was an attempt to make India a religious nation, which Rajagopal rejected saying the Act was being "misinterpreted" and lies were being spread by the fronts for narrow political

gains.

The chief minister said the implementation of the controversial act will lead to religion-based discrimination in granting citizenship, which was against the secular values enshrined in the Constitution.

The legislation, which contradicts the basic values and principles of the Constitution, was a cause of concern for non-resident Indians also, he said and wanted the Centre to take steps to drop CAA and uphold the secular credentials of the Constitution.

The southern state has already put on hold all activities in connection with the National Population Register considering the "apprehensions" of the public that it would lead to National Register of Citizens.

Noting that the Act had triggered widespread protests among various strata of society, the chief minister said it had dented India's image in front of the international community.

Vijayan also made it clear that there would be no detention centres set up to house illegal immigrants in the state.

Just because both houses of Parliament have passed the CAA, it cannot be implemented as it was against constitutional values, he said.

WATCH: Kerala CM Vijayan moves resolution against CAA

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also criticised the CAA and came down on the state governor Arif Mohammed Khan for supporting the Act.

"The governor should be above politics," Chennithala said adding he should understand the feelings of the people of the state.

Chennithala claimed that the controversial Act virtually rejects the equality guaranteed by the Constitution and violates the fundamental rights of the citizens.

The CAA cannot be viewed as an isolated move but it should be seen along with the NRC and NPR, he added.

The Opposition Congress -led UDF had wanted the Left government to convene a special session and pass a resolution against the CAA during an all-party meeting convened by the chief minister on December 29 to discuss the issue.

The two fronts had recently held a joint protest against the CAA in which Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala had participated with scores of leaders from different parties.

The resolution was passed at the special session convened to ratify the extension by another 10 years the reservation for SC and ST community in the state assemblies and Parliament.

The house also passed another resolution criticising the removal of the Anglo Indian community from the reservation in the state assemblies and Parliament.
Kit Kat has debuted a brand new flavor in the US for Valentine's Day: raspberry creme.

The candy brand has already begun stocking the pink Kit Kats in stores, though the loved-up holiday is still a month and a half away.

The new, limited-edition flavor only comes in the miniature size, and will presumably only be stocked through February 14.

Kit Kat is debuting a brand new flavor in the US for Valentine's Day: raspberry creme

Limited edition: While the coating is made from 'raspberry flavored white creme, the filling is the same as traditional Kit Kats

The Valentine's candy features heart artwork on the packaging, as well as instructions for making a 'Kit Kat cupid.'

While the coating is made from 'raspberry flavored white creme, the filling is the same as traditional Kit Kats: In other words, there are plain wafers layered with a paste made from mashed up wafers and chocolate.

For those ready to stock up, 9 oz. bags are being sold at Target, Walmart, and several other retailers.

The brand certainly knows how to make a raspberry flavor, as they already offer it in Japan.

Tried it: Kit Kat had previously released a red velvet flavor for Valentine's Day in 2017

But they are new in the US, where Kit Kat had previously released a red velvet flavor for Valentine's Day in 2017.

The Hershey Company, which produces Kit Kats in the US, also reportedly has some other new flavors in the works for 2020.

According to Instagram user @markie_devo, Kit Kat has 'leaked' several 'possible' flavors that may hit shelves next year  though none have been confirmed.

They include Cotton Candy, Cherry Cola, Orange Creamsicle, Chocolate Cream Pie, Blueberry Pie, Sweet Potato Pie, and Apple Pie.

Next up? According to Instagram user @markie_devo, Kit Kat has 'leaked' several 'possible' flavors that may hit shelves next year  though none have been confirmed
Algeria's richest man Issad Rebrab walked free on time served early Wednesday after a court sentenced him to six months for tax, banking and customs offences.

Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison sentence for the 74-year-old head of Algeria's biggest privately owned conglomerate Cevital, who was one of several tycoons arrested in April as part of a sweeping corruption investigation.

The probe followed the resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika after weeks of mass protests against his 20-year rule.

Rebrab had already spent eight months in custody awaiting trial, more than his sentence, so he was released by the court.

He was fined 1.383 billion dinars (more than $11.6 million, more than 10.3 million euros).

Cevital subsidiary Evcon was fined 2.766 billion dinars (20.7 million euros).

Jordan-based Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, which was also prosecuted, was fined 3.169 billion dinars (23.7 million euros).

They were convicted of breaking laws on foreign exchange and fund transfers as well as forgery and false custom declarations.

Forbes magazine lists Rebrab as Algeria's richest man and the sixth-wealthiest in Africa, with a net worth of $3.9 billion in 2019.

Cevital employs 18,000 people, produces electronics, steel and food, and in recent years it has acquired businesses in France.

While his businesses flourished under Bouteflika's rule, Rebrab had backed the protests that ultimately forced the president to resign in April.

His company has said it was "astonished" by his arrest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Leyla Badirbeyli.

January 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of birth of famous representative of Azerbaijans cinema and theatre, Laureate of State Awards of the USSR and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Peoples Artist Leyla Badirbeyli Aghalar (Javanshirova).

The Ministry of Culture has been tasked with implementing an action plan on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the national actress. The Cabinet of Ministers has been tasked resolve the issues, arising from the Order.

Leyla Badirbeyli left a bright mark on the history of Azerbaijani art. For many years, she has served as a source of inspiration for young artists. Her internal spirit made her an outstanding actress and dancer.

When she was a child, she often visited an all-girls club with her mother, where she discovered her dancing and artistic skills.

Her passion for art strived future actress to continue dancing lessons even when she went to school. However, in 1936 dancing turned from hobby to livelihood when Leyla was offered a spot in the Song and Dance Ensemble named after Muslim Magomayev, successfully touring throughout the Soviet Union.

Meanwhile, Leyla recognized in herself an actor talent and became an actress of the Azerbaijan Drama Theater.

A timeless duet between Rashid Behbudov and the beautiful Leyla Bedirbeyli championed the film "Arshin Mal Alan" to audiences in almost 50 countries! The film, created in a time of war, delighted the entire post soviet area.

Bedirbeylis art coincided with the "golden age" of Azerbaijani theater in the 1940s to 70s, when the nations greatest artists of several generations met on the stage at the same time.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Rajasthan newborn, who suffered 70 per cent burns in the Alwar hospital fire on Tuesday, died in Jaipur and the government suspended six hospital staff including three doctors after an inquiry found them guilty of negligence, on Wednesday.

A fire broke out in the neonatal intensive care unit of Alwars Government Geetanand Childrens Hospital early Tuesday morning. While fourteen newborns were shifted out safely from the ICU, a 22-day-old infant was injured fatally and referred to Jaipurs JK Lon Hospital for treatment.

JK Lon Hospital superintendent Dr. Ashok Gupta said the badly burnt baby could barely survive a day. She was brought to our hospital around 2.30pm. She was in shock and having breathing problem. She died today at 10.20am due to cardio-respiratory failure. Dr Gupta said.

Three doctors  Dr Mahesh Sharma, medical officer Dr Kirpal Singh, facility bases neonatal care (FBNC) unit in-charge Dr. Sharda Sharma  and three nursing staff  Bharti Meena, Hemlata and Tara were suspended for negligence.

The infants father, Rahul Gaur, demanded strict action against the hospital management and a compensation of 10 lakh. District collector Inderjeet Singh Gaur said the victims kin will be given compensation as per the governments guidelines.

The father said the infant, born on December 10, had been admitted on December 24 due to difficulty in respiration and was recovering well before a call from the hospital brought his world crashing down.

My wife fed her at 10pm on December 30 and doctors said she will be shifted to the general ward the next day. But on Tuesday, I got a call around 6.23 am to tell me about an emergency and told to rush, the father said.

The joint director of medical and health department conducted a departmental inquiry which revealed the CCTV cameras in the FBNC unit were dysfunctional for more than a year and that the fire, which started due to a short-circuit in a warmer, could have been prevented if a simple safety device--a miniature circuit breaker (MCB)-- was not missing.

The electrician of the hospital has been sacked, said officials.

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New Delhi:

A young filmmaker was allegedly assaulted by an acquaintance during an argument over CAA-NRC in neighbouring Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday. The police have arrested the accused following a complaint by the filmmaker, Ronny Sen.

According to a senior police officer, the argument over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) began following a social media post by Sen.

"Last night I was attacked with a Bhojali, which is a weapon to kill, in front of Bidhannagar College in Salt Lake, Calcutta. It was totally unprovoked and was a cowardly attack by a middle aged right wing Hindutva lumpen. This guy Avijit Dasgupta calls me and starts abusing me on the night of 28th Dec and he was angry because of my posts against the NRC/CAA/NPR. I clearly tell him its none of his business and he should not call me again. He kept on sending abusive messages none of which I replied to but finally yesterday night he attacked me with a Bhojali. I am safe and unhurt. Immediately I lodged a police complaint last night. Its such a revelation that attacking, killing, shooting, people in the name of nationalism is so normal in todays India," Sen wrote.

The accused allegedly went to the house of the filmmaker on Monday night and picked up an argument, which led to a scuffle.

"During the scuffle, the accused attacked the filmmaker with a knife," the senior police officer said, adding that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

(With PTI inputs)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Bank of America (BAC), which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Major Regional industry.

This nation's second-largest bank has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 8.86%.

For the most recent quarter, Bank of America was expected to post earnings of $0.50 per share, but it reported $0.56 per share instead, representing a surprise of 12%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.70 per share, while it actually produced $0.74 per share, a surprise of 5.71%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Bank of America. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Bank of America has an Earnings ESP of +0.14% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on January 15, 2020.

Story continues

With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Government employees across Assam wore black badges to work on Tuesday in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Assam has been witnessing widespread protests since the beginning of December against CAA with lakhs of people from all sections, including students and government employees, taking to the streets. Five people have been killed in police firing at protesters.

The move follows separate directions by the elementary and higher education departments of the state asking teachers to desist from criticising the department or indulging and participating in political activities on social media platforms.

Government employees in all departments across Assam including those working in the state secretariat as well as teachers wore black badges to work on Tuesday, Basab Kalita, president of Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad (SAKP), said.

SAKP is an umbrella organisation of government employees with nearly 450,000 members.

We feel 2019 has been a black year for Assam as the Centre forcibly dumped CAA on us. When people came out spontaneously to oppose CAA, government resorted to killing protesters. So we decided to observe Black Day on the last day of the year, Kalita added.

On December 18, state government employees observed cease-work to show support to the anti-CAA stir. Six days later, the primary education department issued an order warning employees of disciplinary action against indulging in political activities in social media.

The directive was an indirect message to employees of other government departments as well. The government is trying to infringe on the rights of teachers to air their views in a democratic manner just like any other concerned citizen on issues that concern them, said Ratul Chandra Goswami, general secretary of Assam State Primary Teachers Association (ASPTA).

Last week, services of a government school teacher in Jorhat district was terminated allegedly for taking part in anti-CAA protests. The move has been condemned by various organizations who are protesting against the legislation.

On Monday, the higher education department also issued an order stating disciplinary action would be taken against employees making statements or giving opinions criticising the government.

As per provisions of the Assam Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, 1965 if any government servant is found criticising the government, he/she will be held responsible for violation of rules and appropriate action taken against them as per Assam Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1964.

As per our service conduct rules, government employees arent allowed to air political comments. But people across Assam are voicing opposition to CAA and government employees as conscious citizens cant remain mute to them. The government shouldnt try to suppress these democratic protests, said Kalita.

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THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Wednesday, January 1, warned its field personnel as well as the general public against a bogus electronic solicitation letter asking for financial donations for the benefit of orphans and leukemia patients.

In a statement, Dole Secretary Silvestre Bello III said there is no such e-mail asking for monetary donations from their department.

"This e-mail is fake and completely bogus. We encourage everyone to be vigilant and to report similar incidents to us so that we can conduct our own investigation, Bello said.

"All heads of Dole offices, bureaus, attached agencies, regional offices, and Philippine Overseas Labor Offices are also advised to be vigilant and immediately report similar scams," he added.

The labor chief issued the advisory after receiving information that an e-mail was received by various DOLE regional offices and attached agencies, purportedly from the DOLE Administrative Service, particularly using the e-mail address: administrativeservice@gmail.corn.

Bello said the e-mail, with the subject Donation request 2019/2020, states that the Dole seeks a minimum cash donation of $100 supposedly for leukemia patients and orphans. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
While Forex traders were cheering the Australian Dollars breakout above the psychological 70 cents level on Tuesday, there was a bloodbath in the Australian stock market as traders swamped the Australian Stock Exchange with sell orders on the final day of the year, wiping $20 billion off the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index in the first fifteen minutes of trading.

At the end of the session, the S&P/ASX 200 Index was at 6684.10, down 120.80 or -1.78%.

Performance Metrics

The Australian All Ordinaries was down 119.20 points or 1.72% at 6802.40, equating to a net $40 billion loss of capitalization.

Overall, the S&P/ASX 200 surged 1037.7 points in 2019, or up 18.38%. This was its best year since its 30.9% climb in 2009.

For December the ASX200 lost 161.8 points, or 2.36%, in just its third losing month for the year.

It was flat for the quarter, with a 4.2 point loss.

Some investors acknowledged the steep drop in shares, but took it in stride. Not a very good day, it was just indiscriminate selling, pure profit taking, Bell Direct market analyst Jessica Amir was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

But zooming out, its still our best annual gain in 10 years, she added.

Sector Performance

The heavily weighted financial subindex fell 1.34% as shares of Australias Big Four banks saw losses. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shed 0.69%, Commonwealth Bank of Australia fell 1.48%, Westpac slipped 0.7% and National Australia bank declined 1.04%.

Telecom and tech stocks were hit the worst, dropping 3%. The mining sector suffered the least losses, with the sector down 1.1%  buoyed by gold miners, the only group to rise.

For the year, Avita Medical posted the biggest gains, posting a massive 696% rise after its spray-on burn treatment was approved for use in the United States.

Money Laundering Accusations Hit Banking Sector

One of the biggest stories of the year came out of Australia and affected its banking sector.

Story continues

In November, Australias Westpac Banking was accused of 23 million breaches of anti-money laundering rules, with a regulator saying the financial giant enabled payments from high risk countries and convicted child sex offenders.

The oversight failure at Australias second-largest bank led to serious and systemic non-compliance with anti-money laundering laws, financial crime watchdog AUSTRAC said in a court filing.

The regulator is pursuing fines of up to A$21 million ($14 million) for every transaction Westpac failed to monitor adequately or report on time.

Early 2020 Outlook

On Tuesday, IC Markets general manager Nick Twidale said,  all the fundamentals are locked in for a strong start to the new year.

Will the euphoria from the announcement of the Phase 1 trade deal continue into 2020? Or will it wear off once the details of the trade deal between the United States and China are revealed? Will China be able to comply with its agreement to buy U.S. agricultural products? Will the reduction of the tariffs move smoothly?

How will the rise in the Australian Dollar to a five-month high affect Australian exports? What if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) postpones near-term rate cuts?

These are some of the important factors to consider when trying to predict the direction and performance of the Australian stock market in 2020.

I think the Aussie Dollars rise, the RBA delay in cutting rates further and some issues with U.S.-China trade relations will keep a lid on stock market performance in 2020.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

More From FXEMPIRE:
With increasing technological developments, Vietnam is facing more cybersecurity risks that are threatening national security,

Nguyen Minh Chinh, director-general of the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Department under the Ministry of Public Security, talks to Viet Nam News reporter Kieu Van about the challenges this poses.

Nguyen Minh Chinh, Director General of the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Department under the Ministry of Public Security.  VNS Photo Kieu Van



Could you please tell us about the cybersecurity challenges facing Vietnam?

Vietnam has one of the highest growth rates of internet users in the world.

Over two decades since connecting to the global internet, the strong development of information technology, telecommunications and the internet is creating a new opportunity for Vietnam to quickly catch up and take advantage of advanced scientific and technological achievements.

It also helps accelerate the process of industrialisation and modernisation of the country, and deeper integration into the world economy.

According to the department's data, as of January 2019, Vietnam had 64 million internet users, accounting for more than 66 per cent of the country's population, ranking 13th in the world.

Like many countries, Vietnam has been facing threats and challenges from cyberspace, directly threatening national security and social order and safety.

The spread of fake news, bad news, and false information has occurred over cyberspace, affecting sovereignty, national security, social order and safety, infringing upon the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals.

There have been many cyber-attacks of large scale and high intensity, with increasingly dangerous nature and levels.

Many Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) have been launched targeting important information systems of State agencies.

4,000 websites with Vietnamese domain names were attacked and hundreds of thousands of computers were infected with malware in 2019.

Leaks of State secrets, personal data and private lives are becoming more serious and alarming.

Cyber crimes and high-tech crimes in Vietnam are increasing in size, with more sophisticated tricks and more dangerous and serious consequences.

Cyber crimes include hacking social networking accounts, using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services to impersonate law enforcement staff to steal assets and credit card information, and gambling with up to trillions of dong.

How do you value cooperation between the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Department with Microsoft?

With the anonymity and cross-border crime in cyberspace, Vietnam has identified threats that have become global problems, requiring the efforts and coordination of nations, and strengthening cooperation between law enforcement agencies and tech corporations.

Over the years, the cooperation between units under the Ministry of Public Security, including the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Department and Microsoft Corporation, has made good progress.

The two sides have launched joint programmes and exchanged information to ensure network security and fight against crime, which have achieved good results.

In 2015, the Ministry of Public Security signed a Government Security Program (GSP) agreement with Microsoft Corporation. Since then, Microsoft has regularly shared information about network security with its Vietnamese partner to support national security and combat cyber crime and high-tech crimes in Vietnam.

Due to a change in the organisational structure at the Ministry of Public Security, on December 19, in Hanoi, the Cyber Security and High-tech Crime Prevention Department re-signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the GSP agreement with Microsoft.

As a member of the GSP, Vietnam has access to cyber threats and vulnerability information and a communication channel with Microsoft's security and response teams; source codes for Microsoft products, such as the popular Windows operating system and Office suites; technical data about Microsofts products and cloud services; and access to Microsoft's engineers to address specific topics.

What are the Ministry of Public Securitys plans for the future?

Currently, the Vietnamese Government is aggressively directing the implementation of e-government towards a digital government and digital economy, which has achieved positive results.

In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) and information technology increasingly being applied by ministries, departments, State agencies and localities, this creates a momentum for the strong development of the economy and society.

GSP cooperation between Microsoft and the department include dissemination to the community, implementing application and enhancing State management of network security.

This helps raise awareness and promotes the application of new technology, replacing old software and removing non-copyrighted software.

In addition, through this cooperation, we will also strengthen the fight against all kinds of crimes including software piracy in Vietnam. VNS

Cyber security in Vietnam facing severe challenges There has been an increasing number of cyber attacks recently in Vietnam aiming at both state units and private organizations to steal sensitive information.
A newborn girl died here on Wednesday after suffering severe burns at a hospital in Alwar, prompting the Rajasthan government to suspend two doctors and four other staff members of the hospital.

A newborn girl was critically injured on Tuesday when a fire broke out in the neonatal care unit of a government hospital in Alwar.

The child was admitted with 70 per cent burn injuries at Jaipur's J K Lon Hospital, where she died during treatment on Wednesday.

There were 15 infants admitted to the neonatal care unit of Geetanand Hospital in Alwar when the fire broke out in an oxygen pipeline linked to a radiant warmer around 5 am on Tuesday.

The girl, who was being treated for pneumonia, suffered burns on her face, chest and shoulder, while others were rescued and shifted to other units, an official had said.

The newborn's death prompted the state government to suspend two doctors and and four staffers of the Alwar hospital and sack a private contractor.

The suspended doctors included hospital's neonatal care unit's in-charge Mahesh Sharma and one other, Kirpal Singhm, who was on duty at the unit when the fire broke out there, said Dr K K Sharma, the director of Rajasthan Medical and Health Department.

The others suspended included three nursing staffers and one ward boy of the hospital, he said, adding the service of an electrician, who was on contractual appointment in the hospital, too was terminated.

The action against all six was taken on a preliminary enquiry report by a three-member panel, indicting them for the dereliction of duty, he said.

The committee, headed by the Rajasthan Medical and Health Department's joint director, had found negligence on part of the unit in-charge, nursing in-charge and others staffers of the hospital yesterday.

The action against the Alwar hospital doctors and staffers was taken on directions of state Health Minister Raghu Sharma.

"Sparking occurred in the panel of radiant warmer due to high voltage. It led to fire in the hood of oxygen pipe," Alwar Chief Medical and Health Officer O P Meena said.

"The panel was not properly maintained.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:46:43|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on May 11, 2019 shows the performance during the 1000-day countdown celebrations of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games held in Chongli of Zhangjiakou City, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

An collection of images offering an overview of Chinese people's daily lives.





BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- From above, the world reveals itself in an unfamiliar but impressive way, adding a dimension to our understanding of life.

Drones, the wings of the eyes and eyes of the explorers, take us to recap the year of 2019, with the most notable aerial shots from Xinhua photographers.

Aerial Photo taken on Sept. 2, 2019 shows the opening ceremony of a school in Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province where a catastrophic flash flood and debris flow disaster occured on Aug. 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu kun)

Aerial photo taken on Oct. 10, 2019 shows Wang Taifan playing a trumpet at Chongqing Special Education Center in Nan'an District, southwest China's Chongqing. At the age of 12, Wang Taifan, a blind boy, first heard a symphony on the campus of Nan'an District in Chongqing. Then he acquired a trumpet, which granted him a dream for the first time. Since 2014, the trumpet accompanied Wang from the school's small rehearsal hall all the way to bigger stages in Beijing and Shanghai. The orchestra that Wang Taifan studies at is renowned in China now. The significance of the orchestra to students is far more than simply mastering the use of musical instruments. More importantly, the performing of music enables visually impaired students to have a sense of teamwork and the pursuit of dream. Nowadays, the Chongqing Special Education Center offers daily courses on wind instruments, so that every child can have access to music. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 3, 2019 shows fishing boats sailing to the sea in Shapu Town, Fuqing City of southeast China's Fujian Province. The first Fuqing Fishing Festival opened here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 10, 2019 shows students practicing during a training session at Taipingzhuang Central Primary School, in Yanqing District of Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Aerial photo taken on Oct. 26, 2019 shows tourists riding camels to enjoy the desert scenery at Lop Nur People Village in Yuli County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In the first three quarters of this year, Xinjiang received over 183.85 million tourists from home and abroad with a year-on-year increase of 40.9 percent, and saw a total tourism revenue of more than 304.6 billion yuan (about 43.1 billion U.S. dollars) with a year-on-year growth of 40.78 percent. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)



Aerial photo taken on Sept. 20, 2019 shows harvesters cropping alfalfa in Ar Horqin Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Local authorities brought in investment to develop the alfalfa planting industry in 2011, which helped to prevent the land from changing into desert. So far, the planting area of alfalfa has reached over 46,666 hectares in this banner. (Xinhua/Liu Lei)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 17, 2019 shows tourists playing at a water park in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 9, 2019, shows a tug of war held in Damxung County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Dressed in traditional costume, herdswomen from villages of Damxung County, about 4300 meters above sea level, took part in the traditional game. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 17, 2019 shows kayaks at beach in Xinbu Island of Haikou City, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng)

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 22, 2019 shows boats passing by an island in the West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang)

In this aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2019, contestants participate in the 2019 Duolun Nur Cup ice dragon boat match in Duolun County of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The match is a test event for the 14th National Winter Games of China, scheduled for 2020. (Xinhua/Zou Yu)

Aerial photo taken on Jan. 20, 2019 shows winter swimming enthusiasts at the Nanhu Park in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. The Great Cold (Dahan) solar term on the Chinese lunar calendar falls on Jan. 20 this year. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)

Aerial photo taken on March 17, 2019 shows visitors enjoying the scenery on a sightseeing vehicle in Yangxi Village in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Aerial photo taken on April 26, 2019 shows students of Shuyang Nanyang School playing cucurbit flute on the playground of the campus in Suqian City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Students in Shuyang Nanyang School are encouraged to participate in a campaign to "bring musical instrument to school" in order to promote traditional Chinese music and to develop the students' art talents. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Aerial photo taken on July 13, 2019 shows students of the Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School performing in Dengfeng City, central China's Henan Province. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)

Aerial photo taken on June 10, 2019 shows a pattern of sperm whale made of marine garbage during a garbage collecting activity at Yangkou Port in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Xu Congjun)

Aerial photo taken on May 20, 2019 shows the interim camp at the north slope of the Mount Qomolangma. (Xinhua/Wang Qin'ou)

Aerial photo taken on Sept. 4, 2019 shows villagers wait in lines to sell tomatoes to local vegetable processing factories in Sandaoqiao Town of Hetao irrigation area in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Hetao irrigation area has been added to the World Heritage Irrigation Structures list by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Shiping)


After being hit with tear gas, demonstrators who rallied against deadly US air raids heed calls to retreat.

Protesters withdrew from the United States embassy perimeter in Baghdad after the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces or PMF) paramilitary force ordered them to leave, a day after their dramatic demonstration.

Iraqs military confirmed on Wednesday that the protesters had left.

On Tuesday, thousands of Iraqi supporters of the largely Iranian-trained group had encircled and vandalised the embassy compound, outraged by US air raids in Iraq and Syria that killed 25 Hashd fighters over the weekend.

Angered crowds marched unimpeded through the checkpoints of the usually high-security Green Zone to the embassy gates, where they broke through a reception area, chanting Death to America and spraying pro-Iran graffiti on the walls.

Iraqs caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called on the protesters to leave the embassy, but most spent the night in dozens of tents set up outside the perimeter wall.

On Wednesday morning, crowds of men brandished the Hashds colours, torched US flags and hurled rocks towards the compound.

Security personnel inside responded with tear gas, wounding at least 20 people, the Hashd said.

By the afternoon, the group called on its supporters to leave the embassy and gather outside the Green Zone out of respect for the state.

You delivered your message, the Hashd said in a statement.

AFPs photographer saw protesters dismantling their tents and leaving the Green Zone.

Kataib Hezbollah, the group associated with the Hashd that was targeted in the US raids, initially said it would stay at the embassy.

But the groups spokesman Mohammad Mohyeddin later backed down, saying they were abiding by the Hashds order.

We scored a huge win: We arrived to the US embassy, which no one had done before, he told AFP.

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Now, the ball is in parliaments court, Moyheddin added, referring to legislators efforts to revoke the legal cover for 5,200 US troops to deploy in Iraq.

Reporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn said: The crowds have now fully withdrawn from the US embassy.

Initially, the most defiant groups were reluctant to leave, burning tyres and waving flags, before they too made their way out of the Green Zone and to the other side of the Tigris.

According to Foltyn, US-trained Iraqi counterterrorism forces have taken over security around the embassy.

As the crowds heeded the PMF calls to withdraw, the forces surrounded the embassy, she said.

Also on Wednesday, the US embassy in Baghdad said that all public consular operations were suspended.

Due to militia attacks at the US Embassy compound, all public consular operations are suspended until further notice. All future appointments are canceled. US citizens are advised to not approach the embassy, it said in a statement.

New sit-in

After the protesters left, many marched across bridges connecting the Green Zone to the other side of Baghdad. Hundreds of protesters erected tents for the night, according to witnesses.

We withdrew from the US embassy because we received orders to leave the premises, said 24-year-old Mohamed.

But weve set up camp on the banks of the Tigris [River] opposite the US embassy and the Green Zone so that we can continue our sit-in for at least the three days of mourning.

Another protester, who also left the Green Zone and joined the crowds on the opposite side of the river, said he will continue to protest until further notice.

We will continue an open-ended protest here until we receive orders from our leaders to do otherwise, 33-year-old Ammar, who described himself as a PMF member, told Al Jazeera.

The Hashd is a legitimate part of the Iraqi state and we have to show the US that we wont back down, he said.

You cant do a thing

Tuesdays embassy attack was the latest episode in spiralling tensions between the US and Iran since Washington abandoned a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018.

Many of those tensions have played out in Iraq, which has close ties with both governments.

US forces have faced a spate of rocket attacks in recent months, blaming them on pro-Iran PMF factions.

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Last week, one of those attacks killed a US contractor, prompting the retaliatory US air raids that killed 25 fighters from Kataib Hezbollah.

US President Donald Trump and other US officials have blamed Iran for attacks on US forces and the embassy.

They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat, Trump wrote on Twitter.

Irans supreme leader on Wednesday condemned the US attacks in Iraq and warned that Tehran was ready to hit back.

First of all, you cant do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on state television.

If the Islamic Republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly, he said.

Tehrans foreign ministry said it had summoned an official from the Swiss embassy, which represents US interests in Iran, over US warmongering in Iraq.

Our hands are tied

By Wednesday, Iraqi forces had reimposed normal security measures around the perimeter of the Green Zone, usually inaccessible without a badge.

US officials were alarmed that protesters crossed checkpoints so easily on Tuesday.

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An Iraqi special forces fighter assigned to guard the Green Zone told AFP his units had no orders to intervene.

If I had had orders to act, I could have fired and stopped the storming of the embassy, he said.

But after what happened, our hands are tied. We cant prevent the situation from deteriorating.

US officials have pressured Iraqi authorities to step up security and sent a rapid response team of marines overnight to help guard the compound.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said about 750 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were prepared to deploy to the region in the coming days.

No US personnel were injured in the attack and US officials said they had no plans to evacuate.

US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller was said to be on his way back to Baghdad from holiday, but had yet to arrive on Wednesday afternoon.

The attack highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship.

The US led the 2003 invasion against the then-leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, and it has worked closely with Iraqi officials since, but its influence has waned compared with Tehrans growing clout.

Tuesdays dramatic scenes at the embassy evoked memories of both the 1979-1981 hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran and the deadly 2012 attack on the US consulate in Libyas second city Benghazi.

Abdallah al-Salam contributed to this report from Baghdad.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 09:50:12|Editor: zyl

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Tuesday that the United States will deploy about 750 troops immediately to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

"Approximately 750 #Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately & additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said the Pentagon chief in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

The IRF refers to the Immediate Response Force of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

The Pentagon's decision came hours after hundreds of demonstrators, mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet.
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The U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Divisions alert brigade has been issued orders to deploy rapidly to Kuwait following an attack on the American embassy in Baghdad by a pro-Iranian mob.

At least 750 paratroopers are already making their way to the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, saying additional forces are prepared to deploy over the next several days.

'This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,' said Esper.

A total of 4,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne's Deployment Ready Brigade have been put on notice for imminent deployment in the next 96 hours, three U.S. defense officials told Fox News.

The snap deployment comes amid rapidly rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. and a series of violent tit-for-tat escalations between the two countries.

On Tuesday, some 6,000 pro-Iran Shiite militia fighters stormed U.S. embassy in Baghdad, set walls ablaze and chanted 'Death to America!' in a violent retaliation for American air strikes. There were no reports of American casualties, and the attack was repelled after 100 Marines rapidly reinforced the compound.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the attack an act of 'state-sponsored terrorism' in an interview with CBS News, and President Donald Trump vowed that the Iranian government will be held 'fully responsible' for the attack.

Pompeo said in a statement that the attack was 'orchestrated by terrorists' and 'abetted by Iranian proxies', tweeting pictures that he said showed US-designated terrorists with Iranian ties outside the embassy.

US Army 82nd Airborne Division airborne soldiers are seen during an exercise last year. On Tuesday, some 4,000 paratroopers from the unit were ordered to prepare for rapid deployment to the Middle East

Several thousand protesters and militia fighters broke down the gate of the US embassy in Baghdad, storming the compound as gunshots and sirens rang out, following Sunday's US air strikes on Hezbollah that killed 2

Thousands of Kataeb Hezbollah supporters left funerals held for 25 fighters killed by US strikes on Sunday night. They then marched towards the US embassy, pouring through the heavily fortified 'Green Zone' before reaching the gates of the compound. As the mood deteriorated security personnel headed into the building and carnage ensued outside, with rioters eventually tearing through the main gate and inside the main forecourt of the embassy

This map shows the Embassy compound located along the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq

'The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request,' Trump tweeted Tuesday evening.

'Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!' he added.

In a third tweet he quipped 'The Anti-Bengahzi!' The post was an effort to distinguish his administration's response to that of the Obama administration in the 2012 attack on a diplomatic compound in Libya that left four Americans dead. The tweet, which had a spelling error, was deleted soon after.

In the Tuesday attack militia members with the Shiite, pro-Iranian Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) swarmed the high-security compound, breaking down the main door to the compound and setting a fire in the reception area, forcing US soldiers inside the embassy to fire tear gas, stun grenades and warning shots. In the chaos 62 of the thousands of fighters were injured, according to PMF.

Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller was on leave at the time of the attack and embassy staff had already been evacuated before the US Marine guard became besieged behind the bullet-proof glass and on the rooftops.

There were no reports of U.S. casualties during the embassy incursion.

The attack on the embassy was is in retaliation for US air strikes on the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night, which killed two dozen fighters. Those strikes were in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor at a U.S. base in Kirkuk.

Donald Trump announced that the US embassy in Baghdad is safe after some 6,000 pro-Iran militia fighters stormed the compound on Tuesday, set walls ablaze and chanted 'Death to America!' in a violent retaliation for American air strikes

In a third tweet he quipped 'The Anti-Bengahzi!' The post was an effort to distinguish his administration's response to that of the Obama administration in the 2012 attack on a diplomatic compound in Libya that left four Americans dead. The tweet, which had a spelling error, was deleted soon after

The Department of Defense released this photo showing Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command preparing to deploy from Kuwait to support the US embassy in Baghdad

On Tuesday the Pentagon sent 100 additional Marines (above) assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command to the Baghdad embassy in Chinook helicopters in wake of the attack

A US Marine pictured preparing to deploy from Kuwait to Baghdad to respond to the crisis outside the embassy

Marines pictured inside military aircraft taking them from Kuwait to Baghdad to reinforce the US embassy

On Tuesday US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US was sending additional forces to the Baghdad embassy, while calling on Iraq to help protect American personnel, hours after Trump slammed the attack and warned that Iran will be 'held fully responsible'.

Video footage from the scene shows the US military sending in Marines from Kuwait in two Army Aviation UH-60M utility helicopters and two CH-47F Chinook helicopters, which were then used to evacuate embassy personnel. Another clip shows a US Apache helicopter dropping warning flares above the embassy.

'We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense,' Esper said in a statement.

'As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so,' he added.

An AH-64E Guardian attack helicopter was also seen flying over the embassy ready to open fire in case any Kataeb Hezbollah members attacked the incoming Marines.

Militia fighters in military garb pictured setting fire to the US embassy wall and throwing rockets over the fencing

US soldiers fire tear gas onto protesters who broke into the compound as black smoke from fires set by the rioters billows into the air

Protesters and militia members set fire to a reception room in the US embassy during the furious protest condemning US airstrikes on Sunday

A protester holds an Iraqi flag during a protest to condemn air strikes belonging to paramilitary forces on Tuesday. In the ambush US forces fired back with tear gas and stun grenades, wounding dozens

Protesters and militia fighters carry the logo of the US embassy in Baghdad during the massive protest that unfolded Tuesday

This photo taken through a broken window shows a vandalized room in the US embassy in Baghdad after protesters breached the outer wall of the compound

US soldiers could be seen inside the building filmed from the outside by furious protesters who pressed up against the glass taunting the personnel

US embassy security personnel are seen through a glass window as protesters and militia fighters wreak havoc outside

Protesters burned the property in front of the U.S. compound on Tuesday waving flags and banners for their specific groups in protest of the US airstrikes in Iraq on Sunday

The deployed Marines are reportedly from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, a ground force deployed to the Middle East that specializes in crisis response, U.S. officials confirmed to Military.com. That force was created after the 2012 attack on the diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans.

On Tuesday morning Trump condemned the attack on the US embassy and pointed the blame to Iran.

'Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will.' Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning. 'Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!'

'To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!' the president added.

The attack on Tuesday unfolded after thousands attended the funerals of the Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah fighters killed in the American airstrikes on Sunday. After the processions, mourners and protesters rushed through the heavily fortified Green Zone without being stopped by Iraqi military as they burned U.S. flags and changed 'Death to America! on their way to the consulate.

There were roughly 6,000 protesters at the height of the demonstrations, a U.S. official estimated, most hailing from Kataeb Hezbollah, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi.

US soldiers watch from behind a smoke screen as Iraqi protesters surround the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad. They fired warning shots, followed by stun grenades and tear gas

A wounded protester is seen held by pro-Iran militia members as chaos unfolds outside U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday. The protester may have been wounded by American stun gun fire or in the tumult of the demonstrations

Members of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, part of the Popular Mobilization Forces of which Kataeb Hezbollah is a member, attempt to break through the gates of the compound on Tuesday

Demonstrators react as tear gas is fired down by US soldiers on the rooftop of the compound after they stormed through the main gate

Demonstrators and members of the militia are seen in the entrance to the compound where visitors and vehicles are usually screened by security forces

A security guard's hut window has been badly damaged by the rioters as smoke spews from fires set around the compound today, with protesters waving flags of the militias part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many are supported by Iran.

Iraqi protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim

Men wearing militia uniforms cover their faces while setting fire to the barricades as tear gas is fired over the ramparts on Tuesday

US fighter jets bombarded three locations in Iraq on Sunday night, in retaliation for last week's 36-rocket attack which killed an American contractor and injured several others at a base in Kirkuk, 170 miles north of Baghdad.

On Sunday the US struck a total of five Kataeb Hezbollah controlled weapon depots in Iraq and Syria, killing at least 25 people and wounding 51.

Baghdad had warned the American government that relations with the US were at risk following the airstrikes. There are also concerns over whether Iraqi forces allowed protesters to reach the Embassy, located in a usually restricted area.

The US attack - the largest targeting an Iraqi state-sanctioned militia in recent years - and the calls for retaliation represent a new escalation in the proxy war between the US and Iran playing out in Iraq.

Kataeb Hezbollah, which is separate but linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah, operates under the umbrella of the state-sanctioned predominantly Shiite militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many are supported by Iran.

The US says Kataeb Hezbollah is responsible for 11 attacks on US-led coalition bases in the past two months.

Smoke rises from the heavily fortified US embassy as protesters set parts of the compound ablaze and security offers fight back deploying tear gas and stun grenades on Tuesday

Protesters pictured throwing stones towards the embassy on Tuesday while chanting 'Death to America'

A U.S. Embassy security officer is seen as protesters and militia fighters gather to condemn air strikes

It was the first time in years that protesters have been able to reach the US embassy in Baghdad, the nation's largest embassy which spans 104 acres.

The embassy, located in Baghdad's Green Zone, has been placed on lockdown.

Who is the mob storming the embassy? The mob are supporters or members of Kataeb Hezbollah, which is separate but linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah, and operates under the umbrella of the Iraqi government sanctioned umbrella of militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many of the groups, but particularly Kataeb Hezbollah, are backed by Iran. Kataeb Hezbollah has for months been firing rockets and mortars at US forces throughout Iraq. It actively stockpiles and smuggles Iranian-made weapons into Iraq. The terror group has in the past received weapons from the Palestinian Hezbollah, which is also a key ally of Iran. Hundreds of the yellow flags of the terror group were seen among the masses on Tuesday. Advertisement

US Security guards were seen retreating inside the embassy early Tuesday as protesters hurled bottles and smashed security cameras outside the buildings.

Flames rose from the compound as furious rioters pressed up against the bullet-proof windows within the complex, taunting the US soldiers within and spraying pro-Hezbollah graffiti over the glass.

Half a dozen US Marine guards fired warning shots from the rooftops, followed by tear gas and stun grenades, at rioters who set blazes and smashed up barricades on the ground.

Hundreds of angry protesters, many in military fatigues, set up tents outside the embassy and set fire to trailers used by security guards along the embassy wall.

Many were seen carrying posters that read, 'Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will'. Some carried banners with Trump's face crossed out.

Some protesters carried what they said were the coffins of the fighters killed in the American airstrikes. Many were heard chanting 'America, leave, leave!' as per NPR.

Sixty-two people have been reported injured in the carnage by the PMF.

A spokesman for Kataeb Hizbollah said they intend to stake out the street in front of the embassy to push US officials to leave Iraq. 'We will not leave these tents until the embassy and the ambassador leave Iraq,' Mohammed Muhi said, according to the Times.

The US State Department disputed reports of a breach and said all US personnel are safe.

'US personnel are secure and there has been no breach. There are no plans to evacuate Embassy Baghdad,' a State Department spokesperson tells DailyMail.com. 'The US Ambassador to Iraq, Matt Tueller, has been on previously scheduled personal travel for over a week and reports that he has been evacuated are false. He is returning to the Embassy.'

Demonstrators smash a bullet-proof window within the US embassy compound on Tuesday during chilling scenes following a protest over the US bombing of militia sites on Sunday night

Protesters and militia members pictured trying to scale the U.S. Embassy compound in Iraq on Tuesday

Demonstrators smash a bullet-proof window within the US embassy compound on Tuesday during chilling scenes following a protest over the US bombing of militia sites on Sunday night

On Tuesday militia fighters carried coffins they claimed held the members of Kataeb Hezbollah who were killed in the US airstrike through the streets during a funeral in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq that preceded the embassy attack

Hashd al-Shaabi fighters raised a fist in solidarity as they carried the coffins of the slain Kataib Hezbollah militia group members slain in Sunday's US airstrike against the group through the streets on Tuesday

A man on a loudspeaker urged the mob not to enter the compound, saying: 'The message was delivered.'

Later protesters were led by a cleric in prayer, kneeling within the walls of the still-occupied compound, though in an apparently more peaceful demonstration.

Jarring video footage from the scene shows a militia man in a military fatigue pledging to burn down the embassy.

'This is a letter to Trump and the American embassy in Baghdad and its consulate in Erbil and in Basra...those who have attacked our forces and our Jihadi brothers, God willing, if this fire reaches the inside of the embassy, we will not spare a single employee. We are the children of martyrs and this is our statement. Death to America.'

An Iraqi employee at the embassy told the AP that the embassy's security team had evacuated some local staff from a rear gate while others left by helicopter as the rest remained inside 'safe' areas within the embassy.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi pleaded with the mob against any aggression towards foreign embassies and representations in Baghdad, asking protesters outside the U.S. embassy to leave 'immediately.'

As of Tuesday evening, most of the protesters had dispersed, but many were still outside the embassy in chairs and tents for a sit-in demonstration, challenging US presence in the country and the airstrikes.

In the wake of the attack, President Trump has received regular updates from his national security team while spending the holiday week at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. 'It will be the presidents choice how and when we respond to their escalation,' White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi and President Barham Salih separately by phone from his office in Washington, DC on Tuesday, according to The Hill.

'The secretary made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq. Both Abdul-Mahdi and Salih assured the secretary that they took seriously their responsibility for and would guarantee the safety and security of U.S. personnel and property,' a Pompeo spokesperson said.

However, as the news of the embassy riot made headlines, the Iraqi National Security Council released a statement ignoring them and instead condemning the US airstrikes.

Sen. Lindsey Graham Trump's rebuke of Iran for the attack saying, 'there will be no Benghazis on his watch'.

Iraqi protesters holding up a placard with a slogan in Arabic that reads: 'Death to America, Death to Israel' breach the outer wall of the US embassy in Baghdad

US soldiers fire tear gas to halt the protesters, many wearing military fatigues, who stand within the main forecourt of the embassy compound

Iraqi protesters, including members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashed al-Shaabi), a mostly Shiite network of local armed groups trained and armed by powerful neighbor Iran, breach the outer wall of the diplomatic mission

Attack comes seven years after US ambassador was killed in Benghazi attack On September 11, 2012, Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia launched a planned attack on US government facilities in Benghazi, Libya. The night time raid killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Stevens was the first US ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979. At 4pm the following day, the militants fired mortars at the CIA annex around a mile away, killing CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty and wounding ten others. Initial analysis found that the attack arose from a protest. But later investigations showed it had been premeditated, although rioters and looters had played an initial role in the chaos. The attack was highly controversial due to accusations that the Obama administration had allowed for security lapses. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton later accepted responsibility for security failings following a high level State Department resignation and suspensions of long-standing officials. Advertisement

'We recall that any aggression or harassment of foreign embassies will be firmly prohibited by the security forces,' Abdel Mahdi's office said several hours after the attack began.

The Iraqi government had earlier announced three days of mourning for the 25 fighters killed in the US strikes.

The United States has around 5,200 troops deployed across Iraq to train security forces and prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State jihadist group.

On Sunday night, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said the strikes send the message that the U.S. will not tolerate actions by Iran that jeopardize American lives.

The Iranian-backed Iraqi militia had vowed Monday to retaliate for the U.S. military strikes in Iraq and Syria that killed 25 of its fighters and wounded dozens.

The attack and vows for revenge raised concerns of new attacks that could threaten American interests in the region.

Kataeb Hezbollah and similar Iran-backed militias play a complicated role in Iraq. The paramilitary has fought against ISIS and is a part of Iraqs security forces. However, the U.S. has questioned whether the Iraqi government actually has control over it and other Iran-backed groups.

The U.S. attack outraged both the militias and the Iraqi government which said it will reconsider its relationship with the U.S.-led coalition - the first time it has said it will do so since an agreement was struck to keep some U.S. troops in the country.

It called the attack a 'flagrant violation' of its sovereignty.

In a partly televised meeting Monday, Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi told Cabinet members that he had tried to stop the U.S. operation 'but there was insistence' from American officials.

Demonstrators wearing military fatigues and flying the white flag of the Popular Mobilization Forces, of which Kataeb Hezbollah is a member

Milita members and other demonstrators swarm through the security entrance of the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday

Demonstrators hurl rocks and shove burning fabric through holes put through the bullet-proof glass surrounding the US embassy complex in the Iraqi capital

US soldiers standing on the rooftops on Tuesday as tear gas and smoke from fires set by the demonstrators rises into the air

U.S. Embassy staff are seen through the glass windows of the compound while the militia members and their supporters gathered outside the building

US military and embassy personnel are seen inside the compound on Tuesday during the ferocious protest outside against US air strikes on Sunday night

Demonstrators in militia uniforms hurl projectiles over the walls of the compound today and throw their terrorist flags over the barbed wire

Demonstrators shove a vehicle over within the walls of the US embassy compound on Tuesday, an Iraqi flag is held aloft as well as the yellow of Kataeb Hezbollah

Iraqi protesters stand on the walls of the US Embassy in Baghdad, protesting Washington's attacks on armed battalions belong to Iranian-backed forces

Iraqi security forces (background) stand guard as protesters, including clerics, hold a prayer inside the walls of the US embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone after the fury died down

Protesters stand on Israeli (left) and US flags (right) which they have also been seen burning on Tuesday amid shouts of 'Down USA' and 'Death to Israel'

Black smoke billows from a fire set outside the entrance to the embassy today as thousands gathered outside the consulate in the Iraqi capital

Flames rise over the compound walls today as hundreds of demonstrators throng in the entrance of the US embassy in the Iraqi capital

US soldiers keeping watch over the rioters on Tuesday after the embassy became surrounded following a furious post-funeral service demonstration for the Iran-backed militia members killed Sunday night

Searing aerial footage was released on Monday of US F-15 Strike Eagles wreaking havoc on Kataeb Hezbollah.

Iran condemned the attack as 'terrorism' while Kataib Hezbollah commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes said: 'The blood of the martyrs will not be in vain and our response will be very tough on the American forces in Iraq.'

Meanwhile the Iraqi military spokesman for outgoing Prime Minister Abel Abdel Mahdi rebuked the US for its intervention, General Abdul Kareem Khalaf said: 'We consider it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that will threaten Iraq and the region.'

The US said it had taken the 'necessary' overnight action to protect its personnel in the region following an attack two days earlier that killed a US civilian contractor and injured four US service members near Kirkuk.

'The Department of Defense took offensive actions in defense of our personnel interests in Iraq', Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

Another spokesman for the Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq, Sayyed Jaafar Al-Husseini, said: 'Options are kept open as we are waiting for the leadership's decision in this regard. There will certainly be an appropriate retaliation.

'The Americans had tested before the Iraqi resistance strikes, and our capabilities are now duplicated.'

Jewad Kadum, a PMF official, said in a statement that rescue operations were ongoing as well as the evacuation of the wounded, recovery of the dead bodies and the extinguishing of the fire caused by the airstrikes.

U.S. soldiers fire tear gas to stop protesters inside U.S. embassy in Baghdad

Hundreds of protesters are seen on the streets leading to the embassy waving flags and chanting 'Death to America'

raqi protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim, an Iraqi district bordering Syria

Protesters and militia fighters gather to condemn air strikes outside the US embassy on Tuesday

Thousands of demonstrators, waving flags of the Shia militia which was decimated in US strikes on Sunday night, swarm outside the embassy on Tuesday

Smoke billows over the horizon on Tuesday as furious demonstrators, some wearing militia uniforms, gathered outside the US embassy on Tuesday

Demonstrators stormed inside the security boxes outside the compound after the personnel withdrew and set fire to the huts

Protesters and militia fighters gather to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the main gate of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

The locations included weapons storage facilities and command and control locations the group had used to plan and execute attacks on coalition forces, the Pentagon said during an earlier announcement.

Esper, appearing with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, said the retaliatory air strikes on Sunday were 'successful' and that all pilots and aircraft involved returned safely.

Iraqi security sources said on Monday that U.S. forces in Iraq's northerly Nineveh province were ramping up security overnight, with U.S.-led coalition jets circling the perimeter of its military bases in Mosul and Qayarah.

The United States had accused the group of a 30-plus rocket attack on Friday that killed the US civilian contractor and injured four US service members and two members of the Iraqi Security Forces near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Pompeo at the news conference said attacks have been going on for 'weeks and weeks weeks'.

The fatal incident was 'the eleventh rocket attack targeting an outpost housing American forces in the last two months,' according to Military Times.

The US fighter jets came in retaliation for 30-plus rocket attack on Friday that killed a US civilian contractor and injured four US service members and two members of the Iraqi Security Forces near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk

These images depict what the U.S. military says are bases of the Kataib Hezbollah militia group that were struck by U.S. forces, in the city of Al-Qa'im, Iraq

The footage shows black smoke being swept across a desert compound after it was struck by fighter jets in last night's raid

F-15 Strike Eagles (like this one seen in a training exercise) hit five targets associated with Kataib Hezbollah, which is an Iranian-sponsored Shiite militia group, said Defense Secretary Mark Esper

'Today what we did is take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months, which is that we will not stand for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take actions that put American men and women in jeopardy,' Pompeo said at the news conference.

Earlier this month, a senior US military official revealed that attacks by Iranian-backed groups on bases hosting US forces in Iraq were gathering pace and becoming more sophisticated.

The US has sent nearly 14,000 additional troops to the Middle East within the past six months in response to escalating tensions with Iran.

President Trump has not yet responded to Friday's attack, and Iraqi Security Forces are leading the response and investigation.

The Pentagon contractor who was killed has not yet been publicly named. All injured US troops are expected to make a full recovery.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley are pictured at a press conference held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday

Since the weekend strikes, ties have been increasingly strained.

Iraq's government, acting in a caretaker capacity after Abdel Mahdi resigned in the face of street protests, threatened to summon the US ambassador.

'American forces acted on their political priorities, not those of Iraqis,' it said.

Dozens of lawmakers called on the government to review an agreement allowing the deployment of US soldiers in the country, saying the strikes amount to a violation of sovereignty that renders the pact obsolete.

The United States, meanwhile, accused Iraq of failing to 'protect' US interests in the country.

US defence officials have told AFP that pro-Iran factions now pose a greater threat than IS because of the repeated rocket attacks.

The US military has carried out 'defensive strikes' in Iraq and Syria against the Kataib Hezbollah militia group, the Pentagon said on Sunday, two days after an American civilian contractor was killed in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base (file photo)

The Pentagon said it targeted three locations of the Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia group in Iraq and two in Syria (file photo)

Abdel Mahdi said he had been forewarned by Defence Secretary Mark Esper that the US would carry out the strikes.

'He told me the United States would strike the Hezbollah Brigades and I told him it would be a very dangerous act that could lead to an escalation,' Abdel Mahdi said.

The premier tendered his resignation in November after two months of anti-government rallies.

'This may well be the low point of US policy in Iraq,' said Iraq expert Fanar Haddad of Singapore University's Middle East Institute.

'That the national security adviser, MPs, a former minister and head of one of the most powerful parliamentary blocs are involved speaks volumes about the failure of US policy and the nature of the Iraqi state they helped create,' Haddad said.
Nara Bhuvaneshwari, wife of Telugu Desam Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday waded into the tussle over the states capital as she donated her gold bangles to fund the ongoing agitation by farmers of Amaravati against shifting the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam.

Bhuvaneshwari, daughter of legendary actor and TDP founder N T Rama Rao and presently vice-chairman and managing director of Heritage Foods Ltd, generally keeps away from politics.

For the first time, she attended the dharna of Amaravati farmers at Errabalem village along with her husband to extend her solidarity and was moved by the agony of the farmers, especially the womens. She instantly took out her bangles and gave them to the protestors stating that it was her contribution to the agitation.

I understand the feelings of women here who are terribly hurt by the decision of the state government to shift the capital. I am aware of the sacrifices you have made by giving away your cultivable lands for the capital, hoping for a great future. Our family is with you in your fight against shifting the capital out of this place.

She appealed to the farmers to raise money by selling the bangles through public auction and use the same to sustain the agitation for retention of capital city at Amaravati.

As the farmers agitation in all the 29 villages under Amaravati capital region entered 15th day on Wednesday, donations have been pouring in from different parts of the state and abroad to sustain the movement.

Bhuvaneshwari said Chandrababu Naidu had toiled day and night to construct the capital city at Amaravati. Family is the second priority for Naidu as he always strived for farmers welfare. In the process, he ignored even our family members, she said.

She said building a world class capital city at Amaravati and completing Polavaram project were his dreams. He will never disappoint you, she said.

Addressing the gathering, Naidu found fault with farmers for defeating the TDP in the last elections and voting for the YSRC, for which they were now paying heavy penalty.

Ignoring my warning, you all voted Jagan to power. You have kept an oven on your head. You can neither keep it down, nor bear it for long. I told you not to touch a live wire. But you did it and are now feeling the shock, Naidu said.

Last month, chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy said that his government was considering creation of three capital cities  a legislative capital, an executive capital and a judicial capital as he advocated decentralised development of the state.

He had made his intentions clear that he was not in favour of building Amravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh and that it would not be his priority.

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Felicia Gonzales, 51, claims she had to sign the two-page document promising not to have a party in her hotel room when she checked into her Marriott hotel in Portland

A black woman is suing Marriott hotels for $300,000 after claiming she was made to sign a 'no party policy' document even though white guests weren't made to do the same.

Felicia Gonzales, 51, claims she had to sign the two-page document promising not to have a party in her hotel room when she checked into the Residence Inn by Marriott Portland Downtown/Convention Center in Oregon.

Gonzales alleges she was singled out because of her race because she noticed white guests weren't required to do the same, The Oregonian reports.

In the lawsuit, Gonzales says she was told by the front desk clerk that all guests were asked to sign the no party policy upon check in.

The policy stated that it was designed to inform all guests of the noise limitations at the hotel but wasn't intended to 'insinuate any distrust in the 'average' guest'.

'No hotels want to have parties in them and we don't want that type of business,' the policy stated.

She signed the policy back in January 2019 because she just wanted to check in and get to her room, the lawsuit states.

Gonzales alleges she was singled out because of her race because she noticed white guests weren't required to do the same

In the lawsuit, Gonzales says she was told by the front desk clerk that all guests were asked to sign the no party policy upon check in

Gonzales said she later saw multiple Caucasian guests checking into the same hotel but claims none of them were asked to sign the no party policy form.

She said she is a member of the Marriott rewards program and has never had a noise complaint from any hotel she has ever stayed at.

Gonzales had checked into the hotel for five nights.

She was raised in Portland but later moved away to California and had come back to the area for a brief visit to see family.

A Marriott spokesman said the company does not comment on pending lawsuits.

Gonzales is seeking $300,000 in damages for suffering frustration, humiliation and 'feelings of racial stigmatization'.

The lawsuit indicates that it could be amended to add $1 million in damages.
Some primary schools are searching young pupils for knives over fears they are bringing weapons into class.

Primaries  whose pupils are aged just four to 11  are among many schools taking drastic measures to ensure pupil safety, an audit of councils and academy chains by the Mail reveals today.

Some junior schools have bought metal-detecting knife wands, while others are using stop-and-search tactics at the gates to check for weapons.

At least 21 UK schools or councils had knife arches, 34 had knife wands and 11 used stop-and-search over fears pupils are bringing weapons into the class (file image)

The audit also shows that wands or knife arches  metal detectors that pupils walk through  are increasingly prevalent in secondaries as staff tackle teen violence.

But the fact that even some primaries are having to resort to such measures will alarm parents.

The Mails audit shows primaries run by two councils and one academy chain  all in the Midlands and the North  are searching pupils for blades. In addition, seven councils and nine academy chains nationwide said there were knife-searching procedures at their secondaries.

But this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg because although every council was sent a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Mail, most said the data was not available.

Pupils as young as seven were being caught with weapons at schools and there were 1,072 incidents where school children brought in knives from 831 in 12 months before

A separate study found this week that pupils as young as seven were being caught with weapons in schools.

Campaigners say those found with blades are increasingly young because they fear violence from gang members at school or outside the gates.

Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey said children might be taking this action when they 'feel no one else has their back'

Former youth worker and Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey said: That young kids  babies, really  may be taking knives into schools at such a tender age is shocking.

But from my years of experience doing youth work in tough communities I know that kids take action like this when they feel no one else has their back.

They need to know that doing this only makes it more likely theyll be hurt.

The Mail sent FOI requests to every council and major academy chain in the country, asking about knife searching policies at schools under their control.

Darlington Council admitted one of its primaries had a stop-and-search policy, and the E-ACT academies trust said four of its primaries in Birmingham and Walsall introduced knife wands this September.

A spokesman said: Having a knife wand on site does not mean our academies had cause to use them. A wand may form part of our academies efforts to raise awareness. Derbyshire Council said some of its primary schools had dealt with children bringing in knives using a risk-management approach, which may mean a period of searching with a parent on entry.

A mother called police after a seven-year-old schoolboy reportedly held a knife to her daughter's throat in a row in the dinner hall of The Meads Primary School in Luton on October 18

Among secondary schools, councils and academy trusts admitted that at least 21 had knife arches, 34 had knife wands and 11 used stop-and-search. Others also said they used these measures, but gave no figures.

In October it emerged there were 1,072 incidents of children carrying weapons in schools in the previous financial year, up from 831 in the 12 months before. And Kent Police said this week that three children aged seven, nine and ten were among the 109 pupils caught with weapons at schools between April 2017 and December 2019.

Paul Whiteman, of the NAHT school leaders union, said: It is rare for knives to be brought into schools, but where it does happen it is a big problem. Issues underpinning violent, antisocial behaviour reach far beyond the school gates.
A fight at a prison in northern Mexico has left at least 16 inmates dead and five wounded, the local authorities said, in one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the countrys troubled penal system for years.

The violence broke out Tuesday afternoon at the Cieneguillas mens penitentiary in the state of Zacatecas, said the states public safety secretary, Ismael Camberos Hernandez. He said that prison officials were alerted by alarms and the sounds of gunshots and that they grappled for nearly three hours to bring the situation under control.

Four guns were discovered in the prison after the riot, Mr. Hernandez said. He said they had most likely reached inmates on Tuesday, when relatives could visit for the last day of the year. Prison personnel also confiscated cellphones and knives during an inspection of inmates cells on Sunday, Mr. Hernandez added.
Pro-Iran demonstrators left the besieged US embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday after the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force ordered them to withdraw a day after their dramatic incursion. Thousands of Iraqi supporters of the largely Iranian-trained Hashed had encircled and vandalised the embassy compound Tuesday, outraged by US air strikes that killed 25 Hashed fighters over the weekend. They marched unimpeded through the checkpoints of the usually high-security Green Zone to the embassy gates, where they broke through a reception area, chanting "Death to America" and spraying pro-Iran graffiti on the walls. Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi called on the angry crowd to leave the embassy, but most spent the night in dozens of tents set up outside the perimeter wall. On Wednesday morning, crowds of men brandished the Hashed's colours, torched US flags and hurled rocks towards the compound. Security personnel inside responded with tear gas, wounding at least 20 people, the Hashed said. By the afternoon, the Hashed called on its supporters to leave the embassy and regroup outside the Green Zone "out of respect for the state." "You delivered your message," it said in a statement. AFP's photographer saw protesters dismantling their tents and leaving the Green Zone. "We burned them!" they said, streaming back out of checkpoints they had breezed through on Tuesday. Kataeb Hezbollah, the group targeted in the US raids, initially told AFP it would stay at the embassy, but later said it had decided to abide by the Hashed's order. "We scored a huge win: we arrived to the US embassy, which no one had done before," spokesman Mohammad Mohyeddin told AFP. "Now, the ball is in parliament's court," he added, referring to lawmakers' efforts to revoke the legal cover for 5,200 US troops to deploy in Iraq. - 'You can't do a thing' - Tuesday's embassy attack was the latest episode in spiralling tensions between the US and Iran since Washington abandoned a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018. Many of those tensions have played out in Iraq, which has close ties with both governments. US forces have faced a spate of rocket attacks in recent months, including one last week that killed a US contractor and prompted the weekend air strikes. President Donald Trump and other US officials have blamed Iran for attacks on US forces and the embassy. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter, adding "Happy New Year!" Iran's supreme leader condemned US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to hit back. "First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on state television. "If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly," he said. - 'Our hands are tied' - By Wednesday, Iraqi forces had reimposed normal security measures around the perimeter of the Green Zone, usually inaccessible without a badge. US officials were alarmed that protesters crossed checkpoints so easily on Tuesday. An Iraqi special forces fighter assigned to guard the Green Zone told AFP his units had no orders to intervene. "If I had had orders to act, I could have fired and stopped the storming of the embassy," he said. "But after what happened, our hands are tied. We can't prevent the situation from deteriorating," he added. US officials have pressured Iraqi authorities to step up security and sent a rapid response team of Marines overnight to help guard the compound. Pentagon chief Mark Esper said around 750 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were prepared to deploy to the region in the coming days. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo postponed a trip to Ukraine to monitor from Washington "the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," a spokeswoman said. Pompeo spoke with premier Mahdi Wednesday and "noted the measures the Government of Iraq has taken to improve the security situation," the State Department said. Pompeo also stressed it was the Iraqi government's responsibility to prevent further attacks on the embassy, it added. No US personnel were injured in the attack and US officials said they had no plans to evacuate. Ambassador Matthew Tueller was said to be on his way back to Baghdad from holiday but had yet to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. The embassy announced that consular services were suspended in Baghdad "until further notice," and advised American citizens not to approach the complex. The attack highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship, which officials from both countries have described to AFP as the "coldest" in years. The US led the 2003 invasion against then-dictator Saddam Hussein and has worked closely with Iraqi officials since, but its influence has waned compared with Tehran's growing clout. Tuesday's dramatic scenes at the embassy sparked comparisons with both the 1979 hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran and the deadly 2012 attack on the US consulate in Libya's second city Benghazi. Supporters and members of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force gather during a demonstration outside the US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad An Iraqi supporter of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network lifts a picture of Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani in front of the US embassy in Baghdad A sentry box burns at an entrance to the United States embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad US Marines take position around the US embassy in Baghdad after pro-Iran protesters breached the outer wall of the compound Iraqi protesters tear a security camera off a wall at the US embassy compound in Baghdad
Bulgaria's Bulgargaz and Russia's Gazprom have agreed for Bulgaria to start receiving Russian gas directly from the TurkStream pipeline rather than through Romania starting 1 January to save some 81 million leva ($45 million), the Bulgarian gas company has said in a statement, Sputnik reports.

According to a statement, the Russian and Bulgarian gas giants signed an additional agreement on 30 December under which Bulgaria is to switch from receiving gas from the Negru Voda point in Romania to its own compressor station in Strandzha where the fuel will come from Turkey.

"The financial gains from changing the receiving point are estimated to be approximately 81 million leva. Bulgargaz and customers in Bulgaria will save by no longer having to pay for access to and transit through the territory of Romania worth an approximate 76 million leva", the statement read.

Lower prices set by the Bulgartransgaz operator for gas via Strandzha adds an additional 4.6 million leva to the total savings.

The company has promised lower gas prices in the next three months and said it was in talks with Gazprom to negotiate better prices for Bulgaria. Sofia has also voiced a readiness to transit Russian gas westward to Greece and North Macedonia.

TurkStream is a projected 570-mile twin pipeline to run from Russia through the Black Sea to Turkey, at which point one of the branches will continue further up to southern and southeastern Europe. The launch is scheduled for 8 January, as both branches are now filled with fuel.

Russia has been supplying gas to Bulgaria since 1974 and is currently the only exporter of natural gas on the Bulgarian market. Last year, Bulgaria finished building a 7-mile segment of a pipe to link TurkStream to the so-called Balkan Stream pipeline network of Bulgaria and Serbia.
A British man has died after a firework exploded in his face during New Years Eve celebrations in Thailand, local police have said.

Gary McLaren, 50, was reportedly ringing in 2020 with his fiance and friends in the seaside town of Pattaya when the tragedy unfolded just after midnight.

Lt Col Somboon Ua-samanmaitree of the Thai Tourist Police told the BBC: "Around midnight, Mr McLaren attempted to light up a large firework but it failed to go off at first.

After that, it suddenly exploded and killed him at the scene."

Emergency services rushed to the scene where they found Mr McLaren lying on the ground outside a bar with serious facial injuries, the Bangkok Post reported.

Medics performed CPR but he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

Officers found a large firework which they took in for analysis as part of their investigations.

Eyewitness Wassana Ngontai, 24, told police Mr McClaren had been celebrating with friends at the bar before trying to light the firework outside the building but failing, according to the Bangkok Post.

Ms Ngontai said she noticed smoke coming from the firework while he was still in close proximity, then suddenly, it exploded.

Detectives said the British Embassy in Bangkok has been informed of the death.
Two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists arrested for killing two policemen on polio duty last month were killed on Wednesday when one of them snatched a weapon from a police officer and tried to fire at the police team while they were being taken for identification parade in Markhanai area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to an official statement.

According to a statement by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police, one of the terror suspects snatched a weapon from a police officer and tried to attack the police team.

However, the bullet hit his accomplice, killing him on the spot.

"Later, the terrorist who snatched the weapon from the police was also killed by the police team," the police statement added.

The two were arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for killing two police officials deployed on polio duty on December 18.

However, the police team remained unhurt in the incident.

"The policemen escaped certain death due to bulletproof jackets they were wearing," the statement said.

The police has shifted the dead bodies to district head quarter for autopsy, the police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three people killed in a crash near Heathrow airport just minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve were off-duty British Airways cabin crew, it has been revealed.

Those who died were travelling in a white Toyota Yaris which collided with a white Mercedes HGV at a junction in Stanwell, Surrey, at 11.39pm.

Two men, aged 25 and 23, and a 20-year-old woman died at the scene, while a 25-year-old woman is in a serious condition in hospital.

The driver of the lorry was unharmed after the car was believed to have been rushing back to a pub in the Longford area of London so its passengers could see in the New Year.

A 'BA Angels Fund' set up for the families of those affected has raised more than 30,000 in just a few hours as tributes pour in for the victims.

The front of the Yaris (pictured above) was completely smashed and the doors were also damaged

Emergency services were called to the scene at the junction of Bedfont Road (pictured above this morning) and Long Lane at 11.39pm following the collision between a white Mercedes HGV and a white Toyota Yaris

The map above shows the area where the crash happened near the junction at Long Lane in Stanwell

British Airways said in a statement: 'We're deeply saddened to learn of the death of our colleagues involved in a road traffic collision last night.

'Our thoughts are with their family and friends, who we are supporting at this distressing time.'

No arrests have been made. The road was closed while the HGV was recovered.

Stephen Paul Crook, a member of cabin crew at British Airway set up the fundraising page for the families of those affected.

Writing on the page, Mr Crook said: 'As you are now all probably aware, on New Year's Eve we lost three fellow Mixed Fleet Crew in a fatal car crash, and another is in hospital in a serious condition.

'I have set up this fund to raise money so that we as a fleet can send a nice flower arrangement to the three crew members funerals and hopefully make a nice donation to a charity of the families choosing.

'Also the crew member who is in hospital will need all the support and help they can need after they get out of hospital and as such I would like to be able to give them a nice sum of money, to help them in those first few months.

'I know it is January and I know that money is tight but I know that as a fleet we will pull together and make this happen.'

Police officers are pictured above on the scene following a crash in the Longford area of Middlesex

A fundraising page has been set up for the families of those affected, with tributes flooding in on the GoFundMe page (above and below)

Commenting on the fundraiser, Ruth Atkins said: 'Such tragic and devastating news. Sending love and deepest sympathy to their families.'

And Gemma Waddington said: 'Such sad news. Lovely to see the BA family coming together to support each other though.'

Jai Dillon, a British Airways Pilot Ambassador and Recruitment Pilot, was among those paying tribute to the cabin crew today.

He said: 'Thoughts are with the friends and family of the three crew who were tragically taken from us last night whilst driving home from work to be with their loved ones for New Year.'

While the British Airway Flying with Confidence course Twitter account also tweeted: 'Last night we tragically lost three members of our British Airway family.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with their friends and families during this very difficult time.'

The group collided with the freight truck that had been destined for the airport and was believed to have been loaded with dangerous goods that were due to be shipped to Amsterdam.

It is believed that all four cabin crew were friends and two of them had finished work at about 6pm, while the other two were on a day off and not scheduled to be on duty.

Police officers were at the scene (pictured above) and recovery workers were also at the scene clearing the road

Witnesses at the scene said the car had been doing at least 80 miles an hour after it pulled out of the junction just before 11.39pm.

Pictures from the scene show recovery workers taking the white car away, which appears to have blood stains on the car door.

Police officers were also at the scene and evidence was seen in bags on the pavement, while debris littered the floor.

Those at the scene added that the area was like a 'war zone with bits left all over the road'.

'We heard the two women in the rear of the car screaming. The emergency services got here really quickly and even the fire service went to the incident.

'They had no chance, the car was doing at least 80 miles an hour as it pulled out of the junction into the path of the lorry'.

No arrests have been made, the road remained closed on Wednesday to allow for the recovery of the HGV, and police are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

A local resident who had rushed out of her home to see what had happened told how the Dnata lorry was already in the water by the time she arrived and how later, medics were trying to save a woman lying in the road for 45 minutes, while another body was under a white sheet.

Barbara Ali, a mother-of-one, said: 'At 11.36pm I texted my friend because I heard a really loud bang. It was like a lorry was jumping from somewhere, that's the only way I can describe it.

The car above collided with a lorry that had been destined for the airport. The driver of the lorry was unharmed

Two men aged 25 and 23 and a woman aged 20 who were in the Yaris died at the scene (above)

'I thought at first it was fireworks because it was New Year's Eve so I did not go outside but later when I heard the sirens and saw the blue lights I went out.

'I saw one person on the road with a white bag over them.

'They were doing first aid on a person for 45 minutes. I couldn't see if it was a man or a woman. I can imagine for the paramedics it was a really awful night.

'A fire brigade officer told us the lorry driver had swerved into the river because he was trying to avoid hitting the car.'

The 32-year-old neighbour added: 'This is a really dangerous road. The council needs to do an investigation and cut down some of the bushes which are blocking people from being able to see what is coming around the corner when they pull out of the junction.'

A local driver, who did not want to be named, said the crash scene looked 'bad'.

He described it as 'a bad road' that needs widening, adding: 'You would be amazed how many accidents have happened down that road.'

A spokesman for freight company dnata said this afternoon: 'We can confirm that one of our trucks was involved in a road traffic accident on the evening of December 31.

'We are fully assisting relevant authorities with their investigations. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those affected by this very sad incident.'

Surrey Police said: 'Officers were called to Bedfont Road at 11.39pm on December 31 following reports of the collision at the junction with Long Lane. The collision resulted in the lorry leaving the road and entering the Longford River, which runs parallel with Bedfont Road.

'A number of emergency services have responded to the incident and the roads in the immediate area are closed while the incident is investigation.'

Sergeant Chris Schultze from the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit said: 'As part of that investigation we are asking for any witnesses to come forward, and if anyone has any CCTV, dashcam or other information that may assist the investigation to come forward

**Do you know the victims of the crash? Email james.wood@mailonline.co.uk or call 0203 615 2574**
(CNN)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested immunity from immunity in three corruption cases in which he faces indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu submitted the request to the Knesset late Wednesday night, saying he plans on leading the country "for many years to come."

"What is being done to me is a field court-martial by misleading the public," Netanyahu said in a televised statement Wednesday evening in Jerusalem. "The immunity law is intended to protect elected officials from fabricated legal proceedings -- from political indictment intended to damage the will of the people. This law intends to ensure that those elected can serve the people according to the will of the people, not the will of the law clerks."

Charges against Netanyahu were unveiled in November. He's maintained his innocence throughout the ongoing criminal proceedings, calling them an "attempted coup" led by the left and the media.

Political rival slams request

Rival Benny Gantz, who leads the Blue and White party, blasted Netanyahu's request, saying voters will have two choices in the upcoming elections in March.

" ... the interests of Netanyahu will win or the national interest will win. Or there will be an extreme immunity government or there will be broad unity government. Or the kingdom of Netanyahu or the State of Israel," said Gantz shortly after Netanyahu spoke.

"Blue and White led by me will do everything according to the law."

Members of Knesset, including the Prime Minister, are entitled by law to request parliamentary immunity from prosecution. The request is considered by the Knesset's House Committee. If the request is approved in the committee, it is then passed on to a vote in the full 120-member Knesset.

But the House Committee hasn't been formed since Israel's election in April began a period of prolonged political deadlock. Elections in September failed to break that deadlock, and once again, no House Committee was formed. Without a seated committee, there is no way to consider Netanyahu's request for immunity, putting any criminal proceedings against the Prime Minister on hold at least until the upcoming elections on March 2.

Members of the opposition have said they would seek to form a temporary House Committee to consider the immunity request, but it's unclear at this stage if such a move is likely to happen.

If granted, the immunity from prosecution applies only to the current Knesset, meaning Netanyahu would have to request immunity again following any subsequent election.

Moments after Netanyahu finished his statement, former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said his Yisrael Beiteinu would vote unanimously against immunity. "It's now clear beyond any doubt. All that Netanyahu is interested in is immunity," said Liberman in a statement.

"This is what he wakes up with in the morning, this is what he lives, this is what he breathes throughout the day, this is what he goes to bed with. The State of Israel has become a hostage of a private personal problem of Netanyahu."

Four reasons for seeking immunity

If the immunity request is rejected, Netanyahu does not have to resign immediately. Under Israeli law, he can remain Prime Minister while the trial is ongoing. He only has to resign if he is convicted and that conviction is upheld through the appeals process, a process which could take years.

Under Israeli law, Knesset members can request immunity citing one of four reasons:

-Protection of freedom of expression

-Prosecutors were acting in bad faith or discriminating against the member

-The Knesset has already disciplined the member and there is no public interest in a trial

-Criminal proceedings would cause serious damage to the functioning of the Knesset, its committees, or the will of the voters. In addition, there would not be considerable damage to the public interest without a trial.

Since the immunity law was updated in 2005, no member of Knesset has been granted immunity from prosecution. (There is one open request for former Minister of Welfare Haim Katz, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, who faces indictment on charges of fraud and breach of trust.) Prior to 2005, parliamentary immunity was automatically granted to members of Knesset -- the law was changed to force them to submit a formal request, which would then be weighed by the Knesset House Committee.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu had begun floating the idea of seeking immunity at campaign rallies, warming his voter base to the possibility. On Sunday, at an event in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said, "Immunity is not against democracy. Immunity is a cornerstone of democracy." The crowd erupted into cheers, with some shouting, "Take the immunity!"

Lengthy investigation

Since the investigations were announced three years ago, Netanyahu has waged a campaign of delegitimization against them, denouncing them as a media-driven witch hunt. As the investigations advanced, Netanyahu sharpened his rhetoric and expanded his attacks, saying, "Every day, my blood, my wife's blood, my children's blood is being shed by those with evil intent." Calling the investigations "contaminated" and demanding that "the investigators are investigated," Netanyahu began attacking the judicial system, the police, and the state prosecutor's office.

"There is one law for others, and one law for Netanyahu," he claimed in November when the indictments were unveiled.

As speculation grew earlier this week that Netanyahu would request immunity, Ayman Odeh, head of the Arab Joint List, tweeted Saturday, "I call on the entire public to seek immunity against the flu, not against an indictment of bribery."

The decision to allow the formation of a Knesset House Committee now passes to Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party. If Edelstein decides not to allow the committee to form, the legal proceedings against Netanyahu could remain stuck until after the March elections. Israel's legal deadlock would match its political deadlock.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Israel's Netanyahu seeks immunity from prosecution in corruption cases"
Backtracking from its previous decision, the Bangladesh government on Wednesday restored mobile phone networks along the border with India, considering the hassle suffered by the people living in these areas.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued an order, directing the four mobile phone operators of the country - Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Teletalk - to reinstate their network operations in the border areas, Dhaka Tribune reported.

In a statement, Brig Gen (retd) SM Farhad, Secretary-General of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob), confirmed that mobile phone networks in the border areas have been reinstated as per the BTRC instructions.

"Our correspondents at Hili, Benapole and Akhaura land ports also confirmed that the mobile networks were functioning as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday," he added.

Earlier on Monday, the mobile phone companies had to shut down their networks within one kilometre of the Bangladesh-India border following a BTRC directive.

When asked about the shutdown, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen were quoted as saying that they had been unaware of any such decision.

But sources in the BTRC and the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said that the government undertook the decision to prevent a possible pushback on the basis of rumours, given the perceptible tension between Bangladesh and India in recent times following the enactment of the citizenship law by the Indian parliament.

On Wednesday, however, BTRC officials said they had been directed by the ministry to revoke the shutdown.

"We have already instructed the mobile phone operators to resume their services in the border areas," BTRC Chairman MD Jahurul Haque told Dhaka Tribune.

Officials speaking for the mobile phone operators said about 2,000 mobile phone towers were turned off when the shutdown was ordered, affecting 3 km of border areas inside the country in 32 border districts.

The move had affected about 10 million mobile phone subscribers in 32 districts that share the border with India and Myanmar, as about 2,000 towers are located in those areas, a BTRC official said on conditions of anonymity.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If your children or grandchildren received cash for Christmas, now could be the perfect time to help get them into the savings habit.

Whether you invest on their behalf or encourage them to open their own bank account, a lesson in budgeting and saving is a gift that will last a lifetime.

Here, Money Mail walks you through all the options available.

Good basic accounts that help children understand everyday money include Principalitys Learner Earner at 3 per cent. Virgin Money Young Saver pays 2.25 per cent, Mansfield BS Young Saver pays 2.1 per cent and Lloyds Bank Child Saver which pays 2 per cent

Totting it up

One choice is a bank or building society account for children. Some aim to teach them about handling money. Others home in on parents and relatives wanting to build up a lump sum for when the child reaches adulthood.

Good basic accounts that help children understand everyday money include Principalitys Learner Earner at 3 per cent. Virgin Money Young Saver pays 2.25 per cent, Mansfield BS Young Saver pays 2.1 per cent while Lloyds Bank Child Saver and Halifax Kids Saver pay 2 per cent.

With these accounts, the child normally gets control of the money when they reach 16.

If youd rather they wait until they reach 18 for access, then you need to set up the account as a bare trust, with you  or someone else of your choosing  acting as the trustee.

But under law, the money is the property of the child and they automatically get access to it when they turn 18 (or 16 in Scotland).

Skipton BS has made its Childrens Saver, which pays 1.8 per cent, easy to set up as a trust.

Nationwides Future Saver is set up so that parents retain control of the money until they decide to hand it over to the child  say, on their 21st birthday.

It pays 3 per cent if the parent has their main current account with the building society, or 2 per cent if they dont. It allows only one withdrawal in each 12-month period.

We're topping up their JISAs Sam and Sally Lord have opened up Junior Isas for both sets of their twins Sam Lord and his wife Sally opened Junior Isas for their first set of twin boys, Charlie and Jack, now six, soon after they were born. Sams mum thought the accounts would be useful for Christmas and birthdays when family members wanted to give the children money. She already banked with the Coventry Building Society and discovered its Jisas also offered a top variable rate of 3.6 per cent. When the couples second set of twins, Gregor and Joe, three, came along, Sam opened two more accounts with the society. And over the years, the boys grandparents have all paid into the account, transferring between 50 and 100 each birthday and Christmas. Sam, an environmental consultant, and Sally, a clinical psychologist, also add to the Jisas. While they do not regularly check the balances, Sam, 39, says that, the last time he looked, each of his sons had more than 1,000 saved. The Lords, who live in the Scottish borders, know their children will be able to access their money when they turn 18, and Sam adds: We think Jisas are a great way to save. Theyre also really useful for birthdays and Christmas, as friends and family can pay into the boys accounts and help build up a savings pot for their future.

Junior investor

You can save up to 4,368 in a tax year in a Junior Isa (Jisa) for a child. The account must be opened by the parent, but other adults can arrange with them to put in money, too.

The child can manage the account once they reach 16 and it is automatically tax free. The money becomes theirs on their 18th birthday.

This could mean money put aside for university fees or house deposits may be squandered, so some parents and grandparents wont want to invest too much into Jisas.

You can choose to put the money in a cash savings account or into shares. Some two out of three picked the cash option in the tax year to 2018, latest figures show.

On the cash version, Coventry BS pays a top rate of 3.6 per cent, followed by National Savings & Investments (NS&I) at 3.25 per cent.

Laura Suter, personal finance analyst at investment platform A.J. Bell, says: Lots of parents keep their Jisas in cash, but it is an ideal account for long-term investment in shares.

Patrick Connolly, from independent advisers Chase de Vere, recommends HSBC FTSE All Share Index, which tracks the prices of UK shares, or Vanguard Life Strategy 60 per cent Equity, which invests in a range of tracker funds, shares and fixed interest.

Other options are Rathbone Global Opportunities, investing predominantly in Europe and the U.S., and Investec Cautious Managed, which typically invests half in shares and half in fixed interest.

Recommendations from A.J. Bell include Jupiter UK Special Situations for a less risky approach, or Schroder Global Recovery for the adventurous.

Early retirement

It is never too early to set up a pension  and children qualify for tax relief, too.

The family can contribute up to 2,880 a year, which the government will top up to 3,600 through tax relief at the current 20 per cent basic rate tax. Setting up a pension will help them enjoy a wealthier retirement and is very tax efficient.

You can save up to 4,368 in a tax year in a Junior Isa (Jisa) for a child. The account must be opened by the parent. The child can manage the account once they reach 16 and it is automatically tax free. The money becomes theirs on their 18th birthday

The full 2,880 put in for your childs first 18 years would create a pension pot of 99,616 at age 18, assuming investment growth of 4 per cent a year, says independent financial advisers Brewin Dolphin.

The major drawback is that they cant get the money until they are in their late 50s.

Patrick Connolly says: Pensions are really only suitable if other savings are already in place. Jisas, investment funds and savings accounts can give children a helping hand by paying for education and mortgage deposits.

Bond winner

Aunts, uncles, godparents and family friends can all buy Premium Bonds for children aged under 16.

You can only buy them in blocks of 25 (the minimum holding), so if you want to give more, it will cost you at least 50.

They dont earn interest, but you have a chance of scooping up one of the many monthly prizes of between 25 and 1million. The odds of winning a prize is 24,500-1 on each 1 in the bonds. They have already turned 11 under-16s into millionaires since the 1 million jackpot was introduced in 1994.

You need to hold the bonds for a full calendar month for them to go into the draw. If you buy them this month, the bonds will qualify from March.

You can buy Premium Bonds for someone elses child online or by post or for your own child by phone, too. NS&I will send you an electronic or paper gift card.

Gift wrap

Remember, normal gifts out of your income which dont affect your standard of living are free of inheritance tax.

You can also use the annual exemption which lets you give away up to 3,000 every tax year (to one person only).

And you can make as many gifts as you like of up to 250 during the tax year to as many people as you like  except the person who benefited from your 3,000 annual exemption allowance.

PS IF Your children received vouchers instead of money at Christmas, ensure they are spent as soon as possible in case they have a short expiry date or the shop ceases trading. No one likes to see a gift go to waste.

sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk
The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, represented by the wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila, was at Gwagwa Primary HealthCare Centre where the first baby of the new decade and year 2020 was delivered.

The first baby of the New Year, Muhammad Sani, arrived at exactly 12.00 a.m. on January 1, 2020 to the family of Sani Ardo and Mrs. Hauwa.

Mrs Buhari welcomed Muhammad and all the other children born on the new year day in FCT with baby gifts including post natal care products, other nutritional supplies and cash presents.

The Chief Host of the event, Executive Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Adamu Candido, thanked the First Lady for her kind gesture and promised that the AMAC will take care of the post natal care of the child.

The organiser of the event, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, represented by its Permanent Secretary, Ifeoma Anagbogu, also expressed gratitude to the first lady for her generosity and motherly role to the nation especially to the less privileged.

The first lady, a mother and grandmother herself, while comforting the mothers, counseled them on the need for proper care for the new born babies in terms of exclusive breast feeding, immunization and timely pre-natal and post natal care.

The event was also attended by traditional leaders of Gwagwa communities and aides of the first lady.

Also today, the first lady hosted a new year party for children at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa where the children were treated to various fun activities and a delicious meal.

First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby First Lady, Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Salamatu Gbajabiamila welcome New Year Baby
Iran-backed militias withdrew from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Jan. 1 after security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the mob of Iraqis who gathered at the compound.

The withdrawal came a day after a mix of protesters and militia members and supporters stormed the embassys outer walls, prompting a contingent of U.S. Marines to deploy from Kuwait.

The groups gained access to restricted areas and battered walls and windows but were prevented from getting into the buildings by Iraqi forces, U.S. security forces, and Apache helicopters. Some 100 Marines arrived just before midnight from Kuwait to reinforce the security forces at the embassy.

On Wednesday, demonstrators hurled rocks at the building while security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them. By mid-afternoon, most of the protesters appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw, issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shiite militia, which said the demonstrators message has been heard.

The group said the demonstrators should withdraw in deference to the Iraqi government which sought to preserve the prestige of the state.

The groups were ostensibly protesting the recent U.S. airstrikes of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, which were made in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a U.S. contractor at a base in northern Iraq.

Crowds rallied on Tuesday to protest, chanting death to America, setting fires, throwing rocks, and smashing surveillance cameras. They breached an outer perimeter wall but did not enter the main compound.

The huge embassy, built along the banks of the Tigris River in central Baghdads fortified green zone during American occupation following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, is the biggest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world.

Early reports said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller and other personnel at the embassy were evacuated, but the State Department later said that Tueller was on a previously scheduled trip, that he was returning to the embassy, and that everyone inside was safe.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Tuesday on Fox News that there were no plans to evacuate the embassy or pull out any of the 5,000 troops in Iraq.

The embassy is being monitored. Its safe. The actions that we took today were prudent. Under President Trumps direction, our team worked together today to quickly, decisively, prudently take the appropriate responses to keep our American people safe, Pompeo said during an appearance on CBS.

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the United States was sending about 750 additional troops to the Middle East after Tuesdays attack on the embassy.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, he said in a statement. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.

President Donald Trump fired off multiple tweets about the situation on Tuesday, saying the embassy was safe.

Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request, he wrote in one tweet.

Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally, issued a warning to Iran on Twitter: President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most. Choose your battles wisely.

President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most. Choose your battles wisely. (3/4)  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019

The Iranian regimes Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his own tweet that the United States cant do anything.

If you were logicalwhich youre notyoud see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you, Khamenei added.

Trump told reporters that he does not want to go to war with Iran.

Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace, he said. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
WASHINGTONChief Justice John Roberts lamented a decline in civic awareness in the country and urged the federal judiciary to help fill the void at a time when social media has hastened the spread of false information.

We have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside, Roberts said in an annual year-end report on the federal judiciary. In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the publics need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital.

The chief justices message comes as he is set to preside at the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. While Roberts did not refer to the pending case against the president, he reminded his colleagues of their collective role in maintaining public trust in government.

I ask my judicial colleagues to continue their efforts to promote public confidence in the judiciary, both through their rulings and through civic outreach Roberts wrote. We should reflect on our duty to judge without fear or favor, deciding each matter with humility, integrity, and dispatch. As the New Year begins, and we turn to the tasks before us, we should each resolve to do our best to maintain the publics trust that we are faithfully discharging our solemn obligation to equal justice under law.

Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the message in his annual, year-end report on the federal judiciary, and as Washington, the nation, and the world wait for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, a proceeding over which Roberts will preside.

Trump himself has been among the federal judiciary's harshest critics when rulings have gone against him. He has often vented those frustrations on social media in the wake of adverse decisions in cases ranging from his personal business interests to immigration policy during the course of his presidency.

"We should celebrate our strong and independent judiciary, a key source of national unity and stability," Roberts wrote. "But we should also remember that justice is not inevitable."

At the same time, the chief justice said that federal judges are positioned to play a crucial role in advancing civic engagement in the country.

Story continues

"Judges from coast to coast have made their courthouses available as forums for civic education," Roberts said, at one point making an indirect reference to the efforts of Merrick Garland, the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Garland Nomination: 'Greatest honor of my life'

Trump nominee gets seated: Neil Gorsuch confirmed for Supreme Court

Nominated to the Supreme Court by President Barack Obama following the 2016 death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Garland was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate. The seat was ultimately filled by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Referring to Garland, Roberts said that the "chief judge of the District of Columbia Circuit has, over the past two decades, quietly volunteered as a tutor at a local elementary school, inspiring his court colleagues to join in the effort."

"I am confident that many other federal judges, without fanfare or acclaim, are playing similar selfless roles throughout the country," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chief Justice Roberts: 'We have come to take democracy for granted'
Richard Stix -Mensah

01.01.2020 LISTEN

The Chief Executive Officer of Flexx Model Iconz and Greater Accra head of Models for the Models Union of Ghana (MODUGA), Richard Stix -Mensah, is encouraging stakeholders of the modeling industry to put the wellbeing of models at heart.

According to Stix-Mensah, who currently won the Best Male Model Trainer of the year at the just ended West Africa Face of Photo Arena Awards, most of the models are not properly taken care of in terms of payment after they are hired by stylists and other stakeholders.

He said, Most models look so good on camera with all the fashion accessories during events. They are glammed up but go through hell when the cameras are off. Most of them cant afford what they wear on fashion shows, because most agencies dont pay them well to live the life they desire

Stix- Mensah who has been a model trainer and pageant groomer for almost a decade has featured in two movies, IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES (YN production), and CARTEL THE GENSIS. He is also the personal assistant to Prophet Michael Divine Lasisi (Head pastor) of BELIEVERS' HOME OF LIFE INC (BHL).

He shared that, I chanced into modeling through the movie acting and getting to experience it and reading more into fashion I realized I had a chance to make in Ghanaian fashion industry. The "right" for models are my main goal, knowing that models in Ghana dont get what is worth them when they gain deals.

And secondly to push Ghanaian models further into the international world of fashion to gain much relevance to Ghanaian fashion. Lastly to make Ghanaian fashion fabrics gain a great personality in the corporate world (Ghana and international) and also Increase the importance of fashion schools in Ghana

Stix- Mensah graduated from Winneba Senior High School and got himself into a radio school (RADIOSCPPE). He had a 2years work on TV hosting (Gh hitz) at First Digital TV and later grew in the modeling industry in his mid-20's.

He has worked with below firms and institutions:

1) West Africa Face Of Photo Arena

2) Face Of The Nation

3) Texas Floor Fashion Show

4) Runway Ghana International

5) Accra Fashion Week

6) Accra Photo Shoot Festival

7) Printex and Vodafone

8) University Of Ghana

9) Ghana Institute of Journalism

10) KAAF University College

Richard Stix Mensah is available on social media as Richard Stix on facebook and Richard_Stix on Instagram.
A 19-year-old man who died following an early-morning crash in Co Londonderry on New Year's Day has been named as Michael Og McKenna.

Mr McKenna, who was from the Maghera area, was the driver of a red Audi that was involved in a crash with a grey Audi shortly after 2.30am on the Moneysharvan Road between Maghera and Swatragh.

The female driver of the other car and two teenage passengers were taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.

Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy said the death had caused shock and sadness in the local community.

The Mid Ulster MP said: "Any death on our roads is a tragedy, particularly when someone so young loses their life.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of this young man at this sad time.

Police have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who saw either of the cars prior to the collision to contact them on 101, quoting reference 460 of 01/01/20.

The Moneysharvan Road was closed for several hours while police carried out an investigation, but has since been reopened.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:09:59|Editor: huaxia

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The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area marks its 10th anniversary. As a most populous FTA, it has boosted regional economic connectivity as multilateral trade triumphs. Dongxing, a border city in southern China, offers a snapshot of promising cooperation between China and ASEAN in the next golden decade.
YES Bank share price closed lower a day after CARE Ratings downgraded a series of bank's instruments and facilities. Share price of YES Bank fell nearly 1% intra day to Rs 46.55 compared to the previous close of Rs 46.95 on BSE. YES Bank stock has lost 8.79% in last five days. YES Bank share price has lost 74.63% in last one year. It has fallen 31.55% during the last one month.

It closed 0.64% lower at Rs 46.65 on BSE. On NSE, the stock ended 0.43% lower at Rs 46.75 against previous close of Rs 46.95.

Ratings for infrastructure bonds worth Rs 5,000 crore have been revised to CARE A with negative outlook. Lower Tier II Bonds worth Rs 2,530.60 crore were downgraded to CARE A from CARE A+ with negative outlook. Tier II Bonds (Basel III) worth Rs 8,900 crore have been assigned CARE BBB rating with negative outlook from the earlier CARE BBB+ rating.

Ratings for upper tier II bonds worth Rs 904.10 crore have been assigned CARE A- ratings with negative outlook from the earlier CARE A rating.

Perpetual bonds worth Rs 82 crore were assigned CARE A- rating with a negative outlook compared to CARE A rating.

Also read: Capital raise is just a matter of time, says YES Bank CEO Ravneet Gill

"The revision of ratings assigned to the debt instruments of YES Bank factors in more than expected delay in raising core equity capital," CARE Ratings said.

"There is continued uncertainty related to quantum and timelines of raising equity capital, which would keep the bank's capital buffers at low levels and provide lower cushion to absorb any losses on account of higher provisioning requirement due to weakening of asset quality," the ratings agency noted.

The private sector lender has been scouting for funds since its core equity capital is barely above the regulatory requirement of a minimum of 8 per cent. The lender needs to raise funds to provide for bad debts and expand lending.

On December 17 , YES Bank CEO Ravneet Gill said the lender was on track to raise the much-needed capital by the end of this month. On November 30, YES Bank in a filing to the bourses disclosed the list of potential investors willing to infuse funds into the bank.

Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 100 points, Nifty below 12,200; Titan, Tata Steel top gainers

The bank mentioned entrepreneur Erwin Singh Braich/SPGP Holdings as a key investor with whom talks were ongoing and expected to be concluded shortly. Hong Kong-based SPGP Holdings/ Erwin Singh Braich committed nearly Rs 8,600 crore ($1,200 million) to the bank.

Other parties who showed willingness for fund infusion, according to the bank, were Discovery Capital ($50mn), GMR Group and Associates ($50 mn), Rekha Jhunjhunwala ($25 mn), Aditya Birla Family Office ($25 mn) , Ward Ferry ($30 mn) and Citax Holdings Ltd and Citax Investment Group ($500 mn).

On December 2, the bank said that Capital International, part of the $1.87-trillion US-based Capital Group, has committed to invest at least $120 million in the private sector lender. On December 10, the lender after its board meeting said it would consider investment offer of $500 million from Citax Holdings and Citax Investment Group, adding that it would continue to evaluate other potential investors to raise capital up to $2 billion.

The private lender said that the binding offer of $1.2 billion submitted by SPGP Holdings and Canada's Erwin Singh Braich, which accounts for 60 per cent of its planned $2 billion capital raising, would "continue to be under discussion".

Its stock price fell up to 20% intra day to Rs 40.70 compared to the previous close of Rs 50.55 as the bank deferred the final decision regarding allotment of shares to next board meeting. The lender did not disclose the date of the meeting.

By Aseem Thapliyal
An insurance company owned by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has been ordered to pay a $1.8 million settlement in Vermont after regulators found it was selling inadequate health coverage policies to college students.

The Department of Financial Regulation announced it had reached its largest settlement ever with Columbia-based Companion Life on Dec. 3.

The BlueCross BlueShield subsidiary offered health insurance to about 2,500 students at 10 colleges and universities in the Green Mountain State without approval from Vermont regulators.

The Department of Financial Regulation said in a statement that the plans would not have been approved because they don't comply with rules laid out in the Affordable Care Act that require all medical plans on the market to cover certain health benefits, such as health screenings and mental health and substance abuse treatments.

Several hundred claims were wrongly denied as a result.

The colleges bought bundled plans from Companion Life Insurance Co., which then showed up as a single line item in tuition bills. Students could opt out of the coverage by showing proof of other insurance during a waiver period, but they had no option to leave the plan or get a refund after the deadline.

The settlement payment includes $481,000 in restitution to 212 students whose claims were denied and a $950,000 penalty to the state.

The company sells life, health and accident insurance in South Carolina and collected roughly $40 million from residents in premiums in 2018, according to the S.C. Department of Insurance.

Ray Farmer, the state's chief insurance regulator, said he couldn't comment on the Vermont matter or say whether the company is being investigated in South Carolina.

A spokeswoman for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina declined to comment on the settlement Tuesday, but she said Companion Life no longer sells student plans. Farmer said student plans from Companion Life had been sold in South Carolina in years past.

A settlement agreement signed by John Wilbur, Companion Life's president, stated the company alleged the plans' lack of approval was due to errors on the part of employees.

"When the company learned of the unapproved rates and forms, it worked diligently with the department to receive approval" for the student health insurance plans, in 2016, according to the settlement.

Companion Life has operated from Columbia since 1971, according to its website. It offered student health insurance plans in Vermont from 2011 to 2017. Along with denying students coverage it should have paid, Companion Life also failed to "supervise its business partners" and used brochures and other marketing materials that were misleading, the Vermont settlement states.

This significant penalty sends a strong and simple message to financial service companies that failure to comply with Vermonts consumer protection laws will have firm consequences," Michael Pieciak, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, said in a written statement.
Snapchat has stopped working for users around the world.

Tens of thousands of people reported issues with the app, according to the website health tracker Downdetector.

It led to the term 'Snapchat down' to trend across social media, as users rushed to understand what was wrong.

Snapchat tweeted: "We're aware some Snapchatters are having trouble using the app. Hang tight, we're working on it."

It is not the first time there has been issues with the app in recent months, with another major outage taking place in October.

12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Show all 12 1 /12 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Shoot 60-second Snaps Android and iOS users can record up to 60 seconds of Snapchat footage with Multi-Snap (the previous limit was 10 seconds). All you need to do is tap and hold the circular Record button, and keep holding it for up to 60 seconds. Snapchat will split the footage into 10-second segments, which you can edit individually, though your recording will play continuously when you send it to your friends or add it to your Story. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Draw with emoji You can draw with emoji rather than regular digital brushstrokes by tapping the pen icon after youve shot a snap and then hitting the symbol under the colour palette. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Create your own Geofilter You can create your own Geofilters, for occasions like weddings and birthdays, or even for places that are special to you. Go to Settings, hit On-Demand Geofilters and choose when and where youd like it to appear. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Use multiple filters Once youve applied a filter to your snap, tap and hold the screen with one finger and swipe with another to layer another filter on top of it. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Save data You can reduce the amount of data Snapchat munches through by enabling Travel Mode. Find it by swiping down from the main camera screen, going to Settings and scrolling down to Manage Preferences. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Understand emoji From here, you can also learn what those emoji that appear next to your friends names mean. Change the ones you want to change by tapping on them. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Message symbols Its also useful to understand what Snapchats different-coloured arrows and squares mean, so youll no longer be unsure whether you can open a message in public or not. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Snapcodes Create your own Snapcode GIF by swiping down from the main camera screen and hitting the Snapchat icon and then the camera button. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Collect trophies You can find out how many Snapchat trophies youve earned by tapping the trophy icon above your Snapcode. You can unlock more by trying out new things with the app. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Hide things you don't like The Featured section is definitely one of the worst Snapchat features. Fortunately, you can hide stories you have no interest in seeing by tapping and holding it, then selecting Hide Story. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Snap Map Snap Map caused a huge amount of controversy when it launched, with people afraid that the feature could expose children to danger. You can access it by pinching the camera screen, and hide yourself from fellow Snapchat users by tapping the Settings icon and enabling Ghost Mode. 12 useful Snapchat features you didn't know existed Share music You can Shazam a song within Snapchat by tapping and holding the camera screen. Once it identifies it, you can share the song with your friends.

Social media apps often experience difficulties when they are flooded with traffic, suggesting the latest outage could be the result of New Years' revellers overloading the app. 

Downdetector registered issues across Europe, the US and Australia.
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper were originally set up on a blind date. After one phone call, they decided not to go out but eventually became good friends.

For the past few years, fans have watched them co-host CNNs New Years Eve coverage from Times Square in New York City and have had a few questions about the duo. Some of the most common questions are: whos older and who has a higher net worth? Read on to find out the answers.

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper | Rob Kim/Getty Images

What is Andy Cohens age?

The Watch What Happens Live host was born on June 2, 1968, in St. Louis to parents Evelyn and Lou Cohen.

From 1986 to 1990, Cohen attended Boston University and majored in communications. After graduation, he interned at CBS News along with Julie Chen who was also an intern there at the time.

In 2004, Cohen became the vice president of original programming at Bravo and three years later, he began hosting WWHL. Today, he is the only openly gay man to host a late-night talk show. In an interview with Joy Behar, Cohen recalled what his mother said to him the day she found out he was gay.

It was one of the scariest things that Ive ever done, he told Behar. Ill never forget that day. I left [a] letter actually out which I didnt mean to, and my mom found it The letter was to a friend of mine in London who I came out too  She came and said, I think you have something to tell me. I said, I dont want to tell you, and she said, You have to, and I said, Well, you know She said, You have to say the words so that you can say it. So I said it. Im crying, crying, and about an hour later she said, You know I would have hated your wife anyway.

What is Anderson Coopers age?

The AC360 anchor is one year older than Cohen.

Cooper was born on June 3, 1967, in New York City to parents Wyatt Emory Cooper and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt.

Cooper attended Yale University where he majored in political science. After graduating in 1989, he worked for Channel One before moving to ABC News as a reporter and later co-anchor for World News Now.

In 2001, Cooper joined CNN and has been with the network ever since.

Who has the higher net worth?

So who has the higher net worth? Well if you guessed Andy Cohen youre wrong.

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper | Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Cohen not only makes his money from his late-night gig and touring with Cooper for their AC2: An intimate evening with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen, but most people associate him with the Real Housewives. Cohen is the mastermind behind the popular franchise and hosts all the reunion specials.

At Bravo, Cohen launched a number of other reality shows including Project Runway, Top Chef, The Millionaire Matchmaker, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Today, he has an estimated net worth of $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But even that hefty amount doesnt beat out his journalist buddy.

In addition to his CNN news show and the AC2 tour, Cooper is also a correspondent for 60 minutes. He has hosted other programs for CNN as well including CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute and the documentary Planet in Peril. In June 2019, after his mother died from stomach cancer Cooper inherited the majority of her estate and today has a whopping net worth of $200 million.

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Australians in areas of New South Wales and Victoria woke up to scenes of utter devastation on Wednesday morning.

The towns of Conjola Park in New South Wales and Mallacoota in Victoria have been particularly badly impacted by Tuesday's devastating bush fires.

More than 50 properties were destroyed in Conjola Park, while dozens of cars were also destroyed, some melted.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said firefighting crews would take advantage of easing conditions to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning.

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) confirmed three people lost their lives on Tuesday and one person was still not accounted for.

A father and his son died in Cobargo while trying to save their property and the body of a man was found in a burnt-out car at Yatte Yattah near Lake Conjola.

In Mallacoota, Victoria, dozens of home were destroyed on New Year's Eve.

Some 4,000 Mallacoota residents sheltered on the beach to escape the raging inferno that was destroying some of their homes and had turned the sky red.

A popular tourist destination, the town is in Victoria's far east and accessible only by the Princes Highway which remained cut off.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:29:55|Editor: Xiaoxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's value of total exports dropped to 1.45 billion dollars in the third quarter of 2019 from 150.6 billion shillings (1.5 billion U.S. dollars) in the same of 2018, the national statistics bureau said on Tuesday.

Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said in a statement that exports to Asia fell from 438 million dollars in the third quarter of 2018 to 380 million dollars in the same quarter of 2019.

"Notable declines in exports to Asia were recorded in the value of total exports to Pakistan (29.4 percent), Saudi Arabia (46.7 percent) and India (46.8 percent). The decrease in domestic exports of tea to Pakistan and re-exports of Kerosene type Jet fuel to Saudi Arabia were the main contributors for the overall decline in total exports to these destinations," KNBS said.

The bureau noted that similarly, a reduction in the export of dried leguminous vegetables to India resulted in a decrease in export revenues from this destination.

"On the contrary, there was an increase in total exports to Singapore, on account of domestic exports of crude petroleum during the quarter under review," it said.

KNBS added total exports to Africa were valued at 567 million dollars and accounted for 38.9 percent of the total exports to the rest of the world during the third quarter of 2019.

According to the government body, total exports to the East African Community bloc grew by 14.3 percent from 312 million dollars in the third quarter of 2018 to 356 million in the third quarter of 2019 largely on account of increased exports to Rwanda and Tanzania which rose by 56 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively.

The statistics agency noted that exports to South Africa, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo jointly reduced from 97 million dollars in the third quarter of 2018 to 62 million dollars in the third quarter of 2019.

According to the government data, Uganda remained the major export destination in Africa accounting for 28.6 percent of the total exports to Africa between July and September of this year.

KNBS observed that total export earnings from the European Union stood at 299 million dollars and was 0.7 percent higher compared to the corresponding quarter of 2018.

The statistics agency revealed that total exports to Belgium and Britain increased by 49.9 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.

"The rise was driven by an increase in exports of coffee to Belgium and cut flowers to Britain. On the contrary, total exports to Netherlands and France declined to 100 million dollars and 22 million dollars respectively," it said.

KNBS noted that total exports to the USA stood at 141 million in the third quarter of 2019, a 1.1 percent decline compared to the corresponding quarter of 2018.

The national bureau noted that Kenya's import expenditure in the third quarter of 2019 was 4.1 billion dollars from 4.3 billion dollars in the same quarter of 2018.

The government statistics agency added that Asia remained a major source of imports accounting for 62.6 percent of all imports, as the east African nation sourced goods worth 2.5 billion dollars between July and September 2019, which translated to an 11.1 percent drop compared to a similar period in 2018.

"The drop in imports from China (9.3 percent), India (18.7 percent), South Korea (39.7 percent), and Japan (15.4 percent), contributed largely to the decline in imports from this region in the third quarter of 2019," it said.
Pro-Iran militiamen have now withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of violent clashes that saw President Donald Trump fly in hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East.

The militiamen left the besieged embassy on Wednesday following calls from the government and senior militia leaders after their dramatic incursion a day earlier.

It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world.

The attack prompted Trump and the Pentagon to send hundreds of Marines to the area.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest U.S. airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

Photographs have since emerged of the charred remains of the security checkpoint.

Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday after Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the compound following two days of violent clashes

The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a U.S. contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at U.S. Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas.

There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias - many backed by Iran - called on its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying 'your message has been received'.

By late afternoon the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies. U.S. Apache helicopters circled overhead.

Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters board trucks loaded with items from a sit-in while driving away from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday

U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day

The militiamen and their supporters retreated from the compound following calls from the government and senior militia leaders after their dramatic incursion a day earlier

'After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly,' said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. 'We rubbed America's nose in the dirt.'

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the U.S. airstrikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse. The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

'We don't care about these planes that are flying over the heads of the picketers. Neither do we care about the news that America will bring Marines,' said Mohammed Mohy, a spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah.

'On the contrary, this shows a psychological defeat and a big mental breakdown that the American administration is suffering from,' he said, before withdrawing from the area.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Iran's economy.

A picture shows the burnt entrance of the US embassy in Baghdad, where people usually go through security scanners to enter, on New Year's Day. Furious demonstrators descended on the consulate yesterday in retaliation for US air strikes that killed 25 militants of Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night

A woman takes a photo of the burnt entrance of the US embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad after yesterday's ferocious scenes. Renewed demonstrations were taking place today after President Donald Trump sent reinforcements to the mission

Fire damage can be seen in a reception room of the U.S. embassy compound, that was burned by pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters, in Baghdad, Iraq

Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October fueled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Iran's heavy influence over the country's affairs. Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the embassy and the Pentagon dispatched an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait.

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that 'if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly.'

Iran later summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires, who represents American interests in Tehran, to protest what it said was war-mongering by U.S. officials.

Public consular operations at the embassy were suspended and future appointments cancelled, it said in a statement.

Tensions have steadily risen since Trump withdrew the U.S. from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and embarked on a campaign of maximum pressure through economic sanctions. Iran has responded by abandoning some of its commitments under the deal.

U.S. Embassy security men use stun grenades to disperse protesters and militia fighters during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces, the PMF), outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

US Marines fired tear gas at the Iran-backed militia and their supporters early on Wednesday as the siege continued on the second day

Members of Iraqi Shiite 'Popular Mobilization Forces' armed group and their supporters attack the entrance of the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday

This map shows the Embassy compound located along the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq

Smoke billowing from the embassy's entrance yesterday after it was set alight by the rioters

WHO WERE THE MOB AT THE EMBASSY GATES? The mob are supporters or members of Kataeb Hezbollah, which is separate but linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah, and operates under the umbrella of the Iraqi government sanctioned umbrella of militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many of the groups, but particularly Kataeb Hezbollah, are backed by Iran. Kataeb Hezbollah has for months been firing rockets and mortars at US forces throughout Iraq. It actively stockpiles and smuggles Iranian-made weapons into Iraq. The terror group has in the past received weapons from the Palestinian Hezbollah, which is also a key ally of Iran. Hundreds of the yellow flags of the terror group were seen among the masses on Tuesday. Advertisement

U.S. officials have blamed Iran for the sabotage of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in September that caused a spike in world oil prices. But the Trump administration has not responded with direct military action, apparently fearing a wider conflict.

The U.S. has sent more than 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression. At the time of the attack, the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

The U.S. and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iran has close ties to Iraq's Shiite majority and major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilize tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed. The U.S. and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory over the extremists in December 2017.

The political influence of the Popular Mobilization Forces has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of the anti-government protesters, who have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq.

They have also set up a sprawling protest camp in central Baghdad, and for weeks have been trying to enter the Green Zone. Iraqi security forces have beaten them back with tear gas and live ammunition, killing hundreds.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

Iraq's government vehemently condemned the airstrikes on the militia, saying it violated national sovereignty. But Iran and its allies might have also seen the attack as a way of diverting attention from the anti-government protests.

'Iran has been trying to provoke the U.S. into helping it solve its Iraq problem,' said the Crisis Group, an international think tank. 'The Trump administration, by responding to the attacks in Kirkuk and elsewhere with airstrikes, has obliged.'
The Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday said the training of astronauts for the ambitious manned mission 'Gaganyaan' will commence from the third week of January in Russia.

Four astronauts have been identified for the mission, ISRO chief K Sivan said adding the training of astronauts will start from third week of this month in Russia.

The work related to and Gaganyaan was going on simultaneously, he told reporters here.

The ISRO chief also congratulated the Chennai based techie who recently located the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2 that hard-landed and maintained that it was the space agency's policy not to release picture of the crashed module.

"We know where it crashed and where it is located," Sivan said.

To a question on what went wrong with Vikram lander, he said it was due to velocity reduction failure.

"The velocity reduction failure was due to internal reasons," he said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission was India's first attempt to land on lunar surface. The ISRO had planned the landing on the South Pole of the lunar surface. However, the lander Vikram hard-landed.
The infiltrators were intercepted in the Khari Thrayat forest when they were trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

Two army personnel were killed in a gunfight with heavily-armed Pakistani infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said. The infiltrators were intercepted in the Khari Thrayat forest when they were trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said.

Two army soldiers martyred during cordon and search operation in Nowshera sector. The operation is still in progress and further details are awaited, Jammu-based Indian Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lt Col Devender Anand said in a statement.

The search operation was launched following information about the movement of suspected terrorists, the officials said.

The infiltrators opened fire on the troops and during a fierce gunfight, the two soldiers were killed, they said.

The officials said a massive operation is on in the area.

On December 25, an army officer and a civilian were killed in an unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops along the LoC in Rampur sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Hajipeer area of Uri around 11.30 am on Wednesday, the sources said. Pakistan also violated the ceasefire in nearby Rampur sector, resulting in the death of a junior commissioned officer (JCO).

Some of the shells fired by Pakistan landed in civilian areas, resulting in injuries to two civilians including a woman in Churunda village. Naseema (23), succumbed to splinter injuries, they said. The Indian army personnel responded to the ceasefire violation in adequate measure.

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Farmers of Amaravati wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to accord permission for mercy killing as the government was pursuing a policy of revenge against people by deciding to shift the state capital

Amaravati: Farmers of Amaravati on Tuesday wrote a letter to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to accord permission for "mercy killing" as the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government was pursuing "a policy of revenge" against people of the region by deciding to shift the state capital.

The farmers of Navuluru, in their letter to the President, sought his intervention to stall the process of shifting the capital or grant them permission for mercy killing. "We intend to die because all doors for solution have been closed and the government of Andhra Pradesh is pursuing revenge against the people of Amaravati. We cannot withstand the onslaught of the government through police force. We opine that death is an ultimate form of protest against the governments that do not guarantee constitutional rights," the farmers said.

They recalled that farmers of the region voluntarily gave up their fertile agricultural lands for building the state capital after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. Finalisation of the capital was done after all parties unanimously passed a resolution (in the Legislature) in favour of Amaravati, they recalled.

During the 2019 election campaign, Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised that Amaravati would be continued as the capital, but once he came to power, he backtracked, they said. "It is in this backdrop that we, with our families, have come on to the streets and are protesting for the past 14 days against the shifting of Amaravati. Nobody from the government is paying an ear to our woes," the farmers lamented.

On top of it, leaders of the ruling YSR Congress, including ministers and legislators, have been mocking them and communalizing the issue in the name of caste and religion, they alleged. "We are raising this supposedly strange demand (for mercy killing) only to highlight our plight and request your excellency to grant us permission," the farmers said.

On 27 December, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet had deferred taking a decision on relocating the capital, saying it wanted to wait for the report of an international consulting firm, which is expected to submit the report on 3 January.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had indicated on 17 December that Andhra Pradesh could have three capitals as decentralisation was a real concept. The existing capital Amaravati, which is only in the basic stages of development could become the "Legislative Capital", port city Visakhapatnam the "Executive Capital" and Kurnool the "Judiciary Capital", he had said.
Born 25 seconds after midnight, Penelope Navarro is San Antonios first baby of 2020.

Sarah Navarro, 33, cradled the newborn Wednesday morning beside her husband, Robert Navarro, also 33, and their 2-year-old son, Theodore, at Methodist Childrens Hospital.

Penelope weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 18 inches long.

I cant believe shes the New Years baby, Sarah Navarro said, surrounded by her family, hospital staff members and the media.

The babys debut took place beneath a tall Christmas tree with golden ornaments and a cart full of donated gifts for Penelope. Among the presents were a car seat, gift baskets, a diaper bag, a portable playpen and a $10,000 scholarship from the University of the Incarnate Word.

Area hospitals have come together for 20 years to welcome the citys New Years baby to the world. The staff members of the labor and delivery units confer at midnight to determine which hospital has the first birth.

According to UNICEF, an estimated 392,078 babies around the world were born on New Years Day. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore called the beginning of a new year and a new decade an opportunity to reflect on hopes and aspirations not only for our future, but the future of those who will come after us.

Sarah Navarro pulled back the newborns cloth cap to reveal a thick head of hair. She long has loved the name Penelope, which comes from the Greek word for weaver.

We have our pair, Navarro said. A little boy and a girl. Were excited!

She called her parents, Fe and Bill Pace, to come and watch Theo on New Years Eve when she was having contractions five to seven minutes apart. Navarro had worked all day and dismissed the tension until 8 p.m., when the pains grew stronger.

When her parents arrived, her mother Fe, 56, took one look at Navarro and said, You better go. Bill Pace, 58, said his daughter was calm, just like her mother years ago on their way to the hospital for her birth.

Navarros parents were anxiously waiting for an update when the phone rang at 12:17 a.m.  their eighth grandchild was born.

Its a blessing to have little Penelope in our lives to love with Theo and our other grandchildren, Bill Pace said.

As cameras clicked and bright lights flashed upon the family, Theo rolled over on the rug, face down away from the attention. Before his grandmother walked him to play a game, he stopped and glanced at his little sister swaddled in a blanket, in his mothers arms.

This little girl, Robert Navarro said, is already softening my heart.

Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis
Kim Jong-un still has room for dialogue



After four days of an unexpectedly long ruling Workers' Party meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has revealed an idea for the New Year: Developing a new strategic weapon against the United States.



It has become apparent that the "Christmas gift" to U.S. President Donald Trump is the test of a long-range nuclear missile. This shouldn't happen, but the harsh reality is that we should brace for a new threat level from Pyongyang. The specter of a nuclear war is apparently casting a shadow over the Korean Peninsula.



So 2020 will be very much different from the past two years for all parties concerned with North Korea. Diplomacy should work to keep this fragile peace for us and our future generations.



The silver lining is that Kim still has room to negotiate with Washington. We hope the U.S. and North Korea will strive to find a breakthrough with renewed resolution. We believe Trump knows how to do this.



According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency, Wednesday, Kim said during the Workers' Party Central Committee meeting that he sees no reason to stick to his commitment of suspending nuclear and long-range missile tests. "I will show off a new strategic weapon," the agency quoted Kim as saying.



However, the North Korean leader said how much the North bolsters its "nuclear deterrent" will depend on the future attitude of the U.S., suggesting the ball is in Washington's court now. "The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will never be realized unless the U.S. drops its hostile policy toward us," Kim said.



It is encouraging that the White House still has hopes for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. On Tuesday, the White House said President Trump's historic summits with Kim are among his top diplomatic achievements in office. "President Trump has held two historic summits with North Korea and earlier this year became the first president to cross the DMZ into North Korea," the White House said in a press release. "The administration has maintained tough sanctions on North Korea while negotiations have taken place." We are not sure whether this toned-down message will impress Kim, but we can see the U.S. trying to avoid a rhetorical war that could raise tensions.



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told Fox News he is hopeful that Kim will make the right decision to choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war. "It remains the case that we hope that Chairman Kim will take a different course," he said.



Seen from the New Year messages from the North and the U.S., at least one thing is clear. The deadlocked negotiations are not what they want, and they want to change the situation. A "grand bargain" is only a mythological concept; they should begin with small steps to rebuild mutual trust. Just meet and talk.


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State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has begun an exercise to shed excess cost at the Mumbai offshore oil and gas fields of Panna-Mukta whose control it regained after two and half decades and has already saved Rs 1 crore in the shipping cost.

ONGC has changed the contract for bringing oil produced from the fields lying in the Arabian Sea to land, resulting in saving of about USD 5,000 per day, sources with direct knowledge of the development said.

It is expecting an upside in production too after a re-appraisal.

Sources said the previous operators, Shell India and Reliance, had engaged a floating storage and transportation vessel from Mercator Ltd for shipping oil.

Soon after taking over the field last month, ONGC changed the shipper to state-owned Shipping Corporation Ltd, resulting in saving of about USD 5,000 per day, they said adding the saving totals to Rs 1 crore-plus.

Sources said the company will lay a small undersea pipeline soon to completely do away with the requirement of hiring ships for transporting oil to land.

ONGC had originally discovered the Panna-Mukta and Tapti (PMT) oil and gas fields in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai coast in the early 1990s. These were however taken away from the company and in 1994 awarded to a consortium of US energy giant Enron and Reliance Industries Ltd. ONGC as a government nominee was given 40 per cent back-in rights.

Enron during its bankruptcy was taken over by BG Group of UK in 2003. BG Group's interest was subsequently taken over by Shell in 2016.

The 25-year production sharing contracts for the PMT fields expire this week and Reliance and Shell had decided not to seek an extension for Panna-Mukta fields, resulting in them being reverted to ONGC on December 21, 2019.

Reliance and Shell-owned BG Exploration and Production India Ltd (BGEPIL) held 30 per cent stake each in PMT.

The Tapti fields had ceased production earlier in 2016 and the Tapti process platform facilities were handed over to ONGC (Government of India nominee) in 2016.

Sources said ONGC sees an upside in oil and gas production from the Panna-Mukta field which it will firm up after doing a reappraisal of the reserves.

The fields produce about 10,000 barrels of oil per day and 4 million standard cubic meters per day of natural gas.

The production sharing contracts (PSC) for the Panna-Mukta and Tapti fields, which were executed by the PMT JV with the Government of India in 1994, expired on December 21, 2019.

Decommissioning and site restoration of residual Tapti facilities, including five unmanned platforms and in-field pipelines, are being carried out by the PMT JV under India's first offshore decommissioning and site restoration project.

The Panna-Mukta fields, off the Mumbai coast, have produced 211 million barrels of oil and 1.25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas since December 1994. In 2019, the average monthly production from the fields was around 10,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 140 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: A native of Nandigama town in Krishna district lost his life in a road accident in the Philippines on Monday. The incident came to light when the batchmates of the victim Ponnapalli Jagadeesh informed his family about the tragedy over phone on Tuesday morning.

According to family members, Ponnapalli Jagadeesh went to the Philippines in 2016 and was pursuing a veterinary course at Virgen Milagrosa University and Foundation in San Carlos.

Jagadeeshs friends said that the victim was on his way home when a bus hit him from the behind. He died on the spot. After being informed about the accident, Jagadeeshs parents were shocked and a pall of gloom descended on the family.

Jagadeesh was our only son and we sent him to the Philippines despite being poor. What will happen to our family now ? Who will look after us?, they rued. Meanwhile, the victims friends are making arrangements to send his body to his native place.
The usually staid Japanese media lambasted the "cowardly" Carlos Ghosn on Wednesday, after the tycoon jumped bail and fled to Lebanon to avoid trial in Japan.

"Running away is a cowardly act that mocks Japan's justice system," said the Yomiuri Shimbun, with Ghosn facing multiple charges of financial misconduct -- all of which he denies.

By leaving the country, Ghosn has "lost the opportunity to prove his innocence and vindicate his honour," the paper added, noting that the court, his defence lawyers and immigration control officials also bore some blame in the affair.

The liberal Tokyo Shimbun also said Ghosn's actions had made a mockery of the Japanese justice system.

"The defendant Ghosn insists he escaped political persecution... but travelling abroad without permission is against the conditions of his bail, and mocks the Japanese justice system," the paper wrote.

"There is a high probability that the trial will not be held, and his argument that he wants to prove his innocence is now in question." Some media noted that the decision to give him bail -- seen by some as unusual at the time -- now looks unwise.

Prosecutors had argued at the time that he was a flight risk with powerful connections, but Ghosn himself had said he wanted to be tried to prove his innocence.

One of his defence lawyers at the time has said he was such a famous face that there was no chance he would be able to slip away undetected.

The conservative Sankei Shimbun noted that prosecutors believed the court had yielded to "foreign pressure" by offering him bail, amid widespread criticism in the global media of Japan's "hostage justice system" that allows for lengthy and repeated detention.

In December 2018, the court declined prosecutors' request to extend Ghosn's detention by 10 days -- a surprising decision as the extension is usually almost automatic.

And in fact Ghosn was bailed twice, once in March and a second time after he was re-arrested in April.

"All of these were rare decisions," said the Sankei.

The centre-left Mainichi Shimbun quoted a senior prosecutor as saying: "This is what we predicted." "This has ruined the prosecutors' painstaking work" of collecting evidence in Japan and abroad against him.

The Asahi Shimbun also quoted a former Nissan executive voicing his disappointment at Ghosn's actions.

"The entrepreneur who ran Nissan for so many years and was well-known internationally turns out to be this kind of person. My jaw hit the floor. I can't find the words to express myself.
Dividend paying stocks like Deutsche Telekom AG (ETR:DTE) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

With Deutsche Telekom yielding 4.8% and having paid a dividend for over 10 years, many investors likely find the company quite interesting. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Deutsche Telekom for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

XTRA:DTE Historical Dividend Yield, January 1st 2020

Payout ratios

Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. In the last year, Deutsche Telekom paid out 119% of its profit as dividends. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, from the perspective of an investor who hopes to own the company for many years, a payout ratio of above 100% is definitely a concern.

Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. Of the free cash flow it generated last year, Deutsche Telekom paid out 47% as dividends, suggesting the dividend is affordable. It's disappointing to see that the dividend was not covered by profits, but cash is more important from a dividend sustainability perspective, and Deutsche Telekom fortunately did generate enough cash to fund its dividend. Still, if the company repeatedly paid a dividend greater than its profits, we'd be concerned. Extraordinarily few companies are capable of persistently paying a dividend that is greater than their profits.

Story continues

Is Deutsche Telekom's Balance Sheet Risky?

As Deutsche Telekom's dividend was not well covered by earnings, we need to check its balance sheet for signs of financial distress. A rough way to check this is with these two simple ratios: a) net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and b) net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA is a measure of a company's total debt. Net interest cover measures the ability to meet interest payments. Essentially we check that a) the company does not have too much debt, and b) that it can afford to pay the interest. Deutsche Telekom has net debt of 2.62 times its EBITDA. Using debt can accelerate business growth, but also increases the risks.

Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. Interest cover of 4.63 times its interest expense is starting to become a concern for Deutsche Telekom, and be aware that lenders may place additional restrictions on the company as well.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Deutsche Telekom's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Deutsche Telekom has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been cut by more than 20% on at least one occasion historically. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 0.78 in 2010, compared to 0.70 last year. The dividend has shrunk at around 1.1% a year during that period. Deutsche Telekom's dividend has been cut sharply at least once, so it hasn't fallen by 1.1% every year, but this is a decent approximation of the long term change.

A shrinking dividend over a ten-year period is not ideal, and we'd be concerned about investing in a dividend stock that lacks a solid record of growing dividends per share.

Dividend Growth Potential

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Deutsche Telekom has grown its earnings per share at 22% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing very rapidly, although the company is also paying out virtually all of its profit in dividends. While EPS could grow fast enough to make the dividend sustainable, in this type of situation, we'd want to pay extra attention to any fragilities in the company's balance sheet.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Deutsche Telekom's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. We're not keen on the fact that Deutsche Telekom paid out such a high percentage of its income, although its cashflow is in better shape. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. While we're not hugely bearish on it, overall we think there are potentially better dividend stocks than Deutsche Telekom out there.

Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 18 analysts we track are forecasting for Deutsche Telekom for free with public analyst estimates for the company.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
During every financial quarter, Tesla tried to push out as many cars as possible to showcase better results, but this time, even the customers were in a rush to take deliveries up to the 31st of December to avail the tax credit. However, Electrek says that several U.S. buyers were asked to either take deliveries early next year without the credit or cancel their orders. Well, its clearly not a good situation to be in.

Tesla and controversies go hand-in-hand and heres some more controversy from Musks company. Tesla has pushed some of the deliveries of its cars that were originally scheduled to be deliver this year to next year, thus costing many owners a federal tax credit of $1,875.

You Can Still Get The Benefits On EVs From Other Automakers

Some Tesla customers have been forced to either cancel their order or take delivery in 2020, forfeiting the $1,875 tax credit

Back in November, Tesla sent a warning to customers asking them to order their cars now to get deliveries by the end of the year and still be eligible for the $1,875 federal credit. To explain the tax credit structure in brief, the U.S. federal government runs a tax credit program wherein it offers a credit of up to $7,500 to electric car buyers. The cap set for this credit referred to the first 200,000 examples sold by an automaker in the States, and Tesla customers enjoyed this program for eight years up until December 31, 2018.

From January 1, 2019, the figure was cut into half and customers were eligible for a $3,750 tax credit. This was further halved six months later, meaning that customers were given a credit of just $1,875. The government capped off the benefits for December 31, 2019. After that date, no credits would be given.

However, some states still offer hefty credits.

Colorado, for instance, offers $5,000 tax credit when buying a new EV. The only other automaker to have crossed to the 200,000 EV sales figure mark is General Motors. However, GM tax credits are available up to March 2020 to the tune of $1,875. You can still get a full tax credit of $7,500 if you choose to buy an EV from the likes of Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW, and Kia, to name a few.

Is It Really Such a Big Loss?

Although it did put some people off, I dont see it as a big loss, unless you operate on a tight budget.

Even if you take delivery of a 2019 car with $1,875 tax credit, you will lose out much more on the depreciation. The minute you drive a car out of the dealership, it loses anywhere between 10 to 50-percent in value. But, Im not even going to take that into consideration. An average car in America loses 15 to 25-percent every year for the first five years.

Even if you take the base trim of the Model 3, for instance, you lose out on a lot more when compared to the tax credit benefits youre getting.

If you buy a Model 3 worth $35,000 on December 31, 2019, youve lost a minimum of $5,000 the minute the calendar year changes. If you deduct the $1,875 credit that you received, you still lose over $3,000. However, that wont be the case when you buy a 2020 Model 3 without the $1,875 credit benefit. Youll basically have one extra years benefit with you. There are depreciation calculators on the web and you can do the math for yourself. However, the point is, this may seem like a $1,875 hit in the beginning, but it wont matter much if you plan to sell your car after four years or so.

Final Thoughts

Now that Tesla has been phased out of the tax credit structure program and a majority of the automakers are still in the full tax credit bracket, will they be able to pull away potential customers from Tesla? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Source: https://ww.electrek.co/2019/12/30/t...
An American journalist has outraged members of the public who were caught up in the Manchester bombing after she mocked their symbolic bee tattoos, claiming 'they are flies'.

Joan Meiners posted an image that was made up of different tattoos people had inked on themselves to remember those who had lost their lives during the terrorist attack in 2017.

Ms Meiners, who describes herself as a 'journalist/ecologist/athlete' on her Twitter page said she was looking to set up a business where she offered to look at people's bee tattoo designs, in order to determine whether or not they were actually bees.

On May 22, 2017, 22 innocent people lost their lives and 60 were injured at the end of an Ariana Grande concert after nuts and bolts were sent flying in the blast.

In a tweet posted on December 31 she said: 'Im considering starting a freelance business where I offer to look at your bee tattoo design and tell you whether or not it actually looks like a bee. What do you think? How much should I charge? Taxonomically, these are all flies.'

Joan Meiners posted an image which was made up of different bee tattoos people had inked on themselves

The image she posted is believed to be from an article which discussed why people had got the tattoos

The two-winged Manchester bee has been a symbol since at least the 1870s when bee mosaics were installed in Manchester Town Hall (pictured)

In the tweet she included an image which appeared to have been taken from an article which was published on global non-profit Public Radio International just days after the attack, which discussed why people were getting the tattoos and why the worker bee has a special link to Manchester.

Bees have four wings, whereas the Manchester bee has just two.

Social media users have expressed their outrage at Ms Meiners and the tweet has since been retweeted over 250 times an has received a substantial amount of comments since it was published yesterday afternoon.

Many Twitter users urged Ms Meiners, who previously studied at the University of Florida, to take down the tweet.

Twitter users slammed Ms Meiners for her comments and some said bees were the wrong species to target

Another user posted a picture of a bee and explained why the Manchester bee is different

How many wings do bees have? Bees have a pair of wings on each side of their body, for a total of four wings. The worker bee, which is a type of honey bee and has become a symbol of Manchester, is no exception. Flies, on the other hand, have only two functional wings. Therefore, Joan Meiners is technically right about the anatomy - but many felt she missed the symbolic point that survivors of the bombing were trying to make. In addition, the two-winged Manchester bee has been a symbol since at least the 1870s when bee mosaics were installed in Manchester Town Hall. If anyone made an error, therefore, it was not the survivors who asked for a bee tattoo based on that established symbol. Advertisement

One added: 'Hey why dont you check out the article you pulled that photo from, and you might find an answer to why so many people have the exact same highly stylised tattoo. Smh.'

This is while another added: 'Taxonomically, these little guys represent the symbolic capital and memories of a major terrorist incident in Manchester. It's a figurative representation of the strength that makes a hive. I'll "bee" nice - but it's the wrong species to target for anatomical inaccuracy.'

Another reminded her the 'they were all survivors of a bombing' and that it 'wasn't the time for pedantry'.

One user replied to her tweet: 'That specific design and photo set relates to solidarity in the face of a terrorist bombing. But yeah, knock yourself out.'

Another said: 'Originally a symbol to celebrate solidarity among workers and has now gone on to mean respect in response to a terrorist attack. Truly a horrible, ignorant and nasty thing to tweet about and mock.'

Many chose the worker bee as it has been a symbol of Manchester since the Industrial Revolution.

A year after the tragedy Ariana Grande got her very own bee tattoo and tweeted a black and white snap of the penny-sized inking tucked behind her left ear, with the caption: 'Forever.'

Ariana Grande got her own bee tattoo a year after the attack at her concert in Manchester

Charlotte Campbell, 36, and partner Paul Hodgson both choose poignant, matching inks in memory of her daughter Olivia, who died in the blast

Olivia (pictured above) was killed in the attack and her mother got a tattoo to honour her

It is featured on public buildings across Manchester and is often associated with the community spirit of the city.

Days after the attack hundreds of Mancunians queued to get tattoos of the bee, including Charlotte Campbell, 36, and partner Paul Hodgson both choose poignant, matching inks in memory of her daughter Olivia, who died in the blast.

On May 26 2017 Members of the public were filmed outside the city's Holier Than Thou tattoo centre as they waited in the scorching sun, while other parlours reported large numbers queuing for the design.

Minimum donations of 40 were taken from customers, but many were paying up to 100 for their bee tattoo, with all the money raised being donated to the Manchester Arena Victim's Fund.

MailOnline has contacted Ms Meiners today, but has not yet received a response.

She posted the tweet at 3.31pm yesterday afternoon and then less than an hour later tweeted: '2020 Resolution: Consume less. Spend the savings on journalism!'

Some Twitter users then took this as an opportunity to tell Ms Meiners what they felt she should change in 2020, with one suggested she tried to 'research more'.

Another said: 'Apologise swiftly and from the heart, especially for shoddy research.'#

This is while on user said: 'Definitely recommend you read So youve been publicly shamed by @jonronson. Might explain what youre experiencing.'

On January 2, she responded to the tweets and apologised - claiming she had been offline and that 'if she could take it back she would'.
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Shares of Infosys gained a percent intraday on January 1 after the IT major said it will announce its Q3FY20 earnings next week.

The stock gained 6 percent in the last month on the back of weakening rupee. It was quoting at Rs 734.25, up Rs 2.50, or 0.34 percent on the BSE at 1008 hours.

The country's second largest software services company on December 31 said a meeting of the board of directors will be held at the registered office on January 9 and 10 to consider to the audited consolidated financial results as per Indian Accounting Standards (IndAS) for the quarter and nine months ending December 31, 2019.

The IT firm will also consider its audited standalone financial results as per IndAS and audited consolidated condensed financial statements and its subsidiaries as per IFRS for the quarter and nine months ending December 2019.

The financial results will be presented to the board of directors on January 10, 2020 for their approval, it said.

The company further said it would hold investor/ analyst calls on same day to discuss the financial results for the quarter and business outlook.

Key things to watch out for would be deal wins, digital business growth and any change in FY20 guidance.

In the quarter ended September 2019, Infosys signed deals worth $2.8 billion and reported 3.3 percent revenue growth QoQ in constant currency.

It had increased its lower end of FY20 revenue guidance and revised to 9-10 percent growth in constant currency, but maintained operating margin guidance range of 21-23 percent.
The country does not have nearly enough engineers and experts to assess all the properties that were damaged and even when the risk is known, the cost of doing needed repairs is often prohibitive in one of Europes poorest countries.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said recently that the government was reshaping the budget to help deal with the crisis, but that international support was desperately needed.

Simply, it is humanly impossible to do this alone, he said.

While Albania continues to reel, others in the region are using the moment to sound an alarm.

Walking the streets of the old city in Bucharest, visitors with a keen eye will spot red circles  just above the eye line  on hundreds of buildings.

They were put there by engineers to classify the buildings at greatest risk in the event of seismic activity.

In the Romanian capital alone, 349 structures were deemed at the highest risk and likely to collapse in a major earthquake. Many of them are apartment complexes. Hundreds of other buildings are expected to suffer major structural damage.

And those are just the ones that have been inspected.

We only speak of about 300 buildings in danger of collapsing in Bucharest, said Matei Sumbasacu, the founder of Re:Rise, Romanias first nongovernmental organization focused on reducing seismic risk. We know about another 1,600 buildings, and we dont know how many others there are. But we are pretending that we need to resurvey them because, who knows, maybe they got stronger in the past 25 years.
Mr Badshah was reported missing at the start of December. His family said they are 'deeply shocked and devastated' by his death

A man whose body was found in a former bank has been identified as a missing person.

Police named the man found in the former bank in Batley, West Yorkshire, as 39-year-old Asghar Badshah, who was reported missing on December 4.

Mr Badshah's family have said they are 'deeply shocked and devastated' by his death.

Two men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, West Yorkshire Police said.

The men, aged 27 and 30, have been released under investigation and the 41-year-old woman is on bail pending further inquiries.

Mr Badshah, from Bradford, was found when police forced entry into the Commercial Street building on Sunday.

It was reported in The Sun that his body was discovered in the wall cavity of the former Yorkshire Bank building, which is believed to have been empty since its closure in 2016.

Detective Chief Inspector Heather Whoriskey, of West Yorkshire Police, said: 'Inquiries are continuing into the death of Mr Badshah, who was reported missing on December 4.

'We believe he was last seen in the early hours of November 30 and I would appeal to anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity in Commercial Street around that time, or since, to contact my team so we can establish if this is linked to our investigation.'

In a statement, Mr Badshah's family said: 'We, as a family, are deeply shocked and devastated by the loss of our dear brother Asghar Badshah.

'His beautiful smile and charisma, as well as his generosity, will never be forgotten.

'We, as a family, please ask for privacy during our time of grief as our elderly mother is deeply upset at this time.

'We pray for justice for Asghar and appeal to the public for any assistance they can provide to the police in this investigation.'

Police sealed off an area surrounding the bank in Batley, West Yorkshire yesterday after they discovered Mr Badshah's body in a wall cavity

On Tuesday, a lone police officer stood guard outside the building and a police van was parked across the road.

The remains of a police cordon could be seen tied to bollards around the former bank, which stands on the corner of a small row of shops, including newsagents and beauty salons.

The windows and doors of the building had been covered up.
In total, eight killed in rocket attack by government forces on an Idlib school packed with children and teachers.

At least eight civilians were killed on Wednesday in a rocket attack by Syrian government forces on a school in Idlib, the countrys last opposition stronghold of Idlib.

The victims included four children and two women, the White Helmets civil defence agency reported.

The school was packed with students and teachers at the time, the group added.

The attack took place in the rebel-held town of Sarmeen in Syrias northwest province of Idlib, said war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

At least 16 others were injured in the attack, part of a months-long government offensive in Idlib, the Britain-based watchdog added.

An AFP correspondent in Sarmeen saw the remains of a missile, which was several metres long, fuming in a nearby olive grove.

The attack was part of a continuing offensive which has seen Syrian troops capture more than 40 villages and hamlets in Idlib over the past two weeks.

In late April, the Syrian government and allied Russians launched a large-scale campaign against rebels in Idlib.

In recent weeks, the offensive has intensified, forcing thousands to flee for safer areas.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 235,000 people were displaced between December 12 and 25 due to the violence.

The civil war in Syria has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

In total, 11,215 people  including more than 1,000 children  were killed in 2019, the least deadly year on record since the beginning of the conflict.
From the blaze that tore through Frances Notre-Dame Cathedral, to Donald Trump becoming just the third US president in history to be impeached, FRANCE 24 looks back at some of the stories that made the headlines over the past year.

Political upheaval was a major theme of many of the biggest stories of 2019, with the Yellow Vest movement continuing in France and the eruption of mass demonstrations in Hong Kong in the summer that have provoked often violent confrontations with security forces.

In Sudan, the 30-year-long rule of Omar al-Bashir came to an end amid popular discontent, while in Venezuela Nicolas Maduro managed to cling to power despite an attempts to overthrow him.

Climate change also took centre stage during 2019, with global protests, led by teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, seeing millions take to the streets to demand governments take action on global warming.

In the Middle East, the last territory held by the Islamic State group in Syria was liberated, before the groups long-time leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a raid by US special forces.

However, Trumps decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria saw Turkey launch an offensive against the USs Kurdish former allies, threatening to bring new instability to the region.

And in France, there was shock and sorrow as Notre-Dame Cathedral came close to destruction after a major fire in April destroyed its roof and central spire, in damage likely to cost hundreds of millions of euros to repair.

The year ended with US House Democrats voting to impeach Trump, a story whose conclusion is set to play out in the New Year.

Terror attacks in New Zealand and Sri Lanka and the ongoing Brexit saga were among the other major news headlines of 2019.
by Ross Jared Joswick | Nets Correspondent | Tue, Dec 31st 6:40pm EST

Paul Millsap will see the floor tonight in Houston after battling knee issues for the last few days. (Cayleigh Griffin on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact:

It's a bit fuzzy in regard to how long he will play tonight, but in any case, this will affect the usage of both Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr. With both players on the upswing as of late, it's likely to assume they'll handle a share of Millsap's usual workload as he gets himself up to speed.
Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher is doing his best to cash in on the conservative dollars behind his now loyal fan base, even starting his own topical t-shirt line.

The controversial officer - who was acquitted of war crimes and pardoned by President Trump for taking a photo with a dead body - has teamed up with Nine Line Apparel to create the Salty Frog Gear t-shirt line.

In a November press release, Nine Line Apparel shared that the line is 'a coastal lifestyle brand with an edge.'

Scroll down for video

The controversial officer - who was acquitted of war crimes and pardoned by President Trump for taking a photo near a dead body - has teamed up with Nine Line Apparel to create the Salty Frog Gear t-shirt line

The basic t-shirts come with rather simple designs - with the words 'stay salty' and unleash tempest featured prominently. SFG also has a tailgater hoodie and offers drinkware to purchase

'With specialty garments flexible enough for a fishing trip at sea or a weekend afternoon on the range, SFG provides functional, versatile, and affordable apparel solutions for your next outdoor adventure,' the brand adds in its description.

The basic t-shirts come with rather simple designs - with the words 'stay salty' and unleash tempest featured prominently. SFG also has a tailgater hoodie and offers drinkware to purchase.

The t-shirts go for $25.99 while the hoodie costs $59.99

The t-shirts go for $25.99 while the hoodie costs $59.99.

The release states that Gallagher met the apparel company's CEO - Tyler Merritt - while out on deployment. When the embattled serviceman first made national headlines, he explains that Merritt and Nine Line Apparel quickly stepped up.

'They treated us like gold,' Eddie said at the time, 'and opened my eyes that the brotherhood goes on. Nine Line and Black Rifle are vets taking care of vets.'

'To top it off, they came up with the idea of a brand and to create a partnership,'

Gallagher - whose own platoon brothers described him as 'freaking evil' and 'toxic' - added: 'Brotherhood isn't just a statement, it's a way of life.'

In a statement to the New York Times, Merritt claimed that Gallagher had been 'unjustly targeted by a broken investigation.'

'Nike has their First Amendment right to make individuals such as Colin Kaepernick their brand ambassadors,' he added in the statement. 'We have the right to make patriots like Chief Gallagher one of ours.'

A military jury acquitted Gallagher of all the war crimes charges he was facing except one, posing in photos with the dead captive

Gallagher's platoon Navy SEALS were interviewed by naval criminal investigators before Gallagher was charged in September 2018 of war crimes, including the murder of a wounded ISIS fighter in Iraq.

News of the apparel comes after it was revealed that Gallagher was seen as 'freaking evil' and 'toxic' by his own platoon brothers

The video recordings of their interviews were leaked to the New York Times and are now shown publicly for the first time in its The Weekly documentary series.

The interviews painted a picture of Gallagher, who was their platoon chief during a 2017 deployment to Iraq, being a reckless leader who had a hunger for violence.

'The guy is freaking evil,' Special Operator First Class Craig Miller told investigators during his interview.

In a separate interview, Special Operator First Class Joshua Vriens said: 'The guy was toxic.'

The SEALS were interviewed by naval criminal investigators before Gallagher was charged in September 2018 - and then later acquitted - of war crimes

The video recordings of their interviews were leaked to the New York Times and are now shown publicly for the first time in its The Weekly documentary series

Gallagher's case drew widespread controversy with President Trump repeatedly intervening on his behalf. Just last month, Gallagher and his wife Andrea met with Trump and First Lady Melania at Mar-a-Lago

Special Operator First Class Corey Scott, who was a medic, was recorded saying: 'You could tell he was perfectly okay with killing anybody that was moving.'

'I think he just wants to kill anybody he can,' Scott added elsewhere in his interview.

Some described him as 'getting crazier and crazier' and also that they'd heard rumors of Gallagher 'targeting civilians'.

'I saw Eddie take a shot at, probably, a 12-year-old,' one said in their interview.

Some of the SEALS who were interviewed by investigators were never called to testify during Gallagher's trial.

Gallagher was demoted but was later allowed to keep his Trident Pin and retire a SEAL following Trump's intervention.

He has since become an outspoken tool used to praise Trump.

'Trump is a master of casting, and Gallagher is a perfect fit,' said Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. 'He's handsome, he's heroic, he's got a beautiful wife. He's a Rambo version of the same story Trump has been telling over and over: The deep state is trying to screw you, the media is bad, and the rich people don't understand you. But I'll stick up for you.'
People's budgets are getting impacted as the price of non-subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been hiked by Rs 19 per cylinder.

"Price rise is hurting us badly. Today LPG cylinder prices have been raised by Rs 19. We have still not recovered from the impact of price rise of onions. The finances at home are in bad shape. The middle class and the lower class are bearing the brunt of the price rise. The BJP government had come on the back of promises to lower prices," a Chandigarh-based housewife told ANI.

"The monthly ration of our household now comes for around Rs 11,000 whereas earlier it used to come for Rs 6,000," she added.

"The monthly budget gets impacted. It is difficult for people who have lower incomes to run their households," another city resident said.

With effect from January 1, 2020, the non-subsidised LPG rates have been revised to Rs 709.50 per cylinder in Chandigarh.

It may be noted that state-run fuel retailers change the rates of LPG cylinder every month based on international benchmark rates.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Food and Drug Administration is set to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes cartridges amid health fears and efforts to combat a rise in teens vaping, according to reports.

Federal officials could make an announcement by Friday banning the pod vaporizers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Most flavored cartridges, like those made by Juul, will be pulled from sale under the plans, with only tobacco or menthol flavors allowed.

But the ban reportedly will not affect tank systems found in vape shops which allow users to mix their own nicotine liquids.

The tank system exemption is a compromise by the Trump administration, amid fears of the affect a ban could have on small businesses and the political fallout that could bring ahead of the 2020 election, the Journal said.

The flavors that would be banned accounted for around 80 percent of e-cigarette sales this year, the report said.

Most flavored cartridges, like those made by Juul, will be pulled from sale under the plans, with only tobacco or menthol flavors allowed

Donald Trump signed a sweeping bill earlier this month that includes raising the legal smoking age from 18 to 21 for both cigarettes and vapes.

The bipartisan legislation, supported by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, was attached to a package of must-pass spending bills that will keep the government running into next year.

More than one in four high school students report vaping regularly, according to the latest government figures. And health officials have called the vaping trend an 'epidemic.'

Until September, Juul argued that its sweet flavors  including mango, mint and fruit  could help adult smokers switch from traditional cigarettes to vaping.

More than 2,500 Americans have been hospitalized with vaping-related lung illnesses and 54 have died, US officials confirmed Thursday. .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that people have fallen ill in all 50 states and deaths have been reported in 27 states, plus Washington, DC.

Investigators still can't say for sure what in vaping products is causing the spate of lung illnesses but have zeroed in on THC e-cigarettes and, specifically, a sticky oil called vitamin E acetate that they call a 'strong culprit' for the crisis.

Vitamin E acetate - believed to be used as a cutting agent in illicit vaping products containing marijuana components - in all lung samples from 29 patients.

CDC has called Vitamin E acetate a 'chemical of concern' and recommended that the substance not be added to e-cigarette or vaping products while the investigation is ongoing.
You may have heard the statistics that miscarriage is common, occurring in about 10 percent of identified pregnancies, and those numbers might make you wonderwill you become one of them? And how can you know if you are having a miscarriage?

Zev Williams, M.D., Ph.D., director of Columbia University Fertility Center, explains that there is no "one way" that someone will experience a miscarriage, and there can be a wide range of symptoms.

"For example, you can have a patient with all the typical symptoms of a normal pregnancy such as morning sickness, and no alarming symptoms at all, but have a pregnancy loss," he says. "Alternatively, we have had patients with significant bleeding and cramping but go on to have a healthy full-term delivery."

The most common symptom of a miscarriage is bleeding or cramping, but not all cases of bleeding or crampingespecially in the first trimestermean miscarriage. And not all miscarriages will begin with bleeding or cramping.

Dr. Williams adds that one of the most common types of miscarriage he sees at the fertility practice is a "missed miscarriage," which is when the fetal heart stops, but the patient is not yet experiencing any signs of losing the pregnancy, like bleeding or cramping. Ultimately, the only true way to tell if you have had a miscarriage is through an ultrasound to look at the uterus and blood work to see what your hCG levels are.

"Rapidly dropping hCG levels generally indicates a complete miscarriage, as would an empty uterus," describes R. Renee Gaiski MSN, CNM with Spectrum Health Pennock, in Hastings, Michigan.

What to Do First If You Worry You're Miscarrying

J. Daniel Woodall, DO, MPH, FACOG, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Spectrum Health Pennock in Hastings, Michigan, says that the very first thing you should do if you think you might be having a miscarriage is to always notify your pregnancy care provider.

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Bleeding and cramping are often the first signs of a miscarriage, says Dr. Woodall, but some women also experience bleeding during pregnancy as a normal symptom, so it can be difficult to tell if you are really having a miscarriage. Your doctor's office can help you figure out what your next steps should be, such as scheduling an appointment in-office for an ultrasound, setting up a blood test to determine your hCG levels, or going to the ER.

And you shouldn't hesitate to reach out for help even after-hours. "All OB practices should have emergency provider numbers where patients can call 24 hours a day to speak to a provider on call," Dr. Woodall notes.

What Your Doctor Will Want to Know

When you do call your doctor, they will ask you certain questions to determine what is going on with you and your pregnancy and help identify what to do next, so it's helpful if you can be prepared to give them the information they need.

According to Dr. Woodall and Dr. Williams, your doctor will want to know the following questions:

Are you bleeding?

Are you in pain?

Are you feeling light-headed or dizzy?

Are you short of breath?

Do you have a fever or foul-smelling vaginal discharge?

When was your last period?

What is your blood type?

Have you had a miscarriage before?

The primary symptom that your doctor will be looking for, says Dr. Woodall, is bleeding. Too much blood loss may warrant a trip to the emergency room, so be sure to keep a close eye on how much bleeding you have had.

"As a general rule, if a woman is bleeding through a pad per hour for more than two to four hours in a row, or has a fever, I always recommend emergency evaluation," he says. Gaiski also points out that it's very important to head to the ER if you are feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or are near passing out, and don't have a lot of bleeding, because those can be signs of an ectopic pregnancy, which is life-threatening if it ruptures.

Dr. Williams also recommends that if you do pass any tissue, that you save it, in case your doctor needs to do any genetic testing.

What If You're Just 'Not Feeling Pregnant' Anymore?

In the beginning of pregnancy, before you are able to feel your baby kick and before you can really tell you're pregnant, you don't really have a way to know how your baby is doing. (The American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists does not recommend the use of at-home dopplers to monitor your baby's heartbeat.)

Without any other way to tell how your baby is doing in those first few months, you may use the presence of pregnancy symptoms to reassure yourself that everything is going just fine in there. But what about if you experience a sudden drop in symptoms? What if you wake up and the morning sickness is gone and your boobs don't feel as sore? If that happensdon't panic. Pregnancy symptoms can fluctuate and every woman will experience them differently.

"Just as some women have nausea with early pregnancy and some women don't, the loss of pregnancy symptoms is not predictive of miscarriage," explains Dr. Woodall. He adds that sometimes, the loss of some pregnancy symptoms can happen with a miscarriage, but in general, it's not predictive of miscarriage and should not be cause for concern.

However, you should also communicate with your pregnancy care provider about any symptoms that concern youit's important that you feel comfortable to talk with your doctor or midwife during your pregnancy.

What Happens Next

If you do suffer a miscarriage, Dr. Williams, says that in most cases, careful evaluation and testing can determine the cause of the pregnancy loss and most causes are correctible.

And whether you choose to try to conceive again or not, it's incredibly important that you allow yourself space and time to heal and grieve in a way that you need.

"Whether it was six weeks, 12 weeks, or more, it's a loss that you will never forget, and that is okay," says Gaiski. "Even if the pregnancy wasn't necessarily 'planned or even 'wanted,' it is very normal to have intense sadness."

She recommends seeking professional treatment, counseling, if needed, and talking through your experiencebecause you are never alone when it comes to miscarriage.
A north Cork motorsport club says it is "gutted" by wanton vandalism that saw tens of thousands of euros worth of fire damage caused in an attack in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Trophies, paperwork and a PA system are among the materials destroyed, while vandals also attempted to burn out a number of vehicles but failed.

Mallow Autograss Club, one of just four autograss clubs in the country, was targeted in the attack, which took place in the early hours of Monday, December 30.

Autograss takes place on grass or mud. It is hosted by not-for-profit motorsport clubs.

An unknown number of people are believed to have entered premises rented by the club and set it alight.

A race control building, used to store trophies, paperwork, safety equipment, flags and a PA system, was gutted by fire.

A small hut used to take payment from people as they enter the course and a bathroom were also vandalised.

Some of the damage at the motorsport club.

Two autograss cars stored in a building a short distance away were damaged while being used for joyriding on the track . The vandals attempted to burn these vehicles out but failed.

The club detailed the damage in an emotional post on their Facebook page.

"In the early hours of Monday morning, individuals decided to come into our track and vandalise it. Not just a spin around but to destroy it, a post on the clubs Facebook page read.

"Gutted is an understatement in how Mallow Autograss are feeling today. Years and years of hard work has been put in by many, many people over the years to get us to where we are today. And all to be destroyed within hours by toe rags."

Gardai are investigating the incident.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: "Gardai at Kildorrery, Co Cork are investigating criminal damage to a premises at Ballyguyroe, Kildorrery, Co Cork. The gate of the premises appears to have been forced open by a car which was burnt out at the scene. Two on site portacabins were also damaged by fire along with other property.

"The scene was forensically examined by Gardai and investigations are continuing.

"No arrests have been made."

They have appealed for any witnesses to contact Kildorrery Garda Station on 022 25162, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Some of the damage at the motorsport club.

Mallow Autograss has set up a GoFundMe in the wake of the incident.

"Our members have put their blood, sweat & tears into this venue over the past few years, to make it the fantastic motorsport venue that it is. Looking at the devastation after the fire & demolition of our facilities is so horrifying and very upsetting for our members," they said.
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, Dec. 31 (Jiji Press)--Former Nissan Motor Co. <7201> Chairman Carlos Ghosn has entered Lebanon after leaving Japan, where he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges, U.S. and European media reports said Tuesday.

Tokyo District Court has not changed the bail conditions imposed on Ghosn, including a ban on international travel. In addition, neither the prosecution nor his defense team had known that he would leave Japan, informed sources said.

Ghosn, 65, is likely to have left Japan without permission.

In a statement, Ghosn said he is in Lebanon, adding that he left Japan to escape "injustice and political persecution."

He has Lebanese nationality. But a bail condition requires him to leave his passports to his lawyers. His defense team was given all his passports, the sources said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Emirates is set to showcase its latest flagship Airbus A380 to visitors and spectators on January 15 at the Kuwait Aviation Show 2020.



Visitors to the show will be able to tour the popular double-decker's signature interiors and experience its industry trendsetting products across all three classes, including Emirates' latest-generation Onboard Lounge.



Always a popular draw for aviation enthusiasts, industry visitors and the general public, Emirates' latest-generation Airbus A380 will be decorated in blue livery, representing the 'mobility' theme of Expo 2020, and spreading awareness about the world's greatest show which will be hosted for the first time in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian region. Expo 2020 Dubai will be held between October 20, 2020, and April 10, 2021.



Adil Al Ghaith, senior vice president, commercial operations, Gulf, Middle East & Central Asia for Emirates, said: "Emirates is proud to be part of the Kuwait Aviation Show 2020, an event that welcomes spectators as well as members of the aviation and aerospace industry across the Gulf region. The Expo 2020 'mobility' themed Emirates A380 being showcased during the Aviation Show demonstrates our long-standing commitment and contribution to Kuwait's air transport sector, which is investing in development projects and progressively positioning itself for future growth. It also highlights the importance of air connectivity and mobility as a facilitator of trade, tourism and strong relations between Kuwait and the UAE."



Emirates has been serving Kuwait for 30 years, and today operates to the country's capital with six daily flights, providing business and leisure travellers with choice and connectivity to over 150 global destinations. The airline also operates its latest world-class products to Kuwait, including its latest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with the 'Game Changer' First Class suites.



Anticipated to be popular with aviation enthusiasts as well as the general public, the Emirates A380 will feature 14 luxurious First Class suites, 76 flatbed seats in Business Class and 429 spacious seats in Economy Class.



While touring the double-decker, visitors will be able to experience the aircraft's two decks, experiencing the spacious cabins with high ceilings in Economy Class, lie-flat seats in Business Class and the airline's signature First Class Private Suites. Guests will also get to see the A380 Shower Spas and Onboard lounge that will be both fully set-up and equipped to mimic an authentic inflight experience.



Emirates flies its flagship A380 to over 50 destinations around the world and currently has as 115 A380s in service. - TradeArabia News Service
Top image from Unsplash. The rest of the images are screenshots of tweets.

At the start of the previous decade, I had my career all planned out at 20.

I would graduate within the top 10% of my cohort in university just like I did in polytechnic. Then I would embark on a career in journalism, which would eventually take me to New York Citya cliche I was more than willing to sell my soul forin my late twenties. Everything would fall into place.

Then reality hit. University was awful: I developed depression because I abhorred the culture. I decided it was pointless to do an Honours track, so I opted out. Then, after a short 15-month stint in the local magazine industry for a first job, I grew disenchanted by the unbelievable amount of press releases I had to read about eyeliner. To take a break from the tiring media industry, I sold my soul in another way: I became a public servant.

In between everything, the closest I got to a job in the states was setting my LinkedIn job search settings to New York City. But every job I wanted required me to have, like, 10 years experience and a lack of imposter syndrome.

So I tried for someplace nearer: China. I got a couple of job offers and I turned them all down. I might have wanted to leave Singapore, but I didnt want it bad enough to settle for something less than my dream.

Nothing I had planned at the start of the decade fell into place.

And yet, I have accomplished so much.

Last month, I chanced upon a viral tweet that read: Theres only one month left in the decade What have you accomplished?

The first accomplishment that came to mind was the resilience and resourcefulness I had in figuring out my career. My resume is diverse, which is really just another term for someone who takes blind stabs in the dark, hoping something would stick.

At the time, not having a dazzling career was something I felt ashamed about, especially since I was a top student in school, so I chose to bury the shame. With the benefit of 10 years of hindsight, all the wrong turns are now an accomplishment. Every decision I made was necessary in hindsight, in order to give myself the experiences that would shape myself into the person I needed to be.

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What I didnt know then was that the rest of my decade would be spent picking apart so much of what I believed constituted success, then putting the pieces back together in a different manner.

In 2010, almost everything Id have considered an accomplishment then wouldnt make me feel remotely successful now.

A decade ago, I was like most people who replied to the since-deleted viral tweet.

At 19, along with my career goals, my idea of success was getting married at 25 and having children by 28. But leaving my stable and loving relationship because it didnt feel right meant I willingly upended that notion.

At 26, I put my career in the spotlight. Specifically, I believed Id be more successful if I could work and live abroad for a few years, no matter the location, than if I stayed in Singapore. After getting a job that required me to relocate, I turned it down, again effectively tearing apart everything I thought I wanted with career accomplishment.

Likewise, many people who shared the tweet stated that they had completed their PhD, landed their dream job, published several books, bought a house with their hard-earned money, and gotten marriedall accomplishments that deserve massive congratulations.

Under the same tweet, however, a minority replied with accomplishments that were invisible. For instance, they survived a decade of depression, or began necessary inner work through therapy to unlearn destructive behaviours and get out of toxic patterns in their life.

A small percentage of the latter group also expressed a crippling sense of inadequacy when they had to recall their accomplishments this decade, especially after looking at the majority of replies centred around the conventional notion of what an accomplishment should look like. Coupled with heightened levels of self-presentation on social media this decade, their invisible accomplishments paled in comparison or, worse, appeared to be invalidated by the mainstream depictions of success.

This comparison isnt productive, not least because were each on our journey.

Firstly, as evident from the varying responses, accomplishment is subjective. There are more than sufficient aphorisms to remind us that we shouldnt compare one persons highlight reel with our behind-the-scenes, because everyone reaches different milestones in their own time and at their own pace.

Moreover, one mans definition of a grand accomplishment might be another mans mere anecdote.

Secondly, reducing our entire decades worth of experiences into a few defining moments only puts unnecessary pressure on ourselves and forces us to frame our decisions as more significant than they might be. This isnt to be flippant about the choices we make and the consequences we bear. After all, there are inevitably choices that are far weightier than others, such as leaving someone with whom you believed youd spend your life with.

But these forks in the road are just a few in our lifes worth of diverse experiences.

Like many people my age, a decade is one-third of my life. Singling out a few accomplishments to consider our best of the decade doesnt do justice to the ways that other supposedly less significant experiences have shaped who we are.

Thirdly, listing what weve accomplished in the last decade often ignores the privilege necessary to achieve what society considers success, such as getting a degree or owning a home. Not acknowledging the privilege and luck in our individual accomplishments wouldnt be properly representing our success either.

For instance, in this decade, Ive realised the most important privilege is good mental health, closely followed by financial stability. None of my personal or professional accomplishments would be possible without having a comfortable level of both.

All this nuance, however, gets lost when the conversation around accomplishments of the decade focuses on stereotypically impressive milestones.

To be clear, the tweets original intent was probably positive. It was probably meant to encourage people to be explicitly proud and unashamed of their success, without resorting to humbleragging.

Unfortunately, the nature of social media inadvertently filters everything through a lens of performance. What might have begun as sincere and earnest sharing might be taken as self-congratulatory bragging and a subconscious desire for public validation and approval.

After all, sharing anything on social media comes with a natural, innate hope that the people who receive it see us in the ways we want to be seen.

But dont let me stop you from sharing your accomplishments of the decade. As much as it doesnt seem to be from this exercise, whats most important is not your accomplishments, but why you picked these specific accomplishments to define your decade. Knowing how to differentiate between the two makes all the difference.

In 2010, I wouldnt have been able to tell you that.

How have you grown in the last decade? Dont tell us. Write it down for yourself. For everything else, theres community@ricemedia.co.

The post No One Should Feel Pressured to List Their Accomplishments of the Decade appeared first on RICE.
Cyrus Mistry (GettyImages)

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Ahead of the Tata Consultancy Services' (TCS) board meeting on January 9, Tata Sons will likely seek a stay on the tribunal order reinstating Cyrus Mistry as the company's chairman, The Economic Times reported.

Tata Sons will likely file an appeal in the Supreme Court on January 2, and a hearing will be possible only after the apex court reopens on January 6, the report stated.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on December 18 directed the conglomerate to reappoint Cyrus Mistry as chairman of Tata Sons and three group companies  TCS, Tata Industries and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra).

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

Also read: Tatas vs Mistry  NCLAT order throws up many questions on corporate democracy

The company wants to avoid a board meeting and complicate the situation, a source told the paper. There is no emergency situation. It is a matter that will be pursued legally, the source said.

Following NCLAT's decision, Tata Sons Beverages is the only group company that has held a board meeting, since it is legally not affected by the order.

Mistry family-owned firms that hold a stake in Tata Sons may oppose an interim stay, forcing Tata Sons to reappoint Mistry until a final order is passed.

To the best of our knowledge, reinstatement of Mistry as a Director on Tata Sons and the other companies as per the NCLAT order has not been complied with and that itself is contempt of court, a source told the publication.

They (Tatas) sought a stay on chairmanship, but reinstatement as director was (to be) forthwith, the source added.

Tata Sons removed Mistry as chairman in 2016, and appointed N Chandrasekaran instead a few months later. Board members of Tata Sons have contacted N Chandrasekaran through phone calls and messages to assure him of their support, the article quotes sources as saying.
The death of a 2-year-old girl in Whitman is under investigation by police and the Plymouth District Attorneys office, according to WCVB.

The television station reports the child had been recently returned to her mother from foster care by the state Department of Children & Families.

Authorities in Whitman received a 911 call around 12:02 a.m. Saturday and were told the girl was unresponsive in an apartment on Washington Street, WCVB reports.

NBC10Boston reports the girl was taken to a nearby hospital then flown to Boston Childrens Hospital where she was declared brain dead on Tuesday and taken off life support.

The state medical examiners office will conduct an autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death.

Authorities from DCF told WCVB that the office is also conducting an investigation.
Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to beaches for safety.

Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires.

Since Monday, four people have died as destructive blazes tore through communities in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria on Australias southeast coast.

On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the Victorian coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned red by flames.

Stranded residents and holidaymakers slept in their cars, while petrol stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Dozens of homes burned down before winds changed direction late Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town.

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks. He said helicopters would fly in more firefighters, since roads were inaccessible.

Conditions cooled in most areas on Wednesday but the fire danger remained very high across the southern state, where four people are missing.

We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state, Mr Crisp said.

At 3am on 1 January 2020, there are 112 fires burning across NSW. Several large & dangerous fires continue burning on the South Coast where 2 fires remain at emergency warning. A further 6 fires are at Watch and Act. Over 2500 firefighters continue working on these fires. #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/5wgY6UnjOD  NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 31, 2019

In the NSW town of Conjola Park, 50 properties were destroyed and cars were partially melted by Tuesdays fires.

More than 100 fires were still burning in the state on Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level.

Four people have died this week, a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car and a father and son who died in their house. Their deaths bring the total to 13 since Australias severe wildfire season began in September.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said firefighting crews would take advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct back-burning.

The early and devastating start to Australias summer wildfires has has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record.

Expand Close A water-bombing helicopter tackles the fires in eastern Victoria (State Government of Victoria/AP/PA) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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It has also reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change.

Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas. Mr Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australias lucrative coal industry.

Mr Morrison won a surprise third term for the conservatives in May. Among his governments pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% by 2030  a modest figure compared to the centre-left opposition Labor partys pledge of 45%.

The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nations highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

If he (Mr Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns, Di Natale said in a statement.

Some 12.35 million acres of land  an area almost as big as Croatia  have burned nationwide over the past few months, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Expand Close The Royal Australian Navys HMAS Choules departs Sydney on Wednesday to help relief efforts in areas affected by the wildfires (Australian Defence Force handout/AP/PA) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Royal Australian Navys HMAS Choules departs Sydney on Wednesday to help relief efforts in areas affected by the wildfires (Australian Defence Force handout/AP/PA)

Some communities cancelled New Years fireworks celebrations, but Sydneys popular display over its iconic harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revellers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant Canberra, the nations capital, on Wednesday had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world.

The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020

How many times have you heard people say in the aftermath of a traumatic event: I just cant talk about it right now. They are mute, as if the right words have not yet been invented to pinpoint their feelings. Some eventually find expressive relief by writing poems, essays, memoirs, keeping a journal or even describing what happened on Facebook. Those who are visually oriented may speak through the creation of a painting or other art project. There are no rules or even guidelines for self-expression at the boundary of trauma but many who have been through the experience say that describing it to another person does help.

Finding the words

Our body tells us when were ready to unpack and codify feelings, to put words or other artistic expression around painful experiences. For some, even recollection of the experience can stay tucked away for years and emerge years later, perhaps when another life-changing event dredges up old memories. A Vietnam War veteran once shared with me that he didnt speak about the war he experienced until years later when his son was about to be deployed to Desert Storm in the early 1990s: It hit me like a ton of bricks  my son might be about to experience the same horrors that I had witnessed. I had to start talking, sharing my own experience, after twenty years of silence.

Owning the story

Sometimes the burden of owning the story is so great that there is a need to fictionalize and tell it as if it happened to someone else. It can take months or years to become comfortable with the telling. Whatever the starting point, be kind to yourself. Acknowledge that, while writing may help in the healing process, it takes time, reflection and rewriting to arrive at a sense of well-being and comfort with what youve written. Judith Barrington describes in Writing the Memoir that, Tove Ditlevsens Early Spring was first published some forty years after some of the events it describes and demonstrates an extraordinary insight into childhood  one that clearly required many years of reflection before it could be written.

In 1998, I began writing about my husbands death in the Vietnam War in 1969. I started with a fictionalized play. It was easier to cast another young woman in the role of myself. At first, making my life fictional protected me from the reality of what I was writing about. But soon it was not enough. Eventually I was able to own my story in a series of personal essays and finally in a memoir published in 2014. When my memoir received a Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America, I realized that my need to tell my story was part of a movement of survivors who professed the healing aspects of writing about experiences with war.

Patience with the process

But even a project that has simmered in the mind for years does not pop out of the oven overnight as if it was magically spun into a cake of gold by leprechauns. For me, once the writing commenced, the boundaries around my privacy that had been so important earlier started to feel like obstacles to understanding myself and what had happened to me. A quest for reflection and depth became new needs. The questions changed: Is this completely honest? Whats the best way to focus on this experience? Something in the writing process enables the writer to overcome the powerlessness wrought by the original trauma. Perhaps this leap from powerlessness to deeper understanding of oneself, along with sharing with others, is the cornerstone of writing as healing.

The benefits of staying with the writing

There is a deepening and reciprocal process that takes place during the long discipline of continued writing. As the volume of writing increases, the need to structure the story and make sense of what happened begins to build. There are no rules that dictate the order of events. There will be a beginning, middle and end, but these elements need not occur in chronological order. The eventual architecture of a true story on the page will emerge through reflection and rewriting as the writer zooms in on what happened. Sven Birkerts says in The Art of Time in Memoir that the way the story is told leads the reader through the healing process of the writer. The writers then and now stir to life the readers sense of past and present. The writers bonus is that, as she digs into her experience, life begins to have coherence.

Meeting others on the road to healing

Lets assume that writing is healing. For beginning writers, if starting to write feels difficult, begin with I remember and see what emerges. Let your pen roam free on the page without censor. Youll be okay. Nothing can happen without your consent. Youll discover the confines of the island of your own true story, with its wildlife and landscapes. You can live there like Robinson Crusoe as long as necessary until youre ready to invite readers in, as your guests, to listen. And dont be surprised to hear them say how much your story helped them to understand their story.

Ruth W. Crocker is the author of Those Who Remain: Remembrance and Reunion After War and People of Yellowstone. She teaches workshops on the writing process and is an Ambassador to the Military Writers Society of America.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2)  The first day of 2020 marked not only the start of the new year but the start of a new decade. Local stars welcomed the new possibilities in their own way  from traditional to sensational  to the delight of their fans.

Beauty queens Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray ushered in looks that prove why they deserved their crowns.

"2020 is going to be the best chapter of our love story," said Anne Curtis Smith, posting a photo of her and husband Erwan Heussaff. Their baby is due March.

Looks like Tylane Katana, the newborn baby girl of celebrity couple Solenn Heussaff and Nico Bolzico will soon have a cousin to play with.

READ: Nico Bolzico and Solenn Heussaff usher in New Year as new parents

The Dantes-Riveras, the Kramers, the Padillas and the Cuneta-Pangilinans all spent their New Year the traditional Filipino way  with family.

Actress Glaiza De Castro, meanwhile, posted a photo of her alone in a record store, and dared the new year to "bring on the noise."

Soap opera queen Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo said that 2019 was a good year, and shared her expectations for the new year.

While veteran performer Gary Valenciano started the new year with a prayer.
Here are the new movies and shows you can stream in January, including Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill.

BoJack Horseman (season 6, part 2)

The final part of the final season of this beloved animated comedy series starring Will Arnett and Amy Sedaris arrives at the end of the month.

A Fall from Grace (2019)

Disheartened since her ex-husbands affair, a woman feels restored by a new romance. But when secrets erode her short-lived joy, her vulnerable side turns violent. Written and directed by Tyler Perry. Starring Crystal Fox, Phylicia Rashad, Bresha Webb and Cicely Tyson. (Jan. 19)

Sex Education (season 2)

Clever British coming-of-age comedy series starring Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson and Emma Mackey returns for a second season mid-month. (Jan. 17)

Kill Bill (2003-04)

Quentin Tarantinos blood-spattered revenge saga starring Uma Thurman returns to Netflix this month on the heels of his latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. We prefer Vol. 1 by a pretty wide margin, but both films are available to stream now. (Now available)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003)

While Amazon Studios continue to get their Lord of the Rings adaptation up and running, enjoy two-thirds of the trilogy that can never be topped thanks to director Peter Jackson. We wish Fellowship of the Ring was also available, but youve likely already seen them all anyway. (Now available)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991)

The turtles and the Shredder battle once again, this time for the last canister of the ooze that created the Turtles, with which Shredder wants to unleash an army of new mutants. The first (and OK, the best) of these original film adaptation is also on Netflix today, but well go to bat for this sequel for the sake of nostalgia. And Vanilla Ice. Does the first one have Vanilla Ice improvising ninja rap? No? Enough said. (Now available)

Ferris Buellers Day Off (1986)

A high school wise guy is determined to have a day off from school, despite what the principal thinks of that. Written and directed by the late, great John Hughes. Stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey and Jeffrey Jones. Hughes best film? Tough call. (Now available)

Inception (2010)

A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a businessman. Christopher Nolans mind heist flick gets better with each viewing, as were sure his upcoming time and mind-bending thriller Tenet" will, too. (Now available)

MORE MOVIES & TV

Jan. 1

Ghost Stories

Messiah

Nisman: Death of a Prosecutor

Spinning Out

The Circle

21

A Cinderella Story

American Beauty

Catch Me If You Can

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Chasing Amy

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Chloe

City of God

Dinner for Schmucks

Dragonheart

Dragonheart 3: The Sorcerer

Dragonheart: A New Beginning

Drugs, Inc.: Season 6

Free Willy

Ghost Rider

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

Hitch

Instructions Not Included

Julie & Julia

Kate & Leopold

Kingpin

Kiss the Girls

Monster-in-Law

New York Minute

Pans Labyrinth

Patriot Games

Saint Seiya: Season 4-5

Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden

Shrek Forever After

Strictly Ballroom

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear

The Original Kings of Comedy

The Ring

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Tremors

True Grit

Up in the Air

What Lies Beneath

Wild Wild West

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Wyatt Earp

Yes Man

Jan. 2

Sex, Explained: Limited Series

Thieves of the Wood

Jan. 3

Anne With an E

All the Freckles in the World

Jan. 4

Go! Go! Cory Carson

Jan. 8

Cheer

Jan. 10

AJ and the Queen

Giri/Haji

Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 4

The Inbestigators: Season 2

Medical Police

Scissor Seven

Until Dawn

Zumbos Just Desserts: Season 2

The Evil Dead

Jan. 12

Betty White: First Lady of Television

Jan. 13

The Healing Powers of Dude

Jan. 14

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

The Master

Jan. 15

Quien a hierro mata

Grace and Frankie: Season 6

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez

Big Fat Liar

Jan. 16

NiNoKuni

Steve Jobs

Jan. 17

Ares

Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 4

Tyler Perrys A Fall from Grace

Vivir dos veces

Wer kann, der kann!

Tiny House Nation: Volume 2

Jan. 18

The Bling Ring

Jan. 20

Family Reunion: Part 2

Jan. 21

Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty

Word Party: Season 4

Jan. 22

Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak

Playing with Fire: Season 1

Jan. 23

The Ghost Bride

October Faction

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac: Season 1/Part 2

The Queen

Jan. 24

A Sun

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 3

The Ranch: The Final Season

Rise of Empires: Ottoman

Jan. 26

Vir Das: For India

Jan. 27

Country Strong

We Are Your Friends

Jan. 28

Alex Fernandez: El mejor comediante del mundo

Jan. 29

Freres Ennemis

Next In Fashion

Night on Earth

Omniscient

Jan. 30

Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey

The Stranger

Nighthawks

Raising Cain

Jan. 31

37 Seconds

Diablero: Season 2

I Am a Killer: Season 2

Luna Nera

Ragnarok

American Assassin

5 Things You Should Definitely Watch

Marriage Story (2019)

Noah Baumbachs honest and emotional look at a marriage breaking up and a family staying together, starring Scarlett Johannson and Adam Driver as the couple, in what many compare to Kramer vs. Kramer. Already a critical darling, this has a shot at winning several Oscars including best picture. Co-stars Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Julie Hagerty and Ray Liotta.

6 Underground (2019)

Six billionaires form a vigilante squad after faking their deaths in order to take down notorious criminals and change the future. From director Michael Bay, this slick action flick stars Ryan Reynolds, Melanie Laurent and Corey Hawkins. Bonkers stuff from Bay in all the ways youd expect.

The Two Popes (2019)

Behind Vatican walls, the conservative Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and the liberal future Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church. From City of God director Fernando Meirelles, this already has major Oscar buzz.

The Witcher

Henry Cavill (Man of Steel) stars as a solitary monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

John Mulaney & The Sack Lunch Bunch

A new comedy/variety special from Kid Gorgeous and The Comeback Kid stand-up star John Mulaney, blending his unique brand of comedy with a darker and more existential vision of Sesame Street.

LEAVING NETFLIX IN JANUARY

Jan. 11

Becoming Jane

Jan. 12

The Fighter

Maron: Seasons 1-4

Jan. 15

Forks Over Knives

The Rezort

Jan. 17

Short Term 12

Jan. 31

Aeon Flux

American Psycho

Good Luck Chuck

Grease

La Reina del Sur: Season 1

Panic Room

Revolutionary Road

Somethings Gotta Give

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Spartacus: Vengeance

Spartacus: War of the Damned

Zombieland
E-cigarettes are moving out of sight in most stores  just like tobacco products  and two-wheeled e-scooters could soon be coming into view under measures taking effect in Ontario on New Years Day.

Other changes for 2020 include new powers for animal welfare officers to smash the windows of hot vehicles to save the lives of pets in distress and reductions in estate and small-business taxes.

Jan. 1 also brings the end of out-of-country OHIP coverage for medical emergencies, a move to save $9 million a year as Premier Doug Fords government works to end annual budget deficits, with travellers urged to get private coverage. Ontarians requiring kidney dialysis will still get funding for treatments outside the province, however.

A ban on the promotion of vape products in convenience stores and gas bars kicks in amid increasing concern about potentially fatal lung problems.

The prohibition comes a full 18 months after a similar measure slated by the previous Liberal government was nixed by Fords Progressive Conservatives after they took power.

Health Minister Christine Elliott announced the change of heart last October, citing concerns about teens being exposed and influenced by vaping products as usage soars.

Its not cool  it can be very dangerous for you, she reiterated in December. We dont know the long-term health effects.

Michael Perley of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco applauded the move, but said Tuesday it doesnt go far enough given public health concerns that flavoured vape juices are attractive to teens and given the lack of regulations to curb levels of highly addictive nicotine.

While Elliott has promised more steps will be taken, Perley said we dont know what timetable they have for flavours, nicotine and raising the age of majority for purchases of tobacco and vaping products from 19 to 21.

Promotion of vaping products will be allowed only in specialty stores open to those aged 19 and over.

Perley said he hopes authorities immediately enforce the promotion ban in corner stores and gas bars, making sure vape products are under cover as cigarettes have been for years, and that no posters or other displays remain in store windows.

On the transportation front, Queens Park has given municipalities across the province the green light to begin five-year pilot projects on the use of e-scooters.

E-scooters have the potential to help hundreds of thousands of commuters get to transit connections, reduce congestion and open the Ontario market to a new and growing sector, the Ministry of Transportation said in a news release Tuesday.

But, for now, the vehicles remain forbidden on the streets of Toronto until city council decides what shape a trial would take. A report with recommendations from city staff is expected to go before councillors by the end of March.

They are only legal on private property at this time, the citys transportation department confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

Scooter companies such as Bird and Lime  with fleets of online rentals in cities including Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton  are hoping to get in on the action at the same time as critics warn about potential safety hazards.

The city of Toronto told us theyll launch some time in the spring, so were going to hold them to it, Steward Lyons of Bird said Tuesday, estimating there could be between 5,000 and 10,000 battery-powered scooters on city streets.

Users will download an app on their smartphones to locate and start scooters and, in the case of Bird, likely pay $1.15 to start and 35 cents a minute. Most trips are expected to be between two to five kilometres.

Ontario has set a minimum age of 16 for e-scooter users, requiring them to wear helmets and the vehicles to have bells and horns as well as white front and red rear lights. Riding e-scooters on sidewalks is prohibited.

We and others will be exposed to the danger of serious injuries, warns David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance.

As a blind person, I want to walk safely in public. I fear an inattentive, unlicensed, uninsured person as young as 16 with no training, experience or knowledge of the rules of the road, silently rocketing towards me at 24 kilometres an hour.

Thats the maximum speed set by Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney, down from 32 km/h in an earlier proposal.

In other changes, the estate tax on estates of $50,000 or less is being eliminated and the tax on larger estates is being reduced by $250.

The small-business corporate income tax rate will shrink to 3.2 per cent from 3.5 per cent, saving 275,000 businesses up to $1,500 annually, the government says.

Primary screening of colorectal cancer will change from the fecal occult blood test to the fecal immunochemical test under the ColonCancerCheck program.

People who have received radioactive implants as part of their cancer treatments will have expanded access to cremation.

Highway 407 customers with outstanding fines will be able to pay them all at once so they can renew their licence plates.
Officials close to President Hassan Rouhani have accused ultraconservative members of the Iranian Parliament of spreading rumors about Rouhani's resignation, Ebtekar newspaper has revealed.

Lawmakers close to Paydari (Steadfastness) front have called for the Rouhani administration's impeachment.

Meanwhile Fararu news website has quoted reformist analyst Sadeq Zibakalam as having said that ultraconservative groups including Paydari are likely to win the next Parliamentary elections.

The latest moves by conservatives to unseat Rouhani or undermine his authority through impeachment of his interior and oil ministers was prevented only by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's intervention. Khamenei told the Parliament to stop the impeachment motions that had already been tabled, as the country needed to remain calm ahead of the upcoming elections.

Without Khamenei's intervention the impeachments would have almost certainly unseated the two ministers because of their questionable performance that played an instrumental part in November protests following a gasoline price hike.

The commentary in Ebtekar says "a radical conservative group has been harshly criticizing Rouhani from the start of his term of office as President while opposing every decision made by his administration."

The daily however admits Rouhani's weaknesses "in some areas," adding that "Rouhani has not been able to meet the promises he has made" during his campaign. However, the paper insists that radical conservatives are taking advantage of Rouhani's failure for factional political gain.

Rouhani's poor performance before, during and after the November protests put him in his weakest position vis-a-vis his political rivals who appear to be even more adamant to take advantage of his declining popularity.

Even some of the reformists who supported Rouhani in the Presidential elections in 2013 and 2017 have also called for his resignation, though for different reasons.

Now, the Paydari Front members who have used all their might during these years against the administration, have recently claimed that Hassan Rouhani has threatened members of the Parliament with his resignation.

Iranian media reports have quoted Vice-President Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, who also chairs the Planning and Budget Organization, as having said that Rouhani would resign his post if the Majles committee in charge of reviewing the budget bill does not approve Rouhani's proposal.

Hardline MP Nasrollah Pejmanfar said in an interview on December 26 that Nobakht has threatened members of Parliament during a meeting with the Budget Allocation Committee that the President will resign if the Majles does not approve the budget bill.



Nobakht reacted to Pejmanfar's remarks three days later, on 29 December calling it "a lie and insult to committee members". Nobakht further accused conservatives of doing President Donald Trump's work for him.

Rouhani administration spokesman Ali Rabiei also denied the rumor on December 16 and said: The resignation of the president and the government has in no way been suggested and has no proponents.

Meanwhile, Majles Presidium member Mohammad Ali Vakili sad the rumor is being spread because a certain political group benefits from it. "These are opportunists who benefit from disappointing people and creating controversies. They are not afraid of making wrong remarks. They want to impose their ideas on others," Vakili added.

Ebtekar's commentary reminded Paydari and other ultraconservatives that they can impeach Rouhani once they win the next Majles anyway. The daily attributed some of these moves to the fact that opportunists, even those who previously supported Rouhani, try to distance themselves from the administration during its last months in office to evade responsibility for its failures. Interestingly, "this has happened under Ahmadinejad, and it is happening again in the Rouhani administration," said the commentary.
Tziporah Malkah has slammed 'greenie people' for blocking backburning efforts in a bizarre rant on social media.

It comes as the ABC were accused of bias for deleting a social media post about climate change activists protesting against backburning.

Malkah, a former actor and model, uploaded a YouTube video on New Year's Eve aggressively blaming Green's voters for the devastating bushfires ravaging the South Coast of New South Wales.

The 46-year-old began by addressing the 'people of Australia' and appeared enraged as she accused the environmental political party of preventing firefighters from carrying out backburning efforts in East Gippsland in September 2019.

Tziporah Malkah slams 'greenie people' for blocking backburning efforts in a bizarre rant on social media

East Gippsland was ravaged by bushfires on Tuesday. Seven people have died, four are missing and hundreds of homes were damaged.

'As we know, the bushland that we live in requires fire,' she said.

'However, the Green's and all the greenie people have forced us to not do fire control by getting out the underbrush and whatsoever... Doing burn-offs.'

The former Siren's star paused for a moment and pursed her lips in frustration.

'I hope that we learn from this. It's a terrible, terrible, terrible way to learn. But we need to get out sh*t together, Australia.

'Stop it. Stop it. Stop being so stupid!' she yelled.

Malkah went on to explain that she has friends and family on the South Coast of the state before again directing her anger at the political party.

Malkah also made a post on Instagram telling 'greenies' to 'go chain yourself to a tree'

Malkah went on to explain that she has friends and family on the South Coast of the state before again directing her anger at the political party

'Just rack off, greenies. Let sensible people do the job.'

She then apologised for 'politicising' the rant and prayed to God to help the animals because 'people are f**ked up'.

The rant comes after the ABC was accused on Monday of deleting a social media post from September about climate protesters stopping firefighters from backburning.

The post showed an elderly couple protesting backburning efforts in the Gippsland region amid fears the flames could kill baby birds in their nests.

A helicopter tackles a bushfire with water bombs in East Gippsland on Monday, December 30

They claimed backburning in spring was a bad time because animals would be breeding.

But the ABC deleted the post after one person commented that the post 'did not age well'.

Writing on Facebook Michael Ayling said: 'I have sent the ABC a message asking why they deleted it and reminding them of their government charter for balance.'
The medical patients need it more, its necessary for them and they have the priority, he said. As much as we say we need it, they (medical users) actually do need it, and they paid so much money and waited so long to go through the process of getting that medical marijuana card that if the sales tax was the same, it wouldnt even be worth it to them anymore.
She knows her way around social media.

And while Chrissy Teigen wasn't feeling her best on New Year's Eve, she certainly didn't miss the mark when it came to comedic timing.

The 34-year-old author quipped that her illness was 'still better' than last year's incident where she crashed into a plastic umbrella in an attempt to give Leslie Jones a hug during a live broadcast of Times Square celebrations in New York.

Oh no! While Chrissy Teigen wasn't feeling her best on New Year's Eve, she certainly didn't miss the mark when it came to comedic timing

Teigen could barely stay awake during dinner on Tuesday night as she rested her arms across the table wearing what appeared to be only a white towel.

The cooking connoisseur added just a touch of flair to her evening ensemble with a feathered hat.

'Sinus drugs got me f***ed uppppp,' she wrote to her millions of followers. '1 hour til countdown but Im out love u guys!!

Blessings: Teigen could barely stay awake during dinner on Tuesday night as she rested her arms across the table wearing what appeared to be only a white towel.

In another post she wrote: 'I am not feeling great but happy new year yayyyyy.'

The mother-of-two is enjoying a tropical retreat with her husband, John Legend, and their children, Luna and Miles.

Just before the ball dropped in Times Square, Chrissy was feeling the love when she shared a hilarious moment from her 2019 hosting gig with Carson Daly on NBC's New Year's Eve broadcast.

In the quick clip, Chrissy attempted to give Leslie Jones a hug, but forgot the comedian was carrying a clear umbrella and crashed directly into the plastic.

Make em laugh! Just before the ball dropped in Times Square, Chrissy was feeling the love when she shared a hilarious moment from her 2019 hosting gig with Carson Daly on NBC's New Year's Eve broadcast

OMG: In the quick clip, Chrissy attempted to give Leslie Jones a hug, but forgot the comedian was carrying a clear umbrella and crashed directly into the plastic

All in fun: She quickly caught herself and was consumed in laughter after the embarrassing debacle broadcast live for millions of fans

She quickly caught herself and was consumed in laughter after the embarrassing debacle broadcast live for millions of fans.

'Still better than last new years,' she shared with a small clip of the awkward encounter.

January Jones commented that the video 'makes me happy to be in the world' while celebrity stylist Brad Goreski noted the moment was 'iconic.'
Dec. 30

The Helena Police Department responded to 82 calls for service including five non-injury crashes, three animal calls, three disorderly/disturbance calls, seven suspicious incidents, six thefts and five welfare checks.

As of Tuesday morning, the county jail held 115 inmates (102 for felonies and 13 for misdemeanors). In total, the county has 125 inmates at various detention facilities. Eighty-six clients are serviced by the 24/7 sobriety program. Of these, 59 are on PBT (Personal Breath Test), 18 are on SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor bracelet), seven are on GPS and two are on house arrest. Pretrial Services is currently working with 372 clients.
Reading yesterday about the escape of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn from house arrest in Japan yesterday in the Wall Street Journal, I wondered how he had done it. Held on $14 million bond and awaiting trial in Tokyo, Ghosn turned up in Lebanon. The best the Journal could do at the time was this: a person familiar with the matter said he arrived in Lebanon via Turkey.

Well, thanks, but even I could see they had skipped a few steps. You knew there had to be a little more to the story. Todays New York Post adds this:

Nissans former CEO fled house arrest in Japan in a wild Hollywood-worthy plot  allegedly using a team of mercenaries posing as musicians to smuggle him out of the country in an instrument case, reports said. * * * * * In a bizarre scheme allegedly orchestrated by his wife in the US, a group of ex-special forces soldiers posing as musicians specializing in a Gregorian band and toting music equipment strolled past Japanese security guards and entered the pad, according to the Lebanese news channel MTV. Ghosn, who stands at just under 5-foot-6, climbed into one of the boxes intended for the transfer of musical instruments, the news station said  possibly a roughly 6-foot-tall double-base case. He was then carted out in the case when the group left, after a logical time for a concert had passed, MTV said. Japanese authorities had the door to his home under 24-hour video surveillance  but, per an April court agreement, Ghosns camp didnt have to turn over each months recordings until the 15th of the following month, The Wall Street Journal reported. Ghosn is believed to have been spirited out of the country on a chartered Bombardier jet from Kansai International Airport in Osaka  a six-hour drive from Toyko  around 11:10 p.m. Sunday, the Journal said. The plane landed at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul early Monday, reports said. Ghosn then boarded a smaller plane belonging to the Turkish company MNG Jet Havacilik AS that departed about 30 minutes later for Rafic Hariri Airport in Beirut, Lebanon. Japanese authorities apparently had no idea that their most high-profile detainee had fled until hours later  and only then, from an MTV reporter. The station worker approached Matahiro Yamaguchi, the Japanese ambassador to Lebanon, at a party in Beirut around 6 p.m. Monday and asked about Ghosns fleeing, The Guardian reported. The stunned ambassador said his administration knew nothing about it  and spent the next few minutes furiously texting before abruptly leaving the event.

This may serve as comic relief:

Ghosns scheme was blasted by the disgraced executives own lawyer, Junichiro Hironaka, who claimed that he was kept in the dark about his clients illegal plot. His act is unforgivable and a betrayal of Japans justice system, acknowledged Hironaka, nicknamed The Razor because of his sharp legal wit, per The Guardian. Still, the lawyer, who said he last saw Ghosn on Christmas Day, added, Maybe he thought he wont get a fair trial. I cant blame him for thinking that way, Hironaka said, repeating Ghosns claim of innocence on the charges against him, which carry a maximum 15 years behind bars.

Some mysteries abide:

Lebanon authorities claimed Ghosn entered the country legally via the use of a French passport  although its unclear how. Lawyer Hironaka said he still has Ghosns three passports, for Lebanon, France and Brazil, that his client had to turn over as a condition of bail. It would have been difficult for him to do this without the assistance of some large organization, Hironaka told reporters.

I think I can add this about a large organization based in Lebanon. Nothing happens in Lebanon without the approval of Hezbollah.

Todays Journal has more here, without the humorous details scarfed up by the Post. Neither the Post nor the Journal posits the obvious Hezbollah angle.
Agartala, Jan 1 : Over 10,000 Tripura government teachers, facing termination of jobs due to a court verdict, would hold a sit-in demonstration in Delhi later this month aimed at creating alternative arrangements to protect their jobs, a leader of the teacher's body said on Wednesday.

All Tripura 10,323 Ad-hoc Teachers' Association President Bimal Saha said here that so far 43 teachers had "died of psychological trauma and anxiety". He said the teachers, both men and women, would hold a "dharna" in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi later this month or early February demanding continuation of their jobs by the Tripura government.

Over 10,323 government teachers with graduate, post-graduate and under-graduate educational qualifications were inducted into Tripura government schools in different phases since 2010 when the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left Front government was in power.

The recruitment process subsequently went to litigation and the Tripura High Court in 2014 terminated all the 10,323 teachers, saying that the selection criterion had " discrepancies".

Thereafter, Special Leave Petitions were filed in the Supreme Court by the then Left Front government and a section of teachers, and the apex court upheld the High Court verdict on March 29, 2017.

Following an appeal by the previous Left Front government, the apex court extended their services up to June last year.

After coming to power in March last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government had filed a fresh appeal in the Supreme Court In June last year, the Court granted them one-time final extension of their services till March 2020.

An official of the Education Department said that though a few hundred of these teachers have been absorbed in other government positions and through separate recruitment processes, including Teachers Eligibility Tests (TET), the majority of them face job losses.

The Ad-hoc Teachers' Association President said that they had met the Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath and other Education Department officials and have held agitations on a number of occasions to protect their jobs, but all efforts have failed.

"As a last resort, we have sought appointment with the Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb to make a final request to him to save our government services. However, we are yet to get the Chief Minister's appointment," Saha told mediapersons.

Prior to the 2018 Tripura assembly elections, these teachers had hoped that the ruling BJP would find a permanent solution for the 10,323 government teachers.

There are around 12,000 vacant posts of teachers in the government schools in Tripura. Currently, 41, 000 teachers are providing education to 7.29 lakh students in 4,928 government schools. According to the Right of the Child to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines, Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) is mandatory for recruitment of teachers in government schools.

To appear for the TET, the candidate ought to have 50 per cent marks in certain subjects and a Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Elementary Education or Diploma in Education.

The HRD Ministry had earlier relaxed the minimum qualification norms for teachers, as notified by the NCTE, for Assam, West Bengal and Tripura.

Teachers recruitment and termination of their jobs by the courts was a key political issue ahead of the February 2018 Tripura assembly polls.
In the two 1989 cases, Klemme was arrested when he exposed and fondled himself in front of a woman in his neighborhood. According to Scott County District Court documents, he insisted the woman was his girlfriend and a witch who cast a spell on him to make him expose himself to her. That same day, after he was released from jail on pre-trial release, he went back to the woman's home and exposed and fondled himself again. He was sentenced to a one-year prison term on each count that ran consecutive to one another.

In the 2003 case, he was convicted of two counts of indecent exposure after he exposed and fondled himself in front of a female neighbor and her son who were outside their residence. He called out to them to get their attention. He was sentenced to consecutive one-year prison terms on each count.

In the 2010 case, he exposed and fondled himself to two neighbors. He was convicted in a jury trial and was sentenced to a special 10-year sentence and an additional 10 years on parole.
Lakhs of Mumbaikars welcomed the New Year with peaceful celebrations and night-long parties though less crowds were witnessed on city streets and other public places compared to last year, police said on Wednesday.

Thousands of people thronged popular spots like the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Bandstand and Juhu beach from Tuesday evening to welcome 2020.

Around 2 am on Wednesday, revelers were asked to leave these places, a police official said.

"This time there were less crowds on streets as compared to last year," a traffic police official said.

A light show was held at Bandra Reclamation where people gathered in large numbers, resulting in a massive traffic jam late in the night.

The police later asked people to leave the place in a bid to maintain law and order, the official said.

Some cases of drunk driving, riding two-wheelers without wearing helmet, rash and negligent driving and getting into no-entry zones were reported in the city, he said.

People from Mumbai also travelled to Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station located about 260 km from here, and Panvel, on the city's outskirts, to usher in the New Year.

At least 40,000 police personnel along with officials of the police's Special Branch, riot-control police, Quick Response Teams, Crime Branch and traffic police were deployed across the city, another official said.

Tight vigil was maintained at all the popular places, including beaches.

The police kept a watch on crowded spots through 5,000-plus CCTV cameras and also used drone cameras to monitor the beaches, the official said.

The city transport undertaking BEST operated extra buses late Tuesday night on seven routes, including those connecting Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu Chowpatty and Gorai Creek with railway stations and distant suburbs.

About 1,500 Government Railway Police personnel were deployed at various railway stations along with two platoons of Riots Control Police.

The Central Railway and Western Railway also operated extra services on the suburban network late night.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bruce Yan/Getty Images

Three days after stepping down from his high-profile executive role at Aurora Cannabis (ACB.TO)(ACB), one of Canadas largest pot producers, Cam Battley tweeted about General Tsos chicken. However, most of the people who replied took the tweet as an opportunity to confront Battley about Auroras stumbling stock.

I dont know enough about General Tso (alternatively General Tao), but clearly the man knew his chicken. And he apparently outranked Colonel Sanders. ;)  Cam Battley (@CamBattley) December 24, 2019

The Edmonton-based company is facing mounting pressure from investors concerned about a litany of red flags that emerged in recent months, ranging from missed revenue guidance, to insider selling, to a sell-side report with a $0 price target, to the companys tight cash position.

Auroras stock has slid more than 80 per cent from its post-recreational legalization high in March. U.S.-listed shares hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday, dropping to $1.88 in early trading.

Ill be happier when our share price is higher, Battley joked in an interview with Yahoo Finance Canada following Auroras latest quarterly results.

A one-year chart of Aurora Cannabis shares. (Yahoo Finance Canada)

Battley joined Aurora in 2016 and became chief corporate officer in 2018, where he was the public face of Aurora, and an enthusiastic booster for the cannabis sector at large. His abrupt departure was announced by the company on Dec. 21, the Saturday before the Christmas holidays. The press release said the decision was effective as of Dec. 20. It did not specify why Battley stepped down.

Aurora CEO Terry Booth said in the statement Battley will move on to tackle Australia through a role on medical producer MedReleaf Australias board, which Battley accepted in November. Aurora owns a 10 per cent stake in MedReleaf Australia, and has 50 per cent voting rights in the privately-held company.

Story continues

Aurora has not named a replacement to fill Battleys now-vacant job.

We believe it is easy to make the case that Battley is jumping ship with potential further bad news on the way, Jefferies analyst Owen Bennett wrote in a research note following the announcement. The biggest issue though, for us . . . is trust, with multiple instances of Aurora missing targets or going against its word.

Aurora shares tumbled in September after the company fell short of its own revenue guidance, a mistake Battley said shouldnt have happened. The company promised profitability in 2019, before pushing that to fiscal 2020. It also praised the progress at two of its partially built facilities shortly before halting construction in a bid to conserve cash in November.

It is clear to us that the market is lacking conviction in Aurora, Bennett added.

Battley often shared the cannabis spotlight with Bruce Linton, the charismatic co-CEO of Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC) ousted from his job last July amid lacklustre financial performance at the Smith Falls, Ont.-based company. Unlike Linton, Battley is an avid Twitter user. He regularly engages with Auroras fans and critics in between tweets about the company milestones, trail running and travel.

Cam Battley of Aurora Cannabis is pictured at his companies penthouse office in downtown Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

Angry replies and menacing comments replaced the relatively pleasant interactions that had existed just a few months earlier, Andrew Udell of the cannabis sector research group TheCannalysts wrote in a recent analysis piece. Many emotions out there right now are pretty raw.

Battleys tweet about General Tso outranking KFCs Colonel Sanders elicited a mix of insults and well wishes.There was even speculation that his words referred to more than chicken.

One Twitter user wondered if he was suggesting the Chinese market for CBD will eclipse the market in the United States. Its an intriguing notion, given MedReleaf Australias geographical proximity to the massive country known for its hemp production.

Yahoo Finance Canada reached out to Battley for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

TheCannalysts have been vocal critics of Aurora, and by extension Battley. In October, Udells colleague Craig Wiggins raised questions about potentially inflated sales figures through a wholesale transaction. An Aurora spokesperson did not directly respond to questions asked by Yahoo Finance Canada in reference to Wiggins research.

Battley, for his part, called Wiggins a respected observer of the sector.

With confidence in legal cannabis producers dwindling along with share prices, and two of the most visible actors no longer in their respective C-suites, Udell sees Battleys departure as a loss for the sector.

The business side of the cannabis industry needs more Cams, he wrote. Articulate, passionate people like Cam will genuinely be missed.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
A pediatrician who tried to save one of the victims killed in the D.C. sniper shooting spree recalls him staggering towards her begging for help and reveals how she narrowly escaped being shot herself.

The sniper shooting spree terrorized Washington D.C. and the surrounding regions over a three-week period back in 2002 when two gunmen decided to randomly target innocent civilians.

The gunmen - Lee Boyd Malvo, then 17, and John Allen Muhammad, then 41 - shot dead a total of 10 people at random as they went about everyday activities.

The terrifying ordeal 17 years ago, which has come to be known as the D.C. sniper attacks, is now part of an ongoing Supreme Court case that centers on the youngest of the two shooters.

Caroline Namrow, a pediatrician who tried to save one of the D.C. sniper attack victims in 2002 - 54-year-old taxi driver Prem Kumar Walekar - can still recall him staggering towards her begging for help

It has also formed the basis of a new Tenderfoot TV and iHeartRadio podcast Monster: DC Sniper that is set to air on Thursday and includes firsthand accounts of the terror inflicted by the post-9/11 murder spree.

The podcast is hosted by journalist Tony Harris who was a TV anchor in Baltimore at the time of the sniper attacks.

Among those interviewed for the podcast was Caroline Namrow - a Maryland pediatrician who saw 54-year-old taxi driver Prem Kumar Walekar get shot while pumping gas.

Namrow says she can still vividly recall, even after all this time, the moment she heard the gunshot and saw Walekar staggering towards her begging for help.

The doctor, who had her two-year-old in the car with her, had just pulled into the gas station when she spotted Walekar next to her pumping gas into his taxi.

'I thought it was unusual because he was filling his tank from underneath the license plate,' Namrow said.

'I looked at him for a few seconds... and we made eye contact. I reached to get my purse and I heard a bang. Immediately in my head I thought that was a gunshot.

'At the same time I thought 'no why would that be a gunshot'... it must be some sort of electrical problem with the car and he shouldn't have been filling it from under the license plate.

'I looked up and he was walking towards my car. He looked in the passenger side and said call an ambulance and he collapsed.'

The gunmen - Lee Boyd Malvo, then 17, and John Allen Muhammad, then 41 - shot dead a total of 10 people at random as they went about everyday activities

The sniper shooting spree terrorized Washington D.C. and left 10 people dead over a three-week period back in 2002 when the two gunmen decided to randomly target innocent civilians

Namrow recalls being in total shock as she phoned 911 and that she started CPR on Walekar until paramedics arrived.

'There was a lot of blood and I realized he was stopping breathing. Unfortunately he vomited. You can't do mouth-to-mouth if the airway is blocked,' she said.

Walekar died soon after he was shot.

Namrow said she continues to be haunted by the tragic events of that day and still questions why Walekar was shot dead and not her.

'Normally I park the car and I immediately get out. But that day I paused for a few seconds because he was filling his gas tank from where the license plate was,' she said.

'That slowed me down. So that few seconds of delay made a different to my life.

'I was the slightly blurrier object behind my windshield. The clearer shot was to the guy outside the car.

'That's a very shocking thought to be faced with you own mortality.'

Walekar was one of 10 victims shot dead at random during the three-week shooting spree.

For people in the Washington area, the shooting spree is still remembered as particularly frightening because of the randomness of the attacks.

Muhammad and Malvo shot people as they went about everyday activities. Pictured above is one of the rifles used during the three-week attack

A hole was cut at the rear of the blue 1990 Chevrolet Caprice driven by Muhammad and Malvo, as a firing port to be used during their attacks. This allowed them to remain hidden and escape the scene following their attacks

Over three weeks, Muhammad and Malvo shot people as they went about everyday activities.

Among the others killed was an FBI analyst who was shot in the parking lot of a Home Depot and a bus driver who was shot on his bus as he readied for his route.

Muhammad was sentenced to death and was eventually executed in 2009.

Meanwhile, Malvo is serving four life-without-parole sentences in Virginia. He was sentenced to another six life life-without-parole terms for shootings that took place in Maryland.

His case is not at the center of an ongoing Supreme Court fight after an appeals court ruled last year that Malvo should be resentenced in Virginia because he was only 17 at the time.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled last year that while Malvo's life-without-parole sentences were legal when they were imposed, Supreme Court decisions that followed altered sentencing requirements for juvenile offenders.

The appeals court judges said a resentencing would determine whether Malvo qualifies as 'one of the rare juvenile offenders' who can be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole because his 'crimes reflect permanent incorrigibility.'

They said if his crimes instead 'reflect the transient immaturity of youth,' he is entitled to a sentence short of life without parole.

The Supreme Court will review that decision.

Monster: DC Sniper is the third installment of the popular true crime Monster podcast series. It will air on iHeartRadio on January 2 with new episodes dropping every Thursday.
Illinois lawmakers took funds meant to help the Illinois State Police (ISP) facilitate gun registrations, concealed-carry licensing and other services and used the money for other purposes without paying it back, according to a gun-rights group.

An investigation conducted in conjunction with the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) and state Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego, with the aid of state researchers found the General Assembly has siphoned almost $30 million over the past five state budgets.

A memo from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability sent to Wheeler showed more than $13 million swept from the State Police Firearm Services Fund in fiscal years 2015 through 2019. With another fund having been raided of $15 million, lawmakers took $28.5 million in fees paid for by the states more than two million Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cardholders.

It is unconscionable for the governor and the legislature to ask for honest gun owners to pay more money for a constitutional right when the money they are already paying is going to fund other programs and services, ISRA President Richard Pearson said.

Our office gets daily calls from people who are having difficulties navigating the FOID card process so its no wonder we see these problems, given a significant portion of the money intended to fund the program has been raided for other state programs.

Illinois residents re-applying for FOID cards and concealed-carry licenses have reported delays. ISP had contracted with an outside vendor in an effort to expedite the renewal process, using money from one of the funds that lawmakers had raided, something Pearson said was a likely an infringement on the constitutional rights of Illinois residents.

Other licensing program funds were also diverted in sweeps, but Pearson said, You dont have a constitutional right to be a nurse.

Illinois is one of only three states that require such a card to buy or own a firearm. It costs $10 for 10 years with $6 going to the Wildlife and Fish Fund, $3 to the State Police Firearm Services Fund and $1 for the State Police Services Fund. A five-year concealed-carry license costs $150, with $120 of that going to a state fund that was diverted to other state-funded issues.

News that the funds were raided raised questions about a push to increase FOID card fees, Pearson said.

Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, would, among other requirements, have halved the 10-year life of the gun-owner license and doubled the cost to $20.

She said in May that the increased cost of the FOID card would be to ensure that ISP had the funds to properly operate the program.

That bill stalled in the Senate.

Pearson didnt say if ISRA would sue to stop the practice, but said the organization was reviewing its options.

ISP officials didnt have an immediate response to the report, but said they would address the issue soon.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran after furious Iraqi demonstrators mourning those killed in an earlier American attack in Iraq stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible," said Trump in a morning tweet.

"In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!" Trump added.

On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators, participating in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Some protesters smashed one of the gates and broke into the outer yards of the embassy, sparking a clash with the guards who fired tear gas canisters against the demonstrators, an official from the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

U.S. forces on Sunday attacked five locations in Iraq and Syria controlled by Iraq's paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or Hezbollah Brigades, in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, triggering strong responses from Iraq and Syria, with Iran denying any role in the recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

Hashd Shaabi, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization, was formed by the KH and other Shia Iraqi paramilitary groups in 2014. It currently includes more than 40 militant groups.


Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane New Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Wednesday that the Army will focus on the border with China with equal attention as it does on the Pakistan border. He said he is confident that India will eventually resolve the border issue with China.



"We have the Line of Actual Control. The border question (with China) is yet to be settled. We have made progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity. We will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution," General Naravane said after the Indian Army presented him a Guard of Honour.



He further stated that India has land borders with the two countries and both are equally important. "While we have been paying attention in the past to the western front, the northern front also requires equal attention. It is in that context we are doing capability development and enhancement on our northern borders, including north-east part of the country," the Army Chief said.



About India's border with Pakistan and threats from across the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir, General Naravane said, "Whatever threats we have we keep analysing. This is a continuous process where we analyse threats and act accordingly."



On force modernisation, he said, "modernisation is one of the key and priorities area. We have a long term perspective plan based on the analysis of likely threat. These threats keep changing and we change our perspective plan."



He also said that special attention will be given to the issues of human rights. He said the Indian Army is battle hardened and capable of facing all challenges.



"Our priorities are always to be ever ready for all challenges and be operational ready," he said.



On Tuesday, General Naravane took charge as Chief of Army Staff succeeding General Bipin Rawat, who has been appointed India's first Chief of the Defence Staff.



General Naravane was earlier serving as Vice Chief of Indian Army. He took charge as Vice Chief in September this year.



Before that he was heading the Eastern Command of the force, which takes care of India's nearly 4,000-km border with China.



In his 37 years of service, General Naravane has served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace time, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu & Kashmir and the northeast.



In a distinguished military career spanning almost four decades, the General has the distinction of holding key command and staff appointments in peace and field both in the northeast and Jammu & Kashmir and has been part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.



The officer had commanded a Rashtriya Rifles battalion, raised an Infantry brigade, as Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) and has also commanded a prestigious Strike Corps.




Morocco is on a list of twenty-two of the United States allies that will be delivered Raytheons Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The major US defense contractor, Raytheon, said in a Press release that the US Air Force, Navy and 22 foreign allies tapped the company with a $768 million contract for its AMRAAM.

Besides Morocco, four other Arab countries will get the missile. These are Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

The Department of Defenses award notice does not specify how many missiles the contract will procure, but it does call for missile production, captive air training missiles, guidance sections, AMRAAM telemetry system, spares and other production engineering support hardware, the company said, adding that the contract finalized last week is expected to run through Feb. 28, 2023.

The new military equipment to be delivered to Morocco comes as part of a series of military deals concluded between the US, Moroccos largest arms supplier, and the North African country. The military deals seek to boost the Royal Armed Forces military equipment and capacity.

Moroccos arms deals with the US in 2019 totaled $10.3 billion. The deals included the sale of $3.8 billion worth of 25 F-16 aircraft and associated equipment. The US also upgraded Moroccos existing fleet of F-16 fighter jets for a cost of $985 million.

In November, the US State Department approved the sale of 36 Apache attack helicopters and related equipment to the Kingdom for an estimated cost of $4.25 billion.

Recent data from the Forum on the Arms Trade from the US Foreign Military Sales program show that Morocco has outranked Saudi Arabia in US arms acquisition in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The versatile AMRAAM missile has been in service since the 1990s, with up to 37 countries utilizing it on a variety of aircraft.
VADDE SOBHANADREESWARA RAO By

The proposal of the government to have three capital cities -- one for Legislature, one for Executive and another for the Judiciary - based on the recommendations of the GN Rao Committee has not only led to confusion but also created a life and death problem for over 25,000 farmers and their families, who gave up their lands to the tune of 33,000 acres for the capital city. The Sivaramakrishnan Committee had recommended against locating the captial in VGTM region, particularly along the river bank, where Amaravati is located, as there is intense agriculture activity and the land is multi-crop growing fertile land. But the then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu declared the region as the capital city.

In the five years since State bifurcation, 33,000 acres was taken and the farmers had decided to sacrifice their lands for a greater cause. They had hoped that the value of the developed plots given to them in lieu of the agriculture land they gave up, would increase manifold in 10-15 years. If the present government goes ahead with its proposal to decentralise administration and relocate Secretariat and the high court, the development in Amaravati would be nominal and the expected increase in value of the returnable plots to the farmers will never materialise. Their sacrifices would come to naught and many would be pushed into dire straits. I fail to understand why the Jagan government, which has done some good to the farmers like paying crop insurance premium among others, has not considered the predicament of Amaravati farmers.

Here one should ask, why the ruling party leaders failed to raise objections when the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on September 3, 2014, had resolved to locate the new capital between Vijayawada and Guntur along the river Krishna. Why no objections were raised when Prime Minister laid the foundation stone at Uddandarayunipallem on October 22, 2015. Though it was mentioned in the Act that the High Court in Hyderabad will be common for both Andhra and Telangana, owing to pressure from Telangana advocates and subsequent petitions, the Supreme Court ordered for a separate High Court for Andhra.

The then government in the State had asked the Central government and the Supreme Court to set up the high court in Amaravati. Even at that time, those who are now advocating shifting of high court to Kurnool, did not raise any objection nor did they come up with an alternative proposal. Even when the high court complex was under construction, no one objected to it. It should be noted that the President has issued a notification based on the recommendation of the Supreme Court under Sec 30 (1) of the AP Reorganisation Act. If the high court has to be relocated, it will not be that easy as the consent of the Supreme Court and the President is required. Even the proposal to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital and hold summer sessions of the Assembly there is irrational.

For all purposes, Visakhapatnam is already the financial capital. Irrespective of which party is in power, development of Vizag will go unhindered. The argument of some that only with secretariat in Visakhapatnam, the development of North Andhra is possible has no logic. North Andhra is blessed with 1000 mm rainfall on an average, which is the highest in state. It has rivers like Nagavali, Vamsadhara, Mahendra Tanaya, Bahuda. Had the demand for irrigation projects and systematic irrigation facility since the times of Sardar Gouthu Lachanna was met, the situation of migrations from the region would not have happened.

YSR had taken the initiative to address the issue by launching the Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy should not only complete the pending projects in the region, but also take the initiative to negotiate with Odisha Chief Minister to address inter-state river disputes, which will augur well for the Uttarandhra. The argument that development of Amaravati would cost over Rs 1 lakh crore is not true, as there is no need to follow the plans of Chandrababu Naidu. The capital can continue with existing infrastructure and completing pending projects. There is no need for skyscrapers, iconic buildings, ring roads, metro rails, and iconic bridges. We should not forget that thousands of crores of taxpayers money has been spent on Amaravati and the Central government, apart from Rs 1,500 crore, had released Rs 368 crore for its development as a smart city.

VADDE SOBHANADREESWARA RAO

Former agriculture minister
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority in Mauritania has applied financial penalties against three mobile operators, also internet providers, according to a note posted on the institution's official website
Johnson promises decade of prosperity

Britons are becoming more optimistic about the economy as Brexit uncertainty lifts, with one in five expecting to be richer by the end of the year. Boris Johnson is setting out today a prospectus for a decade of prosperity and opportunity as polling for The Times finds that two thirds of voters expect to end this year at least as well off as they are now. In a new year message, the prime minister claims that Britains certain departure from the European Union on January 31 will allow people to turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty of the Brexit debate and look forward to a fantastic year and a remarkable decade.  The Times

He promises to be Prime Minister for everyone  FT

More:

US boasts of stratospheric decade of trade  Daily Express

Carney warns that post-Brexit deals will be harder  The Sun

>Today:

>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: Johnsons New Year Message. Together, folks, lets make 2020 the start of something special.

Cash boost for low-paid workers

Low-paid workers will receive a 6.2 per cent rise from next April as Boris Johnson seeks to shore up support among working class voters who helped deliver him a thumping victory in this months general election. The government said it was delivering the biggest cash increase ever as it announced plans to lift the national living wage for workers aged over 25 from 8.21 an hour to 8.72. In the previous three years, the rise in minimum wage varied between 4.2 per cent and 4.8 per cent. Hard work should always pay, but for too long, people havent seen the pay rises they deserve, said Mr Johnson in a statement released by the Treasury.  FT

Government misses target Tories set in 2015  The Guardian

More:

Voters prefer more cash for public services to tax cuts  The Times

>Today: Ben Houchen in Local Government: Freeports are a key priority for the North

Smeeth says no Labour frontbencher deserves the leadership

No Labour frontbencher deserves to win the leadership due to their cowardice in failing to tackle the partys anti-Semitism scandal, the parliamentary chair of the Jewish Labour Movement has said. Ruth Smeeth, who lost her seat at the general election, said on Tuesday that none of the shadow cabinet contenders vying to replace Jeremy Corbyn are fit to succeed due to their silence over the issue. Writing in the Jewish Chronicle, Ms Smeeth accused the likes of Rebecca Long-Bailey, Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry and Ian Lavery of indifference to the pain of British Jews. They chose to sit by when we needed them to stand up, she wrote. If they were not our allies when we needed them, we should not be their ally when they want us.  Daily Telegraph

She says Shadow Cabinet should be banned from the race  Daily Mail

More:

Left splits in race to replace Corbyn  FT

Fears Corbyn allies will stitch up contest  The Sun

Rayner to endorse Long-Bailey  The Guardian

>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Conservative Party members think Keir Starmer would be the most effective Labour leader

Corbyn rebuked as address fails to mention election loss

Jeremy Corbyn has been castigated by past and present Labour MPs after delivering a New Years Eve message in which he did not mention the partys catastrophic general election result, saying only that it had been quite the year. The video address, in which the Labour leader said the party was now the resistance to Boris Johnsons government, was rounded on in comments on social media from his critics, including those in heartland seats who lost their constituencies to the Tories. Phil Wilson, who lost Sedgefield  the former seat of Tony Blair  to the Conservatives, tweeted: No Jeremy Corbyn you are not part of the resistance to Boris Johnson you are one of enablers of Boris Johnson.  The Guardian

Leader branded disaster zone  Daily Express

Burgon to run for Labour deputy

One of Jeremy Corbyns most loyal lieutenants has announced he will run to be Labours next deputy leader. Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, said he had consulted MPs and Labour members before deciding to throw his hat into the ring to replace Tom Watson. Mr Burgon, 39, said he would be outlining more in the new year. Mr Burgon has been the MP for Leeds East since the 2015 election. Soon after entering the Commons he nominated Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership and he has been an enthusiastic backer ever since. He is the third declared candidate for the position vacated by Mr Watson, who stood down at the general election. The others are Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities minister, and Khalid Mahmood, the shadow Europe minister.  The Times

So will Corbyn critic Murray  Daily Telegraph

Comment:

The only way Labour can win is by ditching Labourism  Jeremy Gilbert, The Guardian

Danny Finkelstein: The decade we opened our eyes to fake news

This was the decade when we began to open our eyes to the truth. We are less ignorant, less deferential, more sceptical. We appreciate better how easy it is to say something untrue in politics and get away with it, an appreciation that is in itself a piece of the truth that has arisen from political science. We are less able and less willing to sweep uncomfortable truth under the carpet. We challenge more. Yes, Donald Trump is remarkably cavalier with the facts. But he is hardly the first president of whom this can be said. To read transcripts of President Nixons Watergate tapes is to be left open-mouthed at the scale and extent of the lying. The same attitude runs through Lyndon Johnsons conduct of the Vietnam War. Or the exploits of Jack, Bobby and Ted Kennedy.  The Times
The following items were taken from Barrington Police Department reports and releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.

DUI

Jorge L. Costilla, 24, of the 200 block of Orchard Place, Fox Lake, was charged Dec. 21 with driving under the influence and disregard of a traffic control light at Dundee Road and Barrington Road. Costilla is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 8.

Kristen N. Mikhail, 34, of the 1600 block of Warren Way, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, was charged Dec. 22 with driving under the influence with a breath alcohol concentration over .08, improper traffic lane usage and speeding at Ela Road and South Northwest Highway. Mikhail is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 22.

Julie A. Freitag, 51, of the 500 block of West Cornelia Avenue, Chicago, was charged Dec. 22 with driving under the influence, improper lane usage and expired registration at Route 14 and Washington Street. Freitag is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 29.

Burglary

A burglary in the 800 block of Warwick Avenue was reported Dec. 17.

Theft

Two thefts over $500 in the 600 block of West Russell Street were reported Dec. 18.

Theft of a motor vehicle in the 200 block of North Cook Street was reported Dec. 20.
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. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Air New Zealand Limited (NZSE:AIR).

Air New Zealand has a ROE of 13%, based on the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each NZ$1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made NZ$0.13 in profit.

Check out our latest analysis for Air New Zealand

How Do You Calculate ROE?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Air New Zealand:

13% = NZ$270m  NZ$2.1b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.)

Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does ROE Signify?

Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, all else being equal, a high ROE is better than a low one. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies.

Does Air New Zealand Have A Good ROE?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. The image below shows that Air New Zealand has an ROE that is roughly in line with the Airlines industry average (14%).

NZSE:AIR Past Revenue and Net Income, December 30th 2019

That's neither particularly good, nor bad. 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. I will like Air New Zealand 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

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE

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 required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Combining Air New Zealand's Debt And Its 13% Return On Equity

While Air New Zealand does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.72, we wouldn't say debt is 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 Bottom Line On ROE

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

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 you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

But note: Air New Zealand 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.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
US president threatens Iran would pay a very big price but later said he does not want to go to war.

The United States said on Tuesday it was sending additional troops to the Middle East, after hundreds protesters stormed its embassy compound in Iraq, setting fires and chanting: Death to America!

Angered by US air raids that killed two dozen militia fighters on Sunday, supporters of the powerful Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces) paramilitary group spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone on Tuesday, demanding the removal of American troops from Iraq.

Reacting to the attack, US President Donald Trump said he held Tehran fully responsible for the incident, and said the protesters will be held fully responsible, he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!

Trump later warned in a separate statement that Tehran would pay a very big price after the attack, but when asked later in the day about the possibility of tensions spiralling into a war with Iran, Trump told reporters: Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack was orchestrated by terrorists, one of whom he named as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.





Al-Muhandis has been identified as the second-in-command of the Tehran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi group which includes Kataib Hezbollah, the group that was hit in the US air raids.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement that about 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the region.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, he said.

A social media post from the US Marines said the troops from its crisis response command in Kuwait were deployed to Iraq.

Send the Marines@SPMAGTF_CR_CC deploys from Kuwait to Iraq to bolster security at the US Embassy and ensure the safety of American citizens there, Dec. 31. @StateDept pic.twitter.com/NQg4ZAYiGi  U.S. Marines (@USMC) December 31, 2019

The deployment of 750 soldiers is in addition to 14,000 US troops who have been deployed to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iran, and the reported attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf.

At the time of the attack, the US had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat the ISIL (ISIS) group.

Meanwhile, a US official, who provided unreleased details to the Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of about 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

On Sunday, the US launched air attacks on sites in Iraq and Syria belonging to Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, that Washington said was in retaliation for the killing of a US contractor.

At least 25 Kataib Hezbollah fighters were killed in the attack.

Kataib Hezbollah, through its spokesman Mohammed Muhi, denied carrying out the attack on the US facility.

A US official, who provided unreleased details to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of about 4,000 soldiers may deploy to Iraq soon [File: Ali Haider/EPA]

That triggered the protest and storming of the US embassy compound on Tuesday.

The protesters raised flags of the powerful Hashd al-Shaabi, with which Kataib Hezbollah is associated.

Downturn in Iraq-US relations

The developments represent a significant downturn in Iraq-US relations that could further undermine US influence in the region and weaken Washingtons hand in its pressure campaign against Iran.

Iraq has long struggled to balance its ties with the US and Iran, allies of the Iraqi government.

But the governments angry reaction to the US air attacks signalled a deterioration of US-Iraq relations.

To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Iraqi security forces made no effort to stop the protesters as they marched to the heavily-fortified Green Zone after a funeral held for those killed in the US air attacks, letting them pass through a security checkpoint leading to the area.

Seven armoured vehicles with about 30 Iraqi soldiers arrived near the embassy hours after the violence erupted, deploying near the embassy walls but not close to the breached area. Four vehicles carrying riot police approached the embassy later but were forced back by the protesters who blocked their path.

Following the attack, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and President Barham Salih that the US will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq, the State Department said in a statement.

Abdul Mahdi and Salih assured Pompeo that they took seriously their responsibility for and would guarantee the safety and security of US personnel and property, the statement said.
TWH  The Pew Research Center has released a report, Religion and Living Arrangements Around the World. Living arrangements refer to types of households. These include extended families, two-parent families, living alone, single-parent families etc.

The Pew Center only examined religions with more than 500,000 people within a country. That limited their research to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, and the Nones. The term Nones refers to the growing number of people without a religious identity.

The Center did not examine the types of living arrangements reflective of Pagan culture(s). Considering the variation in Pagan practices and beliefs about gender, procreation, and sexuality, it would be difficult to identify their impact.

Besides religious belief, other factors influence living arrangements. These other factors include epidemics, migration, wars, and economics. The Pew Center found that as countries become more developed and wealthy, the size of households decreased. The average number of people in a household varied from 2.7 people in Germany to 13.8 people in The Gambia.

Among all six identified religious groups with the exception of Jews, most people lived in either extended families or two-parent households.

Hindus

This group showed the least variation among all six identified religious groups. About 85% of all Hindus lived in either extended families (55%) or two-parent households (30%). About 90% of all Hindus live in India. This concentration conflates Indian issues with those of Hinduism as a whole.

Buddhists and Nones

More Buddhists (44%) live in extended families than do Nones (37%). Both groups show surprising similarities. They have almost identical rates of parents living with adult children (13% and 12%), childless couples (13% and 14%), and people living alone (7% and 7%). China has a great impact because of its huge populations. China has large numbers of Buddhists and of the Nones. From 1979 to 2016, China had a one-child-per-family policy. This policy contributed to the small family size among both Buddhists and the Nones.

Muslims

Among Abrahamics, Muslims show the least variation in living arrangements. About 79% of Muslims live in either extended families (36%) or two-parent households (43%). Muslims averaged the highest number of individuals per household (6.4) of all groups. Only 59% of countries in the heavily Muslim Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region provided data. This lack of data introduces a level of uncertainty into statements about Muslims.

Jews

In most groups, the majority live in either an extended family or a two-parent household. This differs among Jews. Only 49% do. About 17% of Jews live in an extended family. Another 32% live in a two-parent household. Jews also have the highest rates for living as a couple (21%) or living alone (10%). Most Jews live in either Israel or the US, both developed countries. This follows the pattern of more development leading to smaller households.

Christians

This group has the largest percentage of its followers living as single parents (6%). About 60% of Christians live in the Americas and Europe. However, only two-thirds of countries in Latin America had available data. If more Latin countries had available data, this figure might differ.

Polygamy

About 11% of people living south of the Sahara live in polygamous households. In that area, about a quarter of the Muslims from this region live in polygamous households. Some African folk religions encourage polygamy. The MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region could have higher rates of male-dominated polygamy, but only 59% of MENA countries had available data. For example, Saudi Arabia did not. If more MENA countries had provided data, the percent living in polygamy might be different and likely higher. The Arabian Gulf region could plausibly be another center for polygamy.

Gender issues

Around the world, independent of religion and geography, women are more likely than men to be single parents. Among people 60 and older, more women than men tend to live alone. This may be partly due to younger death rates for men and older men tending to marry younger women. The percent of older women living alone varies by religion. While 33% of Christian and Jewish women over 60 live alone, only 6 percent of Hindu women do.

How the Pew Center collected this data

Pew obtained data on religion and living arrangements from 130 countries, representing 91% of the worlds population. That missing 9%, however, includes Australia and New Zealand/Aotearoa. It also includes one-third of Latin American countries and 41% of MENA countries. In Africa, that missing 9% includes Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, Sudan, Western Sahara, and Morocco.

Cultural factors, like religion, do have some influence on living arrangements. Economics, however, appears to have a greater influence. Generally, the more a society has become economically developed, the more people will live in smaller groups.
A day after the Kerala assembly passed a resolution against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday rejected BJP's critisism against it, saying the state assemblies have their own privileges.

Hours after the assembly had passed the resolution on Tuesday demanding the scrapping of the CAA, union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had hit out at the Left government and said Vijayan should seek "better legal advise".

Prasad had also said it is only "Parliament which has got the powers to pass any law with regard to citizenship; not any assembly, including the Kerala Assembly.

BJP's Rajya Sabha member, G V L Narasimha Rao also wrote to the House chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to initiate breach of parliamentary privileges and contempt proceedings against the Kerala CM over the resolution.

"State Assemblies have its own privileges. Such actions are unheard of anywhere. But we cannot rule out anything in the present circumstance as unprecedented things are happening now-a-days in the country," Vijayan told reporters here when asked about the breach of privilege proceedings.

The Assemblies have its own special protection and it should not be violated, he said.

Kerala has become the first state to pass a resolution against a law which has been violating the fundamental principles of the Constitution and it has great significance, the chief minister added.

On a question regarding state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan supporting the CAA, the Chief Minister said he is entitled to have his opinion on various issues.

So, his views can be seen in that way only, he added.

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding scrapping of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), becoming the first state in the country to do so.

While Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states like Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal have announced that they would not implement CAA, CPI(M)-ruled Kerala was the first to take the legislature route to register its opposition to the law.

Setting aside their political differences, the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and Opposition Congress headed UDF, once again came together to launch a joint fight against the Centre on the CAA, which has seen unprecedented protests all over the country.

Vijayan, who moved the resolution and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who seconded it, alleged that CAA was an attempt to make India a religious nation.

The lone BJP member in the assembly, O Rajagopal rejected the allegation saying the Act was being "misinterpreted" and lies were being spread by the fronts for narrow political gains.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




Snohomish Fire board makes transition



SNOHOMISH  Mark Hintz was honored for a decade and a half of service last week by the Fire District 4 commission.

Hintz lost his commission seat to Evan Merritt, who was sworn in at the same meeting. Recognition of Hintzs service was detailed at the final commission meeting of 2019 on Dec. 23.

Hintz was involved in the passage of an emergency medical services levy in 2006 that followed several previous levy failures. The funding allowed the district to establish a paramedic program.

Hintz and former commissioner Roger Portmann were instrumental in getting the Paramedic Program started in 2007, a statement said.

The commission also oversaw the complete replacement of an aging fleet of emergency vehicles.

Hintz was a banker in his professional life and granted those skills to oversee and manage district funds, which the commission announcement said resulted in seven Washington State Audits, with a clean record and no findings. A finding evaluates audit evidence against criteria; a lack of findings indicates compliance and a meticulous methodology.

In a phone interview before the meeting, Hintz mentioned his role in development of the district training site off of S. Machias Road which is now utilized by both Whatcom and Skagit firefighters.

Commissioner Jim Schmoker spoke to the commitment Hintz made in his time on the commission.

There is much more beneath the surface that doesnt show in direct accomplishments. Hundreds of hours of research, discussion and decisions that have made the department what it is today, Schmoker said in the statement. Mark has been a great champion of the people, assuring we had the best department we could have with the limited funding we are allowed.

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(Newser)  As false information and rumor spread instantly online, John Roberts said, it's even more important that Americans understand how their government works. But civics education has "fallen by the wayside," the chief justice said in his annual report on the federal judiciary, and Americans "have come to take democracy for granted." Roberts said judges are helping to fill that gap, Reuters reports, citing Merrick Garland's tutoring at an elementary school. Garland is the judge whose Supreme Court nomination by President Barack Obama was blocked by Senate Republicans.

story continues below

Roberts did not mention permitting televising or streaming audio of the Supreme Court's oral arguments, per the Washington Post, which many have advocated as a way to show government's workings. He did give as an example the court's landmark desegregation ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. "Chief Justice Earl Warren illustrated the power of a judicial decision as a teaching tool," Roberts wrote. Warren's ruling, he said, was "a mere 11 pagesshort enough that newspapers could publish all or almost all of it and every citizen could understand the court's rationale." (Read more John Roberts stories.)
RACINE  June 17 was a day that rocked the Racine community to its core when veteran Racine Police Officer John Hetland was fatally shot at a local bar.

Hetlands tragic death, and the outpouring of grief from the community, led Journal Times newsroom staff to rank Hetlands death, as well as the fatal shooting of Ty Rese West, as the joint No. 1 stories of 2019. They were chosen based on news value and impact on the community.

Hetland, 49, a 24-year-veteran of the Racine Police Department, was nearing retirement, when he was shot and killed attempting to intervene in an armed robbery at Teezers Bar & Grill, 1936 Lathrop Ave. A suspect has been charged and a trial is set for next month.

Although Hetland was off duty at the time, his death was regarded a line-of-duty death because he was taking action consistent with his law enforcement duties.

The last previous line-of-duty Racine Police Department officer death was that of James R. Fine, who was killed on Jan. 11, 1974.

After Hetlands death, authorities released a photo taken from surveillance footage which showed the shooting suspect, and asked for help from the public to identify the suspect.

Many local entities pooled their resources together in order to provide a reward to the person who provided information leading to the suspects apprehension. As the days passed, the reward eventually grew to $78,500.

There was also a massive outpouring of support from the community. Mourners gathered at the Racine Police Department to cover Hetands Racine Police cruiser with flowers, balloons, cards and other items as a makeshift memorial for Hetland in the days following his death.

Gov. Tony Evers ordered flags throughout the state to fly at half staff in honor of Hetland until his burial.

Hundreds of law-enforcement officers from throughout the state and region were among the mourners who attended Hetlands funeral on June 26 at A.F. Siebert Chapel on the Carthage College campus. A group of six Racine Police officers carried Hetlands casket, draped in an American flag, as other officers saluted.

A procession transported Hetland from Carthage to his final resting place at West Lawn Memorial Park in Mount Pleasant.

One June 27, the day after Hetlands funeral, 26-year-old Dalquavis Ward of Milwaukee was arrested as a suspect. Ward was released from federal prison just four days before the shooting at Teezers.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department, which led the investigation as an outside agency to avoid potential conflict of interest, said DNA evidence left at the scene tied Ward to the robbery and shooting.

Ward is charged with felony counts of first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon. He faces life in prison for the homicide charge alone.

He is scheduled to be tried during a five-day trial set to begin Feb. 3 at the Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave.

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Police were investigating the cause of the elevatoras crash. (Photo Credit: Photo For Representation)

Mhow:

Six members of a family were killed and another injured on Tuesday evening when an elevator collapsed at a farmhouse near Mhow town, 25 km from Indore, the police said.

The deceased were identified as Puneet Agrawal (53), his daughter Palak Agrawal (27), her husband Kalpesh (28) and three childrenNav Agrawal, Arya Veer and Gaurav.

Nidhi, who was critically injured, was admitted to a hospital, Sub Divisional Officer of Police Vinod Sharma told PTI.

The police were investigating the cause of the elevators crash, he said.

The elevator was used to ascend to the top of a 60-foot high tower inside the farmhouse which is spread over several acres of land, he said.
Lockheed Martin Corp. says it delivered 134 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters worldwide in 2019, surpassing its goal of 131.

The milestone marks a "47% increase from 2018 and nearly a 200% production increase from 2016," the company said in a news release Monday. "Next year, Lockheed Martin plans to deliver 141 F-35s and is prepared to increase production volume year-over-year to hit peak production in 2023."

Lockheed's deliveries included 81 F-35s for the U.S., 30 for international partners and 23 for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers.

"This achievement is a testament to the readiness of the full F-35 enterprise to ramp to full-rate production, and we continue to focus on improving on-time deliveries across the entire weapons system," said Greg Ulmer, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the F-35 program.

Related: Lawmakers Urge DoD to Expand F-35 Foreign Military Sales

Ulmer said the company's activity is part of the overall goal to "increase production rates, improve efficiencies and reduce costs."

The 134th aircraft delivered was a Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) model for the Marine Corps.

The company said the production rate allowed the price of the F-35A variant -- the exportable version flown by the U.S. Air Force -- to drop to $77.9 million per plane.

The Pentagon has put pressure on Lockheed to reduce costs where it can, officials have said, trying to get the cost reduced to at least $80 million per jet for years.

There has been some incentive for Lockheed to boost its overall performance goals, since the U.S. military, particularly the Air Force, is looking to buy new variants of the F-15 Eagle -- the F-15EX -- for the first time in more than 20 years.

(Courtesy Lockheed Martin Corp.)

But 2019 hasn't been without upset for the F-35 program.

For example, the Pentagon lost one of its F-35 NATO partner nations this year. The Defense Department in July officially booted Turkey from participating in the program because of its purchase of Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air-missile systems.

As a result, the Pentagon said it will cost $500 million to $600 million to find new suppliers for F-35 parts currently produced by Turkey as that country "unwinds" from the program by March 2020.

DoD officials also announced that they will not clear the F-35 for full-rate production this year, after setbacks during a critical testing phase.

The Office of Secretary of Defense (OSD) may not sign off on the F-35 full-rate production milestone -- a sign of confidence in the program to produce more fighter jets -- until as late as January 2021 because of a latest testing lapse in what's known as the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), Military.com previously reported.

The JSE projects variables such as weather, geography and range, allowing test pilots to prove the aircraft's "full capabilities against the full range of required threats and scenarios," according to a 2015 Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) report.

Despite the unfinished test, some versions of the F-35 have made their combat debut. Ellen Lord, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, recently said the full-rate decision will be made in the fall of 2020.

Production halted for two weeks in November after developers discovered a "co-mingling" of different types of fasteners used on the aircraft, Lord told reporters during a briefing Dec. 10.

That issue has since been resolved, with the Pentagon resuming deliveries Nov. 27, she said, as reported by Air Force Magazine.

Despite ongoing issues, the Pentagon in October finalized a $34 billion agreement with Lockheed for the next three batches of F-35s, firming up its largest stealth fighter jet deal to date.

DoD officials on Oct. 29 said the delivery groups, known as Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lots 12, 13 and 14, include the delivery of 478 F-35 aircraft -- with 149, 160 and 169 jets per batch -- for the U.S. military services and international customers.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: 100 Marines from Crisis Response Unit Sent to Secure US Embassy in Iraq
When it comes to mobile technology, trends mean so much more than any single event.

That's a notion we see reinforced time and time again here in the land o' Android  and that's why so much of our focus in this little corner of the internub is on the bigger-picture view of what's going on with Google. By looking at those broader trends, we can get a sense of how the company's strategies are shifting and what those changes suggest about the future of Android and other mobile tech efforts.

We had no shortage of such matters to consider in 2019  and some of the trends we've observed over these past 12 months will almost certainly inform the patterns we'll see over the course of the coming year.

So take a few minutes now, in this rare start-of-year quiet, to revisit these important bits of analysis. They'll give you valuable context about where Android and Google in general are going and what broad themes are bound to dominate the discussion in 2020.

Let's mull, shall we?

[Get fresh tips and insight in your inbox every Friday with JR's Android Intelligence newsletter. Exclusive extras await!]



On upgrades and the evolving state of Android

If you think Android OS updates are relevant only for what you see on the surface, you aren't thinking deeply enough.

Android 10 (formerly known as Q) includes an ambitious new system for delivering system updates  but it isn't quite as black and white as you might think.

"Android copied the iPhone," "iOS copied Android," and the importance of mobile tech perspective.

On Google's ever-expanding hardware ambitions

With the Pixel 4, Google's showing us why it started making hardware  and showing off the type of value it alone can deliver.

How do you sell people on something that's not only intangible but also difficult to describe?

It may seem like we've seen it all, but Google's Pixel party isn't over yet.

Google's plans for a Pixel Watch are still shrouded in mystery, but the company certainly has the pieces to create something exceptional  and maybe, just maybe, we'll see them turn into something tangible in 2020.

On Google's broader business progressions

If you want to process this year's bombshell that Google's founders are resigning and contemplate what it could mean for the company's future, these are the themes you should focus on.

Google is quietly repositioning the very foundation of its business  and if you aren't watching closely, this monumental move might be easy to miss.

On platform-wide hardware trends

Why the latest folding Android phone might be the one to watch (but not buy).

Microsoft's 2020-targeted Surface Duo deserves your attention, but some of the things we don't yet know about the device may prove to be the most pivotal.

From folding phones to fingerprint flips and premature 5G excitation, almost every recent mobile tech advancement has one curious thing in common  and it's something that seems likely to continue in the coming year.

Bonus: A bitter farewell to some dear old friends

Saying goodbye to Google services has become a bit of an annual tradition, but this year's farewell seems particularly poignant.

Rest assured: The areas outlined above are all themes we'll be talking about much more in the months ahead. So mull away, then shut down that beautiful brain of yours and enjoy a little more well-deserved R&R (red wine and rice pudding, obviously). We'll pick up here soon, and this primer will have your noggin in the perfect place for the next phase of our ever-progressing discussion.

A very happy New Year to you, my fine and fetching friend. 2020, here we come!

Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get more practical tips, personal recommendations, and plain-English perspective on the news that matters.

[Android Intelligence videos at Computerworld]
Here's a question: Does anybody have any idea what the Republican Party stands for in 2020?

One way to find out: As you are out and about marking the new year, it is likely you will come across a Republican to whom you can pose the question, preferably after a drink or two, as that tends to work as truth serum: "Look, I was just wondering: What's the Republican Party all about these days? What does it, well, stand for?"

I'm betting the answer is going to involve a noun, a verb and either "socialism" or "Democrats." Republicans now partly define their party simply as an alternative to that other party, as in, "I'm a Republican because I'm not a Democrat."

In a long-forgotten era - say, four years ago - such a question would have elicited a very different answer. Though there was disagreement over specific issues, most Republicans would have said the party stood for some basic principles: fiscal sanity, free trade, strong on Russia, and that character and personal responsibility count. Today it's not that the Republican Party has forgotten these issues and values; instead, it actively opposes all of them.

Republicans are now officially the character doesn't count party, the personal responsibility just proves you have failed to blame the other guy party, the deficit doesn't matter party, the Russia is our ally party, and the I'm-right-and-you-are-human-scum party. Yes, it's President Donald Trump's party now, but it stands only for what he has just tweeted.

A party without a governing theory, a higher purpose or a clear moral direction is nothing more than a cartel, a syndicate that exists only to advance itself. There is no organized, coherent purpose other than the acquisition and maintenance of power.

This is a sad fall. In Ronald Reagan's America, being born an American was to win's life lottery; in Donald Trump's America, it makes you a victim, a patsy, a chump.

Trump didn't hijack the GOP and bend it to his will. He did something far easier: He looked at the party, saw its fault lines and then offered himself as a pure distillation of accumulated white grievance and anger. He bet that Republican voters didn't really care about free trade or mutual security, or about the environment or Europe, much less deficits. He rebranded kindness and compassion as "PC" and elevated division and bigotry as the admirable goals of just being politically incorrect. Trump didn't make Americans more racist; he just normalized the resentments that were simmering in many households. In short, he let a lot of long-suppressed demons out of the box.

This paranoid element in the party has existed for decades, since the Joe McCarthy era, when some Republicans who saw dark forces threatening the country argued that only radical action by "true" Americans - white, Christian, conservative - could safeguard the nation. Barry Goldwater revived the theme in 1964, and George Wallace won five states with it as a third-party candidate in 1968. I worked in every Republican presidential campaign from 1996 through 2012 and assumed that those guys had long been vanquished and that optimism and inclusion had prevailed. I was wrong.

This impeachment moment and all that has led to it should signal a day of reckoning. A party that has as its sole purpose the protection and promotion of its leader, whatever he thinks, is not on a sustainable path. Can anyone force a change? I'm not optimistic. Trump won with 46.1 percent of the vote in 2016, while Mitt Romney lost with 47.2 percent in 2012; no wonder Republicans have convinced themselves that the path to victory and power lies with angry division. Having ignored the warning signs for years myself, I know the seductive lure of believing what you prefer while ignoring the obvious truth.

Which is this: We are a long way - more than a half-century - from 1968, much less 1952. The United States is now a diverse, chaotic collection of 330 million people, a country of immigrants and multiculturalism that is growing less white every day. It is not some gauzy Shangri-La of suburban bliss that never existed.

I'd like to say that I believe the party I spent so many years fighting for could rise to the challenge of this moment. But there have been too many lies for too long.

- - -

Stevens is a writer and political consultant who is working with a political action committee that backs Bill Weld for president.
Hanmi Pharmaceutical headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul / Courtesy of Hanmi Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical firm looks to offer 'omnibus life care' to patients



By Nam Hyun-woo





Hanmi Science CEO Lim Chong-yoon / Courtesy of Hanmi Pharmaceutical

Hanmi Pharmaceutical has consolidated its position as one of the leading drug makers in Korea, standing as the country's top pharmaceutical firm by market cap. However, growing risks from canceled license-out deals have overshadowed its pharmaceutical business recently, putting the group's leadership to the test.



Lim Chong-yoon, CEO of Hanmi Pharmaceutical Group's holding firm Hanmi Science, said the group's pharmaceutical portfolio is well-established globally, and so will not be swayed by those risks. At the same time, he said the group will not confine itself to being a drug maker and pursue the goal of becoming an "omnibus life care" provider to stay competitive in the market.



"Pharmaceuticals and biologics are among the most promising areas for Hanmi, but there are windows to look outside, and we plan to start a voyage to tap into unknown opportunities," Lim said during an interview with The Korea Times. "There is a curiosity basket filled with opportunities, and projects with schools, hospitals and therapeutic centers are where I would love to start."



Hanmi Science was established in 2010 as the group's holding firm. Its role is not limited to managing the group units and affiliates, but includes investments into R&D projects and new businesses in the healthcare sector.



One of the noteworthy projects by Lim is Coree Group, a group affiliate having units covering venture investments and new business incubation, such as digital medical services, nutrition consulting and a number of projects related to healthcare. As part of these, Coree launched biobank projects in Italy and China in 2018 along with local partners.



"We believe what is beyond pharmaceuticals is welfare," Lim said. "I have been thinking that we need a total reformation of the health industry chain from medicine to omnibus life care. And it is time for us to embrace creative destruction."



According to him, omnibus life care is providing full services to bring back health to a patient, meaning it includes not only the treatment of a disease through medication but also a study into the cause of the disease and ways to prevent it. For this, Hanmi Science takes care of the medical part and Coree is in charge of prevention and other services.



Along with Coree, Lim is expanding Hanmi's domain by opening up its businesses to outside partners.



On Dec. 9, he visited China and met iKang Healthcare Group Chairman Zhang Ligang. iKang Healthcare Group is a preventative healthcare provider based on a medical examination network. Reportedly, Lim and Zhang discussed the two sides' partnership for a digital examination system. In addition to iKang, Lim met with the leaders of three Chinese healthcare companies in December and discussed partnerships.



"Hanmi is one of the most active Korean drug makers to sign partnerships with global companies," Lim said. "However, the efforts were an outcome born out of desperation to overcome partnership rejections from global drug makers and the growing burden of its huge R&D investment."





Running into bumps



Lim's remark came amid growing risks in Hanmi's main business of drug manufacturing.



In January 2019, Eli Lilly returned the licensing rights for Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor HM71224, which Hanmi Pharmaceutical licensed out in 2015 for $765 million. Six months later, Janssen handed back rights to HM12525A, an antidiabetic obesity treatment, which Hanmi also licensed out in 2015. The series of cancellations raised questions on Hanmi Pharmaceutical's pipeline.



Regarding this, Lim said failures and cancelations were common in the pharmaceutical business, and the company was not swayed by failure.



"Hanmi has already established itself, having over 400 drug licenses which use more than 90 percent of the manufacturing sites that the company owns," Lim said. "In China, we have about 50 drug licenses approved by the China Food & Drug Administration and three top prescribing drugs there."



Another risk which emerged recently is Efpeglenatide, a new diabetes drug candidate which Hanmi licensed out to Sanofi in 2015.



Efpeglenatide drew high expectation as it requires weekly injections, unlike most existing diabetes drugs which require daily ones.



However, new Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said on Dec. 10 that the French pharma giant was stopping all research into diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Following the decision, Sanofi will finish the drug's phase three clinical trials but will not launch it and instead seek a partner to commercialize the drug.



Hanmi said the move was not related to the drug's efficacy and safety, and the details of the licensing agreement and the plan to file new drug applications in 2021 have not changed. However, this raised questions over Efpeglenatide's future in the market as well as affecting the stock prices of Hanmi Pharmaceutical and Hanmi Science.



"Sanofi, like many in this industry, is among the most strategic and dynamic firms when it comes to reform in my opinion, and it was a very bold decision by Sanofi that is in line with current changes in the treatment of chronic diseases," Lim said.



"For the market, it is a good time to find a partner since the technical strength of Efpeglenatide is still valid as seen in the current phase three clinical trials. It can serve many patients with the unique biological advantage of a prolonged-activity agonist molecule."



Unlike Hanmi, Sanofi terminated its diabetes drug partnership with Lexicon Pharmaceuticals in July as part of its farewell to diabetes drugs, despite paying $260 million to Lexicon.



As Lim said, a number of analysts said Sanofi's decision to finish Efpeglenatide's phase three trials means it highly evaluates the value of Hanmi's technology in developing the drug.



The technology, Lapscovery, is a platform technology that prolongs the duration of action of biologics, thus making it possible for once a week or monthly treatments. Hanmi has made sizable investments in recent years to produce biologics using Lapscovery.



"Lapscovery is effective as it can translate into many metabolic related treatments, and the world needs more advanced medicines using this technology to reduce patient inconvenience from outdated drug regimens."





A Hanmi Pharmaceutical researcher tests a compound at the drug maker's research center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Hanmi Pharmaceutical
By Ofeliya Afandiyeva

Over one million hectares of land were used in 2019 to sow grain crops in Azerbaijan, head of the plant-growing monitoring department Rafail Guliyev has said.

As of December 27, 2019, wheat was sown on a 630,000-hectare-area, barley - on a 362,000-hectare-area and triticale  on a 20,000-hectare-area, which equaled overall one million hectares in the country, Guliev said in an address to a meeting dedicated to the results of 2019.

Grain growing plays a strategic role in ensuring the food security of the country's population and its development is constantly in the spotlight of the state, Guliyev said.

He stressed that in spite of the overall unfavorable weather conditions for sowing of grain crops in most districts of the country, sowing process was carried out in the optimal period of October to November.

"The preparatory work for plowing and sowing has been launched earlier this year. Some 450,000 hectares of land were plowed from July through August, which is two times more compared to 2018. Some 55,000 tons of fertilizers were used in the arable land. The preference was given to alternate plowing. This method was used on 35-40 percent of arable fields during the sowing of grain, the head of the department said.

He added that despite adverse weather conditions, abnormally warm weather, severe drought and lack of water for irrigation, irrigation work has already been completed on 50 percent of the sown area, Guliyev said.

He emphasized that along with the application of innovative technologies to achieve high yields, one of the main tasks facing economic entities and farmers is the proper organization of the fight against agricultural pests and diseases.

It was noted that one of the important conditions for obtaining high yields of fall crops is the optimal timing of chemical control of weeds. Weeds are one of the factors that reduce the productivity of cultural plants, including fall wheat. Usually, during fall sowing, chemical measures against weeds are carried out when the air temperature is 12 degrees, especially in March. In some cases, late treatment of sown areas caused damage to the farm.

The event participants were thoroughly informed about the use of new pesticides in the fight against diseases and pests, the rules of technical safety when working with them, the fundamental principles of the transition to an integrated fight against diseases and pests and the use of new innovative technologies.

The meeting participants discussed ways to address the difficulties in irrigation of grain crops due to severe drought and water shortage in recent months, pesticide and feeding fertilizers for the implementation of agro-technical measures in the next stages.

The event was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agro Services Agency, research institutes, as well as local and foreign specialists operating in the companies importing pesticides.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Brazilian president faces a tough second year after leaving his own party and his policies in the Amazon rainforest.

Standing up in an open-top Rolls-Royce while waving to thousands of supporters, Jair Bolsonaros inauguration on January 1, 2019, marked a dramatic shift in Brazilian politics, after 16 years of left-wing rule.

The outspoken, far-right former army captain was propelled to power by vowing to confront socialist ideology, root out corruption, crack down on crime and revive the sluggish economy in Latin Americas largest and most populous nation.

My country was very close to socialism, which led us to a situation of widespread corruption, serious economic recession, high crime rates and continuous ceaseless attacks against family and religious values that are part and parcel of our traditions, Bolsonaro said in a speech in September before the UN General Assembly in New York.

Heading into his second year in office, observers said the Brazilian president who came to power riding a wave of discontent against status quo politics, has held firm on his hardline ideology at home and abroad, in an approach that has delighted his supporters but alienated some of his allies.

Bolsonaro was in most ways, what we expected him to be, he held his ground as an anti-establishment president, which is what secured the support of his base throughout the year, said Filipe Carvalho, Brazil analyst with the Eurasia Group.

He has had a reasonably good year in terms of progress, and he held on to his strong nationalist base of support, Carvalho told Al Jazeera.

Jair Bolsonaro waving as he arrives with his wife Michelle to his inauguration ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

When the 64-year-old longtime fringe congressman came into office, many commentators citing his admiration for the Brazilian dictatorship that once ruled the country  cast him as a threat to democracy. But over the course of 2019, the leader who is often compared with US President Donald Trump, has struggled to get many of his proposals approved by Congress, and has seen his popularity slip.

A poll held in December revealed that 30 percent of respondents approved of Bolsonaro, down from 40 percent when he first took office, and the lowest for any elected first-term Brazilian president.

Major victory

But his administration has also secured important economic achievements.

In October, Congress approved a landmark decision to overhaul the countrys pension system, handing Bolsonaro a major victory.

Brazils extremely generous pension system, accounts for 40 percent of total federal spending, according to research by Capital Economics. The change, which sets the minimum retirement age at 65 for men and 62 for women, up from 56 and 53, will save the country about $200bn over the next decade.

Its a really important step to stabilise the countrys debt trajectory and try to cut the public deficit, Carvalho said. And its a really important nod to investors that this administration is really engaged when it comes to making economic adjustments.

The move capped years of stalled efforts by Bolsonaros predecessors, and reflected a shift in public opinion. But for a president who once declared that he knows nothing about economics, analysts say, the move is largely thanks to Bolsonaros economics minister Paulo Guedes, a University of Chicago-trained free-market economist.

Guedes, who has managed to get members of Congress to support his agenda, still has measures pending, including ambitious tax reforms, curbing public spending and selling off state companies.

In another sign that the economy may be slowly turning a corner for the better after six straight years of negative or stagnant growth, Brazils unemployment rate fell from 12.5 percent earlier in 2019 to about 11.8 percent in August.

A military police officer patrols the Kelsons slum during an operation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [File: Pilar Olivares/Reuters]

For Bolsonaro who ran on a law-and-order platform vowing to end years of corruption and spiralling gang violence  his administration has claimed its highest marks in public security. Brazil has the worlds highest homicide rate.

Police figures compiled by the Brazilian website G1 show that homicides in the first nine months of 2019 fell by 22 percent, to 30,864 cases, compared with the same period in 2018.

Bolsonaro, who pledged to defend police officers and said those who shoot criminals should be given medals, rather than face legal punishment took to Twitter to congratulate his administration for its role. But experts say the steady decline in homicides precedes Bolsonaros time in office, beginning after 2017, the most murderous year in the countrys history  when nearly 64,000 people across the country were killed in gang battles.

Corruption allegations targeting the presidents eldest son, are now threatening another core premise of his campaign.

Prosecutors are pursuing allegations that his eldest son Flavio, when he was a legislator in Rio state, hired phantom employees in a scheme under which he diverted part of their salaries to his former driver to buy two apartments and a stake in a chocolate franchise. In December, police carried out two dozen raids on properties belonging to Flavio, his relatives and former employees.

Flavio says he is innocent and has blasted the probe as a political vendetta against his fathers presidency.

Social media master

In another move that could fragment his base, Bolsonaro quit his fractious right-wing Social Liberal Party (PSL) in November to start a new one the Alliance for Brazil (APB).

After months of disagreements among PSL members over decision-making and campaign funds, Bolsonaro announced his new party, in which he would be the partys president and his son, Flavio, would be vice president. The new party is expected to officially launch in March 2020.

But Bolsonaro first needs to gather 500,000 signatures which he and his supporters say they are confident they can achieve through social media, a tool that has proven to be indispensable to Bolsonaros successful run for president and his continued popularity.

Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro using his mobile phone during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil [Adriano Machado/Reuters]

Social media is a very important tool for this administration, Thiago de Aragao, director of strategy of Arko Advice told Aljazeera.

Bolsonaro often takes to Twitter, and other social media platforms to publish unscripted cellphone videos to spread his latest rants, which almost instantly receive millions of views.

De Aragao said Bolsonaro has mastered the use of social media.

In order to be successful on social media, you have to be confrontational, de Aragao said. If you are just informative, social media is not for you.

De Aragao added that although Bolsonaros administration has succeeded in mobilising local support on social media, it has been weak on foreign relations with allies.

Bolsonaro, a climate change sceptic, has clashed with international leaders Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel over Brazils policies in the Amazon. He has called the teenage climate change activist Greta Thurnberg a brat after she added her voice to growing international condemnation.

And in November, he accused Hollywood actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio of financing nonprofit groups that have been blamed for deliberately causing Amazon forest fires, without providing any evidence. In a statement, DiCaprio denied that he funded the groups involved.

Smoke billows from a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil [File: Bruno Kelly/Reuters]

While climate change advocates say the Amazon destruction is nearing an irreversible tipping point, Bolsonaro has promised to allow for the further development of the worlds largest tropical rainforest. And as the global spotlight turned to Brazil during the massive fires in August, Bolsonaro dismissed the events as normal practice for clearing pasture and farmland.

Official data gathered by Brazils National Institute for Space Research shows Amazon deforestation under Bolsonaros watch has risen almost 30 percent to its worst level in 11 years.

Bolsonaro has promised to reduce Indigenous rights and encouraged the commercial exploitation of their protected lands. Indigenous groups say attacks against them have risen and they have faced violence from illegal loggers and miners.

In December, two Indigenous members of the Guajajara tribe in northeastern Brazil were shot dead in a drive-by shooting, and two others were wounded, not far from where a prominent tribesman who defended the Amazon rainforest was also killed a month earlier.

With three more years left in his term, experts say the 2020 local races could be telling for Bolsonaros re-election bid in 2022.

His health has also been a cause for concern after he was stabbed in the abdomen during an election campaign rally in 2018, requiring him to spend extensive time in the hospital undergoing several surgeries.

In December, he was hospitalised after falling in his residence in the capital Brasilia. And in September, he took four days off to recover after having surgery to treat complications from the stab wound.

He is never going to be an outright popular president with the majority of the country, Carvalho from the Eurasia Group says.

But he can do well if he can keep his base mobilised, and keep the economy growing.
Tauranga celebrated the arrival of 2020 last night with citywide fireworks displays, as residents and holidaymakers flocked to community events held across the city.

Mayor Tenby Powell says New Year was a busy but successful evening in one of the countrys most popular holiday destinations.

The four community New Years Eve events held in Greerton, the city centre, Matua and Papamoa were a fantastic start to the New Year for many families and friends.

With almost 10,000 attendees across four locations, it was great to see so many people coming together in some of our loveliest locations to watch the sun go down, enjoy entertainment and countdown to the 9.30pm fireworks or laser light display. From the feedback Ive received, it was a wonderful way to see out the year.

The most popular events were at Gordon Spratt Reserve in Papamoa and Fergusson Park in Matua with around 3000 attendees at each. Around 1000 people also headed to Greertons New Years Eve at Tauranga Racecourse last night, the first year for this venue.

The events are part of Tauranga City Councils strategy to promote a safe New Year environment and to offer communities a way for people to celebrate locally.



We hold these events to give people an opportunity to come together in a community-minded, family-friendly environment. Theyre alcohol and smoke-free and we work hard to make sure that they provide a fun night for as many people as possible, says Tenby.



Thank you to the NZ Police, emergency services, security companies and traffic management contractors, as well as everyone else who plans for or works during one of the busiest nights in the city. We really appreciate the effort that goes on behind the scenes.



Mayor Powell urges people to enjoy the fun summer activities coming up.

This is a great time of year, so enjoy it to the full, but be mindful as well. Please be safe out there on the beaches and on our roads.



The summer line up for 2020 includes:

Bay Dreams Pre-Party  January 1, Mount Maunganui

Bay Dreams  January 2, Mount Maunganui

Dinner in the Domain  January 2, Papamoa

Gourmet Night Markets  January 3, Mount Maunganui

Sticky Fingers  January 3, Mount Maunganui

Water polo on the Waterfront  January 3 & 4, Tauranga

Ziggy Alberts  January 3, Mount Maunganui

Little Big Markets  January 4, Mount Manganui

Fat Freddys Drop  January 4, Tauranga

More FM Beach Dig  January 4, Mount Maunganui

Mount Farmers Market  January 5, Mount Maunganui

Drax Project  January 5, Tauranga

Tones and I  January 5, Tauranga

Sikh Community Street Parade  January 5, Tauranga

Gin Wigmore  January 7, Mount Maunganui

Mount Festival of Multisport  January 10-11, Mount Maunganui

One Love Festival  anuary25 to 26 J, Tauranga

BLACKCAPS Vs India T20  February 2, Mount Maunganui

Cold Chisel  February 5, Tauranga

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals  February 29, Mount Maunganui

BLACKCAPS Vs India ODI  February 11, Mount Maunganui

NZ Cricket International ODIs  February 2 and 11, Mount Maunganui

For more events visit www.mytauranga.co.nz/summer

For information on event road closures this summer visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/services/roads/road-works-and-closures
Yemeni rebels released six Saudi prisoners on Wednesday, a rebel official said, after the kingdom two months ago released over 100 rebels, known as Houthis.

The releases signal that the Saudi coalition and the Iran-backed Houthis are advancing a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending the stalemated war in the Arab world's poorest country.

The Saudi-led coalition launched its campaign in 2015 to drive out the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, now exiled in Saudi Arabia.

The grinding war has killed over 100,000 people, many of them civilians, and created a humanitarian catastrophe.

Abdul-Qader al-Murtaza, a rebel official in charge of prisoners' affairs, said the rebel side handed over the released prisoners to the International Committee of the Red Cross at the airport in the capital, Sanaa.

He called on the Saudi-led coalition to take similar steps and free other Yemeni rebel detainees in the war.

The Saudi-led coalition and the ICRC did not immediately comment on al-Murtaza's statement.

Last September, the ICRC facilitated the release of over 200 captives who had been held since the the rebels seized Sanaa, along with much of northern Yemen, in 2014.

The war in Yemen has also left millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

In recent months, Saudi Arabia started backchannel negotiations with the Houthis in Oman, after the rebels claimed an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure that threatened global oil supplies.

The United States blamed the attack on Iran, which denied involvement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:41:41|Editor: xuxin

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SUVA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama stressed on Wednesday the importance of dealing with climate change, saying if the global community does not act to decisively cut emissions, these storms Fiji has experienced will only become more severe in the years ahead.

Speaking in his New Year message on Wednesday, Bainimarama said that many Fijian families have had a rough start to the new year as tropical cyclone Sarai swept across the island nation, flooding roadways, knocking out power and severing critical services.

He said that his total focus is on the Fijians who - through no fault on their own - are recovering from yet another bout of severe weather. They will get services back online, and they will continue to invest in more resilient infrastructure, construct seawalls, plant mangroves and implement other adaptive measures.

While cyclones have always been a part of life in Fiji, the frequency of extreme weather is a ruthless reminder of Fiji's high vulnerabilities to climate impacts, he said, adding that the increasing frequency and intensity of these storms is one reason why Fiji has been ranked as one of the 10 countries in the world most affected by climate change.

"This stark reality is why Fiji fights unapologetically in the international arena to push high-emitting countries to combat climate change. We cannot allow headlines telling of storms wreaking havoc in our region to become routine. We cannot - we will not - allow the world to become numb to what we are experiencing," the prime minister said.

He pointed out that if the global community does not act to decisively cut emissions, these storms will only become more severe in the years ahead. That would be an unacceptable reality for Fiji, their neighbouring Pacific Island countries, and every other nation and people on earth.

In 2016, Fiji was hit by tropical cyclone Winston, which killed 44 people and caused extensive damages to the island country.
Kanwaljit Singh and his wife Kamaljit Kaur

The local owners of an Indian restaurant have provided thousands of free meals to those caught up in the bushfires in Gippsland, Victoria.

Kanwaljit Singh and his wife Kamaljit Kaur own the Desi Grill in Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria where fires have destroyed homes and resulted in one death.

They and their staff have been cooking curry and rice which is being handed out by Melbourne charity Sikh Volunteers Australia to those living in temporary shelter.

Mr Singh, who has lived in the area for six years, said he felt he had a 'duty' to help his fellow Australians.

'It's terrible out there. People are severely affected and they need food and shelter. It's our duty to serve them when they need us the most,' he told SBS Punjabi.

'We follow the Sikh way of life. We are just doing what other Australians are doing today, and that is to serve and pray for the people who have been hit hard by these terrible bushfires,' he said.

Mr Singh said his team helped volunteers cook 500 meals on New Year's Eve.

Kanwaljit Singh helped volunteers cook 500 meals on New Year's Eve. Pictured: The Desi Grill

The food is being handed to those living in temporary shelters by a team from Melbourne charity Sikh Volunteers Australia (pictured)

'We have the capacity to cook for up to 1,000 people in a day. But it all depends on how much is needed in the field,' he said.

'We have stock of rice, flour and lentils which we think should be sufficient for the next week or so.'

The military arrived in East Gippsland on Wednesday and Black Hawk helicopters are helping to get evacuees off of the Mallacoota beach.

'Our focus today is we've got 4000 people in and around the beach there at Mallacoota and we're working with the (Australian Defence Force) and all the authorities, Victoria Police, SES, all the agencies are working together and our primary effort is to get those people out of Mallacoota,' CFA chief officer Steve Warrington told ABC News.

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra on the NSW south coast

The deadly fires have burnt through more than 766,000 hectares across Victoria.

There were 47 fires statewide, but most of the fires and burnt land were in East Gippsland.

Another fire straddling the NSW-Victoria border at Corryong was also threatening lives.

On Wednesday it was revealed Victoria's fires had claimed a life.

Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and on Wednesday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his home.

'He's not missing anymore,' Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page.

'His body has been found in his house ... very sad day for us to srart (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick.'

Victoria Police said a person had been found dead in Buchan, but the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.

Premier Daniel Andrews lamented reports of Mr Roberts' death.

'It is of course the worst of all news, the notion that someone has lost their life,' he told ABC Gippsland.

Firefighters will be helped on Thursday by moderate conditions, with temperatures in East Gippsland in the low to mid 20s expected to be paired with light winds of up to 20 kmh.

As of 8.30am on Thursday, all of the fires remained at a watch and act level.

HMAS Choules (pictured leaving Sydney Harbour on Wednesday) will provide relief to 4,000 people who remain stranded in Mallacoota, Victoria

The mercury was forecast to creep up in the region on Friday, before reaching the 40s on Saturday, when the heat, hot winds and chance of some thunderstorms were expected to increase the risk of new fires.

Mr Andrews spent Wednesday in East Gippsland where he said emotions were running high.

'I spoke with people today and they just said it was hurricane-like, horrifying, terrifying, the most frightening experience of their life.'

'The next few days are going to be a lot of hard work and the next few months will be a very long and steady process of helping these communities to rebuild.'

Confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.

About 24 remote communities had lost power and phone coverage.
Every penny of your pension counts in retirement, yet it is feared that savers have lost track of pots worth as much as 20billion.

But how do you track down a lost pension or even know youre missing one?

The average person has 11 jobs in their lifetime, so it is no wonder two in three Britons have more than one pension pot.

Finance worker Lisa Bedford had previously spent a decade working for a blind company, but had lost track of her old pension provider. When her husband Mark, 52, opened up a self-invested personal pension with AJ Bell, the couple decided to track down Lisas old pot

The industry has long discussed launching an online pensions dashboard which will allow savers to view all their pots in one place. But without one yet in place, Money Mail explains how you can turn detective to find a hidden fortune

Revisit Past Jobs

Auto-enrolment has turned millions of workers into pension savers, but it also means many will have been saving into pots without realising.

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has predicted that even more pots will be lost thanks to auto-enrolment and the increased frequency with which younger workers move homes and jobs.

If someone leaves a job they might lose contact with their pension provider. And if they move house they might forget to notify all of their previous pension providers of their new address. So if you want to hunt down your retirement savings, start by retracing all your previous jobs.

Former pensions minister Steve Webb, now director of policy at Royal London, says: Go through your work history and check if you were a member of a pension scheme for each of your past jobs. Try to track down former colleagues who may have contact details for the provider.

Dig Out Clues

Old payslips or P60s could provide clues as to whether you were a member of a pension scheme in a previous job.

The National Insurance office may also help. Many workplace pension schemes were contracted out of the state pension scheme. HMRC should, therefore, have records of this, and this could be a way of proving to a pension provider that you were a member of its scheme at the time.

You can also use the Governments free Pension Tracing Service. This now receives 40,000 requests every week.

The service should provide you with contact details for the pension scheme or provider if you give the name of your former employer. But do not confuse this free service with others you can find on the internet that may charge.

Finance worker Lisa Bedford had previously spent a decade working for a blind company, but had lost track of her old pension provider.

Sales worker Andy Cocker used PensionBee to trace three pension pots worth more than 20,000 in total

When her husband Mark, 52, opened up a self-invested personal pension with AJ Bell, the couple decided to track down Lisas old pot. However, after looking for old paperwork, Lisa, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, realised she had probably lost her documents when they moved eight years ago.

Fortunately, Mark found the Governments pension tracing service online.

In February, they entered the name of the blind company Lisa had worked for and found a match to a pension provider, which Lisa then contacted about her savings.

Lisa, 48, says: I was worried because I couldnt remember who my old pension provider was.

You never think about these things when you are younger and it was only when Mark started looking at his pension that I started thinking about mine.

However, just because you were once a member of a scheme in the past, it does not mean you are entitled to a pension  you may have transferred out of one scheme into another, or cashed out.

Try New Apps

New money apps for smartphones can also help workers pull together their pensions.

Customer service staff at apps such as Moneybox Pension and PensionBee might be able to help track down pensions for you.

The apps let you transfer old pensions into one pot and choose where to invest it. Sales worker Andy Cocker used PensionBee to trace three pension pots worth more than 20,000 in total  including a private scheme he didnt even remember setting up.

The 49-year-old from Rochester, in Kent, had lost his documents and couldnt remember the providers of his previous pension schemes.

The father-of-four served in the Army with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, before working as a self-employed electrician. He went on to work for two different companies which sold industrial supplies, and joined a similar company just a few months ago.

But when he heard an advert on the radio for PensionBee he decided to use the service to trace his lost pots.

After submitting a few details, such as his name, address and date of birth, he was sent information about three traced pots within four weeks. One contained 5,000; another was worth about 14,000; and a small private pension he did not remember setting up was found to contain 1,500.

He says: The private pension was a real surprise, as I couldnt even remember setting it up.

Im glad I have tracked them all down and pulled them together  and Ive encouraged my 27-year-old daughter to do the same.

Research from Moneybox found that half of those surveyed did not know the providers of their old pension pots, and more than 84 pc felt their pension provider was not keeping them well informed.

David Brightman, 32, from London, used Moneybox to help find and transfer all his old pensions into one investment.

The software product manager says he found he had about 14,000 in old pensions. He says: I had pots I had no idea about or had not thought to look at.

Help is Coming

A decade ago the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimated that savers had lost track of around 3billion. Yet the PPI has more recently said there could be as much as 19.4billion waiting to be claimed, with the average missing pot worth 12,670

Industry estimates vary on how much money is sitting in neglected pension pots.

A decade ago the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimated that savers had lost track of around 3billion.

Yet the PPI has more recently said there could be as much as 19.4billion waiting to be claimed, with the average missing pot worth 12,670.

Mutual Royal London last year said it had spent more than 2million reuniting 36,000 customers with policies that totalled more than 14million.

Pension dashboards are expected to help millions of Britons manage their pensions. When launched, savers will be able to view all of their pots on one page.

But the service, which was supposed to be up and running last year, has been delayed.

Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, says: Now the political uncertainty around the General Election has passed, the Government should get pension dashboards up and running.

Pension dashboards will show all pensions together at the touch of a screen, reducing the risk of losing track of any pensions.

Mr Webb adds: The pensions dashboard should help people find more of their lost pensions, but if scheme data is imperfect there will still be gaps. It will still be necessary to turn into something of a private detective in order to track down all of your missing pots.

b.wilkinson@dailymail.co.uk
Top 10 'Most Read' Stories of 2019 Online at PaperAge

Dec. 31, 2019 - There were many, many news stories of significance that took place this past year. The stories below are the 'most read' stories by visitors on PaperAge's website in 2019 in terms of pageviews.

June 26, 2019 - Willamette Falls Paper Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Columbia Ventures Corporation in Vancouver, Washington, announced the purchase of the papermaking assets associated with the mill located in West Linn, Oregon and entered into a five-year lease with renewal options for the related real estate and buildings.

Feb. 4, 2019 - A massive fire swept through Soundview Paper's Marcal paper mill in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, on the night of January 30, burning some 90 percent of the paper mill complex to the ground. No injuries were reported and Soundview Paper's president and CEO, Rob Baron, confirmed that none of the nearly 200 employees working at the mill at the time of the fire were injured.

March 11, 2019- Less than a year after it reopened, the Bear Island newsprint manufacturing mill in northern Hanover County is once again being idled. White Birch Paper Co., a Connecticut-based company that had restarted the mill last year after a previous shutdown in 2017, said that it will cease production of newsprint at the plant effective immediately. The plant employs about 140 people.

Jan. 10, 2019 - Georgia-Pacific announced that it is exiting the communication papers business following an assessment of its long-term competitive position in a declining market. As a result, the company will permanently shut down the communication papers machines, related converting assets, as well as the woodyard, pulp mill and a significant portion of the energy complex at its Port Hudson facility in Zachary, Louisiana.

Nov. 4, 2019 - Willamette Falls Paper Company in West Linn, Oregon, has made its first successful trial of non-wood paper grades using pulp from local agricultural waste  producing both coated and uncoated grades using 10% non-wood pulp fiber. Additional machine and press trials are ongoing to refine the paper properties and specifications.

Dec. 13, 2019 - New-Indy Containerboard announced plans to invest $240 million to convert production at its recently acquired pulp and paper mill in Catawba, South Carolina from lightweight coated paper to containerboard grades. New-Indy acquired the Catawba mill from Resolute Forest Products in October of this year for the total purchase price of about US$300 million.

Aug. 8, 2019 - Graphic Packaging Holding Company announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $600 million investment in a new coated recycled board (CRB) machine in the Midwest with annual capacity of approximately 500,000 tons. Graphic Packaging noted that the new machine's capability to produce 500,000 tons of CRB is expected to be capacity neutral by eliminating higher cost production at other facilities.

Oct. 8, 2019 (Press Release) - ND Paper announced it will strategically inject investment capital to improve the asset quality of its mills in Maine and Wisconsin in the coming year. "We have four mills, three of which were built more than 100 years ago," said Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ken Liu. "By focusing on high-return strategic investments, we are building world class, first-quartile mills that deliver innovative, high quality products for our customers."

April 17, 2019 - KLABIN S.A. announced that after a detailed analysis of market conditions, engineering and viability studies, its Board of Directors on April 16 approved a 9.1 billion-real ($2.3 billion) containerboard expansion project named Puma II Project. Puma II consists of the construction of two new paper machines, along with production of integrated pulp, situated at the same industrial unit (Puma Unit) that Klabin operates in the municipality of Ortigueira in the state of Parana, in southern Brazil.

May 8, 2019 - Bracell Group, which is part of Singapore-based RGE, has announced that it will rebrand its operations throughout Brazil under the newly refreshed Bracell brand. Bracell's pulp mill in Lencois Paulista (formerly Lwarcel) has also officially launched "Project Star," a substantial expansion effort to increase its current production capacity of 250,000 tons per year (tpy) by an additional 1,250,000 tpy

SOURCE: PaperAge
DETROIT - A man from the United Kingdom who had been deported from the U.S. in 2010 was busted by security personnel after he allegedly donned a wetsuit and swam across the Detroit River from Canada, landing on Zug Island.

Christopher Sagajllo, 56, was arrested on Dec. 13 after he was found by security officers on U.S. Steel Corp. property south of Detroit, the Associated Press reported.

He has since been charged in federal court with unlawful re-entry into the United States. He had been forced to leave the U.S. in 2010 when authorities discovered hed overstayed his visa by seven years, the AP said.

Sagajllo told police hed made the river crossing at night, reaching Zug Island in River Rouge.

Border Patrol agents returned to Zug Island and were able to retrieve a wetsuit, gloves and several plastic bags left behind at the location described by Sagajllo, agent Jason Bylow said in a court filing, the AP reported.

It was unclear if there was a specific reason Sagajllo was trying to return to the U.S. He remains behind bars.


Gatski Commercial Real Estate, a Las Vegas company, recently completed its second $40 million-plus deal in several months, representing the buyer in the $40.2 million sale of the Anthem Highlands retail complex in Henderson (Pictured: Frank Gatski, Gatski Commercial Real Estate Services).

Gatski Commercial President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Gatski joined Gatski Commercial brokers Laramie Bracken and Brenda Olson in representing the buyer Equus Anthem Highlands, LLC in the deal for the 118,613-square-foot property at 2810-2930 Bicentennial Parkway in Henderson.

The complex was fully occupied at sale; tenants included Albertsons, CVS, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Starbucks.

Gleb Lvovich of the Newport Beach, California, office of commercial real estate company Jones Lang LaSalle represented the seller, Phillips Edison & Co. in the deal, which closed in less than 60 days.

Over the summer, Gatski Commercial represented a private seller, Equus Investment Group, LP who sold the 358,181-square-foot Equus Business Center at 3400 Desert Inn Road, 3110-3230 Polaris Ave. and 3401 Sirius Ave. for approximately $42 million to Irvine, California-based MCA Realty. The property was approximately 90 percent occupied when it was sold, listing 180 tenants. Dan Doherty from Colliers, Gabe Telles and Ali Roesener from Gatski Commercial represented the buyer and Frank Gatski represented the seller.

Frank Gatski, whose commercial real estate career spans nearly three decades, has deep roots in the Las Vegas Valley, having lived in Las Vegas for more than 40 years.

With the Anthem Village Highlands deal closed, Bracken and Olson will direct leasing; Gatski Commercial will also manage the property.
Quynh Hoa recently spent the day at the Central Military Hospital 108s Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery to understand more about the army doctors intelligence and devotion.

PAINSTAKING: Dr Nguyen Quang Duc (first left) performs reconstructive microsurgery at the Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery. Photos courtesy of Nguyen Quang Duc



We started the day at 7am. I met Dr Nguyen Quang Duc and other doctors and accompanied them on their rounds. Around us were patients suffering from facial trauma, giant tumours, cancer and congenital anomalies.

Just 30 minutes later it was time for a briefing. The doctors sat around a big table and discussed their patients case by case and any developments from the previous evening. Behind us were young students from the Hanoi Medical University and the Military Medical University.

Duc told me his first reconstructive microsurgery would start at 8.30am as we went up to the operating theatre on the sixth floor, which is considered the biggest operating centre in Vietnam with 50 rooms equipped with advanced equipment imported from Europe.

Anaesthetists started the procedure, as Duc, the head surgeon, directed his team of six.

DELICATE: Microsurgical reconstruction is typically reserved for complex reconstructive surgery problems when other options are inadequate, according to Dr Nguyen Quang Duc.



The operation started at 9am sharp. The room was quiet, except for the noise of the heart monitor and Ducs loud instructions asking for scissors, scalpels, forceps and other equipment. The surgeons followed his instructions to the letter with intense concentration.

At 4.30pm, the operation was over. I did nothing except watch and take notes, but I still felt exhausted, let alone how the surgeons themselves must have felt.

During operations, we all need complete focus, Duc said. A small mistake can lead to the failure of the whole operation.

We forget how tired, hungry or thirsty we feel, and don't even need to go to the toilet. However, those feelings all come flooding back when the operating light is turned off."

After having a break, Dr Duc explained to me that reconstructive microsurgery is a surgical discipline that uses microscopes and precision instruments to repair intricate structures such as blood vessels and nerves less than two millimetres in diameter. This field has had a major impact to restore form and function to individuals impaired by trauma, cancer and congenital anomalies.

Microsurgery is a tool used by plastic surgeons to perform specific procedures including transfer of tissue from one part of the body to another (free tissue transfer), reattachment of several parts (replantation) and composite tissue transplantation," Dr Duc said.

Microsurgical procedures represent a wide range of highly individualised operations. It is typically reserved for complex reconstructive surgery problems when other options are inadequate.

The tumour killer

NEW MAN: Patient Nguyen Duc Chinh, before and after tumour resection and facial reconstruction.



Dr Duc used microsurgery in the case of 70-year-old Nguyen Duc Chinh from Nam Dinh Province, who was diagnosed with maxillofacial ameloblastoma 40 years ago.

The patient had a deformed right cheek, missing teeth and complete loss of masticatory function, and had difficulty in mandibular movement, Dr Duc said.

The giant tumour was hard, solid and immobile. The skin was thin and overstretched. Numerous ulcerous lesions were found in the oral mucosa surrounding the tumour. A CT scan showed the tumour expanding from the right condyle to the left mandibular body, with deformity of the mandibular bone.

The surgical plan included complete resection of the tumour, part of the skin and damaged oral mucosa, which was followed by immediate reconstruction using an osteocutaneous fibular free flap. The surgery was completed with the tumour and the involved part of the mandible. The size of the mucosal gap was 5x11cm, while the tumour was 19x12cm. The operation lasted seven hours. Post-operatively, the reshaped flap survived without vascular compromise. The patient was discharged from hospital after 16 days of treatment. After a two-year follow-up, there was no recurrence of the tumour.

Nguyen Duc Hiep, Chinhs son, expressed his family's gratitude to the doctors.

LEASE OF LIFE: Patient Truong Van Thong, pre-operation and post-operation.



Another case that made Dr Duc famous nationwide was the case of the bear man: Truong Van Thong, 55, from Vinh Bao District in Hai Phong City contracted madelung disease more than 20 years ago.

Madelung disease is a rare entity among the overgrowth syndromes. It typically presents between the third and the fifth decade of life and is more prevalent in males, Duc said.

Giant fatty deposits had deformed Thongs neck, face and scruff so severely people said he looked like a bear.

Due to the tumour being so big, a three-step surgical treatment was scheduled, Duc said. After using microsurgery, the whole tumour which weighed nearly 5kg was completely removed. All three procedures were a success and the aesthetic results were satisfactory.

Vu Thi Bich, Thongs wife, was full of praise for Duc and other doctors.

I dont know how to say thank you to Dr Duc and the others who saved my husbands life, Bich said. Its a miracle.

Technical transfer

Plastic surgery has been around for thousands of years ago. In the mid-1980s, retired US Army General John W. Vessey accepted an assignment from the Reagan administration to facilitate a rapprochement between the United States and Vietnam primarily through humanitarian and cultural programmes.

Prof Nguyen Huy Phan, former Surgeon General of the Vietnam People's Army, stood out for his vision of what microsurgery could add to Vietnamese healthcare. At his request, Operation Smile International agreed to explore the possibility of bringing a microsurgical programme to Vietnam in 1989.

CARING: Dr Nguyen Quang Duc (left) on a charity trip.



The army's healthcare sector has been at the forefront of plastic surgery nationwide, said Associate Professor Nguyen Bac Hung, chairman of the Hanoi Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Association.

The Central Military Hospital 108 is where the latest techniques are applied. Doctors here can perform operations with a high level of difficulty by themselves. Its also the main provider of training courses on plastic surgery for both army and civilian doctors."

LEADING LIGHT: Dr Nguyen Quang Duc (centre) gives a check up during a charity trip.



Prof Hung continued, "Dr Nguyen Quang Duc is one of our many talents in plastic surgery in general and microsurgery in particular. Along with a profound knowledge of the profession, he is also blessed with skilled golden hands that help him do things most people cannot.

Dr Duc, together with director of the Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery Vu Ngoc Lam, helped transfer the technique for reconstructing maxillofacial defects using osteocutaneous fibular free flaps to the Hanoi Central Ondonto-Maxillo Facial Hospital. More than 500 operations using this technique have been performed.

Dr Duc also perform plastic surgery and gives training courses, including one at the Laos Central Military Hospital 103. During a three-month working trip in 2017, Duc gave check-ups for 350 patients and performed operations on nearly 200 Lao soldiers and civilians.

We want to send our respects and love to Sr Lt-Col Nguyen Quang Duc, a talented, devoted and enthusiastic doctor, said Col Kham Pheng  Phum Ma Keo, director of the Laos Central Military Hospital 103.

His working trip to our hospital made a great contribution to strengthening ties between the two countries and the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, he said.

The dedicated doctor

STANDING TALL: Dr Nguyen Quang Duc, deputy director of the Central Military Hospital 108s Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery.



The Central Military Hospital 108s Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery has co-operated with non-governmental organisations including Operation Smile, Facing the World and Smile for Children to organise charity missions for 30 years.

An estimated 7,000 free operations have been performed for poor children with congenital deformities in remote areas.

It has been 24 years since Smile for Childrens first charity trip to Vietnam for children suffering from congenital malformation, in co-operation with the Central Military Hospital 108," said Rong-Min Beak, president and CEO of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and professor of Department of Plastic Surgery, Seoul National University School of Medicine.

Dr Duc completed his craniofacial fellowship programme at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. As chairman at that time, I had the pleasure of observing his personal and professional growth. He demonstrated his intelligence, positive attitude and professionalism throughout the programme. His moral integrity and decency as a human being was deeply appreciated by the whole team. Dr ucs enthusiasm and desire to broaden his horizons in both intellectual and cultural aspects is a quality that leaders of the plastic surgery field must possess," he said.

What sets Dr Duc apart from other plastic surgeons is the genuine empathy he has for his patients and humanity in general. Had it not been for his exceptional courtesy and contributions, the annual charity trips may have remained an unrealistic dream. He sets an ideal example as a great leader, for what young plastic surgeons must strive to attain. I have high hopes for his future career to truly make our world a better place.

Artistic soul

Outside of work, Duc has a sensitive and artistic soul. In his spare time, he writes new lyrics to original melodies about issues related to the healthcare sector. His parodies have gained attraction and support among colleagues and netizens on his Facebook page and other healthcare fan pages like Nhat ky bac si (Doctors Diary), Y hoc tong hop (General Medicine) and Bac si noi tru (Interns).

His song Song Gio Nganh Y (Doctors ups and down, original song: Song Gio) has received a total of over 11,000 shares and 530,000 views; Nguoi Nha Oi (Please be kind to doctors, original song: Nguoi La Oi)  over 3,000 shares and 187,000 views; and Cong Ly au (Wheres justice, original song: Em Gai Mua)  1,150 shares and 93,000 views.

Being a doctor is hard enough, but being an army doctor is much tougher, but hard work and dedication pay off. VNS

Quynh Hoa

HCM City to tighten control of cosmetic surgery services Authorities in HCM City will carry out stronger measures to ensure quality cosmetic surgery activities, deputy director of the city Health Department Tang Chi Thuong has said.
Imogen Anthony has slammed Sydney's controversial New Year's Eve fireworks display, which cost the city $6.5million.

Taking to her Instagram Story, the ex-girlfriend of Kyle Sandilands said she was 'ashamed' it had gone ahead given the devastating bushfires.

The 28-year-old model called the display a 'f**king joke' after 12 people died as a result of the blazes.

'We had a fire tornado, for f**k's sake!' Imogen Anthony (pictured) has slammed Sydney's controversial New Year's Eve fireworks display, which cost the city $6.5million

'The fact that they did the fireworks - and I can imagine many others feel this way too - is a f**king joke,' Imogen began.

'I mean Happy New Year, but kinda not really when wildlife and towns are being completely wiped, firefighters are dying and our air quality is dropping by the second.

'We had a fire tornado, for f**k's sake!'

Speaking out: Taking to her Instagram Story, the ex-girlfriend of Kyle Sandilands said she was 'ashamed' the fireworks display had gone ahead given the devastating bushfires

Having her say: She then shared a video of firefighters being overrun by flames south of Nowra, saying Australians should be helping them by showing 'comradeship'

Imogen added that watching the fireworks display made her 'sick' and that she felt 'ashamed' to be an Australian.

'Selfish, greedy narcissistic f**k holes,' she continued.

'Our country is amazing, but our government couldn't give a s**t for it. It doesn't care for our future children, it's all about them and their fight for power.'

She then shared a video of firefighters being overrun by flames south of Nowra, saying Australians should be helping them by showing 'comradeship'.

Controversial: It comes after Sydney was illuminated in a $6.5million New Year's Eve firework spectacular on Tuesday (pictured), despite calls to cancel the event amid devastating bushfires which have left hundreds of families homeless and 12 people dead

It comes after Sydney was illuminated in a $6.5million New Year's Eve firework spectacular on Tuesday, despite calls to cancel the event amid devastating bushfires which have left hundreds of families homeless and 12 people dead.

More than a million New Year's Eve revellers gathered around Sydney Harbour to watch the magnificent display, after queuing for hours in blistering heat and powerful winds.

Some Australians have criticised the extravagant display, saying it was 'inappropriate' given the devastation faced by hundreds of families who have lost their homes.

What do you think? Some Australians have criticised the extravagant display, saying it was 'inappropriate' given the devastation faced by hundreds of families who have lost their homes

One person wrote on Twitter: 'My parents are without power, their town is cut off, and the southerly is blowing another fire towards them. A fireworks show feels like a huge slap in the face.'

Another added: 'Members of my family are spending tonight huddled together on a boat ramp waiting while bushfires bear down, and our PM is throwing a party.'

Australia has entered the first day of 2020 in a state of emergency with more than 100 bushfires still burning and power outages plaguing the devastated south coast.

Military aircraft and vessels are continuing to assist emergency services on Wednesday in New South Wales and Victoria.

This year's bushfire season has claimed 12 lives, and five people are still missing.

The NSW town of Cobargo, where a father and son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled.
Days after opening job applications to candidates across India, J&K HC withdraws notification

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 01: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has withdrawn a notification that sought applications from across the country for recruitment of non-gazetted posts.

"It is hereby notified for information of all the concerned that the advertisement Notice No. 09/2019 dated 26.12.2019, whereby applications were invited for different posts in Non-Gazetted category in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir stands withdrawn with immediate effect," a notification issued by the High Court's registrar, Sanjay Dhar read.

It may be recalled that the High Court had on December 26 invited applications from candidates from across the country. This was the first time that hiring was to take place from across the country, post the abrogation of Article 370.

Prior to the abrogation, the appointments were restricted to the permanent residents of Kashmir and Ladakh.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

The posts advertised included that of stenographers, drivers and typists. The J&K Reservation Rules 2005 will be applicable in the reserved category. It stated that the available vacancies would be in favour of the permanent residents.

There were 33 posts advertised and 17 are in the open merit category, which means anyone from outside J&K can apply and be selected. These candidates had been requested to send their applications to the Registrar General of the High Court of Jammu.

It may be recalled that the regional BJP units had submitted a memorandum to the top leadership of the party to make some concessions for the residents of Kashmir. It was suggested that 15 to 20 years of stay within J&K must be made the minimum requirement for an Indian citizen to be deemed eligible for the status of a permanent resident.
Addressing the event, General Chansamone Chanyalath, Politburo member and Minister of Defence, said hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people volunteered to perform international missions in Laos 70 years ago.Vietnamese soldiers and experts stood side by side with the Lao counterparts to fight foreign invaders, he said.He affirmed that the Lao Party, State, army and people always remember the sacrifice of Vietnamese soldiers for Laos national independence.He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, army and people for supporting Laos in the past and at present.The Lao Defence Minister extended his special thanks to former Vietnamese soldiers and experts who performed international missions in Laos and made remarkable contributions to the two countries revolutionary cause.For his part, General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of Defence of Vietnam, highlighted the significance of the ceremony, while stressing the special solidarity and faithful relations between Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, armies, and peoples.He said in the context of complicated developments in the region and the world, Vietnam will continue sparing no effort to nurture the long-standing relations with Laos across politics, economy, culture, education, health care, science-technology, defence-security, and external affairs.He called on the two countries to step up cooperation in the field of defence and security to maintain an environment of peace and stability for socio-economic development in each country, while closely working together in building and protecting the Vietnam-Laos shared border of peace, friendship, stability, and prosperous development.The two sides should enhance coordination to prevent cross-border trafficking crimes, and organise border friendly exchanges to increase mutual understanding and trust, he suggested.Vietnam and Laos should focus on improving cooperation in the Party and political work in addition to coordinating to defeat all plots of destroying and separating the sound relations between the two countries.Minister Lich also recommended intensifying cooperation in prevention and settlement of natural disaster consequences, as well as search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers and experts in Laos.

VNA
Pentagon deploying extra troops to Baghdad after embassy attack by protesters

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 5:21 PM

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has announced that the United States is sending additional troops to Baghdad to provide security for the American embassy there following an attack by protesters.

"The Department of Defense is working closely with the Department of State to ensure the security of our Embassy and personnel in Baghdad," Esper said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the embassy," he added.

"We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense," Esper said.

"As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so," he continued.

The Pentagon chief gave no further details, but the deployment is reportedly likely to involve a small number of American marines.

On Tuesday, the US embassy was evacuated after thousands of angry Iraqi demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the compound to condemn Washington's fatal military aggression that targeted Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) on Sunday.

On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi condemned the "unacceptable vicious assault" by the US that killed more than two dozen Iraqis and injured scores more.

Thousands of angry protests managed to reach the US diplomatic mission which is located in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, chanting "Death to America" and burning US flags.

The protesters further held up signs calling for the US mission to be shut down and for the parliament to order US forces to leave Iraq.

"Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will," one poster read.

Reuters cited two Iraqi Foreign Ministry sources as saying that the US ambassador and other staff were evacuated from the embassy out of security concerns as protests raged outside.

Only a few embassy protection staff were left behind, according to the news agency.

American forces deployed inside the compound have fired tear gas, flash bangs and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

The protesters have breached the outer wall of the high-security compound. They have sprayed the words "Closed in the name of the people" on the gates of the American mission, throwing bricks and stones at the surveillance cameras around the building.

Reacting to the developments in Iraq, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet that Iran was to blame and would be held "fully responsible."

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The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation has announced a new round of the tariff suspension/quota schemes and is calling for applications from manufacturers in the chemicals, microelectronic and related sectors.

The tariff suspension scheme offers the possibility for companies to import raw materials, components or intermediate products from outside the European Union free from tariff duty, if the item cannot be sourced in the EU.
TANAISTE Simon Coveney has urged Stormont's rowing parties to show leadership and generosity when talks to restore powersharing resume.

Mr Coveney said the new year offered a chance for a new beginning and urged all sides not to disappoint the public again.

Negotiations formally resume on Thursday after a pause for the festive period.

Mr Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith were in Belfast on New Year's Day for pre-talks discussions ahead of the resumption of exchanges with the political parties on Thursday morning.

Expand Close Julian Smith Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during the launch of the Northern Ireland Conservatives manifesto at the Culloden Hotel near Belfast on Wednesday November 27, 2019. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Julian Smith Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during the launch of the Northern Ireland Conservatives manifesto at the Culloden Hotel near Belfast on Wednesday November 27, 2019. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The parties have until a January 13 deadline to strike a deal to revive devolution.

On that date, legislation to give civil servants additional powers to run Northern Ireland's struggling public services expires and Mr Smith will assume a legal obligation to call a snap Assembly election.

On the journey up to Belfast ahead of the new round of talks, Mr Coveney reflected on the importance of the coming fortnight.

He tweeted: "2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides - we've got less than 2 weeks - let's not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING!"

In a subsequent New Year's Day video posted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlining his government's priorities for 2020, Mr Coveney added: "We are determined to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to get the devolved government back up and running again, to get the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement functioning again, to bring communities together and to ensure that Northern Ireland can make decisions for itself."

The latest push to restore powersharing broke up the week before Christmas, with UK and Irish governments singling out the DUP as the party standing in the way of a deal.

The party rejected the claims, insisting it would not be "bounced" into a "quick fix" that falls apart when tested.

Devolution can only be restored once the DUP and Sinn Fein - the region's two largest parties - agree terms to re-enter a mandatory coalition executive in Belfast.

Expand Close Nicola Sturgeon previously met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, centre, and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Nicola Sturgeon previously met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, centre, and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

The other three main parties - the SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance - are also involved in the talks process convened by the UK and Irish governments.

While they could take positions in any new executive, their sign-off on a deal is not essential and a government could be formed in their absence, with those parties having the option of going into opposition.

Expectations of a breakthrough in the three-year powersharing impasse rose after the general election.

The DUP and Sinn Fein both suffered bruising results, with many interpreting the outcome as the public passing judgment on their failure to do a deal and providing a fresh incentive to do business.

However, proposals to reform a contentious cross-community voting mechanism in the Assembly have emerged as a key sticking point in efforts to finalise an agreement, with the DUP unhappy about what is being countenanced.

The DUP is also seeking changes to ensure the devolved institutions are more stable in future and cannot be readily pulled down.

Proposed legislative protections for Irish language speakers are another crucial element of the negotiations.

The Stormont parties are also seeking a firm commitment from the UK government on a financial package to accompany the return of devolution - money that would likely be targeted at the region's crisis-hit health service.

The leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein used their respective New Year messages to restate a desire to return to government.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it must be a decade of "decision rather than dithering".

"The talks will recommence on Thursday," she said.

"We will be there and stand ready to restore devolution through a fair and balanced deal. A Northern Ireland that is going to keeping moving forward must be one where everyone feels at home but must also be one where no-one feels their culture is being marginalised."

While Ms Foster warned that a focus on a potential border poll would lead to a "wasted decade", Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald insisted a united Ireland was within reach.

Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster. Picture: Reuters / Facebook

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Whatsapp DUP leader Arlene Foster. Picture: Reuters

But the republican leader added: "There is no contradiction in working for Irish unity and working for the restoration of the Executive and Assembly - they are all part of the Good Friday Agreement.

"We have spent three years searching for agreement to re-establish the north's institutions and we got there in February 2018, but the DUP walked away from that deal. We cannot have that scenario again - the choice is now for agreement, or elections, but the current situation cannot continue.

"It is in the interests of all our people that we establish good government and real power-sharing based on equality and respect.

"The outstanding issues can be resolved. The time for acrimony and division is over. The time for slogans and soundbites is over. The test now for every party that has talked up getting back to work is to go back to the Executive table and deliver."

Stormont imploded three years ago this month when the late Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest at the DUP's handling of a botched green energy scheme.

That dispute soon widened to encompass traditional rifts over issues such as the Irish language and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.

A logjam over proposals to reform the petition of concern voting mechanism was one of the main reasons a deal failed to materialise before Christmas.

It was designed to protect minority rights but politicians have accused each other of misusing it for their own ends.

Discussions around change surround making it more difficult for one party to use the petition to block controversial legislation.

The parties are also considering amending Assembly rules to make it harder to collapse the institutions.
The Hong Kong Police have detained at least 400 people during 1 January's anti-government protest, Senior Superintendent of Hong Kong Island Region Jim Ng Lok-Chun said, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

"So, as of now, police have made around 400 arrests, offences include unlawful assembly and possession of an offensive weapon", the senior superintendent said during a press briefing.

Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people too to the streets in a march, organised by the Civil Human Rights Front and approved by the authorities. The marchers demanded an independent investigation of the police's actions during previous protests, an amnesty for the detained protesters, and universal suffrage.

However, the demonstration morphed into chaos after some protesters attacked offices of the HSBC bank prompting the use of tear gas by the police. After that, the policed asked the organizers to end the event.

Hong Kong has been gripped by violent protests since June. The demonstrations, initially a response to an extradition bill, continued even after the highly unpopular measure was withdrawn in October.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday spoke over phone with Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, said the White House.

The two leaders discussed "regional security issues and President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," said a statement released by the White House.

The phone call came hours after hundreds of demonstrators, participating in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet.

Following the incident, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced that the United States is sending extra forces to beef up the embassy.

U.S. forces on Sunday attacked five locations in Iraq and Syria controlled by Iraq's paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or Hezbollah Brigades, in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, triggering strong responses from Iraq and Syria, with Iran denying any role in the recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.
Some view the students as rampaging anti-nationals, the so-called misguided youth who need to be reprogrammed to fit in with basic societal norms; others see them as the vanguard of a movement that will restore justice and put an end to divisive policies.

The pictures of students fighting pitched battles with the police, leading protest marches in university campuses as well as city centres across the country and lighting candles to register their discontent has dismayed people nationwide.

Some view the students as rampaging anti-nationals, the so-called misguided youth who need to be reprogrammed to fit in with basic societal norms; others see them as the vanguard of a movement that will restore justice and put an end to divisive policies.

Whatever the view, the fact is that Indias youth, particularly the student population, is restive and in the mood for rebellion. Something has happened; some incipient gene of disaffection has kicked in, impelling unconnected students in different parts of the country to rise in protest against the introduction of laws that require Indians to prove their citizenship and effectively discriminate against Muslims from neighbouring countries seeking Indian citizenship.

The perception, right or wrong, is that the country is being divided along egregious communal lines and that surreptitious plans have been drawn up for the building of detention camps, like the infamous concentration camps of Nazi Germany, have horrified large sections of the countrys young people.

The countrys leadership and the government have stressed that there are no detention camps being envisaged for such people and denied any intention to discriminate against Muslims. Yet, the student community remains in ferment.

Adding to their discontent is the feeling that they have been brutalised by the police and bludgeoned into submission. This perception of being oppressed continues to feed the simmering unrest.

The issue is not whether the students are right or wrong, or have conducted themselves in the proper way. Their protest itself is the message. In societies worldwide, the young are the conscience keepers. They are natural iconoclasts and by nature anti-establishment. When they go on a rampage, the old men who lead society must pay heed. For something indeed is very wrong.

History has shown time and again that the discontent of young people can neither be ignored nor supressed in the long run. History is full of political movements led by students, or initiated by them.

Among the more memorable of these are the student movements in the United States in the 1960s, the first against the segregation of blacks and whites in public places and the second equally dramatic one in protest against the Vietnam War.

Racial discrimination in the United States was rampant for a long time and had continued in public life in many parts of the country. That was destined to change when four black students in North Carolina endured threats and abuse but refused to leave the lunch counter at a departmental store used by white Americans. Their symbolic protest spread rapidly as more students joined them and such sit-ins spread to other American cities. This civil rights movement eventually led to landmark law in 1964 outlawing racial segregation in all public places.

Young America rose again in 1966 in protest against the Vietnam War and military conscription. Student rallies in college campuses across the United States led to a brutal crackdown and in one instance, four students were shot dead. The students, however, would not be cowed down and continued with their anti-war protests and when President Richard Nixon finally decided to end the war in the early 1970s, he cited the student protests as one of the main reasons for doing so.

The 1960s saw student movements in many parts of the world, including France, Mexico, Germany, Spain as well as India. A worldwide bug appears to have bitten the student community in that period, which ultimately witnessed a transition into a more democratic world order.

During the current decade, students in a string of Arab countries prompted by political corruption, lack of democratic rights and economic problems led regime-changing revolts called the Arab Spring. A string of countries including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain were affected by this youth upsurge.

Not all student movements, however, have succeeded and some have ended in tragedy, such as the urban Naxalite movement in West Bengal in the 1960s, which led to the killing of hundreds of students. In China in 1989, the Tiananmen Square students uprising saw battle tanks and armed troops brutally crushing the protesting students.

Yet, as the sage Swami Vivekananda had famously observed: A brave, frank, clean-hearted, courageous and aspiring youth is the only foundation on which the future nation can be built.

Neither age nor worldly ambition has yet corrupted students in different parts of this country, who are registering their protest today. Their voice must be heard, especially because India is now one of the youngest countries in the world with more than 65 per cent of the population below the age of 35 years. The median age in India is just about 28 years, compared to 38 years in the United States, 42 in China and 48 in Japan.

Although the protests are reported to have taken place in only about 22 colleges and universities in the country, the fact is that even this scale of student protest and commonality of aim has not been witnessed in this country in decades.

Suggestions that these student protests are orchestrated either by partisan or communal interests are unfair and inaccurate. The youngsters taking to the streets in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other cities should not be seen as a part of some despicable conspiracy against the ruling establishment but as a wake-up call. Theirs is the India that will be.

Youth is neither infallible, nor always right. The poet T.S. Eliot once wrote: Youth is cruel and smiles at situations it cannot see. Yet, the rebellion of young people is always in response to some perceived injustice or wrong. It is now up to the nations leaders to allay those apprehensions and ensure that societys course never strays from the path of justice and probity.
If I had one (money-related) wish for the new decade, it would be for the return of good old-fashioned customer service.

I regularly despair as I attempt to dodge the endless costly traps lying in wait for me.

In just the past ten days Ive battled with my home insurer after the price of my policy was hiked by 30 per cent for no reason, chased my old energy supplier for a 174 refund Ive been owed for months and lost my temper with a spa company after it buried extra charges for booking on a Saturday in its voucher small print.

Every customer should be seen as an opportunity, not a problem. Treat them well and they will stay loyal. This doesnt mean just doing whatever is necessary to get a customer through the door, or get a sale over the line. Aftercare is equally as important

And, judging by Money Mails bulging postbag, it is clear Im not the only one who is utterly fed up.

Every week, dozens of letters and emails pour in with tales of how you have been driven to distraction by banks, energy suppliers, insurers  you name it.

Is it really too much to expect businesses to treat their customers fairly?

In the past year, the Money Mail team has won back nearly 600,000 for readers  money they may otherwise never have seen again.

And while we will never stop fighting your corner, it is time for companies to wake up and root out poor service once and for all.

Every customer should be seen as an opportunity, not a problem. Treat them well and they will stay loyal. This doesnt mean just doing whatever is necessary to get a customer through the door, or get a sale over the line. Aftercare is equally as important.

My partner and I just had a terrible experience when trying to get my beautiful new engagement ring resized. Its such a shame, because, instead of returning to the same jewellery shop to get our wedding bands, well now almost certainly be going elsewhere.

And we arent alone. One of the biggest gripes we see in our Money Mail inbox  particularly at this time of year  is about retailers refusing to help customers who later experience a problem with their purchase. You say your phone calls and emails are routinely ignored and, when you go in store, staff just pass the buck to suppliers, who then pass it back.

If only our suffering High Street would remember that customers are for life, not just for Christmas.

Of course, there are simple steps you can take to protect your pocket  see Pages 35 and 36 for our consumer champion Tony Hazells 50 top tips.

Good service

GIVEN my sentiments above, it is more important than ever to highlight any examples of good customer service.

So thank you to everyone who has written in response to my mini-competition calling for top service tales from the past year.

I will be revealing the winning letter (or email) next week, so if you havent yet sent in your good service nomination, youve only got a few days left.

There could be a bottle of champagne with your name on it!

Easy savings

IM always on the lookout for nifty ways to trick myself into saving a little extra each month.

So, one of my New Year resolutions for 2019 was to sign up for a mobile phone app that automatically squirrels away spare change. I chose Moneybox, which rounds up my spending to the nearest 1 and moves it into a stocks and shares Isa.

After 12 months, I was thrilled to discover that my pot is now worth almost 500 and currently earning around a 4 per cent return.

Its not a life-changing sum of money, but whats so brilliant is that, with only small amounts leaving my account each week, I barely even noticed it had gone.

And if I can save another 500 each year for the next decade like this, Ill have built up a pot worth 5,000  before any interest is even added  with zero effort.

If you have set yourself a money-making New Year resolution for 2020, or cashed in as a result of a goal you made at the beginning of 2019, write to me at the email address below, or Money Mail, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Ill print the best letters in my column next week.

For now, on behalf of the whole team at Money Mail, we wish you a very Happy New Year.

v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk
"The responsibility to protect these and all other diplomatic premises in Iraq sits with the Iraqi authorities, the spokesperson said in a written statement to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, adding that all staff at the Australian Embassy had been accounted for and were safe. "We are keeping a close watch on developments as the situation unfolds and we remain in close contact with the US and other allies, and our other security partners, as well as the Iraqi government. Protesters break into the US embassy compound, in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday. Credit:AP "We note that the justified US strikes were conducted in response to an attack on a military base in Iraq that caused American and Iraqi casualties. Coalition forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government, and we fully respect Iraqi sovereignty." The spokesperson declined to comment on whether action had been taken to bolster security at the Australian embassy in Baghdad for operational reasons.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper had announced the administration was sending 750 troops to the region as "an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and foreign policy adviser, had breakfast with the President and said in an interview that Trump was determined to "have no Benghazi on his watch," a reference to the 2012 attack on US government facilities in Libya that killed the US ambassador and three other Americans. Loading Republicans harshly criticised the Obama administration and then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton for the response to the Benghazi attacks and Trump's wariness over any comparisons between the two events was publicly on display on Tuesday. "The Anti-Bengahzi!" he tweeted about his administration's response to the situation in Baghdad.

Graham said Trump is not looking for a fight and hopes Iran will take steps that allow tensions to be ratcheted down soon. "The goal is to de-escalate, but it takes two to do that," Graham said, adding that Trump and his national security team are discussing "a lot of options" he would not detail. Loading In general, the US has options to confront Iran indirectly through military action against its proxy forces in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and to increase economic and political pressure on Tehran. It could also retaliate against Iraq, an ally of both Washington and Tehran, for not doing more to protect the embassy and the American contractor whose death on Friday at the hands of an Iranian-backed militia set off the current crisis. The US responded to the contractor's death by carrying out air strikes on Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah bases near the Iraqi-Syrian border, killing 25 and injuring more than 50. "The President is determined not to let Americans be attacked without them paying a price," Graham said of Iran.

The developments in Baghdad came on the eve of the new year, when Trump is seeking reelection on a platform that boasts of strong international leadership and a commitment that the US will not be a global policeman for age-old conflicts. "They're fighting for 1000 years, they're fighting for centuries. I want to bring our soldiers back home," Trump said in October, as he announced that US forces had killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. "I had absolutely nothing to do with going into Iraq, and I was totally against it." Protesters smash a window inside the US embassy compound, in Baghdad, on December 31. Credit:AP Trump has long viewed US involvement in the Middle East as a political loser that only leads to the loss of money and lives, according to an adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the President's views. "I can tell you 100 per cent that the President has no desire to get into some kind of new conflict in the Middle East during 2020," this person said.

This northern fall, Trump withdrew all but a few US forces from Syria to make good on his promise to shake off the sand of faraway Middle East conflicts, but the move was condemned by both Republicans and Democrats because it allowed Turkey to move against the Kurds, who had been allies of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State. Trump sought to portray his decision as a win after a ceasefire was declared, but his detractors countered that only occurred because Turkey had already achieved what it wanted in the region at the expense of the Kurds. Trump has distanced himself from the current Iraqi leadership and criticised its stewardship of oil resources. The White House issued only a cursory summary of a phone call on Tuesday between Trump and the country's placeholder prime minister. "The two leaders discussed regional security issues and President Trump emphasised the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the statement said. "Regional security issues" is often shorthand for the White House view that Iran stirs up trouble throughout the Middle East and endangers Israel. Some of Trump's advisers view Iraq as a long-term US partner and a foothold of US-backed democracy in the Middle East, while others mainly see Iraq through the prism of its next-door neighbour Iran. Trump has wanted to talk to Iran's president in an effort to strike some kind of deal, a move opposed by many in his administration, that he contends would be far better than the nuclear agreement the Obama administration struck with Tehran and that Trump abandoned soon after taking office. But there has been little progress on that front and the attack on the embassy appeared to make those talks even less likely in the near future.

Tensions were also high between Washington and Baghdad before the embassy assault, as officials traded accusations over Sunday's US airstrikes that Iraqi leaders called a violation of their country's sovereignty. "I think the first thing he should be thinking about is stabilising the Iraqi government and not putting more pressure on it," said Christopher Hill, a former US ambassador to Iraq. "If the net result of all this is an unstable Iraqi political situation, we will be sucked into it one way or another." Ryan Crocker, also a former US ambassador to Iraq, said Trump should think carefully about how his next steps will be viewed by Iran, which has its own calculations to make about how far to go in flexing its influence. Crocker welcomes Trump's stated interest in negotiating with Iran eventually, but said the president is raising the likelihood for conflict or miscalculation now. "Trump sends a lot of different signals," that Iran may not be able to interpret, he said. "I just hope that they took that into account before those F-16 strikes that with that level of force, the chances of some kind of response are pretty high." 'It's a pressure cooker and it's going to blow.' Former US army general Barry McCaffrey

Former Army general Barry McCaffrey, who has led troops in Iraq, said Trump is making it harder for Iran to back down. "The economic sanctions on Iran are choking them, and they're looking for a way out. Our own demands have been maximalist - and in public," he said. "It's a pressure cooker and it's going to blow." McCaffrey and Hill noted that Iran has more military resources in and around Iraq than the United States. "Trump has dealt with this in the worst possible way. He's publicly, not privately, confronting the Iranians not on a conflict of our choosing but of their choosing," McCaffrey said.

Iraqi security forces appeared to do little to prevent the initial assault on the embassy perimeter but later intervened, erecting a steel barrier at the smashed gate into the compound's reception area. Some Iraqi protesters set up tents outside the compound on Tuesday night, condemning the air strikes and vowing to stay until all US troops and diplomats leave Iraq. Douglas Ollivant, a former Army officer and National Security Council official who served in Iraq, questioned why Trump didn't retaliate for the contractor's death with a strike at Iranian assets in Syria rather than in Iraq. The US has no stake in the Syrian government the way it does in the Iraqi one, and both have interwoven ties with Iran, Ollivant said. The militia attack that killed the US contractor "clearly gave the Iran hawks the justification they needed to strike Iranian-affiliated groups inside Iraq," said Ollivant, now managing partner at the Iraq-focused consultancy Mantid International. As for what Trump does now, Ollivant said the President may have less leeway than he imagines to reduce involvement in Iraq.
New Zealand has welcomed in the new year with a fireworks display in Auckland.

This footage shows the Sky Tower being lit up for the countdown, with fireworks bursting into the air on the stroke of midnight. Credit: myousufq via Storyful
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry are enjoying their final days away from the spotlight. For the past several weeks, the Sussexes have been enjoying some much-deserved family time on Vancouver Island in Canada.

Though the duke and duchess have tried to approach royal life by adding their own flair of modernity, their strategy has been met with mixed reviews. Meghan, in particular, appears to be well-liked outside of the U.K. However, many members of the British press and public have been relentless when it comes to criticizing the former actress.

Now, after taking some time away to rethink her approach and spend quality time with the duke and their infant son, Archie Harrison, Meghan has a new project in the works for 2020.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have had to rethink their royal strategy

After being criticized for everything from their use of a private jet to Meghans outspokenness, the bullying that the Sussexes have endured has been constant.

Things have taken such a toll on Meghan and Prince Harrys mental health that in their ITV documentary, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, they hinted they would walk away from it all if things didnt improve. Thankfully, the royal couple isnt willing to throw in the towel just yet.

I have been watching the Royal Family for a long time now and Harry and Meghan have a very tactile connection with the public, royal commentator Juliet Rieden told Nine News Australia. That warmth is something that really benefits the Royal Family, Harry and Meghan just have to find a way to make it work for them. Its just like with anyone in a new job  you have to find a way to do your best but also make your skills shine.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry just trademarked Sussex Royal

As a part of letting their skills shine, the duke and duchess are about to expand their band. Theyve recently trademarked Sussex Royal. Though the duo submitted their application in June 2019, the details have only recently been made public.

The trademark includes printed materials, such as magazines and booklets. It also includes merchandise, such as clothing, as well as education, social care services, and charitable fundraising.

Meghan Markle might start a Sussex Royal magazine

Rumors are swirling that the trademark is just the beginning of the global Sussex Royal brand. Express is reporting that Meghan could be launching a magazine of some kind.

When the Sussexes split from the Cambridges to launch their own charity, their spokesperson issued a statement, saying, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation. A magazine or newspaper of some kind (even a digital one) could bring people from all walks of life together.

It has already been suggested that they are going to have a US base for their foundation  that makes total sense because of their links with celebrities such as George Clooney and Serena Williams  who could provide huge benefits for charity, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.

With her September 2019 guest edit of British Vogue and her now-shuttered blog, The Tig, its clear Meghan has an eye for editorial work.
A former Cambridge University professor has been suspended from the medical register after dishonestly claiming he did not know he was being paid full salaries from two different universities.

Professor Akhilesh Reddy, who is also a medical doctor, was receiving salaries from both University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge, but said he believed that he was 'sharing his salary' between the two, a tribunal heard.

The academic, whose dishonesty extended over a period of approximately 14 months, also made a 50,000 mortgage repayment with his large sum of money.

However the tribunal did not accept that Professor Reddy was financially naive and instead said he was a 'financially aware man' who 'dishonestly took advantage of a situation for his own financial gain'.

Professor Akhilesh Reddy (pictured) was receiving salaries from both University College London (UCL) and the University of Cambridge

A medical tribunal heard how Professor Reddy's full-time employment with UCL commenced on September 28, 2015 but the building where he was due to work was not yet completed.

He therefore continued both with his research at the University Of Cambridge and with clinical work at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

However the professor did not resign from the University Of Cambridge where his full-time employment continued until November 30, 2016 and dishonestly claimed two salaries, the tribunal heard.

In a statement read during his tribunal the professor said that 'he did not know he was in receipt of two full-time salaries' and did not check his bank account until February 2016.

The professor also said that he believed that the University Of Cambridge and UCL had 'come to an agreement about balancing payments from the two institutions' and that both establishments were aware of his position.

In a statement read to the tribunal, he said: 'It was my genuine belief that all necessary people were fully aware of the position.

'With the benefit of hindsight, I regret not being more proactive in ensuring that I specifically notified UCL of the situation.

'However, at the time, I thought that my employment situation was clear and widely known.'

However the tribunal did not accept that Professor Reddy was unaware of his situation and felt his argument lacked credibility.

The academic carried out his research at the University Of Cambridge (pictured) while he was still in full-time employment with UCL

The academic said that he believed the University Of Cambridge and UCL had 'come to an agreement about balancing payments from the two institutions'. Pictured: St John's College, Cambridge University

This was further demonstrated by a 50,000 mortgage repayment.

In a document publishing the decision, the tribunal wrote: 'Whilst the Tribunal accepts that Professor Reddy did not set out to be dishonest, he dishonestly took advantage of a situation for his own financial gain.

'Professor Reddy's dishonesty extended over a period of approximately 14 months and involved a substantial amount of money, albeit an agreed sum of money was repaid.'

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal has suspended Professor Reddy from the medical register for misconduct and the academic has since moved to Pennsylvania in the U.S. to continue his research following the allegations.

A UCL spokesman: 'UCL immediately took action as soon as we became aware that Akhilesh Reddy was drawing two salaries and he is no longer employed by UCL.

'This was a unique set of circumstances that involved the complex transfer of an academic group who remained for a period of time at their previous university before moving to a laboratory separate from UCL's campus.

'The behaviour of the individual involved fell seriously below the standards of behaviour we expect from members of UCL's academic community.'

A University of Cambridge spokesman said it was 'profoundly disappointed' by Professor Reddy's actions.
LYNDHURST, Ohio

Theft: Mayfield Road

At 3 p.m. Dec. 23, it was reported that a man stole $9.27 worth of goods from the BP of Lyndhurst store, 5615 Mayfield Road, then left on foot. Police soon after located the suspect walking on Mayfield Road and arrested him. The man was found to be the subject of warrants issued by police in Macedonia, South Euclid and Fairview Park.

The Cleveland man, 44, was jailed in Lyndhurst. While in the detoxification cell, the man intentionally flooded its toilet and was placed into a restraint chair.

Later, also on Dec. 23, the suspect complained of leg and chest pain and was taken to the hospital and left there on a furlough -- meaning he was to report back to jail after his release from the hospital.

The man did not report back to jail. Instead, his sister called Lyndhurst police and stated that the man had been shot in the neck and couldnt come back to jail. Police could not verify the womans story and issued a warrant for the mans arrest.

Transformer fire: Brainard Road

At 12:30 p.m. Dec. 29, the police and fire departments were called to Brainard Road, where it was reported by several people that an electric transformer had caught fire. Heavy smoke was in the air in the area of Brainard Road and Aldersgate Drive.

There was also a report of a fire in a front yard of a Brainard Road home and some homes had to be evacuated. No homes were on fire.

CEI was called to the scene. Brainard Road was closed in the area, but was re-opened by 1:25 p.m. as the fires had been put out.

Theft: Cedar Road

At 6:10 p.m. Dec. 28, a woman went to the police station to report that her purse had been stolen from LA Fitness, 25145 Cedar Road.

Theft: Case Avenue

At 6:40 p.m. Dec. 23, a resident reported that she had arrived home to find its side door open. The woman did not immediately call police because she found nothing missing.

The next day, however, the woman reported that a laptop computer, two Rolex watches and a diamond ring were missing. The victim, however, did not wish to cooperate with police and did not file a report.

Theft: Cedar Road

At 4 p.m. Dec. 29, a Chester Township man, 38, reported that his keys had been stolen while he was at LA Fitness, 25145 Cedar Road. At the time of the theft, the keys were in a gym bag that was left unattended -- not in a locker, but on a landing near stairs.

The man also related that his keys were used to open his car and that a gun was stolen from his auto. Police in Chester checked the mans home, but it had not been illegally entered. There are no suspects.

Unwanted guest: South Sedgewick Road

At 2:55 p.m. Dec. 26, a woman called police to have her daughter, 22, removed from her house. The daughter sometimes lives at the house, but the mother told police that her daughter is a drug addict.

The woman gave her daughter until 6 p.m. to leave. When police arrived, the daughter told officers she was packing her belongings and preparing to leave. The daughter said that her mother had taken her phone. When officers asked the mother for the phone, she told the officers to leave. Later, just before the daughter left, the mother reluctantly returned the phone to her daughter.

At 11:10 a.m. the following day, police were again called to the house. The mother had allowed her daughter to return, but again wanted police help in getting her daughter and her boyfriend to leave. Before leaving, both the daughter and her boyfriend were issued criminal trespass warnings.

Grand theft: Mayfield Road

At 1:40 p.m. Dec. 26, a corporate representative of Tesla Inc. reported that a car was missing from the lot of the Tesla dealership at 5180 Mayfield Road. The car was found to be missing sometime between Sept. 23 and Oct. 23.

The car had been repossessed and brought back to the dealership, and Tesla speculates that the person who bought the car may have used its key to take it back. The car has not been recovered.

OVI: Ridgebury Boulevard

At 10:05 p.m. Dec. 24, a Cleveland Heights man, 39, drove his car into a fire hydrant. It was subsequently found that the man was intoxicated. Police charged the man with OVI.

Theft: Cedar Road

At 1:15 p.m. Dec. 23, police received a call from Dicks Sporting Goods, 24545 Cedar Road in Legacy Village, where it was reported that two female suspects and a male suspect had run into the store, taken merchandise, then run out without paying. Police searched the area, but could not locate the suspects. The total value of the stolen merchandise was $1,609.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has defended ethanol petrol blending saying its lower energy density is compensated for in the price
NEW YORK (AP)  A man wounded in the Hanukkah stabbings north of New York City may have permanent brain damage and be partially paralyzed for the rest of his life, his family said.

The Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council released a statement from the family of Josef Neumann, 71, and a graphic photograph Wednesday showing severe head injuries he received Saturday at a rabbi's home in Monsey, New York.

Four other people were injured in the attack, which federal prosecutors say was a hate crime.

The photograph shows an intubated Neumann with a swollen and disfigured face lying in a hospital bed. A gash to his head appears to have been stitched up.

Neumann's family released the photograph for the world and the Jewish community to understand the gravity of hate," Yossi Gestetner, the council's co-founder, said in an interview. Neumann has seven children.

These things are vividly and viciously disturbing and have long-term consequences, Gestetner said.

The 18-inch machete used in the attack penetrated Neumann's skull, the statement said, adding that Neumann's right arm has been shattered.

Our father's status is so dire that no surgery has yet been performed on the right arm, the statement said. Doctors are not optimistic about his chances to regain consciousness, and if our father does miraculously recover partially, doctors expect that he will have permanent damage to the brain, leaving him partially paralyzed and speech-impaired for the rest of his life.

The statement also called on Jewish people around the world to share their own experiences with anti-Semitism on social media using the hashtag #MeJew.

We shall not let this terrible hate-driven attack be forgotten, the statement said, "and let us all work to eradicate all sorts of hate."

Federal prosecutors have charged Grafton Thomas, 37, with five federal counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon. He also has pleaded not guilty to five state counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary.

Ramapo police officers escort Grafton Thomas from Ramapo Town Hall to a police vehicle, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Ramapo, N.Y. Thomas is accused of stabbing multiple people as they gathered to celebrate Hanukkah at a rabbi's home in the Orthodox Jewish community north of New York City.AP

Authorities have said Thomas had handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references and had recently used his phone to look up information on Hitler and the location of synagogues.

Thomas' family has said he was raised in a tolerant home and had a history of mental illness.

The Hanukkah attack came amid a string of violence that has alarmed Jews in the region.

Former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said he recently spoke with an Orthodox Jewish man in New York who told him he had taken off his yarmulke out of fear.

Part of what we're trying to get across to people is that these attacks are not just statistics, said Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism. These people have to live with this the rest of their life.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he has directed the state police to increase patrols in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods around New York. Mayor and fellow Democrat Bill de Blasio announced a similar heightened police presence in the city last week.

Everybody feels very upset and disturbed about what happened, Cuomo said during a New Years Day visit to Brooklyns heavily Orthodox Williamsburg neighborhood, and everybody stands in solidarity with you.
"I have been bent and broken but, I hope, into a better shape." (Charles Dickens, 1860)

Ireland begins a new decade with an unquestionably stronger economy than it had 10 years ago. There are over 365,000 more people in the country, 325,400 more in work, and GDP is 77pc higher (in today's prices) than a decade ago.

Ireland was a much different country 10 years ago. In 2009, the country was in the grip of recession, house prices were falling sharply and unemployment was rising, with no one sure when the market would bottom out.

The term 'negative equity' suddenly became a phrase used almost daily in people's lives. While many citizens would have lived through other recessions or market corrections, this one felt different. Very different.

Arguably, what has been the most remarkable feature of the past decade has been the stoic and accepting nature of the Irish citizen.

It is true that many of the harshest critics may well have emigrated, with net migration falling to 27,500 in 2010 from a peak of over 105,000 in 2007.

But the public did not take to the streets en masse, despite the challenging conditions.

The spending cuts and Troika oversight were accepted begrudgingly, and there was no wild swing to the left or right politically, nor any emergence of the populism witnessed in other parts of Europe.

Only in the journey of proposed water charges could a significant level of public angst be detected.

One could conclude that the Irish citizen knew the boom was unsustainable and that there was a price to pay for the largesse and hubris.

This year starts with Ireland in a very different mood, and much will be expected of a country experiencing the fastest growth in Europe. It is one that is no longer in deficit and home to many of the world's leading companies.

It represents a move from begrudging acceptance to one of great expectations perhaps.

The phrase 'great expectations' will evoke memories of the Charles Dickens novel, and it is not just the title that is apt.

Ultimately, it is a story that teaches us that a life of privilege and wealth is not a guarantee of happiness and fulfilment.

This is appropriate as economies around the world shift their focus on to different measures of economic and societal success. Iceland has followed New Zealand in setting a focus on well-being.

Many of the best-selling economics books in 2019 were questioning the traditional measures of success, and firms around the world are embarking on a 'beyond shareholder value' journey.

This broader view of success asks us new and challenging questions. Who benefits from growth? Which places prosper and which do not? Who is being left behind?

It has also brought environmental issues to the fore: do we accept growth (or profit) at all costs?

Perhaps in this century, the 'roaring 20s' will refer to issues of climate change rather than economic prosperity. This recalibration of expectations will put pressure on the Government and employers alike during the decade ahead.

The change in citizens' expectations is partly a function of the passing of time (people feel that society has paid its dues for previous excess) and partly a realisation of what is now possible. People have witnessed technology transforming many aspects of their lives and our consumer experience is unrecognisable from a decade ago.

In our increasingly connected and frantic lives, time has become our most precious commodity. Delays are less likely to be tolerated and it is becoming unacceptable that problems within our abilities to resolve remain as prominent as ever.

In the OECD's 2017 'How's Life?' series, life satisfaction, health and work-life balance were listed as the three things that mattered most to Irish citizens. Income was only fifth.

Concentrating on these themes will be the focus for the decade ahead, and citizens and businesses need to come to terms with the fact that Ireland's reward for a return to economic solvency will not be tax cuts.

However, as we start a new decade, we should not do so with a mood of despondency.

It is an exciting time; the rapid advances in technology and data analytics present real opportunities to improve services, find savings and trigger new ways of thinking about the toughest societal problems.

Already, several shifts have made small but significant changes to people's lives. Here are a few of them:

1. Waiting at a bus stop

Remember waiting at a bus stop, wondering had you just missed the bus? Think how real-time information and the introduction of the Leap Card in 2011 materially changed bus journeys.

Commuters now only arrive at a bus stop minutes before a bus appears, having checked their app prior to leaving, and can board the bus faster given their Leap Card.

It's a similar situation for the Luas, Dart and Dublin Bikes.

This increased ease of commuting and, most importantly, increased reliability is one of the key drivers as to why public transport is seeing significant growth.

2. Waiting for a taxi

Taxis were no different to waiting for buses. Yet now, with advancements in technology and GPS, and the introduction of apps like MyTaxi, getting a taxi has never been easier. Further, it enables passengers to pay directly, thus removing the need for cash.

This is fundamentally different to 10 years ago.

3. Waiting for a passport

If you have recently renewed your passport, you will have observed how relatively easy and seamless the process now is. Gone are the days of struggling with whether your photo was the right shape or size, or whether you smiled.

You will be told instantaneously if your photo is not correct, for example. Simple changes with material effects.

Yet there is still much more to do. As wait times decrease for certain services, our expectations have increased for everything else, and our patience levels have naturally fallen.

It is hard to imagine that, by the end of the decade, the Irish citizen will tolerate levels of homelessness, emissions or hospital waiting lists as they do today.

The image of Pip, in 'Great Expectations', stealing food sadly still has resonance today.

The number of food banks grows, charity appeals for the less fortunate at Christmas remain as poignant as ever and, apparently, untouched by the 77pc growth in GDP.

These are not easy problems to solve and changes in the way of doing things are never easy.

Technology and data are, understandably, viewed sceptically by many.

There is much work to do to convince citizens that, with more information, we can craft better policy and more effective ways of delivering services. The potential, however, is enormous.

By 2030, we may see an Ireland characterised by the following:

1. Near-zero congestion

By continuing to leverage advances in technology and data analytics, we can move closer to removing congestion in our cities and towns in the shorter term.

Simple tweaks to people's working hours, or promoting options to work flexibly, will have the positive benefit of reducing congestion at peaks.

Further, smart planning conditions, like Ikea not opening before 10am in Dublin, will similarly improve traffic flows and thus economic prosperity.

2. Climate change leader

Remember the smoking ban? Or when Ireland became the first country to impose a plastic bag levy?

We mattered on the world stage. Wouldn't it be a fantastic legacy to look back at the 2020s in 10 years' time and be seen as a climate change leader?

First, we need to deliver on our Climate Action Plan, not just as a Government, or as corporates or students. But as one.

3. Personalised policy

If we know each citizen's usage/experience of public services, we could design new training supports and mental health plans, thus improving their overall employability.

Effectively, supporting a move away from a 'job for life' and toward a more sustainable and rewarding working life.

4. Giving back time

Our ability to cut out waste, and reduce traffic delays and duplication, should give back citizens their valued time.

This is maybe not quite delivering on Keynes' prediction in the 1930s that we would work 15 minutes a week but, such will be the productivity revolution, maybe a shorter working week will be the norm.

So, who will make all of this happen?

The reorientation toward the importance of public service delivery necessarily puts the Government front and centre of the discussion.

It has been a very tough decade for elected officials and civil servants.

Operating with one or, in the early part of the decade, both arms tied behind their back, there has been little room to innovate or transform. However, this is not a question for governments only.

The private sector is key to the environmental, social and economic journey ahead of us.

Increasingly, citizens are looking for civic leadership from employers.

EY's global CEO survey found that 67pc of bosses feel under pressure to address global challenges.

A study of published strategies and policy documents of major corporates reflects this change.

Sustainability, responsibility, culture, purpose; these are the words taking precedent over ebitda, dividends and margin.

Clearly, as a society, we stand little chance of tackling the most intractable of problems without a healthy and vibrant tax base, so it is not that profitable business is not the goal; it is just that it is no longer our singular north star.

We often think of lessons from the private sector that can be translated into public services, but there are lessons the other way around too.

In Ireland last year, 67pc of senior appointments were female, a lesson for much of the private sector when it pleads for patience in making such progress.

The past decade has been very challenging for Ireland. The economy has recovered from a devastating recession that has left many long-lasting scars which will be visible for generations.

It can look ahead with confidence that the economy has not returned to old imbalances and that many of our policy choices have been positively informed by our history.

Or, as Estella says to Pip toward the end of 'Great Expectations': "Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching... I have been bent and broken but, I hope, into a better shape."
COLUMBUS, Ohio A vast majority  to the tune of 68% of Ohioans  back the idea of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Ohioans.

A coalition of 700 business and workforce groups, including many conservative chambers of commerce, support Ohio enacting a nondiscrimination bill.

But the bipartisan-sponsored legislation, known as the Ohio Fairness Act, introduced in the Senate Feb. 19 and in the House Oct. 16, is not going anywhere right now.

There will likely be no more hearings for Senate Bill 11  a decision made by the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, due in part to the lack of support among the Republicans in his chamber.

And House Bill 369 has had just one hearing  on Nov. 19.

Sen. Nickie Antonio, a Lakewood Democrat who is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill and sponsored similar legislation four previous times when she was in the Ohio House, still believes a bill can pass.

There are actually younger Republican legislators both in the House and the Senate who understand this is a no-brainer," said Antonio, the only openly gay member of the General Assembly. Were trying to figure out how many votes we can actually find.

Antonio said that the 2020 elections will likely have an affect on her bills timing: I dont believe any legislators want to step out on any kind of risky -- what they perceive to be risky decisions" before the election.

Many Ohioans believe the protections already exist statewide, that they came with the U.S. Supreme Courts 2015 decision that same-sex marriage was a constitutional right.

But aside from a patchwork of Ohio cities and counties that have enacted protections in their boundaries, the state lacks a law protecting all LGBTQ people, everywhere in the state.

While the legislature is in a holding pattern, LGBTQ people can be fired at work, denied housing or even be asked to leave public places.

Previous behind-the-scenes negotiations

The West Entrance to the Ohio Senate Building at the Ohio Statehouse. (Laura Hancock/cleveland.com)

Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature, and many dont want to touch the Ohio Fairness Act.

But about five years ago, LGBTQ advocates and religious conservatives came to a compromise on the issue. But it ultimately failed when they tried to drum up public support. The points of contention that came up illustrate the uphill battle the Ohio Fairness Act faces today.

Back then, as Antonio was introducing a nondiscrimination bill in the House, religious conservatives, such as then-Rep. Bill Hayes, were working on a bill to protect people who wanted to deny providing services for gay people based on religious convictions.

Neither bill was going anywhere, Hayes recalled, and then-House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger told Antonio, Hayes and others on opposite ends of the LGBTQ rights debate to work out a compromise.

For more than a year, we were in a room, Antonio said, every week or every couple weeks, trying to figure it out.

The lawmakers looked at laws from other states -- such as Utah -- which offers some LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections, while at the same time, protects religious freedoms. They called in outside experts who have experience working with state legislatures on different nondiscrimination policies.

We went line by line through our bill," Antonio said.

The LGBTQ Pride flag. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com

Hayes recalled times when each side got mad and walked away. But they always returned after they had time to cool off.

I learned so much from people who saw these issues from a different perspective," Antonio said. I developed an appreciation, a respect and affection for the people I worked with.

Antonio arranged for LGBTQ constituents who lived in Hayes district to talk with him about what the bill could mean for them.

That made an impression on me," he said.

By late summer of 2016, they had drafted a bill. The bill protected LGBTQ people from discrimination at work, housing and public accommodations -- such as parks and restaurants. But it expanded the definitions of religious organizations, to include places that werent just churches, Antonio said.

We had a bill we thought we could agree on, Hayes said. We all gave a lot."

And then they showed the bill to their respective communities -- LGBTQ and religious conservatives. Each found it untenable.

They called it the Ohio Accord and they had a fact sheet they were shopping around on it," said Aaron Baer of Citizens for Community Values, a right-leaning Christian organization. It was super convoluted. We found all the religious exemptions to be meaningless and useless.

We never got to a place that we could get fully on board with it, said Grant Stancliff of Equality Ohio, which advocates for LGBTQ rights.

Antonio said she was disappointed, but she understands the LGBTQ communitys position.

When youre trying for 100% nondiscrimination, there are groups -- and this is their job, this is what they need to do -- that are only going to accept 100%," she said. "And the same was true on the other side.

That was a real disappointment, Hayes said. "Had we had the support of the people who had been fighting about this for years, I think we could have gotten this done. It was one of the biggest disappointments during my time of serving.

Chances this time around

(Melissa Hanson/MassLive)

In the Senate Judiciary Committee, there were three hearings on SB 11. Thats significant, Antonio said.

This is the first time the bill has ever been heard in the Senate, she said. "Ever. Because it was always introduced in the House and then died there. The one time the House was under Democratic leadership, it passed out of the House but then it languished in the Senate. It wasnt even assigned a committee.

Sen. John Eklund, a Geauga County Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said hes not planning on having another hearing any time soon.

I dont think theres broad support for it, certainly not in our caucus, he said.

Antonio said she helped send members of the LGBTQ community who live near Eklunds district to talk to him. And she will continue to do that with other lawmakers, hoping to drive home how a lack of protections personally affects people.

Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina Republican, said he doesnt think the bill is necessary.

I think when you want to change the law and add potential new uses or tools for plaintiffs lawyers, I think theres a burden on the person who wants a change in the law to show why its necessary," he said. I think its unlikely that either chamber of the legislature would have the votes to pass that. But I know there is a bill pending on that subject in the House as well and if they pass it and send the bill over to us well take a look at it.

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder rejected internal policies to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ House staff, saying Ohios anti-discrimination law doesnt protect the community.

As for HB 369, Householder said he plans to watch the discussion in committee before making any decisions about whether he supports it.

Behind the times?

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)AP

The argument for a nondiscrimination law is that in addition to protecting the LGBTQ community, it will send the statement that Ohio is modern and wants young, diverse workers - which can combat the workforce problems facing a state that is graying.

In addition to the gay community, many younger straight advocates, when considering where they want to live, evaluate a states reputation, and the lack of a nondiscrimination law can say a lot, Antonio said.

This is not unusual, where public perception and the public believes that people from the LGBTQ community should have these protections, and should enjoy equal civil rights, she said. But it hasnt quite caught up in the legislature.

Although public polling shows the majority of Ohioans support a nondiscrimination law, Baer from Citizens for Community Values said that when people understand the details of such a bill and the consequences for religious people, support would undoubtedly decline.

One of his organizations top priorities is preventing the Ohio Fairness Act from becoming law. He doubts there are any compromises to an LGBTQ nondiscrimination bill that his organization could support.

Equality Ohio, meanwhile, hesitates to compromise, too. It was concerned the looser definition of a religious organization in the compromise bill provided an exemption that was too wide.

Existing local government protections only cover a quarter of the states residents, Stancliff said.

You shouldnt have to move to the big city just because youre queer," he said. "You shouldnt have to leave a family business because youre trans.

Tim Brown, a former House member who was the first openly gay man in the legislature, participated in the discussions in 2015. A Republican and a Christian, Brown said the bill is necessary.

I think it needs leadership  the governor, the speaker of the house and the Senate president  who would be willing to step outside the normal Republican box and say, This is the right thing to do, he said.

Brown noted that DeWine has shown leadership on the issue: One of his first executive orders added sexual orientation and gender identity and expression protections for state employees.

Among rank-and-file Republicans, there are a lot of factors that prevent them from supporting the bill.

I suppose some of it may be personal religious beliefs, personal ambition  Im not willing to jeopardize losing some votes over an issue that is one typically Republicans dont deal with, Brown said.

But Brown thinks that attitudes are changing -- even if they are changing slowly.

I have every reason to believe this next generation of lawmakers will get it done," he said. "Because they have friends who are LGBTQ, they have family members or work colleagues. This next generation gets it. Im optimistic that were going to get this done in Ohio.

Cleveland.coms Andrew J. Tobias contributed to this report.
As always, those executed are not necessarily the worst of the worst but the least capable of defending themselves. The center found that at least 19 of the 22 prisoners who were executed this year had one or more of the following impairments: significant evidence of mental illness; evidence of brain injury, developmental brain damage, or an IQ in the intellectually disabled range; or chronic serious childhood trauma, neglect, and/or abuse.
T he mother of a British 19-year-old convicted of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has backed calls for a tourism boycott of the country saying the place isnt safe.

The woman, who has not been named, told BBC Radio 4 she supported a campaign started on Twitter after her daughter was found guilty of inventing the sexual assault at a hotel in Ayia Napa.

The teenager was convicted of causing public mischief on Monday after a judge ruled she had fabricated claims she had been raped by 12 Israeli men and boys in the popular resort on July 1.

Her mother said she was backing the #BoycottCyprus hashtag, telling the Today Programme she believed her daughter's experience in Ayia Napa was not an isolated incident.

The place isnt safe  it is absolutely not safe, she said in an interview voiced by an actor.

And if you go and report something thats happened to you, youre either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or, in the worst case, something like whats happened to my daughter may happen.

British teenager found guilty of lying about Cyprus gang-rape

The 12 young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after the 19-year-old retracted her complaint to police under what she claims was duress.

Her mother said the teen is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hallucinations, and is sleeping for up to 20 hours a day owing to a condition called hypersomnia.

She needs to get back to the UK to get that treated  thats my absolute primary focus. She cant be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode, she said.

It needs resolving otherwise shes going to carry on having this for the rest of her life.

The 19-year-old Brit, centre, covers her face as she leaves court / AP

She said her daughter had planned to go to university this year after offered a bursary at one institution.

No question, she would have gone to university, but it was in a career that she wouldnt be able to do with this public mischief verdict, so  again, life-changing for her  she needs to totally rethink her options," she said.

A crowdfunding appeal to fund the young womans legal support has surpassed its 80,000 goal.

The help teen victim get justice in Cyprus GoFundMe page was set up by the teenagers parents and British lawyer John Hobbs in August, with the emotional plea: After an awful series of events, we just want to bring her home.

The woman claimed in court she was raped but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than 80,000 in support of the teen / PA

The Foreign Office said the UK was seriously concerned about the fairness of her trial and pledged to raise the deeply distressing case with the countrys authorities.

Lawyers and campaigners criticised the justice system after she was convicted of public mischief at Famagusta District Court, in Paralimni, on Monday.

And the psychologist who assessed the woman as part of her defence case, Dr Christine Tizzard, said she was concerned the trial had not fully considered her PTSD diagnosis..

She told The Guardian: The salient point is that she was diagnosed with PTSD. Thats a standalone diagnosis. Its a valid diagnosis and it hasnt really been fully represented.

Aside the fact it hasnt been fully represented, it means shes been unable to get the treatment she so sorely needs and every day shes not having treatment the worse it gets.

Activists outside court after a British woman was found guilty of faking a gang rape claim / AFP via Getty Images

But the government of Cyprus has said it has full confidence in the justice system and the courts.

Cypruss attorney general said on Tuesday he could not suspend the trial because she had levelled grave accusations against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.

He said the womans allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim could not have been left to linger so he could not move to suspend the trial.

In a statement, Mr Clerides added: Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciarys work.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said he believed the woman had made false allegations because she felt embarrassed after realising she had been filmed having sex in a video found on some of the Israelis mobile phones.
Following the change of chairman, Armenia will receive two ministerial positions in the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).

Accordingly, Artak Kamalyan (Deputy Minister of Economy) and Gegham Vardanyan (Deputy Minister of Hi-Tech Industry) will become new representatives from Armenia in the new EEC Board.

Kamalyan has been appointed EEC Member of the Board - Minister in charge of Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex.

Vardanyan has been appointed as EEC Member of the Board - Minister in charge of Internal Markets, Information Support, Information and Communication Technologies. He will replace Karine Minasyan (Armenia) in that position.

The new staff of the EEC Board will begin its duties on January 1.

From that day on, the post of Chairman of the EEC Board will be held by Belarusian Prime Minister and the current Head of the Council of the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich.

The current Chairman of the EEC, former Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia and former Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan has been the Chairman of the EEC since February 1, 2016.
Tales of piss-headed police officers dominated the news in the week before New Years (at least, in my social circles, if we discount everything related to Star Wars). In West Virginia, the governor has finally recommended the firing of the full Hitler Heil-ing cadet class. In Kansas, another cop was (allegedly) terminated after writing "Fucking Pig" on his own McDonald's coffee cup and trying to blame it on the hard-working, underpaid workers whom he should be theoretically serving and protecting. (Some cops in Alabama also made a mocking "homeless quilt" that the department later apologized for, though the officers weren't actually reprimanded as far as I can tell.)

On the surface, this is largely a good thing. Although these are somewhat-minor acts in the grand scheme of police behaviors, the fact that there are actually repercussions for police misconduct already represents a sea change from the way things have been. Police departments across the country have kept secret lists of criminal crops who remain in their employ; typically, when cops are caught lying about things (even as dumb and small as a McDonald's coffee cup), the rest of their testimony is still given weight. Hell, the National Center for Women and Policing found that at least 40% of police officers self-reported domestic violence in the home  and still keep their jobs.

But these guys in West Virginia and Kansas? They might actually lose their jobs over a couple of pictures.

The public outrage towards unfair and overly aggressive policing has noticeably swelled alongside the raise of the Black Lives Matter movement, and particularly in the aftermath of that obscene military occupation in Ferguson. But these events also inspired a counter-backlash, inspiring more pro-authoritarian Blue Lives Matters-types to show their colors  or perhaps more accurately, a singular color, which is just a thin-blue line of fascism. We know that there's a shortage of new police hires, likely as a result of all of this; we also know that the "Ferguson Effect" doesn't actually make us any less safe, and more likely encourages more efficient policing.

So here's the catch. Those Neo-Nazi cadets in West Virginia were precisely that: cadets. And the McDonald's Framer in Kansas? He'd only been with the department for two months.

The cops who are being punished are all newer, younger cops  who likely came up in this era of extreme police opinions. Union laws might make a harder to clear out an old, tenured officer with ties to white supremacy. But a rookie cop who was inspired by alt-right rhetoric, and gleefully heils Hitler for a photo op? That's a piece of trash that's easier, and cleaner, to dispose of. It also might be a more obvious example of abhorrent behavior. It can be easy for anyone to excuse their buddy's "casual" racist comments  "He didn't mean it like that! He has a black friend!"  because it lets them excuse the unconscious biases in themselves. The same goes for forged evidence  maybe your buddy had good intentions, or a good reason, ya know?

But if a new kid shows up and bluntly heils Hitler, or fakes a police insult on a god damn cup of McDonald's coffee, because they're young and dumb and reckless and radicalized by 4chan lulz? That makes it easier to clean house. For better, and for worse. Maybe it represents a major shift in police accountability; or maybe it's just a good PR movie. Only time will tell.

In the meantime, there's still a pretty good chance that these terminated rookies will still get hired elsewhere, or at least that their disciplinary files will never be seen. Because that's the way police contracts work.
MONTREAL - Workers in charge of refuelling planes at two Montreal airports went on strike Tuesday morning, prompting the city's airport authority to warn of possible flight delays.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 31/12/2019 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Passengers wait to check-in at Trudeau Airport in Montreal on July 19, 2017. Employees in charge of refuelling planes at Montreal's Trudeau and Mirabel airports have gone on strike. The city's airport authority warned today of possible delays in flight schedules at Trudeau, the city's main airport, after Swissport Fueling's employees walked off the job. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

MONTREAL - Workers in charge of refuelling planes at two Montreal airports went on strike Tuesday morning, prompting the city's airport authority to warn of possible flight delays.

Hours later, the Canada Industrial Relations Board allowed workers to maintain their strike, but ordered their union immediately back to the negotiating table.

Roughly 100 employees with Swissport Canada, the only supplier of fuel for airlines operating out of Montreal's cargo airfield in Mirabel and the city's main airport, Montreal-Trudeau International, walked off the job around 11 a.m.

"We are continuing our strike," union spokesman Michel Richer said in an interview Tuesday afternoon, following the labour board ruling. "We'll be back on the picket lines in Montreal and Mirabel tomorrow morning."

Swissport Canada said it didn't expect any significant delays or work slowdowns due to the labour conflict, saying it brought in trained managers from across the country to replace the striking workers.

Swissport employees protest outside Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montreal, Tuesday, December 31, 2019. About 108 workers who are responsible for refuelling planes walked off the job on Tuesday morning after they were unable to reach an agreement with Swissport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

All day Tuesday, many flights posted on the website of Montreal-Trudeau had been listed as delayed, but a spokesperson for the airport authority said those problems were due to bad weather.

Peter Tsoukalas, president of the local for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said earlier in the day his members fuelled all the planes at Montreal-Trudeau before hitting the picket lines.

"We tried to help the population by making sure all the planes were filled before we launched the strike," Tsoukalas said.

Police and airport patrol at Montreal-Trudeau were working to ensure security and the continuity of operations, the airport authority said in a statement.

"Operations are continuing at the airport, but ... the dispute could result in delays in flight schedules."

Swissport employees in Montreal rejected a tentative contract deal in a 90 per cent vote last Friday.

According to the labour board ruling, the tentative deal included a provision that the union would recommend its members vote in favour of it.

The labour board also said the union didn't tell Swissport about the vote result. Instead, the union gave the company a 72-hour strike notice and on Sunday, "made new demands that were estimated to be more than double what was in the tentative contract deal."

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Swissport complained to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, saying the union was negotiating in bad faith and asking the board to suspend the strike. The board ruled Tuesday that the union could maintain its strike, but had to drop the new demands made on Sunday.

The board also ordered the union "immediately" back to the negotiating table with Swissport. Both sides say they have not yet set a date for negotiations to restart.

Federal Labour Minister Filomena Tassi called on both sides to continue bargaining.

"I am disappointed that the parties have been unable to resolve their differences and I urge them to continue their efforts to reach a negotiated settlement," she said in a release. "We are monitoring the situation closely."

Salaries and work-life balance are the main points of contention between Swissport and its Montreal-area workers, who have been without a contract since August.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2019.
More than 210,000 vehicles now use sections of the Pacific Motorway each day between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, according to Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Official statistics now show the Pacific Motorway is Queensland's busiest road with the number of vehicles "spiking" over 200,000 on some very busy days.

"More than 210,000 vehicles now regularly use the M1 south of the Coomera River, including 75 per cent of vehicles that enter the M1 at Pimpama (Exit 49) and Coomera (Exit 54) and then exit the motorway at, or before Smith Street (Exit 66)," the department said.

Pacific Motorway delays on Gateway at Rochedale. Credit:QLD Traffic

On average, more than 170,000 vehicles each day use the Pacific Motorway.
2nd Fleet Declares Full Operational Capability

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS191231-01

Release Date: 12/31/2019 11:23:00 AM

From U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Virginia (NNS) -- Seven months after reaching initial operational capability, U.S. 2nd Fleet achieved full operational capability Dec. 31.

Since its reestablishment in August 2018, Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, 2nd Fleet (C2F) commander, has led the resurgence of the Navy's newest numbered Fleet, amid a return to great power competition as outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

"Within an increasingly complex global security environment, our allies and competitors alike are well aware that many of the world's most active shipping lanes lie within the North Atlantic," Lewis said. "Combined with the opening of waterways in the Arctic, this competitive space will only grow, and 2nd Fleet's devotion to the development and employment of capable forces will ensure that our nation is both present and ready to fight in the region if and when called upon."

Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, C2F exercises operational authorities over assigned ships, aircraft and landing forces on the East Coast and the North Atlantic.

The achievement of FOC signifies 2nd Fleet has reached sufficient capacity to sustain command and control over assigned forces using the operational functions and processes of the Maritime Operations Center and Maritime Headquarters, in accordance with Navy Doctrine.

C2F will primarily focus on forward operations and the employment of combat ready naval forces in the Atlantic and Arctic, and to a smaller extent, on force generation and the final training and certification of forces preparing for operations around the globe.

"Our involvement in force generation is limited to the integrated phase  the final stages of the training cycle when our ships are operating at the high-end in aggregate," Lewis said. "This is an important distinction from the previous 2nd Fleet that disestablished in 2011 in that it aligns us with all other OCONUS numbered fleets."

In June, C2F led exercise Baltic Operations on behalf of Naval Forces Europe, marking it the first time the Fleet operated in the European theater since its reestablishment, leveraging increased lethality, interoperability and integrated warfighting capability with regional allies and partners.

Building its expeditionary capability, C2F established a Maritime Operations Center (MOC) this past September in Keflavik, Iceland. This forward operating MOC, made up of approximately 30 members of C2F staff, possessed the ability to command and control forces, provide basic indicators and warnings for situational awareness, and issue orders while maintaining reach-back capability to C2F headquarters.

Additionally, C2F has a trans-Atlantic outlook and understanding that it is intrinsically linked with allies and partners  both up toward the Arctic as well as across the Atlantic.

"We tirelessly work with our partner and NATO alliances to strengthen our deterrence and defense efforts throughout the Atlantic to improve upon our readiness and responsiveness," Lewis said. "This critical relationship will continue to grow throughout the future, as we work together to ensure there is no seam in the Atlantic for our adversaries to exploit."

By focusing on strengthening our partnerships with our Allies in the Atlantic and high-end training and employment of assigned assets, the new C2F is now fully postured to support the employment of forces, whether that is on the western or eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean, or further north into the Arctic Ocean.

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Pro-Iran protesters storm US embassy over deadly Iraq strikes



Baghdad, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



The US deployed additional Marines to its embassy in Baghdad Tuesday to reinforce the diplomatic mission after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the compound, setting fires and chanting "Death to America!"

It was the first time in years that protesters have been able to reach the US embassy, which is sheltered behind a series of checkpoints in the Iraqi capital's high-security Green Zone.

Hundreds of people in military fatigues marched through those checkpoints and broke into the embassy's visitor reception building, sparking fury from President Donald Trump and other top US officials.

Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen fighters, they waved flags of Shiite paramilitary forces backed by Tehran and posters reading: "Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!"

The bulk of protesters remained as night fell, setting up tents and beginning to cook dinner, signalling a possibly prolonged sit-in.

Demonstrators had scrawled "No to America!" and "Soleimani is my commander" on the embassy walls, referring to Tehran's pointman for Iraq, Major General Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Trump blamed Iran and demanded Iraqi government forces protect the embassy compound.

"Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible," he said via Twitter.

But Tehran hit back, slamming Washington for the "surprising audacity" in blaming Iran for the violence.



- 'First lesson' to US -



After his tweets, Trump called Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Madi to emphasise the need to protect US personnel and facilities in Iraq, the White House said.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier called Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh to pressure them to boost embassy security.

Pompeo "made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq," the State Department said.

The Pentagon announced it was sending additional units to the embassy, and helicopters carrying US Marines from neighbouring Kuwait landed at the embassy late Tuesday, a security source told AFP.

But there were no plans to evacuate the mission and the ambassador, who had been on holiday leave, was on his way back to the embassy, US source said.

The assault came two days after US air strikes killed at least 25 fighters from the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), a component of the Hashed al-Shaabi military network.

The Pentagon said the strikes were in retaliation for a rocket attack by the group which killed an American contractor in Kirkuk.

It was the first US casualty from a spate of rocket attacks in recent weeks.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," Trump tweeted Tuesday.

In response, Kataeb Hezbollah called for a funeral march to the US embassy.

Late Tuesday, the faction hailed the protest outside as a "first lesson" to Washington, "so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid".

"The second lesson will be the law, which will oust the occupation forces," the force said in a statement.



- US warns Iran -



Dozens of Iraqi lawmakers have called on the government to review an agreement allowing some 5,200 US troops in Iraq, saying the strikes violated the country's sovereignty.

Those troops and other US targets have been hit in recent months by around a dozen rocket attacks, with American officials pointing the finger at Tehran-backed factions.

Many of those groups are linked to the powerful Hashed.

Hashed chief Faleh al-Fayyadh -- who is also Iraq's National Security Adviser -- was among the angry crowds attacking the embassy on Tuesday, as was the country's interior minister and other Hashed leaders.

Demonstrators appeared to gain easy access through the Green Zone to the embassy, throwing rocks, tearing down security cameras and setting a sentry box ablaze in anger over the US strikes.

The Hashed said at least 62 people were wounded after US embassy guards fired an initial volley of bullets, then switched to tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds.

The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship as allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washington's influence in the country.

"This may well be the low point of US policy in Iraq," said Iraq expert Fanar Haddad of Singapore University's Middle East Institute.

Following the deadly strikes, the Iraqi government announced three days of mourning and threatened to summon the US ambassador.

"American forces acted on their political priorities, not those of the Iraqis," a government statement said.

The attacks "force Iraq to review its relations and its security, political and legal framework to protect its sovereignty", it added.
The government on Wednesday hailed as "historic" General Bipin Rawat taking charge as the first Chief of Defence Staff, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the creation of Department of Military Affairs and institutionalisation of the post of CDS are momentous reforms that will help the country face challenges of modern warfare.

Top military brass, including Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, expressed confidence that the armed forces will fulfil the task of achieving cohesion under the CDS.

The opposition Congress apparently distanced itself from the critical remarks of party leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Manish Tewari on the appointment of General Rawat, saying it does not oppose any step taken by the government to strengthen the security of the country.

Congratulating General Rawat on his appointment, Modi said he is an outstanding officer who has served India with great zeal.

The institution of CDS carries tremendous responsibility of modernising the country's military forces, and reflecting the hopes and aspirations of 1.3 billion Indians, Modi said.

"As the first CDS takes charge, I pay homage to all those who have served and laid down their lives for our nation. I recall the valiant personnel who fought in Kargil, after which many discussions on reforming our military began, leading to today's historic development," he tweeted.

Home Minister Amit Shah said the appointment of Gen Rawat as CDS was momentous and historic for India and it will further the Narendra Modi government's efforts towards ensuring welfare of personnel of all three services.

In a series of tweets, Shah also said Prime Minister Modi has fulfilled yet another long-pending demand with India getting its first CDS.

Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said it was a significant step and the onus was on the three services for it to succeed.

General Bipin Rawat was on Monday appointed India's first Chief of Defence Staff with a mandate to bring in convergence in functioning of the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force and bolster the country's military prowess. He took charge as CDS on Wednesday.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar dubbed Congress as a "confused party" for raising questions over the appointment of Gen Rawat as CDS, and said any attempt to politicise the issue is "condemnable".

The CDS has established a new system and the country should be proud of it, Javadekar said at a press conference here.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said actions speak louder than words and soon the country will know how the Chief of Defence Staff will work.

Dev also refused to comment on Chowdhury and Tewari's critical remarks on the appointment of CDS.

"But I would like to say that the decision of appointing chief of (defence) staff is of the government. We only expect that he (General Rawat) will fulfil his responsibilities as the chief of staff. Any step taken by the government to strengthen the security of the country, the Congress does not oppose that," Dev said.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, in a series of tweets on Tuesday, had raised several questions over the appointment of Gen Bipin Rawat, saying the government has started on a "wrong foot" on the issue.

He had also asked whether the country was headed on a portentous path.

"With great regret and fullest of responsibility may I say that the government has started on a very wrong foot with regard to CDS. Time alone unfortunately will reveal the implications of this decision," Tewari had tweeted.

Chowdhury had also taken to Twitter to say, "At the end, Mr Rawat becomes the 1st Chief of Defence Staff, government has certainly taken all his performances into cognizance including his ideological predilection, Indian Army is an apolitical institution for which each & every Indian irrespective of caste, class, creed, community is proud of."



"Let Mr Bipin Rawat Ji's ideological predilection should not affect the apolitical institution of India, our 'ARMY'," the Congress' leader in Lok Sabha had tweeted.

Gen Rawat will be able to serve as the CDS for a period of up to three years after the government amended the rules extending the age of retirement to 65 years.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had, in a landmark decision last week, approved the creation of CDS, who will act as the principal military adviser to the defence minister on all matters relating to the tri-services.

A key mandate of the CDS will be to facilitate restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint and theatre commands.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) speaks during the 2020 Public Service Forum hosted by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Aug. 3, 2019. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Gabbard Says Impeachment Has Increased Likelihood of Trump Winning 2020 Election

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), an outspoken critic of her own party, conceded that the House impeachment against President Donald Trump will further embolden the president and thereby increase the likelihood that he will remain president for the next five years.

Gabbards statement comes after she was criticized by her party for being the only Democrat who voted present on the two articles of impeachment.

First, we all know that Trump is not going to be found guilty and removed from the office by the U.S. Senate. Its not going to happen, Gabbard said in a video on Dec. 30.

Second, the impeachment in my view, will actually increase his support amongst voters, and its going to make him harder to defeat.

In 2020, we will have a new president in the White House. How many of you do NOT want that to be Donald Trump? I certainly dont. Unfortunately, the House impeachment of the president has greatly increased the likelihood Trump will remain the president for the next 5 years  pic.twitter.com/FRRlbWHyo7  Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) December 31, 2019

Gabbard added that the House impeachment has also increased the likelihood that Republicans will take over the House of Representatives.

Im really concerned that because of this House impeachment, we will end up not only with Donald Trump as president from 2020 to 2024well actually end up with a Republican controlled Senate and a Republican controlled House, she said.

Criticism and Praise

Former Hawaii governor and fellow Democrat Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) criticized Gabbard for not voting in favor of Trumps impeachment and called for Gabbards resignation, reported the Huffington Post.

Additionally, on Dec. 24 Gabbard was noticeably absent from a new unity fundraising advertisement produced by the Democratic National Committee.

Despite being snubbed by her own party, Gabbard was praised by president Trump for voting present on impeachment. Gabbard told ABC News that her vote was not a decision of neutrality, rather it was standing up for the people of this country and our ability to move forward together.

After doing my due diligence in reviewing the 658-page impeachment report, I came to the conclusion that I could not in good conscience vote either yes or no, Gabbard said in a statement.

Rep. @TulsiGabbard released a statement on explaining present vote on the impeachment proceedings. pic.twitter.com/xuTat4aKrd  Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 19, 2019

Trump told reporters on Dec. 20: They lost all credibility because we know Tulsi Gabbardand I give her respectshe didnt vote the other day. I give her a lot of respect because she knew it was wrong.

She took a pass. But I dont know. I do know one thing: shes not an agent of Russia, Trump added.

Trumps reference to Gabbard as not being an agent of Russia was in response to allegations by former Secretary of State, and 2016 presidential rival, Hillary Clinton that Gabbard is a Russian asset.

Clinton claimed, without offering any evidence, that Gabbard was a favorite of the Russians and they have a bunch of sites and bots and other ways of supporting her, so far.

Furthermore, Gabbard has been critical of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi since she announced that House Democrats wouldnt send the articles of impeachment over to the Senate until they felt a fair trial would be held there.

You cant kind of just shift and change and make up the rules as you go along. If youre going to pursue this process, youve got to let it play out the whole way through, Gabbard told The Hill.

Since October, Gabbard has missed about 89 percent of votes in the House as she seeks the Democratic presidential nomination, according to GovTrack.us.

Jack Phillips, Zachary Stieber, and Isabel Van Brugen contributed to this article.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-12-31 04:15:50|Editor: huaxia

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A newly-recruited soldier is seen at the main port of Aden, Yemen, on November 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo)

Yemen's newly-recruited troops are preparing for massive military operations, aiming at taking over the country's Red Sea coast areas from the Houthis.



ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of newly-recruited Yemeni troops began preparations for waging a massive military attack to capture all areas of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah following a year of de-escalation.

The preparations for the upcoming military campaign against the Houthi rebels came just weeks after the complete withdrawal of all military forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Sudan from Hodeidah's outskirts.

"Well-trained Yemeni forces received the control of all the Red Sea coast areas after the withdrawal of our Arab military forces," a senior military official of the joint anti-Houthi Yemeni troops based in Hodeidah told Xinhua.

"Thousands of our Yemeni armed forces will carry out an all-out military campaign to liberate Hodeidah without intervention from the Saudi-led Arab coalition," he said on condition of anonymity.

"The UN-brokered peace deal on Hodeidah made no constructive results and only enabled the Houthi militias to enlarge their military capabilities," the military official noted.

Newly-recruited soldiers are seen stationed around state institutions in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo)

Another officer of the southern Giants Brigades fighting Houthis in Hodeidah confirmed that his leaders are studying the plans for attacking the Houthi-controlled areas in cooperation with other local Yemeni forces.

"A year of de-escalation after signing the peace deal in Stockholm cost us a lot as Houthis continued to attack our bases through ballistic missiles sporadically," the officer said also on condition of anonymity.

"Houthis killed and injured hundreds of civilians with their indiscriminate shelling on the residential neighborhoods in Hodeidah in 2019," he added.

The upcoming campaign "won't leave even one inch of Hodeidah under the control of the Houthi rebel militias," the officer stressed.

Tariq Mohammed Saleh, a nephew of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, vowed to resume fighting against the Iran-allied Houthis in all Yemeni territories including the capital Sanaa.

Tariq said he had started mobilizing thousands of his elite Republican Guard forces stationed on the outskirts of Hodeidah with Houthi-controlled Sanaa as the main target.

Addressing a number of newly-recruited forces in the Red Sea city of Mocha, he urged them to keep their morale high and be fully prepared for cmajor anti-Houthi battles.

"We renew our call to all Yemeni people to come together. Houthis caused curses and wars and they are the enemy of all Yemenis," said Tariq.

Newly-recruited soldiers are seen stationed around state institutions in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo)

The Saudi Arabia-led coalition handed over Hodeidah's front to a joint Yemeni military command to lead the battles against Houthis there.

Meanwhile, the Houthis intensified their military presence in many areas of Hodeidah in an attempt to curb any upcoming progress of the pro-government forces.

"The mercenary forces won't make any progress without direct support from the Saudi-led coalition particularly the airstrikes. Our fighters are always ready for the battle," s Houthi source in Hodeidah told Xinhua.

In October, the United Nations started deploying cease-fire observers in Hodeidah, establishing five observation points near the military contact lines between the two warring parties.

The observation points are manned by liaison officers from both parties in accordance with the cease-fire agreement reached in 2018 in Sweden which also called on both warring sides to move forces away from ports and parts of the strategic city.

However, sporadic exchange of gunfire and artillery shelling continued to rock the strategic port city despite the presence of the cease-fire observers.

Newly-recruited soldiers are seen stationed around state institutions in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, Nov. 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Murad Abdo)

As the main Yemeni port city along the coast of the Red Sea, Hodeidah is the key lifeline entry of most Yemen's commercial imports and humanitarian aid.

The grinding war of more than five years has pushed over 20 million people to the verge of starvation.

The Iran-allied Houthis control much of Hodeidah while the Saudi-backed government troops have advanced to its southeastern districts.

The cease-fire deal in Stockholm was seen as the first phase toward achieving a comprehensive political solution to the civil war. 
Year 2019 saw a flurry of initial public offerings (IPOs) which hit Dalal Street and attracted investor interest. IRCTC, CSB Bank, Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Prince Pipes, IndiaMart, Neogen Chemicals, Rail Vikas Nigam, Sterling and Wilson Solar, and Affle India were among the key IPOs that made headlines last year. Here's a look at 11 key IPOs that are scheduled to hit the market this year.

LIC

The Modi government in Budget 2020 has proposed to sell a part of its holding in LIC through initial public offering (IPO). LIC IPO is likely to be held in second half of next fiscal. The listing of insurer will make it one of India's biggest companies in terms of market capitalisation along with Reliance Industries, TCS and HDFC Bank. The government firm is expected to fetch a valuation of around Rs 8-10 lakh crore, say experts.

Burger King

Fast-food major Burger King India plans to list on bourses this year. With the IPO, private equity player Everstone Capital, which owns a majority stake is likely to make a partial exit from the quick service restaurant (QSR) chain. The issue will comprise a secondary share sale worth Rs 600 crore by Everstone Capital and fresh fundraising worth Rs 400 crore, which will be used to fuel the fast food chain's expansion plan.

Edelweiss, Kotak Mahindra Capital, JM Financial, and CLSA are the investment bankers managing the Burger King IPO. Its rivals Jubilant FoodWorks-the operator of the Domino's chain in India-and Westlife Development, which runs McDonald's outlets in the southern and western regions, went public in 2010 and 2009, respectively.

UTI AMC

India's oldest mutual fund UTI AMC will sell up to 8.25 per cent stake via initial public offer (IPO) route this year as it looks to divest the stake held by its five shareholders.

The public issue consists of an offer for sale by shareholders including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, LIC, Punjab National Bank and T Rowe Price. First three shareholders will sell 10,459,949 shares each, while the other two will offload 3,803,617 shares each. UTI AMC's four domestic shareholders LIC, State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of Baroda (BoB) own 18.5 per cent stake each and also have their own AMCs.

SBI Cards & Payments

SBI Cards and Payments, the credit card unit of State Bank of India filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with SEBI in November last year. The issue size is expected to be around Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 9,500 crore. According to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP), the offer will comprise fresh issue of equity shares aggregating Rs 500 crore and an offer-for-sale by promoter SBI (3.72 crore equity shares) and by investor CA Rover Holdings (9.32 crore equity shares). On November 11, SBI in a communication to bourses said the executive committee of its central board of directors accorded final approval for the divestment of up to 4 per cent of the bank's stake in SBI Cards through an IPO, by way of an offer for sale.

Home First Finance

Home First Finance Company (HFFC) in November filed a draft red herring prospectus with SEBI for its proposed IPO through which it expects to raise Rs 1,500 crore. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of Rs 400 crore and Rs 1,100-crore offer for sale by promoters and investors. The Mumbai-based firm is expected to hold its IPO this year. The offer for sale consists of Rs 498.4 crore worth of shares by True North Fund V LLP, Rs 332.2 crore worth of shares by Aether (Mauritius) (both are promoter selling shareholders), and Rs 176.4 crore shares by Bessemer India Capital Holdings II, Rs 56 crore shares by PS Jayakumar, Rs 35.9 crore shares by Manoj Viswanathan and Rs 1.1 crore shares by Bhaskar Chaudhry. Axis Capital, Credit Suisse, ICICI Securities and Kotak Mahindra have been appointed for the share sale. The firm is a mortgage financier in the affordable housing segment.

EESL

State-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) plans to enter the primary market to fund its energy efficiency programmes this year. The firm plans to use the funds from initial public offer (IPO) for leasing electric vehicles to companies and installing smart meters to measure power consumption.

EESL is a joint venture of four public sector enterprises - NTPC, PFC, REC and PowerGrid. Financial services company Investec has valued EESL at around Rs 5,000 crore.

Computer Age Management Services

Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) , a registrar and transfer agent (RTA) serving several mutual funds in India plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore this year. Based in Chennai, CAMS is co-owned by - NSE Investments Limited (Subsidiary of NSE), Warburg Pincus LLC (a leading global private equity firm), Faering Capital (a leading Indian mid-market private equity firm), ACSYS Investments Pvt Ltd and HDFC Group. These investors are expected to partially offload their stake via IPO.

Equitas Small Finance Bank

Equitas Small Finance Bank in December filed draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the regulator SEBI for Rs 1,000 crore initial public offer. The IPO will comprise a fresh issue aggregating up to Rs 550 crore and an offer for sale of up to 80,000,000 equity shares by Equitas Holdings Limited (EHL), the promoter.

EaseMyTrip

Online travel company EaseMyTrip filed draft papers with capital markets regulator Sebi in December last year to float a Rs 510-crore IPO. Company's founders Nishant Pitti and Rikant Pitti will each sell shares to the tune of Rs 255 crore through offer-for-sale mechanism. EaseMyTrip.com is operated by Easy Trip Planners Private Ltd. The company said the object of the public issue is to achieve the benefits of listing the equity shares on stock exchanges.

NSE

Country's largest bourse NSE is likely to come up with its IPO this year. Its listing plans have been stalled for almost three years due to probe by SEBI against the bourse and its top officials. NSE said an external panel had found potential instances of some traders having preferential access to its network through co-location facilities - where private servers are placed at exchanges to speed up algorithmic trading. In April 2019, Sebi passed an order against the NSE and the officials, barring the bourse from accessing the capital market for six months. The ban ended on October 31.

The IPO is likely to see existing shareholders offload 20-25 per cent stake to the public through the offer for sale (OFS) route.

IREDA

Integrated Renewable Energy Development Agency ( IREDA), a 100% govt-owned entity, received final nod for an IPO from SEBI in October last year. The government is eyeing Rs 700 to Rs 750 crore after selling its stake in IREDA.

In June, 2017, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved the listing of IREDA. Under the listing proposal, IREDA will issue fresh 13.90 crore shares, increasing the paid up share capital of the company from Rs 784 crore to Rs 923 crore. At present, the company has 78.46 crore equity shares. IREDA is registered as a non-banking financial company with RBI.

By Aseem Thapliyal
A globe-trotting Jesuit priest with ties to Mother Teresa sexually abused an American boy more than 1,000 times, in multiple states and countries, a lawsuit filed Monday in California state court in San Francisco alleges.

In the lawsuit and in interviews with The Associated Press, Robert J. Goldberg, now 61, describes years of psychological control and sexual abuse he suffered from age 11 into adulthood while working as a valet for the late Rev. Donald J. McGuire.

McGuire died in federal prison in 2017 while serving a 25-year sentence for molesting other boys who came under his sway.

Goldberg says he remained in the Jesuits thrall for nearly 40 years, even volunteering to testify in McGuires defense during criminal trials in Wisconsin and Illinois.

The lawsuit doesnt name the defendants, but Goldbergs attorneys say the defendants will include the Jesuit order in the U.S. and the orders top leader at the Vatican. At the time of the abuse against Goldberg, the suit alleges, Catholic officials knew that McGuire had been repeatedly accused of sexually abusing boys and went to great lengths to cover up his crimes.

In the nearly two decades since the U.S. Catholic abuse scandal erupted, thousands of survivors have stepped forward to tell painful stories. Hundreds more revealed their abuse in lawsuits earlier this year, when the state of New York opened a one-year window that allows survivors to file child sex abuse lawsuits without regard to the statute of limitations. And hundreds more, like Goldberg, are expected to take advantage of a similar window that opens Jan. 1 in California.

But many victims still suffer in silence, often taking decades to step forward, if they ever do. Advocates say that abusive priests, as representatives of God, exert powerful control over the children they target, especially when they are helping the children and their families overcome poverty or other obstacles.

Goldberg was 11 when he met McGuire in 1970, one day when he and his sister were sitting on a curb outside a Chicago tavern, waiting for their mother to come out.

McGuire gave the family a ride home and ingratiated himself with Goldbergs mother, persuading her that her son would be better off living under his supervision, according to the lawsuit.

During this time, the suit says, Goldberg would spend evenings at McGuires living quarters or would return to the familys home with McGuire, who would sleep with him in his bed. Meanwhile, Goldbergs mother came to rely on the funds that McGuire paid Goldberg for working as his assistant, $300 to $500 a week.

He was very controlling. I had no say whatsoever, Goldberg told the AP. Whatever he told my mother he wanted me to do, I had to do it.

Goldberg and his family followed along in 1976 when McGuire moved to California to take a teaching job at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit school, and promote a roving ministry in which he presided over religious retreats for wealthy Catholics, collecting large donations along the way.

It was during this time that McGuire forged ties with the future saint, Mother Teresa, becoming her spiritual adviser while vetting nuns seeking to join the religious order she founded, the Missionaries of Charity.

Goldberg said his feelings about McGuire began to change after hearing victims testify at his criminal trial in Chicago, where Goldberg was scheduled to testify on McGuires behalf.

He wasnt called to the stand to testify but came away feeling, he said, that McGuire had no remorse for what hed done to Goldberg and other victims.

Concerns about McGuire started as far back as the early 1960s, when he was living in Europe and church officials in Germany and Austria sent alarming reports about his relations with young boys.

The complaints continued but he remained a priest in good standing for 40 years. In 1994, Mother Teresa wrote a letter of support to the Jesuit order to express her confidence and trust in McGuire. She said she believed allegations against McGuire were untrue.

McGuire wasnt removed from active ministry until 2007. He was defrocked in 2008.

Officials in the Jesuits Midwest Province could not be reached for comment on Mondays lawsuit, which was filed by a national law firm with expertise in clergy abuse litigation, Jeff Anderson & Associates.

In 2012, the Chicago Jesuit official who received Mother Teresas letter, the Rev. Bradley M. Schaeffer, issued a statement apologizing for failing to rein McGuire in. I deeply regret that my actions were not enough to prevent him from engaging in these horrific crimes, he said.

Last year, when the Midwest Jesuits released a list naming 65 accused Jesuits, including McGuire, Provincial Brian G. Paulson issued a similar apology. We are painfully aware that in earlier decades, some Midwest Jesuits were not removed from ministry quickly enough, he said. We are deeply sorrowful.
Iranian militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, one of several identified as leading an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, reportedly visited the White House in 2011 during the presidency of Barack Obama.

On Tuesday, a mob in Baghdad attacked the U.S. embassy in retaliation against last weekends U.S. airstrikes against the Iran-backed Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah (KH), responsible for killing an American civilian contractor. KH is one of a number of pro-Iran militias that make up the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF/PMU), which legally became a wing of the Iraqi military after fighting the Sunni Islamic State terrorist group.
The Tamil Nadu unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced protest against senior Congress leader in state Nellai Kannan. Kannan was booked by the police for making derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the passage of citizenship law.

The police action came after the Congress leader asked the minorities to finish-off PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah at a meeting arranged by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Tirunelveli on Sunday.

I was expecting Saheebs to end Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. But no one is doing that, Kannan had said at the meeting.

He further said that Home Minister Amit Shah is controlling the PM.

A day after Kannans controversial speech, BJP national secretary H Raja urged Tamil Nadu police to arrest Kannan for derogatory comments against the PM and HM.

The Congress politician Nellai Kannan has instigated the Muslims to finish off PM and HM in his speech. I have complained to the Director General of Tamil Nadu Police, through WhatsApp and on online too. I request the TN Gov to take immediate action, H Raja said in a tweet.

He further said that Kannan has not only passed derogatory comments against Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah, but gave a life threat to them by instigating Muslims. It seems Kannan wants to do something which happened for Rajiv Gandhi in Tamil Nadu, Raja said on Twitter.

On his complaint, the Tamil Nadu Police booked Kannan under IPC section 504, 505 and 505(2) for trying to instigate violence, instigating someone to indulge in violence, and creating violence between two groups.

Raja further declared that four senior BJP workers would stage dharna if the police fails to arrest the Congress leader.

I have tried to reach Nellai Kannan through his phone number. A voicemail speaks in Kannada says that the number is currently not reachable. I, BJP senior leader La Ganesan, former Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP leader CP Radhakrishnan will launch a dharna before Mahatma Gandhis statue if the police does not arrest Kannan, said Raja.

BJP workers have been protesting against Kannan in Tirunelveli. The 74-year-old leader was stopped by the BJP workers from going to hospital. As the private hospital reportedly denied him admission, Kannan headed to another hospital for health check-up.
The Union Minister for Information and broadcasting and Delhi's election in-charge for Bharatiya Janata Party for Delhi assembly polls Prakash Javadekar launched a scathing attack on AAP and Congress while accusing them of inciting violence in the Capital against Citizenship Amendment Act.

The minister asserted that the violence related to Citizenship Amendment Bill that happened in Delhi areas like Jamia, Seelampur and Jama Masjid cannot be forgiven.

"In Jamia, Congress' Asib Khan and AAP Amanatullah Khan delivered inciting speeches like burqa will be banned. They spread disinformation. The law is to give citizenship to the people and not take citizenship away, " stated Javadekar.

The minister also added that people of the country are wise and they understood the devious plan of Congress and AAP and both parties should apologize.

"We will bring out the truth, fight is between anarchists and those who opposed it. Our agenda would be wholesome development of Delhi. AAP strangulated the neck of municipal corporations attempt of development work. Rs 900 crores were not given. Today, people of Delhi are surprised that AAP slept through all these 4.5 years and remaining six months they have doled out schemes, " added the minister.

"Kaam kare koi topi pehne koi (work is done by someone else and the credit is taken by a different individual), " said the minister while blaming the AAP government for taking credit of work done by BJP ruled corporations.

"Who did fogging in dengue season? Our corporations organised an awareness drive against water accumulation and dengue cases went down. During corporation polls, Kejriwal said don't choose BJP as dengue will claim lives. Now he is also claiming credit for decrease in dengue cases because of the works done by these corporations, " asserted Javadekar

"I am an environment minister, we worked on pollution control. There is no limit to their lies. About Unauthorised colonies, AAP says we have not regularised it. We made law signed by President yet they spread lies, " added Javadekar.

Assembly Elections in Delhi are due in the coming months as the five year tenure of the AAP government comes to an end in February this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Phase 1 of trade deal with China would be signed on January 15 at the White House, though considerable confusion remains about the details of the agreement.

The president wrote in a tweet that he would sign the deal with "high level representatives of China" and that he would later travel to Beijing to begin talks on the next phase.

Last week, Trump said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would host a signing ceremony to ink the Phase 1 deal.

The Phase 1 deal, struck earlier this month, is expected to reduce tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of American farm, energy and manufactured goods while addressing some disputes over intellectual property.

However, no version of the text has been made public, and Chinese officials have yet to publicly commit to key planks, such as increasing imports of U.S. goods and services by $200 billion over two years.

China bought $130 billion in US goods in 2017, before the trade war began, and $56 billion in services, US data show.

The United States launched a trade war against Beijing a year and half ago over allegations of unfair trade practices, such as theft of U.S. intellectual property and subsidies that unfairly benefit Chinese state-owned companies.

The United States Trade Representative said the Phase 1 deal includes stronger Chinese legal protections for patents, trademarks, copyrights, including improved criminal and civil procedures to combat online infringement, pirated and counterfeit goods.

Issues such as industrial subsidies would be addressed in a later deal, US authorities said.

The escalating tit-for-tat tariffs, which began in July, 2018, have roiled markets and crimped economic growth worldwide.

Though it was not immediately clear who would represent the Chinese delegation at the signing, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday that Vice Premier Liu He would visit Washington to sign the deal.

Asked Tuesday when the deal might be signed, China's foreign ministry spokesman referred questions to China's Department of Commerce.
Ben Stokes returns to the scene of one of his most spectacular performances but the circumstances are different going into the second Test between England and South Africa at Newlands on Friday.

Four years ago Stokes thrashed 258 off 198 balls in a brutal display of power hitting, collecting 11 sixes and sharing in a world Test record sixth wicket partnership of 399 with Jonny Bairstow, whose 150 not out from 191 balls was scarcely pedestrian.

England went into that match 1-0 up in a four-Test series which they went on to win. This time they are the team needing to catch up after losing the opening encounter in Centurion.

South Africa were captained by Hashim Amla, who effectively acknowledged his lack of aptitude for the job by resigning from it after the match despite making a double century of his own to ensure a high-scoring draw.

On this occasion it is England's captain, Joe Root, who is under pressure because of his team's poor recent record away from home.

Stokes then was on his way to becoming England's talisman, a status which he cemented during 2019, which ended with him being awarded an OBE in Britain's New Year honours list.

Bairstow, though, has gone backwards. He seems unlikely to play at Newlands this time after failing with one and nine at Centurion, where he only played because of Ollie Pope's illness.

- Bonanza for batsmen -



=======================



Newlands in 2016 provided an unusually benign pitch for batsmen, with both teams scoring over 600 in a first innings which only ended late on the fourth day. It is the only one of the most recent 11 Test matches at Newlands, going back to 2011, to have ended in a draw.

South Africa have won nine of the other ten, losing once. Totals over 400 have been rare, with only four instances other than the 2016 run feast. There is a new groundsman but it seems reasonable to expect a fair contest between bat and ball this time around.

After winning the first Test in Centurion by 107 runs, South Africa are likely to make one forced change with opening batsman Pieter Malan expected to win his first cap in place of the injured Aiden Markram.

England opted to go into the first Test without a spinner but Newlands is a ground where spin bowlers are usually needed. It is a dilemma for England, with Jack Leach having been ill virtually since the team's arrival. Although he is now reportedly recovering and out of quarantine he is unlikely to be considered match fit.

Leg-spinner Matt Parkinson was unimpressive in two warm-up matches and off-spinner Dom Bess, flown out on standby because of the illness in the camp, could be selected, possibly ahead of veteran fast bowler James Anderson.

England's most potent fast bowler, Jofra Archer, did not bowl during net practice at Newlands on Wednesday because of a sore right elbow although he was able to bat and take part in fielding drills, according to a team spokesman.

Possible teams:



South Africa: Faf du Plessis (captain), Dean Elgar, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Dwaine Pretorius, Vernon Philander, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje



England: Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (wkt), Sam Curran, Dom Bess, Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad



Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Paul Reiffel (AUS)



TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)



Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The next time you think lawmakers should do something to make things better for you and me, consider this: More than 250 new laws take effect in Illinois today and many of them will hit you in the pocketbook.

It seems the General Assembly and governor used a simple principle to determine how to raise revenue: if it moves, tax it. Were surprised bicycles were exempt. Of course, we dont want to give lawmakers any ideas.

The reason for most of the new taxes, fees and fines is to help fund a sorely needed, multiyear $45-million capital infrastructure plan. Some of the increases are more bone-jarring than the average pothole.

Here are a few of the new taxes we thought would be of special interest to you.

Vehicle registration: Registration fees for passenger vehicles will increase to $151 from $101, while electric vehicle registration fees will increase to $251 annually from $34 every other year. These are hefty increases and we wonder whether the electric vehicle fee, in particular, will discourage some Illinoisans from being more environmentally friendly. Their vehicles are on wheels, of course, so they might want pack them up and move to a different state to do their driving.

Trailer fees: The licensing fee for a trailer weighing less than 3,000 pounds will increase to $118 from $18, with every weight class above that also seeing a $100 increase. This looks like a mistake that needs to be corrected. A $100 increase to pull your boat is outrageous, especially because fees for the vehicles that pull those boats also increased by quite a bit.

Trade-in tax: The state currently does not collect sales tax on a cars trade-in value. That changes today, when the state will begin taxing any trade-in value more than $10,000. State Rep. Andrew Chesney, R-Freeport, was a co-sponsor on a bill that would have stopped that extra taxing. The measure was sent to the rules committee where legislation often goes to die. This increase, which is expected to raise $60 million, will go toward vertical infrastructure such as new state buildings and renovations.

Stop for the bus: The stop sign that school bus drivers extend when theyre making their rounds is not a suggestion. Stop means stop. However, far too often motorists ignore the bus stop sign and put the lives of children at risk.

Maybe those motorists will think twice now that the fines have doubled. The fine for passing a school bus with its stop sign extended goes to $300 from $150 for a first offense. Fines for second and later offenses also are doubling, to $1,000 from $500. This is an increase we agree with 100%.

Slow down, move over: Drivers who do not slow down or move over for parked emergency response vehicles will be hit in the pocketbook a lot harder and could face jail time.

The Move Over Law, or Scotts Law, which is named for Chicago Fire Lt. Scott Gillen, who was killed in 2000, was meant to protect people and save lives. The law took effect in 2002.

However, too many people have been injured and lost their lives. This year, in particular, has been deadly.

There have been 27 Illinois State Police troopers who have been hit this year while attending to traffic incidents  and three have died, including Trooper Brooke Jones-Story, 34, who was killed March 28 after she was struck by a semitrailer while inspecting a vehicle on the side of the road near Freeport.

The fine for a first violation of the law is going up to $250 from $100. Subsequent violations now carry a minimum fine of $750. Violators also will be charged an additional $250 fee to fund education and enforcement of the law.

We hope the increase penalties make a difference for trooper safety. We dont want to see a repeat of 2019.

 Rockford Register-Star
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Most of Ohios largest employers paid their chief executive officers more than 200 times what they paid their typical employees in 2018, according to a new report by Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, progressive think tank.

Policy Matters analyzed pay-ratio data that publicly traded U.S. companies are required by federal law to submit to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The organization reviewed filings for Ohios top 100 employers, 53 of which filed reports with the SEC (read the full report at the bottom of the page). The other top employers were exempt from filing. The data looks at 2018 data made available in 2019 (some of the data is from calendar year 2018, and some is from fiscal year 2018).

The companies were required to report their CEOs pay compared with that of their median employee  the worker whose pay falls in the middle of all employees.

The report cautions that it is difficult to compare companies, which may have different reporting requirements and which span different industries. But the findings nonetheless illustrate the widening pay disparity between top executives and their employees, the report says.

While corporations have become generous with CEO compensation, theyre far stingier with rank and file employees, who are more productive than ever, Zach Schiller, Policy Matters Ohio research director, said in a statement. The widening gap between CEO and worker pay helps explain why many people dont feel the benefits of a strong economy  theyre skewed to the top.

PAY DISPARITIES

Among the 53 CEOs analyzed in the report, one made less than $1 million in 2018; seven made between $1 million and $5 million; nine made between $5 million and $10 million; 29 made between $10 million and $20 million; and seven made more than $20 million.

The highest-paid CEO, at $30 million, was Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan Chase.

Meanwhile, 17 companies among the major employers reported median pay of less than $25,000, which is below the federal poverty level this year for a family of four, Policy Matters reported. Together, these 17 companies employ more than 210,000 Ohioans.

Compared with their typical employees, all but five of the states largest employers paid their CEOs at least 100 times more; 35 of the 53 CEOs were paid more than 200 times what their typical employees made; more than a quarter of the companies paid their CEOs 500 times more than a typical employee; and six CEOs made 1,000 times more than their median employee.

These disparities are much wider than they were in the past, according to Policy Matters. In 1965, for example, the largest companies in the U.S. paid their CEOs 20 times what they paid the typical worker, compared with 278 times more in 2018.

The report notes recent research by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C., that indicated that in 2018, CEOs made 940.3% more than they did in 1978, while typical workers made only 11.9% more.

Another theme highlighted in the report is the large pay disparities at retail companies. Each of the nine Ohio employers with the largest pay differences between CEOs and employees were retailers.

For the second consecutive year, Abercrombie & Fitch, which employed 3,250 Ohioans last year and is based near Columbus, had the highest pay ratio of any of the top Ohio employers. CEO Fran Horowitz made nearly $8.5 million  3,660 times more than the $2,317 pay of the companys median employee, according to the analysis.

Asked for comment on its pay ratio, an Abercrombie & Fitch representative pointed to the companys SEC filing, in which the company notes that its staffing model relies heavily on part-time and seasonal workers, which the ratio calculation does not differentiate from full-time employees. As of its latest SEC filing, A&F employed 43,500 people, 80% of whom worked part time; its median employee was a full-time student averaging eight hours of work per week, seven months a year, A&F said.

This approach to store staffing provides flexible, entry-level employment opportunities to students  many of whom are among our core customer demographic  that can become the foundation for a career at Abercrombie & Fitch, the company wrote in its filing. As a result, we maintain a promote from within mentality, and we provide opportunities for students to shape themselves into top candidates and potential future leaders of the company.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Policy Matters Ohio recommended a set of policies to help close the huge pay gaps it found in its analysis.

They include changing federal and state tax policy, leveraging state purchasing and economic-development subsidies to get companies to decrease their pay ratios, and Ohios public pension funds pushing for reasonable CEO pay. Policies that strengthen the bargaining power of workers and unions would also help, Policy Matters said.

Federal policymakers should reverse tax laws that have reinforced pay disparities, like the recent Trump tax cuts, Schiller said. They should instead adopt policies that narrow the gap, like tax rate increases on companies with excessively high CEO to typical worker ratios. Ohio lawmakers could adopt state purchasing policies that would give preference to enterprises with smaller rations between CEO and worker pay and disqualify those with large ones for economic development subsidies.
Thane Police arrested a Bangladeshi national who allegedly killed his wife in Palghar two years ago and fled to his home country.

Acting on a tip-off, the accused was nabbed near the Thane railway station on Tuesday.

According to police officers, the accused, 45-year-old Mahabubur Shaikh, hails from Naudail in Bangladesh. He used to live in Waliv, in Palghar, with his twowomen who have both been identified as his wives.

In December 2017, Shaikh allegedly killed his second wife by strangulation her over a family dispute. Later he wrapped her body in a cloth and threw it near a bridge at Tarivali Khind on Mumbai- Ahmedabad Highway. Waliv police found that body in March 2018. Police then sent it for forensic analysis and identified the woman. A crime branch unit one official said,  He left for Bangladesh after this murder in 2017. On Tuesday, Thane crime branch team laid a trap and arrested the accused after PSI Datta Sarak received a tip-off. The accused confessed to his crime during interrogation. It was yet to be ascertained if he was living in India without a valid visa, a police official said. Waliv police are conducting further probe.

With PTI inputs
A double murder investigation has been launched after two people were found dead at a house in Derbyshire, police have said.

Officers were called to a house in New Zealand Lane in Duffield just after 4am on New Years Day and found a man and a woman fatally injured inside.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of murder and remains in custody, Derbyshire Police said.

New Zealand Lane, on the outskirts of the south Derbyshire village, has been cordoned off as police forensic teams investigate.

One resident in the area, who also did not wish to be named, said: This is a quiet area, so everybody is naturally very shocked.

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Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 November 2021 Migrants are helped ashore from a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat at a beach in Dungeness, on the south-east coast of England, on November 24, 2021, after being rescued while crossing the English Channel. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 23 November 2021 The coffin of Sir David Amess is carried past politicians, including former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the requiem mass for the MP at Westminster Cathedral, central London PA UK news in pictures 22 November 2021 The scene in Dragon Rise, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset where police have launched a murder probe after two people were found dead Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 21 November 2021 London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, takes part in a 'March with Midwives' in central London to highlight the crisis in maternity services PA

The neighbour added: We awoke this morning and the whole street was crawling with police. We obviously welcomed in the new year, but didnt hear anything until we woke this morning and our living room was lit up by blue lights.

Its very unnerving that this has happened on our doorstep and my husband and I are just feeling numb at the minute.

Detectives said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and there was no one else in the property at the time.

Police officers at the scene where a tent has been set up in New Zealand Lane (Anita Maric/SWNS) (Anita Maric / SWNS)

Formal identification of the victims has yet to take place and specially trained liaison officers are supporting their families.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Police said: Two people have died at a house in Duffield and a double murder investigation has been launched.

We were called to a house in New Zealand Lane at 4.11am today and found a man and a woman fatally injured inside. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of murder. He remains in custody at this time.

New Zealand Lane remains closed and we would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding that the closure is necessary while we investigate what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to call the force on 101, via social media or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting by SWNS
Danish actor Claes Bang is poised to become TV's newest sex symbol when he makes his debut as Dracula tonight.

Bang, 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic.

Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another tweeted cheekily: 'Claes Bang as the Dark Prince would have my neck anytime he wanted...'

Meanwhile early reviews of the mini series, which will air on three consecutive nights from today, suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion.

Claes Bang (left), 52, best known as The Affair's Sasha Mann, plays the world's most famous vampire in the BBC's new three-part adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic (right)

Early reviews suggest Bang ditches his signature cloak to appear in the nude on more than one occasion. Pictured, Bang strips off in a convent in a promotional shot from Dracula

Fans are already impressed with what they've seen, with one declaring the tall, dark and handsome leading man to be 'very sexy'. Another shared this cheeky tweet above

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, journalist Michael Hogan noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'.

Dracula marks Bang's most high-profile English-language role to date and marks the culmination of an exciting few years.

The actor, who is married to artist and photographer Lis Kasper Bang, had his breakout role in the 2017 Ruben Ostlund film The Square, which won the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for best foreign language film.

It has been followed by turns in The Girl in the Spider's Web and The Burnt Orange Heresy, in which he starred opposite Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Debicki and Donald Sutherland.

The BBC adaptation follows lawyer Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client, which turns out to be Dracula (pictured together)

One review noted Bang spends 'an eyebrow-raising amount of screen-time naked'. Pictured, the actor, topless and covered in blood, in a scene with nun Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells)

Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement. Pictured, wiping blood from his mouth

But to British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair.

Bang's Dracula performance has made headlines already, prompting fans who were shown a preview to take to Twitter to share their excitement.

One viewer who attended a preview screening in London this week tweeted: 'Claes Bang is an INCREDIBLE Dracula! I love Claes a Person, and as an Actor SO much! His interpretation of the Transylvanian Count was witty, devious and, (also), very sexy.'

Another agreed: 'Holy Transylvania, #Dracula is incredible. #StevenMoffat and @Markgatiss have done it again. This is a Dracula redefined for a new era - suave and cool, intimate and sexy, deliciously funny and horrifyingly grotesque. #ClaesBang is the Count of a generation. @BBCOne #BFI.'

To British TV viewers he is likely to be best known as Sasha Mann, the charismatic, A-list movie star who played Helen's (Maura Tierney) love interest in the fifth and final season of The Affair. Pictured, in a scene with Noah (Dominic West) and Whitney (Julia Goldani Telles)

The show's overtly sexual nature was also noted by Matthew Moore of The Times, who revealed the series includes a 'sex scene between Dracula and Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan), the [British] solicitor dispatched to his Romanian lair'.

He wrote: 'The sexual tone is clear from the outset. Even before the opening credits roll a character is asked plainly: "Did you have sex with Count Dracula?"'

But Moffat, 58, insisted the sex in the show should be seen as an act of destruction, rather than an act of romance.

Speaking at a screening, he said: 'Hes bi-homicidal, its not the same thing. Hes killing them, not dating them.'

The BBC adaptation follows Harker as he travels to Transylvania to meet a new client.

It is only once he is in the castle of Count Dracula that he realises he is a prisoner, rather than a guest. Dracula also stars Dolly Wells as nun Sister Agatha.

Dracula begins on BBC One at 9pm tonight
This fire season has been one of the worst in Australias history, with at least 15 people killed, hundreds of homes destroyed and millions of acres burned. And summer is far from over.

This week, thousands of residents and vacationers in southeastern Australia were forced to evacuate to shorelines as bush fires encircled communities and razed scores of buildings. Military ships and aircraft were deployed on Wednesday to deliver water, food and fuel to towns cut off by the fires.

The hot, dry conditions that have fueled the fires are nothing new in Australia. Heres why this fire season has been so calamitous.
For months, furious protests have battered Iraq, driven by frustration at a dysfunctional economy, corruption and the pervasive influence of a foreign power: Iran.

Then a rocket attack killed an American contractor in Iraq, American airstrikes hit an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, and Iraqis anger turned back on the United States, culminating with a break-in at its embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday.

The airstrikes and the embassy standoff, with demonstrators drawn largely from Iranian-backed militias, brought the United States to its most serious crisis in the country in years  and pulled it deeper into the volatile problems engulfing Iraq and its neighbor Iran.

Complicated at the best of times, the relations between Iraq, Iran and the United States are now even more fraught.
Carlos Ghosn, the former chief executive of world-renowned Japanese carmaker Nissan and Renaw, has secretly arrived in Lebanon by hiding in a music box without a passport. Due to Ghosan's escape from Japan, there is chaos in the whole country. However, the Japanese government of Carlos Ghosn had laid siege with a lot of security guards outside the house besides video surveillance.

Pope Francis slaps woman, Video goes viral on internet

According to media reports, Carlos had passports from three countries. The three passports of Ghosn, having acquired citizenship of France, Lebanon, and Brazil, were confiscated by the Government of Japan. He says that he left that country because Japan's justice system is not fair and injustice was being done to him there.

Ram Govind Chaudhary attacks Yogi Sarkar, says- "Aside from Adityanath topic..."

In a statement issued in his statement, the 65-year-old Ghosn said that "he will never be a prisoner of Japan's partisan judicial system, where the blame is justified, where there is uncontrolled discrimination and where basic human rights are denied Is kept. " He also said, "I have not run away from justice. I have escaped from injustice and political oppression." Gone also assured that they will start talking to the media from next week. Please tell that the hearing against Ghosn was yet to begin and not leaving the country was in the terms of his bail. He was arrested in November 2018. Lebanon's official TV station MTV wrote that Ghosn came out of Tokyo hiding in a large musical box.

Two opponents united at the beginning of the new year, Kunwar Pranav Singh can return to BJP
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLA from Kerala, MK Muneer has written to the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over "dire situation" in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"As you know, there have been protests in various states of India since the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the country. But the situation in Uttar Pradesh, where such protests are being organized, is dire," he said in a letter dated December 31, 2019, to the NHRC chairperson Justice HL Dattu.

"Even the people's right to protest is denied. Where peaceful protests take place, police officers shoot at the crowd without provocation. Many young people have died from gunfire and many have been seriously injured. The situation in Uttar Pradesh is that even police officers are commanding people to go to Pakistan," read the letter.

Speaking to ANI, Muneer said that the gross human rights violations taking place in Uttar Pradesh prompted him to approach the NHRC.

In the complaint, he says that the common rights of the people are being denied and urged the NHRC to visit Uttar Pradesh with a full team.

"There is a terrible situation that people can't even get out of their houses. People are being completely subjected to human rights violations. The state government of Uttar Pradesh is trying to conceal this news from citizens across the country," he said in the letter.

"I humbly request you to pay a visit with your full team, If possible to your highness visits areas such as Bareli, Meerut and all other places where the grave Muslim atrocities happened at the hand of Uttar Pradesh police," the letter read.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:02:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The international community has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year speech delivered on Tuesday, saying that China's development benefits people, and giving thumbs up to China's commitment to world peace and common development.

Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation and former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, said he was impressed by China's high-quality development and its achievements in poverty alleviation that Xi mentioned in the speech.

"The impressive statistics on the continued drop in poverty levels in China continues to be the most extraordinary hallmark of the recent decades of China's transformative economic transformation," Quinn noted.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Xi's pledge to promote common development will benefit his city's partnership with China.

"I've seen for myself that the fantastic contribution made to London success by Chinese businessmen and women, Chinese tourists, students and other visitors to our great city," he said, hoping for a further strengthening of bilateral cooperation and friendship.

Xi's New Year speech was "comprehensive and confident," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation.

"I have been long impressed by President Xi's assertion for China to truly be a 'moderately prosperous society in all respects,'" he said, adding that he was also impressed by Xi's remarks that "no matter how busy I was, I spent time visiting people in the countryside."

Brian Lantz, representative of the Schiller Institute in Houston, spoke highly of "the simple humanity that shines through in the president's speech."

"The mention of the letters he has received -- and to which he responded to -- from fellow Chinese citizens of all walks of life," and "the touching acknowledgment of ... ordinary people living extraordinary lives" in Xi's New Year speech impressed him a lot, Lantz added.

Noting Xi's words on poverty alleviation in China, former Italian Ambassador to China Alberto Bradanini said that "in the light of the success achieved by China, all countries aspiring to exit from their underdevelopment should look at the Chinese experience."

Francesco Maringio, president of the Italy-China Association for the Promotion of the Silk Road, said that he was impressed by Xi's remarks that "no matter how busy I was, I spent time visiting people in the countryside."

"The message is clear: the needs and dreams of every Chinese come above all any other obligation," Maringio noted.

Xi highlighted that China has "friends in every corner of the world" in the New Year speech, said Varaprasad Sekhar Dolla, a professor of Chinese studies at India's Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The professor said that the Chinese government is trying to expand the number of friends across the world through win-win cooperation, which is "a very positive development."
Barcelona is known as the cosmopolitan capital of Spain's Catalonia region and particularly famous due to its architecture. With a population of about 55 million, it is a popular choice for tourist destinations. With the vastness of the city, it is often confusing for tourists to decide what to do when visiting the city, especially when they are with kids. Here are a few suggestions for things to do in Barcelona with kids.

Best of Kid-friendly destinations to visit in Barcelona

Park Guell

With no shortage of culture, Barcelona has 9 UNESCO heritage site to look at. Gaudi's fantastic creation located at the Park is a sight to see and seems like it just came out of some fairytale and also has leafy plazas to take rest. It is one of the best things to do in the city for free. It is advised that you take a metro to Vallcarca and then take the escalators to the back of the park and witness it through a downhill slope.

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La Rambla

A famous and beautiful boulevard, no visit to the city seems to be complete without visiting this place. Starting from Placa Catalunya and stretching down to the port, adults and children alike are greeted with florists, artists, animal stalls and more. It provides a traditional Barcelona-experience with human statues and is a must-visit for everyone.

The City Beaches

Barcelona has a fairly long stretched coastline and when speaking about the city beaches, they are pretty good and certainly worth a visit. When there are kids with you, beaches are one of the most fun and safest spots to visit. The beaches from the Olympic village are comparatively more child-friendly and have a huge playground.

ALSO READ | Five Awadhi Dishes To Treat Your Taste Buds When You Travel In The Region

Cable Cars

The city is surrounded by mountains, with Montjuic looking over at the sea. There are two cable car rides from Montjuic  one which crosses the sea over to Barceloneta and the beach, and the second which transports you up to the old castle. Offering great views, the cable rides are set to be a hit with kids.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

This park requires you to trek a bit but it is definitely worth it all. For older kids who are looking for a bit of fun, there is also an amusement park at the summit. The most popular attraction is the relatively new rollercoaster that cuts through the countryside.

ALSO READ | Singapore Travel: Top 5 Kid-friendly Destinations That Are Worthy Of The Hype

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School trips to the Glasnevin museum for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are one of the education initiatives being supported by the Dormant Accounts Fund in the year ahead.

Five projects are to share 675,000 from the fund, which enables unclaimed deposits from accounts in banks and other credit institutions to be spent for the benefit of those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or affected by a disability.

Funding has also been earmarked to support teenage migrants, improve numeracy standards in disadvantaged communities and promote innovation and entrepreneurship in teenagers. Some 60,000 of the funding will allow pupils from 70 Deis schools to visit the Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum, an intrinsic part of the commemorations of the most pivotal moments in Irish history, including the ongoing Decade of Centenaries. Geographical distances and the cost of transportation often pose an obstacle to schools, particularly Deis schools, in visiting the museum and availing of the learning opportunities. Education Minister Joe McHugh said one of the best ways to get young people engaged with the stories from our past was to see history and "Glasnevin Cemetery is one of the best places for that rich experience".
Demands are growing for a greater response to the bushfires as firefighters struggle to keep multiple blazes across the country under control.

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has said it's now a "moment of truth" for the Prime Minister, who has been under intense scrutiny since holidaying in Hawaii while parts of the country burned.

Di Natale announced that if the government didn't, it would push for the bushfire inquiry, while Labor Leader Anthony Albanese insisted the PM convene an emergency meeting with state and territory leaders immediately to deal with the crisis.

Visit Business Insider Australia's homepage for more stories.

The Australian government is facing intense pressure over its response to the bushfires.

With the sky turning blood red this week, and the bushfire crisis deepening, demands are intensifying for immediate action.

This is a moment of truth for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is failing in his basic duty to keep our citizens safe from harm. His totally inadequate response to these fires and his obstinate refusal to accept what we have known for decades: that burning climate changing fossil fuels would lead to more frequent and intense bushfires is putting the lives of Australians at risk," Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

What is absolutely crystal clear is that we are in an emergency and its time that the Prime Minister accepted that fact."

The Greens are demanding the government announce a broad Royal Commission, investigating everything "from land management and national disaster responses to climate change and mitigation".

"If [Morrison] refuses to do so, we will be moving for a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry with Royal Commision-like powers as soon as Parliament returns," Di Natale said.

Whether those calls are heard remains to be seen with the Federal Opposition looking unlikely to support the motion. Instead Labor Leader Anthony Albanese is calling for an emergency meeting between national, state and territory leaders to be called to mount immediate action.

Story continues

"This fire does not respect state boundaries. And I again say this is a national issue. This is a national emergency. And it requires a national response from the Government," he told media on Tuesday.

The government had planned such a meeting in March but Albanese is insisting it be brought forward to deal with the crisis now, slamming the government for "complacency".

Morrison for his part has not yet been drawn on either proposal. Instead, after sustained calls for it, he introduced a compensation scheme late last tear that will see eligible volunteer firefighters be given up to $300 a day and up to $6000 in total for their work.

"This is not about paying volunteers. It is about sustaining our volunteer efforts by protecting them from financial loss," he said.

With the first payments expected to be made by the end of January, only those who normally work for small and medium businesses will be covered by the scheme. The PM said he simply "expects" larger companies to provide 20 days of paid leave instead out of their own pockets.

That could mean those firefighters are left out of pocket altogether by both their employer and their government.
WASHINGTON  The newly reinstated Norfolk, Virginia-based 2nd Fleet, which was opened for business in 2018, is now fully operational, the U.S. Navy announced Dec. 31.

The fleet will oversee and control operations in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, as well has having a limited role in training and certification of East Coast-based forces deploying around the globe, the release said. The declaration of full operational capability certifies that 2nd Fleets command-and-control infrastructure is capable of running its assigned operations.

Within an increasingly complex global security environment, our allies and competitors alike are well aware that many of the worlds most active shipping lanes lie within the North Atlantic, Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, who heads the fleet, said in the release.

Combined with the opening of waterways in the Arctic, this competitive space will only grow, and 2nd Fleets devotion to the development and employment of capable forces will ensure that our nation is both present and ready to fight in the region if and when called upon, Lewis added.

Second Fleet will lead the final, integrated phase of training for ships deploying from the East Coast, which runs high-end exercises to ensure strike groups and task forces can work well together.

When the Navy stood up the fleet last year, it cited Russia as the primary concern for which the new force is to address.

This is a dynamic response to the dynamic security environment, then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said in May 2018. So as weve seen this great power competition emerge, the Atlantic Ocean is as dynamic a theater as any and particular[ly] the North Atlantic; so as we consider high-end naval warfare, fighting in the Atlantic, that will be the 2nd Fleets responsibility.

Since it stood up, 2nd Fleet was tasked with running this years Baltic Operations exercise on behalf of Naval Forces Europe. In that capacity, it stood up an expeditionary headquarters in Keflavik, Iceland, which has seen an increased American presence since the reemergence of Russian submarine activity in the region.
Britain reached a key clean energy milestone in 2019 as zero carbon electricity outstripped fossil fuels for the first time, National Grid has said.

The past year was the cleanest on record for the grid as energy from sources such as wind, solar and nuclear exceeded supplies from fuels such as coal and gas.

Data released by National Grid shows wind farms, hydro plants, solar and nuclear energy, and clean power imported by subsea cables known as interconnectors, delivered 48.5 per cent of electricity in 2019. That compares with 43 per cent generated by fossil fuels.

The remaining 8.5 per cent came from biomass, which is renewable but produces carbon emissions when the wood pellets used to make the power are burned.

Power generation wind farm 35m in height to the hub and a rotor diameter of 115ft on Royd Moor, Sheffield

The milestone comes as the UK reaches the halfway point in its efforts to cut its emissions by 100 per cent on 1990 levels, and reach its legally-binding target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gases, by 2050. It is a dramatic change from 1990 when coal was responsible for three-quarters of Britains power supply and wind, solar and hydro accounted for just 2.3 per cent.

These zero carbon renewables made up 26.5 per cent of the power mix in 2019 while coal accounted for just 2.1 per cent. Gas made up 38.4 per cent of the mix by 2019.

National Grid chief executive John Pettigrew said: As we enter a new decade, this truly is a historic moment and an opportunity to reflect on how much has been achieved.

A mini being recharged, on an electric vehicle charging point, in Belgrave Square in Belgravia

At National Grid, we know we have a critical role in the acceleration towards a cleaner future and are committed to playing our part in delivering a safe and secure energy system that works for all. National Grid plans to invest almost 10billion in gas and electricity networks over five years.

It includes investments in new equipment and technology to help the electricity system operator (ESO) run a net zero carbon electricity system by 2025  so it can cope with periods when only renewables and nuclear are used.

The past year has also seen a number of records, including new highs for wind and solar power generation and going 18 days without using electricity from coal.

The grid also saw probably its greenest day ever in August when 87.9 per cent of power came from low carbon sources and the pollution from electricity generation fell to a low of 57 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour of power.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 09:58:13|Editor: huaxia

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KUNMING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have detained six suspects and seized 47.71 kg of methamphetamine in two recent drug-trafficking cases, according to local authorities.

Police in Hani and Yi Autonomous County of Ning'er acted on a prior tip-off about the cross-border drug trafficking and stopped two suspects transporting 21.49 kg of methamphetamine hidden in the trunk of their off-road vehicle on Dec. 12.

The other case was busted on Dec. 17 in Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County, as police captured four suspects and seized a total of 26.22 kg of methamphetamine from their travel bags.

The six suspects had been put under criminal detention, local authorities said.

Yunnan shares the border with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. It is a major front in China's battle against drug-related crime, as it is close to the Golden Triangle known for rampant drug production and trafficking.
JERSEY CITY  Macabre tales of strange history and peculiar people. Weekly politics, pop culture and news digests. Airtime devoted to sex, relationships and what it means to date in the era of social media.

Its clear Hudson County has been bitten by the podcast bug.

A few years ago, I knew very few people who listened to podcasts and I only knew of one podcast that was created here in Hudson County, said Robin Mazzola, one half of the Notorious Narratives podcast that is recorded in Kearny.

Today, that has changed.

In a new report, Edison Research estimates that more than half of Americans have listened to at least one podcast. In 2019, roughly one out of every three people listen regularly to a podcast  compared to roughly one in four in 2018. Tom Webster, a senior vice president at Edison said its the biggest growth since 2006.

Spooky real-life tales

Airing their first episode in July 2018, Notorious Narratives takes a deep dive into pockets of history youre likely unfamiliar with.

Recently Mazzola and her co-host, Jen Sisco, discussed mind control, war heroines known as night witches and a famous cannibal.

The podcast has garnered more than 6,000 followers on its Instagram page.

Ive always loved history. I studied it in college, but the reality of people in history has always fascinated me, said Sisco, who works full-time as an emergency room nurse. Most of the history podcasts out there are very straight-laced, very over-the-plate, for me I like the nooks and crannies, the dark corners.

Sisco and Mazzola, who will launch Season 3 of their show in January, said they have plans to attend podcast conventions and are considering releasing a book as well.

Similar to Notorious Narratives in discussing a wide breadth of topics, the Long Lost Heroes podcast, which is recorded in Jersey City, covers movies, TV, comics and video games.

Dealing with dating

After 12 years in a relationship, Lynn Hazan  creator of popular Jersey City culture blog ChicpeaJC  found herself once again thrust into the dating scene.

And like Sex and the Citys fictional Carrie Bradshaw, Hazan figured it would be perfect fodder for a Sex and Jersey City podcast.

I think what makes our podcast a little bit different is that we use my platform to get feedback from our listeners as to things that theyre going through," Hazan said. So whether they use dating apps or want to share their incredible stories  it all builds a sense of community.

Sex and Jersey City also comprises co-hosts Anatalie and Dramos. So far, they havent been shy about topics like the ethical lines of direct messaging, sex after giving birth, and ghosting  the practice of severing all contact with someone youre dating without explanation.

ChicpeaJC, which launched in 2014, includes other relationship-related elements on its site as well, including a column and a matchmaking service.

Season 2 of the podcast is set to launch in January and Hazan said the topics will likely become even more risque.

Even for me, she said laughing. Im very open-minded and even Im like, Hmm, can we do that?

Sharing a sober lifestyle

In November 2018, Jes Valentine and Kate Zander had a yearning to escape the drinking culture, so they launched Seltzer Squad.

Today, the podcast, which typically is recorded in Kearny, has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and averages more than 3,500 downloads an episode.

We really just thought there wasnt a place where women were talking about having a problem with substance abuse. So, we told our stories, said Zander, who lives in Jersey City. Were not experts and dont want people to think thats the case. Were two people who have chosen a very non-traditional recovery route."

Valentine said the podcast format allows them to record freely and edit later if need be.

Also, its faceless and helps us since we get pretty personal and mention a lot of embarrassing stories, said Valentine, a Brooklyn resident who works full-time as a tattoo artist. When all eyes are not on you, its less frightening.

Valentine and Zander said that listeners are gravitating toward how issues with drinking intersect with dating  which they plan to incorporate into future episodes.

As for what she would like someone in Hudson County to explore in a podcast, Zander said a new sector of the relationship culture.

I think if somebody in the LGBTQ community talked about their dating lives for instance, that could be interesting, she said.

Catching up on local happenings

Listeners interested in podcasts about Hoboken happenings can turn to Tea on the Hudson or Neighborhood Jules.

Neighborhood Jules, with Julia Porpora of Hoboken, centers around local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Nowadays the person behind a business is just as important as the business itself, so I thought it was important to give them a platform to share their story and their spin on why their business is different from others that may be similar, said Porpora, who launched her podcast in March 2018. There may be 10 Pilates studios in Hoboken, but what makes one different from the other?

Porpora spent eight years in the beauty industry, working in various human resources and recruitment roles. She said she hopes to delve deeper into the trend of businesses in the Mile Square City shuttering or moving to more affordable locations.

Tea on the Hudson is a product of Hoboken Girl  a website founded by Jen Tripucka in 2012. In it, Tripucka sets out to spill the tea on all lifestyle-related topics in Hoboken as well as Jersey City.

My goal for the podcast is really to extend the website to audio format, Tripucka said, after recording an episode. I take the most exciting and fun parts of Hoboken Girl and reshape them for a podcast every week.

Tea on the Hudson, which is released every Tuesday, covers news, hidden gems in the area and interviews with local business owners and public figures.

Although it made its debut just three months ago, the podcast has nearly reached 1,000 downloads per episode so far.

Season 2 is set to launch in January.

We plan to take reader questions and then dedicate a team to answer them, she said. Were also having some experts come on to talk about some things that affect New York City metro area residents, such as how pollution is impacting us and where our water is coming from. We also plan to do more celebrity interviews. So, really its a mix of things.

Also on the weekly grind is Fernando Uribe  the host of Talk on the Hudson.

While Politically Direct  another podcast that Uribe hosts  casts a wide net across New Jersey politics, Talk on the Hudson is focused on Hudson County.

The strength of the show, what has made us popular, has been booking great guests every week, said Uribe. Ive been fortunate to have had basically every mayor in the county on, as well as local politics legends and other important voices.

Recorded live every Wednesday from his Union City home, Uribe  a faculty member at Bergen County Community College  said the show was born of journalism.

Before podcasting, I was able to hone my skills on a video platform with Hudson County TV, he added. Still, I knew it was a risk to do this. Even though I had developed a pretty good reputation locally, I needed to make the show interesting.
Tehran summoned an official from the Swiss embassy, which represents US interests in Iran, to complain about American "warmongering" in neighbouring Iraq, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"The Swiss charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry... over stances of American officials with regards to developments in Iraq," the ministry said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran conveyed its strong protest... over warmongering remarks made by American officials which are in violation of the United Nations Charter," it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu that voted for controversial changes to the Citizenship Act has distanced itself from the proposed National Register of Citizens, telling its alliance partners not to implement the citizens register in Tamil Nadu.

There is no need for implementing the NRC in the state, which does not share any land borders with any country. It will only create unnecessary apprehension among the people, read a resolution adopted at the partys general council meet at Tindivanam, about 120 km from Chennai.

The PMK had contested seven Lok Sabha seats in last years national elections as part of the NDAs rainbow coalition in Tamil Nadu but drew a blank. It only has one member in the Rajya Sabha, former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

Two other BJP allies - Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) in Bihar and the Akali Dal in Punjab - have already opposed the NRC.

The PMK, which has some influence among the OBC-Vanniyar community, also contradicted the Centres insistence that there was no link between the citizens register and the National Population Register (NPR). It said the NPR was a precursor to the NRC and demanded that the Centre clear its misgivings with regard to these two measures.

The party has reasoned that the government already had all the data about Sri Lankan refugees in the country and there was no scope for people from other countries to sneak into Tamil Nadu.

As such, there is no need for implementing a mammoth exercise like the NRC which is bound to create unnecessary apprehension and tension among the people. Therefore, this meet appeals to the governments at the Centre and the State to give up the implementation of the NRC in Tamil Nadu, the resolution said.

The partys stance against the citizens register is at variance with its stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that its lone Rajya Sabha member and former minister Anbumani Ramadoss had supported.

The PMK had been batting for dual citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who have been here since the 1980s, after ascertaining their views. Espousing the Tamil cause, the party wanted the Centre to take up the matter with Colombo and facilitate dual citizenship for the Tamil refugees. According to the PMK, this would help them return to their homeland when the situation becomes normal in the island nation.

The PMKs clear stand on NRC could bring the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, which also had voted for the CAA, under pressure.

Anwar Rahzza, the former MP and the AIADMKs popular minority face, has already been nudging the party leadership to take an unambiguous stand against the citizens register and allay apprehensions among the minorities.

The CAA and the NRC have created a lot of misgivings among the minorities. The party should not have voted for the CAA. Now, unless the AIADMK leadership comes clear on this, the desertion of minorities from the AIADMK cannot be arrested, he said recently.

A group of Muslim parties, including the Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK), led by Thamimun Ansari, a legislator and ally of the AIADMK, had called for a march to the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday night.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into nighttime sightings of unidentified drones flying in formation over rural northeastern Colorado and southwest Nebraska over the last two weeks.

The agency announced the investigation on Tuesday after a cluster of drones was spotted in at least four counties in Colorado, garnering national media attention.

On some occasions as many as 30 drones were seeing flying at a time, some of the drones spanning six feet in wingspan, according to Today.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said in a statement that 'multiple FAA divisions and government agencies are investigating these reports,' adding that the agency does not comment on the details of its open investigations.

No private companies nor government agencies have claimed the drones.

The FAA said Tuesday it was investigating a slew of mysterious drone sightings in Colorado. File image above

The Phillips County, Colorado Sheriff's Office announced an investigation into the mysterious drones on December 20, saying there have been 'multiple reports of drone sightings in the county over the last week.'

'Deputies were out all night this evening along with Yuma County SO tracking these drones. Tonight we tracked over 16 drones between the two counties,' the sheriff's office said.

'We believe that the drones, though startling, are not malicious in nature,' the sheriff's office said.

Phillips County Sheriff Thomas Elliot said to Reuters that the drones with blinking lights are flying in square grid patterns nearly every night between 5 and 10pm, and appear to be widening their path.

The Phillips County, Colorado Sheriff's Office announced an investigation into the mysterious drones on December 20, saying there have been 'multiple reports of drone sightings in the county over the last week.'

'They now have moved into Morgan County (Colorado) and have been spotted in Perkins County, Nebraska,' he said.

The sheriff's office urged locals to call police if they spot drones doing anything suspicious.

'If any of these drones fly onto your property or are looking into windows, please call the communications center immediately so a deputy can respond to your location. If you happen to come into possession of one of these drones, please contact the Sheriff's Office so we can conduct a forensic evaluation of the drone to identify the owners and take the appropriate actions.'

Elliot said he had spoken to FAA investigators about whether the agency could determine if the aircraft were being used to map the area for possible oil and gas exploration purposes.

The dim lights of an unidentified drone pictured under the moon in Colorado at night

On some occasions as many as 30 drones were seeing flying at a time in Colorado, some of the drones spanning six feet in wingspan

Wyatt Harman, who chased the drones when they flew over his Washington County, Colorado, property, told NBC's Today show on Tuesday that seeing the mysterious aircraft was 'unnerving.' 'They can sit there and hover,' Harman said. 'They can descend very fast. They can take off very fast'

Wyatt Harman, who chased the drones when they flew over his Washington County, Colorado, property, told NBC's Today show on Tuesday that seeing the mysterious aircraft was 'unnerving.'

'They can sit there and hover,' Harman said. 'They can descend very fast. They can take off very fast.'

U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican and a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, said in a Tuesday statement that he had been in contact with the FAA.

'I'm encouraged that they've opened a full investigation to learn the source and purpose of the drones,' Gardner, who is from Yuma County, said.

While the drones are mysterious, flying them may not be illegal.

The drones are flying well above the 200 feet mark over people's property which is too high for the devices to look into windows and break laws.

Last week, the FAA proposed requiring nearly all drones operating in U.S. airspace to be remotely tracked, a move which Sheriff Elliot said he would welcome.

'I could put all this to rest if whomever is doing this would come forward and identify themselves,' Elliot said.
Royal Bank of Scotland boss Alison Rose has said she will need to make 'tough choices'

Hundreds of bank branches are set to close this year as lenders seek to shift their customers online.

In a bitter blow to many who rely on their local branch, Britain's biggest banks are expected to continue to shut sites. Troubled lender TSB has already announced it will shutter 82 branches in 2020 and new Royal Bank of Scotland boss Alison Rose has said she will need to make 'tough choices'.

Lloyds was last year accused of trying to hide the scale of its closures, as it shut locations in dribs and drabs, and has not ruled out further cuts. HSBC has said it has no more closures planned after slashing 444 branches in five years. But the former chief executive of Barclays, Antony Jenkins, has predicted that bank branches will be obsolete 'in a few years' time'.

Critics have branded the closures 'outrageous' at a time when some towns and villages have been left with no access to basic financial services.

High Street lenders axed 405 branches last year, taking the total over the last five years to 3,372.

The UK has now lost more than a third of its bank branches since the beginning of 2015, and has 6,430 left.

Gareth Shaw of Which? said: 'Bank branches play a crucial role within communities, serving consumers and businesses alike.

The industry must ensure no-one is left behind by the digital transition and that when banks shut their doors they don't shut their customers out of important banking services.'

Lenders say that customers prefer online banking. But the push has left less tech-savvy users wide open to fraud.

Caroline Abrahams, a director at charity Age UK, said: 'The scale of the cull has been extremely damaging for many communities and a serious blow for the millions of older people who rely on them.

'It is outrageous that banks are continuing to close local branches without putting viable alternatives in place for their older and more vulnerable customers.

'Banks must start thinking more strategically about how they can support all of their customers.'
A tasty meal can be a mood booster and hence some people devote a lot of hard work to prepare some authentic dishes of special food items. For many people, food is that happiness which can just bring a smile on their faces. , but it can also ease your hunger pangs for delicious delicacies. Food has the power to fill your stomach and make you feel blissful. Nowadays, experimenting with food and tasting different food from different places is very popular to experience a part of those places. The best way to experience this is through a food festival. Food festivals is that place where one can interact with many gastronomes and get to know more about the place where the food is from. So, here is a list of best food festivals in Spain.

Also read | Food Festivals In India That Should Not Be Missed If You Are A Foodie

Explore and experience these authentic and special food festivals in Spain

The Madrid Gastro festival

This festival is at the top of the list of all food festivals in Spain. This one is more than a cosmopolitan gastronomic event in Spain. This food festival starts on 21st January and running till 5th February. Many of the best restaurants, museums, markets, and shops in Madrid get together to propose a feast of flavours and smells for the senses. The Gastro festival program embraces innovative menus created by internationally culinary routes, renowned chefs, cooking workshops and gastronomy exhibitions held in some of the most significant museums in the city.

Also read | British Man Returns Ancient Helmets To Spain After Learning They Were Stolen

El Festival Transfronterizo del Gurumelo

"The Festival Transfronterizo del Gurumelo" or "The Gurumelo Transfrontier Festival" is mainly held in the month of March. This food festival in Spain is in the town of Villanueva del Fresno, Extremadura. It is mainly a mushroom festival, celebrating a certain species of mushroom found in southern Europe known as the "Amanita ponderosa" or "Gurumelo". This specific mushroom is extremely difficult to find and every year hundreds of people from Spain and Portugal flock to this festival to enjoy these authentic mushrooms.

Also read | Spain Offers Madrid As Host Of December UN Climate Summit

The Cocido Montanes Festival - Ucieda, Cantabria

This food festival is for those people who like homemade food. One must take the opportunity to visit the Fiesta del Cocido Montanes, which is held on the first Sunday of September in the heart of the Saja-Besaya Natural Park, Cantabria. Try this typical dish of the area el Cocido montanes, which is a type of stew made with pork, beans, cabbage, and local potatoes.

Also read | Top 4 Food Festivals Around The World That You Must Check Out
Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad slammed the opposition for supporting the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and assured people that the new citizenship law will not take away the citizenship of any Indian.

"I support CAA. Some are protesting without understanding the Act. But what is more surprising is that Congress is not ready to understand. CPI, CPI(M) deliberately do not want to understand."

"CAA does not imply to India or any of its citizens...It will neither give citizenship nor takes away anyone's citizenship. Indira Gandhi gave citizenship to Hindus who have come from Uganda, Rajiv Gandhi also gave citizenship to Tamilians from Sri Lanka. Then I do not understand that If PM Modi is doing the same then why is it bad ?."

"Only the Parliament has the power to pass the law regarding citizenship, not any State Assembly," he added.

These statements by the Union Minister came just hours after the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the Central government to repeal the CAA.

Protests erupted across the country over the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Longtime industry participant Bill Pennington of Clinton, Ont. passed away peacefully on Tuesday (Dec. 31) in the company of his three children. He was 77.

Pennington worked in the racing industry for his entire life, winning 133 races as a driver in addition to training. After retiring from competition in 1985, he served as a starter, race secretary and judge.

Pennington is survived by his children Cindy (Gordon), Mike (Linda) and Corrinna (Howard); his grandchildren Nicole (Paul), Joe (Shelby), Melissa and Kate; his great-granddaughter Ivy Jo; his sisters and many friends.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Bill Pennington.
The Howard government refused to offer safe haven to a group of about 1500 pro-independence East Timorese the United Nations believed were at risk in Indonesia.

Instead, cabinet papers from 1998-99 released on Wednesday by the National Archives of Australia show the government accepted advice from Australian forces in East Timor that it was safe for the group to return to their homeland, which voted for independence in August 1999.

Pro-independence supporters cheering the arrival of Australian troops in Dili, the capital of East Timor. Credit:Jason South

A briefing paper to cabinet from then immigration minister Philip Ruddock notes the 1500 Timorese could be more "volatile and demanding" than another group of Timorese already sheltering in Australia.

Previous Australian governments had resisted hosting Timorese leaders for fear they would construct a government-in-exile here and damage Australia's relationship with Indonesia, which occupied East Timor, now known as Timor-Leste, from 1975 until 1999.
The year 2019 witnessed the political battle royale  the Lok Sabha election. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 303 seats in the Lok Sabha polls to secure a second consecutive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) went past the 350 seats-mark, forming the numerically strongest Union government in decades.

The party also retained power in Arunachal Pradesh. But, it failed to make a mark in Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha, where the Assembly polls were held along with the parliamentary elections.

BJP failed to secure a majority in Haryana and had to tie up with Dushyant Chautalas Jannayak Janata Party (JJP). While it did secure a majority in Maharashtra along with its long-time ally Shiv Sena, it failed to form the government due to differences over sharing of the CM's chair.

In December, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) alliance was able to defeat BJP riding on local anti-incumbency. JMMs Hemant Soren became the chief minister.

Also read: Lok Sabha polls, Article 370, CAA protests and new alliances how 2019 unfolded, politically

Politics in the second half of 2019 was largely based on a series of major decisions taken by the Centre. These included abrogation of Article 370 that used to grant special provisions to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories -- J&K and Ladakh.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR) led to arguably the largest nationwide protest seen in recent years.

These developments shaped the political narrative, sometimes putting the Opposition in a tight spot and sometimes pushing BJP on the back-foot.

The tussle over NRC could also continue going forward.

In 2020, the country is set to witness state-level battles, elections to the Upper House of Parliament and continued shifting of political sand.

BJP advancing on Delhi?

The saffron party is gunning for power in the national capital where it has not held the reigns since 1998. In 2014, Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept the polls, winning 67 of the 70 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

For five years now, BJP has maintained its attacking posture against AAP. Now, it has upped the ante under the leadership of its state unit chief Manoj Tiwari.

The election is expected to happen in the January-February window.

While the Election Commission of India (EC) has not declared the poll schedule, the campaign has already begun. PM Modi held a major rally at the Ramlila Maidan on December 22, to kick-start BJPs campaign.

This came days after AAP formally launched its campaign and slogan Achhe Beete Panch Saal, Lage Raho Kejriwal (Last five years went well, keep going Kejriwal).

AAP has hired political strategist Prashant Kishor. Interestingly, Kishor is also the National Vice President of the Janata Dal (United)  a BJP ally in Bihar. Kishor has been criticising the CAA and the proposed pan-India NRC.

What role Congress plays remains to be seen. The party had finished ahead of AAP during the Lok Sabha polls. However, election after election, voters in many parts of the country have shown a stark difference in the way they vote for governments at the Centre and in the state.

Also read: AAP, BJP, Congress spent 2019 trying to outsmart each other in Delhi

The brawl in Bihar

Kishors own state is also heading for polls this year. Even with almost 10 months to go for the Assembly polls in Bihar, the political brawl there has already begun.

While BJP and the JD(U) contested equal number of seats in the Lok Sabha polls, both are now vying to become the dominant party in the state-level alliance.

This, even as BJP National President Amit Shah has said the election will be contested under Chief Minister Nitish Kumars leadership. The statement had come amid reports of growing unease between the two allies.

Also read | Bihar Assembly Polls 2020: Debate begins on seat-sharing between JD(U), BJP

With BJP putting up an under-par performance in recent state polls, the JD(U) could push for a more favourable seat-sharing formula.

Nitish has been Bihars chief minister since 2005 except for a short period in 2014-15 when he had installed Jitan Ram Manjhi into the position. The vikas purush (development man) of Bihar may therefore be facing some degree of anti-incumbency. Additionally, his serial political flip-flopping has irked some voters. This feeling was evident among some people when Moneycontrol interacted with them in state capital Patna in the run-up to the general election.

Will NDA under Nitish Kumars leadership beat anti-incumbency? Or will the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led opposition alliance snatch another state from the BJP?

Also read: Analysis | As BJP falls in Jharkhand, challenges await party in Delhi, Bihar

BJP in the Rajya Sabha

While BJP enjoys a strong majority in the Lok Sabha, it lacks numbers in the Rajya Sabha. This has made it difficult for the party to pass contentious Bills in the Upper House.

To pass key legislations in the House, the party has so far depended on support from parties beyond the NDA. Yet, it has simultaneously worked to increase its tally as it won more states. BJPs numbers in the Rajya Sabha have steadily risen from the 2014-level.

As the number moves towards the majority mark in the House, holding on to each seat has become crucial for Opposition parties.

A Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP)s term lasts for six years. As a result, elections for 1/3rd of all seats in in the House take place every two years. Last such election happened in 2018.

There is already a formula in place to determine how many votes (seats) a person has to win in a state assembly, in order to get elected to Rajya Sabha.

Elections for 73 seats in 2020 will happen in four phases -- in February, June, July and November.

These polls will be held for some seats from Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, besides that for a nominated member.

What else?

Jammu and Kashmir, now a Union Territory, is yet to elect its Legislative Assembly. However, it is unclear as to when this would happen. The election will only happen once the delimitation exercise is completed.

Reports suggest that the exercise has not started even four months after abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and that the final decision regarding this is expected only a couple of months later. The exercise will be undertaken to redraw boundaries of the Assembly constituencies there.

It is also unclear how the campaign will unfold with senior political leaders such as Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti from the state currently under house arrest under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Also read  Explained | Redrawing boundaries and more: All you need to know about delimitation

The build-up to the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will also begin in the later half of 2020, just like the buzz around Delhi polls has begun already. These five elections are expected to happen in April-May 2021.

Political experts believe that BJP and its allies could face a serious challenge in Assam over CAA and NRC.

Buoyed by its performance in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, BJP has hit the pedal in the state. The saffron party has been constantly attacking the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government. Banerjee is already preparing for the polls. Trinamool has hired Kishor as an adviser. The party is also taking corrective measures such as the Didi Ke Bolo campaign.

The political heat is only expected to rise as 2020 draws to a close.
Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama share a new title together: Most admired man.

For more than 70 years, Gallup has asked Americans to pick their most admired man and woman and, in the case of the men, incumbent presidents have earned the top spot in 58 of 72 polls.

This year, Trump and Obama each earned top honors with 18% of voters support in a December Gallup poll. For Obama, its the 12th time hes earned the title, but its the first go-around for Trump. Gallup says poor approval ratings have historically stymied incumbents chances for the top choice, such as Trumps 36% in 2017 and 40% in 2018.

The top choices fell along party lines, with 41% of Democrats naming Obama and 45% of Republicans picking Trump. Independents were evenly divided between the pair, Gallup said.

Besides Obama and Trump, no other man received more than 2% of voters support, with 11% of Americans naming a relative or friend as the man they admire most.

Rounding out the top ten of most admired men is former President Jimmy Carter, businessman Elon Musk, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Pope Francis, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the Dalai Lama and investor Warren Buffett.

Michelle Obama, for the second year in a row, is Americas most admired woman, according to the poll. The former first lady gained 10% of the votes, while first lady Melania Trump garnered 5% for the second-place spot.

CNN reported that this year marks the second year in a row that Michelle Obama stole the top honor from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was voters most admired woman 22 times over 25 years.

Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and climate change activist Greta Thunberg, who Trump mocked twice this year, were named by 3% of adults as most admired woman, Gallup said. Britains Queen Elizabeth II, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley are the others in the top 10.

Queen Elizabeth II and Billy Graham have claimed the most top ten finishes, with 51 and 61 times, respectively.
Two people were killed and two young children were injured early Wednesday after a speeding truck slammed into their minivan as the family left New Year festivities on the West Side.

Shortly after midnight, a white Chevy Silverado sped through the neighborhood at more than 100 mph and hit the van as it was pulling out of a driveway in the 3400 block of West Poplar, police said.

The crash killed a 31-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl who were leaving a family gathering with the two young children.

The minivan burst into flames. One of the victims died after being ejected from the van and thrown across the street. Another was trapped in the van and died. Their identities have not been disclosed.

Family members at the home and neighbors raced frantically to save the children in the burning vehicle. A baby girl and a 5-year-old boy were rescued by a family member, according to police. Both sustained second-degree burns to the upper body and face and were transported to University Hospital.

After slamming into the van, the truck continued east on the street before striking a fence and utility pole a block away from the crash. Police say two men left the pickup and fled on foot.

Linda Angel Garcia, 18, and her family had just finished watching the midnight fireworks when they saw the truck fly down the street as if it were drag racing.

From their front yard, Garcias family watched as the truck plowed into the van, narrowly missing children who were playing near the street as families watched fireworks.

Garcia and her parents ran to help the family trapped in the burning vehicle. Garcias brother ran after the pickup truck. He followed the men as they fled but couldnt catch them.

We got the baby out just in time before the baby burned, Garcia said Wednesday morning, standing in front of the yellow house on the corner where the crash happened.

It was tragic, she said. Ive never seen somebody burn before  a child was crying, Get me out.'

Her family and the victims relatives worked desperately to save the family, but the vans doors were locked, she said. Eventually, someone threw an object to shatter a window, Garcia said. The youngest children escaped.

The van exploded, sending flames as high as utility poles, Garcia said.

Twelve hours after the deadly crash, the Garcias walked back to their neighbors home to check on the family. Earlier that morning, Garcias mother had gone to the store to buy candles, balloons and flowers. They placed them outside the driveway in memorial.

An infant car seat stained black by the fire sat on the porch of the yellow house. A charred seatbelt buckle rested on the sidewalk. Black soot and ash blanketed the street where the minivan had burst into flames.

Across the street, the sidewalk was scorched where Garcia said the one victim had landed after getting ejected from the van.

These car accidents happen a ton  if its not this corner people are crashing into, its that corner, Garcia said, motioning up the street. We just had somebody crash two weeks ago inside a house over there.

It wasn't even two weeks ago, it was last week, her mother, Linda Garca, 48, said. We need speed bumps  even the bus drivers drive too fast through here.

The crash is under investigation. Police say they havent found the men from the pickup.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact its Traffic Investigations Unit at 210-207-7635.

Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf
After more than 60 years spent sealed up in a library storage facility, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled this week, and scholars hope they will reveal the extent of a relationship that's been speculated about for decades.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After more than 60 years spent sealed up in a library storage facility, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled this week, and scholars hope they will reveal the extent of a relationship that's been speculated about for decades.

Many consider Hale to not only be his close friend, but also his muse, and they hope their correspondence will offer insight into the more intimate details about Eliots life and work. Students, researchers and scholars can read the letters at Princeton University Library starting Thursday.

Emily Hale and T.S. Eliot pose in a 1946 family photo in Dorset, Vermont. After more than 60 years of sitting sealed up in a storage facility at Princeton University Library, about 1,000 letters written by poet T.S. Eliot to confidante Emily Hale will be unveiled, revealing the extent of their relationship that scholars have speculated about for decades. (Princeton University Library via AP)

"I think its perhaps the literary event of the decade," says Anthony Cuda, an Eliot scholar and director of the T.S. Eliot International Summer School. "I dont know of anything more awaited or significant. Its momentous to have these letters coming out."

Lifelong friends, Hale and Eliot exchanged letters for about 25 years beginning in 1930. The two met in 1912 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but did not rekindle their friendship until 1927. Eliot was already living in England and Hale taught drama at U.S. universities, including Scripps College in California.

In 1956, Hale donated the letters under an agreement they wouldnt be opened until 50 years after either her or Eliots death, whichever came second. Eliot died in 1965. Hale died four years later.

Biographers say Eliot ordered Hale's letters to him to be burned.

Their relationship "must have been incredibly important and their correspondence must have been remarkably intimate for him to be so concerned about the publication," Cuda says.

T.S. Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1888 and gained notoriety as a poet early in life. He was only 26 when "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" became his first professionally published poem.

Eliot's 1939 book of whimsical poetry, "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," was adapted into "Cats," the award-winning musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The play opened in London first in 1981 and then on Broadway the next year. It was then turned into a feature film starring an ensemble cast that includes Judi Dench and James Corden just released in December.

His best known works include "The Waste Land," "The Hollow Men" and "Four Quartets."

The first poem in the "Quartets" series, called "Burnt Norton," piques the interest of enthusiasts of the poet, says Eliot scholar Frances Dickey, because of lines that suggest missed opportunities and what might have been with his muse. The poem is named after a home in England that Eliot visited with Hale in 1934.

"His relationship with her seems to be deep and meaningful and it's a door he chose not to open," she said.

The letters could also reveal details about Eliots conversion to Anglicanism, something he deeply cherished, Dickey says.

Dickey, who served as one of the editors on "The Complete Prose of T.S. Eliot", said the poet was deeply ashamed of his marriage to his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood, whom he was with for more than 15 years. Dickey said the letters could reveal just how close he and Hale were and if the two ever considered marriage.

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"Was this an epistolary romance they would carry across the Atlantic?" Dickey said. "What role did she play in his emotional life?"

Eliots letters to Hale began after that first marriage ended. Whatever else she was, Hale was a link to the life Eliot had left behind in the United States as a young man, Dickey said.

"He was really thinking more about the United States and his childhood during the period where he was in correspondence with Hale," says Dickey. "I have a feeling that having a relationship with an American woman helped him to uncover his past in a way."

The unsealed boxes, which also contain photographs, clippings and other ephemera, were actually opened at the library's special collections area called Firestone Library in October for cataloging and digitizing. Daniel Linke, interim head of special collections at the library, was part of the team working on the 14 boxes. He said there was very minimal, if any, reading.

He said that scholars from around the world will be travelling to Princeton in the first days they are available since they are copyrighted and wont be made available online.

"It will be the special collections equivalent of a stampede at a rock concert," Linke said.
A 61-year old woman was killed after being struck by a stray bullet while celebrating the New Year shortly after midnight.

Harris County deputies responded to a report of a gunshot victim in the 12300 block of May Laurel Drive in North Houston shortly after midnight Wednesday.

Deputies said Philippa Ashford, 61, and her family had been discharging fireworks with their neighbors in the cul de sac of their street when she suddenly cried out that she had been shot, struck by a bullet fired from an unknown location.

Ashford died at the scene shortly after EMS arrived from a single gunshot wound.

Deputies believe Ashford was struck by celebratory gunfire from outside the immediate neighborhood. Deputies canvassed the area and could not locate the source of the gunfire, finding no evidence of shooting from anywhere close to the crime scene.

We have no indication that any family member or anybody in the cul de sac was discharging a firearm and weve walked the streets and canvassed up and down to see if we can find any shell casings in the neighborhood and are not finding anything, said Sgt. Ben Beall, a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriffs Office.

Ashford worked as a nurse manager for the Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment Service at the Menninger Clinic, a mental health facility in southwest Houston. Known as "Phil," Ashford was board certified in psychiatric nursing, with an expertise in motivational interviewing, mentalization-based therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and community integration.

In 2015, Ashford was presented with the Texas Nurses Association District 9 Top 25 Outstanding Nurses Award. She was also an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Houston police and Harris County deputies issued public alerts on New Years Eve warning the public not to discharge their weapons while celebrating. Celebratory gunfire can be classified as deadly conduct, a misdemeanor offense that carries a punishment of up to $4,000 fine or up to one year in prison.

nick.powell@chron.com
The "Automotive Fabric Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Automotive Fabric market worldwide is projected to grow by US$7.9 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 3.3%.

Passenger Cars, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 3.4%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$28.1 Billion by the year 2025, Passenger Cars will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 2.6% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$293.5 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$232.7 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from the rest of the European markets. In Japan, Passenger Cars will reach a market size of US$1.7 Billion by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 5.1% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$2.2 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders.

Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.

Competitors identified in this market include:

Acme Mills

Adient PLC

BMD Private Limited

Borgers SE Co. KGaA

Chori Co., Ltd.

Cmi Enterprises Inc.

Grupo Antolin-Irausa SA

Heathcoat Fabrics Limited

Lear Corporation

Martur Automotive Seating Systems

Moriden America Inc.

Sage Automotive Interiors, Inc.

Seiren Co., Ltd.

SRF Ltd.

Suminoe Textile Co., Ltd.

Takata Corporation

Tb Kawashima Co., Ltd.

Tenowo GmbH

Toyota Boshoku Corporation

Trevira GmbH

Uniroyal Engineered Products LLC.

Key Topics Covered:

I. METHODOLOGY

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Automotive Fabric: An Insight

Global Competitor Market Shares

Automotive Fabric Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2019 2025

Global Automotive Coated Fabrics Market: Percentage Share Breakdown of Volume Sales by Leading Players for the Year 2019E

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS DRIVERS

Increasing Demand for Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles: A Major Growth Driver

Global Automobile Production: Breakdown in Million of Units for the Years 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020

Global Light Weight Vehicle Production: Breakdown in Units by Region for the Years 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025

Rising Safety Measures in Automotive Industry Drives Demand for Seat Belts and Airbags, Resulting in Automotive Fabric Market Growth

Traffic-Related Deaths in the US for the Years 2010 through 2018

Global Average Road Fatalities per 100,000 People for Select Countries

Global Seat Belts Market: Breakdown of Revenues in US$ Million for the Years 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025

Airbags to Emerge as the Fastest Growing End-Use Application in Automotive Fabric Market

Global Automotive Airbag Market: Breakdown of Revenues in US$ Million for the Years 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025

Floor Coverings Account for Major Share in Automotive Fabrics market

Automotive Flooring Market in the US: Revenues in US$ Million for the Years 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024

Need for Weight Reduction Amidst Stringent CO2 Emission Regulations in Automotive Industry Propels Demand for Lightweight Fabrics

Automotive Fabric: Innovations and Technological Developments

Product Overview

Automotive Fabric: An Introduction

Automotive Fabric by Applications

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts Figures

US Automotive Fabric Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 2025

CANADA

JAPAN

CHINA

EUROPE

Market Facts Figures

European Automotive Fabric Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2019 2025

FRANCE

GERMANY

ITALY

UNITED KINGDOM

SPAIN

RUSSIA

REST OF EUROPE

ASIA-PACIFIC

AUSTRALIA

INDIA

SOUTH KOREA

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

LATIN AMERICA

ARGENTINA

BRAZIL

MEXICO

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

MIDDLE EAST

IRAN

ISRAEL

SAUDI ARABIA

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

AFRICA

IV. COMPETITION

V. CURATED RESEARCH

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qd7c7h

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200101005040/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



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59 civilians martyred along LOC

MUZAFFARBAD: As many as 59 civilians, including women and children, were martyred and another 281 suffered injuries in different areas along the restive Line of Control (LoC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in 2019 as a result of ceasefire violations by Indian troops, an official said on Tuesday, the last day of the year.



Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri, secretary of disaster management and civil defence in the AJK government, told said that 43 of the deceased were male and 16 female. Similarly, 157 of the injured were male and the rest female.



Giving district-wise breakup of the casualties, he said that 13 civilians lost their lives in Kotli, 12 in Neelum, 11 in Haveli, eight each in Muzaffarabad and Poonch, four in Bhimber and three in Jhelum valley. Of those who had sustained injuries, 61 belonged to Kotli district, 52 to Neelum, 51 to Poonch, 49 to Haveli, 29 to Bhimber, 20 to Muzaffarabad and 19 to Jhelum valley.



Mr Qadri said that shelling had also wrecked havoc on civilian properties, including houses, shops and vehicles, apart from damaging public sector facilities.



Giving details, he said, 105 houses were destroyed  69 in Neelum district, 11 in Jhelum valley, nine in Haveli, eight in Kotli and four each in Muzaffarabad and Poonch.



As many as 622 houses were partially damaged  226 in Neelum district, 117 in Poonch, 94 in Kotli, 90 in Haveli, 63 in Bhimber, 31 in Jhelum valley and one in Muzaffarabad. Apart from the houses, 74 shops were damaged in Neelum district, seven in Kotli and one each in Jhelum valley and Poonch districts.



The official said that Indian shelling also damaged 15 vehicles and two motorcycles in Neelum district, seven vehicles in Poonch, four in Bhimber, two in Kotli and one in Haveli.



Apart from this, the DHQ Hospital Athmuqam and three schools were damaged in Neelum district, a basic health unit and a college in Poonch, two schools and eight cattle sheds in Kotli, one school in Bhimber and three cattle sheds were damaged in Muzaffarabad.



A mosque was also partially damaged in Jhelum valley. Human lives and properties were not the only victim of Indian shelling, the official said. Some 106 cattle heads were also killed in Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Haveli, Kotli and Bhimber.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Steve Person, The Victorian Undertaker

Over his 47 year career in funeral service, Steve Person collected a wide range of Victorian funeral and undertaking items. The retired funeral director now makes presentations as The Victorian Undertaker.

You cant believe how much you might find on the top shelf of the prep room, or the attic of the garage, or in the basement of the funeral home, but Ive collected a number of things over the years, said Person.

In this video recorded at the 2019 National Funeral Directors Association convention and expo, Person showcased objects from his collection. Items include coffins, cooling beds, old embalming fluid bottles, embalming tool kits, and old mortuary promotional items.

He spoke about how these items were used, and explained the business evolution, including how furniture makers transitioned from undertaker to funeral director. Among the topics he discusses:

Preservation with an ice coffin in the 1800s before modern refrigeration was invented.

Soaking the body as a way to preserve the corpse.

Cooling boards and how they were used for embalming at home.

The advent of embalming, credited to Dr. Thomas Holmes, and how the deaths of Civil War soldiers accelerated the use of this process.

The effect President Abraham Lincolns death, embalming, and the 19-day rail trip from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois had on funeral service in the United States.

How embalming led to the creation of mortuary colleges.

Watch the video

[embedded content]

Steve Person is available to speak about Victorian funeral traditions. His website is www.TheVictorianUndertaker.com.

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The United Nations Human Rights experts on Friday, December 27, called on Pakistan High Court to clear liberal academic Junaid Hafeez of blasphemy charges and overturn his death sentence. According to reports, the experts described Hafeez's condemnation as a 'travesty of justice'. They further urged that the senior judges should acquit Hafeez on appeal.

Hafeez was held in solitary confinement for six years awaiting his trial for allegedly spreading anti-Islamic ideas through Facebook posts. According to reports, the reason stated for his confinement was that he would have been killed by the general population. However, according to his lawyer, the professor was framed by his students who belonged to a militant Islamic party for his liberal and secular views.

Junaid Hafeez's conviction

The professor was arrested in 2013 after some students at the university in Multan accused him of blasphemy. The controversial law of blasphemy in Pakistan states automatic death penalty for anyone accused of insulting God, Islam and other religious figures. In December, he was also placed in the list of global victims by a United States religious freedom commission.

The Pakistani High Court convicted Junaid Hafeez in a blasphemy case on December 21. His conviction has fueled a massive outrage. A South Asia researcher for Amnesty International, Rabia Mehmood labelled the ruling for a death sentence to Junaid Hafeez as 'vile and gross miscarriage of justice'.

Read: Man sentenced for blasphemy in Pakistan under new cyber crime law

Junaid Hafeez, blasphemy accused university teacher of Bahauddin Zakariya Uni, on trial for blasphemy for more than six years has been sentenced to death today by a Multan court. This is a vile and gross miscarriage of justice. #junaidhafeez #blasphemylaw  Rabia Mehmood -  (@Rabail26) December 21, 2019

Read: Teen pacer Naseem Shah's name withdrawn from Pakistan's U-19 squad by PCB

About Junaid Hafeez

According to reports, Hafeez had quit his studies at Pakistan's top medical college to pursue his passion for art and literature. He has also secured a Fulbright scholarship and attended Jackson State University in Mississippi where he specialised in American literature, photography, and theatre.

Read: ACCESSED: Nithyananda's slanderous 742-page anti-India report to United Nations

Read: Junaid Hafeez blasphemy case: Academic sentenced to death in Pakistan
Soon after Republic TV found that the SDPI and PFI had come under the scanner of the police for their alleged role in instigating violence during the anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh, the state police submitted its report to the government. Reflecting upon the UP Police's report which revealed sources of foreign funding to PFI to incite violence during anti-CAA protest, UP Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday stated that it was unfortunate that some people followed Pakistan leaders on this issue.

'We won't let PFI establish itself'

Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday said, "It was a part of their conspiracy. Efforts were made to create unrest in the state and police decimated their controversy. I won't take any names. PFI, NGOs and few individuals are involved in it. Since the matter is under investigation, I won't take any names."

READ | REPUBLIC INVESTIGATION PART 1: PFI Started Planning Earlier This Year

The Deputy Chief Minister said, "Fortunately, people especially, Muslims have started understanding that they were misled and their is no threat to their citizenship. We won't let PFI establish itself. Government will do everything it can to clamp down the perpetrators of violence."

The Deputy Chief Minister also commented on the Centre's announcement of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) post which has been criticised by the Opposition. Sharma said, "Earlier the tradition was of opposition supporting government on National security issue. Now, it has become a fashion that government has to give justification even for combat aircraft procurement. Now they question forces not considering whether it will affect forces morale or not."

READ | UP Police Seeks Ban On PFI For Involvement In Anti-CAA Protests

UP probes into SDPI-PFI links in CAA violence

Earlier, Republic TV had found that the SDPI and PFI had come under the scanner of the police for their alleged role in instigating violence during the anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh and Mangaluru. As per sources, the SDPI began hiring activists a month in advance from November 1 onwards.

Thereafter, pamphlets were distributed among the Muslim community spreading false claims about the CAA. For instance, the pamphlets stated that property rights would be snatched, bank accounts would be closed and so forth.

READ | Links Of PFI, SDPI To Mangaluru Violence Emerge; Karnataka BJP Says Govt Considering Ban

READ | Islamic Outfits PFI, SIMI Supected Behind UP Violence, Death Toll Rises To 17
Putin, Zelenskiy Exchange New Year Wishes, Discuss Another Prisoner Swap

By RFE/RL December 31, 2019

Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss another prisoner swap as tensions ease between the two neighbors.

The two leaders also exchanged holiday greetings, according to a statement by Zelenskiy's press service that was later confirmed by the Kremlin.

It is the first time that Putin has wished his Ukrainian counterpart a happy New Year in six years and testifies to the slowly improving relations.

The Kremlin on December 30 published a list of countries whose leaders Putin had sent holiday wishes to. That list did not include Ukraine.

New Year's is one of the most important holidays in former Soviet countries and the lack of a greeting can be seen as a snub.

Putin expressed a positive opinion about Zelenskiy during a meeting with business leaders last week, saying the Ukrainian leader was trying to build a dialogue with Russia, Forbes reported, citing one of the participants.

The Kremlin's relationship with Ukraine has been hostile ever since protests in Kyiv led to the overthrow of the country's pro-Russian leader, Viktor Yanukovych, in February 2014.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula shortly thereafter and backed separatists forces in eastern Ukraine, sparking a war in the Donbas that has resulted in more than 13,000 deaths. That war continues to this day.

Zelenskiy, a political novice who won a landslide victory in April on a promise to end the war, has reinvigorated the moribund peace process with Russia.

Zelenskiy reached an agreement with Putin on their first prisoner exchange in September, less than four months after taking power, with each side swapping 35 individuals later that month.

Following the December 9 peace talks in Paris with the heads of Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France -- the first of its kind in three years -- Zelenskiy and Putin carried out another prisoner swap on December 29.

However, those exchanges did not include Ukrainians held in Crimea. During their December 31 call, the two leaders agreed "to immediately proceed" to approve lists for the release of Ukrainians, including Crimeans, held in Crimea and Russia, and Russians held in Ukraine, Zelenskiy's press service said in a statement.

The two also expressed hope to complete the cease-fire agreement reached in Paris "in the near future," the statement said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-zelenskiy-exchange -new-year-wishes-discuss-another -prisoner-swap/30354271.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.

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She has seen jetting around the world since her recent split from DJ Chris Martinez.

And Demi Rose proved the fun never stops as she was seen living it with pals on her latest jaunt while sharing her usual slew of sexy snap.

The model was changing the mould however as she shunned her usual hotbed of bikini images to reveal a stray dog had entered her hotel room - and rather than removed the pup, her and her pals brought the dog into their bed.

All black everything: Demi Rose proved the fun never stops as she was seen living it with pals on her latest jaunt while sharing her usual slew of sexy snap

Demi looked sensational as she revealed she was joining her gal pals in going for a steamy dip, during which she has shed her bikini top.

She revealed earlier on that she had stumbled upon a stray dog in her hotel room.

Far from trying to remove the pup, Demi and her friends began snapping pictures of the dog and then shared a bed with the animal.

Demi has been travelling the world since she split from boyfriend DJ Chris in October - he performs alongside brother Stevie as The Martinez Brothers.

Sleeping ruff! She revealed earlier on that she had stumbled upon a stray dog in her hotel room

'Late night swim': She was enjoying a swim with her gal pals

As well as going to Jordan, the lingerie model has enjoyed trips to Thailand and Las Vegas, and she also headed to Cannes prior to that.

The newly-single star has vowed to continue to be friends with DJ Chris and to support each other's careers, despite the split.

A representative for Demi told MailOnline: 'Unfortunately Demi and her boyfriend Chris Martinez have parted ways. They have ended as friends and continue to support each other through out their careers.'

Happy days: The girls were delighted to see the stray dog

They added of the beauty: 'Demi is single and very happy working on her career in the USA.'

Demi first garnered attention for posting a string of sultry selfies on Instagram, where she racked up an impressive following.

She then propelled to fame after being romantically linked to Kylie Jenner's ex Tyga.
It's a new year and, for Illinois, a new era of recreational marijuana.

Weed dispensaries across the state opened their doors before sunrise Wednesday, welcoming long lines of customers  some who had been waiting since 4 a.m.

"Cheers to lighting up the start of 2020!" one dispensary, Sunnyside, wrote on its Facebook page.

Under Illinois law, anyone over 21 with a valid state ID or driver's license can purchase recreational marijuana from licensed retailers.

Jackie Ryan, right, of Forest Park, Ill., becomes the first person in Illinois to purchase recreational marijuana as she purchases marijuana products from employee Brea Mooney left, at Sunnyside dispensary Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Chicago.

Residents may legally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, 5 grams of concentrate and 500 milligrams of THC in products such as edibles. Non-Illinois residents in the state may possess up to only half as much as residents.

The law also includes a "social equity" plan to improve diversity in the industry by giving a leg up to minority entrepreneurs disproportionately impacted by poverty and the war on drugs. The law expunges certain drug-based criminal records and establishes a fund to provide financial resources for business start-ups, among other provisions.

Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker rang in 2020 by granting more than 11,000 pardons for low-level marijuana convictions Tuesday.

"The war on cannabis has destroyed families. It has filled jails and prisons with nonviolent offenders. It has disproportionately affected black and brown communities," Pritzker said at a press conference on Chicago's South Side.

"Every state that has legalized cannabis has seen high demand and long lines in its earliest weeks, and to be sure, our state will, too. But unlike other states, in Illinois, we purposely built a system where the market has room to grow, so that entrepreneurs, including especially those from the communities devastated by the war on drugs, will have real opportunities in this industry."

Illinois weed sales: Some say only white men are set to profit

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx looks on as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks during a press conference in Chicago after Foxx filed motions to vacate more than 1,000 low-level cannabis convictions, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

Illinois is the 11th state in the nation to allow the sale of recreational marijuana. Thirty-three states allow the sale of marijuana for medical use, which Illinois legalized in 2013.

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Some restrictions still apply, however. Landowners can ban cannabis use, and employers can prohibit employees from having THC in their systems.

It's illegal to drive while impaired and to possess marijuana on federal land and federally funded facilities, including some hospitals, public housing and more. Marijuana is still illegal at the federal level and cannot be taken across state lines  by any form of transportation.

The marijuana industry in Illinois could eventually bring in $1.69 billion to $2.58 billion in annual revenue, according to a study by Colorado consulting firm Freedman and Koski. That would mean an additional $440 million to $676 million in annual tax revenue statewide, the study said.

Chicago, which is facing a more than $800 million budget deficit, expects to bring in $3.5 million in revenue from marijuana taxes next year.

A long line of people brave the cold as they wait to be the first in Illinois to purchase recreational marijuana at Sunnyside dispensary Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Chicago.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cannabis in Illinois: Legal weed sales start Jan. 1
By PTI

KANPUR: IIT-Kanpur has formed a committee to inquire into a complaint against the recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's noted poem 'Hum Dekhenge' on campus by students to express solidarity with their peers at Jamia Millia Islamia, the institute's deputy director Manindra Agarwal said.

He said a "very peaceful protest" was held on December 17 by about 300 students of the premier institute at its premises as they were not allowed to go out due to enforcement of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the city.

An IIT-Kanpur student recited the poem 'Hum Dekhenge' by Faiz against which a complaint was filed by Dr Vashimant Sharma, a temporary faculty member, and 16 others, including faculty members and students.

"The video suggests that the poem also provokes anti-Hindu sentiments," the complaint stated.

The written complaint filed by them with the IIT-Kanpur director states that the poem had some words that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus, Agarwal said.

"A committee of six members was established, headed by me, to investigate the matter. Some students have been questioned, while the others will be questioned after they return to the institution after the holidays," the deputy director said.

There was a war of words on social media between those supporting the recitation of the poem and those who opposed it, he said.

"It was contributing to escalation of the situation and hence we requested both sides to stop it and they obliged," Agarwal said.

The video also shows students carrying placards with slogans like 'Tumhari laathi aur goli se tez hamari awaaz hai' (our voice is louder than your sticks and bullets) and 'IIT-Kanpur condemns police brutality on Jamia and AMU students. Shame on Delhi Police', an official said.

"We would take some more days to hear both sides before coming up with the findings as some students were left to question and it could only be possible after their return to the institution after holidays," Agarwal said, adding, "Once everything cools down, we will be able to sort out the matter amicably."

However, IIT-Kanpur director Abhay Karandikar has criticised a section of the media for reporting since Wednesday that the institute has set up a committee to decide whether the poem by Faiz is anti-Hindu or not, saying this is "very misleading".

"The reality is that the institute has received complaints from multiple sections of the community that during a protest march taken out by students certain poem was read and then subsequently certain social media posts were made, which were inflammatory," Karandikar said.

"The institute has also received complaints from other sections of the community that during the protest march, a group tried to block the march, which was incorrect. So, the institute has set up a committee to look into all these complaints to see if they are genuine. And if they are genuine, what remedial action is to be taken," he added.
Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Perth: Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires. Since Monday, seven people have died as destructive wildfires tore through communities in New South Wales and Victoria states on Australia's southeast coast.

On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. Stranded residents and vacationers slept in their cars, and gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas.

Dozens of homes burned before winds changed direction late on Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town. Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters that the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

Conditions cooled on Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing. We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state, Crisp said.

In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 50 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesday's fires. More than 100 fires were still burning in the state on Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level.

Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car and a father and son who died in their house. Two people in New South Wales are missing. New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian said firefighting crews would take advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning.

The early and devastating start to Australia's summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government has taken enough action on climate change.

Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australia's lucrative coal industry. Morrison won a surprise third term in May.

Among his government's pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2030  a modest figure compared to the center-left opposition Labor party's pledge of 45 percent. The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nation's highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

If he (Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns, Di Natale said in a statement. About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with 15 people confirmed dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Year's fireworks celebrations, but Sydney's popular display over its iconic harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revellers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant Canberra, the nation's capital, on Wednesday had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world. The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:03:59|Editor: Xiaoxia

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KABUL, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan National Police had busted a terror group in the country's southern province of Kandahar, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

"The ANP has busted a terrorist ring of Taliban outfit during a recent operation in Kandahar. A total of seven arrests were made during the raid in surrounding areas of Kandahar province," the ministry said in a statement.

"Two Taliban's improvised explosive device (IED) making experts and two militants involved in targeted killings were among the arrestees. Another three captives were involved in series of major attacks on security forces in Kandahar," the statement added.

The statement added that the timely arrest of the men has foiled major terror attacks and saved the province, some 450 km south of Kabul, from expected tragedy.

Security situation has been improving in Kandahar, the former stronghold of Taliban, over the past months, as security forces have conducted search and cordon operations across the province. But the militants attack government interests in the province from time to time.
A Mineral man who was deer hunting has been charged in connection with the wounding of a horse in Hanover County in November.

The Hanover Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that Jeffrey Mayo was charged Tuesday with the reckless handling of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 100 yards of an occupied dwelling. Mayo was not taken into custody.

Authorities said an investigation showed that Mayo was hunting and fired three shots at a deer while it was running. The third shot was fired within 100 yards of a residence in the direction of a horse pasture.

The owner of the horse who was shot has reported that the horse, Penny, is doing well, the sheriff's office said.

The incident happened in the 13000 block of Farrington Road on Nov. 27. Penny was found with a wound on the side of her chest, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office credited the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries with assisting in the investigation.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in CSMall Group Limited (HKG:1815).

What Is Insider Buying?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. 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 CSMall Group

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At CSMall Group

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Runxiong Yao for HK$150m worth of shares, at about HK$1.50 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of HK$0.79. 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. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

CSMall Group insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. They paid about HK$1.20 on average. This is nice to see since it implies that insiders might see value around current prices. 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!

Story continues

SEHK:1815 Recent Insider Trading, January 1st 2020

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership of CSMall Group

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. CSMall Group insiders own about HK$315m worth of shares. That equates to 32% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At CSMall Group Tell Us?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded CSMall Group shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like CSMall Group insiders think the business has merit. I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can find historic revenue and earnings in this detailed graph.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
A woman anti-CAA protester here has come under the scanner of the police after her social media profile shed light on her role as a researcher with a Pakistan body, a top official said on Wednesday.

A probe would be carried out to ascertain whether the woman, Gayatri Khandhadai, has links to Pakistan-based "Bytes for All", Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan told reporters.

Police sources told PTI that the woman protester has been a part of a slew of agitations held in the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and was also associated with the 'kolam,' demonstrations.

She was present at the Madras University premises as well when the students there protested against the citizenship law last month, they said.

Dwelling on her background, Viswanathan said Khandhadai has the support of local outfits in Tamil Nadu including an NGO.

"If you look at her Facebook profile, she says that she is a researcher at Bytes for All, Pakistan," the senior police official said adding this body seemed to be linked to the Association of All Pakistan Citizen Journalists.

The extent and nature of the protester's "Pakistani connection," and "what," it is all about will be probed, he said.

A check will be done to find out if there is any other "information," about her, he said.

He clarified that none were arrested or detained for drawing 'kolam,' (rangoli) in Besant Nagar here days ago.

Viswanathan maintained police personnel had to interevene when an elderly resident there objected when protesters drew words opposing CAA (alongside a kolam already drawn up by his family members) in front of his house.

The commissioner also released video clips to substantiate his claim that police had to intervene after the resident's objection.

The clip shows an elderly man asking why the words were drawn up (by protesters) and a woman bringing a bucket of water from inside the house and erasing it.

On Sunday, police had said eight people, including five women, were picked up for holding the protest without permission and causing inconvenience to others but were later let off.

DMK president M K Stalin has hit out at the AIADMK government for the police action, saying the detained persons were only excercising their right to protest.

The group of women who drew rangoli against the CAA, had called on Stalin on Monday at the party headquarters here to thank him for supporting them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)--Debts incurred from past public investment and reconstruction work after disasters are placing heavy financial burdens on local governments in Japan while social security costs are increasing amid the graying of the population.

In fiscal 2018, which ended in March 2019, the future burden rate, one of the indicators for judging local governments' financial soundness, reached a crisis level of over 300 pct in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, and Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan.

The average rate among the country's 47 prefectures stood at 173.6 pct.

If the rate, which shows the extent of future burdens on finances, exceeds 400 pct, local governments are required to submit a fiscal reconstruction plan to the central government.

The rate was highest across the country in Hyogo, at 339.2 pct.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Industry players are lobbying for relaxation of rules under Section 9A of the Income Tax Act in the upcoming Budget. Section 9A, introduced on April 1, 2016, exempts funds from getting taxed in India.

Only a fund managers income or management fee will be subject to tax. According to current norms, the total investment of a person resident in India, whether directly or indirectly, shall not be more than 5 per cent of the fund corpus. The percentage of resident money has to be specified by way of a declaration to the government as well. How do I know if the money I ...
While its gratifying to see Cybercom preparing to battle against foreign influence in the 2020 election, our government still seems unaware that Russia sees itself as at war with us. As such, it is conducting hybrid warfare against the United States, of which cyber operations is just a small part. Hybrid warfare includes other methods: funding private paramilitary groups, abduction and murder, partnerships with pliable politicians and criminal groups, support to secessionists, encouragement of religious and political fringe groups, and broad actions to increase social tensions and violence. Weve seen Russia try to manipulate the National Rifle Association, secessionists, religious voters and racial groups. What actions has the administration taken to thwart these threats?
Snowmageddon warnings in North America come from tropics more than Arctic stratosphere







Reading UK (SPX) Dec 29, 2019





Winter weather patterns in North America are dictated by changes to the polar vortex winds high in the atmosphere, but the most significant cold snaps are more likely influenced by the tropics, scientists have found. A team led by the University of Reading conducted the first ever study to identify how the four main winter weather patterns in North America behave depending on the strength of the stratospheric polar vortex. This is a ribbon of wind and low pressure that circles the Arctic at height ... read more
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.




The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress on Wednesday condemned Pakistan for pushing armed infiltrators and terrorists into India and urged border residents to extend all possible cooperation to the forces in the ongoing operation against terrorists in Rajouri.

Two soldiers lost their lives as Army personnel battled heavily armed terrorists, foiling an infiltration bid by the ultras on New Year Day along the Line of Control in Rajouri district.

Expressing grief over death of soldiers, J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said, "The selfless sacrifices of our soldiers have always saved the innocent citizens from terrorists."



"The presence of a group of militants in Kheri-Gunni area of Seri belt in Nowshera sector is a cause for concern," he said in a statement here.

Lauding the Army and police for their coordinated efforts in neutralising the terrorists, the Congress leader appealed to the local population to extend all possible co-operation to the forces in the ongoing operation.

He also strongly condemned Pakistan for resorting to frequent ceasefire violations to give cover to help terrorists infiltrate into India and said the armed forces and brave border population have always defeated nefarious designs of Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has permitted Indian private sector lenders Axis Bank and ICICI Bank to close their operations in the island nation, according to online news portal ColomboPage.

This follows requests by their parent banks. The licenses issued to them will be cancelled once the winding-up operations are complete.

ColomboPage said the two banks are no longer permitted to carry on banking operations, including accepting deposits from the public.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Representative Image.

The United States has said it is sending hundreds more troops to the Middle East after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed its embassy compound in Iraq, setting fires and chanting "Death to America!" Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen paramilitary fighters on Sunday, hundreds of protesters spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone Tuesday, demanding the ouster of American troops from Iraq and voicing loyalty to a powerful Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack was "orchestrated by terrorists," one of whom he named as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Muhandis has been identified as second-in-command of the Tehran-backed Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group which includes Kataeb Hezbollah, the group that was targeted in the US air strikes.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the region.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," he said.

The US had already flown a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after the attack Tuesday, which left smoke and flames rising from the embassy entrance and further heightened tension between Tehran and Washington.

Esper's announcement is the latest move by Washington to step up its defences in the region since US President Donald Trump in May 2018 pulled out of a multinational nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed crippling economic sanctions.

Trump blamed Tehran for the embassy attack and warned that it would face punishment if Americans are killed.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump said on Twitter.

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," wrote Trump, adding "Happy New Year!" Just prior to Esper's announcement a US official had told AFP that Washington had already deployed hundreds of American troops to Kuwait in response to the unrest, and they would likely to be sent on to Iraq.

"At least 500 members of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division have left Fort Bragg in the US, and up to 4,000 may ultimately be deployed," the official said.

Trump's message came at the end of a day in which Washington officials appeared surprised and furious over the ease at which the protestors entered the Green Zone, reaching the US embassy compound for the first time in years.

They carried flags of the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), a component of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network.

Live broadcasts showed the protesters battering down the high-security doors of the embassy reception building, smashing windows and burning a sentry box.

The State Department and Pentagon demanded Iraq's leaders provide security to the compound -- which was already heavily fortified.

By the time a contingent of US Marine reinforcements flew in, some of the demonstrators had receded and others settled in for a sustained protest, preparing food for the evening.

Tehran said the United States is itself to blame for air strikes that killed about two dozen Kataeb Hezbollah fighters on Sunday.

"The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi people's protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship. Allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washington's influence in the country.

US jet fighters on Sunday struck five Kateab Hezbollah outposts in Iraq and Syria after a series of rocket attacks on US-occupied facilities in Iraq over the past two months that are blamed on the group and its alleged Iranian sponsors.

One of those attacks, in Kirkuk on Friday, left an American civilian contractor dead and exhausted what US officials called Trump's "strategic patience" with Tehran.

It also added to the growing calls by some political factions in Iraq to push US troops out of the country nearly 17 years after they entered and overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime.

The protesters who besieged the US embassy on Tuesday carried posters reading: "Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!" Late Tuesday Kataeb Hezbollah hailed the attack as a "first lesson" to Washington, "so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid".

US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. Ambassador Matthew Tueller, who had been on holiday leave, was on his way back to the embassy.
The reason the Founders put the Second Amendment in the Constitution, the document Democrats and liberals selectively embrace or read things into when convenient, was seen last Sunday at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, near Forth Worth where, dare we say it again, good guys with guns stopped a bad guy with a gun.

Note the plural is used here, for video footage shows at least seven guns were drawn with seconds of the killer opening fire on the parishioners inside, killing two. But only two, as a wider massacre was stopped by those who dont believe in gun-free zones. Two of those who returned fires were armed security guards, you know, the people used to guard our money and our politicians, but whom our politicians wont let protect our schoolchildren.

Both common sense and abject stupidity were on public display in the aftermath of the shooting:

The churchs senior minister, Britt Farmer, said at a news conference Sunday that the congregation lost two great men today but could have lost more if those at the church were unarmed. But it couldve been a lot worse. I am thankful that our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves, he said Law enforcement officials praised the members of the churchs security team for ending the attack within seconds. Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn told The Dallas Morning News that Sunday was a horrific day in Tarrant County. Today evil walked boldly among us, he said. But let me remind you, good people raised up and stopped it before it got worse.

Less pleased was failed presidential candidate Beto ORourke, who wanted to go door-to-door and confiscate our AR-15s acquired to defend our families. With professionally cleaned teeth and properly trimmed ear hair, ORourke opined:

Clearly what we are doing in Texas, what we are doing in this country, when it comes to guns is not working, the former Texas congressman said in a tweet Sunday.

Beto, if you had your way, there would have been no guns in the West Freeway Church of Christ last Sunday, everyone inside would be dead, and you would still be lecturing us on gun control. What Texas has, worked. It isnt perfect but as more and more armed citizens defend themselves in this constitutionally protected manner, such shootings will become less likely as prospective killers realize Americans arent tolerating gun-free zones anymore.

Imagine if every German Jew had met the Nazi SS knocking on the door with a loaded gun, if Stalin and Mao had been confronted with an armed citizenry. The killing fields of Cambodia and other massacres by tyrants would have been stopped if Americas Second Amendment was not the exception but the rule worldwide.

People like the parishioners of the West Freeway Church of Christ in flyover country are openly mocked by the coastal and progressive elites and were so mocked by President Obama in the famous bitter clingers remark made during the 2008 campaign:

Barack Obama had not yet locked up the nomination for his party when he revealed his true feelings about gun owners to attendees of a private fund raiser in San Francisco last April: You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

These people cling to their Bibles and thankfully, to their guns, not because they are fearful of others nor like them but because they are fearful of a government that doesnt like them, and politicians who dont like the Constitution much either. They fear open borders and empty jails and politicians who would let in and let loose armed predators while leaving We the People defenseless.

They cling to their Bibles and their guns and clinging to both last Sunday probably saved their lives. They value both their guns and religious liberty and despise those politicians who infringe on both. They hunt but they believe the Second Amendment was written because the British were coming, not because the deer were in season.

Stephen Willeford is another Texas churchgoer who certainly can remind gun-control zealots that guns in general and the AR-15 in particular, which has been misrepresented by gun control zealots as an "assault rifle," can be used by good guys to save lives as well as by bad guys to take them. He is the hero of Sutherland Springs, Texas, who, hearing the sound of gunfire at a nearby church, grabbed the AR-15 he had taught others to use as an NRA instructor and chased down the mass murderer who had shot up the First Baptist Church before he could continue his murder spree elsewhere:

The hero who last November stopped the gunman behind the deadly Texas church massacre said using an AR-15 enabled him to end the bloodshed. In an emotional interview with CRTV's "Louder With Crowder" on Monday, Stephen Willeford described the gunfight and dramatic car chase that ensued to stop the shooter from slaughtering additional churchgoers. The former National Rifle Association instructor was home Sunday morning when his daughter told Willeford she had heard gunshots from the nearby Baptist church, prompting him to get his AR-15 rifle from his safe and load a magazine. He ran to the church and confronted the alleged shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, who fired shots at Willeford. While taking cover behind a pickup truck, Willeford fired several shots at the gunman, who sped away in his car. Willeford ran to a truck stopped at a stop sign and asked the driver to help him to stop Kelley, who had a history of domestic violence and had been kicked out of the military. The two men pursued the gunman, whom [sic] officials say wore tactical gear and a bullet-proof vest, down a nearby highway until the vehicle eventually careened off the side of the road. When police arrived, Kelley was found dead on the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head as well as two other gunshot wounds -- one on his leg and one on his torso. Officials believe the gunman took his own life."If I had run out of the house with a pistol and faced a bulletproof vest and kevlar and helmets, it might have been futile," Willeford said. "I ran out with an AR-15 and that's what he was shooting the place up with."

Guns in churches seem like some sort of grotesque oxymoron but in the right hands a firearm can be the ultimate peacemaker. Many were thankful that day in 2007 that Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, had easy access to a gun when Matthew Murray entered the east entrance of the church and began firing his rifle. Murray was carrying two handguns, an assault rifle, and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Assam, who worked as a police officer in downtown Minneapolis during the 1990s and is licensed to carry a weapon, shot and killed Murray. Had she not done so, more than two would have been killed at the church that day. Two others had been killed by Murray at the Youth Mission School in nearby Arvada. New Lifes senior pastor Brady Boyd said Assams actions saved the lives of 50 to 100 people:

A former police officer, Assam, 42, was on security duty Sunday morning at New Life Church here. Hours earlier, a 24-year-old who had been rejected from a missionary school in a Denver suburb had shot and killed two staffers there. Now he was spraying New Life's parking lot with gunfire and pushing through the doors to the sanctuary. Assam hid and inched toward the gunman, Matthew Murray, as dozens of terrified worshipers fled. She waited until he got close enough, revealed herself, aimed her pistol and fired. Murray dropped to the ground. He was carrying an assault rifle, two pistols and a backpack holding more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. "I just prayed to the Holy Spirit to guide me," Assam said at a packed news conference Monday. "I give the credit to God. This has got to be God, because of the firepower he had versus what I have."

As they say, praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Once again, guns save lives. It bis said that greater love hath no man than one willing to lay down his life for his friend, but with the Second Amendment and a gun you dont have to.

Daniel John Sobieski is a former editorial writer for Investors Business Daily and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Happy New Year to you and your family. We hope 2020 is great for you.

Now that were into a new year, the Kenosha News editorial board will start off by sharing some of our ideas of what wed like to see happen in 2020. Maybe you have similar thoughts, or want to dispute ours. Send us a Voice of the People letter to keep the conversation going.

Wed like to see the following happen in 2020:

Voter participation that goes through the roof in Kenosha County. Forget all the previous marks, lets see everyone who is eligible go to the polls. Youll have four chances this year, with Aprils election featuring many. many local races as well as the presidential primary, and November featuring the presidential election. Wisconsin is projected to be among a handful of states that decide the race to the White House. We hope to see everyone eligible cast ballots.

A Downtown Vision plan that says on track. Its amazing and it will transform Kenosha, and wed like to see the Brindisi Towers construction proceed as planned and other development announced at the proper time. Its not your grandfathers Kenosha, you know. We also hope to see Herzing University proceed with intentions to move into the former Kenosha News building. It will be a big boost for downtown.

Along with the Downtown Vision plan, momentum toward recruiting a grocery store downtown. There are big plans for many more people living downtown, and with those plans there has to be movement toward getting an urban grocer. As weve noted in editorials, its likely to require a grocer willing to take a risk, as well as shoppers willing to pay a little more for convenience. But there should be movement toward this to fit in the Downtown Vision.

Real discussions toward expanding Kenoshas tourism draw by featuring and promoting a lifeguard-protected beach. We introduced this idea in an editorial after the highly successful Tall Ships Festival in Kenosha, and many readers agreed. We should build on that success and provide a beach for tourists who come here for the bustling HarborMarket, our museums and so many other activities during the summer. Its time to think bigger and grow tourism in Kenosha County.

More housing inventory and particularly more affordable housing on the market. Month after month we publish real estate round ups that report sales slightly up or down but consistently say there is very little on the market. Prices are shooting up, a boon for homeowners, but we need more housing to match job growth that is coming our way. Lets see 2020 be the year that inventory starts to improve and features more affordable options.

Attention in Madison to our property tax situation. We dont have to tell you that your property taxes have been increasing, and the statewide increase this past year was the highest in a decade, according to a report. Relief is needed, and we were pleased to hear Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald say that Republican lawmakers are eyeing legislation to help reduce property tax bills. This should be a bipartisan effort and a priority in the new year.

Road projects that stay on track, particularly in the city. Theres an ambitious plan in place but there are many, many needs. That said, what we really would like to see is agreement in Madison for sustaining road funding moving forward in Wisconsin. Other states have done it and Gov. Tony Evers campaigned on it; now its time for Republicans and Democrats to agree on key funding boosts needed and approve a plan in 2020.

Well keep our eye on these topics and of course others as 2020 progresses. Lets have a Happy New Year and then get to work.

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Matt Hancock: With this One Nation Conservative Government in place, we can greet this New Year with excitement and optimism

Matt Hancock is Secretary of State for Health, and is MP for West Suffolk.

With the new decade beginning, we stand at the cusp of exciting developments which can change our country for the better. Its our job now to make them happen and make Britain soar in the 2020s.

The end of 2019 saw the public vote for a strong majority Conservative Government, and gave us a mandate to get on to not only deliver Brexit but the peoples priorities. We have a duty to deliver on our commitments and use this opportunity with vigour.

For all the noise and political paralysis of the past few years, under the surface in many ways Britain has been doing well. For all the sneering, on any objective measure this last was the best decade to be alive. Life expectancy has increased. Your chance of beating cancer has risen faster than almost anywhere in Europe. The number of people in work is at its highest point, and there are more women in work than ever before. Thanks to radical reforms a decade ago, England rose up the international education rankings.

But whilst laudable, these achievements do not signify job done. In the campaign, some commentators feigned confusion that we can be both proud of our record and determined to do more  and sometimes do things differently. But this approach underpins the Conservative approach  to learn from the past, and build a better future.

The election showed that there is a yearning for this kind of One Nation Government to move this country forward, and crucially to do so across the whole country: in infrastructure, in connectivity, in creating the high pay high reward jobs of the future. Patriotic and proud of our country yet open and outward looking to the world.

In my own area of health and social care the next decade holds great challenges, and incredible promise.

Ultimately, our task is to ensure the NHS gets the support it needs to support people to stay healthy for longer, to give people more control over their own health through a smarter, more preventative focused approach. We must invest more  and we will. But its not just about the money, but also improving the way the health service is run and harnessing exciting new technology.

Take genome sequencing, as one of the technologies with the greatest potential. When we screen new-born children, we can identify health conditions they may have or be at risk of developing in childhood and later life. We can help them prevent those conditions, or in the case of many rare diseases we can save a harrowing, costly odyssey to find what is wrong. Why shouldnt this sort of screening be available to all children, just like the heel-prick test is today?

Similarly at the other end of life, Im inspired by the memory of my own grandmother to deliver our manifesto commitment to a national effort to gather the finest scientists and doctors in the world to find a cure for dementia.

And at the same time, lets make good on growing research which shows we can treat early signs of dementia, not with more drugs, but through social prescribing  making use of non-medical services to help people manage their physical and mental health.

Not only is this approach better for our health, but it will help ease the pressures on our increasingly burdened NHS staff and hospitals. Just through the use of social prescribing, patients with long-term conditions attended 47 per cent fewer hospital appointments and made 38 per cent fewer visits to A&E. Its an approach rooted in helping people take more responsibility for their own health  not just relying on the NHS to fix things when they go wrong.

I also know from my conversations with patients and staff that they are desperate for the improvements in technology. Better tech means better health and social care: it helps the elderly to live independently for longer; GPs able to see more patients; smarter e-rostering to help the NHS avoid inflated agency fees. Lets use the amazing new technology all around us to help doctors do their jobs and help patients have more control. Combine all this with the exciting march of new technology in the NHS and the prospect of a Government giving the NHS, life sciences, and new technology their full backing, and the opportunities for breakthroughs in the way we discover and treat illnesses, are huge.

And of course, none of this is possible without the amazing people who work in the NHS. With the investment this Government will make in our workforce  including 50,000 more nurses, and 6,000 more GPs  we must grasp the opportunities to the create a more integrated NHS with a culture that maximises the potential of every single member of its staff. This change in working culture is vital and youll be hearing much more of it over the coming months.

We must build workplaces that our wonderful NHS staff can feel proud of. Thats about how well led our hospitals are, and its about the buildings themselves. The Prime Minister has famously committed to build 40 new hospitals over the next decade. But its not just about the new-builds. Our hospitals will be upgraded too through the Health Infrastructure Plan, with wards that are designed to speed up recovery and have the right equipment and technology, ensuring patients receive the right treatment at the right time.

There is so much to do. We have the mandate and the majority. Lets make 2020 the year of progress and work now to set up a decade we can all be proud of.
Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said party MLA Sangram Thopte, who was miffed at not getting a ministerial berth, has been pacified and assured that he will get his due.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the Congress over allocation of portfolios.

Everyone cannot be accommodated as there is a three- party alliance government in the state, the Congress leader told reporters here.

"I spoke to SangramThopte last night. The Congress is a family and he will get his due," he said.

"Since we are part of a three-party government, we got less ministerial berths," the Congress leader said.

Some supporters of Thopte, who is the Congress MLA from Bhor, on Tuesday attacked the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the state ministry.

The police late Tuesday night arrested 19 supporters of Thopte and later released them on bail.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the party over portfolio allocation.

"Discussions are on and the allocation of portfolios is expected today," he said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43.

Following the expansion, the NCP now has 12 Cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, the Shiv Sena has 10 Cabinet ministers and four MoS, while the Congress has 10 Cabinet ministers and two MoS in the Thackeray-led government.

The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A serial killer whose five victims included two wives has died on Californias death row, authorities said Dec. 30, 2019.

Phillip Carl Jablonski, 73, was found unresponsive in his San Quentin State Prison cell on Friday and pronounced dead within minutes. His cause of death is awaiting an autopsy, but he had been assigned a single cell, said corrections department spokeswoman Terri Hardy.

A San Mateo County jury sentenced him to death in 1994 for the first-degree murders of his wife, Carol Spadoni, 46, and her mother, Eva Petersen, 72.

Spadoni had married him while he was in prison for murdering a previous wife in 1978.

It was the latest in what court records say was a long history of violence against multiple women, dating to his trying to kill his first wife in the 1960s. At the time he was an Army sergeant who had served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War before he was discharged in 1969 for a schizophrenic illness.

He pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder, assault and attempted rape of his second wife, Melinda Kimball, in 1978.

He was paroled for good behavior in 1990, despite having tried to strangle his mother with a shoelace during a prison visit in 1985.

Authorities said they recovered a cassette tape in which he then described fatally shooting, stabbing and mutilating Spadoni and her mother, and raping her mother after she was dead.

He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but a jury found he was sane at the time.

Jablonski was also implicated in the deaths of two other women that same year, Fathyma Vann of Indio, California, and Margie Rogers of Thompson Springs, Utah.

Vann was attending the same community college as Jablonski at the time. Rogers and her husband co-owned a store along Interstate 70 where she was found dead.
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The world celebrated the New Year on Wednesday with fireworks displays from Sydney to London, although celebrations were clouded by deadly wildfires in Australia, protests in Hong Kong and India and new nuclear tensions with North Korea.

Large crowds gathered in European capitals for spectacular fireworks displays that lit up the skies over landmarks like Big Ben in London, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Parthenon in Athens and the Kremlin in Moscow.

In Australia, a million revellers thronged Sydney harbour and nearby districts to watch more than 100,000 fireworks explode above the city, even as thousands of people along the country's eastern seaboard sought refuge from the bushfires on beaches.

Thousands in Hong Kong welcomed 2020 on neon-lit promenades in the picturesque Victoria Harbour, breaking into pro-democracy chants shortly after the countdown to midnight.

Hong Kong authorities cancelled the main midnight fireworks display for the first time in a decade, citing security concerns. A "Symphony of Lights" took place instead, involving projections on the city's tallest skyscrapers, while smaller-scale pyrotechnics were launched from waterfront rooftops.

In Japan, people took turns striking Buddhist temple bells, in accordance with tradition.

Sydney decided to press ahead with its fireworks despite calls by some members of the public for the display to be cancelled in solidarity with fire-hit areas in New South Wales, of which the city is the capital.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said planning had begun 15 months ago and that the event also gave a boost to the economy.

Some towns in eastern Australia cancelled their New Year's celebrations as naval vessels and military helicopters helped firefighters rescue people fleeing the fires, which have turned swathes of New South Wales into a raging furnace.

The fires have killed at least 11 people since October, two of them overnight into Tuesday, destroyed more than 4 million hectares (10 million acres) and left many towns and rural areas without electricity or mobile coverage.

Elsewhere, revellers from Auckland, New Zealand, to Pyongyang, the capital of isolated North Korea, welcomed the new year with fireworks displays.

But amid the celebrations of a new year and decade, old tensions threatened to flare up. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Wednesday his country would keep developing nuclear programmes and introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, after the United States missed a year-end deadline to restart denuclearisation talks.

PROTESTS, BREXIT

In Hong Kong, rocked by months of sometimes violent pro-democracy demonstrations, protesters were urged to wear masks at a New Year rally called "Don't forget 2019 - Persist in 2020," according to social media posts.

Some 6,000 police were deployed and Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, appealed for calm and reconciliation in her New Year's Eve video message.

The protests began in June in response to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party, and have evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement.

Thousands of Indians ushered in the year by demonstrating against a citizenship law they say will discriminate against Muslims and chip away at India's secular constitution.

The demonstrations came despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attempts to dampen protests that have run for nearly three weeks.

Irshad Alam, a 25-year-old resident of the Shaheen Bagh area of New Delhi, stood with his 1-year-old child in his arms and his wife by his side. He said he had been participating in the protest every day.

"Its freezing here," he said. "But we are still here because we care about this movement."

More than three years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, fresh from winning a parliamentary majority in last month's election, promised in his New Year's message to "get Brexit done before the end of this month."

"As we say goodbye to 2019, we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long," Johnson added.

In New York, large crowds were gathering ahead of the annual New Year's Eve ball drop over Times Square.
Before the United States rings in the New Year at midnight on Jan. 1, those living in eastern parts of the world are well into 2020. It's a basic rule of thumb: The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So when the ball drops in America, people in Europe are heading out to work thanks to the rotation of the earth. So, who welcomed the New Year first?

According to NASA, as the earth rotates clockwise, the sunlight reaches different parts of the earth at different times. New Zealand's eastern-most city, Gisborne, is the first to greet each new day. In Gisborne, around the coast to Opotiki and inland to Te Urewera National Park on the eastern cape is where you can witness the first sunrise.

Tourists visiting New Zealand can catch the best views by heading to the top of Mt. Hikurangi in the eastern corner of New Zealand's North Island, it's one of the best sunrise spots around the world.
RETAINED firemen and gardai were deployed to a field in West Limerick earlier this week after a number of malnourished and dead horses were discovered.

Details of the horrific discovery near Rathkeale have been revealed by the Deel Animal Action Group which was alerted to the stricken animals and remains by a member of the public early on Monday morning.

After locating the field, and climbing in, it soon became apparent what horrors lay ahead. There was a horse, very visible from the road, lying down. With a sinking feeling we walked towards it and found that it was, in fact dead. The poor pony had been dead for some days. It was also very obvious that she had died from starvation and had literally dropped where she stood, said a spokesperson for Deel Animal Action Group.

The body of a foal was also located in the same field a short time later while volunteers subsequently discovered three ponies in a deep ravine in another part of the field.

Two were able to get out but one was stuck. We are not sure how long he was there but he appeared to be weak and lethargic. We couldnt release him as the brambles were far too thick and the climb out of the ravine was far too steep, read a post on Facebook.

Firemen from Rathkeale station attended the scene for around an hour on Monday to help recover the pony from the ravine. Gardai also attended as did a vet from the Department of Agriculture.

After hay was bought to the field the volunteers were alerted to several other horses  all of which were in poor condition and underweight.

As a charity we do not have the power to seize equines (or any animal). We contacted the Department of Agriculture vet who arrived later that evening to inspect the remaining horses, the area in which they were being kept, and from here it is out of our hands, confirmed the Deel Animal Action Group.

A number of very large bones which were confirmed to be equine were also found during searches of the field.

Its understood the Department of Agriculture has launched an investigation and that orders have been served on the owners of the horses and field they were found in.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East (Evan Vucci/AP)

US President Donald Trump has ordered some 750 American soldiers be deployed to the Middle East, with about 3,000 more prepared for possible deployment in the next several days following an attack on the US embassy compound in Iraq.

Mr Trump said that Iran was fully responsible for the attack in which no US casualties or evacuations were reported.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday night that in response to recent events in Iraq, and at Mr Trumps direction, he had authorised the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Mr Esper did not specify the soldiers destination, but a US official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, Mr Esper said in a written statement.

Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airbornes quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Mr Esper said.

The US official, who provided unreleased details on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of some 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

The breach of the embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday revealed growing strains between the US and Iraq, raising questions about the future of Washingtons military mission there.

Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

American airstrikes on Sunday killed 25 fighters of an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah.

The US said those strikes were in retaliation for last weeks killing of an American contractor and the wounding of American and Iraqi troops in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the US blamed on the militia.

The American strikes angered the Iraqi government, which called them an unjustified violation of its sovereignty.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many, Mr Trump tweeted from his estate in Florida.

We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
Ghosn Says He Escaped Injustice in Japan; Lebanon Calls Arrival a Private Matter

BEIRUT/TOKYOOusted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said on Tuesday, Dec. 31, he had fled to Lebanon to escape a rigged justice system in Japan, raising questions about how one of the worlds most-recognized executives had slipped away while on bail.

Ghosns abrupt departure marks the latest twist in a year-long saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and top shareholder Renault SA, and increased scrutiny of Japans judicial system.

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn leaves his lawyers office in Tokyo, Japan on April 3, 2019. (Kyodo/via Reuters)

I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, Ghosn, 65, said in a brief statement on Tuesday.

I have not fled justiceI have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.

Tokyo officials have previously said the system is not inhumane and that Ghosn, who is facing trial on financial misconduct charges he denies, has been treated like any other suspect.

It was unclear how Ghosn, who holds French, Brazilian, and Lebanese citizenship, was able to orchestrate his departure from Japan. He had been under strict surveillance by authorities while out on bail and had surrendered his passports.

Junichiro Hironaka, chief lawyer of the former Nissan Motor chairman Carlos Ghosn, speaks to reporters in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Kyodo/via Reuters)

According to a senior Lebanese foreign ministry source, Ghosn entered Lebanon legally on a French passport and using his Lebanese ID with normal security procedures. People familiar with the matter told Reuters he had arrived in Beirut on a private jet from Istanbul on Monday.

The French and Lebanese foreign ministries both said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey. All discussion of it is his private matter, the Lebanese ministry added.

Lebanons state security directorate said Ghosn would not face any legal consequences for the way he entered the country, state NNA news agency reported. The foreign ministry said Lebanon did not have a judicial cooperation agreement with Japan.

Japanese authorities had no record of Ghosn leaving, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. A person resembling him entered Beirut international airport under a different name, NHK reported, citing an unidentified Lebanese security official.

His lawyers were still in possession of his three passports, one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters.

Hironaka, in comments broadcast live on NHK, said the first he had heard of Ghosns departure was on the news this morning and that he was surprised. He also said it was inexcusable behavior.

Japan has extradition treaties with only the United States and South Korea, according to the justice ministry, meaning it could be difficult to force Ghosn to return to stand trial.

While his arrest on financial misconduct charges last year ensured a dramatic fall from grace in Japan, he retains more popularity in Lebanon, where billboards saying We are all Carlos Ghosn were erected in his support. He was previously featured on a postage stamp.

Born in Brazil of Lebanese ancestry, Ghosn grew up in Beirut and has retained close ties to Lebanon.

People walk past a house that is believed to belong to Carlos Ghosn in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)

At Ghosns gated villa in the Achrafieh neighborhood of Beirut, a handful of police and private security personnel stood guard on Tuesday.

A man who identified himself only as his English neighbor walked by to leave a card, with the words Carlos, welcome home! written inside. It was not immediately clear if Ghosn was at the address.

Its a good thing that at last hes out of being locked up for something which he may or may notprobably nothave done, said the neighbor.

A French minister said before the report Ghosn used a French passport that she was very surprised by news of his emergence in Lebanon.

A view of a house that is believed to belong to Carlos Ghosn in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)

Flight Risk

Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018, shortly after his private jet touched down at the airport. He faces four chargeswhich he deniesincluding hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East.

Nissan sacked him as chairman, saying internal investigations revealed misconduct, including understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.

The case sparked international criticism of Japans justice system, in which 99.9 percent of people charged with crimes are convicted, and defense lawyers are prohibited from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day.

Ghosn was initially released in March on a record $9 million bail only to be arrested on related charges weeks later and then re-released on bail at the end of April.

His movement and communications have been monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence, the Tokyo District court previously said.

The terms of his bail have also been striking by Western standards. He has been prevented from communicating with his wife, Carole, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

Carole is now with him in Lebanon at a house with armed guards outside, The New York Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

House Arrest

Ghosn did not believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was tired of being an industrial political hostage, one person told The Wall Street Journal.

A person familiar with Nissans thinking told Reuters, I think he gave up fighting the prosecutors in court.

The trial was widely expected to start in April. Ghosns Japanese lawyers have fought, so far unsuccessfully, to get access to 6,000 pieces of evidence collected from Nissan, which they say is crucial to a fair trial.

Ghosn has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing former Nissan colleagues of backstabbing. He described them as selfish rivals bent on derailing closer ties between the Japanese automaker and its biggest shareholder Renault, of which Ghosn was also chairman.

His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss all charges, accusing prosecutors of colluding with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him to block any takeover by Renault.

Ghosn began his career in 1978 at tire maker Michelin. In 1996, he moved to Renault, where he oversaw a turnaround that won him the nickname Le Cost Killer.

After Renault sealed an alliance with Nissan in 1999, Ghosn used similar methods to revive the ailing brand, leading to business super-star status in Japan, blanket media coverage, and even a manga comic book on his life.

By Issam Abdallah and Tim Kelly
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:49:36|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) - The Ethiopian government on Wednesday reiterated its continued support to its neighboring country Djibouti in the Red Sea nation's fight against anti-vector disease campaign.

The statement was made by the Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, Abdulaziz Mohamed, who noted the Ethiopian government's support to Djibouti's efforts in the ongoing anti-vector-induced disease campaign.

Vector-induced viruses have surged in Djibouti, causing diseases such as Dengue and Chikungunya, following the recent heavy rains that hit the Red Sea nation, as the rains triggered flash floods and the eventual public health perils, mainly vector-induced diseases.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had recently warned over possible disease outbreaks due to the flooding that was induced by heavy rains and floods, which UNICEF estimated to have affected about 150,000 to 250,000 people in Djibouti.

According to UNICEF, unless appropriate measures applied, "flood-affected families will be exposed to morbidity and mortality due to the high risk of water- and mosquito-borne diseases."

"As part of the Ethiopian government's effort to support Djibouti's ongoing anti-vector-induced disease campaign, the government has played a key role in the efforts to bring an aerial spraying plane along with the mosquito repellent chemicals," an Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Wednesday quoted Mohamed as saying.

The anti-vector disease spray operations started on Monday where the plane flew over different parts of Djibouti's capital in order to ensure the spreading of mosquito repellent chemicals end the spread of mosquito and other vectors, according to the ministry.

Mohamed, who commended the "unreserved efforts" that had been exerted by the government of Djibouti to end the occurrence of vector-induced disease in the Red Sea nation, also stressed that the Ethiopian government "will prop up its support to strengthen the vector control campaign."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 13:14:28|Editor: Yurou

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CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese citizens were killed and four others injured in a traffic accident on a highway in Cairo Tuesday, said the Chinese Embassy in Egypt.

The accident took place around 8:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) on the highway from Maadi district, north of Egypt's capital Cairo, to the new administrative capital, east of Cairo, the embassy said in a brief release to Xinhua.

The injured, who are on a business trip to the north African country, have been discharged from hospital after treatment, it said.

The accident was caused by a flat tire of the vehicle, and the embassy has provided consular assistance for the victims instantly after the accident happened, the embassy added.
NEW HAVEN - The watchword was change Wednesday  systemic and personal, philosophical and concrete  as Mayor Justin Elicker and city officials were sworn in on the first day of the decade.

In his remarks on the occasion, Elicker called for residents and officials to come together out of their shared love for their city and recognize each others humanity to foster a future in New Haven that would benefit all residents.

Among other priorities, Elicker said his new administration would work to create safe, clean, healthy and deeply affordable housing; provide career opportunities, instead of part-time jobs; bolster education to serve all children and meet the totality of their needs; make neighborhoods safer and provide reliable municipal services.

These goals would be difficult, he said, noting that the city is in a budget crisis, and many city residents battle poverty and the trauma associated with it daily. Accomplishing them, he said, would require transparency  allowing residents to be and feel heard  and shared effort.

He credited former Mayor Toni Harp for her passion and zeal, as well as her willingness to hear and include residents who historically felt disenfranchised. He stressed the importance of that latter effort Wednesday, saying that continuing growth in New Haven needed to be shaped to benefit all residents.

He said that New Haven has been, is, and would be based on inclusiveness, and called for residents to embrace one another.

We are at a defining moment in our citys history. To address our deep challenges, we must grow as a city. Yes, in population, but more importantly, grow as a people, so we have the collective wherewithal to work together and accomplish what so many think we cant  to ensure that New Haven becomes a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive, Elicker said.

He cited the example of his family - just one among many, but an example of a shared ethos. His parents wanted him to succeed and thrive in life; he wants the same for his daughters. The same is true for residents across New Haven, he said.

We all feel that - for our families, and our families feel that for us. And I think its critical that we acknowledge, no matter what you look like, where you come from, what your economic status is, there are people that love you and you love. And we should connect as a community through our love of each other, said Elicker. Because we have the capability to do so much in this city. And I look forward to working with you - as a team - to accomplish so many challenges, and to address these challenges.

Read the inaugural speech here:

Members of the Board of Alders, Board of Education and City Clerk Michael Smart were also sworn in during the proceedings Wednesday, and other officials speaking on the occasion stressed similar themes to Elicker.

Board of Education Chairman Darnell Goldson shared his faith in city students and called for greater funding for New Haven schools in his remarks; Judge Robin Wilson called for residents to come together despite the difficulties of change; Smart noted that officials were there to serve residents.

I know that Justin and the rest of those being inaugurated today will be great leaders, making sure that we strive for a rising prosperity in every single corner of our city, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, said. We are in a new era of vibrant collaboration, of shared dreams and a united impetus for change. Let us welcome this new year, and our new mayor, with vigor and excitement, for all that we can accomplish as a city, together.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
Around 4 p.m., officers went to the 4200 block of Suitland Road in Suitland to investigate a report of a two-vehicle collision, Prince Georges police said. They found one driver  Kevin Lennon Coleman, 53, of Suitland  dead at the scene, police said.
King Harald of Norway has paid tribute to his late son-in-law in an emotional New Year's Eve speech.

The King, 82, began his annual address by paying tribute to his daughter's late ex-husband Ari Behn, who committed suicide on Christmas Day aged 47, leaving behind their three children Maud, 16, Leah, 14, and Emma, 11.

The father-of-three separated from Princess Martha Louise, 48, to whom he was married for 15 years, in 2017.

Delivering his speech sitting down, due to a viral infection, King Harald wished for 'hope' to help 'carry them into the New Year, admitting that 'life was poorer without the ones they loved'.

King Harald of Norway (seen left) has paid tribute to his late son-in-law in an emotional New Year's Eve speech. Delivering his speech sitting down, due to a viral infection, King Harald wished for 'hope' to help 'carry them into the New Year, admitting that 'life was poorer without the ones they loved'

He said: 'My wish tonight is that hope must carry us all into the new year.

'We are strongly influenced by Ari Behn's death this Christmas. It has been warm to experience people's compassion and lit candles at the Palace Square. There is comfort in all the good memories and beautiful words that have been conveyed about the father of three of our dear grandchildren.

'Sometimes life is not to endure. For some, it gets so dark that nothing helps. Not even the love of their loved ones. Some see no other way than to leave life. Those who remain must live on. Poorer  without the one they loved.'

Talking about the future, he continued: 'We know so little about what is to come. The uncertainty makes us all vulnerable. The best thing we can do is be there for each other, see each other, remember to give each other the good words. And carry each other if needed.

The King, 82, began his annual address by paying tribute to his daughter's Princess Martha (seen left in 2015) late ex-husband Ari Behn, (seen right) who committed suicide on Christmas Day aged 47, leaving behind their three children Maud, 16, Leah, 14, and Emma, 11

'My thoughts tonight are especially with all those who go out of the old year with a sad void of someone they were happy with.'

Concluding, he said: 'We stand today on a foundation of all that we have built together  and that we must protect. For peace is fragile. Confidence is fragile. And life is fragile. We are constantly reminded of that.'

'A society with the freedom to be different must build on the equal value of all people.

He finished the speech wishing everyone 'hope of a good life for all.'

Ari killed himself just a year after admitting he felt like a 'clown' following the divorce from the Norwegian royal.

Princess Martha Louise of Norway was married to Ari for 15 years before the pair separated in 2017

His funeral is said to be scheduled for January 3 at 1 pm in Oslo's cathedral, with services to be conducted by the bishop of Oslo, Kari Veiteberg, according to People magazine.

Ari and Martha Louise's first daughter, Maud Angelica, was born in 2003, their second daughter Leah Isadora in 2005, and their third daughter, Emma Tallulah, in 2008.

He separated from the fourth in line to the Norwegian throne in 2017, after the pair said they had 'grown apart'.
Foro TV

At least 16 inmates were killed in a central Mexico prison and five others wounded after a bloody two-and-a-half hour riot.

Four guns  believed to have been smuggled in during prison visits on Tuesday, where found at the scene of the violent melee at the Cienguillas state prison in the north-central Zacatecas region.

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernandez told local press the prison had since been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday and no additional guns were found.

The violence broke out around 2:30pm on Tuesday  with the site brought under control by 5pm according to a statement from the state security agency.

However, the time was more than enough for multiple killings. Fifteen of the victims died at the prison and one died later at a hospital.

One prisoner was detained with a gun still in his possession, while the other three were found inside the prison, the statement said.

Mr Camberos said not all of the victims died from gunshot wounds. Some were stabbed and others beaten with objects.

No guards or police were wounded, he added.

2019 marked one of the bloodiest years in Mexicos recent history, with more than 17,000 people killed in the first half of the year  a figure that does not include drive by shootings, kidnappings, extortion and other serious crimes.

Meanwhile, 127 people died on 1 December alone according to government figures  with many the result of stand offs with drug cartels.

Read more

Police chief arrested over suspected links to Mormon massacre
Its proper to note that more than 200 of the worlds wealthiest individuals and families have signed on to the Giving Pledge created by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, a commitment to donate a majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

Whether such charity solves the social and economic problems of extreme wealth concentration is debatable, however, since the choice of how to distribute their wealth would remain in the hands of a small number of wealthy persons and underscores the issues raised by how their wealth became so concentrated in the first place.

Skepticism about the extreme wealth disparity isnt a new phenomenon. Given the passage of time, and social and economic evolution, its difficult to pin down how the wealth inequality that has developed in this country compared to that of bygone eras and distant climes. But in 1929, according to historian William E. Leuchtenburg, 36,000 families  the top 0.1% of that era  received as much income as the bottom 12 million households, or 42%.

Critics of the wealth tax proposals argue it would be difficult, even impossible, to fairly value private assets outside established markets, such as fine art and private companies, and that it would prompt widespread asset concealment by billionaires intent on evasion.
NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Electric Mobility Market size is expected to reach $478.9 billion by 2025, rising at a market growth of 24.7% CAGR during the forecast period. Electric mobility, or E-Mobility, or Electro Mobility increasingly accounts for a large share of the global automotive industry and is changing the way the end-user comprehends mobility as a concept. Worldwide governments are taking action to encourage the introduction of electric vehicles (EV) to meet climate change, dependence on oil, local air quality and the growth of industry. Policymakers around the globe are taking steps. Government initiatives to reduce global carbon footprint by minimizing conventional fuel consumption, reducing the cost of environmentally friendly and high-capacity batteries, and rising consumer preference for shared mobility are projected to drive the market during the forecast period.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05832282/?utm_source=PRN

Concerns about the ever-increasing greenhouse gas and carbon footprint of the automobile and transportation industries urge regulatory bodies at the global and state levels to introduce policies that promote the adoption of energy-efficient vehicles. In addition, the growing implementation of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and the steadily declining costs of high-capacity Li-Ion batteries, which in turn reduces total vehicle costs, are also promoting the adoption of electric vehicle (EV). An economic, technological, and social transformation is taking place in the automotive industry. This is driven primarily by increased awareness of the reduced operational and maintenance costs of EVs, combined with their ability to reduce harmful emissions contributing to global warming. Over the coming years, these favorable trends are likely to work well for the electric vehicles market, driving the electric mobility or e-mobility market.



Based on Battery Type, the market is segmented into Li-ion, NiMH and Sealed Lead Acid. The segment of Li-ion dominated in 2018, recording a substantial share of the market. Throughout the forecast period, the segment is projected to witness the prominent growth rate. Due to economies of production scale and technological developments, the cost of Li-ion battery packs for EVs has declined over the past years and is predicted to further lower by 2030. The segment of nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) is expected to see significant growth as consumers demand high performance and batteries that are more environmentally friendly. Based on Voltage, the market is segmented into 24V, Greater than 48V, 48V, 36V and Others. Based on Product Type, the market is segmented into Electric Car, Electric Scooter & Motorcycle, Electric Bicycle, Electric Skateboard and Others. Based on Regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa.



The major strategies followed by the market participants are Product launches and Partnerships & Collaborations. Based on the Analysis presented in the Cardinal matrix, BMW Group, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., General Motors Co., Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corporation are some of the forerunners in the Electric Mobility Market. The market research report covers the analysis of key stake holders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include Ford Motors Co. Ltd., Volvo Group, BMW Group, General Motors Co., Volkswagen AG, BYD Company Ltd., Tesla, Inc., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company.



Recent strategies deployed in Electric Mobility Market



Collaborations, Partnerships, and Agreements:



Nov-2019: BYD signed an agreement with Toyota in which both the companies will research and develop the battery electric vehicles and its related parts.



Oct-2019: Ford Motors India, a Ford Motors Company announced a joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra in which M&M will develop and market Ford brand vehicles in India and it will market both Mahindra brand and Ford brand in high-growth emerging markets. Under this JV, Ford will hold 49% stake and M&M will hold 51% stake. Also, Ford will transfer its assembly plants in Chennai and Sanand. Ford will retain its Global Business services unit, Ford Credit Ford Smart Mobility, and Ford Engine plant operations.



Oct-2019: Toyota Motor teamed up with Suzuki Motor in order to launch battery electric vehicle in India. As Toyota is a big leader in Japan and Suzuki is a leader in India; so making team with Suzuki would be helpful for Toyota as it can explore the market and expand its share.



Sep-2019: Nissan partnered with EDF Group in order to enhance the delivery of electric mobility together in Europe. Under this partnership, Nissan will be responsible for the sale of V2G compatible electric vehicles and EDF Group is responsible for the delivery of charging solutions for the V2G vehicles.



Sep-2019: Hyundai signed an agreement with Aptiv in which they will form a joint venture for autonomous driving. This JV comprises of 50-50 percent ownership of both the companies.



Jul-2019: Volkswagen and Autodesk collaborated in order to develop designs for electric vehicles. Through this collaboration, Volkswagen aimed at collecting the fresh and innovative ideas for designing a cool show car.



Jun-2019: Ford Motors has introduced third-generation self-driving test vehicle with Argo AI for providing safety through variety of conditions in Motor cities. Through this, these companies are testing that how this vehicle operates in different environments. Each car will be deployed with safety driver behind the wheel and a co-pilot in the front of passenger seat to monitor the performance of vehicle.



Jun-2019: BMW teamed up with JLR (Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover) for developing the next-generation electric drive units. These units support the overarching technology advancements of both the companies to connected, autonomous, electric and shared mobility solutions.



Jun-2019: Toyota signed partnership agreement with Subaru in order to develop battery electric vehicle platform. Under this partnership, both the companies will apply Subaru's all-wheel-drive technologies and Toyota's vehicle electrification technologies in the development of electric vehicles.



Jun-2019: Nissan teamed up with Renault for establishing a new Innovation Lab at Tel Aviv. This lab is focused towards the development of sensors for use in autonomous driving, big data, and cybersecurity solutions.



May-2019: BYD signed partnership agreement with ENSA Servicios and TRASERVI in order to release the first pure electric taxi fleet in Central America and Panama for promoting electric mobility. Together, these three companies established a first rapid electric charging station for these taxis.



May-2019: Hyundai came into partnership with Rimac Automobili for strengthening its group efforts that help in leading the high-performance electrified vehicle market.



Apr-2019: Ford Motors and Rivian signed partnership agreement in which both the companies will work together for developing the all new, next-generation battery electric vehicle for Ford with the help of Rivian's stakeboard platform.



Mar-2019: Volkswagen came into partnership with e.GO Mobile for developing the production platform for electric vehicles. Under this partnership, e.Go will use the Volkswagen platform for electric cars, Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB), for bringing the e-vehicles to the market, which complements the Volkswagen model offering.



Feb-2019: Honda came into partnership with Toyota and Suzuki in order to launch electric cars in India by the end of 2021. All these companies would work together for the development of hybrid vehicles in Indian Subcontinent.



Jan-2019: Honda extended its partnership with Zipcar for the development of next generation autonomous vehicles. This partnership is aimed at adding hundreds of new Honda vehicle to Zipcar's diverse fleet focusing on supporting the Zipcar's university program.



Jan-2019: Ford Motors came into partnership with Volkswagen AG for the development of electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and mobility services. Under this partnership, Ford will use the electric vehicle platform of Volkswagen for developing zero-emission cars for the European Market by the end of year 2023.



Acquisition and Mergers:



May-2019: Tesla acquired Maxwell Technologies, a battery technology company, which are to be used in the production of electric vehicle.



Product Launches:



Oct-2019: Volvo introduced XC40 Recharge, its first fully electric car based on its compact SUV XC40. This electric car delivers a range of 400 km on a single charge and output of 408hp. The battery charges to 80% of its capacity in 40 minutes on a fast-charger system.



Oct-2019: Nissan launched Ariya Concept, a crossover Electric vehicle, which has the features of power acceleration, twin electric motors, and driver assistance technology. This car is aimed at delivering adaptive and seamless travel experiences.



Jun-2019: BMW Motorrad launched BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster, a naked streetfighter with an all-electric powertrain, which helps in retaining the appearance of a boxer in a setup. This setup replaces the engine with a longitudinally oriented and vertically fitted battery.



May-2019: BYD launched fleet of 12 BYD K9 pure electric buses in order to improve the quality of local transport facility.



May-2019: Hyundai introduced an electric double-decker bus, aimed at reducing the traffic congestion and air pollution. This bus has passenger capacity of 70 passengers, two fixed-in-space wheelchairs, low floor design, and automatic sliding ramp.



Apr-2019: BYD launched World's longest 27-m pure electric bus in order to fulfill the demand of different terrains. This bus has a passenger capacity of about 250 people and can travel at the speed of 70 km/h maximum. The bus is equipped with 4WD system, which can switch between 2WD and 4WD and lowers the overall energy consumption of vehicle.



Mar-2019: Tesla introduced Model Y, a crossover SUV, an electric car in order to strengthen the electric vehicle business. This Model Y is 10% bigger than the Model 3 and has the features of a panoramic glass roof. The model also has 66 cubic feet of cargo space.



Feb-2019: General Motors Co. released AR?V, a new eBike brand, which comprises of two integrated, innovative, and connected eBikes: the Meld, a compact eBike, and the Merge, a folding eBike. These bikes can connect with ARIV app through bluetooth that displays battery level, distance travelled, speed, distance, and motor assist level on the phone screen of riders.



Jan-2019: BYD released world's largest pure electric double-decker bus fleet for expanding its business in China with the aim to enhance green and low-carbon mobility. The height of the upper deck is 1.7 meters; in which walking becomes comfortable and convenient and lower deck is 1.9 meter high, which provides sufficient space for standing. This bus has the functionality of fitted wheelchair area and boarding/debarkation ramps, which offers maximum accessibility to passengers.



Jan-2019: Toyota Kirloskar Motor, a Toyota Company launched new Camry Hybrid electric car in India with advanced and unique features in order to redefine the luxury sedan experience with its styling, dynamic performance, luxurious & comfortable interiors.



Expansions:



Apr-2019: Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., a Honda Company expanded its reach to Hubei, China by opening a new auto plant for the production of autonomous vehicles. This plant has the production capacity of approximately 120,000 units/year and it responds flexibly to the advancement of products comprises of acceleration of electrification. Moreover, this plant will accommodate production of electrified models.



Mar-2019: Ford Motors expanded its reach to Michigan by establishing second plant for the production of next-generation battery electric vehicles (BEV). This investment is focused towards the building of next-generation Mustang and the vehicles which would be produced from this facility will follow the all-electric performance SUV that are coming in 2020 from Ford's Mexico plant.



Feb-2019: Honda has announced expansion to Itirapina in the state of Sao Paulo to open a new production plant in Brazil focusing on automobiles. This production facility has the capacity of approximately 1, 20,000 units/year and equipped with a production line that is equipped with Honda's latest production technologies. These technologies comprise of highly-functional painting technologies, new welding and stamping technologies, which enable shorter processes and other automated technologies that are most appropriate for this plant.



Nov-2018: Bangladesh Honda Private Ltd (BHL), a Honda Company opened a new motorcycle factory in Bangladesh in order to meet customer demands. BHL will invest in this factory for the expansion of its production capacity by 2021.



Scope of the Study



Market Segmentation:



By Battery Type



 Li-ion



 NiMH



 Sealed Lead Acid



By Voltage



 24V



 Greater than 48V



 48V



 36V



 Others



By Product Type



 Electric Car



 Electric Scooter & Motorcycle



 Electric Bicycle



 Electric Skateboard



 Others



By Geography



 North America



o US



o Canada



o Mexico



o Rest of North America



 Europe



o Germany



o UK



o France



o Russia



o Norway



o Netherlands



o Rest of Europe



 Asia Pacific



o China



o Japan



o India



o South Korea



o Singapore



o Taiwan



o Rest of Asia Pacific



 LAMEA



o Brazil



o Argentina



o UAE



o Saudi Arabia



o South Africa



o Nigeria



o Rest of LAMEA



Companies Profiled



 Ford Motors Co. Ltd.



 Volvo Group



 BMW Group



 General Motors Co.



 Volkswagen AG



 BYD Company Ltd.



 Tesla, Inc.



 Honda Motor Co. Ltd.



 Toyota Motor Corporation



 Nissan Motor Corporation



 Hyundai Motor Company



Unique Offerings from KBV Research



 Exhaustive coverage



 Highest number of market tables and figures



 Subscription based model available



 Guaranteed best price



 Assured post sales research support with 10% customization free



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PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-01 05:10:03

DUBLIN, Ireland, Jan. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As 2019 drew to a close, crowds gathered along the River Liffey quays in Dublin for a choreographed light show in time to original music as part of the citys New Years Festival Countdown Concert.

Dublins dynamic New Years Festival burst into life early on 31 December and will keep up the momentum until the closing hours of 1 January, ensuring that 2020 is well and truly welcomed.

Revellers of every age joined in the fun at the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment Matinee, an early countdown event, which began around 6pm and featured a laser light and aqua beam display.

Bringing the Old Year to a close, the Countdown Concert at historic Custom House on 31 December saw top music acts perform blistering sets that had thousands of people dancing in the streets. Country star Lisa McHugh and Irelands newest pop artist, Aimee, joined rock veterans Ash and platinum-selling Walking on Cars, who headlined the festivals highlight event.

And as 2019 drew to a close, crowds gathered along the quays for the fabulous Liffey Lights Midnight Moment. The dazzling choreographed light show saw a symphony of laser and aqua beams dance across the sky in time to original music created especially for the countdown event, performed by a 20 piece orchestra on a floating stage on the river Liffey.

www.ireland.com

A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9fb97b9c-ce47-4377-a2ed-b9071aa3fd8b

Presentation link for sharing all media files: https://f.io/sOfBcjJr
Pentagon Deploys More Troops to Middle East Following Embassy Attack

The United States will be deploying additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days, following an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, defense officials confirmed.

After violent protesters, including members of various Iran-backed groups, gathered outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in response to defensive U.S. air strikes on Iraq over the weekend, the Pentagon said that an additional 750 soldiers from the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division alert brigade were being rapidly deployed to Kuwait. This is in addition to the Marines who are already on location protecting embassy personnel.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement.

Preparations are being made to deploy additional troops over the next several days, it added.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed, according to Fox News. The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify this.

The alert brigade which has been told to prepare for deployment is known as the DRBthe Deployment Ready Brigadeand is made up of about 4,000 paratroopers, Fox News reported. The unnamed officials told the outlet that the brigade had a 96-hour alert window to be dispatched to the region.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Iraq supporting local forces, along with their coalition partners. Since May, about 14,000 additional U.S. troops have been deployed to the region amid increased tensions with Iran, according to the Pentagon.

Esper said he authorized the deployment of troops at President Donald Trumps direction and in response to recent events in Iraq.

At the direction of the Commander in Chief @POTUS, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the @82ndABNDiv to the @CENTCOM area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq.  Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) January 1, 2020

US Embassy Attack

Embassy protesters, including supporters of an Iran-backed terrorist group, breached the outer walls of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Dec. 31, prompting the deployment of around 100 Marines, part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task ForceCrisis ResponseCentral Command from Kuwait.

Their arrival came after hundreds breached the outer wall, threatening the lives of Americans inside.

None of the terrorists or protesters breached the embassy itself, the State Department said.

Some Iraqi security forces, which include members of the militia, were keeping the groups at bay, but only after the protest turned violent as the crowd hurled stones at buildings and chanted, Death to America.

A contingent of Marines was inside the embassy awaiting reinforcements and two Apache helicopters were flown overhead as a show of force.

Early reports said the U.S. embassy was being evacuated but the State Department later said all U.S. personnel at the embassy were safe and that there were no plans to evacuate.

The groups who breached the embassy were ostensibly angry after the U.S. conducted defensive strikes, on the headquarters of the militia and terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria. The Dec. 29 defensive strikes were approved by Trump in response to the death of a U.S. defense civilian contractor who was killed in a rocket attack on a northern Iraqi military base following weeks of similar life-threatening attacks on bases with U.S. personnel.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified! Trump said in a statement on Dec. 31.

To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time! Trump wrote.

Reuters and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Update: Louise Epolito, 84, the subject of this story, passed away Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. You can read her obituary here.

At the 2018 recital of Louise Epolitos Academy of Dance in Lyncourt, the founder and her performers wore T-shirts emblazoned with 1955  2018 on the front. When they turned around, the audience read End Of The Road on each shirt. The message was intended to close out a 63-year tradition of dance instruction and performance for Epolito. The studio was closing.

Now, the custom-made design has taken on a different significance. Epolito is living her final days in hospice care at Francis House and her daughter, Mona Shattell, says while its true the Syracuse native is at the end of the road, she is also at the apex of her career.

A dance instructor all her life, Epolito is now teaching her most important lesson. She is showing those who keep vigilrelatives, friends, former pupils and their parentshow to die.

To honor Epolito, dozens of her former students have changed their Facebook profiles to their old recital photos; they send cards, and they visit.

One of those bedside visitors is Leslie Wisinski Sadhu, who traveled from California in November to bask in the wisdom of her beloved mentor one more time. She was 4 when she began lessons with Epolito and studied with her through her teen years.

The lessons I learned from Louise werent just in dance, Sadhu says. They were in life. The greatest thing she gave me was confidence in myself. Sadhu became an assistant instructor, then a teacher at the school. If I hesitated at any point, Louise simply said, Oh, you can do that, and I thought okay, I can do stuff.

Sadhu, a Syracuse University theater graduate, says Epolito opened her eyes to the rich cultures of the world that were accessible through the study of dance. Shed teach us the rhumba, the tango, the Scottish Sword Dance, and soon wed be working out the costumes and talking about the food of the region and the customs of the people.

Shattell, who is associate dean of Faculty Development at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, describes her mother as a trailblazer, an early feminist and strong role model for her as she grew up as well as for students. A single parent, Epolito saved money from her first years of teaching and invested in a home on Court street where she and her daughter lived upstairs while she ran a studio on the first floor.

There, she taught everything from ballet to belly dance and baton twirling. She delivered belly grams around town during that craze, and she organized and hosted, with her Lyncourt Twirlettes, the only national baton twirling competition to be held in Syracuse.

Her daughter recalls her mother being active in the local arts community, serving as secretary for Syracuse Federation of Women, acting as a docent at the Everson Museum of Art, and becoming a charter member of the National Association of Dancers Affiliated Artists.

My mother is interested in every aspect of the community, and more than anything, she loves people, Shattell said. One indication of that love was her habit of building a schedule that allocated an hour for every half hour lesson so shed have time to talk to people without rushing them out. She is always present for others, living in the moment.

That hasnt changed, says Shattell. Since being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, Epolito has embraced every challenge of the disease with courage and continued to live fully. Shattell says even in end-of-life care, her mother continues to encourage others.

Shes still enjoying the adventure; shes still present for every moment, still teaching, Shattell said. My mother is still full of grace.

Back in her Napa Valley home on New Years Eve 2019, former student Sadhu reflected on her November visit with Epolito. Her Catholic faith was sustaining her and she talked about being on her way out, facing her final bow. She was looking forward to being reunited with those she loved. It was all beautifully spiritual.

Sadhu said her teacher-mentor-friend was vibrant as she talked about nearing the end, as excited about the final curtain as she had been for all the other experiences in life.

During one of our emotional visits, Louise told me she was eager for the next step," Sadhu said. "As she held my hand, she said, Please. Please be happy for me.

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Stuff have made their annual 2020 predictions. They are:

1. The election is held in September  likely the latter half of the month.

2. Simon Bridges will rule out working with Winston Peters early in the year, much as John Key did in 2008. The personal animosity between the pair will only increase.

3. Personal cannabis use is not legalised, after the Yes camp narrowly loses the referendum campaign. Scaremongering about kids and young adults smoking cannabis reaches a fever-pitch while the yes campaign cant quite decide if it is making cannabis use safer by regulating it, or if cannabis is actually not so unhealthy after all.

4. Euthanasia, on the other hand, wins its referendum, meaning David Seymours quest to legalise assisted dying will finally succeed  five years after he started it.

5. Speaking of David Seymour, we think he will get enough of the party vote at the 2020 election to bring in another MP, the first time ACT would have done this since 2011.

6. Banking becomes an election issue, as the big four look for ways to pass on the cost of the Reserve Banks capital changes. NZ First tries to get a Commerce Commission market study into banks but is overruled by Labour and the Greens who opt to look into supermarkets or building materials instead.

7. Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford do not get married over the summer. While an election-year wedding is possible, we think it is very unlikely  and definitely not going to happen this summer, when many had expected it would.

8. Judith Collins releases her memoir. New Zealand relives the 2014 campaign. John Key and Nicky Hager are both criticised heavily. There is also some not-so-subtle pitching for the leadership.

9. The Botany electorate race gets fairly ugly as Jami-Lee Ross attempts to keep his career alive by any means necessary. Political blogs are somewhat involved. But Chris Luxon will win comfortably.

10. Labour retains control of all seven Maori seats, despite a spirited resurgence campaign by the Maori Party. If John Tamihere decides to enter the fray this could be upturned.

11. Joe Biden is the Democratic nominee for US President after Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both get enough of the vote to stay in it, splitting the left vote.

12. Facebook misinformation is a big discussion point during the 2020 New Zealand election. National refuses to sign up to the toothless tool Facebook has provided to make the spending on Facebook more transparent. There are some mini-scandals over perceived inaccuracies in ads.

13. Labour changes the tax brackets in a way that delivers a tax cut for lower earners but not much of one for richer people. National offers a larger tax cut.

14. The predicted deficit will evaporate, as the Government continues to find it hard to actually spend all the money it wants to spend thanks to capacity constraints.

15. The Green Party realises the capital gains tax is too complicated and announces support for a very tough wealth tax. This policy is pursued heavily and causes some trouble for Labour.

16. Labour will re-announce some of Nationals Roads of National Significance that it will be pursuing but will call them something else. (We dont think KiwiRoads, quite.) Meanwhile the role and performance of NZTA will come under some serious scrutiny from the Government.

17. Dental will be a big election year issue, with parties competing to offer something strong. But neither National nor Labour will actually offer the big kahuna of free dental care for adults.

18. NZ First will kill off Andrew Littles attempts to beef up hate speech laws, citing free speech concerns.

19. The Government will get more hawkish on China, particularly with regards to its role in the Pacific, as pressure from Canberra and Washington build. The trading relationship will not be harmed seriously, however.

20. Winston Peters will again hold the balance of power after the next election, after scraping into Parliament.
It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference
Balasaheb Thorat dismissed rumours of unrest in the Congress over allocation of portfolios. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said party MLA Sangram Thopte, who was miffed at not getting a ministerial berth, has been pacified and assured that he will get his due. Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the Congress over allocation of portfolios. I spoke to Sangram Thopte last night. The Congress is a family and he will get his due, he said.

Since we are part of a three-party government, we got less ministerial berths, the Congress leader said. Some supporters of Thopte, who is the Congress MLA from Bhor, on Tuesday attacked the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the state ministry.

The police late Tuesday night arrested 19 supporters of Thopte and later released them on bail.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the party over portfolio allocation.

Discussions are on and the allocation of portfolios is expected today, he said.

Interestingly, former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan, and three-time MLA and daughter of former union minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Praniti Shinde, have been dropped from the cabinet expansion in the state.

Earlier, Mallikarjun Kharge had said that portfolio allocation would be discussed in a meeting between Congress Legislative Party leader and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43.

Following the expansion, the NCP now has 12 Cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, the Shiv Sena has 10 Cabinet ministers and four MoS, while the Congress has 10 Cabinet ministers and two MoS in the Thackeray-led government.

The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.

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Howard Hughes Corp. said Monday that it has bought both the former Anadarko Petroleum headquarters in The Woodlands and the old ConocoPhillips campus in the Energy Corridor from Occidental Petroleum for $565 million.

Oxy will remain in the old Anadarko towers  recently renamed The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway  with a 13-year lease of 100 percent of the larger tower at 1201 Lake Robbins Drive and 100 percent of a 125,000-square-foot warehouse nearby. The Howard Hughes Corp. will relocate its corporate headquarters from Dallas into the second tower at 9950 Woodloch Forest Drive.

Before Occidental became a bidder for Anadarko this spring, Oxy planned to move into the old ConocoPhillips campus along the Energy Corridor. But after Oxy acquired Anadarko for $38 billion, the campus could no longer accommodate their combined staff. Instead, Oxy maintained its headquarters at Greenway Plaza in Houston and continued use of the old Anadarko towers as it decided what to with its excess real estate.

The sale helps offset some of the nearly $40 billion debt Oxy assumed to acquire Anadarko in the biggest energy sector transaction of three years.

The sale of office complexes in the Houston Energy Corridor and The Woodlands is part of our plan to divest non-core assets and continue to improve the strength of our balance sheet, said Vicki Hollub, chief executive of Oxy, in a release.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Howard Hughes Corp. to move headquarters amid restructuring

While the Howard Hughes Corp. agreed to purchase the old ConocoPhillips campus, it said it will immediately list it for resale. It said the 63-acre, 1.3-million-square-foot campus, which encompasses 17 office buildings, does not fall in line with its core business of master-planned communities.

The company said it agreed to buy the former ConocoPhillips campus as a way to help its offer for The Woodlands towers stand out from those of other potential buyers. It added that it would consider selling the campus in one piece or in parts.

Howard Hughes Corp. is the developer behind The Woodlands, and the deal not only secured it a long-term tenant in the heart of its master-planned community  it also acquired 9.3 acres of land ripe for development in The Woodlands Town Center along the waterway and I-45 N.

Paul Layne, chief executive of Howard Hughes Corp., said in a statement that the deal would allow the company to respond to the growing need for premium office space as companies are looking to relocate and expand within The Woodlands.

The company declined to specify how many employees will move from Dallas to its new headquarters in The Woodlands, but said it will not take up all of the office space at 9950 Woodloch Forest Drive. It will offer the remaining high-end office space in the building for lease, Layne said.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

The Howard Hughes Corp. announced earlier this year it planned to focus on growing its master-planned communities across the country. As part of that plan, the company said it would reduce overhead expenses by as much as $50 million per year and sell some $2 billion worth of properties in order to repurchase shares.

Howard Hughes Corp.s stock rose about 1 percent Monday to close at $126.61 a share. Howard Hughes Corp. announced the real estate deal with Occidental after stock markets closed.

Includes previous reporting by Jordan Blum and Nancy Sarnoff

rebecca.schuetz@chron.com;

twitter.com/raschuetz
An alleged overground worker of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was arrested on Wednesday from Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Rayees Ahmad Lone (22), a resident of Gund, traded in mobile SIM cards, a police spokesperson said, adding that he registered multiple cards for LeT terrorists operating in the district.

"During investigation, the overground worker was found affiliated with the LeT. SIM cards have been issued based upon concocted evidence and the accused had also extended support to the Pakistani militant who was killed in an encounter at Kullan village on November 12," the spokesman said.

He said Lone was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and further investigation was on to ascertain the involvement of other persons.

Earlier, Farooq Ahmad Sheikh of Kullan was arrested for allegedly providing refuge to militants, the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Submitted by Bill Tawater

On Dec. 17, at a ceremony at the Wahkiakum High School gym, Veterans of Foreign Wars Wahkiakum Post 5297 presented a certificate and $250 cash award for first place to Voice of Democracy winner Colton Vik.

Colton also won third place in District 16 and awarded a certificate and a cash award of $75. On Dec. 20, at a ceremony at the Thomas Middle School gym, certificates and cash awards were presented to winners of the Patriots Pen and Youth Essay contests. The winners were Youth Essay: Third grade: first place, Konner Reese - $100;

Fourth grade: first place, Josh Moon - $100; second place, Joseph Merz - $50; third place, Payton Mendez - $50;

Fifth grade: first place, Hank Wilson - $100; second place, Tucker Kangas - $50; third place, Abigail McKay-Beach - $50; Patriot's Pen;

Seventh grade: first place, Montana Stephens - $100; second place, Phillip Goldinov - $75; third place, Tanner Russel - $50;

Eighth grade: first place, Svetlana Goldinov - $100; second place, Lillian Hale - $75; third place, Alli LaRand Grangroth - $50.

Also, District 16 essay winners were presented with certificates and cash awards. The winners are:

Patriot's Pen, eighth grade, third place, Lillian Hale - $50;

Youth Essay: third grade, first place, Konner Reese -$50; fourth grade, first place, Josh Moon - $50; fifth grade, first place, Hank Wilson - $50; 5th grade, second place, Tucker Kangas - $35.

A total of $1,200 was awarded from Post 5297. $310 was awarded from District 16. Forty Youth essays, 46 Patriots Pen essays, and one Voice of Democracy essay were submitted and evaluated.

District 16 Commander Danny Eaton, Post 5297 Commander Bill Tawater, and Post 5297 Essay Chairman Bob Roche presented certificates and cash awards to the winners at both ceremonies, attended by students, school staff and parents.

Working alongside America's youth and instilling a sense of patriotism has always been a VFW priority. Each year local VFW posts hold three essay competitions, the Voice of Democracy for grade 9-12, the Patriots Pen for grades 6-8, and the Youth Essay for grades 3-5.

Courtesy of McKenna Mendez Left to right, Bob Roche, essay contest winner Colton Vik, Danny Eaton, Bill Tawater.

Students write essays based on given patriotic themes and the essays are evaluated by the local post. Winners of the essay competition are recognized with certificates and cash awards. First and second place Youth Essay winners compete up to the District 16 level. Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy winners compete up through District 16 and State levels and if successful, to the National level.

In the Patriot's Pen, each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and national first-place winner wins $5000 and an all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. In the Voice of Democracy, the first-place winner from each state winner wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient's American university, college or vocational/technical school.
Former Wallaby Al Baxter was forced to flee with his young family and take shelter on the beach as fires ravaged their Batemans Bay holiday home.

The rugby union star, 42, had been seeking shelter alongside 1,000 terrified holidaymakers at a local surf club in Malua Bay when it became 'smashed by embers'.

Alongside his wife Jenny and three sons, they fled to the beach where they became penned in by a terrifying ring of fire for nearly 24 hours.

'We heard what sounded like the rumble of a waterfall and it got really dark,' the sport star told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Wallaby star Al Baxter (pictured in 2011 with two of his sons) was forced to spend the night on the beach at Malua Bay with 1,000 people after fleeing their holiday home

Al Baxter (pictured with his wife Jenny) fled his Batemans Bay holiday home after it succumbed to the bushfires

'Strange orangey-brown loose embers were falling out of the sky and we started seeing spot fires.

'There were about 1,000 people there and we went down to the beach and there were horses and dogs and budgies and chickens.'

The beach at Malua Bay, popular with locals and tourists alike, proved the only safe haven as headland on both ends went up in flames.

After a desperate day on the beach, the family slept on the floor of a nearby holiday apartment before being allowed to escape by road the next morning.

When they finally reached the holiday home in nearby Rosedale, it had been burned to the ground.

Around 1,000 people were forced to sit and wait for nearly 24 hours on Malua Beach (pictured) after the Clyde Mountain fire reached Batemans Bay on New Year's Eve

An unknown mother and daughter (pictured) were among hundreds of people forced to sleep on the beach at Malua Bay on New Year's Eve after fleeing the Batemans Bay fire

The former Wallaby star (pictured) said the headlands surrounding Malua Bay beach 'burst into flame' as 1,000 people desperately sought shelter on it

'Everyone was on the beach, just covered in ash and smoke,' the former Wallaby, told Guardian Australia.

'Suddenly we turned around and the headland to the south burst into flame as well and it was a very large fire that had started there.'

The Clyde Mountain fire ravaging the area is burning out of control and now spreads across an incredible 68,000 hectares, after tearing through forest to reach Batemans Bay.

Emergency warnings reached the area around 6am on New Year's Eve, with residents in coastal communities south of Batemans Bay herded into the nearby Batemans Bay Surf Live Saving Club.

This included the towns of Surf Beach, Lilli Pilli, Malua Bay, Rosedale and Guerilla Bay.

But just a few hours later, the surf club was deemed unsafe and the frightened families were taken to the beach.

To add to the terror, phone lines went down on Tuesday morning, forcing desperate family members to issue desperate pleas for information on Facebook.

A satellite image (pictured) shows the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread

The beach became the only safe place after fires burned down homes at Malua Bay (pictured)

Seven people died in NSW alone on New Year's Eve as bushfires ravaged the state, while another person died in Victoria.

Power was restored to 11,000 homes on the NSW south coast on Wednesday but more than 30,000 people are still without electricity or internet.

There are still more than 100 bushfires burning in the state across 3.6 million hectares, an area bigger than the size of Belgium.

With a few key roads now open, people are desperately queueing in heavy traffic to escape Batemans Bay.

A major operation to move people stranded in fire-ravaged seaside towns was under way on Thursday morning after fires devastated the region.

Police talk with locals (pictured) during a major evacuation at Malua Bay over the new year
Deeply impressed by Chinese peacekeepers in Africa

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online

Editor: Li Jiayao

2019-12-31 14:55:16

By He Xing

Over the past more than 10 years, I have participated in 3 UN peacekeeping missions, namely, the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). In the process, I experienced many difficulties and dangers in peacekeeping operations and witnessed many unforgettable moments of Chinese peacekeepers.

In 2014, due to the outdated equipment of a certain country's peacekeeping helicopter unit, safety accidents occurred from time to time. For this reason, the unit was dismissed by the UN. The UNAMID urgently needed a new peacekeeping helicopter unit. Although several countries had expressed their willingness to deploy such a troop in Darfur, the Sudanese government refused them all for security concern. The lack of helicopters resulted in a near-paralysis of air operations and significant constrains on military operations, which the UNAMID was unable to afford.

In September 2015, when addressing a summit on UN peacekeeping, Chinese President Xi Jinping declared that China would deploy its first helicopter unit for UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. The news became the headline of the day in the UNAMID.

Soon, this China's first peacekeeping helicopter unit was really deployed in Darfur. The Sudanese government embraced for this decision and said it believes in Chinese government's motivation for peace in Darfur. It is understandable that the Sudanese government takes a particularly meticulous stance on the deployment of peacekeeping helicopter unit. In this circumstance, the trust it has shown for China seems to be more precious.

In the morning briefing when the news was declared in UNAMID, the commander on duty called the Chinese military "a force that truly defends peace" and expressed hope for early deployment of China's helicopter unit. His words sparked thunderous applause. As the only Chinese witnessing the moment, I was greeted with admiration and compliment in other attendees' eyes, which I know were not for me, but for the Chinese army and my great motherland.

In 2018, I was appointed the sector commander of the UNMISS. Soon after I took office, Chinese peacekeepers were put under the spotlight abruptly for their efforts in South Sudan, which also made a Chinese saying go popular.

After years of civil wars, many homeless refugees in South Sudan gathered in more than 20 refugee camps, big and small, where they subsisted on living reliefs and safety guarantee provided by the UN. Although the local security environment has improved, few refugees were willing to leave those camps, resulting in an increasing number of inhabitants.

In response, Chinese peacekeepers used their domestic experience and creatively launched a "military-civilian cooperation program" that offered free work skills training for youth in refugee camps, such as home appliance repair and simple mechanical maintenance. With such skills, those young people could find stable jobs in cities and would move out of refugee camps and even could take their families away.

Previously, the UNMISS took a lot of measures to encourage refugees to live on their own, but earned very few results. However, the program launched by Chinese peacekeepers has been proven very successful. It has also inspired peacekeeping forces from other countries to work more effectively in helping refugees restore normal life.

At a high-level meeting of the UNMISS, I explained the reasons behind the effective approach taken by Chinese peacekeepers. "As a Chinese saying goes, 'Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.' As young people grasp the skills to make a living, they will put down their weapons and devote themselves to production."

This idea was highly acclaimed by attendees. After the meeting, many colleagues told me that this seemingly simple proverb contains rich Chinese wisdom, which should be the goal upheld by UN peacekeeping missions.

The proverb "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime" quickly spread from mouth to mouth, becoming a buzz phrase. Then, the approach of Chinese peacekeepers were further spread, helping the UNMISS win understanding and support from the government and public of South Sudan. Ancient Chinese wisdom and the development concept of contemporary China are implemented in the hinterland of Africa, and have won widespread recognition for their fruitful results. Every time I think of it, I feel very proud as a Chinese.

The experience of participating in peacekeeping missions in Africa for three times over the past more than 10 years has enabled me to witness more and more Chinese military members go abroad with greater confidence to make contributions to world peace and development. At the same time, I am deeply impressed by the sincere expectation, admiration and respect of the UN, the host countries and their people for Chinese peacekeepers. I believe that as a force to safeguard peace, Chinese peacekeepers will continue making greater contributions and accomplishments in the cause of UN peacekeeping with their wisdom and strength.

(The author Ser. Col. He Xing is the director of the teaching and research office for international peacekeeping at the College of International Studies, PLA National University of Defense Technology.)

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Banks must involve the officials involved in the loan sanctioning process in the recovery or collection process as well..

A surgeon who constantly worries about mortality on the operation table is usually hamstrung in his efficient discharge of duties. Similarly, a banker who constantly worries about being hauled over coals by the investigative agencies is likely to play it safe  do not lend at all. Lending means responsibility and responsibility means enquiry should the loans sour sooner or later.

Our public sector banks (PSBs) reeling under the impact of heavy non-performing assets (NPAs) have been playing it safe, seeking the security of government gilts rather than the rough and tumble of industrial and infrastructure loans.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, therefore, did well to exhort the bankers to overcome the 3Cs phobiathe Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). She forgot to add the 4th CCaesars wife. Yes, bankers are like Caesars wife who must be above suspicion. That they are deemed to be public servants for the purposes of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) makes their jobs onerous. Yet lend they must because otherwise, a bank would be failing in its basic role.

The PSB must do the following in the New Year:

1) As far as possible, involve at least two persons in the loan approval process. It is not enough to restrict a branch managers powers to sanction loans. Even when a loan proposal moves up to the regional office, it should be a committee of officials that should sanction the loan. It is not as if a committee is not susceptible to overtures by the borrower to bend the rules. After collusive corruption is not something unheard of. Yet larger the number of persons in the decision-making loop, the lesser the chances of bending the rules.

2) Syndicated loans should be the preferred mode as there is always safety in numbers. Appraisal of the loan application is better and PSBs function with greater cohesion and cooperation.

3) Takeout financing for long gestation infrastructure projects must be implemented. At present, the specialised infrastructure financing agencies step into the scene after commercial banks are fairly in the advanced stage of nursing a loan. It should be the other way round. The specialists should be the ones who process the loan application and hand over the baton, as it were, to the banks once the project has gone on stream.

For PSBs apart from NPA, the other festering problem has been Asset Liability Mismatch (ALM) which often arises due to heavy exposures to infrastructure projects with long gestation periods. Banks typically accept deposits for medium-term apart from short term deposits usually for 3 to 5 years. In the event lending for infrastructure projects with repayments spread over seven to ten years proves to be suicidal. Ideally, three or four banks should be involved, with each picking up the loan portfolio for a period of three years after which it is passed onto another bank for three years and so on.

4) Banks must involve the officials involved in the loan sanctioning process in the recovery or collection process as well. A person who is going to recover is bound to be more careful while sanctioning. In short, there should be a dedicated team that should have an interface with a borrower right through the loan process.

5) A part of the remuneration of such loan cells in banks must be in the form of a very small sliver of collections or recoveries. If tax officials could be incentivised thus, there is no reason why banks' officials cannot be similarly incentivised.

These are some of the measures that can be taken by banks. Of course, it is the responsibility of the government to improve the climate of compliance. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has started showing results, with company promoters shaking in their boots at the imminent prospect of losing control of their companies. But that does not mean a corresponding strengthening of hands of banks because IBC resolution process thus far has exacted a heavy price from the bankshaircuts ranging from 50 percent to 60 percent. In the long run, such heavy haircuts would render the business of lending unviable.

Therefore, gradually bank finance must be made unavailable to big-ticket borrowers like listed companies. They must meet their fund requirements through bonds which is a ruthless place and tames defaulters more effectively and faster. A laggard and defaulter is recognised fast and his bonds attain the junk status thus jeopardizing his chances of mobilizing funds from the same market in the future.

(The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan)
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Extending his wishes to Gen Bipin Rawat, who took charge as first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the three defence forces under his leadership will collectively work in securing nation and fulfil aspirations of a New India.

Calling the occasion a "momentous and historic day" for India, Shah in a series of tweets, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled yet another long-pending demand and India got its first CDS, citing announcement which Modi made on August 15, 2019, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, saying India will soon have a CDS.

"I am confident that this decision will further strengthen India's resolve to be among the best defence forces in the world," Shah said.

"I congratulate General Bipin Rawat, on taking charge as India's first Chief of Defence Staff. I am sure under his leadership all the three forces will collectively work as a team and leave no stone unturned in securing our nation against all odds." "The Chief of Defence Staff will not only further Modi government's efforts towards ensuring welfare of personnel of all the three wings of Indian Armed Forces, modernise our military and fulfil the aspirations of a #NewIndia," the Home Minister said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a series of tweets expressed best wishes to the country's first CDS. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also extended his best wishes to General Rawat for a successful tenure ahead.

Gen Rawat, who demitted office as army chief on Wednesday, took charge as the CDS early in the day and expressed that his mandate would bring jointness within tri services -- Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
Police have launched a desperate hunt for a missing 15-year-old girl who was last seen wearing her dressing gown and slippers on New Year's Eve.

Soraya Baxter was at her family home on Warley Avenue in Morecambe, Lancashire, until around 11pm yesterday.

She was wearing a burgundy dressing gown and slippers but it is believed that she may have changed clothes.

Police have launched a desperate hunt for missing 15-year-old Soraya Baxter (pictured) who was last seen wearing her dressing gown and slippers on New Year's Eve

She is described as being a mixed race female, approximately 5ft4, with a slim build and medium-length brown curly hair.

Lancashire Police are now attempting to locate Soraya, who has links to Manchester, and are appealing to the public for information.

PC Monk, of Lancaster Police, said: 'We are extremely concerned about Soraya.

The girl was last seen at at her family home in Morecambe, Lancashire, until around 11pm yesterday (stock image of Morecambe city centre)

'We are asking anybody who has seen her, or has any information at all that could help us find her, to get in touch as soon as possible.

'Similarly we would urge Soraya herself, if she sees this appeal, to make contact with us and let us know she is safe.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log number LC-20191231-1464.
The fatal Dec. 29 crash of a Tesla vehicle in Southern California will be investigated by the U.S. government's auto safety regulator, the agency said on Tuesday.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said earlier this month it had opened an investigation into a 12th Tesla crash that may be tied to the vehicles advanced Autopilot driver assistance system after a Tesla Model 3 rear-ended a parked police car in Connecticut.

NHTSA did not say if autopilot was suspected in Sunday's crash in Gardena in Los Angeles county.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Los Angeles television station KTLA reported the driver exited the 91 Freeway in Gardena, ran a red light and struck a 2006 Honda Civic, killing its two occupants.

The two people inside the Tesla were hospitalized but did not have life-threatening injuries, KTLA reported, citing Los Angeles police.

Autopilot had been engaged in at least three Tesla vehicles that were involved in fatal U.S. crashes since 2016. The National Transportation Safety Board has criticized Autopilot's lack of safeguards and said in September in its probe of a 2018 Culver City, California Tesla crash that the systems design "permitted the driver to disengage from the driving task."

Tesla and NHTSA both advise drivers that they must keep their hands on the steering wheel and pay attention at all times while using Autopilot. Tesla says Autopilot "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane," but does not make the vehicle autonomous.

Some drivers say they are able to keep their hands off the wheel for extended periods when using the system. Last month, U.S. Senator Ed Markey said Tesla should disable Autopilot until it installs new safeguards to prevent drivers from evading system limits that could let them fall asleep.

NHTSA has previously confirmed special crash investigations in a number of Tesla crashes but until earlier this month had not disclosed the total number of crashes under review. NHTSA previously investigated another Tesla crash that it initially suspected of being tied to Autopilot but ruled it out.
WASHINGTON - People crowded around the twisted antenna from the World Trade Center's North Tower.

They peered at the famous door that was jimmied during the Watergate burglary.

And they walked around the forbidding pieces of the Berlin Wall.

But as visitors thronged the Newseum in downtown Washington on its final day Tuesday, few seemed to notice the small gray plaque in the floor on the third level. Beneath it rest remains of four news photographers killed in 1971 when their helicopter was shot down during the Vietnam War.

The stainless steel reliquary with trace remains of Larry Burrows, Henri Huet, Kent Potter and Keisaburo Shimamoto has been at the heart of the Newseum and its memorial to fallen journalists since it was dedicated in 2008.

Burrows, 44, of Life magazine; Huet, 43, of the Associated Press; Potter, 23, of United Press International; and Shimamoto, 34, of Newsweek were aboard a South Vietnamese helicopter that was downed Feb. 10, 1971, during an incursion into Laos.

The Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue was to be their last resting place. But like everything else in the glittering shrine to the news business, down the street from the Capitol, they also must go.

That includes the huge antenna from the World Trade Center, which was destroyed Sept. 11, 2001; the hunks of the Berlin Wall, which came down in 1989; and the Watergate door, tied to the break-in that eventually forced President Richard Nixon to resign in 1974.

"Everything goes," said Sonya Gavankar, a Newseum spokeswoman and 20-year veteran of the facility.

Artifacts the Newseum owns will move into a storage facility in Maryland, while items on loan will be returned to lenders, Gavankar said. The museum owns the World Trade Center antenna, the Berlin Wall segments and the Watergate door, she said.

The journalists' remains will be returned to the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

The moves will begin Thursday and take about six months.

"A lot of people use the words 'bitter sweet,' " Gavankar said. "It's hard to be bitter about something that you're so proud of."

The Newseum, plagued by money woes, a daunting entrance fee and the recession, closed after 11 years in Washington and, before that, 11 years in Rosslyn.

Johns Hopkins University bought the building in January from the Freedom Forum, the foundation that created the Newseum. The university plans to redesign the structure as a center for graduate studies.

On Tuesday, it was busy and almost festive, as holiday visitors crowded in for a final look at the museum's kaleidoscopic take on history and journalism.

There was a black-and-white clip of legendary TV broadcaster Walter Cronkite, removing his glasses and struggling to keep his composure as he announced that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963.

There was a copy of The Washington Post front page from Aug. 9, 1974, with the headline "Nixon Resigns." It sat in a display case near a political bumper sticker reading, "Support Nixon, Impeach the Nation."

And there was a copy of a newspaper with one of the biggest blunders in journalism: the Chicago Daily Tribune's premature 1948 election headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman." The paper called the race too early, with Republican candidate Thomas Dewey in the lead before Democratic incumbent Harry S. Truman came back to win.

Other miscues, in the form of poorly worded headlines, decorated the walls of the restrooms.

"Genetically Modified Crops Talk of Meeting," read one from the News-Gazette, of Champaign, Ill. "Panda Lectures This Week at National Zoo," The Post once announced.

The gallery of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographs was especially crowded on the last day.

Visitors were entranced by Joe Rosenthal's photo of Marines raising the American flag over Iwo Jima in World War II, Nathaniel Fein's picture of a solitary Babe Ruth bidding Yankee Stadium farewell in 1948 and Carol Guzy's photo of a young U.S. soldier trying to control a mob in Haiti in 1994.

Casey Lipson, 30, a technology consultant who lives a few blocks from the Newseum, made his first and last visit Tuesday.

"I'm disappointed for two reasons," he said. "One, that I hadn't visited sooner. And two, that it's leaving."

He got up early and arrived at the Newseum as it opened. "Here I am," he said. "I made it."

Nearby, visitor services representative Carol Atkins, 74, stood in a green jacket giving directions. A retired nurse, she said she has worked at the Newseum part-time since before it opened. She wore a 10-year pin on her lanyard.

As she waited near the World Trade Center antenna, she remembered how, when it was first installed, teachers wouldn't bring children near the exhibit because it was too disturbing.

She said some visitors turn away in tears and tell her "where they were when it happened, if a friend or a family member lost their life. It was really, really so emotional."

The artifact, bent and twisted from the terrorist attack that brought down the New York landmark, is set against a backdrop of dozens of newspaper front pages from the next day.

"Horror," says one. "Terror," says another. "Infamy," says yet another.

Together, they served as the national voice as the country came to grips with the disaster.

"The ability to have all of your First Amendment rights displayed" in one place is crucial, Atkins said about the Newseum. "Anybody can see one exhibit, but you don't get the big picture of how important that is."

She said she remembers standing on the facility's outdoor terrace overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue during Barack Obama's first inauguration.

"Hearing the crowd roar," she said. "That was something."

After the Newseum closed for the last time Tuesday, Atkins said, staff members were invited to gather for a final toast in the atrium.

There, she would say goodbye and turn in her walkie-talkie.
For many years, Tehran claimed that it is resisting against foreign foes, but the recent nationwide protests that rapidly engulfed more near 200 cities and towns proved Iranians are the major substantial threat to the religious fascism in Iran.

The reality is, the mass killing of 1,500 protesters, mostly youths, and injuring and arresting thousands more, left no room for compromise between the people and the regime. Over the past four decades, the mullahs achievement for the society was only spreading poverty and suffocation by using their corrupt institutes and oppressive apparatus. In this regard, the regimes financial centers and military bases, like the garrisons of the revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Basij paramilitary force, etc. have become the target of the peoples rage and hatred.

It is worth noting that during a recent couple of years, these centers time and again were attacked and torched by defiant youth. On November 15-16, the people who were fed up against the entire ruling system set fire to more than 1,000 oppressive bases and institutes belonging to the regime.

On November 26, the regimes interior minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli revealed new scopes of the nationwide protests and the peoples wrath against the mullahs regime. These [protests] took part in at least 100 areas of the capital Tehran, as well as 27 of Irans 31 provinces, even though a state of emergency was declared in five of Irans provinces, including Tehran, Fars, Isfahan, and Khuzestan, Rahmani Fazli said, adding that protesters across Iran destroyed at least 50 police and army centers, 140 government centers, 183 police vehicles, nine seminaries, 731 state-affiliated banks, and 70 gas stations.

On the night of December 30, following the recent uprising, a group of brave youth in Tehran set fire IRGCs Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters. This attack took place despite criminal forces being on full alert in fear of a new nationwide uprising. Significantly, Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters is an active player in both the oppression and plundering apparatus of the regime. This garrison, in fact, as a subsidiary of the IRGC, began operating as a contractor for industrial and construction projects in 1989. After ending the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq, Khomeinis followers, who had now lost their main occupation of waging war on their neighbor, set their sights on Irans economy in its entirety. In this context, the IRGC built a powerful military-industrial-financial complex that encroached on all of Irans national resources. Khatams policy states the optimal use of the resources, facilities and economic potential of the IRGC in line with the expansion of the Islamic Revolution is the most important goal of establishing this financial empire.

Khatam al Anbiya, one of the IRGC entities has over 25 billion dollars contract with the National Iranian Oil Company. Energy contracts are likely contracts with an FTO designated entity, namely the #IRGCTerrorists Thus Zero oil export for Iran regime is a MUST! pic.twitter.com/Z3gPrsdh7B  Alireza Jafarzadeh (@A_Jafarzadeh) April 22, 2019

Khatam is the largest contractor of government projects in Iran and has 5,000 contracting companies and 135,000 staff members, according to Abdullah Abdullahi, Khatams then-commander, the state-run Mashregh newspaper published in 2014.

This military-financial cartel has the full support of Khamenei in the following areas:

-Easy access to banks financial resources

-The everlasting possibility of non-formal bidding

-Obtaining government projects with a full security power

-Full tax exemptions

These factors created a mechanism by which the IRGC would monopolize industrial, civil and petroleum, gas and petrochemical projects and completely destroy the private sector.

In conclusion, today and after bloodshed made by IRGC, Basij, plainclothes, security forces, and agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), targeting the regimes corrupt institutes and military bases are a natural reaction to the reckless violence. In this regard, targeting the regimes icons and symbols by supporters of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) receives warm welcome by the masses. Regardless of authorities threats, many people express their support in cyberspace and social media as follows:
Cape Town, Jan 1 : Jofra Archer's participation in the second Test between England and South Africa is in doubt with the pacer reportedly having a sore elbow. Archer was one of the few bright sparks for England during the first Test, taking six wickets while the team lost by 107 runs.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Archer bowled only six balls during training on Wednesday in Cape Town before the elbow acted up, raising concerns as to whether he can recover in time for the second Test which will start on Friday.

England are already mulling dropping one seamer in favour of a spinner due to the pitch in Cape Town which lacks the grass seen in Centurion and is relatively dry. It could very well be Archer who gets the drop if England are looking to be conservative with him with two more Tests left to be played in the series.
Two White Island victims who suffered severe burns in the volcanic blast are 'up and alert' and could be flown home.

Ivy Kohn Reed and Rick Reed, from the US, were on a tour heading towards a jetty on the island in New Zealand when it erupted on December 9.

Rick had three surgeries after suffering burns to 30 per cent of his body, including his hands, legs and face. He also had skin grafting on all affected areas.

Ivy had two surgeries for burns to 20 per cent of her body, including her hands, face and right leg. She had skin grafts on her hands, head and neck.

Ivy Kohn Reed and Rick Reed were on a boat heading to a jetty on the volcanic island when it erupted

After a series of long and painful surgeries lasting for up to 12 hours, family members have revealed on Go Fund Me the pair are recovering well in the burns unit at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.

'Ivy had another procedure done to graft skin around her head and neck ... apparently it is her right hand that has the mobility,' the update read.

'[Relatives] said Rick looked good. Both his legs and arms remain wrapped but no burns on his face. He was up and alert.

'Overall both seemed to be in good spirits.'

A plume of ash rises into the air as the volcano on White Island erupts off the coast of Whakatane on New Zealand's North Island on December 9

Rick will undergo more surgery on Friday and his recovery will determine when the couple can return home.

In a previous post, the couple's son said his parents would need to have physical therapy before they could leave New Zealand.

The eruption killed 17 people.
A day after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded the cabinet of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, resentment is brewing within leaders of the three parties  the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress  who did not get ministerial berths.

Prakash Solanke, an NCP legislator from Beed district, threatened to resign after being overlooked. He was pacified by senior NCP leaders, after which he decided to stay on as a legislator.

Senior Sena leader and former minister Ramdas Kadam is reportedly upset and said to be considering resigning from the partys position. A group of Congress leaders has reached Delhi to express unhappiness to party leadership.

Supporters of various leaders in the state protested on Monday. While Congress legislator Sangram Thoptes supporters took to the streets to protest the injustice, Bhavana Gawli, Sena MP from Yavatmal-Washim, expressed unhappiness that another legislator from Vidarbha was not given a chance. We had expected [Sanjay] Raimulkar or [Gopikishan] Bajoria from western Vidarbha will be included in the council of ministers. We have given a letter to Uddhavji Thackeray requesting for it. If despite this, the post goes elsewhere, there will definitely be resentment, she said.

Sanjay Rathod, MLA from Digras, who was a minister in the previous government, was chosen by the party leadership. Sanjay Raimulkar, a three-time MLA from Mehkar in Buldhana, said he was expecting a call from the party to take up the post of a junior minister. There was expectation that I could be included as a junior minister. I have been working for the party in this constituency and it is the partys bastion for many decades. There is a bit of sadness that it did not happen, but work will not be hampered, Raimulkar said.

Raimulkar said party workers and people from the region will now have to go to Rajendra Shingne, NCP MLA from Sindhkhed Raja, for work. Sena workers campaigned against Shingne in the Lok Sabha polls, but now we will have to go to him for work. It is unfortunate, Raimulkar said.

Another senior legislator Ashish Jaiswal from the Sena expressed unhappiness over being overlooked for junior and Independent MLAs.

Four-time MLA from Ramtek, Jaiswal was one of the front-runners for a cabinet berth. Jaiswal said, There is no resentment, but a sense of disappointment. I do not mind letting go of the ministership, but for whom? If it was for Aaditya Thackeray, I wouldnt think for a second, but not for juniors like Abdul Sattar or [Rajendra Patil] Yedravkar or [Shankarrao] Gadakh? The region needed representation.

Sena MLA Prakash Abitkar from Radhanagari constituency said, I do not wish to speak on the issue now. I will disclose my stand only after reaching Mumbai.

Abitkar, who heads the Sena in Kolhapur, was expecting he would be made a minister. However, Thackeray picked independent MLA Rajendra Patil Yadravkar from Shirol. Abitkar was the only Sena or Bharatiya Janata Party MLA elected from Kolhapur district, which was ravaged by flood a month ahead of the state polls. One of the legislators from the Congress, on condition of anonymity, said, Many juniors have been included in the cabinet. The party is not putting its weight behind leaders like us.

Sources also confirmed that Satej Patil expressed his disappointment on being made a junior minister, considering his seniority and influence in Kolhapur district. There is a lot of discontent about the induction of sons and daughters of established politicians in the cabinet within the Congress.

Congresss Vishwajeet Kadam, a two-time MLA, was inducted in the cabinet, while many experienced leaders were left out.

On Monday night, after Solanke announced he would resign as legislator, declaring retirement from politics, senior NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde met him and pursued him to change his decision.

After the two-hour meeting, Solanke said, I was expecting justice from the party. Party workers urged me not to take any such decision. I also had a discussion with the NCP chief. I am not going to resign and also dont want any ministerial berth. I only want some respectable responsibility to work for public cause.

Ajit Pawar said there was nothing wrong in expecting something from the party. Everyone wants opportunities there is nothing wrong in it. Discussions have been concluded and 2019 is ending on a good note, he said after the meeting.

Commenting on Kadams disgruntlement, Sena insiders said Thackeray preferred MLAs over members of the legislative Council while choosing ministers. Besides, his son (Yogesh Kadam) was given a ticket and he is an MLA now. It is not that he was neglected by the leadership, a senior functionary said. Despite attempts, Kadam could not be reached for a comment.

Sena lawmaker Sanjay Raut is also unhappy after his brother, Sunil Raut, was overlooked for ministerial berth. Sunil, in a statement, however, said he was not upset and would continue to work for the party.

Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who crossed over from the NCP to the Sena before the state polls, openly expressed his shock on being excluded. Speaking to a regional news channel, Jadhav said, I have been elected most number of times among the MLAs in the Shiv Sena. I have a lot of experience of being a minister. When I had discussed with Uddhav ji (about joining the Sena), I was assured I would be a part of the council of ministers. I wanted to help the now newly inducted cabinet minister Aaditya ji Thackeray. During the discussions with Uddhav ji, I was promised many things, which I do not want to say in public. I am not after money or power, but despite having merit and experience why was I overlooked? I have sought an appointment with Uddhavji and I hope to get answers to my queries then.

Political analyst Surendra Jondhale said, The cabinet composition shows dynasty politics, which could have been avoided. Besides, they have kept some senior faces to tackle the strong opposition from the BJP.

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Late in November, English researcher and writer Harvey Aughton posted a very interesting article on science news site Medium in which explains the reasons why Artificial Intelligence (AI) will never become human, in spite of all the recent developments on this matter.

Antonio Demasio claims the body gave humanity consciousness, gifting physical emotions to the brain that needed to be turned into feelings to act upon (through a process of biochemical homeostasis). By extension, AI consciousness will be utterly alien to our own, buried in a vastly contrasting bodily shell, Mr Aughton said. Humanity will be completely separate species, whether we are inferior or not, he added.

In addition to the fact that AI could feel, think and act in a different way, Mr Aughton also mentions a key element that gives humans their uniqueness: a complex -though sometimes fallible memory.

AI will probably be something far more dangerous and less flexible. A computers memory of what is in its hard drive is perfect or completely void of meaning. The computer does not ask you what iTunes is, only to remember later. The files and documents are either installed or they are not. The same will be true of information, he asserted. The way a machine will prune what is important will not be by feeling through memories consciously in retrospect. It will almost certain prune them using an algorithm designed to answer some kind of logical question that fits its programming, he continued.

This means that feelings and emotions will mean nothing for AI. When a robot needs to understand the emotion of an event, it will not be able to do it like a human, by giving in to the overarching narrative, the British researcher explained. A computer will have to go through each detailed moment, cross-reference it against the past and future, and form a conclusion, he commented.

We are storytellers, dramatists, teary-eyed memorialists, and excitable futurists. Our memory is built to trim the irrelevant edges, which means we miss some things that might be important, in favour of reaching the nugget of the moment which makes us feel something, Mr Aughton mentioned. AI can make an eventual profit from every detail, but by doing so, it loses any chance it had of becoming human, he claimed.

For more information: https://becominghuman.ai/ai-will-not-become-human-ecaed598f3c5
Istanbul [Turkey] Jan 1 (ANI): Hundreds of people turned out in Turkey to watch the spectacular and glittering fireworks at the Bosphorus strait of Istanbul city for the New Year celebrations.



Loads of fireworks exploded in the skies above Bosphorus strait and the rest of the city at the stroke of midnight to the delight of scores of people.

More than 300,000 security personnel were deployed across Turkey to ensure order and safety during this year's New Year's Eve celebrations, the Interior Ministry said(ANI)


A team of CBI officials conducted an extensive search on the premises of former MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao in Guntur and other places on Tuesday in connection with a complaint by a bank consortium.

Rayapati was away in Hyderabad during the raid, but CBI officials spoke to him over phone to elicit certain information. Sources said the search was conducted based on a complaint filed by the Union Bank of India consortium, related to a Rs 275 crore loan that Transstroy Limited obtained for execution of the Polavaram project.

Rayapati was a director in the company.

Transstroy was removed from the project by the previous TDP government last year, though Rayapati was the party MP.

The Union Bank, in its complaint, reportedly alleged that Transstroy diverted the funds for other purposes in contravention of the loan terms.
Tributes have been paid to a British man killed when a firework exploded in front of him at a new year party in Thailand.

Gary McLaren, from Corby, Northamptonshire, died as he celebrated with his Thai fiancee and friends in the resort of Pattaya, in the east of the country.

Police and rescue workers who arrived at the scene found a crowd in front of a beer bar where Mr McLaren was on the ground with serious facial injuries, the Bangkok Post reported.

Medical teams were unable to save him, and police took away a large firework on the ground nearby as evidence.

Mr McLaren, reported by the BBC to be 50 and by the Bangkok Post as 51, worked for the International Road Racing Teams Association, according to his LinkedIn profile, and was a big motorcycle racing fan.

Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Show all 20 1 /20 Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees attend an icebreaking session ahead of their ordination to be novice monks at the Songdhammakalyani monastery, Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. Officially, only men can become monks and novices in Thailand under a Buddhist order that, since 1928, has forbidden the ordination of women. A growing number of women defy generations of Thai Buddhist tradition by becoming ordained as novice monks at the unrecognised all-female monastery Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees practice during a first orientation to become Buddhist novice monks Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, 74, abbess of the monastery, plays with her dog Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees have their hair cut during a mass female Buddhist novice monk ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks walk in line to receive food offerings Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks walk in line during their ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Saffron robes before before ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Boodsabann Chanthawong, 49, a businesswoman, works on her mobile phone as she rides on a train, weeks ahead of her ordination Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A painting of a female Buddhist monk Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A devotee has her hair cut Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks gather for a group photo Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Novice monks pray during a morning routine Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition A Thai woman devotee who ended her novice monkhood has her head cleaned by Dhammananda Bhikkhuni Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women devotees carry their saffron robes Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Female Buddha statues on display at the Songdhammakalyani monastery Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Devotees in white robes pray Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Devotees walk in line during their Buddhist novice monk ordination ceremony Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Thai women return their saffron robes after ending their novice monkhood Reuters Thailand's rebel female Buddhist monks defy tradition Boodsabann Chanthawong works with her husband at her stall near her house, days after she ended her novice monkhood Reuters

Motorsport commentator Suzi Perry tweeted: Devastating news. Gary was absolutely lovely. Heartbroken for his fiancee, family, friends and our #motogp family. Weve lost a gorgeous soul.

Tim Walpole, a friend, tweeted: One of the most popular members of the @MotoGP paddock died last night. Gary was a great guy & always fun to be around, as well as being a real professional in his time with @suzukimotogp.

Recommended Several dead after explosion at fireworks factory in Italy

His fiancee, Jasmine, to whom he had become engaged in 2018, was among those in tears after the accident, and hugged his body.

Around midnight, Mr McLaren attempted to light up a large firework but it failed to go off at first. After that, it suddenly exploded and killed him at the scene, said Lt Col Somboon Ua-samanmaitree of the Thai Tourist Police.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand.
Who was it that said that progress is simply the exchange of one nuisance for another? Last year was already packed with developments, newcomers and innovations, and it looks as though 2020 will be every bit as eventful on that front. We take a look inside our crystal ball and see what 2020 holds for us.

We'll be saying 'New Year, Same You'

The cult of self-improvement and self-actualisation has been in vogue for far too long, and 2020 will be all about accepting and revelling in the average. Instead of honing in on what might need to be improved in our living situations/partners/days, we'll be encouraged to focus on the stuff we're doing right. In Catherine Gray's book, The Unexpected Joy Of The Ordinary (out now), the writer encourages people to 're-enchant the everyday'. Which, when you think about it, makes a nice change from the usual New Year gym/diet/makeover madness.

We'll be having a crush on Paul Mescal

The actor (23) is already familiar to those who saw him perform at the Gate's production of The Great Gatsby last summer, but this year he takes on the role of Connell in the film adaptation of Sally Rooney's hugely popular book Normal People, directed by Lenny Abrahamson (Room, Frank). A graduate from The Lir's acting degree, Mescal had been offered two high profile theatre roles before he even graduated: the first was a part in Angela's Ashes: The Musical, and the second was Gatsby. Until 2017, he played Under-21 GAA for Kildare, and recently signed on to the acting division of Curtis Brown (home to Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson). His role in Normal People is likely to mark Kildare man Mescal out as a serious mover and shaker.

We'll be watching The Deceived

Virgin Media has gone all out on its drama offerings of late, and this four-part drama looks set to follow that tradition. Here, Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee changes tack to write something of an entirely different speed. A psychological thriller with a compelling, sinister narrative of lust, manipulation and betrayal, the central character in student Ophelia, who falls in love with her married Irish lecturer. When their affair results in a shocking and tragic death, Ophelia finds herself trapped in a world where she can no longer trust her own mind. Emily Reid, Emmett Scanlan, Catherine Walker and Eleanor Methven star in the series, which was filmed in Belfast.

We'll be reading My Dark Vanessa by Elizabeth Kate Russell

Touted as a classic for post #MeToo times, My Dark Vanessa is a slick and suspenseful novel that evokes shades of Nabokov's Lolita and Curtis Sittenfeld's Prep. In it, thirty-something Vanessa Wye revisits her boarding school years, where she first had sex with her forty-something teacher, Jacob Strane, when she was just 15. Vanessa has kept in touch with Strane, who has been accused of sexual abuse by another former student. Stephen King has already called it a 'package of dynamite' - it's the book everyone will be talking about this spring. Fact.

We'll be sorting our homes with vastu shastra

Move over feng shui: vastu shastra is a traditional Indian idea that brings positive energy and balance into your home. Basically, each house comes with its own energy type, and people come under the influence of this energy field. Want to get started? Have a room for meditation, have your living room face east/north/north-east, avoid pictures with water in them in the bedroom, and avoid placing a mirror or television in front of your bed.

We'll be going barefaced

Trends are cyclical; nowhere more so than beauty. Which means we are likely to be waving a farewell to contouring, HD brows and false eyelashes. Instead, it'll be about perfecting the 'no make-up' look, which is actually harder than it looks.

We'll be wearing peplum tops

Frankly, these can't come into fashion quick enough: flattering and forgiving of lumps and bumps, peplum - a style that features gathered and flared fabric at the waist - is predicted to be SS20's big look. Expect to see it everywhere, from Met Ball gowns straight through to streetwear. While the '90s has also had its revival moment, fashion insiders reckon that it's the turn of '70s wear to make a comeback. You don't believe us? See Harry Style's recent psychedelic suit. Expect to see design elements like wide lapels and bell-bottoms everywhere. See ya, skinny jeans.

We'll be eating West African cuisine

According to research done by Whole Food Markets in the US, ancient grains like fonio, teff and millett, as well as superfoods like moringa and tamarind, are going to show up in restaurants and supermarkets all over the world. Ghana, Mali, Liberia, Nigeria, and Senegal make up part of this 16-country region, so gastro novelties like peanut soup, jollof rice, palm wine and groundnut stew could very well surface soon.

(Incidentally, Whole Foods has also predicted that we'll be seeking out watermelon seed butter, banana flour and sweet potato syrup. Yikes.)

We'll be hitting the Cineplex to see No Time To Die

Daniel Craig makes his last outing (we think) as James Bond in this blockbuster, due out in April. In it, Bond is recruited to rescue a kidnapped scientist but finds himself on the trail of a mysterious villain (played by Rami Malek) who is armed with a dangerous new technology. Phoebe Waller-Bridge was drafted in to give the script a punch-up, so expect some cracking one-liners amid all the stunts and gunfire.

We'll be binge watching. Sharon Horgan's new Amazon project

Relatively little is known about Horgan's wallet-busting deal with streaming service Amazon, but we do know this: Billy Magnussen co-stars with Horgan in a comedy (as yet untitled) about a single, broke woman who decides to launch her own self-help company. She enlists the services of a former male gymnast to become the company's spokesman. John Hamburg, who wrote Meet The Parents, is on board as a co-writer.

We'll be downloading smart dating apps

I know, a contradiction in terms, right? In any case, Relationship AI has just been launched and purports to help people get mindfully on the way to mastering their dating life with quick dating interaction values and valuable data feedback, so that you can see how well (or badly) your dating life is going at a glance. Daters can also use the app to ask their friends for advice. The app is currently available on iTunes - for more information see relationship-ai.com.

We'll be listening to alternative rock music

Sunstroke V2.0 has just been announced for Summer 2020 at Punchestown Racecourse, and old favourites like Faith No More, Deftones and the Jesus & Mary Chain are going to dust off their Marshall amps and crank it up to 11 (probably). Expect a huge comeback for Faith No More, who have had a fallow few years and for rock music in general, which has played second fiddle to pop and R&B for much of the last decade.

We'll be getting better with telemedicine

Fancy getting your prescriptions sent by drone, or Skyping your GP to see what the weird rash is all about? Digital medicine or telemedicine is set to take some of the pressure off an increasingly stretched healthcare system. Already this year, Irish doctors have made a successful drone drop of diabetes medicine to the Aran Islands, meaning that medicine and medical supplies could be delivered to your doorstep in the near future. Further proving that digital medicine is very much here to stay, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its first guidelines on digital health interventions earlier this year.
Its not a destination but certainly a milestone, Beck told reporters after touting the drop in violence and the rise in the homicide clearance rate and number of guns seized. This city does have the potential of being the safest big city in America and it is on track.
Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the US embassy in Baghdad (Nasser Nasser/AP)

Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the US embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces.

But US-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders and ended a high-stakes two-day crisis and practical siege of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified US diplomatic missions in the world.

The attack prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East.

Expand Close Iraqi security forces in front of the US embassy in Baghdad (Nasser Nasser/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iraqi security forces in front of the US embassy in Baghdad (Nasser Nasser/AP)

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest over US air strikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

The US blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a US contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and threw stones at US Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas.

There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias  many backed by Iran  called on their supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

By late afternoon, the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies.

Expand Close A man waves the Iraqi flag while Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the embassy (Nasser Nasser/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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US Apache helicopters circled overhead.

After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly, said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter.

We rubbed Americas nose in the dirt.

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the US air strikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse.

The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

We dont care about these planes that are flying over the heads of the picketers. Neither do we care about the news that America will bring Marines, said Mohammed Mohy, a spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah.

On the contrary, this shows a psychological defeat and a big mental breakdown that the American administration is suffering from, he said, before withdrawing from the area.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy US sanctions have cratered Irans economy.

Expand Close Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters drive away from the US embassy in Baghdad (Nasser Nasser/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October fuelled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Irans heavy influence over the countrys affairs.

Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the embassy and the Pentagon dispatched an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East.

A US official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait.

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly.

Iran later summoned the Swiss charge daffaires, who represents American interests in Tehran, to protest over what it said was warmongering by US officials.

Tensions have steadily risen since Mr Trump withdrew the US from Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and embarked on a campaign of maximum pressure through economic sanctions.

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Iran has responded by abandoning some of its commitments under the deal.

US officials have blamed Iran for the sabotage of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in September that caused a spike in world oil prices.

But the Trump administration has not responded with direct military action, apparently fearing a wider conflict.

The US has sent more than 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression.

At the time of the attack, the US had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

The US and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Iran has close ties to Iraqs Shiite majority and major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilise tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle so-called Islamic State when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed.

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The US and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory over the extremists in December 2017.

The political influence of the Popular Mobilisation Forces has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government.

That has made them the target of the anti-government protesters, who have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq.

They have also set up a sprawling protest camp in central Baghdad, and for weeks have been trying to enter the Green Zone.

Iraqi security forces have beaten them back with tear gas and live ammunition, killing hundreds.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

Iraqs government vehemently condemned the air strikes on the militia, saying it violated national sovereignty.

But Iran and its allies might have also seen the attack as a way of diverting attention from the anti-government protests.

Iran has been trying to provoke the US into helping it solve its Iraq problem, the Crisis Group, an international think tank, said in a briefing on the crisis.

The Trump administration, by responding to the attacks in Kirkuk and elsewhere with air strikes, has obliged.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday postponed a trip to Ukraine, the country at the heart of impeachment proceedings against President Trump, after the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, the State Department announced.

Pompeo had been due to travel at week's end to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus.

But on Tuesday, a mob of pro-Iran demonstrators stormed the American embassy in Baghdad over U.S. airstrikes that killed two dozen paramilitary fighters.

The State Department announced Wednesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not travel to Ukraine after an attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad Tuesday, saying it would be 'rescheduled' for another time

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would have been the first senior level U.S. official to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) since the scandal of President Trump's phone call with the leader led to Trump's impeachment

Pompeo's travel was pushed back 'due to the need for the secretary to be in Washington, DC to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East,' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus announced.

'Secretary Pompeo's trip will be rescheduled in the near future and he looks forward to the visit at that time,' she added.

The trip would have made Pompeo the most senior US official to visit Kiev since a scandal erupted in 2019 over a controversial phone call in which Trump allegedly tried to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to find dirt on Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden.

Pompeo, a staunch Trump defender, was set to meet with Zelensky and other top Ukrainian officials, Ortagus said Monday when the trip was first announced.

But the following day, the embassy in Baghdad was besieged.

Demonstrators finally left on Wednesday.

No U.S. personnel were injured in the attack and U.S. officials said they had no plans to evacuate.

Trump boasted that it was the 'anti-Benghazi,' referencing the September 11, 2012 attack on American diplomats in Benghazi, Libya that left four dead, and Republicans used to investigate Hillary Clinton.

Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on December 18 and faces trial in the Senate, possibly later this month, though top Democratic and Republican lawmakers are still sparring over how it will be conducted.
REED CITY -- West Michigan Credit Union hosted a ribbon cutting at its new location, 4795 220th Ave., Reed City, on Dec. 18.

"Our grand opening went wonderfully with the help of Kim O'Neil and the Chamber," communications manager Michelle Koziel said. " We had so many members comment on how excited they are to have a drive-thru and more hours."

The new location officially opened for business Dec. 9.

"This new location will be good for our customers with extended hours and the addition of the drive through," branch manager Carrie Heyd said.

The new facility offers extended drive up hours Friday evening and Saturday morning.

The former location, in the Vic's shopping center since 2004, is now closed.

"This new location is a wonderful addition to the Credit Union," Heyd said.

Opening of the new location added three local jobs, two full-time and one part-time, she said.

Business hours for the new location are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drive up hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
When the Post published our list of 19 good things that happened in 2019, we asked readers for other suggestions. Your responses, smart and funny and thoughtful, left us feeling much better about the past year and hopeful about 2020.

Many cited Greta Thunberg and the youth activists she has helped inspire to demand action on climate change. She and the other schoolchildren have continually given me hope through what have felt like hopeless times, Sarra wrote from Philadelphia.

But Thunbergs activism was only the second most frequently cited piece of news. Reflecting the high pitch of partisan feeling, the largest number of nods went to the impeachment of President Donald Trump. It gives me hope that we can salvage our democracy, Sharon wrote from Maryland. Some readers expressed admiration for the whistleblower and the government officials who had the courage to testify before Congress  with a particular salute to the three immigrants among the witnesses. From the other side of the aisle, Richard in Texas cited the appointment of U.S. Attorney John Durham to investigate the origin of the phony Russia collusion story, and Tom in Maine said the best news of the year was Trump continuing to keep his promises to reduce taxes and regulations.

Many of you, however, found good news far from our political strife. Several found inspiration in Simone Biles becoming the most decorated gymnast of all time. Simone shows what grit and determination can do, Marti wrote from Houston. Others cited scientific and engineering advances, such as solar energy capture maximization utilizing computer controls; advances in wearable biosensor technology; and, as John wrote from Florida, the amazing progress in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and astronomythat will have an outsize impact on our future.

Arun in Mumbai rejoiced that in India homosexuality is no longer a crime. This ban was a carryover from colonial times, he wrote. It was a long, difficult struggle for the Gay community. But they persisted with the majority of the people and they finally won.

Breakthroughs for women met with applause. Several readers cheered the number of women taking their seats in Congress, the number of women running for president and the elevation of women to the statehouse speakerships in Maryland and Virginia. Karen wrote from Britain to celebrate Karen Uhlenbeck, a retired University of Texas at Austin professor who became the first woman to win the prestigious Abel Prize in mathematics.

Congress banning animal cruelty was hailed. Animals are vulnerable and too often the victims of ignorance and brutality in human society, Helen wrote from Georgia. Others recognized animal news with significance for endangered species, such as the birth of a black rhino in a Michigan zoo and an increase in the population of wild tigers in India.

Readers cited items we had missed during the year, such as Panama becoming the first Central American nation to ban single-use plastic bags,and items that we also had celebrated, such as Congress authorizing research into gun violence for the first time in two decades. . One reader celebrated the law allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter; another, progress in the development of an anti-malaria vaccine. Ken from New Jersey cited a milestone: Renewable sources surpassed coal as a source of energy in the United States.

Rebecca in Arizona hailed a groundswell of help for asylum-seekers in her hometown of Tucson. Its so heartwarming to realize that good generous people still exist in this world and are willing to help others, she wrote.

We agree. And we also are grateful to the readers who reminded us that often the best news is found close to home. A woman in Kansas told us that, thanks to DNA testing, at age 78, she found her birth mother, still alive at 101, and an extended family I didnt know I had. David in Honolulu wrote, We became grandparents! Why was that the best news? Family, and hope for the future! A reader in Virginia, who couldnt get a date to save my life in high school, celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary. And Leah wrote from Seattle to hail the birth of my sweet baby.

Congratulations, Leah. We wish you and your baby many happy returns  and may all of us find more good news in 2020.
Fadnavis made the remarks targetting Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while campaigning for the upcoming Palghar Zilla Parishad elections.

Palghar: The Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra will be controlled by "Matoshree of Delhi" and not from "Matoshree" in Mumbai, senior BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Wednesday in an apparent reference to Congress leadership.

Fadnavis made the remarks targetting Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while campaigning for the upcoming Palghar Zilla Parishad elections.

"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi", the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly told a rally.

Fadnavis, however, didn't take any names while firing the "Matoshree in Delhi" barb. 'Matoshree' means mother in Marathi.

The NCP and the Congress are the other constituents in the Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 'Matoshree' gradually emerged as a formidable power centre in Maharashtra politics when Sena founder Bal Thackeray was alive.

Many prominent personalities, including tallest political leaders of the BJP, Bollywood actors and even late King of Pop Michael Jackson, had visited "Matoshree" in suburban Bandra.

Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.

Continuing his diatribe, Fadnavis also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray's comments that he had given a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra. "Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the NCP and Congress after polls," Fadnavis said.

He also accused the Sena of "betraying" the public mandate by forging an alliance with the NCP and Congress after the state elections.

Fadnavis appealed to people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls. It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena has to compromise with those who "abused" Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the "infighting".

The Sena not only "betrayed" the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.

Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the Shiv Sena bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.

"Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power," he said. Hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying" the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.

"Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices," he said.

On Tuesday, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte had vandalised the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, which was expanded on Monday.

Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a "clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine" to form government, but later things took a different turn. He said citizens are witness to the political developments in the state.

"It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet," the BJP leader said.

On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, "It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme."

The Shiv Sena made "tall claims" that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be made free of encumbrance. "They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit," Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses.

"Now, they have gone back on their word," he alleged.
Cabin crew at Lufthansa subsidiary Germanwings began a planned three-day strike Monday, with their union warning the industrial dispute could last longer.

Daniel Flohr, deputy head of air stewards union UFO, told public broadcaster ZDF we could prolong it at short notice short of concessions from bosses, although we dont want that.

A live list on the carriers website showed 182 flights between major German cities like Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich were slashed as UFO called members off the job.

Some connections to cities in neighbouring Austria and Switzerland, including Zurich and Vienna, were also cut. Set to be folded into Eurowings over the long term, Germanwings operates flights on behalf of the larger Lufthansa subsidiary.

Around 15 percent of Eurowings flights over the three-day period were affected by the walkout, a company spokesman told news agency DPA. With a relatively small number of departures affected, there was little sign of the travel chaos that has accompanied previous broader-based strikes, and many travellers were able to book alternative flights.

Frankfurt airport - Germanys largest - said on its website it was a normal day with occasional short waits at security checks.

Germanwings bosses judge the strike over rules governing part-time work unjustified.

The labour dispute has already seen a short warning strike at four Lufthansa subsidiaries, while the groups flagship airline suffered a two-day walkout affecting 1,500 flights and 200,000 passengers in November.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text)

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Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Dec 1 (ANI): Police on Wednesday detained BJP leaders including H Raja, La Ganesan, Pon Radhakrishnan and C P Radhakrishnan while protesting at Marina Beach here and demanding the arrest of Tamil writer Nellai Kannan for his speech during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protest.



Earlier in the day, BJP workers staged a protest at the same venue demanding the arrest of Kannan.

Condemning Kannan's speech delivered during a protest meeting against the citizenship law, BJP state secretary KT Raghavan said that the state government should take action and arrest him immediately.



"It is highly condemnable. Nobody will accept these utterances of Nellai Kannan. In fact, he spoke at a Muslim rally. The Muslim leaders who were present on the dais should have condemned it," Raghavan told ANI.

"The state government should act, our party State secretary has lodged a police complaint. He must be arrested immediately," he added.



The Tirunelveli Police have registered an FIR against the writer for the speech delivered at a meeting, which was called by the Social Democratic Party of India on December 29. Police have booked him on the basis of multiple complaints filed by BJP leaders.



Kannan has been booked under Sections 504, 505(1) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (ANI)


Today we'll take a closer look at Canadian National Railway Company (TSE:CNR) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. If you are hoping to live on the income from dividends, it's important to be a lot more stringent with your investments than the average punter.

While Canadian National Railway's 1.8% dividend yield is not the highest, we think its lengthy payment history is quite interesting. The company also returned around 2.1% of its market capitalisation to shareholders in the form of stock buybacks over the past year. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Canadian National Railway for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Canadian National Railway!

TSX:CNR Historical Dividend Yield, January 1st 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Looking at the data, we can see that 33% of Canadian National Railway's profits were paid out as dividends in the last 12 months. This is a medium payout level that leaves enough capital in the business to fund opportunities that might arise, while also rewarding shareholders. One of the risks is that management reinvests the retained capital poorly instead of paying a higher dividend.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Canadian National Railway paid out 67% of its cash flow as dividends last year, which is within a reasonable range for the average corporation. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Story continues

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Canadian National Railway's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Canadian National Railway's dividend payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CA$0.51 in 2010, compared to CA$2.15 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 16% a year over that time.

Dividends have been growing pretty quickly, and even more impressively, they haven't experienced any notable falls during this period.

Dividend Growth Potential

Dividend payments have been consistent over the past few years, but we should always check if earnings per share (EPS) are growing, as this will help maintain the purchasing power of the dividend. It's good to see Canadian National Railway has been growing its earnings per share at 15% a year over the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing at a good rate, and the company is paying less than half its earnings as dividends. We generally think this is an attractive combination, as it permits further reinvestment in the business.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Canadian National Railway's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Canadian National Railway's dividend payout ratios are within normal bounds, although we note its cash flow is not as strong as the income statement would suggest. That said, we were glad to see it growing earnings and paying a fairly consistent dividend. Overall we think Canadian National Railway scores well on our analysis. It's not quite perfect, but we'd definitely be keen to take a closer look.

Earnings growth generally bodes well for the future value of company dividend payments. See if the 24 Canadian National Railway analysts we track are forecasting continued growth with our free report on analyst estimates for the company.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Days after Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav indicated rationalisation of fares to enhance revenue, the cost of passenger tickets went up a tad with immediate effect. It was certainly not a New Years gift, as fares were jacked up from 1 to 4 paise per km in all categories except suburban sections and season tickets. Yadav though received the gift of an extension of tenure by a year.

Hiking railway passenger fares has never been popular, which is why governments often opt to do it before the general budget, which is generally populist. For passengers travelling in ordinary non-AC classes, the increase is 1 paisa per km. Fares for Mail/Express non-AC classes will go up by 2 paise per km and for AC classes by 4 paise per km. A back-of-the-envelope calculation for the Delhi-Kolkata Rajdhani Express, which covers a distance of 1,447 km, suggests the hike for a passenger from Delhi to Kolkata would be around Rs 58 (1,447 X 4 paise).

The fare hike will make the problem of attracting passengers that much more difficult for the Railways, which is already facing a serious challenge from budget air carriers. The increase in fares will apply for tickets bought on or after January 1. No difference of fare will be charged from passengers who booked their tickets before January 1. The last fare revision was done in 2014-15 when passenger fare was raised by 14.2 per cent and freight by 6.5 per cent.

At a glance

Class Hike

Ordinary non-AC 1 paisa per km

Mail/Exp Non-AC 2 paise per km

AC classes 4 paise per km
As the sky turned dark and a thick haze choked the air below, bushfires closed in on a small coastal town in southeast Australia. Chad Staples and his staff at Mogo Wildlife Park were running out of options; the local zoo, home to the countrys largest private collection of exotic animals, resembled the fiery frontlines in an end-of-times battle.

With evacuation orders in place and flames burning everything in their path, zoo workers stayed behind, coaxing lions and orangutans into areas of the park they knew would be safe.

But there were others  red pandas, monkeys, a tiger  that still needed someplace to ride out the deadly fires ravaging Victoria and New South Wales.

So the staff took some of the animals home with them, converting houses into wildlife refugee camps. They rallied to save a number of beloved creatures that would have otherwise added to a death toll that already includes at least three people, legions of livestock and possibly thousands of koalas.

As of early Wednesday morning, local time, every one of the roughly 200 animals was safe.

Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the state of New South Wales on 31 December 2019 AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billows from a huge bushfire that has torched over 200,000 acres of land in East Gipplsand, Victoria on 2 January EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Residents look on as flames tear through bushland in Lake Tabouriee, Australia on 4 January on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola on 2 January Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter tackles a bushfire in East Gippsland, Victoria on 31 December EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter gives water to a parched koala in Cudlee Creek, South Australia AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters tackle a blaze as it tears through a farm in New South Wales on 21 December AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky is turned red over East Gippsland as fires continue to rage through Australian bushland on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A kangaroo near bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale State Government of Victoria/EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters work to tackle a blaze on the outskirts of Sydney on 31 December 2019 Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a bushfire on the outskirts of the town of Bargo near Sydney Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A satellite image of the Batemans Bay showing smoke and fire from wild bushfires European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data via REUTERS Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The afternoon sky glows red from bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria Jonty Smith via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The remains of burnt out buildings along a main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales NSW Rural Fire Service/AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale Glen Morey via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Business owners stand in front of their shop which was destroyed by a bushfire in Cobargo EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter dumping water on a fire in Victoria's East Gippsland region Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Think smoke from bushfires fills the air in eastern Gippsland Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures "Carmelised" snow caused by dust from Australian bushfires is seen near Franz Josef glacier in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. More than 800,000 hectares have been burnt in East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures LIFES.A.BREEZE via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke and wildfire rage behind Lake Conjola Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A house and van are seen destroyed after bushfires ravaged the town of Bilpin, west of Sydney AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region State Government of Victoria/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Amy, left, and Ben Spencer sit at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property under threat from the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The main street of the New South Wales town of Bombala is pictured shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires AFP via Getty

Staples, the zoo's director, described an Ark-like scene: Right now, in my house, theres animals of all descriptions in all the different rooms so that they're safe and protected, he told Australian Broadcasting Company. No one is hurt, not a single animal, Staples said.

Hes currently housing several species of small monkeys and some of the pandas. And another staffer is keeping a tiger in their backyard, a spokeswoman for Featherdale Wildlife, which owns the Mogo Zoo, told BBC.

Incredible effort by amazing team of passionate keepers today, the zoo said in a tweet. Every animal is safe and in wonderful care.

The zoos larger animals  its giraffes, zebras and rhinos  couldnt be relocated. Instead, zoo staff sheltered them in place and went about defending the park like the Castle Grayskull.

Staples told the Illawarra Mercury newspaper that his employees had spent the last week planning for the worst. When it came this week, they sprang into action, spraying down grass and animal shelters to stop the blaze from spreading.

Volunteers flocked there, too, helping zookeepers stamp out spot fires that cropped up around the property, working from early Tuesday into the night, until winds changed and a once dire forecast turned more favorable.

A couple of hours ago, it felt like armageddon here, Staples told ABC. It was black as midnight, with tinges of red. It was like we were fighting fires in the darkness.

He said his staff defended this place like it was their family.

By Tuesday evening, Staples said they would remain vigilant but are hopeful that the zoo has escaped tragedy. Asked in his ABC interview what else his staff needs, Staples echoed the New Years wish of most in the country: Rain would be nice.

The Washington Post
Interfaith initiatives have become ubiquitous in American life. In large cities and small towns, there is an expectation that community religious leaders must come together to discuss their similarities and minimize their differences. But these efforts become a hindrance when they are used to ignore and disguise extremism and hatred, rather than expose and combat it.

Over the past several months, our organization, the Counter-Islamist Grid (CIG), which focuses on Islamist extremist networks in cities across the country, undertook a project to write to members of the Richardson Interfaith Alliance, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, in order to appraise them of radical statements being made by some of their interfaith partners, most notably the Islamic Association of North Texas (also located in Richardson, Texas).

We later published an article about some of these radical interfaith participants and their public utterances and provided documentation and screenshots of the radical anti-Christian and anti-Jewish statements made by those who were supposedly true interfaith partners.

The responses we received to these letters have been instructive. Almost to a person, the leaders of the organizations we wrote defended and explained away the extremism, despite clear published hatred for members of other faiths.

These responses ranged from mere ad hominem attacks on our motivations to appeals to authority and citing the personal experiences of the participants as superior to actual evidence.

One lead pastor we wrote to let us know that he was friends with the imam and a layperson at East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) which made him, apparently, a superior judge of the character of Texas Islamic leaders.

He accused us of sowing division and concluded his note by informing us of his prayers that we lean on [our] faith and not on [our] fears.

Wed argue we are not leaning on fear, but rather reason, which seems a suitable basis upon which to begin interfaith discussion. Come now and let us reason together, as it says in the Book of Isaiah (1:18).

And there is much to reason out. For example, how can this interfaith pastor be so certain that the East Plano Islamic Center has no extremist sympathies, when earlier this year the mosque hired two well-known hardline Salafi clerics, Yasir Qadhi and Yusha Evans?

My colleague David Swindle documented some of the most radical sermons of EPICs new resident scholar in his 2017 article Hardline Salafist Yasir Qadhi Headlines Islamic Society of Bostons Ramadan Fundraiser.

Qadhis sermons illustrate the extreme views he holds on nonbelievers and transgressors of Islamic law.

As Swindle notes, at the 66:26 mark in this sermon, Qadhi states:

this is part of our religion to stone the adulterer and to chop the hand off of the sorcerer and so many other things, and to kill, by the way, the homosexual -- this is also our religion This doesnt mean we go and do this in America but Im saying if we had an Islamic state we would do this.

In another sermon, Qadhi attacks Christianity as an evil lie and states that any Christian who believes in the Trinity is getting his information from Satan.

To say that Allah has a child cannot come from the intellect they [Christians] literally invent it from their mouths Its just words. Its hot speech When the mountains hear that certain beings [Christians] attribute a child to Allah, those mountains they want to crumble What a monstrosity comes from their mouths. What an evil lie their mouth utters. Anyone who says Allah has a child or children or daughters or sons, this is not true. This person is getting his information from Shaytan [Satan].

Like Yasir Qadhi, EPICs recently hired youth minister Yusha Evans also has made some troubling statements. For example, in December 2013, Evans was called out for the following Facebook post:

One thing that sickens my heart is watching muslims [sic] have love and affection for disbelief and disbelievers and being so quick to jump to the aid of falsehood. We are to have aversion and hatred for shirk and disbelief and falsehood.

At the 32:33 mark in this sermon on YouTube, Evans discusses Islamic eschatology and the moment when Isa [Jesus] will abolish Christianity by breaking the cross and saying I was never crucified.

On his own website, Evans describes Christians and Jews as kafir and proceeds to explain:

It is not permissible for any Muslim man or woman to join the Christians, Jews or other kafirs in their festivals, rather that must be avoided, because the prophet, peace be upon him, warned us Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them. Islam is against imitating them and adopting their ways. So, the believer man or woman, must beware of that; it is not permissible to help them in doing that in any way, because these festivals are against shareeah (Islamic law).

Evans advocates a strict separation between Muslims and nonbelievers for fear of contamination. The separation he advocates is a kind of self-preservation to maintain sharia. These are hardly the views of moderates anxious to engage in interfaith dialogue.

In any case, the facts are that pastors who participate in interfaith partnerships like the Richardson Interfaith Alliance continue to support Islamic centers that preach hatred. No amount of screenshots, videos, or other documentation sent their way seemed to change their view. They refuse to consider the social media footprint and YouTube trail freely available to anyone curious enough to find it. Engaging in interfaith dialogue with partners like EPIC and IANT protects these mosques and extremist clerics from criticism and investigation. They also alienate actual moderate Muslims who see such radicals being hailed as appropriate partners. Qadhi and Evans hiring earlier this year suggests that East Plano Islamic Centers Islamism continues to fly below the radar, aided and abetted by those who can no longer say that they didnt know.

Anne-Christine Hoff is the Dallas associate of the Counter Islamist Grid. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
BJP MP Mansukh Vasava has alleged that the police in Gujarat's Bharuch district have threatened some tribal families for alleged encroachment on government land.

In a Facebook post, Vasava, former Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, said he would join these families' fight against the police's "tyranny".

Bharuch Superintendent of Police Rajendrasinh Chudasama, however, refuted Vasava's claims.

"Seven tribal families have lived in shanties near Bharuch SP headquarters for last 60-70 years. The land belongs to the government, but the district SP and police inspector have been threatening them with a warning to remove these shanties," Vasava said in his Facebook post on Tuesday.

The police were going ahead with planned demolition without "taking into consideration their appeals and without providing any alternative accommodation", the MP alleged.

"Tribals in the area have expressed anger...and I will also join their fight against tyranny of police officials," he said.

SP Chudasama said the MP had received "misleading representation".

"While securing the compound wall of our headquarters, we found some families living illegally on the premises, with no documents to prove ownership, and we have served them notices for vacating the land," he said.

"Some of these occupants are retired policemen who have constructed shanties with the sole intention to encroach upon the land despite having pucca houses in the city," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Congress legislator Sangram Thopat on Wednesday condemned the alleged vandalism of Congress office by his supporters after he was not accorded the ministerial berth.

This office was destroyed days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his ministry by inducting 36 ministers.

"What has happened is wrong and condemnable. Whatever decision leadership arrived on I agreed to that and I will agree with it in future too," Thopat said. The purported incident took place on Tuesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Chhattisgarh government has decided to launch schemes offering fixed compensation for registered construction and unorganised labourers in the event of death on work or disability.

Under the schemes, dependents of a worker who dies in an accident at work will be given Rs 1 lakh compensation and Rs 50,000 in case of injury leading to disability.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday, an official said.

The 'Mukhyamantri Vishwakarma Nirman Shramik Mrityu evam Divyang Sahayta Yojana' will cover registered construction labourers, he said.

This scheme will be implemented by the Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board of the Labour Department.

Labourers registered under the Chhattisgarh Unorganised Labourer Social Security Board will be compensated under 'MukhyamatriAsangathit Karmkaar Mrityu evam Divyang Sahayta Yojana', he said.

"Under these schemes, if a registered construction or unorganised labourer dies in accident at work at work, his family will be given financial aid of Rs 1 lakh while a sum of Rs 50,000 has been provisioned in case of disability caused to a worker due to accident," he said.

These schemes would benefit around 36 lakh workers in the age group of 18-60 years.

However, the financial aid under the two schemes will not be provided in cases of death due to consumption of intoxicants, suicide, or brawl among labourers, the official explained.

In rural areas, these measures will be implemented after expiry of the model code of conduct which is in force for the elections to Panchayat bodies scheduled to be held during January-February period.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
General Bipin Rawat, who took charge as the countrys first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) on Wednesday, said the job of the forces is to keep away from politics.

We keep ourselves away from politics. We work as per directives of government in power, General Rawat said when asked about reports that the armed forces are being politicised.

The Chief of Defence Staff will remain neutral. He will be neutral to all the three services, within his own service, General Rawat further said.

Watch l We stay away from politics: Gen Bipin Rawat takes charges as Indias 1st CDS

General Rawats remarks come days after he publicly condemned those leading violent protests, asserting that leadership wasnt about guiding people to carry out arson and violence, comments that were widely seen as being aimed at the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests across India.

Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate direction. We are witnessing in large number of universities and colleges that students are leading masses and crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns. This is not leadership, General Rawat said at an event in Delhi on December 26 as Army chief. He demitted the office on December 31 after serving as Army chief for three years.

The comments by the General drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders and also senior retired officers. They were seen as being of a political nature.

Since when have Army Chiefs started commenting about internal affairs. It undermines Civil-Military Relations whose cornerstone is that Armed Forces neither comment or interfere in domestic politics. This has been our singular success going back to 1947, Congress leader Manish Tewari said on Twitter.

Leadership is knowing the limits of ones office. It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you head, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted.

In a statement, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also unequivocally condemned Rawats remarks.

A top retired officer said such comments were avoidable as it projected the military as partisan, especially at a time when strong political positions have been taken on the controversial issue.

The army establishment was quick to clarify that General Rawat had neither referred to CAA nor any political event or personality. It added Rawat was addressing the future citizens of India who are students.

After Parliament approved amendments to the citizenship law earlier this month, violent protests have taken place across the country. Multiple protesters have been killed and injured in these protests, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Just days after a Journal story revealed that criminal records expungement petitions would be automatically sealed from the public before a judge considered their merit, the state Administrative Office of the Courts announced a reversal of the proposed practice Tuesday.

The automatic sealing, which is awaiting approval by the state Supreme Court, would have added another layer of confidentiality to the new sweeping criminal expungement law that takes effect Wednesday.

Until the Supreme Court has approved new rules, recommendations from the Administrative Office of the Courts will not be put into place for the sealing of expungement petitions, AOC spokesman Barry Massey said Tuesday.

Under the recommendation now on hold, court hearings on such petitions would be open to the public. But because the petitions would be sealed, there would be no notice of the hearings on public court docket sheets. As a result, the public wouldnt know when or where the hearings would occur.

The decision by the AOC to wait until the Supreme Court decides to act was lauded by the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government.

Theres no accountability when even the process is sealed, said Melanie Majors, FOG executive director. Without an open process, how is the public to know what this law is designed to do and that it is not being abused? The process needs to remain open until a record is actually expunged.

Under the new expungement law, New Mexico courts can limit public access to a wide range of public arrest and conviction records after a waiting period. There are some exceptions for convictions for crimes against children, offenses that caused great bodily harm or death to another person, certain sex offenses, embezzlement or DWIs.

People seeking to remove all public documentation of their arrests or convictions can file a petition on their own, or through their lawyers, under the law, signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in April. The records can still be used internally by law enforcement and courts.

The Legislature left it up to the AOC and the state Department of Public Safety to develop rules to implement the law.

As a result, the AOC had proposed that courts around the state seal the petitions at the time they are filed with clerks offices, the Journal reported Sunday.

The law requires the petitioners to present documentation to the judge showing their records are eligible for expungement. A judge is supposed to ensure there are no outstanding criminal charges against the person and render a decision in 30 days. The proposed AOC rules would also have required automatic sealing of expungement petitions that were denied.

But Massey told the Journal on Tuesday, There will be no automatic sealing of any petitions, including those not granted.

Celina Jones, an AOC attorney, told the Journal last month that a judges user committee had agreed with the AOC idea of sealing the petitions from the outset. That committee of about 20 judges helps advise the Supreme Court on court operations and procedures.

But Massey said Tuesday that another group  the Supreme Courts committee on Rules of Civil Procedure for State Courts  will be considering whether changes are needed in the rules of procedure because of the expungement law.

And any rules proposed would be subject to the Supreme Courts rule-making process, which includes publishing them for a public comment period. The Supreme Court makes the final decision.

Currently, there are court rules that allow for the sealing of court records in civil proceedings, but thats not automatic. A party in the case or member of the public must first make a sealing request, and the motion must be approved by a judge.

I can understand the courts hesitance to categorically seal all of the petitions to expunge, said Christopher Dodd, New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association board member.

But he said he hopes the court understands that granting a petition to expunge and then leaving it unsealed and available to the public would render the process meaningless.

He anticipates petitioners and attorneys having to file a motion to seal the proceedings along with their petition to expunge.

If the court grants the petition to expunge, I would anticipate that the court would also grant the motion to seal, he said.

The state judiciary has provided forms on its website for people who want to file petitions.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump played down rhetorical attacks from Kim Jong Un as the end-of-the-year holidays passed Wednesday without any new nuclear tests in North Korea  but with threats of future ones.

"If the U.S. persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK (North Korea), there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula," the Korean Central News Agency said, quoting Kim as he announced he no longer feels bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear testing.

Trump, speaking with reporters at his annual New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, said he still has "a very good relationship" with Kim, with whom he has met three times.

"He likes me, I like him, we get along," Trump said, adding: "He did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization. ... I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out."

In announcing that his moratorium on nuclear testing is no longer operative, Kim also told a meeting of ruling party officials in North Korea he would unveil a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, the state news agency said. Kim had given the United States an end-of-the-year deadline to reduce economic sanctions on his country or face the prospect of new nuclear tests.

President Donald Trump and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore in 2018.

"The DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy," the Korean Central News Agency reported Kim as saying.

Trump administration officials had feared such a test during the holiday  a North Korea official had threatened a "Christmas gift" to the U.S.  but nothing had happened as midnight passed in North Korea.

In speaking with reporters, Trump joked that he hoped Kim's "Christmas present" was "a beautiful vase ... as opposed to something else."

Trump remains hopeful of a denuclearization agreement with North Korea, though critics say Kim's government has continued to develop nuclear programs even after the two leaders signed a document at their first summit in June of 2018. The two men also met in 2019 in Vietnam and at the North Korea-South Korea border.

Story continues

While Trump often cites the Singapore agreement as a hopeful sign, critics pointed out that it was nonspecific and nonbinding when it came to North Korea giving up nuclear weapons.

"Kim signed nothing binding regarding nukes or missiles. No Kim ever has," tweeted Robert E. Kelly, professor of political science at Pusan National University in South Korea.

He added: "And Republicans used to know that the Kims shouldnt be trusted. But now the GOPs a cult of personality, right? So if the great leader says its true, it must be so."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump downplays nuclear threats from North Korea's Kim Jong Un
SEOUL, South Korea  North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, has long threatened to find a new way if the United States persists with sanctions. And when North Korea announced his revolutionary new way on Wednesday, the strategy revealed both a defiance and a deep caution in confronting President Trump.

Mr. Kim vowed, in a lengthy policy statement, to expand his countrys nuclear force, making vague threats to show off a new strategic weapon in the near future and shift to a shocking actual action. He warned that North Korea would not be bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range ballistic missile tests.

But he also moderated those threats by leaving out the specifics. Mr. Kim did not explicitly say that he was formally lifting the test moratorium or that he was terminating diplomacy. Instead, he said his efforts to expand his nuclear weapons capabilities could be adjusted depending on the U.S. future attitude.

Its a wait-and-see approach that leaves room for more negotiations.

Analysts say that Mr. Kim is making a calculation against the backdrop of the political uncertainty in the United States, where Mr. Trump faces both a Senate impeachment trial and an election. The North Korean leader, they said, doesnt necessarily want to rush to strike a deal that could be overturned if Mr. Trump does not win a second term.
On the first day of the new year, the Delhi Police held its first event at the swanky auditorium at its new headquarters here where Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik motivated his staff to follow the principles of India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Patnaik commended his ground staff for maintaining law and order and in regulating traffic, which he said forms the overall image of Delhi Police.

While extending greetings to police personnel and their family members, he also underlined the outstanding performance of field formations for successfully handling challenges while working as a team.

This was the first-ever function to be organized at the auditorium at the Delhi Police's new headquarters at Jai Singh Road. The new auditorium has been named after Sardar Patel.

Patnaik asserted that Delhi Police should follow the principles of Sardar Patel and his commitment towards work.

Recalling India's first Home Minister, the Delhi Police Commissioner said Sardar Patel had blessed Delhi Police at an event in 1950 and gave an inspirational address.

Sardar Patel had a vision about the role of Delhi Police which stands relevant even today and motivates the force to rise to the occasion while facing new challenges, Patnaik said.

He also commended the Establishment Branch for putting strenuous efforts as more than 4,500 personnel of all ranks received timely promotions, which also includes 18 DANIPS officers promoted to IPS cadre.

As many as 209 personnel have also been provided jobs on compassionate grounds, he added.

"The work of Delhi city will be difficult for the Delhi Police force for multifarious reasons, but the way you have handled such situations, I would like to thank you," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon speaks during an interview with Yonhap at his office in Seoul, Dec. 26. Yonhap



By Park Ji-won, Kim Yoo-chul



Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is clearly holding his ground this year as the "right candidate" for the next South Korean leader.



The latest Realmeter poll showed the outgoing PM leading among other ruling Democratic Party Korea (DPK) and main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) politicians as South Korea's next presidential candidate with support of 29.1 percent, compared with 20.1 percent for LKP chief Hwang Kyo-ahn and 8.8 percent for Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. Lee has led his rivals for seven consecutive months.



Now, Lee is set to be a DPK candidate in a key Seoul precinct in the crucial April general election. Political analysts say chances are very high that the PM will be elected.



Lee, the longest serving prime minister since South Korea adopted a direct presidential election system in 1987, broke his silence about the next stage in his political career, saying in a recent interview that he would run in the general election in the Jongno district.



Former National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun holds the seat, but as President Moon Jae-in nominated Chung as the next prime minister, if the Assembly approves Chung for the position a few weeks before the election comes up, Lee will run in the election.



In South Korea where power is concentrated in the executive, the prime minister is a largely symbolic post and the only Cabinet member position whose nomination requires Assembly approval. In general, minister-designates must undergo a confirmation hearing at the Assembly, but the President is not bound by any recommendations made and can appoint nominees to the assigned posts despite Assembly disapproval, as Moon has done so in previous cases.



Lee told JTBC he was "put in the situation" to run in Jongno.



"Of course, the final adjustments should be made in consideration of the Assembly schedules and the DPK's decisions," he added when asked about whether his candidacy for the general election has been confirmed.



The Jongno district has been one of the key battlefields for the general election as it has been filled by political heavyweights or potential presidential hopefuls who later became president such as Roh Moo-hyun and Lee Myung-bak.



The DPK has recently been battered by problems with powerful potential presidential hopefuls due to a series of scandals. An Hee-jung, a former governor of South Chungcheong Province and widely regarded as a DPK presidential candidate was jailed for sexually assaulting his secretary.



The general election is widely regarded a key barometer of public opinion of the Moon administration for the second half of his term. Despite Moon's initial rapid diplomatic rapprochement with North Korea when he took office in 2017, no visible results have been seen and inter-Korean relations have worsened recently. The economy is also in bad shape, and soaring apartment prices are contributing to the denting of Moon's job approval ratings.



The DPK and presidential aides are aiming to "declare victory" in the April general election to prevent the President from earning lame duck status, and to move forward with Moon's "engagement-centric" inter-Korean initiatives.



Critics were divided over Lee's next political steps.



Some said Lee may quit his past position ahead of the elections to position himself as the DPK candidate for the country's presidential election in 2022 while the party is not enjoying overwhelming public support. In the meantime, other views were that he may not make such a bold decision risking criticism for "deserting" the office.



"Through campaigning for the upcoming election, he is apparently trying to create a political force within the party supportive of him, which could help his potential presidential bid in the future," said Choi Young-il, a political analyst.



Lee began building his career as a journalist, before becoming a lawmaker, governor and prime minister. Until taking the PM position, Lee had long been considered a minor figure within the DPK with a small political faction mostly because of his rejection to join the then-ruling Uri Party under the Roh Moo-hyun administration.



"Of course, the election campaign is a double-edged sword; if it ends up with bad results, Lee needs to take responsibility for it and ruins his political career. However, there is no way but to take that risk If he is able to create a support group through this election, he would get some momentum toward the presidential election," Choi said. He added that the April election will not give the party an easy victory as there is still a chance for the LKP to seek a coalition among conservative forces.



Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, expected Lee won't take "risks" by running in the April election.



"If he resigns as prime minister, he will be considered as an irresponsible person giving up on the administration. In that case, people will not consider him as a potential presidential hopeful. Even if things go well and the Assembly approves Chung's nomination, the DPK will not support Lee because he is not part of the pro-Moon faction," Shin said.




Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, says he will remain a pain to his haters if they do not repent in 2020. Fayose sa...



Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, says he will remain a pain to his haters if they do not repent in 2020. Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state, says he will remain a pain to his haters if they do not repent in 2020.





Fayose said this in a New Year message he posted on his Twitter page.





He wondered how far his haters would go in their plots against him.





In this year 2020, God will give you victory over every oppression that has inflicted your life with hunger, sufferings and wants. He will take you to the greatest height of success, Fayose wrote.







He will return Nigeria to the path of peace, progress and unity. Happy New Year.





Once again, Happy New Year to everyone, particularly my haters politically or otherwise. How far can you go in your machinations? Definitely nowhere.





Remember; He that is blessed of God cannot be cursed. I will remain your headache in 2020 if you dont repent.

In this year 2020, God will give you victory over every oppression that has inflicted your life with hunger, sufferings and wants. He will take you to the greatest height of success.



He will return Nigeria to the path of peace, progress and unity.



Happy New Year.  Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 1, 2020

Once again, Happy New Year to everyone, particularly my haters politically or otherwise. How far can you go in your machinations? Definitely nowhere ...Remember; "He that is blessed of God cannot be cursed."



I will remain your headache in 2020 if you dont repent.  Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) January 1, 2020

Fayose, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering, told a federal high court in Lagos court that he was sick.





On December 7, the court granted him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment.





However, a picture of him relaxing on a beach abroad has surfaced online.





He was also spotted dancing salsa on a cruise ship with a lady.





Some Nigerians have accused him of deceiving the court.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday postponed a trip to Ukraine, the country at the heart of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, after an attack on the American embassy in Iraq, the State Department announced. Pompeo had been due to travel at week's end to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus. But on Tuesday, a mob of pro-Iran demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Baghdad over American airstrikes that killed two dozen paramilitary fighters. Pompeo's travel was pushed back "due to the need for the secretary to be in Washington, DC to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus announced. "Secretary Pompeo's trip will be rescheduled in the near future and he looks forward to the visit at that time," she added. The trip would have made Pompeo the most senior US official to visit Kiev since a scandal erupted in 2019 over a controversial phone call in which Trump allegedly tried to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to find dirt on Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. Pompeo, a staunch Trump defender, was set to meet with Zelensky and other top Ukrainian officials, Ortagus said Monday when the trip was first announced. But the following day, the embassy in Baghdad was besieged. Demonstrators finally left on Wednesday. No US personnel were injured in the attack and US officials said they had no plans to evacuate. Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on December 18 and faces trial in the Senate, possibly later this month, though top Democratic and Republican lawmakers are still sparring over how it will be conducted.
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Dami Kohli, a Pakistani Hindu refugee, was allegedly asked by Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education to provide eligibility certificate to appear for board examination of 12th standard scheduled later this year.



However, State Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara has said that the girl will be allowed to appear in the examination even if the government has to change rules.

Dami, who came to India from Sindh in Pakistan a few years ago fleeing religious persecution, completed her 10th from Pakistan.

She is living in Aanganwa refugee camp, around 20 km from Jodhpur, and got admission in a local school in the science stream in the 11th standard.

"I took admission in the school in 2018. I studied there for the whole year and passed the 11th standard. I have my mark-sheet also. Only one month are left for board exams and the school has given me a notice stating that I will not be allowed to appear for the examination," Dami told ANI here.

"I have given all the proofs. I should also get the right to education," she added.

Dotasara said a letter has been written to the Pakistani embassy seeking details of their syllabus.

"She completed X from Pakistani board and now wants to appear for 12th board exams in Rajasthan. We have written a letter to the Pakistani embassy seeking information about their syllabus. We are comparing our syllabus with theirs," he said.

"If we get a positive response from them, we will definitely allow her. Even if we get a negative response from them, we will change rules and will allow her," Dotasara said.

The board had rejected her exam form as she had passed the tenth standard from Pakistan.

The Congress government in 2011 had issued a circular in favour of such students due to their special circumstances.

Kohli's father said that her daughter got a notice from school which stated that she will not be allowed to give board exams.

Hindu Singh Sodha, convenor, Seemant Lok Sangathan, said that Dami had migrated with her family from Sindh due to religious persecution there.

"She had completed her 10th exam there. She has also had a transfer certificate. She had done all the formalities which were required. I am really shocked to see that Board has returned her form and with certain objection... I don't what kind of formalities they need," he said. (ANI)


A newborn girl who was critically injured when a fire broke out in the neonatal care unit of a hospital in Rajasthan's Alwar on Tuesday has succumbed to injuries

Jaipur: A newborn girl who was critically injured when a fire broke out in the neonatal care unit of a hospital in Rajasthan's Alwar on Tuesday has succumbed to injuries, an official said on Wednesday.

The baby girl was admitted with 70 percent burn injuries at a Jaipur hospital and was on ventilator support. There were 15 infants admitted to the neonatal care unit of the Geetanand hospital in Alwar when the fire broke out in an oxygen pipeline connected to a radiant warmer around 5 am on Tuesday.

The girl, who was being treated for pneumonia, had burn injuries on her face, chest and shoulder, while others were shifted to other units, an official had said. "The girl has died today," JK Lon hospital superintendent Ashok Gupta said.

Meanwhile, a three-member committee, headed by the health department's joint director, found negligence on part of the unit incharge and nursing incharge of the hospital. "Sparking occurred in the panel of radiant warmer due to high voltage. It led to fire in the hood of oxygen pipe," Alwar Chief Medical and Health Officer OP Meena said. "The panel was not properly maintained and the unit incharge and nursing incharge are responsible for that."

State Health Minister Raghu Sharma said action against the officials responsible would be taken. "The death of the girl is very painful. The action against those responsible will be taken today," the minister said.
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. (AP)  Police in suburban St. Louis on Tuesday shot and killed someone who authorities say drove a stolen vehicle into an officer, rolling him onto the hood.

The police officer is hospitalized with what authorities are calling non-life-threatening injuries after the altercation outside an outlet mall in Chesterfield, Missouri.
Although the immediate sense of crisis appeared to have passed, the conclusion of the siege did not herald a solution to the wider problem of the growing friction in Iraq between the United States and Iran. There is a force of about 5,000 American troops in Iraq to help Iraqi security forces in the fight against the Islamic State. Iran, meanwhile, wields vast military influence in Iraq through a network of militias that, although nominally under the authority of Iraqi security forces, owe allegiance to Iran.
A pretrial hearing is set for a 55-year-old Saginaw man accused of transferring ownership of his 94-year-old great-aunts vintage mustang and Gladwin house to himself, and cleaning-out her savings account, after serving as her durable power of attorney for 18 months.

A 1:30 Feb. 25 pretrial hearing is set for Rickey Bradford Willson in Genesee Countys 7th Circuit Court. Willson was charged in April with four felony citations, including two counts of embezzlement of $100,000, one for falsifying vehicle title and one for embezzlement over $1,000 and less than $20,000. The incidents date back to around Nov. 24, 2015.

Willsons attorney, Peter Samouris, filed a motion in October to exclude certain plaintiff witnesses and to strike all documents pertaining to the plaintiffs power of attorney from being presented, introduced or even mentioned at a jury trial. Such motions will be heard by Judge Richard Yuille at Willsons pretrial hearing.

Willson remains out of jail on a $40,000 personal recognizance bond.

At the time of Willsons arrest, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is prosecuting the case, lashed out at Willson. Nessel said instead of protecting his aunt, he transferred $120,000 in cash from his aunts bank account to his own, signed a quit claim deed to sign her house and 1967 Ford Mustang convertible into his own name.

If found guilty, Wilson faces up to 20 years in prison on the first two counts of embezzlement and/or up to $50,000 in fines or three times the embezzlement amount  whichever is greater. For intent to pass a false title, he could face 10 years in prison and/or $5,000 fine. On the fourth count, embezzlement by an agent or trustee of more than $1,000 and less than $20,000, Willson could face five years and/or $10,000 or three times the amount embezzled  whichever is greater.

Nessel joined the case one day after she joined forces with the Michigan Supreme Court, legislative and executive branches of government, and advocacy groups to establish an elder abuse task force. She deems the case a classic example of financial elder abuse, where a trusted relative takes advantage.

The attorney general said the suspect literally took everything from the victim, her car, her house and drained her savings account. His actions were discovered because the victim found things amiss.

Michigan residents can anonymously report any signs or concerns about elder abuse to the Michigan Department of Attorney General by calling 800-24-ABUSE 800-242-2873 or online at mi.gov/elderabuse.
Few minutes before midnight on Wednesday, the road outside Jamia Millia Islamia was reverberating with cheers from the audience as performers on stage sang parody songs criticising government policies. The scene changed as the clock struck 12.

Phones went up in the air to record the moment, a person who was unfurling the tricolour near Jamias main gate took a pause, hijab-clad women holding their babies adjusted themselves, and soon they began singing the national anthem. As soon as the national anthem ended, they erupted into chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Inquilaab Zindabaad.

Class 8 student Aliza Haider was among the protesters who had come to attend the New Year Revolution programme organised by Jamia students on Tuesday night. With a candle in one hand and a placard in another, she stood a few steps away from the large poster of BR Ambedkar hung near the varsitys gate number 7.

Generally, we go to the New Friends Colony community centre for New Year celebrations. But this year, we came here because this is more important. It took a lot of effort to prepare our Constitution, we cannot let it go in vain or let anybody change it, said Haider.

Hundreds of others like Haider have been participating in the demonstrations outside the varsity against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which began on December 15 after a violent clash between protesters and police injured dozens.

They entered the campus and beat up the students who were studying. If our children are not safe where they study, what should we celebrate? We are here to make our dissent known, said Maria Shaikh, a local resident.

The programme at Jamia, comprised of musical performances based on the theme of revolution, ended a little after midnight with protesters giving a call to move to Shaheen Bagh - where locals have engaged in an indefinite sit-in, blocking the arterial GD Birla Marg for 17 days now. Around 200 shops in the area, including major factory outlets, have been shut for over two weeks incurring huge losses. The protesters, however, have one thing to say: We wont budge unless the CAA is repealed. Last week, the Delhi Police had written to the protesters urging them to clear the road because the sit-in protest has blocked an important road - Number 13A - that connects Delhi and Noida. For the last 17 days, the traffic police have diverted the traffic from 13A to other roads leading to traffic jams in many parts of south Delhi.

Like Jamia, Shaheen Bagh too welcomed the new year with the national anthem followed by a night full of revolutionary songs and poems interspersed with tea, biryani, and ice-cream breaks for all who thronged the spot. The crowds started swelling around midnight as people from different parts of the city reached Shaheen Bagh to show their solidarity including activists like Harsh Mander, Kafeel Khan, Yogendra Yadav, and actor Zeeshan Ayyub. Protesters were also collecting messages in a cardboard box which they plan to send to Prime Minister Narendra Modis office.

Natasha, a PhD scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, was among those who said she had ditched house party to welcome the new year at Shaheen Bagh. I was not in Delhi when these protests started. I reached Delhi on Monday and knew I had to come here. The energy here is exploding. People are exposing their kids here to the things happening in our lives which is extremely important. The protests here give me hope as they bring a discourse on resistance, she said.

With tricolour painted on her cheeks, Sumaiya Khan, 18, was among the protesters who regularly came to Shaheen Bagh. One of the most significant things is that women of Shaheen Bagh are out to protest. Earlier, our mothers wouldnt allow us to step out of our houses so late. But now, they ask us to wait till they finish our chores and join us, she said while heading home at 2 am.

Her cousin Shaba Naaz, 17, from Jharkhand added that generally they go home by 11 pm but decided to stay till late past midnight on Tuesday. New Year celebration is not just about dancing and going out. Coming here to save our Constitution is more important. We are medical aspirants. Conversations in our house have drifted towards what would happen if the National Register of Citizens (NRC) happens just before my exams in May. That is why these protests are crucial for everyone, she said.

While speaking about the women protesters at the spot who have been sitting there for days, the sisters said, There have been negative perceptions about those who wear hijab. This is why the protests are empowering for us. We all get to assert our voices here, she said.

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The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) rejected foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs in a statement in the small hours on Jan 1.

The statement was made in response to an open letter from a group of overseas politicians and persons to the HKSAR chief executive. The HKSAR government firmly refutes unfounded and misguided claims in the letter.

In the statement, a spokesperson of the HKSAR government said that over the past six months violence had escalated and reached an alarming level.

Masked rioters vandalized public facilities and shops, committed arson, hurled petrol bombs as well as wantonly attacked police officers and people with different views, the spokesperson said.

An innocent man was set on fire in broad daylight by protesters while a government contract cleaner was killed by a brick thrown at him. So far, 520 police officers have been injured on duty. Meanwhile, no protesters were killed as a result of direct police action.

The extent of students and minors being involved in such violent protests is particularly worrying, the spokesperson added.

On New Year's Eve, rioters hurled petrol bombs in various districts, causing damage to a police vehicle and three private cars, according to Hong Kong police.

Despite the rampant violence, police exercised restraint in law enforcement, the spokesperson said, noting that police did not initiate actions against protesters and only responded with appropriate and proportionate force when protesters took part in illegal activities.

The actions and response of police over the Christmas period, and at all times over the past six months, were only in response to the blatant disregard for public safety and order by radical protesters, the spokesperson said, adding that police acted with restraint and the minimum force necessary to restore law and order.

The spokesperson further stated that the HKSAR government is determined to safeguard the core values of Hong Kong at all times as they are "the cornerstone of our long-term prosperity and stability."

Noting that the extensive media coverage -- local, international and in the digital world -- about the protests and events, the spokesperson said it is "unprecedented in Hong Kong's history."

"That in itself is evidence enough that the freedom of the press is well protected, and citizens of Hong Kong continue to enjoy the freedom of participating in lawful and peaceful demonstrations to express their views," the spokesperson said.
With the New Year officially upon us, many Brits are giving up meat as part of 'Veganuary' - and the UK's favourite chains have launched a range of plant-based treats just in time.

From McDonald's Veggie Dippers to Waitrose doubling its vegan range, several brands are getting in on the act as people give up animal products for the month.

It's no surprise food firms are embracing the campaign, after a record 250,000 people worldwide avoided meat, dairy and fish last year, according to the non-profit organisation 'Veganuary'.

And with numbers expected to be even bigger in 2020, FEMAIL looks at the vegan delights on offer throughout January...

Pizza Hut: Vegan Pepperoni pizza

With the New Year upon us, many Brits are giving up meat as part of 'Veganuary' - and the UK's favourite chains have launched a range of plant-based treats just in time. Pizza Hut have launched the new Vegan Pepperphoni Pizza (pictured), priced from 11.69, and it is topped with meat-free Pepperphoni made from pea protein and Violife vegan cheese

Pizza Hut Restaurants has launched a new limited edition vegan pizza that aims to appease even the greatest meat lovers by claiming to taste just like the real thing.

The new Vegan Pepperphoni Pizza, priced from 11.69, is topped with meat-free Pepperphoni made from pea protein and Violife vegan cheese.

Available from January 1, for one month only, its the seventh Pizza to join the vegan menu, which also features a range of sides and desserts.

If a vegan option is too far from guests usual pizza order, Pepperphoni can also be ordered as a vegetarian option with mozzarella cheese.

McDonalds: Veggie Dippers Meal

The new McDonald's Veggie Dippers (pictured) - which have been approved by The Vegetarian Society and certified as vegan compliant - are available as both an adult meal and Happy Meal

'Veganuary' is expected to be even bigger in 2020, claims campaign organisers Toni Vernelli, Head of Communications at 'Veganuary', said: 'In 2019 over 250,000 signed up for the 'Veganuary' challenge and we anticipate this year to be even bigger. 'Its fantastic that McDonalds is releasing their new vegan Veggie Dippers at the start of 'Veganuary', as this will make it even easier for those taking up the challenge to find vegan meal options in their local area.' Advertisement

For flexitarians, vegetarians, vegans or those looking to make more meat-free choices during 'Veganuary', McDonalds will be offering their first ever fully vegan meal from January 2.

The new Veggie Dippers - which have been approved by The Vegetarian Society and certified as vegan compliant as well as gluten free - are available as both an adult meal and Happy Meal.

They are made with red pepper, rice, sundried tomato pesto and split peas surrounded by light and crispy breadcrumbs.

The dippers are now a permanent menu item so will remain available even after 'Veganuary' ends.

For four Veggie Dippers, fries and a soft drink the RRP is 4.99, while the veggie dippers Happy Meal will be 2.99. Alternatively, the four Veggie Dippers can be purchased separately for 3.29.

Waitrose: Crisp-Crumbed Fishless Goujons

Waitrose is introducing crisp-Crumbed Fishless Goujons, pictured, made from banana blossom, a natural ingredient found at the end of the banana fruit cluster with a flaky texture that mimics fish

This January, Waitrose & Partners will add over 30 new vegan products, doubling the range from last year - including the launch of Crisp-Crumbed Fishless Goujons.

Made from banana blossom, a natural ingredient found at the end of the banana fruit cluster, the vegan treat will have a flaky texture that mimics fish.

The new range - available online and in stores from January - also includes 'Vegan No Egg Fried Rice', cooked rice with tofu, petits pois, spring onion, ginger and sesame seed oil.

Sales for vegan and vegetarian products have increased in the last year, with vegan ready meals overtaking vegetarian for the first time ever, according to the retailer.

The full Waitrose vegan range to be released in January Fresh food Vegan Mince

Vegan Veggie balls

Vegan Marinated No Beef Chunks

Vegan No Chicken Crispy Slices

Vegan Tomato & Mascarfone sauce

Vegan Sweet Potato Katsu Curry with Sticky Rice

Vegan Asian inspired BBQ Mushrooms with Sticky Rice

Vegan Sweet potato, Chickpea and Kale Curry with Grains & Rice

Vegan Satay with Soya Pieces and Rice Noodles

Vegan Soya balls & Tagliatelle

Vegan No Egg Fried Rice

Vegan Garlic Ciabatta

Vegan Stonebaked & Hand Stretched Spicy Meatless Feast Pizza

Vegan Stonebaked & Hand Stretched Smoky Meatless Feast Pizza

Vegan Pea and Jack Hock Fiorelli

Vegan No Chicken Samosa

Vegetarian Roasted Mushroom Stroganoff with Wild Rice

Vegetarian Halloumi Fries

Vegetarian Cheese Pie with Scone Pastry Frozen food Waitrose & Partners Soya Mince

Waitrose & Partners Soya Balls

Waitrose & Partners 2 Chunky Soya Burgers

Waitrose & Partners Vegan Lasagne

Waitrose & Partners Voussaka

Waitrose & Partners Two-bean Chilli

Waitrose & Partners Moroccan-inspired Vegetable Tart

Waitrose & Partners Beetroot And Feta Layered Pie

Waitrose & Partners Four-nut Roast Bake

Waitrose & Partners Mushroom & Nut Wellington

Waitrose & Partners Spiced Seitan Koftas

Waitrose & Partners 4 Crunchy Vegetable Crispbakes

Waitrose & Partners 2 Mushroom & Chestnut Burgers

Waitrose & Partners 2 Spicy Chilli Bean Burgers

Waitrose & Partners 2 Broad Bean & Bulgar Wheat Burgers

Waitrose & Partners 2 Crisp-crumbed Seitan Slices

Waitrose & Partners Crisp-crumbed Fishless Goujons Advertisement

M&S: No-chicken Kiev

M&S have released soya based kievs (pictured) with a garlic filling coated in golden breadcrumbs cost 3.50 and are available from January

Marks and Spencer have launched the first ever vegan chicken kiev, 40 years after they first marketed the dish.

The soya based kievs with a garlic filling coated in golden breadcrumbs cost 3.50 and are available from January.

Also hitting the shelves as part of the store's Plant Kitchen brand is a No Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich and No Duck Spring Rolls, filled with shredded soya protein with hoisin sauce.

Costa: Vegan Smoky Ham & CheeZe Toastie

Also joining the plant-based bandwagon is Costa Coffee, as it unveils its Vegan Smoky Ham & CheeZe Toastie (pictured) this week

Also joining the plant-based bandwagon is Costa Coffee, as it unveils its Vegan Smoky Ham & CheeZe Toastie this week.

The coffee giant will launch the meat-free product across its UK stores on Thursday 2 January 2020.

Costing 2.95, the Quorn ham and vegan-friendly cheese will be sandwiched between two slices of freshly toasted golden animal and dairy-free bread.

Nando's: Vegan Perinaise

Helping pave the way for vegan condiments, Nando's has announced the launch of its new meat and dairy free PERinaise (pictured)

Helping pave the way for vegan condiments, Nando's has announced the launch of its new meat and dairy free PERinaise.

The plant-based twist on the fan favourite is available from January 1 in both restaurants and on the shelves at Tesco supermarkets.

Vegan Nandos fans can today rejoice, as the brand has announced the launch of its new Vegan PERinaise, a plant-based twist on the fan favourite sauce available Jan 1st in both restaurants and on the shelves at Tesco supermarkets.

With the brand claiming it tastes just as good as the original, Vegan PERinaise is the first plant-based substitute to be developed by the PERi-PERi chefs and is to be added to the menu's veggie options.

A portion of the sauce in restaurants across the UK will cost 60p, while 265g bottles of the sauce stocked at Tesco supermarkets are priced at 1.90.

KFC: Vegan Burger

KFC's vegan offering, pictured above, looks like a fried chicken burger but the fillet is replaced with Quorn

It sent customers wild and sold out within just four days of its trial release, but KFC's Vegan Burger will soon be back for good, just in time for 'Veganuary'.

The fast food chain announced it would bring back the 3.99 burger on 2 January - but this time it will be a permanent addition to the menu.

The fast-food offering looks like a fried chicken burger but the fillet is replaced with Quorn.

It is cooked with the same 11 herbs and spices original recipe as an original chicken burger and served with mayo and lettuce.

Greggs: Vegan Steak Bake

A label for Gregg's meat-free Vegan Steak Bake, pictured, was circulated on social media last week after being spotted by a customer in a Cardiff branch of the British pastry chain

Greggs looks set to release a vegan version of its celebrated Steak Bake in the coming days, after a label for the meat-free product was circulated on social media last week.

Spotted by a customer in a Cardiff branch of the British pastry chain, the snap suggested the Vegan Steak Bake is ready to hit stores.

Details on the label revealed it will be made primarily from meat alternative Quorn and will cost 1.55.

It is not known when the Vegan Steak Bake will go on sale. MailOnline has contacted Greggs for comment.
T hree teenage boys were stabbed as a fight broke out during a New Year's Eve house party in south London.

Police were called to reports of an altercation at the party on Casewick Road in West Norwood just after midnight on Wednesday morning.

Two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old boy were found suffering from stab injuries..

They were taken to a south London hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and were taken to a south London Police station where they remain in custody.

The Metropolitan Police said their enquiries into the incident continue.
Health authorities are warning the public to be alert for measles symptoms after a man diagnosed with the highly infectious disease visited a number of locations in Sydneys inner west, north-west and eastern suburbs.

The man is believed to have been infectious from Friday December 27. He spent December 28 at Bondi Beach before returning home to Sydenham. He also spent time around Central Station and Marrickville Metro over the following days.

The infectious man spent December 28 at Bondi Beach. Credit:Steven Siewert

It is not clear how the man in his 20s contracted the measles. NSW Health said he had not recently returned from overseas and had no known links to previously identified measles cases.

Sydney Local Health Districts Public Health Unit is identifying people who may have

been in contact with the man and will arrange preventive treatment if required.
PLANNERS have expressed strong concerns about proposals to construct more than 50 apartments at a site next to the Unicorn pub in Dooradoyle.

Unicorn Bar & Restaurant Ltd is seeking permission for a Build to Rent residential apartment scheme, that will have shared amenities.

The proposed development will incorporate eight studio apartments, 37 one-bedroom apartments and eight two-bedroom apartments set out across a single block ranging in height from four to nine stories.

There will also be a basement and underground car parking.

A dozen objections and submissions have been received and Limerick City and County Council has now requested further Information from the applicant.

The Planning Authority has very serious concerns that the proposed development as outlined is incongruous to the local area by reason of its height, scale and mass and would be detrimental to the character of the area and the amenity of neighbouring properties, states a letter sent by the council to the applicant.

Planners have highlighted a number of specific concerns and observations and the applicant has been asked to submit a revised proposal in its response to the request for further information.

An Urban Design Statement has also been requested from the applicant as has a full Traffic and Transport Assessment and Road Safety Audit.

The applicant has also been advised to note and respond to the objections which have been received in relation to the proposed development.

In its submission, the Dooradoyle Estate and St Nessans Park Residents Association expressed concerns about what it says is the extremely high density of accommodation units within the development. This, it submits, will be detrimental to the residential amenity of the area for existing and new residents.

The Association has also raised concerns about the impact on traffic, the height of the proposed development and the lack of parking spaces for visitors.

In a separate objection, the Gouldavoher Residents Association describes the proposed development as a monstrosity that is totally out of character with the development of the village and its residential area.

Several other individuals and families who live in the locality have also made written submissions to the council.
Lawyers for New York real estate heir Robert Durst acknowledge he penned a famous note tipping off police to the location of the body of a friend he's accused of killing, according to court documents.

In a court filing Christmas Eve to Los Angeles Superior Court, lawyers for Durst conceded that he had written the note directing police to a 'cadaver' in the home of Susan Berman in December 2000.

Durst, 76, pleaded not guilty to murder in the death of Berman, his best friend, but told the film crew of the documentary The Jinx that the letter could only have been sent by the killer.

The documentary's producers confronted Durst in a famous scene, showing that the note misspelled 'Beverly Hills' as 'Beverley' just as Durst had in a 1999 letter with matching block lettering.

Lawyers for New York real estate heir Robert Durst (seen in 2016) acknowledge he penned a famous note tipping off police to the location of the body of a friend he's accused of killing

Durst is accused of murdering his longtime friend Susan Berman (with him above), to whom he allegedly admitted to killing his wife and feared she'd tell police

The famous note (above) misspelled 'Beverly Hills' as 'Beverley' just as Durst had in a 1999 letter with matching block lettering, as uncovered in the documentary The Jinx

The revelation of Durst's admission was made in a joint filing by defense lawyers and prosecutors on stipulations for a trial scheduled to begin on February 10.

Attorneys for Durst said they made the concession as a strategic decision after the judge agreed to admit the evidence based on analysis by handwriting experts.

The defense said they will still contest that ruling on appeal, and Durst's lawyers say that he continues to deny killing Berman or knowing who killed her.

Prosecutors say that Durst murdered Berman execution-style to keep her from telling authorities what she knew about his first wife Kathie Dursts 1982 disappearance in New York.

Durst was arrested on a warrant for Berman's murder in New Orleans in March 2015, the day before The Jinx's dramatic final episode.

Prosecutors say he was attempting to flee to Cuba.

Robert Durst is transported from Orleans Parish Criminal District Court to the Orleans Parish Prison after his arraignment in New Orleans, Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Durst is seen with his wife Kathleen, who disappeared in 1982. Her family believes that Durst killed her, and say they want to know what happened to her remains

The upcoming trial will be the second time Durst stands trial accused of murder.

He was shockingly acquitted of murdering Morris Black, a man who he said he shot in self-defense during an argument but whose body he admits to chopping up, in 2003.

He has never been arrested or charged over his wife Kathleen's disappearance or death.

In an interview with People last month, Kathleen's brothers and sisters say they will not rest until they learn what happened to her decades ago.

They are certain she is dead and that Durst killed her, but want to know what he did with her remains.

'We aren't going to let her be just a footnote to the Susan Berman story or the Robert Durst story.

'This is my baby sister. She had a purpose,' her brother Jim said.
Google Trends has finally come up with a list of top 10 destinations that were most searched in the year 2019. From the list, one thing can be noticed that it has been a Beachy Vibes year. If you havent been to anywhere this year, you can use this list to plan a trip for 2020.Based on U.S. search data, the Maldives topped the list as one of the best travel destinations of 2019. As we all know, The Maldives is every beach lovers best friend. So, if you are planning to go somewhere exotic for your honeymoon or long-awaited trip, then Maldives will be the best choice for you.Following Maldives is Japan, Bora Bora, and Las Vegas that are one heck of a vacation spot. With Tokyo Olympic coming up next year, Japan will be one of the best destination to travel the next year. Bora Bora being one of the most breath-taking locations will hopefully top the list next year as well. Now, for all casino lovers and night owls  Las Vegas stood on the fourth position.Mexico was another country that remained everyones favorite in the year 2019. You can add Mexico in your travel bucket list for next year to enjoy evenings on beach and amazing food.Sixth on the list is Alaska that is filled with mountains and natural beauty. Experience the most beautiful trip of your life with your beau and make memories of a lifetime.Are you a food-lover? Dont worry, Google has something for you as well. New Orleans, famous for its exquisite cuisine and natural beauty ranked on number 7 on Googles list. If you are planning a trip, dont forget to make a list of all the trip-worthy places in New Orleans!It looks like USA has been everyones favorites this year. On eighth and ninth position were California and New York in the travel list of 2019. California is best known for its amazing locations and New York needs no introduction.Last on the list was Costa Rica that is one hell of a dreamy destination for every year. If you are a nature-lover, then you will definitely love Costa Rica. Plan your next trip here and get to touch toucans and monkeys.So, have you planned a trip yet? If not, then this list is taking you places!Dont forget to get the best guide so you can enjoy every part of the city you will visit next. Do your research and plan ahead, so you have plenty of time to deal with whats coming next.Happy Holidays!Read next: Money, Work Out, Social Connections: 2020's Top New Year Resolutions
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 14:26:33|Editor: xuxin

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Laborers work in the plant where the box girders of elevated railway of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project are manufactured at Keraniganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dec. 31, 2019. About two months into the commencement of a project linking capital Dhaka's central Kamalapur railway station with a western Bangladesh district, the Chinese engineers on Tuesday successfully installed the first box girder of the country's longest elevated railway. The 17-km elevated railway is a part of China-financed Padma Bridge Rail Link Project which Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated by unveiling its foundation plaque at a ceremony in Munshiganj on the outskirts of Dhaka in 2018. (Str/Xinhua)

DHAKA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- About two months into the commencement of a project linking capital Dhaka's central Kamalapur railway station with a western Bangladesh district, the Chinese engineers on Tuesday successfully installed the first box girder of the country's longest elevated railway.

The 50-ton box girder was placed between pier-383 and pier-384.

Bangladeshi and Chinese government officials among others witnessed the installation process at Keraniganj on the outskirts of capital Dhaka.

The 17-km elevated railway is a part of China-financed Padma Bridge Rail Link Project which Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated by unveiling its foundation plaque at a ceremony in Munshiganj on the outskirts of Dhaka in 2018.

The 169 km-long rail line project linking capital Dhaka's central Kamalapur railway station and western district Jessore will pass Bangladesh's largest 6.15 km bridge of Padma, which is being built by China Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited.

China Railway Group Limited (CREC) is implementing the railway project under the China G2G (government to government) arrangement.

The Engineering Corps of Bangladesh Army and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology are consultants on the rail project.

Steven Wong, project director of Padma Bridge Rail Link Project from CREC said since the commencement of this project, they had to overcome multiple difficulties such as complicated geological conditions, seriously adverse natural environment and huge works of land acquisition and resettlement.

"CREC turned a piece of drawing into an erected span of real box girder within merely 68 days! This is the speed of CREC, the best Chinese contractor!"

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said, Padma Bridge Rail Link Project is of significance for both Bangladesh and China. For Bangladesh, it is a dream line and fast-track project directly supervised by the Prime Minister's Office.

It is a project that will provide the first direct rail link between southwest Bangladesh with central area. Such a direct link is going to shorten 200-300 km distance between Dhaka and southwestern cities such as Khulna and Darsana.

Thousands of Bangladeshi workers are working along the whole 169 km line of this mega project, and many local suppliers are involved in the supply chain.

It is a project through which abundant experiences and resources that China has gained in its infrastructure development are being shared with Bangladesh. It is a project that will prove that the Belt and Road Initiative is open, inclusive and beneficial to all the participants of the world, the Chinese ambassador said.
Queensland's road toll for 2019 is the lowest in decades but police are still concerned by acts of stupidity by those behind the wheel.

Last years road toll finished at 217, significantly lower than the 245 fatalities of 2018 and narrowly beating the previous lowest road toll figure of 223 in 2014.

The state's road toll is the lowest in 50 years but police say drivers are still taking foolish risks. Credit:Queensland Police Service

One driver had been watching Netflix behind the wheel and another nearly hit a police motorcyclist while speeding to overtake on the wrong side of the road.

Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said there had been significant improvements during the past five years, which led to a new road toll low in 2019.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:09:31|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2019 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center in east China's Shanghai, where the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

"Finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects is our solemn commitment to the people, and it must be realized." -- Xi

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- As China ushers in 2020, the nation draws closer to its first centenary goal -- building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Over the past year, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core has led China to achieve a series of solid progress.

Under the leadership of President Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country stands at a new starting point for modernization.

The G2418 high-speed train runs on the Juyongguan Pass section of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway line in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 30, 2019. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

STICKING TO THE PATH OF "RED CHINA"

On Oct. 1, at a grand rally in central Beijing to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, Xi delivered a powerful statement.

"No force can ever undermine our great motherland's status, or stop the Chinese people and the Chinese nation from marching forward," he said.

2019 is not just a year of celebration but also a year of significance.

On Oct. 31, at the closing meeting of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Xi announced the adoption of a decision of the CPC Central Committee on some major issues concerning how to uphold and improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advance the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance.

This key Party session revealed the "institutional code" behind China's miraculous rise over the past 70 years.

Also in 2019, a campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" was launched, which, according to Xi, was for further strengthening the ideals and faith of Party members.

"The republic is red, which cannot be faded," Xi said.

Revolutionary bases were often featured on Xi's inspection itineraries.

On May 20, he visited Yudu in east China's Jiangxi Province, where the Red Army set off for the Long March;

On Aug. 20, he paid tribute to the West Route Army of Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army as he visited Zhangye in northwest China's Gansu Province;

On Sept. 12, he reviewed the course of laying the foundation for New China at Fragrant Hills (Xiang Shan) in suburban Beijing;

On Sept. 16, he paid tribute to revolutionary martyrs when he visited Xinxian in central China's Henan Province.

STEERING ECONOMY ON STEADY COURSE

Despite downward pressure and external uncertainties, China's economy has maintained steady growth in 2019, making progress in pursuing high-quality development.

The Chinese economy expanded 6.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2019, the fastest among the world's major economies with a gross domestic product of more than one trillion U.S. dollars.

Employment remained stable, with 12.79 million new urban jobs being created during the January-November period, fulfilling the government's 2019 target ahead of schedule.

Coordinated regional development continued apace. President Xi's domestic footprints signaled governance priorities, of which coordinated regional development has been high on the agenda.

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 29, 2019 shows the Xiongan Station of Beijing-Xiongan intercity high-speed railway under construction in Xiongan New Area, north China's Hebei Province. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

From the Xiongan New Area in Hebei, Tianjin, Beijing to Chongqing, Jiangxi and Shanghai, Xi's 2019 inspection tours injected impetus to the development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, western region, central region and Yangtze River Economic Belt region.

China's new foreign investment law took effect Wednesday, a testament to the country's determination in opening wider to the outside world.

According to the latest World Bank report, China ranked 31st globally for ease of doing business, up from 46th in its previous annual report, and China's strong reform agenda placed the country in the world's top 10 "most improved" list for the second consecutive year.

"I have full confidence in China's prospects of development," Xi said.

Aerial photo taken on Oct. 24, 2019 shows a view of the new Lingang area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shanghai, east China. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

STRENGTHENING TIES BETWEEN CHINA AND THE WORLD

Xi's overseas footprints over the year demonstrated his efforts to build stronger global partnerships.

In spring, he went to Europe, paying state visits to Italy, Monaco and France.

In summer, he visited Russia, Central Asia, the DPRK and Japan.

In autumn, he visited India and Nepal.

In winter, he went to Greece and Brazil. While in Beijing, Xi met with the Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.

A staff member walks past pipelines in a section of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

On Dec. 2, Xi had a video call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and jointly witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline, which is expected to benefit over 400 million people in nine provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities.

On his visit to Greece, Xi went to the Piraeus Port to inspect this flagship project of China-Greece cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. As of the end of November, China had signed 199 documents on the Belt and Road cooperation with 137 countries across the five continents and 30 international organizations.

"We should promote development through opening-up and deepen exchanges and cooperation among us," Xi said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the second China International Import Expo. "We need to 'join hands' with each other instead of 'letting go' of each other's hands. We need to 'tear down walls,' not to 'erect walls.' We need to stand firm against protectionism and unilateralism."

MARCHING TOWARDS GREAT GOAL

The work on agriculture, rural areas and rural people in 2020 will largely decide the quality of China's anti-poverty campaign and success of its goal to become a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Xi said at a recent meeting.

The battle against poverty won't stop until victory is secured, he stressed.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi has put himself on the front lines, making visits to the 14 regions in abject poverty.

More than three million officials from government agencies above the county level have been mobilized to villages to assist poverty reduction.

China has set 2020 as the target year to eradicate absolute poverty and the task has become more difficult as the deadline approaches.

Journalists visit Huaxi Village of Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, southwest China's Chongqing, April 16, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

In 2019 alone, Xi visited the poverty-stricken areas in provincial-level regions including Hebei, Chongqing, Jiangxi, Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Henan for solutions to the most difficult tasks in poverty alleviation.

More than 10 million people are expected to cast off poverty in the past year, and around 340 counties removed from the poverty list.

"Finishing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects is our solemn commitment to the people, and it must be realized," Xi stressed. 
After the Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the law is perfectly legal and constitutional, and also binding on the entire country.

He said Parliament has powers to pass law with regard to subjects under the Seventh Schedule, and this is not in the domain of a state Assembly.



During an interaction with mediapersons, Prasad emphasized that Parliament has the powers to pass law in connection with citizenship, and the Kerala Assembly cannot pass such laws.





Prasad, pointing at the Kerala Assembly resolution seeking scrapping of the Act, insisted that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should get better legal advice on the issue.



"The law relates to six persecuted communities of three countries -- Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan ... This law is binding on the entire country. CAA is not related to any Indian Muslim," said Prasad.



He cited former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who gave citizenship to minorities from Uganda and Sri Lankan Tamils. He queried if it was okay for the Congress, then how it is an issue when Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah have done too.



He said the law does note relate to any Indian citizen or take away citizenship from any Indian, and attacked the Congress for spreading misinformation on the law.



On the National Population Register (NPR), Prasad said it is a census governed by the Census Act and the population data is used for policy making for Centre and state governments.



"Held a good & effective public meeting at Gandhi Park, Thiruvananthapuram in support of #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. Urged people not to believe in misinformation campaign being run by opposition parties to spread violence. Assured them that this law does not affect any Indian citizen," Prasad later tweeted.
It may be Sunday morning, but youll find Nguyen Viet Hung enjoying a coffee, and of course, keep up-to-date with work as he fastidiously checks his smart phone.

A normal classroom at ColorME. The company plans to offer e-learning subscription packages from 2020.  Photo courtesy of ColorME

At 24 years old, Hung entered Vietnams start-up community with a debut business named ColorME.

Entering the market five years ago, ColorME offers graphic design courses for young adults at VND500,000 (US$21.68) each.

It is not a new idea, Hung said. Similar courses have appeared for so long before ColorME.

Starting up with 45 first trainees who were recruited via a simple Facebook event, his company now teaches 1000 trainees a month at its four branches, three in Hanoi and one in HCM City.

After the lightning success of the first batch, the second one witnessed a boom in attendance registration with more than 100 people, he said. This was a eureka moment and I felt the urge to develop an inclusive electronic platform as soon as possible.

It is not a zero-sum game, as I started low-key, others can do exactly the same. The problem only comes when your business grows bigger and administrative duties are no longer effective to be implemented manually. You will need an app that helps you cover all the paperwork, present data in the most digestible way for easy tracking and monitoring.

After five years, the app now has a friendly user interface (UI) with minimal layouts running smoothly even in low mobile data mode.

Both trainers and trainees use the system to check in, check out, access to the cloud library, upload products, write and get comments.

We are trying to detail features and enhance experiences of users as much as possible, Hung said.

While trainees can learn anytime, anywhere based on their interests and abilities, their feedback is collected and sorted into key words, becoming an important resource for ColorME team to continuously reflect and update syllabuses to best satisfy changing demands.

Instead of investing into fingerprint machines, the company allows staff to scan QR codes for checking in and checking out which requires location, Wifi connection and registered devices.

Data collected will help to calculate workers salary at the end of the month based on their performance.

The process, commonly known as digital transformation, enables a small company like us to save a lot of money, keep the payroll small and efficient and offer more added value for customers, Hung said.

It feels like we set foot in a field where many others cultivated. How to perfect services and how to grow sustainably, those questions keep echoing in our heads. A capable tool, I think, is our answer.

Innovation

Vietnam has set an ambitious goal to have one million enterprises in the first year of the new decade.

Bui Tat Thang, former head of Development Strategies Institute under Ministry of Planning and Investment, stressed innovation as the key for the countrys start-up community.

Vietnam has jumped ten places in the 2019 Global Competitive Index while innovation has been considered as a breakthrough in its ten-year development strategy from 2021 to 2030, he said.

The Government needs more assistance policies to unleash the potential of private enterprises, especially technology-based start-ups, at the same time, creating favourable conditions which uphold transparency and accountability for them to develop, Thang added.

ColorME has just had its first venture round and gotten support from 18 investors. In the next five years, the company expects to expand to other markets in the region.

But first, we will start 2020 by launching an e-learning subscription package at VND100,000 ($4.34) per month which offers users courses on demand and the huge resource of some 1,000 articles on graphic design. The beta version is now being experienced by some 2,000 people, Hung said.

To us, it is a constant progress of trial and error to gradually scale up the company. With the digital platform as a backbone, our aspiration is to simplify operational procedures to a level which allows the instant deployment of courses in a foreign country, he said.

As innovation takes time, we are going on a restless journey.  VNS

Khoa Thu
Security forces stand guard while protesters burn property in front of the US embassy compound in Baghdad (Khalid Mohammed/AP)

US troops fired tear gas on Wednesday as Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters who had gathered outside the American embassy in Baghdad for a second day set fire to the roof of a reception area inside the embassy compound.

Dozens of Iran-allied militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy overnight, a day after they broke into the compound, vandalising a reception area and smashing windows before pulling back.

It was one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

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Whatsapp Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters set a fire on the roof of the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq (Khalid Mohammed/AP)

The US Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas on Wednesday as more crowds arrived and after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area. Smoke rose from the building.

There have been no reports of any injuries since the protests began.

The militiamen were protesting over deadly US air strikes which targeted an Iran-backed militia over the weekend, killing 25 fighters.

Those strikes were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi army base that killed a US contractor.

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Iran and its allies have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy US sanctions against Iran have hit its economy and raised tensions across the region.

In Iraq, the protesters have been angered at their own governments corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as its close ties to Tehran.

US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the embassy and Defence Secretary Mark Esper later announced the immediate deployment of an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers from the armys 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.

He did not specify their destination, but a US official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

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Iran has denied any involvement in the attack on the embassy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted by state media on Tuesday as warning the US against any miscalculation in the worsening stand-off.

Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticised the US air strikes on the Iran-backed Iraqi militia on Sunday.

In remarks carried by the semi-official ISNA news agency, he accused the US of taking revenge on Iran for the defeat of the Islamic State group, which he said was an American creation.

In an apparent reference to Mr Trumps allegations of Iranian involvement, Ayatollah Khamenei said if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly.

Expand Close Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticised the US air strikes on the Iran-backed Iraqi militia on Sunday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticised the US air strikes on the Iran-backed Iraqi militia on Sunday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP)

The US and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Iran has close ties to Iraqs Shiite majority and many of its major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilise tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed.

In the subsequent campaign against the extremists, the US and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory in December 2017.

The political influence of the Iran-backed militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government.

That has made them the target of mass protests since October that are unrelated to the attack on the embassy.

The anti-government protesters have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq. They have also set up a major protest camp in central Baghdad.

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Whatsapp Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters set a fire during a sit-in in front of the US embassy in Baghdad, Iraq (Khalid Mohammed/AP)

For weeks, the anti-government protesters have been trying to enter the Green Zone housing the government and the US embassy, but have been beaten back by security forces, who have killed hundreds of demonstrators.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

By Wednesday morning, they had set up a small sit-in of their own, with around 50 tents erected between two main gates about 500 yards apart.

Demonstrators set up a makeshift clinic and cooks with aprons reading Popular Mobilisation Forces logistical support served meals out of giant pots. Mobile toilets were also set up in the area.

Vehicles belonging to the Popular Mobilisation Forces, with government plates, were parked nearby, and the militiamen manned checkpoints where they searched all those arriving at the site of the demonstration.

Expand Close Mourners carry the coffins of Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation fighters killed in a US air strike in Qaim, during their funeral in Najaf, Iraq (Anmar Khalil/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mourners carry the coffins of Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation fighters killed in a US air strike in Qaim, during their funeral in Najaf, Iraq (Anmar Khalil/AP)

Outside one of the gates, a Shiite cleric recited verses from the Muslim holy book, the Koran, through a loudspeaker. Another cleric led the protesters in midday prayers.

Demonstrators could be seen hurling rocks over the walls of the embassy compound, where US troops responded by firing tear gas from the roofs of buildings.

Iraqi security forces deployed nearby watched the stand-off unfold without intervening.
Zara and Mike Tindall have seen in the New Year in spectacular style in Sydney, watching the fireworks with friends including actress Rebel Wilson from a mansion overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, 38, and the former England rugby player, 41, are often dubbed the most 'down-to-earth royals', and they proved this in spades as they partied with friends on a balcony on December 31.

Posting on Instagram, Pitch Perfect star Rebel said she celebrated the New Year with a 'fun gang'.

Scroll down for video

Zara (second left) and Mike Tindall (right) have seen in the New Year in spectacular style in Sydney, watching the fireworks with friends including actress Rebel Wilson (front) from a mansion overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, 38, and the former England rugby player, 41, are often dubbed the most 'down-to-earth royals', and they proved this in spades as they partied with friends on a balcony on December 31 (Zara pictured second right with Rebel)

Rebel later uploaded a dance off with Mike Tindall to her Instagram Stories, where the pair could be seen dancing alongside one another in front of a crowded private bar (pictured)

'We crushed Sydney New Year's Eve! We're in the future now in 2020!' Rebel wrote on her profile.

'What a fun gang to celebrate with and thanks to our gorgeous hostess Heloise for throwing an amazing bash with clearly the BEST views.'

Rebel later uploaded a dance off with Mike Tindall to her Instagram Stories, where the pair could be seen dancing alongside one another in front of a crowded private bar.

Other guests at the star-studded New Year's Eve bash included professional polo player Nacho Figueras and TV host Carly Steel.

The royals were clearly in party spirits, with Zara opting to wear a stylish black dress and various 'New Year's Eve' head accessories including sunglasses.

Mike wore a velvet jacket and pale blue shirt to usher in the new decade.

The royals were clearly in party spirits, with Zara (second right) opting to wear a stylish black dress and various 'New Year's Eve' head accessories including sunglasses

The royals are in Australia for the Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival and Raceday, which is set to take place this month (pictured at Surfers Paradise last year)

The royals are in Australia for the Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival and Raceday, which is set to take place this month.

The Tindalls did an exclusive interview with the Australian Women's Weekly (pictured)

The Tindalls have been regular visitors to Australia since professional equestrian Zara was named the inaugural Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador in 2012, spending January between the Gold Coast and Sydney for the past seven years.

Last month, Zara made the revelation that she would 'think' about moving to Australia with her husband Mike and their two young daughters once she retires from eventing, after falling in love with the laid-back banter and relaxed pace of life Down Under.

Speaking exclusively with Juliet Rieden for The Australian Women's Weekly January issue, on sale now, she referred to the country as the family's 'second home'.

Asked if she would consider relocating to Australia, Zara replied: 'Probably not while I'm still competing. It would be a little bit hard commuting. But after that... yes, I think if an opportunity came up we'd definitely think about it.'

The Tindalls have been regular visitors to Australia since professional equestrian Zara was named the inaugural Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador in 2012 (pictured on the Gold Coast in 2019)

Last month, Zara made the revelation that she would 'think' about moving to Australia with her husband Mike and their two young daughters once she retires from eventing (pictured in May in the UK)

It is not yet known whether Zara and Mike have brought their two daughters, Mia Grace, five, and Lena Elizabeth, one, on the trip with them.

But they have said Australia's laid-back lifestyle is ideal for the active family who love to surf, swim and spend time outdoors, activities often made impossible by Britain's dreary weather.

'Early January is bleak over here [in their home of Gloucestershire in England] so it's nice to be able to go and have a bit of sun. I love the lifestyle of Australia and the ability to get up early, go on the beach - especially for the kids,' Mike told Australian Women's Weekly.

Read the Tindalls' full interview with Now to Love here.
January 01 : Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are soaking up the sun in the final days of 2019. The couple shared a series of sweet shots to their social media. Now as the New Year stars, Desi Girl took to her social media prolife and dropped a video of herself and her achievements and highlights of 2019.

Actress Priyanka captioned it, Another year, another gift...Cannot wait to see what 2020 has in store. Thank you God and everyone who has blessed my life. #fullheart #newyear #gratitude

The video list Priyankas social achievement, work achievements and everything she holds dear in 2019, from enjoying holidays with husband Nick, getting a new dog and a lot more has been added in the video. In 2019, Priyanka featured in Sucker single, by Jonas and his band, which which topped the Billboard Hot 100.

The duo tied the knot during a Western wedding in Chopra Jonas home country of India on Dec. 1, 2018. They also wed in a traditional Hindu ceremony the next day, and have subsequently held several wedding receptions since.

Meanwhile on the work front, Priyanka Chopra was last seen in The Sky Is Pink and now she is busy with The White Tiger with Rajkummar Rao for the first time on Netflix's upcoming film adapted from Aravind Adiga's prize-winning novel by the same name. The film is helmed by Ramin Bahrani, and also feature debutante Adarsh Gourav.

Priyanka is also prepping for Robert Rodriguez's superhero film We Can Be Heroes. She is also producing over a dozen regional films in various languages under her production company.
Dhaka, Jan 1 : The United Nations World Food Programme in Bangladesh welcomed a new contribution of 2.5 million euros from the German Foreign Federal Office towards its Rohingya refugee response in Cox's Bazar, WFP said in a statement.

The German funds enable the WFP to continue its life saving food assistance in refugee camps in Cox's Bazaar - where some 80 percent of Rohingya depend entirely on humanitarian aid - through in-kind distribution and electronic vouchers, the statement said.

"With more than 50 percent of refugees already receiving food assistance through e-vouchers, this contribution helps us meet our target of transitioning all refugees onto e-vouchers by mid-2020," said WFP Acting Representative and Deputy Country Director, Piet Vochten.

"The e-voucher method of food distribution also provides benefits to the local population with Bangladeshi retailers contracted to run the outlets and food sourced locally in Bangladesh," he added.

Through the e-vouchers, families receive a monthly allowance that they can spend at a WFP-supported e-voucher outlet. The scheme not only allows them to buy rice, oil and pulses, but also fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken, fish, and eggs, according to the statement.

The GFFO has been a generous supporter of WFP Bangladesh and has now given it 6.5 million euros for food assistance in 2019, said WFP.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will not adversely affect the indigenous population of the state, stressing that his government had already framed rules to protect the interests of the Assamese population.

On the first day of 2020, I would like to tell all indigenous people of Assam, with respect and full responsibility, that Assamese will remain completely secure. Constitutional safeguard for Assamese people, as mentioned in the Assam Accord, will be provided by the BJP-led coalition, he said addressing the media in Guwahati.

As for CAA, I request all not to be alarmed or worried. Keeping Assams interests in mind, our government has already drafted some rules on how CAA should be implemented in the state and sent those recommendations to the Centre, he added.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, which was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, is aimed at fast-tracking the grant of Indian citizenship to members of religious minorities from the Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

While protests in other parts of the country are taking place over non-inclusion of Muslims, north-eastern protesters are seeking repeal of the CAA as indigenous communities dont want any foreigner, irrespective of their religion, to enter the region.

Sonowal stated that only those (foreigners) who have been living in India for decades will be able to apply for citizenship on the basis of CAA. The applications will be scrutinised carefully and only then citizenship will be given.

Bangladeshis or people from other countries wont be able to enter India now taking advantage of CAA. If you see the rules on how the legislation will be implemented in Assam, everything will become clear and all your questions and worries disappear.

The CM said that theres no truth in the claims made by some anti-CAA protesters that anywhere between 20 million to half a million people from Bangladesh will enter India, taking advantage of the CAA. I dont want to mention the figure of how many people will benefit from CAA as there is a lot of controversy on the numbers. But I can assure all that the figure will not hurt Assamese people demographically. No new foreigner will come in and we will not allow it, said Sonowal.

The CM reiterated the Centre is committed to implement the recommendations of the high-level committee to provide constitutional safeguards to Assamese people as per Clause 6 of the Assam Accord within this year itself. He also listed some of the development projects including allocation of ~23,000 to boost production capacity of Numaligarh refinery initiated by the Centre to implement Clause 7 of the Assam Accord.

Blaming the previous government, he assured that a new land policy to protect the rights of indigenous people and informed about steps taken to promote and preserve language and culture.

Suddenly, BJP is being portrayed as enemies who are conspiring to put Assamese in danger. There is no logic in that. Till I am chief minister I can never act against the interests of indigenous Assamese, said the CM.

Meanwhile, anti-CAA protests continued in Assam on Wednesday. Sonowal was greeted with black flags in Nalbari, which resulted in a scuffle between police and protesters.

In the evening, as per an appeal of All Assam Students Union (AASU), people lit earthen lamps in memory of the five people killed in police firing last month during protests. We offered our respects to the five souls who are not among us by lighting lamps. Our democratic and peaceful protest against CAA will continue till we reach our goal, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya told journalists.

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In terms of milestones, 2019 was host to some of the most spectacular space missions, not just for India, with its Chandrayaan 2, but also other space agencies across the globe, including NASA.



And this just excites us for what the year 2020 has in store for us. From what we know, humanity's not losing any momentum in space exploration. Here are the five space missions we eagerly await in 2020.

Reuters

NASA Artemis Moon landing

NASA created a revolution 50 years ago when its Apollo mission resulted in men stepping on the moon. However, now NASA has plans to send the first woman on the lunar surface with Artemis I. This mission is also going to witness NASAs newest and most powerful Space Launch System (SLS) -- if it gets ready in time in 2020. This mission is cursed with delays and chances are it could get pushed to 2021.

ISRO Aditya L1 Mission

ISROs Chandrayaan 2 was a phenomenal success, even without the rover landing on the Lunar surface. And now, the next big mission planned by ISRO is Aditya-L1, set for the first half of 2020. That mission will see ISRO launch a satellite towards the Sun in order to study its corona. This is the outer layer of the Sun, extending hundreds of thousands of kilometres.

ISRO

Theyll use a PSLV rocket to shoot it in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 or L1 which is around 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth to enable constant monitoring of the sun without eclipse affecting it.



Four Mars Missions

After exploring the lunar surface, NASA and other space agencies are channelling their focus to the Martian surface. Theres a total of four scheduled missions to Mars, and three of them are rovers. First is by NASA -- the Mars 2020 rover that is equipped with a ton of hardware to capture information about life on Mars including 23 cameras, two microphones and lasers for chemical analysis.

Huoxing-1 is Chinas Mars rover that will be shot to the red planet to study the atmosphere and the Martian surface for 90 days.

European Space Agency and Russias Roscosmos have created a rover of their own, named after renowned chemist Rosalind Franklin that will also be on an expedition to look for signs of life.

Last on this list is Hope Mars Mission by UAEs space agency that will be studying Marss atmospheric chemistry with the help of an orbiter.

China Moon Dust Retrieval

China has one of the most exciting space missions this year. Change-5 that is slated for a late 2020 launch will send a lander to the lunar surface that will collect 2.04 kilograms of moon rocks and dust from the western edge of the near side of the moon. Once done, an ascent vehicle will take the spacecraft up to the orbiter which will send the package back to Earth. How cool is that?

Starship Interplanetary Rocket Launch

While ISRO and NASA are doing great work in the field of Space, Elon Musks Space X isnt far behind. It recently unveiled to the world its reusable interplanetary spacecraft, called Starship, that is destined to take humans to Mars someday.

Reuters

However, before that, it must succeed in high-altitude test flights that are expected to commence in 2020 along with an orbital flight in Q2 of 2020. While the mission truly is a difficult one, if successful, it would be a new chapter in space travel.
ISRO on Wednesday announced that the launch of country's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 may happen next year and said four from the Indian Air Force have been selected for the ambitious Gaganyaan programme, whose astronaut training would commence soon in Russia.

The announcement comes a day after Union Minister Jitendra Singh said India will launch Chandrayaan-3 in 2020.

Addressing a press conference here, ISRO chairman K Sivan said work related to the third lunar mission was going on smoothly.

It will have a lander, rover and a propulsion module like its predecessor, he noted.

He also said the launch of Chandrayaan-3 may shift to next year.

Work on both Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan, the country's maiden manned space mission, was going on simultaneously, he added.

Noting that Chandrayaan-2 orbiter's mission life was seven years, he said it would be used for the third lunar mission as well.

Giving an estimate of the project cost for Chandrayaan-3, Sivan said, "it would cost Rs 250 crore."



On the launch pad to come up in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, Sivan said, "apart from the space port at Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the land acquisition for a second one has been initiated in Tuticorin district."



As regards the choice of location, he said, "It was mainly to get advantages of southward launch especially for SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)."Observing that the pad, once set up would be used for launching SSLVs initially, he said it may be expanded for big ones in future.

On future missions, he said, "25 missions have been planned for 2020."



"The missions that were planned in 2019 and could not be completed would be finished by March this year," he said.

When asked what went wrong with Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2, he said it was due to velocity reduction failure.

"The velocity reduction failure was due to internal reasons," he said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission was India's first attempt to land on lunar surface. The ISRO had planned the landing on the South Pole of the lunar surface. However, the lander Vikram hard-landed.

Sivan also congratulated the Chennai based techie who recently located the Vikram lander that hard-landed and maintained that it was the space agency's policy not to release picture of the crashed module.

Elaborating on the country's maiden manned space mission, Gaganyaan, the ISRO chief said, four astronauts have been identified for the mission and their training will start from third week of this month in Russia.

He also mentioned that all the four astronauts chosen for the programme were men from the Indian Air Force.

"We had good progress in 2019 as regards Gaganyaan. And many of the designs were completed and astronauts' selection process is over. Now, four astronauts identified for training purpose.. that process is also completed," Sivan said.

India has signed agreements with Russia and France for cooperation on the Gaganyaan mission.

The ambitious Gaganyaan mission was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech in 2018.

The space agency has sought an allocation of Rs 14,000 crore from the Centre in the budget for 2020-21.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The right two southbound express lanes at 47th Street were shut down about 10:50 a.m. for an investigation and were reopened at 11:18 a.m., police said.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Director of Turkey's Entrepreneurs Association Nihat Tanri Kolo has said that his country seeks to boost ties with Iran despite sanctions, Iran's state-owned Irna news agency reported on December 30.

Kolo made the remarks during the meeting between a group of Turkish entrepreneurs and economic activists from several Turkish provinces and representatives of the Iranian state and private sectors in Irans north-western Zanjan province.

Addressing the meeting, Kolo noted that promoting communications with neighboring and Muslim states is a priority of Turkey.

As for the establishment of special industrial towns for Turkish investors in Zanjan, he added that talks to that effect have been held between the two sides.

In turn, Head of Zanjan Forensic Department, as well as Head of World Association of Peace and Friendship Physicians in the province Hossein Babaei, hailed the existing opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.

He added that Zanjan boasts of suitable capacity in the field of health tourism.

A number of Turkish and Zanjani activists in the fields of industry, trade and handicrafts stressed the need for further improving interaction, describing it as a base for a bright future for the economic and commercial exchanges between the two sides.

Turkish-Iranian bilateral relations are evolving on the basis of the principles of non-interference in domestic affairs, mutual respect and good neighborliness. Efforts are made to further enhance the political dialogue both on bilateral and regional issues, through reciprocal visits and mechanisms such as High Level Cooperation Council and joint commissions in different sectors.

On November 17, 2019, Chairman of Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board Nail Olpak said that presidents of Iran and Turkey set a goal to increase the trade volume from $9.5 billion to the level of $30 billion.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Children as young as seven are being caught with weapons in classrooms but are too young to be prosecuted.

Data from one of Britains largest police forces reveals primary school pupils are taking knives into class.

Campaigners say the age of those caught with blades is increasingly falling because children fear violence from other pupils at school or during their commute.

Data from one of Britains largest police forces reveals primary school pupils are taking knives into class

Yet the authorities have few powers to act because anyone under ten cannot be charged with a crime.

Figures from Kent Police, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Press Association, show that between April 2017 and December 2019, 109 children were investigated for possessing, or threatening with, an offensive weapon or blade.

Two of those children, aged seven and nine, were prevented from being prosecuted because of their age.

Figures from Kent Police show large numbers of children investigated for blades

One ten-year-old was also let off for the same reason, suggesting they were suspected of committing an offence while below the age of criminal responsibility.

The data showed the most common age for suspects was 14, with such children accounting for 23 incidents.

Five adults, aged 45, 35, 31, 19 and 18, were investigated for having knives at school, suggesting parents and siblings may also be taking violence into playgrounds.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 20:04:10|Editor: xuxin

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Up to 12 security personnel have been confirmed dead as fighting erupted in the northern Kunduz province on Wednesday, member of Provincial Council Fauzia Jawad Yaftali said.

According to Yaftali, the Taliban militants attacked a center of security forces in the wee hours of Wednesday, killing 12 security personnel including army and police personnel.

Two more security personnel sustained injuries in the firefight which lasted for a while in Dasht-e-Archi district, the official admitted.

At least eight Taliban fighters had also been killed in the fighting, Yaftali said.

However, police have confirmed the fighting but did not give details.

Meanwhile purported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Majahid has confirmed the fighting and claimed killing of two dozen security personnel.
Police in Thai Binh Province, located in northern Vietnam, have arrested a local woman who sent poisoned bubble tea to a love rival but ended up killing the targets co-worker instead.

Lai Thi Kieu Trang, a 25-year-old woman from Kien Xuong District, had made a plan to kill D.T.H.Y., her older cousin whose husband Trang had been having an affair with, according to police in Thai Binh.

Trang confessed to police officers that the love affair began in early 2019, but the cousins husband decided to end their relationship in October.

Trang then bought cyanide, a chemical compound that is highly poisonous, from an online shop in November with the intention of committing suicide, she told officers.

However, Trang said she changed her mind and wanted to use the poison to kill Y. out of jealousy.

Knowing that Y. has a sweet tooth, Trang bought six cups of bubble tea and put cyanide into four cups on December 2, according to Cong An (Public Security) newspaper.

The 25-year-old then brought the poisoned bubble tea to Thai Binh Lung Disease Hospital in Thai Binh City, the capital of Thai Binh Province, where Y. works.

The woman pretended she was a family member of a patient and asked a nurse to give the bubble tea to Y.

At around 10:00 am on December 3, N.T.H., who works as a nurse at the Thai Binh Lung Disease Hospital, drank a cup of the poisoned bubble tea and collapsed to her death.

Police in Thai Binh City received a report on the sudden death of N.T.H. at around 4:00 pm on the same day and cooperated with the local Peoples Procuracy to launch an investigation into the case.

By that time, the victims body had been taken home for burial.

However, investigators later suspected foul play in her death and launched legal proceedings against the suspect on December 25.

Trang was arrested two days later.

On Sunday, Thai Binh City police officers transferred documents of the case to investigators at the provincial police department for further investigation.

Officers exhumed the victims body for an autopsy to verify the cause of her death on Tuesday.

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The Tripura police on Wednesday, January 1, arrested three National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) members in connection with a threat letter to East Tripura MP Rebati Tripura for voting in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Parliament. The banned outfit NLFT had sent the threat letter on December 22 stating that the Lok Sabha MP has betrayed the people of Borok and that he should be socially boycotted.

The threat letter

The threat letter stated, "Surely, the CAB failed to address the roots of political conflict in Twipra and aggravates the wounds. The emerging outcome of it not only undermines the Borok people's case against the illegal immigrants and infiltrators but put the very existence of our people in great danger. It consolidates the hold of illegal immigrants and enslave us is our ancestral land."

It further read, "The Boroks of the state particularly the voters from the East Twipra LS constituency have every reason to ask you as to why, in your conduct as MP, you have failed to preserve, protect, defend the aspirations of the people and abused the mandate, faith and trust reposed in you?"

Read: Tripura separatist group NLFT-SD surrenders as per memorandum with Centre, state

About NLFT

The NLFT is a banned outfit in Tripura that seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state. Designated as a terrorist organization, the NLFT is an active participant in the insurgency in the Northeast. As per reports, the outfit has conducted around 80 attacks on various locations in South Asia and specifically in Tripura.

Read: Delhi: Jamia's Alumni Association participates in candlelight march against CAA, NRC, NPR

Uproar over CAA

The BJP government has been receiving severe flak since the time the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was introduced in the Parliament. The Citizenship Law was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 9 and then by the Rajya Sabha on December 11. The act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Through this bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, and put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.

Read: Over 2,000 persons got govt jobs during 20 months of my tenure: Tripura CM

While the protests initially began in Assam as a peaceful mass agitation, it eventually took a violent turn. Several violent protests have been erupting across Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh against the newly amended Citizenship Act, followed by the Jamia violence.

Read: Tamil orator Nellai Kannan who said 'Finish PM,Shah' during anti-CAA SDPI protest arrested

(WITH ANI INPUTS)
T housands of Londoners braved throbbing hangovers and the January cold to watch this years New Years Day Parade.

The 34th year of festive street celebrations kicked off at 12pm from central Londons Piccadilly and ran until 3.20pm.

The procession, featuring more than 10,000 performers from all around the world, snaked past iconic landmarks, from Nelsons Column to Downing Street, before ending with a flourish in Westminster.

A number of planned road closures will remain in place until 6.30pm, including Regent Street, Pall Mall and Parliament Square, with bus routes three, six, nine and 11 all affected.

More information on the parade route and road closures can be found on the LNYDP website / LNYDP

High school marching bands, Chinese dragon dancers, and a number of Britains Got Talent semi-finalists are among the acts entertaining onlookers this year.

Londons New Years Day Parade (LNYDP) has raised more than a million pounds for charity since the annual tradition began in 1987.

Thousands line the streets of London for the New Year's Day Parade

In a message posted on the LNYDP website, Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "There really is no better place to welcome in the New Year than London.

From the Worlds greatest fireworks show on New Years Eve, to the fun-filled Londons New Years Day Parade and Festival, our capital will be celebrating our unity and diversity as we again show the World that London is open to all.

At the New Years Day Parade, more than 10,000 performers from more than 20 nationalities will stand side by side in celebration. From dancers to marching bands, and giant balloons to stunt riders, they will turn some of our most iconic streets into a sea of joy and colour.

It will truly be a spectacular way to welcome in 2020, so whether you are a Londoner, a visitor or one of the millions watching at home, Id like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

Every year the event attracts more than 500,000 spectators, with millions more watching on TV, according to the parades website.

Innovative spectators find a new vantage point / PA

For the past 13 years, the capital's 31 Boroughs, along with the City of Westminster, have been invited to enter the Parade with some form of entertainment based on the annual Parade theme.

"The entry can take the form of an act, float, performance, dance ensemble, or all the above, making the Borough entries the heart of Londons New Years Day Parade," the website states.

All entries are automatically entered into the "Boroughs Competition" for a share of a 40,000 cash prize for charity.

The public is then asked to vote for "the best London Borough entry" to be crowned LNYDP champion.

Revellers shared footage of today's event in gleeful Twitter posts.

English cricketer Monty Panesar tweeted just before the fun began: "At the New Year Parade central London come and join the parade biggest and the best city in the world."

While one dedicated aunt shared her struggles, writing: "When your nephew is marching the Londons New Years Day Parade and you wake up at 645 am after drinking all night!"

An American onlooker said she was "fascinated" by the parade, saying: "I would never watch so many high school marching bands here but weirdly satisfying to watch them there."

Another bustander wrote simply: "Fantastic parade! Absolutely fantastic!"

As the event drew to a close, LNYDP encouraged viewers to vote for their favourite performances.

Categories include favourite marching band, favourite London Borough and favourite general entry.
WARSAW, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), an Italian-American multinational and one of the largest car producers in the world, is looking to expand its shares of electric vehicles in the Chinese market, FCA's head of electronics has said.

"We are planning for the Chinese market, we will be selecting some specific brands to meet the needs of customers in China," head of EMEA e-Mobility of FCA Roberto Di Stefano told Xinhua on the sidelines of an automobile forum in Katowice, Poland.

"It will be not only the battery electric vehicle, but also the hybrid and plug-in hybrid that we'll bring to this fast-growing market," he added.

"Everyone knows that the real market for electric mobility will be China and then the rest of the world will follow."

Di Stefano said his company was currently investing massively not only in technology, but also in skills of staff, to be able to better "support the transition for the customers".

"We are investing in improving the capacity of our sales people to better explain the electric product well to the clients. If the sales personnel does not explain the product in depth, the client -- who might come in already skeptical because of issues with access to charging stations, for example -- will be reluctant to buy," the Italian executive said.

Di Stefano said that storage of renewable energy was key as utilities around the world are moving away from coal. He said coal-dependent countries like China and Poland were making the transition from coal to renewables.
Compensation will be recovered from miscreants who damaged police vehicles during an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protest in Hathikhana area here last month, the police said on Wednesday.

Vadodara police commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot said the police had assessed the damage caused to the vehicles in stone-pelting on December 20.

The damage was estimated at Rs 40,000, he said, adding that the police will approach a court with a request to recover a compensation from the rioters, he said.

The police are relying on the Supreme Court's 2018 order about how to fix liability and recover compensation for damage caused to public and private properties during violence in a case of Kodungallur Film Society, he said.

"This order had helped Surat police recover compensation from from rioters," Gehlot said.

For Vadodara police, it would be the first instance of moving a court to seek compensation from rioters, he added.

So far, the police have arrested 40 people in connection with violence during anti-CAA protests on December 20.

One police official was injured during the stone- pelting and a few police vehicles were damaged.

The police lobbed ten teargas shells and fired two rounds in the air to control the mob.

Four of the "main accused" were arrested on Tuesday, three of them from Ahmedabad, Chaklasi and Godhra, officials had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday handed over a list of 282 Indian prisoners including 55 civil and 227 fishermen lodged in the country's jail to the High Commission of India as part of a bilateral agreement.

The Foreign Office said the "step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India, signed on May 21, 2008".

Both the countries are required to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody twice a year, on 1st of January and 1st of July.

The Indian government will also share the list of Pakistani prisoners with Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, the FO said.
Heading into Nov. 5, Republicans were defending narrow majorities of 20 to 19 in the Senate and 51 to 48 in the House, with one vacancy in each chamber. As it turned out, Democrats picked up six seats in the House, which as of Jan. 8 they will control 55 to 45, and two in the Senate, which they will lead 21 to 19.
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State Bank of India (SBI) is examining the possibility of floating a distressed asset fund in 2020, Business Standard reported. The size of the distressed asset fund may be as much as $2 billion, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar told the publication. It will likely be formed along the lines of the governments alternative investment fund (AIF).

We are expanding our fund management business. At present, SBICAP Ventures -- the fund management arm of the group -- is managing a realty fund. It is looking at a distressed asset fund too, he said.

SBICAP Ventures is looking to raise money from an international partner, Kumar told the paper. SBICAP Ventures can float such a fund (for stressed assets) only when it has commitment from a strong international partner. Negotiations are going on. The realty fund has given us a lot of confidence, he said.

SBI and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) have contributed 10 percent each to the AIF out of the Rs 10,530 crore. The fund was launched in November 2019.

SBI Chairman also highlighted some reasons why foreign investors are eyeing Indias stressed assets market, which include supply of stressed assets, regulatory transparency and robustness, and potential for greater returns than similar assets globally.

Kumar also spoke about the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). IBC is a big success story with the Supreme Court clearing all issues. Ruchi Soya and RattanIndia Power have been resolved in December quarter. The process of resolving cases like Reliance Communications and Alok Industries is underway and likely to be resolved in the March-June quarter, Kumar stated.
West Palm Beach, Fla.

The first phase of a U.S.-China trade agreement will be inked at the White House in mid-January, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, adding that he will visit Beijing at a later date to open another round of talks aimed at resolving other sticking points in the relationship.

The so-called "Phase One" agreement is smaller than the comprehensive deal Trump had hoped for and leaves many of the thorniest issues between the two countries for future talks. Few economists expect any resolution of "Phase Two" before the presidential election in 2020.

And the two sides have yet to release detailed documentation of the pact, making it difficult to evaluate.

Trump said high-level Chinese government officials will attend the signing on Jan. 15 of "our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China."

"At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two!" Trump said in his tweet. He did not announce a date for the visit.

China has agreed to boost its U.S. goods imports by $200 billion over two years, the U.S. trade representative said Dec. 13 when the deal was announced. That includes increased purchases of soybeans and other farm goods that would reach $40 billion a year.

China has also agreed to stop forcing U.S. companies to hand over technology and trade secrets as a condition for gaining access to China's vast market, demands that had frustrated many U.S. businesses.

In return, the Trump administration dropped plans to impose tariffs on $160 billion of Chinese goods, including many consumer items such as smartphones, toys and clothes. The U.S. also cut tariffs on another $112 billion of Chinese goods from 15 percent to 7.5 percent.

Many analysts argue that the results are fairly limited given the costs of the administration's 17-month trade war against China. U.S. farm exports to China fell in 2018 to about one-third of the peak reached six years earlier, though they have since started to recover.

Import taxes remain on about half of what the U.S. buys from China, or about $250 billion of imports. Those tariffs have raised the cost of chemicals, electrical components and other inputs for U.S. companies. American firms have cut back on investment in machinery and other equipment, slowing the economy's growth this year.

A study last week by economists at the Federal Reserve found that all of the Trump administration's tariffs, including those on steel and aluminum as well as on Chinese imports, have cost manufacturers jobs and raised their costs. That's mostly because of retaliatory tariffs imposed by China and other trading partners.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Many experts in both the U.S. and China are skeptical that U.S. farm exports can reach $40 billion. The most the U.S. has ever exported to China before has been $26 billion. China has not confirmed the $40 billion figure.

Still, the agreement has helped calm concerns in financial markets and among many U.S. businesses that the trade war with China would escalate and potentially lead to a recession. The approval by the Democratic-led House of the Trump administration's revamp of the NAFTA agreement has also reduced uncertainty around global trade.

Since the U.S.-China pact was first announced in October, the stock market has risen steadily and is on track to finish the year with its biggest gain since 2013. Most analysts now forecast that the economy will grow at a steady if modest pace in 2020, extending the current record-long expansion.

The Phase 1 deal has left some major issues unresolved, notably complaints that Beijing unfairly subsidizes its own companies to give them a competitive advantage in world markets.

The Trump administration argues  and independent analysts agree  that China uses the subsidies in an effort to gain an advantage in cutting-edge fields such as driverless cars, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Another sticking point in future talks will likely involve rules around data flows, with China looking to require more foreign companies to keep data they use in China as opposed to stored overseas.

"It's a very toxic brew and I don't know that we're really going to see much progress on it," said Mary Lovely, a trade economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Mammootty, the megastar of Malayalam cinema recently wrapped up the shooting of his highly anticipated upcoming project One. The movie, which is said to be an out-and-out political thriller features the actor in the role of Kadakkal Chandran, the Chief Minister of Kerala. Recently, the team revealed Mammootty's first look poster from the movie on social media.

The first look poster was released through the official social media pages of the megastar. Mammootty is looking simply brilliant in the get-up of the powerful politician in the poster. The Unda actor is seen in a different get-up in the poster with a khadar shirt and dhoti look teamed up with thick mustache, different hairdo, and thick-framed spectacles.

One, which is directed by the Chirakodinja Kinavukal fame Santhosh Viswanath, is penned by the National award-winning writer duo Bobby-Sanjay. The movie has recently set a new record, by becoming the first-ever Malayalam movie to be shot at the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Interestingly, major portions of the Mammootty project has been shot inside the Kerala Legislative Assembly old complex.

As per the reports, One revolves around the character Kadakkal Chandrana senior politician who takes charge as the Chief Minister of Kerala under a highly sensitive situation. According to the makers, the political thriller will feature Mammootty in a never-seen-before avathar, even though the megastar has played a chief minister before in Tamil and Telugu films. One will also discuss how an ideal Chief Minister should function.

The movie features an extensive star cast, Joju George, Murali Gopy, Sreenivasan, Balachandra Menon, Ranjith, Mamukoya, Salim Kumar, Suresh Krishna, Shankar Ramakrishnan, Sudev Nair, Vishnu Unnikrishnan, Nimisha Sajayan, Gayathri Arun, debutante Ishaani Krishna, etc. Joju George and Murali Gopy are essaying the roles of party secretary and the opposition leader in the movie.

Also Read:

Best Of 2019: Which Malayalam Film Deserve The Best Movie Title This Year?

Shylock Second Teaser: The Fun Filled Promo Is Not To Be Missed!
In this image made from video, people evacuate to a lake to escape wildfires Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. ABC Channel 9, Channel 7 | AP

Australia deployed military ships and aircraft Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food, and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires. Authorities confirmed three bodies were found Wednesday at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales, bringing the death toll in the state to 15. More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region. Some 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. Stranded residents and vacationers slept in their cars, and gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Dozens of homes burned before winds changed direction late Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town. Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

In this image dated Dec. 30, 2019, and provided by NSW Rural Fire Service via their twitter account, firefighters are seen as they try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales. Twitter@NSWRFS via AP

"I think that was our biggest threat in terms of what are we doing with the children if we need to go in the water to protect ourselves given the fact that they are only 1, 3 and 5," tourist Kai Kirschbaum told ABC Australia. "If you're a good swimmer it doesn't really matter if you have to be in the water for a longer time, but doing that with three kids that would have been, I think, a nightmare." Conditions cooled Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing. "We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state," Crisp said. In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 89 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesday's fires. More than 100 fires were still burning in the state Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level. Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car and a father and son who died in their house. Firefighting crews took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning, before conditions were expected to deteriorate Saturday as high temperatures and strong winds return. "There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said. The early and devastating start to Australia's summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison's conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australia's lucrative coal industry.

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo on December 31, 2019, after bushfires ravaged the town. Sean Davey | AFP | Getty Imges
Opposition leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo won the presidential election in the volatile West African state of Guinea-Bissau, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced Wednesday, but the country's historic ruling PAIGC party cried foul.

Embalo won 53.55 percent of votes, according to the provisional results, with PAIGC head Domingos Simoes Pereira on 46.45 percent in Sunday's runoff election.

"I declare Umaro Sissoco Embalo to be the winner,"CNE President Jose Pedro Sambu said.

Umaro Sissoco Embalo promised to be a 'president of national harmony'. By SEYLLOU (AFP/File)

Embalo said he would be a "president of national harmony" and appealed for the country to rally behind him, but Pereira blasted the result as a fix and vowed to overturn it.

His supporters celebrated close to the tightly-policed hotel in the capital Bissau where the results were announced.

They beat pots and cans and sang and danced. Some bore giant red-and-white keffiyehs, the Arab headdress that became Embalo's campaign trademark.

'Full of irregularities'

In contrast,` Pereira said he had taken advice from legal counsel and would file a petition to have the result annulled.

"The provisional results that have just been announced are full of irregularities, annulment and manipulation, which (constitutes) electoral fraud," he told a meeting of PAIGC activists.

Embalo portrayed himself as unifier of a country paralysed by four years of fighting between parliament and the outgoing president, Jose Mario Vaz. By SEYLLOU (AFP)

"We cannot accept a result of this kind," he said. "We are going to put forward all the evidence to show that the results have been changed."

Embalo, 47, takes over from Jose Mario Vaz, who came to power in 2014 on hopes of stabilising a country notorious for coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974.

But his tenure was hampered by a paralysing faceoff with parliament under the country's semi-presidential political system.

'Harmony' and 'fraud'

The CNE put turnout at 72.67 percent, virtually identical to the first round of voting on November 24, which Pereira won with 40.1 percent against 28 percent for Embalo.

Embalo, in a news conference at his campaign headquarters, said: "I will be a president of national harmony."

But, he cautioned, "the campaign euphoria is over. I need (the support of) all Guinea-Bissauans in order to make a new Guinea-Bissau".

Embalo is nicknamed "The General," a reference to his rank as a reserve brigadier general. He quit the army in the 1990s.

Like Pereira, he is also a former prime minister, serving under Vaz between 2016 and 2018, before representing Madem, a party formed by PAIGC rebels.

A father-of-three and a Muslim, Embalo is married to a Christian. He fought to overcome his first-round vote deficit by portraying himself as a unifier of the country and by gaining the backing of eliminated candidates, including Vaz.

'Difficult times'

The United Nations calls on all parties "to continue to exercise restraint during the post-election period," UN envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas said in a statement, congratulating the electoral commission on its "exemplary conduct of the electoral process".

Elisa Pinto, an election monitor representing Guinea-Bissau civil society, said the vote had proceeded smoothly and there was a clear result.

"The election went off well. One candidate won," she told AFP.

Sunday's runoff was a contest between the champions of PAIGC, Guinea-Bissau's historic ruling party, and Madem, launched by PAIGC rebels. By SEYLLOU (AFP)

But, she added, "he will have a lot of responsibilities at these difficult times... (he) will have to address the public's concern, and the public needs stability and national reconciliation."

"Without that, there cannot be development," Pinto warned.

Embalo's prime task will be to deal with a legislature dominated by the PAIGC -- the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which led an 11-year armed struggle to end Portugal's colonial rule.

Under the constitution, the parliament has the right to designate the prime minister, but this appointee can be fired by the president -- a circular problem that led to the paralysis during Vaz's presidency.

Poverty, graft and coups

Nearly 70 percent of Guinea-Bissau's 1.8 million people live on less than $1.90 (1.69 euros) a day.

The country ranks 178th out of 189 on the UN's Human Development Index. Average life expectancy is just 57.8 years.

Guinea-Bissau. By Jonathan JACOBSEN (AFP)

Latin American drug runners have exploited the instability and poverty to make the country a hub along the cocaine-smuggling route to Europe.

It also has a notorious image for graft. It was placed 172nd out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2018 index for perceived levels of corruption.

Since independence, Guinea-Bissau has been through four coups as well as 16 attempted, plotted or alleged coups.

After the last coup, in 2012, the regional bloc ECOWAS sent a stabilisation force comprising more than 700 troops and police.

Armed forces chief General Biague Na Ntam repeatedly declared during the latest election campaign that the military would not intervene.
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Tourists have been urged to leave New South Wales' south coast as soon as possible as firefighters brace for the worst bushfires yet.

The Princes Highway, the major road from Sydney to Melbourne, was reopened on Wednesday evening for people travelling between Goorama Ave & Lake Haven Dr from Blue Haven to Lake Haven.

Authorities closed the road on Monday and told people to stay where they were because it was too dangerous to leave, effectively trapping thousands of people in bushfire-stricken towns.

Eight people have lost their lives in the bushfires since Monday, seven from NSW and one from Victoria.

In NSW 186 homes have been razed and entire towns, including Mogo and Cobargo have been destroyed.

But authorities warned that conditions would be even worse Saturday and urged tourists to get out of fire affected areas as soon as possible.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of hellish conditions on Saturday.

'We are getting indications with the forecast for Saturday that it is going to present a broader geographic area worse than what we saw yesterday in terms of fire danger,' he said.

'We all need to prepare ourselves for more challenging conditions.'

He said the areas the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawara and Shoalhaven.

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra

Another satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread

A confronting satellite image of the Clyde Mountain Fire, 200km south of Sydney, shows the extent of the damage spans hundreds of kilometres

Police said they will reopen roads to Bateman's Bay on Wednesday as fire conditions improved. Some roads to the rest of the south coast are expected to reopen allowing tourists to get out of the area and return home.

Earlier on Wednesday eerie satellite images captured taken 760kms away captured the extent of Australia's bushfire disaster.

The confronting satellite images were captured from the SENTINEL-2 satellites which orbit the earth at an altitude of 786 km.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found dead in his fire damage residence in Buchan on Wednesday morning

One image of the Clyde Mountain fire, 200km south of Sydney, showed the extent of the damage spanning hundreds of kilometres, giving a perspective to the massive challenge faced by mainly volunteer firefighters.

Though conditions moderated on Wednesday, giving the firefighters a chance to contain and douse some fires, hot and windy conditions were forecast to return on Saturday.

Another image showed the devastation of the fires at the coastal town of Batemans Bay early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread.

NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.

The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.

Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, as found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement

A kangaroo can be seen moving away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra on the NSW South Coast

Firefighters are seen struggling against the strong winds which are blowing embers on them in an effort to secure houses near bushfires on Tuesday

Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.

An 81-year-old woman who was missing from Conjola Park was found alive on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons were in Batemans Bay experiencing the devastation firsthand.

'It's very difficult to console people when they've lost everything. We need to make sure they're supported,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'It's very difficult for those that have lost everything and people are going through various stages of grief and loss. And all we can do is support them in every which way we'll do.'

Some communities have seen up to 80 per cent of their homes and businesses destroyed.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast.

'So we know that the damage that's been occasioned right throughout the south-east corner of New South Wales is a heavy toll. And more importantly we're seeing unfortunately the tragedy of lives lost as well,' he said on Wednesday afternoon.

'As the Premier quite rightly indicated, we need to prepare ourselves for that number to climb with information coming out this afternoon.'

Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020

A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra on Tuesday

Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowra

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are in Batemans Bay (pictured) experiencing the devastation firsthand

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast

Andrew Constance, the Minister for Transport and Roads and Liberal member for Bega, was also in Batemans Bay and described Tuesday as being a 'bugger of a day'.

'Yesterday morning the fire moved at a pace that no-one expected. It shot around the back of places and hit Mogo pretty hard and burnt through to the beach,' Mr Constance said.

'It's devastating. But we'll pull together. A great community.'

Damage has also been wrought in the Snowy Mountains and towards Tumbarumba, as well as on the NSW Central Coast.

Some of the worst-affected communities along the coast battled bushfires into Tuesday night with no power and limited telecommunications.

At least 50,000 homes are currently without power on the South Coast.

'The damage to the electricity network from these latest fires is significant and widespread, with at least 40 poles being destroyed in the past 24 hours,' Endeavour South Coast regional manager Janine Cullen said.

Many spent New Year's Eve without power as energy companies worked through the night to have it restored.

Ulladulla, south of Conjola Park, saw the power turn back on early Wednesday after fires tore through the area on Tuesday.

As of 4pm on Wednesday, 102 fires were burning statewide with 40 uncontrolled. Seven blazes were at watch-and-act level while no emergency warnings were current.

Dangerous bushfire conditions will return on Saturday, with 40C temperatures and gusty winds set to create worse conditions than this week's blazes.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim.

'We are assuming that on Saturday weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday,' she said.

Australian Bushfire Crisis: What you need to know WHERE ARE THE NSW BUSHFIRES? More than 110 blazes continue to burn across NSW on Wednesday. A fire burning south of the Snowy Mountains Highway in the Ellerslie Range near Kunama and Laurel Hill was at "emergency" level at 4.30pm. The blaze has ripped through more than 100,000 hectares. Six fires were burning at a "watch and act" level including the 229,000ha Currowan blaze on the south coast, the 68,000ha Clyde Mountain fire near Batemans Bay, the 178,000ha Countegany blaze east of Cooma and the 104,000ha Green Valley fire east of Albury. An out-of-control blaze is also burning in Werri Berri, north of Bemboka near Bega. More than 2500 firefighters are battling the blazes. WHAT IS THE DEATH TOLL? Seven people have died since Monday evening, taking the number of deaths this season in NSW to at least 15. A 70-year-old man was found dead on Tuesday outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, a man's body has been discovered in a burnt-out car near the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah, another man in a vehicle in Sussex Inlet and a body outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo. Young father Patrick Salway, 29, his dad Robert Salway, 63, and volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul, 28, were confirmed dead earlier this week in separate blazes that ravaged the state's south. A 72-year-old man remains missing at Belowra, west of Narooma, while a 70-year-old woman is missing after her home in Conjola Park was destroyed by fire on Tuesday. HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST? More than 175 homes have been confirmed destroyed on the south coast since Monday including 89 in Conjola Park, 40 in Malua Bay and 15 in Rosedale. At last count, 1087 homes have been confirmed destroyed across NSW since July. THE WARNINGS Wednesday's fire danger rating is severe in the central ranges and a total fire ban has been declared in that area. Total fire bans are also in place in the southern slopes and southern ranges where the fire danger rating is very high. Fire danger is also rated as very high in the greater Sydney region, the Monaro alpine region, north western NSW, the ACT, the Hunter, and the northern slopes. FORECAST Hot, dry and windy conditions were expected to bring elevated fire danger to the southern and central ranges and southern slopes on Wednesday. Parts of the state got some reprieve from the soaring temperatures on Wednesday with forecasts of 27C in Nowra, 34C in Penrith in western Sydney, while the mercury was expected to climb to 36C in Tumut in the Riverina and 42C in the Hunter. Sydney was under a smoke haze on Wednesday morning with a fair-air quality, and cloudy and windy conditions forecast. Dangerous fire conditions are expected to return to the south coast on Saturday where the temperature is forecast to reach 43C. THE ROADS Motorists are advised to avoid travel to the south coast and Snowy Mountains Riverina area where fires caused widespread power outages and major road closures. The Snowy Mountains Highway is closed between Tumut Plains Road and Adaminaby. The Princes Highway remains closed between Falls Creek and Milton, Batemans Bay and Moruya, Brogo and Tilba Tilba, and Narrabarba and Cann River (Victoria). Advertisement

Temperatures will hit 45C in some part of the country as horror conditions are expected for Saturday

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled

'That is something all of us have to brace ourselves for.'

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska explained to Daily Mail Australia how conditions will be similar to Tuesday - with extremely hot temperatures followed by powerful gusts.

'Yesterday temperatures peaked before a southerly came through,' she said. 'Saturday will be the next big day to look out for.'

The mercury will start to rise on Friday when 'large areas' of the state will have temperatures of more than 40C and these hot conditions will intensify on Saturday.

A southerly was expected to come through during the late afternoon and the strong winds expected will pose issues for firefighters.

'The dry and strong winds will make the blazes burning across the state flare and drive them in a new direction,' the forecaster said.

She said the winds will also cause embers to fly further, sparking fresh outbreaks.

Residents of Cobargo, NSW, inspect the damage the fire left after it ripped through the town on Tuesday

Then: Cobargo as it was before bushfires sparked by the worst conditions Australia has had in living memory ripped through the town

Despite the cooler conditions on Wednesday, parts of the state - including the north west of the Great Dividing Range - remained 'quite warm'.

Hazardous smoke conditions were also expected following the southerly change.

Victoria was set to experience similar conditions to New South Wales on Saturday.

Temperatures are set to rise before gusty winds will develop in the western part of the state around dawn before hitting the east in the afternoon.

The change is set to bring some isolated showers and thunderstorms.

The eastern part of the state will be covered in a smoke haze from the East Gippsland fires which menaced the town of Mallacoota on Tuesday.

A horse escaped from the nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra as bushfires ravage the area on Tuesday

Now: Devastation in Cobargo. Authorities have confirmed more than 200 properties were destroyed in yesterday's NSW blazes

Three people are confirmed dead and there are concerns for five people who are missing after fires left scenes like the one in Cobargo across the state

Three thousand firefighters were deployed to help battle the blazes and protect homes, businesses and vehicles

Cobargo has been destroyed by fires on Tuesday after blazes ripped through the town and burned several buildings

Hope was fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland region.

There were 46 fires still burning and 43 properties destroyed in the popular holiday destination.

After a day sheltering on the beach on Tuesday, tourists and locals in Mallacoota spent the night sleeping in a local cinema.

Many spent New Year's Eve on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

Batemans Bay had been 'absolutely destroyed,' according to local Federal MP for Gilmore Fiona Phillips.

'It's just been absolute devastation. The building loss we believe around the Batemans Bay area and Mogo is in the hundreds. It's very, very significant,' she said, according to the ABC.

In the wake of devastating infernos which claimed the lives of as many as eight people on the NSW south coast and Victoria's East Gippsland region, authorities have warned it's only going to get worse at the weekend

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim

The fires in Cobargo not only destroyed homes and buildings but two men lost their lives

'The industrial area at Batemans Bay has certainly suffered significant damage and the Mogo CBD is unrecognisable.'

Ms Phillips said hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the area.

Federal MP for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly said at least 200 homes have been lost on the Far South Coast.

The situation was made more difficult by mobile phone outages throughout the affected areas, meaning families and friends have been unable to reach their loved ones.

Cobargo wasn't the only town destroyed - Batemans Bay was also devastated, according to local Federal MP

Patrick Salway, 29, (pictured with his pregnant wife Renee) died fighting the fires with his father Robert Salway

Bereaved widow Renee Salway took to social media on Tuesday (pictured) and said she is 'broken'. 'I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will,' she wrote

Fires have been burning in Australia - such as this one near Tahmoor known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 - since September

'No communication is a rarity in today's world so it's an uncomfortable feeling,' Melbourne man Nic Baxter told AAP on Tuesday evening, as he waited to hear from his father in Batemans Bay.

Military aircraft and vessels came to the assistance of emergency services on Wednesday in New South Wales and Victoria, evacuating people from danger zones.

Army Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters were deployed to rescue thousands stranded on a beach in the fire-ravaged area.

Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

A home lost to a bushfire on Hassall Road in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

One hundred fires are blazing across New South Wales as of Wednesday morning

The United States and Canada were understood to have been asked to provide 'specialist aviation resources' to help Australia's emergency efforts.

Waterbombing aircraft helped efforts to stop a 250ha blaze reaching residential homes at Blue Haven on the Central Coast.

Major roads, including several parts of the Princes Highway linking south coast communities, were likely to remain closed for some time due to hazards.

Volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul (pictured with his wife Megan) was tragically killed when a 10-tonne truck rolled on Monday
Israel/Palestine war crimes probe momentous step forward', says UN rights expert

31 December 2019 - An independent UN human rights expert hailed on Tuesday, the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to consider a formal criminal investigation into allegations of war crimes in Palestine as a "momentous step forward in the quest for accountability" in the five-decade-long Israeli occupation.

"Accountability has, until now, been largely missing in action throughout the 52-year-old occupation," said Michael Lynk, the Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

On 20 December, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced that she was "satisfied that there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation into the situation in Palestine".

Mr. Lynk maintained that although the international community has adopted hundreds of UN resolutions condemning various features of "Israel's entrenched occupation of the Palestinian territoryrarely has it ever combined criticism with consequences for Israel.

"Now, the possibility of accountability is finally on the horizon", the UN expert said.

Ms. Bensouda has spent the past five years reviewing the initial evidence as part of a preliminary investigation in the 2014 war on Gaza, the IsraeIi settlements and, more recently, the killing and wounding of Palestinian demonstrators near the Gaza frontier.

Territory confirmation

The ICC prosecutor said that before initiating a formal investigation, she would ask for a ruling by the Pre-Trial Chamber to confirm that the territory over which the Court may exercise its jurisdiction comprises the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza.

"In a world that proclaims its devotion to human rights and a rules-based international order, it is vital that the international community defend the decision of the ICC Prosecutor to advance her investigation and to seek a favourable ruling from the Pre-Trial Chamber on the issue of territorial jurisdiction," said the Special Rapporteur.

"International law must be the basis for seeking justice for the victims of war crimes in this interminable conflict, and the international community must resolutely support the laws and the institutions that it has created and nurtured."

Justice delayed is justice denied'

The UN expert noted that the Prosecutor also intended to investigate whether members of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups had committed war crimes in the period since June 2014.

"If the evidence gathered by the ICC Prosecutor leads her to make findings against these organizations, then her efforts must also be supported," he continued, adding that the Rome Statute is meant to be applied "dispassionately, as "the only way to build the necessary political and popular support for its mission."

Addressing the long-standing concern about how slowly the wheels of justice have turned in this matter, Mr. Lynk urged that the Pre-Trial Chamber present and resolve territorial jurisdiction issue as expeditiously as possible.

"Justice delayed is justice denied, he spelled out.

"Should the allegations of war crimes then proceed to the formal investigation stage, every effort must be made to advance the work of the Prosecutor's office in a reasonably speedy manner consistent with legal fairness, so that the many victims of this conflict can realistically hope that justice might yet prevail within their lifetimes", concluded the UN Special Rapporteur.

Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

Mr. Lynk was designated in 2016.

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Worshippers wait outside the Xishiku Cathedral to attend a Christmas eve mass in Beijing on Dec. 24, 2019. (Noel Celsis/AFP via Getty Images)

US Alarmed by Chinas Trial and Sentencing of Pastor

WASHINGTONThe United States expressed alarm on Dec. 31 at the trial and sentencing to a nine-year prison term of the pastor of one of Chinas best-known unregistered house churches.

Wang Yi, pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chinas southwestern city of Chengdu, was among dozens of the churchs members and leaders detained by police in December 2018, most of whom were subsequently released.

He was sentenced to prison on Monday on charges of inciting subversion of state power, part of Beijings crackdown on unregistered religious groups.

We are alarmed that Pastor Wang Yi  was tried in secret and sentenced to nine years in prison in connection to his peaceful advocacy for religious freedom, U.S. State Department Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that called for his immediate and unconditional release.

This is yet another example of Beijings intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups, the statement added. We continue to call on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and promises made in its own constitution to promote religious freedom for all.

Chinas constitution guarantees religious freedom, but since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took office six years ago, the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party.

The government has cracked down on underground churches, both Protestant and Catholic, and has rolled out legislation to increase oversight of religious education and practices, with harsher punishment for practices not sanctioned by authorities.

Chinese law requires that places of worship register and submit to government oversight, but some have declined to register, for various reasons, and are known as house or underground churches.

An unusually outspoken religious figure, Wang has openly criticized Xi and was among three Chinese Christians who traveled to Washington in 2006, where they met with then-President George W. Bush, asking for his support in their fight for religious freedom.

By David Brunnstrom
The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday declined to attach much importance to the Centre's plan to make the entire process of granting citizenship under the amended Citizenship Act online, claiming that the idea is far from reality.

Some of the states ruled by non-BJP parties are dead against the new legislation and the proposed nation-wide NRC, and the TMC which has been at the forefront among them has announced that the new law will not be implemented in West Bengal at any cost.

"The central government can say many things. But you have to understand the real picture. In a country like India, this idea of granting citizenship online or applying for it online would never taste success. This idea is far from reality," Leader of the TMC Parliamentary party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay, said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is mulling the option of doing away with the present procedure of routing applications for citizenship through the district magistrate in view of the strong opposition expressed by several states.

"In a federal structure, the Centre can't just push a law without consulting state governments," Bandopadhyay said.

The TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Manas Bhunia also said if people are up against a law, it is next to impossible to implement it.

"Whether it is online or offline... the Centre would never be able to implement the law as the people are against it. In a democracy, you can't just bulldoze a law, which has been opposed across the country," Bhunia said.

The issue of amended Citizenship Act has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the legislation tooth and nail and the BJP pressing for its implementation.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has been crisscrossing the state holding protest marches against the new citizenship law. She has announced that new citizenship will not be implemented in the state.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, however, said the TMC will not be able to stop the amended Citizenship Act from getting implemented.

According to the amended Citizenship Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

A number of chief ministers, including those of West Bengal, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, have announced that the law is "unconstitutional" and has no place in their respective state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire raised a number of question at at the December meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District in relation to the taking in charge process for housing estates.

She asked for clear guidelines outlining when estates have been taken in charge and a residents association is in place what funding streams have been of help from national government in the past three years?

She further asked that when estates are awaiting to be taken in charge do the Council have a check list for residents?

Cllr Armstrong-McGuire called for the Leitrim County Council website be updated to include this information?

In a detailed reply from Joseph Gilhooly, Director of Services for Economic Development, Planning, Environment and Transportation, he explained that whilst the State did provide limited funding to enable the taking in charge of a number of estates, both locally and nationally, there are no specific funding streams available in respect of the maintenance and upkeep of residential housing estates.

Estate roads once in charge are considered local roads and the funding for the maintenance of local roads comes from the Councils own resources which are supplemented by the State.

There has been funding from the State to undertake works to install signage associated with the introduction of slow zones, ie 30km/h zones, in estates once in charge.

The maintenance of water mains and sewers rests with Irish Water and funding is their responsibility. There is no dedicated funding available for the maintenance of open spaces and it is generally a matter for residents associations to fund such maintenance by way of annual subscriptions from all the residents in an estate.

As there are no specific grants for residents associations, the Council is unable to provide any information either by way of an information check-list for residents associations or on our website.

Whilst not directly related to the maintenance of estates, residents associations may apply, either directly or in conjunction with the Council, for funding under two funding streams  either the CLAR or the Community Enhancement Programme. Details of these schemes are advertised annually once they are open for applications.

The CLAR programme (Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais) provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas. The funding works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities.

The scheme is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and is delivered by local authorities in consultation with groups in local communities. Funding under this scheme is not available for the simple maintenance of open spaces.

The Community Enhancement Programme was put in place for the first time in 2018. It provides capital funding to community groups across Ireland. This allows these groups to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas.

The types of projects that can be funded include: minor renovation of community centres; development of community amenities; purchase of equipment and improvements to town parks and common areas. The Community Enhancement Programme replaced two programmes that operated in 2017. Funding under this scheme is also not available for the simple maintenance of open spaces.

Martin Donnelly from the Planning Department said there was nothing stopping residents telling the Council about issues by writing, emailing or phoning the Planning Department. He said, however, they won't do any work until it is taken in charge.

Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire raised the issue at Shannon Lodge in Carrick-on-Shannon and the space behind the wall along the Dublin road.

Darragh O'Boyle, District Engineer, said that while that stretch of space is Leitrim County Council property they have no plan to go in and tidy it up. He said if the Shannon Lodge residents want to tidy it up and maintain it, the Council can assist them.

Cllr Armstrong-McGuire also raised an issue with regard to the lights at Prior's Point in Attirory. She said the residents felt the lighting there is not up to the required standard.

Mr Donnelly said the lights at that location are to the standard as was required by the developer and they comply with the planning permission. He said the Council cannot impose on the developer.
One of the last Second World War veterans on the island of Ireland passed away on Monday after a short illness.

Rowland Todd, also known as Ronnie, died in Belfast City Hospital just one day after his 97th birthday.

He will not only be remembered for his exploits in the war, but also for his work as pastor in Malvern Assembly Church on the Shankill Road in Belfast.

Mr Todd was born in east Belfast and, bar his service years, lived his entire life there.

Following the breakout of the Second World War it is believed that Mr Todd, who was just 17, lied about his age to join the 1st Battalion of the Irish Rifles, as soldiers had to be 18 to serve in combat zones.

He served for the duration of the war against the Axis forces and was posted all around the world in such places as France, Italy, Egypt, the Middle East and India.

Mr Todd refused the opportunity given to him by Field Marshal Montgomery to return home from the conflict following the death of his elder brother Bill, who was killed in Norway.

Mr Todd became pastor of Malvern Assembly Church in the early 1960s and retired in 1987.

Despite his retirement he continued to work in the church and preached to the congregation in his final years.

Following his death, Malvern Assembly Church said it was with great sadness that their former pastor and a "great servant of our Lord Jesus Christ has left this scene of time".

"He's with his Lord and Saviour - forever," the church said in a statement.

"Please continue to uphold the Todd family in your prayers," it added.

Mr Todd, who only spoke of his experiences in the war in the last 10 years of his life, was photographed attending his last Remembrance Day service at Belfast Cenotaph three years ago.

Wearing his military uniform and the medals he achieved for acts of bravery, he brought a picture of himself and his two brothers, Bill and Jimmy. Mr Todd was married to the Jean, who passed away in 2001. The couple had three children - Ronnie, Sam and Anne.

He is survived by his children and the wider family circle.

The Todd family wished to thank the medical staff at Belfast City Hospital for the care that he received on the wards in his final months.

A service of thanksgiving will be held in his memory at Malvern Assembly Church on Saturday at 9am.
Samantha Akkineni is in talks with director Ashwin Saravanan of Game Over fame to do a film. The actress proved her mettle in 2019, especially with the film Oh! Baby, the success of which rode solely on her shoulders. Inspired by her performance, Ashwin Saravanan has now come out with an interesting female-centric story.

Samantha is excited about this film, says a source. She is waiting to sign this film and thats the reason she hasnt signed anything else. The idea is to make it a bilingual, releasing in Telugu and Tamil, said the source, adding that Sony could be producing it.
N ew Year's revellers who feel anxious about returning to work after binge-drinking during the festive season may actually be suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, according to a liver expert.

Dr Mark Wright, a consultant in liver medicine at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), warned thousands of people will put feelings of nausea, shaking and general irritability down to "work dread" as the holiday season draws to a close.

But he said alcohol withdrawal symptoms and not fears about returning to work were likely to be to blame and urged people to avoid turning to drink in an attempt to quell their symptoms.

He said: "People up and down the country will now be feeling anxious about their impending return to work and may also be feeling sick, shaky and irritable.

"However, far from concerns about the end of the Christmas and New Year period and the reality of work, the cause of this for many will be alcohol withdrawal symptoms following sustained heavy drinking.

London welcomes in 2020 1 /54 London welcomes in 2020 REUTERS Getty Images AP REUTERS REUTERS Getty Images REUTERS PA PA Getty Images PA Getty Images PA PA PA PA Getty Images PA PA Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA Getty Images Getty Images PA PA AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images PA REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS REUTERS Getty Images

"For those who don't realise this, drinking more to calm that feeling is very tempting - but it is also a great way to become addicted."

Dr Wright said people should think about "scaling back" their alcohol intake after New Year's Eve celebrations, increasing their water intake and taking some days off alcohol.

He explained: "Many people will have had a very intense festive period in which they will have consumed significantly more alcohol than usual which will undoubtedly affect their mental state.

"The danger is that people don't realise how the body will react to alcohol withdrawal and confuse it with anxiety about returning to work, which could then fuel more drinking.

"It is essential to avoid that and people should also use the time to reflect and think about how to moderate their drinking habits over special occasions and holiday seasons."

Data released earlier this year by NHS Digital showed there were more than 1.2 million alcohol-related admissions to hospitals in England 2017/18, while a study published in the journal Addiction showed 20% of people admitted to UK hospitals were harmful drinkers and a further 10 per cent were alcohol dependent.

New Year 2020 celebrations around the world - In pictures 1 /29 New Year 2020 celebrations around the world - In pictures New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge AFP via Getty Images Getty Images People wearing glow in the dark costumes at Mrs Macquarie's Chair waiting for the New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney Getty Images Crowds take pictures of the sparkling fireworks. Getty Images Fireworks light up the sky above Sydney Harbour Getty Images Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House. Getty Images Sydney welcomes in the New Year REUTERS The Sydney Opera House was incorporated into the impressive display Getty Images Getty Images Fireworks light up the sky above Sydney Harbour Getty Images Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge Getty Images Sydney's family fireworks display Getty Images Melbourne crowds get ready for the firework display. Getty Images Crowds watch fireworks display during New Year's Eve celebrations in Brisbane REUTERS Revellers release balloons as they take part in New Year countdown event in Tokyo REUTERS AP Auckland Sky Tower fireworks kick off the New Year. Getty Images Partygoers celebrate during Auckland New Year's Eve celebrations Getty Images Dellasey and Divene, age 5 out to watch the fireworks in Auckland Getty Images Crowds watch fireworks from the harbour and SkyTower Getty Images Fireworks from the SkyTower in Auckland Getty Images Entertainers joined the fray in Auckland Getty Images

Dr Wright added that Dry January could be used by some as an excuse for drinking heavily the rest of the year.

He said: "While I appreciate the the good intentions behind the Dry January campaign, it remains to me to be the perfect decoy for problem drinkers in that it, by default, appears to offer a solution for binge drinking and high intake throughout the rest of the year.

"Evidence shows us that alcohol abuse remains a growing problem and a significant burden on the NHS - though, at the very least, a dry January does give people an opportunity to examine their relationship with alcohol.

"My preference, as I have maintained consistently, is that people need to be aware of their consumption all year round, aiming to stick at about 14 units per week with three to four dry days."
IMAGE OF A NOTEBOOK WITH TFSA WRITTEN ON IT

Canadians have historically relied on CPP, OAS, and company pensions to fund their retirement. Contributions to RRSPs are also popular and continue to be attractive for building a portfolio.

One drawback to each of the above sources of income is that they are all taxed by the Canada Revenue Agency.

As a result, it makes sense to search for alternatives to increase retirement income without paying additional taxes. This is particularly important for retirees who are receiving Old Age Security (OAS) pensions and at risk of seeing their payments clawed back due to a breach of the recovery-tax threshold.

The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a great tool to build retirement wealth without paying tax on any investment gains or withdrawals. The TFSA contribution limit increases by $6,000 in 2020, bringing the maximum total space to $69,500 per person.

Thats enough room to create a solid self-directed pension fund that can grow until you decide to retire.

A popular strategy for building wealth is to buy quality dividend stocks and use the distributions to acquire more shares. This takes advantage of a powerful compounding process that can turn modest initial funds into a large pool of cash for the golden years.

Lets take a look at one stock that has proven to be a rewarding pick and should continue to be a solid choice for a TFSA pension fund.

CN

Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) is an important piece of the machine that drives the Canadian and U.S. economies. The company carries raw materials and finished goods from producers and manufacturers to their end customers. Everything from forestry products to cars, coal, crude oil, and fertilizer is transported along CNs extensive rail network.

CN is the only rail company in North America with routes connecting to ports on three coasts, giving it an advantage when securing contracts for intermodal and other international shipments.

The nature of the rail industry makes it unlikely that new competing tracks would be built along established routes, so there is a sustainable competitive advantage.

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CN still has to compete with trucking companies and other railways in some areas and management is investing the funds needed to improve efficiency and ensure it has the infrastructure to meet growing demand.

The company spent nearly $4 billion on capital projects in 2019, with money going to network upgrades, new locomotives, and additional rail cars.

The business is very profitable and the board is generous when sharing the earnings with investors. CN has a strong track record of share buybacks and has raised the dividend by a compound annual rate of about 16% over the past 20 years.

Returns?

A $60,000 investment in CN stock just two decades ago would be worth more than $1.4 million today with the dividends reinvested.

The bottom line

CN might not deliver the same returns over the next 20 years, but the company remains an attractive pick to anchor a balanced TFSA portfolio.

If you are searching for a way to build retirement wealth, buying quality dividend stocks and investing the distributions in new shares is a proven strategy.

More reading

David Gardner owns shares of Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Canadian National Railway. Fool contributor Andrew Walker has no position in any stock mentioned. Canadian National Railway is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.



The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
Nine more deaths in Kota hospital, Dec toll rises to 100

India

oi-PTI

Kota, Jan 02: At least nine more infants have died in the last two days of December at the JK Lon hospital here, taking the death toll to 100 for the month, officials said on Wednesday.

The death of 10 children at the government-run hospital during a 48-hour period on December 23-24 had triggered opposition criticism and a visit by a team from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Four children died on December 30 while five on December 31, all mainly due to low birth weight, hospital superintendent Dr Suresh Dulara said.

Hospital authorities, however, said the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 has witnessed decline since 2014 when 1,198 children died.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 2nd, 2020

The nursing in-charge of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which specialises in looking after premature and sick newborns, has been replaced, Dr Dulara said.

Efforts for upgradation and maintenance of equipment at the hospital have been put in place, following directions by the Congress government in the state.

Medical College Principal Dr Vijay Sardana said order has been issued for installation of central oxygen supply line at the hospital and the work would be completed within the next 15 days.

The direction was issued a day after a BJP parliamentary team comprising of MPs Locket Chatterjee, Kanta Kardam and Jaskaur Meena visited the hospital and expressed concern over its infrastructure.

The panel had said that two to three children were found on single beds and the hospital did not have enough nurses.

Dr Sardana said the pediatric department at the health facility has been reconstructed, with its three units being functional in Jay Kay Lon hospital and a non- teaching unit working in New Medical College premises.

He said proposals for new OPD and emergency wards for pediatric and gynaecology departments have been incorporated in the proposed OPD Block under the Smart City Project.

Earlier, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had served a show-cause notice to the state government.

LS Speaker Om Birla urges Rajasthan govt to act sensitively over infants deaths in Kota Hospital

"Pigs were found roaming inside the campus of the hospital," its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo had said.

A Rajasthan government committee ruled that the infants were given the right treatment.
A failed 212-day effort to rescue 16 labourers trapped in a rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya marred the just-ended year, which was capped by widespread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the border state and Governor Tathagata Roy's political activism on Twitter.

The rescue operations in the flooded mine, which involved the Indian Army, Air Force and the Indian Navy, along with the NDRF, Coal India, Kirloskar Brothers, were called off after 212 days, with the retrieval of just two highly decomposed bodies from the 370-foot deep coal pit in East Jaintia Hills district.

The entire operation cost the state exchequer over Rs 3 crore, while the families of the victims were given an interim relief of Rs 3 lakh each.

In a major embarrassment to the Conrad Sangma-led dispensation, the Supreme Court ordered his government to pay Rs 100 crore as fine imposed for failing to abide by the National Green Tribunal norms.

The court, however, allowed mining operations in privately and community-owned land, subject to the permissions from authorities concerned.

The penalty order hit hard the cash-starved state, which is preparing for the 2022 National Games.

A citizens' report filed in the apex court named several state legislators, who allegedly have stakes in the largely unregulated coal mining and transportation industry.

Notwithstanding the chinks in its armour, the ruling National People's Party (NPP) bagged one of the two Lok Sabha seats in the state. The other one was secured by the Congress.

In June, the NPP became the first political outfit from the northeast to get the 'national party' status by the Election Commission, having established its presence in four states in the region.

On the political front, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had initially managed to steer clear of the crisis over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act by securing his state 97 per cent exemption from the law that seeks to give citizenship to non- Muslim minorities who escaped religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and moved to India before December 31, 2014.

With the central government implementing the Inner Line Permit in neighbouring Manipur, however, protests broke out in pockets of Meghalaya, demanding that the regime be extended to the state.

Night curfew was imposed in parts of Shillong, and mobile internet and messaging services withdrawn during the violent protests and vandalisation, which lasted over a week.

To douse the fire, Sangma tabled a resolution in the Assembly to urge the Centre to implement the ILP regime in the state, which was unanimously adopted by the House.

Amid the agitation, Governor Tathagata Roy's political activism on Twitter raised eyebrows, with the Centre warning him against making statements that do not go well with his gubernatorial post.

At the beginning of the year, Roy had asked people to "boycott everything Kashmiri" following the Pulwama terror attack, which led to the death of 40 CRPF personnel.

The prolific Twitter user also courted controversy when he insisted that anti-citizenship bill protesters should "go to north Korea".

In July, Meghalaya lost its Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy, who died following multi-organ failure.

Three-time legislator Metbah Lyngdoh succeeded him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
iStock/kali9(HOUSTON) -- A Houston woman was shot and killed outside her home during New Year's Eve celebrations, according to authorities.



Philippa Ashford, 61, was with her family as neighbors discharged fireworks when she "suddenly" called out that she had been shot, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote on Twitter, describing the fatal shooting as likely "celebratory gunfire."



Ashford had gone to the end of her driveway at midnight to watch the fireworks that were been set off on the cul-de-sac when she clutched her body and said, "I think I've been shot" before she collapsed, authorities told ABC Houston station KTRK.



She was pronounced dead on the scene, Gonzalez said.



The gunfire appears to have come from outside Ashford's neighborhood, Gonzalez said.



There was no indication that anyone in the cul-de-sac discharged a firearm, KTRK reported. Ashford had worked for The Menninger Clinic, an addiction treatment center in Houston, for more than 15 years.



She was the nurse manager for the comprehensive psychiatric assessment service and also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, according to her online biography.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
She's ringing in the new year with the one she loves the most.

And Sofia Vergara shared the look of love with her husband Joe Manganiello as they cuddled up for a sweet snap shared to her Instagram followers on Tuesday evening.

The 47-year-old actress sported a floral dress with a plunging neckline while Joe showed he was very much on vacation mode with a shaggy salt-and-pepper beard.

Babes in paradise: Sofia Vergara shared the look of love with her husband Joe Manganiello as they cuddled up for a sweet snap shared to her Instagram followers on Tuesday evening

The Modern Family star and her Magic Mike beau took a moment from their dinner for a quick photo opportunity.

She simply captioned the amorous snap: 'Ready for 2020' followed by a few sparkling pink heart emois.

The happy couple were likely at their vacation home in the Bahamas as they shared shots on social media celebrating Joe's 43rd birthday over the weekend.

Sofia looked fondly at her husband while sitting in his lap in the photo, captioned: 'Happy bday @joemanganiello we loooove uuu.'

Birthday boy: Sofia Vergara took to Instagram Saturday to wish husband Joe Manganiello a happy 43rd birthday

Intimate gathering: The couple gathered around a candle-lit table for a birthday dinner party, attended by friends and family

Vergara dazzled in a white ruffled tube top with a hot pink tie-dye wrap skirt, Manganiello caressing her derriere.

The couple gathered around a candle-lit table for a birthday dinner party, attended by friends and family.

Manganiello's gathering featured a black-frosted cake, adorned with the logo for his metal streetwear brand Death Saves.

The True Blood actor cut the cake as Vergara's adorable nephew Rafi stood next to him and watched.

On brand: Manganiello's gathering featured a black-frosted cake, adorned with the logo for his metal streetwear brand Death Saves

Cutting the cake: The True Blood actor cut the cake as Vergara's adorable nephew Rafi stood next to him and watched

Tropical getaway: Vergara and family have been enjoying a tropical getaway as they celebrate the holidays

Vergara and family have been enjoying a tropical getaway as they celebrate the holidays.

In addition to her son Manolo, sister Veronica and nephew Rafi, they were joined by several friends for the celebration.

She and Manganiello previously lounged around with their dogs as they enjoyed some down time.

The couple has been married since November of 2015, getting engaged the previous Christmas after six months of dating.

She was previously married from 1991 to 1993 to Joe Gonzalez, with whom she shares Manolo, 27.
Debenture proceeds to be used exclusively to exercise option for purchase of 100% ownership of flagship Toroparu asset

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

DENVER, Colorado and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gold X Mining Corp. (TSX-V: GLDX, OTCQX: SSPXD) (Gold X or the Company) is pleased to announce and confirm, further to the Company's news releases dated December 4, 2019 and December 30, 2019, that on December 24, 2019, it closed its non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of 10% secured convertible debentures (the Debentures) and has received into escrow an aggregate of US$20,000,000. These proceeds will be used to exercise the Company's option to acquire 100% of the interest in and to the Companys Toroparu Project in Guyana, South America held by Mr. Alfro Alphonso pursuant to a joint venture agreement between Mr. Alphonso and ETK Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and will be released from escrow upon satisfaction of required closing conditions.



Rich Munson, CEO of the Company noted: Toroparu is one of the largest undeveloped gold resources in Latin America owned by a junior developer and securing 100% ownership of the Toroparu Project strengthens the profile of the Company and the Project in this period of increasing interest and activity in the gold sector.

The outstanding amount of each Debenture will be convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of holder into that number of Gold X common shares (the Common Shares) equal to the quotient of such amount converted to Canadian dollars using the daily representative rate of exchange as published by the Bank of Canada on the business day prior to conversion divided by CAD$3.20 (the Conversion Price), subject to customary adjustments. The interest on the Debentures will be compounded semi-annually and payable annually. Interest is payable in shares at the option of the holder at the current market price (being the weighted average of the trading price on the TSX Venture Exchange per Common Share for the 20 trading days prior to such payment of interest). If the holder does not elect to receive interest in shares then the Company has the right to settle the interest payment in cash or defer payment, with interest to maturity.

Story continues

The Debentures are subject to a four month and one day statutory resale restriction pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, which will expire on April 4, 2020. No bonus, commission or finders fees were paid in connection with the Offering. Closing remains subject to final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Under the terms of the Debenture, which was issued on December 3, 2019, Wheaton Precious Metals International Ltd. (Wheaton) subscribed for Debentures in the principal amount of US$10,000,000 (CAD$13,059,000) and accordingly, has the right, but not the obligation, to acquire approximately 4,080,937 Common Shares in connection with the exercise of the above-described Debenture conversion right. Assuming the conversion of the entire initial principal amount, based upon a $1.3059 Exchange rate on December 30, 2019, of the Wheaton Debenture to Common Shares, Wheaton would hold, in aggregate, 10.34% of Gold Xs Common Shares currently issued and outstanding on a partially diluted basis. Prior to the transactions contemplated hereby, Wheaton did not hold any securities of Gold X. The Debenture issued to Wheaton is presently being held only for investment purposes. Wheaton may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its ownership, control or direction over securities of the Company, through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise. On December 4, 2019, Wheaton filed an early warning report (the Early Warning Report) pursuant to applicable securities laws in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. A copy of the Early Warning Report can be obtained from Wheaton, at 1-844-288-9878 or info@wheatonpm.com or on the SEDAR profile of the Company at www.sedar.com. Wheaton is a corporation existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands with its office located at Suite 300  94 Solaris Avenue P.O. Box 1791 GT Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1109. Gold Xs head office is located at 9137 E. Mineral Circle, Suite 180, Centennial, Colorado 80112-3464.

Gran Colombia Gold Corp. (Gran Colombia) subscribed for Debentures in the principal amount of US$5,000,000 (CAD$6,529,500) which is convertible into 2,040,468 Common Shares of the Company. Assuming the conversion of the entire initial principal amount, based upon a $1.3059 Exchange rate on December 30, 2019, Gran Colombia would hold, in aggregate, 33.23% of Gold Xs Common Shares currently issued and outstanding on a partially diluted basis. Prior to the transactions contemplated hereby, Gran Colombia had ownership and control over 7,312,500 Common Shares and 4,625,000 warrants of the Company and assuming exercise of the share purchase warrants when combined with their existing ownership, Gran Colombia would have had control and direction over 11,937,500 Common Shares of the Company representing 29.83% on a partially diluted basis of the then outstanding common shares of the Company. The Debenture issued to Gran Colombia is presently being held only for investment purposes. Gran Colombia may from time to time in the future increase or decrease its ownership, control or direction over securities of the Company, through market transactions, private agreements or otherwise. A copy of the Early Warning Report, once filed, will be able to obtained from Gran Colombia, by contacting Mike Davies at 416-360-4653 or mdavies@grancolombiagold.com or on the SEDAR profile of the Company at www.sedar.com . Gran Colombia's head office is located at 401 Bay Street, Suite 2400, P.O. Box 15, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2Y4.

The issuance of the Debentures to Gran Colombia, a control person of the Company, and Mr. Keep, a director of the Company, under the Offering is considered a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101). Gran Colombia subscribed for Debentures in the principal amount of US$5,000,000 and Mr. Keep subscribed for Debentures in the principal amount of US$50,000. Assuming conversion of the entire principal amount, 2,040,468 Common Shares would be issuable to Gran Colombia, and Gran Colombia would beneficially own or control 33.23% of Gold Xs Common Shares currently issued and outstanding on a partially diluted basis. Assuming conversion of the entire principal amount, 20,404 Common Shares would be issuable to Mr. Keep, and Mr. Keep would beneficially own or control 2.50% of Gold Xs Common Shares currently issued and outstanding on a partially diluted basis. Each Common Share provides the holder with the right to one vote per Common Share. Therefore, all the Common Shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures subscribed for pursuant to the Offering provide the subscriber, including Gran Colombia and Gordon Keep, with one vote per share.

Gold X is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the participation in the Offering by such related parties does not exceed 25% of the Companys market capitalization. The Offering was unanimously approved by the directors of the Company. Other than the Debentures and ancillary agreements relating thereto each among, inter alios, Gran Colombia and Gordon Keep, respectively, and the Company has not entered into any material agreement with an interested party or a joint actor with an interested party in connection with the Offering. The Company will be filing a material change report on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . This material change report is not being filed 21 days in advance of the closing of the Offering for the purposes of Section 5.2(2) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the Company had to satisfy a number of closing conditions under the terms of the Debentures, the fulfillment of which did not occur until shortly before closing.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Gold X Mining Corp.

Richard A. Munson

Director and Chief Executive Officer

About Gold X Mining Corp. Ltd.

Gold X Mining Corp., formerly known as Sandspring Resources Ltd., is a Canadian junior mining company currently moving toward a feasibility study for the Toroparu Project in Guyana, South America with 7.4 million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories. A Preliminary Economic Assessment study (Preliminary Economic Assessment Report, Toroparu Gold Project, Upper Puruni River Area, Guyana, dated July 18, 2019 completed by SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc.,) (the PEA) available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Companys website (www.goldxmining.com). Gold X also holds a 100% interest in the Chicharron Project located in the Segovia-Remedios mining district, Antioquia, Colombia. Additional information is available at www.goldxmining.com or by email at info@goldxmining.com.

Visit Gold Xs website at www.goldxmining.com .

Contact Gold X Mining Corp.

Richard A. Munson

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 (303) 991-5683 or via email at info@goldxmining.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

Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information are assumptions regarding the general market conditions, the ability of the Company to satisfy the closing conditions and complete the exercise of the option to acquire the Toroparu Project, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. All forward-looking statements and information are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the Company being able to satisfy the closing conditions, the exercise of the option to acquire the Toroparu Project being completed on the terms set out above, the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, uncertainties of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties inherent in conducting operations in a foreign country, uncertainties related to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, the risk that the conclusion of pre-production studies may not be accurate, the Company's successful advancement of the Toroparu Project toward feasibility and obtaining positive results from ongoing evaluation and testing of multiple gold targets located in the Company's landholdings in Guyana and Colombia, among other risks, as described in our public filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.
In 2016, Donald Trump received 49.0% of Floridas popular vote, against Hillarys 47.8%, a 1.2% difference that won Florida for him.

Trumps victory was better than Obamas in 2012, when Obama beat Romney by 0.88% of the popular vote. In 2008, before voters knew Obama, he beat McCain by 2.69% of the popular vote.

In 2004, as if to make up for the trouble the state caused in 2000, Florida voters gave George W. Bush a 5.01% advantage over Kerry. And of course, in 2000 Bush won against Gore by a mere 0.01% of votes.

The point of this history is that elections in Florida tend to be close. In the last five presidential elections, only once has a candidate managed to beat his opponent by more than 4% and that, as noted above, was an incumbent Republican facing off against his Democrat rival.

In 2016, FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silvers vaunted statistical analysis website, predicted that Hillary would win Floridas 29 electoral votes with 55.1% of the popular votes versus Trumps 44.9%, a 10.2% difference. Given Floridas voting history, FiveThirtyEight was doing the statistical equivalent of getting drunk at a Hillary party and throwing darts at a weighted number board.

Given those facts, its hard to worry about the latest poll out of Florida, a Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey of registered Florida voters. The poll shows that Biden currently has a sort of lead over Trump. Thus, Politico reports (emphasis added):

Joe Biden is the only Democrat who presents serious competition to President Donald Trump in Florida, according to a poll released Tuesday. The Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey of registered Florida voters showed Biden with a narrow 47-45 lead over the president, within the 4 percentage-point margin of error. Biden was the only candidate from either political party with a positive approval rating in the crucial battleground state. Forty-five percent of respondents had a favorable view of the former vice president; 41 percent had a negative view. Trump had a 46 percent approval rating. Forty-seven percent of respondents disapproved of the presidents job performance, the poll found.

Maybe were unduly cynical or just mathematically challenged, but its hard to take seriously a poll that has a margin of error greater than the percentage difference between winners and losers in four of the last five Florida elections.

When it comes to the other leading Democrat candidates, they dont seem to stand a chance:

Among registered voters surveyed, Trump easily bested Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren 51-42 and held comfortable leads over Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (49-44) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (49-45). Sanders was the least popular candidate among those surveyed. Just 35 percent of registered voters said they had a favorable opinion of him, while 52 percent had a negative opinion. Warren was also viewed unfavorably (37-48), as was Buttigieg (32-38).

Floridas lukewarm approval for the three most socialist candidates reflects four trends unique to Florida:

29% of Floridas Hispanic population is Cuban and therefore unlikely to support either open or covert socialists; The state has a large group of New York Jews who may be dismayed by rising anti-Semitism in Democrat New York; Floridas retirees may be blue-state Democrats, but theyre also old-fashioned blue-collar Democrats or business owners, i.e., the type of Democrats turning the Rust Belt into Trump country. Its hard to imagine people who came of working age at a time when American unions were staunchly anti-Communist turning to proto-communist candidates; and Floridas Republican governor, Ron deSantis, is enjoying what the Sun Sentinal calls sky-high approval

As for Biden, hes dogged by some facts that may render him inoperable in Florida as well as the rest of the U.S.:

Obama cannot bring himself to endorse his own former Veep; Hunter Biden; Videos of Biden with little girls; Hunter Biden; Bidens chronic foot-in-mouth disease; Hunter Biden; and Bidens accelerating confusion and distasteful pandering.

Glenn Reynolds rightly likes to say, dont get cocky, but its probably not cocky to say that Trump, while he must remain vigilant, doesnt yet need to start panicking about Florida.
 Flash

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Tuesday that the U.S. will deploy about 750 troops immediately to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"Approximately 750 Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF (the Immediate Response Force) are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said the Pentagon chief in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

The Pentagon's decision came hours after hundreds of demonstrators, in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Many of the protesters, wearing Hashd Shaabi's military uniforms, rallied outside the embassy chanting slogans condemning airstrikes by the U.S. forces against Hashd Shaabi bases in Iraq.

The protest then turned violent as protesters set ablaze a guard tower and the outer gate of the embassy, an official from the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

U.S. President Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet. He later threatened in another tweet that Iran "will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities."

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," the White House host added.

Also on Tuesday, Trump spoke over phone with Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, emphasizing the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq, said the White House in a statement.

According to Esper, the troops to be deployed come from an infantry battalion from the IRF 82nd Airborne Division.

U.S. forces on Sunday attacked five locations in Iraq and Syria controlled by Iraq's paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or Hezbollah Brigades, in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, triggering strong responses from Iraq and Syria. And Iran has denied any role in the recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

Hashd Shaabi, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization, was formed by the KH and other Shia Iraqi paramilitary groups in 2014. It currently consists of more than 40 militant groups.
Ly Dinh Quan, director of the Songhan Incubator, one of the first private start-up incubators in Vietnam, talks with reporter Chi Lan about the role of the private sector to support a new generation of start-ups in Vietnam.

Director of the Songhan Incubator, Ly Dinh Quan. VNS Photo Chi Lan

The Government offered little incentives and support for the private sector when Songhan Incubator was established in January 2017. Why did you decide to open the incubator back then?

First and foremost, it was my vision that innovative technologies would surely be a foundation for the countrys future economic growth. They will draw attention from various institutions and a new generation of start-ups and businessmen will blow a fresh wind into the economy.

The establishment of the incubator is an essential tool in the initial phase (of a start-up) when young entrepreneurs have the opportunity to grow their capabilities and receive support in terms of market knowledge, business models and chances to reach out to the investors.

In retrospect, I feel Ive done the right thing to help the young mature and succeed in their first stage from where they can keep developing their businesses on their own. That way its better and more sustainable for them.

What do you think are the advantages of the private sector over the Government in supporting start-ups?

The initial phase of planting a start-up generally requires both the private sector and the Government to join hands. Its impossible to have just the Government or the private sector do the work of building an entire start-up ecosystem from scratch.

The Government has the resources and can implement start-up policies yet it doesnt have great insight into the market. The private sector, on the other hand, is in constant touch with the market and customers, and can give reliable feedback to the Government on which policies to adjust to catch up with market movements.

Songhan Incubator has been recognised for its role in promoting start-ups in universities across the country. Could you tell more about this?

The Songhan Incubator has co-operated with more than 20 universities over the last three years. In my view, universities are like material sources of business talent and were there to help universities develop their own strategies to make those talents shine.

For example, we came to Thai Nguyen University three years ago and helped them completely change their way of thinking and thus their methods to facilitate new start-ups. The university can now hold professional business competitions to look for hidden talents while running a start-up support centre at the same time.

We also worked with the Foreign Trade University to grow its own start-up ecosystem and reach out out-of-school resources to inject the latest innovation and creativity trends into the university. By doing so, its students can easily approach such knowledge and set up start-ups not limited by any boundaries.

Our incubator as well as others and even the authorities can work to support young students by providing them the best start-up education so they can have a higher rate of success after graduation. Another thing is we should provide a better environment in university for scientists to work on research projects that can be market feasible and eventually commercialised.

You have worked with several provincial authorities to offer know-how about setting up a local start-up ecosystem. What do you think are the most common and biggest challenges for municipal Governments when trying to create start-up ecosystems?

The initial phase is the most important stage in building a fundamental and basic ecosystem. When the basic ecosystem is shaped, people will soon realise the benefits it brings and will proactively engage with it.

But the real hard work mostly lies in the first stage with all kinds of difficulties and few interested in investing in it.

If we dont have insight about the methods or the techniques to build an ecosystem, it will take a lot of time. For example, connectivity among stakeholders is not the real issue but the techniques to forge such connectivity are crucial.

Authorities have to invest in primary infrastructure and offer initial financial support as well as other incentives like office seating arrangements, aid for intellectual property rights and business establishment.

Authorities can also attempt to raise the quality of the ecosystem by considering the quality of lecturers, experts, investors and the investor connectivity network. Those elements are generally weak in Vietnam.

In underdeveloped provinces where entrepreneurial spirit is not as high as in big cities, that leaves most of the work to local authorities.

Most of the provinces started making ecosystems without knowing exactly what they should do to implement Project 844 (a Government project to promote and facilitate start-ups nationwide), or figure out what kind of policies to make as they cant approach and utilise the resources from universities, companies or businessmen.

I think the biggest challenge for local authorities is human resources, especially those who work in institutions to support start-ups. They must truly understand innovation and be passionate about what they do and what they wish for the future of the local start-ups.

They also have to develop policies which are market feasible and can draw in universities to join hands with businessmen and experts, both inside and beyond the locality, to facilitate start-ups.  VNS

Vietnam startups receive US$750 million in funding in Jan  Oct The growth in investment size in Vietnamese startups over the past few years makes the target of having tech unicorns right in Vietnam feasible, Chu Ngoc Anh, minister of Science and Technology stressed.

Vietnam promotes innovative startup ecosystem in Singapore The Techfest Vietnam in Singapore took place in Singapore on November 11 to introduce the Techfest Vietnam festival in 2019 and Vietnams innovative startup ecosystem to international partners.
A former deputy chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration has been sentenced to seven years in prison for green-lighting the leasing of a valuable public land plot against the law.

The municipal Peoples Court on Tuesday morning announced the seven-year jail term for Nguyen Huu Tin, 62, who was deputy chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee in 2011-15, for his role in the lease of a land plot at 15 Thi Sach Street in District 1, which is a central business district.

Dao Anh Kiet, former director of the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment, was handed six and a half years in prison in the same case.

Truong Van Ut, an ex-senior official tasked with land management at the environmental department, was slapped with a five-year jail term.

Le Van Thanh, former deputy chief of the office of the municipal Peoples Committee, was sentenced to four years behind bars, while Nguyen Thanh Chuong, a former official of the citys administration, got three years.

According to the indictment, Phan Van Anh Vu, a.k.a. Vu nhom, a business tycoon known for owning different companies and multiple pieces of prime real estate in the central city of Da Nang, intended to lease the land plot at 15 Thi Sach Street, which was a valuable piece of property owned by the state, in 2014.

Vu took advantage of his connections to ask leaders of the Ministry of Public Security to send several proposals to the Ho Chi Minh City administration, requesting it to create favorable conditions for him to rent the piece of land.

Under such pressure, Tin ignored regulations and facilitated the lease while failing to report to the citys chairman.

The other defendants - Kiet, Ut, Thanh, and Chuong - were Tins advisories regarding the decision to lease the land plot to Vu.

The wrongful lease eventually led to losses worth VND6.7 billion (US$289,600) to the state budget.

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BEIJING  Chinas Huawei Technologies said Tuesday that its sales rose a lower-than-projected 18% in 2019, and it predicted tough times ahead as the U.S. moves to restrict its business.

The preliminary sales estimate came in an annual New Years message to employees. Chairman Eric Xu warned that mediocre managers would face demotion as the telecom giant and leader in 5G mobile technology focuses on survival.

Its going to be a difficult year for us, he wrote, calling on the companys more than 190,000 employees to work hard and go the extra mile to bring their capabilities to a new level.

No one is predicting Huaweis demise. The unlisted company, a major maker of both mobile transmission equipment and handsets, estimated that 2019 sales would rise to more than $120 billion.

These figures are lower than our initial projections, yet business remains solid and we stand strong in the face of adversity, Xu said in the letter, which was released to the news media.

Huawei, based in the tech hub of Shenzhen in southern China, typically releases its official and audited annual financial results in March.

Zou Zhidan, an analyst at the consulting firm Zero Power in Shenzhen, said that given Huaweis size and the breadth of its business, the company wont face a survival crisis. Rather, it will face obstacles to progress and pressure on its rapid profit growth, he said in an email.

Zou noted that Huawei enjoys a relatively good reputation outside of the U.S. and will benefit from its leading position in the still nascent 5G market.

The difficulties for Huawei in 2020 wont be small, but the company has its own strengths, Zou wrote.

The U.S. government says Huawei technology poses a security risk and has urged other countries not to buy its 5G mobile network equipment. It has placed Huawei on the entity list, which restricts certain exports, re-exports or transfers. It effectively blocks U.S. technology sales to the company.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Huawei denies the allegation that it is a security risk.

Calling difficulty the prelude to greater success, Xu said Americas strategic and long-term campaign against Huawei is an opportunity to build up some muscle and build capabilities to navigate future challenges.

Despite concerted efforts by the U.S. government to keep us down, weve made it out the other side and continue to create value for our customers, he wrote.

The five-page letter exhorts employees to hone their skills and rid themselves of complacency. Saying that survival is the companys top priority, Xu warns that mediocre managers who have lost their enterprising spirit will be removed faster than before.

Ken Moritsugu is an Associated Press writer.
A son of Northern Ireland Policing Board member and DUP MLA Mervyn Storey has appeared in court accused of assaulting a PSNI officer and resisting another policeman

A son of Northern Ireland Policing Board member and DUP MLA Mervyn Storey has appeared in court accused of assaulting a PSNI officer and resisting another policeman.

Philip Storey (24), of Seacon Road in Ballymoney, is also charged with being disorderly in a public place - The Diamond in Portstewart.

The charges relate to December 8, 2019.

The defendant was in the dock at Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday.

A police officer said she believed she could connect the accused to the charges.

A defence lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned to allow representations to be made to the Public Prosecution Service.

No further details were given to the court.

The defendant has not yet indicated his pleas to the charges.

The matter was adjourned to the second half of January.

The Policing Board holds the Chief Constable to account for the delivery of policing in Northern Ireland.
T he head of a US primary school has apologised after pupils were allegedly asked to portray slaves for a class assignment.

The incident happened at Lafayette Elementary School in Washington DC during a social studies lesson, NBC News reported.

Grade five students, aged between nine and 10, were asked to split into groups and either create a podcast or act out a short sketch about the American Civil War.

It was during this group activity that a number of black students were asked by their fellow classmates "to play roles that are inappropriate and harmful," a letter sent to parents explained.

In the note, the pupils teachers admitted the lesson contained "a very tough part of our US History" but said they taught the topic every year and always tried to approach the topic sensitively.

"We deeply regret that we did not foresee this as a potential challenge in role playing so we could set appropriate parameters to protect students," they said.

The school's principal, Carrie Broquard, wrote a separate letter condemning the assignment as a mistake and promising it would not be given to future classes.

She said: "At Lafayette, we believe in the importance of teaching painful history with sensitivity and social awareness. Unfortunately we fell short of those values in a recent 5th grade lesson.

Ms Broquard said the school planned to create a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and would work to ensure "all assignments are culturally sensitive and appropriate" from now on.
Holidays can be big celebrations. The family gets a break from work and school. Theres a tasty meal involved and occasionally songs and gifts. But honestly there just arent enough official holidays. Most states observe 10. Even if your family celebrates certain religious holidays, you probably have about 350 days that could be considered ordinary. We at KidsPost believe every day is an excuse to celebrate something. So each January we compile a list of unusual holidays. They might be holidays you have never heard of. (Sometimes we havent.) You might not know how to mark such holidays. (Create your own odd-holiday traditions.) Most of all, use our list to help make 2020 a year filled with days that are far from ordinary.



Opposite Day (January 25): You might say this isnt a holiday just because we say it is. (Get it?) But the idea of this day is to mix things up. Have dessert before dinner. Wear a T-shirt on top of your hoodie. Insist that your parents teach you their new TikTok dances.
Corey Lewandowski, political commentator, and former campaign manager for then-candidate Donald Trump said on Twitter that he would not be running for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire.

After much consideration, I have decided to forgo a campaign for the U.S. Senate. While taking on a career politician from the Washington swamp is a tall order, I am certain I would have won. My priorities remain my family and ensuring that [Trump] is re-elected as POTUS, Lewandowski wrote on Twitter.

He said that he will focus instead on Trumps re-election efforts and will soon endorse a Republican running for the Senate in New Hampshire.

I am truly humbled by the outpouring of support I have received from people across New Hampshire and the country. N.H. needs a U.S. Senator who will put our citizens first and not illegal aliens; one who will support pro-growth policies to keep the Trump economy strong, he added in the Tuesday post. One who will support strict constitutionalist judges; and one who will fight for our values, not those of Washington, DC. Accordingly, I will be making an endorsement in the Republican Primary for U.S. Senate in the near future to ensure we defeat Jeanne Shaheen in 2020.

(1/3) After much consideration I have decided to forgo a campaign for the US Senate. While taking on a career politician from the Washington swamp is a tall order, I am certain I would have won. My priorities remain my family and ensuring that @realDonaldTrump is re-elected POTUS  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 31, 2019

(2/3) I am truly humbled by the outpouring of support I have received from people across New Hampshire and the country. NH needs a US Senator who will put our citizens first and not illegal aliens; one who will support pro-growth policies to keep the Trump economy strong;  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 31, 2019

(3/3) One who will support strict constitutionalist judges; and one who will fight for our values, not those of Washington, DC. Accordingly, I will be making an endorsement in the Republican Primary for US Senate in the near future to ensure we defeat Jeanne Shaheen in 2020.  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 31, 2019

Lewandowski mulled over running for the Senate as a Republican, which put him against Jeanne Shaheen, a two-term Democratic senator who narrowly won re-election in 2014, reported Bloomberg.

Shaheen was elected in 2008 after serving as New Hampshires governor from 1997 and 2003.

Trump did not explicitly endorse Lewandowski, but reportedly encouraged him to run, according to Bloomberg.

Trump asked Lewandowski to lead his campaign in January 2015, about half a year before Trump announced his bid, Lowell Sun reported.

Lewandowski successfully led the campaign through crowded Republican primaries but was fired by Trump in June 2016 after reportedly clashing with then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Days later, Lewandowski was hired as a political commentator by CNN, but left days after Trump was elected president.

Hes remained a staunch Trump supporter, authoring, with David Bossie, a memoir about the 2016 presidential campaign called Let Trump Be Trump.

Recently, hes been frequently making appearances on Fox News as a political commentator, weighing in on the alleged politically motivated abuse of government surveillance to spy on the Trump campaign by the previous administration in collusion with the Hillary Clinton campaign. The matter is being investigated by Congress.

To join Pences PAC, Lewandowski is leaving America First Policies, a nonprofit supporting Trumps signature policies such as tax cuts and renegotiating trade deals.

In March 2016, Lewandowski was charged with simple battery for grabbing a Breitbart reporter by the arm at a press conference. The charge was later dismissed.

Epoch Times reporter Petr Svab contributed to this report.
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A young filmmaker was allegedly assaulted by an acquaintance during an argument over CAA-NRC in neighbouring Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday.

The police have arrested the accused following a complaint by the filmmaker.

According to a senior police officer, the argument over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) began following a social media post by the filmmaker.

The accused allegedly went to the house of the filmmaker on Monday night and picked up an argument, which led to a scuffle.

"During the scuffle, the accused attacked the filmmaker with a knife," the senior police officer said, adding that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JACKSON, MI  Jackson County's Amber Keathley won $1,500 from the Michigan Lottery  but not from a scratch-off card or lottery ticket.

Keathley earned it the hard way, winning the Excellence in Education award from the Michigan Lottery. She's a second-grade teacher at Northwest Elementary School.

The weekly award comes with a $1,500 cash prize, a plaque and a $500 grant to her classroom, school or district. One of the weekly winners from the year will be chosen as the educator of the year and win $10,000.

Keathley was nominated by a parent of one of her students  who's also a middle school teacher in the district. She deserves praise because of her ability to teach the curriculum while also teaching values and developing students' leadership skills, the nomination said.

"She makes sure they are learning academically and emotionally and socially. She uses a lot of praise and wants students to build a healthy and loving relationship with school," the nomination said. "My son often comes home and talks about filling someone's bucket or asks if I need my bucket filled."

Keathley also works with middle school students in the National Junior Honor Society, bringing them into her classroom to work one-on-one with her students as a service opportunity.

Shes taught for 18 years, including her last six with Northwest Community Schools. She has a bachelors degree from Grand Valley State University and a masters degree from Spring Arbor University.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:32:26|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday hailed the progress on Ethiopia's Riverside Green Development Project, dubbed "Beautifying Sheger Project."

The Chinese-funded 12-km section of the 56-km Beautifying Sheger Project was launched in October 2019.

Initiated by the prime minister, the project is being carried out with a view of beautifying and making the capital of the East African country Addis Ababa a hub of urban tourism as well, whereby it provides outstanding attraction in the city and also helps boost the country's tourism and economy.

With the financial support from the Chinese government and contracted by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the project includes the construction of the Central Square (about 48 hectares) and the 12-km river treatment, from Entoto Mountain to Peacock Reach.

Visiting the project site on Wednesday, Prime Minister Abiy hailed the progress within three months, and reiterated the multiple benefits and opportunities created with the project, especially upon its completion.

Accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to the project, Tan Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, reiterated that it is a friendship project between China and Ethiopia.

Recalling that the first phase of the project would be completed this year, when Ethiopia and China celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the ambassador said such projects would further cement the long-standing relations between the two countries and their peoples.

"This is a friendship project; and I believe with the projects like this, our relations will be further enhanced; and people visiting here, people touring here, they will appreciate the friendship, and the contribution by the Chinese government. And I believe that the bond, the friendship between our countries, between our peoples will be strengthened," the ambassador said.

Speaking to Xinhua after the site visit, Billene Seyoum, Press Secretary of Ethiopia's premier, said they have witnessed that the project is progressing with key milestones.

"As promised by the Chinese government and the Chinese contractors, there are key milestones that have been achieved as we can see that just about three month ago, this area was very barren but now there are key milestones that have been achieved with regards to the construction element," she said.

Billene added that the project has already employed about 1,500 local workers, and predicted that up to 5,000 jobs are going to be created to sustain the site as well upon its completion.

Speaking to Xinhua, Shen Jiaqi, Executive General Manager of CCCC Ethiopia, thanked the prime minister for the visit and said CCCC has enough capacity to finish the project which will further consolidate the China-Ethiopia ties.
The holidays are a big deal in the Duggar world, as its a time when Jim Bob, Michelle, and their 19 kids (as well as their many grandkids) can get together and celebrate. But that doesnt mean all of the Duggars were in attendance for Christmas 2019. While Jill and Jinger were both noticeably absent from Jim Bob and Michelles huge Christmas party, Josh and his wife, Anna, also werent present.

Josh Duggar doesnt have a social media presence, but Anna does. She consistently keeps her Instagram followers in the loop with whats going on with her, Josh, and their six kids. Just a few days after Christmas, Anna posted a photo showing where her family is for the holidays  and its not even in the same state as the rest of the Duggars.

The Duggars had a huge Christmas celebration at their Arkansas home

The Duggars are majorly religious and have shared their strict beliefs with their viewers for years. And this also means that certain holidays, like Christmas, are hugely celebrated. The Duggar Family Instagram, which is seemingly run by Jim Bob and Michelle, shared their familys 2019 Christmas celebration with their followers.

Christmas is a perfect time to celebrate the love of family, exchange gifts, and create special memories that will last a lifetime. But most of all, we celebrate JESUS  Gods perfect, indescribable gift, Jim Bob captioned one of the familys Instagram posts. The one and only Son of God came to earth as a baby for the purpose of giving His life for us. Of all the gifts we could ever receive, this is the very best!

Jana Duggar, the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelles kids who still lives under their roof, also shared multiple Christmas posts to her Instagram. She documented how the Duggars exchange gifts, who was in attendance, and how they celebrated Christ.

Josh and Anna spent their Christmas elsewhere

Josh is one of the most infamous of the Duggars. Hes no longer featured on Counting On due to his molestation scandal of the past, and the family barely mentions him on Instagram.

Anna, however, seems to hold the Duggars in high esteem. She gave birth to her and Joshs sixth child the day before Thanksgiving 2019, and she attended the annual Duggar ugly sweater Christmas party just five days after. Anna also frequently comments on her in-laws Instagram posts to feel more connected to whats going on.

Despite Annas attempts at staying as close to the Duggars as possible, it looks like she and Josh skipped out on the big Arkansas celebration. Anna posted a photo of one of her and Joshs kids on a Florida beach.

Floridians consider this a #WhiteChristmas, Anna captioned the post.

They werent the only ones to skip out on the big celebration

Back in November, news outlets reported Homeland Security raided one of Joshs car lots. This coupled with Joshs shaky past are leading many to believe that Jim Bob and Michelle may not want Josh and Anna to attend any major Duggar family events like Christmas. And Jills husband, Derick Dillard, recently came forward with a few scathing accusations against Jim Bob and Michelle, too.

Jill and her husband didnt attend the Duggar familys Christmas celebration, as stated before. According to Dillard, he and Jills relationship with the family is on thin ice. In Touch Weekly reports Dillard told his Instagram followers that Jill has to get express permission from Jim Bob before going over to the familys big Arkansas home.

Dillard told a follower that its harder to get together with some of Jills family because were not allowed at the house when JB isnt there. Jill even had to ask JB permission to go over to the house to help her sister when she was in labor because her sister wanted her help, but Jill couldnt provide the assistance until we got it cleared with JB.

If Dillard is telling the truth, does Jim Bob have these rules set with Josh and Anna, too? Could this be the real reason Josh and Anna spent their holiday in Florida? Were not sure, but we hope to find out soon.

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French President Emmanuel Macron, on December 31, said that he wants a strong relationship with the United Kingdom post-Brexit. In New Years Eve address to the nation, Macron said that the departure of Britain from the European Union is a test for France and he will strive to maintain a solid relationship between the two countries.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is leading the way to ensure the impending Brexit by January 31 after the Conservative Party won the recently-concluded general elections with an overwhelming majority. The huge victory margin is considered as strong support from the people of Britain towards the Brexit since Conservatives had contested the election with a central theme of Get Brexit Done and won 365 seats out of 650.

Read: French President Macron Says 33 Islamic Extremists Killed In Central Mali

Macron on pension reform

During the address, the French President also touched upon the proposed pension reform that attracted massive protest across the country. Macron called the pension reform justice and social progress project and said that it will be completed. He also tried to allay the fears of citizens saying the government will find a way to a rapid compromise with trade union organizations.

I also understand how the decisions taken can sometimes collide, give rise to fear and opposition. Do we have to give up changing our country and our daily life? No. Because it would be abandoning those whom the system has already abandoned, tweeted Macron on the New Years Eve. He acknowledged that changes often shake things up but further added, concerns cannot lead to inaction because there is too much to do.

Read: French President Emmanuel Macron Urges Protesters For Christmas Truce

Macron wants to move away from the system of dozens of pension schemes to a universal points-based pension system, aimed at rewarding employees based on their daily work. Unions are unhappy with the pension reforms since they are being forced to retire later or avail reduced pensions. The official retirement age in France is currently 62 but according to the new plan, anyone retiring before 64 will get a lower pension.

Read: French Activists Use Macron Portraits To Urge Climate Action

Read: United Kingdom: Big Ben Could Chime To Mark Brexit Day On January 31
The ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) are orchestrated by the Opposition that has failed to convince people to support them, so is confusing them by creating falsehoods about the legislation, Union minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday. He added that Muslims in India were living here out of commitment, not compulsion.

The CAB (Citizenship Amendment Bill) was first introduced in the Parliament in 2018; there were discussions with all the political parties. They did not oppose then, Naqvi said.

Naqvi also pointed that, as per the allocation of business rules, 1961, the minority affairs ministry has been mandated with the task of raising concerns affecting the minorities in neighbouring countries, and ensuring protection and preservation of non-Muslim shrines in Pakistan and Muslim shrines in India in terms of the Pant-Mirza Agreement of 1955, in consultation with the ministry of external affairs.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, which was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, is aimed at fast-tracking the grant of Indian citizenship to members of religious minorities from the Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Answering a question on whether the government failed in communicating the details of the legislation and allaying concerns of Muslims, Naqvi said: Where is the need to have discussions on something that does not affect Indian citizens? There is a misinformation campaign being carried out.

Reacting to Naqvis statement, Congresss Jaiveer Shergill said: Congress will expose BJPs 3Cs -chaos, confusion and communalism strategy, which they have adopted to divert attention from sinking economy.

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NEW HAVEN  In the heart of the citys Dixwell neighborhood, where the avenue meets Orchard and Munson streets, Duane Nixon, 13, saw his name in lights.

Duane and 35 other young people are the stars of the neighborhood following the installation on the traffic triangle of three illuminated 9-foot towers that bear their portraits, names and a brief quote about why they matter.

I feel good, like I accomplished something, Duane said.

Dozens of admirers  friends and family  played the role of paparazzi, taking photos of the young celebrities standing before their portraits and then streaming the images to the internet.

The display is the latest installment of the IMatter Project, a collaboration between multimedia artist Rob Goldman and city officials and agencies. For about two years, the project has displayed portraits of the citys youth on the sides of buildings.

Goldman said that, as he was installing the towers, drivers stopped at red lights rolled down their windows to ask what was going on. One man in particular, he said, observed that the project would show adults how much more they have to do for children in the city.

It shows that he got it, Goldman said.

Briana Gray, 13, had her portrait included in the display. The portrait, a close-up of her face with her hair in a bun, portrays her chin resting gently on the back of her hand with a confident smile. Beneath her smile, her quote: I like going out of my way for others.

Its cool. Ive never done something like this, she said. She agreed that seeing her face among others makes her feel like a part of the community.

Im super proud, said Brianas mother, Virginia Ruiz. This is her city. Its a beautiful picture.

Alder Kim Edwards, D-19, watched over the portrait of her late son, Benjamin Brown, which was included at the base of one of the towers after debuting in a banner over the Goffe Street Armory.

Theyre rock stars, she said. Other kids are seeing them, and people are coming by to see these children. It shows their power. Theyre everyday people, but theyre stars.

Mayor Toni Harp, who said the event was her last as mayor, said it felt appropriate, given her administrations focus on youth issues.

Its quite literally dangerous for young people these days to internalize their thoughts, feelings and inclinations, she said.

The project could help children talk about their feelings in a way that would reduce anti-social behavior in youth, she believes.

According to a climate survey administered by the public schools, students at Celentano School  where Duane and Briana attend  had more positive attitudes around respect, student engagement and bullying than the average New Haven Public Schools student last year, but who took the survey said they lag behind the average in one area: adult availability.

In the survey, 44 percent of Celentano students said teachers and other adults are available to them to talk about academic problems, and 39 percent said teachers and other adults are available to them to talk about issues that are bothering them.

Goldman said the project is intended to place the focus on youth so they can be taken seriously by adults and learn to take themselves seriously.

Im so proud New Haven is hosting this initiative, Harp said.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Those well-worn boots that sit at the back door. That exhausted farmer trudging in at the end of the day. That fresh green of a spring field.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: The West Champaran police in Bihar on Tuesday night stumbled upon a huge stockpile of charas weighing around 10 kg and arrested a person from Ratanmala village under the Majhaulia PS limits.

According to police statement, the accused was identifed as Tinku Kumar (22) of Raxaul in East Champaran district. The stockpile of charas was to be delivered to another part of state, which the police didn't disclose in order to keep investigation smoothly going ahead in this connection.

The seized quantity of charas was estimated to be worth Rs 2 crore. This was the second huge seizure of charas in 2019 after the mega seizure of 43 kg, worth Rs 8.30 crore, in East Champaran in 2018 by SSB jawans. A resident of Kanpur in UP was also arrested in the case.

The smuggling of narcotics including charas is carried out from neighbouring Nepal through porous border by a syndicate of smugglers. Police sources said that charas and other contrabands are frequently smuggled into Indian territory to supply across the country via various secret routes.

Besides these two seizures in Bihar, a team of police had also arrested a drug smuggler in Begusarai district in June 2019 and seized 6.5 kg of high quality charas, worth Rs 30 lakh.

The arrested person was identifed as Vimal Choudhary and Nepal currency worth Rs 16,000 was also seized from his possession. In 2018 also,the directorate of revenue and intelligence wing with local police had seized huge quantity of Charas worth Rs 2 crore in Sahebganj area of Muzaffarpur.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 11:33:21|Editor: Wang Yamei

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BOGOTA, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's anti-drug police said Tuesday it made more than 62,000 arrests on drug trafficking charges in 2019.

"We were able to capture 3,616 foreign nationals, 59,018 Colombian nationals, and we extradited 190 people," said the police in an official release.

During 2019, they seized 276.7 tons of marijuana and taken over 273,000 doses of synthetic drugs off the streets, it added.

The cocaine seized were mostly from Narino, Valle del Cauca, and North Santander, and more than 39 tons of cocaine were seized at major ports of the South American country, with the port of Buenaventura registering the largest amount of 13.1 tons, according to the release.

The Colombian police voiced hope that people will continue using the anti-drug hotline to report suspicious activities.
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has decided to enhance incentives for its academicians to encourage and motivate them to undertake applied market-oriented and innovative research

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jan, 2020 ) :Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has decided to enhance incentives for its academicians to encourage and motivate them to undertake applied market-oriented and innovative research.

A proposal to this effect has been adopted by the University's Executive Council on the recommendation of the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia-Ul-Qayyum, said a senior official of the University Dr. Muhammad Latif Gondal while addressing a seminar held here on Wednesday.

The University's academicians and researchers of various departments attended the seminar and discussed application process and evaluation of National Research Programs for Universities (NRPU), said press release issued here on Tuesday.

The seminar was also addressed by the senior officials of the Higher education Commission (HEC) who briefed the participants about the process of undertaking research-based projects and eligibility criteria for winning research grants.

It was noted that NRPU is a flagship research program for funding research grants on competitive merit for high-level and promising research projects.

The main focus of the program is to address national priorities through basic and applied research. The HEC made sure that the research grants provided by the government should be properly utilized.

The speakers emphasized that the research proposals should demonstrate strategic relevance and impact to local industry and society.

The HEC and the AIOU's research grants' policy is aimed at improving the quality of teaching and developing research culture through innovative ways as well as upholding the concept of knowledge economy in true sense, they added.

The AIOU had laid down a basic framework of providing necessary incentives to its academic staff on publication of research journals. Financial incentives were given to encourage them to write in-depth articles on their relevant topics that could meet the international standard and help country to address its socio-economic problems.

An office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization had also been set-up at the main campus to transfer the research-finding to the end-users, the official of the AIOU added.
They've had it with these snakes on this plane.

A 10-year-old New Zealand boy was forced to flip his shirt inside out after airport officials determined its print could make other passengers feel anxious.

Stevie Lucas was vacationing in South Africa, where his mother is originally from, to visit his grandparents when the incident occurred, the NZ Herald reported.

While boarding a flight at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Dec. 17, Stevie was reportedly informed by airport security that he could not wear his T-shirt, which included a large, realistic print of a green snake, on the plane, as it might make other passengers uncomfortable.

A Boy, 10, is forced to take his shirt off before boarding a flight from #NewZealand to #SouthAfrica because it had a picture of a reptile on it  pic.twitter.com/T0O6DqfBDo  aviation-fails (@aviation07fails) December 26, 2019

The boy's parents, Steve and Marga, apparently advised their son to flip his shirt inside out so that the offending snake pattern would be hidden, leaving the young traveler in a simple black tee. He was then allowed to board the plane without any further issues.

Following the incident, the airport defended its decision, claiming the move was solely meant to protect other passengers.

"Security officers have the right to determine if an object has the potential to harm fellow passengers and crew members by causing certain feelings of anxiousness, an airport representative said, according to the Daily Mail.

Stevie's parents said their son thankfully remained in good spirits throughout the ordeal and even "proposed a toast" to their South African adventure upon the family's return home from the trip.
A Syrian army officer was killed and several servicemen were injured in a terrorist shelling of several settlements in Hama province, media reported on Tuesday, citing a military source.

According to the Syrian state-run SANA news agency, armed militants positioned in the area of Midan Ghazal and Maar Htat districts and launched a number of rocket shells on several villages and towns in Hama province.

"The army units immediately responded to the sources of fires, targeting centres of command of the terrorists and killing a big number of them in addition to destroying the launch-pads of the rockets," the source said as quoted by the media outlet.

Since 2011, Syria has suffered an armed conflict between various opposition groups, including terrorist organisations and the government led by President Bashar Assad. Now that the conflict has wound down and the government forces have regained control over most of the country from terrorists, the priority is now being given to political settlement and the return of refugees.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The native New Yorker arrived in Washington in the early 1960s, a time when the District was still considered a cultural backwater with only limited theatrical opportunities. That was a time when Washingtonians, asked if they went to the theater, would answer, Oh, yeah, we go up to New York two or three times a year, Mr. Shargai told Washington City Paper.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:52:36|Editor: yan

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ADEN, Yemen, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) suspended on Wednesday their participation in a joint committee tasked with implementing the Saudi-brokered deal on southern Yemen signed with the country's government last November.

An official of the Aden-based STC told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the suspension decision came in protest against the recent military escalation of the government forces in the southeastern Shabwa province.

"Our representatives won't attend the meetings of the joint committee tasked with implementing the Riyadh deal after the recent military attacks launched by the government forces in Shabwa," the source said.

He said that "forces linked to the government staged a military campaign against tribesmen loyal to the STC in Shabwa and continued to expand the on-ground there."

In the southeastern parts of Shabwa, intense overnight clashes erupted between the STC's tribesmen and the government forces, leaving an unknown number of casualties from both sides.

The Aden-based STC strongly condemned the government forces military campaign and threatened to take other decisions to confront the military escalation in Shabwa, according to the local source.

The fresh eruption of the armed confrontations is posing a serious threat to the success of the power-sharing deal signed in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh to end the tension in southern Yemen.

Last year, Saudi Arabia persuaded the STC and Yemen's government to hold reconciliation talks, which succeeded in reaching a deal to form a new technocrat cabinet of no more than 24 ministers.

But numerous obstacles prevented the implementation of the deal's provisions, including failure to form a new government or achieving permanent stability in the country's southern part.

The main points of the deal also included the return of the exiled Yemeni government to Aden and the unification of all military units under the authority of the country's interior and defense ministries.

The Saudi-brokered deal excluded the Iranian-backed Houthis who are still controlling the capital Sanaa and other northern provinces of the war-torn Arab country.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern areas including Sanaa.
(Natural News) The rainbow brigade in England is celebrating an LGBTQ monstrosity childbirth involving a female-to-male trans man and his non-binary partner who recently gave birth to a child using sperm collected from a male-to-female trans woman.

According to reports, 39-year-old Reuben Sharpe, a biological woman who began living as a man 12 years ago, successfully gave birth to what the far-left Mirror describes as a miracle baby in Britains most modern family following two rounds of fertility treatments.

Sharpes partner Jay, a 28-year-old biological woman who cut off both of her breasts and declared herself a non-binary, so Sharpe was artificially inseminated by yet another confused LGBTQ who, despite now identifying as a trans woman, retained her male sexual organs, allowing her to participate in this bizarre pregnancy.

Its taken six years to get this far, but now we have a baby in our arms and that was the end goal, Sharpe told reporters, basking in all of the attention this abomination has garnered. I finally feel complete.

It wasnt that I was desperate to have the birth experience or pregnancy experience, but I wanted a child and I had the facility to do it, Sharpe went on to state.

The fact that Sharpe admittedly didnt feel complete prior to this birthing circus suggests that he suffers from the same form of severe mental illness from which most transgenders suffer.

Truth be told, believing oneself to be some gender other than what biological sex dictates is always a sign of mental illness because its a delusional mindset that completely contradicts reality.

As explained by Dr. Paul R. McHugh, the former psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins Hospital, it is biologically impossible to alter ones sex, no matter how many body parts are altered or removed.

People who undergo sex reassignment surgery do not change from men to women or vice versa, McHugh is quoted as saying.

Rather, they become feminized men or masculinized women. Claiming that this is a civil rights matter and encouraging surgical intervention is in reality to collaborate with and promote a mental disorder.

By affirming gender insanity, LGBTQ allies are actually promoting mental illness

But try telling that to the medical staff at the hospital where this child was born, which reportedly treated Sharpe and Jay like celebrities  which apparently upset them, just like everything does to LGBTQs.

The whole experience felt uncomfortable and made us sad, Sharpe says about all of the attention that it and its partner received. Both of us just wanted a normal experience.

This is laughable, considering the couple quite literally paraded around this completely abnormal pregnancy and even posed for a photo that was featured in the Mirrors coverage of it. But alas, LGBTQs will always find something to be offended about, even when it involves being heaped with praise for their perversion.

Sharpe also complained to the media that nobody could get its pronouns right, and that people werent sure if it was the mother or the father. It was frustrating that people didnt just ask my gender or not use it, Sharpe reportedly whined.

Still, getting pregnant was very affirming for Sharpe, even though its really nothing special considering it was born a she. As natural law has always dictated, females have the ability to get pregnant, so Sharpe has hardly reinvented the wheel, here, other than in its own deranged mind.

Like with many things, people have got it into their heads this is a female thing, this is a male thing,' this mentally out of sorts person further told the media.

Having a child is male, female, everyone  I dont think pregnancy is the ultimate female experience, therefore it didnt challenge me as a man.

For more related news about the gender insanity thats sweeping the West, be sure to check out Gender.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
Imagine having an opportunity to be a fly on the wall during an in-depth, three-hour conversation with your favorite celebrity about aliens, nature, or social issues. How amazing would it be to listen and sit in on them sharing their authentic feelings and experiences in a real-world conversation? Joe Rogan offers a podcast that provides millions around the globe an opportunity to be that fly on the wall.

As Rogans podcast popularity continues to grow, fans are always dying to learn just who he plans to interview next. His forward-thinking perspective has many wondering if hed even bother to entertain guests that might not match his intellect. In one podcast segment, he was asked if he would consider having Kim Kardashian on his podcast. His answer might alarm you.

What makes The Joe Rogan Experience so popular?

Joe Rogan | Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images

Joe Rogan has been at it for ten years now and has over 1,300 episodes under his belt. Some speculate fans flock to listen because of its uncensored nature. Others claim the three-hour extensive conversation format allows for some of the best and spontaneous conversations with high profile guests. Even if you disagree with Rogans opinion about the topics at hand, youre bound to find him charming and the podcasts genuinely engaging.

Joe Rogan loves his guests, and he routinely entertains thoughtful conversations with a variety of invitees. Celebrities come often, and not just to promote their upcoming ventures. Hes sat with musicians, scientists, and professional athletes too. Controversial stars love to get to the bottom of the rumor mills with Rogan as their sounding board, and his podcast is their platform to speak to the world.

But what about Kim Kardashian?

Recently, Joe Rogan was asked if he would have  or even enjoy having for that matter  Kim Kardashian on his podcast. Considering some of his conversations dive deep into the analytical, like the purpose of life or complex understandings of nature under the influence of psychedelics, Kim Kardashian might not be the first person who comes to mind who would enjoy such a conversation. However, Rogans response may surprise you. He said he would have Kim on his show, and he was enthusiastic about explaining why.

He went on to explain that hes impressed with her prison reform efforts alone, and he finds her narrative to promote helping others and making a difference is well worth his respect. He cited her recent trip to Washington and her past success with having freed 18 wrongfully convicted people from prison. In a world where all Kim Kardashian has to do is buy jewels and get pedicures, Rogan says her example of using her celebrity for good is an example worth interviewing.

Prison reform is Kim Kardashians mission

Kim made headlines earlier this year with her trip to the White House and meeting with the president. She spoke at an event about her dedication and efforts to bring awareness to prison sentencing and advocating for reform. After visiting prisoners, my heart completely opened up, and I wanted to do more, she said. One of her accomplishments involves a partnership with the rideshare company, Lyft. Formerly incarcerated individuals can take advantage of Lyfts sponsored gift cards for transportation to job interviews and work. Its a partnership and project shes been vocally proud to have created.

With the increased popularity of Joe Rogans podcast along with Kim Kardashians prison reform efforts and good deeds, a meeting of the minds seems logical. Rogan would gladly welcome her too.
T he former chairman of Nissan escaped Japan in a "musical instrument case" while awaiting trial in the country, according to reports in Lebanon.

Carlos Ghosn, who was under house arrest charged with financial misconduct, fled the country and arrived in the Middle East by private jet.

Ghosn said he travelled to Lebanon to avoid "injustice and political persecution".

The ex-car manufacturing boss's wife is alleged to have helped plan the escape which was carried out by a paramilitary-style group, according to the Lebanese news channel MTV.

The channel said members disguised themselves as a music band who were due to perform for a Gregorian-style dinner at Ghosn's home in Japan.

The former Nissan boss lashed out at ex-colleagues saying they had betrayed him / AP

Ghosn is then said to have left the premises in a box intended for transporting musical instruments, before leaving Japan from a nearby airport.

The millionaire has denied accusations he is avoiding justice and said Japan had a "rigged" system.

He was under surveillance while out on bail in the country and had surrendered his passports.

In a statement, Ghosn said: "I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan's legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold.

"I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week."

His lawyers were even taken by surprise at Ghosn's departure / Representatives for Carlos Ghosn

Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, and it is unclear what steps authorities might take to seek his return.

Prosecutors on the case were taken by surprise by his departure as were his own defence team who were unaware of Ghosn's plans until he arrived in Lebanon.

Ghosn's lawyer Junichiro Hironaka has condemned his client's "inexcusable behaviour".

Ghosn is accused of understating his salary while leading the firm, transferring personal financial losses to his employer and diverting Nissan money to enrich himself.

Earlier this year, he accused ex-colleagues in a video of backstabbing and conspiring against him.

REUTERS

Ghosn claimed some "selfish" executives had "really played a very dirty game" and insisted he was innocent of all charges.

He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing - accusing Japanese authorities of trumping up charges to prevent a potential merger between Nissan and Renault.

Arrested in November 2018, Ghosn was expected to face trial this coming April. The charges he faces carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Mombasa, Kenya (PANA) - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged his people to rally behind the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which is geared towards ending historical injustice and enhancing national cohesion
Happy New Year. What kind of year will this be? Check back in another 365 days and well tell you. Meanwhile, here are 20 questions, the answers to which will help shape what kind of year 2020 will be:

1. How will the impeachment trial of President Trump play out? Its highly unlikely a Republican Senate will vote to remove Trump from office. Perhaps the bigger question then is what will be the political fallout from an impeachment trial? Bill Clinton came out stronger from his, although not so strong that his vice president could win the next presidential election. Heres a situation where the president on trial will be on the ballot in November.

2. Who will win the presidential election? In normal times, this would have been the first question. These are not normal times.

3. Who will win Virginias Senate seat? Democrat Mark Warner will be on the ballot. Six years ago, he almost lost, but a lot has changed since then. Of course the bigger question nationally is who will win the U.S. Senate. Republicans have a built-in advantage for this cycle, but well see.

4. Will any House seats in Virginia change? Two years ago, Democrats picked up three seats  Jennifer Wexton in Northern Virginia, Elaine Luria in Hampton Roads and Abigail Spanberger in the Richmond area. Of those three, Spanberger is the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, Republican Denver Riggleman of Nelson County faces both a challenge for the nomination and a Democratic rival in the fall.

5. What will the new Democratic majority in the General Assembly do? In normal times, this might have been the second question. Like we said . . . In any case, this is a pretty general question, but there are some more specific ones worth asking.

6. What gun restrictions will the General Assembly pass? We take it as a given that some will pass, just a matter of which ones.

7. Will the Equal Rights Amendment get ratified? Virginia will almost certainly become the 38th state to ratify the amendment  the threshold needed  but the question is really a legal one: Will that ratification be recognized? Or will courts rule that the ERAs time limit expired years ago?

8. Will the General Assembly pass a constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering? Democrats were gung-ho for this until they won a majority in the legislature; now theyre starting to raise questions about the amendment, which would take redistricting out of the hands of legislators and give it to a bipartisan citizens commission. The temptation to ditch the amendment and hold onto the power to gerrymander their districts will be great. Will they be able to resist the temptation?

9. Will the General Assembly allow casinos in Virginia? Much like the constitutional amendment on redistricting, the General Assembly passed a casino bill last year but it requires re-enactment this year. Danville and Bristol are the cities most eager to see casinos.

10. Will the General Assembly do anything about outdated schools? State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, will be back with his proposal for a statewide bond issue. In theory, this should have bipartisan support, uniting Republican rural areas with Democratic central cities. Instead, in the past, its produced only a bipartisan agreement to kill the proposal as quickly as possible.

11. Will the General Assembly repeal the states right-to-work law? This was an unthinkable question until Democrats won control of the General Assembly. Now its a real one, although Gov. Ralph Northam has intimated hed veto a repeal bill if the legislature passes one.

12. Will either or both of the proposed natural gas pipelines get built? Right now, both the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and the Mountain Valley Pipeline have been slowed by court action. Speaking of court action . . .

13. How will the U.S. Supreme Court rule on the ACP? In February, the court will hear a case on whether the Appalachian Trail can block pipelines from burrowing under it. This specific case concerns only the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, but the ruling  however it goes  will have much larger ramifications.

14. Who will win Roanoke City Council elections? Theyll be in November for the first time.

15. What will the census show? The official enumeration date in April 1, although the process actually starts Jan. 21 in Toksook Bay, Alaska. By years end, the census will report the state-by-state population counts, although more detailed information on each locality wont come out until early 2021. Still, we should learn if Virginia gets an extra congressional seat (we probably wont).

16. Will Roanokes bus station project go forward? The city wants to build a new bus station on land its acquired at Third Street and Salem Avenue. Meanwhile, a developer would acquire the current bus station on Campbell Avenue and demolish it to make way for a combination of ground-level retail and upper-level housing. This would undeniably change the feel of Campbell Avenue; its also generated opposition from some on Salem Avenue.

17. Will the Virginia High School League continue esports? This year, some schools are fielding teams for esports  what old-timers call video games  under a pilot program.

18. Will construction start on the proposed wind farm in Botetourt County? Now we begin some questions that weve asked several years before  but if they happen, will be big deals. In this case, Apex Clean Energy finally has a buyer for the power it would produce  but needs some new permits now that its changed the proposed size of the turbines atop North Mountain near Eagle Rock. If the project does start spinning, it would become the states first commercial wind farm.

19. Will Dominion Energy move forward on a pumped storage project in the coalfields? Its currently studying a site in Tazewell County. Theres much enthusiasm in the coalfields, where legislators see the hydroelectric project as something that will generate lots of jobs during construction  and a smaller number of well-paid jobs for operations later on. It also would include renewable energy, which might help the coalfields market themselves to technology companies. Critics, though, see this as an unnecessary project thats being done merely to appease Southwest legislators.

20. What will happen that we dont expect? For the answer to this, and the other questions, keep reading through the year.
A woman in Hyderabad attempted suicide by setting herself ablaze outside the Panjagutta police station.

The incident took place on Tuesday morning.

According to Panjagutta Police, on December 31, a woman identified as Lokeshwari came to the station along with her husband. Later she poured kerosene on herself and set herself on fire. "Immediately our police personal noticed and doused the fire and the victim was rushed to NIMS hospital," police said.

She is currently undergoing treatment and investigation is on in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chief Gallaghers lawyer said the SEAL was writing a book about his career, but declined to provide details about whether he had signed a publishing deal or with whom.

To be sure, Chief Gallagher is hardly the first Navy SEAL to market his past. So many SEALs have published war stories and booked public speaking gigs in recent years that the satirical news site The Onion published an article announcing Navy Forms Elite New SEAL Team to Write Best-Selling Tell-All Books.

But Chief Gallagher is the first to do it in the wake of a war crime court-martial, and the only one who has sought to tie his public persona so closely to a political party and a divisive commander in chief.

Chief Gallagher, 40, sometimes went by the nickname Blade during his 20 years in the Navy. He served eight combat deployments and was awarded repeated medals for valor under fire.

But he also ran into trouble over the years. He was investigated for shooting a small girl while targeting a suspected Taliban member in Afghanistan in 2010, and was arrested and accused of assaulting a Navy police officer in 2014. In both cases, no criminal charges were filed.

Despite his past, Chief Gallagher was respected in the SEAL teams as an aggressive operator. But when he was assigned to lead his first platoon in combat in 2017 in Mosul, Iraq, SEALs who served under him said he became fixated on getting in firefights, made bizarre and dangerous tactical decisions, seemed to not know how to do his job and killed people with little regard to the rules of engagement.

In video interviews with investigators, multiple SEALs broke down in tears, describing their leader as evil and toxic.
How a Ridgetown teacher is part of the fight to preserve the Lunaapeew language

An Indigenous teacher in Ridgetown, Ont. is part of a mission to keep the Lunaapeew language alive.

For the people of Delaware Nation in southwestern Ontario, Lunaapeew is more than just their language  it is integral to who they are as people, but a painful history of racism and residential schools has left behind only a handful of people who speak it proficiently.

And that's making the push to pass it on to the next generation all the more urgent.

"Our language is a huge part of what makes us Delaware," explained grade school teacher Kristin Jacobs.

She is part of a small group of people studying the language from one of the last known proficient Lunaapeew speakers in the region, elder Dianne Snake in Delaware Nation at Moraviantown.

"Dianne is getting older, and we want to make sure we get as much of the language as possible from her," Jacobs said, adding that time is critical.

'Save our culture'

Now, Jacobs is passing on the language to students from Grade 1 to Grade 8 at Naahii Ridge Public School and Ridgetown District High School. Her colleague Angela Noah also teaches Lunaapeew at the high school for students from Grade 9 to Grade 12.

For the Indigenous students in the classes, the preciousness of the lesson is not lost on them.

Katerina Georgieva/CBC

"I don't want to lose our language," said Grade 4 student Kara Cornelius.

"We hardly don't have any more speakers left and my grandmother's mother spoke it and my cousin is now speaking it. So, I want to learn the language too."

Grade 5 student Devon Reaume said the goal is to "save our culture."

The loss of the language

Delaware Nation Councillor Gordon Peters said the knowledge of the language dissolved over the years because of the discrimination Indigenous people have faced, and explained that there are only a "handful" of first language speakers left.

Katerina Georgieva/CBC

"That's what happens to us in our families. A lot of our older people never thought that the language was ever going to be important to us because being an Indian in those days was not a good thing," he said.

Story continues

"The racism was extremely heavy."

Peters said as a result, the older generation didn't pass on the language in order to protect the following generation from the pain they themselves had gone through.

Though his mother spoke Lunaapeew, he never learned the language himself. As she was getting older, Peters asked her to teach him, but she passed away during that time.

He said he wishes he had asked her sooner.

Jacobs explained that she also was never taught at home, because the two generations before her were sent to residential schools, which is where a lot of the language was lost.

That's why now, Peters explained, there's a real emphasis on the importance of the language, "and making sure that it's an important part of our lives that we have to retain so that we know who we are as the original people of this land."

'Another generation of speakers'

The fight to save the language started years ago, and Peters said his own mother was originally a part of that.

He said it was a challenge trying to run language programs at Delaware Nation, so eventually they developed an immersion program to give adults the tools to ultimately teach children.

Katerina Georgieva/CBC

"It equips us for another generation of speakers.... Immersion seems to be the only way that we can move forward," he said.

There were five participants in the community who stuck with the program  including Jacobs  learning from Snake.

"I'm really, really thankful to my language teacher Dianne," said Jacobs.

"Being able to work with her and for her to pass her knowledge on to me is the greatest gift of all."

Katerina Georgieva/CBC

Jacobs explained that Snake's first language was Lunaapeew, and that she didn't start speaking English until she was seven or eight years old.

"Most of those elders who grew up with the language in their home as their first language have passed on, so we're left with Dianne who is one of the last  I would say last, because I'm not aware of any others."

Jacobs and the group of five studied with Snake three days a week for nearly four years, but found that they needed even more time, so the five of them took a year off from their regular jobs to study with Snake for a year. They also recently graduated from a language certification course at Lakehead University, which they attended every July for four summers in a row.

Peters noted that Snake has been a dedicated language teacher in the community for decades.

"She's a spectacular woman," said Peters.

"She knows her language. She helps wherever she needs to help."

Hope for the future

Jacobs said she's grateful to be a part of the movement to save the language as well.

Katerina Georgieva/CBC

"It's very fulfilling knowing that I'm helping our community by passing on the language to the students and maybe someday one of them will be a language teacher too," Jacobs said.

But she's not the only one passing on this knowledge. Her other colleagues who have been learning from Snake are teaching youth and community members in the area as well, like Noah at Ridgetown District High School.

Peters said Jacobs has had an impact on many young people, and it's moving for him to witness the effect it's having.

"Oh it's just it's very emotional. I can tell you that."

He hopes to see that impact continue into the future as that next generation of Lunaapeew speakers is created.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He might be the most punctual baby of the decade.

The first baby delivered on Staten Island in 2020 was born at exactly midnight on Wednesday at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, the hospital announced.

New parents Michelle and Anthony Saraceno, of Eltingville, rang in the new year by welcoming their son Anthony, who weighs 7 pounds, 9 ounces.

We are still in shock. We never expected he would come right at midnight, Anthony Sr. told the Advance. He didnt want to miss the party.

Anthony Sr. said that his wife was not actually due with their first child until Jan. 23.

The couple went to the hospital on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m.

We are doing great, he said of the now family-of-three.

Little Anthony is officially tied for the title of first New York City baby of the decade; Aidan Zobnin was also born at midnight at Coney Island Hospital, according to the New York Post.

The first baby born at Staten Island University Hospital, a girl, came at 12:40 a.m. on New Years Day.

The happy parents are Rabbi Jacob Birnbaum and his wife Esther, of Brooklyn.

The couple named their 6 pound, 11 ounce baby Blimy for Esthers maternal great-grandmother, according to the hospital.
Fires raging across the southern half of Australia underscore the immediacy of the climate change crisis facing the world. Australia is among the countries that are most prone to bushfires. Yet, the fires sweeping across the continent in recent months are unprecedented. They are more intense and widespread than in the past. Consider this: in the catastrophic fires of 2018, 740,000 hectares of land burned, compared to 5 million hectares in recent months. Australian bushfires are a feature of summer, but this episode began in August, even before the end of winter. Worryingly, the worst is yet to come as temperatures peak in Australia in January-February. So, the fires may not subside for another two months, at least. Destruction is already serious. It is estimated that around 500 million animals have died in the fires so far and 30% of Australias koala population is said to have been wiped out. This is more than catastrophic. Climate scientists say that long-term climate warming, years of drought and a set of climate patterns combine to trigger severe fire catastrophes. All three ingredients have come together in Australia. Australias average temperature has risen by at least a degree Celsius over the past century. Higher temperatures dry the soil and fuel load. This could have been reversed by rainfall but that is not only sparse in Australia but also, in its southwest, precipitation has fallen by 20% since the 1970s. Southeastern Australia has been reeling from drought over three successive years. The unprecedented bushfires were the result.

An increase in frequency of extreme and divergent weather events are some examples of the unfolding impact of climate change. These are happening across the world. Droughts and floods occurred simultaneously in different parts of India last year. It is unfortunate that leaders continue to deny that climate change is upon us. Reacting to the ongoing bushfires, Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there is no credible scientific evidence linking greenhouse gas emissions to the severity or frequency of catastrophic bushfires. If only he and other climate change deniers would take a serious look at countless scientific reports linking greenhouse gas emissions with long-term climate change that is making the planet more prone to disasters.

Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have lost steam over the past decade. Will the unfolding disaster in Australia make world leaders, especially from advanced economies, take the crisis more seriously? The world is running out of time. Already, we have lost opportunities to reverse changes that have happened. However, with timely action to arrest emissions, we could at least slow the pace of the destructive impact of global warming.
The rubble of a school destroyed by a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen. Photo: Naif Rahma/Reuters

The value of approved UK arms sales to Saudia Arabia and its allies in war-torn Yemen has soared to 6.4bn over the past five years, according to new research.

The British government has signed off 2bn more in arms exports since January 2015 than it approved over the previous five years, analysis by the charity Oxfam suggests.

It marks a 45% spike in licences for UK arms manufacturers, despite tougher global rules coming into force through the Arms Trade Treaty signed in 2014.

The treaty, supported by the British government, includes measures to deter arms sales where there is a substantial risk of usage that violates international humanitarian or human rights law.

Ruth Tanner, Oxfams head of humanitarian campaigns, said rising arms sales should be a stain on our conscience given the buying countries role in the Yemen conflict.

READ MORE: Cobham buyer vows to keep jobs and HQs in the UK

Saudi Arabia has been accused of violating international humanitarian law in its military intervention in the country, which is now suffering from the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Saudi armed forces have used UK-built and licensed arms in Yemen, including Typhoon aircraft, bombs, and missiles, according to research by the House of Commons library.

The British government has come under heavy criticism for approving the weapon sales. Oxfam says 6.4bn of exports to eight states involved has been given the green light since January 2015.

The research suggests 3bn of exports was for aircraft, helicopters and drones, with another 2.6bn for items including bombs, missiles and drones. 385 open licences have also been approved giving exporters the right to export unlimited quantities of goods, according to the charity.

A soldier for Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden. Photo: Jon Gambrell/AP Photo

The British government was taken to court over arms sales to Saudi Arabia by the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) in 2017.

The High Court dismissed their claim, but the Court of Appeal then found earlier this year that the governments decision-making process on licences was irrational and unlawful.

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It also noted that a UK-supplied bomb had been found at the site of a bombing on the Abs hospital in Yemen in 2016, which left 19 civilians dead and 24 injured.

The government then temporarily agreed not to sign off any new licences to Saudi Arabia and its allies while it appeals the decision and considers its implications.

A spokeswoman for the department for international trade told Yahoo Finance UK: The Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and issues export licences in accordance with strict licensing criteria.

READ MORE: Traders push Saudi Aramcos value closer to princes controversial target

We are fully committed to complying with the 20 June Court of Appeal judgment. While we appeal the judgment, we will not grant any new licences for exports to Saudi Arabia and other coalition partners for items which might be used in the conflict in Yemen.

But Tanner of Oxfam said: Just a few years ago, the UK government enthusiastically pursued the introduction of legislation to better control arms transfers to avoid the kind of indiscriminate violence that has been unleashed on civilians in Yemen.

And yet now the UK is doing all it can to avoid suspending arms sales to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners. This rise in arms sales should be a stain on our conscience.
Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samiti working president K.T. Rama Rao denied rumours of his becoming the next Chief Minister of Telangana state and said that K. Chandrasekhar Rao will rule for another 10 to 15 years.

During an informal chat with reporters on Wednesday, Mr Rama Rao said that implementing the amended Municipal Act is the biggest challenge for him in 2020.

Referring to speculation that he will soon be Chief Minister, Mr Rama Rao recalled that the Chief Minister during the Budget session, had made it clear on the floor of the Assembly that he would not make his son Chief Minister. He has the strength and capability to rule the state not only for this term but in the coming term also, he said.

Cong is still main opponent, says KTR

I don't understand why this kind of speculation always airs despite the announcement of the Chief Minister from the Assembly, the party working president said.

Referring to allegations made by the Congress against Hyderabad City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, he felt that they were unfair and that if the TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy had applied for permission to hold a protest at Saroornagar, he might have got the permission.

Mr Rama Rao refused to comment on the statement of the TPCC chief that he would soon quit his post. He said he would not make any comment on the personal decision of Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy. The TRS working president said that the TRS still considered the Congress party as its main opponent.

The Congress has more than 100 years of history and we cannot take it lightly. BJP state president Dr K. Lakshman is trying to influence Union Ministers not to praise the good work done by the TRS government, he said. Politics, Mr Rama Rao said, is like a roller coaster ride. Though we could not reach the expected results in the Lok Sabha, we won 100 per cent of the Zilla Parishads in the state soon after the Lok Sabha polls. He expects to do likewise in the municipal elections to be held this month.

Referring to the friendship with the AIMIM, he said that MIM is our friendly party. We have never contested along with the MIM. In the Municipal polls also the TRS and MIM will not contest jointly.

When questioned about relations with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said that they were still on good terms, and for that matter the TRS always maintains good and cordial relations with its neighbouring states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. Citing the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement of pumping huge investments into the Infrastructure sector, Mr Rama Rao said that the state government will request the Centre to establish more units in Hyderabad.

He said that the state government is contemplating introducing sea planes in Mid Manair Mallanna Sagar, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and other projects as they are cheaper than airplanes .

Turning to the new Municipal Act, he said, the new Act enables the elected representatives to extend transparent administration to the people and at the same time it is stringent to act against the elected representatives like counsellors, corporators and chairpersons of civic bodies if they fail to discharge their duties without reference to the party, whether they are from the TRS or the opposition parties. The elected representatives have to face disqualification if they are negligent in discharging their functions.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will hold a meeting of party leaders and workers in the second week of this month to give directions for the municipal elections.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (ProMIS or the Company) (PMN.TO) (ARFXF), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases is pleased to announce that further to its news releases dated November 13, 2019 and November 18, 2019, it completed, on December 31, 2019 the second closing of its private placement. In the second closing, the Company issued 3,724,998 units (each a Unit) for gross proceeds of approximately CDN$745,000. The total gross proceeds raised to date under the private placement are $2,800,333.

In connection with the two closings insiders of the Company have subscribed for a total of 633,332 Units under the private placement representing approximately $126,666 of the private placement.

Each Unit issued in the second closing consisted of one common share of the Company (each a Share) and one share purchase warrant of the Company (each a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.35 per Warrant Share at any time for five years from the date of issuance.

All securities issued in the second closing will be subject to a four-month statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws. Net proceeds from the second closing are intended to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Closing is subject to TSX approval.

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. The securities issued, or to be issued, under the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

Story continues

About ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.

ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. is a development stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics selectively targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The Company's proprietary target discovery platform is based on the use of two complementary thermodynamic, computational discovery engines - ProMIS and Collective Coordinates - to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique precision approach, the Company is developing novel antibody therapeutics for AD, ALS and PD. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF.

Company documents relating to the fiscal year 2018 annual report can be viewed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at the link below: https://www.sedar.com/search/search_en.htm

The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This information release contains certain forward-looking information, including about the timing and completion of the Offering, the receipt of TSX approval and the expected use of proceeds from the Offering. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information:

Visit us at www.promisneurosciences.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

To learn more about the role of misfolded toxic oligomers in Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and ALS, tune into Saving Minds, at iTunes or Spotify .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Shanti Skiffington

shanti.skiffington@gmail.com

Tel. 617 921-0808
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran will be held accountable for lives lost in attacks on any U.S. facilities

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran will be held accountable for lives lost in attacks on any U.S. facilities.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter hours after protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site," Trump said.

(Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina that close relations between the two countries are a priority for his government and the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is expected to boost these ties.

The remarks assume significance in view of strains in ties between the two countries in recent months over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens. The leadership in Dhaka has been irked by remarks by some BJP leaders about deporting all infiltrators.

Hasina was among seven leaders from neighbouring countries with whom Modi exchanged New Year greetings during telephone conversations. He congratulated Hasina on being re-elected as president of the ruling Awami League party for the next three years.

Modi noted the progress achieved in India-Bangladesh relations in 2019, according to an official statement. He said the upcoming birth centenary of Mujibur Rahman, Hasinas father, and 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government.

The prime minister also expressed condolences on the recent death of former Bangladesh high commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali.

In all the conversations, Modi conveyed good wishes on behalf of the people of India and emphasized New Delhis commitment to the neighbourhood first policy and a vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of the countrys friends and partners in the region.

In his conversation with Bhutans King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Modi highlighted achievements of last year that consolidated the special ties between the two sides. He emphasized the need to enhance youth exchanges and mentioned he was looking forward to the kings forthcoming visit to India. Modi also spoke to Bhutans Prime Minister Lotay Tshering.

While speaking to Nepals Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Modi expressed satisfaction at the completion of several projects, especially the Motihari- Amlekhgunj petroleum products pipeline. Both leaders agreed on the early inauguration of an integrated check post in Biratnagar and a housing reconstruction project in Nepal through a video conference.

Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa expressed confidence the two sides will enhance their friendly ties in 2020. Modi also spoke to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who expressed a keen desire to enhance bilateral relations.

The President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, expressed his desire to deepen and strengthen ties with India by enhancing bilateral cooperation and exploring new areas for working together.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said insurgency-related violence has decreased in the state during the last three years and he has apprised the Union home ministry of the improved situation.

Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh has said the law and order situation in the state has improved in recent years, but it is still not conducive to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Singh said insurgency-related violence has decreased in the state during the last three years and he has apprised the Union home ministry of the improved situation. "The law and order has definitely improved unlike in the past. However, we need to wait for a better situation so that the AFSPA can be repealed from the state," Singh told reporters on Tuesday.

Official sources said a total of 233 insurgency-linked incidents had been reported in 2016, which came down to 167 in 2017 and 127 in 2018.

In November 2018, the chief minister had said the time had come to review the AFSPA but since the state shares border with foreign countries, the security aspect has to be considered.

The Act allows army personnel to use force, "even to the causing of death", in order to maintain public order, and also grants them executive powers to enter and search any premises and arrest without any warrant. It was imposed in Manipur in 1980 when the state was a hotbed of insurgency. It was later withdrawn from seven Assembly segments within the Imphal Municipality Area following intense agitation demanding its removal from the entire state.

Social activist Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on fast for more than 13 years demanding repeal of the Act after the killing of 10 civilians by Assam Rifles near Imphal airport on 2 November, 2000.
Its not hard to find echoes of the late 1990s in the zeitgeist. Now as then, impeachment is on many peoples minds, and films such as The Matrix and The Sixth Sense continue to influence culture. Another feature of the same era that perhaps has a more important, if subtler, influence is the infamous Y2K bug.

Y2K was the great glitch in computer systems that looked capable of destroying civilisation at the stroke of midnight on the millennium. In the end, however, nothing much went wrong. Some people started to wonder if we had been misled all along. In fact, they couldnt have been more mistaken. Y2K is in danger of becoming one of those moments in history from which exactly the wrong lessons have been drawn.

Many of the systems that were at risk from the Y2K bug dated from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. This was the era when the alleged insistence by Bill Gates that 640k [of RAM] ought to be enough for anybody was still ringing in peoples ears. Even powerful servers had only a few megabytes of RAM  a fraction of what you would find in most ordinary PCs today.

With so little space, programmers were always trying to come up with ways to conserve memory. Dates were one of those things that were integral to most computer programmes, and years came to be stored as a number between 0 and 99  so for example, 80 would represent 1980. The advantage was that only a single byte of memory would be used. But with the new millennium soon to come around, it meant that the year 99 would become 100. As a result, computer programs would believe that the year was 1900 rather than 2000, which threatened to raise serious problems.

Bug on out

It looked likely that financial transactions such as accrued interest would be calculated incorrectly. Monitoring software would suddenly believe it had expired and ceased to work, while navigation software would not be able to compute positions correctly. Still more alarming, failures in individual mission-critical systems might cascade. This could cause power grids, telecoms networks and financial systems to fail; oil rigs to stop pumping oil; hospital patient record systems to start prescribing the wrong drugs.

The sheer scale of such failures would make recovery difficult. This would potentially affect countries economies and the wellbeing and even lives of people around the world. As the US president, Bill Clinton, told an audience during a speech in 1998: This is not one of the summer movies where you can close your eyes during the scary parts.

The computer industrys response involved a massive software rewrite, with official Y2K ready certification issued after extensive testing. Different solutions were implemented for different systems, depending on their memory capacity. The best option was to store years as four digits. Where that was not possible, programmers might instruct a system to treat, say, dates between 00 and 50 as being in the 2000s, and years between 51 and 99 as being in the 1900s. This at least allowed systems to keep functioning.

More problematic were embedded systems where the Y2K issue existed in hardware rather than software. In such cases, the only solution was to replace the hardware itself. Estimates of the total cost for Y2K preparation came in at around US$300 billion, or about US$460 billion (351 billion) in todays money  plus a few more billion spent on addressing issues as they arose after the turn of the century.

The big easy?

When the fateful day came and went with little more than minor problems, the questions started. A view took root that Y2K had been overblown  perhaps, for instance, to guarantee a giant pay day for programmers. People could point to the fact that some countries, such as South Korea and Russia, had got away with doing little to mitigate the problem, not to mention small businesses.

But this ignores the fact that software patches for the bug were rolled out worldwide. Those who didnt prepare were protected thanks to the efforts of those who did. There is ample evidence, thanks to preparedness exercises, code reviews and the like, that if not addressed, the impact of Y2K would have been much more significant.

Unfortunately, the contrarian view has wormed its way into other important areas of policy. Climate change deniers and anti-vaccination activists often raise the lack of impact of the Y2K bug as evidence that experts are not to be trusted. If we are eventually successful in dealing with problems like climate change in future, dont be surprised if similar arguments about wasted time and effort appear.

By that time, the same people will probably also be able to point to a couple of sequels to the millennium bug that didnt come to much either. As I mentioned above, ancient software systems still exist which treat all dates with two digits greater than 50 as occurring in the 1900s. While most of them should be retired before we get to the next danger year of 2050, the likes of mission-critical systems can be notoriously long-lived.

We can also look forward to the year 2038 problem. This relates to the fact that Unix systems historically stored dates and times as sequences of 32 ones and zeros, interpreted as the number of seconds since January 1, 1970. When 2038 rolls around, this number will overflow for the same reason the Y2K bug occurred. Such Unix systems again form the foundation of many mission critical pieces of software.

The Unix community is well aware of this bug, however, and most of these systems will again have been replaced long before 2038. So just like with Y2K, if the world survives these future problems, it will not have been because it was all hype. The more boring truth is often that a stitch in time saves nine. Sorry to be the bearer of good news.

Nir Oren, Head of Computing Science, University of Aberdeen

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A member of an Orthodox Jewish community walks through a Brooklyn neighborhood on Dec. 29, 2019 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Jewish Leaders Raise Alarm Over Growing Trend of Anti-Semitic Attacks

With over 13 anti-Semitic attacks in New York state in December, leaders call for drastic measures to address the threat

NEW YORKThe spate of anti-Semitic acts carried out over the past few months across the New York metropolitan area is unprecedented, Jewish leaders say, with one calling the violent nature of the incidents fundamentally alien to the American experience.

In interviews with The Epoch Times, Jewish leaders shared what they believe the attacks have stemmed from, and why they are occurring. They noted the increasing degree of polarization within our society and spoke about strengthening hate crime laws to deter targeted acts, as well as community and government responsibility to ensure safety.

A former Israeli justice minister says that shes deeply concerned over the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in New York and around the world.

All people of conscience must be outraged by the fact that 75 years after the Holocaust, Jews are once again being targeted at prayer and in the streets, former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked told The Epoch Times.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are urging New Yorks governor to declare a state of emergency over the string of anti-Semitic crimes and to deploy the National Guard to patrol Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods.

On Dec. 30, a man was charged with federal hate crimes for stabbing five people who were celebrating Hanukkah at a rabbis home north of New York City, in the Orthodox Jewish community of Monsey in Rockland County, New York. Authorities said they found handwritten journals containing anti-Semitic references in the home of the suspect, who was identified as 37-year-old Grafton Thomas.

Thomas, who has pleaded not guilty to five state charges of attempted murder and one count of burglary, is facing five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon and causing injuries. He was arrested in New York City within hours of the attack.

The rampage, carried out with a machete, was just the latest in a flurry of attacks in the New York area. Earlier in December, a shooting at a kosher supermarket in New Jersey left two Hasidic Jews dead, and in a separate incident in November, a man was stabbed while walking to a synagogue in the Monsey area.

In my own recollection, I cannot recall a time in America where weve seen as many acts of violent anti-Semitism that we have seen, Allen Fagin, executive vice president and chief professional officer of the Orthodox Union (OU), told The Epoch Times.

OU, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the nation, is headquartered in New York. Roughly a third of the population of New Yorks Rockland County is Jewish, including a large enclave of Orthodox Jews who live in secluded communities.

Theres been anti-Semitism for thousands of years and that is almost a permanent condition of the Jewish people, Fagin said. But what weve seen in the last period of months is an increase in violent criminal activity.

Fagin added that there is something that has loosened those bonds of constraint.

According to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, there have been 13 anti-Semitic attacks in New York since Dec. 8, 2019.

On Dec. 27, the New York City Police Department said it would step up patrols in heavily Jewish neighborhoods in the borough of Brooklyn, following at least eight anti-Semitic incidents in two weeks. In an official statement, Cuomo also said that hes directing state police to increase patrols and security in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods across New York State.

Targets, Again

The shocking nature and the sheer number of anti-Semitic attacks has also caught the attention of top Israeli officials, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Dec. 30 condemning the recent displays of anti-Semitism.

Shaked, via text message, said we must combat all forms of anti-Semitism, whether from the far-right, far-left, or radical Islamists, adding that it is inconceivable these kinds of attacks are still taking place today and are increasing around the world.

She called on all governments and municipalities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism, as President Donald Trump did through his recent Executive Order.

Adopting the definition would provide physical security to Jewish communities, and  swiftly prosecute all anti-Jewish hate crimes to the full extent of the law, Shaked said.

The State of Israel, she added, will always stand with Jewish communities and democratic governments around the world in the fight against anti-Semitic hate.

Cuomo, meanwhile, called the Monsey rampage an act of domestic terrorism that sought to incite hate and generate fear.

A Different Kind of Ferocity

Jewish leaders said they havent seen such levels of violent anti-Semitic acts before, and in such quick succession. The presidents daughter, Ivanka Trump, who is Jewish,wrote on Twitter, Attacks on Jewish New Yorkers were reported almost every single day this past week.

In prior cases of hate crimes, individuals often copy the behavior of others, but there are more complicated and pervasive underlying causes that need to be examined, Fagin said.

Why these attacks? Why now? And why with a fundamentally different kind of ferocity than we have seen previously, he said. Its one thing to scrawl a swastika on a sidewalk  another to walk into a place of worship and kill people.

This is something that is so fundamentally alien to the American experience that I think everyone is trying to understandwhere does this come from?

Over the past few years, hate crime incidents overall have steadily increased, according to data from the FBI.

In 2015, 5,850 hate crime incidents were reported to law enforcement agencies. In 2016, the number increased to 6,121, and in 2017the bureaus latest data reportthere were a recorded 7,175 hate crime incidents.

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president at the New York Board of Rabbis, told The Epoch Times there is a general lack of civility and lack of respect for people deemed different, calling it a disease has spread into too many places and too many people.

There is intolerance for difference, and unfortunately, the Jews have been on the front lines of these attacks throughout history, Potasnik said in a previous interview. We are often depicted as being on the other side, we walk on a different path than everybody else, and because of that, we are subjected to this hatred that doesnt go away.

Combating Hate

In wake of the string of attacks, four Orthodox Jewish lawmakers signed on Dec. 29, 2019, a joint letter to Cuomo, urging the governor to declare a state of emergency and to deploy the New York State Police and the New York National Guard to visibly patrol and protect Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods throughout our state.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote that anti-Semitic hate crimes have risen to frighteningly high numbers in the past few months and that Orthodox Jews have been targeted with a rash of violence unseen in modern history.

They also asked Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor for purposes of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence. Lawmakers said that the prosecutor should immediately assume control of cases already under the jurisdiction of local district attorneys.

Simply stated, it is no longer safe to be identifiably Orthodox in the State of New York. We cannot shop, walk down a street, send our children to school, or even worship in peace, they wrote. The letter was signed by New York state Sen. Simcha Felder, New York state Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, New York City Councilman Chaim Deutsch, and New York City Councilman Kalman Yeger.

According to Fagin, part of the solution to ending the attacks is more police protection and stronger laws that make hate crimes the first priority in how theyre dealt with and how they are prosecuted, as well as the punishments given to perpetrators.

Potasnik, meanwhile, cast some of the blame on new bail reform laws passed in April 2019, noting that some of the perpetrators in the recent spate of attacks have been quickly released without bail. The legislation was estimated to cause at least a 40 percent reduction overall in the states pretrial jail population, according to the Vera Institute of Justice.

I dont think that was the purpose of the legislation, Potasnik said, referring to the quick catch and release of the perpetrators.

While there is a role for the government to play in increasing security and protection, Fagin said the Jewish community also has an obligation to do everything possible to protect ourselves.

That includes, for example, making sure their institutions have the physical surroundings and equipment necessary to secure physical premises. Those attending services should also have training in how to deal with emergency situations, including training on active-shooter situations, he said.

This is the responsibility of not just the government, but the responsibility of our communities as well.
WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States and China would sign a very large and comprehensive trade deal at the White House on Jan. 15, though exact details of the agreement have not yet been released.

The signing would cement the first phase of an agreement that took nearly two years to negotiate and will formalize a trade truce between the worlds two largest economies. The president, who announced the date of the ceremony on Twitter, said that high level representatives of China would attend the signing ceremony and that he planned to travel to China at a later date to begin talks on the second phase of the agreement.

Trump did not say whether Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, would be in attendance or name any representatives from China who might attend the ceremony.

Text of the agreement, reached in mid-December, has not been made public, and its exact contents have yet to be fully vetted by experts or the many businesses that have suffered from the protracted trade fight with China. The deal would reduce only a small portion of the tariffs Trump imposed on $360 billion worth of Chinese goods, leaving many levies in place.

Officials from both countries have said that the agreement includes commitments from China to increase purchases of American farm and energy products, places limits on Beijings ability to weaken its currency and provides enhanced protections to American companies doing business in China. The agreement also reduces tariffs on about $120 billion worth of goods, and forestalled new tariffs that were scheduled for Dec. 15.

In announcing the agreement, the United States said that Chinas farm purchases were expected to grow to at least $40 billion annually over a period of two years and that total exports of food, energy, manufactured goods and services to China would increase by a total of $200 billion. Chinese officials, however, have remained vague when describing what exactly they agreed to buy and on what timeline.

Specific details on Chinas purchase commitments could be left out of the text of the agreement that is made public because officials have been concerned that commodities markets could be distorted if such information is released. The deal is expected to have some flexibility so that China can tailor its purchases to market demand.

Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, told CNBC on Tuesday that the U.S. negotiating team was working out the final details before the signing, which had been expected during the first week of January.

Were just waiting for the Chinese translation of the 86-page agreement, he said.

The trade dispute between the United States and China rattled the world economy during the last 19 months as both countries raised tariffs and other trade barriers while negotiations sputtered and stalled. By breaking the agreement into pieces, China was able to avoid additional tariffs, and Trump secured a policy win heading into his re-election campaign.

Yet the first phase of the agreement does not address many of the most significant concerns that the U.S. has with Chinas economic practices, particularly its industrial policy and subsidies of state-owned enterprises. Trump has said those issues will be addressed in future talks and has said the remaining tariffs will continue to exert pressure on China to accede to U.S. demands.

Trump announced the signing just before markets opened Tuesday. Stocks in the U.S. were mixed in early trading.

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Editor's Note: 2020 is expected to be another year of significant uncertainty and turmoil. But the question is what asset will emerge the victor when the dust settles from the global trade war, Brexit, recession threats, negative bond yields. It's a showdown of global proportions, so don't miss all our exclusive coverage on how these factors could impact your 2020 investment decisions.

Gold, gold, gold and which miners capitalized was the big story of 2019.

The yellow metal was up 18.6% in 2019 as spot prices rose from USD$1,282 an ounce on January 1 to USD$1,520.00 an ounce on December 31. The move had an out-sized impact on some miners and their financials.

While conditions were right for gold miners, the opposite held for many base metal miners. China-U.S. trade worries and the consequent fall in manufacturing dampened base metal prices. That said, many gold miners still managed to under-perform. Production snafus and regulatory disputes were the usual culprits.

Here are the top gainers and decliners. We looked at miners listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and with a market capitalization over C$1 billion as of Oct. 31, 2019. Time range is from the first week of November 2018 to November 2019.

Did we miss anyone? Let us know in the comments.

TOP GAINERS

Alacer Gold - 202%

Turkish miner Alacer Gold (TSX:ASR) and its Copler Gold Mine shone in 2019. In October's Q3 the company had production of 290,127 ounces at consolidated an all-in-sustaining-cost of $714 an ounce. The company was able to increase guidance and add ounces to its reserve.

Wesdome Gold Mines - 121%

Much like Alacer, Wesdome Gold Mines (TSX:WDO) did the same. It's exploration program announced some good holes, and the company was then able to increase guidance in November's Q3. The mid-tier gold miner has operations in Ontario and Quebec.

Kirkland Lake Gold - 136%

In the last Q3 Kirkland Lake (TSE:KL) had production of 248,400 ounces, a 38% increase from 180,155 ounces in Q3 2018, and its AISC per ounce sold averaged $562. Kirkland could very well have been the top performer if not for the attempted $3 billion takeover of Detour Gold. Investors worried about the hefty premium and the company's switch from high-grade underground operations to low-grade open pit. Shareholders vote on the acquisition in January.

TOP DECLINERS

OceanaGold - 23%

In October OceanaGold (TSX:OGC) warned of lower output at its Philippine's mine, Didipio, due to a disagreement with the local government. The company also struggled with water issues at its Haile Gold Mine earlier in the spring.

Nexa Resources - 25%

Zinc is just a tough metal to be mining right now. The Latin American miner (TSX:NEXA) said production was up in Q3, but the zinc average price decreased 15% compared to Q2 2019.

Turquioise Hill - 76%

Political squabbles with the Mongolian government, cost over-runs and lackluster copper price in 2019 all led to a slumping share price. The Rio Tinto-controlled company (TSX:TRQ) operates the massive Oyu Tolgoi Mine.

Chart is forked from Mike Bostock's multi-line chart on Observable
Prime Minister Trudeau promised billions of dollars in massive new spending initiatives in his pre-2019 election babble. He promised prosperity and hope by collecting billions extra in tax dollars that he will give to nations supporting UN global initiatives that have no benefit to Canadians or to Canada.

His promise to save our world from climate change rings hollow. All that came of his generosity with our money in his first term was more Canadians struggling to make ends meet as his government destroyed every fabric of Canadas oil and gas industry for the good of the world.

Yet, hypocritically, he supports Quebecs imported Arab oil being shipped up the St. Lawrence while opposing a federal pipeline across Quebec that would be cleaner and more efficient. No problem providing thousands of jobs to other oil producing nations but not for Canadians.

Government policies will not put a dint in stopping global carbon emissions and will destroy the backbone of Canadas economy, yet, all we have to do is trust him, he who never ran a business, never had to balance a budget and never had to account for his privileged youth.

Why did we give the PM another mandate when he violated ethics rules twice (the only Canadian PM to do so), slammed us with a huge carbon tax, failed to balance the budget as promised and instead increased it massively (with no apology), sought to control the media with handouts of our tax dollars, destroyed Albertas oil and gas industry to achieve his global initiatives and many more broken promises? Do we, as a nation, not have any backbone to vote out deceptive leaders?

Mighty spending promises of his second campaign are, naturally, just as fake and unrealistic as those made in his first election campaign. They will prove to be another betrayal of the public trust because the current Liberal government has no credibility when it comes to honesty, accountability and truth. Millennials will pay the price of Trudeaus election win.

Ronald Rayner, West Kelowna
A further three people have died in the devastating bushfires that engulfed the Australian southeast coastal region, it has been confirmed.

Authorities also fear for a fourth person who is missing and feared dead.

It comes after it was reported that at least 176 homes on the south coast were destroyed.

The deaths come on top of four deaths which were reported on Tuesday.

Three people just west of Moruya were also airlifted for medical treatment and another two were taken by ambulance.

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo / AFP via Getty Images

Fanned by soaring temperatures, columns of fire and smoke have blackened entire towns over Monday and Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to seek shelter on beaches. Many stood in shallow water to escape the flames.

In total, there have now been 15 deaths across Australia since blazes broke out a few months ago, including three volunteer firefighters, after a three-year drought in large parts of the nation created tinder-dry conditions.

Huge bushfires have destroyed more than 4 million hectares (10 million acres) - an area larger than Japan - and new blazes are sparked almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions and, most recently, dry lightning strikes created by the fires themselves.

Cooler conditions on Wednesday gave the country a moment to count the cost of the fires, although there were still more than 100 blazes in New South Wales (NSW) state alone and thousands of firefighters on the ground.

The body of a man was found in a burnt car early on Wednesday on the south coast of New South Wales after emergency workers began reaching the most damaged areas, according to the state's Rural Fire Service (RFS).

The death toll is likely to rise, NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

A firefighter walks past burning trees during a battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra / AFP via Getty Images

"We still have grave concerns for (another person)," he told reporters in Sydney

There is "limited access to the remote area to try to identify and confirm one way or the other the status of that person."

NSW police did not identify the missing man but said he was 72 years old and authorities have been unable to reach his home.

A family member of a man has reported his death at his home in East Gippsland via a Facebook page. Police in Victoria are aware of the situation.

Several fires continue to burn in the area, making assessments difficult, though local lawmaker Fiona Phillips said she estimates as many as 200 homes have been destroyed.

Large-scale livestock and animal casualties are also expected across Australia's east coast, though Mogo Zoo - home to Australiaas largest collection of primates, along with zebras, white rhinos, lions, tigers and giraffes a was saved.

176 homes are lost to the fires, authorities confirm / KURT CRNIC via REUTERS

The wildlife park was threatened by an out-of-control bushfire, though zoo keepers and firefighters managed to save all 200 animals.

In Victoria state, four people remain missing, state Premier Daniel Andrews said, after a massive blaze ripped through Gippsland - a rural region about 500 km (310 miles) east of Melbourne.

About 4,000 people in the town of Mallacoota in Victoria headed to the waterfront after the main road was cut off.

Mark Tregellas, a resident of Mallacoota who spent the night on a boat ramp, said only a late shift in the wind direction sparred lives.

"The fire just continued to grow and then the black started to descend. I couldn't see the hand in front in my face, and it then it started to glow red and we knew the fire was coming," Tregellas told Reuters.

"Ash started to fall from the air and then the embers started to come down. At that point, people started to bring their kids and families into the water. Thankfully, the wind changed and the fire moved away."

Thousands of people are still stranded in areas in Australia / Getty Images

With thousands of people still stranded, Australia's military has been drafted in to provide supplies and assist with evacuations in areas, many of which have been left without power for hours.

In Ulladulla, a small coastal town about 230 km south of Sydney, many residents and holidaymakers were scrambling to get supplies, leading to long lines outside the few shops open on a public holiday.

Black Hawk helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and naval vessels have all been deployed, along with military personnel.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorities were working to restore communications with areas cut off by the fires, and she warned conditions will deteriorate again over the weekend.

"Weather conditions on Saturday will be as bad as they were" on Tuesday, Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.

Australia's capital Sydney was blanketed in thick smoke, reaching about 20 times hazardous levels, prompting health warnings.
UFC boss Dana White is urging Conor McGregor to hit the brakes on his plan to fight welterweight standout Jorge Masvidal because the organization's 'BMF' could distract the Irishman from his business in the lightweight division, RT reports.

McGregor is due to return to the UFC cage in January for a welterweight bout against Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone, in what will be the former two-division UFC champion's first fight since being submitted by 155lb champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018.

But the Dubliner's plans for 2020 also involve a sequel to his blood feud with his Russian rival, along with a potential bout with the consensus fighter of the year in Masvidal.

However, with McGregor understood to be next in line for a title bout in the lightweight fold should he get past the experienced Cerrone on January 18, White says that he would be best served waiting for his opportunity against the winner of the upcoming Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight rather than casting glances towards the 170lb field.

"Conor has this idea, too, that if things don't go his way and he [doesn't] get the fight [with Khabib], he'll have had a 170 fight in his pocket again and [is] considering a [Jorge] Masvidal fight," White said to ESPN.

"I think everybody knows what I think about it. I think it's a bad idea. Conor gets pissed off when I say it's a bad idea, and he's like, "You think I can't beat Masvidal?" I'm not saying you can't beat Masvidal. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day, but why? Why go after that fight when you could possibly just wait?"
With New Year ringing in US, President Donald Trump, and first lady Melania Trump hosted a New Year's Eve party on January 1 at Mar-a-Lago resort. They welcomed hundreds of guests which included family, friends and political allies. He stood next to Melania on a red carpet outside his lavish Palm Beach resort. Their 13-year-old son stood next to them watching the brief New Year's Eve press conference. Moreover, Trump had some predictions for 2020 such as he thought there would not be any war with Iran and improving relations with North Korea.

.@IvankaTrump arrives wearing a red satin number, holding the hand of daughter Arabella pic.twitter.com/8zRZE46sWS  Nikki Schwab (@NikkiSchwab) January 1, 2020

READ: Trump Spoke With Iraqi PM, Urged To Protect US Facilities: White House

New Year resolution

In the press conference, Melania Trump said that her new year resolution is 'Peace in the World'. Trump said that he is against the war with Iran and added that Iran would go 'very quickly' if the two countries' militaries engaged. He also talked about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responding to reports that he warned the US his country is no longer to the pause in nuclear testing.

At the opening of the red carpet, Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani stopped and smiled for the camera for some time. Other prominent faces who were present at the party are My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, news anchor Lou Dobbs, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican.

Eric and Lara Trump walked through together and wished the reporters Happy New Year. Ivanka Trump walked the red carpet wearing a red satin outfit holding the hand of her daughter Arabella. Tiffany Trump came a little later accompanied by her boyfriend Michael Boulos. Donald Trump Jr was accompanied by one of his sons and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Trump says he would be happy to have an impeachment trial in the Senate but doesnt really care. pic.twitter.com/4eeHcjyCMG  Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) January 1, 2020

READ: Donald Trump To Travel To China In January After Signing 'phase One' Trade Deal

Trump criticised Nancy Pelosi

Trump said that he hopes his Christmas present is a beautiful vase as he likes it. He added that he thinks that Kim is a man of his words. Trump also criticized Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff who supported his impeachment proceedings and called them 'corrupt politicians'. He added that Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself for playing such vendetta politics with him and termed her an overrated person.

READ: Trump Comments On Iraq Embassy Attack And North Korea's Kim

READ: Trump Hits Out At Europe Over Corruption Fight
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): The Rajasthan government suspended six medical personnel of the government hospital in Alwar, including two doctors, in connection with the death of a newborn who was critically injured in a fire that broke out at the facility on Tuesday.



According to a government order issued on Wednesday, two doctors -- Mahesh Kumar Sharma and Kripal Singh, three nursing staff and a ward boy were suspended.

The services of two contractual workers were also terminated based on the report of a preliminary enquiry into the incident.

A newborn girl, who sustained 70 per cent burn injuries after a fire broke out at the Alwar hospital, succumbed to her injuries at JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur earlier in the day.

The fire was caused by a short-circuit, officials said.

State Health Minister Raghu Sharma had said earlier that strict action will be taken against those who are found guilty in the incident. (ANI)


Only when indigenous people are heard by those financing climate disaster can we stop the destruction, together.

This way of life is not primitive, it is not uncivilised, I gestured to the image on the screen just above my head. It showed my longtime teacher, Dennis Jones, knocking manoomin (wild rice), the grain sacred to Anishinaabe people, into a canoe.

I snapped that photo of us harvesting wild rice years back, before a new pipeline called Line 3 threatened to carry a million barrels of tar sands per day from Alberta through some of the richest wild rice beds in the world, in Anishinaabe territory.

It is life in balance, life that doesnt depend on the unspoken, unseen suffering of others for profit, I said.

A few of the corporate bankers sitting across the table from me shifted in their seats, one raised an eyebrow.

These were the representatives of financiers deeply invested in the expansion and continuing entrenchment of the fossil fuel industry.

We were 30 floors up in a New York skyscraper, the city stretched silently below. My eyes looked past the row of mostly interested faces, to the gleaming water past Manhattan.

Disconnection is what Westernised society indoctrinates into our hearts, our minds, our bodies, I told them.

Were here in this building of concrete and glass, under these lights. Harvesting wild rice is somewhere else, far away. Just as the tar sands pipeline your company is funding is far away. But concrete is made of stone and water, glass is made of sand, every fibre on your body and your body itself comes from the earth. And the earth is a living, breathing, connected organism.

The banker at the end of the table nodded almost imperceptibly, their eyes grew softer.

For the past hour or so, the civil society representatives sitting opposite the financiers rattled off the science of climate crisis. Charts, graphs, data tracking the self-destruction of humanity flashed across the screen.

This information was a familiar language to the bankers, easier to fend off and explain away through green energy investments, carbon offsetting, climate policy adoption, the myriad of excuses the financial sector offers to avoid the simple truth of its direct funding of the fossil fuel industry in the face of climate disaster. The wall between us and them was palpable.

But these boardrooms are far less accustomed to indigenous wisdom, to an empathic, values-based assessment of our shared destiny. The impact of indigenous-led campaigns against those funding climate disasters is undeniable.

As the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) at Standing Rock reached a global audience in 2016 and 2017, so too did the names of the banks funding it.

Many supporters of the struggle asked how they could help from afar. Pulling their money out of the banks funding the disaster was  and still is  an easy point of intervention.

As the Standing Rock water protectors faced increasingly violent conditions in North Dakota, local shutdowns of bank branches by protesters disrupted the flow of business around the United States.

Shutdowns in North Dakota and neighbouring Minnesota spread nationwide, with Seattles indigenous-led Mazaska Talks coalition targeting more than 100 banks in a single day at the end of 2017. Meanwhile, the indigenous-led Divest, Invest, Protect programme, supported by the Womens Earth & Climate Action Network, facilitated meetings between European banks and front-line indigenous women in the years following the bulldozing of the camps at Standing Rock.

According to a study by the CU Boulders First Peoples Investment Engagement Program, targeted divestment against DAPL cost its parent company, Energy Transfer Partners, $4.3bn in city pension fund divestment, another $86m in individual bank account divestment, and refocused momentum into divestment as an ongoing long-term campaign.

Corporate boardrooms are quickly trying to adjust to and counter the swell of indigenous resistance around the globe, particularly on the issue of land protection. As Big Oil has begun to realise that the growing movement against the extractive industry has real teeth, its financial backers have responded in kind.

These days, most of the major banks have climate policies, commitments in writing to invest and operate sustainably. Chase Bank, for example, has committed to sourcing 100 percent of its own power needs from renewable energy by 2020. It is simultaneously the worlds number one funder of fossil fuels. Since 2016, Chase has spent $196bn financing fossil fuels and is the leading banker of fossil fuel expansion.

It appears that hailing the Paris Agreement and slapping photos of wind turbines and setting suns on a company website does not necessarily translate to substantive action.

Indigenous-led resistance against oil infrastructure, mining and extractive industry has a growing base of support; the reverberations of thousands-strong blockades and sage against DAPL, Keystone XL, TransMountain, and Energy East pipelines have reached these air-conditioned, softly carpeted rooms high above city skylines.

Rainy Lake, beside which my people have lived and died for thousands of years [Photo courtesy of Tara Houska]

Native Americans are not just in textbooks these days, or confined to reservations or the streets of urban centres; we are here in these monied, ostentatious spaces. Indigenous rights policies have started appearing on bank websites  descriptions of the importance of consulting with First Nations, with rights holders.

More of civil society is coming onboard also  indigenous peoples are not just romanticised tokens in a morality framework of inclusivity, but critical components of actually winning this fight for humanity.

Ive brought along the data sets, lawsuits, and written material that can convey what I just said in a way that your corporate accountability and risk assessment teams might consider, I explained, sliding across lawsuits by White Earth Nation, Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, and others against Enbridges Line 3 tar sands pipeline proposed through Anishinaabe wild rice beds.

Tribal consent is clearly not there for this destructive project. Also included are UN reports of human rights abuses that were enacted on unarmed citizens demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Theres a security task force already associated with Line 3, readying itself to commit any number of abuses against the citizens of Minnesota.

My mind flashed to the riot line of law enforcement and private security that had faced us a few months before on a remote dirt road in the woods of northern Minnesota.

I recognise that my words might appear idealistic, that I do not understand the way of the world, that it cannot change so easily or readily. I wonder, though, when each of you sits here at this table with me, human to human, not banker to consulting party, if you believe humans have truly conquered the earth. If we can live without drinking water. If we are truly civilised when the cost is destruction of our shared home. Were in rough shape, as a species. I hope to look upon the faces of my grandchildren and tell them I did everything I possibly could to give them a better world.

The last photo clicked into the frame above us. It was a picture I took fishing with my parents, on the lake my people have lived and died beside for thousands of years, in what is now the watery border between Ontario and Minnesota. The sunset shone on Gojiji-zaaagaigan (Rainy Lake) and outlined islands of tall pines. Inside, my spirit prepared itself to hear my voice describing what a tar sands spill would do to wild rice, our sacred grain. I thought of how Rainy Lake smells, how the stony island shores warm in the sun. My toes shuffled on the carpet as my nose called up a breeze of shadowy forests across blindingly sunny waves of freshwater stretching for hundreds of miles.

I looked back at the upturned faces, at their sharp suits and tired eyes. Reminding a person of their own fragile humanity, of their debt to unborn generations is not an easy undertaking. But neither is maintaining rigid walls of disconnection from the basic truths of life. All of us are in this, together.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Two men have been shot in the parking lot outside a Walmart in Tennessee, and one of the victims had life-threatening injuries. (Photo: Representational)

Chattanooga: Two men have been shot in the parking lot outside a Walmart in Tennessee, and one of the victims had life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The shooting happened around 1:30 pm on Tuesday, and the suspect fled in a vehicle, Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman Elisa Myzal said.

The second victim suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, Myzal said. Both were taken to a hospital.

Police were interviewing multiple witnesses on Tuesday afternoon. They also had called in the Tennessee Highway Patrol to help with the investigation.
Cay Hill:--- St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) has officially handed over the grounds where the construction will take place to INSO, the general contractor for the construction of the new St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH).

This marks the official start of the construction as INSO has met all of its obligations set forth in the addendum to the original construction contract which has been approved by the consortium of lenders, Kees Klarenbeek, Chairman of SMMCs Board of Directors enthusiastically stated.

It is about a year ago that we had our groundbreaking ceremony and a lot of work has been done thereafter, but now the people of St. Maarten will finally see the start of the construction of the new hospital, Klarenbeek continued.

While the addendum to the contract was being finalized, INSO has been busy preparing for the construction for the past few months and has mobilized their construction staff, brought in construction equipment and is delivering the final design in the meantime. INSO now officially takes control of the construction site (which mainly consists of the large unpaved section east of SMMC, across from the Welgelegen Road roundabout and along the G.A. Arnell Boulevard). The first construction activities that will take place consist of placing a fence around the construction perimeter, creating a construction site entrance/exit at the (Welgelegen Road) roundabout, initiating a site clean-up, installing a wheel washing facility for construction vehicles to prevent mud ending up on the public roads and placing a sprinkler along the fencing to minimize dust nuisance for the neighborhood.

As the construction site is currently being used for parking for staff, visitors and patients, SMMC has made arrangements for temporary parking at the Belair Community and Fitness Center and the Jehovahs Witnesses premises, until a longer-term solution is in place by early 2020.

The construction activities for the first quarter of 2020 will consist of: the installation of the contractors staff facilities, the placement of acoustic barriers along the existing SMMC buildings, the installation of the 2 construction cranes, excavation works, start of placing retaining walls near the logistics access road, creation of a construction site exit along Jackal Road and the start of foundation works for the main building and technical buildings.

The estimated overall construction timeline of the St. Maarten General Hospital is as follows:

 Completion SMGH main building: end 2022

 Moving in SMGH main building: end 2022

 Demolition of SMMC completed: beginning 2023

 Start construction SMGH additional wing: beginning 2023

 Completion of an additional wing and external works: end 2023

Medical Director, Dr. Felix Holiday stated: While the construction of the new hospital takes place, the ongoing improvements to SMMC will continue as planned in order to facilitate the growing care demand of the St. Maarten community and those of the surrounding islands and to meet SMMCs objective of providing quality care, close to home.

The site handover is an exciting moment for SMMC as the progress of the construction of SMGH will now be physically visible, said Klarenbeek. We are grateful for the continuous support from the many stakeholders during the last few years. We would like to thank our medical staff, nurses, supporting staff, management and Supervisory Council who are all eagerly anticipating the completion of this extensive project which includes personal and professional employee development, the development of new policies and procedures and much more.

Further we would like to thank the consecutive Governments of Sint Maarten as of March 2015 when we signed the Tripartite Protocol with SZV, SMMC, and the Gumbs Government, followed by the Marlin Government, the Marlin-Romeo Government, and the current Jacobs Government. Without their support, the new hospital project would have not been able to be realized. Last but not least, wed like to thank and all health care insurers both private and public on St. Maarten and the BES Islands and our lenders, SZV, Algemeen Pensioenfonds St. Maarten, the Windward Islands Bank, Algemeen Pensioensfonds Curacao, Fatum Live, Stichting Pensioensfonds Fatum, and Banco di Caribe, all represented by the NIBanc as the Lenders Agent and of course the St. Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resilience Trust Fund and the World Bank.

It is important to note that as the construction of the new hospital commences, this will also mark the start of an extended period of certain inconveniences (e.g. noise, dust, increased construction traffic, alternative parking, etc.) for patients, visitors, neighbors, and staff. For this, SMMC is in close contact with the stakeholders including all neighbors, to advise on the next steps in the construction process in order to mitigate any possible inconvenience.

With this milestone of starting the construction, we also have access to the Lenders Fund which enables us to repay the advances for the project made by SZV from 2015 up to 2018. This is a very good start of the new year and on behalf of SMMCs Management, I would like to wish everyone a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2020! remarked Klarenbeek.
Thousands of Hong Kong revellers welcomed in 2020 on neon-lit promenades along the picturesque Victoria Harbour, breaking into pro-democracy chants as the clocks struck midnight after more than half a year of often violent unrest.

Protesters briefly blocked Nathan Road, a key artery leading through Kowloon to the harbour, after forming human chains across the Chinese-ruled city and marching through shopping malls, urging people not to give up the fight for democracy in 2020.

The protesters fled when police came to clear the road of umbrellas, street furniture and debris and a three-metre-tall skeleton of a metal Christmas tree. Several arrests were made.

Authorities had cancelled the popular new year fireworks for the first time in a decade, citing security concerns. A "Symphony of Lights" took place instead, involving projections on the city's tallest skyscrapers after the countdown to midnight.

There were small-scale pyrotechnics on waterfront rooftops, but the grandiose fireworks launched from vessels in the centre of the harbour, broadcast around the world every year, were absent.

The carnival atmosphere on the harbour was interrupted as parts of the crowd watching the show began chanting protest slogans.

The protesters are angry at what they see as creeping Beijing influence in the city which was guaranteed wide-ranging autonomy when it returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing denies interference and blames the West for fomenting the unrest.

"I hope people can continue fighting in 2020," 28-year-old engineer Eric Wong said. "We should not forget the people in jail who could not count down to the new year with us."

On Nathan Road, protesters in a chain stretching for several kilometres raised lit-up smartphones as passing cars and buses honked in support and tourists in party hats and 2020-shaped glasses took pictures. Many protesters held up cards reading "Let's keep fighting together in 2020."

The chain later spilled over on to the road, and some protesters built barricades and hid behind umbrellas until police chased them away. A water cannon truck, flanked by an armoured jeep, patrolled the road at midnight.

"This year there are no fireworks, but there will probably be tear gas," said 25-year-old IT worker Sam. "For us it's not really New Year's Eve. We have to resist every day."

Dozens of people had earlier laid flowers at the Prince Edward metro station, scene of some of the most violent clashes with the police this summer.

The protests began in June in response to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party, and have evolved into a broader pro-democracy push.

The protest movement is supported by 59pc of city residents polled in a survey conducted for Reuters by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute. More than a third of respondents said they had attended an anti-government demonstration.

In a New Year's Eve video message, chief executive Carrie Lam said the unrest had caused sadness, anxiety, disappointment and rage.

"Let's start 2020 with a new resolution, to restore order and harmony in society. So we can begin again, together," Lam said.

Police, who reject allegations of brutality and say they have shown restraint, have arrested nearly 6,500 people since the protests began escalating in what is the worst political crisis faced by the city in decades.

Tens of thousands of people were expected to join a pro-democracy march today, starting from a park in the city centre and ending in the heart of the financial district. The previous march drew an estimated 800,000 people in early December.
Helen "Dolores" Carpenter, 87, passed away December 30, 2019 at her home with her loving family at her side. She was born on May 6, 1932 in Philadelphia, PA to the late George Lester Streeper and Helen Irene Christine.



On December 12, 1948, Dolores married her beloved husband, Norman Alvin Carpenter, Sr. at St. Steven's Episcopalian Church in Bridesburg, PA. Together they celebrated over 30 wonderful years of marriage before his passing in April 1979.



In 1967 she began her career with the Department of Defense at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. She worked her way from entry level as a GS 1 to a GS 11 working at Supply, Strike and Rotary Wing. After over 30 years of dedicated service she retired in 1997 as a Supervisor.



She was a progressive, independent woman, who raised all five of her children, ensuring each of them had a college education. She was a loving and devoted mother who supported her children through all their sporting events, education and into adulthood. She made sure the family household was full of love and ran smooth while her husband served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. She was a delicious cook, famous for her deviled eggs and homemade birthday cakes and Sunday family dinners. She enjoyed crocheting and made sure everyone had a handmade blanket made with love from her.



She is survived by her children: Noreen Ann Morrison (Hal) of The Villages, FL, Norman Alvin Carpenter, Jr. (Valerie) of The Villages, FL, Yvonne Gail Hadnagy (Joseph) of Winchester, VA, Lee Carpenter (Carrie) of Owings, MD, and Bryan Lester Carpenter (Laura) of Leonardtown, MD; 8 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. In addition to her parents and husband, she is also preceded in death by her sisters, Roberta I. Clark and Gertrude E. Andress.



Family will receive friends on January 9, 2020 from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 21641 Great Mills Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653. A Funeral Service will be celebrated by Reverend Greg Sylar at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 22020 Chancellors Run Road, Great Mills, MD 20634.



Servings as pallbearers will be: Ethan Carpenter, Bryan Carpenter, Norman Carpenter, Jr., Robert Stack, Jr., Christopher Carpenter, Carrie Carpenter, Terry Delahay, Hal Morrison, Joseph Hadnagy, Jeremy Montague and Bob Brookins.



Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216 and the Southern Maryland Animal Welfare League (SMAWL), P.O. Box 1232, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.


New Delhi:

A day after taking charge as 28th Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday hoped that maintaining peace and tranquillity along India's border with China will lead to an "eventual solution" to the boundary dispute, and asserted that military capabilities will be bolstered along the northern frontier. He also said his force will give special attention to issues relating to human rights.

On the prevailing situation along the border with China, General Naravane said the Indian Army will enhance its capabilities along the frontier as the focus in the past was on the boundary with Pakistan.

"We have the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders," he told reporters.

"I am sure that the situation will prevail. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity along the borders, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution," he added.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

"While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going in for embranchment of our capacities along the northern border," Gen. Naravane said.

He also said that the armed forces were fully ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation.

"I am assuring the people of the country that armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge," he said after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

General Naravane said his priority would be to keep the Army operationally prepared at all times.

"This will happen as a result of modernisation. We will continue to build capabilities, particularly in north and northeastern regions. We will also lay emphasise on raising security awareness among our rank and file and also pay special attention to the issue of human rights," he said.

In his 37 years of service, Gen Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
As world ushers in 2020 with uncertainty and insecurity all around, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly believes that young people are worlds "greatest source of hope.

By Robin Gomes

Against the backdrop of persistent inequality and rising hatred, a world at war and a warming planet, with climate change as a long-term problem and a clear and present danger, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that we cannot afford to be the generation that fiddled while the planet burned.

But there is also hope, he said in his New Years message, released on Sunday.

From climate action to gender equality to social justice and human rights, your generation is on the frontlines and in the headlines, he said, adding, I am inspired by your passion and determination.

Noting that young people are rightly demanding a role in shaping the future, he assured them: I am with you. The United Nations stands with you  and belongs to you.

Pointing out that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the UN, Guterres said, we are launching a Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our blueprint for a fair globalization, for the success of which young peoples help is needed.

This year, my New Years message is to the greatest source of that hope: the worlds young people, he said. From climate action to gender equality to social justice and human rights, he said, your generation is on the frontlines and in the headlines.

This year, the world needs young people to keep speaking out, thinking big, pushing boundaries and keeping up the pressure, concluded the Secretary-General with wishes for peace and happiness in 2020. (Source: UN News)
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re: 9220 km Trip to Superb Sikkim, Awesome Arunachal & Magnificent Meghalaya Day 7 - Day of Surprises -



I woke up with severe stomach pain, not sure what happened, but it was aching like hell, anyways after about 2 hours i stopped complaining, we were pretty relaxed and had breakfast and left the hotel around 8:30 AM, google mata told us we would reach Pelling-Ravangla-Gangtok by 5 PM Max. What happened was entirely different.



We were amazed at the road quality from Namchi to Ravangla, we reached the buddha park after taking few breaks and were already in awe at the beauty all around, by the time we reached buddha park it was around 12:00 PM, we had bought the tickets for a buggy and had to wait for another 45 mins for it to take us around, while the buggy was busy we were busy collecting few souvenirs, finally when we came out of buddha park it was close to 2:00 PM, plan was to reach Pelling, given the distance and timings shown by Google at this point, I realized roads aren't that great, so dropped pelling and left towards Gangtok.



Team was hungry, we couldn't find any parking nor place in the busy market area, we went about 1 Km ahead where the road was taking us down a hill, I spotted one lady peeping out of a hotel almost at the exit point, stopped the car, we went and checked, she said she would serve us lunch, man - she cooked everything fresh and made us wait for atleast 45 mins or so and probably one of the best meals we ever had.



All happy post lunch, we started our journey towards Gangtok, and straightaway drizzle, followed by rain, and soon we realized there are no roads, it was in complete chaos, anyways we kept on moving ahead. And then after 10 mins into the drive our Swift's brakes failed :(



I tried pumping the break as much as I can, could get about 20% of the bite, with this and Clutch and handbrake combination, it was the most difficult 50 Kms of drive so far in my life. Driving downhill was a major issue than anything else. Anyways finally somehow managed to drive till our hotel Muscatel Bellevue.



We all gathered at the terrace and we had our own party of sorts, it was cold and we were listening to Mr. Kishore Kumar and it was 1:30 Am before we went back down, met the owner of the property and his friend, they had suggested us to come up by 5:30 Am to see Kanchenjunga - and yes we were excited to know whats in store -



Good morning -





Breakfast time -





View from the hotel's backyard -









Throughout the route, found these large Christmas trees -













Ravangla -





Loved the entrance -





Buddha Park -





Buggy's route -





Selfie time -





Close up -













Gang with the Buddha -





Delicious is a small word -





Stopped here for a good view





Loved the colors -





Last snap of the day as it was dark and post this Swift's brakes failed -

I woke up with severe stomach pain, not sure what happened, but it was aching like hell, anyways after about 2 hours i stopped complaining, we were pretty relaxed and had breakfast and left the hotel around 8:30 AM, google mata told us we would reach Pelling-Ravangla-Gangtok by 5 PM Max. What happened was entirely different.We were amazed at the road quality from Namchi to Ravangla, we reached the buddha park after taking few breaks and were already in awe at the beauty all around, by the time we reached buddha park it was around 12:00 PM, we had bought the tickets for a buggy and had to wait for another 45 mins for it to take us around, while the buggy was busy we were busy collecting few souvenirs, finally when we came out of buddha park it was close to 2:00 PM, plan was to reach Pelling, given the distance and timings shown by Google at this point, I realized roads aren't that great, so dropped pelling and left towards Gangtok.Team was hungry, we couldn't find any parking nor place in the busy market area, we went about 1 Km ahead where the road was taking us down a hill, I spotted one lady peeping out of a hotel almost at the exit point, stopped the car, we went and checked, she said she would serve us lunch, man - she cooked everything fresh and made us wait for atleast 45 mins or so and probably one of the best meals we ever had.All happy post lunch, we started our journey towards Gangtok, and straightaway drizzle, followed by rain, and soon we realized there are no roads, it was in complete chaos, anyways we kept on moving ahead.I tried pumping the break as much as I can, could get about 20% of the bite, with this and Clutch and handbrake combination, it was the most difficult 50 Kms of drive so far in my life. Driving downhill was a major issue than anything else. Anyways finally somehow managed to drive till our hotel Muscatel Bellevue.We all gathered at the terrace and we had our own party of sorts, it was cold and we were listening to Mr. Kishore Kumar and it was 1:30 Am before we went back down, met the owner of the property and his friend, they had suggested us to come up by 5:30 Am to see Kanchenjunga - and yes we were excited to know whats in store -
With BJP leaders slamming Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for passing the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act resolution unanimously in Kerala Assembly, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik on Wednesday said that nobody has a 'right to object' to a state's Assembly's decision.

"We were against the Citizenship law. Many political parties have opposed it on the floor of the House as well as in the public. Every Assembly has a right to pass any resolution against or in support of any issue," said Malik while speaking to ANI.

He asserted that people in Assembly have their constitutional rights.

"They have their constitutional rights. If Kerala Assembly had passed any resolution that they have the right to resolve then nobody has a right to object it. Nobody has the right to take action against the Assembly and Chief Minister of Kerala," he said.

On Tuesday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that no state legislature has the power to pass any law with regard to citizenship.

"Citizenship, naturalisation are entry 17 on the Union list. Therefore, it is only the Parliament that has the power to pass any law with regards to citizenship, not any Assembly, including Kerala," Prasad had said at a press conference here.

Taking a jibe at Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Prasad had said, "The constitution has a mandate -- Parliament - List 1, State Assemblies - List 2. I would again urge the Chief Minister to kindly have better legal advice."

Prasad's response came after the Kerala Assembly with support of Congress, CPI and CPI (M) passed a resolution seeking withdrawal of the CAA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP

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By Tanda Gmiter | MLive

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A new year, a new decade - those New Year's resolutions will likely be stacking up high this month.

But do yourself a favor. Stick with what you know you can accomplish when it comes to exercise and fitness goals. Nothing is more discouraging than sliding into February already disappointed in yourself for not hitting the lofty aspirations you set just a few weeks earlier.

Realistic goals and steady improvement are what you're looking for.

"Health and fitness is a journey that requires dedication and commitment," said Kathy Grierson, a physician assistant and health educator at Spectrum Health's Ludington Hospital who also writes for the hospital system's Health Beat website. "There is no easy quick fix, patch, pill, cleanse or detox that will replace optimal nutrition and exercise."

With that in mind, Grierson pulled together 10 tips to help you get healthier in 2020. She recommends approaching each goal with persistence.

"Sometimes we can get side-tracked by injury, self-doubt, medical issues and a host of things, which complicate and derail our health goals. It is important to never give up and always continue to fight the good fight for your health. You are worth it!"

See each of her tips outline below:

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#1 Schedule your annual check-up

A physical exam with your primary care physician or provider should be first on your list. Make sure you are up-to-date on your screening labs, preventive cancer screenings and immunizations.

If you are starting an exercise regimen, or have weight-loss goals, this is an excellent time to discuss your options with your doctor and create a plan that will hold you accountable at future follow-up appointments.

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Danny Miller | MLive.com

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#2 Strive for 60 minutes of exercise each day

This could be broken up into smaller bits of time throughout the day. For example, you could take the stairs at work or park farther from an entrance.

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Cory Morse | MLive.com

Jessica Ferguson demonstrates an aerial yoga workout at Zeal Aerial Fitness in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, December 3, 2019. (Cory Morse | MLive.com) Cory Morse | MLive.com

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#3 Find a workout partner to hold you accountable

You are much less likely to let another person down. You can keep each other on track virtually through text messages or agree to meet in person to walk or exercise.

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Mary Lewandowski | MLive.com

8

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#4 Add exercise to your schedule, and hold firm

Exercise either before work or on your way home from work. It is much easier to either get it done before the day starts or before you get home.

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Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Med

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#5 Prep your workout gear the night before

If you are an early morning exerciser, get all set well in advance of the alarm going off.

Sometimes sleeping in your exercise clothes might be the trick until you get into the habit of rising early. Set your shoes out, have your water bottle filled and things ready to go.

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Jake May | MLive

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#6 Get at least 8 hours of sleep

Studies have shown that adequate sleep reduces stress hormones and will help with weight loss and overall health.

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Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

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#7 Drink enough water

Stay hydrated. This means 64 ounces for an average size adult. (Sorry, caffeinated beverages dont count.)

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Brian Hayes | MLive.com

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#8 Cut your screen time

Decrease the amount of time spent in front of screens (TV, computer, tablet, phone) and move as much as possible.

Consider walking on your lunch break or taking a 10-minute walk around the house instead of checking social media posts.

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Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive

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#9 Fill up on fruits and veggies

Make half your plate fruits and vegetables at all meals. This is an easy way to increase the amount of healthy foods without taking the time to measure anything.

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Sara Faraj | MLive.com

Flint Farmer's Market

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#10 Know the stats

Research shows it takes 21 days to make a habit. If you fall off the wagon, climb back on. The ride is much more enjoyable when you are doing positive things for your health.

Commit to just the day in front of you and make it great. Pretty soon, you might have an entire compilation of days that could add up to a new, healthier you.

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Ben Allan Smith | MLive
(Bloomberg) -- If in the throes of this bull markets earliest stages of recovery someone told you to forgo stocks, forget commodities, renounce fixed-income assets and buy an unknown digital token, the first of its kind, and watch it grow beyond your wildest dreams, youd call them crazy, right?

Emerging out of the ashes of the financial crisis, Bitcoin was created as a bypass to the banks and government agencies mired in Wall Streets greatest calamity in decades. At first, it was slow to break through, muddied by a slew of scandals: fraud, thefts and scams that turned away many and brought closer regulatory scrutiny. But once it burst into the mainstream, it proved to be the decades best-performing asset.

The largest digital token, trading around $7,200, has posted gains of more than 9,000,000% since July 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Bitcoin really captured that wild technology enthusiasm that this time is different, said Peter Atwater, the president of Financial Insyghts and an adjunct professor at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The performance over the past 10 years, even with its huge run-up and subsequent mega-crash, leaves all others in the dust. Its a massive windfall for those who HODLed through its ups and downs, even as it continues to provide fodder for get-rich-quick schemes. For some, the never-ending fantasy of continually hitting that payoff still helps to keep Bitcoins momentum going.

Nothing else comes even close to beating it. The S&P 500 merely tripled in that period. An index that tracks world markets has more than doubled. Gold is up 25%. Some of the best-performing stocks in the Russell 3000 -- including Exact Sciences Corp. and Intelligent Systems Corp. -- are each up about 3,000%. Those gains pale in comparison to the finance worlds latest -- and one of its most controversial -- marvels.

Partly, the monster return is a reflection of the calculus behind Bitcoins jumping-off point: the token wasnt worth anything when someone named Satoshi Nakamoto launched it on Halloween 2008. Designed as a method of exchange that can be sent electronically between users around the world, it did not have a centralized control network. Bitcoin, instead, is run by a network of computers that keep track of all transactions on the blockchain ledger. For many, that technology was reason enough to buy into the idea.

Story continues

On the other side of the equation are Bitcoins devoted enthusiasts who saw in its technology a promising way to change the global financial system.

This is the first time that theres a real separation -- just like church and state -- you have a separation of money and state, said Alex Mashinsky, founder of Celsius Network, a crypto lending platform. Thats the innovation, thats the excitement.

But Bitcoin was slow to take off, notching its first transaction two years after its creation, when someone used it to buy pizza. Since then, the first-born tokens price has catapulted, doubling many times over, and hundreds of imitators have cropped up -- some with more success than others.

Many of those who got in early stayed faithful, watching as it made its way through a boom and bust cycle unrivaled by almost anything else over the last decade.

At the beginning of 2017, Bitcoin jumped above $1,000. By mid-summer, it had more than doubled. Insanity was unleashed. By year-end, it hovered above $14,000. But as swiftly as it ran up, it fell even faster. By the end of 2018, Bitcoin barely budged above $3,000. Yet shortly after its crash, it embarked on another huge rally, this time reaching as high as $13,800 in the summer of 2019.

Certainly the numbers are what appeals to investors, said David Tawil, president of ProChain Capital. The next 10 years need to be a totally different stage of growth based on totally different factors than the first stage.

As much as its made a fortune for speculators and some thieves, Bitcoins survival will rest on further adoption. Its not being used as a widespread medium of exchange. A few large retailers are accepting payment in Bitcoin but it hasnt been the large-scale embrace so many had predicted. Scams are still running rampant. Interest is waning and consolidation among large owners is at a higher level than it was during the height of the 2017 bubble, which means that their influence over prices could be increasing.

Projections for the next decade abound. In the 2020s, mass adoption is surely to take off, they say. Blockchain technology will revolutionize and solve every problem in the world. On the other hand, regulatory scrutiny is likely to intensify, with central bankers paying closer attention than ever before.

In the more immediate term, some speculators forecast 2020 might be less fraught with volatility given its upcoming halving, whereby the number of coins awarded to so-called miners who process transactions is cut by 50%. Thats set to happen in May 2020 (the internet is replete with countdown clocks). The coins previous cut, about four years ago, coincided with a run-up in its price, pushing many crypto evangelist to believe in a repeat.

To CoinLists Andy Bromberg, the halving is already priced in. Maybe its been overpriced in and everyones bought into this thesis and we see a dip post-halving, said the firms co-founder and president in an interview. That would not shock me.

But beyond next year, Bitcoin is finding its own narrative as digital gold, he said. It feels like that narrative is picking up steam and its breaking away on its own. I would define success for most crypto assets as doing exactly that.

To contact the reporter on this story: Vildana Hajric in New York at vhajric1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jeremy Herron at jherron8@bloomberg.net, Dave Liedtka, Randall Jensen

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 11:12:18|Editor: Yurou

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NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese folk dance amazed thousands of people at New York City (NYC)'s Times Square Tuesday night by kicking off one of the most famous New Year's Eve countdowns in the world.

Co-organized by the Sino-American Friendship Association and the Times Square Alliance, the performance featured over a dozen female dancers dressing like figures of Dunhuang murals in Mogao Caves, a UNESCO world heritage site in northwest China's Gansu Province.

The 6-minute performance demonstrated the beauty of China along the ancient Silk Road, and the passion and hospitality of the Chinese people.

A video on various LED screens atop the square displayed the scenery of China such as the Huangshan Mountain, also known as the Yellow Mountain, in east China's Anhui Province.

The dance was followed by an array of performances from global artists and pop stars.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping, who made brief remarks before the show, wished everyone a happy new year both in English and Chinese.

He also invited people to visit China, saying "China welcomes you with open arms!"

The hours-long celebration, which culminated in the 60-second countdown to the new year and the following confetti-filled festivities, brought an estimated 1 million revelers to the heart of the city each year.

Some people waited for over 12 hours in order to get a good spot to witness the ball drop, a New Year's Eve tradition here since 1907.

The 12-foot (3.65 meters) crystal ball would descend down a flagpole at 11:59 p.m. local time (0459 GMT Jan. 1) and come to a rest as the new year kicks off.
In a major push to the slowing economy, the Centre on Tuesday lined up infrastructure projects worth Rs 102 lakh crore across 18 states and union territories (UTs) in various sectors such as railways, urban development, health, water and education.

Unveiling the first report of the Task Force tasked to identify the projects, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre and the states would share 39 per cent each of the total cost with the private sector investing the balance 22 per cent.



The Minister said that infrastructure has been a focus of the government in the last six years with projects worth Rs 51 lakh crore (5 per cent-6 per cent of GDP) taken up.





"We are now committing 102 lakh crore rupees for the next 5 years," Sitharaman said, adding another Rs 3 lakh crore worth of projects would be added shortly.



It may be noted that out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs 102 lakh crore, projects worth Rs 42.7 lakh crore (42 per cent) are already under implementation while projects worth Rs 32.7 lakh crore (32 per cent) are in the conceptualisation stage.



The remaining projects are under the development stage.



The ambitious plan has been launched even as the private sector's response, so far, has been tepid and the once popular PPP model failing to take off.



Most projects in the highways sector have been taken up with the government providing bulk of the funds. But the Centre remains optimistic.



Sitharaman said that the private sector share in the overall infrastructure is expected to reach 30 per cent by 2025.



Among many measures to boost the economy, the government considers building infrastructure as key and has laid emphasis on it. It has stepped up its spending on infrastructure so that it does not become a constraint on the growth of the economy.



The government had earlier constituted a task force to draw up the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for each of the years from fiscal 2019-20 to 2024-25. The high-level panel is chaired by the DEpartment of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary and includes the NITI Aayog CEO, Expenditure Secretary, DEA Additional Secretary (Investments) and Secretaries of the administrative ministries.



The Task Force, in its detailed report, has given recommendations on changes required to several key sectoral policies and other reform initiatives to be initiated by Central and state governments.



The Finance Minister said that this is the first of its kind exercise and would be followed by setting up of a robust monitoring mechanism. She said that NIP will enable a forward outlook on infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all.



It is estimated that India would need to spend $4.5 trillion on infrastructure by 2030 to sustain its growth rate. On the basis of the information compiled as on date, total project capital expenditure in infrastructure sectors in India between the fiscals 2020 to 2025 is projected at over Rs 102 lakh crore.



"During the fiscals 2020 to 2025, sectors such as Energy (24 per cent), Roads (19 per cent), urban (16 per cent), and railways (13 per cent) amount to around 70 per cent of the projected capital expenditure in infrastructure in India," an official statement said.



Addressing the media, Finance Minister said that an Annual Global Investors' Meet would be organized with the first edition in the second half of 2020. This will provide a platform to the Centre and the states to meet investors and talk on investment opportunities.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 08:25:08|Editor: zyl

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United States has sent hundreds of new troops to Kuwait after demonstrators stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, local media reported on Tuesday citing a U.S. official.
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): To further improve the functioning of Punjab's Food and Drug Administration Department (FDA), Health Minster Balbir Singh Sidhu on Wednesday handed over the appointment letters to 11 drugs controller officers.



"Punjab government has celebrated the New Year by appointing youngsters on the important posts. The FDA has already 48 drugs controller officers in place and now the strength would go up to 60 sanctioned posts," said Sidhu.

He said the FDA is conducting the regular inspection of wholesale and retail sale drugs licenses across the state with a view to keep a tab on the illegal sale of habit forming drugs.

"Now with the recruitment of these 11 drugs controller officers, the FDA would expedite the action against the chemists who are indulging in unethical trading of drugs and further the quality of medicines available in the market will also improve," he said.

The Minister further said that to reduce the pendency of analysis of samples at CEL (Chemical Examiner Lab) in Kharar, five analysts and four MLTs have also inducted in the department.

Sidhu also said that around 4,000 recruitments of medical and paramedical and other clerical and ministerial staff had been made in the department, which has resulted in extensive improvement in government hospital performance.

The Minister added that the Union Government had given the target to Punjab for converting the 2,950 sub-centres into health and wellness centres by 2023 while with the tireless efforts of Punjab government it would be achieved by 2021.

He informed that advertisement to recruit 1,000 community health officers (CHOs) has been issued and about 928 CHOs have already been inducted so far.

"690 more CHOs would be joining at the health and wellness centres till March 2020 after the completion of their professional course," he added. (ANI)


Mark Hamill has responded to a Saturday Night Live joke about Luke and Leias incestuous kissing in the original Star Wars trilogy.

The actor, who famously portrays Luke Skywalker in the franchise, spoke out on Twitter days after Michael Che poked fun at the movies during Weekend Update, the SNL segment he shares with Colin Jost.

The new Star Wars surprised fans by featuring a gay kiss, Che said in reference to a brief same-sex kiss that can be seen in The Rise of Skywalker.

Which seems pretty tame considering the first movie had incest.

An image of Luke and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) kissing in The Empire Strikes Back  the second film in the original trilogy  appeared on the screen at this point.

Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Show all 11 1 /11 Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 11. Star Wars: Episode II  Attack of the Clones (2002) The prequel trilogy has lived on in infamy, but the true low point of this low point in the Star Wars franchise must be Attack of the Clones, the dry, crusted middle of the cinematic sandwich. While Revenge of the Sith has some sense of completion and The Phantom Menace has some sense of wonder, all Attack of the Clones has is a CGI Yoda bopping about the screen like an unswattable fly while battling Christopher Lees Count Dooku. Its a film driven by unnecessary desires: from the space politics, to Boba Fetts backstory, to Padme and Anakins romance. The latter is the most insufferable, since George Lucas never had much of an ear for dialogue, as notoriously pointed out by Harrison Ford when he declared on set: George, you can type this s***, but you sure as hell cant say it. Which leads us to one of the worst line readings in cinematic history, when Hayden Christensens Anakin laments: I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating  and it gets everywhere. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 10. Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith (2005) Hollywood has increasingly made the assumption that darker means better when it comes to cinema  it explains why the Harry Potter films look like they were made while someone gradually turned down the dimmer switch on the studio lights. Of course, audiences know that darker sometimes means that your protagonist-turned-villain becomes a youngling-murdering, amateur street magician-looking sourpuss. Anakins arc here comes to a whimper of an ending, underlined by the much-derided decision to have Darth Vaders first moments onscreen involve him howling Noooooo! up to the sky like a mournful hound. That said, Ewan McGregor confirms here that he managed to escape the franchise largely unscathed, as this instalment sees him have the most fun with the clunky dialogue (see: Hello there! and I have the high ground!). Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 9. Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace (1999) The Phantom Menace escapes slightly ahead of the rest of the prequel trilogy, if only for the fact it remembers these films are meant to be fun once in a while. The pod race  its a good scene! Darth Maul is all looks, zero follow through  its embarrassing to act like youve won, only to be cut in half and sent hurtling down an exhaust pipe  but his inclusion in the film did introduce one of the best musical themes in Star Wars history, John Williamss Duel of the Fates. However, the space politics are a particular drag here, with all the talk of trade disputes, and, of course, it's obligatory to mention the terror that is Jar Jar Binks. Rex Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Although its the weakest of the new generation of Star Wars films, Solo still holds up as a fun romp worthy of Han Solos rascal reputation. Alden Ehrenreich picks up on enough of Harrison Fords mannerisms to sell the character without sliding into imitation, while Donald Glover is a scene stealer from the very moment he walks on screen as Lando Calrissian. Its a lost opportunity, then, that the film is otherwise slowed down by an impulse to offer backstory to as many aspects of Hans character as possible. Did we really need to know how we got the name Solo? Really? Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 7. Star Wars: Episode IX  The Rise of Skywalker Director JJ Abrams, like the hero of an ancient prophecy, was destined to make both enemies and allies with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There will be arguments. And there will be arguments about the arguments. There will be obsessive deconstructions and over-interpretations of each frame and intake of breath. But, at the end of the day, this is still a Star Wars film in its very bones, muscle, and sinew. Whatever controversy Abrams might have brewed up with his artistic choices, he still captures magnificently the soul of this series: that unwavering hope that the powerless can win, despite the odds. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 6. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Theres a lot to wrap up in the concluding chapter of the original trilogy. The result is a few odd turns for the sake of plot convenience. What does one do with a character as enigmatic as Boba Fett? Why, have him topple into the Sarlacc pit within the first 20 minutes! How does one put to rest the love triangle hinted at in A New Hope? Why, insert a revelation that Luke and Leia are, in fact, brother and sister! Even the second Death Star oddly feels sillier than The Force Awakens and its third attempt at a giant ball in space, since The First Order at least had the excuse that their obsessive admiration of the Empire may have clouded their judgement. That said, theres still plenty of charm to be found here and the Ewoks arent all that bad. Before you dismiss them as irritating merchandise opportunities, its worth remembering that they have absolutely no qualms about killing and eating people. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) If Rogue One is any indication of Disneys plans for the franchise and its future, then theres no cause for concern. The first of the A Star Wars Story spin-offs, it shifts into gear with ease, soothing audiences by not straying too far from the familiar timeline while introducing a full set of new characters and a grittier tone. Stylistically, it feels more like a Vietnam War movie and is proof of how far a gifted director like Gareth Edwards can stray from the franchises usual formula and still feel grounded in the same world. Plus, you have to admire the guts it takes to deliver an ending like that Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 4. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) Disney made a very smart move with The Force Awakens. As the first Star Wars film of a new generation, it not only had to make its own mark, but feel familiar enough that it welcomed fans back with open arms. The balance is hit perfectly here. Thats largely due to the films new trio of central heroes, who radiate the same kind of warmth, bravery, and spirit that carved a special place in peoples hearts when they were first introduced to the franchises original stars. Daisy Ridleys Rey, John Boyegas Finn, and Oscar Isaacs Poe honour Star Wars's past while striding into its unknown future. It also helps that the film has landed on a villain like Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), whose drive and complexity may see him surpass even Darth Vader by the end of his story in Episode IX. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 3. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) Any divisiveness the film attracted certainly proved one thing: heres a Star Wars film that actually took a creative risk. And what a bold, ambitious, and ultimately beautiful risk that was. Director Rian Johnson took the cinematic legacy presented before him and added a new richness to its textures. He allowed heroism to go beyond the clean divide between good and evil; through Luke and Rey, we were taught not to be ashamed of our doubts but to grow stronger because of them. We were taught not to use destiny as a crutch, but to know when to forge our own paths. The Last Jedi is a soulful film told through some of the most striking cinematography of the entire franchise. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Its the place where it all began. The Star Wars franchise has only become the success it is today because of how purely revolutionary the first instalment was as a piece of Hollywood filmmaking. It is, to this day, one of the most successful examples of the modern epic, endlessly imitated but so rarely with the same heart or ambition. George Lucas tapped into one of the most timeless qualities of storytelling: its ability to let us see and understand our own world through the eyes of another. Star Wars has become so iconic because, even on such a grand scale, we know and relate to the emotions at hand  fear, love, or a desire to do whats right. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Empire Strikes Back is remarkable in its ability to pursue real emotional stakes. Its closing moments, the final note to its symphony of sacrifice and tragedy, leaves us with the single, delicate emotion that is hope, blooming in the darkness as our heroes set out to save Han and restore the Rebel Alliance. What A New Hope built up by making us fall in love with these characters, The Empire Strikes Back recouped in sharing with us their pain and their fears. Darth Vaders reveal that hes Lukes father has, of course, found its place in history, but theres an equal sense of emotional resonance in the moment Leia and Han depart, moments before hes trapped in carbonite. When Leias I love you is returned by Hans I know  a line written by Harrison Ford himself  were reminded of how magical Star Warss sense of storytelling can be, condensing everything that these two characters feel for each other into five simple words. Rex Features

In his response, Hamill highlighted the fact that at the time of the kiss, Luke and Leia didnt know they were related, since their lineage was only revealed in the following movie, Return of the Jedi.

SNL Weekend Update  The new #StarWars surprised fans by featuring a gay kiss  which seems pretty tame considering the 1st movie had incest WRONG! he wrote.

Since Luke & Leia were totally unaware that they were related in any way whatsoever  what they did was actually #Innocestuous.

The confusion over Luke and Leias relationship is also apparent in A New Hope, the very first Star Wars film, where Leia is seen planting a quick kiss on Luke (still not knowing hes her sibling) before the two swing together from a rope.

The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth and final chapter in the Skywalker saga, is out in cinemas now.
Indonesian students are among the lowest performers in Southeast Asia, says a recent report released by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD.

The OECD Program for International Student Assessment, PISA, is a test given every three years to 15-year-olds across 79 countries. It examines student ability in math, reading and science. The results from the 2018 PISA place Indonesia in the bottom 10 of the countries.

The findings point to education quality issues in Southeast Asias most populous country.

Its a wake-up call for all of us in the education sector, or field, said Totok Amin Soefijanto, a policy expert at Paramadina University in Jakarta.

Indonesia has a large youth population in the country of 260 million. These young people represent considerable possibilities for economic growth. However, education problems can interfere with that aim.

Poorly qualified teachers are a major problem. Sixty-five percent of students PISA questioned said their teachers rarely provided direct feedback to them. The Indonesian government uses teacher ability tests. In 2015, three million teachers in the country took the test. The average score was 53 percent, reported University of Melbourne professor Andrew Rosser, who examined the results.

The tests have not been repeated since then. Paramadina Universitys Soefijanto thinks they should be. Because if we dont measure this, he said, we dont know where their skills are decreasing.

One in five teachers often misses school, the World Bank reported in 2017.

Indonesian teachers also work for low wages and are often appointed as favors to others, Rosser says.

Hundreds of native languages are spoken in the island nation, adding to the complexity of its education system.

Under military ruler Suharto from 1965 to 1998, the Indonesian school system was highly centralized. But as the government moved towards democratic reform, control of educational policy began moving to local governments. Because Indonesia covers an area of 15,000 islands, this spread makes it difficult to establish national education guidelines or teacher qualifications.

School populations growing

The OECD report notes that Indonesia has made progress in getting children into school. From 2001 to 2018, those taking the PISA increased from 46 percent to 85 percent of 15-year-old students.

The report says increasing student populations can create weaknesses in school systems. It points out that Indonesias PISA results have remained about the same since 2001, suggesting the country has been able to raise the quality of its education system.

Indonesias education minister, Nadiem Makarim, told the Indonesian newspaper Kompas that the PISA results should not be packaged as good news. He announced this week that the countrys national examination will be reworked to test students on math, reading and writing skills.

Math was a difficult PISA subject for Indonesian students. Just one percent of those tested performed at the highest levels. This compares to 44 percent in mainland China and 37 percent in Singapore.

Some resources for math and science study have been reorganized to support other subjects, such as religion. Almost two-thirds of the countrys secondary schools are private and offer Islamic education. Students at these schools generally score lower on tests than students at nonreligious schools, a 2017 study reported.



Indonesia spent about 3.6 percent of its gross domestic product on education in 2015, lower than neighbors like Malaysia and Vietnam. The amount, however, observes a constitutional requirement to spend 20 percent of the national budget on education.

In the meantime, there is one area in which Indonesian students score high: 91 percent of them report sometimes or always feeling happy, a full six points higher than the world average.

Im Anne Ball.

And Im Bryan Lynn.

Krithika Varagur wrote this story for VOA News. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

What do you think of this story? Write to us in the comments section below.

Education in Indonesia Lags Behind Neighbor Countries Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

lag - v. to move more slowly than others : to fail to walk or move as quickly as others

feedback - n. helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance or product

gross domestic product  n. the total value of the goods and services produced by the people of a nation during a year not including the value of income earned in foreign countries  abbreviation GDP
The opioid crisis continues to tear at the fabric of American society 14 months after widely supported bipartisan legislation was signed into law by President Donald Trump. Some progress has been made, though much more is needed. And without near-term action from Washington, the situation could get worse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug abuse deaths have declined 4.7% from 2017 to May 2019, yet the numbers remain staggering. For the 12-month period that ended May 2019, CDC reported 67,071 deaths compared with 70,237 deaths in 2017. Opioids are involved in two-thirds of drug abuse deaths, taking more lives than car crashes or shootings.

Many solutions are required including reducing needless opioid prescriptions and strengthening treatment programs. There is also a vital international law enforcement component. The U.S. Department of Justice reports, China is the principal source country of fentanyl-like substances and other synthetic opioids, producing most illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-like substances that reach U.S. users.

To tackle this, Washington should promptly do the following.

Enact Legislation Banning Fentanyl Analogues by Feb. 6. There is a loophole in federal law by which drug traffickers can make minor structural modifications to fentanyl and potentially face lower penalties than if they imported, distributed or manufactured the base drug. In 2018, the Department of Justice addressed this, implementing an emergency order that treats trafficking in copycat products the same as trafficking in fentanyl. The order, issued under the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, expires on Feb. 6, 2020.

The best way to address this issue is for Congress to enact legislation by Feb. 6 that removes any doubt that Justice can permanently make such classifications. The Justice Department warned the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 4, 2019, that without legislation, the Department would enter unchartered legal and regulatory terrain."

At a July 1, 2019, news conference, Amanda Liskamm, the departments director of Opioid Enforcement and Prevention, was more direct, saying, Prosecutors will undoubtedly be hindered, and drug traffickers will undoubtedly be helped.

Full-court press to immediately inspect Chinas mail. A central provision of the 2018 drug legislation is a requirement that all incoming mail and packages from China, effective Jan. 1, 2019, have advanced electronic data. This information, which includes the sender and recipients address and the declared contents, enables suspicious mail to be identified and seized more quickly. However, 15% of mail and packages from China still do not have AED.

As part of continuing trade and other discussions, the Trump administration should press China to make sure that its postal service, China Post, has AED on all out-bound U.S. mail and packages. This is the most direct and clear way to ensure compliance.

Push for more stringent international mail standards. International mail standards are set by the Universal Postal Union, which is affiliated with the United Nations. This past September the Department of State and Peter Navarro, the presidents director of trade and manufacturing policy, secured a major victory at the UPU based on an eminently fair request: that foreign shippers will pay the same as U.S. ones for the services of the U.S. Postal Service.

Building off this, the United States should push for stringent AED and customs standards at the UPU when the organization holds its annual four-year conference this August. AED technology is readily available to ensure better postal inspections. And, with drug traffickers likely to improvise and use additional shipping points than China, such an international agreement is timely.

The fight against opioids and drug abuse deaths requires many actions and vigilance. At this time of year especially, it is important to renew resolve on this important fight.

Paul Steidler is a senior fellow with the Lexington Institute, a public policy think tank in Arlington, Virginia. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:40:02|Editor: xuxin

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of protesters on Tuesday stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, which has prompted the United States to send additional troops to the Middle East.

"Approximately 750 soldiers will deploy to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF (the Immediate Response Force) are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

Many of the protesters, wearing Hashd Shaabi military uniforms, rallied outside the embassy chanting slogans condemning U.S. airstrikes. The protest then turned violent as protesters set ablaze a guard tower and the outer gate of the embassy.

Hashd Shaabi, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization formed by Iraq's Shi'ite-led paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), said on Monday that U.S. drones bombarded its military bases near Iraq's border with Syria, which killed 25 people and wounded 51 others.

The attack came two days after a rocket barrage hit a U.S. military camp, killing a U.S. contractor and wounding others, which the United States blamed on the KH, a militia allegedly backed by Iran, the long-time foe of the United States. Both are the most influential players in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday that "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack," which "they will be held fully responsible (for)."

Iraq on Monday condemned the U.S. attack, saying it was "a violation of Iraq's sovereignty" in a statement by the Iraqi National Security Council, and denied any role in the recent deadly attacks on the U.S. forces.

"This unsubstantiated U.S. claim cannot justify the bombing and killing of people in violation of international regulations," Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiee said.

Rabiee said that the U.S. attack was another proof of its "destructive" role in the region, particularly in Iraq, and it once again showed that "as long as the U.S. keeps its uncalled-for presence in Iraq and Syria, peace will be unattainable for all."
Nearly five lakh Dalits have gathered at Bhima Koregaon 40 km from Pune to commemorate the Anglo-Maratha battle of 1818, an event that had seen violence two years ago and triggered a police crackdown on community leaders. The state government has deployed nearly 10,000 at the venue and suspended access to Internet as a precautionary measure, a senior Pune district official said.

Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram had earlier indicated that the administration would suspend internet in areas around the event to prevent rumour mongering on social media. Special Inspector General (Kolhapur range) Suhas Wadke said about five lakh pilgrims had already gathered at the venue. The total number of pilgrims at the memorial is expected to rise during the day. Last year, it was attended by 10 lakh people.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and prominent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar were among those who visited the monument early morning and offered flowers. Several other ministers from the state and central government are expected during the day for the celebrations.

ALSO WATCH | Maha Deputy CM Ajit Pawar pays tribute at Bhima Koregaon memorial

The January 1 event at Bhima Koregaon Jai stambh, the victory monument of the third AngloMaratha battle won by the British forces, marks the 202nd anniversary of this victory.

The East India Companys army was supported by soldiers from the Mahar community that was considered untouchables at that time. The annual event to commemorate the victory over the so-called upper caste Peshwas has been seen to symbolise assertiveness by Dalits.

Violence had broken out at Bhima Koregaon during the 2018 celebrations in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

This time, police officers told HT that they had an emergency communication plan in place. Local schools, colleges, offices and markets were closed for the day and traffic towards the Pune end of the PuneAhmednagar highway was diverted as sections had been closed for better crowd management.

Prakash Ambedkar said he was satisfied with the security and crowd management arrangements.
One local rabbi is calling for unity in the face of the latest anti-Semitic attack at a suburban New York rabbis home that left five people injured the night of Dec. 28.

Connecticut law enforcement officials have announced that they are stepping up patrols at Jewish institutions across the state.

Rallies are also planned in the state to stand against the anti-Semitic attack that took place on the seventh night of Hanukkah in Monsey in Rockland County. Police said Grafton Thomas, 37, entered a rabbis house with a machete during the celebration and stabbed five people. Nearly 100 people were in the home at the time of the attack.

It is time for all New Yorkers, no matter race, creed or political affiliation, to come together to stamp out the scourge of anti-Semitism, said rabbi Shneur Brook of the Chabad of Shelton and Monroe. We must educate, especially the youth, about the universal dignity and sanctity of every human life. This knowledge leaves no room for hate of a fellow human being.

Chabad of Shelton and Monroe does not have any specific event planned in reaction to the New York incident, said Brook, adding that his monthly Shabbat services/dinner will be dedicated in the merit of the recovery of those injured in the attack, and we're going to encourage congregants to show up in honor of this.

The Hanukkah stabbing was only the latest in a series of anti-Semitic attacks in the region. There have been 10 such attacks in the state of New York since Dec. 23, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

"We are deeply disturbed by the horrifying act of terror in Monsey, said Brook. As a community, we are very alarmed by the rise of anti-Semitic attacks in and around New York City.

Brook said it has been less than three weeks since he was asked to comment on a Jersey City shooting and Jewish blood is once again on the ground here in the New York area.

This heinous deed took place during the kindling of the Hanukkah Menorah, said Brook. Just as hatred could not dampen the Jewish spirit thousands of years ago in the age of the Maccabees, the light of the menorah will defeat this current darkness. We call upon every person of good will to fight hatred with love, darkness with light. And together, we will come to see a time where the darkness will be defeated forever.

Thomas was arraigned Sunday, Dec. 29, and pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
01.01.2020 LISTEN

As 2020 approached, the sense that the barbarians were not only at the gates but had breached the walls of indifference had come to the fore. But these were not conventional human forms; rather, they were the agents of conflagration, driving people to the sea, forcing them from homes and consuming territories the size of small countries. Australia was burning.

Then it became clear that the barbarians might have been among us all along, the dedicated wreckers of the biosphere, the climate change denialists who cling to a tradition highlighted by the smug authors of Genesis 1:26: that the non-human world is there for the conquest of humanity. Unfortunately for the smug scribblers of the Bible, the earth has not been too compliant in this regard.

As the continent scorched, the annual, exorbitant display of Sydneys fireworks that mark the opening of the new year seemed a touch vulgar. This was not a time to be solemn or mournful; the bread and circuses had to continue coming. The presenters of the ABCs New Years Eve show attempted to put on a brave face, turning it to a donations run for those who had suffered loss in the bush fires. Even as they did, a floating haze was evident; Sydney could not escape from the reality that it was surrounded by flames.

Australian towns are starting to sound like besieged forts and desperate holdouts. The Victorian seaside town of Mallacoota has been elevated to something like a First World War Verdun against the onslaught of fire. Thousands had gathered on Tuesday at the boat ramp. Pictures of a blood red sky have been taken, most notably that of Allison Marions picture of her son , Finn. But will the flames pass? The question is never far away from those engaged. For those directly fighting the flames, deaths are accumulating. Men like Sam McPaul of the Morven Rural Fire Brigade have become the fallen warriors of hoses and salvation.

The Morrison government, despite the calamities, would not let up in its boastful assertions on environmental soundness. Energy minister Angus Taylor, who is Australias de facto environment minister (that portfolio has little relevance in Australia, except for granting mining approvals) took to The Australian to claim that the country had a record that should make people proud. Australia meets and beats its emissions-reduction targets, every time. The Kyoto targets were outdone by 129 million tonnes; the 2020 targets will be met by 411 million tonnes.

But the technique of such praise is always slanted; Australia was positively virtuous in climate change policy, yet was only responsible for only 1.3% of global emissions, so we cant single-handedly have a meaningful impact without the co-operation of the largest emitters such as China and the US.

Australia had been fighting climate change as dedicated troopers against the odds. Pity that the odds were themselves compounded by his governments own scepticism at the very idea that disastrous burning events might be an effect of climate change. Selective accounting is the panacea sought in this regard, and Taylor does so by picking figures that exclude, for instance, emissions from the fossil fuels Australia digs and exports. Like an arms exporter with an amoral compass and a mind for the selective, the claim here is that Australia cannot be responsible for what others do with the earths loot, despite actually providing them in the first place.

Those actually versed with export and production figures tend to raise their eyebrows when Taylor takes to the podium of praise. Frank Jotzo, director of the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, was politely damning . I would characterise [Taylors article] as a selective use of statistics that make Australias emissions trajectory look good, when in reality it does not look good at all.

A study by Climate Analytics published in July 2019 does much to shred the Taylor worldview in this regard. As the authors note with severity, Australia is the worlds largest coal (thermal + metallurgical) exporter, accounting for 29% of traded coal globally in 2016 and will soon be the worlds largest natural gas (LNG) exporter. As a consequence, Australias global carbon footprint is very significant, with exported fossil fuel emissions currently representing around 3.6% of global emissions.

Hardly insignificant, and even more damnable considering that Australia is in the big league when it comes to per capita emissions of carbon, including exports. China, for instance, is surpassed by a factor of 9; the US by 4, India by 37.

The prime minister is proving unconvincing in his efforts to fight the storm. A tweeted statement from Scott Morrison gave the impression that this was merely another housekeeping exercise to complete, the fires manageable interruptions to the perfect Australian life. Federal Government, especially our Defence Forces, are working together with the Victorian Government to respond to Victorian bushfires. VIC CFA are leading the response. He noted how both he and the Victorian premier had been in regular contact admitting that, Reports of persons unaccounted for are very distressing.

His new year address sank like an unprized lead balloon. He conceded that 2019 had not been without difficulties. But the one thing we an always celebrate in Australia is that we live in the most amazing country on earth and the wonderful Aussie spirit that means we always overcome whatever challenges that we face that we always look optimistically into your future. Australia remained exemplary as a place to raise kids. The disasters, on the other hand, have not been singular. Whatever our trials, whatever disasters have befallen us, we have never succumbed to panic. A true man of advertising, to the last.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
For Midland natives Rosalie McPherson and her adult daughter Cheryl McPherson, the greatest Christmas gift this year was the gift of hope.

After almost 35 years, they discovered there was a chance they could once again live in a family home their husband/father Dan McPherson had built for them.

In 1974, Dan McPherson of McPherson Builders designed and built a home for his wife, Rosalie, and their three children, located on a piece of property his father had given to him in Midland. There, the family lived  initially in the basement until the house was finished  until 1980, when they reluctantly sold the two-story, four-bedroom house.

Due to health reasons, Dan, Rosalie and Cheryl decided to move to Florida in 1985, leaving behind the home they had all made so many memories in.

We planned to live out our lives there, Cheryl said.

However, over the years, the family hasnt forgotten the home. Cheryl said whenever theyd come back to Midland for reunions and trips, they would drive by it. One time, the new tenants of the home were gracious enough to even let the McPhersons inside once again.

Dan has since died, in 2017, and so has his oldest son. With little left keeping them in southern Florida, Rosalie and Cheryl were planning to move back to Midland in the new year, to be closer to remaining family.

Then, just days before Christmas, they received some interesting news. The family home they left behind  the one designed specifically to be their forever home  had recently been foreclosed and turned over to the bank, meaning there was a chance they could live in it once again.

Were not getting a lot of sleep because we are excited about the possibility of claiming a home that was intended for us, for the rest of my mothers life anyway, Cheryl said.

The news about the home had been relayed by Rosalies brother Larry, who still lives a couple doors down from the house. He saw the foreclosure note on the door and sent a picture of it to Rosalie and Cheryl.

We cried because we couldnt believe that it had been foreclosed on, Rosalie said. It just broke our hearts.  (But) if it were in pristine condition, we probably couldnt afford it.

They said the house is in rough condition and would need some repair, but as Cheryl put it, shes not afraid of hard work and no one would take care of it like they would. Now, they are focused on how to make their dreams a reality.

Dad was an outdoorsman and he designed that house for my mom and our family, and I think it would just be a great tribute to what a great dad he was to restore it, Cheryl said.

However, they quickly realized its going to be a waiting game with the government, as they the house is now property of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Were excited, but we cant get our hopes up too much because HUD doesnt know anything  they dont have the information that we need to see if we can afford it, Rosalie said.

Cheryl said they are keeping a close eye on the property and will continuously check in with HUD for updates.

While there is no guarantee they will be able to reclaim the home, the McPhersons are clinging to hope and, in the meantime, reminiscing about the memories made there.

Cheryl remembers sledding in the backyard, riding bikes and often visiting her grandparents who lived just down the road, playing with the neighbors Tammy and John, and exploring her grandfather's adjacent property with the family dogs.

Rosalie shared another memory: One time we come home and my step-father, he planted lots and lots of Christmas trees, pine trees. Well, Cheryl wanted a Christmas tree in her bedroom so she went out in the woods and pulled one up, roots and all and brought it in. And I said, oh my you, cant let grandpa see this  he wont be happy! So, memories such as that.
An employee holds a jar of marijuana on sale after it became legal in the state to sell recreational marijuana to customers over 21 years old in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Illinois begins the legal sale of marijuana on Jan 1, 2020. Matthew Hatcher | Reuters

Illinois rings in the new year on Wednesday by joining 10 states and the District of Columbia in allowing the legal sale and purchase of marijuana. Illinois became the 11th state in the nation to legalize recreational pot use in June after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law, permitting Illinois residents and visitors to buy the drug from licensed dispensaries, beginning on Jan. 1. Marijuana enthusiasts and those curious about the drug are expected to flock to the more than three dozen licensed dispensaries in the state, most located in Chicago or Chicago suburbs. Cresco Labs, a Chicago-based cannabis company, says it has spent weeks training its roughly 530 employees in Illinois on educating new marijuana users in anticipation of a swell of curious shoppers on Wednesday. The company, with dispensaries peppered across Chicago's suburbs, has also prepared a full selection of products, including flowers, prerolled joints, vapes, concentrates and edibles. Depending on the product, prices usually fall between $15 and $80, according to the company's website. "The level of excitement has far outweighed the launch of an iPhone or new pair of Jordan [shoes]," Cresco Labs spokesman Jason Erkes told CNBC.

Interior of Sunnyside, a cannabis shop located in Chicago. Cresco Labs

Under the new state law, adults over the age of 21 may own 30 grams of cannabis flower, 500 milligrams of THC in pot products and 5 grams of cannabis concentrate. People visiting the state are allowed to purchase 15 grams of the drug but cannot transport it across state lines. The drug can only be smoked in private residences and smoke shops, according to the state law. For the big day, Cresco Labs rented out a coffee shop near its dispensary in Lakeview, Erkes said, where the company is expecting the highest traffic. Some of the staff will be there Wednesday to take preorders as well as educate interested customers on products and how to consume the drug, he said. "We anticipate people who haven't used cannabis in 20 or 30 years and those who never have," said Erkes, who added the company is estimating "thousands" to line up across four of its stores. The law, which also imposes a tax on marijuana sales, is expected to generate a large amount of revenue for the state. Marijuana purchases will be taxed based on THC content  a 10% sales tax on pot products with THC levels of 35% or less, a 25% tax on products with THC levels of 35% or more and a 20% tax on all THC-infused products. Freedman and Koski, a Colorado consulting firm, expects the marijuana industry could bring in $440 million to $676 million in tax revenue to the state each year. In Chicago alone, tax revenues from recreational marijuana are expected by city representatives to reach $3.5 million in 2020.

Cresco products. Cresco Labs
Boris Johnson has been accused of retelling his election lies about Brexit and the NHS in a new year message pledging to end the rancour and uncertainty of 2019.

The prime minister came under fire for insisting he was poised to begin cooking his oven ready deal for leaving the EU  a day after Brussels predicted he would be forced into yet another U-turn.

Mr Johnson also reheated previously demolished claims that the NHS is about to enjoy a record funding settlement, with 40 new hospitals and 50,000 more nurses.

The message was issued as the prime minister enjoyed a luxury break on the Caribbean paradise of Mustique, staying in a reputed 40,000-a-week villa with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds.

Boris Johnsons new years resolution should have been to stop telling porkie pies, but his new years message sadly just repeats the many lies he peddled in the election, said Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats interim leader.

General election 2019: How the night unfolded Show all 27 1 /27 General election 2019: How the night unfolded General election 2019: How the night unfolded Boris Johnson wins biggest Tory landslide since Thatcher ...while Labour records worst result since Clement Attlee PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded 11.28pm - First result to be announced Labour holds Newcastle Central, albeit with a reduced majority, in the first result to be announced in the 2019 General Election PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded 11.33pm - Conservatives gain Blyth Valley The Conservatives gain Blyth Valley, in the North East, from Labour in the first big upset of the night. The seat had been held by Labour since 1950 BBC General election 2019: How the night unfolded 1.23am - Conservatives succeed in appealing to "Workington Man" The Tories won the North West constituency from Labour - the first time the seat has changed hands since 1979 Telegraph General election 2019: How the night unfolded 1.27am - The SNP gains Rutherglen & Hamilton West from Labour, the first of six seats they take from Jeremy Corbyn's party First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, takes a selfie with some her newly elected MP's at the Glasgow count Getty General election 2019: How the night unfolded 1.50am - The Tories gain Wrexham from Labour The first time the party have ever held the seat ITV General election 2019: How the night unfolded 1.52am - Labour wins Putney from the Conservatives The party's first gain of the night from the Tories BBC General election 2019: How the night unfolded 1.55am - The SNP gains its first seat from the Tories Winning Angus Press Association Images General election 2019: How the night unfolded 2.33am - Iain Duncan Smith holds on to seat The former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith held on to his Chingford & Woodford Green seat, but saw his majority cut almost in half to just 1,262 Reuters General election 2019: How the night unfolded 2.46am - Conservatives gain Tom Watson's old seat The Tories gained West Bromwich West from Labour in an 11.69% swing Getty General election 2019: How the night unfolded 2.50am - Bishop Auckland, a Labour seat since 1935, becomes a Tory gain Dehenna Davison won with a majority of 7,962 CharlElmore/Twitter General election 2019: How the night unfolded 2.54am - Chuka Umunna loses out to Tories The former Streatham MP who defected from Labour to the Independent Group before switching to the Liberal Democrats, lost out to the Conservative party in Cities of London & Westminster James Moreland/Twitter General election 2019: How the night unfolded 2.58am - DUP's Westminster leader beaten Nigel Dodds was beaten by Sinn Fein's John Finucane in Belfast North Getty General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.15am - Tories lose seat to the Lib Dems Zac Goldsmith lost his Richmond Park seat to the Liberal Democrats, the party's first gain of the night PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.24am - Jeremy Corbyn announces he will not lead party in future elections The Labour leader was voted back in to the Islington North seat but described the results as "very disappointing" and said he would not lead the party in any future election campaign Reuters General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.32am - Labour's Caroline Flint loses her seat to the Tories The first time her party has not held the seat since 1922 Sky News General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.38am - The Tories beat Labour in Wakefield Mary Creagh lost out to Imran Ahmad-Khan in a Labour seat since 1932 Reuters General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.42am - Boris extends his majority in Uxbridge & Ruislip South The Prime Minister said: "It does look as though this One Nation Conservative Government has been given a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done." Reuters General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.44am - The Tories gain Rother Valley and Sedgefield 3.44am - The Conservatives gained Rother Valley, a Labour seat since 1918, and Sedgefield, which was once held by former prime minister Tony Blair AFP via Getty General election 2019: How the night unfolded 3.45am - Jo Swinson loses seat The Liberal Democrat leader lost her Dunbartonshire East seat to the SNP PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded 4.25am - Conservatives retake Kensington from Labour The Tories took back the seat with a margin of 150 votes PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded 5.15am - Major scalp for the Tories 5.15am - Dennis Skinner, Labour's Beast Of Bolsover loses his seat that had been red since 1950 AFP General election 2019: How the night unfolded 6.08am - US President Donald Trump congratulates Boris Johnson on his victory General election 2019: How the night unfolded How the UK voted after 649 0f 650 seats Press Association Images General election 2019: How the night unfolded 6.23am - Acting Lib Dem leaders announced 6.23am - Sir Ed Davey and Baroness Sal Brinton were announced as the joint acting leaders of the Liberal Democrats following Jo Swinson's defeat PA General election 2019: How the night unfolded Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds arrive back at Downing Street AP General election 2019: How the night unfolded State of the parties Press Association Images

Worst of all, he repeats his proven lies on nurses and hospitals, just as his policy of a nurses tax will make the staffing crisis in the NHS even more serious.

If the prime minister really wants to unite the country, he has to learn how to tell the truth  and then, for example, lead a grown up public debate about how we tackle the crisis in social care and our NHS.

On Monday, Phil Hogan, the EU trade commissioner, predicted Mr Johnson will be forced to abandon his stunt of refusing to extend the post-Brexit transition period beyond 2020, because no trade deal will be ready.

But, in his message, the prime minister claimed: That oven-ready deal I talked about so much during the election campaign has already had its plastic covering pierced and been placed in the microwave.

We got down to work immediately after the election. The necessary legislation has already begun its passage through parliament and, once MPs return to Westminster, well waste no time in finishing the job.

Ministers have been forced to acknowledge that there is currently cash for six new hospitals only and that their target is to recruit 31,000 nurses  with a further 19,000 to be retained.

Similarly, the 20.5bn pledged to the NHS by 2024, in real terms, is smaller than the increase it received under Labour in the run-up to 2010.

Yet Mr Johnson said: One our first actions will be to pass a bill enshrining in law a record funding settlement for the NHS, providing an extra 34bn a year.

We will undertake the largest hospital building programme in living memory, delivering 40 new hospitals and 20 upgrades.

Well ensure there are 50,000 more nurses, 6,000 more GPs, and 50 million more GP surgery appointments.

The prime minister also said: As we say goodbye to 2019, we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long.

We can start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we come together and move forward united, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people.
Colleges have been around for centuries. College students have also been around for centuries. Yet, college administrators assume that todays students have needs that were unknown to their predecessors. Those needs include diversity and equity personnel, with massive budgets to accommodate.

According to Minding the Campus, Penn State Universitys Office of Vice Provost for Educational Equity employs 66 staff members. The University of Michigan currently employs a diversity staff of 93 full-time diversity administrators, officers, directors, vice provosts, deans, consultants, specialists, investigators, managers, executive assistants, administrative assistants, analysts and coordinators. Amherst College, with a student body of 1,800 students employs 19 diversity people. Top college diversity bureaucrats earn salaries six figures, in some cases approaching $500,000 per year. In the case of the University of Michigan, a quarter (26) of their diversity officers earn annual salaries of more than $100,000. If you add generous fringe benefits and other expenses, you could easily be talking about $13 million a year in diversity costs. The Economist reports that University of California, Berkeley, has 175 diversity bureaucrats.

Diversity officials are a growing part of a college bureaucracy structure that outnumbers faculty by 2 to 2.5 depending on the college. According to The Campus Diversity Swarm, an article from Mark Pulliam, a contributing editor at Law and Liberty, which appeared in the City Journal (10/10/2018), diversity people assist in the cultivation of imaginary grievances of an ever-growing number of oppressed groups. Pulliam writes: The mission of campus diversity officers is self-perpetuating. Affirmative action (i.e., racial and ethnic preferences in admissions) leads to grievance studies. Increased recognition of LGBTQ rights requires ever-greater accommodation by the rest of the student body. Protecting vulnerable groups from hate speech and microaggressions requires speech codes and bias-response teams (staffed by diversocrats). Complaints must be investigated and adjudicated (by diversocrats). Fighting toxic masculinity and combating an imaginary epidemic of campus sexual assault necessitate consent protocols, training, and hearing procedures  more work for an always-growing diversocrat cadre. Each newly recognized problem leads to a call for more programs and staffing.

Campus diversity people have developed their own professional organization  the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. They hold annual conferences  the last one in Philadelphia. The NADOHE has developed standards for professional practice and a political agenda, plus a Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, which is published by the American Psychological Association.

One wonders just how far spineless college administrators will go when it comes to caving in to the demands of campus snowflakes who have been taught that they must be protected against words, events and deeds that do not fully conform to their extremely limited, narrow-minded beliefs built on sheer delusion. Generosity demands that we forgive these precious snowflakes and hope that they eventually grow up. The real problem is with people assumed to be grown-ups  college professors and administrators  who serve their self-interest by tolerating and giving aid and comfort to our aberrant youth. Unless the cycle of promoting and nursing imaginary grievances is ended, diversity bureaucracies will take over our colleges and universities, supplanting altogether the goal of higher education.

Diversity is the highest goal of students and professors who openly detest those with whom they disagree. These people support the very antithesis of higher education with their withering attacks on free speech. Both in and out of academia, the content of a mans character is not as important as the color of his skin, his sex, his sexual preferences or his political loyalties. Thats a vision that spells tragedy for our nation.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

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New Year celebrations were ignored in many towns and villages across Co Donegal last night as the body of tragic nurse Mary Ellen Molloy was brought home for burial.

The 26-year-old was killed on December 20th last when a branch of a tree fell on the taxi she was traveling in Melbourne, Australia.

People in villages across Donegal including Glenswilly came out to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passed in the early hours of the morning.

People also lined the streets in the town of Glenties and stood in silence as Mary Ellen was brought onwards to her home village.

The town of Ardara came to a standstill as Mary Ellen's funeral cortege finally arrived just before 2am.

The close-knit community left aside celebrations and instead came out to welcome home one of their own and to prepare for what will be a heartbreaking funeral tomorrow (Thurs).

A close group of Mary Ellen's friends met the funeral cortege at the local bridge into the town and walked alongside the hearse carrying the popular local woman.

Many held LED lights as the walked in procession to the Church of the Holy Family.

The still night air was pierced by the tragic cries and tears of many young people who counted Mary Ellen as their friend.

From there her family including her dad Terence, mum Angela and brothers John Ross and Karl Joseph brought Mary Ellen to their home at Edergole for some private time alone.

Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, a close family friend who has co-ordinated Mary Ellen's repatriation said they were truly emotional scenes.

"It is a tribute to the communities of Donegal including the many families who came out to pay their sympathies to the family by coming out so late in the darkness from Glenswilly onwards.

"Hundreds lined the streets in Glenties in a dignified fashion and it was a source of comfort to the family.

The scenes in Ardara was so humbling as what seemed like the entire village lined the streets to help bring Mary Ellen back to where she belongs.

"It will not heal their pain but the support the family received last night will give them some source of strength in the coming days knowing that Mary Ellen was loved so much," he said.

Mary Elen will be waked at her home from 1pm today (Wed) before her funeral mass tomorrow (Thurs) at noon

Hundreds of people are expected to attend the funeral mass of the popular local woman who was known by many.

Beautiful Mary Ellen left her native Ardara sixteen months ago to work at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

She has started to make a life for herself in Australia but kept in close contact with her family and friends at home.

Her love and connections with the GAA community saw her join St Kevins GAC in Melbourne where she met many friends.

Members of the club started a Go Fund Me page in the wake of the tragic incident in which Mary Elen died and to date, that fund has raised a staggering 116,500.

A Christmas Day message from organiser Mary Grehan said "On behalf of St Kevins GAC, the girls and their families we would like to continue to thank people for their generosity on this Christmas Day.

"This page has not just helped alleviate the financial stress that comes with this traumatic event but has also given the girls and their families comfort in knowing the massive community and support they have behind them. Nollaig Shona."

Among those who welcomed Mary Ellen home to her final resting place last night was her uncle and godfather Anthony Molloy, Donegal's 1992 All-Ireland winning GAA captain.

Mr Molloy, who is also a Fianna Fail county councillor, said there are simply no words to describe what his family are going through as they prepare to say a final farewell to Mary Ellen.

Mr Molloy said "It's impossible to put into words the feeling that is there. This should be a happy time of year for the family at Christmas and the New year but all there is is a sense of numbness and sorrow at what has happened."
Seoul (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for "diplomatic and military countermeasures", state media said Tuesday, ahead of a year-end deadline for Washington to change its stance on stalled nuclear talks with Pyongyang.

His latest comments, made during a meeting of top ruling party officials in Pyongyang on Monday, came ahead of his set-piece New Year speech that could flesh out a threat to seek a "new way" forward after the expiration of the year-end deadline.

He spoke for seven hours during the ruling Workers' Party meeting, the North's official KCNA news agency said in a report released Tuesday, calling for measures to rebuild its economy and "diplomatic and military countermeasures for firmly preserving the sovereignty and security" of the isolated nation.

The party meeting will continue to review an unspecified "important document", it added.

Talks on denuclearising the Korean peninsula have been largely deadlocked since the second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump collapsed in Hanoi at the start of this year.

Pyongyang has demanded the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington insists it takes more tangible steps towards giving them up.

Speculation has mounted that Pyongyang could abandon its moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile tests -- although its ominous threat of a "Christmas gift" to the US appears to have fizzled.

The North may see the period running up to Seoul's April parliamentary election next year as "a window for seeking maximum benefits for minimal concessions" and try to escalate tensions, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"But Kim does not want to risk conflict with the US or loss of Chinese support with excessive provocations," he told AFP.

"So Pyongyang may prolong diplomatic deadlock until it becomes clear whether the next US administration will be led by Trump or someone else."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:01:22|Editor: ZX

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A container ship carrying 7,700 tonnes of Chilean cherries arrived at Shanghai's Yangshan Port on Tuesday, adding to the festive mood of China's upcoming holiday season.

The port customs said it took 23 days for the 378 containers of cherries to arrive, while two more "cherry ships" are about to depart Chile and set sail to Shanghai for the Spring Festival shopping boom.

The customs said the cherries will be cleared within 24 hours and put on dining room tables of Chinese consumers on New Year's Day at the earliest.

According to Chile's Fruit Exporters Association, 88 percent of the harvest in the 2018-2019 season was shipped to China, and the figure in the 2019-2020 season is expected to match or surpass that record.
Middle Valley Church of God at 1703 Thrasher Pike in Hixson, announces Pastor Mitch McClure will lead a 'Looking Forward and Planning For The Future' Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Pastor McClure will begin a sermon series on the absolute promises of God and how they apply to all believers in the 10:30 a.m. service. All are encouraged to attend this opportunity to experience the promises of God.

Pastor McClure will lead the congregation in a time of Scripture reading and prayer at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

MVCOG will begin a new study Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m. on how believers must examine current trends for truth and balance them against the Bible. The study will be led by Pastor McClure in the Administrative Office classroom.

Middle Valley Church of God has been involved in community from the same location since 1946 and continues to partner with many local organizations including Middle Valley Elementary, Soddy Daisy HealthCare, Hamilton County Election Commission, Hamilton County Sheriff, Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department, Red Cross. The church also is involved in multiple ministries in Cusuna, Honduras with orphans and widows.

All services are open to the public and everyone is welcome to participate.

For additional information, please contact Pastor McClure at the church office, 843-1539.
Taiwan Passes Law Banning Political Infiltration by Foreign Powers

2019-12-31 -- Taiwan on Tuesday passed an anti-infiltration law in a bid to counter Chinese interference in its democratic process ahead of a general election next month.

The democratic island's Legislative Yuan passed the Anti-Infiltration Law after repeated warnings from national security agencies that China is pouring in backdoor resources and stepping up "United Front" propaganda work to boost support for the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), or nationalist party.

The new law forbids any organizations or individuals sponsored by foreign powers from providing political contributions, campaigning, lobbying, or disseminating fake news meant to interfere in elections.

It becomes law as lawmakers in the U.S. and Australia have enacted similar legislation to prevent foreign interference and to monitor foreign influence.

Yen Ming-wei, spokesman for the pro-independence party Taiwan Radical Wings, welcomed the new law.

"Ever since [former KMT] president Ma Ying-jeou started letting [Chinese Communist Party] United Front officials off the hook, we have had a succession of [Chinese] spies who have been released as well," Yen said, citing the Chinese executives of a Hong Kong-based investment company who were questioned by the authorities and then released following allegations that they were working for Beijing.

"Taiwan has always been manipulated by China, whether it's to raise capital, to spy or to infiltrate our political sphere," he said. "Our democracy has been eroded, piece by piece ... and we want to defend our hard-won democracy and keep reminding the people of Taiwan that it is being invaded and infiltrated by China."

Luo Yi, chairman of the Free Taiwan Party, called on pro-China parties to sever their affiliation with China and embrace the vision of establishing Taiwan as a new, sovereign state.

"The Anti-Infiltration Law was urgent, because clearly the pro-China parties and the agents of the Chinese Communist Party would be able to interfere [in our democracy] if they weren't restrained by it," Luo said.

"They would gradually cannibalize Taiwan's democracy, which is still unstable, step by step," he said.

Curbing Chinese lobbying

Taipei city councilor Miao Poya said the new regulations didn't go far enough, however, and called for a ban on accepting instructions from a foreign power to participate in an election.

Lai Chung-chiang, convenor of the Economic Democracy Union and the Taiwan Citizen Front, said it was important to curb Chinese lobbying of the next Legislative Yuan before it was elected.

"We don't know what kind of lobbying the Chinese Communist Party will do in the new Legislative Yuan to overturn ... our national security laws and democratic defense mechanisms established by the Yuan," Lai said.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) incumbent Tsai Ing-wen looks set to win a second term when the country goes to the polls on Jan. 11.

In Beijing, a spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office warned of unspecified consequences.

"Those who provoke hostility must eat their own bitter fruit," Zhu Fenglian was quoted as saying by the official China News Service.

The bill, which passed by 67 votes to zero despite opposition criticism, was fast-tracked by the ruling DPP after the KMT nominated at-large candidates for the legislature with close ties to China's Communist Party, including retired Taiwan generals.

Prosecutors in December detained 10 people, including a former KMT staffer, on suspicion of falsifying documents to bring thousands of mainland Chinese to Taiwan, possibly including some who were collecting intelligence.

Concerns have also been raised about Beijing's influence over Taiwanese media groups, many of which are owned by corporations with ties to China.

Support for the KMT, a party that fled to Taiwan in 1949 and still wants it to be part of a "unified" China some day, is at a new low on the democratic island ahead of next month's election.

Extremely thin support for 'unification'

The Global Views Research annual public opinion survey said the violent suppression of Hong Kong's anti-government protests had sparked growing fears for Taiwan's national security and democracy, although an internal power struggle in the party had contributed.

Currently, only 4.5 percent of Taiwanese support the idea of "unification" with China, something that Chinese President Xi Jinping has said must happen eventually, by force if necessary.

By contrast, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been outspoken against any rapprochement with China.

President Tsai has been a vocal supporter of Hong Kong protesters' aspirations for full democracy, and against the use of police violence and political prosecutions to target protesters, and told a recent presidential election debate that China is the biggest threat to Taiwan's way of life.

Chinese president Xi Jinping said in a Jan. 2 speech that Taiwan must be "unified" with China. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) echoed the sentiment in a military white paper in July.

Tsai has repeatedly responded that Taiwan's 23 million population have no wish to give up their sovereignty.

Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony in the 50 years prior to the end of World War II, but was handed back to the 1911 Republic of China under the KMT as part of Tokyo's post-war reparation deal.

It has never been controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China.

Taiwan began a transition to democracy following the death of President Chiang Ching-kuo in January 1988, starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996.

Reported by Hsia Hsiao-hwa for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright  1998-2019, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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ANKARA (Reuters) - It is "out of the question" for Turkey to evacuate its military observation posts in Syria's Idlib, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday, after Russian and Syrian forces intensified their bombardment of targets in the northwestern province.

Turkey has 12 such posts in Idlib, and at home it hosts some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population in the world. It fears another wave from the region, where up to 3 million Syrians live in the last significant rebel-held swathe of territory after a nearly nine year civil war.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to recapture Idlib, prompting a recent wave of refugees toward Turkey's border.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan Spicer)
Zac Efron shared an update about his medical emergency on the set of, ironically, Killing Zac Efron

If youve spent the last few days worrying about Zac Efrons health, you can breathe easy now. The actor just assured everyone that he is in recovery. In case you missed it, Efron was reportedly airlifted to a hospital in Brisbane, Australia while filming his upcoming Quibi series, ironically titled Killing Zac Efron, in Papua New Guinea. We dont know exactly what happened, but multiple reports say that he contracted a form of typhoid or similar bacterial infection.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, Efron was hospitalized in the days leading up to Christmas and was given the green light to return to the U.S. on Christmas Eve. He is now stable, though, and made sure to reassure fans about his condition via an Instagram post.

Samir Hussein, Getty Images

Efron revealed that he indeed got sick while shooting the show but is now enjoying the holidays with his family and friends.

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Killing Zac Efron, the actors upcoming Quibi series, follows Zacs sojourn to a place off the grid with nothing but basic gear, a guide partner, and sheer determination.

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Crossing our fingers that Zac will soon be in tiptop shape to continue his exciting adventures!
Hong Kong: A march drawing tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on New Year's Day spiralled out of control as police fired tear gas at crowds before halting the event.

Tens of thousands of people march through the streets of the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on January 1. Credit:Bloomberg

The violence broke out during the largely peaceful march as masses of citizens pressed authorities for further concessions in the Chinese-ruled city.

In the Wanchai bar district, some protesters had sprayed graffiti and smashed cash machines in an HSBC branch when riot police moved in, pepper-spraying crowds in a tense face-off. Tear gas was then fired into the crowds, affecting families and children.

The protesters, some with gas masks and clad in black, regrouped and formed their own lines as police blocked roads to prevent large crowds from completing the march as night fell.
SHERIDAN, N.Y. -- A New York State trooper was arrested yesterday for a summertime crash on the NYS Thruway that left multiple elderly people badly injured.

Police charged trooper Stephen C. Barker, 33, with reckless endangerment and reckless driving, both misdemeanors. The crash took place July 15, 2019. State police announced charges against Trooper Barker on New Years Eve.

Barker was responding to a property damage accident on the Thruway in the town of Sheridan, west of Buffalo, on July 15 shortly after 1 p.m. He rear-ended a 2019 Dodge Caravan with five people in it. Four of the occupants were in their 70s.

Barker was driving a marked Dodge Charger.

Two of the passengers -- George Cole, 66, and Timothy McCann, 70 -- had to be airlifted from the scene with serious injuries, according to a July report from WKBW TV in Buffalo. Another three passengers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to multiple news reports. Barker also sustained minor injuries.

The crash prompted an investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction, Chautauqua County District Attorneys Office and New York State Police Professional Standards Bureau, state police said.

Barker is currently suspended without pay.

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The prices of more than 250 drugs increased this New Years Day, says research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

Drugmakers including Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Gilead Sciences Inc, and Biogen Inc hiked United States list prices on more than 50 drugs on Wednesday, but they are not the only companies demanding that consumers pay more. The prices of more than 250 drugs increased in price this New Years Day, according to data analysed by healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that drugmakers including Pfizer Inc, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Sanofi SA were planning to increase prices on more than 200 drugs in the US on January 1, 2020.

Nearly all of the price increases are below 10 percent, and the median price increase is around five percent, according to 3 Axis.

More early-year price increases could still be announced.

Soaring US prescription drug prices are expected to again be a central issue in the presidential election. US President Donald Trump, who made bringing them down a core pledge of his 2016 campaign, is running for re-election in 2020.

Many branded drugmakers have pledged to keep their US list price increases below 10 percent a year, under pressure from politicians and patients.

The US, which leaves drug pricing to market competition, has higher prices than other countries where governments directly or indirectly control the costs, making it the worlds most lucrative market for manufacturers.

Drugmakers often negotiate rebates on their list prices in exchange for favourable treatment from healthcare payers. As a result, health insurers and patients rarely pay the full list price of a drug.

Bristol-Myers Squibb said in a statement that it will not raise list prices on its drugs by more than six percent this year.

The drugmaker raised the price on 10 drugs on Wednesday, including 1.5-percent price hikes on cancer immunotherapies Opdivo and Yervoy and a six percent increase on blood thinner Eliquis, all of which bring in billions of dollars in revenue annually.

It also raised the price on Celgenes flagship multiple myeloma drug, Revlimid, by six percent. Bristol-Myers Squibb acquired rival Celgene in a $74bn deal last year.

Gilead raised prices on more than 15 drugs including HIV treatments Biktarvy and Truvada by less than five percent, according to 3 Axis.

Biogen price increases included a six-percent price hike on multiple sclerosis treatment Tecfidera, according to 3 Axis.

Gilead and Biogen could not be immediately reached for comment.

The consultancy 3 Axis advises pharmacy-industry groups on identifying inefficiencies in the US drug supply chain, and has provided consulting work to hedge fund billionaire John Arnold, a prominent critic of high drug prices.
San Francisco saw 41 killings in 2019, the lowest number of homicides in 56 years, and part of an overall decline in the violent crime and shootings that plagued the city just over a decade ago.

The remarkable recent downturn in violent crime, city officials said, is the result of a strategy by law enforcement and community groups to focus resources on crime-challenged neighborhoods to stem bloodshed.

Im really proud of the work the city has done to invest in violence prevention programs, Mayor London Breed told The Chronicle. It is a collaborative approach toward keeping the numbers down and hopefully getting to a better place over time.

The number of killings in 2019 was down 11% from 2018, when the city had 46 homicides. Thats a contrast with some of the citys most troubling times, when killings went largely unsolved and justice was often handled on the streets.

In 1977, the city recorded 142 killings. In 1993, there were 129 slayings and as recently as 2007 there were 100. Things turned around in the past decade, and San Francisco twice recorded a low of 45 killings  in 2014 and 2009  before last years dip.

Before the previous decade, San Francisco hadnt had a homicide count in the 40s since the 1960s, according to data from the Police Department, state Department of Justice and Chronicle reports. The last time the number of homicides was as low as 2019s count was in 1963, when the city had 100,000 fewer residents.

San Francisco also saw a 6% drop in shootings and an 8% overall drop in violent crime from the previous year, which included declines in every major category of violence, including assaults, rapes and robberies.

One homicide is one too many, but the fact that were at a 55-year low, were pleased, said Deputy Chief David Lazar, who heads investigations in the Police Department. We have work to do, and we have to continue to do the work we did this year in 2020.

The city, however, still has the highest property crime rate in the country, driven mostly by the high number of auto burglaries that have overwhelmed residents and visitors. San Francisco, though, saw a 3% decline in vehicle break-ins in 2019 compared with the previous year, according to the latest police statistics.

The citys decadelong drop in violent crime follows a national trend of declining violence in major cities. Violent crime fell 9% nationally over the past decade, but stalled in 2015 and 2016 before another dip over the last three years, according to the latest FBI statistics.

San Franciscos success with violent crime, the mayor said, should be credited to engaged community groups and residents along with the San Francisco Police Department.

The department last year recorded a 71% homicide clearance rate, which divides the overall number of cases solved with the number of killings that year. Back in the 1990s, the city had a clearance rate in the 20s, the lowest percentage of any major city in the country.

People want closure and they want accountability, Breed said. We dont want retaliation. Thats important to preventing further things from happening in the first place.

For Breed, stemming violent crime has been her lifes work. She was born and raised in public housing in the citys Western Addition, where violent crime was rampant, particularly among the neighborhoods young African American men, she said.

She recalled growing up hearing drive-by shootings and attending the funerals of classmates in high school.

I wanted to do something about changing it, she said, describing her ascension from neighborhood advocate to supervisor to mayor. There were a lot of people we were losing, so I think there was an outcry from the community for change.

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.

Part of the effort by the mayors office has been holding meetings with a violence reduction team after every homicide. The group is composed of police, community stakeholders and others who work to diffuse situations before they escalate.

The citys Street Violence Intervention Team members are among the first to respond when someone gets killed, and the program is credited by police and city leaders as a critical component of driving down violence.

Team members  whose life stories often involve being caught up in the criminal justice system  counsel neighborhood residents and try to tamp down any potential retribution killings.

But even before violence breaks out, they work to build relationships with young people and families in the citys most challenged communities such as the Western Addition, Bayview-Hunters Point, Mission and Sunnydale.

It takes a village and thats what we believe, said Arturo Carrillo, the programs director. Its great to see a kid thats benefited from our work  someone whos gotten out and cut loose the lifestyle and is now working a full-time job and making good money.

Former San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, who quit in October to run for the same job in Los Angeles, pointed to his work as top prosecutor and police chief in driving down violence. As district attorney, he established the Crime Strategies Unit, a team of prosecutors, analysts and investigators who use data-driven approaches to address chronic crime.

In the case of San Francisco, you have people committing more than one homicide and taking them out of circulation is important, he said.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
DUBLIN, Ireland, Jan. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As 2019 drew to a close, crowds gathered along the River Liffey quays in Dublin for a choreographed light show in time to original music as part of the citys New Years Festival Countdown Concert.

Dublins dynamic New Years Festival burst into life early on 31 December and will keep up the momentum until the closing hours of 1 January, ensuring that 2020 is well and truly welcomed.

Revellers of every age joined in the fun at the Liffey Lights Midnight Moment Matinee, an early countdown event, which began around 6pm and featured a laser light and aqua beam display.

Bringing the Old Year to a close, the Countdown Concert at historic Custom House on 31 December saw top music acts perform blistering sets that had thousands of people dancing in the streets. Country star Lisa McHugh and Irelands newest pop artist, Aimee, joined rock veterans Ash and platinum-selling Walking on Cars, who headlined the festivals highlight event.

And as 2019 drew to a close, crowds gathered along the quays for the fabulous Liffey Lights Midnight Moment. The dazzling choreographed light show saw a symphony of laser and aqua beams dance across the sky in time to original music created especially for the countdown event, performed by a 20 piece orchestra on a floating stage on the river Liffey.

www.ireland.com

A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9fb97b9c-ce47-4377-a2ed-b9071aa3fd8b

Presentation link for sharing all media files: https://f.io/sOfBcjJr
JUNEAU, Alaska - During her first year as Alaska Senate president, Cathy Giessel won over one-time political adversaries and angered some within her own party for her willingness to buck Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a fellow Republican, on key pieces of his agenda.

Giessels ascension to the role just three other women have held coincided with Dunleavys 2018 election. She was among those who argued cuts proposed by the governor were too much, too fast, and that the formula he wanted to follow for paying checks to residents from the states oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund, was no longer workable.

Tuckerman Babcock, a former state GOP chair and former Dunleavy chief of staff, said Giessels position on the dividend changed.

Thats one issue, and the other is, to be so publicly, adamantly at odds with the governor is just bizarre, he said, noting he would not support her again.

Giessel said as Senate leader, shes an easy target.

Rather than dictating views to her 14-member caucus, which includes a Democrat, Giessel said she gives them room to wrestle with issues to reach agreement, or not. Her caucus was sharply divided on the dividend last year, which she said reflected the electorate and divisions within her party.

Giessel said the dividend has been one of the most divisive statewide issues shes seen. Its expected to be a major focus during the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 21.

But I do believe ... we will, after all of this vigorous conversation, come to a good conclusion, she said.

In 2016, as she faced re-election, Giessel supported then-Sen. Dunleavys call to restore the portion of the dividend cut by Gov. Bill Walker as the state struggled with a budget deficit. Giessel recently said she felt the issue should not be decided by one person.

Lawmakers had a chance to override Walkers actions but didnt. A legal challenge ultimately was decided in his favour.

In 2018, lawmakers began tapping permanent fund earnings, long used to pay dividends, to help cover government costs. They also passed a law seeking to limit withdrawals from earnings for government and dividends.

Dunleavy has supported using a decades-old dividend formula that many lawmakers see as unsustainable and havent followed in recent years. Giessel has called for a formula change.

During her race, I never said I supported these massive-sized PFDs, she said, referring to the checks. I supported a full legislative discussion of the subject and not just keeping the money in the earnings reserve account but actually using it to balance our budgets.

Lawmakers settled on a 2019 dividend that equaled $1,606. Under the formula, it would have been $2,910, according to the Department of Revenue.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon said his relationship with Giessel mainly consisted of passing hellos before she became Senate president but has blossomed into a friendship and trusted working relationship. He said she has come into her own as a leader.

She sticks to her values, her principles. In the face of flack by some in her own party, and maybe some Alaskans along the way, she didnt flinch, and I really respected her for that, said Edgmon, an independent.

Giessel and Edgmon joined in challenging the administration in a dispute over school funding and Dunleavys pick of a special session location.

Giessel was born in territorial Alaska, in Fairbanks, where she was raised, the oldest of four children. Her father was a pilot who often took her on trips to rural Alaska. Her mother went to law school after raising the family.

Giessel wanted to study political science in college but said her mother urged her to study something practical, like nursing. Her mother also urged her to intern for then-U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, which she said she did.

Giessel met her husband Richard in Michigan, where she attended college. After nursing school, when he suggested they marry, she told him hed find her in Alaska, where they eventually settled.

She put her nursing career on hold for 12 years to raise and homeschool their children, and later earned a masters degree.

Giessel has long been involved in Republican politics and served as a state GOP vice chair.

After working on campaigns and wanting to make a difference with policy, she was elected to the Senate in 2010. For two years, she was part of a conservative, four-member minority.

Oil and gas were hot topics, and she made up her mind that she was going to know everything that there was to know about it, said Republican Sen. John Coghill, who was in that caucus and is on the current GOP-led majoritys leadership team.

Man, oh man. She got hold of something and became a formidable force because of her tenaciousness, he said.

During her legislative career, Giessel has often attended hearings of committees she doesnt serve on, taking notes, likening it to soaking up all she can in a classroom.

Giessel became Senate Resources Committee chair in 2013, after Republicans wrested control of the Senate from a bipartisan majority. She said she wanted the job after seeing how North Slope communities she visited as a nurse had benefited from oil development.

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Begich said Giessel once was a political adversary but last year said they expressed a desire to work together, in their leadership roles. The Anchorage Democrat said he and Giessel have different ideas but share the goal of a stable, sustainable Alaska with opportunities.

I have no doubt about that, and that makes it easy to work with her, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:06:23|Editor: huaxia

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Rioters set barricades with debris on streets to block traffic on Jan. 1, 2020 in Hong Kong, China. (Xinhua)

Rioters wreak havoc again in Hong Kong on New Year's day, smashing HSBC and China Life Insurance branches, setting barricades and fire on streets, hurling petrol bombs on roads, and spray-painting insulting words on a High Court wall.

HONG KONG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Rioters took advantage of a protest to wreak havoc again in Hong Kong on New Year's Day, trashing an HSBC branch, setting fire on streets, and spray-painting insulting words on the outer wall of the High Court.



At about 3:50 p.m. local time, a group of masked rioters smashed the glass door and damaged automated teller machines (ATMs) of a branch of HSBC bank on the Hennessy Road during a demonstration on the Hong Kong Island Wednesday afternoon.

Violent protesters also poured red paint over a lion sculpture in front of the HSBC Headquarters in Central district. Some spray-painted the protective white planks at the entrance of an HSBC branch in the vicinity of Victoria Park.

It was not the first time for Hong Kong's largest bank to be targeted by rioters. An HSBC branch in Mong Kok was trashed on the Christmas Eve.

Rioters smash the glass door of an HSBC branch in Wan Chai, Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Xinhua)

Some other businesses also fell victim to the violence on Wednesday. The glass door of a China Life Insurance building was destroyed, and a Bank of China branch was also vandalized. A Starbucks cafe was trashed and set on fire, and an outlet of Hui's Brothers Currency Exchange was painted with graffiti.

According to the plan filed with the police, protesters first gathered at Victoria Park at noon before marching toward Chater Road as the destination. However, after the demonstration ended at about 5:30 p.m., some rioters still occupied the streets.

At about 5:00 p.m. local time, rioters hurled petrol bombs at Luard Road and Hennessy Road, posing a grave threat to public safety. At about 6 p.m. local time, rioters set road barricades with debris and damaged the traffic lights in the vicinity of Des Voeux Road Central and Pedder Street.

Violence showed no signs of abating in the evening as rioters vandalized public facilities in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central, with roads blocked and pavements destroyed. Some even set fire to banks and ATMs.

Rioters set up barricades on streets to block traffic in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Xinhua)

As warnings went in vain, the police had to deploy the minimum necessary force, including tear gas and the Specialized Crowd Management Vehicle to disperse protesters. Five people involved in the vandalism of the HSBC branch were arrested for criminal damage.

As one of the most stunning incidents on Wednesday, some rioters spray-painted words on the outer wall of the High Court to insult a judge.

The police strongly condemned such an unlawful act which defies the spirit of the law and clarified the case as "criminal damage". The Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said personal attacks and insults against judges would severely undermine the authority of the courts and damage public confidence in the judicial system.

A spokesperson of the HKSAR government called on participants in the procession to leave as soon as possible after arriving at the finishing point of the protest and not to participate in illegal and violent activities.

The government has all along respected people's rights and freedoms to participate in peaceful processions and assemblies and express views rationally, the spokesperson said.
PAVITRA SRIPRAKASH By

As we introspect on how we have lived in the past and think about making new resolutions for living better in the upcoming years, let us also pause and think about the issue of climate change. For many of us, this still feels like something so far removed from daily living that it does not warrant much deep thinking  it is easier for us to go about our lives thinking this is too large a problem for us as individuals and someone, somewhere in some lab or institute is coming up with great solutions to this big problem of our time. As a look back, I wanted to touch upon news headlines from 2019 that are all linked to that one large issue that connects us all  our planet and the fact that our climate is changing.

Whether it is floods or wildfires  these cause immense damage to the environment and urban areas alike. Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka are among the top states that were flood affected in 2019  total death tolls are at 200 and about one million have been displaced due to floods in 2019. Floods cause a lot of damage and are very expensive to fix. People lose their homes, their belongings and sometimes their cars during floods  all of which is very hard to insure against. On the other side of the world, the Amazon was ablaze with uncontrollable fires  a record 80,000 that was an 80 per cent jump over the previous years. While it seems a necessity to clear the forests to make agricultural land for people to raise livestock and have meat  it is coming at a great price to the planet  Each of us benefit from the health of the Amazon.

The Amazon plays a huge role in pulling planet-warming greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere by taking in CO2 and releasing oxygen. Simply put, without it, climate change speeds up With the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the NCR hitting almost 500, there was a scare of hazy skies and a surge in the AQI for Tamil Nadu going up to 300. With worsened air quality, people are prone to allergies and asthma attacks. Ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, can also cause coughing, chest tightness or pain, decrease lung function and worsen asthma and other chronic lung diseases.

The prices of onions soared in recent months in Chennai with news of imports from Ethiopia coming in to meet demands. While there are several reasons for higher food prices, climate change is a major factor. Extreme weather affects livestock and crops, and droughts can have impacts on the stability and price of food. In our case, we increased our carbon footprint even further by having to import a food item, causing further greenhouse gases to be emitted. As global temperatures continue to rise, climate change will affect our wallets, our health, our safety, and our lives. And while there are ways to adapt on a personal level, some of these changes are going to become more severe and unavoidable over time. The best way to protect ourselves in this decade of 2020 is to support policies and measures that cut carbon emissions and enhance climate resilience.
The dramatic entry of two young women in Sabarimala defying protests, Congress' surprise decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, devastating floods for a successive year that claimed over 100 lives, anti-CAA stir made 2019 an eventful year for Kerala.

While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala shared the stage in a rare show of camaraderie against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution, demanding scrapping of the CAA, amidst the dissenting voice of a lone BJP MLA.

Kerala became the first state to adopt a resolution against the CAA though Chief Ministers of certain non-BJP ruled, including West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee had declared they would not implement the controversial legislation.

Giving a rude shock to devotees and right wing groups and jubilation to progressive activists, two women, Bindu Ammini and Kanaka Durga, belonging to the traditionally barred age group--scripted history by stepping into Sabarimala in the early morning hours of January 3 this year.

The entry of the activist women, with their faces covered in veils, came a day after a state-sponsored 620 km long human wall of women across the national highways of Kerala to uphold gender equality.

The southern state had witnessed unprecedented turmoil in 2018 after the CPI(M)-led LDF state government decided to implement the September 28 Supreme Court verdict, permitting women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple.

However, since the 50-odd petitions against the verdict have been referred to a seven-judge bench by the apex court, the state government decided not to provide any security to young women wishing to trek to the hill shrine to offer prayers this year.

Young devotees, including activist Trupti Desai, who came from Pune along with six women for darshan were turned away following protests by devotees.

The peaceful mandala season, which came to a close on December 26 and without any protests, came as a huge relief for the government.

A peaceful atmosphere ensured that there was an unprecedented rush of devotees this season, resulting in a huge increase in revenue for the temple board.

But the repercussions of the Sabarimala women entry issue was strongly felt in the political scenario of Kerala.

Contrary to hopes of its progressive stand on the issue reaping political dividends, the ruling LDF received a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections held in April, with the Congress putting up a spirited show to rout the Left alliance.

The ruling coalition could win only one of the 20 seats, emerging victorious in Aroor Lok Sabha segment.

The opposition Congress-led UDF made a clean sweep, netting the rest 19, even as party leader Rahul Gandhi triumphed in Wayanad with a huge margin of over four lakh votes against his nearest CPI rival.

The Congress' good show came as some kind of a relief to the national party, as it got drowned in many other states in an otherwise saffron surge where the BJP raced ahead with 303 Lok Sabha seats and ensure a successive term at the Centre.

Surprisingly, the BJP-NDA, which saw the Sabarimala issue as a "golden opportunity" and had led the frenzied protests against the women entry issue with the hope that it will help the party open account to the Lok Sabha from Kerala, failed to make any inroads, and its efforts came a cropper.

The BJP has only one MLA in the state assembly.

Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Wayanad, besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, came as a political surprise for many.

Gandhi's deft move saw the Left parties fuming as they were not keen he tried his luck from the state, probably sensing that it could affect their prospects.

It was for the first time in the history of Kerala that a prime ministerial candidate was trying his poll luck from the state.

Gandhi won with a massive margin of over 4.31 lakh votes, even as he lost from his pocket-borough--Amethi.

A year after the state had suffered a deluge, northern parts of Kerala were flooded yet again in August as heavy rains and widespread landslides wreaked havoc, claiming over 120 lives.

A large number of people, including women and children were killed as many went missing at Kavalapara in Malappuram and Puthumala in Wayanad districts when the massive landslides rocked the places.

The gunning down of four Maoists-- Karthi, Rema, Aravind and Manivasagan--by Kerala police in Palakkad district triggered a political row in the state as CPI, a major partner in the ruling LDF, attacked the government along with the opposition Congress.

The booking of two CPI (M) student activists under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) for allegedly distributing pro-Maoist pamphlets also put the Left government led by Vijayan in the dock.

The case has now been taken over by the NIA.

Kerala also witnessed protests against the CAA, with agitations being held all over the state, including in front of Raj Bhavan, the residence of Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

Khan himself faced unprecedented protests when he attended the Indian History Congress at Kannur university, as delegates and students raised slogans and showed placards while he was speaking.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also faced the wrath of protesters when he arrived in the state for temple visits.

In a rare show of camaraderie in politics, Vijayan and Chennithala held a joint "satyagraha" in the state capital to protest against the CAA.

The Malayalam film industry also lent its voice against the act by taking out marches and speaking out against the CAA in the social media.

The year saw the passing away of Kerala Congress (M) supremo and former Finance Minister K M Mani after suffering from prolonged pulmonary disease.

In the Assembly bypoll after Mani's demise, the ruling LDF wrested Pala, the bastion which the veteran leader held for the last five decades.

Former Kerala minister and NCP state president Thomas Chandy, MLA, also passed away.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Wednesday reported a 12 per cent decline in total vehicle sales in domestic market to 44,254 units in December.

The company had sold 50,440 units in the same month in 2018, said in a statement.

Total passenger vehicle sales last month stood at 12,785 units as against 14,260 units in the same month previous year, down 10 per cent, it added.

President (Passenger Vehicles Business Unit) Mayank Pareek said, "Our focus in December has been to drive retail and minimise the network stock in order to facilitate a smooth transition to BS-VI."



He further said, "Having almost completed our planned production and despatches of BS-IV, we will start moving to BS-VI production and despatches from January and step up our volumes in the coming months."



Tata Motors said its commercial vehicle sales in December 2019 stood at 34,082 units as against 40,015 units in the year-ago month, down 15 per cent.

Tata Motors President (Commercial Vehicles Business Unit) Girish Wagh said retail was higher than wholesales at 13 per cent in December with further stock reduction, as the company moves closer to BS-VI transition.

"Enquiries continued to increase gradually, with fleet owners realising the economic benefits of replacement of their older vehicles now. Increasing enquiries and lower stocks augur well for future volumes and realisation, early indication of which can be seen in December," he added.

(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.)
ROME -Pope Francis was making his way through a New Year's Eve crowd in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, smiling and clutching hands with well-wishers. But then, just as Francis was turning away, a woman caught him by surprise - and got a glimpse of an aggravated pope.

The woman grabbed Francis's right hand and pulled him toward her. The startled pope then smacked the woman's hand as a way to break free, a reaction he apologized for on Wednesday.

Video showed Francis with a disgusted look as he walked away.

In his address to pilgrims a day after the incident, Francis diverted from his scripted remarks upon the mention of patience.

"So many times we lose our patience; me too, and I apologize for yesterday's bad example," Francis said.

The woman was not immediately identified. She, like others in the crowd, was separated by a white barrier from the pontiff, who was proceeding through the square along with a team of security and lieutenants. The woman had crossed herself as the pope moved slowly in her direction. As she pulled the pope toward her, she also said something to Francis that was not easily decipherable.

The pope regularly finds himself in the middle of adoring throngs, both in the Vatican and during his overseas visits. During his papacy, it has been rare for Francis to show annoyance with the behavior of crowds, though certain moments have set him off.

During a trip to Mexico in 2016, somebody in the crowd pulled on the pontiff's arms, causing him to keel atop a person in a wheelchair. Francis gestured angrily afterward, saying, according to the Catholic News Service, "What is the matter? Don't be so selfish?"

Last March, video showed Francis repeatedly pulling his hand away from well-wishers trying to kiss his ring. Some conservative Catholic media outlets criticized the pope for being so averse to a traditional sign of respect. A Vatican spokesman later said that Francis was concerned about hygiene.

"He wants to avoid the risk of contagion for the people, not for him," the spokesman said.

Over the years, popes have faced a number of unpredictable encounters with crowds - in a few cases, far more dangerous than the incident Tuesday. In 2009, a woman jumped a barrier and lunged at Pope Benedict, knocking him to the ground. The woman was later identified as a Swiss-Italian with a history of mental problems who had tried a similar attack a year earlier only to be stopped by security guards. The Vatican said it would review security procedures after that.

Francis has kept a busy schedule over the holidays, with regular events inside the Vatican. Before apologizing for the smack on Wednesday, he delivered a homily on the topic of women, denouncing "every form of violence" they face, including rape, forced prostitution and verbal abuse.

"We can understand our degree of humanity by how we treat a woman's body," the pope said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message to the Armenian people on the occasion of the New Year and Christmas.

ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan addressed the message from the Republican Square in front tens of thousands of people. The message runs as follows,

Dear people,

Proud citizens of the Republic of Armenia,

Proud citizens of the Republic of Artsakh,

Proud Diaspora Armenians:

I appeal to you live from the heart of Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia and the whole Armenian nation, from Republic Square, where we carried out a non-violent, velvet, popular revolution in the spring of 2018.

2019 was the first full year following the Revolution. In my December 31, 2018 message, I promised that by the end of 2019, we would have reached new heights, record new achievements, and, above all, our countrys social and economic life would have been improved. Now I am pleased to report that we have seen many visible, tangible and measurable results over the past year.

By the end of 2019, Armenia will have the largest economic growth not only in our region, not only in the Eurasian Economic Union, not only in the CIS and the whole post-Soviet space, but also presumably in the European region. Armenia is sure to be one of the worlds leading countries in terms of economic growth in 2019.

The citizens of the Republic of Armenia can see and feel the changes in our economy. During 2019, as many highways were repaired in Armenia as in 2015, 16, 17 altogether. Salaries of the military, rescuers, teachers, foresters, many health workers have increased, pensions, benefits and the minimum wage will be raised as of January 1, 2020.



We have implemented social programs: since 2003, the state had assumed a commitment to provide housing for 300 orphanage children, who will eventually get apartments. We are addressing the retired militarys housing needs: more than AMD 8 billion has been allocated to that end. 1.5 billion drams shall be earmarked to provide housing for 121 refugee families. No such project has ever been implemented in Armenia before.

I am pleased to state that Armenia has reached the lowest-ever poverty level. Our countrys foreign currency reserves have reached unprecedented volumes beyond the mark USD 2.8 billion. The state budgets tax receipts were exceeded by over 100 billion drams in 2019.

The Armenian government is implementing many programs to help thousands of families overcome poverty and build prosperity through work. It is also important to note that about 84 thousand new jobs have appeared in Armenia since May 2018, the number of unemployed is decreasing sharply. What is more, there are thousands of vacancies in Armenia today.

Dear Compatriots:

The list of our achievements can go a long way. However, I am making this list not only to summarize 2019 but also to set our benchmarks for 2020.

We celebrate the New Year with high spirits, stronger self-confidence, and renewed faith in our own strengths and our future.

2020 is to be a year of nationwide mood, self-confidence and personalization of faith. In the New Year, even the skeptics will have confidence and enthusiasm for their own strengths and future, and we must give citizens strength and confidence to believe that they can succeed in education, career and entrepreneurship; that they can produce, get rich and enrich the country through fair, creative and literate work.

We have made extensive changes to the Tax Code to make 2020 an exceptional year for our citizens economic activity. Hundreds of millions of dollars have come to the Republic of Armenia after the Revolution,, and every citizen should think about what creative entrepreneurship project he can get from this national wealth and what share of national wealth he can create.

Dear compatriots,

The time is high to materialize what seemed to be impossible in Armenia. In 2018, very few people believed in the non-violent velvet popular revolution and in 2019 very few believed that we could boast economic achievements of global relevance. 2020 will be a year of Armenias economic, political, social and psychological flight as evidenced by this revolutionary, crowded and passionate Republic Square.

Dear compatriots,

This year we turned the shameful page of the so-called 80s weapons. Just a few days ago Armenia acquired multifunctional and multipurpose military aircraft and we will have a fleet of fighter jets. We acquired modern TOR-M2 KM anti-aircraft and missile defense systems.

In 2019, we acquired an unprecedented amount of state-of-the-art and brand-new weaponry and ammunition. This is an unprecedented situation in the history of army supplies.

I should reiterate that we need these modern weapons for peace, not war. And our peace is being secured today, right now, by the soldiers, officers, and the generals who are standing at the border. I would like to convey special greetings to them from this festive podium, and thank them for protecting us.

I would also like to say that the introduction of a new system of providing high quality food to the soldiers has started and is moving forward with great enthusiasm among the soldiers, their parents and the public at large. We intend to introduce the proposed catering system in all military units by the end of 2020 that will help improve our soldiers daily life.

I extend special greetings to the officers of the Armenian Police, National Security Service, Ministry of Emergency Situations, and Ministry of Justice who are spending the last minutes of the outgoing year in service to provide for the security of our country and people. I am greeting those working in healthcare, energy, transportation, public catering institutions, and all those who will see in the New Year at work.



And finally, I welcome all the citizens of the Republic of Armenia, all our compatriots, in Armenia, Artsakh, and the Diaspora... and especially those who are here at the heart of Yerevan, the capital of all Armenians and the capital of the Republic of Armenia.



I love you all, I am proud of you all, and I bow to you all. I serve you all. all your sorrows are in my heart, all your needs are in my mind, all your dreams are in my soul.

Please smile, dear compatriots, for the New Year is approaching.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!

And therefore:

Long live freedom!

Long live the Republic of Armenia!

Long live our children and we, as we live and will continue to live in a free and happy Armenia!

Earlier, Nikol Pashinyan had urged the Armenians living in Armenia and the Diaspora to be in Yerevan on December 31, promising an unforgettable New Year celebration.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
The Nigerian government has given itself a pass mark saying its effort in the fight against corruption is progressing in all sectors.

The government also said it convicted the highest number of persons for corruption in 2019 globally.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, stated this in a statement.

The briefing highlighted some of the governments achievements in its fight against corruption in 2019.



It also mentioned key initiatives that President Muhammadu Buharis administration launched in its efforts to strengthen transparency in the public sectors.

Mr Mohammed explained that the fight against corruption is progressing in all fronts, including institutional reforms, loot recovery and prosecution of allegedly corrupt persons.

He said this has remained the cardinal promises since the coming of the administration.

He also said between January and October 2019, the EFCC secured the highest number of convictions of high profile persons in the world with a record of 890 convictions and the recovery of stolen funds that amounts to billions.

The fight against corruption also gained momentum within the period, with high profile convictions. Between January and October 2019 alone, thats a period of 10 months, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured 890 convictions.

This is the highest anywhere in the world. Recall that in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the EFCC was only able to secure 103, 189, 190 and 202 convictions respectively. The high rate of convictions in 2019 is in addition to the billions of naira in looted funds that have been recovered by the EFCC, he said.

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ISRO chief K Sivan unveils mission programme for 2020: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan briefed the media on the organisations mission programme and Gaganyaan project in 2020 in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Gaganyaan is the first indigenous manned mission of ISRO. Four Indian astronauts have been selected for the mission and they will undergo training in the third week of January 2020.

ISRO will launch the cost-effective Gaganyaan manned mission in 2020 and send three persons into space  two men and one woman. Odishas Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has supplied 30.5 tonnes of maraging steel required for the upcoming project. The special quality steel, that requires stringent manufacturing parameters, contains nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, titanium and aluminium and is manufactured through a vacuum melting process.

Speaking on Chandrayan-3 lunar mission, Sivan said the ruling BJP government has approved the lunar project and ISRO scientists are working on it. The ISRO chief said the space organisation has made good progress on Chandrayan-2, even though they failed to land the Vikaram lander successfully, the orbiter is still functioning, it is going to function for the next 7 years to produce crucial data. ISROs land acquisition plan for a second spaceport has been initiated and the port will be in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, he added.

Gaganyaan Highlights:

 The Gaganyaan programme, which is expected to cost less than Rs 10,000 crore, will provide employment to 15,000 people.

 ISRO has developed most of the critical technologies like re-entry mission capability, crew escape system, crew module configuration, thermal protection system, and the prototype of a space suit to send humans to space.

 The Gaganyaan system module is a combination of the service module and the crew module. It will place the spacecraft in a low earth orbit of 300-400 km.

 The height of the crew module could be 7 metres while its diameter is 3.7-metre.

 ISROs workhorse GSLV Mk III will be used to launch Gaganyaan.

 The crew capsule will take 36 minutes to splashdown in the Sea while the crew module will be recovered within 15-20 days.

The astronauts will take only 16 minutes to reach the classroom while the crew capsule will take 36 minutes to splashdown in the sea. The crew capsule could land in the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal near the Gujarat coast or even land. If fructified, India will be the fourth country to send people to space after America, Russia and China.

Earlier, Union Minister for Department of Space Jitendra Singh had said Chandrayan-3 will carry only a lander mission. Following the crash landing of Chandrayaan-2s Vikram lander on the lunar south pole on September 7, 2019, ISRO scientists had started work on the second lander mission.

The ISRO has also planned to launch Aditya-L1 Mission in 2020.

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Chicken Curry with Cashews and Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf

Chicken Curry with Cashews and Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf Shopping List:

Boneless skinless chicken thighs

Onion

Curry powder

Cumin

Cayenne powder

White wine

Chicken stock

Brown basmati rice

Turmeric

Cinnamon

Green onions, celery, and carrots

Olive oil

Flat leaf parsley

Dried currants

Salt and black pepper



















What exactly is curry?





Curry is a dish (and a sauce) that originated in India. Depending on the region of India, the spices and herbs in the curry sauce will vary. Typically, Indian curry will include coriander, turmeric, and cumin. The sauce can be used with both meat and vegetarian dishes.





Curry powder is a western invention derived from the spice blends sold to the British who occupied India. The curry powder I used contains coriander, turmeric, chillies, salt, cumin, ground fennel seeds, pepper, garlic, ground ginger, fenugreek, cinnamon, cloves, anise, and ground mustard.





coconut red curry halibut with rice. Not connected to India, there are also curries in Southeast Asia, typically made with coconut milk and curry pastes that include fresh herbs. such as this

















Once the British discovered curry, it became very popular in the British Isles. They also introduced it to Japan, where curry became a stew with potatoes and vegetables. In Japan, Curry is typically purchased in roux cubes. In U.S. supermarkets, Japanese curry roux cubes can be found in the Asian section and is often labeled as Vermont Curry. Who knew?



Be sure to check out these Japanese Curry Buns, where the curry is stuffed into bread. Be sure to check out thesewhere the curry is stuffed into bread.





How to make Chicken Curry with Cashews:



First, cook a chopped onion and a large pinch of salt in neutral oil until softened. Add bite sized pieces of chicken thighs to the pan, and cook, stirring until the chicken is no linger pink on the outside.



Combine the curry and the rest of the spices and add them to the pan. Add some white wine, chicken broth, and simmer until the chicken is tender.





Finally, serve the chicken with basmati rice and top it with chopped cashews and flat leaf parsley or cilantro.







How to make the brown basmati rice pilaf:



First, cook some chopped carrot, celery, and green onion together for about 5 minutes and set aside.





Next, mix 2 cups of brown basmati rice with 3 1/2 cups of chicken broth in an oven safe baking dish. Add some olive oil, cinnamon, turmeric, salt, and pepper.



After that, add the cooked vegetables to the rice mixture, cover, and bake for about an hour.



Finally, sprinkle the rice with flat leaf parsley or chopped cilantro.











Make-ahead tips:





You can make the chicken curry right after simmering, refrigerate the chicken, and then add the cornstarch slurry the next day to thicken the mixture.





You can also make the rice in advance. Just refrigerate it and reheat the next day.





















Chicken Curry with Cashews and Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf:





This chicken curry with cashews and brown basmati rice pilaf is and amazing comfort food weeknight dinner. If you try it, be sure to let me know what you think!







Chicken Curry with Cashews and Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf Print

With Image Without Image Yield: 4 servings

Author: Karen Kerr This chicken curry with cashews and rice pilaf is so easy to make, and it's such a warming and comforting family meal. ingredients: For the Chicken Curry Neutral oil

1 onion, diced

Large pinch of salt

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces

2 tablespoons curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder

1 cup white wine

1 cup chicken stock

2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons chicken stock

1/2 cup roasted chopped cashews

1/4 cup chopped flat-leafed parsley For the Rice 2 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

2 scallions, thinly sliced

2 cups brown basmati rice, rinsed

3 1/2 cups boiling chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cups dried currants

Salt and pepper to taste instructions: How to cook Chicken Curry with Cashews and Brown Basmati Rice Pilaf To Make the Chicken Curry Heat the oil in a 5 to 6 quart sauce pan. Add the onion, the pinch of salt, and cook until the onion is tender. Add the chicken and cook, stirring, until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside. Combine the spices in a small bowl. When the chicken is ready, move it to the side of the pan and add the spices. Cook for about a minute so that the spices are toasted. Combine the chicken and spices and add the wine and broth. Scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan and simmer the chicken for 20 minutes. Add the cornstarch mixture to the simmering pot and stir until the curry mixture has thickened. Top with chopped roasted cashews and serve over basmati rice. To Make the Rice Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a 10 inch saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the chopped celery stalk, chopped carrot, and scallions. Cook until the vegetables are tender. In a 3 to 4 quart casserole, stir together the rice, chicken broth, 1/4 cup olive oil, vegetable mixture, turmeric, and cinnamon. Add the currants, a large pinch of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and stir. Cover the pot, place it in the oven, and bake for about 1 hour, stirring halfway through. Remove from the oven, stir, season to taste with salt and pepper, and top with chopped parsley. https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/2019/12/chicken-curry-with-cashews-and-rice.html Karen's Kitchen Stories curry, chicken, rice Main dish Indian

Did you make this recipe? Tag @KarensKitchenStories on instagram and hashtag it #KarensKitchenStories Created using The Recipes Generator



The rice recipe is a Karen's Kitchen Stories original.









The rice recipe is a Karen's Kitchen Stories original.

This chicken curry with cashews and rice pilaf is so easy to make, and it's such a warming and comforting family meal.This chicken curry with cashews is a great week night meal. You can have it on the table within an hour, from start to finish.You can serve this chicken curry with white rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, veggies, or any of your favorite side dishes. I decided at the last minute to get ambitious and make brown basmati rice pilaf to go with the chicken.The chicken curry recipe was adapted from Michael Ruhlman , the author of many of my favorite books, including From Scratch Twent y, and Ratio . Cooking your way through these books are like attending graduate school in cooking and baking.
Climate change is not a problem that can be solved or mitigated enough by individual behavior, though it is good, important and a place to start. Its easy to feel defeated after reading a set of facts like the one above and knowing that changes in our own personal habits arent enough.

I recognize that this might seem to fly in the face of the very concept of a New Years Resolution. But it doesnt, actually.

We cant fix this alone. We cant all do everything. But, we can all do one thing. So just pick one thing  whether its eating less red meat, or composting, or riding your bike to work, or cleaning up plastic litter in your community, or buying secondhand clothing  and actually do it.

Maybe it will make you think change is possible, or youll think, That wasnt so hard, and that maybe you could do another thing. Maybe it will reduce your carbon footprint or cause less pollution.

Maybe it will remind you that the most important change we can make as individuals is to stay focused on all the work that still needs to be done. The work that all of us  particularly companies and countries  need to do together to sidestep catastrophe. The work that we all need to make sure gets done.

I cant prove any of that, but I can say that it is entirely possible to do one thing, even after February.
The British woman who was convicted of lying about being gang raped by 12 Israeli men in Cyprus has PTSD, sleeps 20 hours a day and suffers hallucinations when she hears foreign male voices, her mother revealed today.

The 19-year-old's bereft parent, from Derbyshire, also revealed that it could take up to eight years to clear her daughter's name because of long delays at the island's supreme court before heading to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

She says her child is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, a sleeping condition called 'hypersomnia', and has paralysing hallucinations when she hears 'loud' foreign male voices because it reminds her of the dozen men she claims raped her in July.

Her mother, who has not been named to protect her daughter's identity, told the BBC: 'She needs to get back to the UK to get that treated - that's my absolute primary focus. She can't be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode.

'She sleeps sometimes 18 to 20 hours a day. She's also quite withdrawn which is very sad for me to see. And she also experiences hallucinations. It needs resolving otherwise she's going to carry on having this for the rest of her life'.

The teenager's mother has also demanded Britons boycott the party resort of Ayia Napa, calling it 'unsafe', and saying any victim of crime will be at best 'laughed at' by police or in the worst cases 'treated like my daughter'.

The mother of the British woman (pictured with her left) convicted of lying about being gang raped in Cyprus has called for tourists to boycott the country in protest

Supporters of the teenager protest outside the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni, Cyprus, today after the ruling

Some of the Israeli men who were initially accused of rape are seen arriving in court on July 25. The woman's family say police protected them and treated her as a criminal from the start

In an extraordinary BBC interview today the girl's mother said:

Her daughter's health is perilous and she must return to the UK before it is too late to prevent lifelong damage;

Family plans to continue legal battle - but it could take eight years to run its course and they will ask for more crowdfunding donations;

She is backing movement demanding Britons boycott Cyprus because of its police and legal system, calling the island 'unsafe';

Her child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, could be jailed for up to a year after being found guilty of one count of 'public mischief' after a judge ruled she made up a story about being attacked over the summer.

Her ordeal has caused outrage because she was denied a lawyer during nine hours of questioning by police officers whose evidence led to her conviction.

Her mother has backed a social media campaign dubbed '#BoycottCyprus' and an online petition to drop all charges against her daughter, as she faces up to a year in prison.

Her mother told the Today programme she fears the case will have life-long psychological effects on her daughter if she does not get the help she needs.

She also branded the popular party resort where the alleged attack happened 'unsafe' and warned tourists from travelling there, adding: 'It is absolutely not safe.

'And if you go and report something that's happened to you, you're either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or, in the worst case, something like what's happened to my daughter may happen.'

She also revealed the teenager's conviction could affect her career.

The 19-year-old had planned to start university this year after being accepted by all the places she applied for.

Despite having a bursary for one, she claims she could be forced to rethink her career plan, adding: 'It was in a career that she wouldn't be able to do with this 'public mischief' verdict.'

Steve Brookstein, the first ever winner of the X Factor, tweeted: 'Women. If you #believeher then don't go to Cyprus. #boycottcyprus'

Femi Oluwole, a political activist and was co-founder of the pro-European Union advocacy group, Our Future Our Choice, tweeted his disgust at the ruling

Another Twitter user said they had been sickened by the judge's decision in Cyprus

Sophie Pettifer, who describes herself as an intersectional feminist and believer in equality, said that the ruling was 'dripping in misogyny'

The family's legal team say they plan to appeal the woman's conviction.

More than 5,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling on the Cypriot judiciary to drop all charges against her.

A GoFundMe fundraising page entitled 'Help Teen Victim Get Justice In Cyprus' has already raised 81,400.

The woman's mother said she has been 'astounded' by the level of support, but says they may have to increase fundraising targets as legal costs could exceed them.

Several celebrities joined thousands of Twitter users adopting the #IBelieveHer and #BoycottCyprus campaign.

Steve Brookstein, the first ever winner of the X Factor, tweeted: 'Women. If you #believe her then don't go to Cyprus. #boycottcyprus.'

A GoFundMe fundraising page entitled 'Help Teen Victim Get Justice In Cyprus' has already raised 81,400

A petition has been launched to have all charges dropped against the teenager dropped following her conviction today

Meanwhile Jenniffer Toon wrote: 'NEVER EVER EVER taking my daughters to Cyprus - we all see the true colours of your system now - it's unsafe for women - shame on you.'

And Sophie Pettifer tweeted: 'The actual details of this story are horrific, dripping in misogyny and a patriarchal judicial system that believes men above their victims.

'Solidarity with this poor woman who withdraw her accusation after NINE hours of questioning without a lawyer present #IBelieveHer.'

The judge found that the 19-year-old had lied in revenge for being filmed having sex with a man she had met at her hotel, adding: 'She knows that she was never raped.'

In a damming verdict, Judge Michalis Papathansidi said the only the time the teenager told the truth was when she admitted to being 'humiliated' after discovering she had been filmed by a group of Israeli men

In a damming verdict, Judge Michalis Papathansidi said the only the time the teenager told the truth was when she admitted to being 'humiliated' after discovering she had been filmed by a group of Israeli men.

'She did not make a good impression on the court,' he said. 'She did not tell the truth and tried to mislead the court.

'She tried to avoid giving answers and part of her statements could not be accepted. I could observe no reliability on her part of her defence.

'She was never clear on what happened. She was not stating the truth and I reject the version she gave to the court.'

The woman now faces up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of 1,450.

Sentencing has been adjourned until January 7 and her defence team say they plan to appeal. Prosecutors have called for a 'harsh' penalty.

As she left the court, the woman gave a thumbs up to her supporters while she and her mother wore masks depicting a pair of lips sewn together that were given to them by the crowd.

Zelia Gregoriou, an activist who stood with about 20 individuals protesting against the verdict, said: 'This victim was never protected. From the first instance, she was raped again and again by the press, by society and the legal system.'

They were accompanied by her father, and a cameraman filming a documentary about the case with her permission.

The teenager left court alongside her mother on Monday as the pair wore masks showing a woman's lips stitched together, which was handed to them by women's rights activists

He added: 'The guilt of the accused is proven. She confessed her guilt.'

The judge said he found evidence from police officers who carried out the rape investigation to be 'honest and truthful.'

He also dismissed evidence from a specialist from the UK who said the teenager was suffering from PTSD when she claimed to have been bullied into withdrawing the gang rape allegation.

The woman, who wore a sleeveless black top and black trousers, showed no emotion as the judge said her guilt had been proven.

She could face up to a year in jail, although her defence team asked the judge to pass a suspended sentence.

The woman reacted angrily after the judge announced he would pass sentence on January 7.

'Why do I have to wait. He's found me guilty,' she said.

He said: 'Although the team is very disappointed with the decision of the court... we are not surprised by the result given the frequent refusal during the trial of the judge to consider evidence which supported the fact that the teenager had been raped.

A judge branded the woman an 'unreliable witness', said she had admitted her own guilt, and 'knows she was never raped' as he set a sentencing hearing for January 7

'Shutting down questioning from our Cypriot advocates and the production of evidence into the trial on a handful of occasions the Judge stridently stated 'this is not a rape case, I will not consider whether she was raped or not.'

'We have found it incredibly difficult to follow this logic given that an essential element of the offence is for there to be a 'false statement concerning an imaginary offence' and therefore, clearly if the teenager was raped, she cannot be guilty.

'This will form a ground of appeal before the Supreme Court of Cyprus along with a number of other failings in the trial process which resulted in the teenager not receiving a fair trial before the District Court as guaranteed by Cypriot Law as well as both European Community Law and European Human Rights Law.

'Despite the setback today, the teenager who has spent over a month in prison and 6 months where she has been unable to leave Cyprus is determined for justice to be done in her case as well as to help change the culture towards victims of sexual offences in Cyprus.'

Defence lawyer Nicoletta Charalambidou added: 'The decision of the court is respected. However, we respectfully disagree with it.

'We believe there have been many violations of the procedure and the rights of a fair trial of our client have been violated.

'We are planning to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, and if justice fails ... we are planning to take our case to the European Court of Human Rights.'

During previous court appearances the woman claimed she was held down and assaulted by a group of men after they burst into a hotel bedroom.

Women's rights activists waving a banner reading 'the rapist is you' - inspired by a protest anthem that began in Chile but has spread across the world - demonstrate outside the court

Cypriot women's rights activists protest outside court wearing masks that show a pair of lips stitched together which has become a symbol of their movement in recent weeks

Around a dozen activists attended the hearing, then protested the verdict outside court

But after the dozen suspects were arrested police noticed she had given conflicting statements and said she later admitted lying.

The woman claimed she was bullied by police into retracting her statement with her defence team arguing the retraction could not be relied on.

The 19-year-old woman from Derbyshire is pictured right outside court in Cyprus today

But after a trial spread over four months, judge Michalis Papathanasiou ruled she had lied about the original assault and convicted her on a single charge of public mischief.

More than 20 women who were from a group called Network Against Violence against Women had crammed into the courtroom in Paralimni to hear the verdict.

Nicole Papaleont, 16, said the group wanted to show the woman she was not alone and they believed she had been raped.

'We are here because there is a 19-year-old woman who was raped and yet the men who did this are free and she is on trial.

'This is a political issue and has more to do with relations between Cyprus and Israel. It is wrong that the woman has to be be put on trial when she is the victim here.'

Elena Gonata, 36, added: 'We want this poor woman to know she is not alone. We are here to show support and believe that she was raped.'

As the defendant was led from the court with her face blindfolded to shield her identity 20 protesters chanted: 'We are with you' and 'We believe you'.

'The way the case of this young lady was handled by the police and Cyprus government was wrong,' said one of the demonstrators, Maria Mappouridou.

The woman accused 12 Israeli men of raping her in August but later recanted the accusation, which she says she was pressured to do by police. The men (pictured hear arriving at a court in July) have already been freed

Some of the accused men celebrate after being released from jail in Cyprus on July 28

Another protester, Helena Gonata, said 'everyone will find a reason not to believe her. That's the case with rape - no one will believe you.'

'We're trying to encourage women to talk. Many women are afraid to come forward.'

The teenager, from Derbyshire, insisted she was assaulted in the early hours of July 17 at a budget hotel where she was living while working in the resort of Ayia Napa known for its raucous nightlife.

She had begun a holiday romance with a 21-year-old Israeli called Sam who was staying at the Pambos Napa Rocks hotel with a group of friends.

The court heard she had sex with Sam on two nights prior to the attack when his friends were in the room and filmed them on their phones.

On the third night they met she claimed the same group of men, aged from 15 -22, burst into the room, held her down and raped her.

She ran semi naked to friends who took her to a medical centre at the hotel. Staff called police and she described in harrowing detail how she had been repeatedly raped.

Police swooped on the hotel and arrested a dozen Israelis who had been named by Sam as being in his room.

DNA tests showed three of the men had some sexual contact with her, but they all claimed it had been consensual.

Police seized their mobile phones and discovered several had filmed the woman having sex with her holiday fling.

They had also become suspicious about the teen's story after staff at a five-star hotel where she moved to after the alleged attack described how they saw her jumping on the bed with two friends because they were so happy with their luxury accommodation.

And when they went to collect her for further interviews, she was lounging by the swimming pool.

'She did not seem like a woman who had only a day previously had been raped by 12 men', said a police source.

'Of course, every person reacts differently to traumatic events, but this just seemed to be unusual behaviour.

'She just did not fit the picture of a typical person who has been raped, let alone raped by so many people.'

Police released five of the suspects a week after the incident saying they found no evidence that they had been present.

One of the Israelis was able to provide a selfie he had taken at the time of the attack showing he was in bed with his girlfriend.

The woman was called into the Ayia Napa police headquarters for further questioning where detectives said she voluntarily admitted lying about the rape.

The seven remaining Israelis were released without charge and flew home where they were given a hero's welcome by family and friends.

The woman was charged with public mischief and spent over a month in jail in Nicosia awaiting trial. Her passport was taken away preventing her from leaving the island.

The bedroom where the teenager claimed the attack had taken place

The room of the Aiya Napa hotel room where the teenager claimed she had been attacked

One of the men was able to prove his innocence thanks to a selfie that his girlfriend took of the pair in bed together on the morning the alleged rape took place

The campaign group Justice Abroad took over her case and her family launched a GoFundMe page that raised almost 50,000 to pay for legal fees.

Her legal team attempted to get the retraction statement ruled out in a legal process known as a 'trial within a trial' that would have meant the charge being dropped.

But despite presenting expert evidence from a psychologist who said she was suffering from PTSD and a linguistic specialist who said the retraction statement was written by someone in broken English the judge ruled police had acted within the law at all times.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said the Brit, who at times had panic attacks while stood in the dock and scratched her hands until they bled, could not be believed. He called her an 'unreliable witness.'

Prosecutors said she had filed the original complaint as she felt 'shamed and humiliated' when she learned she had been filmed.

A veteran police doctor who examined her said he could find no visible signs of rape or violence.
Celebrity doctor Christian Jessen has continued to use his social media accounts since he was threatened with legal action after tweeting an unfounded rumour about DUP leader Arlene Foster nine days ago.

Several individuals, who Mrs Foster intends on suing for libel, have been identified by her legal team. Television presenter Dr Jessen is among this group after receiving a warning of impending High Court action.

The tweet, which was posted on Monday, December 23, is still viewable and has been retweeted 500 times.

The day after Dr Jessen posted the tweet, media lawyer Paul Tweed, who is acting for Mrs Foster, replied: "I am putting Dr Christian Jessen on notice in relation to a totally false allegation he has tweeted regarding DUP leader and former NI First Minister, Arlene Foster.

"Legal action will also be taken against any persons who have retweeted this highly defamatory allegation."

In a follow-up statement, he added: "I would confirm, if necessary, legal proceedings will be taken against Dr Christian Jessen, Twitter and any persons who have recklessly retweeted this false and highly defamatory allegation."

Dr Jessen, who is best known for presenting Channel 4 programmes Embarrassing Bodies and Supersize v Superskinny, appears to have ignored the warning by Mr Tweed.

Since his post regarding Mrs Foster was published, Dr Jessen has sent over 40 other tweets.

Responding to one Twitter user, who said Dr Jessen's supporters will start a funding campaign in order to avoid paying any court fees out of his own pocket, the doctor sent a smiling emoji.

Meanwhile, another Twitter user had directly tagged Mrs Foster into a post stating that Mr Tweed's tweet had made Dr Jessen's post even more popular.

Replying to that on Christmas Day, Dr Jessen wrote "lol" (laugh out loud), which was liked over 340 times and generated a number of other responses. He also retweeted a post linked to Mr Tweed's High Court warning.

Mrs Foster has previously been the target of abuse on social media. In July a man was jailed for targeting her and Conservative MP Priti Patel. In the wake of the case the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA called for social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to do more and said the abuse she received had left her children very upset.

Mrs Foster said she had stopped looking at social media because of the level of trolling directed at her.

"The internet is a very dark place," she said.

"Obviously it has brought a lot of good in that everyone is connected nowadays, but it also brings out the worst in some people."

Mrs Foster's DUP colleague Carla Lockhart MP has also been repeatedly targeted for abuse on social media.
The founder of the Duchess of Cambridge's favourite label has revealed she is pregnant with her third child.

Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, 36, co-founder of ethical brand Beulah London, already shares daughters Georgia, four, and Cienna, two, with husband Richard Finch and told Hello! she is 'excited to be a mum of three'.

'I'm one of three, so Ive always wanted three children of my own,' she said. 'Georgia and Cienna cant wait to be big sisters.'

Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, 36, co-founder of Beulah London, is expecting her third child with husband Rupert Finch. Pictured, the couple at Princess Eugenie's wedding in 2018

The couple have close royal connections and are friends with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Mr Finch also briefly dated the Duchess of Cambridge at St Andrews University.

Beulah London, co-founded by Lady Natasha and Lavinia Brennan in 2010, has become a go-to label for Kate, who has stepped out in the designs on a number of occasions.

Beulah London has become a go-to label for Kate, who has stepped out in the designs on a number of occasions. Pictured, the Duchess in bespoke Beulah London in January last year

The royal most recently wore a bespoke version of the 'Yahvi' midi dress on a visit to Family Action in Forest Hill, south east London, in January last year.

The designs have also been seen on Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who wore an elegant navy dress on a visit to Yogyakarta Palace in Indonesia last month.

Ivanka Trump wore a 500 powder blue Beulah London shirt dress for a meeting in June last year.

Lady Natasha, right, with co-founder Lavinia Brennan in a photo shared on Instagram this week. Beulah London celebrates its 10th anniversary next year

Lady Natasha, daughter of the Marquess of Reading, used her high society connections to promote an anti-slavery charity t-shirt in October last year.

Princess Eugenie, Cressida Bonas and Lady Kitty Spencer, shared snaps of themselves sporting the brand's 'For Freedom' T-shirts, which are being sold to raise funds for anti-trafficking charity Justice and Care.

The charity aims to stop slavery in the UK and beyond, and the shirts will retail for 60 with 100 per cent of proceeds going towards the charity, and each shirt sold will provide essential supplies for a UK victim.
Controversial striker Mario Balotelli was involved in a car crash at 5am while returning home from New Year's celebrations at a nightclub in the Italian city of Brescia.

According to Corriere della Sera, Balotelli's new Fiat 500 Abarth ended up smashing into a gate of a bakery not far from his home after his friend, who was driving, made a wrong manoeuvre and clipped the kerb.

Balotelli, 29, and his friend both emerged from the accident unscathed but the car suffered severe damage to its front axle.

Mario Balotelli's car crashed into the gate of a bakery near his home at 5am on Wednesday

The Brescia striker was not behind the wheel at the time of the crash and suffered no injuries

The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, who now plays for his hometown club of Brescia, was returning home from celebrating the start of the New Year with friends in a city nightclub at the time of the crash.

Balotelli left the car on the street and walked the few hundred yards back to his home in Mompiano.

A tow truck later came to remove the car, which is expected to be written off.

Balotelli has often been the centre of controversy during his career, most notably in October 2011 when emergency services were called to his 3million Cheshire home after he caused a fire by letting off fireworks in his bathroom.

The Italian was then a City player, and he went on to score two goals in a 6-1 win over arch-rivals Manchester United the following day, and celebrated by lifting his shirt to reveal the written message: 'Why always me?'

Balotelli has four goals for boyhood club Brescia but it has been another turbulent season

While at City he was also pictured scrapping with team-mates on the training field, as well as his own manager, Roberto Mancini. He has fallen out with a string of players and managers, including Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan.

This season has also been turbulent, despite returning to the club he supported as a boy.

Balotelli suffered racial abuse during a match against Hellas Verona. He then kicked the ball into the crowd and threatened to walk off the pitch in protest before being convinced to play on.

Just weeks later Brescia's notorious president Massimo Cellino, the former Leeds United owner, suggested that Balotelli could be sold in January.

Balotelli, who has scored four times in 12 games for his boyhood club this season, has attracted interest from several clubs in Turkey.
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Having a nightmare that you've gone to work with no trousers on is a common anxiety dream, but it turned into reality for one unfortunate man whose father promptly shared his embarrassing wardrobe malfunction on Twitter.

The dad, who doesn't disclose his identity on social media, going by 'Hold My Beer,' shared a text conversation he had with his son, Zach, from Florida, who admitted to ripping his pants at work in front of a coworker.

The incident was made worse because Zach, who works as a waiter, wasn't wearing any underwear due to it being 'laundry day,' and his female manager Kelly happened to walk past him when the pants ripped and witnessed the whole thing.

Instead of keeping the hilarious but unfortunate event to himself, the father decided to publish their hilarious exchange on Twitter, leading the embarrassing story to go viral.

Zach, a waiter from Florida, told his dad his pants ripped while he was at work. The incident was made worse by the fact he wasn't wearing any underwear

Zach told his father that his manager, Kelly, was putting some bowls away and saw all of his anatomy when the pants ripped

Zach told his father that the incident was the 'most embarrassing thing of his f****** life' before getting into the detail of the story.

In brutally honest terms, the son explained to his dad that he thought the trousers were 'a little tight' but fitted him nicely, and still decided to wear them to work.

But tragedy struck as the young waiter squatted down to pick up some bowls, his pants completely ripping apart in front of his manager who was putting soup bowls away.

In candid terms, Zach added that Kelly had seen a very intimate part of his anatomy and 'looked inside of [him]. and that the incident has left him with 'a**less chaps' for pants.

In the hilarious exchange, Zach went on to say he had to go home and change, because his pants looked like 'a**less chaps'

The waiter had to rush home to change and went back into work like a true professional, after his pants 'exploded off' him.

Zach's father shared the conversation on Twitter shortly after his revelations, and after asking permission.

He said Zach 'f****** slays' him and that he had to get him on Twitter.

Zach's father shared their exchange on Twitter with his son's permission, and said he had to get him on Twitter

People loved the hilarious story, saying Zach was their 'hero,' also joking about Kelly, who had seen the whole thing

The exchange quickly went viral, gathering more than 6,600 likes and 900 retweets as people could not get enough of poor Zach's misadventure. .

'Your son just became my hero,' one wrote.

'I think this means he and Kelly are now legally wed,' joked another.

'This is the best thing I've seen today. Zack is MVP of the day,' said one.

'It hurts to laugh this hard,' added another.
By Sonali Paul and Swati Pandey MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands swarmed to beaches on Australia's east coast on Tuesday to escape fierce wildfires bearing down on several seaside towns, as the government readied naval vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and evacuations. Government officials called for Australian military support and assistance from U.S. and Canadian fire crews as authorities confirmed two people had died overnight, taking to 11 the total deaths in wildfires since the beginning of October

By Sonali Paul and Swati Pandey

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands swarmed to beaches on Australia's east coast on Tuesday to escape fierce wildfires bearing down on several seaside towns, as the government readied naval vessels and military helicopters to aid firefighting and evacuations.

Government officials called for Australian military support and assistance from U.S. and Canadian fire crews as authorities confirmed two people had died overnight, taking to 11 the total deaths in wildfires since the beginning of October.

The huge bushfires have destroyed more than 4 million hectares (10 million acres), with new blazes sparked into life almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions in bushland left tinder dry after a three-year drought.

Fuelled by searing temperatures and high winds, more than 200 fires are now burning across the southeastern states of New South Wales and Victoria, threatening several towns and snapping their power, mobile and internet links.

"This is absolutely one of the worst fire seasons we've seen," Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, told a briefing in Sydney.

"It's going to be a very long, difficult dangerous night still ahead. It's going to be another difficult day again tomorrow."

Authorities said the main firefront was moving up the coast and warned those in its path to seek shelter close to the beach.

About 4,000 people in the town of Mallacoota in Victoria headed to the waterfront after the main road was cut off. Those who could not make it there scrambled for shelter in a gymnasium and other public buildings, as emergency sirens wailed.

Some of those trapped in the town posted images of blood-red, smoke-filled skies on social media. One beachfront photograph showed people lying shoulder-to-shoulder on the sand, some wearing gas masks.

It looked "a lot like Armageddon," said David Jeffrey, the owner of the Wave Oasis guesthouse, adding, "It's terrifying."

Fisherman Steve Casement said he had lost his house in Mallacoota to the fires.

"We are stuck here now," he told Reuters by telephone. "Everyone is pretty shocked at the moment, most of my mates are in the same position.

"Right now, I am on a trailer watching the town burn down, listening to gas bottles explode at some poor bugger's home and seeing smoke all around me."

Authorities said that by late afternoon the worst danger had passed.

DARKNESS IN THE AFTERNOON

Several hundreds of kilometres north, the Jervis Bay tourist spot famed for having the whitest sand beach in the world, was shrouded in darkness in the afternoon as massive fires burned, with conditions expected to worsen.

Australia's plight surfaced in the U.S. presidential campaign on Tuesday as Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders invoked the fires to highlight that Americans are ready to address climate change. "You have a nation on fire," Sanders said at an Iowa news conference.

The United States, which had already sent 72 fire personnel to Australia, will dispatch another 21 this weekend and expects additional requests in days to come, the U.S. Forest Service said. Australia and New Zealand had sent 138 fire personnel to the U.S West during August 2018 fires.

Canada has so far sent 66 firefighters, the first time since signing a reciprocal agreement with Australia in 2015, and was working to find additional resources, said Kim Connors, Executive Director of the Forest Fire Centre.

The blazes were also generating their own weather patterns, with erratic winds, dry lightning and a significantly faster spread in different direction, fire authorities said.

Ellie Morello took refuge at a beachside motel with her mother, some neighbours, friends at pets as fires approached Batemans Bay, a town on the New South Wales coast.

"My throat's hurting from the smoke," she told Reuters by telephone. "Burnt leaves and sparks were falling on me like rain."

Another small fire was closing in behind her as she spoke, she added.

Morello and others said they had run out of food and were unable to replenish supplies as shops had shut.

James Findlay, a Melbourne-based broadcaster, said his parents' home in the town was gutted after palm trees on the lawn caught fire. The couple were vacationing in New Zealand.

"There were a lot of family heirlooms in there," he told Reuters. "A lot of priceless memories."

The fires have been spread across four states, with fronts stretching hundreds of kilometres in some cases, affecting many towns and rural areas.

The two people who died overnight were believed to have been a father and son protecting their property near the town of Cobargo in New South Wales, police said, with a third missing, feared dead, while in Victoria, four more were unaccounted for.

Bushfires burned on the outskirts of Sydney, cloaking the harbour city in smoke ahead of a New Year's Eve fireworks display.

Authorities allowed the display to go ahead, despite some public calls for cancellation in solidarity with fire-hit areas in the state.

"Many of us have mixed feelings about this evening, but the important thing we take out of this is that we're a resilient state," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul in Melbourne; additional reporting by Jonathan Barrett and Paulina Duran in Sydney, Andy Sullivan and Simon Lewis in Washington and Anna Mehler Paperny in Toronto; Writing by Jane Wardell and Mary Milliken; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
At least 24 people were confirmed killed after a camp for internally displaced people was attacked in Sudans West Darfur, an international peacekeeping official said on Wednesday, as top officials arrived to try to calm the violence, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Krinding Camp, just east of state capital el-Geneina, was raided on Dec. 29-30 following a dispute between Arab and African ethnic groups, said Ashraf Eissa, a spokesman for the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur, UNAMID.

The Arab tribesmans people came to the IDP camp and started shooting and killing and burning, he said.

Then relatives went to the hospital and threatened hospital staff at gunpoint and destroyed the blood bank ... and when a government of Sudan policeman tried to intervene he was shot and killed.

Brokering lasting peace in Darfur and other parts of Sudan is one of the main challenges facing military and civilian authorities sharing power following the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir last April.

Conflict broke out in Darfur in 2003 after mostly non-Arab rebels rose up against Khartoum. Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced, including more than 180,000 displaced in West Darfur, according to U.N. estimates.
With the new year setting in, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday held its first press briefing for the year and informed the media about the work undertaken by the space organisation in 2019 and its aims and objectives for the year ahead in 2020.

During the address to the media, ISRO Chairman K Sivan spoke about the organisation's mort ambitious and India's very first Human Spaceflight Programme Gaganyaan. Sivan stated that the year ahead was going to be eventful for ISRO as the organisation will test the Gaganyaan.

"4 people have been selected from the Indian Air force to go onboard Gaganyaan and will be sent to Russia for training," Sivan stated while talking about the 4 astronauts of the mission.

Informing about the status of India's first manned mission to space, ISRO Chief said, " Gaganyaan needs to be tested before flight. Right from the test vehicle, airdrop tests are required. All of these activities will be done this year along with the crew training."

READ | Gaganyaan astronauts, second spaceport, Chandrayaan-3: Why ISRO says 2020 will be eventful

'2020 will be an eventful year for ISRO'- Sivan

Citing that 2020 will be an eventful year for ISRO, K Sivan informed about the government giving its approval for Chandrayaan-3 which will entail an expenditure of Rs 615 crore.

The agency stated that it is targetting its launch by 2020 or 2021 as the project required 14-16 months for completion. "Chandrayan -3 has been approved by the government and the work on the project is going on very smoothly," K Sivan said.

"Chandrayan 3 will have a lander, rover and a propulsion model. No new orbiter will be exclusively made for Chandrayan-3, as it will use Chandrayan 2's orbiter which is already located in the orbit," Sivan added. He also stated that Chandrayaan-3 will not affect other scheduled programs of ISRO.

Adding further about the expansion of ISRO, Chairman Sivan stated that ISRO under its expansion drive has set up 6 incubation centres that were not there earlier. ISRO also announced that it will be launching 5 PSLVs in the coming year.

READ | Gaganyaan: ISRO's target to send an astronaut into space by 2021

What is Gaganyaan?

Gaganyaan is ISRO's first crewed space mission with a deadline of 2021, set by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15. ISRO aims to send a 3-member crew to orbit and safely return to the Earth after a mission duration of up to seven days by 2021. With Gaganyaan India can be the fourth country to send a manned mission to space after Russia (then USSR), the US and China.

Before sending a crew into space, ISRO plans to send two unmanned missions into the orbit - first one in 2020 and the second one in 2021. The entire mission is estimated to approximately cost about Rs.10,000 crore. Gaganyaan was first conceptualized in 2004.

READ | ISRO chief K Sivan talks about PSLV evolution, thanks to colleagues for contribution

READ | A 'Golden' lift-off! ISRO launches PSLV-C48 carrying RISAT-2BR1 & 9 foreign satellites
A heavy police presence was out in force as tens of thousands of revellers attended the Field Day music festival in Sydney on New Year's Day.

There were 169 people arrested and charged with drug-related offences  167 of them for possession and two for supply. These included a 19-year-old man who was allegedly found with more than 3.4 grams of MDMA in his underwear.

Police question a man after a sniffer dog identified him for suspected drug possession. Credit:James Alcock

Police sniffer dogs were kept busy at the sold-out festival in the Domain, with dozens of people being taken for questioning after the dogs identified them for possible drug possession.

The Herald also observed a strong presence of undercover police, with at least 20 plain clothes officers detaining patrons both inside and outside the venue.
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Linkedin Hengky Ola Sura (The Jakarta Post) Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara  Wed, January 1, 2020 17:38 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207d131 1 National flood,NTT,disaster,Sikka Free

Dozens of buildings in Egon village in Sikka, East Nusa Tenggara, were left submerged in floodwater following heavy rainfall from Sunday to Monday.

Aton Gomez and Yati Frederika, two residents from Talibura district who attempted to pass through the area, said they had to return to Maumere because they were afraid of the intensity of the flood.

They told The Jakarta Post that the flood occurred due to mining activities that prevented water from flowing in a river in Waigete district.

From the very first time I walked across the village, I predicted that it would be impacted by flooding during every rainy season because the mining activities near the location blocked the water route. Why are they working on a project without thinking about its impact? Aton said on Wednesday.

Joni Carvalo, a resident of Waigete, said the residents warned the local administration and miners about the effects of the mining project but were ignored.

Houses, schools and the Waigete community health center were among the many buildings affected by the flood. The health centers newly constructed fence, which cost Rp 4 billion (US$ 287,672), collapsed.

Egon village chief Florianus Angelinus said the flood was the largest to have hit the village in five years. He also stated that it occurred due to the mining activities.

No casualties were reported. (dpk)

Topics : flood NTT disaster Sikka
The Congress on Wednesday sought to distance itself from the remarks of party leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Manish Tewari on the appointment of General Bipin Rawat as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), saying it does not oppose any step taken by the government to strengthen the security of the country.

Actions speak louder than words. The country will soon come to know how the CDS will work, party spokesperson Sushmita Dev told reporters. Commenting on it before that will not be right, she said.

Dev refused to comment on the remarks of her party colleagues on the appointment of CDS.

I would like to say that the decision of appointing CDS is of the government. We only expect that he fulfills his responsibilities as the CDS. Any step taken by the government to strengthen the security of the country, the Congress does not oppose that, Dev said.
India, China and Nigeria top list of countries with most births projected, as UNICEF urges better healthcare.

An estimated 392,000 children will be born worldwide on the first day of the new year, according to a United Nations projection, as it called for better protection and healthcare for mothers and newborns.

India topped the ranking of countries that will have the most births  projected at 67,385  on Wednesday, followed by China with 46,299 and Nigeria in third place with 26,039, UNICEF, the UNs Childrens Fund, said.

The small island nation of Fiji was expected to deliver 2020s first baby.

The beginning of a new year and a new decade is an opportunity to reflect on our hopes and aspirations not only for our future, but the future of those who will come after us, Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, said in a statement.

As the calendar flips each January, we are reminded of all the possibility and potential of each child embarking on her or his lifes journey  if they are just given that chance.

While the number of children worldwide who die before reaching the age of five has been cut by more than half in the past three decades, there has been slower progress for newborns, UNICEF noted.

In 2018, the number of newborns that died in their first month of life was 2.5 million, including one-third of them on their first day of life. Most died from preventable causes.

UNICEF said babies dying in the first month accounted for 47 percent of all deaths among children below the age of five in 2018, up from 40 percent in 1990.

The organisation called for better training of health workers and immediate investment to ensure mothers and newborns are in safe hands during pregnancy, delivery and birth.

Too many mothers and newborns are not being cared for by a trained and equipped midwife or nurse, and the results are devastating, said Fore.

We can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into this decade and beyond if every one of them is born into a safe pair of hands.
For the Democratic presidential campaigns, filing a full slate of 101 delegates statewide often provides an indication of early support in Illinois. And with the lengthy field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, its not unlikely that more than 80 delegate contenders, each affiliated with a candidate, could appear on the ballot in Democratic strongholds like Chicagos South and West sides and on the North Shore, in districts that elect just eight delegates.
From an unsolved missing person case to the reelection of Norwalks mayor and the normal goings on of everyday life, 2019 left a number of striking images as captured by Hearst Connecticut Media photographers.

Photos helped tell stories of politics and crime, and of the people who call Norwalk and surrounding communities home.
SANTA FE  Las Vegas, New Mexico, City Council Barbara Casey says she will be a candidate in the March election for Las Vegas mayor.

Casey has been a frequent critic of current Mayor Tonita Gurule-Giron, who was recently indicted on six felony bribery and abuse of power counts. The state Attorney Generals Office alleges she steered contracts to a construction firm owned by a man they allege she was romantically involved with.

I think I know what weve being doing right and I know what weve been doing wrong, said Casey. I want to stop what weve been doing wrong and continue what weve been doing right.

She said there are nearly 100 job vacancies in city government and city employees are overworked.
Chief of Ukraine's railway monopoly stepping down

13:20, 01.01.20 5761

Kravtsov refuted rumors of Ukrzaliznytsia's "conflict" with the infrastructure ministry.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, has released prophecies for the year 2020. ...

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye, has released prophecies for the year 2020.





The revered cleric listed incidents that would happen in the New Year, during the cross over service at the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.





Pastor Adeboye said that 2020 is going to be a year of series of joy and series of victory.





He, however, warned that there will be a year of series of battles.

Pastor Adeboye called on Nigerians to pray for the nation, while announcing the annual RCCG fasting and prayers will begin January 11.





On the international scene, the clergyman said earthquakes and volcanoes will erupt. This, he claimed, is as a result of an increase in sin. In his words, sin is becoming more rampant.




Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire five times in past 24 hours, with no casualties reported, the press center of the Joint Operation Forces Headquarters (JFO) has reported.

"On December 31, the armed formations led by the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire five times. The enemy fired on the positions of our units using armored personnel carriers, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and other small arms... There were no casualties among enemy shelling," the JFO Headquarters said in a statement on its official page in the Facebook social network on Wednesday morning.

"From the beginning of this day, the Russian occupation forces have not shown any fire activity. No casualties reported," JFO HQ said.
A million people joined the joined the New Year's Day anti-government rally in Hong Kong as the region's unrest continued into a new decade.

Despite a peaceful start on Wednesday, violence erupted near the march as it snaked through the Wan Chai district on the financial hub's main island. Riot police used pepper spray and tear gas, while hardcore protesters lobbed Molotov cocktails and set fire to cash withdrawal machines.

Hong Kong police said they had arrested 'around 400' people during the protest.

The arrests were made for offences including 'unlawful assembly and possession of offensive weapons', senior superintendent Jim Ng said at a press conference, adding that police had asked for the rally to be terminated earlier than planned because of unrest.

Protesters set fire to automated teller machines outside a bank during an anti-government rally on New Year's Day

An anti-government protester vandalizes a bureau of the China Life Insurance Company during demonstration on New Year's Day. Black-clad, masked protesters gathered to set up makeshift barricades, while some businesses were vandalised in the afternoon

A police officer holds a weapon during an anti-government demonstration on New Year's Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms in Hong Kong

Riot police secure an area outside of a branch of HSBC during a rally on New Years Day on January 1

A protestor shows the five demands gesture as Hong Kong people participate in a mass pro-democracy march in Hong Kong, Wednesday

'It's hard to utter 'Happy New Year' because Hong Kong people are not happy,' said a man named Tung, who participated in the march with his two-year-old son, mother and niece.

'Unless the five demands are achieved, and police are held accountable for their brutality, then we can't have a real happy new year,' he added, referring to the push for concessions from the government including full democracy, an amnesty for the over 6,500 people arrested so far, and a powerful, independent investigation into police actions,

In now-familiar scenes, riot police were seen taking positions at several locations, including the Wan Chai subway station.

A HSBC lion statue is set on fire by a protester outside the bank's headquarters in Central area

Bystanders look out from a footbridge as police stand guard underneath in Causeway Bay area

A police officer holds a weapon during an anti-government demonstration on New Year's Day, to call for better governance and democratic reforms in Hong Kong

rotesters run during an anti-government rally on New Year's Day

Volunteer medics are caught in the middle after police fired teargas

Police officers hold weapons as protesters gather during a mass demonstration on January 1

Black-clad, masked protesters also gathered to set up makeshift barricades, while some businesses were vandalised in the afternoon.

The pro-democracy march is being organised by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that arranged a number of marches last year that drew millions.

Along the route, a number of newly elected pro-democracy district politicians mingled with the crowds on their first day in office, some helping collect donations to assist the movement.

The five demands include democratic elections for Hong Kong's leader and legislature and a demand for a probe of police behavior during the six months of continuous protests

Protestors raise their hands to show 'five demands' on Wednesday

Anti-government protesters don LIHKG Pig and Pepe the Frog masks for a protest on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

A shirtless protester shouts during an anti-government rally on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

Hong Kong people participate in their pro-democracy march to insist their five demands be matched by the government

Protestors raise their hands to symbolize the five demands of the pro-democracy movement. Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year's address Tuesday has called for Hong Kong to return to stability following months of pro-democracy protests

Protestors raise their hands to show 'five key demands' in Hong Kong

Protesters march with U.S and British flags on New Year's day

People wearing masks depicting LIHKG Pig (centre) and Pepe the Frog (left), characters used by pro-democracy activists as a symbol of their struggle, gather in Victoria Park in the Causeway Bay area ahead of a planned pro-democracy march in Hong Kong

People wearing masks depicting LIHKG Pig and Pepe the Frog gather in Victoria Park

'The government has already started the oppression before the New Year began ... whoever is being oppressed, we will stand with them,' said Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front.

Thousands of Hong Kong revellers had earlier welcomed in 2020 on neon-lit promenades along the iconic skyline of Victoria Harbour, chanting the movement's signature eight-word Chinese protest couplet -- 'Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our Time.' -- for the final eight seconds before clocks struck midnight.

A sea of protesters then surged down Nathan Road, a major boulevard, blocking all lanes in a spontaneous march breaking out within minutes of the new decade. Some held signs reading 'Lets keep fighting together in 2020.'

Hong Kong people participate in a mass pro-democracy march to insist their five demands be matched by the government in Hong Kong

Anti-government protesters attend a demonstration on New Year's Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms

An aerial view shows protesters gathering for an anti-government rally on New Year's Day

Activists hold British national flags as they march from Victoria Park during a pro-democracy march

Overnight, police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons during some brief standoffs.

China's President Xi Jinping said in a New Year's speech that Beijing will 'resolutely safeguard the prosperity and stability' of Hong Kong under the so-called 'one country, two systems' framework.

Many people in Hong Kong are angered by Beijing's tight grip on the city which was promised a high degree of autonomy under this framework when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Beijing denies interference and blames the West for fomenting the unrest.

Anti-government protesters attend a demonstration on New Year's Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms

A protestor holds a placard reading: 'Together we stand'

An aerial view shows protesters gathering for an anti-government rally on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

An aerial view shows protesters gathering for an anti-government rally on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

A group of 40 parliamentarians and dignitaries from 18 countries had written an open letter to Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on New Year's Eve, urging her to 'seek genuine ways forward out of this crisis by addressing the grievances of Hong Kong people.'

The protest movement is supported by 59% of the city's residents polled in a survey conducted for Reuters by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute.

Demonstrations have grown increasingly violent in recent months, at times paralyzing the Asian financial centre.

Protesters hold umbrellas as they take part in an anti-government rally on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

Protesters wield umbrellas during a standoff with police

Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and rocks, with police responding with tear gas, water cannon, pepper spray, rubber bullets and occasional live rounds. There have been several injuries.

Hong Kong saw in the new year with an evening of peaceful protests that descended into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and the police overnight.

Thousands of people linked arms to form human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and neighbourhoods on New Year's Eve.

Later, protesters set fire to barricades in some parts of the city as the police launched 2020's first volleys of tear gas and used water cannon to disperse the crowds.

Riot police use pepper spray as an umbrella is threw at them by one of the protesters

Riot police secure an area outside of a branch of HSBC during a rally on New Years Day

Bricks lie on the asphalt during an anti-government rally on New Year's Day in Hong Kong

Tear gas is fired by police during a pro-democracy march

The protest movement has become quieter since the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote in November - seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government - and violent clashes at some of the city's university campuses.

But protesters have vowed to continue their fight for greater freedoms.

'Hong Kong people have been pushed to a hopeless situation. That's why today we have to come out,' a masked protester said in a speech at the rally on Wednesday.

The unrest that began in June last year is the biggest crisis the former British colony has faced since its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Under the terms of that handover, Hong Kong enjoys unique freedoms unseen on the mainland, but fears have increased in recent years that they are being chipped away as Beijing exerts more control over the territory.
Back in 1999, Mark Holmgren at the age of 17, suffered a brachial plexus injury when he crashed his brothers motorbike, tearing several nerves in his shoulder and rendering his right arm dysfunctional.

Holmgren, now 37, carried his dysfunctional arm around for nearly two decades thinking hoping advancements in medical science will help him keep his arm.

To no avail, this year he decided to do something about it. He gathered the courage to contact doctors at the University of Alberta Hospital to carry out the procedure in April, on one condition, he wanted the appendage back after surgery.





Holmgren didnt want to depart with his arm foreverhe wanted to have it preserved. About a month after the surgery, Holmgren got a call from the lab saying his arm was ready to be picked up.

"I carried it out of the hospital in a garbage bag. I actually kept it in my freezer for about a month," Holmgren told CTV.







Holmgren retrieved the arm from the hospital in a garbage bag and then stored it in his freezer until finding a taxidermist to preserve the severed appendage.

With flesh-eating beetles and other bugs, the taxidermist let these insects chow down on the arms flesh until there was nothing but bone left. So, Holmgren could carry it wherever he wanted without worry.



The bones were then cleaned and polished and Holmgren picked up his strange trophy from the store just before Christmas.

Losing a body part is an extremely difficult emotion to deal with physically and mentally, While some learn to cope with it through therapy, others like Mark Holmgren resort to extreme measures.

At the end of the day, it's all about keeping your sanity intact, even if it means carrying the skeletal remains of your own arm around.
Whilst Muslim residents of the Grand Duchy broadly feel well-integrated in Luxembourg, 60% of respondents to an inquiry maintain that Islamophobia exists in Luxembourg.

The results of an inquiry held by the Islamophobia Observatory, a non-profit founded in 2016 to promote intercultural dialogue in Luxembourg, reveal that Islamophobia is present in Luxembourg.

Around 20,000 residents of Luxembourg are Muslims and feel broadly well-integrated in the country. The inquiry noted that the sense of integration in Luxembourg was stronger than in the neighbouring countries. Yves Boden, the Observatory's president, confirmed that the inquiry shows a sense of contentment in Luxembourg, yet this does not mean that Islamophobia - prejudice and hostility against Muslims - does not exist in the Grand Duchy.

Lahcen Abarri, the head of the research and psychological unit, explained that Islamophobia is most prevalent in the workplace, in the media, and in public spaces. Nevertheless, Islamophobia has also been observed in the realm of politics. The Observatory has noted that some MPs have attempted to stigmatise the presence of Islam in Luxembourg with targeted parliamentary questions concerning Muslims.

The inquiry surveyed 340 Muslims (1.3% of the Muslim population in Luxembourg), almost half of whom hold Luxembourgish citizenship. Split by gender, 57.4% were men and the remaining 42.6% were women - 13% of the women surveyed wear the hijab and a further 1.5% wear the niqab. Only 15 women wear the full face veil in Luxembourg.

The report was the first large document published by the Observatory, which is to date not funded by the state.
We are ending the 50-year-long war on cannabis, Pritzker said in a statement. We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core.

Other states that have begun permitting marijuana's sale and use created procedures for people to expunge minor drug offenses, but Illinois officials wanted the process to be almost automatic for people with non-violent marijuana arrests or convictions on their records.

"We know that Black Illinois residents are far more likely to be arrested and convicted for marijuana possession than whites," said Ben Ruddell, criminal justice policy director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. "This is a good step forward as we begin the legal sales of recreational marijuana.

Pritzker's office said 92 of the state's 102 counties are represented among the pardons announced Tuesday.
Bones belonging to two 'teenage' Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs provide fresh clues as to how these predators grew up to become 'lumbering bone crushers'.

In the early 2000s fossil skeletons of two comparatively small T. Rex were discovered in Carter County, Montana, USA and were named Jane and Petey.

A new study, that involved taking very thin slices of bone fragment from the remains 'confirmed the theory they were young T.Rex' and not a pygmy Nanotyrannus as previously thought.

Researchers say the study has helped to create a more detailed picture of the growth and life of the massive dinosaurs.

Scroll down for video

The skull of the juvenile T. rex, 'Jane', was slender with knife-like teeth, having not yet grown big enough to crush bone

The study of two 'juvenile' Tyrannosaurus rex by researchers at Oklahoma State University allowed researchers to better understand their growth rate.

The team discovered that the teenage T.Rex were able to halt their growth if there wasn't as much food around at any given time.

They would otherwise grow as fast as modern mammals and birds.

Juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex were fleet-footed with knife-like teeth, dominating the mid-carnivore niche before growing up to become the giant, bone-crushing King of Dinosaurs

Jane and Petey are held by the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois and would have been slightly taller than a draft horse.

'Historically, many museums would collect the biggest, most impressive fossils of a dinosaur species for display and ignore others,' said lead author Holly Woodward.

'The problem is that those smaller fossils may be from younger animals. So, for a long while we've had large gaps in our understanding of how dinosaurs grew up.'

The smaller size of Jane and Petey is what make them so incredibly important, according to the research team.

'Not only can scientists now study how the bones and proportions changed as T. rex matured, but they can also utilize paleohistology - the study of fossil bone microstructure - to learn about juvenile growth rates and ages.'

Dr Woodward and her team removed thin slices from the leg bones of Jane and Petey and examined them at high magnification.

'To me, it's always amazing to find that if you have something like a huge fossilized dinosaur bone, it's fossilized on the microscopic level as well,' she said.

'By comparing these fossilized microstructures to similar features found in modern bone, we know they provide clues to metabolism, growth rate, and age.'

A thin slice of bone was removed from the tibia (shin-bone) of the T. rex, 'Jane', and examined with a microscope. Bone tissue reveals Jane was a teenager and still growing when it died

Lead author, Dr. Holly Woodward, explains the bone tissue microstructure of Janes tibia projected to a screen from the microscope, and points at a growth ring within the bone

They were able to determine that they were in fact juvenile T.Rex as a result of the amount of time the massive species took to reach maturity.

'Because it took T.Rex up to twenty years to reach adult size, the tyrant king probably underwent drastic changes as it matured', said Dr Woodward.

'Juveniles such as Jane and Petey were fast, fleet footed, and had knife-like teeth for cutting, whereas adults were lumbering bone crushers.'

The research by Woodward and her team writes a new chapter in the early years of the world's most famous dinosaur.

They say it is providing evidence that the species assumed the crown of 'tyrant king' long before it reached adult size.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:56:58|Editor: Xiaoxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday vowed to intensify the fight against corruption.

Kenyatta said during the New Year message to the Nation that his administration will not be deterred in the quest to eradicate graft that is responsible for stifling growth, worsening inequality and undermining national security.

"In 2019, our country's profile continued to soar through the world-beating performances of our sportspeople, improved rankings in the World Bank's ease of doing business index and our fight against corruption," Kenyatta said in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday.

He urged citizens to rally behind his clarion call for peace, unity and cohesion to enable his administration to attain a long-term development blueprint.

"This New Year, and the new decade that it begins, present our Nation with tremendous opportunities to foster unity, prosperity, positive social change and deepening of democratic gains and enhancing the rule of law," said Kenyatta.

The Kenyan leader has made the fight against corruption part of his frontline agenda as he serves his second and last term in the office.

Experts hailed Kenyatta's latest vow to revitalize the fight against a vice that is responsible for nearly 30 percent loss to Kenya's annual budget.

Gerishon Ikiara, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi's School of Diplomacy, said that corruption is a global problem not restricted to Kenya or China, and stressed that both countries could share lessons, expertise and best practices in eradicating the vice.

"Basically, we must admit that both developed and developing countries are affected by the corruption that has a negative impact on economic growth and worsens inequality," said Ikiara.

He lauded President Kenyatta for spearheading the fight against graft, adding that Kenya can draw lessons from China, whose success in the war against the vice has been profound.

"As a country, we need to draw lessons from China... We must admit that for China to reach its levels of development and phenomenal strides in poverty reduction, it is partly because of drastic measures that have been taken to fight corruption," said Ikiara.

"The current government in China has taken very drastic measures to fight graft. Kenya and other developing can learn from that example, take stern measures to fight corruption, backed by the constitution," said Ikiara.

While noting that Kenya has made some headway in the fight against corruption in arresting corruptive officials, Ikiara said that "the next step should concentrate on the recovery of stolen funds and channel them to development programs."
Vinh Long continues to impress and promises more

What major achievements has the province reaped in its socio-economic development in 2019?

Lu Quang Ngoi, member of Vinh Long Party Committee Standing Board and Deputy Chairman of Vinh Long Peoples Committee

In 2019, despite numerous difficulties, Vinh Longs economy has recorded a 6.22 per cent rise in regional GDP, thanks to the great efforts by the whole political system, the business community, and people, as well as the direction of the government and the prime minister, and Vinh Long Party Committee.

The provinces socio-economic development goals have been almost completed, with 20 out of 22 key goals reached and even exceeded. Seven of the goals have surpassed the initial plans. Specifically, total state budget revenue is estimated to have hit nearly VND6.8 trillion ($295.65 million), equal to 110 per cent of estimates and up 12.1 per cent on-year. Total development capital reached VND14.1 trillion ($613 million), hitting 102.3 per cent of the initial plan, and up 8.46 per cent on-year.

Besides that, around 25,250 jobs were generated, reaching 126 per cent of the initial plan, and up 8.82 per cent on-year. Total per capita touched VND50.65 million ($2,200), an increase of VND2.55 million ($110) against 2018.

What other highlights were produced in the province in 2019?

In Vinh Longs economic sectors, industrial production has seen a breakthrough as compared to previous years. The index of industrial production in 2019 is estimated to climb 15.04 per cent on-year, also the highest growth since 2015.

This attainment comes from efforts by local authorities in removing difficulties for enterprises to perform and put their projects into operation. This has greatly contributed to the growth of the industrial sector, and creating many optimistic signals for the local economy.

Vinh Long has also enjoyed big growth in exports in 2019, with total turnover of $568.7 million, up 22.3 per cent on-year, reaching 121 per cent of the years plan. Turnover of almost all export products has strongly increased, such as footwear, textiles and garments, and fruit and vegetables.

For tourism, the province has continued implementing many solutions to attract investment and diversify tourism products.

In 2019, Vinh Long welcomed about 1.5 million tourist arrivals, up 15 per cent on-year and including 215,000 international tourist arrivals. Total revenue of the tourism sector hits VND525 billion ($22.8 million), up 31 per cent on-year.

The province has continued to support enterprises, with the renewal of activities about investment promotion, helping enhance its advantages and image, and therefrom enabling it to welcome more foreign investors.

The number of newly-established enterprises has continued increased strongly. Especially in August 2019, Vinh Long Peoples Committee successfully organised an investment promotion conference which has helped promote Vinh Longs potential, advantages, and projects prioritised for investment attraction.

In addition, Vinh Long also put into operation a public administration centre and software systems in April, making it more favourable for the public and enterprises to conduct relevant procedures. Moreover, the province has also boosted activities about enterprise and startup development, such as the establishment of Vinh Long Startup Support Fund, and the launch of a competition on seeking ideas and startups in 2019.

What will be the development orientations of Vinh Long in 2020?

The province will take the initiative in all activities in order to accomplish all socio-economic development goals both in the year and for the whole 2016-2020 period, with the best results. At the same time, the province will also make preparations for formulating and implementing its socio-economic development plan for the 2021-2025 period. The province will implement all macro policies to maintain economic stability and improve the domestic business climate. Efforts are to be made for the province to grow by at least 6.2 per cent in regional GDP in 2020. We will also boost regulatory reform and unleash all resources, while creating new impetus for economic growth.

Moreover, we will strongly develop the private sector with more dynamism and innovation, improve the effectiveness in urbanisation and connectivity between urban areas and surrounding areas, and pursue sustainable development in environment and adaptation to climate change.

Furthermore, the province will also develop startup and innovation ecosystems, while supporting investors out of difficulties, especially in site clearance, so that their projects can be accelerated.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 16:01:46|Editor: xuxin

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SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export posted a double-digit fall for the first time in 10 years in 2019 owing to external uncertainties such as the global trade spat, cheaper crude oil and the downturn of business cycle in the global semiconductor industry, a government report showed Wednesday.

Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, amounted to 542.41 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, down 10.3 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

It marked the first time since 2009 that the country's outbound shipment shrank in double figures. The export sank 13.9 percent in 2009 amid the negative effect from the global financial crisis.

Import retreated 6.0 percent to 503.23 billion dollars in 2019, sending the trade surplus to 39.18 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for 11 straight years.

Last year's double-digit export fall was attributed to the global trade feud, lower prices for petrochemicals and oil products, caused by cheaper global crude oil, and the global chip industry's downturn leading to lower chip price.

Despite the external uncertainties, the country's international trade topped 1 trillion dollars for the third consecutive year through 2019.

In terms of volume, the outbound shipment grew 0.3 percent in 2019, after expanding 1.1 percent in 2018 and 2.7 percent in 2017 respectively.

Chip export tumbled 25.9 percent last year on lower product price, but in terms of volume, semiconductor shipment increased 7.9 percent in the year.

Export volume for petrochemicals gained 2 percent in 2019, with those for automobiles and auto parts expanding 5.1 percent and 1.1 percent each.

Export to the United States kept rising for three straight years, but shipment to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, contracted 16.0 percent on lower chip price and weak demand for petrochemicals, general machinery and display panels.

Shipments to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) declined 5.0 percent and 8.4 percent each, with export to the Middle East countries sliding in double figures.

The trade ministry forecast that the country's export may rebound 3 percent this year, citing the expected recovery of the global economy and trade as well as the expected turnaround in the global chip industry.

In December 2019, the outbound shipment slipped 5.2 percent to 45.72 billion dollars compared with a year earlier, marking the export reduction for 13 straight months.

Import inched down 0.7 percent over the year to 43.70 billion dollars last month, sending the trade surplus to 2.02 billion dollars. The trade balance remained in black for 95 months through December.

Despite the continued decline, the export marked the first single-digit reduction in seven months, lifting expectation for an export rebound in the near future.

In terms of volume, export edged up 0.7 percent in December, after falling 2.7 percent in November and 2.4 percent in October each.

Semiconductor export dropped 17.7 percent amid a lower product price, but in terms of volume, the chip shipment continued to grow for six months in a row.

Export for ship and display panels plunged in double digits in December, but general machinery shipment recorded the first rebound in seven months.

Shipments for cars and auto parts rebounded in three months, while steel export posted the first turnaround in 11 months.

Export to China, which takes up about a quarter of South Korea's export, gained 3.3 percent in December, marking the first rebound in 14 months.

Shipment to the Middle East countries gained in double figures last month, but export to the European Union (EU) declined in double digits in the month.

Exports to the ASEAN and the United States slipped 9.8 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.
They climbed the walls, threw food, joined gangs and beat each other up. Some said they were sexually victimized, and others refused to leave their cells out of fear.

At one lockup, teens challenged visiting officials to a fight. At another, a suicidal boy tried to hang himself twice in roughly an hour before the guards paid close enough attention.

Seven months after efforts to close out-of-control youth prisons failed in the last legislative session, the five Texas Juvenile Justice Department lockups are still in disarray, and state oversight reports indicate few signs of improvement. The problems range from basic supervision issues  such as failing to intervene when one teen tattooed a penis on anothers forehead  to maintenance problems, such as power outages and a leaking natural gas pipeline. But records obtained by the Houston Chronicle show guards sometimes add to the chaos, threatening teens, choking them and in at least two cases allegedly sexually assaulting them.

The startling thing is that its been this way for the last 12 years, said Deborah Fowler, executive director of Texas Appleseed, an Austin-based justice advocacy nonprofit. Im frustrated imagining another generation of lost kids, and I dont understand when is going to be enough.

State Sen. John Whitmire, the Houston Democrat who chairs the Criminal Justice Committee, was similarly exasperated and suggested a receivership take over the troubled agency.

The place is a jungle, he said. I would be scared to death to be a youth in the juvenile justice system here.

Problems at Gainesville

The scandal-plagued Gainesville State School in North Texas has been one of the most troubled youth lockups in the state. Dallas Morning News reporting in 2017 helped shed light on a sex abuse scandal, which sparked a probe by the Texas Rangers and multiple arrests.

Last year, the facility weathered a six-day mass disturbance stemming from gang tensions, and teens escaped from their cells, planned hits on guards, hid in trees and assaulted each other. Four top officials at the unit were fired, the equine therapy program shut down and more than two dozen teens were arrested. During the 2019 legislative session, one lawmaker floated a budget amendment to close the facility, while another suggested consolidating all of the states secure juvenile lockups.

But both those measures failed, and instead officials have drastically reduced the facilitys population, from 201 in fall 2018 to 109 two months ago.

Still, the facility is troubled. During an October site visit by workers with the Office of the Independent Ombudsman, a group of teens bullied the oversight officials, blocking the door while raising their voices and declaring, Nobodys leaving here.

In a written response to the ombudsmans report of the incident, agency officials minimized the outburst, which they said lasted just over 30 seconds.

The youth did not appear to be aggressive, officials wrote. The staff were able to keep physical safety on the dorm during this incident, and intervened to redirect the youth and allow staff to exit the dorm.

In other site visits this year, officials spotted gang-related photos in some kids cells and heard from others who did not want to leave their rooms for fear theyd be assaulted. They discovered teens had been removing bricks from cell walls and found guards were leaving spotty documentation as to kids whereabouts and progress.

But theres been some improvement; with fewer kids, the facility is more adequately staffed and reports fewer gang incidents and uses of pepper spray per month than the same time last year. Now, though, some of the other facilities are seeing an uptick in disruptions.

Spreading concerns

Though it is less remote than some of the states other lockups, the McLennan County State Correctional Facility outside Waco is suffering the staffing problems familiar to rural prisons. In September, guards told officials they were often forced to work 12-hour days and had trouble finding relief to take bathroom breaks.

Through interviews with staff it appeared staff morale is low, ombudsman representatives observed. Many staff state they are just trying to survive their shift.

The facility has been dealing with maintenance issues  including leaks and hot water outages  and is still grappling with violence, gang tensions and ongoing contraband problems.

Earlier this year, three youth were caught on camera brutally beating a fellow inmate for nearly 20 minutes, and in September, teens told oversight officials about their involvement in the 59 Piru and Southside gangs. Some kids reported that within a week of arriving at the facility, theyd been approached by gang members and ordered to carry out multiple hits or be assaulted themselves.

The agency said in a written response that they were taking gang issues very seriously and that they were relying on daily room checks to combat contraband.

But despite those efforts, one teen managed to gets his hands on the tools needed to tattoo another youths forehead, after telling the boy he would ink a Latin King crown on him. The agency is having the tattoo removed, officials confirmed.

More prisoners, more problems

While oversight officials in recent months also flagged issues at the facilities in Giddings and Brownwood, it was the problems at Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg that sparked the most questions.

It was there that one child tried to kill himself twice in roughly an hour, records show. On Aug. 13, staff failed to check on one teen for just over 21 minutes, and when another child alerted them to a possible problem, officers realized they couldnt get into the cell because they didnt have a key. When they finally got in, they found the boy unresponsive with a ligature around his neck.

After they cut him down, the youth went to the infirmary and was sent back to his dorm  where officers found him wrapping a shirt around his neck 15 minutes later. At that point, he was put on one-to-one observation.

Why would youth that just made a serious attempt at suicide be placed back in his room ... with items that he could use to try to hurt himself again? oversight officials wrote.

TJJD downplayed the incident.

The internal agency review has concluded this incident was not as close of a call as the OIO is reporting, it said, alleging the teen never lost consciousness and noting that the staff who failed to do room checks had been appropriately disciplined.

Reports show other evidence the facility has been struggling with supervision, as demonstrated by a seven-fold increase in the use of pepper spray, a five-fold increase in the youth-on-staff assaults and a 10-fold increase in gang-related incidents reported in July 2018 versus July 2019. TJJD chalked the increase up to a sizable uptick in the facilitys population, noting that the rate of such outbursts hasnt increased when controlling for the number of kids there.

Staffing issues

The staff poses its share of problems as well. A 22-year-old guard in McLennan County was arrested in October after he allegedly had a teen boy perform oral sex on him.

Two months earlier, Daniel Holmes was fired and arrested in August for allegedly having sex with a teen girl whod been locked up at the Ron Jackson facility near Abilene. A few weeks ago, records show he was also charged with possessing child pornography.

And earlier this month, a U.S. Department of Justice report found that 10 percent of youth in Texas lockups said theyd been sexually victimized.

Records also show that over the past two years, dozens of juvenile prison workers have been fired for violations that include failing drug tests, choking teenage inmates, falling asleep and letting kids fight without bothering to intervene.

A guard at Giddings taunted one youth and called his mother names and then side slammed him to the ground while his arms were restrained behind his back and laid on top of him, according to records the Chronicle obtained.

Two months earlier, at the same facility, when a teen came in the office asking for a ball, a different guard said she would kick his ass, adding, Its not a threat, its a promise. In other instances, she threatened to break kids arms and hands and gave one youth permission to knock another out.

The model is flawed

To advocates, the ongoing problems are a source of disappointment and evidence that its time for a different approach.

Each time a new administrator says theyre going to turn around those facilities, Fowler said, they cant because the model is flawed.

State Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat and attorney who practices in juvenile courts, pushed for more services and interventions to keep children out of state facilities in the first place.

Just sending kids away is not a solution, he said. I really want for Texas to have a system of dealing with juveniles where we dont make them worse, and so far TJJD seems to be a system where we send kids to basically learn how to be better criminals.

Whitmire, meanwhile, worried that the ongoing chaos would escalate and said that the system is so unsafe some judges are refusing to send kids there.

Its the worst agency in the state, he said. Its not just one campus, its all of the remaining campuses  and it needs nothing short of a receivership to put someone in charge.

Agency spokesman Brian Sweany offered a more optimistic take, noting that 6 percent fewer kids were referred to juvenile prisons this year than in 2018 and touting the Legislatures decision to fund additional resources for local probation departments as one of our big wins this year. Those moves together, he said, can help make the facilities less dangerous and keep kids out of the state system.

We know that smaller secure facilities are safer and easier to manage, which puts the focus on treatment and recovery and allow us to make sure the kids are getting what they need when they need it, he said.

keri.blakinger@chron.com

twitter.com/keribla
Violinist Guangxun Hua is a longtime fan of Shen Yun Performing Arts and enjoyed his fifth performance at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, on Dec. 31, 2019. (NTD Television)

HOUSTONViolinist Guangxun Hua is a fan of Shen Yun Performing Artshe has seen the classical Chinese dance company in performance five times and plans to see it again and again. Hua says the renowned performing arts companys secret to success is tradition: by honoring their roots, these artists have created music and dances that can be enjoyed indefinitely.

From the dancing to the music to the set design, it is spectacular. The performers were so precise, and their talent is of such high level. And most intriguing perhaps is that the performance seeks to bring out the ancient culture that spans so many millennia, said Hua at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston where he celebrated New Years Eve with another performance.

New York-based Shen Yun was formed in 2006 by artists who wanted to share the authentic traditional Chinese culture with the world. A dozen years later, it has burgeoned into a world-renowned group with seven equal-sized companies that this season will bring performances of Chinas 5,000 years to people in 750 performances.

Many shows modernize at the expense of throwing out tradition, but what Shen Yun does is preserve the treasures of tradition and bring it to our time, and bring it to the next level, Hua said. It gives the audience something so enjoyable that every time you see it you want to see more of it. It is because Shen Yun seeks to bring out the beauty of tradition, a culture 5,000 years deep. This is what I think.

Hua commented that the audience that afternoon was indeed warm and lively, as the performers had made a connection with them. There was something magnetic about what was happening on stage, and the audience responded.

Every time I come, theres something fresh about the performance, without straying from tradition of the 5,000 years of Chinese culture, Hua said. Its a rich heritage from which there is much to draw on, he added.

This is the beauty and the arts of 5,000 years, there is something very deep about this culture that makes it so you can never tire of it, he said.

Shen Yuns Musical Language

Shen Yuns music is famous for its blend of East and West, with ancient Chinese instruments like the pipa and erhu used amid a classically Western orchestra.

Hua, who was the chief violinist of the Zhejiang Provincial Symphony Orchestra in China before opening his own violin school, had high praise for this blending arrangement. He noted how deftly Shen Yun music used the compositions and arrangements to tell stories and create an understanding of, for many, an entirely foreign culture.

One of the most unique things about this performance is that all of the music is originally composed. The sound is truly beautiful and also expresses the traditional Chinese culture, Hua said.

Of course, its more difficult like this because Chinese instruments have very different sounds. Western instruments are more familiar and they blend together easily. If you want to blend in an instrument like the pipa or erhu, its a tremendous feat theyve accomplished, Hua said.

Hua says its thanks to this that Shen Yuns music can communicate and transmit the authentic traditional Chinese culture to audience members. The Chinese instruments have a unique timbre and character that cannot be completely captured or replaced with Western instruments, he said, so the difficult undertaking Shen Yun has accomplished was well worth the ingenuity.

I think its wonderfully done, he added.

Hua said that the 5,000 years of China represents a very ancient culture. The Western audiences may be familiar with American culture, the German-Austrian musical heritage of classical music, and the high culture of Europe, still, there are not many people who know much about traditional Chinese cultureand the music has been key in conveying this rich civilization.

To let people really feel the content of the culture, the character of the culture, to let people enjoy this year after year, this is a tremendous undertaking, and I think Shen Yun has succeeded completely. People from the Western culture are able to connect to and understand the Chinese culture, Hua said. As such Hua recommends Shen Yun to those in his circle, especially families with children because it is a wonderful opportunity to experience the traditional culture.

You rarelyrarely get an opportunity to experience something that shows the richness of 5,000 years. To have something like this land on your doorstep, of course, we should appreciate it, Hua said.

With reporting by NTD Television.

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.
Vietnams interests are best served when it protects its autonomy and maintains an independent stance on international affairs, Carlyle Thayer wrote in his exclusive piece for Tuoi Tre News.

Vietnam enters the year of 2020 as Hanoi takes the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and at the same time serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Yet this would be Vietnams special historical period.

While Vietnam is widely considered to be successful in global integration, Hanoi has become the focus of worldwide geopolitical and economic competition.

Writing for Tuoi Tre News on December 31, 2019, Carl Thayer, a well-known expert on Southeast Asia affairs, argued that Vietnams top priority in 2020 is to find balance between national interests and its responsibilities in the two international posts.

The emeritus professor, from the University of New South Wales' Australian Defence Force Academy, also suggested how Vietnam can take advantage of its role to serve its wishes.

Thayers article considered three sets of questions as Vietnam enters 2020 at the start of a new decade.

First, what challenges does Vietnam face on the diplomatic, security and defense fronts?

Vietnam will face a heavy workload in 2020 as its takes on added responsibility as ASEAN Chair and as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The main challenge for Vietnam is how to pursue its own national interests while acting in an impartial role as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the Security Council. For example, Vietnam will have to build consensus among ASEAN members as they negotiate with China on a Code of Conduct in the [East Vietnam Sea]. At the same time Vietnam must safeguard its sovereign jurisdiction over the resources in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The main challenge Vietnam faces on the Security Council is how it should vote on hot topics like the denuclearization of North Korea and Iran when there is disagreement among the major powers, for example when China and Russia disagree with the United States and its allies.

Vietnam must maintain internal stability as it prepares for the thirteenth national congress of the Vietnam Communist Party. Vietnam will need to safeguard itself from information warfare and cyberattacks by hostile forces seeking to destabilize the country.

Vietnams national security and defense will be tested by Chinas actions in the [East Vietnam Sea]. Will China resume illegal surveying in Vietnamese waters by sending Coast Guard, maritime militia and fishing boats to escort the survey ship? If so, how should Vietnam respond? Equally important is how Vietnam should manage anti-China public opinion that is certain to swell if Beijing attempts to intimidate Hanoi.

On the defense front, Vietnam will face the challenge of how to expand defense cooperation with friendly states without provoking China. A key issue is whether Vietnam and the United States should raise their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

Secondly, what are Vietnams top priorities and what opportunities and challenges will Vietnam face in attaining these priorities?

Vietnams leaders have set five priorities as ASEAN Chair: (1) strengthening ASEAN unity and solidarity, (2) intensifying ASEANs economic integration and connectivity, (3) promoting ASEAN identity and awareness, (4) enhancing ASEANs global partnership for peace, stability and sustainable development, and (5) increasing ASEANs institutional capacity and effectiveness.

Vietnam has the opportunity to demonstrate proactive leadership to pursue these priorities because it is ASEAN Chair. Vietnam has advanced the motto Cohesive and Response to signal its approach. The main challenges are how to advance ASEANs ongoing program of community building and connectivity with Vietnams new initiatives. A year is a short period of time to effectively improve ASEANs institutional capacity and effectiveness. This priority is vital as it is directly related to achieving successful outcomes in the other four priority areas.

As ASEAN Chair, Vietnam will also chair all ASEAN-related institutions as well as ASEAN-Plus institutions. Vietnam can shape their agendas to suit its priorities and interests.

Third, how can Vietnam leverage the successes of 2019 in 2020?

Vietnam has enormous prestige because it was the unanimous choice of the Asia Block at the UN for non-permanent membership on the Security Council and the country was elected by a commanding majority of votes in the UN General Assembly.

Vietnam will enter 2020 with two important advantages: it is politically stable and its economy is growing at a good rate. In 2020, Vietnams economy should benefit from its membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. This will provide useful leverage in renegotiating a free trade agreement with the United States and the final stages of achieving the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Vietnams dual role as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent membership on the Security Council will give it additional leverage in dealing with major and middle powers. But more importantly, Vietnam can leverage its 16 strategic and 12 comprehensive partnerships to advance its foreign policy goals of peace, cooperation and development and use these partnerships to insulate itself from major powers who might try to pressure it to follow a particular line on international issues. Vietnams interests are best served when it protects its autonomy and maintains an independent stance on international affairs.
National Award conferred to Bandhan Preet Singh, BSNL Officer

Chandigarh: On the eve of New Year - 2020, the PGMT BSNL Chandigarh - Sh. JS Sahota (ITS) disclosed to the media fraternity that to encourage the hard working employees, BSNL is conferring yearly awards to its outstanding officers who are working with great zeal and dedication. The staffs of Chandigarh SSA are richly contributing in the growth of BSNL.

He divulge that the Hon'ble Telecom Secretary, Govt of India - Sh. Anshu Parkash has recently presented National Award to Bharat Sanchar Seva Padak - 2018 winner Sh. Bandhan Preet Singh, who is working as Junior Telecom Officer (EB) in O/o Principal General Manager Telecom, BSNL Chandigarh, at a function held on 27th December 2019 at Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi in the presence of CMD BSNL, Board of Directors and CVO BSNL. His DGM - Sh. K Sathiaseelan also accompanied him during the ceremony.

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The award comprises of ? 1 lakh in cash, 100 gms Silver Medal, Citation and 10 days tour in India with family.The officer has played an exceptional role in increasing the revenue of Chandigarh SSA and executed many meritorious activities for the last many years. Earlier also he won the Punjab Circle Award of Vishisht Sanchar Seva Padak - 2010 in year 2010.The BSNL will keep on motivating its human asset to outdo the competition in future as well.
Parineeti Chopra has been busy after recovering from an injury she sustained while training for the Saina Nehwal biopic. The actress will now be seen shooting at 12 different sets in and around Mumbai where she will be displaying her badminton skills. Parineeti who is also playing the lead in the Hollywood remake of The Girl On The Train will be shooting for the various matches that Saina played in. The film, which is still untitled, has commenced in one of Mumbais farthest suburb Vasai.

There are a dozen sets in the outskirts of Mumbai city which are replicas of major badminton courts across India and the world where Saina played her matches. Designed by Amit Ray and Subrata Chakravorty, these sets have been exactly made the way the badminton courts are in different parts of the world. It was a rather arduous task considering the fact that they had to look authentic, says a source.

Parineeti had replaced Shraddha Kapoor in the Saina biopic who opted out of the film to choose an easier job as a dancer in Street Dancer 3D replacing Katrina Kaif. While Shraddha had a bagful of injuries and no medals to show, Parineeti was injured once in November and even posted a picture of her wearing a neck support patch.
Protesters hold up placards with the words Five Demands, Not One Less in a march in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

More Than a Million Hongkongers Celebrate New Years Day by Taking to Streets to Renew Their Demands

Protesters marched in downtown Hong Kong on the first day of 2020, demanding that the Hong Kong government answer their demands.

The march was abruptly called off by police at around 6 p.m. local time despite the fact that CHRF had obtained police approval to hold the march from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Despite the sudden cancellation, the turnout was high; CHRF estimated that more than 1.03 million took part, according to a statement published on its Facebook page. CHRF also criticized the polices far lower estimate of 60,000 as lacking credibility.

Tens of thousands of people take part in a peaceful march in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

The march was organized by local pro-democracy group Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), which has held several large-scale demonstrations since ongoing protests in Hong Kong began in June last year.

Prior to the march, a rally was held at Victoria Park where multiple activists spoke, including pro-democracy activist Ventus Lau and student activist Sunny Cheung.

Cheng called for more protests in the new year and shouted a popular protest slogan, Heaven Will Destroy the CCP [the Chinese Communist Party], saying that the CCP is the enemy of Hongkongers.

He also called on sanctions for all pro-Beijing companies that turn their backs on Hong Kong and befriend the Chinese regime.

Jimmy Sham, CHRFs convener, while speaking to the press ahead of the march, stated that the purpose of the march was to reiterate the protesters longstanding five demands, which include universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into instances of police violence against protesters.

Sham also criticized the city government for suppressing Spark Alliance, a local nonprofit that raises money for legal and medical aid for arrested protesters. On Dec. 19, the police froze Spark Alliances bank account, which contained roughly HK$70 million (about $9 million), alleging that three men and one woman from the group were suspected of money laundering.

Local teachers have also been punished for supporting the protests.

On Dec. 20, Hong Kongs Education Secretary Kevin Yeung called on schools to suspend teachers who have been arrested for offenses relating to the protests, according to local media RTHK. He added that 80 teachers had been arrested since June.

Sham called on protesters to join newly created pro-democracy unions in their line of workwhich have set up booths along the march routeso that future strikes could be better organized.

Two protesters hold up placards demanding universal suffrage in an assembly in Victoria Park in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

At Victoria Park, more than a dozen protesters were seen holding U.S. flags, while many others donned oversized animal masks in the guise of popular cartoons, Pepes and Linden Pigs.

We protest at the beginning of this year, to remind us and international friends that, lets not forget and get used to police violence and state repression, and demonstrate our solidarity, CHRF stated in a declaration published on its Facebook page.

March

At around 2:40 p.m. local time, protesters began marching from Victoria Park to the final destination of Chater Road in Central. Leading the march were several local pro-democracy politicians, including Andrew Chiu and Ho Kai-ming.

Protesters could be heard shouting slogans such as Five Demands Not One Less, Not Afraid of Being Oppressed, We Walk Shoulder to Shoulder, and Oppose Police, Join Unions.

They also held placards with different messages, including Keep Our Commitment, Stand As One, Heaven Will Destroy the CCP, Never Give Up, Show Justice to the World, and 2020 Liberate Hong Kong.

A small group of protesters holding U.S. flags sang the U.S. national anthem.

At around 4 p.m. local time, the first group of protesters arrived at the final destination. There still remained a large number of protesters who had yet to step out of Victoria Park.

About an hour later, a clash broke out between a small group of protesters and the police at Hennessy Road in Wan Chai, located about midway between Chater Road and Victoria Park.

What exactly led to the clash remains unclear; police soon fired tear gas and pepper spray and made several arrests. RTHK reported that the police fired pepper spray directly at one of its video journalists at the scene.

At 5:40 p.m. local time, local police issued a press release, saying that it had arrested 5 rioters for vandalizing a bank at the junction of Hennessy Road and Luard Road.

CHRF has since issued a statement on its Facebook, saying that the police have contacted the group and demanded that the organizer call off the assembly by 6:15 p.m. local time.

Several netizens have left messages on CHRFs Facebook post, saying that the police had intentionally created chaos for the purpose of ending the peaceful assembly.

On the messaging app Telegram, which has been widely used by Hong Kong protesters for communications and organizing events, users suspected that the people who vandalized the bank were not protesters, but police officers themselves.

The police denied the accusation with a second press release.

At 6:46 p.m. local time, CHRF issued a statement denouncing the polices brutal decision to end the march early.

Protesters hold up U.S. flags in a march in Hong Kong on Jan. 1, 2020. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

It pointed out that police escalated tensions at Luard Road after firing tear gas into the crowd. It also criticized the police for searching and provoking citizens upon deploying riot police at metro stations near the parade route.

On the first day of year 2020, the Police dismissed the first licensed assembly of the year with absurd excuse. Hong Kong government have shown its unwillingness to listen to the voices of the mass, infringing the right of assembly of Hong Kong citizens, CHRF stated.

At 8 p.m. local time, Hong Kong media Apple Daily reported that police arrested over 100 people who had not yet left the parade route near the Sogo shopping mall.

The Hong Kong bureau of The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
The protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been so emotive that it has been impossible to have a rational discussion on it. Many of the protesters seem to have a deep suspicion of the governments motives, to the extent that they do not bother to properly engage on the CAAs history or rationale. Yet, it is crucially important to do so, with cool heads and reason. While opponents believe the CAA is biased, it is, in fact, not uncommon to identify religious minorities as facing serious threats in their home countries. For instance, the Barack Obama administration had identified a community of Iraqi Christians as facing genocide, many of whom found refuge in the United States.

That is exactly the case with the religious minorities in these three neighbouring, theistic nations  Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. By definition, theistic states constitutions grant primacy to one religion. While we can engage in rhetoric about what constitutes genocide, and how to ascertain whether refugees have been persecuted, there is no denying the non-stop reports of these people being subjected to kidnappings, forcible conversions and marriages, and murders. Finally, that their share of these nations population has collapsed, from well above 20% to the low single digits, should be proof enough.

Since most of these populations were part of undivided India, there is a moral obligation incumbent on us to shelter them from the genocide they are experiencing. In fact, that is explicit in the many utterances of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and others.

Many opponents of the CAA seem to have reacted to appearances of bias, rather than thinking it through, let alone going deep into its history and logic. Why, some ask, should it not include Muslims? The reason is that this particular scheme of sanctuary  notably supported by Manmohan Singh and others in earlier years  is specifically to provide shelter to persecuted minorities in neighbouring theistic states.

Though it would be odd to include Muslims in this specific scheme, because they are the majority, and also have constitutional primacy in these theistic states, there is nothing in the CAA that otherwise prevents them from seeking Indian citizenship. In fact, during the Narendra Modi government, 600 such Muslims from neighbouring countries have become naturalised Indians.

The underlying principle of the CAA is that, globally, persecuted refugees are inherently seen as deserving more accommodation than illegal immigrants, who are mainly seeking economic opportunities. While political, sectarian and economic discrimination are all matters of concern, religious persecution is even worse. It is on this basis that India accepted thousands who were forced out of Uganda, not to mention the millions who escaped civil war in the then East Pakistan.

But then, what about Ahmadiyas or Shias or Sri Lankans Hindus or Rohingyas? Again, this is worth thinking through, rather than automatically assuming that their exclusion must indicate bias. While these categories of people may indeed face some political or sectarian discrimination, it is not the constitutional, fundamental, systemic degradation that the religious minorities have experienced in those theistic countries. To top it all, there is something about the idea of Muslims wanting Indian citizenship on the grounds of facing discrimination in Islamic countries, which were carved out of India to give them a religious homeland, that is galling to many.

The violence accompanying many of the protests seems to have ebbed. It was appalling to see some sections of protesters unabashedly indulging in arson and vicious attacks on police. On their part, the police have largely exercised restraint, to the extent of mostly not retaliating despite themselves suffering gruesome injuries. Nevertheless, in their taking the steps necessary to stop the situation from spiralling, there have been terrible casualties.

To be sure, not all the protesters have been violent, and have included many students, activists and others. But there is simply no denying the large number of attacks by lumpen mobs, many clearly quite clueless what they are agitated about, who are undoubtedly being incited by certain vested interests.

The Supreme Court (SC) was correct in declining to immediately intervene on police action, insisting that the violence by a section of the protesters must first be curbed. Whether the police were right to have gone inside a university in hot pursuit of a violent mob may be examined in due course, but the first order of priority must always be to maintain law and order.

Subsequently, there have been large rallies in support of the CAA. Nevertheless, its opponents have expanded their targets, extending the protests to both a possible National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the decadal Census-related National Population Register (NPR).

Though space constraints prevent a detailed, objective, and rational discussion on the NRC and the NPR in this edition of Plain Speaking, clearly much of the angst of opponents is based simply on suspicion of the governments motives. The government must increase its ongoing efforts to communicate the history and the rationale behind these issues too, not to mention its own bonafides. And indeed, that is happening, with the home minister himself repeatedly clarifying the facts. But equally, opponents must also engage in rational discussion, not just rhetoric. Most importantly, they must introspect what their position might be, purely on the merit of the issues, and not merely on who is advocating them.

Baijayant Jay Panda is vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and a former Member of Parliament.

The views expressed are personal
Montgomery Countys new system requires voters to make selections on a piece of paper and feed it into a scanner to be read. Read more

With Dauphin Countys decision this week to end its standoff with the state and buy new voting machines, all 67 Pennsylvania counties met the year-end deadline to comply with a state order that they implement election systems capable of leaving a paper trail of votes that can be manually audited and recounted.

Experts say this is a major step for election security ahead of the November presidential election, ensuring ballots can be accurately tallied even in the face of a cyber attack or a mishap.

The shift from paperless [electronic] machines to having individual paper ballots is a sea change, said Christopher R. Deluzio, policy director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security. Its great, its huge, it was necessary.

As recently as 2018, most voters in Pennsylvania used paperless machines that recorded votes in electronic memory. In addition to concerns that computers can be hacked, electronic systems can fail and wipe out all records of votes cast.

In April 2018, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered every county to select paper-based machines and implement them in time for the April 28, 2020, presidential primary. Dauphin County, after a weeks-long game of chicken with the state, selected its new systems Monday.

The machines will cost $120 million to implement in 58 counties, according to data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State, with no details available for the other nine counties. Not all contracts are finalized, and the figure does not include increased operating costs over the life of the machines.

This is a tremendous accomplishment, and I applaud all 67 counties for their commitment to protecting our elections, Wolf said in a statement Tuesday.

A bumpy road

After Wolfs order, counties for months had little to work with. The Department of State promised to decertify existing machines in 2020, but at the time only one new system had been approved. And many county elections officials were wary of moving forward with machines that had not been fully certified, since unexpected problems could tie things up.

Later, as voting systems were approved at the end of 2018 and in the first half of 2019, many counties said they couldnt act because they had no money. Counties that had moved ahead, such as Montgomery, had already planned to replace their machines around this time and had saved the money.

 READ MORE: Why some Pa. counties are struggling with state order to upgrade voting machines

The cost of new machines was estimated to reach as high as $153 million, with only $14.1 million available in federal and state funding. After Wolf attempted to include money for the machines in the state budget  Republican lawmakers put it instead into an elections bill Wolf vetoed  both sides agreed to include $90 million in state funding as part of a broader election reform and modernization bill.

At the same time that counties were struggling to pay for new machines, advocates were urging them to select hand-marked paper ballots, criticizing counties  especially Philadelphia  for picking touchscreen machines that print selections onto paper.

 READ MORE: Philly voting-machine vendor lobbied for years to win contract, city watchdogs investigation finds

And some counties that implemented new machines encountered trouble with them last year, ranging from growing pains in Montgomery County to Election Day failures in Northampton County.

Lamont G. McClure Jr., Northamptons county executive, said Tuesday he continued to stand behind his countys voting machines, despite the elections boards voting no confidence in them.

Novembers fiasco was due to human error in setting up the machines, a review concluded, and McClure said he believes the new system worked, because paper ballots were able to be counted later.

The machine-marked, voter-verifiable paper ballot caused us to have a legal, fair, and accurate election, he said. In 2020, he said, theres not going to be a dispute. There may be light and heat, but at the end of the day, those ballots will be in peoples hands, and they can examine them. And theyre going to hold up.

Two legal challenges to the states certification of the machines used in Northampton and Philadelphia could, if successful, lead to last-minute scrambles to implement new systems.

The road ahead

Now that every county will have new machines, said Deluzio, the Pitt expert, elections officials have to ensure voters know how to use them; paper ballots are protected against tampering after being collected; and election results are audited.

Its not enough just to get new machines, he said. Theres still a lot we have to do on shoring up security.

The state has begun testing post-election audits that in the right conditions can help ensure that votes are accurately tallied, and counties and the Department of State plan to ramp up voter outreach efforts in 2020.

Elections officials also continue to need additional federal funding to protect the vote, Deluzio said, and he warned that high turnout in 2020 will be a trial by fire for new systems.

If there are issues around foreign adversaries hacking or machines malfunctioning or anything else, my hope is that Pennsylvania county and state officials will be in a much better position to explain to the public, Heres what happened, heres how we audited, he said. These tools are much more available in Pennsylvania now than they were in 2016.

The map in this story has been updated to correct information about some counties selected voting systems. Original information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State was erroneous.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City must pray they can close the gap on Liverpool next season after conceding the Premier League title to their rivals.

Liverpool have a 14-point lead over City going into 2020, having dropped just two points in the league all season.

Asked how City can compete with Jurgen Klopps side in future, Guardiola replied: Work harder, play better, and pray.

Pep Guardiola has turned to the power of 'prayer' as he looks to close the gap on Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp's side are European champions and are also running away with the league

This is a fantastic team. Weve had problems with injuries, which sometimes happens. But Liverpool have been incredible  European champions and they have dropped just two points.

We have to congratulate them. I know the distance is not what it should be but it is what it is.

As well as the injury situation, Guardiola feels aggrieved over a number of VAR decisions that have gone against the back-to-back champions this season. You know what they are, you know that, he said when pressed on the issue.

There are things we can control, there are other issues we cannot control. We cannot control what a fantastic team like Liverpool have done so far, and there are other issues you cannot control. When everyone is fit, we can do it.

Guardiola revealed that City have already turned their thoughts to next seasons Premier League title race.

Guardiola has also looked back favourably on what has been a very successful decade for City

We are talking about that, he said. We know more or less what we have to do.

Guardiola also used his final press conference of 2019 to assess the clubs success over the last decade.

A haul of four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups has been Abu Dhabis reward for Sheik Mansours lavish investment in the club.

I think this, in the last decade, has been the best team in terms of points and goals, in terms of everything, titles even  so congratulate Manchester City for that, said Guardiola. When we analyse what happened in the last 10 seasons, especially when people from Abu Dhabi took over the club and bought good players, interesting managers and bigger stuff, I think we did it incredibly well.

Guardiola has lamented his injury situation, as his team is now 14 points behind Liverpool

People say, How was 2019? Now people are saying it is a disaster. We won four titles in 2019, so it was an incredible year for us.

Congratulations to all the people working here. They were fighting with huge elephants in England  big, big clubs with the biggest history. For the past decade we were part of them. That is amazing.

Guardiola confirmed that Aymeric Laporte, who was initially ruled out until February with knee ligament damage, has returned to light training.
Misscharisgym.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

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PAGE TITLE basic tumbling, Miss Chari's Manchester, OH Home DESCRIPTION Miss Chari's teaches the basics of dance, tumbling and gymnastics to children starting at age two. KEYWORDS basic tumbling Manchester OH OTHER KEYWORDS miss char, home miss char, home miss, classes, schedule, memos fall schedule, basic tumbling



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Idlib in north-west Syria is the last rebel bastion controlled by former al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. The town with its governorate is highly important both for the rebels and government, making the ongoing struggle for it such a make-or-break mission for both sides.



After establishing control over 70% of the country, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is anxious to occupy the last outpost of rebellion without wasting any more time. By taking over Idlib, he would be able to claim a complete victory.

Loss of Idlib would mean an end of rebel rule in any part of Syria and the prolonged challenge to the regime, leaving opposition groups with nothing after nine years of armed struggle.

Such murky calculations are behind the fierce fighting taking place in the Idlib region. Government troops unleashed fresh assaults after mid-December as they tried to break through rebel lines.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, about 80 civilians have been killed by air and artillery attacks in December. Separately, U.N. estimates show that more than 235,000 people have fled the region in that month alone.

Idlib has been in the crosshairs right from the beginning of the civil war in 2011. After several offensives and counterattacks, by 2017, the opposition forces had consolidated control, making it a rival seat of government under the tutelage of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham.

Damascus abandoned it to its fate for some time as the government forces tried to push back the Islamic State which was seen as the major threat not just for Syria but for the world. The formidable threat receded in 2019 after defeat of ISIS and the killing of its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The initial assault to recapture Idlib was launched last April. Weeks of fighting resulted in nearly 1,000 civilian deaths while over 40,000 were displaced. Later, a truce was agreed in August but aerial bombardment went on, piling up casualties among both civilians and fighters.

December was crucial as government made concerted efforts to break the stalemate around Idlib by using massive force. The Syrian army in a recent statement said it seized 320 square kilometers in territory over the space of several days.

The army also called on the civilians to leave the areas under jihadist rule, stressing to continue the fight until Idlib was retaken. However, the rebels, as well as the civilians, are not going away easily, creating fears of more deaths.

Over three million people live in Idlib province. They also include several thousand refugees from other areas where war was raging. They should now prepare to flee for the second time for life as uncertainty looms large.

Turkey, France and the U.N. have called for de-escalation in order to avoid more losses. Ankara is making effort for a new ceasefire agreement to replace the August truce. The efforts for peace are supported by the U.S. President Donald Trump who tweeted that Turkey was "working hard to stop this carnage."

The senseless civil war has so far killed more than 370,000 people and uprooted millions more. The misery of all those living through these bloody years is unfathomable. At least the lucky ones who have survived should be given a chance to live a better life.

Thousands more may die or suffer displacement if urgent measures are not taken to control the situation around Idlib. A lot of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the major parties. They should not allow the first major slaughter of 2020 to take place in Idlib.

Talks should be held to end the fighting. If peace is not achieved through talks, at least the civilians should be assigned "peace corridors" to leave the embattled zones.



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

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

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

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
by Zachary Hanshew | Hawks Correspondent | Tue, Dec 31st 1:38pm EST

Lou Williams will miss Tuesdays matchup with Sacramento for personal reasons. (Andrew Greif on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact:

With Patrick Beverley already ruled out, the backcourt will be mighty thin Tuesday. Expect Landry Shamet and Derrick Walton to see an increase in playing time.
BJP lawmaker Satyapal Singh on Wednesday said that the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests across the country by different political parties and outfits are "politically motivated" and asserted that the law was not for any Indian citizen.

"Anti-CAA protest across the country by different political parties and outfits are totally politically motivated. The Act was not for any Indian citizen," Singh said in a press conference here. The former chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of CAA also said that the CAA has been introduced during the Congress regime and the opposition is now using it as a "tool for vote bank".Emphasising on the Act, Singh said, "The present act is for those refugees who have been staying here at least for six years. They will get citizenship."

"Those refugees including Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and Parsi were targeted in the name of religion in Islamic countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, will get citizenship as per the new Act. At present, their number is 31,313 in the country," he added.

Asked that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will not implement CAA in the state, Singh said, "As per the Indian Constitution's 7th schedule, if the Union Government has passed an amendment in the Parliament, no state government has the power to not implement the Act."

He further said that oppressive conditions on refugees like fees of Rs 15,000 for applying citizenship were relaxed by the BJP government considering their financial condition.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction programme "Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020" with a cross-section of students and teachers from India and abroad to beat exam stress has been rescheduled to January 20, 2020, at 11 am, on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam and other festivals across the country, according to a government statement. The programme was earlier scheduled to be held on January 16, 2020.

Students, teachers and parents participate in the unique event with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm as they receive valuable tips from the Prime Minister, who is keen to ensure that students take exams in a relaxed atmosphere and don't come under stress.

The HRD Ministry in partnership with MyGov has launched a short essay competition for students of classes 9 to 12 for the third edition of Prime Ministers Interaction Programme with school students "ParikshaPeCharcha 2020.

Live TV

The entries for the competition were invited online from 2nd December 2019 to 23rd December 2019 through www.mygov.in. As in previous years, students have also been invited to send their questions for the event online.

The students whose entries are judged the best on the basis of their online responses will be invited to take part in the programme to be held in Delhi at Talkatora Stadium.

The First edition of Prime Ministers Interaction Programme with school and college students "ParikshaPeCharcha 1.0" was held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 16th February 2018. The second edition of the said Interaction Programme "ParikshaPeCharcha 2.0 was also held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 29th January 2019.

The third edition of the programme with school students "ParikshaPe Charcha2020 was proposed to be held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 16th January 2020. However, keeping in view the school holidays in southern states on account of Pongal/Makar Sakranti, it has been decided to hold it on 20th January 2020 in Delhi.


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Whos who of the corporate world - from Reliance to Tatas to ArcelorMittal - were in corporate law court but what took the cake was the NCLAT order reinstating the ousted Tata Sons head Cyrus Mistry as it shocked as well as shook the entire business world.

Though the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) passed several orders/judgments in the insolvency and corporate matters in 2019 which include Tata-Mistry feud, Essar Steel, Jet Airways, IL&FS, Jaypee Infratech, and Reliance Communications, several of them failed to pass the scrutiny of the and were either set aside or modified.

While for 2020, NCLAT's calendar is marked with several important matters and would start the year with the government-controlled Registrar of Companies (RoC) plea to modify the order passed by it in the Tata-Mistry case, in which it had directed to change the status of Tata Sons from a private company to a public company, the holding firm of USD 110 billion empire.

Besides, judgments are also expected from the appellate tribunal on other important matters which include the insolvency of Bhushan Power & Steel Ltd in which JSW has challenged attachment of assets by the ED; resolution of IL&FS group which has an outstanding debt of over Rs 90,000 crore; and McDonald's-Bakshi matter, where state-run HUDCO is opposing settlement offer by US-based QSR major.

In the Essar Steel insolvency matter, the NCLAT in July this year while giving a final go ahead to the global steel giant ArcelorMittal for Rs 42,000 crore takeover of Ruia's firm had put all the operational creditors of the company almost at par with the secured financial creditors over the disbursement of funds.

It had shaken the banking world as the appellate tribunal had altered the plan voted by Essar Steel's lenders and approved by NCLT Ahmedabad and was challenged before the

The apex court on November 15, not only upheld the primacy of financial creditors in the distribution of funds received under the corporate insolvency scheme but also ruled that the CoC would have a final say in the resolution plans under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

In August, the NCLAT ordered for liquidation of auto component maker Amtek Auto declining its lenders plea for extension of the insolvency resolution process deadline.

This was challenged by the lenders before the Supreme Court, which last month directed the resolution professional to invite fresh bids for the auto component maker within 30 days.

In another case, the NCLAT in November rejected the bid of Dhanuka Laboratories for Orchid Pharma and set aside the approval granted by the Chennai-bench of the NCLT.

The NCLAT observed that the approved resolution value, which stood at Rs 1,146.04 crore, proposed by Dhanuka Laboratories was lower than the liquidation value of Rs 1,309 crore of the company. This was challenged by the CoC before the which granted a stay on the order last month.

In July, the NCLAT permitted fresh bidding for the debt-laden Jaypee Infratech and extended the resolution period for another 90 days. However, in November the apex court annulled the order and allowed only two revised resolution plans from NBCC (India) Ltd and Suraksha Realty for voting.

The apex court had directed to complete the resolution process of Jaypee Infratech, which is developing about 32,000 flats, in which it has delivered 9,500 units, in 90 days.

The NCLAT order of January last directing initiation of insolvency proceedings against investment firm La-Fin Financial Services over the plea of IL&FS Financial Services had similar outcome at the apex court. The order was set aside by the Supreme Court which held that IL&FS Financial Services plea was beyond the period of three-years mentioned in Article 137 of the Limitation Act, and thus is time-barred and cannot be proceeded further.

In 2019, some of the NCLAT orders also raised eyebrows. The order in case of Sterling Biotech was such a case. The appellate tribunal not only stayed the liquidation of the company but also directed to hand over the management to its promoters, including absconding Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and Chetankumar Jayantilal Sandesara.

The NCLAT also said that the Enforcement Directorate will probe and ascertain whether the money paid by the absconding promoters is not from the proceeds of crime.

NCLAT Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya, who is going to hang his boots in March 2020 is also expected to pass the final judgment on fair trade regulator CCI's nod to Walmart's USD 16-billion acquisition of Flipkart.

The appellate tribunal had reserved its order in January last over the plea filed by trade association CAIT challenging approval by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

In October, the NCLAT gave its go-ahead to NCLT Mumbai to decide on Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd's bid for Dighi Port, however, it said that the outcome would be subject to its final order.

In the same month, the appellate tribunal also rejected the oil ministry's plea seeking USD 314 million (around Rs 2,245 crore) from insolvency-bound Videocon Industries in unpaid profit petroleum from the Ravva oil and gas fields in the eastern offshore.
Four astronauts have been shortlisted for Indias first manned spaceflight, scheduled for December 2021,and will be trained in India and Russia starting the third week of January, the Indian space agency said on the first day of the new year, while also formally announcing a Chandrayaan-3 mission to the moon in 2020.

A national advisory committee to review the manned spaceflight  or Gaganyaan mission  has been constituted, further setting in motion a plan first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, 2018.

Isro did not name the astronauts, who will all be Indian Air Force pilots.

We have made good progress on the Gaganyaan mission this year. Many of the designs have been completed. The selection process for the astronauts is over, now the training for the four astronauts identified is planned for the third week of January this year, said K Sivan, chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

This year, Isro scientists will work towards human rating the propulsion modules (currently the rockets are not fit to carry humans); test the crew escape system (emergency exit in case of a contingency); and the modified GSLV Mk III vehicle with a 4-metre ogive shape payload faring (top section of the rocket, where the crew will be located). The space agency said in 2019 that the first unmanned flight will take place in December 2020, followed by another unmanned flight in July 2021, and the manned flight in December 2021.

Under the Gaganyaan mission, which is expected to cost 10,000 crore, two or three astronauts are expected to be in the low earth orbit (an earth-centred orbit with an altitude of 2,000km where most of the manmade objects in outer space are placed) for around seven days.

Apart from the developments in the human spaceflight programme, Isro plans to carry out three purely scientific missions in 2020.

The Isro chairperson formally announced the Chandrayaan 3  a lander-and-rover-only mission  to be launched within the year. This is the year of Chandrayaan 3, said Sivan. The work on the mission is progressing smoothly and India will again attempt a soft landing on the lunar surface within the year, he said.

HT reported on Wednesday that a 2020 Chandrayaan-3 mission was confirmed by Jitendra Singh, minister of state in the department of space,and that it would not carry an orbiter because the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is already circling the moon in an 100km orbit from where it will keep sending data for nearly seven years.

The Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019 was Indias first attempt to land on moon. After completing a 48-day journey in space, the indigenously developed lander-rover separated from the orbiter and headed towards the lunar surface. But an unexpected loss of velocity during the second phase of the automated descent -- or 15 minutes of terror, as Sivan called it last year -- led to the lander-rover to make a hard landing 500 metres from the chosen site.

A successful landing would have made India the fourth country in the world to do so after the US, the erstwhile USSR and China and the first country to have landed so close to the lunar south pole.

The other scientific missions planned for the year are Indias first solar mission Aditya L1 and a space observatory to study the polarisation of cosmic rays called X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). The Aditya-L1 satellite will travel 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth to the L1 point, or Lagrangian point between the earth and the sun where the gravitational pull of both the bodies on the satellite is equal to the centripetal force needed to keep the satellite in orbit.

The L1 point has an uninterrupted view of the sun and will allow the satellite to study the visible surface of the sun (Photosphere), and the irregular layer above it (Chromosphere), along with the Corona, which extends for thousands of kilometers and has very high temperatures of around 6,000 Kelvin (5726.85 degrees Celsius).

So far, the purely scientific satellites launched by Isro include the Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, Mars Orbiter Mission in 2013, and Indias space telescope AstroSat in 2015. Isro also plans to test the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle meant for carrying small and nano satellites to space. The vehicle will have a carrying capacity of 500kg to the low earth orbit, and will take only 72 hours and six persons to be assembled. In comparison, Indias workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle takes 70 days and 600 people to put together. The GSAT 20 satellite is also likely to be launched this year, completing the four satellite network to provide high bandwidth connectivity of over 100 Gbps, including in-flight and maritime connectivity.

The Indian space agency also plans to launch the IRNSS 1J satellite with an indigenously developed atomic clock, adding to the Indian navigation satellite constellation. NaVIC, or Indias regional satellite-based navigation system, was approved for use in mobile phones this year by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is a standards organisation that develops protocols for mobile phones.

Soon, our mobile phones will have NaVIC along with GPS, said Sivan.

Now, the launch of satellites for communication, navigation etc has become fairly routine and there is more focus on scientific missions, as it should be. Isro is supposed to be a research organisation. None of the announcements made today was surprising as these missions have been in the pipeline, except for the Chandrayaan 3. However, there is a greater need for Isro to let private players conduct routine launches and focus more on the research aspect. This is not likely to happen in the near future as their progress in even privatising the manufacturing of PSLV has been very slow, said Rajeswari Rajagopalan, head, nuclear and space initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anonna Dutt Anonna Dutt is a health reporter at Hindustan Times. She reports on Delhi governments health policies, hospitals in Delhi, and health-related feature stories. ...view detail
While many of us were grumpily nursing hangovers yesterday, Natalia Vodianova was still full of New Years joy.

For I can reveal that the supermodel accepted a proposal from the son of the worlds third richest man.

Natalia, 37, is to wed Antoine Arnault, 42, whose father, Bernard, is the boss of the worlds largest luxury-goods company, LVMH Moet Hennessy.

His estimated 84billion fortune makes him the worlds richest person after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsofts Bill Gates.

Supermodel Natalia Vodianova, 37, is to wed Antoine Arnault, 42, whose father, Bernard, is the boss of the worlds largest luxury-goods company, LVMH Moet Hennessy and with whom she has two children, Maxim, five, and Roman, three

Natalia (above, in May 2018) was raised in the poor Russian neighbourhood of Nizhny Novgorod and would help make ends meet by working on a fruit stand. Aged 15, she was signed up by a modelling agency and went on to become a household name in fashion

The Vogue cover star confirmed the engagement by sharing a picture with friends on New Years Eve of her brandishing a sizeable sparkler on her ring finger while enjoying a warm embrace with Antoine.

This year has been beautiful and very memorable, Natalia, who has two children, Maxim, five, and Roman, three with her future husband, commented.

2020 here we come. I cant wait to celebrate [the new] year with our loved ones.

Mother-of-five Natalia, who has three children with her ex-husband, was raised in the poor Russian neighbourhood of Nizhny Novgorod and would help make ends meet by working on a fruit stand.

In 2018, Natalia declared that she wasnt interested in marrying Antoine. I feel like were married, she said. Why change anything? The Vogue cover star confirmed the engagement by sharing a picture with friends on New Years Eve of her brandishing a sizeable sparkler on her ring finger while enjoying an embrace with Antoine

Aged 15, she was signed up by a modelling agency and went on to become a household name in fashion.

She was previously married to one of Britains most eligible aristocrats, Justin Portman, the 50-year-old son of property heir, the 9th Viscount Portman.

The estimated 84billion fortune of Bernard Arnault (above) makes him the worlds richest person after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsofts Bill Gates

Their ten-year union  which produced three children, Lucas, 18, a daughter Neva, 13, and son Viktor, 12 - ended in 2011, which Justin later claimed was due to his alcohol addiction.

I do not have time for her fashionable life, he admitted after their split. I thought that she was ashamed of me. I became for her a kind of outmoded Louis Vuitton handbag. And then I went to the 28-day course in the rehabilitation centre.

Earlier this year the Daily Mail diary disclosed that Justin, who has a reputed family fortune of 2.05billion, followed in the Duke of Sussexs footsteps by quietly marrying an American actress, Morgan Snyder, 36.

His surprise ceremony prompted Natalias friends to speculate about whether she would change her mind on a second wedding.

She declared in 2018 that she wasnt interested in marrying Antoine: I feel like were married, she said. Why change anything?

Clearly, she was won over by Antoines Gallic charm.

Antoine and Natalia attend the Stella McCartney Womenswear Spring/Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week last September
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Dhaka/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and extended New Year 2020 greetings to her.

"The premier called Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at around 1220 hrs and extended New Year greetings to her, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told UNI on Tuesday.

During the 15-minute telephonic conversation, he said the Bangladesh Prime Minister also extended New Year greetings to Modi.

The Bangladesh premier also requested Modi to convey her greetings to the people of India, the press secretary added.
The first baby born in the Bay Area in 2020 appears to be a boy born at 12:05 a.m. at a hospital in San Leandro.

The boy was born at Kaiser Permanente's San Leandro Medical Center and is the third child in a family from Castro Valley, Kaiser spokesman Karl Sonkin said.

A few other babies were born in the region during the first hour of 2020, including one at 12:10 a.m. at Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital.

Police confirmed a man died after he tried to stop a suspect from taking his laptop Tuesday in Oakland's Montclair district.

The theft occurred in the 2000 block of Mountain Boulevard shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, police said.

The man was listed in critical condition following his efforts to stop the suspect. Later in the day police said that the man died.

A shooting near San Francisco's Fort Mason on New Year's Eve left two men hurt, one with life-threatening injuries, police said.

The shooting was reported at about 9:35 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Franklin and Bay streets. Officers arrived to find the two victims, who were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The shooter remains at large and police did not immediately release any information about the suspect or what led to the shooting.

An expected wave of lawsuits made possible by a new state law continued Tuesday as attorneys announced new filings in Oakland and San Francisco by victims of alleged childhood sexual abuse by priests.

The lawsuit are permitted by California's Assembly Bill 218 of 2019, which opened a three-year window for childhood sexual abuse survivors to file lawsuits regardless of when the molestation occurred.

The statute also allows a tripling of financial damages compensation in cases where an effort to hide evidence of child sexual abuse is proved.

On Tuesday, two men in their 50s sued the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland in Alameda County Superior Court, alleging they were sexually abused by priests at Our Lady of the Rosary in Union City.

The lawyer for a transient man charged with murder for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland last year is asking that his trial be moved out of Alameda County because she doesn't think he can get a fair trial locally.

In a change of venue motion she filed on Monday, attorney Christina Moore, who represents 29-year-old John Lee Cowell, wrote that "prevalent and persistent news coverage has demonstrably prejudiced potential jurors of Alameda County."

Moore said 55 percent of respondents in a survey the defense recently conducted of 470 Alameda County residents said they believe Cowell is definitely guilty or probably guilty of murder.

She said those numbers include people who indicated they have no familiarity with Cowell's case, but 81.5 percent of the 315 people who said they are familiar with the allegations against him said they believe he definitely or probably is guilty of murder.

A man who fled from a traffic stop Monday in Pleasant Hill, briefly dragging the police officer who had pulled him over, was arrested Tuesday after a vehicle pursuit from San Pablo to San Francisco.

Anthony McClain, a 29-year-old San Pablo resident, was initially stopped for a vehicle code violation in the 2300 block of Monument Boulevard near Interstate Highway 680 at about 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to Pleasant Hill police.

He provided false identification to the officer and refused to turn off the car and hand over his keys, then accelerated the car while the officer was partially inside it during a struggle over the keys. He was dragged briefly but was able to free himself without getting injured, police said.

McClain fled, but investigators were eventually able to determine his identity and learned he was on active parole with warrants out for his arrest. Shortly before noon Tuesday, officers spotted his vehicle in San Pablo and tried to stop it as it entered Interstate Highway 80.

A pursuit ensued that headed west onto the Bay Bridge, where a California Highway Patrol officer "successfully deployed a tire deflation device" to disable the vehicle, police said.

A man was arrested Sunday in San Jose after police allegedly linked him to two cameras found in a Starbucks bathroom, police said.

Officers responded at 4:54 p.m. to the Starbucks at 1815 Hillsdale Ave. after someone called and told police that a camera was found in a drain pipe in front of the toilet. Officers found another camera under the sink, also in front of the toilet.

Outside, officers found a suspect, 37-year-old San Jose resident Shawn Evans, in a parked vehicle. Officers allegedly found electronic devices and other evidence linking Evans to the cameras inside the coffee shop.

Evans was arrested on suspicion of invasion of privacy and drug-related offenses. Police said they found methamphetamine and a glass pipe for smoking drugs inside Evans's vehicle.

Wednesday will be partly cloudy with highs in the lower 60s with west winds of about 5 mph.

Wednesday night will remain partly cloudy with patchy fog overnight and lows in the lower 40s and west winds around 5 mph.

Thursday is expected to be sunny in the morning and partly cloudy later in the day. Highs will be around 60 with northwest winds of 5-10 mph.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Hundreds of militants penetrated the Green Zone, which hosts Iraqi government buildings and many foreign embassies, including that of the United States, early Dec. 31. They climbed the US Embassy compound's outer walls, threw Molotov cocktails over them, smashed a door and windows and set a wall and a sentry box on fire, according to reports. The State Department, however, said the embassy building itself was not breached.

The attack was a reaction to the Dec. 29 US strike against Kataib Hezbollah facilities in northern Iraq and Syria that killed dozens of Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) members and wounded others. The US strike came in response to repeated Katyusha rocket attacks against US bases in Iraq, the last of which, on the K1 base in northern Kirkuk, killed one US contractor and wounded others.

At the embassy on New Year's Eve, protesters also wrote several slogans on the walls, such as US embassy closed by order of the people, Death to America and Israel and Qasem Soleimani is our leader. Provocatively, some also wrote, The uncle was here, in reference to Soleimani, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Quds Force commander.

The groups were from Kataib Hezbollah, the Badr Organization, Saraya al-Khorasani and Asaib Ahl al-Haq. They raised their factions' flags in the protests and on the embassy walls.

The State Department said all personnel at the embassy were secure.

Also attending the violent protest were many prominent PMU leaders such as PMU deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, PMU chief Faleh al-Fayadh, Qais al-Kjazali, Hadi al-Amiri, Hamed al-Jazaeri and some of the PMUs Fatah members of parliament.

A few hours after the attack, the interior and defense ministers, Yasin al-Yasirt and Nijah al-Shemmery, visited the embassy area separately and briefly before security forces were able to disperse the majority of the demonstrators. A group of protesters remained in tents set up in front of the embassy, intending to hold a sit-in until the embassy is closed and all US troops leave Iraq.

The PMU protesters announced that their next step is to go to US military bases in Iraq and surround them, calling for the United States to leave.

After the attack, caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said in a statement that no one should attack foreign embassies and that the government is responsible for protecting them. He asked all the protesters to leave the area immediately and warned that anyone attacking foreign representatives and security forces will be heavily punished.

The State Department said that in separate phone calls, Abdul Mahdi and Iraqi President Barham Salih reassured US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Iraq will protect the US Embassy and personnel in Iraq.

Pompeo said that the United States has no plans to evacuate the embassy and that the US ambassador  who the State Department said was not present because he was on vacation  was on his way back to Baghdad.

No clashes have been reported between the PMU protesters and the security forces, and a sit-in was continuing in front of the embassy.

While the intention to assault the embassy was announced early Dec. 31, no any action was taken against it. The Green Zone, which is usually very well fortified, was protected by very few security forces. The presence of Fayadh, who is also the national security adviser, indicates that the penetration of the Green Zone was organized and given a green light in advance, and that Abdul Mahdi was not able to stop it.

All these factors indicate that Iraqi officials' reassurances to the United States may not be reliable.

Al-Monitor saw several helicopters flying over the Green Zone and The Washington Post quoted a US official as saying, Two Apache helicopters and a small contingent of Marines are being sent to reinforce those already guarding the embassy.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of orchestrating the attack on the embassy and addressed the Iraqi people over Twitter, saying, To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!

There are increasing concerns in Iraq that the PMU might use the recent escalation as an excuse to crack down more violently on the protests against the government that started in October. Muhandis and Khazali said in their reactions to the US attack and also the attack on the embassy said that PMU will take strong actions against the United States and its Iraqi allies. Khazali said in the front of embassy, "This is the place of conspiracy against Iraq, and it is also a place of support for the jokers [pro-Iranian slang for protest organizers] and the saboteurs."

A few hours after the attack on the embassy, a group of armed people raising PMU flags attacked protesters in Karbala. A number of the protesters were wounded.

Another concern is that the attack might lead the United States to reduce its presence in Iraq and send Iraq deeper into Irans arms.

The above concerns are not limited to Iraqi Kurds and Sunnis, who are afraid of Iranian expansion in their areas, but also of many Shiites afraid of being left in the hands of militias loyal to Iran.

Top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani expressed his concerns over the Iraqi government's inability to stop actions that open the door to foreign interference.

Following the US attack on PMU facilities Dec. 29, Sistani condemned what he called the breach of Iraq's sovereignty as well as the actions of some parties that create excuses for such attacks, asking the government to take action and put an end to foreign interference in Iraqi matters. His comments were seen as objecting to pro-Iranian militias actions and Iranian influence in Iraq.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq are feeling strong pressures from all sides, including their political rivals, the United States, protesters, and the Shiite religious establishment in Najaf. All are increasingly demanding that these militias be integrated into the official security forces, ending Iranian influence on them.
London: Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham is standing by a new star-studded campaign amid criticism that it does not fully portray a modern and multicultural Australia.

The $15 million Matesong campaign - fronted by Kylie Minogue and featuring cameos by more than a dozen other homegrown celebrities and sports stars - is designed to lure Brexit-weary Brits to a more relaxed and friendly Australia through a catchy tune written by songwriter and comedian Eddie Perfect.

Tourism Australia has a patchy record of success over recent years but the latest project quickly attracted widespread praise after it first aired in the lead up to the Queen's traditional Christmas Day broadcast.

But in a complication, the advertising blitz is rolling out across the UK market at the same time as British media is saturated with rolling coverage of Australia's devastating bushfire emergency.
Allahabad University vice chancellor Rattan Lal Hangloo, who was facing allegations of mishandling cases of sexual misconduct in the university, stepped down on Wednesday, while claiming that he has resigned under pressure.

According to a senior HRD ministry official, several complaints have been filed against Hangloos style of functioning in the past as well. However, in one case, the National Commission of Women (NCW) had made an adverse observation about him, the official said.

He has resigned citing personal reasons, the official said.

Confirming the development, Hangloo said: It is correct that I have resigned. The reason was that repeatedly baseless enquiries were initiated (against me). On several occasions it was proved that there was no substance in the complaints. I did so as I was totally fed up.

Hangloo refuted the allegations, saying that he has always performed his duties in an honest manner and stood up to pressure and interference.

There are appointments of 1200 people to be made. If I was there, I would go on a merit basis. I will not go by recommendation. I will not take people from mafia, he added.

Hangloo also challenged that the allegations made against him saying, Let it (NCW) prove them before the CBI, let them prove them before the High Court. He further alleged the active presence of mafia in the university.

Hangloo said he planned to take legal recourse.

The Presidents office had twice returned the file regarding allegations against me because they did not see any merit, he said.

National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma claimed that the commission sent a team to the campus recently that had found grave irregularities. The NCW chairperson said the team also spoke to women in the university and mishandling of sexual harassment cases was established. On December 26, Hangloo appeared before the NCW and denied all allegations. I showed him all the evidences our team has collected. His explanation was not satisfactory. We also forwarded these evidences to the offices concerned.

She said there was no system of grievance redressal and complaints of sexual harassment at workplace were not redressed.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation on Thursday, which would boost indigenous research capabilities in the defence sector.

During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil a plaque and also address the scientists.

The event is being organised by the Aeronautical Development Establishment, DRDO, at Bengaluru. DRDO will also showcase some of its innovative products to the Prime Minister at an exhibition.

A PMO release said that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy will also be present on the occasion.

The release said the Prime Minister had suggested that at least five DRDO labs should be identified exclusively for innovation by young scientists up to the age of 35 years.

He made the suggestion in 2014 while addressing a gathering after giving away the DRDO awards.

The Prime Minister had also called for involving the youth in defence research-related activities in a big way to ensure that India remained abreast of global technological advancements in the field.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington D.C. [USA], Jan 1 (ANI): The United States has said that it was sending additional troops to the Middle East, after hundreds of protesters stormed its embassy compound in Iraq, setting fires and chanting -- 'Death to America!'



Raged by the US airstrikes that killed nearly two dozen fighters of an Iran-backed militia on Sunday, supporters of the powerful Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary group spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone on Tuesday, demanding the removal of American troops from Iraq, Al Jazeera reported.

Reacting to the attack, US President Donald Trump said he held Iran "fully responsible" for the incident and added that the protesters "will be held fully responsible," he wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

"In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!" the President stated.

Trump later warned in a separate statement that Tehran would "pay a very big price" after the attack, but when asked later in the day about the possibility of tensions spiralling into a war with Iran, Trump told reporters: "Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I don't see that happening."

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the attack was "orchestrated by terrorists," one of whom he named as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Al-Muhandis has been identified as the second-in-command of the Tehran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi group, which includes Kataib Hezbollah, the group that was hit in the US air raids.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement that about 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the region.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," he said.

A social media post from the US Marines said the troops from its crisis response command in Kuwait were deployed to Iraq.

It is worth noting that the deployment of 750 soldiers will be done in addition to 14,000 US troops who are been deployed to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iran, and the reported attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf.

At the time of the attack, the US had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat the ISIL (ISIS) group. (ANI)
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Pope Francis has apologised for slapping a woman who had grabbed him as he greeted a crowd of devotees - shortly before he delivered a speech denouncing 'every form of violence against women.'

The image of a visibly annoyed Francis slapping his way free from the clutches of an admirer as he walked by Catholic faithful on New Year's Eve instantly went viral on social media.

A personal apology followed.

'We lose patience many times,' Francis confessed.

'It happens to me too. I apologise for the bad example given yesterday,' the head of the Catholic church said before celebrating Mass at the Vatican.

Pope Francis (pictured leading a Mass marking the World Day of Peace in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican today) confessed he had 'lost patience' with an exuberant admirer who had grabbed his hand on Saint Peter's Square, prompting a swift pair of slaps

Video showed Pope Francis, 83, reaching out to touch a child when the woman pulled him close at the Vatican

A furious Pope Francis was then pictured slapping the woman's hand and fighting to release himself from her grip

The Pope stormed off with a face like thunder after pulling himself away from the exuberant worshipper last night

Twitter enthusiasts commented with abandon on the pontiff's prompt riposte to the woman.

The day after the incident, the Pope decried violence against women in a speech at the Vatican, saying that it is like profaning God. He contended that if we want a better world in the new year, we should treat women with dignity. He added that involving women in decision-making is key to making humanity more peaceful and united.

In his homily during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis decried 'how many times women's bodies are sacrificed on the profane altar of advertisements, of profit, of pornography.' He lamented that while women are in his words 'the sources of life,' they are continually offended, beaten, raped, forced into prostitution' or forced to have abortions.

Francis praised women as 'donors and mediators of peace,' and urged that they should become 'fully associated' with decision-making in order to make the world more united and at peace.

'A conquest for women is a conquest for the whole of humanity,' he said.

Pope Francis recites the Angelus prayer from his studio's window overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican

Pope Francis leads a Mass marking the World Day of Peace in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, January 1

Pope Francis leaves at the end of the New Year's day mass on January 1. The Pope decried violence against women in a speech to the Vatican, saying that it is like profaning God. However, he didn't mention prejudice against women in the Catholic church

In his remarks, Francis didn't mention prejudice against women in the Catholic church. According to Vatican teaching, women can't become priests. Some conservative elements of the Catholic church also are scandalized by parishes that allow girls to be altar servers.

A visibly indignant Pope Francis had to pull himself away from a woman in a crowd in St Peter's Square yesterday evening after she grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her.

Pope Francis was walking through St Peter's Square in Vatican City and greeting pilgrims on his way to see the large Nativity scene set up in the huge, cobbled esplanade.

After reaching out to touch a child, the pope turned away from the crowd only for a nearby woman to seize his hand and pull her towards him. The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain and Francis swiftly wrenched his hand free.

The woman had made the sign of the cross as the pope had approached. It was not clear what she was saying as she subsequently tugged him towards her.

The 83-year-old pope grimaced before managing to break free by slapping her hand twice.

He continued his tour, walking with some difficulty while maintaining a slightly greater distance from visitors, and gradually relaxed again as he came into contact with other children.

Apart from the brief upset, Pope Francis' stroll delighted most tourists and Romans.

Shouts of 'Pope! Pope!' and 'Happy New Year!' resounded as families rushed to catch a glimpse of him or thrust out their infant in hopes he would pat their heads or pinch their cheeks.

At a New Year's Eve Vespers service in St. Peter's Basilica, Francis urged people to practice more solidarity and to 'build bridges, not walls.'

Since becoming pontiff in 2013, Francis has preached openness - a reform-minded agenda that has irritated a small but vocal group of ultra-conservatives in the church.

Pope Francis visits the crib after the solemn Vespers and the Te Deum, the rite of thanksgiving for the end of the year, celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City, 31 December 2019

Pope Francis waves to faithful as he visits the Nativity scene in Saint Peter's Square, following the 'Te Deum' prayer for the year 2019, in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

Pope Francis (C) walks as he visits the Nativity scene in Saint Peter's Square, following the 'Te Deum' prayer for the year 2019, in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on December 31, 2019

On Christmas Eve, the Pope urged the world to let the light of Christmas pierce the 'darkness in human hearts' as he led Christian celebrations around the world.

The 83-year-old pontiff singled out conflicts in Venezuela, Ukraine and Syria as well as armed conflicts ravaging many African countries as he appealed for peace in troubled hotspots.

Francis delivered his message hours after assuring the faithful that God loves everyone - 'even the worst of us' - following a year of scandals and opposition.

The pontiff led global celebrations as worshippers gathered around the world to celebrate the birth of Jesus, beginning in Bethlehem and continuing in Sri Lanka where worshipers marked the first Christmas since the Easter Sunday terror attack.

The Pope offered a Christmas message of hope against darkness that cloaks conflicts and relationships in large parts of the world from the Middle East to the Americas to Africa.

He told tens of thousands of tourists, pilgrims and Romans gathered in St Peter's Square for the annual Christmas Day message that 'the light of Christ is greater' than the darkness 'in human hearts' and 'in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts'.

Pope Francis celebrates the New Year's day mass on January 1

Pope Francis celebrates the New Year's Day mass on January 1

Pope Francis presides over a Mass for the solemnity of St. Mary at the beginning of the new year, in St. Peter's Basilica

Francis was flanked by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, president of the papal council for migrants, and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope's official almsgiver.

The pope cited the Syrian people 'who still see no end to the hostilities that have rent their country over the last decade', as well as Israel, where Jesus 'was born as the saviour of mankind and where so many people - struggling but not discouraged - still await a time of peace, security and prosperity'.

Francis also called for an easing of the crisis in Lebanon, social tensions in Iraq and the 'grave humanitarian crisis' in Yemen.

He noted that a number of countries in the Americas 'are experiencing a time of social and political upheaval', citing 'the beloved Venezuelan people, long tried by their political and social tensions'.

The pope also noted migrants forced by injustice 'to emigrate in the hope of a secure life'.

Instead of finding acceptance, Francis said, injustice continues along their journey, where they often face abuse, enslavement and torture in 'inhumane detention camps' and death during dangerous sea and desert crossings.

Pope Francis arrives to lead the New Year's day mass on January 1

Pope Francis presides at Holy Mass of the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy on the 53st World Day of Peace

Pope Francis (pictured centre) celebrates the New Year's day mass on January 1

And once migrants arrive in 'places where they might have hoped for a dignified life' ... they 'instead find themselves before walls of indifference', he said.

The pope offered prayers of hope for the people of Africa, including those in Congo 'torn by continuing conflicts' and the people of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, where people have been 'persecuted for their religious faith'.

And in an extraordinary message, Francis, along with two other religious leaders, urged the rival chiefs of South Sudan to maintain a pledge to form a coalition government early next year.

A peace deal to end a five-year civil war that has killed close to 400,000 people was signed last year, but a November deadline to form a coalition government was extended to February as key aspects of the peace deal still need to be resolved.

'May Christ bring his light to the many children suffering from war and conflicts in the Middle East and in various countries of the world,' Francis said in his traditional message.

The Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also sent joint wishes of 'peace and prosperity' to South Sudan as negotiations faltered between the African country's government and rebels.
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Three women who were kidnapped in Cleveland and locked up for over nine years are speaking out on their harrowing captivity, seven years after their miraculous escape.

For years kidnapper Ariel Castro held three women  Amanda Berry, 33, Gina DeJesus, 29, and Michelle Knight, 38, - captive in his home after abducting them between 2002 and 2004.

After years of abuse where they were chained, starved, tortured, and raped they were finally able to escape on May 6, 2013 when Berry managed to leave the home and called 911 from a neighbors phone.

'He was always there watching every move, it was like he knew everything, every move that we did,' DeJesus said in a sit-down interview with ABCs 2020 that will air Friday.

'When I was telling [first responders] my name, they looked like theyd seen a ghost or something. Like their face completely dropped,' DeJesus said on the moment police realized they finally found the three women who had been missing for years.

Amanda Berry, 33, Gina DeJesus, 29, (above) and Michelle Knight, 38, are opening up about their nine years held captive by abductor Ariel Castro in a new 2020 episode

The women were abducted between 2002 to 2004 and were subjected to years of abuse where they were chained, raped, and kept in squalid conditions. Michelle Knight, who was abducted first on August 23, 2002 when she was 21, pictured above

'I was so scared that I was going to die. I didnt think that I was going to ever make it home,' Amanda Berry, who was abducted on April 21, 2003, just one day before her 17th birthday, said

Castro first kidnapped Michelle Knight on August 23, 2002 when she was 21 as she was leaving a cousins house.

Amanda Berry was kidnapped on April 21, 2003, just one day before her 17th birthday as she was walking home from work.

Casto, who worked as an elementary school bus driver, approached her in his vehicle and asked if she needed a ride home.

Berry, who knew Castro as the father of Arlene, her classmate and friend from middle school, agreed.

He ended up inviting her to him home to hang out with his daughter. Once she got in, she wouldnt leave for years.

'He took me to the next bedroom, and it was just really dark in there, and he didnt turn on the lights, and there was a little, like, a little room off of the bigger bedroom, kind of a big closet,' Berry said. 'And he took me in there, and he told me to pull down my pants. And from there I knew, like, this was not going to be good.'

Castro chained her to a pole and left her in a dark room with a television on.

In the end on August 1, 2013 Castro was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping and rape. On September 3, 2013, he was found dead in his prison cell after committed suicide. He knew Amanda and Gina because they were friends with his daughter Arlene

Survivors: Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight (from left to right) pictured in this February 2014 image after their escape

Amanda Berry reunited with her sister Beth Serrano and daughter in Cleveland, America after their escape

'I just started screaming and crying "Somebody please help me," you know. And nobody, nobody came. I was so scared that I was going to die. I didnt think that I was going to ever make it home,' Berry said.

A week after Berry went missing Castro called her family to taunt them using her cell phone.

'He called and said, "I have Mandy,"which, nobody called her Mandy but [people] who knew her,' her sister Beth Serrano said. 'She wants to be with me.'

The FBI were able to narrow down the phone's location to a thirty to forty block area and despite exhaustive search measures, were unable to find Berry.

Castro grabbed Gina DeJesus in a similar fashion on April 2, 2004 when she was 14 as she was walking home. She was good friends with Castros daughter Arlene.

Once she entered his home, she became unnerved by Castro's behavior.

'He was, like, fixing his eyebrows and, like, trimming his mustache and, like, cutting his nose hairs,' DeJesus said.

'Hes like, starts like, to, like, touch me and stuff, and then Im like, "What are you doing? You could go to jail." He just switches up like, "Well, OK, were going to, youre going to go home now." He said, "But you cant go through the same door you came in."'

The women were able to finally escape on May 6, 2013 when the women were left alone in the home and for the first time in 10 years, Berry found her bedroom door unlocked. Castro's Cleveland home where they were kept captive pictured above

FBI forensic personnel remove evidence from Castro's house after the women escaped

House of horrors: Photos from inside Castro's home shows the squalid conditions the women lived in where windows were boarded up and they slept on bare, yellowed mattresses

The women were forced to live in squalid, filthy conditions where they were chained in their rooms, their bedrooms locked, barely fed and given buckets to use as a bathroom. 'The mattress was old and nasty, and it was just disgusting. And we had the bucket to use the bathroom, and that smelled horrible,' Berry said

Berry's room which she shared with her daughter Jocelyn pictured above

DeJesus tried to fight him off and screamed for help when he brought her to the basement and chained her up. Her cries were drowned out by radios playing in his basement and living room.

'He, would take my hair and like, put it in his mouth.  I dont know why he did it but it was gross,' she said.

DeJesus said the first time Castro raped her was on May 7, 2004 but did not want to deliberate on the sexual abuse.

Berry became pregnant by Castro when she was 20 and gave birth to her daughter Jocelyn on Christmas in 2006.

'I was terrified. How? I mean, I barely eat and Im chained to a wall, and I have a bucket for a bathroom,' Berry said.

She said life in captivity changed for her with the birth of her daughter. She noted Castro even became kinder and took off her chains after her daughter started to notice them. She told Jocelyn the chains were bracelets, as per Castro's orders.

'This is his kid, you know. How do I feel about that? And she resembled him a lot, and I would look at her, and I just felt, like, shes mine. Shes mine,' Berry said.

'It was fun because I can get away from the situation. When I was playing with Jocelyn, Jocelyn made me forget everything.'

The women were forced to live in squalid, filthy conditions where they were chained in their rooms, their bedrooms locked, barely fed and given buckets to use as a bathroom.

'The mattress was old and nasty, and it was just disgusting. And we had the bucket to use the bathroom, and that smelled horrible,' Berry said.

The women were fed once a day and were given measly chips or crackers or other snacks as meals. They were also only allowed to shower once a week.

'I mean, he tried to act nice, but hes like, "Well, maybe you need to go take a shower," and I had to take a shower with him,' Berry recalled.

The women underwent years of sexual abuse and rape in their captivity.

Berry said she had to 'numb' herself to cope with the egregious abuse.

'You, like, put your mind somewhere else so that you're not there. You know, you're not in that room with him,' Berry said.

On September 3, 2013, committed suicide in his prison cell. Pictured above in 2013 at his sentencing

She's try to record how many times he raped her each day in her diary by using a code.

'I would always write these numbers at the top of the pages, because I felt like, you know, one day maybe authorities will get to read it. And hell be punished for what he did,' Berry said.

The women were able to finally escape on May 6, 2013 when the women were left alone in the home and for the first time in 10 years, Berry found her bedroom door unlocked.

'Jocelyn goes downstairs, and then she runs back up, and she says, I dont find Daddy. Daddys nowhere around,' Berry said.

'My heart immediately started pounding. Im like, "Should I chance it? If Im going to do it, I need to do it now,"' she added.

Berry and her daughter made a break for it and ran out the front door, even though it was wired with an alarm. Beyond it the storm door was padlocked shut and Berry squeezed an arm out when a neighbor say her struggling and kicked the door open.

Once out Berry called for Jocelyn to crawl through the door and the two found a neighbor and used their phone to call 911.

Police swarmed the home and the women were finally rescued.

DeJesus recalled being hesitant to leave her room in disbelief.

'I thought maybe they were people in costumes 'cause I was shocked,' she said.

In the end on August 1, 2013 Castro was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping and rape.

On September 3, 2013, he was found dead in his prison cell after committed suicide.

The Cleveland Kidnappings special will air on ABC's 2020 on Friday.
The Congress in Goa on Wednesday filed a petition before Assembly Speaker Rajesh Patnekar requesting him to initiate proceedings to disqualify the ten MLAs of the Opposition party who had switched over to the BJP in August, 2019, "without further delay".

The petitioner and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar has sought disqualification of the ten MLAs under the 10th schedule of the Constitution.

The application for disqualification was filed before the Speaker on August 8, 2019.

"The applicant/petitioner has filed the petition under Article 191(2) of the Constitution read with Xth schedule of the Constitution seeking a declaration that respondent no. 1 to 10 has incurred disqualification under the provisions of schedule X of the constitution," it stated.

Chodankar stated that the Speaker had called for a preliminary hearing on his application on October 5 last year, but he is yet to hear from the speaker about the next course of action in the matter.

"It has been almost five months since the filing of the disqualification petition, however, no effective progress has taken place in the matter," Chodankar said, adding that the "delay is resulting into the ten MLAs getting undue and undeserving advantage of continuation as legislators".

The ten MLAs--Chandrakant Kavlekar, Isidore Fernandes, Jeniffer Monserrate, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Nilkant Halarnkar, Antonio Fernandes, Francisco Silveira, Wilfred D'Sa, Clafasio Dias and Antanasio Monserrate--had shifted their loyalties to the BJP, raising the strength of the ruling party to 27 in the 40-member House.

After joining BJP, Kavlekar was made deputy Chief Minister, Isidore Fernandes Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Jeniffer Monserrate Revenue Minister, and Filipe Neri Rodrigues Water Resources Department Minister.

After the ten MLAs pulled off a coup, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant dropped four ministers of BJP's then allies including the Goa Forward Party.

The Congress currently has five MLAs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Marry Mubaiwa's attorney, Advocate Sylvester Hashiti, speaking about the bail hearing of the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga soon after appearing before a High Court judge. Mubaiwa has been in remand prison for almost two weeks on several charges. (Thomas Chiripasi)
Music festival set for Jan. 17

Musikanten Montana hosts the 18th annual Montana Early Music Festival at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17, at the Immaculate Conception Church, corner of Caledonia Street and Western Avenue in Butte. The festival will feature the music of Vivaldi.

Director Kerry Krebill conducts favorite festival soloists and the 2019 MEMF chorus and orchestra of early music specialists from around the country playing instruments of Vivaldi's time, such as Baroque strings and horns, trumpets, oboes d'amore and oboes di caccia, recorders and portatief organ.

Seating is general admission with a reserved section that costs $100 for Musikanten Angel donors. Details: 406-442-6825.

After hours book club meeting

After Hours book club will meet at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 8, at La Casa Toscana, 53 E. Park St. This month they are discussing Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett.

Copies of the book are available at the Butte Public Library, 226 W. Broadway St.

Details: 406-723-3361 or visitwww.buttepubliclibrary.info.

Learn to swing dance

Come learn to jitterbug like a pro at the Clark Chateau from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, at 321 W. Broadway St., for adult swing dancing lessons, no partner needed, for absolute beginners and anyone else interested.

The classes will continue through May on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.

There is a $5 suggested donation per session. Details: Cari Coe 406-565-5600 or ccoe@bsb.mt.gov.

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The plight of 12 Israeli youths accused of gang-rape by a British girl in Cyprus was followed closely by those in high places in their homeland.

Soon after police arrived at the Pambos Napa Rocks Hotel in July, rounding up the suspects who would later be cleared, parents some 250 miles away grew increasingly concerned.

But some of the suspects have family friends in powerful positions. One of their fathers is an adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem, while an Israeli government minister has admitted being a close friend of the parents of two of the suspects. And on the very day the British woman says she was coerced into confessing she had made up her rape claims, the Greek foreign minister was visiting Israel and seemingly taking an interest in the case.

Some of the accused men celebrate after being released from jail in Cyprus on July 28.

The mother of the British woman (pictured with her left) convicted of lying about being gang raped in Cyprus has called for tourists to boycott the country in protest. Israeli minister for regional cooperation was a close friend to two lots of the Israeli group of boys and admitted he was 'under the impression that most of the boys had been seriously wronged'

Nikos Dendias met political leaders in Jerusalem and told reporters at a press conference: I must say that the briefing here on everything that is happening in Cyprus is very important to us.

The two countries share enormous economic interests, with a joint gas project on the Mediterranean island, and have many strategic ties too. Their alliance is seen as significant at a time of growing Turkish belligerence.

At the time of the arrests, the Israeli media followed the case closely.

Five of the boys were released a week after the incident, with Cypriot police saying there was no evidence they had been present. The other seven were released three days after that, on July 28, when the teenager retracted her allegation.

Their homecoming was heralded by champagne corks popping at Ben Gurion airport and chants of the Brit is a whore.

Two days later, the Mako news site in Israel revealed that the father of one of the boys was a senior adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem.

Some of the Israeli men who were initially accused of rape are seen arriving in court on July 25. The woman's family say police protected them and treated her as a criminal from the start

The father flew to Cyprus and was quoted as saying that what had happened in the room was a morally wrong thing for the boys  someone had to stop it. However, he maintained that his son was innocent.

Meanwhile the Israeli minister for regional cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi, said in an interview he was a close friend of the parents of two of the suspects and was under the impression that most of the boys have been seriously wronged. The 12 all received legal assistance from the Israeli consul in Cyprus, although this is not out of the ordinary.

The charges against the Israelis were dropped and they flew home to a heroes' welcome, drinking champagne at Tel Aviv airport and chanting 'the Brit is a whore'.

There is no evidence that the Israeli government, which has close ties with the government in Nicosia, exerted more pressure than usual in a case in which Israeli citizens were arrested abroad.

Although a local paper described investigators as Keystone Kops, Cypriot officials backed the police decision to release the Israelis. Outside court, before the trial of the British woman had even begun, the then mayor of Ayia Napa, Yiannis Karoussos, had assumed her guilt, threatening to sue her for defamation.


Two companies that employ independent workers are taking legal action to block a California law that offers protections to such workers.

The ride-sharing company Uber joined delivery service Postmates in the lawsuit. The two companies argue that the new law violates federal and state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and fair justice.

The law is set to take effect in California on Wednesday.

Supporters have argued that the new rules protect the rights of workers who are independent contractors.

The law requires companies to provide some independent contractors with the same kinds of work protections and benefits that employees receive. In addition to Uber and Postmates, the lawsuit includes two independent workers fighting the law.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law in September. It has brought greater attention to the rights of independent workers. The California law is seen as a possible model for future legislation in other states.

Companies like Uber, Lyft, Postmates and others depend on the states estimated 450,000 contract workers to work as drivers to keep their businesses running. The workers are considered independent contractors; they choose which hours and days they want to work.

The lawsuit argues that the new law covers some industries  like ride-sharing and delivery  but not others that operate similarly. It also states that the rules violate workers rights to choose how they earn a living.

The lawsuit also argues that the new law harms companies providing independent services by denying their constitutional rights to be treated the same as others to whom they are similarly situated.

The lawsuit described a study that suggested the law would increase Lyfts operating costs by 20 percent and cut the number of drivers in California by about 300,000.

Democratic state lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego helped write the bill. She said the law is meant to extend employee rights to more than a million independent workers who lack benefits. Those benefits include a minimum wage, paid time off and medical coverage.

Gonzalez noted that Uber had sought to receive exemptions to the law when legislators were working on the bill. Uber joined Lyft and DoorDash in promising to spend $30 million each in an effort to have the law overturned by voters during the 2020 election.

Gonzalez said in a statement: The one clear thing we know about Uber is they will do anything to try to exempt themselves from state regulations that make us all safer and their driver employees self-sufficient.

She added: In the meantime, Uber chief executives will continue to become billionaires while too many of their drivers are forced to sleep in their cars.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

delivery  n. the taking of goods from one place to another

lawsuit  n.  a legal action brought before a court

contractor  n. a person or company that supplies goods or does work for other people

benefit  n. assistance provided by employers to workers

minimum  adj. the least or smallest amount

exemption  n. the process of freeing from a responsibility to do something

regulation  n. an official rule that controls how something is done

self-sufficient  adj. able to do things independently and not needing help from others

executive  n. person with a high position in a company or the government
Algerian prosecutors on Tuesday sought a one-year prison sentence for the country's richest man Issad Rebrab who went on trial accused of tax, banking and customs offences.

The 74-year-old, who heads Algeria's biggest privately-owned conglomerate Cevital, was one of several tycoons arrested in April as part of a corruption investigation.

The probe followed the resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika after weeks of mass protests against his 20-year rule.

Rebrab is being tried along with two companies, Cevital subsidiary Evcon and the Jordan-based Housing Bank for Trade and Finance, according to national news agency APS, which reported the prosecutors' sentencing request.

They are charged with breaking laws on foreign exchange and fund transfers as well as forgery and false custom declarations.

Rebrab denies the accusations.

Forbes magazine lists Rebrab as Algeria's richest man and the sixth-wealthiest in Africa, with a net worth of $3.9 billion in 2019.

Cevital employs 18,000 people, produces electronics, steel and food, and in recent years it has acquired businesses in France.

While his businesses flourished under Bouteflika's rule, Rebrab had backed the protests that ultimately forced the president to resign in April.

His company has said it was "astonished" by his arrest.
For her detractors, the answer is no. Officials have for decades hewed to the idea that men are central to the traditional family unit, seen as the bedrock of society, and that single women should not be encouraged to have children on their own. Any easing of the ban, in the official view, could lead to a black market for human eggs and other thornier reproductive issues such as surrogacy, which China bans.
Passengers aboard a boat off the coast of Mazatlan in Sinaloa, Mexico, spotted stingrays jumping in and out of the ocean. The video of the sighting, posted to YouTube, shows stingrays leaping out of the water beside the vessel.

Shawn White shot the video from inside the boat. He told Storyful he found the sight of the sea rays flying out of the water hilarious and he decided to capture the scene and share it on his YouTube channel

Never seen anything like that before  just giant stingrays shooting out of water, he said. Credit: Shawn White via Storyful
Last week, a detailed report from the NY Times highlighted how ToTok  a messaging app used by millions in the UAE  was actually a government spy tool. Once the report went live and got media attention, Apple was quick to investigate the app and remove it from the App Store. ToToks co-founder Giacomo Ziani took to Twitter to plead Apple and Google to reinstate the app on their respective app stores.

In his short video message, Ziani says that the removal of ToTok from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store is hurting the company and putting all its efforts at risk. He clarified that ToTok is not associated linked with any government, be it the U.S., UAE, or China. The app has been built by a group of international entrepreneurs.

The co-founder also adds that user privacy and data protection have always been their top priority. To get ToTok back on the store, the startup has been working with the review team of Apple and Google and has passed all their requirements.

Ziani hopes that ToTok will be reinstated on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store in a few days and help millions of people connect with their loved ones.

WhatsApp, Telegram, and other similar messaging services are banned in the UAE so ToTok working fine in the same region was a bit puzzling. On this, co-founder Zaini in an interview with Khaleej Times said the app was allowed because it met the regulatory requirements and was launched as a pilot project. This was possible because the app was completely new to the market and it was starting from scratch.

Our Take

The original NY Times report claimed that ToTok was developed by the Emirati government officials to track people in the Emirates and beyond. Unlike Telegram or WhatsApp, ToTok does not mention using end-to-end encryption for messages so the co-founders statement of taking user privacy and data protection seriously falls flat into its face.
Iran's supreme leader Wednesday strongly condemned deadly US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to confront threats after US President Donald Trump issued one against the Islamic republic.

"I and the government and the nation of Iran strongly condemn this American crime," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state television.

They were his first remarks since Sunday's deadly US strikes on the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network in western Iraq.

The United States carried out the raids in retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American civilian contractor at a base in northern Iraq on Friday.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "orchestrating" that day's storming of the US embassy in Baghdad by protesters angry at the American air strikes.

Trump said: "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."



In response, Khamenei retweeted the post and said: "That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran.

"First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran," the supreme leader in his televised address.

"Secondly, be logical... The people of this region hate America. Why don't Americans understand this?" he said.

"You Americans have committed crimes in Iraq, you have committed crimes in Afghanistan. You have killed people."



Khamenei said Iran was ready to respond to any threat.

"If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly," he said.

"We are strongly committed to the interests of our country... We are strongly committed to the dignity of our nation. We are strongly committed to the progress and greatness of the nation of Iran.

"Should anyone threaten these, we will confront him without any hesitation and will strike our blow," Khamenei said.

"We will never... drag the country towards war. But if others want to impose anything on this country, we will stand against them with all our might."



US-Iran tensions have soared since Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man works at an assembly line of an auto factory in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo by Reuters/Kham.

Vietnam has the potential to achieve its growth target for 2020 thanks to rising exports and foreign investment, experts say.

The countrys economy still has room to expand at a target of 6.8 percent in 2020, with exports set to continue rising, creating a trade surplus for the fifth year in a row, economist Nguyen Tri Hieu said.

Hieus comment followed Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasting Vietnams GDP would expand by 6.8 percent in 2020, higher than the 5.5 percent Asia average.

Nguyen Minh Cuong, the banks chief country economist, said the forecast was based on rising trade value in Vietnam, which for the first time reached $517 billion in 2019.

The country is also seeing rising investment from international companies as they pull away from China amidst its trade war with the U.S., he said, adding the improving business environment in Vietnam has attracted these investors.

Foreign direct investment pledges in Vietnam reached a 10-year high value at $38 billion 2019, rising 7.2 percent year-on-year.

A recent study by professional services company PwC showed 44 percent of investors in Vietnam plan to increase their investment in the country in 2020, the highest rate globally, compared to 38 percent in Singapore and 36 percent in Thailand.

Vietnam also ranks second in the ratio of APEC investors eyeing to increase their cross-border investment, behind Australia, said the study, which polled over 1,000 business leaders from May to July 2019 from 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members.

49 percent of respondents were confident of revenue growth in 2020, higher than the APEC average of 34 percent, the study added.

Officials have expressed optimism for the countrys economic prospects in 2020. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a meeting Monday as the economy expands, there would be difficulties in achieving higher growth, though its not impossible.

Vietnams GDP managed to grow by 7.02 percent in 2019, the second highest rate in the last decade.

Phuc has ordered government bodies to raise the countrys exports by 13.8 percent from 2019 to $300 billion in 2020.

Challenges ahead

The first major challenge Vietnam will have to tackle in 2020 is a slowdown of the processing-manufacturing industry. While it has been a key sector dictating the economy's growth momentum in recent years, its growth rate had been declining towards the end of 2019.

The sector experienced a growth of 11.29 percent in 2019, the lowest in the past three years.

"The growth of the processing-manufacturing industry gradually declining in the last few months of the year shows difficulties coming up in 2020," said Nguyen Bich Lam, Director General of the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The second major challenge for Vietnam's economy in 2020 has to do with exports. Although a double digit surge was seen in exports to the U.S. in 2019, exports to other major markets such as the E.U., China and ASEAN saw almost no change and exports to Japan and South Korea only grew by around 8 percent.

In a report in early November, brokerage Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) Research raised the question of trade evasion. It noted that in the first 9 months of 2019, Vietnam's exports of goods to the U.S. increased sharply but this was accompanied by an increase in imports from China, while exports to the neighboring giant decreased.

The third challenge facing Vietnam's economy in 2020 would involve price management issues. Adverse fluctuations in the livestock sector, especially towards the end of 2019, have caused prices to soar. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) last December increased by 1.4 percent over the previous month, which was the highest increase in the past 9 years and was mainly due to supply shortages pushing up pork prices.

"This fluctuation is expected to continue having an effect in the first quarter of 2020 due to the upcoming Lunar New Year," said Do Thi Ngoc, Director of the GSO's Price Statistics Department. This issue, along with impending price increases for public services, will make the target of keeping the CPI below 4 percent next year "very difficult" to achieve, Ngoc said.

The capabilities of domestic enterprises, labor productivity and the competitiveness of the economy are other challenges that the nation is likely to face in 2020, making growth targets even more difficult to achieve.
An Odd Introduction

I dont know you, but your speech sounds a little slurred, she said. Have you been drinking? Not at all, the woman answered  surprised by the question. Chappell introduced herself, then asked the woman if she could do a few quick tests to make sure she was O.K. Chappell asked her to smile, but the left side of the patients mouth did not cooperate; she asked her to shrug her shoulders, and the left side wouldnt stay up. You need to go to the hospital, she told the woman. The woman protested; she felt fine.

At least let me call my E.M.T. pals to check your blood pressure, Chappell insisted. After a fall like that, it could be high. The woman reluctantly agreed, and Chappell called her colleagues. The woman on the ground was embarrassed by the flashing lights of the emergency vehicle but allowed her blood pressure to be taken. It was sky-high. She really did need to go to the hospital.

Checking the Brain

It was getting dark by the time she was rolled into the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. The doctors and nurses were ready for her. They knew her speech had been slurred but said it no longer was. When they asked her to smile, as the E.M.T. had, they noted that the left and right sides now matched. Despite her improvement, the emergency-room doctor was concerned that shed had a stroke. An IV was placed, monitors were attached and she was zipped to the CT scanner. The CT scan of her brain was normal, but the E.R. doctor consulted with a neurologist, who thought she should get an M.R.I.; she still might have had a stroke. The M.R.I. showed that indeed she had. She shouldnt go home, the E.R. doctor told her.

It was early the following morning when the neurologist, Dr. Margareth Saldanha, introduced herself to the woman she had already heard about. Saldanha explained to the woman that, even though she no longer had evidence of a stroke on examination, she had had a few small strokes that were clearly visible on the M.R.I. She shouldnt leave the hospital until they figured out why she had these strokes, so they could try to stop her from having more of them.

The woman was bewildered by what felt like unnecessary concern; she wanted to go home. Saldanha pulled the computer over to the patients bed and showed her M.R.I. images of an array of tiny white dots indicating damage to her brain amid the normal gray swirls. Shocked by the sight, the woman agreed to stay.
Lahore: The historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistans Kartarpur  the final resting place of Sikh faiths founder Guru Nanak  will be closed for non-Sikh visitors for three days from Friday in connection with the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Gobind Singh, an official said here on Wednesday.

The (Pakistan) government has decided to close the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib for three days from January 3 to 5 for non-Sikh visitors to exclusively hold a Sikh event  celebration of birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh at the Kartarpur Complex Narowal, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETBP) spokesperson Amir Hashmi said.

Hashmi said the government decided to close the Kartarpur Sahib for non-Sikh Pakistanis to let the Sikhs of Pakistan and India celebrate their Gurus birthday together at the historic Kartarpur complex.

The main event of the 10th Gurus birth anniversary will be held at Kartarpur on January 5. In addition to 2,000 Pakistani Sikhs, officials of the ETPB and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee will also participate in it, the official said, adding that strict security measures have been taken to avert any untoward incident.

The official said that on Saturday and Sunday, more than 20,000 non-Sikh pilgrims visit the Kartarpur complex.
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Murphy, of Tulip Court, Darndale, had pleaded guilty to assaulting gardai and criminal damage to a garda uniform at (stock photo)

A mother-of-four who assaulted two gardai while she was "berserk on a cocktail of drink and drugs" has had her case further adjourned.

Christine Murphy (44) had been "up all night abusing substances" when she kicked one officer and scraped another with her fingernails until he bled.

Murphy, of Tulip Court, Darndale, had pleaded guilty to assaulting gardai and criminal damage to a garda uniform at that address last February 16.

The case had been put back at Dublin District Court for pre-sentence probation and other reports.

Judge John Hughes noted that the accused had not attended all appointments with the probation service.

Murphy's lawyer said the accused was now clean of all substances.

Abusive

The judge said it was a "serious matter" and adjourned to February.

The court had heard gardai were called to Murphy's address at 10.40am.

She was in the kitchen and highly intoxicated when they arrived.

During arrest, she became abusive and violent, placing her legs against the door frame as gardai tried to get her out.

She tried to bite one of the officers.

When she was taken to the patrol car, she lashed out with her feet, striking one garda on the knee and grabbing his jacket, causing it to rip.

Murphy continued to lash out, connecting with the garda in the stomach.

She also used her nails to scrape the other garda, drawing blood from his left lower arm and leaving a "deeply embedded nail mark", the court had heard.
Like many vacation destinations, the Brainerd Lakes area is seeing a surge in properties available through websites like Airbnb and VRBO. But some neighbors have complained that the vacation rentals bring related problems, including noise, late-night parties and too many vehicles.

Crow Wing County commissioners on Tuesday will hear what the public has to say about a proposed ordinance regulating short-term rental properties.

County Administrator Tim Houle said the county isn't trying to ban short-term rentals.

"We're not trying to put them out of business," Houle said. "What we are trying to say is that there are reasonable standards that people ought to be able to agree on about how they ought to be operated to minimize the secondary impacts on other folks."

The proposed ordinance would require properties rented for fewer than 30 days to have an annual license and an adequately sized septic system. It would set quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and require that a contact person be available 24/7 in case of an issue.

ADVERTISEMENT

The public hearing is scheduled for 9:05 a.m. Tuesday. The board could vote on the ordinance after the hearing or postpone a decision, Houle said.

The proposal has generated numerous comments, both in support and opposition to the new rules.

Some said they welcomed the regulations as a way to curb nearby problem properties. Others said the ordinance is overly restrictive, may hurt the sales of cabins and lake homes and affect the ability to earn income.

Other Minnesota counties including Cook and Aitkin regulate short-term rental properties, as do the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

This story originally appeared at: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/12/31/crow-wing-county-considers-rules-for-vacation-rentals of story Questions or requests? Contact MPR News editor Meg Martin at newspartners@mpr.org  2019 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.


There is a terrific scene at the movie The Big Short, based on Michael Lewiss brilliant book on the financial crisis, where the director Adam McKay imagines a different ending.

Instead of the Wall Street bankers who caused the crash escaping to their luxury Florida villas and yachts, the FBI arrives on the trading floors of Lehman Brothers et al and is seen carting off the creators of the disaster, which ruined so many ordinary lives, in handcuffs.

The reality was different. The administrations of George W Bush and Barack Obama took the view that saving capitalism was far more important than bringing the bad bankers to justice.

Carlos Ghosn (left), the former superstar boss of Nissan-Renault has been less fortunate. The Japanese authorities took a dim view of the Ghosn cult, never really took to the gaijin (foreigner) chief executive and his willingness to sacrifice Nissan and Japanese industrial strategy on the altar of the demands of President Macron and Renault

So almost all of them escaped with tens of millions of dollars of ill-gotten bonuses, and several hung on to their jobs.

Carlos Ghosn, the former superstar boss of Nissan-Renault has been less fortunate. The Japanese authorities took a dim view of the Ghosn cult, never really took to the gaijin (foreigner) chief executive and his willingness to sacrifice Nissan and Japanese industrial strategy on the altar of the demands of President Macron and Renault. It was amid this arm wrestle, rooted in the global reshaping of the motor industry caused by carbon emissions, that Ghosn found himself behind bars.

Doubtless Ghosn had begun to believe his own myths and was able to exploit the leaky governance of the two overlapping partners to enrich himself.

It was allegedly secret payments made to him in his role as chief executive and a mysterious undeclared account containing $5million (3.8million) which led to his arrest. What appears to have been a case of very sloppy compliance, not unusual in Japan, became a cause celebre and a criminal case.

There is a history here. Former British chief executive of Olympus Michael Woodford fled Japan for the UK after he exposed a 1billion fraud at the company in 2011-12. Instead of being rewarded for his assiduous and honourable behaviour the company pursued him for 15million, for allegedly manipulating the pension scheme.

Woodford claimed that there were forces behind the Olympus board which were a threat to his safety.

Why did Ghosn plan an escape to Lebanon? After initially spending time in jail he had been under house arrest on a 6.8million bond and his lawyers seemed confident that they were starting to win the arguments.

The central figure in the Goldman Sachs 1MBD fundraising scandal in Malaysia, Jho Low, is a fugitive in Abu Dhabi. The powerful often have the means, networks and access to places beyond justice.

His disappearance might be convenient at a time when a high-profile trial could have harmed Japan-France relations and hindered a reshaping of the car industry. But it will do little to restore faith that miscreants will have their collars felt.

Rich and powerful people have long had the means to elude justice. Most famously in Britain, Asil Nadir, founder of the mini-conglomerate Polly Peck, managed a daring escape from fraud charges when he escaped on a private plane to northern Cyprus.

There he would hold court to visiting journalists before deciding to end his exile, after 17 years as a fugitive, and face justice.

Fugitive status is almost a badge of honour in finance. There are 36 senior Indian tycoons on the run from the countrys enforcement directorate, including former Kingfisher airline boss Vijay Mallya.

In Britain there is a long history of the Serious Fraud Office failing to nail offenders. It has done better with recent bribery cases because the legislation has been simplified

The central figure in the Goldman Sachs 1MBD fundraising scandal in Malaysia, Jho Low, is a fugitive in Abu Dhabi. The powerful often have the means, networks and access to places beyond justice.

In Britain there is a long history of the Serious Fraud Office failing to nail offenders. It has done better with recent bribery cases because the legislation has been simplified, making prosecutions easier.

It also had some success with Libor fixing. But it has struggled with cases arising from the financial crisis. Among the reasons that individuals do not fear action is the increased use of deferred prosecution agreements, under which companies accept wrongdoing and pay big fines leaving the controlling minds unblemished.

In an interview with the Mail in April 2019 the director of the Serious Fraud Office, Lisa Osofsky, said the controlling minds cover their tracks by leaving no documentary or email trail. She wants fraud laws dating back to the 1880s updated. That is something Boris Johnson could easily do in 2020 to underpin a cleaner capitalism.

The risk is that it might have the unintended effect of encouraging wrongdoers to escape to safer havens.
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An Australian farmer was forced to shoot 20 of his cows after they were badly injured in the bushfires ravaging the coastal areas of southern New South Wales.

Steve Shipton from Coolagolite, between the hard-hit towns of Cobargo and Bermagui, was consoled by neighbouring farmers after the heart-wrenching task of putting down the cattle which had been severely burnt by fires that swept through his property.

Graphic pictures show the moments leading up to the killings, as well as the moments directly after, where he was consoled by fellow farmers Bernie Smith and Peter Mercieca.

After completing the harrowing task of putting down about a tenth of his herd, Mr Shipton shook the hand of a local vet and thanked him for the support.

Pictures show the farmer checking the burns on the cattle and the distressing moment he shot another with his rifle.

Steve Shipton inspects the burns on a calf he has just put down in his paddock after a bushfire in Coolagolite

Steve Shipton shoots an injured calf in his paddock after a bushfire tore through the community on January 1, 2020

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra

The fire front on the NSW south coast flared on New Year's Eve, leaving seven people dead and hundreds of properties destroyed, and locals were bracing for more hot and windy conditions on Saturday.

The total death toll for this fire season reached 18 after eight people - seven in NSW and one in Victoria - died on Tuesday and Wednesday.

An estimated 480million animals have also perished in the blazes, which have affected various areas across all states since October.

Steve Shipton (centre) is consoled by fellow farmers Bernie Smith (left) and Peter Mercieca after shooting some of his herd

A number of Steve Shipton's cows lay dead after being killed in his paddock. They were seriously burned in the blaze before he put them down

Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

In NSW 186 homes have been razed and entire towns, including Mogo and Cobargo have been destroyed.

But authorities warned that conditions would be even worse Saturday and urged both locals and the tourists in the seaside towns to get out of fire affected areas as soon as possible.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of dangerous conditions on Saturday.

'We are getting indications with the forecast for Saturday that it is going to present a broader geographic area worse than what we saw yesterday in terms of fire danger,' he said.

'We all need to prepare ourselves for more challenging conditions.'

He said the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawara and Shoalhaven.

The photographer who took the heartbreaking images has started a GoFundMe to raise money for Mr Shipton and the community.

Several bushfire-ravaged communities in New South Wales and Victoria have greeted the new year under immediate threat
File image

The Uttar Pradesh government has identified five potential sites that will be offered to the UP Sunni Waqf Board as alternative land to construct a mosque, The Times of India has reported.

A five-judge Supreme Court of India (SC) bench had, on November 9, pronounced its verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi land dispute case. The apex court had allowed construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site in UPs Ayodhya by a trust, and had asked for allocation of a five-acre plot to Muslims for construction of a mosque.

Within two months of the SC order, the state government has now identified five plots outside the periphery of the panchkosi parikrama and close to the highway passing by Ayodhya to be offered to Muslims. The identified plots are located on the Ayodhya-Faizabad Road, Ayodhya- Basti Road, Ayodhya-Sultanpur Road, Ayodhya-Gorakhpur Road, along with one more location, the report suggests. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The details of the plots have been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for clearance.

The report adds that the land has been identified beyond the periphery of panchkosi parikrama, a 15-kilometre circular route in Ayodhya that has been used by Hindu devotees to pay obeisance so that devotees are not inconvenienced when Hindu and Muslim festivals are held simultaneously.

Most parts of Ayodhya and a major portion of the population are situated within the panchkosi parikrama route.

The proximity to the highway is to ensure easy access to Muslims, the report adds quoting sources.

While the process of identifying and clearing land for the mosque on, the Sunni Waqf Board is yet to decide on if it wants to accept the alternative land.
Brisbane Heat's spinner Zahir Khan on Wednesday celebrated in style after taking the wicket of Perth Scorchers' Josh Inglis in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL).

The incident happened in the sixth over of Brisbane's innings when Inglis was bowled by Zahir. Following the dismissal, Zahir decided to break into the 'Gangnam Style' dance.

BBL's official handle tweeted the video of the incident and captioned the post as--"The wicket is good, but the celebration from Zahir Khan is next level! Our first Bucket Moment of 2020".

In the same match, Brisbane Heat's pacer Ben Laughlin became the first bowler to take 100 wickets in the BBL.

He now has 100 wickets from 79 matches, while Sean Abbott of Sydney Sixers is in second place with 96 scalps from 74 games. Kane Richardson of Melbourne Renegades is third with 81 wickets from 64 matches.

Laughlin dismissed Perth Scorchers' Ashton Agar in the final over to record his 100th dismissal in Australia's domestic T20 competition.

The pacer returned with the bowling figures of 2-32 in his four overs and Brisbane restricted Perth to 147/6 in the allotted twenty overs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)






BEIRUT/TOKYO  Ousted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn was in his childhood home of Lebanon on Tuesday after fleeing what he said was a rigged justice system in Japan, raising questions about how one of the worlds most-recognized executives slipped away while on bail.

Ghosns abrupt departure marks the latest dramatic twist in a year-old saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardised the alliance of Nissan Motor Co Ltd and top shareholder Renault SA and cast a harsh light on Japans judicial system.

I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, Ghosn, 65, said in a brief statement on Tuesday.

I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.

Tokyo officials have previously said the system is not inhumane and that Ghosn, who is facing trial on financial misconduct charges he denies, has been treated like any other suspect.

It was unclear how Ghosn, who holds French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship, was able to orchestrate his departure from Japan, given that he had been under strict surveillance by authorities while out on bail and had surrendered his passports.

According to a senior Lebanese foreign ministry source, Ghosn entered Lebanon legally on a French passport and using his Lebanese ID with normal security procedures. Asked if Ghosn used a French passport, the French foreign ministry press service said it had no immediate comment.

Ghosn arrived in Beirut on a private jet from Istanbul on Monday, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Immigration authorities had no record of Ghosn leaving the country, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. A person resembling him entered Beirut international airport under a different name, NHK reported, citing an unidentified Lebanese security official.

Story continues

His lawyers were still in possession of his three passports, one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters.

Hironaka, in comments broadcast live on NHK, said the first he had heard of Ghosns departure was on the news this morning and that he was surprised. He also said it was inexcusable behaviour.

Japan has extradition treaties with only the United States and South Korea, according to the justice ministry, meaning it could be difficult to force Ghosn to return to stand trial.

While his arrest on financial misconduct charges last year ensured a dramatic fall from grace in Japan, he retains more popularity in Lebanon, where billboards saying We are all Carlos Ghosn were erected in his support and he was previously featured on a postage stamp.

Born in Brazil of Lebanese ancestry, Ghosn grew up in Beirut and has retained close ties to Lebanon.

At Ghosns gated villa in the Achrafieh neighborhood of Beirut, a handful of police and private security personnel stood guard on Tuesday.

A man who identified himself only as his English neighbor walked by to leave a card, with the words Carlos, welcome home! written inside. It was not immediately clear if Ghosn was at the address.

Its a good thing that at last hes out of being locked up for something which he may or may not  probably not  have done, said the neighbor.

A French minister said before the report Ghosn used a French passport that she was very surprised by news of his emergence in Lebanon.

FLIGHT RISK

Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018, shortly after his private jet touched down at the airport. He faces four charges - which he denies - including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East.

Nissan sacked him as chairman saying internal investigations revealed misconduct including understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.

The case sparked international criticism of Japans justice system, in which 99.9 percent of people charged with crimes are convicted and defence lawyers are prohibited from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day.

Ghosn was initially released in March on a record $9 million bail only to be arrested on related charges weeks later and then released on bail again at the end of April.

His movement and communications have been monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence, the Tokyo District court previously said.

The terms of his bail have also been striking by Western standards. He has been prevented from communicating with his wife, Carole, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

Carole is now with him in Lebanon at a house with armed guards outside, the New York Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

HOUSE ARREST

Ghosn did not believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was tired of being an industrial political hostage, one person told The Wall Street Journal.

A person familiar with Nissans thinking told Reuters: I think he gave up fighting the prosecutors in court.

The trial was widely expected to start in April. Ghosns Japanese lawyers have fought, so far unsuccessfully, to get access to 6,000 pieces of evidence collected from Nissan, which they say is crucial to a fair trial.

Ghosn has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing former Nissan colleagues of backstabbing and describing them as selfish rivals bent on derailing closer ties between the Japanese automaker and its biggest shareholder Renault, of which Ghosn was also chairman.

His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss all charges, accusing prosecutors of colluding with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him to block any takeover by Renault.

Ghosn began his career in 1978 at tyre maker Michelin. In 1996, he moved to Renault where he oversaw a turnaround that won him the nickname Le Cost Killer.

After Renault sealed an alliance with Nissan in 1999, Ghosn used similar methods to revive the ailing brand, leading to business super-star status in Japan, blanket media coverage and even a manga comic book on his life.

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Does the decade end in 2019 or 2020? Thats raging debate online which you can contribute to. What we can be sure of is, 2019 would expire in a few hours, and Myjoyonline.com is glad to take you through a tour of what the year looked back.

The year hit the ground running, if you choose to say so.

In January, after almost two decades of the Dagbon Kingdom being without an overlord, peace prevailed and the disputing factions united and installed a new Ya Na.

Abukari Mahama II was outdoored in a colourful ceremony at Yendi. President Nana Akufo-Addo was the guest of honour among many other dignitaries that attended the historic event.

Read more...

In the same month, a by-election held at Ayawaso West Wuogon in Accra was marred after armed men stormed the residence of the opposition candidate, NDCs Delali Kwesi Brempong.

The disturbance escalated to the La Bawaleshie polling station nearby and voting there was stalled for about 20 minutes.

The NDC pulled out of the elections, citing safety concerns and called for the election called off.

It wasnt; and the governing NPPs candidate, Lydia Alhassan won a landslide victory.

A Commission of Enquiry, Chaired by former CHRAJ boss, Emile Short was set up to investigate the disturbances and proffer solutions to solve electoral related violence for good.

After, their month-long public hearing, the Short-Commission compiled their finding and handed same to the government who rejected more than 50% of the recommendations, including prosecuting government representatives who were found culpable in the January 31 disturbances.

Read more

The following month, Former President John Mahamas quest to return to power was endorsed massively by delegates of his party. The once Bole MP garnered over 95% of the votes against the likes of former UPS Vice-Chancellor, Joshua Alabi who vowed he would win.

Former breakaway leader, Augustus Tanoh, former NHIS CEO, Sylvester Mensah and former Trades Minister, Spio Garbrah were all shrugged off in the race to the NDC flagbearership.

Mahama promised to reunite the party ahead of the 2020 general elections.

Read more

In April, the quest to find and bring home three girls from Takoradi who were kidnapped received some lifeline as CID boss, COP Tiwa Addo Danquah said on live TV that the police knew where the girls are and that they are safe.

Prime suspect in the case, Nigerian, Samuel Udoterk Wills remained in custody while being tried on a related case of jailbreak.

The lifeline given the families of the missing girls was crushed after news broke that human remains had been found in a septic tank at the residence of Udoterk.

DNA results, according to the police confirmed that the remains are those of the missing girls, sending the whole nation into mourning. But some were beyond sad, irate commentators called for the head of the CID who had assured families that the girls were safe.

COP Danquah did not step down, neither was she axed. A year of the campaign, led by JoyNews to save the girls came to nought.

Read more

President Nana Akufo-Addo had set the phrase Ghana Beyond Aid as his development agenda. To champion this, a policy document was outdoored by the government on May Day.

The spectacle which was meant to put the country in limelight and bring praise to the Akufo-Addo administration backfired and brought grave embarrassment to the nation as it turned out the cover page of the document was plagiarised.

An edifice of over was a building from East African country, Kenya.

The Ghana Beyond Aid Committee apologised for the gaffe and also called on the designer of the document to apologise to the government.

Read more

In June, a proposed new Parliamentary chamber tipped to cost the taxpayer some $200million united the citizens against their MPs. #DropThatChamber was the swift response that greeted the decision being championed by NPP MPs.

The opposition MPs backed the resistance, calling on their colleagues across the aisle of shelve the idea.

Leader of Rightist movement, Economic Fighters League took the resistance a notch higher when he stormed parliament to interrupt proceedings, demanding that MPs. #DropThatChamber.

The idea was shelved after the resistance grew beyond what government could chew.

Read more

In mid-year July, a sudden directive from the Jubilee House sent the whole nation asking questions; the Inspector-General of Police, Asante Apeatu was relieved of his post just a few weeks to his retirement.

COP Apeatu was asked to hand over to his deputy James Oppong Boanuh.

That move alone drew criticism since Mr Boanuh was put in an Acting position which experts said would make him a puppet of the appointing authority.

President Akufo-Addo later confirmed Boanuh as police chief.

Read more

In the same month, Speaker of US House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the super powers Congress-led the black caucus in the House to Ghana as part of the Year of Return celebrations.

Nancy Pelosi gave a historic address in Ghanas Parliament as part of the visit.

Read more

The new IGP was welcomed into office on a rather challenging note as of late July through to August saw the assassination of a number of police officers.

Read more

The NDC held its parliamentary primaries in the same month, an exercised that saw big names like actor John Dumelo grabbing the Ayawaso West Wuogon party ticket.

The story was not so glossy for other bigwigs as former Gender Minister, Nana Oye Lithur lost woefully in her bid to represent the party in the 2020 parliamentary elections at Adentan.

MP for Kunbungu, Ras Mubarak also lost the primaries, in essence, kicking him out of the House unless he decides to run as an independent candidate.

Read more

The CEO of the Public Procurement Authority was also fingered in one of the biggest procurement scams yet. An investigation by freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni revealed that his company Talent Discoveries Limited has been selling government contracts to the highest bidder.

Mr AB Adjei, a man decorated with many procurement awards and recognitions, was suspended from his post by President Akufo-Addo pending investigations by CHRAJ and the Special Prosecutor.

Read more

In September, a never-seen-before spectacle hit the Independence Square in Accra. JHS graduates amassed at the Osu venue to demand posting or change of placements to Senior High Schools across the country.

The opposition NDC blamed the disaster on the governments mode of implementing the free SHS programme which had drastically increased enrollments.

Read more

The controversies with legal education increased after results of admission exams into the law school were released, showing a paltry 7% pass.

Critics of the system lambasted the General Legal Council and called for immediate reforms. Then Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, however, maintained her stance that she would not allow mass production of lawyers in Ghana.

The controversies were further deepened after police interrupted a demonstration by aggrieved law students, shooting at them and spraying them with water from their cannons.

The law enforcers received widespread condemnation but insisted they attacked the law students because they had gone out of order. Their explanations drew more condemnation after videos of the peaceful protest were blasted over social media showing the police were at fault.

Legal education remains a dispute between the students and the regulators.

Read more

The nation was then thrown into shock after government announced that a coup plot had been foiled by 15 months surveillance by security forces.

The matter was with received scorn as many Ghanaians took to social media to mock the idea, saying the accused persons lacked the capacity to destabilise the state.

However, as weeks passed, military and senior police officers picked up in relation to the coup claims by the government.

All of the accused, including, outspoken ACP Agordzo remain in custody after the court denied them bail, arguing they could interfere with investigations.

Read more...

Reforms in basic education caused its own stir as it some documents reveal the education service was introducing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) which was being linked to LGBT ideas.

President Nana Akufo-Addo however, settled the storm when he said no such topics would be thought in Ghanaian schools under his supervision.

Read more

The BBC then shook the nation, and indeed sub-region with their documentary, Sex for Grades.

The investigative piece revealed university lecturers propositioning undercover journalists disguised as students.

The UK media outlet said they targeted lecturers who have a reputation of harassing their students.

University of Ghana suspended two of its lecturers indicted in the documentary. A committee later established a prima facie case against the two lecturers and recommended they face the disciplinary committee of the university.

Read more

The Homeland Study Group Foundation, separatist movement based in the Volta Region then gained national attention for themselves after they declared independence for Western Togoland, a stretch of land consisting the Volta Region, Oti Region, Northern Region, North-East Region and the Upper East Region.

Several members of the group have been arrested and they face possible treason charges.

Their leader, octogenarian, identified as Papavi remains at large.

The group claims potions of the agreement on which the former Western Togoland joined Ghana have not been fulfilled therefore, the people had the right to independence from Ghana.

Read more

The recurring problem with local traders and their foreign counterparts showed its head again. The Ghana Union of Traders led its members to close down shops of Nigerians and other immigrants, mostly from the sub-region.

Per Ghanas laws, foreigner are not allowed to engage in retail trade, the reason behind GUTAs hostilities toward the foreigners.

A border closure by Nigeria has also failed to help matters as Ghanaian trader lament their goods rot away on the Benin-Nigeria border as goods are not allowed into or out of Nigeria.

A decision the West African giant says it is using to check to smuggle.

Read more

At the start of December, President Akufo-Addo was forced to withdraw the much-advertised Referendum that was intended to amend Article 55/3 of the constitution.

The amendment would have introduced partisan politics at the District Assemblies but the opposition NDC beat a sudden U-turn and called on their members to vote against the proposal.

The opposition party said the government was deliberately misleading Ghanaians to believe the referendum was about whether or not universal adult suffrage should be used to elect MMDCEs.

The NDC also said the pleasantries of partisanship need not be introduced at the local government.

The atmosphere became so charged that calls on the government to withdraw the referendum for a consensus to be built could no longer be ignored.

With a heavy heart, President Akufo-Addo withdrew the Referendum bill.

Read more

JoyNews also premiered its second special assignment documentary, scars of the revolution, which detailed the human right abuses during and after the December 31 coup detat by ex-president JJ Rawlings.

Read more

Myjoyonline.com
The Crime Branch of Thane Police has arrested a Bangladeshi national who had fled to his home country after allegedly killing his wife two years ago.

Mahabubur Rahman Asadzaman Shaikh (45), the accused, hails from Naudail in Bangladesh, the police said in a release on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip-off, he was nabbed near the Thane railway station on Tuesday evening.

In December 2017, Shaikh, who lived in Thane district, allegedly strangled his wife Poly, wrapped her body in a cloth and dumped it near a bridge at Tarivali Khind on Mumbai- Ahmedabad Highway.

A case was registered against him at Waliv police station in the district on March 21, 2019, after forensic examination of the skeleton identified the deceased's identity.

After allegedly committing the murder, he fled to Bangladesh and lived their for two years before returning here few days ago, the police release said.

It was yet to be ascertained if he was living in India without a valid visa, a police official said.

It was not yet known what led to the killing.

Waliv police are conducting further probe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALBANY  State education officials are trying to answer the question of why public schools and teaching colleges consistently struggle to recruit and retain teachers of color.

The Department of Education on Tuesday released a comprehensive study looking at teacher diversity, or lack thereof, at public schools, teacher training programs, and in education leadership positions across the state.

In the Capital Region, there are 132 students of color for every teacher who identifies as Native American, black, Hispanic, Asian or multiracial, according to the report, which offers more detailed data than a draft of the study released in November.

Statewide, teacher diversity increased between 2011 and 2017, with the state adding 1,400 teachers of color, but most of those gains are concentrated in New York City. In other parts of the state  including the greater Albany area  the portion of minority teachers appears to be declining, according to the report.

The study hones in on shortcomings in hiring and retention policies, the lack of clear and affordable educational options, as well as social and economic barriers that may contribute to the stark demographic gaps between students and their teachers in most of the state.

The data also show a gender imbalance in the state's educator workforce, leaving students with "fewer opportunities to interact with positive male role models, particularly male role models of color."

New York schools with Latino or black principals tend to employ greater percentages of Latino and black teachers, suggesting that school leadership can have an influence on the employment of teachers of color, studies show. But the analysis highlights a dearth of black and Hispanic educational leaders, who account for nearly 30 percent of New York states school principals and assistant principals, but just under 10 percent of superintendents, in the 2018-19 academic year.

Black leadership is harder to find in New York public schools. Last year, only 18 percent of principals and 6 percent of superintendents were black, according to the report.

From my personal experience, there is a different set of experiences you face as an educator and school leader of color. It was instrumental to receive that unique (mentoring) support from someone who looks like me and faced very similar experiences. Princess Francois, a Brooklyn assistant principal and 2019 Milken Educator Award Recipient, told state education researchers.

Studies show that diverse faculty enriches all children, reducing the likelihood they'll grow up with racial biases. For students of color, meeting educators and role models who look like them can have a measurable impact on academic achievement. Black and Latino teachers are also more likely to flag students of color as gifted.

Schenectady City School District received an honorable mention in the SED report for creating an administrative position focused on recruitment and diversity and for building ties with historically black colleges and universities. The district also began tracking and publishing annual data on the diversity of new hires and retained staff in the district. Last year, the district welcomed one of its most diverse classes of new hires, with close to 20 percent of the district's 70 new teachers people of color.

Recognizing research that shows teachers are more likely to serve the regions where they were educated, the district last year launched a "grow your own" program. It encourages high school students to consider education as a career.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The program is still "in its infancy," according to Schenectady Superintendent Larry Spring.

"It came through our being kind of frustrated with trying to address teacher diversity issues solely through recruitment," Spring said in November. "Even as we get into historically black colleges and universities, a very low percentage of those students are in the education pipeline."

SED found that teachers are more likely to serve schools in the areas where they are trained, but upstate, teacher training programs serve few people of color. Just 3 percent of teachers trained in the Capital Region meet that criteria, the data show.

The report gives credit to University at Albanys School of Education's Touhey Family Fellow Program which aims to aid the Albany area in diversifying the teaching and counseling professions. The program recruits undergraduate students with diverse backgrounds at UAlbany to pursue advanced degrees in education and mental health then, ideally, enter the Albany public school system.

"We had focused on that post-graduate space, but in the last four or five years, we said we really need to be conscious of creating those pathways," said Jason Lane, a professor and the interim dean at the Albany teachers college. "We are losing folks because we are not clear about what the pathways are to becoming an educator."

Ian Rosenblum, executive director of Education Trust - New York, an educational equity advocacy organization that created educational data tools cited in the report, hailed SED's findings.

All students in New York state deserve access to strong, well-supported, and diverse educators, and research emphasizes the benefits of teacher diversity for all groups of students," Rosenblum said. "This report should serve as a call to specific actions and greater urgency at the state and local levels."
A Florida man is in jail following a fight with his girlfriend over her claims that he drugged her cat.

"I read through his phone that he poisoned my cat," the woman told a 911 operator.

The call led to the arrest of 45-year-old Frank Jesse on charges of domestic violence and animal cruelty.

On Saturday morning, the victim said her cat was acting strangely by walking around in circles. She said Jesse had been drinking all night and when he finally fell asleep, she said she found text messages to one of his friends saying he was going to poison her cat.

The victim said she found Google searches on how to kill a cat with amphetamines on Jesse's phone.

"When you cause this degree of suffering, in the animal, it rises to the level of a felony. This is a third-degree felony and if convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison as a result," said Bob Kealing, of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.

For a time, the victim couldn't find the cat, but eventually ,it was taken to a nearby emergency vet. Officials said it tested positive for amphetamines.

"The vet takes it a step further and says we don't have any medications that we give to cats that would come back as a test result like this," Kealing said.

Jesse's phone was taken as evidence. His bond is set at $11,000.

Officials said the cat is OK and doing well.
BAGHDAD  Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world. The attack prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest U.S. air strikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a U.S. contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at U.S. Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias  many backed by Iran  called on its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

By late afternoon the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies.

After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly, said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. We rubbed Americas nose in the dirt.

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the U.S. air strikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse. The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Irans economy.

Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October, fueled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Irans heavy influence over the countrys affairs. Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

President Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the embassy and the Pentagon dispatched an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait.

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly.

Qassim Abdul-Zahra is an Associated Press writer.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said "certain amount of the Mahadayi water has been diverted" despite the case of dispute with Karnataka over sharing the river water pending before the Supreme Court.

Sawant also said that a recent letter written by Union Minister Prakash Javadekar to Karnataka over the river water issue has "no legal sanctity" as the apex court is already hearing the case.

Javadekar last week wrote to Karnataka, stating that clearance was not required for its Kalsa Bhanduri drinking water project on the Mahadayi river.

Goa and Karnataka are locked in a dispute over sharing of the Mahadayi river water, and the former has been opposing the Kalsa Bhanduri project.

"We have to admit that certain amount of Mahadayi river water has been diverted. We cannot deny that," Sawant said in an interview to 'Doordarshan' on Tuesday.

He said Goa has already challenged before the Supreme Court the order of Inter-State Water Dispute Tribunal which allowed Karnataka to divert certain amount of water.

"Union Minister Prakash Javadekar initially wrote a letter to Karnataka stating that clearance was not required for a project on the Mahadayi," he said recalling the communication written in the month of October.

"Later, we managed to keep the letter in abeyance. But once again, he wrote the letter to Karnataka," the chief minister said referring to the letter issued last week.

"The third letter has no legal sanctity as the dispute between the states on Mahadayi is already being heard by the Supreme Court," Sawant said, adding that his government will never compromise over the Mahadayi river water.

Asked about resumption of mining in Goa, Sawant said certain activity in the mining belt could resume soon after the state gets an approval for the policy to handle dumps (piles of low grade iron ore).

"Since the time I have taken over as chief minister,I have been following up the issue on a day-to-day basis. Whatever we could do, we have done," he said.

Sawant said they have also petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to get political support on the issue, he said.

Goa has already filed a review petition before the Supreme Court, which will come up for hearing in January, he said.

"We want to find a solution for the issue. If something is not possible in the Supreme Court, then as per Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, we can form a mining corporation in the interest of Goan people," the chief minister said.

Ruling out the possibility of auctioning the mining leases, Sawant said, "Considering the existing land related issues, auctioning would cause delay in resumption of mining activity."



Mining came to a halt in Goa in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases and banned extraction of fresh iron ore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Acwa Power, a leader in power generation and water desalination projects, has signed with an agreement with Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) for pursuing opportunities to enhance local content in Saudi Arabia.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Thamer Al Sharhan, managing director at Acwa Power and Fuad Mosa, VP of Local Content & Business Development at Sabic.



The partnership is in alignment with Acwa Powers commitment to play a leading role in developing and promoting local content and establishing end-to-end Saudi value chain for all its activities and projects in the Kingdom.



Al Sharhan said: One of the key strategies of Acwa Power is to encourage and develop local content in the markets we operate in. As such, we are perfectly aligned with the local content strategies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is not only the way-to-go for achieving economic diversification goals but also ensuring competitiveness of the local economy besides creating opportunities for local businesses and young Saudis.



Acwa Power looks towards this next phase of our efforts to enhance localization with the support of our partner; Sabic. Partnering with the like-minded entity we hope to create synergies in our local content endeavours and are confident this partnership shall prove to be a giant step in the right direction.



Through our Sakaka Solar PV project, already we are seeing the benefits of supporting local content for the wider industry through numerous success stories. In addition to developing local businesses expertise in the renewable sphere, our efforts have also helped inject additional investment in the Saudi economy, Al Sharhan added.



Under the terms of the agreement, Sabic will support Acwa Powers efforts to develop local content in the country by assessing and conducting feasibility studies for potential opportunities which could add value to the local economy and generate employment for Saudi nationals.



Sabic will also provide market research related to the local supply chain and facilitate collaboration between Acwa Power and potential local and international partners with expertise in the field. It will additionally support Acwa Powers efforts through the Daem and Muaahal programs powered by Sabic.



Similarly, Acwa Power will explore the localization potential of relevant international players to support the feasibility studies being undertaken by Sabic. Acwa Power will also provide Sabic with up-to-date technology trends, market insights and will support the growth of research and development in the renewable energy sector in the region.



In November 2019, Acwa Power established Acwa Industrial Investment Company (AIICO), a business unit dedicated to enable local content development and industrialization in the Kingdom. AIICO will focus on complying with mandatory local content targets for new projects, enhancing Acwa Powers capacity to competitively increase Saudi exports abroad, promoting innovation, transferring knowledge, and creating job opportunities.  TradeArabia News Service
Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 61F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 37F. Winds light and variable.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: While nation-wide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rage on, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a public meeting on January 3 at Jodhpur, the home turf of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The rally is a part of the BJPs massive awareness campaign across the country to inform people and remove popular resentment about the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). This will be Shahs first public meeting in Rajasthan ever since he became the home minister.

Initially, the BJP had planned to hold this meeting in Jaipur but later shifted the venue to Jodhpur because of its political significance. As part of its strategy, the party is trying to corner Gehlot in his home-district which also happens to have a large population of Hindu migrants from Pakistan many of whom have been waiting to get Indian citizenship for years.

ALSO READ| Amit Shah learning Bangla to prepare for 2021 Bengal polls?

Hundreds of these migrants had celebrated with great gusto the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill by the Parliament which had given fresh hope to around 25,000 Hindu migrants from Pakistan who live in Rajasthan. By holding the Amit Shah rally in Jodhpur, the BJP hopes to reach out to this large section of potential beneficiaries of the CAA.

Although Jodhpur is Gehlots constituency, he has been strongly opposing the CAA and has announced that Rajasthan will not implement the act. He even led a huge protest march in Jaipur against the CAA last week.

In early December, Amit Shah had said during the debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha that Gehlot, in 2006, had written to P Chidambaram, the-then home minister to grant citizenship to Hindu and Sikh migrants from Pakistan.

ALSO READ| Ashok Gehlot calls out RSS, attracts sharp criticism

In turn, Gehlot had hit back that Shah was misleading people as he had sought citizenship only for Hindus and Sikhs in 2006 only because there were no migrants from other minorities who had fled from Pakistan into Rajasthan.

A majority of the Hindu migrants who fled from Pakistan into Rajasthan are concentrated in Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Bikaner districts of the desert zone. Before coming to Jodhpur, Amit Shah will also address a rally in Kolkata where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has for weeks been openly and vigorously opposing the CAA.
N early 1,900 migrants arrived on UK shores in 2019, figures show.

More than double the number of people arrived in small boats Britain in December last year, compared with December 2018.

The figures, collated by the BBC, came as three more boats were intercepted off the Kent coast on New Year's Eve.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid had declared a "major incident" in December 2018 when 138 migrants arrived in boats across the English channel within the space of a month.

However, a year later, in the month of December 2019, 283 people arrived in the UK, according to the research.

Border Force have intercepted an estimated 1,900 migrants this year / PA

Overall in 2019, at least 1,892 successfully crossed the Channel, with a further 1,235 people intercepted by the French authorities, according to the broadcaster.

The Home Office said they could not confirm official numbers yet but were not disputing the reported amount.

It comes after 43 adults were rescued from small boats on New Year's Eve before being taken to Dover.

At around 3.35am, a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat which was carrying a group of 12 men who presented themselves as Iranian nationals.

At least 1,892 have successfully crossed the Channel this year, reports say / Victoria Jones/PA

Then an hour later, a group of 22 Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan nationals were rescued by authorities.

At 7.50am, Border Force again intercepted a group of Iranian nationals including seven men and two women.

The Coastguard and UK Border Force also dealt with several small migrant boats off the UK following several incidents over the weekend.

More than 60 migrants were rescued by the French and British authorities on Sunday.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: Illegal migration is a criminal activity. Those who seek to come to the UK unlawfully and the ruthless criminals who facilitate journeys are all breaking the law and endangering lives.

We will always ensure we have the right resources in place to keep our border secure.

"A forty-two metre Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels are patrolling the Channel and we are monitoring the situation closely over the Christmas and new year period."
RAMU PATIL By

First, the positives. After a tumultuous year full of politicking and elections, 2020 ushers in a ray of hope. Governance is likely to take precedence over politics in the new year, even as the political potboiler continues to roll on. After the May 2018 elections threw up a fractured mandate and political instability, the government now looks stable, especially after the bypolls gave BJP 12 out of 15 seats. However, with only half the cabinet in place -- 16 ministers instead of a full capacity of 34 -- the government still looks to be in the midst of a stopgap arrangement, till the much awaited ministry expansion is taken up in the next few weeks. A full-fledged and stable government is no mean feat, considering it comes nearly two years after the state assembly elections.

After Siddaramaiah demitted office in early 2018, the chief minister seems to be fully in control of the government, unlike the situation during the coalition regime, and also in the first four months of this government. But, for Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who has repeatedly proved his election-winning abilities, the real challenge starts now as opportunities and challenges go hand-inhand, as he prepares to step on the gas to fast-forward development works waiting for his governments full attention. Expectations are high and there will be no more excuses. The first big challenge will be ministry expansion. It was a minority government and instability was causing worries earlier, but now Yediyurappa is faced with a problem of plenty. He has to accommodate new entrants and also placate loyalists. It is a delicate act, and failure to strike a fine balance could trigger unforeseen developments.

Aware of the consequences, the CM and his team will certainly consider all aspects before going in for expansion. It is impossible to accommodate all aspirants, and once the doors are shut, it may well cause disgruntlement among some ministerial aspirants that could rattle this government. The CM has to be wary of internal fissures not going out of control, and strong backing from the central leadership is what he will be looking at to keep things in check. For the Lingayat strongman, known for championing farmers causes, the budget too offers a great opportunity and a challenge, simultaneously. In his earlier stint, Yediyurappa had left a stamp of his own by presenting a separate agriculture budget. This time too, he is likely to make his mark with special focus on the farm sector and irrigation projects. But, it is a Herculean task given the financial constraints under which he will be presenting the budget, and the need to continue a number of measures s t a r ted by the prev i o u s governments.

It will also be interesting to see how the government takes big-ticket irrigation projects forward. Kalasa- Banduri project is hanging fire after Goa took it to the Apex Court, and Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project is stuck after Tamil Nadu raised objections. Although BJP is in power at the Centre, it is unlikely to help Karnataka on these projects. After back-to-back defeats in assembly elections, the partys central leadership may not push AIADMK, its ally in Tamil Nadu, especially in an election year. On the home front, the ruling party will be looking to continue its winning streak by retaining its hold over Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) early this year.

That is not an easy task, though a weak and fragmented opposition may help. The Congress would certainly like to do its best to revive the partys sagging fortunes in the BBMP polls, but lack of a strong leadership and fighting spirit is a major worry for the grand old party. For the Congress, 2020 will be a very crucial year as the party has to halt its downslide and show some signs of revival, or it would face the threat of further losing ground to the BJP. The party is going through a churn to find new leaders to halt its slide. It may soon appoint a new chief for its state unit. But, the big challenge for the new captain and his team would be from his own party leaders. In the Congress, many leaders consider their own fellow partymen a bigger threat than BJP or JDS leaders, and that was one of the reasons for its pitiable position today. Leaders have failed the party, not the cadre or supporters at the grass-root level. As for the JDS that thrives on political instability, it is now facing an existential challenge. With a stable government in place, it is not going to be an easy task for its leadership to stay relevant. BJP making inroads into the JDS bastion of Old Mysore has only added to its worries.

RAMU PATIL

ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Hanoi, a charming city with a history of over one thousand years, is the convergence of cultural and historical essences of Vietnam.

A corner of Hanoi



Its charm partly derives from oriental and French-style architecture, both ancient and modern, that will exist forever over time.

Ancient architecture in the Old Quarter

A corner of Hanoi Old Quarter



Whenever mentioning Hanoi, itis impossible not to notice the Old Quarter, which has earned Hanoi the name Acity of 36 streets.



According to the history, theHanoi Old Quarter was formed in around the 10th century, andflourished from the 15-16th century. It sprawls over 82ha to theeast of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and now spreads over 10 wards of HoanKiem district  the heart of Hanoi.



Though called Hanoi  36streets, the Old Quarter in fact has more than 36 streets. It is a common namethat has been widely recognised.



The Old Quarter used to be aplace where people from all around the Northern Delta gathered and then turnedit into the busiest area of the city, with craft and trade activities. Each streethoused craftsmen from well-known craft villages and became a miniature villagein the heart of Hanoi.



Each street is also namedafter the type of goods or service for sale, starting with the word Hang(goods), such as Hang Duong, Hang Bac, Hang Mam, Hang Chinh, Hang Ma, Hang Vai,and more.



Though now many items are nolonger available for sale on several streets, they are still remindful of avery special period in the Vietnamese history.



The old quarter has a veryunique urban feature, where streets are bustling all the time, but stillretains the thousand-year traditional cultural values of the capital land.



Built in the18th and 19th centuries, houses in this quarter weresmall, tube-shaped and roofed with thatch leaves or tiles. Most of them have abrick structure with wooden beams or a structure of force-resistant woodenbeams with raising pieces supporting the tiles.



To make thebeams, precious timbers, such as Dinh (Markhamia stipulate), teakwood andironwood were used.



However,what astonished researchers as well as todays generation is that allcalculations for making the house structures were made by workers who had neverattended a training course, but only depended on their traditional experience.



In the late 19th and 20th centuries, most houses had a roof made of double tiles ortoe cape-shaped tiles. The edges of the roof were decorated with patterns of anold architectural style, creating natural waves.



In the 1920s, houses with roofs of the Indochinese style appeared, includingsloping tiled roofs and overlapping tiled roofs, which has similar advantagesas the Vietnamese traditional ones.



Many visitors visiting theOld Quarter will feel like returning to the past because of the small space andunique architecture, which is completely different from the crowded streetsadjacent to tall buildings or modern works.



First-time visitors, orforeign tourists, may feel overwhelmed, confused when walking on the crowded,narrow streets with houses sitting close together and vehicles crisscrossing. Thescene is probably a bit chaotic for strangers. But in order to see the specialculture and life there, they need to go and feel with their own eyes.



With its time-tested beauty,the Hanoi Old Quarter has become a major theme in numerous paintings bywell-known artist Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988). Now, whenever mentioning Bui XuanPhai, people think of the

Hanoi Old Quarter, and when it comes to the Hanoi OldQuarter, the name "Pho Phai" (Phai Street) is not strange.



Phai once wrote his feeling about streetsin diary Hanoi has many beauties, old and new, but each beauty is suitable toeach person. Old streets and houses with deep brown tile roof, walls covered with moss lyingquietly will easily appear beautiful on paintings. Their rhythm is not as even as high-rise buildings andprefabricated houses.

Hanoi remembered for French colonialbuildings

Hanois beauty is not onlyshown in the Old Quarter, but also a blend of western and orientalarchitecture, notably works built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as buildings in the classical French style, luxury villas ownedby French officials or wealthy Vietnamese working for foreigners.



Up to 1,586 French-style buildings andvillas, built over 100 years ago, are conserved at present. As many as 562 ofthem are used by individuals and the remaining owned by the State.



As the first French-builtiron bridge crossing the Red River, Long Bien bridge has spanned threecenturies, witnessing the wars against French colonists and US imperialists,and the development of the capital city. The mixture of classical andcontemporary architecture has made the bridge uniquely special.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi Opera House was modeledafter the famous Palais Opera Garnier in Paris. Its construction was completedin 1911 on August Revolution Square. It isa hard-to-be-missed place when learning about Hanoi culture, especially as its facade is meticulously painted inyellow and white neo-classical colours. Still in regular use, the HanoiOpera House plays host to a variety of theatre arts, symphony, ballet,musical and chorus performances all year round.



Formerly the Governor General of Indochina's Palace, the majesticPresidential Palace was built between 1900 and 1902. Most of the villas in thearea were built in the style of northern France and feature sloping roofs anddecorative elements over the doors and on the roofs.



HoaLoa prison was first built by the French to incarcerate Vietnamese prisonersbut was later used to hold American prisoners of war.



It is both a testimony to theindomitable fighting history of Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers, and aconviction of the barbarous prison regime under the French colonial rule.Because of its historical significance, Hoa Lo prison relic site welcomesthousands of visitors each year, 70 percent of them are foreigners, particularly US ex-soldiers who joined the war in Vietnam.



Skyscrapers rise up in construction boom

On Thang Long boulevard



In order to understand how the post-war Hanoi is today, it isprobably the best to take the elevator to the 67th floor of thesecond tallest building in Southeast Asia, the Hanoi Lotte Centre  a well-known shopping mall, office andapartment complex.



Like othershopping malls, the complex is often crowded at weekends and has become aregular venue for families or tourists.



Looking at thecity from there, more and more buildings of this kind are on the way. Apartmentsare also being built in great quantity to supply accommodation for a hugepopulation of the modern Hanoi.

Keangnam Tower in Hanoi



Another highbuilding is Keangnam tower - the highest skyscraper of Hanoi so far. The complex consists of one 72-storymixed-use tower with the height of 350m and two 48-storey hotel twin towers.



The complexfeatures a 5-star that opened on 18 May 2012. Landmark 72 is also the world's35th-highest building and formerly was the highest on Indochina Peninsula./.VNA
EAST CHICAGO  A driver is in serious, but stable condition after being struck by a train on Wednesday, said Fire Chief Anthony Serna.

Serna told The Times the male driver was the only one in the vehicle at the time of the accident, which occurred on CSX Transportation railroad tracks near East Chicago and Euclid avenues.

East Chicago fire got the call around 11:35 a.m. and was on the scene within 5 minutes, Serna said. The driver was extricated within 15 minutes from the navy blue Nissan Sentra, which firefighters had to cut open.

"It could've been a lot worse, so we're all very thankful," Serna said. "Whenever you have a train versus automobile the results aren't usually this favorable, but this time they were."

The driver was conscious and alert when he was transported to a Chicago hospital by a LIFESTAR medical helicopter.

The East Chicago Police Department, East Chicago Fire Department, CSX Transportation officials and Superior Ambulance responded to the scene.
Tsai Ing-wen, who is seeking re-election in a January 11 vote, promises to safeguard islands freedom and democracy.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday the island would not accept a one country, two systems political formula Beijing has suggested could be used to unify the democratic island, saying such an arrangement had failed in Hong Kong.

China claims Taiwan as its territory, to be brought under Beijings control by force if necessary.

Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.

Tsai, who is seeking re-election in a January 11 vote, also promised in a New Years speech to defend Taiwans sovereignty, saying her government would build a mechanism to safeguard freedom and democracy as Beijing ramps up pressure on the island.

Fear of China has become a significant element in the campaign, boosted by months of anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.

Hong Kong people have showed us that one country, two systems is definitely not feasible, Tsai said, referring to the political arrangement that guaranteed certain freedoms in the former British colony of Hong Kong after it was returned to China in 1997.

Under one country, two systems, the situation continues to deteriorate in Hong Kong. The credibility of one country, two systems has been sullied by the governments abuse of power, Tsai said.

Hong Kong has been hit by months of anti-government protests triggered by widespread resentment of perceived efforts by Beijing to exert control of the city despite the promises of autonomy.

Taiwans Parliament passed an anti-infiltration law on Tuesday to combat perceived threats from China, further straining ties between Taiwan and Beijing.

Tsai said the law will protect Taiwans democracy and cross-strait exchanges will not be affected amid worries that the legislation may damage business ties with China.

China suspects Tsai and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party of pushing for the islands formal independence and has threatened it with war if there was any such move.

Tsai denies seeking independence and reiterated that she would not unilaterally change the status quo with China.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Taking strong exception to the state assembly passing a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Union Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad on Tuesday said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should take better legal advice and added that the law passed by Parliament is binding on one and all and the state assemblies have no power to pass any law on citizenship.

I urge the chief minister to have better legal advice. I also urge the assembly leaders to think what will happen if the law passed by the state assembly is not respected by other states, Prasad said. Under Article 246, Parliament has got the exclusive power to make a law on citizenship. State assemblies cannot do that, he said.

The state assembly on Tuesday, hours before Prasad was to address the media here, had passed the resolution demanding scrapping of the CAA citing it was contrary to constitutional provisions.

Justifying CAA, Prasad said the act was perfectly legal and constitutional and added that it was not related to Indians, including Muslims. Its only for persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Prasad said previous Congress prime ministers had provided citizenship to Hindus from Uganda and Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka, and when Narendra Modi or Amit Shah is doing it, its a problem.

This is double standard and hypocrisy, he felt. He also strongly batted for National Population Register (NPR), which was also objected to by the state government, saying it was required for framing development policies.

The minister conveyed that the government was ready for holding discussions on the matter, but some people have political agenda and a misinformation campaign is going on to promote communal hostility. Singling out the Congress party, he said he was worried that the party that had ruled the country for 55 years is part of the misinformation campaign. Training guns on the radical outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), he said there was allegation that the organisation was behind the protests. We have dossiers about them, including their activities in Kerala. When asked about the reports that the Uttar Pradesh DGP has recommended the Home Ministry to impose a ban on PFI, he said the UP police chief may be having evidence and the Home Ministry will look into it.

Support for Governor

Prasad condemned the heckling of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan during the Indian History Congress and said the action was uncalled for. Irfan Habib is a Leftist and was one of the signatories of the public statement issued in 2014 urging people not to vote for Modi,he said.
Prince Charles' former school has banned the use of mobile phones.

Gordonstoun, which the Duke of Edinburgh also attended, wants to encourage conversation among pupils.

Lisa Kerr, the principal of the 41,250-a-year school, in Elgin, Scotland, said: 'With competition for university places and jobs tougher than ever, we know young people need more than just great exam results to succeed in life.

Gordonstoun, which the Duke of Edinburgh also attended, wants to encourage conversation among pupils

'Spending time interacting with each other rather than their phones helps to build strong social and interpersonal skills.'

Miss Kerr added: 'Without decisive action, we are in danger of raising a generation who cannot build meaningful relationships with a wide range of people.'

The reaction from pupils to the ban had been 'surprisingly positive', she said.

Prince Charles' (pictured) former school has banned the use of mobile phones

Miss Kerr added: 'One of the effects has been a big increase in noise levels between lessons. We see this as a good thing.

'Children are holding conversations, sharing jokes, catching up with each other face to face, not via social media.'
What is the essence of the Indian Citizenship Act?





by N.S.Venkataraman





A few opposition political parties, motivated activists and students who are politicians in the making have launched agitation and protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act enacted by Modi government and approved by parliament.













Impressed by labored false interpretation and misleading propaganda by the critics and without understanding the issues involved in the Act, a few people have also voiced concern about the Citizenship Amendment Act.





Print and visual media in India, most of which are owned or edited by political parties, business houses, religious institutions and motivated activists with pre conceived views, have been giving enormous publicity to the agitations. Such media with sensational and mischievous headings have created an impression in India and abroad , as if India is on fire due to these agitations. Medias projections make it look to people who do not understand the ground realities that India has become a restless country with a central government having communal agenda.





By not providing an objective analysis of the situation and by not publishing adequately the explanation given by the government and largely publishing views and articles decrying Citizenship Amendment Act, section of Indian media is no more representing the views and thought process of cross section of Indians. It is extremely sad and distressing that section of media publish only articles and views reflecting the preference of the editors and owners. To this extent, section of Indian media is doing great disservice to the cause of ethical journalism and Indian democracy.





A careful study of Citizenship Amendment Act would clearly indicate that it is fair and blemishless and the criticism against it are totally unjustified.





What is the essence of the Indian Citizenship Act ?





The Act clearly says that citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who do not belong to Muslim religion and who claim that they have been persecuted on religious grounds and want asylum in India to save themselves from persecution, would be given Indian citizenship. Muslims have not been covered in this act , since Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have officially declared Islam as the religion of the country and do not make any claim on their commitment to secularism. Citizenship Amendment Act presumes that such Islamic countries will not persecute Muslims on religious grounds and therefore ,the Act has excluded Muslims from eligibility for citizenship in India .





Further, it should be noted that as per the existing law in India, anyone can apply for citizenship in India , whatever may be the religion that they belong to. Muslims are not excluded in this.





A false propaganda is made amongst Muslims that Muslims living in India would be deported from India as per the Citizenship Amendment Act. This is absolutely false and Prime Minister Modi has categorically said that interests of Muslims now living in India would be protected.





However, the false campaign against the Act is continuing largely with section of media support. It should also be noted that number of persons participating in such protests are very few considering the national population. Only a very few students have participated in the protest whereas more than 99% of the students in India are not participating. With technology so much developed , photographs can be taken in such a way that a crowd of one hundred people can make it look like thousands.





For example, in Chennai a handful of women did kolam (sort of decoration made in front of houses and roads using chalk powder) decrying the citizenship Amendment Act. This became the focus of the national print and visual media with opposition political parties and motivated activists trying to call this event as reflecting public opinion.





It is sad that India is now becoming a victim of false campaigns which are highlighted by motivated media and biased activists who seem to be hate campaigners against Modi government.
While playing the same melody, they reminded their audience of 30 December 2009, the day that they claimed that they managed to overcome the 2009 protests, while rallying their puppets and arranging a so-called pro-government rally.

But it was clear that the purpose of this reminder was something else. The purpose was to address the main subject. More than a month after the latest Iran protests, the regimes officials are grateful that they have not yet been overthrown, but are also expressing their extreme fear of future protests.

Meanwhile, reports about the so-called 30 December 2019 ceremony shows that the ceremony itself was very stagnant and very few people have attended to it.

Karaj

The streets were empty and they had brought just a number of school children to march.

Of course, the situation in other cities has been more or less the same, as the news has shown the people have been overwhelmed and turned away from such shows.

Rasht

Just a few Basijis joined the march, mostly school children.

Tehran

Shohada square, no one joined; there were just a few posters about the day itself.

Mahabad

Around the Municipality of the city, just 20 people were marching, and the people were mocking them.

Zangan

There were reports that since the people refused to participate in the ceremony in Zangan, the government was forced to hold the ceremony in a mosque.

Neyshabour

A resident sent a film and reported: I was in the shop early morning. There was no march in the city. As you can see in the video, no one is participating. Three times they extended the march. But there was no crowd.

Qazvin

These government rallies were mostly held in the Sabzeh street and Qazvin square, but this year since the people refused to participate, this rally was held in the Emamzadeh Hossein (mosque), and there was no march on the streets.

The regimes officials have are right to be afraid, because they no longer have the support of the people. The following show this fear:

The first case of this horror belongs to cleric Mohamad Ali Arzande, the Friday prayers leader of Bahar in Hamedan, who said bluntly: There are more than just one or two seditions. It is not so that you and I think that one sedition was in 2009, one in 1999, one in 2018 and one in 2019. No, its not so. Unfortunately, there were, and will be, many seditions, and we should be careful as the supreme leader said there is a bigger sedition on the way. Bigger, bigger, bigger, and much bigger is on the way.

He added: Sedition will not have any end; the enemies of Islam will not give up. Every time they come, and come with a brighter vision, with more awareness of how they can hurt more and standing in from of the regime, this is the place where we should be careful.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor in chief of Keyhan daily, known as Irans supreme leader Ali Khameneis mouthpiece added: 30 December was the end of the 2009 sedition, but not the end of all seditions. We should be careful.

If the uprising lasts 4 days

Cleric Hassan Zadeh Kavaki, Friday prayers leader of Khaboushan in North Khorasan Province, while fearing upcoming uprisings, now cares about the public properties and sheds crocodile tears. He said:

In just two days, more than 20 trillion tomans  they have harmed the government, and it was intended to continue. If it had been four days, it would not just be billion-dollar damage; it would destroy the country.

Javad Javidnia, the deputy chief of cyberspace in the Attorney Generals Office, also admitted to his fears and the stalemate of the regime: If the Internet is shut down, people will say the government is against information technology, and if it is not shut down, the chaos will increase. (Tasnim news agency, 30 December 2019)
Photograph: Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty

A huge New Years Day march in Hong Kong has ended in mass arrests and street clashes as the anti-government movement  now in its eighth month  continued into 2020.

Police detained about 400 people on charges including illegal assembly and possession of offensive weapons after the rally on Wednesday, which organisers said was attended by more than a million people. It was one of the largest numbers of arrests in a single day since the unrest began.

Riot police detain protesters. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/EPA

But the march had begun in a mood of carnival celebration  there were protesters in costumes and families with children and elderly people. Marchers chanted slogans including Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our era.

Riot police fired teargas rounds in Wan Chai district after protesters threw objects at officers who had arrested several people for allegedly vandalising a bank.

Some protesters retaliated by throwing molotov cocktails at the police, but many in the crowd were caught by surprise as the march was expected to be peaceful and most did not wear protective gear.

Police demanded that the protest organisers, the Civil Human Rights Front, immediately call off the demonstration, but large crowds continued to march and police declared that they were taking part in an illegal assembly.

As night fell, police used water cannon on crowds in Wan Chai and the financial district of Central. Protesters laid bricks across the main thoroughfare in Central in an attempt to impede the polices advance towards the area.

Hundreds of thousands joined the march.

Photograph: Vincent Yu/AP

A police statement said protesters had blocked roads with barricades, dug up bricks from pavements and set fires to banks and cash machines.

At a late-night press briefing, Senior Supt Ng Lok Chun blamed radical protesters for hijacking and disrupting the march and said police had fired teargas because they were surrounded by protesters who were throwing objects at them.

There had already been a bleak start to 2020: shortly after revellers counted down to midnight and shouted Happy new year!, police in the central district of Mong Kok shot teargas at protesters who set off fireworks and set fire to roadblocks.

Story continues

On Tuesday night police deployed water cannon to disperse protesters while armoured vehicles cleared roadblocks. The crowd had gathered outside a metro station where people were leaving flowers to commemorate protesters rumoured to have died during a clash with police four months ago. The government denies that the deaths occurred.

The anti-government movement in Hong Kong, sparked by an extradition bill that would have allowed individuals to be sent to China for trial, is showing no signs of abating. Protesters say they will not give up unless the government meets their demands, which include universal suffrage and an independent investigation into police brutality.

Related: Children of the revolution: the Hong Kong youths ready to 'sacrifice everything'

As of last week, 6,494 people had been arrested since the movement started in June, some as young as 12, according to the police.

Many in Hong Kong, including pro-democracy supporters, are weary of the frequent violent confrontations in the movement and are seeking new directions in their attempt to press the government into conceding to their demands.

Protesters try to dodge teargas. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Some are urging fellow Hong Kongers on social media to use economic means to put pressure on the government instead, including joining trade unions so that they can launch strikes and other collective actions more effectively.

We want to show our determination to the world that we will not back down on our resistance against an authoritarian regime, said Mary Chin, a former bank employee in her 40s.

The Civil Human Rights Front condemned the polices abrupt revocation of its permission for the march, which it estimated was attended by a million people.

The government has shown its unwillingness to listen to the voices of the mass and it has infringed on their right to assembly, it said in a statement. Hong Kongers shall not back down and peace shall not resume with the ongoing police brutality.

In his new year address, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, acknowledged that the situation in Hong Kong has been everybodys concern over the past few months as he called for a harmonious and stable environment for Hong Kong.

Sounding relatively conciliatory compared with earlier, more threatening remarks, Xi said in the televised address: Hong Kongs prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation for the people of the motherland.
Two police officers posed with cardboard signs confiscated from beggars: Getty Images

A US police chief has apologised after officers made a quilt out of cardboard signs confiscated from beggars and published a social media post which appeared to ridicule the homeless.

Two officers in the Alabama city of Mobile appeared in a photo on Facebook posing with the signs, which showed messages such as homeless need help and in need of help, thank you.

The picture was posted alongside the caption: Wanna wish everybody in 4th precinct a Merry Christmas, especially our captain. Hope you enjoy our homeless quilt!

Referencing an American term for beggar, the message was signed off: Sincerely, Panhandler patrol.

The post prompted anger on social media, where it was shared by thousands of people.

Imagine taking pride in terrorising the most vulnerable people in society, wrote one respondent.

Another said: "Mocking homeless people around Christmas is the trashiest, most despicable thing."

Mobile police chief Lawrence Battiste later apologised for his officers' "insensitive gesture.

"Although we do not condone panhandling and must enforce the city ordinances that limit panhandling, it is never our intent or desire as a police department to make light of those who find themselves in a homeless state," he added.

Both officers are recent graduates of the Mobile Police Academy, according to local news website al.com, and the picture appears to have been taken inside a police department office.

It is unclear if there will be an investigation or if the officers could be reprimanded.

Mobile passed a law prohibiting begging in busy areas in 2010.

Offenders face fines of up to $500 (380), community service or jail sentences of up to six months.

Read more

London Underground criticised over 'heartless' begging announcements
AS winter days come to an end, thoughts turn to holidays and big crowds are expected to attend The Holiday Show, which will be held in the South Court Hotel on Saturday and Sunday January 11 and 12.

The show, run in association with Shannon Airport, returns for a fifth year in a new venue with exhibitors from across the globe, all under one roof with free admission.

Visitors will get the opportunity to secure show-only holiday deals, receive expert advice from travel professionals and be in with a chance to win holiday prizes. Aer Lingus, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair and United Airlines who reach countries far and wide across the world will attend and there will also plenty of opportunites for staycations in different destinations in Ireland.

Visit the city of brotherly love,

the home to the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, and Philly cheesesteaks. #TheHolidayShow #HolidayShowinassociationwithShannonAirport #Shannon pic.twitter.com/CsXdkcTXzj  TheHolShow (@theholidayshow) December 27, 2019

The Holiday Show gives you an opportunity to explore hundreds of countries, research different types of holiday packages and places you may have never considered, all while receiving one-to-one guidance from well-travelled and knowledgeable tourism experts.

You can travel the length and breadth of America with American Holidays or embark on a hiking excursion across the Camino, try CaminoGroups.ie Discover magical Asia with Wendy Wu tours offering tailor made excursions across India, Japan and China.

If you want to opt for a staycation this year, there is representation from all parts of the beautiful isle of Ireland. Take in the beauty and magic along the Causeway Coastal route, discovering wonderful castles, old rural towns and breathtaking scenery our little island has to offer. Take a ferry to Doolin with Bill OBriens Ferry Company or a ferry to Rathlin Island right at the top of the most Northern part of the country.

Read also: Almost 450 homes planned for Limerick city site

Declan Power, Shannon Airports Head of Aviation Development said; We are delighted to be back for a fifth year, bigger and better than before in a great new venue. Save yourself hours of trawling online, by spending an afternoon with us at The Holiday Show where you will uncover all four corners of the world.

Shannon Airport is now the preferred airport of choice for Irish consumers outside of Dublin due to its ease of access and its ability to offer flights and holiday options to the USA, the UK, Europe and on a worldwide basis.

This year sees the introduction of new services with Aer Lingus to both Paris and Barcelona as well as a new service to Vienna with Laudamotion, so we have another really exciting year ahead.

The Holiday Show 2020 takes place in The South Court Hotel, Raheen, Limerick and will be open from 11am to 5 pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January. Entry and car parking is FREE. Visitors to the show will have the opportunity to discuss and book their holidays with travel experts and will be in with a chance to win one of many prizes on offer throughout the two-day event.

To keep up to date with exhibitor announcements, prizes and show related blogs, see The Holiday Show in association with Shannon Airport 2020 at www.holidayshow.ie or follow on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute Krishi Karman Awards and Commendation Awards to states at a public meeting in Tumkur, Karnataka on Thursday.

A PMO release said that he will also give away Agriculture Minister's Krishi Karman Awards for progressive farmers.

The event will also see the release of the third instalment of PM Kisan (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) of Rs 2000 for December 2019-March 2020. It will benefit about six crore beneficiaries. Prime Minister will hand over Certificates to beneficiaries under PM Kisan from eight states and union territories.

He will also hand over keys of deep-sea fishing vessels and fishing vessel transponders to select farmers of Tamil Nadu.

Modi will also distribute Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to select farmers of Karnataka and visit an exhibition at the venue and address the gathering.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The counter intelligence (CI) wing of Punjab Police have recovered 5kg heroin with the arrest of one person during a barricading on Amritsar-Jalandhar national highway, 10kms from the district headquarters.

The accused was identified as Bhalwan Singh of Alike village falling under Ferozepur Sadar police station.

Police said the accused was on his way from Ferozepur to Amritsar for smuggling the heroin. They said the heroin, ostensibly smuggled from across the border, was to be smuggled further in metropolises and rural areas.

Police have also recovered two pistols of .30 bore along with 10 live cartridges, 2 magazines, and one black Hero Deluxe motorcycle with the apprehension of the accused.

Ketan Baliram Patil, assistant inspector general (AIG) of police, said on the basis of a tip-off, operation team of CI, Amritsar, headed by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Balbir Singh, laid down a naka on the Amritsar-Jalandhar thoroughfare.

We arrested the accused and have registered a case under Sections 21/25/29/61/85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 25 of the Arms Act at state special operation cell (SSOC)s Amritsar police station against the accused, he added.

The accused was produced in a local court on Wednesday which sent him to police remand till January 6.

Patil said, During the remand, we will find out forward-backward linkage of the accused.

A senior police official, privy to the investigation, said preliminary investigation suggested the heroin was smuggled recently from across the border.

This is the second biggest recovery of heroin by Counter Intelligence in Amritsar in the span of two weeks. On December 19, the police had arrested six drug peddlers and recovered 15kg heroin from their possession at Ghonewal village under Ramdas police station in the district. Police had then said the arrested six men had links with three Pakistan-based smugglers and the heroin haul was smuggled using plastic pipes from across the border.
The Jewish Community Center in Sherman will present a program of jazz with the Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.

A snow date of March 28 is planned.

Sherman resident Charley Gerard, a saxophonist, author and composer, heads up the quartet he founded in 2002.

He is a 2019 recipient of the prestigious New Jazz Works grant from Chamber Music America, heads up the quartet.

In addition to Gerard, the band is comprised of Jenny Hill on soprano sax, Justin Flynn on tenor sax and Dimitri Moderbacher on baritone sax.

Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

For more information and tickets, call the 9 Route 39 South center at 860-355-8050 or email info@jccinsherman.org by Jan. 3.
These are places we spend our life too. Bushwalks we all use every day are gone." Temperatures are forecast to hit 41 degrees in Mallacoota on Saturday, before a cool change in the afternoon. Bradyn Taglieri, from Melbourne, has had his holiday plans derailed by the devastating fires. Though he could be stranded in the town for another week, hes planning on doing what he can to help others leave sooner. He said after a very long day on Tuesday taking shelter at the boat ramp, fires are still burning around the town and the power is still out. The local IGA remained open through the night with supplies.

Because of the fire damage to the roads and remaining blazes, Mr Taglieris exit plans are unknown, but some are saying we may be stuck here for at least another week. We all had to make masks out of our clothing and wear sunglasses as the smoke was too much for the eyes, he said. Im not overly stressed about (leaving). My only concern is about getting back to work but Im sure the boss would understand. Myself and a few others have put our hands up to go out and help clear some of the roads to speed the process up but thats all we can really do at the moment. Geoff Belmore lost two houses, while Justin Brady lost one.

Mr Brady is a musician and was able to save his instruments  including a violin, harmonica and mandolin  but his home on Karbeethong Hill did not survive. "I lost everything pretty much," Mr Brady said. "I built the house 25 years ago but only just recently, the last three months, I decided to live there as my base. Previously I had lived here but toured too. The red sky in Mallacoota as the fire hit the town on Tuesday. "Both neighbours' houses are OK. Just my place went.

"I did a big rake up of all the leaves around the houses but its a bush block. Its gone." During the fire he took refuge for hours in a boat near a jetty where 50 people sheltered. "It was apocalyptic," he said. Mr Belmore meanwhile had only just finished "putting the cutlery in the drawers and making the beds" in a unit on his property that he planned to rent out. He's been holidaying in Mallacoota for 25 years and has lived there for the past four.

It, along with the unit he planned to live in on the same property and a structure that housed his vintage cars and boats, is gone. Another house in the town, which he rents out, was also lost. "I have been working on the units for the last couple of years," Mr Belmore said. "Finally got them finished and then its totally gone. "The whole structure has collapsed. I have a 1977 Corvette, a 1964 Holden ute, a 1942 Dodge that I was turning into a hot rod, a beautiful Harley-Davidson, a boat that I loved with a couple of brand new motors on it and now they're molten aluminium." He left Mallacoota on Saturday sensing the fire would be bad and sought refuge in Bowral with his partner. "I am the only one in my street thats lost their house," he said.

Mr Belmore's cars at his property sit burnt out after the bushfire. "Its purely because the trees around me, that I had no control over, were there. Id get a fine if I touched them, they were the responsibility of the council and the parks department." Supplies are being sent by water to Mallacoota via the navy, emergency services and private companies and began arriving on Wednesday. The town was under attack by fires on Tuesday, when 4000 people took shelter on the foreshore. Black smoke enveloped the town in darkness for hours on Tuesday morning.

Sydney woman Mary O'Malley, whose husband grew up in Mallacoota, where they have a property, said they had to boil water to drink and were getting free supplies from the supermarket. She said she'd been told dozens of homes were destroyed. "That's a lot in a town this size," Ms O'Malley said. "After the elation of surviving such a catastrophic event, the reality is hitting people. So many houses lost. "Our block is burnt [but] its nothing compared to what others are experiencing."

Mallacoota Road remained closed from Princes Highway through to the township on Wednesday. Co-owner of the Mallacoota IGA supermarket, Steve Jakovljevic, said locals were lined up at his shop at 6.30am on Wednesday to get supplies. He says they have enough food and water for a few days because they stock up ahead of the summer tourist rush. "If they dont open the road into Mallacoota for three or four days it might be slim pickings," Mr Jakovljevic said. He sheltered in the brick shop with about 30 tourists and his family, including babies and his two daughters, through the blaze. "It was frightening," he said. "Later in the morning when it should have been daylight there was gas bottles going off and that was frightening."
A man who fled from a traffic stop Monday in Pleasant Hill, briefly dragging the police officer who had pulled him over, was arrested Tuesday after a vehicle pursuit from San Pablo to San Francisco.

Anthony McClain, a 29-year-old San Pablo resident, was initially stopped for a vehicle code violation in the 2300 block of Monument Boulevard near Interstate Highway 680 at about 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to Pleasant Hill police.

He provided false identification to the officer and refused to turn off the car and hand over his keys, then accelerated the car while the officer was partially inside it during a struggle over the keys. He was dragged briefly but was able to free himself without getting injured, police said.

McClain fled, but investigators were eventually able to determine his identity and learned he was on active parole with warrants out for his arrest. Shortly before noon Tuesday, officers spotted his vehicle in San Pablo and tried to stop it as it entered Interstate Highway 80.

A pursuit ensued that headed west onto the Bay Bridge, where a California Highway Patrol officer "successfully deployed a tire deflation device" to disable the vehicle, police said.

McClain fled down an embankment from U.S. Highway 101 to Potrero Avenue, but San Francisco police eventually arrested him in the area of Potrero Avenue and 20th Street near Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, according to police.

He was later booked into Contra Costa County jail in Martinez.

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.
By Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's leader plans to further develop nuclear programmes and to introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, state media said on Wednesday, although he signalled there was still room for dialogue with the United States.

Kim Jong Un presided over a four-day meeting of top Workers' Party officials this week amid rising tensions with the United States, which has not responded to his repeated calls for concessions to reopen negotiations. Washington has dismissed the deadline as artificial.

Kim said there were no grounds for North Korea to be bound any longer by a self-declared moratorium on testing nuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), according to a statement on the results of the policy meeting carried by the official KCNA news agency.

At times smiling or striking the podium with his hand as he made remarks during the meeting, Kim accused the United States of making "gangster-like demands" and maintaining a "hostile policy", such as by holding continued joint military drills with South Korea, adopting cutting edge weapons and imposing sanctions.

He pledged to continue bolstering his country's nuclear deterrent but said the "scope and depth" of that deterrent will be "properly co-ordinated depending on" the attitude of the United States.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," Kim said, using the initials for North Korea's official name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the U.S. and guaranteeing our long-term security."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it would be "deeply disappointing" if Kim reneges on denuclearisation commitments and Kim would hopefully "choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war."

Story continues

In his latest comments on Tuesday in the United States, President Donald Trump said he had a good relationship with Kim and thought the North Korean leader would keep his word.

"He likes me, I like him. We get along. He's representing his country, I'm representing my country. We have to do what we have to do.

"But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearisation," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Seoul's Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said large-scale joint military drills with the United States had been halted and it would be unhelpful for negotiations if North Korea took action to introduce what it called a new strategic weapon.

There were no official reports as of early afternoon on Wednesday in South Korea that Kim had delivered an annual New Year's address.

'STRATEGIC WEAPONS'

Kim had previously said he might have to seek a "new path" if Washington failed to meet his expectations. U.S. military commanders said Pyongyang's actions could include test firing an ICBM alongside nuclear warhead tests. North Korea last test fired an ICBM in 2017.

Jeffrey Lewis, a non-proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, said it was difficult to predict North Korea's next move. But it might involve firing a solid-fuel ICBM and an atmospheric nuclear test, he said.

However, Jeong Han-beom, who teaches security policy at Korea National Defense University in Seoul, said North Korea would not immediately stage such a provocative act as an ICBM or nuclear test because it could risk derailing negotiations.

Tension had been rising ahead of the year-end as North Korea conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with Trump.

The nuclear talks have made little headway despite three meetings between Kim and Trump since 2018. Working-level talks in Stockholm in October broke down, with a North Korean chief negotiator accusing U.S. officials of sticking to their old stance.

Kim said there will "never be denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula" if Washington adheres to what he calls its hostile policy.

We "will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism is built," Kim said.

He called for North Koreans to brace for an "arduous and prolonged struggle" and foster a self-reliant economy because of a delay in the anticipated lifting of sanctions.

"The present situation warning of long confrontation with the U.S. urgently requires us to make it a fait accompli that we have to live under the sanctions by the hostile forces in the future, too, and to strengthen the internal power from all aspects."

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the party assembly results made clear Kim wants U.S. security guarantees before taking substantial action toward denuclearisation.

"And he is suggesting that he will take the bull by the horns to achieve that goal, while promoting self reliance at home and still being open to talks depending on how Trump handles 'hostile policy,'" Yang said.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Jack Kim and Sangmi Cha; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Jeff Mason in Palm Beach, Florida; Editing by Grant McCool and Neil Fullick)
MEXICO CITY - At least 16 inmates in a central Mexico prison were killed and five more were wounded in a riot that closed out a violent 2019 for the country, authorities said.

Zacatecas state security secretary Ismael Camberos Hernandez told local press that authorities confiscated four guns that they believe were introduced to the Cieneguillas state prison during prison visits Tuesday. He said the prison had been searched for weapons on Saturday and Sunday and no guns were found.

The melee broke out around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and the prison was brought under control by 5 p.m., according to a statement from the state security agency.

Fifteen of the victims died at the prison and one died later at a hospital.

One prisoner was detained with a gun still in his possession and the other three were found inside the prison, the statement said. Camberos said not all of the victims died from gunshot wounds. Some were stabbed and others beaten with objects.

No guards or police were wounded, Camberos said. He did not offer a possible motive, but such killings frequently involve score settling between rival cartel members or a battle for control of the prisons illicit business.

Mexico has a long history of deadly prison clashes. In October, six inmates were killed in a prison in Morelos state.

In September, Nuevo Leon state closed the infamous Topo Chico prison, the site of many murders over the years. In February 2016, 49 prisoners died there during rioting when two factions of the Zetas cartel clashed.
Laws banning the feeding of wildlife are not speciesist, theyre for public safety, and theyre in the best interests of the animals as well. This ordinance is a good law, designed to protect both us and the wildlife.

Philip Palomeque

Ocean City

Against Richter in 2nd

Political newcomer and congressional candidate David Richter is impressing many with the money he is spending both to fund his campaign and contribute to others campaigns, but residents in District 2 should do some research into this unknown player. Richter is a recent resident in our district, with a home in Princeton where his family lives, and a property in Avalon he rents. One might question how he can represent the citizens of the district when he has little connection to or investment in it.
IIT-Kanpur has formed a committee to inquire into a complaint against the recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's noted poem 'Hum Dekhenge' on campus by students to express solidarity with their peers at Jamia Milia Islamia, the institute's Deputy Director Manindra Agarwal said.

He said a "very peaceful protest" was held on December 17 by about 300 students of the premier institute at its premises as they were not allowed to go out due to enforcement of prohibitory orders under Section 144, CrPC in the city.

An IIT-K student sang the poem 'Hum Dekhenge' by Faiz, an eminent poet, against which a complaint was filed by Dr Vashimant Sharma, a temporary faculty member, and about 16 others including faculty members and students.

The written complaint filed by them with the IIT Director states that the poem had some wordings that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus, Agarwal said.

"A committee of six members was established, headed by me, to investigate the matter. Some students have been questioned, while the others will be questioned after they return to the institution after the holidays," the Deputy Director said.

Agarwal also said there was a war of words on social media war between those supporting the recitation of the poem and those who opposed it.

"It was contributing to escalation of the situation and hence we requested both sides to stop it and they obliged," he said.
Woody Vasulka, an experimental video artist who found inspiration in sources as diverse as Rene Magritte, nuclear war and technology, and who was a founder of the Kitchen, the landmark avant-garde performance space in Manhattan, died on Dec. 20 at his home in Santa Fe, N.M. He was 82.

His death was confirmed by his wife, Steinunn (Bjarnadottir) Vasulka, known as Steina, who was an occasional collaborator on Mr. Vasulkas projects. She said she did not know the cause.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Vasulka was one of a group of avant-garde artists who saw video as an emerging medium as compelling as film, sculpture and painting.

Video is an art unto itself, with its own reality, visual language and its own conception of time and space, he told The New York Times in 1972 when he organized a video festival of mostly abstract works at the Kitchen, which he and his wife had opened a year earlier in SoHo. The low cost of videotape, he added, encouraged experimentation.
She has had an action-packed 2019 and admitted she can't wait for the next one.

And Emily Atack was ready to welcome the New Year at home surrounded by her nearest and dearest as she hosted a champagne reception on Tuesday evening.

The TV presenter, 30, put on a leggy display as she posed for a sultry mirror selfie ahead of the evenings' festivities held at her swanky London pad.

Glam! Emily Atack was ready to welcome the New Year at home surrounded by her nearest and dearest as she hosted a champagne reception on Tuesday evening

Emily rocked a plunging flirty black cocktail dress, which she teamed with a pair of statement leopard print platform heels, adding inches to her pint-sized frame.

She wore her auburn tresses swept back into a loose ponytail, while some strands framed her pretty features, which were coated in a glamorous layer of make-up.

The I'm A Celebrity: Extra Camp presenter added glitzy details to her ensemble with a pair of gold cross-style earrings and a selection of delicate pendant chains.

Party time! One of Emily's pals shared a snap of her pouring a bottle of Veuve Clicquot into a champagne flute and captioned the shot: 'Starting the night with a champagne reception hosted by this beaut!'

One of Emily's pals shared a snap of her pouring a bottle of Veuve Clicquot into a champagne flute and captioned the shot: 'Starting the night with a champagne reception hosted by this beaut!'

Reflecting on her year in her own post, Emily said: 'Theres nothing I can say in a caption that could possibly sum up the most incredible year of my life. Thank you everyone for being a part of it.

'Have a wonderful evening friends. Stay safe, and snog each other at midnight. 2020, I fancy you BIG time. Lets run away together. Happy new year everybody. Be kind, be well, be happy !'

Emily has been enjoying her time back in the UK after co-hosting I'm A Celebrity! Extra Camp in Australia during the reality show's three-week stint, which ended with Jacqueline Jossa being crowned queen of the jungle.

Enjoying herself: Following her return from the I'm A Celeb jungle, Emily appeared to have celebrated too much, as she joked that she was hungover following her 30th birthday celebrations

Following her return, Emily appeared to have celebrated too much, as she joked that she was hungover following her 30th birthday celebrations.

The TV personality looked stunning in plunging black dress as she posed with a drink in hand and '30' balloons.

Emily wore her brunette locks in sleek waves that cascaded over her shoulders, while she used a glamorous palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features.

Beaming as she celebrated her upcoming birthday, she joked in the caption: 'Had an accidental last minute early birthday party for my 30th last night. It was smashing.

Partying hard: Following the party, Emily then took to Instagram where she joked she wasn't 'hungover at all' as she joined friends for another party

'A massive thank you to my beautiful friends and family for getting me really REALLY pissed.'

Following the party, Emily then took to Instagram where she joked she wasn't 'hungover at all' as she joined friends for another party.

Despite feeling ill, she put on a stoic expression as she posed for a selfie and wore a light palette of make-up for the occasion.

She wrapped up warm in an orange turtleneck jumper, and accessorised with a pair of chic gold hoop earrings.
A collection of 1,131 letters from Nobel laureate and renowned American-Anglo writer T S Eliot to his muse and confidant Emily Hale will be unveiled for research at a US university on Thursday, a momentous occasion for scholars and fans who are hopeful that the trove will offer insight into the more intimate details about the author's work and romantic relationship.

Dating from 1930 to 1957, the letters are the largest single series of Eliot's correspondence and among the best-known sealed literary archives in the world.

On January 2, 2020, a collection of 1,131 letters from Eliot to his lifelong friend Hale will open for research at Princeton University Library (PUL), the varsity said in a statement.

Hale donated the letters to the PUL more than 60 years ago. She gave the letters with the stipulation that they remain sealed until 50 years after the death of Eliot or Hale, whoever survived the other. Eliot died in 1965 and Hale soon thereafter, in 1969.

"The approaching release of Eliot's letters to Hale is already generating excitement on campus," said Joshua Kotin, associate professor of English at Princeton.

"Students who have been fascinated by 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock' (1915) and 'The Waste Land' (1922) are now asking questions about Eliot himself. But this interest is not limited to Eliot's love life. Students are excited to learn more about Eliot's religious conversion and attitudes toward women, and about his decisions at Faber & Faber and their impact on British culture," Kotin said.

In the letters, scholars and Eliot fans will likely learn more about his relationship with Hale, who has been described as his muse and confidant; his personal and professional experiences as a writer, critic and editor at Faber & Faber and The Criterion; and his overall thoughts regarding the contemporary literary scene, the statement said.

Hale's donated collection also included photographs, ephemera, clippings and a brief narrative she wrote about her relationship with Eliot. After the collection opens, scholars and librarians will be able to delve into and share more information about the content.

Romantic speculation has surrounded the Eliot and Hale relationship over the last few decades, inspiring novels such as Martha Cooley's "The Archivist" and Steven Carroll's "Eliot Quartet" series. Such speculation has added to the literary and academic curiosity about the content of the letters.

A Boston native, Hale was a speech and drama teacher at Simmons College, Milwaukee-Downer College, Scripps College and Smith College. She and Eliot initially met in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1912 when Eliot attended Harvard University, and they rekindled their friendship in 1927. When Eliot moved to England, the pair corresponded frequently.

When the collection was initially unsealed at PUL in October for processing and cataloging, the letters were still in their original envelopes and bundles, as Hale presumably kept them, according to Chloe Pfendler, processing archivist for the manuscripts division in PUL's Special Collections.

"Eliot burned Hale's letters, so we will not know her own views beyond his responses to them. As the 50-year-moratorium ends and the archive is opened to scholars at the new year, we will begin to learn far more about Eliot's thought during this period of historical and, for him, personal upheaval," said professor of English at Princeton and editor of the Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets Susan Stewart, who was present when the letters were unsealed by PUL staff.

"Students in our modernist poetry courses and the graduate students and faculty involved in our lively modernism group are eagerly looking forward to exploring the archive and sharing the Eliot is the rare poet who is also a vital critic and thinker; the contribution of the letters to our understanding of his work promises to be immeasurable," Stewart said.

The Eliot letters are under copyright until 2035 and will not be available for access online. Researchers can access the collection on a first-come, first-served basis in Firestone Library's Special Collections, the statement said.

Born in 1965 in Missouri, Eliot was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948, "for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry". He moved to England in 1914 and would settle, work and marry there. He became a British subject in 1927 at the age of 39, subsequently renouncing his American passport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Baghdad The US flew a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after a mob of pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the compound, setting fires and chanting "Death to America!"

Angered by US air strikes that killed two dozen fighters, hundreds of protesters spilled through checkpoints in the high-security Green Zone on Tuesday, demanding the ouster of US troops from Iraq and voicing loyalty to a powerful Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US President Donald Trump blamed Tehran and warned that it would face punishment if Americans are killed.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump said on Twitter late Tuesday. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," wrote Trump, adding "Happy New Year!"

The US president, however, said he does not foresee war with Tehran. "I don't see that happening," Trump said at his holiday retreat in Florida when a reporter asked about the possibility of war with the Islamic republic.

"I like peace," the president said before heading in to New Year's celebrations.

Washington officials appeared surprised and furious over the ease at which the protestors entered the Green Zone, reaching the US embassy compound for the first time in years.

They carried flags of the hardline Kataeb Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), a component of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network.

As live broadcasts showed the protestors battering down the high-security doors of the embassy reception building, smashing windows and burning a sentry box, the State Department and Pentagon demanded Iraq's leaders provide security to the compound -- which was already heavily fortified.

In phone calls with both Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and President Barham Saleh, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq," the State Department said.

Hours later a contingent of US Marines flew in from Kuwait, by which time some of the demonstrators had receded and others settled in for a sustained protest, preparing food for the evening.

Trump directly blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq." "They will be held fully responsible," he said.

Tehran countered that the United States is itself to blame for air strikes that killed about two dozen Kataeb Hezbollah fighters on Sunday.

"The surprising audacity of American officials is so much that after killing at least 25... and violating the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, that now... they attribute the Iraqi people's protest against their cruel acts to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

The mob attack put a focus on the strains in the US-Iraqi relationship. Allies of Iran, which enjoys significant support in parts of the Iraqi government, increasingly challenge Washington's influence in the country.

US jet fighters on Sunday struck five Kateab Hezbollah outposts in Iraq and Syria after a series of rocket attacks on US-occupied facilities in Iraq over the past two months that are blamed on the group and its alleged Iranian sponsors.

One of those attacks, in Kirkuk on Friday, left an American civilian contractor dead and exhausted what US officials called Trump's "strategic patience" with Tehran.

"The president has shown a lot of restraint," Brian Hook, the State Department's Special Representative for Iran, told reporters Monday.

"We very much hoped that Iran would not miscalculate and confuse our restraint for weakness. But after so many attacks, it was important for the president to direct our armed forces to respond in a way that the Iranian regime will understand."

But it added to the growing calls by some political factions in Iraq to push US troops out of the country nearly 17 years after they entered and overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime.

Dozens of Iraqi lawmakers have called for a review of the agreement allowing about 5,200 US troops in Iraq, saying the airstrikes over the weekend violated the country's sovereignty.

An Iraqi government statement said the attacks "force Iraq to review its relations and its security, political and legal framework to protect its sovereignty".

The protesters who besieged the US embassy on Tuesday carried posters reading: "Parliament should oust US troops, or else we will!" Late Tuesday Kataeb Hezbollah hailed the protest outside as a "first lesson" to Washington, "so that Trump knows he did something extremely stupid".

"This may well be the low point of US policy in Iraq," said Iraq expert Fanar Haddad of Singapore University's Middle East Institute.

But US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured. Ambassador Matthew Tueller, who had been on holiday leave, was on his way back to the embassy.

During the day Trump also called Abdel Madi to emphasise the need to protect US personnel and facilities in Iraq, the White House said.

He later tweeted his thanks to Abdel Mahdi and Saleh for "their rapid response upon request" to the embassy attack.
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. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of The Hour Glass Limited (SGX:AGS).

Over the last twelve months Hour Glass has recorded a ROE of 13%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each SGD1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made SGD0.13 in profit.

Check out our latest analysis for Hour Glass

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Hour Glass:

13% = S$79m  S$588m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets.

What Does Return On Equity Mean?

ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies.

Does Hour Glass 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. As you can see in the graphic below, Hour Glass has a higher ROE than the average (9.6%) in the Specialty Retail industry.

SGX:AGS Past Revenue and Net Income, January 1st 2020

That's clearly a positive. We think a high ROE, alone, is usually enough to justify further research into a company. For example you might check if insiders are buying shares.

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How Does Debt Impact ROE?

Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Hour Glass's Debt And Its 13% ROE

Hour Glass has a debt to equity ratio of just 0.058, which is very low. The combination of modest debt and a very respectable ROE suggests this is a business worth watching. 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.

In Summary

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. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Wanda Diaz Merced is an astronomer at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Office for Astronomy Outreach in Mitaka, Japan. Diaz Merced is blind and uses a technique to transform data from astronomical surveys into sounds for analysis. Over at Nature, Elizabeth Gibney interviewed Merced about how "converting astronomical data into sound could bring discoveries that conventional techniques miss." From Nature:

How did you begin your work with sonification?



Sonification has been around for a long time. In 1933, for example, US physicist Karl Jansky reported detecting the first radio waves from space, as an audible hiss in his antenna. But at some point, visualization came to dominate the way we interpret astrophysical data. When I was an intern at NASA in 2005, my mentor, Robert Candey, wanted me to create a prototype data analysis tool that would familiarize blind people with space-physics data. So we developed software that could map astronomical data into sound  its pitch, rhythm and volume. Then, in my 2013 PhD dissertation at the University of Glasgow, UK, I proved that it is useful.



Can you describe a real-world example?



There are many. Sonification can help us to study the habitability of an exoplanet, by understanding how much high-energy cosmic and solar rays interact with its magnetic field or atmosphere. Such interactions cause fluctuations of electromagnetic emission from that star system that vary in a way that relates to frequency . BBut because astronomers usually separate out different frequency components into many graphs, this is easy to miss. With sonification, we can listen to all the different frequencies together and pick out the signal from the noise.
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When spotting an animal who needs help, it's going to seem more straightforward to think, "I would stop, on the other hand, I'd be late for work," "I don't think I'm strong enough," or "I'm sure somebody else will help." But a suffering animal might not have time to attend for somebody else to return along. To celebrate the people that instead thought, "Work will understand," "I need to try," or "If I don't help, who will?" PETA is proud to honor these Top Animal Rescuers of the Year for 2019.

Chloe Dorsey, for Freeing a Fawn-Twice

PETA is honoring Chloe Dorsey for coming to the help of a trapped deer-not once but twice! She was jogging in Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta when she spotted a fawn who seemed to be stuck between the bars of a fence surrounding the park. Two other deer stood guard nearby. albeit the fence was made from thick metal, she worked until she had pried the bars far enough apart for the trapped animal to squeeze through and escape. Thinking that the morning's adventure was over, Dorsey was close to continue her run-but just a brief distance away, she saw the fawn lodged in another section of the park's fence. The bars were harder to bend this point, so it took a mild push, too, to assist her wriggle free. "I are an animal lover my whole life," she said. "I knew I had to try to to something." albeit that meant two rescues during a row.

Tanya Krasuin, for Helping a Starving Skunk

Good Samaritan Tanya Krasuin was surprised to ascertain a skunk outside her Mission, British Columbia, Canada, home struggling to free her head from the plastic cup that had become lodged thereon. Krasuin ran outside, grabbed the cup, and gently tugged until the trapped animal was ready to pull free and escape to safety. "People keep asking me if i used to be scared of getting sprayed," she told PETA. "No! I did what I had to try to to to save lots of an animal from suffocating. i feel a person would do an equivalent."

This skunk likely would've died of starvation or dehydration or been hit by a car if not for Krasuin's quick thinking. PETA commends her and urges everyone to see out our guide properly removing trash to guard wildlife.

Randel Sands and Ron Nash, for Freeing a Shark Tangled in cord

Divers Randel Sands and Ron Nash were doing a reef cleanup in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, once they discovered a 6-foot Ginglymostoma cirratum who'd become entangled in cord. They knew the shark would die unless they intervened. "There was a flash where she was watching me together with her eye-I believe she knew I wanted to assist her," Sands told PETA. "She lay perfectly still as we looked for the road and worked to untangle her. Not for a second did she struggle or attempt to escape." Thankfully, Sands and Nash were ready to free her. The gentle shark glided away, and Sands posted the video of her rescue on YouTube to form people aware that discarded fishing equipment harms animals.

Yaghnam Yaghnam, for Preventing a Turtle From Being Hit by a Bus

This video of a busman smiling while helping a turtle cross the road made us smile, too. Yaghnam Yaghnam was making his rounds in Milwaukee when he spotted a turtle within the middle of the roadway. Another bus was headed straight for the animal, so Yaghnam pulled his bus over, darted across the road, picked the turtle up, and quickly covered the remainder of the space for him. With the coast clear, he signaled to the opposite bus to proceed. the 2 bus cameras caught his heroic action, and his proud employer wasted no time in sharing it. "I love turtles," Yaghnam says. "As soon as i noticed it had been a turtle, I smiled, as you'll see within the video. I knew the opposite bus was approaching and wanted to make certain he was out of harm's way." You'll help turtles stay out of harm's way, too, with PETA's easy guide.

There are a lot more heroes to mention. Each of those heroes received a framed award from PETA along side a box of vegan cookies. And now, all of them are being recognized as our Top Animal Rescuers of 2019 and can receive our Merry-Mint Cocoa and Mug Gift Set, a collapsible reusable straw from FinalStraw, our 2020 Rescued Calendar, and a box of Divine Treasures' Divine Kingdom vegan chocolates.
Manhunt underway for Baton Rouge killer possibly targeting homeless originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are asking for the public's help in finding a gunman who appears to be targeting the homeless.

Investigators warned city shelter workers to be extra vigilant over the weekend when Tony Williams, a 50-year-old transient, was found shot to death on the porch of a vacant home. Investigators said the killing appears to be connected to the murders of two other homeless people found shot to death earlier in December.

"At this time, we believe that the homicides are connected. However, such connection cannot be positively confirmed at this time. If confirmation is made, further information will be released at the appropriate time," Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul told reporters on Friday. "We will continue to work these cases aggressively."

(MORE: New York City dumping homeless to New Jersey to live in decrepit buildings: Lawsuit)

Paul said the suspect, or suspects, appeared to be targeting the city's "homeless and therefore vulnerable" and warned that "there is danger in sleeping outside." The department said it reached out to the FBI as well as Louisiana State Police for assistance in the investigation.

The department said it's also in contact with organizations that provide resources for the homeless in an effort to raise awareness.

PHOTO: A crime scene is depicted in this undated stock image. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images)

"We do believe that it was incumbent upon us to provide the public, the media and the service providers that provide services to our homeless community that there is danger in sleeping outside," Paul said. "As we speak, our officers are contacting organizations and agencies that provide services to the homeless community."

Williams suffered a single gunshot wound. He was discovered on the porch of an abandoned home, about two block away from where the other victims, Christina Fowler, 53, and Gregory Corcoran, 40, were found on Dec. 13, also with gunshot wounds.

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The news has placed the city's homeless population on edge.

(MORE: Cruise ship could house homeless)

Michael Acaldo, director of the city's largest homeless shelter, St. Vincent de Paul, said the facility expanded its capacity in the wake of the killings.

"Its kind of hard to put any of this into words, because its shocking. Why would anyone target someone whos vulnerable and homeless?" Acaldo told ABC News Baton Rouge affiliate WBRZ.

The department declined to say why it believes the cases are connected, but did add it expects to have confirmation soon. No additional updates had been provided as of Tuesday evening. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.

"We are not going to provide any specifics as to the investigation," Paul added. "But it's important for us to let the homeless community know that we want them to be vigilant and that those service providers understand and help us communicate this message."
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Firefighters were able to successfully rescue a dog from a cliff at San Francisco's Fort Funston on New Years Eve, fire officials said.

Around 2:11 p.m., fire officials learned of a dog on a cliff, just north of the hang glider platform.

After about 25 minutes, firefighters were able to rescue the dog and bring it to safety.

Firefighters didn't say how exactly the dog got there.

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.
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Millions of Britons are nursing a hangover today after hitting the high streets for the final party of 2019.

There were raucous scenes in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Swansea, Leeds, Blackpool and in Edinburgh where tens of thousands took part in Hogmanay celebrations as the UK entered a new decade.

As the wine, beer and spirits flowed partygoers, many in fancy dress, danced and drank the night away with friends and loved-ones.

But a sizeable minority had one too many drinks with people seen vomiting, urinating in doorways, fighting each other or being carried to ambulances.

In the worst cases there were arrests as the partying got out of hand as the emergency services battled on during one of the busiest nights of the year.

Leeds: A woman in high heels is carried down the street by a friend as Britain saw in 2020 with a bang last night

Cardiff: A partygoer lies down on the floor so a friend can help buckle her heels as millions partied the night away across the UK

Cardiff, Leeds and Birmingham: Women had their glad rags on as they partied with friends and family

Blackpool and Cardiff: Revellers were happy to be out with friends on one of the busiest nights of the year

One trio looked ready for the celebrations ahead as they stepped out in Newcastle city centre adorned in Happy New Year party hats

Birmingham: This is the moment the clock struck midnight and ticker-tape fell as 2020 began in Britain's second city

Blackpool: A bloodied reveller with a bellybutton tattoo is taken away by police in the Lancashire seaside town after a night of partying

Birmingham: Two woman fall on top of each other in Broad Street as Britain entered a new decade today

Swansea: A couple lurch forward on a bench on a pavement stained with vomit and food as people drank in the NYE atmosphere

Cheers! Four friends celebrate the New Year with matching festive headbands and fur coasts in Chester-le-Street

Hogmanay: Three friends pose for the camera as they enjoy a wholesome New Year's Eve celebration in Edinburgh

Swansea and Leeds: Women braved a cold night wearing very little as Britain entered the 2020s

Manchester: Deansgate was packed with revellers including these three friends heading for a club or bar

Newcastle: Two friends in similar red dresses and matching make-up celebrate New Year's Eve on Tyneside

Blackpool: A young woman poses for a selfie wearing a police cap borrowed from an officer patrolling the seaside resort

Three friends looked to be in good spirits as they walked down the streets of Edinburgh in coordinated glitzy outfits before seeing in the New Year

Manchester: A woman has a lie down on Deansgate as millions enjoyed a night out to mark the end of 2019 last night

Manchester: Tensions boiled over as people queued to get into nightclubs in the city centre last night

Newcastle: Police intervene and take someone to one of their vans as a minority got into trouble with the law last night

Swansea: It was all too much for one woman in South Wales who was forced to lie down in the street last night

Swansea: The partying continued in the streets as the club, pubs and bars closed and 2020 started this morning

Two girls share a hot-dog baguette with ketchup after a long night celebrating on Broad Street in Birmingham

Merrymakers in a nightclub on Broad Street, Birmingham, looked delighted to see in the new decade together as golden confetti rained down on them

Leeds: A young woman entertains a friend as she grabs a memento of her night out... the obligatory traffic cone

A group of revellers in Cardiff slipped into something more comfortable as they swapped their heels for flip flops on the walk home after seeing in the New Year

A man carried a woman through the streets of Manchester as they headed for a taxi home

One group of women braved the cold as they walked down the middle of the street hand-in-hand to join the New Year's Eve celebrations in Swansea

Manchester: One woman was sick at Deansgate Locks after a night of drinking appeared to disagree with her

Newcastle: Three friends take a break from drinking and have a chat on some steps in the city centre

Swansea: This partygoer took off her heels and appeared overwhelmed by the New Year's Eve celebrations in the city

Blackpool: Women strutted down the street in Blackpool in mini-dresses to join the New Year's Eve celebrations

Police officers gleefully posed for a selfie with party-goers on Broad Street in Birmingham as they celebrated bringing in the new year of 2020

Swansea: Crowds gather to watch a man's breakdance moves perilously close to a lamppost

Manchester: One woman preferred to be carried on a man's shoulders rather than walk through the city centre

Newcastle and Cardiff: After a night of drinking and partying many stopped for a kebab to soak up the booze

Birmingham: Partygoers on Broad Street in Birmingham have been carted off in ambulances, whilst others are carried home by mates as they are unable to stand after welcoming in 2020

Birmingham: Two revellers lay on the pavement after being in a fight outside Popworld on Broad Street

Birmingham: An unfortunate woman wrapped in a blanket is carted into an ambulance on a trolley on a very busy night for the emergency services

Birmingham: Two girls made a stop to a takeaway before heading home in their flip flops (left) as another reveller sat himself down on a set of steps before tucking into six hot dog baguettes (right)

Birmingham: Three glamorous women hit the clubs and pubs of the West Midlands just before midnight last night

Newcastle: A man takes a tumble on some steps outside one of the city's 31 Greggs stores

One pair of revellers in Edinburgh (left) as well as two friends in Newcastle (right) made their way home after the celebrations

Girls posed gleefully for a photo with their high heels in their hands as they left a busy nightclub in Birmingham

London: Street cleaners started their work soon after midnight where many crowded the banks of the Thames to watch the fireworks

Revellers made their way home through Edinburgh as the clean up is set to begin the 2020 Hogmanay celebrations

Three revellers readjusted their shoes outside a takeaway shop in Newcastle at the end of a long night (left) as another girl got a helping hand to get home in Leeds (right)

One woman fell over on the pavement outside a busy nightclub in Manchester city centre during the New Year celebrations before being helped to her feet by her friends

A group of friends in Leeds enjoyed a night out on the town to see in 2020 before they walked home together

Birmingham: Women braved the cold as they donned an array of eye-catching outfits to celebrate seeing in the new decade

Some revellers in Leeds looked a little worse for wear as they held hands to cross the road to join the New Year's Eve celebrations

Party-goers huddled together as they posed in front of the camera on the streets in Newcastle at the end of their night out on the town

One woman sat down to eat after a long night out in Leeds (left) and another reveller in Birmingham braved the chill (right)

Party-goers in Leeds city centre tried to get hold of each other as one woman called a friend while clutching a glass of white wine in her other hand

Groups of revellers hit Broad Street in Birmingham early to try and get into the nightclubs before midnight as massive queues formed

Two women in Leeds sat on a bench for a rest at the end of the night after enjoying a night of celebrations

Leeds: Merrymakers looked ready to go home (left) as one woman stood in the middle of the road wearing a combination of one flip flop and one high heel (right)

A man looked ready to call it a night after having to hang his head over a bin to vomit in Leeds city centre during the New Year's Eve celebrations

A pair of friends looked in good spirits as they paused their New Year's Eve celebrations to sit down on the kerb to take a snapshot in Leeds

One group of girls huddled together for warmth as they waited in a queue outside a packed nightclub in Leeds city centre as the celebrations began

Takeaways were in high demand as friends helped one another home from the rowdy celebrations in Broad Street, Birmingham

Manchester: Revellers hit the streets adorned in Happy New Year merchandise (left) as others looked ready to call it a night (right)

Party-goers clutched on tightly to their McDonald's meals as they waited for their taxis outside a nightclub in Leeds

Some revellers in Newcastle city centre had their nights ended early as police were forced to intervene with tempers boiling over

A couple walked hand-in-hand down the street in the early hours of the morning as they headed home after the celebrations cradling their pizza takeaway

Hundreds of party-goers jostled in the queues outside nightclubs in Birmingham to try and bag their spot before the countdown to midnight started

The streets were packed full of enthusiastic merrymakers in both Birmingham (left) and Leeds (right)

Police officers were forced to intervene before tempers frayed too far outside one nightclub on Broad Street in Birmingham

A group of friends hopped into taxis home at the end of their night after seeing in the New Year in Birmingham

Police officers checked on one merrymaker who was spotted passed out in the middle of the street in Birmingham as the wild celebrations raged on in the city centre

Women tucked into their takeaway on their way home in Birmingham (left) as others carried their high heels in their hands in Leeds (right)
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has issued an injunction against members of the Wet'suwe'ten Nation who have blocked access to a natural gas pipeline project inside their traditional territory in northern B.C.

Justice Marguerite Church granted Coastal GasLink's application for an interlocutory injunction in a Prince George courtroom on Tuesday, restraining protesters from barring workers from getting through their checkpoints along a remote logging road near Houston, B.C.

Wet'suwet'en Nation members Freda Huson and hereditary chief Smogelgem, the two named defendants in the action, had argued the checkpoints are legal under Wet'suwet'en law because the company doesn't have permission from the head chief of the Dark House hereditary house group to enter or pass through their territory. The judge rejected that.

"The defendants may genuinely believe in their rights under Indigenous law to prevent the plaintiff from entering Dark House territory, but the law does not recognize any right to blockade and obstruct the plaintiff from pursuing lawfully authorized activities," Church wrote.

The judge's order confirms an interim injunction that has been in place for the last year, and includes an order providing RCMP with the power to enforce it.

"In the face of the interim injunction order, the defendants refused to voluntarily comply with the order and enforcement action by the RCMP, as well as ongoing RCMP presence, was required to ensure compliance," Church wrote.

The judge said the company has all the necessary permits and authorizations, and had met the legal tests for an injunction.

Fourteen people were arrested in January, 2019 when RCMP moved in to enforce the interim injunction order.

Pipeline company, hereditary chiefs respond

Coastal GasLink is owned by TC Energy Corporation, formerly TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. The natural gas pipeline being constructed will span 670 kilometres from northeastern B.C. to a liquified natural gas plant scheduled for construction in Kitimat on the coast.

Story continues

The company says it has signed agreements with all 20 elected First Nations councils along the pipeline route, but hereditary chiefs in the Wet'suwet'en First Nation say the project has no authority without their consent.

In a press release, the company said it is proud of its relationships with First Nations along the pipeline corridor.

"Coastal GasLink remains focused on constructing this approved and permitted $6.6-billion project safely and with respect for our Indigenous partners and local communities along the route," the statement says.

Chantelle Bellrichard/CBC

A large portion of the pipeline is slated to go through Wet'suwet'en traditional territory  a route rejected by most of the nation's hereditary chiefs.

Hereditary chiefs representing the First Nation's five clans issued a press release denouncing the judge's decision, pointing out that the land has never been ceded to the Canadian or B.C. governments.

"In this time of reconciliation, with B.C. being the first province to legislate UNDRIP [the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples], this ruling by a court in B.C. against Indigenous rights and recognition truly proves that industry, not the people, can control the province and its laws," Dini'ze Na'moks of the Tsayu Clan said.

Church's judgment acknowledges that the territory is unceded.

"The aboriginal title claims of the Wet'suwet'en remain outstanding and have not been resolved either by litigation or negotiation, despite the urging of the Supreme Court of Canada," the judge wrote.

She also points out that customary Indigenous laws can be admissible as evidence in Canadian courts. However, she questions whether the checkpoints were truly established to enforce Wet'suwet'en law.

"Their public statements do not reference traditional Wet'suwet'en governance structures and upholding the authority of [Dark House] Chief Knedebeas, but rather describe the Unist'ot'en Camp as their focal point, part of a territorial 'reoccupation' and strategically located in the pipeline project right of way as part of a resistance effort," Church wrote.
President Obama's been kind of quiet these days, last tweeting his Christmas greetings and best wishes for the health of Rep. John Lewis.

So has former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, former UN ambassador Samantha Power, former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, and former CIA Director John Brennan.

Only lowly Ben Rhodes, the creative-writing major promoted to Deputy National Security Advisor for "communications" and his sidekick Colin Kahl, Joe Biden's NSC man, have been Twitter-talkative.

The Obama bigfoots have good reason to lay low. The U.S. embassy in Iraq was attacked by one of the people they'd tried to coddle earlier, back in 2011, Hadi Farhan al-Amiri, a guy so bad even a former FBI director, Louis Freeh, spoke out against letting the guy in at the time. It's not like this guy pretended to be a friend and then went bad on them. They knew. And they let him in, giving him lots of clout back home from which he was able to draw new terrorist resources, since terrorism was what he did.

According to the 2011 report in the Washington Times:

Embassy was unavailable to elaborate on Mr. al-Amiris role in the White House visit. Louis J. Freeh, who served as FBI director in the Clinton administration and the early months of the George W. Bush administration, said it was shocking that Mr. al-Maliki would include Mr. al-Amiri in his visit to Washington. Irans Revolutionary Guard has been involved in countless acts of terrorism, which are acts of war against the United States, Mr. Freeh said in an interview. Mr. al-Amiri served as a commander of the Revolutionary Guards Badr Corps, a battalion that was tasked with operations in Iraq. He remained active in the Badr Corps during the late 1980s and 1990s, when he was working on resistance efforts against Saddam Husseins regime in Iraq. The FBI linked the Revolutionary Guard to the attack on the Khobar Towers in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, on June 25, 1996. Nineteen U.S. servicemen were killed by a bomb blast at the towers, which were housing American military personnel. As a senior leader, [Mr. al-Amiri] would have to have known about Khobar, and he would know Gen. [Ahmad] Sherifi, who was the IRGC general that conducted the operation, Mr. Freeh said. He added that the FBI would love to sit down and talk to him, show him photographs and ask him questions about the fugitives named in the Khobar Towers indictment.

The Obamatons ignored him.

Al-Amiri got invited the White House as the Iraqi government's "transport minister" after he fought on the side of Iran in the horrendous Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, continued work with the Iran Revolutionary Guards, got more practice with terrorism in Kuwait in 2008, according to this credible-looking Middle Eastern source on Twitter:

Not only this, al-Amiri executed terrorist attacks in #Kuwait in the eighties on behalf of #Iran.@brett_mcgurk reportedly met him. Even if this info was not accurate, #Obama & his team made the #US -practically- the air force of the pro-Iran #shiite militia in #Iraq 4 a while! https://t.co/mXeAcFu5Y1  Dr. Ali Bakeer (@AliBakeer) October 26, 2019

...and still managed to cadge a White House invitation, undoubtedly to browbeat the White House into caving in on some factor, or else to convince them that there was no winning the Iraq war, the Iranians there were too powerful. Whatever the purpose of this visit, it sure as heck didn't deserve the White House treatment, it's something world leaders normally have to earn to get. That this terrorist got an invitation so cheaply could only have sent the message to his ilk that the U.S. was weak. And now we have the embassy attack.

So now we have Rhodes desperately trying to spin the matter, studiously avoiding the topic of that al-Amiri invitation, something Rhodes himself probably extended to the terrorist with full knowledge of the kind of things al-Amiri had made a career of. Rhodes, if you read his memoirs, and I did, had a taste for making personal contact with the world's gamiest players, blissfully unaware of how naive and arrogant he came off in his written account. I'd bet money Rhodes was the one who invited al-Amiri in to take a look around the Oval office and have a seat on the Blue Room furniture.

He's since responded with a violent terror attack against the U.S. coordinated with full blessing of Iran's mullahs. Proud of yourselves, Obamatons? Someone on the nets ought to be asking them about it.

Image credit: Mohsen Ahmed Alkhafaji via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:00:58|Editor: Xiaoxia

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LAGOS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai on Wednesday commended the performances of troops operating in the restive northeast region against Boko Haram militants.

The army chief, who spoke to reporters in northeast town of Gwoza in Borno state when he visited the Police Training College, said troops performances nationwide had been impressive and encouraging.

The college is one of the critical security institutions overran by the Boko Haram militants during the peak of their activities in Borno state in 2014.

Buratai said the troops had exhibited high level of professionalism and resilience with the knowledge of the terrain, adding that they had continued to raid the hideouts of the militants.

He said the super camp concept had achieved its objective, saying it has helped the troops to have much understanding of the behavior of the militants.

The Nigerian army announced in August that it has launched a Super Camp strategy in its over one-decade war against insurgency in the Northeastern part of the nation.

The strategy entails the concentration of fighting forces in strongholds called Super Camps with capacity to respond swiftly to attacks.

According to the army chief, the initial misconception about super camps has been assuaged as well as the fears of the people and it is something that we will continue to build on to make sure we succeed at the end.

Buratai also assured people in the northeast region that the troops would continue to provide them security enable them enjoy more harvest from their farms.
Concerns about dog breeders

Let me answer the dog breeders question in the Dec. 29 World-Herald article when she asked, Why are we promoting mutts? Breeders should have to work for four weeks every year at a public shelter, and then she would understand why we are promoting mutts.

Many of the dogs that breeders sell end up in a shelter. They are surrendered, or picked up as strays, for a variety of reasons including vet bills that owners cannot afford (they might have purchased her puppy at a pet store where it became very ill or began to show signs of congenital problems later on), they are moving to a place where they cannot have a dog, or the dogs got pregnant and the owners cannot (or will not) take on all the responsibilities associated with whelping puppies.

Additionally, many mixed breed dogs (or mutts) are healthier than their purebred counterparts  purebreds are bred to have certain traits that are considered desirable by people, traits that are not always compatible with health (such as pushed-in faces or smaller head sizes).
Speaking in Bairnsdale, the Premier said the firefight was arguably more challenging and complex than any other in the state's history. "This will be an active fire and a very challenging and complex environment for weeks and therefore we have to do things differently," Mr Andrews said. "We've not seen this for a long time, if perhaps ever. It will test us but we are equal to that challenge." Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said a NSW police boat also brought supplies into Mallacoota on Tuesday.

Loading "It brought in a small amount of water, but it was a nice touch to show we're all in this together. The Victoria Water Police, a boat should have gone in taking 1.6 tonnes of water. Again, at about this time, we're loading up a large barge ... It will have food and water and 30,000 litres of fuel. It will be making its way to Mallacoota. It will have supplies for about two weeks." The Australian Defence Force is also moving in navy ships. Two Black Hawk helicopters and a big Taipan chopper are also heading to East Sale. "Along with that, there will be two of the large Chinooks, heavy-lift helicopters, coming from Townsville and they will be here on Friday," Mr Crisp said.

Mr Crisp said authorities were "considering" evacuating Mallacoota by sea but said the ships arriving at its coastline were not equipped to take thousands of people at once. Sydney woman Mary O'Malley, whose husband grew up in Mallacoota where they have a property, said they had to boil water to drink. Mallacoota was under attack by fires on Tuesday, when 4000 people took shelter on the foreshore. Black smoke sent the town into darkness for hours on Tuesday morning. By 1pm on Wednesday, all emergency bushfires had been downgraded. Seven fires remain at the watch and act warning level. Saturday is shaping up to be another risky fire day, with temperatures expected to go into the high 30s or up to 40 degrees.

A burnt-out house is seen in Sarsfield, East Gippsland on Tuesday. Credit:AAP "Saturday is a significant day for us. It's about what we do to enable us to be in the best position we can on Saturday," Mr Crisp said. "We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state." Mr Crisp said new fires could also start in NSW and cross the border, like the Corryong fire, which has taken 10 to 15 structures. That fire - which is covering more than 100,000 hectares - could join up with another 98,000 hectare fire, which is currently burning further east in NSW.

A firefighting helicopter tackling a bushfire near Bairnsdale in East Gippsland. Credit:Victorian Government/AAP The fires have already burnt through a total of 563,270 hectares of Victoria and Mr Crisp said there had been "significant" stock losses. More than 1000 firefighters were working through New Year's Day as 45 fires continue to burn. Hundreds of people had been taking shelter in a Cann River school on Wednesday. James Perdicaro was worried for his mother earlier on Wednesday morning, but has since confirmed she is taking shelter at a local school with about 200 to 250 others. The population of Cann River is about 200.

Bushfires have hit phone coverage in the area and information has been scarce. "The last I heard was people were at the school and they were preparing to evacuate via air, but since then the smoke conditions have made it impossible," Mr Perdicaro said. "The fires are still burning around the town, the weather seems to be calmer today and is slowing but I've been told that it's expected to get worse and the town is still bracing for fire." Power is out for about 7000 homes in the region and it may be some time before it is restored.

"On the basis of CFA advice, and the safety of our crews, we're just unable to get in there," John Preston, from network company Ausnet, told ABC Gippsland Radio. People in Corryong and East Gippsland may not be able to get through to triple zero because fires have been affecting phone coverage. Ambulance Victoria said people needing medical care should seek alternative assistance if they can't get through to triple zero. The Princes Highway was temporarily opened between 10am and midday to get people out of Orbost and surrounds, but not to allow anyone in. Traffic was opened westbound towards Bairnsdale only, where people are camped at a relief centre.
UNESCOs fourth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 4) has spotlighted the progress made by Vietnam for strengthening the education of its elderly people and promote their learning, health and well-being.

Illustrative photo. Source: globalvolunteers.org

The report reveals that Vietnam in recent years has promoted special attention to education rural workers, and significantly increased its community learning centres.

The report also commends Vietnams education strategy 20112020 which focuses on developing a learning society by creating social equity in access, and equal opportunities for everybody to engage in lifelong learning.

Adult education is central to sustainable development and economic growth. However, in almost one-third of countries fewer than five per cent of adults aged 15 and above participate in education and learning programmes.

Disadvantaged groups, in particular, are often deprived of their right to education. Adults with disabilities, older adults, refugees and migrants, and minority groups are among those losing out, according to the report.

The report found that In Asia, community learning centres (CLCs) have come to play an essential role in providing the rural population with appropriate Adult Learning and Education opportunities. Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam have all significantly increased the number of CLCs, which has dramatically increased the number of rural learners in literacy, life skills and various vocational programmes.

Overall, the GRALE report warns major change in adult education participation is required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The report calls for a sea change in approach, backed by adequate investment, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to access and benefit from adult learning and education and that its full contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is realized.

The findings of the global report are based on data submitted by 159 countries.

The UNESCO Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE) monitors whether UNESCO Member States are putting their international commitments on adult learning and education into practice.

These commitments are set out in the Belem Framework for Action (2009), the outcome document of the 6th International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI, Belem, Brazil), and the Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (2015).

In addition to this monitoring function, each issue of GRALE examines a particular topic, the 2019 edition focusses on participation. GRALE is published every three years.

The Report combines survey data, policy analysis and case studies to provide policy-makers and practitioners with recommendations and examples of good practice.

It presents evidence on how adult learning and education helps countries address current challenges and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mai Lan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said he will ask Parliament for immunity from being prosecuted in three corruption cases against him - a politically-risky move that could delay his criminal trial for months.

Netanyahu made the announcement on live television, just four hours before a deadline to apply for immunity was set to expire.

Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust over allegations he granted state favors worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israeli media barons in return for gifts and favorable coverage.

He denies any wrongdoing, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt by the media and left-wing opponents.

A trial cannot get under way once an immunity request is made.

Had Netanyahu not filed the request by Wednesday's deadline, the indictment against him could have been submitted to a court and be allowed to move forward as early as Sunday.

Amid deep political deadlock in Israel, parliament seems unlikely to decide the issue before Israels March 2 election.

Netanyahu will need the support of more than half of Parliament's 120 legislators for immunity to be granted.

That same majority eluded him in attempts to form a government after elections in April and September.

If immunity is ultimately granted, Israels Supreme Court could review the decision and potentially strike it down.

Netanyahus request also carries political risks, adding more ammunition to challengers who seek to portray him as an autocratic leader who sees himself as above the law and who represents a danger to Israels democratic and judicial foundations.

Responding to Netanyahus speech Wednesday, his main rival, Benny Gantz, who heads the centrist Blue and White party, said the prime minister was jeopardizing the civic principle upon which we were all educated - that everyone is equal before the law.
The anguished mother of the Cyprus gang-rape teenager told yesterday how her daughters life has been ruined.

The traumatised youngster faces up to eight years to clear her name, her mother said, warning other British parents: This is not an isolated incident  the place is absolutely not safe.

As the Foreign Office ramped up British alarm over the feared miscarriage of justice, the devastated mother backed online calls for a boycott on holidays to the Mediterranean island.

Her 19-year-old daughter now faces a year in a Cyprus jail after police secured a confession that she lied about 12 Israeli youths gang-raping her during a post-exams holiday.

The traumatised youngster (pictured leaving court with her mother) faces up to eight years to clear her name, her mother said, warning other British parents: This is not an isolated incident  the place is absolutely not safe

The 19-year-old now faces a year in a Cyprus jail after police secured a confession that she lied about 12 Israeli youths (some of the alleged attackers are pictured) gang-raping her during a post-exams holiday

As the ordeal continued yesterday:

An online fundraising drive to help the teenager get justice reached 109,000;

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab showed a personal interest as the Foreign Office said it had spoken to Cyprus officials;

The teenagers mother described the familys feelings of hopelessness;

The Cypriot government said it had sympathy for the mother but claimed the adverse reaction had been exaggerated.

The teenager, from the Midlands, is suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleeping 20 hours a day to cope with her five-month ordeal trapped in Cyprus, during which time she lost her university place.

Her mother said: She should be celebrating the New Year with her new university friends. She had been accepted to each of the three universities she had applied to.

She had been offered a bursary at one of them. So no question she would have gone to university but it was in a career that she wouldnt be able to do with this public mischief verdict. So again life changing for her.

Instead, her daughter now faces a fight to overturn the verdict of a trial in which the district judge in Cyprus repeatedly aimed furious jibes at the woman as she tried to describe being raped  aggressively ordering her to show him respect.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured last month in London) showed a personal interest as the Foreign Office said it had spoken to Cyprus officials

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had a holiday romance with an Israeli youth during her summer break to the Cyprus party resort of Ayia Napa.

But one night, his friends filmed themselves bare-chested outside the couples budget hotel room, before allegedly bursting in. They deny any wrongdoing.

The mother told the BBCs Radio 4 Today programme she backed a boycott of Cyprus holidays, saying: Its not just my daughters case. Just looking at TripAdvisor from the hotel that she was staying at, there are other reports of people breaking into rooms and attempted rapes.

Thats just one hotel over one summer season  and theres hundreds of hotels in Ayia Napa. This is not an isolated incident, the place isnt safe, it is absolutely not safe.

And if you go and report something that has happened to you, you are either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or in the worst case, something like whats happened to my daughter may happen.

Initially the 12 Israeli youths were arrested on suspicion of gang rape. But then they were freed, after the British woman says she was hauled in for eight hours of questioning without a lawyer  during which she claims she was forced to sign a confession saying she had made it all up.

The Foreign Office says it is seriously concerned about whether she had a fair trial.

Despite her breaking down in tears numerous times during the chaotic court hearing, district judge Michalis Papathanasiou kept losing his temper with the vulnerable tourist and shouting at her in Greek.

He ruled it was not a rape trial and summarily dismissed all the womans evidence that she was attacked, while deciding all the prosecutions evidence was credible. To an international outcry, he convicted her of public mischief and she will be sentenced on Tuesday to up to a year in jail and a 1,500 fine.

Around a dozen activists attended the hearing, then protested the verdict outside court

Cypriot women's rights activists protest outside court wearing masks that show a pair of lips stitched together which has become a symbol of their movement in recent weeks

Yesterday the teenagers mother, who has spent thousands of pounds in legal bills as well as the cost of being forced to remain in Cyprus, revealed: She is suffering from PTSD, she spends a lot of time with hypersomnia at the moment  that means shes sleeping an awful lot of the day. She sleeps probably 18, 20 hours a day.

She is also quite withdrawn, which is very sad for me to see, and she also experiences hallucinations and she needs to get back to the UK to get that treated. That is my absolute primary focus.

She cant be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode. Obviously 50 per cent of the people who are going to be talking a foreign language are men so its really really difficult for her. She is doing very well to sort of contain that and control it at the moment but it needs resolving otherwise she is going to carry on having this for the rest of her life.

The young woman has vowed to appeal but the process could take up to eight years. Her mother said: We will be appealing the decision, without question. The next step is that it needs to go to the Supreme Court in Cyprus.

Unfortunately there is quite a long waiting list, so our lawyers are looking at what can be done to expedite that and thats something maybe the Foreign Office could help us with, to get that done as soon as we can. And if that doesnt provide justice then we would go to the European Court of Human Rights, but again, thats four to eight years we will have to wait. While that, I believe, will definitely serve justice, it is fundamentally life-changing to deal with this between four to eight years. The impact on life is quite phenomenal.

The teenager left court alongside her mother on Monday as the pair wore masks showing a woman's lips stitched together, which was handed to them by women's rights activists

Cyprus government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios said he had sympathy for the mother but claimed the public reaction to her daughters plight was exaggerated. I can understand the mother... I would expect any mother to do anything possible to help her daughter or son, he told reporters.

But we are not happy with the extent of publicity and the reaction, which has been exaggerated. We would have wished that these [boycott] calls hadnt happened. As a government we cannot, under any circumstances, intervene in a pending case before the court, he added.

The Foreign Office said the matter had been officially raised with the Cyprus government on Tuesday  with sources saying the Foreign Secretary has become personally involved.

One insider said: Dominic is a human rights lawyer and this has piqued interest.

The source described the decision earlier this week to publicise the UK governments serious concerns about the fair trial guarantees in this deeply distressing case as a step change in the approach by ministers, adding: We are exploring any way in which we can help and are watching closely how this develops.

The source said the UK was keen to keep the relationship amicable with the Cypriots, and was not yet at the stage of issuing threats.

We conveyed our concerns to the Cypriots. We have concerns about the due process and are still exploring avenues we can support.

We are focused on assisting the case rather than making threats. After the sentencing we will make a judgement, said the source. The Cypriot government has told Britain to stop meddling, saying it has full confidence in its justice system.

The room of the Aiya Napa hotel room where the teenager claimed she had been attacked

The bedroom where the teenager claimed the attack had taken place

Yesterday the teenagers mother, a project manager, hailed the British publics support, saying she had been overwhelmed by messages and donations to an online crowd-funding page on the website GoFundMe.

Im absolutely astounded by the levels of support we have seen, she said. I cant even describe to you the hopelessness I felt when all of this initially happened.

Its absolutely unreal, its not just the financial support, its the comments  they are absolutely motivating and inspiring to keep us going day in and day out.

Womens rights campaigners in Cyprus have joined the campaign for justice, while campaign group Justice Abroad has described a worrying breach of a British nationals rights. Many were seen wearing masks with lips sewn shut  a symbol to highlight their criticism of people being silenced.

An FCO source said it was a deeply distressing case, adding: Our staff have visited her a number of times in detention, attended court hearings, and are in regular contact with her legal representatives and the local authorities.

The 12 alleged attackers with friends in high places

By Inderdeep Bains in Cyprus for the Daily Mail

The plight of 12 Israeli youths accused of gang-rape by a British girl in Cyprus was followed closely by those in high places in their homeland.

Soon after police arrived at the Pambos Napa Rocks Hotel in July, rounding up the suspects who would later be cleared, parents some 250 miles away grew increasingly concerned.

But some of the suspects have family friends in powerful positions. One of their fathers is an adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem, while an Israeli government minister has admitted being close friends with the parents of two of the suspects. And on the very day the British woman says she was coerced into confessing she had made up her rape claims, the Greek foreign minister was visiting Israel and seemingly taking an interest in the case.

Nikos Dendias met political leaders in Jerusalem and told reporters at a press conference: I must say that the briefing here on everything that is happening in Cyprus is very important to us.

Some of the Israeli men who were initially accused of rape are seen arriving in court on July 25. The woman's family say police protected them and treated her as a criminal from the start

The two countries share enormous economic interests, with a joint gas project on the Mediterranean island, and have many strategic ties too. Their alliance is seen as significant at a time of growing Turkish belligerence.

At the time of the arrests, the Israeli media followed the case closely.

Five of the boys were released a week after the incident, with Cypriot police saying there was no evidence they had been present. The other seven were released three days after that, on July 28, when the teenager retracted her allegation.

Their homecoming was heralded by champagne corks popping at Ben Gurion airport and chants of the Brit is a whore.

Two days later, the Mako news site in Israel revealed that the father of one of the boys was a senior adviser to the mayor of Jerusalem.

The father flew to Cyprus and was quoted as saying that what had happened in the room was a morally wrong thing for the boys  someone had to stop it. However, he maintained that his son was innocent.

Meanwhile the Israeli minister for regional cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi, said in an interview that he was close friends with the parents of two of the suspects and that he was under the impression that most of the boys have been seriously wronged. The 12 all received legal assistance from the Israeli consul in Cyprus, although this is not out of the ordinary.

There is no evidence that the Israeli government, which has close ties with the government in Nicosia, exerted more pressure than normal in any case in which Israeli citizens were arrested abroad.

Although a local paper described investigators as Keystone Kops, Cypriot officials backed the police decision to release the Israelis. Outside court, before the trial of the British woman had even begun, the then mayor of Ayia Napa, Yiannis Karoussos, had assumed her guilt, threatening to sue her for defamation.
The U.S. and German ambassadors to Poland have taken to social media to defend Warsaw in its spat with Russia over who was to blame for starting World War II.

German envoy Rolf Nikel and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher both said on December 30 that Germany and the Soviet Union colluded to start the war in 1939 that led to the death of tens of millions of people on continental Europe.

"Dear President [Vladimir] Putin," Mosbacher said, Adolf Hitler of Germany and Josef Stalin of the Soviet Union "colluded to start WWII."

She said, "that is a fact" and that "Poland was a victim of this horrible conflict."

Nikel said his governments position was clear: "the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact served to prepare the criminal invasion of Nazi Germany against Poland. The USSR together with Germany participated in this brutal division of Poland."

Their statements on social-media came after Putin blamed Poland for provoking the start of the war in which 6 million Poles were killed, or 17 percent of the countrys pre-war population.

The Soviet Union suffered an estimated 20 million war deaths, half of whom were civilians, representing some 11 percent of its population.

The verbal brawl over the competing historical narratives reignited on December 19 when Putin at a news conference denied that the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union was sealed in preparation for war.

EU Resolution

Earlier, in September, he denounced a European Parliament resolution that concluded the Soviet Union bore partial responsibility for WWII, alongside Germany.

The EU resolution said the pact set out to divide Europe "between the two totalitarian regimes" of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

Putin dismissed the resolution as "sheer nonsense."

Instead the Russian president said Poland was culpable for the outbreak of World War II, words that Russia's Foreign Ministry also repeated in December.

In response, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki issued a four-page statement accusing Putin of "deliberately" lying about the start of WWII in an effort to deflect international pressure over Moscows actions, both domestic and foreign.

"President Putin has lied about Poland on numerous occasions, and he has always done it deliberately," Morawiecki said. "It usually happens in a situation when the authorities in Moscow feel international pressure caused by its actions. And this pressure is not on the historical stage but on the modern geopolitical scene."

This year in May, Russia will celebrate the 75th anniversary of victory in WWII in events that are expected to feature much fanfare with heads of state and other dignitaries in attendance.
In the very early spring of last year, I gave a lecture to European military personnel interested in the Middle East. It was scarcely a year since Bashar al-Assads alleged use of chlorine gas against the civilian inhabitants of the Damascus suburb of Douma on 7 April 2018, in which 43 people were said to have been killed.

Few present had much doubt that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which represents 193 member states around the world, would soon confirm in a final report that Assad was guilty of a war crime which had been condemned by Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Theresa May.

But at the end of my talk, a young Nato officer who specialises in chemical weapons  he was not British  sought me out for a private conversation. The OPCW are not going to admit all they know, he said. Theyve already censored their own documents.

I could not extract any more from him. He smiled and walked away, leaving me to guess what he was talking about. If Nato had doubts about the OPCW, this was a very serious matter.

When it published its final report in March 2019, the OPCW said that testimony, environmental and biomedical samples and toxicological and ballistic analyses provided reasonable grounds that the use of a toxic chemical had taken place in Douma which contained reactive chlorine.

The US, Britain and France, which launched missile attacks on Syrian military sites in retaliation for Douma  before any investigation had taken place  thought themselves justified. The OPCWs report was splashed across headlines around the world  to the indignation of Russia, Assads principal military ally, which denied the validity of the publication.

Then, in mid-May 2019, came news of a confidential report by OPCW South African ballistics inspector Ian Henderson  a document which the organisation excluded from its final report  which took issue with the organisations conclusions. Canisters supposedly containing chlorine gas may not have been dropped by Syrian helicopters, it suggested, and could have been placed at the site of the attack by unknown hands.

Peter Hitchens of the Mail on Sunday reported in detail on the Henderson document. No other mainstream media followed up this story. The BBC, for example, had reported in full on the OPCWs final report on the use of chlorine gas, but never mentioned the subsequent Henderson story.

And here I might myself have abandoned the trail had I not received a call on my Beirut phone shortly after the Henderson paper, from the Nato officer who had tipped me off about the OPCWs apparent censorship of its own documents. I wasnt talking about the Henderson report, he said abruptly. And immediately terminated our conversation. But now I understand what he must have been talking about.

For in the past few weeks, there has emerged deeply disturbing new evidence that the OPCW went far further than merely excluding one dissenting voice from its conclusions on the 2018 Douma attack.

Syrian government offensive in Idlib Show all 8 1 /8 Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrians, including a member of the White Helmets civil defence rescue teams, run for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians search for survivors amid the rubble in a freshly bombarded area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians search for survivors amid the rubble in a freshly bombarded area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians look for survivors in a heavily damaged area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers searching for victims under the rubble of a destroyed building after an airstrike by Syrian government forces, Maaret al-Numan, a town in south Idlib, Syria, Thursday, May 30, 2019. Rescue workers and activists say at least five, including three from the same family, have been killed in Syria's last rebel stronghold when warplanes targeted the building they live in, leveling it. AP Syrian government offensive in Idlib A Syrian girl cries as she runs for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrians run for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib A man rescues a child while members of the Syrian civil defence known as the White Helmets search the area for survivors following following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on Maaret al-Noman in Syria's southwestern Idlib province. AFP/Getty

The most recent information  published on WikiLeaks, in a report from Hitchens again and from Jonathan Steele, a former senior foreign correspondent for The Guardian  suggests that the OPCW suppressed or failed to publish, or simply preferred to ignore, the conclusions of up to 20 other members of its staff who became so upset at what they regarded as the misleading conclusions of the final report that they officially sought to have it changed in order to represent the truth. (The OPCW has said in a number of statements that it stands by its final report.)

At first, senior OPCW officials contented themselves by merely acknowledging the Henderson reports existence a few days after it appeared without making any comment on its contents. When the far more damaging later reports emerged in early November, Fernando Arias, the OPCWs director general, said that it was in the nature of any thorough enquiry for individuals in a team to express subjective views. While some of the views continue to circulate in some public discussion forums, I would like to reiterate that I stand by the independent, professional conclusion [of the investigation]. The OPCW declined to respond to questions from Hitchens or Steele.

But the new details suggest that other evidence could have been left unpublished by the OPCW. These were not just from leaked emails, but given by an OPCW inspector  a colleague of Henderson  who was one of a team of eight to visit Douma and who appeared at a briefing in Brussels last month to explain his original findings to a group of disarmament, legal, medical and intelligence personnel.

As Steele reported afterwards, in a piece published by Counterpunch in mid-November 2019, the inspector  who gave his name to his audience, but asked to be called Alex  said he did not want to undermine the OPCW but stated that most of the Douma team felt the two reports on the incident (the OPCW had also published an interim report in 2018) were scientifically impoverished, procedurally irregular and possibly fraudulent. Alex said he sought, in vain, to have a subsequent OPCW conference to address these concerns and demonstrate transparency, impartiality and independence.

For example, Alex cited the OPCW reports claim that various chlorinated organic chemicals (COCs) were found in Douma, but said that there were huge internal arguments in the OPCW even before its 2018 interim report was published. Findings comparing chlorine gas normally present in the atmosphere with evidence from the Douma site were, according to Alex, kept by the head of the Douma mission and not passed to the inspector who was drafting the interim report. Alex said that he subsequently discovered that the COCs in Douma were no higher than you would expect in any household environment, a point which he says was omitted from both OPCW reports. Alex told his Brussels audience that these omissions were deliberate and irregular.

Alex also said that a British diplomat who was OPCWs chef de cabinet invited several members of the drafting team to his office, where they found three US officials who told them that the Syrian regime had conducted a gas attack and that two cylinders found in one building contained 170 kilograms of chlorine. The inspectors, Alex remarked, regarded this as unacceptable pressure and a violation of the OPCWs principles of independence and impartiality.

Regarding the comments from Alex, the OPCW has pointed to the statement by Arias that the organisation stands by its final report.

 Syria war: At least 16 killed in beyond sadistic missile attack on camp for displaced people

Further emails continue to emerge from these discussions. This weekend, for example, WikiLeaks sent to The Independent an apparent account of a meeting held by OPCW toxicologists and pharmacists all specialists in CW (Chemical Warfare), according to the document. The meeting is dated 6 June 2018 and says that the experts were conclusive in their statements that there is no correlation between symptoms [of the victims] and chlorine exposure.

In particular, they stated that the onset of excessive frothing, as a result of pulmonary edema observed in photos and reported by witnesses would not occur in the short time period between the reported occurrence of the alleged incident and the time the videos were recorded. When I asked for a response to this document, a spokesman for the OPCW headquarters in Holland said that my request would be considered. That was on Monday 23 December 2019.

Any international organisation, of course, has a right to select the most quotable parts of its documentation on any investigation, or to set aside an individuals dissenting report  although, in ordinary legal enquiries, dissenting voices are quite often acknowledged. Chemical warfare is not an exact science  chlorine gas does not carry a makers name or computer number in the same way that fragments of tank shells or bombs often do.

But the degree of unease within the OPCWs staff surely cannot be concealed much longer. To the delight of the Russians and the despair of its supporters, an organisation whose prestige alone should frighten any potential war criminals is scarcely bothering to confront its own detractors. Military commanders may conceal their tactics from an enemy in time of war, but this provides no excuse for an important international organisation dedicated to the prohibition of chemical weapons to allow its antagonists to claim that it has cooked the books by permitting political pressure to take precedence over the facts. And that is what is happening today.

The deep concerns among some of the OPCW staff and the deletion of their evidence does not mean that gas has not been used in Syria by the government or even by the Russians or by Isis and its fellow Islamists. All stand guilty of war crimes in the Syrian conflict. The OPCWs response to the evidence should not let war criminals off the hook. But it certainly helps them.

And what could be portrayed as acts of deceit by a supposedly authoritative body of international scientists can lead some to only one conclusion: that they must resort to those whom the west regards as traitors to security  WikiLeaks and others  if they wish to find out the story behind official reports. So far, the Russians and the Syrian regime have been the winners in the propaganda war. Such organisations as the OPCE need to work to make sure the truth can be revealed to everyone.
By PTI

KOCHI: Holding national flags and placards which read: "Born in India, Lived in India, will die in India", thousands of Muslims hit the streets in this port city on the New Year day, demanding that the Modi government withdraw the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The people participating in the massive rally, took out from the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here, raised slogans against the Central government's decision to implement CAA and carried photos of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.

The rally and the convention to declare agitation against the CAA was organised jointly by coordination of Muslim organisations, including Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, Dakshina Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, Jamaat-e-Islam and Muslim League.

Various other Muslim organisations in the state are also part of the joint council which has claimed that lakhs people under different Mahallu committees have attended the rally.

The protesters, who were charged emotionally, held the placards with a photo of Ambedkar and a slogan: "We are Indians firstly and lastly."

"India is our nation," was written in a placard under the photograph of Mahatma Gandhi.

The rally culminated at sprawling Marine Drive, five kilometers away from the stadium.
ISIS executes 11 Christians in Nigeria: Message to Christians in the world

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An Islamic State terrorist faction in West Africa claims it killed 11 Christian aid workers in Nigeria in retaliation for the killings of IS leader Bakr al-Baghdadi and his spokesman in two separate U.S. military operations earlier this year.

The terrorist group known as the Islamic State in West Africa Province released a 56-second video published by the IS propaganda media arm Amaq that shows the shooting of one man followed by the beheading of 10 others.

Jihadists wearing black masks and beige uniforms lined up behind the hostages  who were all blindfolded  as they carried out the executions, according to those who've watched the video.

This message is to the Christians in the world, a man speaking over the video footage says in both Arabic and Hausa, a Nigerian language, said the Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group, according to The New York Times which also reviewed the video. Those who you see in front of us are Christians, and we will shed their blood as revenge for the two dignified sheikhs, the caliph of the Muslims, and the spokesman for the Islamic State, Sheikh Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, may Allah accept them.

The terrorist group's attack on Christians the day after Christmas was strategically planned, terrorism analysts told the BBC.

While the location of the execution hasn't been made public, Reuters reports that an earlier video indicated that ISWAP jihadists took the men hostage in Maiduguri and Damaturu in Nigerias northeastern state of Borno, where militants have been fighting for years to set up a separate Islamist state.

In that video, the captives pleaded for the Christian Association of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari to save them, Reuters added.

Buhari condemned the terrorist group and their killings in a statement and series of posts on Twitter.

"We should, under no circumstance, let the terrorists divide us by turning Christians against Muslims because these barbaric killers don't represent Islam and millions of other law-abiding Muslims around the world," he said in a statement.

In a message on Twitter Friday, Buhari added, These agents of darkness are enemies of our common humanity and they dont spare any victim, whether they are Muslims or Christians, and therefore, we shouldnt let them divide us and turn us against one another.

ISWAP split from the terrorist group Boko Haram in 2016 and declared its allegiance to IS. The group is also active in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Mali.

Earlier this month, The Christian Post reported that over 1,000 Christians have been killed this year in Nigeria as attacks by Fulani extremists continue to plague rural farming communities in the Middle Belt, according to estimates published by the U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.

There was a rise in Fulani extremist attacks in the Kaduna state in 2019 after Christians were accused of a reprisal attack on a Fulani settlement that killed as many as 131 in February.

According to the report, there were five major attacks in Kaduna between January and November, which resulted in 500 deaths.

A HART spokesperson told CP that the 1,000 death estimation counts predominantly people killed in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Taraba states by Fulani herdsmen but also includes killings by Boko Haram in Borno state.

The finding comes as a Nigeria-based civil society organization reported that at least 2,400 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2018.

In July, the international human rights nongovernmental organization Jubilee Campaign sent a report to the International Criminal Court warning that the standard of genocide has now been reached in Nigeria. The Jubilee Campaign report highlighted 52 attacks on farming communities.

Some have downplayed the role religion has played in the increasing violence in the Middle Belt, as some say that the violence is part of the decadeslong herder-farmer clashes that have escalated since farmers have settled on traditional grazing routes used by the herding communities.

Nigeria is ranked as the 12th-worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2019 World Watch List.
Earlier, it was assumed that U.S. Secretary of State will visit Ukraine on January 3

Open source

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo postponed his trip to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus due to unrest in Iraq. This was reported by Interfax-Ukraine with reference to the State Department message.



"Secretary of State Pompeo is forced to postpone his visit to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus due to the fact that he needs to stay in Washington to monitor the situation in Iraq and ensure the safety of Americans in the Middle East," the statement said.



New travel dates of the Secretary of State will be determined soon.

Related: Pompeo confirms his plans to visit Ukraine

Earlier US State Department revealed the details of Mike Pompeos visit to Ukraine. In particular, he should meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Secretary of State Pompeo will pay a visit to Kiev, where he will meet with President Zelensky, Foreign Minister Prystaiko and Ministry of Defense Zahorodniuk to reaffirm U.S. support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," - the report says.

In addition, Pompeo will attend the ceremony of laying flowers at the memorial Wall of Memory near Mikhailovskaya Square in order to honor the memory of those who died in Donbas.
Kolkata: A day after the Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued orders of shutting down mobile network in one-kilometre border of Bangladesh with India and Myanmar, the BTRC issued fresh orders asking telecom operators to restore network on Wednesday.

Please reinstate operations of the BTS (Base Trans-Receiver Stations) near the Bangladesh-India border sites immediately, the email to BRTC read.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission had asked telecom operators to shut down the mobile network in the one-kilometre border areas with India and Myanmar.

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As many as 10 million people in as many as 36 districts of Bangladesh were affected due to the network shut down. As many as 1500 mobile towers were shut down and that also affected few kilometres area inside the border.

People in six districts of Bangladesh sharing its border with Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya like Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Mymensingh Rangpur and Rajshahi were largely affected.

Bangladesh authorities did not mention reasons for the mobile network shut down in border areas, however, a letter written to the BTRC stated security concerns in the present circumstance.

While Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission asked telecom operators to restore services immediately, nationalised telecom service like Grameenphone and other private telecom operators like Banglalink, Robi and Teletalk have informed authorities that they will take atleast one day to fully restore services.
'The brutal violence of the UP government's first response to the anti-CAA protests suggests that the BJP will test drive the NPR/NRC in UP, where it has both a massive majority in the assembly and a chief minister whose instinct for Hindutva extremism and whose appetite for punitive policing allows a prime minister as darkly majoritarian as Modi to appear statesman-like,' notes Mukul Kesavan.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Indian footprint, measured by the number of state governments that it controls, has been shrinking.

Its failure to form a government in Maharashtra and its defeat in Jharkhand has left the political map of India looking considerably less orange than it did in 2017, when the Hindi heartland was a solid bloc of saffron.

But appearances are deceptive: 2019 was not a normal year because the BJP won a resounding parliamentary majority in the general election in May.

The pan-Indian dominance of Narendra Damodardas Modi's BJP at the level of the Union more than made up for the party's state assembly losses both before and after the general election.

Messrs Modi & Shah might have lost a string of battles, but they decisively won the war.

In the normal course, writing a political prospect for the coming year would focus on scheduled state assembly elections on which the fortunes of the government and its Opposition might be said to turn.

This is hard to do for 2020 because state assembly elections can't be bellwethers this early in the life of a powerful Union government with the mandate of an absolute majority.

These elections can offer pointers to the BJP's popularity in this or that state but, given the prime minister's ability to lift the fortunes of his party in general elections, provincial losses can't be confidently used to make generalisations about the BJP's national standing.

However, the Delhi elections in February and those in Bihar towards the end of the year remain important for two reasons: First, as a guide to the morale of Opposition parties and, secondly, as enablers of, or obstacles to, Modi's grand project for his second term, the redefinition of Indian citizenship.

Despite the prime minister's disingenuous protestations, the National Register of Citizens remains a crucial part of the BJP's bid to privilege Hindus as India's 'natural' citizens and, en passant, destabilise Muslim citizenship.

The Cabinet's sanction of thousands of crores for the compilation of the National Population Register, designed as the database for the NRC, confirms this.

As Prashant Kishor, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's strategist and party colleague, has pointed out, the success of this project depends on the cooperation of state governments.

The fewer state governments the BJP controls, the more likely it becomes that NPR/NRC operations might be thwarted or disrupted by recalcitrant provinces.

The election for Delhi's state assembly is important because, despite being little more than a glorified municipality, Delhi helps make the political weather by virtue of being India's capital.

The BJP is still smarting from the paddling it received in 2015, all the more hurtful for happening in the aftermath of Modi's great triumph: his first parliamentary majority.

Arvind Kejriwal's chutzpah in running against Modi in Varanasi in 2014 gave that state election a personal edge.

Five years later, Modi & Shah will be eager to swat this pesky gadfly.

The Aam Aadmi Party isn't the transformative new broom it claimed to be in 2015, but it is, in miniature, the centrist, Hindi-speaking challenger that the Opposition needs to conjure up at the pan-Indian level, to give Modi a run for his money in 2024.

Kejriwal enters this election somewhat diminished, the maverick boss of a metropolis rather than a charismatic national leader.

To use an analogy from another capital, he seems more Ken Livingstone than Boris Johnson.

As the AAP's prospects in Punjab and Haryana have faded, it has become an irritant rather than a threat to the BJP, but to lose to it again in the national capital will be both infuriating and humiliating, so this will be an intensely contested election.

Apart from anything else, it will be a test of the AAP's secular populism based on subsidised utilities and greater spending on public goods like improved government schools and mohalla clinics.

The more significant state assembly election is scheduled late in the year in Bihar.

Nitish Kumar has remained chief minister on either side of his short-lived mahagathbandhan with the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

It is unlikely that he will desert the BJP so early in its term of office at the Centre.

His ambivalence about the Citizenship Amendment Act-National Register of Citizens joint project (he voted for the former and opposed the latter) is a much-diluted version of his 'principled' objection to Modi in the lead-up to the 2014 election.

It's his bid to show Bihar's Muslims a flash of leg because some of the JD-U's state assembly seats might turn on how many Muslims vote for him despite his alliance with the BJP.

Should the BJP still find him useful enough to run as the face of the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar, he's unlikely to sidle up to the RJD if only because without Lalu Prasad Yadav, the RJD is not the force it was.

But if Bihar were to go the way of Jharkhand, the BJP will have ceded virtually all its heartland holdings except Uttar Pradesh.

Given the dwarf mahagathbandhan assembled by Tejashwi Yadav for the general election, this is unlikely to happen short of a dramatic defection from the dark side by Nitish Kumar.

India's tanking economy is often talked up as the greatest threat to both Modi's image as a manager of vikas and his political prospects, but the recent history of the world suggests that economic pain doesn't create electoral openings for progressive parties.

On the contrary, it seems to boost the Bolsanaros of the world.

Right-wing populists seem to have a Midas-like gift for turning economic distress into political gold by blaming it on deracinated elites and treacherous minorities.

Modi's second general election campaign was frankly communal and everything the NDA has done since, from Article 370 to the passing of the CAA, seems to suggest that the Modi government is determined to alchemise economic decline into majoritarian rage.

The brutal violence of the UP government's first response to the anti-CAA protests suggests that the BJP will test drive the NPR/NRC in UP, where it has both a massive majority in the assembly and a chief minister whose instinct for Hindutva extremism and whose appetite for punitive policing allows a prime minister as darkly majoritarian as Modi to appear statesman-like.

Unlike demonetisation, which Modi owned from the very beginning, he allowed Amit Anilchandra Shah to be the face of the CAA and the NRC.

Modi had learnt from his demonetisation experience: He needed distance and deniability from this great experiment in disenfranchising 'counterfeit' Muslim citizens in case it backfired on him.

This studied distance was why he thought he could affect injured innocence after the protests against the CAA erupted, and declare, against all the evidence, that his government had never approved of (or indeed even considered) an all-India NRC.

This is, of course, untrue: Modi's government never had any intention of withdrawing the CAA-NRC pincer, because it was too great a prize to be abandoned.

For a majoritarian party like the BJP, the opportunity to redefine citizenship and then subject Muslims, especially poor, undocumented Muslims, to the threat of disenfranchised limbo, is like winning a political lottery.

The prospect of prolonged turmoil through which non-Muslim (read Hindu) citizens can be persuaded to accept the personal inconvenience of proving their citizenship as the price of a patriotic pan-Indian purge, and through which treacherous aliens are identified, interned and deported, makes the CAA-NRC a gamble worth taking.

The logic is that, just as the suffering of demonetisation yielded a landslide in UP, the violent churning of an all-India NRC process might deliver pan-Indian Hindu consolidation on an undreamt-of scale.

The licence given to Adityanath to meet anti-CAA protests with massive police violence suggests that Modi will continue to blandly deflect questions about an all-India NRC while using UP both as a shock-and-awe demonstration and as a violent dress rehearsal.

Adityanath represents Hindutva's feral 'fringe' translated into high office.

He has brought his instinct for vigilante mobilisation to his administration.

On his watch UP's police has effectively become a uniformed vigilante force: It has fired upon demonstrators with impunity, assaulted dissenters, vandalised homes, mosques and vehicles and in general behaved as if it were wearing khaki half-pants instead of uniform trousers.

The chief minister has called for 'revenge', has promised the punitive confiscation of property and has allowed the police to storm Aligarh Muslim University in the way a marauding army might reduce a medieval fort.

Now that the Union Cabinet has approved thousands of crores for the NPR, it is certain that the work of compiling it will be given the highest priority in UP regardless of the opposition it might meet elsewhere.

The NPR is best understood as the database for the NRC.

Enrolment in the NPR is no guarantee that a person will be adjudged a citizen in good standing because the NRC's rules allow the names on its rolls to be challenged by members of the general public.

There is a vigilantism built into the NPR-NRC process that fits Adityanath's regime like a glove.

The data-gathering for the NPR has been merged with the operations of the decennial Census and we can be certain that, come April, it will be implemented in UP with the full force of the law (or what passes for the law in that state) behind it.

No prizes for guessing what the fate of undocumented Muslims will be in Adityanath's UP.

The notion of violently churning the Indian population in a higher cause (a Hindu Rashtra) appeals to the BJP's leadership.

Only by subjecting every Indian to the trauma of proving their right to belong can Hindu consolidation be individually experienced as ideology.

The CAA, the NPR and the NRC together constitute the BJP's answer to the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India campaigns.

This menacing form-filling exercise is the Sangh Parivar's version of a nationalist mass movement.

Where anti-colonial nationalists affirmed their Indian birthright by doing time in colonial jails, modern Hindus are being encouraged to pay their tithe to the Hindu nation by stoically suffering the bureaucratic inconvenience of proving their Indianness, the better to reveal the enemy within.

By the terms of the CAA, these can only be Muslims.

Over the next two years, in the lead-up to the assembly elections of 2022, UP will be both the laboratory and the prototype of Modi's Hindu Rashtra.

Narendra Modi is not a time server.

Despite his narcissism, he serves a cause larger than himself.

His life has been dedicated to the holy grail of the Hindu nation and in the CAA-NPR-NRC he has found both the mould and the sieve that will make it possible.

Modi sees himself as a man of destiny.

By winning a second parliamentary majority he has already staked his claim to being the most consequential prime minister of the Republic since Nehru.

Now a larger prize beckons.

If in his second term in office he can successfully redefine citizenship in the way that Israel has, he will approach the election of 2024 at the head of a putatively Hindu nation.

And should he win a third majority, his gift to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1925, its centenary year, will be the Hindu Rashtra that it was founded to achieve.

To thwart this ambition his political opponents will have to sustain the pan-Indian resistance provoked by the Citizenship Amendment Act with a passion and purpose conspicuously lacking during Modi's first term.

The gallant student protest that sparked this resistance will have to be sustained in 2020 by organised political opposition.

The election in Delhi in February should tell us if those who swear allegiance to the First Republic have the stomach for this fight.

Mukul Kesavan is an academic, historian, novelist and columnist.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith has revealed a piece of shocking information about the 2019 film Joker. Kevin has claimed that there was an alternative ending to Todd Phillips' movie Joker. If you remember correctly, the official version of the film ends with Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) locked inside a psychiatric ward with the scene suggesting he has killed his new therapist. But comedian Kevin Smith has come up with the latest information that suggests the film could have ended differently.

Read: 'Joker' Film Has A Deleted Scene That Reveals If Arthur Killed Sophie, Details Inside

The alternative ending

Kevin Smith on his show Fatman Beyond revealed that a very reliable source who works in the film industry has told him that there was an alternate ending to the movie. The alternate ending would have shown Joker laughing and chuckling in the hospital before a lady arrives and asks 'what's so funny' to which the Joker replies 'I was just thinking of something funny'.

Read: Suicide Squad Director David Ayer Shares BTS Picture Featuring An Unseen Version Of Joker

After the scene, viewers go in the flashback of the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne and it shows that it was him who killed them both before shooting the young Bruce Wayne. Bruce witnessed the killing of his parents and was crying and screaming before the Joker shoots him. Kevin then reacts to his own story asking the audience that can anyone imagine a world without Batman. Kevin as a DC comics fan himself said that he would have been outraged if the ending would not have been the one showed in the original film.

Read: Joker Bagged Golden Frog Award For Best Cinematography At EnergaCamerimage Festival

Joker is an American psychological thriller film set in 1981 Gotham city. It follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) a failed stand-up comedian whose descent into insanity inspires violent revolution against the wealthy of the city. Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, and was subsequently released in the United States on October 4.

Read: 'Forrest Gump', 'Joker' And Other H'wood Movies On Mental Health That You Can Binge-watch

Read: 'Joker' Film Has A Deleted Scene That Reveals If Arthur Killed Sophie, Details Inside

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Report on 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Date: 01/01/2020

Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) -- The 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters building of the WPK Central Committee from December 28 to 31, Juche 108 (2019).

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, guided the plenary meeting.

Attending the meeting were members and alternate members of the C.C., WPK and members of the Central Auditing Commission of the WPK.

Present as observers were officials of the WPK Central Committee, officials of ministries and national institutions, chairpersons of the provincial people's committees, chairpersons of the provincial rural economy committees, chairpersons of the city and county party committees and officials of major fields and units and the armed forces organs.

Kim Jong Un presided over the meeting upon authorization of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK.

The plenary meeting dealt with the following agenda items:

On the orientation of our immediate struggle under the present internal and external situation

On an organizational matter

On modifying and supplementing the collection of the slogans set forth by the Party Central Committee

On celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of the WPK with splendor.

The first agenda was discussed.

Kim Jong Un made a report on the first agenda.

Saying that the period of the past eight months since the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK was a continuity of great intensified struggle and courageous advance, he referred to the fact that the WPK has always established and maintained correct internal and external political lines centered on the urgent demand, rights and interests of our people and the sovereignty and security of the state and has constantly struggled for them.

He noted that the Party Central Committee convened the present plenary meeting for the purport of comprehensively and deeply analyzing and assessing the subjective and objective obstacles and difficulties faced in the course of the great and dynamic advance of our revolution and of taking a decisive measure for further promoting the socialist construction.

Kim Jong Un advanced the revolutionary line on launching an offensive for frontal breakthrough as required by the present situation and the developing revolution.

Noting that our Juche-based might with self-sufficiency and self-reliance as the motive power has been further strengthened in the tense struggle for carrying out the decision of the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK, he referred to the fact that our state and people greatly demonstrated the strong spirit and tremendous potentiality while proudly advancing and leaping in the difficult situation true to the appeal of the Party to open up a great period of surge in the socialist construction under the uplifted banner of self-reliance.

He said that the challenges faced by us for the past several months were harsh and dangerous, which others would not withstand even a single day but give up, but no difficulties can ever stop or delay the rush of our people advancing as an integral whole, undaunted by whatever hardships.

He added that great successes have ceaselessly been made in bolstering up the strength of the state and in increasing defence capabilities.

He noted that the huge and complicated work of developing the ultra-modern weapon system possessed only by the countries with advanced defence science and technology presupposed our own innovative solution in terms of the scientific and technical aspect without anyone's help, and all the research tasks were perfectly carried out by the driving force, i.e. our reliable scientists, designers and workers in the field of the munitions industry.

This means a great victory, and our possession of promising strategic weapon system planned by the Party one by one serves as a great event in developing the armed forces of the Republic and defending and guaranteeing our sovereignty and right to existence, he noted.

He stressed that such a leap in developing the ultra-modern national defence science would make our great military and technical power irreversible, greatly promote the increase of our great national power, raise the power of putting the political situation around us under control and give the enemies the blow of big uneasiness and horror.

In the future, the more the U.S. stalls for time and hesitates in the settlement of the DPRK-U.S. relations, the more helpless it will find itself before the might of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea getting stronger beyond prediction and the deeper it will fall into an impasse, he noted.

He referred to a series of successes achieved in the economic construction.

Analyzing the trend of the prevailing present situation, he said the U.S. real intention is to seek its own political and diplomatic interests while wasting time away under the signboard of dialogue and negotiations and at the same time keep sanctions upon the latter so as to weaken the latter. He stressed that we further hardened our resolution never to barter the security and dignity of the state and the safety of its future for anything else.

He said that the stalemate between the DPRK and the U.S. can not but assume protracted nature as the U.S. is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude. He added that recently the U.S. is talking about continued dialogue while peddling the issue of the resumption of the dialogue here and there but this is just aimed to pass without trouble the year-end time-limit set by us and stall for the time for evading a lethal attack as it now finds itself in a tight corner, not out of the intention to withdraw the hostile policy toward the DPRK and solve issues through improved relations. On the other hand, the U.S. has openly revealed its provocative political, military and economic maneuvers to completely strangle and stifle the DPRK. This is the double-dealing behavior of the brigandish U.S., he added.

He said that we will never allow the impudent U.S. to abuse the DPRK-U.S. dialogue for meeting its sordid aim but will shift to a shocking actual action to make it pay for the pains sustained by our people so far and for the development so far restrained.

He continued:

It is true that we urgently need external environment favorable for the economic construction but we can never sell our dignity which we have so far defended as valuable as our own life, in hope for brilliant transformation.

The DPRK-U.S. stand-off which has lasted century after century has now been compressed to clear stand-off between self-reliance and sanctions.

If there were not the nuclear issue, the U.S. would find fault with us under other issue, and the U.S. military and political threats would not end.

The present situation warning of long confrontation with the U.S. urgently requires us to make it a fait accompli that we have to live under the sanctions by the hostile forces in the future, too, and to strengthen the internal power from all aspects.

He said there are not a few problems that need to be set right in state management, economy and other fields from the viewpoint of strengthening our might.

He analyzed the present situation including state management and economic performance which are insufficient for pulling and spurring the great cause of self-reliance and self-development and which fail to bring about a bold renovation but stay stagnant.

The victory of the revolution is inevitable but it is not achieved without any difficulties and hardships, he said, and continues:

If we do not put spur to the struggle for bolstering the power for self-development while waiting for the lift of sanctions, the enemies' reactionary offensive will get fiercer to check our advance.

The more we bolster our own strength and create valuable wealth on the strength of self-reliance and self-sufficiency, the deeper the enemies will be driven into greater agony and the earlier the day of the victory of socialism will come.

All the Party organizations and officials have to shoulder upon themselves the important duties entrusted to them by the times and turn out in the offensive for frontal breakthrough to foil the enemies' sanctions and blockade by dint of self-reliance.

"Let Us Break through Head-on All the Barriers to Our Advance!" - this is the fighting slogan the entire Party and all the people should put up today.

The key front in the offensive for frontal breakthrough today is economic front, he said, setting forth it as an immediate task for the economic field at present to rearrange the economic foundation of the country and fully tap all the possible production potential and to fully meet the demand needed for the economic development and people's life.

He advanced important tasks for putting in order the economic work system and order.

He set forth the fundamental ways for strengthening the Cabinet responsibility system, Cabinet center system as the Cabinet is the nucleus of the state economic work system.

He advanced crucial issues in finding out the correct way for improving the planning to meet the actual requirements, keeping the overall balance between production and supply and decisively raising the confidence of the national economic plan.

Emphasizing that the Cabinet work is precisely the work of the Party Central Committee and the execution of the decision of the Party Central Committee is the Cabinet work, he made an anatomical analysis of the serious issues that need urgent solution in strengthening the state unified guidance and management of the economic work after the plenary meeting.

After setting forth the innovative measures and detailed plans for adjusting the overall state machinery to spur the economic development and to enhance the role of officials, he specified realistic ways for pushing forward the improvement of economic management based on them.

He specified the orientation of solving crucial issues for economic growth which should be pushed forward by the whole Party and state.

He set forth tasks faced by the major industrial sectors of the national economy.

He made the overall analysis of the evil practices and stagnation found in metal, chemical, power, coal, machine and building materials industrial fields, railway transport and light industrial field, and set forth one by one scientific and substantial measures to bring about a giant stride forward in the economic work.

He said that we have to correctly set up index-wise plans of ten long-term goals through scientific calculation to develop the country's economy on a stable and long-term basis and consolidate one by one the economic foundation of the country through the struggle to carry them out.

He stressed the need to drastically increase the agricultural production.

He called for improving science, education and public health.

The inexhaustible strategic asset which we should rely on today is science and technology, he said, stressing that science and technology should become the light that brightens the way ahead and pioneer the development at a time like now when there are manifold hardships in the economic work.

He set forth the tasks and ways for fundamentally improving the education of the country as required by the era of the revolution in education.

Kim Jong Un set forth the important matters arising in the work for our socialist public health system, best in the world, provided by President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il to preserve its original character and intensify the material and technological foundation of public health and train all the medical workers as loyal health workers of the WPK with great human love and high medical qualifications.

He called for dynamically conducting the movement for increased production, ensuring economy and raising quality and protecting ecological environment and taking thorough-going measures for preventing natural disasters.

He called for guaranteeing the offensive for frontal breakthrough politically, diplomatically and militarily.

There have to be powerful political, diplomatic and military guarantee for sure victory in the offensive for frontal breakthrough to brave unprecedented harsh challenge and difficulties, he said, and advanced the policy for strengthening the diplomatic front under the prevailing situation.

With comprehensive and deep analysis of the stern situation created on the Korean peninsula and complicated structure of the current international relations, he set forth important tasks of taking offensive measures to reliably ensure the sovereignty and security of our state.

He said that the U.S. labeled our state as its enemy, "axis of evil" and "target of its preemptive nuclear strike" and applied the most brutal and inhuman sanctions against and posed the persistent nuclear threat to the latter over the past seven decades, and the current situation on the Korean peninsula is getting more dangerous and reaching serious phase, owing to the former's hostile policy towards the latter.

In the past two years alone when the DPRK took preemptive and crucial measures of halting its nuclear test and ICBM test-fire and shutting down the nuclear-test ground for building confidence between the DPRK and the U.S., the U.S., far from responding to the former with appropriate measures, conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop and threatened the former militarily through the shipment of ultra-modern warfare equipment into south Korea, he said. The U.S. also took more than ten independent sanctions measures only to show before the world once again that it remained unchanged in its ambition to stifle the former, he said.

He stressed that under such condition, there is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer, the commitment to which there is no opposite party, and this is chilling our efforts for worldwide nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Saying that the prevailing situation goes to prove that the road of defending ourselves by bolstering up our power sufficiently enough to keep the hostile forces at bay so that they would not dare provoke our sovereignty and security as already clarified by us is the one to be covered by us without any halt and hesitation, he clarified the policy of the WPK towards the U.S.

Noting that it is the WPK's firm goal of building national defence to possess the matchless military muscle and steadily bolster it, he stressed that it is the core design in building defence power and firm will of the WPK to make any force dare not to use its armed force against us.

Saying that we should more actively push forward the project for developing strategic weapons, he confirmed that the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future, declaring that we can not give up the security of our future just for the visible economic results and happiness and comfort in reality now that hostile acts and nuclear threat against us are increasing and nothing has changed between the days when we maintained the line of simultaneously pushing forward the economic construction and the building of nuclear force and now when we struggle to direct our efforts to the economic construction owing to the U.S. gangster-like acts.

He solemnly declared that there is no need to hesitate with any expectation of the U.S. lift of sanctions even now that we had close look into the real intention of the U.S., adding if the U.S. persists in its hostile policy towards the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism is built.

He said that we will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the U.S. and guaranteeing our long-term security, noting that the scope and depth of bolstering our deterrent will be properly coordinated depending on the U.S. future attitude to the DPRK.

He noted that our development of absolute weapons possessed by big powers is the great success but the big contingent of promising talents of science and technology in this course is more valuable result dear to the WPK.

He said that the field of scientific researches for national defence and the field of munitions industry should implement the WPK's line of building national defence with loyalty and perfectly under the uplifted slogan of Higher and Faster in order to attain the already-set stage goals while maintaining the principle of self-reliance and Juche from A to Z.

He called on the officials and scientists in the field of munitions industry to strive hard for the sacred activities for bolstering up national defence capabilities in every way with invariable loyalty to the Party and revolution in the spirit and mettle with which they developed the nuclear war deterrent through three-year arduous struggle.

He tabled the issues of conducting an intensive party-wide, nationwide and society-wide struggle against anti-socialist and non-socialist deeds and strengthening the work of the working people's organizations and tightening the moral discipline throughout society.

He mentioned about the need to strengthen the Party, the General Staff of the revolution, and markedly raise its leadership role.

He proposed principled matters and practical measures for further strengthening the Party organizationally and ideologically and heightening the role of cadres as required by the era and the developing revolution.

Saying that our revolution is dynamically advancing but the hostile forces' challenge to it gets more persistent, and current difficulties are never easy to deal with, he stressed that the WPK decided to wage another arduous and prolonged struggle in order to win the final victory of the revolution and make our great people lead a good life.

Saying that whether we will emerge victorious or not at the crossroads of the destiny of socialism only depends on the united might of the Party and its guiding role, he stressed that the WPK will firmly keep standing to steadily deal serious strikes at the U.S. and its followers and always share joy and sorrow with our people.

Saying that our people learned a way of self-sustenance, way of defeating enemy and overcoming difficulties and way of defending their dignity and right in the prolonged and harsh environment unknown by history, he clarified that it is our firm revolutionary faith to defend the country's dignity and defeat imperialism through self-prosperity even though we tighten our belts.

Confirming that if we continue to make a dynamic struggle with the indomitable revolutionary faith, ardent patriotism and indefatigable struggle spirit, we will overcome every difficulty and greet the day of fresh victory when the song "We Are the Happiest in the World" becomes the real life of the whole people, he ardently appealed to all to break through head-on the grave difficulty faced in the revolution, and dynamically open a road of advance of victory to become a pioneer and standard-bearer in the current glorious struggle for realizing the aspiration and ideal of building a powerful socialist country.

Then, written speeches on the first agenda were presented at the plenary meeting.

The speakers fully supported and approved of the WPK Chairman's outstanding idea and strategy of making frontal breakthrough and the programme for their materialization that call for accomplishing earlier the great cause of self-prosperity despite all challenges and difficulties in the way of advance in the socialist construction.

They made solemn pledges before the plenary meeting to uphold with proud practices the idea and intention of frontal breakthrough set forth by the Party Central Committee.

The plenary meeting had an in-depth and positive study and discussion of a draft resolution on the first agenda and adopted it with unanimous approval.

The resolution carries the following decisions:

First, we will rearrange the economic foundation of the country and enlist all possible production potentiality to fully meet the demand for economic development and people's living.

Second, we will attach importance to science and technology and improve the education and healthcare representing the image of the socialist system.

Third, we will protect the ecological environment and set up the national crisis control system against natural disasters.

Fourth, we will guarantee the victory in the offensive for frontal breakthrough through powerful political, diplomatic and military offensive.

Fifth, we will intensify the struggle against anti-socialist and non-socialist deeds and tighten moral discipline, and the working people's organizations will scrupulously carry out the ideological education.

Sixth, we will strengthen the Party, the General Staff of the revolution, and radically enhance its leadership role.

Seventh, officials, leading members of the revolution, will make strenuous efforts to fulfill their responsibility and duty before the Party, the revolution and the people in the offensive for frontal breakthrough to overcome difficulties in the advance of the socialist construction.

Eighth, Party organizations and political organs at all levels will meticulously conduct the organizational and political work to implement the resolution, and relevant organs like the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Cabinet take practical measures for thoroughly carrying out the tasks set forth in the resolution.

The plenary meeting discussed the organizational matter, the second agenda.

Members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee were recalled or by-elected.

Ri Il Hwan, Ri Pyong Chol and Kim Tok Hun were by-elected as members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee.

Kim Jong Gwan, Pak Jong Chon, Kim Hyong Jun, Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho Rim and Kim Il Chol were by-elected as alternate members of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee.

Vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee were dismissed or elected.

Ri Il Hwan, Kim Hyong Jun, Ri Pyong Chol and Kim Tok Hun were elected as vice-chairmen of the Party Central Committee.

Members and alternate members of the Party Central Committee were recalled or by-elected.

Alternate members of the Party Central Committee Kim Hyong Jun, Han Kwang Sang, Kang Jong Gwan, Kim Kwang Chol, Kim Kyong Jun, Yang Sung Ho, Kwak Chang Sik, Pak Kwang Ju, Pak Myong Su, Ri Pong Chun and Song Sok Won were by-elected as members of the Party Central Committee and Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho Rim, O Il Jong, Kim Yong Hwan, Kim Il Chol, Kim Jong Ho, Son Yong Hun, Rim Kwang Il and Choe Sang Gon directly as members of the Party Central Committee.

Jang Kwang Myong, Jon Hyon Chol, Sim Hong Bin, Ri Thae Il, Choe Kwang Il, Ri Wan Sik, Ri Yong Chol, Choe Chun Gil, Kim Hak Chol, Kim Chol, Pak Jong Gun, Jon Hak Chol, Jo Yong Dok, Sin Yong Chol, Kim Sung Jin, Mun Jong Ung, Ri Jong Gil, Choe Song Nam, Jon Hyong Gil, Kang Son, Kim Yong Bae, Kim Ki Ryong, Sin Hong Chol and Kim Yong Nam were by-elected as alternate members of the Party Central Committee.

The chairman of the Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee was elected and its members were recalled or by-elected.

Ri Sang Won was elected as chairman of the Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee.

Directors of some departments of the Party Central Committee were dismissed or appointed.

Ri Il Hwan, Kim Hyong Jun, Choe Hwi, Ri Pyong Chol, Kim Tok Hun, Choe Pu Il, Ho Chol Man, Ri Ho Rim, Han Kwang Sang and O Il Jong were appointed as department directors of the Party Central Committee.

First vice-department directors of the Party Central Committee were appointed.

Kim Tong Il, Ri Yong Gil, Kim Yo Jong and Ri Yong Sik were appointed as first vice-department directors of the Party Central Committee.

Chairmen of the provincial Party committees were dismissed or appointed.

Kim Yong Hwan was appointed as the chairman of the Ryanggang Provincial Party Committee.

Cadres of state organs were dismissed or appointed.

Kim Il Chol was appointed as vice premier of the Cabinet and concurrently chairman of the State Planning Commission, Jon Hak Chol as minister of Coal Industry, Jon Myong Sik as minister of Culture and Kim Sung Jin as president of the State Academy of Sciences.

The plenary meeting discussed and decided the third agenda on the issue of modifying and supplementing the collection of slogans set forth by the Party Central Committee.

The plenary meeting discussed the issue of splendidly celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of the WPK as the fourth agenda, and adopted a relevant decision.

Concluding the plenary meeting, Kim Jong Un mentioned the significance and importance of the plenary meeting in making frontal breakthrough under the prevailing situation and bringing about a new surge in our revolution.

He clarified that the basic idea, the basic spirit of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK is to conduct the offensive for frontal breakthrough, not to wait for the situation to turn better.

In other words, we should never dream that the U.S. and the hostile forces would leave us alone to live in peace, but we should make frontal breakthrough with the might of self-reliance to tide over the difficulties lying in the way of advancing the socialist construction, he said.

He said that we should not look for the way of getting ourselves adapted to the objective elements to be controlled by them in the current struggle, but should make a frontal breakthrough to put the objective elements under our control.

He noted that it is necessary to hold effective party-wide discussion for the implementation of the tasks set forth in the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK.

He underlined the need to set up a concrete plan and adopt proper methodology for carrying out the Party policies and take substantial measures.

He stressed that in order to carry on the revolution, revolutionaries must regard the worthy trust from our people as the whole of their lives, and earnestly called on them to become diligent and devoted servants working heart and soul for our excellent people.

Kim Jong Un had a photo session with members of the Party central leadership organ at the significant place where the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK was held. -0-

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Carlos Ghosn's stunning escape from Japan makes him one of the most famous white-collar fugitives in recent years, joining the likes of Malaysian businessman Jho Low and Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya.

The former head of Nissan and Renault, who was facing trial in Japan for financial crimes, defended the move by saying in a statement that he'll "no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system."

It's unclear how Ghosn escaped as he's been under house arrest and close surveillance since being granted bail in April following his initial arrest in November 2018. He's a citizen of Lebanon, which doesn't have an extradition treaty with Japan, and is held in high esteem there. He also holds Brazilian and French citizenship. Ghosn's lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said his legal team has all of his passports, adding that it's likely he entered Lebanon using a different name.

Here's a look at some high-profile fugitives from the business world in recent years.

- Jho Low

Malaysia is still trying to bring in Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the siphoning of billions of dollars from state-owned investment fund 1MDB. The scandal led to Prime Minister Najib Razak losing a 2018 election, ending 61 years of his party's rule, and has entangled individuals and businesses far and wide, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Malaysian authorities last week complained about a lack of cooperation from other countries in their search for Jho Low. In September, Inspector-General Abdul Hamid Bador said the financier was in a jurisdiction that has an extradition treaty with Malaysia and talks were being held with a party suspected of protecting him.

- Christopher Skase

The entrepreneur died in Majorca in 2001, a decade after fleeing Australia as his media and hotel empire Qintex Australia Ltd. collapsed. The businesses included Seven Network Australia Ltd., the country's second-largest television network.

Skase successfully fought bids to extradite him to Australia. An order to expel him was in place but suspended by the Spanish government a month before he died of cancer at the age of 52.

- Vijay Mallya

The so-called King of Good Times has been subject to extradition efforts by Indian authorities for years. Mallya is based in London, where this month he was taken to court by a dozen state-owned Indian banks petitioning for him to be declared bankrupt over $1.5 billion (1.15 billion pounds) in unpaid debts.

Mallya's business interests stretched from liquor to motor racing to airlines. He was the founder of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.

- Nirav Modi

The celebrity jeweler was arrested in London in March for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of $2 billion. He was denied bail due to "substantial risks" he'd flee the country to avoid extradition to India.

_ _ _

With assistance from Bloomberg's Enda Curran, Paul Geitner and Sam Nagarajan.
Even God needs personal space.

At least, his closest representative on Earth does.

Pope Francis slapped away a womans hand Tuesday after she grabbed him and yanked his arm as he visited the Nativity scene at St. Peters Square.

This evening after visiting the Nativity scene in St. Peters Square, Pope Francis loses his cool after being grabbed by a pilgrim who wouldnt let go of his hand, tweeted a site called Catholic Sat. The Pope repeated slapped her hand and told her to let go of him.

The Catholic News Agency reported Pope Francis apologized Wednesday for losing his patience with the woman.

Many times we lose our patience; me too. I apologize for yesterdays bad example, Pope Francis in a departure from his prepared remarks for the Angelus prayer Jan. 1.

Pope Francis was walking through the square in Vatican City Tuesday en route to visit the Nativity scene set up in the center. He reached out to touch a child, according to Reuters, then turned away from the crowd.

A woman standing on the other side of the barrier made the sign of the cross as he approached, then grabbed his hand just as he turned to walk away and tugged forcefully on his arm.

The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain, and Francis swiftly wrenched his hand free, Reuters reported.

But she persisted, hanging onto him and speaking.

A visibly indignant pope slapped her hand away.

The woman held onto the 83-year-old Francis pretty forcefully, and he appeared to wince in pain, WTSP-TV reported. Then he slapped her on the hand and freed himself from her grip. He appeared to scold her with a scowl on his face, but its unclear what he said.

The station noted that his security guards were several steps behind him. They can be seen an instant later catching up and helping pry Franciss hand from the womans grasp.

As the internet deities would have it, the incident was caught on video, posted online and has now become the Slap Seen Round the World  or, as The Daily Beast termed it, a papal slap.

Various headlines and comments have characterized the pope as incensed, visibly angry, losing his cool and disgruntled. The woman has been called overzealous and clutching.

Most commenters had sympathy for the pope, saying that the womans gesture looked like it hurt.

I guess even the Pontiff has his limits, tweeted Roman Catholic priest and CNN commentator Father Edward Beck. He also may have a sore arm.
Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday asserted that it is the "moral responsibility" of India to give shelter and citizenship to Hindus and other minority communities of Pakistan, which has been persecuting them persistently.

"It's our moral responsibility to give citizenship to the minorities (from the three neighbouring Muslim countries). If they don't come to India, where will they go? To Italy?" he asked.

"Italy will not accept Hindus or Sikhs as they are poor people," he said.

Stating that owing to persistent persecution of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jains in Pakistan, the population of the minorities there has come down drastically from its earlier 30 per cent-level, the minister said it's the moral responsibility of India to give shelter and citizenship to non-Muslims from the three neighbouring countries.

The minister also claimed that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi knows no difference between the CAA and GST and that is why he says the recent changes in the citizenship law would lead to an increase in the tax.

The "immature statement" of Rahul Gandhi shows he "cannot distinguish between CAA and GST" as he says the GST will further increase due to CAA.

"I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that if he does not know the difference (between CAA and GST), he should take tuition from a better tutor in the matter," said the minister.

"It seems he doesn't have any idea about NPR and NRC either," he said.

The minister also accused the opposition of playing "cheap politics", saying that it is instigating people to protest against the recent changes in the citizenship law by misleading them.

He rued that the opposition was instigating violence instead of appealing them to resort to peaceful protests.
A Lebanon couple has earned the distinction of adding the first soul to south central Pennsylvanias population base in the 2020s, just in time for the upcoming federal census.

UPMC Pinnacle spokeswoman Kelly McCall said Mary Stonebraker gave birth at Womens Place, UPMC Lititz to a baby girl at 12:34 a.m. Wednesday. Newly christened Grace Marie checked in weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and 19 inches long.

Grace is the first child for both Stonebraker and father Jake Pommerening, longtime Lancaster County residents who bought a home and moved to Lebanon this fall.

Mom and baby are well, Pommerening told PennLive in a telephone interview Wednesday.

Stonebraker went into labor about 3 a.m. Tuesday, so the birth was the end of a long day, but we are all on cloud nine right now, Pommerening said.

As for the special chronological distinction to Graces birth? Its like, how do you add to a perfect story?" Pommerening said. But selfishly speaking, we already knew she was special.

The race to be central Pennsylvanias first baby of the new decade was fierce.

A Lancaster General Hospital spokeswoman said its first delivery came in at 2:19, and Penn State Hershey Medical Center spokeswoman Megan Manlove reported Palmyra mother Amy Kelly gave birth to a baby boy at 2:36 a.m. Wednesday.

Kellys baby arrived just 40 minutes before another baby boy was born at UPMC Pinnacle in Harrisburg, so as you can see, the holiday is quickly settling into business-as-usual at the regions maternity wards.
Danny Lannen | February 26th, 2013

Flight Lieutenant Natalie Pietrobon in front of the RAAF C-17A Globemaster at Avalon Airport yesterday. Photo: ALEX COPPEL

NATALIE Pietrobon has wanted to fly since she was four and remembers getting a fairly reserved response when she told her mother of her ambition.

"I remember telling Mum I wanted to be a pilot," the Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant said.

"She just said 'Well ... it's OK if you don't'," Flt-Lt Pietrobon said.

She is now living her dream at the controls of an RAAF C-17A Globemaster, the four-engine heavy airlifter capable of carrying up to 70 tonnes.

Flt-Lt Pietrobon isn't quite sure where her love of flying came from at such an early age, but she knew she didn't want "civil wings" and after working in air traffic control she joined the RAAF ranks nine years ago.

Her C-17 duties have included a mission to Afghanistan and she flew one of the giants into Avalon for this week's Australian International Airshow.
Chinese FM reminds overseas nationals to abide by local laws

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2019/12/31 17:03:52

Confirming the arrest of a 27-year-old Chinese national in the US for allegedly breaking into a naval airbase in Key West, Florida, and taking pictures with his mobile phone, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Chinese embassy in the US is closely following up on the case with the US government.

At a regular press briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the Chinese embassy and consulate in the US received the report from the US government on the arrest on Thursday, and that the consulate general in Houston is in touch with the relevant parties. He asserted that the US side should conduct a fair investigation in accordance with the law, accurately handle the case, and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese citizen involved.

"As the New Year's Day and the Spring Festival are approaching, we once again remind Chinese citizens overseas to strengthen their awareness of local law, regulations, and self-protection. Do not stay or take photos in military restricted areas or other sensitive locations, and strictly follow the relevant tips and signs,"Geng said.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to safeguarding the security and legal rights of Chinese nationals overseas and has always required them to abide by local laws and regulations and not engage in any form of illegal activities. Chinese embassies and consulates abroad will continue to provide necessary consular assistance to Chinese citizens, he added.

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Asif Jalali, a well-known Afghan TV actor who gained renown for his political satire and stand-up comedy, has died in the Afghan capital, Kabul.



Sabir Mohmand, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture, told RFE/RL that Jalali died on January 1 of a heart attack, but provided no further details.



Sayeed Rahmani, the head of the Afghan National Theater, said Jalali was born in 1957 in northeastern Afghanistan.



Jalali hosted several shows on local Afghan broadcasters, including the popular program Shabkhand (Evening Laughter).



His comedy blazed a trail in Afghanistan, where political satire was a new phenomenon after years of tightly constrained media programming, and long-standing fears of angering religious conservatives.



"The aim of my comedy is to challenge the wrongs in my society," he told the BBC in a profile that aired in 2011, "so that if they see a minister, they think he is rubbish. My other aim is to make people laugh."



Film director Latif Ahmadi told the dpa news agency that Jalali started his artistic career in commercials some 13 years ago. He also appeared in the famous Afghani drama Bulbul, in which he played the love interest of a female character.



His death surprised many across Afghanistan, and some of his fans took to social media to honor him.



"Jalali did God's work by making us laugh," Saad Mohseni, who heads the group that owns local broadcaster TOLO TV, said on Twitter.



There was no immediate word on survivors. Dpa reported that he had five children.

With reporting by dpa
Imperial Valley News Center

Orange County Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Machete Attack at Rabbis Home

New York - Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI, announced Monday that Grafton Thomas has been charged with five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religion in an attempt to kill, a federal hate crime, related to his machete attack during Shabbat and Hanukkah observances at a Rabbis home in Monsey, New York, on the night of December 28, 2019.

Thomas is expected to be presented in White Plains federal court later.

Every American should be free to live and worship in safety, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. The department will vigorously prosecute those who commit hate crimes, and we will continue to work with our state and local partners to bring to justice anyone who violates the civil rights of Americans.

As alleged, Grafton Thomas targeted his victims in the midst of a religious ceremony, transforming a joyous Hanukkah celebration into a scene of carnage and pain, said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York. Today is the eighth day of Hanukkah, the festival of lights that commemorates Jews struggle to practice their faith more than two millennia ago. And we are about to welcome a new year. Even in the face of tragedy, both milestones are an occasion for renewed hope and resolve: To combat bigotry in all its forms  and to bring to justice the perpetrators of hate-fueled attacks.

When an individuals actions cross the threshold of a federal crime, as we allege Mr. Grafton did here, we will act swiftly, said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. The message from todays charges should be crystal clear  the FBI wont tolerate violence against anyone. Working with our partners, we will hold anyone who commits a crime like this accountable for their actions. The federal penalties for this type of attack are severe and justified. In this instance, the local community was engaged, and their actions were essential to saving lives and led directly to Mr. Graftons capture. Its the rest of our communitys joint responsibility to step up and engage as well  dont give hate a platform to propagate and dont dismiss this type of behavior as someone elses problem, address it and immediately report suspicious activity to authorities.

According to the complaint unsealed Monday in White Plains federal court:

On Dec. 28, 2019, Thomas entered a Rabbis home in Monsey, New York, which is adjacent to the Rabbis synagogue, during observances related to the end of Shabbat and the seventh night of Hanukkah. Thomas declared to dozens of assembled congregants, no one is leaving, and attacked the group with an 18-inch machete. At least five victims were hospitalized with serious injuries, including slash wounds, deep lacerations, a severed finger, and a skull fracture.

Following the attack, Thomas traveled in a car to New York City, and he was stopped in Harlem by members of the New York City Police Department. The responding officers observed what appeared to be blood on Thomass hands and clothing, and smelled bleach coming from his vehicle. A search of Thomass vehicle led to the seizure of, among other things, a machete that appeared to have traces of dried blood on it. Law enforcement subsequently searched Thomass residence and cellphone pursuant to warrants. The residence contained handwritten journals with several pages of anti-Semitic references. Thomass cellphone contained Internet searches dating back to at least November 2019 for terms such as Zionist Temples in Staten Island and New Jersey, as well as a webpage visit on the day of the attack to an article titled, New York To Increase Police Presence After Anti-Semitic Attacks.

Thomas, 37, is charged with five counts of obstructing the free exercise of religion in an attempt to kill, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 247. An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each of the five counts carries a maximum prison term of life. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Assistant Attorney General Dreiband and Mr. Berman praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI, the Rockland County District Attorneys Office, the Ramapo Police Department, the Rockland County Sherriffs Office, the New York State Police, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Offices Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit and its White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael K. Krouse and Lindsey Keenan are in charge of the prosecution.
SAGINAW, MI - On Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, the Saginaw African Cultural Festival invited the community to celebrate the sixth day of Kwanzaa at an event in Saginaw.

Kwanzaa is a week-long African heritage celebration meant to highlight the seven principles the holiday represents. These include unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, a sense of purpose, creativity and faith.

The focus of Kwanzaa is always the children, so we want the principles to go through the generations, Cultural Committee Chair Wesley Spencer of Saginaw, 28, said. Theres not a lot of places for people to come together thats safe, thats family orientated, and you get to be entertained and educated at the same time.

Traditionally, each day is dedicated to one principle, but this specific event combines them all so the community can learn more about all of them as a whole, Spencer said.

This holiday encourages African Americans to remember where they came from and bring them back to the basics, said Jena Bargon of Midland, as she experienced her first time celebrating.

Its been exhilarating and quite refreshing, Bargon said. It reinforces our value system and grounds you. I think Im going to treat Kwanzaa differently in 2020 because Id like to participate more.

The festival has hosted this event for about four years. This year, it was held at the First Ward Community Center and featured live jazz music from the band In The Tradition along with African cuisine. It was free for the public to attend.

Flint, Saginaw celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa with community events

Dozens gather to celebrate first day of Kwanzaa

Best of Africa comes to Saginaw with its 51st African Cultural Festival this weekend
Houston health officials have determined the November death of a boy between the ages of 6 and 10 was caused by influenza, the citys first pediatric fatality of the 2019-2020 flu season.

It marks the second pediatric flu death in the region this year. A northwest Harris County infant less than a year old died from flu, Harris County Public Health reported Dec. 23.

The Houston Health Department was unable to determine if the Houston boy, who had a pre-existing health condition, had received a flu shot.

While there is little that can bring comfort to parents coping with the death of a child, this tragic situation serves as a reminder to all parents about the importance of flu vaccination, Dr. David Persse, local health authority for the Houston Health Department, said in a statement Tuesday. Vaccination not only protects the person receiving the vaccination, its important to protecting others in the community.

The health department recommends residents older than 6 months to get an annual flu shot. Influenza is particularly dangerous to the elderly, pregnant women, young children and people with chronic health conditions. The department offers flu shots at its health centers to under- or uninsured residents on a sliding scale, from $0 to $15. Residents can call 832-393-5427 or visit HoustonHealth.org to find the nearest health center.

Houston Health Department spokesman Porfirio Villareal said this flu season has been about average, with about 4 percent of hospital visits being influenza-related in December.

Right now we cant tell if the flu has peaked. We can say well see many, many more weeks of flu activity, Villareal said.

Villareal urged even healthy residents to receive a flu shot, so they can protect at-risk family members and neighbors. He noted that 49 percent of flu-related hospital visits in the third week of December were by children between the ages of 5 and 17.

He said Houston typically has one to two pediatric flu deaths annually. The health department does not track adult flu deaths, though the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that since 2010, between 12,000 and 61,000 Americans have died annually from influenza.

Flu season lasts from October to May and is most severe in January and February.

zach.despart@chron.com
Speaking to reporters in Council Bluffs on Sunday, Ms. Warren said that if Medicare for all has received little attention at her Iowa events, its because I take whatever questions come my way and the voters have had other concerns.

And she rejected the criticism, mostly lobbied by ardent progressives, that her plan waffles on an immediate push for enacting Medicare for all and ending private health insurance, as Mr. Sanders has long proposed.

In November, after Ms. Warren faced blowback for her proposal for $20.5 trillion in new spending over 10 years to enact Medicare for all, she surprised many by proposing an expansion of public health insurance as a first step  similar to the positions of rivals like Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Pete Buttigieg  and then achieving passage of Medicare for all by the end of her third year in office.

Ms. Warrens campaign and its surrogates say that the type of insurance offered under their plan is more comprehensive than Mr. Bidens and Mr. Buttigiegs proposals, and that the Warren camp has provided more details on how to implement and finance a single-payer system than Mr. Sanders.

Im still with Bernie and were still there on Medicare for all, Ms. Warren said in Council Bluffs. I still think its the right place.

But there are signs that her campaign is proactively seeking to calm fears about her health care proposal. Denise OBrien, a rural community activist and prominent supporter of Ms. Warrens from Atlantic, Iowa, said she and other supporters have been coordinating with the campaign to hold Medicare for all listening sessions in her town.

Ms. OBrien said that she will soon hold her third event, and that community members have had several questions, particularly since Ms. Warren was pressed during the Democratic debate in October. The typical running order of the sessions, she said, is that a doctor who supports Medicare for all explains the health care insurance system and its pitfalls, while a campaign staff member lays out Ms. Warrens position.
The levy request this May will be relatively modest for a district with 11,000 K-8 students: less than $2 million. State law controls how much public schools can spend and how much they can seek from voters. State law requires each district to spend a "minimum budget" and allows each a "maximum budget" that requires voter approval. Because Billings elementary district didn't seek a vote to spend the maximum budget for the past six years, the schools had to operate with less money than law allowed. For the 2020-2021 school year, it is estimated that the gap between what the district can spend with out a vote and what voters could approved is estimated at $1.3 million to $1.6 million. That's what the district must seek. Even with the voted levy, there will be budget cuts for Billings K-8 schools, according to Superintendent Greg Upham.
The coming decade may be one of our hardest yet  in terms of wicked geopolitics, national unity and our ability to continue to dream and do great things together.

A proud country with a happy future requires an energetic opposition  a government in waiting  rooted not in inflexible dogma or imported slogans but rather one prepared to propose and, with power, implement serious solutions to the very serious challenges and problems of Canada as it is  in all its colours, creeds, contours and complexities across its huge geography.

As a strict non-partisan, let me offer five rules (policy equations) to ground the coming months of debate  one that should drive a properly Canadian strategic and policy imagination that is sensitive to the history, memory, on-the-ground realities, nuances and profound potential of the Canadian condition.

Rule 1: Canada must think for itself. Our country is surrounded by great (nuclear) powers  America to the south, China to the west, Russia across the Arctic, and Europe to the east. We will either be crushed or vassalized by the pressures and pulls of these border powers, or we will emerge as one of this centurys leading countries. To be great, we must develop the national assets, capabilities and mindset to resist and build our own future on our own terms. There is no other path.

Rule 2: The keys to both Wexit and climate change run through the Arctic. Any credible Canadian response to climate change starts with the three northern territories  all told, as big as the European Union and representing 40 per cent of Canadas land mass. These territories and the Arctic waters abutting them are transforming by melt. It just so happens that these territories are also largely part of the topographical, psychological and cultural West of Canada.

Whats to be done? Declare the entire Canadian North a Special Economic and Environmental Zone. Make Whitehorse, Yellowknife or Inuvik the Singapore of the new global Arctic space  an international economic, transport and scientific hub, connecting Canadas north to a next-generation international Arctic market and regulatory space of over two billion people. No longer distant or alienated, the West  through the North  now lies at the intersection of continental North America, Asia, Eurasia and Europe. Talk about opportunity!

Rule 3: The keys to Quebec and Indigenous reconciliation run through a national languages strategy. French-English bilingualism in Canada is, pitifully, less than 18 per cent. This means our country picks its leaders  in many fields  from less than one-fifth of the population.

The fix? Create a next generation of Canadians that, without exception, speak both official languages fluently  Quebec will be better soldered to the rest of the country, we will have a richer talent and labour pool for all the countrys public and private enterprises, and we will all understand each other better. Add other languages and knowledge of Quebecs civil law to the mix, for good measure.

The same applies to Indigenous tongues. New Zealands experience teaches us that language is indispensable to creating reasonable parity in life prospects between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations.

Rule 4: If you wish to form government, dont denigrate the state. You will need government and the state to drive the economy  this is a historical fact in Canada. From pipelines to high-speed rail, defence assets, shipbuilding and next-generation energy and communications infrastructure, Ottawa must lead.

Textbook purity notwithstanding, there is no other impulse in Canada with the requisite scale, liquidity and unity of purpose. A bolder, more ramified private sector can and must partner and follow, but if you forget how the states of leading economic powers in the world lead, you will consign our country to stasis and poverty.

Rule 5: Make Canadians dream about the countrys future. We Canadians do not know our country in earnest. How many Torontonians have been to magnificent Yukon? How many Winnipeggers have been to Newfoundland? How many Calgarians have been to Saguenay? Give every young Canadian $2,000 to travel to another region of the country before the age of 25. They will return with eyes open and love of country consolidated.

Create a national service for young Canadians to build up the Arctic  our next great frontier. Let the Canada of tomorrow be vast and kinetic  in fact, mind and deeds.
Artificial intelligence that can help diagnose breast cancer more accurately than trained doctors could save thousands of lives, according to new research.

A computer algorithm developed by British and US scientists has found AI was able to display a 1.2 per cent reduction in the number of false positives and a 2.7 per cent reduction in false negatives.

The breakthrough has been likened to 'a spell-check for writing email' and could reduce the number of 'false negatives' that can lead to life threatening delays in treatment.

It will also prevent 'false positives' during routine screening - sparing women unnecessary surgery and great stress.

A computer algorithm (left and right) developed by British and U.S. scientists can help diagnose breast cancer more accurately than trained doctors, according to new research

Study co author Dr Mozziyar Etemadi, an assistant professor of anaesthesiology at Northwestern University, Chicago, said: 'This is a huge advance in the potential for early cancer detection.

'Breast cancer is one of the highest causes of cancer mortality in women. Finding cancer earlier means it can be smaller and easier to treat. We hope this will ultimately save a lot of lives.'

The machine learning device was designed and trained using mammography images mostly from women in the UK and correctly identified cancers better than experts.

When tested on 25,856 unidentified women screened on the NHS at three hospital trusts and 3,097 at Northwestern Medicine, there were far fewer cases of cancer incorrectly identified - or missed.

The results published in Nature demonstrates how AI could 'potentially be applied in clinical settings around the world,' said the researchers.

Compared to actual clinical practice and the opinions of six independent radiologists, missed tumours plunged from 9.4 to 2.7 per cent with AI and incorrect identification of cancer also fell from 5.7 to 1.2 per cent.

Study co author Dr Mozziyar Etemadi (pictured), an assistant professor of anaesthesiology at Northwestern University, Chicago, said the tool was a 'huge advance in the potential for early cancer detection'

The software also correctly picked up cancers in the screening images with a similar degree of accuracy as the experts.

Currently, two experts review breast screening scans but the system is not perfect, as it can miss some cases and pick up ones that would not have gone on to cause problems.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women globally, occurring in about one in eight women.

At present, mammography is the most widely used breast cancer screening tool, but diagnosing cancer from these images is a challenge and one in five cases are missed by radiologists - twice the rate of that in the study.

What is more, about half of women who undergo screening over a ten year period will experience a false positive in which cancer is wrongly suspected.

Co-lead author Scott McKinney, a software engineer at Google Health in California, said: 'Computers are really good at these tasks. We hope someday this tool for radiologists becomes as ubiquitous as spell-check for writing e-mail.'

Breast cancer affects more than 55,000 UK women each year - killing more than 11,000.(Stock image)

AI tools could now support clinical decision-making in the future and relieve pressure on healthcare systems by reducing workload.

Dominic King, UK lead at Google Health, London, said: 'Our team is really proud of these research findings, which suggest we are on our way to developing a tool that can help clinicians spot breast cancer with greater accuracy.

'Further testing, clinical validation and regulatory approvals are required before this could start making a difference for patients, but we're committed to working with our partners towards this goal.'

Women aged between 50 and 71 are invited to receive a mammogram on the NHS every three years, where an x-ray of the breast tissue is used to look for abnormal growths or changes which may be cancerous.

While screening is highly effective and the majority of cancers are picked up during the process, even with significant clinical expertise human interpretation of the x-rays is open to errors.

Co-author Professor the Lord Ara Darzi of Denham, of Imperial College London, said: 'Screening programmes remain one of the best tools at our disposal for catching cancer early and improving outcomes for patients, but many challenges remain - not least the current volume of images radiologists must review.

'While these findings are not directly from the clinic, they are very encouraging, and they offer clear insights into how this valuable technology could be used in real life.

'There will of course a number of challenges to address before AI could be implemented in mammography screening programmes around the world, but the potential for improving healthcare and helping patients is enormous.'

Breast cancer currently affects more than 55,000 UK women each year - killing more than 11,000.

It is estimated more than two million women across the world developed the disease last year - with more than 600,000 deaths.

In the U.S. there will be an estimated 268,600 women diagnosed with breast cancer this year - and around 41,760 deaths from the disease.

Dr Etemadi said: 'While this is exciting, early-stage research, validation in future trials is needed to better understand how models like these can be effectively integrated into clinical practice.

'In some examples, the human outperforms the AI and in others, it's the opposite.

'But the ultimate goal will be to find the best way to combine the two - the magic of the human brain isn't going anywhere any time soon.'
Aligarh Muslim University has further extended the winter break keeping in view the continuing protests against the amended citizenship law in the country.

The university was to reopen on January 6.

According to an AMU notice, the decision to extend the vacations again was taken after a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor on Wednesday.

A detailed schedule for the reopening of the university "in a phased manner" will be notified after the review of the situation.

On December 15 night, the university had announced an extended winter break following violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the campus.

Over 60 people, including 40 students, AMU security staff and policemen, were injured in the violence.

At least four students who received serious injuries are still being treated.

A number of injured students had alleged that police and the Rapid Action Police (RAF) indulged in excesses.

Police have booked 56 persons, including a number of students, for holding a protest which later turned violent.

On December 24, nine days after the violence, the RAF filed a separate FIR in which around 1,000 unidentified students were booked for violence.

Students have also formed a coordination committee for continuing their peaceful protest against the CAA on the campus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Joshua Koch was one of 20 to recently graduate from the 24th Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School.

Koch, who lives in Midland with his wife, 3-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, joins the Michigan State Police Caro post, which serves Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac counties.

"I always wanted to be in law enforcement," he said. "The state police was always my dream because they have the reputation of being the best of the best."

Koch said he hadn't considered becoming a motor carrier officer until his brother-in-law joined the force.

"He was telling me all of the benefits and it fit in with my lifestyle with a family," he said.

Motor carrier officers are armed uniformed members of the MSP who specialize in commercial vehicle law enforcement. Koch said MCOs work concurrent with the common work schedule of commercial vehicles, which is more conducive to raising a young family.

The Caro post was Koch's first choice because it is closest to his home in Midland. The post had an opening following the retirement of MCO Dennis Haley, who had more than 30 years on the job.

Similar to trooper recruit school, the motor carrier recruit school has strenuous physical and mental rigors that the officers are put through.

"They really push your limits and get you to think outside of the box and think well in stressful situations," Koch said. "The most challenging was the water safety portion and the (pepper) spray. That is where we lose the majority of people is physical training and water safety."

They enforce traffic safety laws on commercial vehicles, protect the infrastructure through aggressive size and weight enforcement, conduct commercial vehicle and driver inspections and contribute to homeland security efforts by enforcing hazardous material regulations.

For 20 weeks, what began as 29 prospective officers were put through a grueling training in firearms, water safety, tactics and techniques used in law enforcement, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal and commercial vehicle law.

One of the hardest parts for Koch was the 20 weeks he spent away from home, with the exception of weekends.

"They are in school and you are missing moments that you will never get back," he said. "I think it was week three when my wife asked my son if he missed me. He said 'No, I didn't miss him. I want him to go be a police officer.' There was a feeling you got in your gut when you had to leave (home) every Sunday, but that really pushed me."

Koch said his favorite part of recruit school was the camaraderie.

"My favorite part was getting to know all my fellow recruits," he said. "You are with them for 20 weeks and the relationships you build are pretty amazing. Everyone goes in there scared and not knowing what they are going to encounter. You have an idea, but trust me you don't really know."

Koch said everyone comes together to help each other out.

Another aspect Koch found rewarding was checking off each accomplishment that he set out to do.

Koch will spend 17 weeks in a field training program, working side-by-side with an experienced MCO.

"(Recently), we went to all the posts, outposts and dispatch centers, just trying to introduce myself," he said. "Primarily, we will be working on officer safety by pulling vehicles over, the proper way to address drivers and go through the inspection process."

During school, Koch said recruits would go through the process, but it was with actors instead of a real experience.

"One great thing about this recruit school is we go to the scales as recruits and get to interact with the drivers and do full inspections with them," he said.

With more than 2,600 square miles of land in the Caro post area, with a large presence of agriculture, Koch realizes he has his work cut out for him.

"There are so many different laws and exemptions," Koch said. "Dealing with all the farm equipment around here, I have been told I need to become the new farm expert. I think that will be the biggest challenge, but I am up for it."

Graduation is emotionally tolling, Koch said.

"It is a huge feeling of accomplishment," he said. "You are joining one of the best law enforcement agencies in Michigan and you worked your butt off to get that. I had my son and wife pin my badge on me and it was a pretty emotional time. It was an overwhelming sense of pride to be part of an organization like this."
The deaths of infants at JK Lon Hospital in Rajasthans Kota has turned into a full-blown war between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.

Rajasthans health minister Raghu Sharma has attacked the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). BJPs politics over death of children in Kota is directed by the PMO, as they dont have anything else to cover up over the anti-CAA protests. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, when the BJP was in power, hospital authority had sought funds. Why wasnt money released then? Sharma said on Wednesday.

He had said on Tuesday that the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has actually improved under the Gehlot government. The IMR stood at 7.62 per cent in 2014... we have reduced it to 5.55 per cent in 2019, Sharma had said.

ALSO WATCH | Kota: LS speaker visits hospital with over 70 newborns deaths in Dec 2019

A BJP delegation, which visited the hospital on Tuesday, had attacked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. While children were dying in the hospital, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot went to Jharkhand and was celebrating the formation of the government there. Mothers of dead children are still weeping but the CM is not here to wipe their tears, said BJP leader Locket Chatterjee, who was part of the three-member delegation.

Chatterjee also attacked former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying while he visited other states to highlight issues, he gave a miss to Rajasthan, a state where his party ruled. Kanta Kardam and Jaskaur Meena were other members of the BJP panel.

At least 91 infants have died at the government hospital during the past month, 10 of them in just two days - December 23 and 24.

The Rajasthan government formed a three-member committee of doctors to investigate the issue after Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota MP Om Birla tweeted about it.

The government panel cleared the hospital authorities of any lapses, but said that it was short of beds, functioning at 150 per cent of its capacity. The panel also ruled that the infants were given the right treatment.

Hospital superintendent Dr Amrit Lal Bairwa said most of these kids were very sick when they came to the hospital. Most of the kids referred to us were in extremely critical condition, out of which, 1-3 kids die every day on an average, he said.

Hospital records show that 72 infants died in January, 61 in February, 63 in March, 77 in April, 80 in May, 65 in June, 76 in July, 87 in August, 90 in September, 91 in October and 101 in November.

Though Bairwa said the rate of infant mortality at the hospital was sliding over the years, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) issued show-cause notices to medical education secretary and called Kotas Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) to its New Delhi office on January 3.
In 17 NFL seasons, Eagles backup quarterback Josh McCown has made the playoffs one time before this, after the 2008 season in Carolina. McCown backed up Jake Delhomme and didnt get into a 33-13 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round.

So McCown, 40, is every bit as happy this week as the practice squad call-ups and rookies who will make their playoff debuts Sunday when the Eagles host the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round at the Linc.

McCown said he has often been in the situation the Eagles were in a month ago, after their loss to Miami, when they were 5-7.

You look at the rest of the schedule and you go, OK! If we can run the table well get in. Ive been on so many teams where weve said that and then weve not done [it]. ... For whatever reason, that group, in that moment, blinks. And they lose belief and they lose trust, and they dont get it done. Our group has gone the opposite [way]. A guy gets hurt, the next guy steps up, the belief grows even more.

McCown said one reason he came out of retirement when the Eagles called in August was to have this experience.

Its humbling to be a part of, he said. This thing that youve chased and wanted to see happen your whole career, to finally get to see it was cool.

Hope for Johnson and Ertz?

Coach Doug Pederson said the Eagles were getting close on a couple of guys as the injury-ravaged NFC East champions prepared for the Seahawks.

Pederson said he thought right tackle Lane Johnson (high ankle sprain, suffered Dec. 9) would take a few plays in Wednesdays walk-through practice, and Johnson indeed was listed as a partial participant.

Pederson said tight end Zach Ertz might be able to give us a little something during the walk-through; Ertz also was listed as a partial participant. Ertz has cracked ribs but needs to be medically cleared after a kidney laceration suffered on the same play in the Dallas game, Dec. 22. It isnt clear that will happen soon.

Im going to leave that up to the doctors; when they clear him, they clear him. And then we play. Until that time, I dont know, Pederson said. The rest of the guys, weve got to see. A little more day to day with them, and make sure that theyre closer to 100 percent, obviously, before we stick them out there.

Pederson said that if Johnson can play, Halapoulivaati Vaitai will move inside to right guard, in place of Brandon Brooks, who was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Less-experienced Matt Pryor will be the right guard if Vaitai is still at right tackle.

Cornerback Jalen Mills and running back Miles Sanders, who have ankle injuries, are day to day, Pederson said. Sanders did not practice, Mills was listed as limited, but he told reporters he expects to play.

A punchers chance

Doug Pederson said he remembered running back Elijah Holyfield from a private workout with Georgia players before the draft this year. Tuesday, the Eagles signed Holyfield, who spent 2019 on the Panthers practice squad, when they placed defensive end Daeshon Hall on injured reserve with a torn ACL.

I was really surprised, said Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. I had a really good workout with the Eagles before the draft, but I hadnt really talked to them after that at all.

Miles Sanders has an ankle injury and Jordan Howard is just back from a six-game absence with a shoulder injury, but the Holyfield signing might have as much to do with next spring and summer as anything. This is the time of year when teams sign players they have interest in for the future.

Holyfield was considered a solid draft prospect before he ran a 4.78-second 40 at the NFL scouting combine. He went undrafted.

The Eagles also placed right guard Brandon Brooks (shoulder) on injured reserve Wednesday and brought back 2017 fifth-round draft pick Shelton Gibson, a wide receiver who can be an effective special-teams gunner.
Yemeni forces, allies shoot down Saudi-led surveillance drone in Hajjah

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 Tuesday, 31 December 2019 1:23 PM

Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from the Popular Committees, have intercepted and targeted an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the Saudi-led military coalition as it was flying in the skies over the country's northwestern province of Hajjah.

The Spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree said Yemeni forces and their allies shot down the drone while it was on a reconnaissance mission in al-Tina area of the Hayran district on Tuesday morning.

He identified the downed aircraft as a Chinese-made Phantom unmanned aerial vehicle.

The development came only a day after Yemeni air defense forces and their allies shot down a Turkish-built Vestel Karayel drone with a precision missile.

Saree said the aircraft was struck as it was on a surveillance mission over al-Salif coastal village in Yemen's western province of Hudaydah.

Earlier on Monday, Yemeni forces had intercepted and targeted a Saudi-led spy drone as it was flying over the Razih district of the country's northwestern province of Sa'ada.

Also on Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition launched four Katyusha rockets at a residential area in the al-Hali district of Hudaydah province, but there were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

Saudi-led troops also sprayed houses and private properties in the Kilo 16 district of Hudaydah with bullets, damaging a number of them. No immediate reports of casualties were available though.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement.

The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the war has claimed more than 100,000 lives over the past four and a half years.

The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger.

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The welfare state is based on men going to work, women staying at home, jobs for life, and secure pensions. All of those certainties have disappeared, says Minouche Shafik.

Every society has norms, institutions, policies, laws, and commitments to people who need support. In traditional societies, such obligations are borne mostly by families and kin groups.

In advanced economies, there is a greater burden on the state and markets (through health insurance and pensions).

Yet, even in the latter, much of the social contract is still upheld by families (through unpaid care work), civil society (voluntary and charitable organisations), and employers, who often provide health insurance or contributions to unemployment insurance.

The social contract is not synonymous with the welfare state. Rather, the welfare state refers to the dimensions of a social contract that are mediated through the political process and subsequent state action, either directly, through taxation and public services, or indirectly, through laws requiring the private sector to provide certain benefits.

As such, the welfare state is best understood not as a redistribution mechanism, but as a source of productivity and protection over the course of a persons life cycle.

As John Hills, of the London School of Economics, has shown, most people contribute as much to the state as they receive.

Nonetheless, much of the anger that defines politics in the developed world is rooted in peoples sense of having not received what they are owed.

Those born into disadvantage feel as though they never had a chance. Those living in rural areas believe that policymakers have overwhelmingly favoured cities.

The native-born fear that immigrants are receiving benefits before they have paid their due. Men sense that their historic privileges are eroding.

Older people regard the young as ungrateful for past sacrifices, and the young increasingly resent the elderly for straining social-security programmes and leaving a legacy of environmental destruction.

All of this distrust and animosity is fodder for populists.

So, too, are the effects of technological change and globalisation. The integration of global supply chains has delivered huge gains to the middle classes in emerging economies and to the top 1% globally; but it has hollowed out the middle and working classes in advanced economies.

The conventional wisdom is that workers in advanced economies have had to sacrifice wages or social protections to compete with emerging-market labour, and that these pressures have intensified as capital has become more mobile. Worse, the social mobility that once made inequality politically tolerable has stalled or declined.

In principle, the provision of adequate insurance against economic displacement should make the pressures from technological change and globalisation manageable.

But many aspects of todays welfare states are still designed for the old economy, where male breadwinners paid into reliable pensions over a lifetime, while women stayed at home to raise children and care for the young and the old.

For the first time in history, there are now more women in higher education than men. Educated women have fewer children, are more likely to be in paid work, and will increasingly feel tensions between their participation in the labour market and their traditional, caring responsibilities.

Yet, recent research from the International Monetary Fund shows that closing the gender gap has significant benefits for growth.

The challenge, then, is to redefine the social contract, so that women can make full use of their talents without any loss of social cohesion.

In advanced economies, this tension is at the centre of debates about childcare and declining birth rates. Societal aging means that a shrinking working-age population must cover rapidly rising health-care and pension costs.

Worse, todays working-age population already has less security than previous generations had, owing to the decline of defined-benefit pensions and a lack of access to many employment perks or training opportunities.

Likewise, climate change represents a breakdown of the intergenerational social contract.

This year, young people staged massive protests against an economic model that does not take adequate account of the environment.

As the evidence of an impending climate disaster mounts, so, too, has support for alternative economic models that would enable more sustainable development.

Once we have acknowledged these global challenges, we can begin to envision what a new social contract might look like.

For example, education will need to start earlier in life, when the foundation for subsequent learning is established, as well as later, to meet the demand for reskilling.

It also will need to focus on tasks that complement what robots can do. Serious investments in reskilling  on the order of 1-2% of GDP, as in Denmark  must be central to any modernised social contract.

A new social contract also may need to provide a minimum income for all, but in a way that preserves the incentive to work and retrain.

Earned income tax credits, mandatory training and work placements, and employment guarantees should all be considered.

And to tap into the worlds growing pool of female talent, large investments will be needed to expand childcare and eldercare, provide shared parental leave, and counter the effects of formal and informal biases that place women at a disadvantage.

For example, if benefits were made portable and provided pro rata, more workers would be able to rely on part-time work to balance other commitments.

As for sustainability, we need to adopt an entirely different way of thinking about aging and the environment. If a shrinking labour force is going to have any chance of supporting an aging population, the investments needed to boost future productivity must be made now.

In the meantime, aging populations may have to commit to working longer  with retirement ages pegged to life expectancy  and demanding less medicalised health care at the end of life.

Finally, current and future environmental costs will have to be incorporated into economic decisions.

We need massive investments in green technologies to transform cities, transportation, and energy systems. Considered together, such a new social contract has the potential to restore a sense of hope and optimism.

Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England and deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is director of the London School of Economics.
Two men were arrested within two days of each other after separate package theft incidents at Hoboken residences, city police said.

The burglaries were four blocks apart and both occurred around 3 a.m., the first on Saturday and the second Monday.

Juan Jimenez, 42, of Jersey City was arrested in connection with Saturdays incident and faces charges of burglary, theft, possession of burglars tools, drug paraphernalia and stolen property. Joel Arece, 33, of Hoboken was arrested Monday and faces burglary and theft charges.

The Saturday burglary occurred around Newark and Park avenues at about 3:20 a.m., according to police.

A witness had heard banging in the building foyer and, upon investigating, saw a man walking down the stairs holding packages. The person then began opening the packages outside the building, police said.

When police found a man that fit a description the 911 caller provided, he was on Second and Clinton streets and had packages from that location as well.

The second arrest occurred after Lt. Keith Rotondi saw Arece, who he knew, enter a building on Third Street and Willow Avenue around 3 a.m.

When Arece exited, Rotondi believed the tote bag he was carrying was fuller than when he entered. When Rotondi approached him, Arece could be heard ripping open packages, according to police.

Both men were arrested with a warrant and transferred to the county jail.
New Delhi:

Several activists and artistes on Wednesday recited poems, sang songs and performed plays to express their solidarity with people protesting against the amended citizenship law. They had gathered at the Constitution Club of India under the aegis of Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT).

Sohail Hashmi, brother of Safdar Hashmi, said on January 1, 1989 Safdar was fatally attacked during a theatre performance by a troupe in Sahibabad. Every year we mark this day, to underscore the democratic and inclusive secular values, with songs, poems, theatre and other artistic expressions, for which SAHMAT was founded in February 1989, he said.

What is happening in the country today, whether the Citizenship (Amendment) Law or CAA being foisted upon people or the situation in Kashmir with the abrogation of Article 370 before that or the situation of tribals, and people are not even allowed to protest. Our democratic values are under threat, Hashmi alleged.

He said the event seeks to lend creative support to people who are bravely opposing the CAA and other anti-constitutional decisions of the government. Theatre and film personality M K Raina, former bureaucrat Harsh Mander, economists Prabhat Patnaik and Jayati Ghosh, among others, attended the event. Many people also sported badges which said No CAA, No NPRKagaz Nahin Dikhaienge (will not show any papers).

Raina praised the youths who have turned out in large numbers to protest against the CAA from Guwahati to Delhi. The youths have shown the way and inspired us. Especially the Shaheen Bagh protests have been persistent and unrelenting, a civil disobedience. These protests have awakened a new political consciousness among the citizens, he told PTI.

He also spoke about the situation in Kashmir and alleged the internet shutdown in Kashmir is an act of suppression. But you cannot muzzle a persons mind. A body can be incarcerated, but not the spirit, he said. Broadband internet service was restored in government-run hospitals and SMS facility on all mobile phones from Tuesday midnight in Kashmir, after over four-and-a-half months of suspension.

Internet services, landline and mobile phones were snapped across Jammu and Kashmir on August 4, a day before the Centres announcement to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate it into Union territories.

Vedi Sinha, a 26-year-old Delhi University graduate, along with her twin sister Pakhi Sinha and another artiste Ujjwal Raj Sen of Aahwan group sang songs of dissent drawn from the works of legendary poet Faiz Ahamd Faiz like Hum Dekhenge.

This was our first performance with SAHMAT, but we have been performing for the cause at other places. We also took part in anti-CAA protests at Jantar Mantar. My performance is a storytelling, so I sing with an underlining story, always. We want to tell people that love and amity is the answer and people must refuse the divisive politics, Vedi Sinha said.

An exhibition depicting various protests, including the recent anti-CAA agitations, was put up at the venue. So quite a lot of those protests over these issues are reflected in the exhibitions here. We are putting across the voice of the artistes who stand united and subsequently defend the unity of this country, he said.

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At least 23 Afghan security forces were killed in a series of Taliban attacks across the country, officials said Wednesday, despite winter snowfall that usually leads to a lull in violence. The assaults targeted vulnerable checkpoints in at least three northern provinces. In Balkh, militants stormed a checkpoint early Wednesday and killed at least seven policemen, according to provincial police chief Ajmal Fayez. He said reinforcements had been dispatched to the post, which is located on the strategic highway connecting Balkh to neighbouring Jawezjan province. A Taliban spokesman claimed 11 policemen died in the attack, but Afzal Hadid -- a member of the provincial council -- put the death toll at nine, adding four others were missing. "We are not sure whether these four police helped the Taliban in the attack or have been captured by them," he said. Separate assaults by the Taliban killed at least nine members of Afghan security forces in northeastern Kunduz, and seven in neighbouring Takhar province, officials said. The provincial spokesman for Takhar said that at least 11 militants were killed as they attacked a security checkpoint in Darqad, close to the border with Tajikistan. Winter in Afghanistan usually leads to a lull in fighting, but the Taliban have kept up attacks on remote security posts
Following the example of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka where the miscreants are being asked to pay for damaging public property, the police in Gujarat has decided to follow suit. On Wednesday, Vadodara Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot stated that the people who damaged police vehicles during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act on December 20 in the Hathikhana area would have to pay compensation. Revealing that the police had ascertained the quantum of damage, he observed that a court would be formally approached in this regard.

Vadodara Police: It has been decided to recover damages from those responsible for it, in future, in order to avoid damage to public property. #Gujarat  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

Read: Tamil Orator Nellai Kannan Who Said 'Finish PM,Shah' During Anti-CAA SDPI Protest Arrested

The anti-CAA protests in Vadodara

During the anti-CAA protests in Vadodara, few protesters indulged in stone-pelting injuring one police personnel and damaged multiple police vehicles. In the process, the police lobbed teargas shells and fired two rounds in the air to control the mob. A total of 40 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, including the four main accused persons.

Read: Anti-CAA Stir Continues In Delhi On New Year Day; Swara Bhasker Attends Protest At Jamia

The precedent set by Surat police

The Supreme Courts 2018 order regarding recovery of compensation for the damage caused due to public and private properties during an incident of violence. The Vadodara Police Commissioner recalled that the Surat police had recovered compensation from the rioters taking recourse to this order. He added that this would be the first instance of the Vadodara police moving a court to seek compensation from the rioters.

Read: Javed Akhtar Negates Mohsin Razas Remark on Alleged PFI Role In Anti-CAA Violence In UP

What is the CAA?

The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities has been reduced to 5 years. The opposition contends that the Act discriminates on the basis of religion, which might go against Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality.

(With PTI inputs)

Read: ''PFI Brainwashed Muslims'', Says Mohsin Raza On PFI's Role In Anti-CAA Violence In UP
HAMILTON, CanadaOn the final day of 2019, theatergoers in Hamilton, Ontario, got ready to welcome a brand-new year with a classical Chinese dance performance by Shen Yun Performing Arts. It was a full house at Hamiltons FirstOntario Concert Hall on Dec. 31, 2019.

New York-based Shen Yun especially delighted and impressed Alessia Macaluso, who holds a Ph.D. in musicology from York University.

Shen Yuns music blew me away. It was something that was so true to the Chinese culture. And I love the way they blended the Western instruments with the Chinese instruments. I think the music on its own was dynamic, and then to have that coupled with the performance of the colors and the movements. It could not have gotten any better. The music was beautiful! Macaluso said.

It was fantastic. [Shen Yun] is something weve been wanting to see for a very long time. We finally got an opportunity. Welcoming the new year was a very special way of doing it and it was more than what we were expecting. Everything was very special, she added.

Shen Yuns seven touring companies travel the world with all-original compositions each year played by live orchestras. These orchestras combine Western orchestration with Chinese instruments and melodies, to produce a harmonious effect thats unlike any other.

Transported by Music at Shen Yun

I thought it was dynamic. It was so beautiful. What was happening on stage was stunning, but I was swept away by the music, Macaluso said. The music really transported to you to a whole other place. I was sitting here in Hamilton and yet I felt that I was swept thousands of years away to a place in China.

It was top quality music. You could tell the performers are at top of their game. Everyone performed so well, and it was dynamic, the composition and also the execution of the performers. And the conductor did a phenomenal job! I really cannot say enough about it.

I think anyone who loves live music and has an interest in other cultures, the music really is a way of transporting you and giving you the opportunity to experience that.

I liked the way that the Western instruments were combined with the Chinese instruments as well. It was a beautiful combination of sound, yet being very true to the Chinese culture, said Macaluso, who taught different cultures music, including Chinese music, to undergraduates during her time at York University.

Macaluso pointed out the erhu, or the two-stringed Chinese violin, and its ability to sound like the human voice.

There was one part where the dancers came on stage and they were pretending to yawn, and it sounded like they were actually yawning. It was the instrumentation that created this very human sound, that was wonderful, she said.

The evenings program included a solo performance by soprano Min Jiang who sang a piece titled Words of Encouragement.

[Jiang] was dynamic. Her register was really stunning and the clarity with which she sang was very beautiful, Macaluso said.

Authenticity at Shen Yun

But Macaluso didnt only notice Shen Yuns music and song. The groups mission is to revive Chinas 5,000 years of authentic Chinese culture, including the self-refinement that is one of Chinas rich traditions. Macaluso picked up on this, too.

You can feel the authenticity and a real sense of commitment to what they are doing. I watched them and I thought, you cant do that kind of dancing unless you truly have it in your heart and you are devoted and passionate. And when you are passionate about something, that comes through, just as when you are sincere, that shines through. So, yes, I could feel that too.

Everything just works so well together, fitted so well together. Every part of it from dance to costumes to the expression of music, and thats the magic. Thats the magic, everything coming together.  Alessia Macaluso

Everything just works so well together, fitted so well together. Every part of it from dance to costumes to the expression of music, and thats the magic. Thats the magic, everything coming together, she said.

I think [Shen Yun] really opened my eyes to culture and history, and how even though something may have happened many, many years ago, we can still keep it alive through the arts. Thats important to do, absolutely.

And I think the way its done at Shen Yun, its done in a very exciting way so perhaps people who dont know much about the history or maybe they are of the Chinese culture and they dont know as much, it might inspire them to learn even more of their roots, she said. And we are not of Chinese background, we love the culture, what it brought it to life for us.  And what a beautiful way of doing that through Shen Yun.

Something that stood out for me was the integrity. And not only a trait for ourselves individually but also being the integrity of culture and integrity of history, honoring those traditions as well, Macaluso said.

And so thats something that came through to me through the majority of the dances as well, whenever you saw conflicts, theres always, theres also a sense of redemption too. And again going back to integrity, who you are at your core.

With reporting by NTD Television, Xinxin Teng, and Brett Featherstone.

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.
Healthcare major Apollo Hospitals Enterprise is expecting medical tourism to be a promising component of its portfolio going forward, a top company official said.

To tap into the growing segment, Apollo Hospitals has established international patients division that extended care to around 2 lakh patients in the last fiscal year.

"At Apollo Hospitals, we have established a robust international patients division which has started seeing positive contribution to the group revenue," Apollo Hospitals Group Joint Managing Director Sangita Reddy told PTI.

Medical tourism is still nascent in India. It forms a small yet promising component of the Apollo Hospitals Enterprise portfolio, she added.

"Most of our international patients seek medical treatments for oncology, organ transplant, cardiac procedures, orthopaedics and neurosurgery," Reddy said.

On giving details, she said, at Apollo Hospitals majority of international patients hail from Pacific Islands, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Oman, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Myanmar and Nepal.

India is poised to become a preferred medical value travel destination and significantly contribute to the economy, she further said.

Niti Aayog has identified medical value travel as one of the major growth drivers and a major source of forex earning, she added.

"Cost effectiveness, focus on advanced medical technology and availability of skilled medical professionals are some of the reasons India is attracting international patients. Indian doctors are delivering care of an international standard at a fraction of the international cost," Reddy said.

As this dynamic industry evolves, India expects to attract medical travellers from diverse countries and demography, she added.

On the steps needed to boost the segment, Reddy said: "While the Indian government has eased visa norms, another crucial area that needs attention is financial transaction process for medical travellers. A streamlined, smooth and easy financial transaction process will offer convenience and enhanced experience to the medical travellers."



The visa on arrival will be a great boost to medical tourism in India, she added.

"An integrated marketing campaign on the lines of 'Incredible India' will help to communicate India's capabilities and advantages as the preferred medical travel destination, Reddy said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The early Earth may have hosted many carbonate-rich lakes, which contained high enough phosphorus concentrations to get life started on our planet, according to a study.

Phosphorus is one of the six main chemical elements of life, and forms the backbone of DNA and RNA molecules.

The element acts as the main currency for energy in all cells and anchors the lipids that separate cells from their surrounding

"For 50 years, what's called 'the phosphate problem,' has plagued studies on the origin of life," said Jonathan Toner, an assistant professor at the University of Washington (UW) in the US.

The problem is that chemical reactions that make the building blocks of living things need a lot of phosphorus, but the element is scarce.

The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found an answer to this problem in certain types of lakes.

The research focused on lakes rich in carbonate -- a salt of carbonic acid -- which form in dry environments within depressions that funnel water draining from the surrounding landscape.

Because of high evaporation rates, the lake waters concentrate into salty and alkaline, or high-pH, solutions.

Such lakes, also known as alkaline or soda lakes, are found on all seven continents, the researchers said.

They first looked at phosphorus measurements in existing carbonate-rich lakes, including Mono Lake in California, US, Lake Magadi in Kenya and Lonar Lake in India.

While the exact concentration depends on where the samples were taken and during what season, the researchers found that carbonate-rich lakes have up to 50,000 times phosphorus levels found in seawater, rivers and other types of lakes.

Such high concentrations point to the existence of some common, natural mechanism that accumulates phosphorus in these lakes, the researchers said.

Today these carbonate-rich lakes are biologically rich and support life ranging from microbes to Lake Magadi's famous flocks of flamingoes, they said.

The researchers carried lab experiments with bottles of carbonate-rich water at different chemical compositions to understand how the lakes accumulate phosphorus, and how high phosphorus concentrations could get in a lifeless

The noted that the reason these waters have high phosphorus is their carbonate content.

In most lakes, calcium, which is much more abundant on the Earth, binds to phosphorus to make solid calcium phosphate minerals, which life can't access, according to the researchers.

However, in carbonate-rich waters, the carbonate outcompetes phosphate to bind with calcium, leaving some of the phosphate unattached, they said.

Lab tests that combined ingredients at different concentrations show that calcium binds to carbonate and leaves the phosphate freely available in the water.

"It's a straightforward idea, which is its appeal. It solves the phosphate problem in an elegant and plausible way," Toner said.

The researchers explained that phosphate levels could climb even higher, to a million times levels in seawater, when lake waters evaporate during dry seasons, along shorelines, or in pools separated from the main body of the lake.

"The extremely high phosphate levels in these lakes and ponds would have driven reactions that put phosphorus into the molecular building blocks of RNA, proteins, and fats, all of which were needed to get life going," said David Catling, a professor at UW.

The carbon dioxide-rich air on the early Earth, some four billion years ago, would have been ideal for creating such lakes and allowing them to reach maximum levels of phosphorus, the researchers said.

Carbonate-rich lakes tend to form in atmospheres with high carbon dioxide, which dissolves in water to create acid conditions that efficiently release phosphorus from rocks, they said.

"The early Earth was a volcanically active place, so you would have had lots of fresh volcanic rock reacting with carbon dioxide and supplying carbonate and phosphorus to lakes," Toner said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Carl Golden

Politically, the year 2020 will be unlike any the nation has ever experienced, principally because it will be dominated by a president unlike any the nation has ever experienced.

President Trump will be a constant presence in every state, exerting victory or defeat influence and in all probability deciding control of the U. S. Congress.

Hes already at the center of a dramatic political upheaval in New Jersey -- the apparent decision by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the freshman 2nd Congressional District Democrat, to change his party affiliation to Republican after the states Democratic leadership banished him from its big tent for failing its litmus test -- a commitment to support Trumps impeachment.

Hes on the verge of another historic first -- a president seeking re-election after having been impeached by the House and acquitted in the Senate.

He stands astride the nations political process, a dominant and overwhelming figure revered or reviled with equal intensity by a deeply polarized nation.

In his three years in office, Trump has produced more controversy and drama than the body politic can safely digest. From promoting wacky conspiracy theories to heaping praise on himself and vilifying his critics, Trump has driven the daily news cycle.

His supporters cheer his every sally while his critics are aghast and enraged at his behavior. He campaigned on a promise to administer a long overdue and well-deserved kick in the shins to the establishment elites and the media and -- to the delight of his base -- hes delivered.

With four first-term New Jersey members in the House of Representatives, Trumps impact in the state will be especially significant and potentially decisive as Democrats seek to protect their lopsided 10-2 congressional delegation majority while Republicans strive to recover from the blowout losses of 2018.

With a profoundly unpopular Trump leading the ticket and a voter registration edge of nearly 1 million, Democrats are understandably optimistic. The party controls the governors office, holds both U. S. Senate seats and enjoys a cumulative 77-43 margin in the Legislature.

The state hasnt elected a Republican to the U. S. Senate since 1972 and a Republican presidential candidate last carried the state in 1988. New Jersey is a deeper hue of blue than the waters of the Atlantic Ocean washing its coast.

In the face of such partisan near-monopoly and Trumps dismal job approval standing, the challenge for the Republican Party is monumental, not merely for its Federal candidates but for mitigating the down ballot impact.

The party has pinned its hopes for a comeback on the 3rd Congressional District where Rep. Andy Kim was elected by just over 1% (a 4,000-vote plurality), and the 7th Congressional District where Rep. Tom Malinowski won by 5% (16,000 vote plurality).

In the Seventh, it is anticipated Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. will turn aside a primary challenge and mount a vigorous, well-financed campaign in a district where, he will argue, Malinowskis left-wing ideology isnt shared.

Kims thin victory margin and the fact hes a Democrat in a Republican-tilting district puts his seat in play.

First term Rep. Mikie Sherril is in a far more favorable position, having surged to victory by 14% -- a 50,000 vote plurality -- in the 11th Congressional District.

Van Drew won by a surprisingly close 6% (20,000 plurality) and was one of two House Democrats to oppose an impeachment inquiry. His continued assertions that he will vote against any impeachment resolutions led to state party chairman John Curries refusal to endorse his re-election and county chairs in the district declining to sign a statement of support. Gov. Phil Murphy, a host of legislators and various private interest groups with political agendas have all castigated Van Drew and pledged to use their resources to defeat him no matter which party he chooses.

The line of potential challengers -- Democrat and Republican -- resembles that of the line at the nickel slots.

The Second District is decidedly more conservative than those of the other first termers (Republican Frank LoBiondo represented it for 24 years before retiring) and Van Drews anti-impeachment stance reflects district sentiment.

It was a short-sighted decision by the Democratic establishment to expel Van Drew, who, should he seek re-election as a Republican, stands a better than even chance of fending off a primary challenge and winning in November.

It is, though, the shadow of Trump that looms over all like the midtown Manhattan tower that bears his name. To be sure, he will not carry New Jersey and the states Democratic leaders will use his unpopularity to drive a massive voter turnout effort to preserve their Congressional majority and make inroads locally.

Republican optimism may be a case of hope over reality.

Carl Golden is a senior contributing analyst with the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

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Third death confirmed on Wednesday bringing the number of victims killed to 12 during the months-long bushfires.

A third person was confirmed dead on Wednesday in devastating bushfires that engulfed Australias southeast coast this week and a fourth was missing and feared dead, as navy ships rushed to provide supplies and assist with evacuations.

Twelve people have now lost their lives in fire-related deaths across Australia since the blazes broke out a few months ago, including three volunteer firefighters, after a three-year drought in large parts of the nation created tinder-dry conditions.

Fanned by soaring temperatures, columns of fire and smoke blackened entire towns on Monday and Tuesday, forcing thousands of residents and holidaymakers to seek shelter on beaches. Many stood in shallow water to escape the flames.

Bushfires have destroyed more than four million hectares (10 million acres)  an area larger than Japan  and new blazes are sparked almost daily by extremely hot and windy conditions and, most recently, dry lightning strikes created by the fires themselves.





Cooler conditions on Wednesday gave the country a moment to count the cost of the fires, although there were still more than 100 blazes in New South Wales (NSW) state alone and thousands of firefighters on the ground.

The body of a man was found in a burned car early on Wednesday on the south coast of New South Wales after emergency workers began reaching the most damaged areas, and police said the death toll would rise.

Sadly, we can report today that police have confirmed a further three deaths as a result of the fires on the South Coast, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters in Sydney.

Large-scale livestock and animal casualties are also expected across Australias east coast, though Mogo Zoo  home to Australias largest collection of primates, along with zebras, white rhinos, lions, tigers and giraffes  was saved.

In Victoria state, four people remain missing, state Premier Daniel Andrews said, after an enormous blaze ripped through Gippsland  a rural region about 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of Melbourne.

About 4,000 people in the town of Mallacoota in Victoria headed to the waterfront after the main road was cut off.

Mark Tregellas, a resident of Mallacoota who spent the night on a boat ramp, said only a late shift in the wind direction spared lives.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorities were working to restore communications with areas cut off by the fires, and she warned conditions will deteriorate again over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Australias capital Canberra was blanketed in thick smoke, reaching about 20 times hazardous levels, prompting health warnings.
The National Green Tribunal strove to play an effective role in resolving environmental disputes in 2019 with cleaning of Ganga and Yamuna taking centre stage as the panel highlighted the urgency of the matter saying "every drop of pollution in Ganga is a matter of concern".

The tribunal not only flagged key environmental issues of the country but brought a new dynamic functioning style for sensitising government machinery to act fast and intensify its surveillance and vigilance mechanism.

The NGT dispensed the process of referring complaints and petitions filed before it for seeking para-wise comments and adjourning matters on many dates due to not receiving complete response of notices.

The tribunal launched online filing of complaints and petitions by submitting a fee of Rs 1,000 without engaging an advocate. It also entertained mails and letters received by it and admitted as these petitions.

The year gone by also saw imposition of heavy fines and environment compensations on public authorities for not discharging their "statutory" obligations and corporate houses for damaging the environment and ecology.

Playing a pivotal role in expeditious disposal of cases, the NGT constituted committees of central and state representatives with experts from IITs and other eminent institutions. In selected matters, it preferred appointment of retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts for taking stock of situation and establishing inter-departmental coordination in states.

In an unprecedented move, the NGT summoned chief secretaries of states and UTs seeking compliance status on key issues like solid and plastic waste, polluted river stretches, sand mining and air pollution in cities.

On preventing damages to rivers and other water bodies, it stipulated timelines to be adhered by the Centre and state governments to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and utilising treated sewage for non-potable uses to conserve fresh water and ground water resources.

To regulate use of RO purifiers, it directed the government to prohibit them where total dissolved solids in water are below 500 mg per litre and sensitise public about ill effects of demineralised water.

The NGT dealt with matters of air pollution in 122 cities where its level has been exceeding norms. It got action plans approved by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for such cities to be implemented by state agencies.

It directed setting up of mechanisms to inform public on severe' condition days of air pollution and issue advisories' for taking precautionary measures.

The panel made its presence felt when it appointed a committee headed by a former Delhi High Court judge to deal with nearly 52,000 industrial units which are operating illegally in Delhi's residential areas.

It directed the Railways to identify and develop at least 36 stations as "eco-smart stations" and asked it to maintain cleanliness on platforms and ensure liability of officers for non compliance.

Expressing dissatisfaction over cleaning of Yamuna, it directed Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments to submit a performance guarantee of Rs 10 crore each.

The NGT also slapped a Rs 100 crore fine on the Tamil Nadu government over inordinate delay in removal of encroachments along and prevention of pollution in Adyar and Cooum rivers in Chennai.

Acting tough on pollution caused by cars, it slapped a Rs 500 crore fine on German auto major Volkswagen for damaging the environment through "cheat device" in its diesel cars in India.

The NGT directed Uttarakhand and UP pollution control boards to publicise Ganga's water quality at strategic locations every month and indicate if it is fit for bathing and drinking. It asked Uttarakhand to ensure no illegal camping takes place on the banks of Ganga and its tributaries.

On rising forest fire incidents, it directed the environment and forests ministry to submit data related to such occurrences in the last five years and identification of hotspots.

The tribunal's presence was felt even in far off areas like Lakshadweep where it asked the administration to ensure supply of potable water to villages and implement the action plan suggested by the Central Ground Water Board in this regard.

It asked Punjab, Haryana and UP how they intend to tackle the problem of crop residue burning, a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi, and directed constitution of special cells in the office of chief secretary of Delhi and neighbouring states to monitor air pollution.

On solid waste management, it asked the Delhi government and civic bodies to deposit Rs 250 crore in an escrow account to facilitate waste removal from landfill sites.

Expressing dissatisfaction over action taken by the Delhi government against unauthorised industrial activities, the NGT asked it to deposit Rs 25 crore with the CPCB for failure to curb pollution.

Recently, a 16-year-old boy approached the NGT to stop e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart from excessive plastic use in packaging, prompting it to direct the CPCB to submit a report.

It also ordered formulation of environmental management plans for ecologically sensitive areas like Kullu-Manali, Mc Leodganj, Mahabaleshwar, Vaishno Devi and Rohtang Pass.The NGT dealt with rejuvenation of 351 polluted river stretches.

Restitution of environment in Sonebhadra and Singrauli areas which were affected by thermal power plants and mining, and of degraded areas in Meghalaya affected by rat hole mining were issues the NGT dealt with in 2019.
Ha Thai lacquer village in Duyen Thai commune in Hanois outlying Thuong Tin district has more than 200 years of experience in making lacquer products. Until the early 20th century the village was called Cu Trang or Dong Thai.

A Ha Thai craftsman demonstrates how to make lacquer items

The Ha Thai lacquer craft has been around since the 17th century and was simply painting job at that time.

Although Ha Thai was not the first village to do lacquer painting, Cu Trangs red lacquer trimmed with gold was prized because of the skill of the craftsmen. They were often selected to make household items for the royal family at that time.

Since Ha Thai was officially recognized as a traditional Vietnamese craft village in 2001, it has been a bigger part of local socio-economic development.

Le Van Hung, Chairman of the Duyen Thai Commune Peoples Committee, said, To the legacy left by the ancestors, Ha Thai peoples diligence, hard-work, and creativity have given a new development boost. Currently the village has more than 1,000 households engaged in the craft, one emeritus artisan, and 12 individuals recognized as artisans. The Ha Thai Peoples Committee plans to continue developing the village in combination with tourism development in a sustainable direction.

Ha Thai lacquer products

Nowadays, in addition to wood, bamboo, and rattan, Ha Thai craftsmen use new materials such as composites and ceramics to make their products.

Lacquer techniques have been applied to paintings, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences, as well as bowls, plates, flower vases, trays, tables, chairs, beds, and cabinets.

Artisan Nguyen Thi Hoi, a member of the villages craft association, said, Ha Thai lacquerware is varied. Decorative items include vases, boxes, sculpture, picture frames, mirror frames, flower pots, furniture, lamps, and wall panels. Some shops specialize in production for exports. Others focus on the domestic market. The Ha Thai Lacquer Association has a showroom to display and promote the villages products. Workers from other places come to the village to learn lacquer techniques. Our craft association has been around for a decade and now has 32 members.

Every year, Ha Thai produces millions of lacquer items inspired by the Vietnamese ladscape and culture and made of simple materials. Their variety of colors make them stand out from the lacquer products of other regions.

Many of the villages products have won prizes at handicraft competitions.

Nguyen Dinh Dien, a member of the villages craft association, said, We used to make vases, trays, and worship objects for export just to the Soviet Union, Poland, and Germany. Now we also export to the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and France. There are 10 major businesses in Duyen Thai commune.

Ha Thai lacquer village is part of Hanois master plan to promote craft villages to domestic and foreign tourists. The Vietnam Association of Craft Villages has selected Ha Thai as one of 100 outstanding craft villages in Vietnam. VOV5
CALGARYAs he sat, slightly hunched over, having just finished a meal at Calgarys iconic Blackfoot Truckstop Diner, Darcy Reed seemed resigned to what lies ahead.

For him  and for Alberta.

Reed believes the federal government is about to impose a tax that could be his undoing.

A trucker for 38 years, Reed says he uses about 1,000 litres of fuel a day, driving oversized loads all around the province. The money left over after his costs become his wages, he said.

Reeds done the math, and contends the looming federal carbon tax  which took effect in the prairie province Jan. 1  and its resulting increase at the gas pumps could leave him with no wages at all.

If thats the case, he says hell have few options other than to sell everything and get a job.

Reed is one of many who oppose the carbon tax in Alberta and who celebrated when the United Conservative provincial government repealed the previous NDPs version. The federal tax has been cast as a cash grab in a province thats already struggling economically.

Alberta will join the list of provinces subject to the federal carbon tax as a result of no longer having one of its own making. In doing so, it makes carbon taxation a coast to coast to coast reality in Canada, touching every province and territory.

Albertans will be hit with a carbon tax rate of $20 per tonne, which translates into just over four cents per litre at the pump. In April that goes up to $30 per tonne, or seven cents per litre.

Canadas carbon tax effort has made for political warfare, pitting Conservative provincial governments against the federal Liberals plans. The fight isnt over. Alberta, like Ontario, has a pending court action against the federal tax.

But that prospect wasnt offering much comfort to Reed on Tuesday.

No, he said without a pause. Its not going to be quick enough. I cant work for free.

It was like: Bonus

In Barrie, Ont., single mother Lauren Griffith has a much different take on the carbon tax.

Ontario had a cap-and-trade system under premier Kathleen Wynne, which was repealed in 2018 by Doug Fords Conservatives. Since April, the province has been under the federal carbon tax, alongside Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, all of which did not have their own provincial carbon tax program.

Fords government has continued its anti-carbon-tax sticker campaign at gas pumps, and is taking its fight against the levy to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Despite having a low income, Griffith said she hasnt noticed a significant increase in her cost of living under either of the carbon taxes. What she has noticed are the rebates.

When I got that rebate back, it was like, Bonus, she said. I need that right now  I can go get food.

On Twitter, Griffith chimed into a recent carbon tax debate: Was using a foodbank far before the carbon tax came in to effect, but I'll tell you what's put food on the table once or twice ... the rebate.

She said she sees the carbon tax as an awareness campaign, the first step in what she hopes will be more measures to mitigate climate change.

Griffith said she hopes people will take the time to research the carbon tax and find out where the money is actually going  and to look at the rest of the country, especially provinces such as British Columbia, where carbon pricing is nothing new.

Are their houses collapsing? Is anybody else totally devastated? she said.

Its not a big deal.

The myths and the math

Alberta will be the last Canadian province or territory to have carbon pricing  but not without putting up a fight.

As Reed ate his meal, Alberta Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer was in the parking lot of the diner talking to members of the media about the federal carbon tax. He said a majority of Albertans voted against the carbon tax by selecting the United Conservatives in this past springs provincial election. In June, the province repealed the carbon tax that had been put in place by the previous NDP government.

This paved the way for the federal backstop, which affects any province without its own carbon pricing plan. In between the end of the provincial tax and the beginning of the federal tax, Alberta has taken its fight against the federal carbon taxation to the Alberta Court of Appeal.

On Tuesday, just over twelve hours before the arrival of the federal tax, Schweitzer warned consumers to gas up before pump prices rose.

"We want to make sure as well that Albertans know that even though our taxes are going up, that we're going to do everything in our power to make sure that we fight back against this federal overreach and make sure Albertans know that we have their backs."

Alberta is the last province to have a federal or provincial carbon pricing program.

It was also kind of the first.

Economist Glen Hodgson was part of the Ecofiscal Commission, an independent think tank which put out a report in March 2019 debunking 10 myths about carbon pricing. The first such myth, according to the report, is the idea that putting a price on pollution is a new idea.

Though Alberta didnt have a consumer tax until the NDP introduced one in 2017, it first put a price on carbon in 2007 by making heavy emitters that couldnt reduce emissions by 12 per cent pay $15/tonne.

That was several months before Quebecs carbon tax came into effect, and a year before B.C. introduced its own.

Hodgson said B.C. is a great case study for Albertans to look at and to perhaps ease their economic worries, since the westernmost province has had carbon taxes at the pump for more than a decade now.

They have a tax on fuel use, and their economys been growing very strongly, he said. So its clear that theres no relationship between carbon pricing and economic growth.

Estimates vary, but University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said research shows B.C. emissions are five to 15 per cent lower than they would have been without the provinces carbon tax.

Now, all the provinces and territories are under some kind of carbon pricing program, whether its the federal tax or a provincial one.

For example, Nova Scotia has a cap-and-trade program that began on Jan. 1, 2019; Prince Edward Island has a mix of provincial and federal carbon pricing; and all three territories are under the federal program, with a few tweaks in Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

On Jan. 1, 2017, the Alberta NDP government under Rachel Notley enacted its carbon tax, beginning at $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide emissions and rising to $30/tonne in 2018. Revenue from the tax was used to fund infrastructure and climate-related projects, as well as being paid back to some Alberta households in the form of a rebate.

The tax became a central focus of Jason Kenneys election campaign, where he vowed to repeal it.

And repeal it he did, though of course that meant the federal carbon tax would kick in instead.

At the Alberta Court of Appeal in mid-December, a lawyer for the Alberta government argued that the federal carbon tax is a constitutional problem, one that invades what should be a provincial responsibility.

Alberta has also said it will join Ontario and Saskatchewan in an appeal to the countrys top court, after both took similar cases to their respective provincial courts of appeal.

Tombe said the fight thats now playing out isnt really about the tax. In his view, its pure politics.

He pointed to the UCP governments own analysis on the economic effect of the federal carbon tax, which estimated it would shave around .055 per cent off of GDP growth rates in the next decade.

Thats a reasonable estimate, said Tombe. But  thats almost undetectably small.

As for the direct consumer impact, a March report by Tombe and University of Calgary environmental policy research Jennifer Winter showed that under the federal program, about eight in 10 Albertans will get rebates back that exceed the cost of the carbon tax, about double the number under Albertas previous rebate system. Since the rebates are universal, lower-income families will benefit more, spending less and making less but getting the same rebate as a higher-income household.

The federal government says the average Alberta household will receive about $880 under the rebate program, or around $170 more than it is expected to pay.

The day before the federal tax begins, Albertas justice minister would not say whether he believes this to be true.

"I don't buy that at all. Look at Albertans right now. Alberta is struggling. We need jobs in this province," he said.

Asked multiple times whether he was arguing that most Albertans would not benefit financially from the carbon tax, Schweitzer side-stepped the question, instead focusing on the argument that its not the federal governments jurisdiction to impose the tax.

He also cited Albertas own efforts to reduce emissions as proof that the province does not need the federal program. The example at hand is the Alberta Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) plan, which also comes into effect Jan. 1. TIER replaces the NDPs Carbon Competitiveness Incentive Regulation (CCIR) as a way to encourage large emitters to reduce their emissions.

Hodgson said he doesnt buy the idea that the federal carbon tax, beginning at 4.4 cents per gallon, will affect consumers wallets the way some fear it will. He pointed out that gas prices can fluctuate daily by more than that, and said, They're getting basically all the money back through the income tax system.

By 2022, the price per tonne will be $50, Hodgson acknowledged. But the revenues will still be recycled back to consumers, he said.

The reason that systems been chosen is because  they want the price signal to happen, but not to have an impact on peoples income, he said. And therefore, if you dont consume gasoline, you actually come out ahead.

Tombe agreed, adding that compared to the provincial tax which ended earlier in 2019, the federal one will be almost identical to consumers in terms of cost; the difference will be in how much they get back in the form of rebates.

He added that households in rural areas will get 10 per cent more back, in recognition of their higher average fuel use.

At the individual level, it has nothing to do with your fuel use, he said. And thats a big misconception here.  Its not a refund.

In other words, the less gas you use, the better, explained Tombe  it wont change your rebate.

Farmers feel unfairly pinched

Outside Ontario, the strongest fight against carbon tax has been in all the Prairie provinces, and not just Alberta. Its a movement thats been led, in part, by farmers who say the tax unfairly punishes them.

Like Reed at the diner, Gunter Jochum seems resigned to the carbon tax.

Honestly, the government is not going to move immediately to scrap the carbon tax. I think it's here to stay, he said Tuesday.

But as president of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, Jochum says he wants to see the tax program change in a way that shifts the burden from farmers.

On Nov. 20, the association launched its NoFarmCarbonTax petition, asking the federal government to eliminate the carbon tax on farm-related gas use.

Similarly, at its annual general meeting in December, the Agricultural Association of Saskatchewan unanimously approved a motion to call upon the federal government to create a rebate specific to propane and natural gas used to dry grain.

The federal program does have certain exemptions for agriculture, but Jochum said those arent enough, and dont apply to peripheral off-the-farm costs such as transportation.

Jochum said hed prefer provincial carbon taxes, if the provinces could enact plans with more specific concessions for the agriculture industry.

But in the long run, really, both provinces and the federal government are to blame right now, he said. Theyre the only ones that can really make this go away  and were going to fight hard in 2020.

With files from the Canadian Press, Nadine Yousif and Claire Theobald

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Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

Severe flooding hit Indonesias capital as residents were celebrating the new year, killing at least nine people, displacing thousands and forcing the closure of a domestic airport.

Tens of thousands of revellers were soaked by torrential rain in Jakarta as they waited for New Years Eve fireworks.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said monsoon rain and rising rivers had submerged at least 90 neighbourhoods and triggered a landslide in Depok, a city on the outskirts of Jakarta.

Mr Wibowo said the dead included a 16-year-old high school student who was electrocuted.

Expand Close Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta (Achmad Ibrahim/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Rescuers evacuate residents in Jatibening on the outskirts of Jakarta (Achmad Ibrahim/AP)

More than 19,000 people were in temporary shelters after floodwater reached up to 10ft (3m) in several places.

Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters after conducting an aerial survey over the flooded city that as much as 370 millimetres (14.5in) of rainfall  more than three times the average amount  was recorded in Jakarta and West Javas hilly areas during New Years Eve, resulting in the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers overflowing.

He said about 120,000 rescuers had been deployed to evacuate those affected and install mobile water pumps as more downpours were forecast in coming days.

Authorities warned flooding was possible until April, when the rainy season ends.

He vowed his city administration would complete projects on the two rivers, including a dam and a sluice, to prevent flooding.

Television footage and photos released by the agency showed dozens of cars floating in muddy water, while soldiers and rescuers in rubber boats were struggling to evacuate children and the elderly who were stranded on the roofs of their squalid houses.

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The floods inundated thousands of homes and buildings in poor and wealthy districts alike, forcing authorities to cut off electricity and water supplies and paralysing transport networks, Mr Wibowo said.

Director-general of civil aviation Polana Pramesti said the flooding also submerged the runway at Jakartas Halim Perdanakusumah domestic airport, which had to be closed, stranding some 19,000 passengers.

Flooding also highlighted Indonesias infrastructure problems as it tries to attract foreign investment.

Jakarta is home to 10 million people, or 30 million including those in its greater metropolitan area.

It is prone to earthquakes and flooding and is rapidly sinking due to uncontrolled extraction of ground water. Congestion is also estimated to cost the economy 6.5 billion US dollars (4.9 billion) a year.

President Joko Widodo announced in August that the capital will move to a site in sparsely populated East Kalimantan province on Borneo island, known for rainforests and orangutans.
'No recent Union Budget has held so much significance for the Indian economy as the one to be presented in about six weeks from now,' notes A K Bhattacharya.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Photograph: PTI Photo

The importance and even relevance of annual Budgets of the Union government have seen a gradual decline over the last many years.

There was a time when the Union Budget would be keenly awaited by industry to know which products or services have got a duty relief or attracted a fresh impost.

Company managements and individuals would keep their attention focused on the finance minister's speech to understand what direct tax benefits they would get or lose from next year.

But with the roll-out of the goods and services tax and the introduction of relatively stable rates of income tax for individuals and corporation tax for companies, the Union budgets have begun losing their earlier appeal or even glamour.

It's true that even now they do create some excitement over the many government schemes announced by the finance minister and they also get talked about, but the intensity is not the same and nor are the expectations so high.

Budget 2020, however, will be different.

In spite of the stable direct tax rates and the GST regime in place, the Union Budget to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 will be a keenly awaited document.

In fact, no other recent Union Budget has held so much significance for the Indian economy as the one to be presented in about six weeks from now.

The reasons for this are not a secret.

The Indian economy has been facing a steady deceleration in the growth rate of its gross domestic product for the last six consecutive quarters.

The few steps that have been taken are yet to make a positive impact on the pace of growth.

India's financial sector is not yet out of the woods.

Even before the twin balance sheet problems of the Indian economy could be tackled through recapitalisation of public-sector banks and resolution of stressed loans borrowed by several Indian companies, new problems have hit the non-banking finance companies.

The collapse of an urban cooperative bank added to the woes of the financial sector.

In spite of the Reserve Bank of India reducing the repo rate by 135 basis points since February 2019, there has been neither a credit pick-up nor an improvement in the manufacturing sector's capacity utilisation.

Unemployment has hit a 45-year high level of over 6%.

Weak demand conditions continue to pose a big challenge for those who are entrusted with the responsibility of managing and reviving the Indian economy.

Not surprisingly, then, such a gloomy economic situation has brought the forthcoming Budget into sharp focus.

Two other factors are responsible for the renewed interest in the Budget for 2020-2021.

One, the revenue projections for 2019-2020 are turning out to be too rosy to be achieved by the end of the year.

Current revenue trends (tax revenue growth in the first eight months of the year is estimated at only 1.5% compared to the target of 18%) suggest that the government's target of fiscal deficit at 3.3% of GDP may have to be breached.

Court-mandated additional telecom fees and the one-time transfer of surplus from the RBI may bring down the revenue shortfall by Rs 1.3 trillion, but that would still leave a gap to be filled.

A fiscal deficit of 3.8% for 2019-2020 is a more likely scenario.

Two, the Budget for 2020-2021 will have to incorporate the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, which has submitted its report for just one year.

The commission has been given one more year to submit its full report for the remaining four years.

But the key question that will be answered on February 1 is whether the divisible pool for distribution of tax revenues among the states will be reduced by an amount equivalent to the Centre's capital expenditure on defence and internal security.

This could provide a cushion to the Centre's resources and also mean a reduction in the total tax revenues to be shared with the states next year.

For the states, already struggling because of lower growth in GST collections, the reduced transfer of taxes could mean a double whammy and their overall fiscal deficit could widen further.

A bigger question would be whether Budget 2020 would agree to a substantial fiscal stimulus to the economy by allocating more expenditure on infrastructure as well as reducing taxes.

Given the shortfall in collections of GST, there is very little scope for any further cut in the tax rates by the GST Council.

On the contrary, there is need for some rationalisation in the GST rates to make amends for the many ill-advised reductions in rates on finished products, compared to those on raw materials, which have resulted in a sharp rise in tax refunds and adversely affected tax collections.

Corporation tax rates have already been cut.

Going by the RBI's latest survey of 1,500 companies, the rate of investment by them in creating fresh capacity or capital assets has seen a welcome rise.

A lot of hope, therefore, rests on individual income-tax rates, whose reduction should leave a little more money in the hands of consumers and investors.

That should help revive demand in the economy.

The finance minister has already before her the report of the direct taxes committee, which among other things has recommended lowering of tax rates on individuals along with rationalisation of the exemptions regime.

Whether those recommendations are implemented, modified or rejected will be known from Budget 2020.

That leaves the big question on expenditure.

There is no denying that the Indian economy could do with a big push on expenditure in several infrastructure areas.

The Budget needs to find resources to meet the infrastructure investment gap that has been widening for the last several years.

Finding additional resources would imply not just a pause, but a further deviation from the fiscal consolidation path, mandated under the law.

If the government can ensure efficient use of additional resources for infrastructure building, a deviation from the fiscal consolidation path can be justified.

Also, a widening of the deficit to pump-prime the economy can be justified when quarterly economic growth has almost halved over a period of 18 months.

Budget 2020, thus, may be remembered and judged by what it does on the expenditure front.

Don't underestimate the significance of T V Somanathan's appointment as the new expenditure secretary in the finance ministry.

For two years, between 2015 and 2017, he was in the prime minister's office looking after the implementation of economic policies.

In the following two years, he oversaw Tamil Nadu's finance and commercial taxes department.

What he now does for the Centre's expenditure plan will be keenly watched.

A K Bhattacharya is a senior columnist at Business Standard.

He is the author of The Rise Of Goliath: Twelve Disruptions That Changed India, a fascinating excerpt from which you can read here.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Titan Company on Wednesday said that Crisil Ratings has upgraded the ratings on its long term facilities to 'stable' from 'positive'.

The long term bank loan facilities of the company received 'CRISIL AAA/Stable' rating. The previous rating was at 'Crisil AA+/Positive'.

The luxury goods company has a total bank loan facilities of Rs 2,850 crore and commercial paper of Rs 500 crore.

Crisil also reaffirmed the rating on the company's short term bank facility and commercial paper programme at 'CRISIL A1+'.

The upgrade reflects Crisil's belief that business profile of the company will continue to improve over the medium term on account of dominant market position in jewellery retail segment, aided by healthy store additions and strong financial profile, the rating agency said.

In addition, the watch segment is expected to witness healthy growth while sustaining the improvement in profitability.

"Titan being the market leader in jewellery segment through its 'Tanishq' branded stores, is expected to continue its better than industry growth. Titan has outpaced revenue growth of other large jewellery retail players rated by CRISIL. Between fiscals 2016 and 2019, revenues grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21 per cent," Crisil said.

Strong brand image and trust coupled with ability to provide wide range of designs and robust business model aided Titan's growth, it added.

It further said that though growth moderated to 9 per cent in the first half of fiscal 2020 as industry got adversely impacted by sudden surge in gold prices in mid-June 2019 and cautious bank lending to the sector. Demand is expected to be better in the second half of fiscal 2020 on account of festival, wedding sales and consumers adjusting to the new normal of higher gold prices.

The company is expected to maintain operating margins at 10-12 per cent on the back of industry leading gross margins and good mix of studded products of around 30 per cent of total sales, it said.

Stocks of the company, however, declined on Tuesday and around 1.47 p.m., they were trading at Rs 1,162.45, lower by Rs 25.15 or 2.12 per cent from its previous close.
The leader of repentant bandits in Zamfara State, Muhammadu Bello, has narrated how he agreed to meet the state commissioner of police, Usman Nagogo, inside the dreaded Shinkafi forest, for a peace meeting.

Bello said he met the police commissioner alongside a motorbike riding gang.

The ex-bandit said this while speaking at a peace meeting with stakeholders at the palace of Emir of Shinkafi, Alhaji Muhammadu Makwashe Isah, to consolidate on the achievement recorded since the start of peace dialogue in the state.

Read Also: Bandits Take Over Parts Of Ekiti Community; Hoist Flag

He said, When they came to pass a message of peace and tranquillity to me, my armed boys on about 80 motorbikes advised me not fall to their trick because there was a mistrust between the armed bandits and security operatives at that time.

I then, told the armed boys I still would go and if it was a trick, then Im ready to fall to it because we were tired of the situation. We wanted the carnage to stop and since a road map to peace was being developed, lets participate to bring back the much-needed peace to the state, he said.

They were not armed and they agreed to meet armed men inside the forest; that means they were very serious and we had a fruitful discussion at that time. That was what led the foundation for the return of peace in the state.

Peace has come to stay in Zamfara despite the fact that there are some deviants among us. They will not triumph on the ones with good intention and Im calling on the farmers and herders to sheathe their swords as the dark days of bloodbath will not return, he added.
White nationalist and ex-Senate candidate Augustus Sol Invictus has been arrested on an out-of-county warrant on charges of kidnapping, high and aggravated domestic violence and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Invictus, who campaigned as a libertarian in a 2016 U.S. Senate run in Florida and headlined the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., was arrested Monday in Brevard County on a warrant out of the Rock Hill Police Department in South Carolina. The police report describes him as an out of state fugitive.

Augustus Invictus speaks during a Libertarian Party meeting at John Martins Irish Pub and Restaurant in Coral Gables in August 2016.

The arrest was first reported by Twitter user @alexandria_jaye.

According to the arrest report, Invictus, 36, was arrested at a mall in Melbourne, Fla. His local address is listed as Ocala.

Online court records show Invictus scheduled court date is Jan. 15. He is being held without bond.

During his 2016 Senate campaign, Invictus drew attention for his claim that he killed a goat and drank its blood in a pagan ritual. He acknowledged that he is friends with white supremacists, and, though he denied his affiliation then, was praised and credited by white nationalist leader Richard Spencer as writing the first draft of the Charlottesville statement.

Among the core tenets: Jews are an ethno-religious people distinct from Europeans, Whites alone defined America as a European society and political order, the so-called refugee crisis is an invasion, a war without bullets, taking place on the fields of race, religion, sex and morality. At stake is Europes very identity, we oppose feminism, deviancy, the futile denial of biological reality, and everything destructive to healthy relations between men and women, and Leftism is an ideology of death and must be confronted and defeated.

Invictus, an Orlando-area attorney, runs The Revolutionary Conservative, a website that calls for a violent uprising and is marketed as an alternative to conservative media that play the victim.

This post has been corrected with the correct name of Invictus website and the Twitter handle that broke the news of Invictus arrest.
As the world rang in the new year on Tuesday, Mumbai Police caught 778 people for drinking and driving, they warned that strict action will be taken against the persons.

The Mumbai Traffic Police fined at least 578 bikes for drunken driving offences while 200 cars were also fined. In order to bring down the incidents of drunken driving and to curb the number of accidents which occur as a result, Mumbai Police had put several checks and blockades across the city.

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Whereas, Nagpur reported 1092 cases of drink and drive and careless driving. The Nagpur police had set up checks across 50 places in the city and 592 persons were fined for drunken driving. Almost 500 vehicles were fined for violating traffic rules. The police appealed to the RTO to cancel the licences of people fined for drunken driving.

In Kolkata, as many as 188 incidents of drunk driving, 36 incidents of rash driving was reported by the city police in a report.

Bengaluru Traffic police too conducted special checks from 8 pm on December 31 to nab drunk drivers as revellers began their new year celebrations. Several roads were closed for the smooth flow of traffic. According to a police report, the city has seen a total of 37,654 cases of drunken driving up to November this year.

Even in Delhi, the city traffic police had issued an advisory urging people to not drink and drive and had also imposed vehicular curbs in some areas with high footfall to control the traffic. A similar advisory was issued in Gurugram, Haryana.
Ive got a lot of questions. Big ones. Really big ones, in fact.

Questions about God and questions about life; questions about meaning.

There are so many things I dont know and I can often get so frustrated that I dont have the answers. There are so many things I dont understand or cant comprehend and I can feel so trapped in my restricted human form.

How did we get here?

Why are we here?

Is God real?

and the list goes on.

Sometimes in faith-filled communities, these big questions get pushed aside and swept under the rug in the name of faith or believing without seeing.

Sometimes, this is an innocent mistake that comes from anything from a lack of time, to a lack of understanding the question. But sometimes the people who hunger for a deeper revelation of God and His nature get fed with Styrofoam peanuts rather than the fulfilling meal of truth and wisdom.

Are we scared of the big questions?

If so, why?

Are we scared to admit that we dont have all the answers? Are we scared to even ask them in case we dont like the responses?

Once a friend (who isnt religious) said to me, Religion is just a construct that humans created to comfort themselves in their fear of being meaningless. People have to believe in something because they dont want to admit that their lives dont really matter.

This is such a sad thought to me; however, Im not surprised that they thought this way.

Redeem the reputation

Weve all seen plenty of Christian examples say theyre standing by what they believe in when ignorantly refusing to listen or even acknowledge anyone elses opinions. Weve all seen Christians spreading bitterness and anger and twisting the Bible into a licence to hate.

Weve seen Christians lie, steal, cheat, kill and anything else that is the opposite of what Jesus taught and yet still carry the banner of love.

With this sort of thing being highlighted more and more, its no surprise that religion, especially Christianity, has lost so much credibility.

The media doesnt help this of course; most self-sacrificial, loving and good acts by Christians go unpublished due to the current predisposition of Christianity in our society. However, there are many Christians who have fairly earnt a reputation of merciless and unkind and that is something we all need to work to reconcile and redeem.

Lets ask anyway

To my friends question, my response was, I see why you could think that. However, I think atheism is just a construct that humans created to comfort themselves in their fear of being meaningful. People cant believe in a God, because then they would have to admit that they dont know everything; they would have to accept that their lives are not just their own.

Its safe to say that this conversation got us both thinking and asking our inner selves questions of our own.

Are we scared of the big questions? If so, thats ok. Its ok to be scared. Its ok to be unsure.

We, ourselves, are finite beings. We will always need to return to faith to fill the gaps, because really (warning: philosophical questions approaching), who can be totally sure of anything? What is being sure of something? Do we need to be sure of things? If so, how sure?

So, were scared and unsure. We dont know everything, and we dont have all the answers.

But lets ask the big, scary questions anyway.

Lets feel silly and call out into the universe. Lets talk aloud to an ever-present Creator in hopes that Hes close and that He can hear.

Lets be archaeologists; lets excavate and analyse this intelligent world looking for directions. Lets be pirates and dig for treasure, knowing there are secrets to be found all around us.

Lets go after a deeper understanding of the One who made this incredible place that we call home. Let us never let go of the desire to pursue and truly know and connect with our maker.

What questions are you asking this week?

Laura Miles is an excitable and fast-paced Brit, living in Australia. Loves: tea, maximalist fashion and people. Hates: details, brushing her hair and being put into a box. After committing to studying, she is expectant and excited to see all the crazy things that the Lord is going to do in her life.
Jakarta: Indonesia has rejected China's claims over a disputed part of the South China Sea as "having no legal basis" in a growing diplomatic spat.

On Monday, Jakarta had protested to Beijing over the presence of a Chinese coastguard vessel in its territorial waters.

Chinese fishing boats sail near Meiji reef off the island province of Hainan in 2012 in a part of the South China Sea that is also claimed by Vietnam. China has territorial disputes in the South China Sea with several nations. Credit:AP

The boat trespassed into Indonesia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of the northern islands of Natuna, leading Indonesians officials to issue a "strong protest" and summon the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta.

Speaking in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said China had sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and their waters, and that both China and Indonesia have "normal" fishing activities there.
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Adani Ports, one of India's largest private port operators, is all set to acquire a majority stake in Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh, sources in direct knowledge of the matter told CNBC-Awaaz.

Sources added that the transaction could value the company at an enterprise value of over Rs 10,000 crore and may be announced in a month's time.

Adani Ports' board of directors is likely to meet shortly to finalise deal structure and give necessary approvals.

Krishnapatnam and Adani Port are yet to comment on the story.

Adani Ports has been a strong player on the western coast of India, operating the Mundra, Dahej, Hazira and Tuna ports and terminals in Gujarat, and the Marmugao terminal in Goa.

The Krishnapatnam acquisition could bolster its presence on the country's eastern coast, where it operates Ennore and Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu), Vizag (Andhra Pradesh), and Dhamra (Odisha) ports and terminals.

Krishnapatnam Port is located under 200 kms from one of the biggest east coast ports of Chennai.

Adani Ports currently operates at a capacity of 395 MMT and aims to touch 500 MMT by the year 2025.
Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, attends a welcoming ceremony for joint chiefs of staff Chairman Mark Milley at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia.

The United States is immediately deploying about 750 soldiers to the Middle East in response to the violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday.

Esper said in a statement he had authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper said in a statement.

Apart from the immediate deployment, additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days, he said.

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 750 troops would initially be based out of Kuwait. The officials said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for planning an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and promised to hold Tehran "fully responsible."

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," the president wrote on Twitter. "Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."

"In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!" he added.

Iran denied it was behind the violent protests and warned against any retaliation. "American officials have the astounding audacity of attributing to Iran the protests of the Iraqi people against (Washington's) savage killing of at least 25 Iraqis ...," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement carried on a ministry website.

Trump's tweets came after dozens of angry Iraqi Shiite militia supporters stormed the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad and set fire to a reception area on the grounds earlier in the day.

The Iraqi supporters, many dressed in military apparel, pushed into the compound using cars to break through its gate. The protesters hung a poster on the wall saying, "America is an aggressor."

CNBC contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  On the first day of the year, Pope Francis stressed the importance of respecting women, claiming that society's level of humanity can be measured on how it treats them.

"Every violence inflicted on women is a desecration of God who was born of a woman," Pope Francis said in his homily as he led the Mass marking the World Day of Peace in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City.

"From the way we treat a woman's body, we understand our level of humanity," he added.

The Pope noted that women are sources of life, yet they are "continually offended, hurt, raped, forced to prostitute themselves and to suppress the life they carry."

He also expressed disappointment on how often a woman's body is sacrificed "on the profane altar" of advertising, profit-making activities, pornography and other means of exploitation.

He added that women must be fully associated with decision-making, as they are "givers and mediators of peace."

"The world finds itself more united and more peaceful. Therefore, an achievement for women is an achievement for all of humanity," the pope added.

Pope sorry for slapping devotee's hand

Francis also said he was sorry for slapping a female devotee's hand on New Year's Eve.

"It happens to me too. I apologize for the bad example given yesterday," referring to the incident with a woman who had grabbed his hand while he was making his way to the Nativity scene in Saint Peter's Square.

He had slapped the woman's hand in an attempt to free himself from her grip.

READ: Pope Francis smacks woman's hand to free himself from her grip

In the past, the head of the Catholic church has repeatedly called on the public to uphold the dignity and rights of women across the globe.

In February last year, he acknowledged the issue of some clergy allegedly abusing women, including nuns, and expressed commitment to ending the problem in the Roman Catholic Church.
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The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, has invited applications in a prescribed format from eligible Indian nationals for filling 34 Service Personnel posts in multiple capacities comprising Junior Engineers (Civil/Mechanical/ Automobile), Stenographers, Assistants, Field Assistants, Laboratory Assistants, Tractor Driver, Pharmacist, Care Taker, Electric Wireman and Assistant Cook-cum-Caretaker through direct recruitment. The application process towards the same started on December 30, 2019 and closes January 28, 2020.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Service Personnel Organisation University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) Educational Qualification Class 7; Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent; Bachelor's Degree; Diploma in relevant engineering discipline Experience Desirable Job Location Bangalore/Bengaluru Salary Scale Rs. 18,600 to Rs. 70,850 per month as per the designation Industry Education Application Start Date December 30, 2019 Application End Date January 28, 2020

Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for the post of Service Personnel through UAS Bangalore must meet the age criteria as per the UAS Bangalore norms, with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as specified in the notification.

Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 600 (Gen/UR) and Rs. 300 (2A/ 2B/3A/3B) respectively as application fee in the form of a Demand Draft (DD) draw in favour of "The Comptroller, UAS, Bangalore" as specified in the advertisement.

HAL Recruitment: Apply Online For Trade Apprentices (ITI) Post In Multiple Trades Before January 15

Educational Criteria And Eligibility

Desirous candidates applying for the post of Service Personnel through UAS Bangalore must have passed Class 7; Class 10/Matriculation or equivalent; Bachelor's Degree; Diploma in relevant engineering discipline from a recognised Board/University/Institute.

Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates as Service Personnel through UAS Bangalore will be done through a Written Test/Skill Test and Document Verification.

Candidates selected as Service Personnel through UAS Bangalore will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 18,600 to Rs. 70,850 per month as per the designation.

UPPSC Notification: Apply Online For 712 Assistant Engineers (Civil And Mech) Post Before January 30

How To Apply

Candidates applying for the post of Service Personnel through UAS Bangalore must fill the application form in a prescribed format, and submit the same along with relevant supporting documents to the, "Administrative Officer, University of Agricultural Science, GKVK, Bangalore, Karnataka 560065," on or before January 28, 2020 through register/speed post.

Download the application form in a prescribed format here https://www.uasbangalore.edu.in/images/attachments/home/Academicevents/appl-form-of-service-personnel-posts-h-k-posts-2019.pdf

Read the detailed notification about UAS Bangalore notification for Service Personnel posts here https://www.uasbangalore.edu.in/images/attachments/home/Academicevents/371j-h-k-posts-notification-dated-30-12-2019.pdf
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 31)  As the year 2019 ends, so does martial law in Mindanao after two and a half years of implementation.

This was the second extension of martial rule in the South since the terror attacks by ISIS-inspired Maute group on Marawi City in 2017.

The government didnt request Congress to extend martial law. Martial law in Mindanao expires today, Dec. 31, 2019, said Bangsamoro parliament member Zia Alonto Andolong in a message to reporters.

The Department of National Defense and the Philippine National Police earlier recommended the non-extension of martial law, citing improved peace, order and security in Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte heeded their recommendations.

READ: Is martial law the key to Mindanaos quest for peace?

As martial law expires at 11:59 tonight (Dec. 31, 2019), we are confident of an improved security climate in Mindanao that will work for the benefit of fellow Filipinos, said Armed Forces spokesperson BGen. Edgard Arevalo in a statement.

Arevalo said Proclamation 55, which declared a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, is still in effect in the Mindanao island group.

In the event that isolated incidents of violence and lawlessness erupt in Mindanao after law has lapsed, there is still Proclamation 55 in effect, he said.

Duterte placed Mindanao under a state of emergency the bombing in Davao City in 2016.

Meanwhile, the police said martial law in Mindanao is no longer neccessary as terrorism has been contained.

"During that period, government gained solid foothold on some influenced and threatened communites where it effectively established military and police presence," the police said in a statement.

CNN Philippines David Santos contributed to this report
Several activists and artistes on Wednesday recited poems, sang songs and performed plays to express their solidarity with people protesting against the amended citizenship law.

They had gathered at the Constitution Club of India under the aegis of Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT).

Sohail Hashmi, brother of Safdar Hashmi, said on January 1, 1989 Safdar was fatally attacked during a theatre performance by a troupe in Sahibabad.

"Every year we mark this day, to underscore the democratic and inclusive secular values with songs, poems, theatre and other artistic expressions, for which SAHMAT was founded in February 1989," he said.

"What is happening in the country today, whether the Citizenship (Amendment) Law or CAA being foisted upon people or the situation in Kashmir with the abrogation of Article 370 before that or the situation of tribals, and people are not even allowed to protest. Our democratic values are under threat," Hashmi alleged.

He said the event seeks to lend "creative support" to people who are "bravely opposing" the CAA and other "anti-Constitutional decision" of the government.

Theatre and film personality M K Raina, former bureaucrat Harsh Mander, economists Prabhat Patnaik and Jayati Ghosh, among others attended the event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Negotiations formally resume on Thursday after a pause for the festive period (David Young/PA)

Irelands deputy premier has urged Stormonts rowing parties to show leadership and generosity when talks to restore powersharing resume.

Simon Coveney said the new year offered a chance for a new beginning and urged all sides not to disappoint the public again.

Negotiations formally resume on Thursday after a pause for the festive period.

Mr Coveney and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith were in Belfast on New Years Day for pre-talks discussions ahead of the resumption of exchanges with the political parties on Thursday morning.

The parties have until a January 13 deadline to strike a deal to revive devolution.

On that date, legislation to give civil servants additional powers to run Northern Irelands struggling public services expires and Mr Smith will assume a legal obligation to call a snap Assembly election.

Expand Close Simon Coveney (left) during a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith last year (NIO/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Simon Coveney (left) during a meeting with Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith last year (NIO/PA)

On the journey up to Belfast ahead of the new round of talks, Mr Coveney reflected on the importance of the coming fortnight.

He tweeted: 2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides  weve got less than 2 weeks  lets not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING!

In a subsequent New Years Day video posted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlining his governments priorities for 2020, Mr Coveney added: We are determined to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to get the devolved government back up and running again, to get the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement functioning again, to bring communities together and to ensure that Northern Ireland can make decisions for itself.

The latest push to restore powersharing broke up the week before Christmas, with UK and Irish governments singling out the DUP as the party standing in the way of a deal.

The party rejected the claims, insisting it would not be bounced into a quick fix that falls apart when tested.

Devolution can only be restored once the DUP and Sinn Fein  the regions two largest parties  agree terms to re-enter a mandatory coalition executive in Belfast.

The other three main parties  the SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance  are also involved in the talks process convened by the UK and Irish governments.

While they could take positions in any new executive, their sign-off on a deal is not essential and a government could be formed in their absence, with those parties having the option of going into opposition.

Quiet road, on way back to #Belfast early morning for talks to get #Stormont working again. 2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides - weve got less than 2 weeks - lets not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING! pic.twitter.com/FlYzoJ6X1W  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) January 1, 2020

Expectations of a breakthrough in the three-year powersharing impasse rose after the general election.

The DUP and Sinn Fein both suffered bruising results, with many interpreting the outcome as the public passing judgment on their failure to do a deal and providing a fresh incentive to do business.

However, proposals to reform a contentious cross-community voting mechanism in the Assembly have emerged as a key sticking point in efforts to finalise an agreement, with the DUP unhappy about what is being countenanced.

The DUP is also seeking changes to ensure the devolved institutions are more stable in future and cannot be readily pulled down.

Proposed legislative protections for Irish language speakers are another crucial element of the negotiations.

The Stormont parties are also seeking a firm commitment from the UK government on a financial package to accompany the return of devolution  money that would likely be targeted at the regions crisis-hit health service.

The leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein used their respective New Year messages to restate a desire to return to government.

Expand Close DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted her party is up for a fair and balanced deal (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp DUP leader Arlene Foster has insisted her party is up for a fair and balanced deal (Liam McBurney/PA)

DUP leader Arlene Foster said it must be a decade of decision rather than dithering.

The talks will recommence on Thursday, she said.

We will be there and stand ready to restore devolution through a fair and balanced deal. A Northern Ireland that is going to keeping moving forward must be one where everyone feels at home but must also be one where no-one feels their culture is being marginalised.

While Ms Foster warned that a focus on a potential border poll would lead to a wasted decade, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald insisted a united Ireland was within reach.

But the republican leader added: There is no contradiction in working for Irish unity and working for the restoration of the Executive and Assembly  they are all part of the Good Friday Agreement.

We have spent three years searching for agreement to re-establish the norths institutions and we got there in February 2018, but the DUP walked away from that deal. We cannot have that scenario again  the choice is now for agreement, or elections, but the current situation cannot continue.

It is in the interests of all our people that we establish good government and real power-sharing based on equality and respect.

The outstanding issues can be resolved. The time for acrimony and division is over. The time for slogans and soundbites is over. The test now for every party that has talked up getting back to work is to go back to the Executive table and deliver.

Expand Close Mary Lou McDonald says the time for slogans and soundbites is over (Niall Carson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mary Lou McDonald says the time for slogans and soundbites is over (Niall Carson/PA)

Stormont imploded three years ago this month when the late Sinn Fein deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest at the DUPs handling of a botched green energy scheme.

That dispute soon widened to encompass traditional rifts over issues such as the Irish language and the toxic legacy of the Troubles.

A logjam over proposals to reform the petition of concern voting mechanism was one of the main reasons a deal failed to materialise before Christmas.

It was designed to protect minority rights but politicians have accused each other of misusing it for their own ends.

Discussions around change surround making it more difficult for one party to use the petition to block controversial legislation.

The parties are also considering amending Assembly rules to make it harder to collapse the institutions.
A lawsuit that accused the actor Kevin Spacey of sexually assaulting a massage therapist in 2016 ended after the accusers estate dropped the case, court documents filed on Monday show.

The filing, in Federal District Court in California, said the lawsuit against Mr. Spacey, who has faced a series of sexual misconduct allegations, had been voluntarily dismissed with prejudice  meaning it cannot be brought back before the court.

Mr. Spacey paid no money to the plaintiff, Jennifer L. Keller, a lawyer for Mr. Spacey, said in an email on Tuesday night. The plaintiff wished to dismiss the case and we stipulated to the dismissal to speed things up. What you see in the stipulation is all there is to see. Any reports to the contrary are false.

(The Hollywood Reporter said on Tuesday that a settlement had prompted the conclusion of the case.)
The police in Lagos on Wednesday said they have arrested three suspects for allegedly stealing 300 bags of fertiliser from a warehouse in Lagos.

Bala Elkana, the Lagos police spokesperson, said the Bode Thomas police station received a complaint from the Chief Security Officer, Iganmu Flour Mill, on December 24 that unknown persons broke into their warehouse and stole about 300 bags of fertiliser.

Mr Elkana said, based on the complaint, detectives were deployed to the scene.

A thorough analysis of the scene revealed a constructive breaking that depicted the fact that there was an insider collaboration.

The security guard of the warehouse was taken to the station for questioning and investigation was extended to Daleko market, Mushin, the police spokesperson said in a statement.

Mr Elkana said the stolen bags of fertiliser were recovered from a warehouse at Daleko Market, Mushin, on December 31.

The fertilisers were sold to some buyers from Kano at the rate of N4000 per bag and they were at the point of moving them away when the police stormed the market, he added.

The police said three suspects were arrested in connection with the crime and the truck used in conveying the stolen products was impounded.

The 300 bags of fertiliser stolen

The three suspects arrested are Banjo Adeleke; 57 years old from Ijebu, Ogun State, James Dalex; 52 years from Mangu Local Government, Plateau State, and Haladu Junaidu; 52 years from Dala Local Government, Kano State, the police said.
Arakan Army Seizes Ferry, Unveils Taxation Agency, in Myanmar's Rakhine State

2019-12-31 -- The Arakan Army (AA) abducted 16 drivers traveling on a river ferry in western Myanmar's war-ravaged Rakhine state Tuesday, capping a yearlong uptick in hostilities with government forces, local officials said.

Tuesday's abductions  the second such seizure of a passenger ferry in the region in recent months  came as the AA announced it is setting up a "Rakhine Peoples' Authority" to collect taxes from businesses in areas of the state it has taken control of to fund the force and its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA).

The Myanmar military and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party swiftly rejected the new taxation plan as unacceptable and vowed to continue its fight against the rebel group.

Tuesday's abduction unfolded when workers from the Road Transport Administration Department traveled on a ferry between Rakhine's capital Sittwe and Buthidaung township in the northern part of the state, said Aung Lin, the officer in charge of the Rakhine state office of the Inland Water Transport Department.

"Of the 18 employees on board, 16 were abducted," he said, adding that AA soldiers seized the vessel in the afternoon. "All are drivers from the Road Transport Department. These employees bought tickets to go to Buthidaung."

The ferry, named Aung Tagon, had stopped at a site between Sapho Kyun and Oakpho villages in Rathedaung township, he said.

Soe Aung, head of the administration department in northern Rakhine's Maungdaw district, said the drivers were hired to drive large vehicles for the Myanmar government's repatriation reception center in Maungdaw for Rohingya Muslims refugees under the Office of the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine (UEHRD).

"These employees will drive the vehicles to transport repatriated refugees," he said.

The government says it plans to bring to their villages of origin some of the more than 740,000 Rohingya who fled northern Rakhine during a brutal crackdown in 2017 and sought safety in Bangladesh. Few Rohingya have agreed to return without policy changes that Myanmar has rejected.

Soe Aung said one of the drivers contacted him before the abduction to tell him that the ferry had almost arrived, and that he should come to pick them up.

"I said we would fetch them to take them to the camps where they would be working," he said, referring to the transit camps near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border where returning refugees are to be processed.

"As far as I know, 18 employees were on board," he added. "They said the ferry had departed from the site of the abduction. I don't know how many will be left on board. I will check once they arrive."

Soe Aung lost contact with the ferry around 1 p.m., and by evening, it was on its way to Buthidaung, he said.

Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said that about 70 AA soldiers then arrived on seven boats to stop the ferry and abducted the employees.

AA spokesman Khine Thukha said he did not have any reports about the incident.

"But it is possible that our troops on the ground are detaining them to interrogate them for security purposes since they are a group of strangers in the conflict area," he said.

Rakhine tax collections

AA spokesman Khine Thukha told RFA on Dec. 12 that the formation of the tax authority is legitimate because it will initiate a new form of government in a bid to reestablish the historic Arakan nation that existed in the past.

Rakhine state, known as the powerful maritime kingdom of Arakan on the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal from the 15th to the late 18th century, was a sovereign state until 1784 when it was invaded and annexed by the Burmese empire, he said.

Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said the new tax authority is not a new idea.

"The people's authority group the AA announced is not a new idea," he told RFA's Myanmar Service. "We saw the Burmese Communist Party use a similar model in the past. It means they have their controlled territory.

"The AA's primary goal is to replace the government's administration with that of their own," he said. "In a way, it's a coup d'etat. With regard to that, we are conducting counterinsurgency operations in the area. We will strive at all cost to safeguard the government's authority and regional security as the duties of the military."

NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt said the government is willing to hold discussions with the AA, despite its latest move.

"We are ready to talk about their proposal if their initiatives do not cross the boundary of our intended democratic federal union," he said, referring to Myanmar's goal of ending internal armed conflict and forging a federal union.

"If they want to go beyond that, or if it could cause the disintegration of the Union, we will not accept that," he added.

No solid achievements

In response to Myo Nyunt's comments, AA spokesman Khine Thukha pointed out that government leaders have yet to achieve any breakthrough in their efforts to end Myanmar's civil wars and to create a federal union.

"As we review their performance from the inauguration [in 2016] until the end of 2019, they haven't accomplished any solid achievements in establishing the said federal union," he said.

The "only striking act" has been State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's order that government forces eradicate the AA and ULA, he said, referring to the Myanmar leader's directive following deadly attacks by rebel soldiers on four police outposts in Rakhine in early January.

"So far, we haven't seen any actions to gain the trust of national ethnic groups, so we are pretty doubtful about the government's stated goal of establishing a federal union," Khine Thukha said.

RFA was unable to reach Win Myint, Rakhine state's minister of municipal affairs, for comment.

Former Burmese Communist Party member Maung Maung Soe, who is now an analyst of ethnic and military affairs, said other ethnic armies have taken steps to set up their own government administrations in the country.

"It is not unusual that an armed group has tried to establish its own administration after it has secured control of a region," he said.

The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), whose armed wing has engaged in fighting with Myanmar forces in northern Myanmar's Kachin state, set up the Kachin Independence Council (KIC) to govern the region, he said.

"In a similar model, the AA was established as an armed group and the ULA as a political organization," Maung Maung Soe said.

"Now, after they have secured control in some areas, they are forming a local administration," he said. "Other armed groups are also doing the same thing."

Hostilities between the predominantly Buddhist Rakhine AA and Myanmar forces escalated about a year ago, with the Arakan force fighting for greater autonomy in the state. Both sides routinely detain civilians suspected of having connections to the enemy.

In late October, the AA abducted 58 people, including policemen and soldiers, as they traveled by ferry from Sittwe to Buthidaung, though Myanmar forces freed 15 of them in an armed rescue operation. The AA later released 25 civilians, but kept the remainder.

Reported by Min Thein Aung and Nay Myo Htun for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Copyright  1998-2019, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content December not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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NEW DELHI: Newly-appointed Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday assured that the country's armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality and always ready to make supreme sacrifices in the line of duty. ''I pray to Waheguru ji to give me courage and strength to perform my duties as the Chief of Army Staff. All three services are ready to defend the country,'' General Naravane said.

Ahead of that, the Army Chief General paid tribute to the martyrs at National War Memorial here. General Naravane saluted the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the eternal flame, and laid a wreath at the memorial.

Speaking to media, Gen Narvane said, ''Our priority will be to be operationally prepared at all times. We will pay special attention to respect human rights.'' Gen Naravane had on Tuesday taken charge as the 28th Army Chief and asserted that he has a good idea of not only the training part of the Army but also the operational part.

He further said that its important to continue to maintain high standards of operational readiness. He added that the Army will observe New Year celebratory meeting all across the Line of Control (LoC).

"Due to my experience in the Army, particularly the last couple of tenures, I have been able to get a good idea of not only the training part but also the operational part. So, I feel most important is to continue to maintain high standards of operational readiness," General Naravane said in an interview to news agency ANI.

Live TV

Speaking to the media on terrorism, General Naravane called it a worldwide problem, adding that India has been at the receiving end of terrorism for a long time. He also added that it is only now that the entire world and many countries affected with terrorism are coming to realise what a threat it is.

The Army Chief, speaking on Pakistan, said the "neighbour is trying to use terrorism as a tool of state policy, as a way of carrying out a proxy war against India". "As far as our neighbour is concerned they are trying to use terrorism as a tool of state policy, as a way of carrying out a proxy war against us. While maintaining deniability. However, this state can't last long, as they say you can't fool all the people, all the time," added General Naravane.

Speaking on Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief said that after the abrogation of Article 370 there has been a definite improvement in the situation on the ground. "Incidents of violence have seen a marked decline, this augurs very well for the population of J&K. It's a step forward towards bringing peace & prosperity to the region," added General Naravane.

General Naravane, who was the Vice Chief of Army Staff, succeeded General Bipin Rawat whose three-year term as Army chief ended on Tuesday. It is to be noted that General Rawat was appointed as India's first Chief of Defence Staff on Monday (December 30).

With General Naravane's taking over as the Chief of Army Staff, all the three services Chiefs including Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh are now from the 56th course of the National Defence Academy.

In his 37 years of service with Indian Army, General Naravane served in several command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
I like to think of New Years Eve (NYE) as the biggest non-religious celebration on the planet. At least thats what I used to tell my students when I was an English teacher; lots of blank stares but I thought it was a clever thing to say. Fortunately, Im mostly immune to criticism for getting things wrong.

The worlds biggest party has an unusual timetable  its at midnight, remember? According to a world atlas website I checked, the party begins in the mid-Pacific amongst the little island states of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati which doesnt register on most peoples radar. Thats followed by almost invisible New Zealand and then the humongous Sydney fireworks  broadcast around the world, Japan and South Korea.

We can thank good old Julius Caesar for deciding that NYE should be celebrated on January 1st, which makes Vietnam the lucky country for parties with Christmas, the Western New Year and then the Vietnamese Lunar New Year fairly close to together.

However, not everyone does NYE in the same way. Thank goodness for that!

Scotland, for example, has a three-day celebration starting on December 30th named Hogmanay (the last day of the old year) and supposedly going all the way back to the Viking days. There are a lot of costumes (and Vikings of course) and something called a ceildh, which is a big Scottish dance.

In Spain, folks eat 12 grapes at midnight and if you time it right, thats supposed to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. People practice for thisseriously. Did you break a plate or dish last year? Great! In Denmark, you can smash the old broken plates youve saved up on your neighbors door. Apparently youre really popular if you end with a pile of tableware jamming the front door.

If youre in Japan, people go to the temples to ring the bells (a lot) at midnight; its called Omisoka. Probably a good excuse to take a long nap earlier in the day as youll be unable to sleep after midnight! Since I get enough noise in Vietnam, Ill skip this next time Im in Japan.

And finally, one that fits the Vietnamese love of all things to do with money. In Brazil, people eat lentils at New Year; why? Lentils represent money; another way to wish for prosperity for the brand new year. Personally I think it should be beer in Vietnam that represents money; they drink enough of the stuff already.

While the Vietnamese love a crowd; this goes doubly for NYE and then later on, the Lunar New Year. To Westerners, these crowds can feel awkward and stressful, what with all the pushing and shoving that goes on  and just forget going anyway on a motorbike. If youre in the walking zone in District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, you can also look forward to the fights and flying plastic chairs that break out spontaneously after midnight.

Six years ago I went to the Hoi An fireworks only to spend an hour trying to find my bike as the local parking mafia moved it again and again. However, since the fireworks madness is mostly a young persons thing (and Im old and jaded) I have no objections to people inflicting this upon themselves.

Yet I find it interesting and somewhat comforting that just as many locals like to kick back with a quieter family get-together at someones home. Invites to these gatherings are nice although it can be embarrassing to have to refuse the eighth glass of rice whiskey before you go into a coma.

For myself, I have frequently enjoyed the festivities from home on the TV. This is also because I have a large dog and he gets pretty nervous during the evening. So we just have a few (wellmany) beers throughout the wee hours of the morning watching the Vietnamese youngsters flying past on their motorbikes yelling their heads off. My neighbors usually leave their doors open until 1:00 am as friends and family drop by for a quick chat on the way to the next party; and its even busier in the evenings leading up to the Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations.

For all of us, I guess, NYE is really about leaving behind the difficult times of the previous year and simply reveling in the fact that were all still alive!

So wherever you are on the night, I (and the dog) wish you a very happy New Year that leads to a wonderful and successful 2020. For each challenge we all faced in 2019; and overcame  we can still look forward to the prospect of new and exciting projects into the New Year. I never think of NYE as getting older but more as if life is getting more interesting. Its a chance and an opportunityso grab it with both hands and enjoy the ride!

Happy New Year to all our Tuoi Tre News readers!
- Solenn Heussaff is about to give birth to her first child with her husband Nico Bolzico

- Nico posted an update on social media about his wifes nearing delivery of their first baby

- According to the Argentinians post, he and Solenn are already in the hospital since the latter is already in labor

- Nico added that he is hoping that he is not just getting pranked by his wife about going into labor

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Solenn Heussaff is on the verge of giving birth to her first child with her husband Nico Bolzico.

KAMI learned that Nico posted an update on his wifes nearing delivery of their first baby.

Based on the Argentinians social media post, he and Solenn are already in the hospital since the latter is already in labor.

He added that he is hoping that he is not getting pranked by his wife, who is well-known for pulling off epic pranks on her husband.

Advance Happy New Year! Looks like we are spending it in an unexpected place this time! Waiting for #BabyBolz!

Disclaimer: hopefully this is not #Wifezilla pranking me and going too far, Nico posted on Instagram.

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KAMI previously reported that Solenn pranked Nico into thinking that her water already broke.

Solenn Heusaff is a Filipina-French actress, model, TV host, painter, fashion designer, and a professional make-up artist. She first gained her popularity when she joined the GMA survival reality show Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown.

Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
Dang Tuyet Dung - Country manager Visa Vietnam and Laos

As Vietnam moves towards an internet-based economy, the country has been proactively developing technological advancements. In this regard, the State Bank of Vietnams (SBV) recent regulation on converting magnetic cards to chip cards has been considered an important step to promote non-cash payments in Vietnam.

Chip technology is the smarter and safer approach to digital payment via credit and debit cards. Unlike cards with magnetic stripes, which carry static information about the owners account and card, chips produce a unique code each time a payment is being made. This code is sent to the financial institution to verify that the card being used is the same one that was issued for that account.

According to Dang Tuyet Dung, country manager for Visa Vietnam and Laos, contactless card usage is globally particularly strong at merchants with high transaction volumes and low average ticket sizes such as food and grocery, quick-service restaurants, pharmacies, and transit points. In recent years, contactless payments have increasingly become the payment mechanism for most transactions in mature markets.

Vietnam can take reference from neighbours Malaysia, which completed the transition to chip cards at the beginning of 2019. Dung shared that the Malaysian government has achieved this with a joint effort from issuers, inquirers, and merchants in the country.

As a result, Malaysia has become one of the pioneers in EMV contactless card payment. EMV, which stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa, is a method which processes transactions by using NFC technology, through swiping or tapping on a dedicated terminal at any merchant. The technology is similar to contact chip cards, it also supports cryptographic functions for more secure transactions than with traditional magnetic-stripe cards.

As of present, over 20 banks and six companies in Vietnam are providing chip cards for payment services. By the end of the first quarter in 2020, the figures are expected to touch 26 banks and 10 companies.

These are solid foundations in Vietnam for greater use of e-payment methods, such as mobile banking or internet banking. The SBVs statistics revealed that transaction values via points of sale have increased 36.5 per cent on-year, while the number of active bank cards hit 96.4 million with 19,000 services ATMs.

According to the SBV, despite some remaining hurdles for the transition to chip cards in Vietnam, with the main reason being the huge investment costs, the country is nearly prepared to switch as many banks have started converting their cards in 2019. Additionally, these banks have been supported by leading card and payment organisations.

Visa has encouraged Vietnam to move directly to dual interface cards and wearables that support contactless payments, instead of a two-phased migration to contactless first, and then to dual interface. A dual interface chip card is a credit or debit card with an embedded chip that allows the card to be used in both contact and contactless transactions

Besides being a more convenient payment option, the application of such chip cards could help Vietnam to get out of the pit of card crimes by reducing the risk of theft and fraud.

Since chip cards can store large amounts of information, they can also easily be used to pay for transport and public services. In many developed countries, EMV contactless cards have become the preferred payment mechanism for transit and adjacent segments such as tolls and parking fees.

According to Dung of Visa, the company has spurred the application of EMV chip cards in Vietnam for a long time. From October 2018, all new cards issued by Visa in Vietnam were equipped with the state-of-the-art EMV contactless chip technology. Furthermore, to elevate Visa cardholders personalised experience with contactless payments, the company has proposed local banks to accept non-signature payments for transactions below VND1 million ($43.50).

In July 2019, Visa and Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation signed an MoU to further develop smart mobility. Visa intends to work with the citys department to explore options to upgrade payment systems by adopting EMV contactless technology for all public transportation networks. Vietnam thus joins countries like Singapore, Australia, the United King, and the United States to enable contactless EMV transactions in transit.

This is the first step Visa has taken to enable smart mobility in Vietnam. We hope to introduce EMV contactless payments at more public transport operators as well as toll and parking in the forthcoming days, Dung said.
A family dispute was being investigated as the possible cause of the fatal shooting of a young woman at her family home yesterday in an attack that left her husband in a critical condition.

Lindita Musai, 25, was killed and her husband Veto Musai, 29, injured after they were allegedly met with a hail of bullets at their home in Yarraville, western Melbourne about 10.30am on Tuesday morning.

The alleged shooter, a 55-year-old man, then turned the gun on himself and was in a critical condition in hospital, under police guard.

Victoria Police said they were not looking for any other suspects.

Reports said a dispute between family members was behind the shooting.

The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies.

Lindita Musai, 25, (pictured) was allegedly shot dead and her husband Veto Musai, 29, critically injured on Tuesday morning in a hail of bullets at their western Melbourne home

Other members of the married couple's family were at the home on Salisbury Street when the alleged shooting occurred, the Herald Sun reported.

A gun was also found at the end of the street in public land, with investigators now trying to understand what drove the man to allegedly open fire at the young couple.

Friends and family of the pair were on Tuesday seen in tears on the suburban street as they comforted each other.

The couple had been married for a year - with Lindita's online profile with real estate agency Colliers International saying she worked as a receptionist in Melbourne's CBD for the company.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

A witness described seeing a man put the gun to his head twice and allegedly pull the trigger.

The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies

A 55-year-old man was rushed to hospital after allegedly shooting himself twice (pictured)

The couple had wed earlier this year and were allegedly shot on the front porch of their house on Tuesday morning

'This guy just jumped out of the bush into my peripheral vision, and then he put a gun to his chin and pulled it,' a witness, Lewis Thorne told Nine News.

'He got up somehow after that and then about two or three minutes later, he did the same thing again to himself.'

Multiple streets surrounding the vicinity were blocked off for most of the day.

Police say they are not looking for any other offenders.
Burj Khalifa, the global icon by Emaar, is marking its 10th anniversary in festive splendour on January 4, 2020.

Spectacular light shows will be held on January 4 to celebrate the momentous occasion in addition to surprise gifts for visitors to At the Top, Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall. The specially created show will dazzle visitors with a colourful interplay of designs and motifs.

Visitors can take part in a celebratory bash to be held at The Dubai Fountain Boardwalk with a host of amazing surprises.

At 828 metres, the 200 plus storey Burj Khalifa has 160 habitable levels. The tower was inaugurated on January 4, 2010, to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the Accession Day of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the Ruler of Dubai.

Since then, Burj Khalifa has evolved as a Living Wonder, serving as a prestigious residential address, corporate offices for multinational entities, a must-visit tourist attraction famed for At The Top, Burj Khalifa Sky as well as At.mosphere, the worlds highest fine dining restaurant and The Lounge, Burj Khalifa at a height of 585.36 metres.

With The Dubai Fountain overlooking it, Burj Khalifa is the venue of Emaars New Years Eve celebration, an unprecedented spectacle that welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors. - TradeArabia News Service
Exxon Mobil Corp. won a lawsuit challenging a $2 million fine levied against it by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin after the company allegedly violated Ukraine-related sanctions with a series oil and gas deals in Russia, Bloomberg reports.

The dispute over the 2017 fine by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control stemmed from Exxons deals with Moscow-based Rosneft PJSC while Rosnefts chief executive officer, Igor Sechin, was on Treasurys list of sanctioned Russians.

Exxon argued in the lawsuit that it was being wrongfully penalized for doing business with Rosneft, which wasnt under sanction, simply because Sechin signed the deals. The company said the agencys interpretation of a 2014 executive order by former president Barack Obama violated the Administrative Procedure Act because it was arbitrary and capricious.

ExxonMobil acknowledges the courts decision, which confirms we complied with the applicable sanction, Exxon said in a statement Tuesday.

Treasury didnt respond to a message seeking comment.
Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav for opposing the NPR and the NRC, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh on Wednesday said the Samajwadi Party chief should stay in Pakistan for a month to understand the atrocities being faced by Hindus there.

Mathura: Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav for opposing the NPR and the NRC, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh on Wednesday said the Samajwadi Party chief should stay in Pakistan for a month to understand the atrocities being faced by Hindus there.

Singh also asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act was not against the poor and accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of misguiding the people on the law.

"Akhilesh should stay in Pakistan for one month and pray in Hindu temples, then he will have a first-hand experience of atrocities committed on Hindus in Pakistan," the state BJP chief said.

His remarks come after Yadav on 29 December said the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) were against the poor and minorities of the country, while asserting that he will not fill up the NPR form.

"There is nothing wrong in the NPR as it provides simple options like presentation of Aadhaar card or driving license, etc or confirmation by three residents of the area that the person is a bonafide resident of the area," Singh told reporters at a gaushala in Vrindavan. He also accused Yadav of ignoring his party's workers and promoting his family members.

Slamming Priyanka, who is also a Congress general secretary, the BJP leader said, "The visit of Priyanka to victims of riots with the sole purpose of misguiding them and creating a ruckus, is objectionable, since people are misguided about the CAA." He said there should be healthy politics as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is in the interest of the poor.

According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till 31 December, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants, and be given Indian citizenship.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are trying to provide a respectable life to people hit by atrocities in Pakistan through the citizenship law, Singh said.

Owing to the negative approach of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party on the CAA, neither Hindus nor Muslims will vote in their favour, he asserted.

He asked leaders of these parties and students of JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia to go through the CAA.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: The new Army chief Lieutenant General MM Naravane on Wednesday said that India needs to pay more attention to its border along China and asserted that the force is capable of dealing with any security challenge.

"We have been giving attention to our western front in the past. The northern front now also requires an equal amount of attention... The Army is capable of tackling any dangers to the country," General Naravane told reporters after receiving the first Guard of Honour as the Army chief here.

"In that context, we are now going in for capability development and enhancement of our capacities even in our northern borders which includes the northeastern part of our country," he said.

On the border dispute with China, the Army chief said that continuing peace along the border will pave the way for a solution.

"We have been able to maintain peace and tranquillity along borders and I'm sure that situation will prevail. By maintaining this, we will be able to set the stage for the eventual solution," he said.

ALSO READ | New Army chief visits Delhi's National War Memorial

General Naravane said that operational readiness and modernisation will be among the top priorities of the Army under his leadership.

"Our priority will be to be ready to meet any challenge and to be operationally prepared at all times. This will happen as a result of modernisation. We will continue to build our capability especially in the North and Northeast region of our country," he said.

He said that the Indian Army will pay special attention to respect human rights. "We will also pay special emphasis on raising security awareness among ranks and file and pay special attention to respect human rights," the Army chief said.

Assuring the country on security, he said, "All three services -- the Army, the Navy and the Air Force -- are ready to defend the country."

He extended wishes to people in the new year and hoped that the country will make huge progress in this decade.

General Naravane took over as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on Tuesday, succeeding General Bipin Rawat who has become India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

General Naravane was previously the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
Is KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for KeyCorp. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. The company also bought back stock equivalent to around 4.5% of market capitalisation this year. Some simple analysis can offer a lot of insights when buying a company for its dividend, and we'll go through this below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

NYSE:KEY Historical Dividend Yield, January 1st 2020

Payout ratios

Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. In the last year, KeyCorp paid out 43% of its profit as dividends. This is a medium payout level that leaves enough capital in the business to fund opportunities that might arise, while also rewarding shareholders. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time.

We update our data on KeyCorp every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of KeyCorp's dividend payments. This dividend has been unstable, which we define as having fallen by at least 20% one or more times over this time. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$0.25 in 2010, compared to US$0.74 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 11% a year over that time. KeyCorp's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 11% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

Story continues

KeyCorp has grown distributions at a rapid rate despite cutting the dividend at least once in the past. Companies that cut once often cut again, but it might be worth considering if the business has turned a corner.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see KeyCorp has grown its earnings per share at 12% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing at a good rate, and the company is paying less than half its earnings as dividends. We generally think this is an attractive combination, as it permits further reinvestment in the business.

Conclusion

When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. We're glad to see KeyCorp has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. KeyCorp has a credible record on several fronts, but falls slightly short of our standards for a dividend stock.

Companies that are growing earnings tend to be the best dividend stocks over the long term. See what the 14 analysts we track are forecasting for KeyCorp for free with public analyst estimates for the company.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said state governments have a Constitutional duty to implement laws passed by Parliament and those vowing not to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act should seek appropriate legal opinion.

New Delhi: Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said state governments have a constitutional duty to implement laws passed by Parliament and those vowing not to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act should seek appropriate legal opinion.

He said it was surprising that those who have come to power by taking oath under the Constitution are making "unconstitutional" statements.

His statement came a day after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the amended citizenship law.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad: There is a Constitutional obligation on every state to exercise the executive power in such a way that ensures compliance with laws made by Parliament. #CitizenshipAmendmentAct. pic.twitter.com/JrZ1uhctfW  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

Prasad said the governments which claim they would not allow the CAA or are getting resolutions passed against implementing it should seek appropriate legal opinion on constitutional provisions.

"It is the constitutional duty of the states to implement laws passed by Parliament," Prasad told reporters here.

He said Parliament can make laws on subjects under the Union List which includes citizenship.

To drive home his point that states cannot oppose laws passed by Parliament, he referred to Clause 2 of Article 245 of the Constitution.

"Article 245 (clause 2) states that no law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra-territorial operation," he said.

Other states including West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have said they will not implement the amended Citizenship Act.
The new army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Wednesday said maintaining peace and tranquillity along the India-China border could lead to an eventual resolution of the border dispute.

Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday, Naravane stressed that military capabilities along the northern borders will be strengthened.

We have the Line of Actual Control with China. The border question is yet to be settled. However, we have made a lot of progress in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border. And by maintaining peace and tranquillity, we will be able to set the stage for an eventual solution, he said.

ALSO WATCH | New Army chief Gen Naravane on Pakistan, Art 370, China & CDS post

He also said that the armed forces were fully ready to deal with any security challenge facing the nation.

I am assuring the people of the country that armed forces are fully prepared to keep the country secure. We will not allow any harm to come to the country. We are fully alert round-the-clock. Our forces are fully capable of dealing with any challenge, he said after a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

He said the army will enhance its capabilities along the northern borders as the focus in the past had been on the western boundary with Pakistan.

While we have been giving attention in the past to our western front (border with Pakistan), the northern front also requires equal amount of attention. And it is in that context we are now going in for enhancement of our capacities along the northern border, he told reporters, adding that the armed forces were fully prepared to deal with any challenge.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

Both sides have been asserting that pending the final resolution of the boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

General Naravane said his priority would be to keep the Army operationally prepared at all times.

This will happen as a result of modernisation. We will continue to build capabilities, particularly in north and northeastern regions. We will also lay emphasise on raising security awareness among our rank and file and also pay special attention to the issue of human rights, he said.

In his 39-year military career, Naravane has commanded a Rashtriya Rifles battalion, raised an infantry brigade, led a strike corps and headed the Army Training Command. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Naravane was part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka and has also served as Indias defence attache to Myanmar.

Naravane is considered to be a China expert and also has vast experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Indias North-east.

(With PTI inputs)
The Cambridge Analytica data scandal may have come to light nearly two years ago, but the former company -- and as a result, Facebook -- is still feeling the effects of the fall out. Brazil's government has imposed a $1.6 million fine on Facebook for its role in the fiasco -- a considerably higher sum than the $644,000 fined by the UK, where the incident took place.

According to Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security, data belonging to some 443,000 Brazilian users was used for "at the very least, questionable" purposes. Some estimates suggest that up to 87 million people were affected by Facebook's improper use of data globally -- mostly in the US.

In the grand scheme of things, Facebook is once again getting off lightly, as $1.6 million pales in comparison to the $5 billion the company had to stump up to the FCC earlier this year for the data breach. But for a company like Facebook it's not the money that's the issue, it's the ongoing reputational damage -- it seems that the Cambridge Analytica scandal just won't stop coming back to haunt it.
Georgia Love was a local WIN News reporter before achieving national fame as The Bachelorette in 2016.

But the 31-year-old has left reality television behind and returned to her first love: broadcast journalism.

On Tuesday, the anchorwoman delivered a report on 10 News First about the devastating Australian bushfires.

In the field: On Tuesday, former Bachelorette Georgia Love delivered a report on 10 News First about the devastating Australian bushfires

Bachelorette fans spotted the segment and shared screengrabs of the report across social media.

Since her stint as The Bachelorette, Georgia has found a niche for herself at Channel 10 as a Jack of all trades.

She bounces between appearances on 10 News First and morning show Studio 10.

The team: The 31-year-old journalist posed for a photo in front of a shed that had burned down

She also has a thriving social media career, boasting 230,00 followers on Instagram and endorsement deals with brands like Palmer's Australia.

It comes after Georgia's live cross on 10 News First from Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre was rudely interrupted last week when a shopper walked through the shot.

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, he glared at the camera and flipped the bird.

Whoops! It comes after Georgia's live cross on 10 News First from Melbourne's Chadstone Shopping Centre was rudely interrupted last week when a shopper walked through the shot

The bizarre moment made it to air, with Georgia seemingly none the wiser.

But after reviewing the footage later on, she saw the funny side and decided to share it with her social media followers.

Georgia captioned the clip: 'Wait for it... #merrychristmasyafilthyanimal.'

Odd: In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the man glared at the camera and flipped the bird

Professional: Georgia has worked for Channel 10's various news programs since November 2017. Before that, she worked as a reporter for Tasmania's WIN News

Georgia has worked for Channel 10's various news programs since November 2017.

She was previously a reporter for Tasmania's WIN News, before reaching a national audience on The Bachelorette in 2016.

She met her now-fiance, mechanical plumber Lee Elliott, on the dating show.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unique contest for the students of Class IX to XII to reduce exam stress -- Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) 2020 program -- has been rescheduled to January 20 from January 16.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction programme 'Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020' with a cross-section of students and teachers from India and abroad to beat exam stress has been rescheduled to January 20, 2020, at 11 am, on account of Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Onam and other festivals across the country. The programme was earlier scheduled for January 16, 2020," according to an official press.

On December 5 last year the Prime Minister had announced the competition.

"Exams are approaching and so is Pariksha Pe Charcha! Let us keep working together to ensure stress-free examinations. Here is a unique contest for students of Classes 9 to 12. The winners will get to attend PPC 2020 early next year!" Modi tweeted.

The PPC 2020 programme sought not only to reduce the stress of examinations from the young students, but the selected students also get the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister and ask him questions.

Participants were instructed to write their responses of any one of five themes in a maximum of 1500 characters. The entries for the competition were invited online from December 2 to December 23 last year through www.mygov.in.

The themes given for the PPC 2020 were 'Gratitude is Great', 'Your future depends on your aspirations', 'Examining Exams', 'Our duties, you take' and 'Balance is Beneficial'.

The best responses will be featured in Modi's Interactive Session with students scheduled in New Delhi on January 20.

This is the third edition of the PPC. The first was held in Delhi's Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018, where the event was also held on January 29, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On Thursday, June 5th, Paul Lee, a 19-year-old Korean American, was shot dead by a gunman in Seattle Pacific University. Three others were wounded.

In the midst of grieving, the people who were closest to Lee decided they will not let this tragedy end in simply that. Albert Lee, the victims older brother, along with a group of close family and friends, started The Paul Lee Foundation, an organization raising funds to do research in mental and emotional illnesses. In doing this, they hope to prevent future tragedies like this one.

The Paul Lee Foundations website expresses the reason for their work. Pauls love for all people calls us to consider that the shooter was a victim of mental illness, as much as Paul was the victim of a bullet.

Indeed, according to a CNN report, the perpetrator, Aaron Ybarra, has significant mental health issues. Ybarra once told police that he had visited Columbine High School, and that he wanted to shoot up a school. Ybarra is currently on suicide watch.

Instead of becoming embittered or enraged at the tragedy, Lees family and friends took this opportunity to make a positive impact and help others. The foundations website expresses that this is what Paul would have wanted.

Pauls generosity made a lasting impression on his community. Although he has left us, may his light inspire us to become sincere individuals who live full of compassion.
Its a day I always thought should come, but never thought would come, Justice said. All in all, I think it will be a good thing, and it will take it off the street and out of the kids hands. Ive never seen a dealer ID anyone.
Ben Houchen is the Mayor of the Tees Valley.

Many of Labours northern heartland constituencies have fallen. Their fiefdoms in Teesside and County Durham now have Conservative MPs, in many cases for the first time ever. Boris Johnson rules supreme with the backing of voters no other Conservative leader could have hoped to attract. However, their ongoing support cannot and should not be taken for granted.

The Prime Minister has it in his power to reverse decades of economic decline and give some of the most deprived communities the power to lift themselves out of poverty. With the stroke of a pen, he can restore the pride that only comes from being in charge of your own destiny and prosperity and he can do it without needing to spend huge sums of taxpayers money.

You might ask how, and the answer is simple, Freeports. Not the bonded warehouse zones the EU like to dress up as freeports on the continent, but fully-fledged Free Trade Zones that will restore the energy and urgency of trade and industry in left-behind areas.

Throughout his leadership campaign and the recent General Election, the Prime Minister rightly touted Freeports as a benefit of Brexit and a reason to vote Tory, and he was right. Since I started to campaign for a Freeport on the Tees two years ago I have found the idea has genuine support across the political spectrum. Even traditional Labour voters, at least those in my region, can see the benefits. Ive spent the past year and a half putting it together with trade experts, top economists, the ports sector, and businesses large and small.

Thousands of proper manufacturing jobs, the skilled roles people want, as well as billions of pounds of extra economic activity. All delivered without costing the taxpayer, or indeed the Treasury, a penny. All in the nations former industrial heartlands and all done without any legislation that compromises employment and environmental protection.

In the Tees Valley region, in the newly Conservative constituency of Redcar, where the majority voted enthusiastically for Brexit, and perhaps cautiously for Boris, lies the best location for a Freeport in the UK, maybe even anywhere. The former SSI steelworks, now under the control of the South Tees Development Corporation could become home to 32,000 Freeport jobs and add 2 billion to my regions GVA.

The towns new Tory MP, Jacob Young, an enthusiastic Brexiteer, backs my calls for a Freeport. It was a key plank of his election campaign, and enjoys the support of all of the Tees Valleys five Conservative parliamentarians.

Id be a fool to think the first time Conservative voters that have transformed the political landscape of the North are now committed free marketeers, but in backing the Prime Minister and his promise of Freeports, they have given their support for an economically liberal policy that could benefit them in a big way.

Creating these low tax zones, when importing and exporting are made easy, it wouldnt just mean new jobs, it would make two very important things clear. Firstly, that Boris and the Conservatives are committed to the North in the long term, and voting for us means voting for a better life. To have any chance of retaining any of the new blue seats in the former Labour heartlands he needs demonstrable proof of this.

Secondly, but just as importantly, a Freeports in Teesside would be a powerful symbol that Brexit Britain is open for business in a way that hasnt been seen for decades.

So Prime Minister, at the risk of reheating a tired cliche, weve got an oven-ready plan for freeports that we have been talking to you about for months. Bang it on gas mark six and it will be ready in time for the budget. You will see the results almost immediately and it will be a clear signal to the former Labour voters of Redcar that Boris and the Conservatives can deliver for them. Lets get this done and transform towns like Redcar.
Newport Beach, CA, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP) finds a unique way to use investor capital to help save the planet. Over the past decade, we have protected and restored regionally significant properties in the U.S.providing both a return to our investors and lasting environmental benefits, Trygg Danforth, Assistant Director of Real Estate.

EIP utilizes investor capital to reinvests in properties with degraded species habitats or aquatic resources. Next, they work to restore these properties according to the highest standards and package the land into conservation trusts ensuring they are permanently protected.

Partnering with the online auction experts at The Future of Real Estate (FRE), these beautifully restored properties are sold to the general public at unbeatable prices.

These now flourishing properties, rich in natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife, make an attractive investment opportunity for nature lovers and non-profits alike, especially with EIPs promise to conserve and maintain the ecological integrity of the properties in perpetuity.

Bill Lange, President of FRE stated, Finding the right buyers for these unique and pristine properties is a challenge due to their use restrictions. There isnt a typical buyer per se but we have sold to private companies and non-profits with a variety of interests including activities such as bird watching, veteran stress reduction camping programs, education excursions for school children etc. The people who buy these properties may not be aware of mitigated wetlands or the beauty of these areas and need to be enticed to discover the possibilities.

About The Future of Real Estate (FRE)

FRE has over 35 years' experience in transactional real estate innovation, selling billions of dollars in commercial and residential properties worldwide. Past clients include Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo Bank, J.P. Morgan, US Bankruptcy Court, US Bank, Bank of America, and many other financial institutions, government agencies, international brokerages, developers, residential builders, and private sellers.

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In brief: The new year may bring with it a reduction in the number of automated scam calls you receive. Congress has passed the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act, which the President made official on Monday. The law will give authorities and carriers more teeth when going after robocallers.

Just in time for the new year, President Trump signed S.151, otherwise known as the TRACED Act. It is a law that proposes to cutdown instances of scam and robocalls by imposing stiffer penalties for unauthenticated solicitation.

This historic legislation will provide American consumers with even greater protection against annoying unsolicited robocalls, said White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham in a written statement on Monday. This legislation will update our laws and regulations to stiffen penalties, increase transparency, and enhance government collaboration to stop unwanted solicitation. President Donald J. Trump is proud to have worked with Congress to get this bipartisan legislation to his desk and even prouder to sign it into law today.

The penalties Grisham referred to include fines as high as $10,000 per call. The punishments can also be imposed without warning, meaning that robocallers will not receive a slap on the wrist for a first offense.

"American families deserve control over their communications," said the White House.

The law increases the statute of limitations from two years to three, as well. This gives the FCC and prosecutors more time to investigate and bring charges against companies that spam calls to consumers.

Enforcement would fall on the shoulders of several agencies, including the FCC, FTC, DoJ, the Department of Commerce, the State Department, DHS, and several others. These agencies will provide feedback to Congress and recommend prosecutorial measures that can be taken at the state and federal levels.

The bill was first introduced in the Senate, where it was approved with a near-unanimous 97-1 vote last May. It was passed on to the House of Representatives, where a similar proposal called Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (H.R.3375) was under consideration. The House ultimately approved both bills and passed them along to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Currently, H.R.3375 is held up in the Senate, likely to ensure that the bill is not entirely redundant. The proposal will probably be allowed to die in Congress, with legislators opting to instead amend the newly enacted legislation to include any provisions of value that the Houses bill would have added.
PERTH, Australia  Wildfires burning across Australias two most populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions and killed at least two people while more property along the countrys east coast fell victim to a devastating fire season.

About 4,000 residents in the southeastern town of Mallacoota in Victoria state fled toward the water Tuesday morning as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire toward their homes. The smoke-filled sky shrouded the town in darkness before turning an unnerving shade of bright red.

Australias annual wildfire season, which peaks during the Southern Hemisphere summer, started early after an unusually warm and dry winter. Record-breaking heat and windy conditions triggered devastating wildfires in New South Wales and Queensland states in September.

About 12.35 million acres of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with 12 people confirmed dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed. Nearly 100 fires were burning across the state of New South Wales, which is home to Sydney.

New South Wales state Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said this wildfire season is the worst on record and painted a bleak long-term picture.

Weve seen extraordinary fire behavior, he said Tuesday. What we really need is meaningful rain, and we havent got anything in the forecast at the moment that says were going to get drought-breaking or fire-quenching rainfall.

The wildfire crisis has reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas.

Morrison, whom critics have deemed a climate change skeptic, conceded earlier this month that climate change along with many other factors has contributed to the wildfires.

The prime minister took criticism for going on a family vacation to Hawaii in December during the crisis. He eventually cut his trip short and publicly apologized.

Late Tuesday, Mallacoota was saved by changes of wind direction, but authorities said numerous homes were lost. Residents returning home were urged to boil tap water before drinking it. Forest Fire Management Victoria said the wildfires had put heavy demands on tap water that is affecting the supply of water.

Stranded residents and vacationers were reported to be sleeping in cars on New Years Eve, while gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews had earlier announced plans to evacuate the trapped people by sea. There were grave fears for four missing people. We cant confirm their whereabouts, Andrews told reporters Tuesday.

Andrews has requested assistance from 70 firefighters from the United States and Canada, while Australias military sent air and sea reinforcements.

Victoria Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed significant property losses across the region. More than 115 communities across Victoria remained under emergency warnings Tuesday night.

More than 130 fires remain burning across New South Wales, with five at an emergency level.

Tristan Lavalette is an Associated Press writer.
Leading electric two-wheeler maker Hero Electric has put on hold investment of up to Rs 700 crore by a year with the sector taking a nosedive as FAME II, scheme aimed to promote electric vehicles, has failed to deliver, according to a top company official.

Calling for a complete revamp of the policy, the company wants the government to include low speed two-wheelers for subsidy arguing that for mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India these cost effective vehicles are critical.

"From an industry standpoint, there was a certain trajectory which was going on when we had FAME I. With the coming in of FAME II, whatever be the logic and reason, the manner in which FAME II was introduced, the whole industry took a downturn and now the industry is recovering from that," Hero Electric Managing Director Naveen Munjal told PTI.

As per Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicle (SMEV), sales of FAME II qualified electric two-wheelers in April-December 2019 period stood at just 3,000 units as against 48,671 units in the year-ago period when FAME I was in place, a decline of 93.84 per cent.

Under FAME I, low speed two-wheelers with top speed of up to 25km/hr had qualified for incentives of up to Rs 17,000 and Rs 22,000 for high speed ones.

However, under FAME II, which came into effect from April 1, 2019, electric two-wheeler are mandated to have a minimum range of 80 km per charge and minimum top speed of 40 kmph to qualify for an incentive of Rs 20,000.

CRISIL had predicted that more than 95 per cent of the electric two-wheeler models produced earlier would not be eligible for incentive under FAME-II.

When asked about the impact on the company's future investments, Munjal said, "we had to push back the plans. Fund raise has been pushed back to next year, so are the investments."

Earlier in August 2019, the company had said it was looking to invest around Rs 700 crore in the next three years to ramp up production capacity of its electric scooters to 500,000 units annually from about 100,000 units. It was looking to raise fund for the same by roping external investors.

Munjal said the company lost four months in the beginning of the year on completely homologating products for FAME II.

"It has taken a lot of time. Technically, one year is almost wiped out from our balance sheet," Munjal said, adding it made no sense to go ahead with investments as the company had to first get the products out of the door.

He, however, said the company is now getting back on track and has started working on capacity increase, "which we should have done six months back".

Calling for a total re-look at FAME II, Munjal said, "FAME II has not delivered for sure... The policy has to be completely changed. If the industry has to pick up then it has to be from ground-up. What we have been saying is that it has to be the low-speed vehicles, which have to be targeted for masses."

Arguing that 95 per cent of electric two-wheelers is low-speed in India, he said, "If you have to really make this (EV) industry work, you have to focus at the base of the pyramid and the base is the low-speed. Everything else can ride on top of it, we are not saying you dissuade others."

He cited examples of Europe, China, US and Japan, where low speed electric two-wheelers are supported by the government for mass adoption.

"When we look at electric two-wheeler mobility around the world, it is all low-speed," he said adding efficiencies are at only at a particular speed band in electric two-wheelers and high speed EVs are expensive thereby making it unsuitable for a "price sensitive" market like India.
For the past several years, Charlie Hayden hasnt gotten anything from his vegetable garden. The problem, he told the Marion Town Council during its Dec. 20 meeting ,could be summed up in one word: deer.

Hayden

presented the council with a petition asking the town to work with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and create an urban archery season to help control the deer population.
Perhaps you heard it above the bursts of fireworks and firearms when the sharp, singular sound of Scotland came rolling across the hills.

At that moment when the old year became the new, the pipes, the pipes were calling, from glen to glen and down somewhere near Irving and Unser NW.

That was Suzanne Aden Kemp and her bagpipes.

For the past eight years  weather permitting  Kemp, 33, has climbed atop her precariously pitched roof to serenade her Paradise Hills neighborhood at the stroke of midnight with her rendition of Auld Lang Syne played on her authentic Great Highland bagpipes.

The song and her bagpipes, it should be noted, originate in Scotland, where New Years Eve is known as Hogmanay. For Kemp, who is fond of her Scottish blood and traditions, risking life, limb, frigid air and falling celebratory projectiles for her Celtic midnight concert makes complete sense.

Its a traditional song to play on New Years Eve, and I felt I should share it, said Kemp, a wry smile across her face. Its just something that needs to be done.

Tradition is as much a part of the bagpipes as the hefty pull of breath needed to make the instrument groan to life. With the exception of her rooftop performances, Kemp wears the traditional uniform of a piper  tartan kilt, a cap called a glengarry, a tie she picked up in England, clan crests, shoelaces tied around her socks up to her lower calves.

To be a good piper, she said, you have to know a good amount of tradition.

Kemp started learning about all that at the wee age of 12, inspired by her pubescent crush on Leonardo DiCaprio and his character Jack in Titanic.

She loved when Jack took the aristocratic Rose below deck to party with the third-class folk, who knew how to get down to the ebullient strains of the pipe and drum.

I thought even then that was my kind of party, my kind of environment, she said. And so I thought one way to be a part of that was to learn to play the bagpipes.

She got her chance in 1999 when a local band offered free bagpipe lessons.

After mastering the basics, she continued her training abroad in 2003 while visiting her grandparents in Coventry, England. There, she was mentored by legendary piper Jim Tudhope of the Royal British Legion Triumph Pipe Band and Guy Rylett and Ryan Lessels of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in Ireland.

Back in the United States, Kemp continued her studies, tooting under the tutelage of Piper Major Bruce Hitchings at the U.S. School of Piping and Drumming in, of all places, Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2009, and through private tutoring via Skype with Stuart Cassells, he of the famed bagrock band (yes, there is such a thing) Red Hot Chilli Pipers in Scotland.

Just as she expected, playing bagpipes was her kind of party. And, for a while, it was her everything.

She played for her high school choir, played at her high school graduation. She played at any event, from funerals to weddings to birthday parties to parades. She played for city functions and for movie stars. She played at Celtic festivals and all sorts of St. Patricks Day gatherings (never mind that she plays Scottish, not Irish, bagpipes). She played along the Rio Grande and on the banks of the Nile in Egypt.

She played with the Phoenix Pipe Band, the New Mexico Fire and Police Pipes and Drums and the Mac-Tire of Skye Pipes and Drums in Albuquerque.

She earned her nickname Aden after piping the ditty Barren Rocks of Aden during a radio performance.

Shes a Grade 2 piper, the second-highest ranking. Someday, she said, she hopes to reach Grade 1.

But shes been a bit busy with other things besides blowing. She works as a high school substitute teacher and volunteers with the University of New Mexicos Refugee Well-being Project, which pairs students like her with refugee families to help them navigate their new communities.

She recently graduated from UNM with a bachelors degree in psychology and plans to work toward becoming a therapist who specializes in caring for refugees.

This sense of globalism and her love of other cultural traditions  such as playing bagpipes  was ingrained in her early by her globe-trotting parents, who met when both taught English to pilots in Japan and took her and her brother along as they traveled.

Im really a big supporter of multicultural stuff, she said. Its why I feel its almost a duty I have to share the Scottish culture of the bagpipes with as many people as I can.

As we roll into a new year, let us open ourselves up to unfamiliar sounds, traditions and cultures that do not have to usurp our own but can add color and community and a little Auld Lang Syne to our worlds.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.

More information

Find Suzanne at Bagpiper Suzanne Aden Kemp on Facebook.
Pro-Iran demonstrators left the besieged US embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday after the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force ordered them to withdraw a day after their dramatic incursion. Thousands of Iraqi supporters of the largely Iranian-trained Hashed had encircled and vandalised the embassy compound Tuesday, outraged by US air strikes that killed 25 Hashed fighters over the weekend. They marched unimpeded through the checkpoints of the usually high-security Green Zone to the embassy gates, where they broke through a reception area, chanting "Death to America" and spraying pro-Iran graffiti on the walls. Iraq's caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi called on the angry crowd to leave the embassy, but most spent the night in dozens of tents set up outside the perimeter wall. On Wednesday morning, crowds of men brandished the Hashed's colours, torched US flags and hurled rocks towards the compound. Security personnel inside responded with tear gas, wounding at least 20 people, the Hashed said. By the afternoon, the Hashed called on its supporters to leave the embassy and regroup outside the Green Zone "out of respect for the state." "You delivered your message," it said in a statement. AFP's photographer saw protesters dismantling their tents and leaving the Green Zone. "We burned them!" they said, streaming back out of checkpoints they had breezed through on Tuesday. Kataeb Hezbollah, the group targeted in the US raids, initially told AFP it would stay at the embassy, but later said it had decided to abide by the Hashed's order. "We scored a huge win: we arrived to the US embassy, which no one had done before," spokesman Mohammad Mohyeddin told AFP. "Now, the ball is in parliament's court," he added, referring to lawmakers' efforts to revoke the legal cover for 5,200 US troops to deploy in Iraq. - 'You can't do a thing' - Tuesday's embassy attack was the latest episode in spiralling tensions between the US and Iran since Washington abandoned a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran in 2018. Many of those tensions have played out in Iraq, which has close ties with both governments. US forces have faced a spate of rocket attacks in recent months, including one last week that killed a US contractor and prompted the weekend air strikes. President Donald Trump and other US officials have blamed Iran for attacks on US forces and the embassy. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter, adding "Happy New Year!" Iran's supreme leader condemned US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to hit back. "First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on state television. "If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly," he said. - 'Our hands are tied' - By Wednesday, Iraqi forces had reimposed normal security measures around the perimeter of the Green Zone, usually inaccessible without a badge. US officials were alarmed that protesters crossed checkpoints so easily on Tuesday. An Iraqi special forces fighter assigned to guard the Green Zone told AFP his units had no orders to intervene. "If I had had orders to act, I could have fired and stopped the storming of the embassy," he said. "But after what happened, our hands are tied. We can't prevent the situation from deteriorating," he added. US officials have pressured Iraqi authorities to step up security and sent a rapid response team of Marines overnight to help guard the compound. Pentagon chief Mark Esper said around 750 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division were prepared to deploy to the region in the coming days. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo postponed a trip to Ukraine to monitor from Washington "the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," a spokeswoman said. Pompeo spoke with premier Mahdi Wednesday and "noted the measures the Government of Iraq has taken to improve the security situation," the State Department said. Pompeo also stressed it was the Iraqi government's responsibility to prevent further attacks on the embassy, it added. No US personnel were injured in the attack and US officials said they had no plans to evacuate. Ambassador Matthew Tueller was said to be on his way back to Baghdad from holiday but had yet to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. The embassy announced that consular services were suspended in Baghdad "until further notice," and advised American citizens not to approach the complex. The attack highlighted new strains in the US-Iraqi relationship, which officials from both countries have described to AFP as the "coldest" in years. The US led the 2003 invasion against then-dictator Saddam Hussein and has worked closely with Iraqi officials since, but its influence has waned compared with Tehran's growing clout. Tuesday's dramatic scenes at the embassy sparked comparisons with both the 1979 hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran and the deadly 2012 attack on the US consulate in Libya's second city Benghazi.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (REO.CN) - Reservoir Capital Corp. (REO.CN) ("REO" or the Company) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kainji Power Holding Limited ("KPHL") has received another interim dividend in respect of its investment in Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) of US$420,000, bringing the total dividend income of KPHL from MESL since REO made its first investment in KPHL in September 2018 to $1,861,126.50.



About KPHL

KPHL is a single-purpose entity, 100% owned by REO since October 2019, that now holds two private equity stakes giving REO approximately 42.7MW of net operating capacity in quality hydropower assets:

a minority interest in MESL, the concessionaire of two leading Nigerian hydro power plants located at Kainji and Jebba on the Niger River with a combined operating capacity of 922MW; and a majority interest in Olocorp Nig Ltd which itself holds a minority interest in North South Power Company Ltd (NSP), the concessionaire of two important Nigerian hydro power plants located at Shiroro and Gurara, both on the Kaduna River, with a combined operating capacity of 630MW.

Since REO made its first investment in KPHL in September 2018, KPHL has received over US$1.4 million in dividend income from its portfolio companies as follows:

US$219,638 from MESL interim dividend declared in December 2018

US$332,626 from MESL interim dividend declared in March 2019

US$441,964 from MESL interim dividend declared in July 2019

US$420,000 from MESL interim dividend declared in December 2019

About Reservoir Capital Corp.

REOs current asset portfolio comprises minority indirect economic interests in clean power assets (currently 4 hydro power plants) representing 42.7 MW of net operating capacity. The Company currently has 529,347,377 shares outstanding following its most recent Olocorp acquisition (see other News Release dated December 31, 2019).

REOs Vision & Mission is to assemble a balanced portfolio of producing and near-production clean energy assets in growing economies.

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REOs strategy to achieve its Vision is to approach shareholders of privately held quality assets and offer them diversification, liquidity and exposure to a growing portfolio assembled following a disciplined investment policy.

REOs investment policy consists essentially in taking carefully selected minority economic interests in quality clean power assets in key geographies, targeting regular dividend income over long periods, while offering the potential for capital gain in the medium term.

Further Information

For more information on the Company, please visit www.reservoircapitalcorp.com. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of REO should be considered highly speculative. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the operations or financial results of REO are included in REO's CSE Listing Statement and most recently filed quarterly report, each of which is filed with applicable Canadian securities regulators and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). The CSE have neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

For any clarification, one may contact:

Lewis Reford

CEO, Reservoir Capital Corp.

Telephone: 416-399-2274

Email: ceo@reservoircap.team

NEITHER THE CSE NOR THE INVESTMENT INDUSTRY REGULATORY ORGANIZATION OF CANADA ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
At least nine more infants have died in the last two days of December at the JK Lon hospital here, taking the death toll to 100 for the month, officials said on Wednesday.

The death of 10 children at the government-run hospital during a 48-hour period on December 23-24 had triggered criticism from the opposition and a visit by a team from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

Four children died on December 30 and five on December 31, all mainly due to low birth weight, hospital superintendent Dr Suresh Dulara said.

Hospital authorities, however, said the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 has witnessed decline since 2014 when 1,198 children died.

The nursing in-charge of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which specialises in looking after premature and sick newborns, has been replaced, Dr Dulara said.

Medical College Principal Dr Vijay Sardana said an order has been issued for installation of central oxygen supply line at the hospital and the work would be completed within the next 15 days.

The direction was issued a day after a BJP parliamentary team comprising MPs Locket Chatterjee, Kanta Kardam and Jaskaur Meena visited the hospital and expressed concern over its infrastructure.

The panel had said that two to three children were found on single beds and the hospital did not have enough nurses.

Dr Sardana said the paediatric department at the health facility has been reconstructed, with its three units being functional in JK Lon hospital and a non- teaching unit working in New Medical College premises.

He said proposals for new OPD and emergency wards for pediatric and gynaecology departments have been incorporated in the proposed OPD Block under the Smart City Project.

Earlier, the NCPCR had served a show cause notice to the state government. Pigs were found roaming inside the campus of the hospital, its chairperson Priyank Kanoongo had said.

A Rajasthan government committee ruled that the infants were given the right treatment.

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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 Huntsman Corporation's (NYSE:HUN) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Huntsman has a P/E ratio of 17.21. That corresponds to an earnings yield of approximately 5.8%.

Check out our latest analysis for Huntsman

How Do I Calculate A Price To Earnings Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Huntsman:

P/E of 17.21 = $24.16  $1.40 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio means that buyers have to pay a higher price for each $1 the company has earned over the last year. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E.

Does Huntsman Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

One good way to get a quick read on what market participants expect of a company is to look at its P/E ratio. The image below shows that Huntsman has a lower P/E than the average (21.5) P/E for companies in the chemicals industry.

NYSE:HUN Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 1st 2020

Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Huntsman shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. You should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. 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.

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Huntsman saw earnings per share decrease by 37% last year. But EPS is up 16% over the last 3 years. And it has shrunk its earnings per share by 3.7% per year over the last five years. This could justify a pessimistic P/E.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. The exact same company would hypothetically deserve a higher P/E ratio if it had a strong balance sheet, than if it had a weak one with lots of debt, because a cashed up company can spend on growth.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

How Does Huntsman's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio?

Huntsman's net debt equates to 35% of its market capitalization. You'd want to be aware of this fact, but it doesn't bother us.

The Bottom Line On Huntsman's P/E Ratio

Huntsman's P/E is 17.2 which is below average (18.9) in the US market. With only modest debt, it's likely the lack of EPS growth at least partially explains the pessimism implied by the P/E ratio.

Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
The United States is sending around 750 more troops to the Middle East immediately, following an attack by pro-Iranian demonstrators on the US embassy in Baghdad, the Pentagon has said.

More troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," he said.

"The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Verizon Communications (VZ), which belongs to the Zacks Wireless National industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

This largest U.S. cellphone carrier has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 1.65%.

For the last reported quarter, Verizon came out with earnings of $1.25 per share versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.24 per share, representing a surprise of 0.81%. For the previous quarter, the company was expected to post earnings of $1.20 per share and it actually produced earnings of $1.23 per share, delivering a surprise of 2.50%.

Price and EPS Surprise

Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Verizon lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Verizon currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.10%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on January 30, 2020.

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With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.



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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi on Wednesday warned that the state government would not tolerate any trouble to Kannadigas in Maharashtra over the Belagavi border issue.

"I want to tell the Maharashtra Chief Minister that the Karnataka government will not tolerate any trouble to Kannadigas in Maharashtra," he told reporters here.

His statement comes in the backdrop of Shiv Sena workers reportedly hitting the streets in Kolhapur on Sunday and burning effigies of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and stopping screening of Kannada films there.

The activists had also blackened billboards, having Kannada text, of some shopkeepers in Gandhinagar area.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had in December last year appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as co-coordinators to oversee his government's efforts to expedite the case relating to the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, which has been fighting for the merger of 800 odd villages with Maharashtra, had recently submitted a memorandum of their demands to Uddhav Thackeray.

Maharashtra claims the border district of Belagavi was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, but is currently a district of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.

Savadi, who hails from Belagavi, said the Maharashtra Chief Minister would do well to recall what his cousin Raj Thackeray had said in the past on the matter.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had said in October 2014 in Mumbai politicians from the state have never been serious about finding a solution to the dispute and the issue has always been used for

The MNS chief had recalled that when MEK members had met him a few years ago, he had said he was prepared, if required, to meet the then Karnataka chief minister to discuss the issue and demand that there should not be injustice on Marathi speaking people living in Belgaum and nearby areas.

On December 30, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had accused Uddhav Thackeray of raking up the Belagavi issue again for political gains and declared that 'not even an inch of land' would be given away.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A growing brunch and breakfast chain from the Houston area is headed to Southeast Texas at the end of January.

The Toasted Yolk Cafe is set to open on Jan. 23 at the old K-Bobs location on Phelan Boulevard.

Created by Chris Milton and Mathew DeMott in 2010, the cafe serves American breakfast classics staples and chef-inspired brunch items in a laid-back atmosphere, according to the company.

The Beaumont location is managed by Brett Baumgartner and was taking applications as of Monday.

The spot at 6455 Phelan Blvd. was the former home to K-Bobs Americas Kitchen, which closed in June.

The Rotolos Pizzeria location in Beaumont has closed.

The restaurant and bar closed its Facebook page, and posted a sign at its 3015 North Dowlen Road storefront over the weekend thanking customers for their patronage.

The retail space the pizzeria was located in is owned and managed by H-E-B.

The location was opened in 2014 by franchisee Fabrice Ramcourt, who also owns a location in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Ramcourt said he didnt have a comment about the location since it has been managed by Rotolos corporate office for some time.

Representatives from the corporate office were not immediately available for comment.

Mitchell Rotolo Sr. founded Rotolos Pizzeria in 1996, with the first restaurant located near Louisiana State Universitys campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Pearland High School marching band, "The Pride of Pearland," is preparing for its big New Year's Day performance at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. And they're thrilled about it, if their social media channels are any indication.

The talented hometown high school group is sharing photos from their time in Pasadena, which included a stop at the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, California, on Tuesday.
Dazzling fireworks, dance parties and mid-night masses in churches marked the onset of the New Year in Goa where thousands of people, including locals and tourists, held celebrations throughout the night to welcome 2020.

People thronged the beaches since Tuesday evening to witness the last sunset of 2019 and revelry continued till the wee hours of Wednesday.

Barring a few cases of drunk driving, no other untoward incident was reported, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

People attended mid-night masses at churches and organised fireworks on the beaches to usher in the New Year in the state, he said.

Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose father hails from Sindhudurg district of neighbouring Maharashtra, was among those who celebrated the New Year in Goa.

He arrived here on December 30 and is staying at a resort in North Goa district.

A senior police official on Wednesday said, "No untoward incident was reported during the night. Festivities continued till the wee hours."



Checkings were conducted on all major routes leading to various beaches, he said.

"Traffic police registered a few cases of drunk driving. All efforts were made to maintain proper law and order everywhere in the state," the official said.

Local Christians attended mid-night masses in various churches across the state.

The ceremony welcoming the New Year began in churches at 11 pm, and culminated at the stroke of midnight with the ringing of bells.

Traditional dances were performed by artists and locals at various places, especially in the Catholic-dominated Salcette tehsil of South Goa district.

Revellers started thronging the state's scenic beaches from Tuesday evening.

A huge rush was seen at Miramar, Calangute, Candolim, Baga, Sinquerim, Keri and Morjim beaches in North Goa district, and Colva, Benaulim, Betalbhatim, Palolem and Galjibag seafronts in South Goa.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Porvorim) Edwin Colaco said over 700 policemen were stationed at various points to maintain law and order.

Special patrolling helplines were also set up and local intelligence was stepped-up, he said.

The coastal state is one of the favourite destinations for domestic and foreign tourists to ring in the New Year.

Celebrations at some places are expected to spill over till Thursday as the state government has relaxed the ban on playing music late at night for two days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union activists and supporters rally against the Supreme Court's ruling in the Janus v. AFSCME case, in Foley Square in Lower Manhattan in New York City on June 27, 2018. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

9th Circuit Rules Union Gets to Keep Unconstitutional Forced Dues

Government unions dont have to refund so-called agency fees to public employees who were forced to pay them before the Supreme Court struck down such mandatory dues as unconstitutional in 2018, a federal appeals court ruled.

The ruling is a victory for the labor movement, which has been seeing a drop-off in membership figures since the Supreme Courts landmark ruling in Janus v. AFSCME (2018) threw a wrench in how unions finance their operations.

In Janus, the Supreme Court overruled Abood v. Detroit Board of Education (1977), which held public-sector unions could collect forced agency fees from non-members to finance their collective bargaining activities, without infringing the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

As the Olympia-based Freedom Foundation summed up the Janus decision: Everything a public-sector union does is political advocacy, and the First Amendment does not tolerate compulsory subsidization of political advocacy.

After the 2018 opinion, unions stopped collecting the fees.

But three Washington state government workers who, prior to the Janus ruling, were compelled to remit agency fees to the Washington Federation of State Employees even though they werent members, have sued, seeking an award of damages for agency fees wrongfully seized for themselves and similarly situated workers, their legal complaint stated.

A federal trial court in Washington state dismissed the lawsuit in November 2018. The plaintiffs appealed, and a panel of three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the union and upheld the trial court in a ruling Dec. 26 in the case cited as Danielson v. Inslee. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has also held that public employees have no right to a refund for agency fee payments made before the Janus ruling.

The 9th Circuit panel consisted of Judges Ronald M. Gould, Jacqueline H. Nguyen, and Gregory A. Presnell. Nguyen was appointed by then-President Obama; Gould and Presnell were appointed by then-President Bill Clinton.

Writing for the unanimous panel in a 20-page decision, Nguyen found the union had collected the fees in good faith and shouldnt have to return them.

The Union bears no fault for acting in reliance on state law and Supreme Court precedent, Nguyen wrote. It collected and spent fees under the assumptionsanctioned by the nations highest courtthat its conduct was constitutional. And the Union provided a service to contributing employees in exchange for the agency fees it received.

The union is not required to forecast changing winds at the Supreme Court, she wrote.

It is true that, under current law, the employees suffered a constitutional wrong for which they may have no viable means of compensation if the good faith defense prevails, Nguyen wrote. Nonetheless, it would not be equitable to order the transfer of funds from one innocent actor to another, particularly where the latter received a benefit from the exchange.

Its unclear if the Washington state employees will appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.

The Janus ruling has spurred a flurry of legal activity.

Two Wisconsin attorneys are relying on the Janus opinion in their challenge to compulsory state bar association fees.

Adam Jarchow and Michael Dean are expected to petition the Supreme Court to end mandatory bar association fees, which are common to the regulation of legal practice in at least 30 states, The Daily Caller News Foundation reported.

The plaintiffs say their case is a natural extension of the Supreme Courts 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision, which struck down mandatory agency fee payments to public sector unions on First Amendment grounds. The dispute presents the high court with its first opportunity to extend the Janus decision to other contexts.

The National Right to Work Foundation is reportedly litigating about 30 cases related to Janus that seek more than $120 million in refunds.
Every day, for the past year, Victorian authorities tasked with reducing road trauma asked themselves: Why was 2019 such a horror year?

More than 263 people lost their lives on our roads last year  a 23 per cent increase on the year before, and the worst figure since 290 people died in 2016.

'They're not just numbers': Road Policing Commander Libby Murphy (centre) with TAC chief executive Joe Calafiore and Road Safety Minister Jaala Pulford. Credit:Scott McNaughton

Thousands more have had their lives upended with serious injuries, and many more have had their lives forever changed after losing a loved one in a road fatality.

"Every one of those people killed on our roads this year is a family member, a friend, a relative and a community member," Road Policing Command Libby Murphy said on Wednesday.
Barbara Pinkney was spending time with her family the day after Christmas and ushering in her 70th birthday at her Bradenton, Florida, home when knocks at the door interrupted the festive mood and eventually resulted in her arrest.

Pinkney is facing two felony charges of resisting arrest and battery on an officer after an interaction with law enforcement that involved their search for her grandson.

Pinkney told The Washington Post that she thinks authorities kicked on the door because the sound was too hard to be a knock, she said. She looked out one of her front windows and saw two deputies near her car. Her 19-year-old granddaughter was in the back of her house and saw two officers in the back of the home, she said.

Deputies were searching for Pinkney's grandson, Tevin Turner, on an arrest warrant for violating his probation by carrying a concealed weapon, according to the probable cause affidavit. Authorities went to Pinkney's home because Turner had provided her address while he was on probation although he wasn't living at her home, Pinkney told WFLA.

Patrol deputies were trying to enter her home for about several minutes, according to the affidavit.

Manatee County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Riley told a man standing at Pinkney's door that officers had a warrant and that if they found Turner inside the home, he could also be arrested, according to the report.

Pinkney walked to the front door and identified herself as the owner of the home and said, "You aren't coming inside without a search warrant," according to the affidavit.

Riley didn't need a search warrant because of a Florida statute that gives officers the right to enter a building with an arrest warrant if there is belief that a suspect is present.

After Riley explained that to Pinkney, she still refused to step aside. "No, you show me the warrant," she said, according to the report.

Pinkney said she didn't know about the law.

Riley gave one more warning: If he came in and found Turner or if Pinkney prevented him from coming in, she would be arrested, according to documents.

As deputies pushed the door in, Pinkney blocked it with her left leg while trying to close it, according to footage taken by a relative that was obtained by WFLA.

An officer grabs the grandmother by the wrist as she pulls back, and the pop of a stun gun is heard. She screams.

"It was hurting and that's when I went down," she said. "The silver piece went in my arm and it was sticking out."

Pinkney was stunned in the left arm, which had no effect on her, according to the report.

She was stunned again in the back, taken to the ground and rolled onto her stomach, the affidavit states. She refused to place her hands behind her back, clutching them beneath her body, according to the report.

Pinkney said she had fallen on her hands and wasn't trying to resist arrest.

"I couldn't move," she said.

Riley placed his knee on Pinkney's back and warned that he would stun her again if she didn't comply. Pinkney again resisted, and Riley used his stun gun on her upper back after, according to the document. The third strike didn't have any impact on the 5-foot-2-inch woman, according to the report.

As Riley held Pinkney on the ground with his knee, another officer placed handcuffs on her, according to the report.

Pinkney said she still has bruises on her arm from the stun gun and marking on her face from being pinned down and having her face mashed by the officer.

Pinkney then refused to get into the patrol car, leading Riley to pull her body inside, according to his statement.

Pinkney's grandson wasn't found in her home. Riley said that there was enough time for him to leave through the back of the home, given all the "chaos" at the front, according to the affidavit.

As officers were leaving the scene, a neighbor's dog got loose and tried to attack a police dog. The threatening dog was also stunned by officers, authorities said.

Pinkney was booked Thursday morning and released Friday evening after her daughter posted $1,000 bond. She spent the night in jail crying, she said. If convicted on her charges, she faces up to six years of incarceration, six years of probation and up to $6,000 in fines.

The penalties are something she tries not think about, she said.

In a statement Monday, Sheriff Rick Wells defended the actions of his officers.

"Deputies had lawful reason to enter the residence and search for Tevin Turner," Wells wrote. "Had Barbara Pinkney complied with the duputies orders, none of this would have happened. From everything we can see at this point, it appears the deputy did what he had to do."

He added that the department takes "allegations of excessive force seriously, which is why we have opened an internal investigation to gather all the facts."

Riley was named in a lawsuit for a similar situation after a July 2008 search went awry for a 75-year-old man's grandson. The man refused to allow Riley in his home without a search warrant after telling officers his grandson was in Washington state, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

The man was arrested and charged with the same offenses as Pinkney's but was cleared in January 2009, the paper reported.

The man unsuccessfully sued Riley and other officers, accusing them of unlawful entry to his home, false arrest, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Officers were cleared of the charges, according to Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

For Pinkney, her experience with Riley and the other officers continues to haunt her at night with flashbacks, she said.

"I was thinking they might be coming back," she said.
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday slammed Congress and previous SAD-BJP alliance governments of being "hand in glove with the government-sponsored power mafia" calling the shots in Punjab.



"If Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and state party president, Sunil Jakhar, were seized of the issues and concerns of Punjab and the Punjabis, they would done a precious little to review and scrap the Power Purchase Agreements (PPOs) inked between the then Badal government and private power plants by ordering a review of the financial transactions in the power sector during the 10-year tenure of the Badal government," the statement issued by AAP read.

"Sukhbir Singh Badal, who led the march for the closure of the government thermal plants in the state giving an alibi that Punjab was a power-surplus state, due to which an average household was left with no option but to cough of Rs 9 per unit in the state today," the statement added.

The AAP leaders said that like the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, the private companies should be shown the door and government thermal plants revived in order to generate cheaper electricity through hydro-dams. (ANI)


General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army's northern command Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited forward bases and posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on New Year day and reviewed operational preparedness.

Accompanied by Jammu-based White Knight Corps Commander, Lt Gen Harsha Gupta, the northern command chief visited the troops in Krishna Ghati sector and wished them a prosperous new year, a defence spokesman said.

During the visit to the sector, Lt Gen Singh was briefed by the commanders on the ground about the current operational situation, prevailing security scenario and the preparedness of the formations.

He was also briefed on the use of high-end technological equipment and innovations by the units on the ground to monitor intrusions and infiltration bids along the LoC, the spokesman said.

He said Lt Gen Singh extended new year wishes to soldiers and complimented them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism.

"The need to be prepared for effectively meeting emerging security challenge was also reinforced," the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rise Lakewood is GTIs 39th Store in the Nation and 20th Store to Open in 2019 to Finish Year on High End of Previous Store Opening Guidance

CHICAGO and LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green Thumb Industries (GTI) (CSE:GTII) (GTBIF), a leading national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and owner of Rise and Essence retail stores, today announced it will open its 39th location, Rise Lakewood, on December 31. This is the fourth Rise store in Ohio, Lakewoods first cannabis retail store, and the fifth store GTI will open in December.



We are thrilled to open the first of our two retail locations in Lakewood and to help more Ohioans improve well-being through cannabis, while creating jobs at our stores and manufacturing facility, said GTI Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ben Kovler. This is our 39th store in the nation and the 20th weve opened this year  the high end of our previous guidance of 35 to 40 open stores by year-end and 15 to 20 new store openings in 2019.

GTI opened Rise stores in Cleveland, Toledo and Lorain earlier this year and has licenses to open up to five cannabis stores in the state, including a second location in Lakewood on Detroit Avenue. The company was awarded Ohio cultivation and processing licenses earlier this year and will produce GTIs branded cannabis products, including brands Rythm and incredibles, in a facility located in Toledo.

I look forward to seeing all the good this dispensary will do for the community, said State Representative Juanita Brent. Cannabis has proven to be an effective method to help people who are addicted to opioids and it is time to stop criminalizing a plant.

Lakewood is located seven miles outside of Cleveland, the second largest city in Ohio. The number of registered patients in Ohio has reached 74,768 as of November 2019. In an analysis conducted in July 2018, more than 3.5 million Ohioans have qualifying medical conditions. Estimates expect nearly 200,000 to 300,000 patients will eventually participate in the Ohio medical marijuana program. Those interested in the states medical marijuana program can visit https://www.medicalmarijuana.ohio.gov/ .

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Rise Lakewood is located at 11818 Madison Avenue in Lakewood. Hours are Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. While usually closed on Tuesdays, Rise Lakewood will be open on December 31 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

About Green Thumb Industries:

Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a national cannabis consumer packaged goods company and retailer, is dedicated to providing dignified access to cannabis while giving back to the communities in which they serve. GTI manufactures and distributes a portfolio of branded cannabis products including Beboe, Dogwalkers, Dr. Solomons, incredibles, Rythm and The Feel Collection. The company also owns and operates rapidly growing national retail cannabis stores called Rise and Essence. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, GTI has 13 manufacturing facilities, licenses for 96 retail locations and operations across 12 U.S. markets. Established in 2014, GTI employs approximately 1,400 people and serves thousands of patients and customers each year. GTI was named a Best Workplace 2018 by Crains Chicago Business and MG Retailer magazine in 2018 and 2019. More information is available at GTIgrows.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of GTI with respect to future business activities. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, or similar expressions and include information regarding the future direction and business objectives of GTI. The forwardlooking information in this news release is based upon the expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and views of future events which management believes to be reasonable in the circumstances and expectations relating to general economic and market conditions. Any forwardlooking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, GTI does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forwardlooking information in this news release is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those express or implied. When considering these forwardlooking statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in GTIs public filings with the applicable securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , including the risk factors set out in GTIs annual information form dated July 10, 2018.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Investor Contact: Media Contact Jennifer Dooley Linda Marsicano Chief Strategy Officer VP, Corporate Communications InvestorRelations@gtigrows.com lmarsicano@gtigrows.com 310-622-8257 773-354-2004 Source: Green Thumb Industries

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7420a8a2-c164-4124-bd57-22c660ccf7e1.


As Paul noted a little while ago, pro-Iran militia forces known as Kataeb Hezbollah have besieged the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. They are being referred to in news accounts a protesters, but in fact they are a trained and organized military force. The attackers breached the outer wall of the embassy compound and then milled around, set fires, etc.

Apparently many liberals are trying to portray this attack as Trumps Benghazi; Benghazi is now the most trending word on Twitter, with 231,000 tweets. There is, of course, no analogy: President Trump has not ignored calls for help, and instead has sent Marines to reinforce the embassys guards and Iraqi troops. So far, there have been no American casualties.

Trump has been tweeting up a storm today. Some, but by no means most of his tweets have related to the Iranian military operation in Baghdad. Here they are, in chronological order, with a few retweets left out:

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

.Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

The Anti-Benghazi!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019



You probably have seen video of the embassy attack, but if you havent, this four-minute summary from the Washington Post isnt bad:

As usual, the Daily Mail has the best pictures, for example:

Many more at the link. All of this has to do with the fact that Irans leaders are feeling the heat of President Trumps maximum pressure campaign. Last Friday, a missile strike by Iran or one of its proxies on a military installation in Kirkuk killed a civilian American contractor and wounded several American, as well as Iraqi, troops. In retaliation, the U.S. carried out strikes that killed 25 Kataeb Hezbollah members. Iran responded with todays embassy attack. President Trump vowed further retaliation via the tweet above. I assume it will be forthcoming.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 11:19:19|Editor: zyl

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Tuesday that the United States will deploy about 750 troops immediately to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"Approximately 750 Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF (the Immediate Response Force) are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said the Pentagon chief in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

The Pentagon's decision came hours after hundreds of demonstrators, in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Many of the protesters, wearing Hashd Shaabi's military uniforms, rallied outside the embassy chanting slogans condemning airstrikes by the U.S. forces against Hashd Shaabi bases in Iraq.

The protest then turned violent as protesters set ablaze a guard tower and the outer gate of the embassy, an official from the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

U.S. President Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet. He later threatened in another tweet that Iran "will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities."

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," the White House host added.

Also on Tuesday, Trump spoke over phone with Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, emphasizing the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq, said the White House in a statement.

According to Esper, the troops to be deployed come from an infantry battalion from the IRF 82nd Airborne Division.

U.S. forces on Sunday attacked five locations in Iraq and Syria controlled by Iraq's paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or Hezbollah Brigades, in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, triggering strong responses from Iraq and Syria. And Iran has denied any role in the recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

Hashd Shaabi, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization, was formed by the KH and other Shia Iraqi paramilitary groups in 2014. It currently consists of more than 40 militant groups.
Adding to the volatility is the uncertainty around President Trumps impeachment trial, which could unfold at any time in January. Republicans have been seeking to shift attention to Biden and his son Hunter, despite no evidence of wrongdoing on their part, while the senators in the race have been trying to make every minute count before they may be stuck in Washington for the trial.
A letter written to the Delhi High Court by a woman before her death not only helped her get justice but also led to the recovery of her minor child.

Relying on that letter submitted by the deceased named Rakhi, the Delhi High Court has upheld the trial court's judgement convicting her husband, Vinay Tiwari, for setting her ablaze and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

A Division Bench of Justices Manmohan and Sangeeta Dhingra Sehgal stated, "In view of Section 8 of the Evidence Act, it is relevant to note that the convict after the deceased was injured gave away his minor daughter aged about one and a half year to a man who was living in Jammu and she was recovered only after the deceased disclosed the said fact in her dying declarations."

The court said that her declarations were corroborated by the testimonies of mother and father.

"Even though the family members of the deceased were residing near the hospital where she was admitted, yet they were not informed...the deceased herself had managed to make a telephone call to them."

The court also observed that convict Vinay Tiwari had absconded after the death of the deceased and it was only after proceedings under Section 82 CrPC (to declare him as absconder) were initiated against him that he surrendered.

It was also noted that the conduct of the convict post the gruesome incident further strengthened the case of the prosecution.

After the trial court convicted him, Tiwari challenging it in the High Court last year.

The case of the prosecution is that the appellant-convict and deceased had married each other on April 5, 2006, and thereafter, the appellant-convict had subjected her to cruelty and harassment for dowry.

On October 30, 2008, Rakhi suffered burn injuries at her home in Delhi's Mandawali area and was shifted to the LNJP Hospital, where ASI Ramesh Chand, as well as the Executive Magistrate, recorded her statement on the same day. The deceased, however, made no allegations against the appellant-convict in these statements.

As per the prosecution, on November 19, 2008, Rakhi called her parents using the mobile phone of another patient, who was being treated in the same hospital and informed them about her condition. Thereafter, her parents came to the hospital and she told them that the appellant-convict had poured kerosene on her and set her on fire.

Subsequently, the father of the deceased wrote a letter dated December 16, 2008, to the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to record the statement of his daughter and contended that the first statement was recorded under threat.

Another letter dated December 26, 2008, was addressed to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court by the deceased herself, in which she stated that her husband had set her on fire after pouring kerosene and that she was also harassed by her in-laws on account of dowry. Almost a month later, she succumbed to her injuries.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One year ago, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stood on the capitol steps during her inauguration.

She championed working across partisan lines to get things done for Michigan, a goal that would seem elusive at some points throughout 2019.

One year in, she hasnt gotten her signature accomplishment -- to fix the damn roads -- through. But shes acted decisively on issues that are important to her, traded barbs with the Republican-led legislature and built expectations and relationships that will prove important in 2020 and beyond, experts say.

I think the most important thing, probably, that we learned about the governor and her governing style, is shes willing to approach her negotiating partners assuming good faith on their part, said Adrian Hemond, partner and CEO at political consulting group Grassroots Midwest.

That tactic led her straight into a wall when it came to getting a long-term funding solution for the states roads, rated the worst in the country this year after suffering decades of under-investment. She proposed a 45-cent gas tax increase in February. It got a tepid reception from the legislature -- including some Democrats -- and immediately stalled.

Whtimer and Republican leaders House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, tried to set aside roads and work out a budget deal, and then locked horns on that, too. The legislature ended up sending her a budget bill her office hadnt negotiated on, and she vetoed 147 line items and invited the legislature back to the table.

It was two months of back-and-forth before they came to an agreement on a supplemental bill to restore some of that spending.

In some ways, the budget deal became representative of Whitmers relationship with the Republican leaders.

Shes not afraid to be tough. But at the same time, I think she underestimated the legislature and their reaction, said John Truscott, CEO of public relations firm Truscott Rossman.

It was a good example of executive power, too, he said. When you veto something, you have to own it, he said, and its hard to point fingers at anybody else.

But it also showed a willingness from all parties to come back to the table, and one goal of Whitmers coming in was to keep an open line of communication with the legislature.

One of the things I think was really important that we did was have quadrant meetings. They werent always substantive. They werent always fun. But I think that having an open dialogue was really important, Whitmer said at her year-end roundtable.

In the end, she and the legislature came together on the budget.

Earlier in the year, they came to an agreement on changes to the states no-fault auto insurance, breaking new ground on an issue that had been causing a legislative log-jam in Lansing for years. She, Shirkey and Chatfield basked in the accomplishment as she signed the bill on the porch of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in May.

She also went alone on a few big pushes in 2019. She became a national leader in banning flavored vapes, strengthened LGBT protections in state government, kicked off an initiative to decrease opioid deaths and made it easier to get welfare assistance.

But there was no resolution for roads, which remain stalled.

Whitmer said in a year-end roundtable with reporters that her team was coming up with a new proposal.

The legislature showed a complete lack of courage when it came to actually solving the problem. Lacked courage to even put an alternative plan on the table. And so, to do the same thing in year two I think would probably not be wise."

Dave Dulio, professor of political science at Oakland University, said voters are keeping track of whether Whitmer fulfills her signature campaign promise to fix the roads.

Whoever runs against her will use it as a yoke.... She told you she was going to fix the roads, wheres the fix?" Dulio said.

But he and others noted her term goes for three more years, enough time for a road proposal to come to fruition.

Hemond said she was bound to put out a bold road plan early since she ran on it. But going forward, he said, she could do some coalition-building and get people on board with a different proposal.

This time around, I dont think it makes a ton of sense to go it alone, he said.

And part of that could involve letting voters decide, especially because House Republicans are up for election in 2020.

The political incentives for House republicans are not to vote for a large tax increase. Punting to the ballot, I think, could make some sense, Hemond said.

Truscott said the Republican leaders and Whitmer learned a lot about working with each other in 2019, something that could help going into a new round of road discussions. In the end, he said, what will matter is Whitmer getting something done on roads, not her 45-cent plan sputtering out.

I remind people that in the Engler administration, it took us three times to get property tax reform. And we had some pretty big failures along the way. But all that people remember is when we got it done, Truscott said.
Diabetes Self-Management Program to be offered

A diabetes self-management program is being offered at the Neighborhood Community Center located at 57 Kaigler Road in Georgetown, Georgia, for those interested in learning how to manage their diabetes better. You do not have to live in Georgia to attend the classes. The program will consist of workshop sessions held weekly that will last for two hours. The workshop will last for six weeks. Dates for the classes are Jan. 8, Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and Feb. 12. Each class will start at 10 a.m. EST. The cost for all six session of the workshop is $25. A scholarship may be available for the first 10 to sign up. To register for the classes, please call Sara Lee Crumbs at 229-334-7553.

Flu shots available

The Barbour County Health Department now has flu vaccines available. Please call your local department to make an appointment. The address and phone numbers for Barbour County Health Department locations are: 634 School St. in Eufaula, 334-687-4808; and 39 Browder St. in Clayton, 334-775-3234. Walk-ins will also be accepted subject to nurse availability.

Greeting Cards sought

Do you have greeting cards that you have bought and decided not to use, or bought a boxed set and only used a few? The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Barbour County is looking for greeting cards to use to send birthday greetings, get well wishes, and to recognize many other occasions to their volunteers and the Friends of the RSVP. Christmas cards are also needed. To donate cards drop them off at the RSVP office located at 803 West Washington Street in Eufaula. The office is directly across the street from Medical Center Barbour.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected India's new Army chief's statement that New Delhi reserves the right to "preemptively strike" across the Line of Control (LoC), terming the remarks as "irresponsible".

In an exclusive interview to PTI barely hours after taking charge of the 1.3-million strong force, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday said that India reserves the right to "preemptively strike" at sources of terror.

He asserted that a "new normal" in the country's response mechanism to acts of cross-border terrorism has already been "emphatically" displayed. "If Pakistan does not stop its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we reserve the right to preemptively strike at the sources of terror threat and this intent has adequately been demonstrated in our response during surgical strikes and Balakot operation," the Army Chief said in New Delhi, in a stern warning to Islamabad.

ALSO READ| Hope peace along China frontier will eventually lead to resolution of border dispute: Army Chief

Reacting to Gen Naravane's remarks, the Pakistan Foreign Office in a statement said, "We reject the new Indian Army Chief's irresponsible statement regarding 'pre-emptive strikes' across the LoC" inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The statement said that there should be no doubt about Pakistan's resolve and readiness to thwart any aggressive Indian move, inside its territory or PoK. "No one should forget Pakistan's befitting response to India's Balakot misadventure," it added.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26.

ALSO READ| New CDS Bipin Rawat stresses on integration between Army, Navy, Air Force

The next day, the Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. "Despite India's provocations, Pakistan would continue contributing to all efforts of promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond," the statement said.

Ties between the two neighbours further worsened after India on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories. Reacting sharply to India's decision, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled India's ambassador in Islamabad.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter. It has also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

Following the abrogation of Article 370, the Indian government imposed restrictions, including ban on mobile phones and Internet, in Jammu and Kashmir to maintain law and order. The restrictions are being gradually lifted in a phased manner.
China Post workers display stamps designed by Yuan Yishan, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1. [Photo by Hao Qunying/For China Daily]



Yuan Yishan, a designer and engraver in her late 30s, works with the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post.

During her childhood in Shandong province, Yuan's father worked at a printery next to the local post office.

"My father was fond of collecting stamps and often took me to weekend markets to exchange stamps with other collectors," Yuan said.

Her father died two weeks before her college entrance exam. All he left to the 19-year-old Yuan was a box of stamps.

Earning the highest academic test score in the country, Yuan entered the predecessor of today's Tsinghua University Academy of Arts and Design to study painting and sculpture. She did not realize that her future would be so closely linked to stamps, but the connection would soon take off.

On Oct 1, China Post issued stamps commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Yuan was the designer. The five-piece set presents China's coordinated economic, political, cultural, social and environmental advancement.

The stamps feature the Chinese people and reflect the idea of them sharing in the accomplishments of China's development. Yuan used red, pink, purple and blue to depict colorful images.

Children display stamps designed by Yuan Yishan, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1. [Photo by Hao Qunying/For China Daily]



New China is young and vigorous, Yuan said. "In my view, China is like the stampscolorful and gorgeous," she said.

"I was born at the beginning of reform and opening-up, and have personally experienced the changes brought to China over the past 40 years. The prosperity of the country can enable each and every Chinese to live a happy life when the government has done so much to benefit many aspects of our lives."

The Chinese people expect better education, stable jobs, satisfactory income, advanced medical services and comfortable living conditions, Yuan said.

Chinese people now expect their children to live better lives than previous generations, she said.

"Now, as a mom, I feel the same. I hope my child will grow up in a prosperous era, and genuinely hope my country will be prosperous and our people happy. Designing these stamps allowed me to express that hope," Yuan said.

In 2011, China Post hosted an engraving training course, taught by Martin Morck, a renowned engraver from Denmark.

The workshop marked the first time that China had invited a famous overseas engraver to host a training class in the field since 1949.

At the end of the seven-month course, Yuan's engraving works received the highest score.

"She is very talented. In her own style, she presented Chinese elements in her work," the Dane recently told Xinhua.

"There is so much power in her, and she can do a lot more beyond her limitations," added Morck, now a guest professor at Tsinghua.

Stamps are important in China, even though many countries no longer attach as much importance to stamp engraving due to the rise of the internet. "China stands strong in the field," Morck said.



(Source: Xinhua & China Daily)
Gujarat has received Rs 24,012 crore in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in various sectors during the first half of the financial year 2019-20, which is almost double compared with the FDI recieved in the entire FY 2018-19, a state government release said.

The state had received Rs 12,612 crore FDI during the last fiscal.

As per the report of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Gujarat attracted FDI of Rs 24,012 crore between April and September of the current fiscal, which is double than the entire investment received last year, the state government stated in a release.

"This shows that Gujarat has emerged as the best destination for investment in the country. Between April 2000 and September 2019, the state has received a cumulative FDI worth Rs 1,41,000 crore," it stated.

Out of the 2574 large industries set up across India in the last three years, 734 such large units were set up in Gujarat alone, it said.

Gujarat has managed to achieve this feat because of transparent and pro-people and pro-industry policies of the Vijay Rupani government, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mark Wright and his wife Michelle Keegan pulled out all the stops on New Year's Eve when they hosted a fancy dress party for their family and friends.

Mark stepped out of his comfort zone when he dressed up as rocker Marilyn Manson, wearing a black wig and bright blue eyeshadow.

Michelle also dressed as a Marilyn, but chose to pay tribute to Marilyn Monroe, with a blonde curly wig and her iconic cream dress.

Marilyn meets Marilyn: Mark Wright dressed up as Marilyn Manson and his wife Michelle Keegan channelled Hollywood siren Marilyn Monroe as they hosted a NYE fancy dress party

The Beautiful People: Mark looked just like the controversial rocker (pictured in 2003; left) and Michelle channelled an altogether different Marilyn

Mark shared a series of images from the party and wrote: 'Marilyn and Marilyn threw 1 helluva fancy dress NYE bash last night.

'What a way to see in the new year, all of our friends and family in 1 room having the time of our lives.

'Thanks for being there you lot and happy new year to everybody.'

The Dope Show: Mark was a dead ringer for iconic rocker Manson with his blue eyeshadow, black wig and inkings

Too hot? Mark's wig didn't stay on him for long though and he was soon catching up with Derek Trotter

Some like it hot: Michelle looked just like Hollywood movie star Marilyn in her ensemble

Spot the celebs: Mark and Michelle had clearly invited a lot of people to their party

He added: 'p.s the theme was, something beginning with the first letter of your first name!!'

Also at the party was Mark's sister, Jess, who pulled out all the stops as she transformed into Julia Robert's Pretty Woman character Vivian Ward.

The reality star, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the character's iconic blue sequin cut out minidress and vinyl thigh-high boots.

Pretty Woman: Mark's sister Jess pulled out all the stops as she transformed into Julia Robert's Pretty Woman character Viv

Jess flaunted her surgically-enhanced cleavage in the tiny dress as well her toned abs- thanks to the costume's cut-out detailing at the waist.

The former TOWIE star finished off costume with a red blazer, black baker boy hat and ditched long brunette hair for a platinum blonde wig.

Jess typed: 'Im gonna treat you so nice, youre never gonna let me go. Seeing the new year in as Viv ... Happy New Year'.

Wow factor: The reality star, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the iconic blue sequin cut out minidress and vinyl thigh-high boots (Julia as Pretty Woman right in 1990)

Divas: Jess' younger sister Natalya, meanwhile, dressed as Tina Turner as she donned an Afro wig and gold sparkly sequin mini dress

Fancy dress: The sisters were joined by mum Carol who donned a Cleopatra costume

Jess' younger sister Natalya, meanwhile, dressed as Tina Turner as she donned an Afro wig and gold sparkly sequin mini dress.

The sisters were joined by mum Carol who donned a Cleopatra costume.

Jess previously spoke to MailOnline about her famous family's Christmas plans as she gushed over her new boyfriend William earlier this year.

Turning heads: The former TOWIE star finished off costume with a red blazer, black baker boy hat and ditched long brunette hair for a platinum blonde wig

Ready to party: Jess typed: 'Im gonna treat you so nice, youre never gonna let me go. Seeing the new year in as Viv ... Happy New Year'

She said: 'We've got a few things planned, its actually really nice to be spending Christmas with someone this year and someone that I love so much.'

This was be Jess' brother Mark's first Christmas back in the UK after he moved back to Essex earlier this year after jetting out to LA in 2017 for a presenting career.

Jess said: 'Were all at my mums this year, shes cooking for all 15 of us or something so thatll be fun. Then in the evening all of our cousins, aunts and uncles come round.'

Carol added that she's happy to have Mark back home, she added: 'I love it when theyre all together, I hate it when one of them isnt around when were doing a big family thing so its nice theyre all available to get together.'
Thats because the ban put the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies in an impossible position: Congress had effectively decreed that whatever researchers found when studying gun violence, that research couldnt bolster the case for gun control. It was a classic instance of putting politics before science, with a preemptive decree that the research must not lead to solutions that many would consider common sense.

As a result, we know far less today than we should about gun violence  though, thankfully, research outside the federal government has continued to provide some crucial data.

We know, for example, that the U.S. has by far the highest rate of private gun ownership in the advanced world, and by far the highest rates of gun violence. Is that a cause and effect, or just a remarkable coincidence? Thats the kind of question federal researchers have stopped asking, for fear of running afoul of the Dickey Amendment.

The insertion of the $25 million in the spending bill was a nod to political reality: With a Democrat-controlled House demanding progress on gun safety for the first time in decades, failure to include any research appropriation could have complicated passage of the spending bill. Its yet another reminder that elections matter.
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Australian prime minister John Howard's government was seriously concerned the Y2K bug could lead to a 'collapse of essential services', newly released documents have revealed.

The world braced for potential chaos in the lead up to calendars ticking over to January 1, 2000, in the fear that computers would not recognise the new date and fail to function.

Archived documents released on Wednesday showed the Australian government shared the panic, worried about potentially chaotic consequences for bank, social security, interest and all other payments.

The effects of the Y2K computer bug were predicted to be catastrophic with some commenters going so far as to say planes could fall from the sky

Even Australia's prime minister at the time John Howard was worried the Millenium, or Y2K computer bug. could bring electronic systems around the globe to a halt

In a submission to cabinet dated February 1999, the foreign minister Alexander Downer and deputy prime minister Tim Fischer cited a wide range of international Y2K risks that could impact on Australia.

The collapse of essential services would likely lead to more Australians overseas at the time seeking consular assistance and possibly needing to be brought home. Australia's overseas trade could be hard hit.

'Many companies in more vulnerable countries may (face) severe Y2K disruption, which could result in non-payment, cancellation of future orders, and potentially serious damage to Australian firms dealing with such companies,' they said.

The ministers noted that Australian business and industry were considered well-prepared for Y2K but some smaller firms might not be.

About 38 per cent of Australia's trade ($68 billion in 1997-98) was with nations classified as high to extreme Y2K risk, with more than 50 per cent of companies likely to experience one critical failure. That included Japan, Germany, China and Indonesia.

Even more shockingly the bug was considered a risk to the security of major weapons systems including nuclear weapons, whose launch capabilities were controlled by computers.

There could be serious and widespread civil unrest in some countries in the event of prolonged breakdown of infrastructure, including utilities and food distribution.

Not everyone was convinced.

Electronic systems such as those used in ATM machines were thought to be at risk of shutting down leaving Australians without access to cash

In its comment, Treasury said the submission portrayed the risks associated with Y2K in an overly pessimistic manner and suggested future cabinet consideration would benefit from a more 'balanced' assessment.

It pointed out that unlike most economic disturbances, the date of Y2K was known and that gave companies time and a strong incentive to prepare.

Still, the government wasn't about to take chances.

'The failure of many other countries to adequately address Y2K problems together with global economic and systems interdependence imposes clear limits on Australia's capacity to alleviate the impact of Y2K international problems in Australia,' the government said.

It embarked on a public information campaign to reassure the community that the government had the situation in hand while warning of possible adverse public responses to Y2K.

'These could include hoarding of cash, fuel and food and changed patterns of consumption, cancellation of travel and holiday plans and concern about law and order, national security, pensions and other payments,' said communications minister Richard Alston in a submission to cabinet in February 1999.

Around the world, governments, business and other concerned communities watched in anticipation as the clock ticked over to a new century. And nothing much happened.

Almost everything kept working as it was supposed to. Any problems were minor, such as those reported in Australia where bus ticket validation machines in two states failed.

It could be that nothing was going to happen anyway or there was enough warning to allow for effective mitigation, with an estimated $US300 billion spent worldwide preparing new computer systems.




By Jung Min-ho







A man was charged with a hate crime after allegedly attacking Korean tourists in Seattle last week, according to local media Wednesday (KST).





Citing court documents,

reported that the suspect, 30, yelled, "I hate Chinese," at a group of Korean men before assaulting two of them near the AMC movie theater at Pacific Place on Christmas Day.





The visitors from California, Missouri and Korea told police that the man hit one of them in the face and punched another in the back.





The suspect, who was convicted of felony assault in 2004 and 2016, has had 16 arrest warrants since 2016.





"Visitors to Seattle deserve to feel safe in the heart of our city," the nonprofit organization Downtown Seattle Association's spokesman was quoted as saying.





"With a string of recent arrests, it's clear this individual isn't getting the help he needs. We need to fix a system that is failing both the community and the repeat offender."


In her Facebook post, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said that MOM is also gearing up for Budget 2020 and the Committee of Supply debate. (PHOTO: YouTube screengrab)

SINGAPORE  The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be updating its Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), which deters employers from discriminating against Singaporeans when hiring.

Expect stronger deterrence for discrimination against Singaporeans when hiring, but also stronger support for employers who are committed to giving our people a fair chance, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo, who announced the move in a Facebook post on Wednesday (1 January).

Implemented in August 2014, the FCF obliges businesses here to prove that they are unable to hire local candidates before submitting more Employment Pass (EP) applications for foreign hires.

At the time, businesses with more than 25 employees with job openings for professionals, managers and executives that paid less than $12,000 per month had to run advertisements for at least 14 days before they were allowed to make an EP application. These rules were expanded in July 2018 to cover firms with more than 10 employees and job openings that pay less than $10,000 per month.

Elsewhere in her Facebook post, Teo noted MOMs 2019 milestones. These included sustaining a record low workplace fatality rate of 1.2 per 100,000 workers for two years in a row and a buidling 10-year roadmap to raise the retirement and re-employment ages to allow older employees to continue working.

Lower fatalities and injuries mean that more comparisons are favourable internationally. However, their real significance is fairness for workers whose lives are put at risk, said Teo, noting that this was the motivation for developing the Workplace Safety and Health 2028 plan.

The 51-year-old Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP added that MOM is also gearing up for Budget 2020 and the Committee of Supply debate. In good times, it is fair for employers to share gains. In times of change, it is fair for the Government to support the efforts of businesses that also benefit workers, said Teo.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat would be delivering the Budget 2020 statement on 18 February.

Related story:

Heng Swee Keat to deliver Budget 2020 statement on 18 Feb
Jan 1, 2020 KRR

The puja of actor Mammoottys new film was held in Kochi on New Year day. The yet-to-be-titled film is produced by filmmaker Unnikrishnan B and Anto Joseph. Mammukka for making the new year so very special. Anto and I jointly produce this one to be directed by Joffin T Chacko, Unnikrishnan posted on Facebook.

The film is helmed by debutant Joffin T Chacko. Meanwhile, Mammoottys new film Shylock is gearing up for release soon.

Click the Movie button below for more info:

Shylock

Mammootty Pictures
The Taliban are under pressure from Pakistan and the U.S. to sign a deal, and they may be putting on an appeasing face to buy time, but their past behavior shows they are difficult to trust, said Haroun Mir, an analyst in Kabul who helped found Afghanistans Center for Research and Policy Studies. If the insurgents agree to a brief truce during a cold winter, when fighting always slows, he said, it will mean nothing.
The political nature of Ihsan Abdel-Quddous literature could have seen more discussion this year during the celebrations of his centenary

Abbas was the ultimate ruler in the village; he literally ruled the people, the mayor and his assistants, and the guards too; he ruled the landowners and the peasants. This he did while he was only the assigned agriculture supervisor, but it was actually this job that put him in charge of the cooperative associate [which meant everything for the agricultural operation of the whole village] Abbas powers had no limits; he went from ruling everyone to taking charge of everyones life, and then he found his way into everyones homes; he did not just got into our homes, but into our very own rooms he then went to Fatemmah; my cousin, my love.

The words of Mohamed, the leading protagonist of Ihsan Abdel-Quddous The Bullet is Still in my Pocket, a two-volume story that came out in the wake of the October War, were inevitably politically metaphoric. Abdel-Quddous Fatemmah is Egypt and Mohamed is the Egyptian people. Abbas is the tyrant who oppressed everyone and violated Fatemmah.

It was after Egypts humiliating defeat of 1967 that Abdel-Quddous wrote the first volume of the book, titled A Single Bullet in my Pocket. Then, after the October Crossing in 1973, he wrote the second part: The Bullet is Still in my Pocket (AlRossasa latazal fi gaybi). By October 1974, the book was adapted into a movie that is still aired every year on Egyptian TV to mark the October War.

This book has a very clear political message, and even though Ihsan had put the famous disclaimer to disassociate his protagonists from any real-life characters, it was very clear who he was talking about, argued Khairy Douma, head of the Cairo University faculty of Arabic Literature.

Abdel-Quddous, Douma said, was very critical of the rule of Gamal Abdel-Nasser  not just for his record on human rights, but also for the defeat of 1967 that allowed Israel to occupy Sinai.

This political position and message were typical of the works of literature by the prominent novelists of the 1950s and 1960s, whose political and intellectual consciousness was formed in the years following the 1919 Revolution with calls for freedom and liberal values, Douma argued.

This was the case with Naguib Mahfouz, who was born in 1911, and Ihsan Abdel-Quddous, who was born in 1919, he added.

This year, the centenary of the 1919 Revolution and the birth of Abdel-Quddous were widely celebrated.

Abdel-Quddous was widely discussed as a journalist and a novelist who wrote some 600 novels and collections of short stories  with some 70 of these having been adapted into films or radio and TV soap operas. However, the political story in Abdel-Quddous literature received little attention during most of the events held throughout the year to celebrate the centenary of Abdel-Quddous birth.

I think there was always a deliberate disassociation of Ihsans literature from political satire, said Hatem Hafez, editor of the art and literature magazine Fonoun (Arts).

Hafez argued that Abdel-Quddous wrote many of his novels under the rule of Nasser, of whom he was very critical; consequently, his political literature was either dismissed or snubbed by most of the critics who did not share his liberal values and banked more on the hardcore socialist ideology.

Throughout his writing years, which started in the 1930s until he passed away in January 1990, Abdel-Quddous had one thing to advocate: liberalism and freedoms.

He truly believed in liberal values and he really took exception to oppression; this was not something that fared well before or after 1952, Hafez argued.

Abdel-Quddous never made a secret of his dismay over the autocratic style of the rule of the Free Officers who took over the country after the elimination of the monarchy in 1952.

Already an established journalist in the 1940s, Abdel-Quddous was already critical of the states management under King Farouk, the last king of Egypt, and his political entourage. It was actually Abdel-Quddous who wrote several investigative pieces by the mid-1940s to reveal the corruption among the political and executive elite.

In the book Ihsan Abdel-Quddous: The Battles of Love and Politics, which came out earlier this month, writer and researcher Zeinab Abdel-Razik reminds us that Abdel-Quddous was also very critical of the role of the political police under the monarchy.

Abdel-Razik says that in the late 1940s, Abdel-Quddous wrote: You have to die or to kill your opinion so that you would be of no interest to the political police, which simply wants to eliminate anyone who has any opinion.

Predictably, Abdel-Quddous joined many intellectuals and writers in offering support to the 1952 Revolution.

However, Abdel-Razik says, it did not take long for Abdel-Quddous to see that things were not taking the path of democracy and freedom that he hoped the Free Officers would embrace.

It was then that he wrote his highly controversial article The Secret Association (Al-Gamaiyah Al-Serryah), where he criticised the Revolution Council for failing the cause of liberty and freedoms.

In his novel My Dear, we are all Thieves (Ya azizi kolona lossous), Abdel-Quddous has his protagonist, Mortada Al-Salamony, say, We are the kings now; we took over from the king and anything that belonged to the king is now ours.

And in his novel To Keep the Smoke Inside (Hattah layatir aldokhan), Abdel-Quddous protagonist Fahmy Abdel-Hady is an opportunistic lawyer who started off as a poor student who did favours for richer students by holding their marijuana smoking sessions. Abdel-Hady ends up in the full service of the rich and influential men of the post 1952 Revolution, who, like the powerful and influential men of pre-1952, would come to the same apartment to smoke weed and have fun.

According to the Abdel-Raziks recent book, Abdel-Quddous continued to be critical beyond Nasser. He had his share of disagreements with Nassers successor Anwar El-Sadat. He was not only critical of the deficit of freedoms, but also of the haphazard management of the economy.

Abdel-Quddous, Abdel-Razik writes, was a political prisoner during the rule of the monarchy and during the rule of Nasser. Under Sadat, Abdel-Quddous was abruptly removed from editorial jobs he was assigned to, and his prominent political column Cafe on the political street was suspended twice. Sadat later arrested Abdel-Quddous elder son, Mohamed, on political charges.

Ihsan was very concerned about freedoms; he was hopeful in 1952, but things did not go the way he wished, Abdel-Razik writes. She actually quotes Abdel-Quddous in a mid-1980s press interview where he said, despite the restrictions on the freedom of the press during the years of the monarchy, things became much worse after 1952 as the state took control of all the papers and inevitably turned them into sheer propaganda stages.

According to Hafez, Abdel-Quddous was as critical of social and cultural oppression as he was of political oppression.

In his novel Beggars go on Strike (AlShahatoun yonazmoun idrab), Abdel-Quddous tells of a group of beggars who decided to boycott a regular charity event by a rich man unless he agrees to a more generous donation. The rich man, who was holding the charity to clear his conscience over the illicit deals he was involved in and to get social credit, had to finally bow to the wish of the beggars.

We also get to see his criticism of the abuse of workers by a factory owner in The Black Glasses (Alnadarah AlSawda), Hafez said.

According to Hafez, critics who wished to dismiss Abdel-Quddous call for liberal values deliberately reduced this call to an alleged call for sexual liberties.

The presentation of The Black Glasses as merely the story of a woman with wild sexual adventures is one example of this, he argued.

This unfair representation, Hafez added, has never been really readdressed.

Hafez, however, is not sure whether and when the full political significance of Abdel-Quddous literature would be addressed  not strictly in the academic context, but at a much broader level.

I guess the one thing that needs to be underlined more is that there needed to be more attention paid to the political message of his literature during the celebrations of Ihsans centenary, he stated.

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The story of Sim Ark helps explain a problem in Cambodia that has health experts concerned: fewer Cambodian women are breastfeeding their babies.

Before giving birth to her second child, Sim Ark said she did not think much about what a workplace needed to support a new mother.

After her first child was born, she stayed at home. But now the 29-year-old works at the You Li International factory in Bavet city, in Cambodia.

"I want to have a daycare facility right in my workplace so that I can visit my baby while working," Sim Ark told VOA.

She had been working at You Li before giving birth to her son Ham Ya Oudom. After her son was born, her supervisors began calling her. Within three months she returned to work because she did not want to risk losing her job.

Since she was not at home during the day, Sim Ark was unable to breastfeed her newborn son. Instead the child received a breastmilk substitute, known as formula, from a bottle. At night, he changed back to breast milk unless Sim Ark worked overtime, which she said causes her milk to stop flowing.

On average, a 10-week-old baby consumes seven containers of infant formula within a month. Each container costs about $12. Most workers in the clothing industry earn about $182 each month. Sim Ark and other workers would like to be able to breastfeed their children until they are at least 6 months old, as doctors recommend. But they do not know how to raise the issue with their employers.

"I'm not sure how it (would) look like if we had [a daycare facility in a factory]. Maybe a family member could come and help [in the facility] to look after the baby," Sim Ark said, only to add, "Then nobody would be available to do the work at home."

Her return to work helps explain why the rate of breastfeeding is decreasing in Cambodia, a change that worries child development experts.

United Nations Childrens Fund, or UNICEF, said government data shows that 74 percent of Cambodia's children younger than 6 months old were breastfed in 2010. By 2014, the most recent year for which information is available, that number had fallen sharply. The country went from having one of the highest rates of breastfeeding to a midlevel rate of 65 percent.

Cristian Munduate is a UNICEF representative in Cambodia. She called this change a major decrease. She also described breastfeeding as "the best practice for a child during its first 6 months of life  the first natural vaccine that a child receives."

UNICEF suggests that correct breastfeeding practices could prevent an estimated 823,000 child deaths every year worldwide. The medical publication The Lancet reports that breastfeeding improves mental development, success in school and future earning potential.

Alive & Thrive is an international effort to support mother and infant health. It released a report on the costs of not breastfeeding in Cambodia. It said three major illnesses in children and mothers could sharply rise because of the fall in breastfeeding. Diarrhea and pneumonia in children and type II diabetes in mothers are believed to be kept under control by the practice.

The Alive & Thrive report also suggests Cambodia could lose $83 million a year because of future mental development losses linked with a lack of breastfeeding.

Several reasons for fall in breastfeeding

UNICEF warns that a lack of community and government support for breastfeeding is leading to the decrease. The UN agency also blames the difficulty of balancing infant care with a job, and the aggressive marketing of infant formula.

Cristian Munduate says there are about 2.4 million women ages 15 to 34 in the country's labor force. Cambodia has a law guaranteeing many women the chance to breastfeed.

But the law and reality are two different things, said Lim Buyheak. The 35-year-old is studying clinical psychology at Vietnam National University.

She has breastfed her daughter since she was born five months ago. She bought an electronic breast milk collection device for $145 and tried to use it to gather and store her breast milk. It turned out to be so difficult, she gave up. She now works on her studies from home to be able to breastfeed her daughter.

Lim Buyheak formed a group with other mothers on the social media service Facebook in November. It now has about 160 members who discuss breastfeeding and support each other.

"At first, I felt a little bit shy," she said. "Now I feel very good to have support from my friends."

The formula industry is international and growing. In 2014, reports suggest formula sales reached about $44.8 billion worldwide. The World Health Organization expects that sales will have increased to $70.6 billion by the end of the year.

Activist groups say these sales are supported by marketing campaigns that are banned in some countries.

In July, Helen Keller International and World Vision International published a report on information found on containers of formula in Cambodia. The two non-governmental organizations said that 92 percent of formula containers had information on them that supported formula use or did not support breastfeeding. This, the groups said, violates the Cambodian government's policy to support infant breastfeeding.

"These products are often marketed with misleading claims," said Mary Champeny, a nutrition researcher from Helen Keller International.

In 1981, the World Health Assembly agreed to an International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes. That agreement called on nations to protect and promote breastfeeding. It also called for the supervision of marketing formula to mothers.

Im Anna Matteo.

And Im Pete Musto.

Khan Sukummono reported this story for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

facility - n. something such as a building or large piece of equipment that is built for a specific purpose

consume(s)  v. to eat or drink something

infant  n. a very young child

practice  n. the action of doing or using something

potential  n. an ability that someone has that can be developed to help that person become successful

shy  adj. feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people

promote  v. to help something happen, develop, or increase
tech2 News Staff

2019 was a glorious year for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and to keep the momentum going, ISRO chief K Sivan addressed the media today. Sivan outlined ISRO's upcoming launches and missions.

2020 will be the year for India's third moon mission, called the Chandrayaan 3. Additionally, ISRO hopes to take big strides with regards to its first human space mission, Gaganyaan, as well.

Chandrayaan 3

Addressing the media, during the press conference at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru, Sivan officially announced that Chandrayaan 3 project was underway after it was accepted by the government. The work on the project is going smoothly said Sivan. He also announced that the orbiter for Chandrayaan 2 will be used for the Chandrayaan 3 mission since it was a success and is functioning smoothly. The orbiter has a mission life of one year, but is supposed to work for the next seven years. The third moon mission will consist of a lander and rover as well.

Sivan also mentioned that the cost of the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission along with the lander and the rover would come to approximately Rs 250 crore. The entire cost of the mission, however, could reach up to Rs 365 crores.

Indian Space Research Organisation Chief K Sivan: Government has approved Chandrayan-3, the project is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/KcJVQ1KHG7  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

Union Minister Jitendra Singh had said on Tuesday, that India will launch Chandrayaan-3 in 2020 and had asserted that the mission will cost less than the previous lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2. This is because of the already present infrastructure from the previous mission. Sivan did mention that they are targetting a 14-16 month timeline to complete the mission but that will depend on how the work progresses.

Gaganyaan updates

The Gaganyaan mission will also be another main focus for the agency this year and work on the first human spaceflight mission will be done in parallel with Chandrayaan 3. Gaganyaan will see India sending human beings into space for the first time for a minimum of seven days in 2022, said Sivan. But test flights are likely to begin by the end of this year if everything goes smoothly. The spacecraft that will carry the astronauts will be developed by ISRO and will consist of a service module and a crew module, collectively known as the Orbital Module.

According to PIB, the process for selection of astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission has been completed and four astronauts have been shortlisted.

The process of selecting four astronauts for the 'Gaganyaan' mission is completed, says #ISRO chairman in Bengaluru today.#Chandrayaan3 mission to the Moon, comprising a lander and a rover, is approved by the government: ISRO chairman: https://t.co/r9II6HKmKi pic.twitter.com/EnYiGALZZr  MIB India (@MIB_India) January 1, 2020

After a series of tests conducted both in India and in Russian, four Indians from the Indian Airforce have been selected. The crew that will be launched into space is supposed to consist of three members but ISRO is not taking a risk. Russia will be training the astronauts and sharing their expertise on human space flights. Training is set to begin by the third week of January.

Recently Consulate General of Russian Federation, Consul-General, O Avdeev reiterated their commitment to helping out to when he said, "There is excellent cooperation between the Russian Space Corporation 'Roscosmos' and the Indian Space Research Organisation for the human space flight program."

Russia had offered its commitment to share its expertise in training future Indian astronauts for faster adaptation to overstress and weightlessness, which is a prerequisite, at the bilateral summit in September at Vladivostok between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chandrayaan 2

When asked about the reason Chandrayaan 2 failed its landing, Sivan said the reason for the crash was the velocity of the lander was not reduced enough. While the rough breaking phase went as it was supposed to go, the velocity was not reduced in the second phase due to which, in the third phase, the lander went out of control leading to a hard landing.

ISRO chief K Sivan: We have made good progress on Chandrayan-2, even though we could not land successfully, the orbiter is still functioning, its going to function for the next 7 years to produce science data pic.twitter.com/6tw683HTnk  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

Singh had also said that it was wrong to term Chandrayaan 2 as a disappointment as it was India's first attempt at landing on the moon and no other country has been able to do it in their first attempt either.

2019 updates

Sivan said that the agency couldn't launch all the satellites last year as planned, but assured of its completion by March 2020. He also said that Chandrayaan 2 was not the reason but the necessary systems needed for the satellites, werent available. This year apparently will witness more than 35 launches.

Sivan congratulated the Chennai techie, Shanmuga Subramaniam, who found the crashed lander after failed attempts by NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) but said that it was ISROs policy to not release the picture of the crashed module. "We know where it crashed and where it is located," he said.

ISRO chief K Sivan: The land acquisition for a second space port has been initiated and the port will be in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/Lc8OU3uaRf  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

The ISRO said the agency is also working on acquiring land to build a second space port and have selected an area of around 2,300 acres in Thoothukudi, a village in Tamil Nadu. The agency had also added a public viewing gallery in the existing space port in Sriharikota has been upgraded to include a public viewing gallery because the number of people who want to watch the ISRO launches are increasing.
Up to 12 security personnel have been confirmed dead as fighting erupted in the northern Kunduz province on Wednesday, member of Provincial Council Fauzia Jawad Yaftali said, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

According to Yaftali, the Taliban militants attacked a center of security forces in the wee hours of Wednesday, killing 12 security personnel including army and police personnel.

Two more security personnel sustained injuries in the firefight which lasted for a while in Dasht-e-Archi district, the official admitted.

At least eight Taliban fighters had also been killed in the fighting, Yaftali said.

However, police have confirmed the fighting but did not give details.

Meanwhile purported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Majahid has confirmed the fighting and claimed killing of two dozen security personnel.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 12:15:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A judicial interpretation on the trial of cases about administrative agreements in China took effect Wednesday, aiming to better protect people's rights and interests in cases that involve administrative organs.

Released by the Supreme People's Court (SPC) in December 2019, the interpretation also aims to ensure that administrative organs fulfill their promises in agreements with citizens, legal persons or other organizations for achieving administrative or public service objectives, said the SPC.

According to the interpretation, courts around the country should handle administrative litigations filed by citizens, legal persons or other organizations on administrative agreements that concern land and housing expropriation and requisition, the rental or transaction of government-subsidized housing, among others.

The courts, however, will not accept counter-litigation cases filed by administrative organs.

The interpretation will also help ensure that administrative organs seriously fulfill their contracts with investors during various cooperation processes.

Administrative agreements signed after May 1, 2015 will fall into the jurisdiction of the interpretation, while agreements signed before that date will be ruled by the laws and judicial interpretations at the time.
They're two of Australia's most talented stars.

And Nicole Kidman celebrated New Year's Eve with her husband, Keith Urban, by kissing him on stage after his performance in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 52-year-old actress smooched the side of Keith's head while they were surrounded by several others ringing in the new decade.

Sealed with a kiss! Nicole Kidman celebrated New Year's Eve with her husband, Keith Urban, by kissing him on stage after his performance in Nashville, Tennessee

Keith, 52, smiled happily as he cosied up to his age-defying wife, who was cupping his face as she leaned over.

The Big Little Lies star kept warm in a black coat and stockings, with a hint of her lacy black dress peeking out the bottom.

Nicole is known for wearing wigs in her various Hollywood roles, but the strawberry blonde stunner embraced her natural curls on the night.

Romantic: The wintry atmosphere was a far cry from their beachside Christmas in Sydney

She wore natural makeup, with her cheeks blushed pink from the cold weather.

Straight off the back of his performance, Keith kept things casual in a red and black striped sweater and black skinny jeans.

The wintry atmosphere was a far cry from their beachside Christmas in Sydney.

Sea change: During their trip Down Under, the loved-up couple shared a kiss in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to celebrate the holidays

During their trip Down Under, the loved-up couple shared a kiss in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to celebrate the holidays.

'Sydney, we had the BEST Christmas,' Keith wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of the pair on the balcony of their $15.6million penthouse in Milsons Point.

'And the shows were a blast! THANK YOU ALL! Next up, ringing in 2020 at our Nashville show. Here come OUR roaring 20's,' he added.
New Delhi:

When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah understands this phrase better than anyone in today's politics. If reports are to be believed, Shah has started preparing for the 2021 West Bengal Assembly election by learning Bengali.

The master of elections strategies, Shah aims to learn Bangla so that the language doesn't become a barrier while making strategies for the polls. He also plans to start his address during his campaign in the state with Bangla to connect in a better way with the public. Interestingly, the BJP president has appointed a teacher also for the same, according to news agency IANS.

Shah an 'outsider'?

In a recent rally, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed Shah as an outsider. She coined a slogan 'Ma Mati Manush' (Mother, Motherland and People) as she strongly spoke up for Bengali pride.

After failing form governments in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand, Shah is desperate to make a strong come back in the Eastern state, and therefore, to make a better connect with the party workers he has started learning the language.

A senior BJP leader of West Bengal told the news agency that there was nothing new in it. Shah is learning four different languages, including Bangla and Tamil.

Shah had learnt Hindi while he was in prison and was prohibited from entering Gujarat for two years. He has also learned classical music and he practices it to relax.

BJPs massive rally in Bengal

The West Bengal BJP has decided to launch a massive statewide campaign in favour of the CAA and set a target of reaching out to more than one crore people in the next one month.

The state BJP unit held a brainstorming session on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as it has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) opposing the legislation tooth and nail.

According to party sources, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh has set a target of reaching out to one crore people across the state in next one month and explain to them the need for implementation of CAA in Bengal, which has a huge number of Hindu refugees.

The sources said the party had hoped that the CAA would be its political trump card against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees anti-NRC campaign in the state.

"But things have not moved in our desired direction, due to TMC's aggressive misinformation campaign. Now we would counter it and we are hopeful of getting people's support," a BJP leader said.

(With PTI inputs)
BEIRUT/TOKYOOusted Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said on Tuesday, Dec. 31, he had fled to Lebanon to escape a rigged justice system in Japan, raising questions about how one of the worlds most-recognized executives had slipped away while on bail.

Ghosns abrupt departure marks the latest twist in a year-long saga that has shaken the global auto industry, jeopardized the alliance of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and top shareholder Renault SA, and increased scrutiny of Japans judicial system.

I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, Ghosn, 65, said in a brief statement on Tuesday.

I have not fled justiceI have escaped injustice and political persecution. I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.

Tokyo officials have previously said the system is not inhumane and that Ghosn, who is facing trial on financial misconduct charges he denies, has been treated like any other suspect.

It was unclear how Ghosn, who holds French, Brazilian, and Lebanese citizenship, was able to orchestrate his departure from Japan. He had been under strict surveillance by authorities while out on bail and had surrendered his passports.

According to a senior Lebanese foreign ministry source, Ghosn entered Lebanon legally on a French passport and using his Lebanese ID with normal security procedures. People familiar with the matter told Reuters he had arrived in Beirut on a private jet from Istanbul on Monday.

The French and Lebanese foreign ministries both said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey. All discussion of it is his private matter, the Lebanese ministry added.

Lebanons state security directorate said Ghosn would not face any legal consequences for the way he entered the country, state NNA news agency reported. The foreign ministry said Lebanon did not have a judicial cooperation agreement with Japan.

Japanese authorities had no record of Ghosn leaving, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said. A person resembling him entered Beirut international airport under a different name, NHK reported, citing an unidentified Lebanese security official.

His lawyers were still in possession of his three passports, one of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters.

Hironaka, in comments broadcast live on NHK, said the first he had heard of Ghosns departure was on the news this morning and that he was surprised. He also said it was inexcusable behavior.

Japan has extradition treaties with only the United States and South Korea, according to the justice ministry, meaning it could be difficult to force Ghosn to return to stand trial.

While his arrest on financial misconduct charges last year ensured a dramatic fall from grace in Japan, he retains more popularity in Lebanon, where billboards saying We are all Carlos Ghosn were erected in his support. He was previously featured on a postage stamp.

Born in Brazil of Lebanese ancestry, Ghosn grew up in Beirut and has retained close ties to Lebanon.

At Ghosns gated villa in the Achrafieh neighborhood of Beirut, a handful of police and private security personnel stood guard on Tuesday.

A man who identified himself only as his English neighbor walked by to leave a card, with the words Carlos, welcome home! written inside. It was not immediately clear if Ghosn was at the address.

Its a good thing that at last hes out of being locked up for something which he may or may notprobably nothave done, said the neighbor.

A French minister said before the report Ghosn used a French passport that she was very surprised by news of his emergence in Lebanon.

Flight Risk

Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018, shortly after his private jet touched down at the airport. He faces four chargeswhich he deniesincluding hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East.

Nissan sacked him as chairman, saying internal investigations revealed misconduct, including understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.

The case sparked international criticism of Japans justice system, in which 99.9 percent of people charged with crimes are convicted, and defense lawyers are prohibited from being present during interrogations that can last eight hours a day.

Ghosn was initially released in March on a record $9 million bail only to be arrested on related charges weeks later and then re-released on bail at the end of April.

His movement and communications have been monitored and restricted to prevent his fleeing the country and tampering with evidence, the Tokyo District court previously said.

The terms of his bail have also been striking by Western standards. He has been prevented from communicating with his wife, Carole, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

Carole is now with him in Lebanon at a house with armed guards outside, The New York Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

House Arrest

Ghosn did not believe he would get a fair trial in Japan and was tired of being an industrial political hostage, one person told The Wall Street Journal.

A person familiar with Nissans thinking told Reuters, I think he gave up fighting the prosecutors in court.

The trial was widely expected to start in April. Ghosns Japanese lawyers have fought, so far unsuccessfully, to get access to 6,000 pieces of evidence collected from Nissan, which they say is crucial to a fair trial.

Ghosn has said he is the victim of a boardroom coup, accusing former Nissan colleagues of backstabbing. He described them as selfish rivals bent on derailing closer ties between the Japanese automaker and its biggest shareholder Renault, of which Ghosn was also chairman.

His lawyers have asked the court to dismiss all charges, accusing prosecutors of colluding with government officials and Nissan executives to oust him to block any takeover by Renault.

Ghosn began his career in 1978 at tire maker Michelin. In 1996, he moved to Renault, where he oversaw a turnaround that won him the nickname Le Cost Killer.

After Renault sealed an alliance with Nissan in 1999, Ghosn used similar methods to revive the ailing brand, leading to business super-star status in Japan, blanket media coverage, and even a manga comic book on his life.

By Issam Abdallah and Tim Kelly
After taking over the former Gradys BBQ restaurant space off Nakoma Drive near the San Antonio International Airport in June, Rudys Country Store and Bar-B-Q is getting closer to an opening date.

Finishing touches were being added Tuesday to the exterior of the property, and the pit was fired up and smoking the signature oak wood Rudys uses to cook the meats. When contacted by the Express-News, Rudys officials would not give details for a precise opening date but said it was possible that it will happen in January.
In this column, I try to cover a wide range of topics that take you to places and introduce you to people you might not encounter otherwise. I feel grateful to have this platform, and I plan to use it more this year to explore ways we can help propel children who have the fewest resources toward success. I hope, with your help, to highlight solutions that are working, expose the ways children are still being failed and raise questions that for too long have gone unanswered, because politics isnt the only divide that should concern us in Washington. We know based on what the past few years alone have shown us that the prospects for many children in the region are not improving and in some ways are getting worse, despite good intentions and financial investments.
No cause for panic, new media rules will benefit all: Javadekar

Will raise our climate ambitions but not under pressure: Javadekar

Now Ferraris and Lamborghinis can test in India: India gets Asias longest high speed track

Citizenship Act Protests: Congress, AAP fanned anti-CAA violence in Delhi, says Javadekar

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday blamed the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party for fanning the violence during anti-CAA protests in Delhi last month.

"Violence on the CAA issue was spread by AAP and the Congress in Delhi. AAP MLA Amantullah Khan made a statement to instigate riots that spoiled Delhi's atmosphere," claimed Javadekar.

"In a peaceful city like Delhi, the atmosphere that was created by spreading misinformation on Citizenship Amendment Act, and the damage that was done to property, Congress and AAP are responsible for it," he added.

Sena betrayed people by siding with corrupt Cong: Prakash Javadekar

As many as 26 people have died in massive protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens in the country over the last two weeks.

In Delhi, thousands of people were detained and internet services were suspended for brief periods and hundreds of people, many of them students, were injured in clashes with the police.

The Citizenship Amendment Actprovides citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, provided they have lived in India for six years and entered the country by December 31, 2014. The Act has been widely criticised for excluding Muslims.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 13:37 [IST]
Delhi Police on Wednesday informed that a total of 352 challans were issued on New Year's Eve for drunken driving.

Delhi Police had made elaborate traffic arrangements for the smooth flow and regulation of traffic throughout the capital.

Special arrangements were made for the areas in the vicinity of Connaught Place. Several restrictions were imposed from 8.00 pm onwards on December 31 in the vicinity of Connaught Place till the conclusion of New Year celebrations.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Eish Singhal had earlier said that women safety remains the top priority during New Year celebrations in the capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Could Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited (ASX:BEN) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a popular dividend stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations.

In this case, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank likely looks attractive to investors, given its 7.0% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Bendigo and Adelaide Bank for its dividend - read on to learn more.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank!

ASX:BEN Historical Dividend Yield, January 1st 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. In the last year, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank paid out 91% of its profit as dividends. Its payout ratio is quite high, and the dividend is not well covered by earnings. If earnings are growing or the company has a large cash balance, this might be sustainable - still, we think it is a concern.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's dividend payments. Its dividend payments have fallen by 20% or more on at least one occasion over the past ten years. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was AU$0.65 in 2010, compared to AU$0.70 last year. Dividend payments have grown at less than 1% a year over this period.

Story continues

We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments, we don't think this is an attractive combination.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. It's not great to see that Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's have fallen at approximately 2.6% over the past five years. A modest decline in earnings per share is not great to see, but it doesn't automatically make a dividend unsustainable. Still, we'd vastly prefer to see EPS growth when researching dividend stocks.

Conclusion

Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. First, it's not great to see how much of its earnings are being paid as dividends. Earnings per share have been falling, and the company has cut its dividend at least once in the past. From a dividend perspective, this is a cause for concern. In short, we're not keen on Bendigo and Adelaide Bank from a dividend perspective. Businesses can change, but we've spotted a few too many concerns with this one to get comfortable.

Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. Businesses can change though, and we think it would make sense to see what analysts are forecasting for the company.

Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield above 3%.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
FOOD and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 7.6 per cent between October 2020 and October 2021, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) reported yesterday.

In a memorandum on the Index of Retail Prices (RPI) published for general information yesterday, attributed to the acting director of statistics, Andre Blanchard, the CSO noted that the All Items Index of Retail Prices increased by 3.9 per cent between October 2020 and last October.
"The town just seemed so desolate," said Jeffrey. "It's bad for people who have grown up in Eldon  we don't have a restaurant anymore; we don't have a grocery store. For our town to survive, we have to save these buildings and get this business back."
Let's not forget that the Haitian Revolution was a successful anti-slavery and anti-colonial insurrection by self-liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue, now the sovereign state of Haiti. It began on (22 August 1791) and ended in 1804 with the former colony's independence. It involved blacks, mulattoes, French, Spanish, and British participants.

On January 1st, 2020, Haitians all around the world are celebrating their Independence Day by partying together and eating SOUP JOUMOU with their close friends and families even when there are a lot of protests and chaos across Haiti. The Haitian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on (1 January 1804) in the port city of Gonaives by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, marking the end of the 13-year long Haitian Revolution. The declaration marked Haiti's becoming the first independent Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. Of course, Haiti and Haitians were the first black nation that won a successful revolt.

"We are celebrating our Independence Day on (January 1st, 2020) again this year by partying and eating SOUP JOUMOU but we will continue the fight so we can make Haiti independent and free again.", said Mr. Werley Nortreus.

Haitian Revolution, series of conflicts between 1791 and 1804 between Haitian slaves, colonists, the armies of the British and French colonizers, and a number of other parties. Through the struggle, the Haitian people ultimately won independence from France and thereby became the first country to be founded by former slaves.

"Pita gen pou pi tris si nou pa goumen pou Haiti.", said Senator Moise Jean-Charles, the founder, and leader of Pitit Desalin (Pitit Dessalines).

From 2017 until today, protesters all across Haiti and across the Diaspora are asking for the resignation of the current Haitian Government led by President 'Jovenel Moise' and PHTK so they can establish their own Government but the current Haitian Government that was established by the U.S. refused to step down. Hundreds of protesters are planning to march from downtown Port-au-Prince to the U.S. Embassy in 2020 to demand the Trump administration stop supporting President Jovenel Moise, who is named in the latest corruption report issued by Haiti's Superior Court of Account and Administrative Disputes. Hopefully, the Haitian population hopes to install their own Government and leaders in 2020.

"The United States is well-developed but Haiti is not. The U.S. must understand and allow us to save our only home country because it is time for Haiti to deliver from the Elites who don't want Haitians to deliver.", one protester told BDR! Live, Radio Television Caraibes, Tripotay Lakay, Radio Kiskeya, VOA, and Bon Dejeuner! Radio's journalists.

According to reports from Bon Dejeuner! Radio, BDR! Live, Radio Zenith FM, Haiti Sentinel, and Radio Television Caraibes, more protests are expected to continue into 2020 until the current President Jovenel Moise steps down reclaim opposition leaders, Mr. Andre Michel, Senators Youri Latortue (AAA - Artibonite) and Nenel Cassy (Fanmi Lavalas - Nippes) and others.

Haitians are celebrating their Independence Day (216 years) but the fight to make Haiti independent and free will continue.
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Thousands of revellers have turned out in the sun at Sydney's Domain in a glittering array of outfits for the annual Field Day Festival.

Wearing fluorescent braids, retro crop tops and eye-catching G-strings, festival-goers took the opportunity to let their hair down amid a heavy police presence on New Year's Day.

Once inside the grounds attendees were met with new drug amnesty bins introduced to encourage people to throw out illegal pills without penalty.

Scroll down for video

Thousands of party-goers attended the Field Day festival at Sydney's Domain on Wednesday to start 2020 off in style

Some revellers donned their most revealing and colourful outfits to attend the New Year's Day celebrations

Festival-goers were met with newly introduced amnesty bins which encourage people to throw away illegal drugs safely

One party-goer experienced is seen chatting to officers. There was a strong police presence at the festival

The bins were also introduced at Sydney's New Year's Eve in the Park celebrations on Tuesday in response to an increase in MDMA-related deaths at music festivals.

The new policy was accompanied by warnings from police anyone caught dealing drugs at the event would be charged.

Revellers were still able to get into the party spirit despite the heavy police presence.

Among those to let their hair down was a group of three female attendees who turned out in pink, chequered blue and starred outfits as they made their way to the venue.

Another reveller in an ocean-coloured crop top mixed fashion styles as she walked through the gates in a brown cowboy hat.

It was clear which colour scheme another festival-goer was going for, who donned sheer orange mesh shorts to match her long orange braids.

Fluro colours and crop tops were a popular fashion choice with Field Day attendees among the strong police presence

Retro fashion was combined with a g-string to create this woman's interesting look that was topped with a brown felt hat

The tents provided for the amnesty bins remained mostly empty as the majority of revellers avoided the new drug initiative

Those preparing to show off their best attire at Field Day, meanwhile, shared photos off their diverse wardrobe including leopard-skin crop tops and bright pin-striped pants.

One attendee mixed a sheer white skirt with a low-cut black top as she readied herself to take to the famous festival.

20,000 people are estimated to attend the festival every year since it first started in 2002.

Festival-goers shared photos of their diverse wardrobe statements and bold pattern choices to their social media pages

Police officers were stationed at the entrance of the Field Day festival with drug dogs by their side to assist them

The new amnesty bins introduced this year are an alternative to controversial pill testing which the state government has refused to introduce.

NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Willing said sniffer dogs and uniformed and undercover officers would deliberately avoid areas where the bins are placed so revellers could throw out their drugs without fear of arrest.

'Officers will be directed not to ordinarily patrol or interact with the bins,' he said.

'We don't want to see police standing around where the bins are and stopping people from disposing personal-use drugs.'

This blonde partygoer looked like she was having a whale of a time dressed in shorts and fishnet tights

Fluro colours were all the rage as social media users showed off their bright eye-catching neon festival outfits

Mr Willing said any revellers caught with drugs away from the amnesty bins would be dealt with on 'a case-by-case basis'.

'Common sense' will be used by police if they catch people with substances claiming they are on their way to a drug disposal bin, he said.

Mr Willing said police at the event would consider a number of factors such as the distance from the bin and the amount of drugs being carried.

The bins were managed NSW Health and placed near the entrances of festivals and close to the medical tent inside the grounds.

Friends attended the festival in packs walking among the 20,000 people who have attended Field Day every year since 2002

Cropped tops and colour co-ordinated accessories were a must for the festival outfits of many Field Day attendees

This couple donned a matching look, co-ordinating their outfit with matching shoes, jackets and colourful Hawaiian shirts

The bins are part of a 12 month trial at high risk festivals including Field Day, on January 1, and FOMO Festival on January 11.

The disposal points come as pressure mounts on the NSW Government to prevent drug-related deaths at music festivals,

Ms Berejiklian has long opposed the introduction of pill testing in the state believing it will give festival goers a false sense of security and condone illicit drug use.

'I want to give the community our assurance as a government that we're doing everything we can to keep young people safe,' she told reporters in Sydney on December 11th.

Patterned two-piece sets were a popular fashion choice for party-goers as many revellers matched their tops and bottoms

'We believe amnesty bins are a good way to increase safety so that young people, if they see police or if they see other activity, don't panic and have the opportunity, without any questions asked, to throw those pills into the bin.

'The strongest message we continue to give as a government is that drugs kills you.

'That's why they're illegal. Do not take MDMA. Do not take ecstasy. Do not take any illegal drug because they can kill you' she said.

Most festival-goers were at ease around the police as they celebrated New Year's Day at the Field Day

The heavy police presence pictured near the Art Gallery of New South Wales just outside of the festival's entrance

The trial is being put into place just as NSW Health has issued an urgent warning over potentially deadly ecstasy pills shaped like blue Lego blocks.

A number of the double and triple standard dosage MDMA pills were seized in northern New South Wales.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said last month that most of the harm caused to people injured by illicit drugs was not caused by contaminants but by the very drugs they intended to purchase.

'Pill testing will not reduce this harm,' he said.

'At present, the technology does not allow for adequate identification of dose levels or small traces of highly toxic substances.

'The testing method, in which only a small portion of a pill is tested, is also an inaccurate reflection of the composition of the entire pill,' he said.

There is no suggestion from Daily Mail Australia that any of the people pictured in this story were involved in drugs supply or consumption.

Many Field Day attendees took to social media to showcase their eye-catching outfits that left little to the imagination
 Flash

Leaders of European countries have voiced concerns and aspirations in their Christmas and New Year messages, as the eventful year of 2019 comes to an end.

In her New Year message on Tuesday, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin underlined the importance of social equality.

The 34-year-old Marin noted that the strength of the society should not be measured on the basis of the strength of the most affluent, but through how the most vulnerable cope with their lives. Marin raised the question whether everyone in Finland has the possibility of a good life.

The world's youngest prime minister acknowledged in her message that much in Finland depends on the world economy, but the government can provide a stable and predictable environment for enterprises.

"Fast policy changes should be avoided while reacting to the cyclical situation," she said.

Marin also said the 2020s will be the "decade of decisions" for repelling the climate change. She reiterated the government pledge that Finland would be carbon neutral by 2035. She believes that Finland and Europe could lead international climate work and benefit from that role economically.

German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier voiced concerns over the rise of anti-Semitism and far-right extremism in his Christmas speech, calling on all citizens to fight against them.

He mentioned the deadly attack near a synagogue in Germany's eastern city of Halle in October which killed two people nearby and later injured two others.

In his Christmas message, Czech President Milos Zeman praised the low unemployment rate, stable economic growth, relatively low state debt and the growth of the average wage and old-age pensions in the country.

Zeman also drew attention to the problem of "slowness" in construction proceedings and the construction of transport infrastructure in his country.

Greece is welcoming 2020 with optimism, having learnt valuable lessons from past mistakes, leaving the financial crisis behind and moving forward with confidence and unity, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his New Year message.

"We are entering the 3rd decade of the 21st century which brings unprecedented challenges: from geostrategic instability on the planet and the climate crisis to the 'explosion' of technology and its consequences. All this requires open thinking and bold actions," the Greek leader noted.

He added that Britain can also turn the page on the division, rancor and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held the country back for far too long.

Albanian President Ilir Meta said the solidarity the country demonstrated after the tragic 6.4-magnitude earthquake on Nov. 26 is a solid and enduring foundation that inspires all and gives the people confidence for the challenges ahead.

"Each of you deserves more positivity, a fairer Albania, more loving, compassionate and more humane," Meta said, adding "this first of all requires an inclusive and united Albania, always guided by the national and public interest."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in his first New Year message at 10 Downing Street, urged people of Britain to join together to make the 2020s a decade of prosperity and opportunity.

"The first item on my agenda is to fulfill the will of the electorate and take us out of the European Union," said Johnson.

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, in her New Year address to the nation, placed special emphasis on tolerance and compassion.

Speaking live from Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen on Tuesday, the Queen underscored the planet's vulnerability to climate change.

"It is a common challenge for all of us today, and it is important that we are all aware of how we live and what we do," said the 79-year-old Queen.
If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider American Airlines (AAL). This company, which is in the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.

This world's largest airline has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 2.86%.

For the most recent quarter, American Airlines was expected to post earnings of $1.38 per share, but it reported $1.42 per share instead, representing a surprise of 2.90%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $1.77 per share, while it actually produced $1.82 per share, a surprise of 2.82%.

Price and EPS Surprise

For American Airlines, estimates have been trending higher, thanks in part to this earnings surprise history. And when you look at the stock's positive Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction), it's a great indicator of a future earnings beat, especially when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

American Airlines has an Earnings ESP of +2.52% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.

Story continues

With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.



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The daughter of former Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos has denied allegations of financial irregularities after a court froze her bank accounts, calling the claims "politically motivated".

Isabel dos Santos -- nicknamed Africa's wealthiest woman -- is under investigation for alleged irregularities involving state companies including the OPEC nation's giant state oil company Sonangol.

The allegations are riddled with "obvious lies, errors and omissions", she said late Tuesday.

"This court decision, which is the outcome of an injunction that was not communicated to the parties, is clearly arbitrary and politically motivated," she said.

Her father Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years -- a time widely associated with corruption and nepotism -- until President Joao Lourenco succeeded him in 2017.

Isabel, like most of the dos Santos family, left Angola, claiming she faced death threats after her father stepped down.

She was appointed head of Sonangol in 2016 but was forced out the following year, in one of the first acts undertaken by Lourenco to remove dos Santos relatives from power.

An Angolan court, acting as part of the graft investigation, this month froze bank accounts belonging to dos Santos and her husband Sindika Dokolo.

Their holdings in several Angolan companies, including the telecoms firm Unitel and cement company Cimangola, have also been frozen, the statement said.

The court's decision also applies to a Portuguese businessman, Mario da Silva.

His family accuses Lourenco's government of persecution.

The former president's son, Jose Filomeno dos Santos, 41, who is Isabel dos Santos's half-brother, went on trial in early December for alleged corruption.

He is accused of embezzling as much as $1.5 billion from Angola's sovereign wealth fund during his 2013-2018 stewardship.

Despite their country's extensive oil, gas and mineral wealth, the majority of Angolans live in poverty and continue to rely on subsistence agriculture.
Several offers of support have been made for those in distress following the tragic death of acclaimed barman Christian Grey.

Mr Grey, who was from Ballymena, took his own life on Monday after he went missing from the Tobernaveen mental health centre in Antrim.

Just hours before his death the former Ballymena Academy and Cambridge House Grammar School pupil spoke of his mental health issues on social media.

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In a Facebook post uploaded on Monday evening, the 29-year-old said he been receiving treatment for bipolar disorder for the last seven months.

"It's something I've struggled with for years now and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy," he added.

"Unfortunately, this is a battle I'm not going to win."

He said he didn't believe he was taking his own life, but that his illness had taken it from him.

Following Mr Grey's sudden death, scores of people took to social media to urge those in distress to reach out and talk to someone.

One man, Tommy McKelvey from Cookstown, even posted his own phone number on the Belfast Telegraph Facebook page offering support.

Mr McKelvey said that, while he is not a mental health expert, it was "heartbreaking" young people feel they cannot talk to someone about their problems.

Another user, Sharon McAuley, echoed his sentiment, writing: "I'm with you there... anyone who needs to talk no matter what time or when I'm a good listener...pm [private message] anytime... We need to be there for each other."

Others urged those struggling to speak to someone.

One wrote: "Ive been there, trust me, to that point and have come out the other side and all because I spoke to a complete stranger who struck a cord with me and put things into perspective.

"Dont ever give in, we can always find happiness again, you have to let yourself be given help."

Mr Grey previously worked at the Galgorm Resort and was nominated for the Northern Ireland Bartender of the Year award in 2014.

He also made headlines in 2012 when he changed his name from Gary Crawford to Christian Grey - the main character in the best-selling Fifty Shades Of Grey books and movies.

Speaking at the time of his award nomination, Mr Grey said that, while he could have gone to university after achieving good A-level results, he fell in love with bartending and dreamt of opening his own bar and restaurant.

"I think anyone with ambition would like to do that, but I'm not in any rush," he said at the time. "I'm only in my early 20s and who knows what the future might hold for me here."

He added: "I think it's a great career. I certainly don't want to work anywhere else."

If you or anyone close to you is affected by any issues in this article, please contact the Samaritans free on 116123 or Lifeline on 080 8808 8000.
A man is wanted by police after allegedly sexually touching young schoolboys outside one of Sydney's busiest shopping centres.

A large group of primary school students were waiting for a bus on Bay Street outside Broadway Shopping Centre about 12pm on December 16.

Police allege the man approached the group, walked past the line of students and sexually touched two nine-year-old boys.

He then moved on and allegedly attempted to touch a young girl.

Police are looking for a man accused of sexually touching two young schoolboys. They have released images (above) of a man they believe may be able to help with inquiries

He walked away and went into the shopping centre as police were notified of the alleged incident.

Officers from the Liechhardt Police Area Command have since released CCTV images of a man who they believe may be able to help with inquiries.

He is seen wearing a green short-sleeved button-up shirt and shorts with sandals.

The man can also been seen wearing a red cap with the 'NOVA 969' logo brandished across it.

Police are urging anyone with information on the alleged incident to contact Crime Stoppers immediately on 1800 333 000.
South African mobile company MTN has responded to allegations that it paid bribes to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

According to the telecommunications giant, it is investigating the allegations leveled against it but also assured the public, it conducts its business in a responsible and compliant manner in all its territories.

READ ALSO: Notable Ghanaians who passed in 2019

MTN is one of six companies to have been sued by families of almost 150 U.S. service members and civilians who were killed or wounded in attacks.

The families of US citizens killed in Afghanistan want unspecified damages for their bereaved under a U.S. anti-terrorism law.

The complaint by the families alleges that MTN made payments as bribes to al-Qaeda and the Taliban to avoid having to invest in inexpensive security for their transmission towers.

It is believed that the payments made by MTN aided the terrorist groups to finance their activities in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2017.

It is alleged that the money from MTN helped to provide "material support to known terrorist organisations," thus violating the anti-terrorism legislation.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

But Africas largest mobile operator said it did nothing wrong and was reviewing the complaints. The company intends to defend its position where necessary, it said in a statement.

READ ALSO: 5 important achievements of Akufo-Addo he believes can win him election 2020 easily

In 2015, MTN was fined more than $5bn (3.8bn) by the Nigerian authorities for failing to cut off unregistered sim cards - a figure that was reduced to $1.7bn after a long legal dispute and the intervention of South Africa's then-President Jacob Zuma.

In February, a former South African ambassador to Iran was arrested in the capital, Pretoria, on charges that he took a bribe to help MTN win a $31.6bn (24bn) license to operate in Iran.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the Government of Ghana has revealed that plans are far advanced to join the eight West African countries which have committed to using the common currency, the ECO from 2020.

Government, in a statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin, also applauded the countries which have committed to using, a common currency, saying the move will boost integration and free trade in the sub-region.

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Iran's Supreme Leader has reacted defiantly to threats about the consequences of Tuesday's attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad by Shiite militant groups supported by Tehran.

Following the attack on the embassy, President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday December 31, " Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 's official website carried the following statement on Wednesday January 1, responding to American warnings by adding Trump's name in brackets to make the message clearer: "That guy [Donald Trump] has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran. First, there is no damn thing you can do, and second, If you were logical which youre not youd see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you."

Also in a speech on Wednesday, referring to the US attack on Iraqi militia bases in Iraq and Syria after an attack in which a U.S. contractor was killed, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei charged that "The U.S. is taking revenge on Hashd, al-Sha'bi for defeating ISIS.

Khamenei further repeated old conspiracy theories advanced by Iran that ISIS was created by the United States! "Look at what the U.S. is doing in Iraq and Syria. Theyre taking revenge on Hashd al-Shabi for defeating ISIS. Since Hashd al-Shabi crippled and destroyed ISISwhich the U.S. had createdtheyre taking revenge. The Iranian government the Iranian nation and I strongly condemn the U.S.s malice," said the ayatollah.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also pointed fingers at Iran for the attack on the embassy, posting pictures of Iranian proxies among the demonstrators outside the embassy. Pompeo charged that the attack on Tuesday, "was orchestrated by terrorists."

Meanwhile, Pompeo wrote in another tweet that the attack on the embassy "should not be confused with the legitimate efforts of the Iraqi protesters who have been in the streets since October working for the people of Iraq to end the corruption exported there by the Iranian regime."

Khamenei also said in his remarks that "If the Islamic Republic decides to challenge and fight, it will do so unequivocally. Were not after wars, but we strongly defend the Iranian nations interests, dignity and glory. If anyone threatens that, we will unhesitatingly confront and strike them."

Interestingly, Trump also told reports later on Tuesday after threatening Iran that he does not want, or foresee, war with Iran. Responding to a question on the possibility of tensions escalating into a war with Iran, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida: Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So, I dont see that happening.

Iran's foreign ministry also summoned an official from the Swiss embassy, which represents U.S. interests in Iran, to complain about American "warmongering" in neighboring Iraq, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"The Swiss charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry... over stances of American officials with regards to developments in Iraq," the ministry said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran conveyed its strong protest... over warmongering remarks made by American officials which are in violation of the United Nations Charter," it added.

The exchanges between Trump and Khamenei takes place while both leaders face more problems in their domestic politics. Khamenei in particular, has still not recovered from massive nationwide protests in Iran during which security forces reportedly killed 1,500 protesters who were angry about financial problems, mismanagement and corruption.

Incidentally, while Khamenei's website says he made the Wednesday speech among thousands of nurses marking the National Nursing Day, Iranian nursing association "The House of Nurses" has announced a boycott of the official ceremony because the Islamic Republic government and its Ministry of Health have neglected to address the problems Iranian nurses are struggling with.

Meanwhile, one of the most critical comments among hundreds of reactions on social media to the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, was posted by Professor Sadeq Zibakalam of the University of Tehran who wrote: "Iran has been using a fallacy for 40 years to justify its anti-US policy." He reminded that the fallacy was once again used by President Hassan Rouhani on December 31 when he said, "America wants Iran to surrender before sitting at the negotiating table but Iran has resisted heroically." Zibakalam asked Rouhani when and where the United States has said such a thing.
Metallurgical and agricultural enterprises, the engines of a stagnant economy, which provide the main foreign exchange earnings from product exports, report an artificial blocking of export VAT refunds. In December, the State Fiscal Service (SFS) appointed massive additional inspections, which blocked the VAT refunds payment. Enterprises faced a working capital deficit. Many of them are not able to pay employees' salaries in the near future. The consequences of the current SFS actions might be even more serious: deterioration in the performance of leading metallurgical and agricultural will lead to a decrease in foreign exchange earnings in the country and hryvnia devaluation, experts warn

Why does State Fiscal Service block VAT refunds

SFS closes the loops in the budget by artificially transferring part of the export VAT refund to January 2020, which affects the real sector of the economy, the press-service of Ukrmetallurgprom associations of metallurgical enterprises said on Monday evening. "Mining and metallurgical enterprises that provide 12% of Ukraines GDP, 30% of foreign exchange earnings and about 700,000 jobs; in December they have not received more than 80% of their declared VAT refund, which totals about 86 million USD. According to our sources in the SFS, this is primarily due to a lack of funds in the country's budget. This time, this problem is being solved by a large transparent business, and not by effectively combating the shadow economy.

Agricultural companies also report about the problems with the artificial blocking of VAT refunds. Indeed, exporters of agricultural products had problems in December: the State Fiscal Service informed them of additional checks to confirm the correctness of the VAT refund amounts declared for payment. Prior to the checks, payments were blocked. Nine large agricultural companies have reported such a problem," Leonid Kozachenko, the president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, notes.

The VAT refund is a common practice in Ukraine since 1997. Exporters are reimbursed for the VAT that they pay domestically when purchasing goods and services (for the production of export products). Products are exported at a zero rate. Thus, the tax credit of enterprises exceeds obligations. The difference is claimed for reimbursement," Serhiy Salivon, Director of the Department of Economic Policy of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, explained.

According to him, enterprises, which are members of the Federation of Employers, also faced the problem of delays in refunding export VAT.

Enterprises have been subjected to numerous inspections, and thereby they are deferred VAT payments for a month. If the supervisor appoints an audit, this is automatically plus 30 days to the deadlines. The largest the recipients of compensation in the country are Arcelor Mittal Kryvyi Rih, Azovstal, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol. Surely they would not receive them, Salivon assures.

He added that quite large enterprises from other industries face the problem: In particular, in the mechanical engineering industry, the Lutsk SKF faced such a situation. The SFS is well aware that it sends inspections to transparent, multinational companies that are honest taxpayers and have found no violations. They just want to delay the process and postpone payments to January.

Last year in December there was a similar situation.

Difficult times for Ukrainian exporters

Today, farmers and metallurgists are already going through difficult times. The situation with an artificial delay in VAT refunds further complicated their financial situation. Over the course of several months, mining and metallurgical enterprises have been trying to inform that the industry has been in a deep crisis since the beginning of 2019, as evidenced by a drop in steel production and a record loss in the first three quarters of 2019. During the crisis, MMC enterprises do not have enough funds for accounts, its also not possible to mobilize these funds over the course of several days, the Ukrmetallurgprom official statement reads. It is also said that the leading national industry is forced to work in conditions of a significant reduction in prices on the global steel market and a significant increase in the cost of metallurgical production.

Ukrainian metallurgists face protectionist measures that countries have been actively introducing in the past few years. At the same time, they have to work in conditions, when there is virtually no domestic market for their products.

Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian mining and metallurgical enterprises have been working with a significant lack of financial resources. A delay from the state of more than 86 million USD in VAT refunds, to which metallurgists have absolutely legal rights, is, to put it mildly, surprising. New SFS head Serhiy Verlanov repeatedly publicly emphasized that they were actively working on the administration of VAT in order to prevent the typical situation of the end (past, - ed.) of the year and delay refunds. July VAT in December became a record in recent years," Ukrmetallurgprom assures.

In the context of artificial delays in VAT refunds, we are talking about the agricultural and metallurgical sectors, which remain the locomotive that pulls other stagnating sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

It is worth noting that the biggest problems with VAT refunds were during the government of Mykola Azarov when payments were actually suspended. This led to a significant decrease in profitability in the largest metallurgical and agricultural industries, related industries. For at least the past two years, the state has regularly refunded VAT to large industrial enterprises. The sudden and unreasonable termination of the timely return of VAT to industrialists will destabilize the economy and can inflict a severe blow on the reputation of the new president and his team.

The current situation looks like sabotage against the government, including against the principles of business support declared by Ukraines president, the Ukrmetallurgprom association officially stated.

Catastrophic economic consequences

The situation with the non-payment of VAT will cause a serious blow to the economy. It will be especially painful for metallurgists who worked in the unfavorable price environment for the second half of the year, Salivon said.

Untimely VAT refunds will lead to delays in payments to thousands of suppliers and contractors who may have difficulty paying salaries on the eve of the New Year holidays. Administrative washing of working capital from the industry in the form of untimely VAT refunds is likely to lead to a further reduction in production, as a result of which the budget of Ukraine will not receive tax revenues, and the country will receive foreign exchange earnings, Ukrmetallurg message reads. Of course, this will lead to the devaluation of the hryvnia.

The biggest crisis for industrial cities could be the untimely payment of wages, and in the future, the complete cessation of payments. In turn, this will entail the non-payment of taxes, which will influence employees of budgetary spheres.

Consequences will be no less severe for farmers, Leonid Kozachenk, head of Ukraine's agrarian federation, notes. Given the shortage of working capital, they will not be able to purchase everything necessary for the timely implementation of activities as part of the spring sowing campaign.

"Its too early to talk about the disruption of the sowing campaign, but its obvious that the campaign will not be so effective. The timing of the work can move forward, which will lead to certain losses in the volume of the crop. The southern regions, where traditionally, due to climatic conditions, will feel this especially acutely campaign starts earlier," he assures.

According to Kozachenko, in January, farmers should already sign contracts for the purchase of mineral fertilizers, and by the end of the month, they will need to accumulate at least 215 million USD for the purchase of these products to fertilize winter crops in February - March on frozen ground. From February, farmers must buy seeds for sowing, since in March the sowing company will begin in the south of the country. They also need funds for the purchase of diesel fuel.

Agricultural producers were put in a situation of shortage of funds on the eve of the most resonant reform - the opening of the land market. "You know, reform would open the land market. The farmers already have a shortage of funds, but where else can they get money to buy land from? Unfortunately, the country's leadership cannot answer this question. Therefore, while our farmers will wallow with their problems, foreign companies and oligarchs will simply buy up their land plots," Leonid Kozachenko states.

In the current situation, large industrial enterprises should declare an emergency.

"A few months ago there was a parliamentary initiative to abolish the reimbursement system altogether. The farmers came up with the argument that they are working and planning their processes as part of the marketing year from July to July," Mykola Gorbachov said.

This would be absurd and would have disastrous consequences. In countries of destination where products of Ukrainian exporters are sold, VAT will still be charged. If Ukrainian producers are not able to refund VAT input, their products will simply become uncompetitive. After all, they will have to make the difference in the final price, Serhiy Salivon noted.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoy an extremely large fan base in England and around the globe. The young couple viewed as newlyweds that are very much in love and loving parents to the newest royal family arrival: Baby Archie Harrison. Additionally, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen as being very down to earth.

And unlike most other royal family members, they dont mind expressing their emotions or displaying human frailties. For these reasons, it is incredibly hard to imagine why some individuals are petitioning for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan to have their royal titles removed.

What are Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal titles?

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Baby Archie | Toby Melville  Pool/Getty Images

After the royal wedding between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed a dukedom on the prince. His titles are Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

When a member of nobility has conferred to the status of duke, that person gains a royal family member ranking that is just below the monarch. A duke is often noted to be in line as an heir to the throne, and will traditionally rule over a territory or a county.

Because of her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle received the status of the Duchess of Sussex. A duchess is a wife or the widow of a duke. Or, when a woman is unmarried and holds the same rank as a duke in her own right, she is referred to as duchess. Both a duke and a duchess are ranked next in line behind the ruling monarch.

Not only were these titles bestowed on the newlywed couple by the sitting Queen of England, but it is also only by the will of the queen who can remove an entitled royal member from their appointed duties and status.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles royal titles will be debated

One may think this was such a preposterous idea, that no one would really consider stripping a royal couple of their titles and duties  especially for no good reason or cause! But, according to Mirror UK, the Brighton and Hove City Council will debate the matter. Campaigner Charles Ross, a member of the Brighton and Hove City Council, started a petition to strip the royal couple of their given titles.

But, thats not all! The petition also demands the Brighton and Hove community to ban them from any loyal duties within city limits and to refrain from offering hospitality or courtesy beyond what an ordinary member of society would expect when they visit Brighton and Hove, a seaside city in East Sussex, in South East England.

The founder of the British Monarchists Society, Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, said he was appalled by the petition. He said: We are utterly dismayed that said petition has been signed by so many.

Can City Council strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markles titles?

The only entity that can strip any royal titles or duties from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is the reigning queen, herself. And, that is highly unlikely, as the British monarch has never sought to please political factions and have always stood by tradition and heritage as their driving motivators.

Possibly, the only reason why the matter is being taken up by the city council is due to the number of people that have signed the petition. So far, that number is over 3,700 signatures.

What would happen if the newly married couple were stripped of their noble titles? Well, they would virtually revert to being commoners.

While this may seem out of the question for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, many people believe the couple would love to abandon the royal lifestyle for a simpler and quieter existence.
The Foreign Office is supporting the family (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

A British man has died in Thailand after a firework reportedly exploded in his face during New Years Eve celebrations.

Local police said Gary McLaren, 50, was killed when a firework he was trying to light exploded during a visit to the resort town of Pattaya.

He died at the scene shortly after midnight, according to reports.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said it was supporting the family.

Terrible news this morning. Our colleague and friend, Gary McLaren from IRTA passed away last night.



Our thoughts are with his loved ones.



He will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/Z3G5S4xGtL  MotoGP (@MotoGP) January 1, 2020

Lt Col Somboon Ua-samanmaitree, from the Thai Tourist Police, told the BBC: Around midnight, Mr McLaren attempted to light up a large firework but it failed to go off at first.

After that, it suddenly exploded and killed him at the scene.

Mr McLarens friends were seen crying at the scene, where a large firework was found and taken for evidence, the Bangkok Post reported.

Police told the BBC that Mr McLaren, from Northamptonshire, had visited Thailand before and had arrived a few days prior to New Years Eve.

MotoGP paid tribute to Mr McLaren  who worked for the International Road-Racing Teams Association (IRTA)  in a tweet on Wednesday.

Terrible news this morning. Our colleague and friend, Gary McLaren from IRTA passed away last night, it said.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones. He will be sorely missed.

For 11 years, Mr McLaren worked as a data acquisition engineer for the Suzuki MotoGP Team, who also expressed their condolences to his family.

They tweeted: We are very shocked and sad to learn of the death of Gary McLaren. Gary worked as a Data Acquisition Engineer at Suzuki for 11 years, and remained a good friend to us all while he continued working in the paddock for IRTA.

Our thoughts with his loved ones, well really miss him!
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By PTI

ISLAMBAD: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive for a day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday, days after the UAE came under criticism for siding with Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan to skip a key conference of leaders of Islamic nations in Malaysia.

Khan was scheduled to attend the four-day conference of Muslim leaders from December 18 to 21 in Kuala Lumpur but avoided after Riyadh apparently disapproved it. During his visit, the Crown Prince will also hold meetings with the top Pakistani officials including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Khan and the Crown Prince will also exchange views on "matters of mutual interest and the regional and global situation", UAE's ambassador in Islamabad said in a statement. It said the visit is aimed "to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two brotherly countries".

This will be the Crown Prince's second visit to Pakistan since Khan took office in August 2018. He had last visited Pakistan on January 6 last year, just weeks after his country offered USD 3 billion financial assistance to Pakistan to deal with its balance of payment crisis.

This is also the second visit by an Arab leader in just two weeks. Last month, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud visited Pakistan for a day-long trip. Riyadh has said that it will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Kashmir issue.

The Saudi minister arrived after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that Riyadh had issued economic threats to Pakistan and pressured it into withdrawing from the Kuala Lumpur summit of leaders of Islamic nations in Malaysia.

The summit was seen by Riyadh as an attempt to create a new bloc to replace the dysfunctional OIC led by Saudi Arabia. The Saudis and Emirati leaders apparently objected that Pakistan would be sharing stage with Iran and Qatar, seen as challengers to their dominance in the region.

The Saudi embassy in Islamabad dismissed the reports that it pressured Pakistan to pull out of the summit. Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the summit hosted by Malaysia, but skipped the event at the eleventh hour. The decision to pull out of the summit came after his visit to Riyadh for a meeting with the Saudi leadership.

Khan travelled to Riyadh while army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa went to the UAE to persuade the leaders of the two Arab nations not to oppose Pakistan's participation in the summit but apparently both came back empty handed. The UAE was also criticised for siding with Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Prime Minister Khan to skip a conference In Malaysia.
Beirut: Iran's supreme leader and the US President are locked in an unprecedented war of words over the storming of the American embassy in Iraq, each blaming the other for unrest that is engulfing the country.

Charging that Iran was "fully responsible" for an attack on the US embassy in Iraq, President Donald Trump earlier ordered about 750 US soldiers be deployed to the Middle East, with around 3000 more preparing for possible deployment in the next few days.

An Iraqi soldier guards the US embassy in Baghdad. Credit:AP

No US casualties or evacuations were reported after the Tuesday attack by dozens of Iran-supported militiamen who chanted "Death to America" while besieging the mission, forcing staff to take refuge in a safe room. US Marines were sent from Kuwait to reinforce the compound.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest religious and spiritual authority, blamed the US for the recent unrest, warning the US President that Tehran was not afraid to defend its interests.
Another year, another unrealized right-wing scare in Europe. Though far-right parties are now a fixture on the European political stage, they made no significant gains on the continent in 2019. Despite growing political fragmentation, the center is holding. Nationalist populists are still as unsuited to governing as ever.

I had an early inkling that the far right wouldn't advance much in 2019 when I went to Brussels in February to interview Michel Modrikamen, the Belgian lawyer who was supposed to be U.S. nativist ideologue Steve Bannon's point man in Europe. Bannon had talked about disrupting the European Union's operation by fueling a radical right-wing wave in the European Parliament election in May. But Modrikamen, leader of the People's Party, a small nationalist political force in the francophone part of Belgium, wasn't working on anything as ambitious as that: Instead, he was interested in organizing a kind of discussion club for European nationalist and conservative politicians. Dreams of centralized war rooms for nationalist parties turned out to be unfeasible because of strict campaign financing laws. U.S. money and technological know-how failed to materialize. (The People's Party was disbanded in June after a disappointing showing in the European and Belgian elections).

Matteo Salvini, the Italian rabble-rouser who leads the anti-immigrant League party, was another friend of Bannon's who tried to put together a kind of nationalist international coalition ahead of the European Parliament vote. There was a big rally in Milan to announce the alliance, but Identity and Democracy, the faction formed by Salvini and his allies, ended up as only the fifth-biggest group in the 751-seat legislature, with 73 members. That's an improvement on the 37 its predecessor group, Europe of Nations and Freedom, had in the previous parliament, but the growth came at the expense of other like-minded groups. Salvini's creation was not involved in the haggling over top European Union jobs, and it plays no role in EU decision-making. Given that European elections are often used by national electorates to vent their frustrations, but have little economic impact, this result is the equivalent of a mighty swing-and-miss for the far right.

But then, in the European election, the far right only could have hoped for a symbolic victory. Power in the EU is largely concentrated on the national level, and there, too, the far right failed to pull off any spectacular wins. In the eight EU national elections in which nationalist populist parties had a chance to win seats, their average showing was 12.1% - higher than the 11.7% they won in their countries' previous elections, but still not a frightening percentage.

Nationalist populists only made gains in three of the eight countries - Estonia, Belgium and Spain. In the small Baltic state, ultranationalist EKRE's success was the result of rural voters left behind by the nation's tech boom, which is largely happening in the capital, Tallinn. It could also be related to a bump in nationalist support in neighboring Finland, of which more later.

In Belgium, young Flemish male voters unhappy with the country's multiculturalist policies brought the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant Flemish Interest party a second-place finish in the parliamentary election thanks to its flirting with the alt-right and its success on social media. And in Spain, nationalist Vox's rise was in large part a response to popular demand for an extremely hard line against Catalan secessionists.

Elsewhere, the far right was dealt spectacular defeats. In Denmark, the People's Party crashed at the ballot box after other parties, including the victorious center-left, learned convincingly to back tough but not extreme immigration policies and new, smaller forces challenged the People's Party from the right. In Greece, receding economic pain softened public support for the neo-fascist Golden Dawn. And in Austria, support for the Freedom Party never quite recovered from the scandal that led to the resignation of its former leader Heinz-Christian Strache in May: He'd been caught in an unusual sting operation, drunkenly plotting various shenanigans with a woman he thought was related to a Russian oligarch.

Strache's fall highlighted the fundamental conflict between far-right politicians' ability to perform well in polls and elections and their ineptitude at governing. Salvini provided another glaring example this year when he pulled his party out of the ruling coalition to force an election only to watch his former partners from the left-wing populist Five Star Movement form a new alliance with the centrist Democratic Party. Salvini, formerly Italy's powerful interior minister, found himself out of a job. Though he's still extremely popular and a massive threat to the Italian elite, he'll likely only govern if he can somehow put together a majority together with other far-right forces, such as the Brothers of Italy party.

Governing just doesn't work out well for far-right parties in Europe. In Norway, the popularity of the far-right Progress Party has collapsed because of an endless line of scandals involving its ministers and legislators. In Finland, the nationalist Finns party split in 2017, while part of the governing coalition, because the radical party base considered its ministers too moderate and compromise-minded; now, the party's revived popularity, which has allowed it to hold its own in this year's national election and since propelled it to first place in polls, is the result of a radicalization that makes the Finns a coalition partner to avoid.

In Estonia, three EKRE ministers have already been dismissed, one of them after serving for exactly one day in office. A fourth, Interior Minister Mart Helme, barely survived an attempt to remove him after he called Finland's 34-year old Prime Minister Sanna Marin a "sales girl." Further EKRE missteps, dismissals and confidence votes will remain a threat to Estonia's government coalition next year.

Far-right parties do best in elections when they're in opposition - when they can play the "no one likes us, we don't care" card, as one researcher wrote about the Finns this year. That's why I regret the adamant refusal of Germany's mainstream political parties to form coalitions with the nationalist Alternative for Germany after its strong showing in three state elections in the country's east this year (it came second in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg). Letting the far right get a taste of actual responsibility and the constraints that come with it tends to open voters' eyes - and in coalition governments, even populist rabble-rousers have to try to act reasonably, so the damage can be minimized.

The far-right tendency to fail at governing is one reason such parties usually do better in polls than in elections. The average support level of Europe's far-right parties in December, 2019 is 14% - exactly the same as a year ago.

Averages can be deceptive, of course. But only five European far-right parties enjoy more than 20% support at the end of the year, if one counts Switzerland's powerful People's Party, which saw a slight dip in electoral support this year. Of the other four, only Liga, the Finns and the Sweden Democrats are viable threats to centrist governments in their countries; in France, with its strong presidency, Marine Le Pen would need to win a presidential election for her National Rally party to govern, and she's already been beaten twice by centrists.

Italy and two Nordic countries, then, are where far-right gains threaten to destabilize political systems in the near future. The Italian case is complex: The country has a powerful right-wing tradition, and its voters are tired of government dysfunction and an anemic economy. Only the emergence of equally charismatic leaders capable of outshining Salvini can neutralize the threat he presents.

Sweden and Finland are another matter. The far right is strong there because the Nordics, with their generous social safety nets, have been failing at immigrant integration. Ghettos have emerged, education and health care systems have begun crumbling at the edges, and voters have noticed. To find an alternative to the Danish scenario of an anti-immigration consensus, these countries need to get better at pulling newcomers into their tight social fabric - an exercise that requires visionary leadership and smart policymaking, which have been lacking the last few years as the inflow of immigrants has grown.

In the rest of Europe, political elites are learning to live with parties whose leaders say the formerly unspeakable, make offensive gestures and gather raucous crowds carrying signs not since since before World War II. These political forces can be loud nuisances, but then protest parties always are. The trick is not to let them grow into something bigger - a fascist tide of the kind that swept over Europe in the 1930s. That sometimes means letting the troublemakers into government as a kind of inoculation.

So far, European centrists largely are doing OK at containing the infection.

- - -

Bershidsky is Bloomberg Opinion's Europe columnist.
Honda and Red Bull had a successful first season together in many opinions but Toyoharu Tanabe is still looking for improvement but admitted the team benefitted from providing two teams.

2019 saw Red Bull and Toro Rosso both run a Honda engine and it worked to reasonable levels of success. Max Verstappen secured three race wins including a home win for Red Bull in Austria as well as victories in Germany and Brazil. Toro Rosso also achieved podiums using a Honda engine.

Toyoharu Tanabe has revealed the team are looking to build next season and felt they did a good job last season.

"Of course it was a challenge because we needed more employees and engines. We did a solid job for both teams," Tanabe told Motorsport-Total.com.

"We asked the engineers and mechanics.

"What can we do better next year? We looked at what we did this year."

The engine supplier provided engines for two teams in 2019 and Tanabe felt the fact the two are linked is a huge benefit.

"There are differences between the teams," he added.

"But we also learned a lot from both at the same time. We also benefit from the fact that Red Bull and Toro Rosso are directly connected and that Red Bull is the team with priority."
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union has called for a boycott of the semester registration process on Wednesday and asked the vice-chancellor to have a proper deliberation and work in the spirit of resolution of issues

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has called for a boycott of the semester registration process on Wednesday and asked the vice-chancellor "to have a proper deliberation and work in the spirit of resolution" of issues.

The university has been seeing a standoff between the students and the administration over the issue of hostel fee hike for over two months.

On Monday, the JNU released a circular saying that the new hostel manual will be implemented from 1 January, 2020 with the hiked room rent even though the service and utility charges will be taken care of by the University Grants Commission.

The union said that the Delhi High Court had observed in its order on 23 December that the solution to the current crisis must be found by the VC only through dialogue with stakeholders - the university students. The administration held two meetings with the JNUSU on 26 and 30 December.

"While having communicated through informal channels that it would initiate dialogue with the JNUSU, in a shocking display of their insidious intentions, the administration brought out a notice that was in complete violation of a conducive environment where negotiations can further proceed," the JNUSU said.

It said that despite concerted efforts by the administration to penalise the agitating students, the JNUSU participated in the talks with the sincere intent to resolve the "crisis that the hostel manual has imposed on the students". "Even as the talks were going on, circulars were released by the administration which clearly shows that the administration still believes in the modus operandi of pretending to hold dialogue rather than actually holding one," the JNUSU said.

The semester registration process will begin from 1 January and will go on till 5 January. The students, who did not take exams, can provisionally register for the next semester and have to complete academic requirements by 20 January. "We note that the administration which was threatening to fail students and not let them register has now had to come down to the so called 'provisional registration' model. But that is a sham tactic. Proper exams with buffer period must be held for all students," the JNUSU said.

The JNUSU has decided to go for an extended boycott in the wake of the varsity's circular.
GRANITE CITY  Illinois American Water has signed an agreement to acquire the Granite City wastewater systems for $18 million.

The acquisition will add 12,500 customers to its existing base in Illinois. The company will apply to the Illinois Commerce Commission for approval of this buyout, which is expected to close in late 2020.

In 2019, Illinois American Water acquired the Alton Regional Wastewater System, the Village of Godfreys wastewater system and the Village of Glasfords water and wastewater systems. These acquisitions added 30,174 new customer connections to Illinois American Water.

Last week, the company entered in an agreement to acquire the City of Jerseyvilles water and wastewater systems for $43.25 million. The buyout will add 8,200 customers to its base in the state.

Aging water and wastewater pipelines are a major concern in the U.S. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than $744 billion is needed for U.S. water and wastewater infrastructure improvement.

A report by American Water Works states that more than 2 trillion gallons of treated water is lost per year due to leakage from aging pipes. The report also indicates that, by 2020, nearly 44% of the U.S. pipeline infrastructure will be classified as poor, very poor or life elapsed.

American Water, the parent of Illinois American Water, recently increased its regulated infrastructure investment by $800 million for the 2020-2024 capital plan. It also introduced a 10-year capital spending plan in the range of $20 billion to $22 billion.
Revellers celebrating the new year at the Field Day music festival in Sydney resulted in 169 people charged with drug-related offences, despite the availability of bins to dump pills without penalty.

A strong police presence at the music festival, held in the city's Domain, kept an eye on the 27,000 partygoers.

Once inside the grounds, attendees were met with new drug amnesty bins introduced to encourage people to throw out illegal pills without being fined or charged.

The bins were introduced in response to an increase in MDMA-related deaths at music festivals.

The tents provided for the amnesty bins remained mostly empty as the majority of revellers avoided the new drug initiative

There was a high police presence at the music festival in Sydney's Domain keeping an eye on the 27,000 partygoers

Despite the easy access of the bins, police arrested and charged 169 people with drug-related offences  167 of them for possession, and two for supply.

A 19-year-old man was also charged after officers allegedly located more 3.4g of MDMA in his underwear.

NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Michael Willing said sniffer dogs as well as uniformed and undercover officers would deliberately avoid areas where the bins are placed so revellers could throw out their drugs without fear of arrest.

'Officers will be directed not to ordinarily patrol or interact with the bins,' he said.

'We don't want to see police standing around where the bins are and stopping people from disposing personal-use drugs.'

Police officers were stationed at the entrance of the Field Day festival with drug dogs by their side to assist them

Festival-goers were met with newly introduced amnesty bins which encourage people to throw away illegal drugs safely

Mr Willing said any revellers caught with drugs away from the amnesty bins would be dealt with on 'a case-by-case basis'.

'Common sense' will be used by police if they catch people with substances claiming they are on their way to a drug disposal bin, he said.

Mr Willing said police at the event would consider a number of factors such as the distance from the bin and the amount of drugs being carried.

The bins were managed NSW Health and placed near the entrances of festivals and close to the medical tent inside the grounds.

The bins are part of a 12 month trial at high risk festivals including Field Day, on January 1, and FOMO Festival on January 11.

The heavy police presence pictured near the Art Gallery of New South Wales just outside of the festival's entrance

The disposal points come as pressure mounts on the NSW Government to prevent drug-related deaths at music festivals,

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has long opposed the introduction of pill testing in the state believing it will give festival goers a false sense of security and condone illicit drug use.

'I want to give the community our assurance as a government that we're doing everything we can to keep young people safe,' she told reporters in Sydney on December 11th.

We believe amnesty bins are a good way to increase safety so that young people, if they see police or if they see other activity, don't panic and have the opportunity, without any questions asked, to throw those pills into the bin.

'The strongest message we continue to give as a government is that drugs kills you.

'That's why they're illegal. Do not take MDMA. Do not take ecstasy. Do not take any illegal drug because they can kill you' she said.

One party-goer experienced is seen chatting to officers. There was a strong police presence at the festival

The trial is being put into place just as NSW Health has issued an urgent warning over potentially deadly ecstasy pills shaped like blue Lego blocks.

A number of the double and triple standard dosage MDMA pills were seized in northern New South Wales.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said last month that most of the harm caused to people injured by illicit drugs was not caused by contaminants but by the very drugs they intended to purchase.

'Pill testing will not reduce this harm,' he said.

'At present, the technology does not allow for adequate identification of dose levels or small traces of highly toxic substances.

'The testing method, in which only a small portion of a pill is tested, is also an inaccurate reflection of the composition of the entire pill,' he said.

There is no suggestion from Daily Mail Australia that any of the people pictured in this story were involved in drugs supply or consumption.
By Ahmed Rasheed and Idrees Ali BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S

By Ahmed Rasheed and Idrees Ali

BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, setting off a confrontation with guards and posing a new challenge for U.S. President Donald Trump.

The protests, led by Iranian-backed militias, prompted the United States to deploy additional U.S. Marines to protect embassy personnel who were huddled inside the facility.

Embassy guards used stun grenades and tear gas to repel protesters, who stormed and burned the security post at the entrance but did not breach the main compound.

The State Department said diplomatic personnel inside were safe and there were no plans to evacuate them.

U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said troops from the 82 Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina could be sent to the region in the coming hours if needed. They could number in the hundreds, though less than a thousand, officials said.

The unprecedented attack on an American diplomatic mission in Iraq marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between the United States and Iran - both influential players in the country - and plunged U.S. relations with Iraq to their worst level in years.

The United States and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003 and ousted Saddam Hussein. But political stability has been elusive.

Trump, on a two-week working vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, spoke by phone to Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi of Iraq. "President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the White House said.

Trump - suddenly at risk of entering his 2020 re-election year with a new foreign policy headache to sort out - accused Iran of orchestrating the violence and said Tehran would be held responsible.

The protests followed U.S. air strikes on Sunday on bases operated by the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah inside Iraq, which killed at least 25 fighters and wounded 55. The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base, which Washington blamed on Kataib Hezbollah.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will," Trump said in a tweet. "Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."

Iran, under severe economic duress from punishing U.S. sanctions put in place by Trump, denied responsibility.

"America has the surprising audacity of attributing to Iran the protests of the Iraqi people against (Washington's) savage killing of at least 25 Iraqis," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.

Democrats upset that Trump ditched the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama in 2015 were quick to pounce on the incident as a failure of Trump's Iran policy.

"The predictable result of the Trump administrations reckless bluster, escalation and miscalculation in the Middle East is that we are now hurtling closer to an unauthorized war with Iran that the American people do not support," said U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

STONES AND TEAR GAS

The protesters, joined briefly by Iranian-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia leaders, threw stones at the embassy gate while others chanted, "No, no, America! No, no, Trump!"

Iraqi special forces prevented protesters entering, later reinforced by U.S.-trained Iraqi Counter Terrorism forces.

The embassy has been hit by sporadic but non-lethal rocket fire in recent months, and was regularly shelled following the U.S.-led invasion of 2003, but has not been physically attacked by demonstrators in this way before.

The Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella grouping of the militias which have been officially integrated into Iraq's armed forces, said 62 militiamen and civilians were wounded by the tear gas and stun grenades fired to disperse the crowd.

A Reuters witness saw blood on the face of one wounded militiamen and on the stomach of the other as their colleagues carried them away.

Iraqis have been taking to the streets in their thousands almost daily to condemn, among other things, militias such as Kataib Hezbollah and their Iranian patrons that support Abdul Mahdi's government.

Kataib Hezbollah is one of the smallest but most potent of the Iranian-backed militias. Its flags were hung on the fence surrounding the embassy.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces.

(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Palm Beach and Daphne Psaledakis, Doina Chiacu and Diane Bartz in Washington; writing by Steve Holland; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Violence broke out during the largely peaceful march in Hong Kong as masses of citizens pressed authorities for further concessions in the Chinese-ruled city.

Hong Kong: A march drawing tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on New Years Day spiralled into chaotic scenes as police fired several rounds of tear gas and water cannon at crowds including families before halting the event.

The violence broke out during the largely peaceful march as masses of citizens pressed authorities for further concessions in the Chinese-ruled city.

In the Wanchai bar district, some protesters had spray-painted graffiti and smashed cash machines in an HSBC bank branch when riot police moved in, pepper-spraying crowds in a tense face-off. Tear gas was then fired into the crowds, making some children cry.

The protesters, some with gas masks and clad in black, regrouped and formed their own lines as police blocked roads to prevent large crowds from completing the march as night fell.

The atmosphere grew tense in several districts on Hong Kong island, as hundreds of protesters dug in, forming road blocks, setting fires and throwing a few petrol bombs. Human chains formed down roads to help ferry supplies to people on the frontlines, including umbrellas and bricks.

Protesters have directed their ire at global banking group HSBC alleging a link between the arrest of four members of a group that raised funds to support the protesters and an earlier closure of an HSBC account linked to the group. HSBC deny any connection.

A bronze lion at the banks headquarters was daubed with red paint and scorched by a fire. A bank spokesman said: We strongly condemn the acts of vandalism and damage directed at our premises repeatedly in the last few days. We believe these are unjustified.

Earlier in the day, under grey clouds, citizens young and old, many dressed in black and some masked, carried signs such as Freedom is not free before setting off.

Its hard to utter Happy New Year because Hong Kong people are not happy, said a man named Tung, who was walking with his two-year-old son, mother and niece. Unless the five demands are achieved, and police are held accountable for their brutality, then we cant have a real happy new year, he added.

He was referring to the push for concessions from the government including full democracy, an amnesty for the more than 6,500 people arrested so far, and a powerful, independent investigation into police actions.

Along the route, a number of newly elected pro-democracy district politicians mingled with the crowds on their first day in office, some helping collect donations to assist the movement. Youths also carried Hong Kong Independence flags and chanted that splitting the city from Chinese rule was the only way out.

The government has already started the oppression before the New Year began ... whoever is being oppressed, we will stand with them, said Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front that organised the march. The organisers also condemned the police decision to cancel the rally.

Thousands of Hong Kong revellers had earlier welcomed in 2020 on neon-lit promenades along Victoria Harbour, chanting the movements signature slogan - Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our Time - for the final seconds before clocks struck midnight.

Chinas President Xi Jinping said in a New Years speech that Beijing will resolutely safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under the so-called one country, two systems framework.

Many people in Hong Kong are angered by Beijings tight grip on the city which was promised a high degree of autonomy under this framework when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Beijing denies interference and blames the West for fomenting the unrest.

A group of 40 parliamentarians and dignitaries from 18 countries had written an open letter to Hong Kongs leader Carrie Lam on New Years Eve, urging her to seek genuine ways forward out of this crisis by addressing the grievances of Hong Kong people.

The protest movement is supported by 59 percent of the citys residents polled in a survey conducted for Reuters by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute. Demonstrations have grown increasingly violent in recent months, at times paralyzing the Asian financial centre.
The must-see exhibitions of 2020  the rest of the world

From Cartier-Bresson in Taipei to Doig in Tokyo and Arbus in Ontario  our updated guide to the must-see exhibitions in Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East

1

Diane Arbus: Photographs, 1956-1971

Until 8 November 2020 Art Gallery of Ontario , CanadaUntil 8 November 2020 In 2016, the Art Gallery of Ontario acquired 522 works by the legendary New York photographer Diane Arbus  so creating what it claimed to be the worlds second-largest collection of her work. To celebrate, the gallery has organised the first solo exhibition of her pictures in Canada for nearly 30 years. The show chronicles 15 years of her career, from her 1940s experiments with self-portraiture to her switch to the 2-inch Rolleiflex camera that led to her iconic square images, as well as later shoots for Esquire and Harpers Bazaar. During this decade and a half, says the AGOs curator of photography Sophie Hackett, Arbus produced perhaps the most compelling and demanding body of portraits the 20th century had seen. The gallery is now open Thursday to Sunday. Tickets must be booked in advance.

Diane Arbus, Untitled (49), 1970-1971. Gelatin silver print; printed later. Sheet: 50.8 x 40.6 cm. Anonymous gift, 2016.  Estate of Diane Arbus 2016/827

Dont miss Untitled (49), 1970-1971, one of 66 photographs from Arbuss series documenting festivities at residences for people with developmental disabilities. The poignant body of work was one of the photographers last.

2

Henri Cartier-Bresson: China, 1948-1949/1958

Until 1 November 2020 Taipei Fine Arts Museum , TaipeiUntil 1 November 2020 In 1948-1949 and 1958, the French photojournalist Henri Cartier-Bresson made two trips to China. The first was for Life magazine, which commissioned him to document the countrys changing political landscape. Among other events, he shot the Peoples Liberation Army entering Nanking and the Kuomintang forces retreating after the collapse of negotiations with the Communist Party. Almost a decade later, he returned to photograph the chaotic aftermath of the Chinese Communist Revolution. His rarely seen body of work from this period is now regarded as a crucial eye-witness account of life in China during those turbulent years. This exhibition of 170 photographs was recently shown at the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation in Paris; now, after a two-month delay, it has travelled to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, where it has been expanded with an additional 40 images.

Henri-Cartier-Bresson: China, 1948-1949/1958 at Taipei Fine Arts Museum 2020.  Foundation Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos

Dont miss Cartier-Bressons photograph of the 1948 Shanghai Gold Rush, which depicts a violent mass of people trying to exchange yuan for gold at the banks on the Bund as hyperinflation gripped the country.

3

Peter Doig

Until 11 October 2020 The National Museum of Modern Art (MONAT) , TokyoUntil 11 October 2020 Fusing the landscapes of his two homelands, Canada and Trinidad, with the painterly styles of Gauguin, Matisse and Munch, Peter Doig has become something of a hero among 21st-century painters. His long-awaited first solo show in Japan  extended from June until October  ranges from his early-career images of snow-filled vistas to his latest, more figurative portraits. It is a rare opportunity to see works by the notoriously publicity-shy artist, many of which are in private hands.

Peter Doig, Swamped, 1990. 197 x 241 cm. Oil on canvas.  Peter Doig. All rights reserved, DACS & JASPAR 2019 C3006

Dont miss Swamped, a Doig painting based on a still from the 1980s cult horror classic Friday the 13th. The 1990 work was sold by Christies in 2015 for more than $25 million.

4

Sally Rees: Crone

Autumn 2020 Museum of Old and New Art , Tasmania, AustraliaAutumn 2020 In April 2019, Sally Rees was one of three people to receive an award from Suspended Moment: The Katthy Cavaliere Fellowship, the largest prize in Australia for women artists. The fellowship is named after and funded by the estate of the Italian-Australian performance artist who died in 2012 aged 40, and Rees is using her A$100,000 grant to mount a multimedia installation and performance series at Hobarts Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Reess new exhibition, Crone (named after the white-haired woman of folklore), will examine the role of older, socially invisible women, and the ways in which they can be powerful and transgressive figures. The show was scheduled to open in April but has been delayed to the autumn, due to Covid-19. Dates are yet to be confirmed.

Sally Rees, winner of a Katthy Cavaliere Fellowship award in April 2019. Image: Daniel Boud 2019

Dont miss Reess walk from nearby Mount Wellington to MONA dressed in full crone garb. The day-long trek (date to be confirmed) will close the show and mark the artists 50th birthday.

5

Beatriz Milhazes: Avenida Paulista

11 December 2020 to 23 March 2021 Sao Paulo Museum of Art , Brazil11 December 2020 to 23 March 2021 The Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes (b. 1960) is a key figure in the booming South American art scene. Her unique take on Op Art  bold, abstract paintings inspired by Brazils flora, fauna and carnival celebrations  got rave reviews when she represented Brazil in 2003 at the 50th Venice Biennale. More recently, Milhazes has signed international representation contracts with White Cube and Pace Gallery. This show at Sao Paolos MASP focuses on work completed since 1990, and will include paintings and collages. Expect maximum visual impact.





Beatriz Milhazes, Maracujola, 2015. Acrylic on linen, 246 x 299 cm. Private collection. Credit: Pepe Schettino

Dont miss Never-before-seen works made by Milhazes in collaboration with her sister, the choreographer Marcia Milhazes, on show as part of MASPs Histories of Dance year.

6

Furusiyya: The Art of Chivalry between East and West

Until 18 October 2020 Louvre Abu Dhabi , Abu DhabiUntil 18 October 2020 Between the 10th and 16th centuries, from Spain to Syria, the tradition of knighthood flourished. But why did it start, and how did knights from the East and West interact? Bringing together more than 130 artworks and objects, from weapons and armour to ceramics, manuscripts and jewels, the latest show at the Louvre Abu Dhabi explores these questions. It also looks at the ways in which knights and their chivalric codes became important pillars of the medieval Islamic and Christian faiths. Many of the works are on loan from the Museums Parisian counterpart and are rarely seen outside France.

Helmet. Iraq, Turkey or Caucasus, circa 1450-1500. Steel damascened with silver and traces of gold, iron. Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi  Department of Culture and TourismAbu Dhabi / Photo: Thierry Ollivier

Don't miss... The fearsome 15th-century Islamic helmet (above), which is designed to resemble a turban and is decorated with prayers intended to protect its wearer during battle.

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7

Elizabeth Peyton: Practice

Until 29 November Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) , BeijingUntil 29 November Over the past 30 years the bold, dynamic portraits of American artist Elizabeth Peyton (b. 1965) have been a driving force in the revival of interest in figurative painting. In 2013, for example, Christies sold Peytons energetic picture of Leonardo DiCaprio for over $1 million. The proceeds from the sale were donated to his environmental foundation. This show  Peytons first ever solo exhibition in China  focuses mainly on her most recent decade, and how her repertoire has expanded from intimate depictions of close friends and family to cultural icons besides DiCaprio such as Frida Kahlo, Angela Merkel and Queen Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth Peyton (b. 1965), Napoleon, 1991. Charcoal on paper, 55.9 x 45.7 cm. Courtesy Sadie Coles HQ

Dont miss Peytons beautiful charcoal character study of a young Napoleon. The delicacy of the work makes it look like it has been lifted straight from the easel of Edward Burne-Jones.

8

Abdoulaye Konate

18 September to 18 November 2020 Gallery 1957 , Ghana18 September to 18 November 2020 The labour-intensive, gigantic fringed tapestries of Abdoulaye Konate, which employ coloured dyes central to West African aesthetics and reflect his homelands material culture, have been a huge hit with collectors and institutions over the past few years. In 2019 Blain Southern inaugurated its new outpost in New York with a show by the Malian artist, hot on the heels of his work being exhibited at the 2019 Havana Biennial and the 2017 Venice Biennale. For his latest show at Gallery 1957 in Ghanas capital Accra, he has made a new body of large-scale, site-specific works, employing for the first time Ghanaian Kente cloth.

Abdoulaye Konate, 2016, Courtesy the artist and Blain Southern, Photo Peter Mallet
More than a century before women saw themselves in Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda, they identified with another popular foursome: the March sisters of Little Women. Chances are, if you grew up reading Louisa May Alcotts coming-of-age novel, youve probably asked yourself: Are you romantic like Meg, outspoken and defiant like Jo, gentle and quiet like Beth, or boisterous and a bit vain like Amy?

The relatability of the four sisters is just one of the reasons why Alcotts text has endured, and why its universe has continued to expand since it was first published in two parts in 1868 and 1869. For the past 150 years, it has been translated into more than 50 languages and adapted for the stage and screen more than a dozen times, including a 48-episode Japanese television series.

But the latest adaptation to enter the canon, which is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, is less about categorizing the women into four separate archetypes and instead showing how they reflect each other: four parts of one whole. For the hair and makeup departments, that meant making each of the women  Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Beth (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy (Florence Pugh)  look more similar than different.

I wanted each girl to echo the others, Fria Aradottir, the head of the films hair department, told me over the phone. I wanted them to have similar repeat hairdos. The way they put their hair up and braid it  its suggested that they took care of each other and helped to do each others hair. Of course, this doesnt always go according to plan. In an early scene at the Marchs home in Concord, Massachusetts, Jo burns a lock of Megs hair with a hot iron while trying to curl it for a party.

But elaborate party updos are few and far between in this adaptation. In fact, Gerwig actually encouraged Aradottir and her team to envision the March sisters as early bohemians and provided photos from Victorian-era British portrait photographer Julia Margaret Cameron as inspiration. Greta, early on in our conversations, suggested that this family and these girls and women were possibly the original hippies, explained Aradottir. The hair was always meant to be a little less structured than you see in a lot of period movies. I find that more relatable than coiffures, which are so distinct and untouchable.

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Staying true to the times, Aradottir didnt even allow hairspray on set, since it hadnt yet been invented in the 1860s when the story takes place. Let [the hair] be flyaway, let it be loose! was the directive Aradottir told me she gave her team. On Jo, there were always pieces falling down  she was too busy thinking about a lot of other things and not tucking her hair in.

Although the styles were meant to look effortless, they required tons of prep work. Ronan, Watson, Scanlen, and Pugh each wore three-quarter-length wigs or hairpieces, as none of them had the long, flowing hair that was typical of the period. Each day, Aradottir and her team  which included three hairdressers on staff and up to 15 stylists on the days they shot the ballroom dancing scenes  would wash the wigs with Moroccanoil shampoo and condition them with Rahua hair masks to give them a healthy-looking sheen. To complete the looks, they used Rodin Olio Lusso luxury oil and Omorovieza moisture mist.

Judy Chin, the makeup department head, also took a pared-down approach to the makeup, keeping with the style of the time when it was still deemed unseemly. My conversations with [Gerwig] were about having the girls just look wild and natural, Chin said to me over the phone. I took all of their features and enhanced them. Of course, pulling off a no-makeup look on the big screen also takes serious effort.

Chin and her counterpart, Miho Suzuki, started by pressing Nars Sheer Glow Foundation and Ko Gen Do Moisture Foundation into their skin, then added that signature Victorian flush to their lips and cheeks using rose and coral stains from Tarte, Duwop, and Lancome. I wanted them to look very natural and strong and beautiful, said Chin, without any sort of noticeable cosmetic enhancement.

One thing that neither Aradottir nor Chin used for inspiration, however, was the dozen-plus previous adaptations of the film, including the popular 1994 version starring Winona Ryder as Jo. In fact, both women made a conscious decision not to watch the previous versions at all. Ive seen bits of [prior adaptations] and what they look like, said Chin. And no offense to any of them, but what I wanted to do was the complete opposite of what I saw. Theyre all great in their own ways, but I wanted to create something different and more real.

Ultimately, this vision for hair and makeup  that the March sisters are meant to mirror one another  supports Gerwigs vision more broadly. In her film, whether you identify with Meg, Jo, Beth, or Amy is almost irrelevant. Her Little Women is intimately aware of how, even though the sisters march to the beat of their own drum, the family is still oppressed by the same patriarchal society that encourages women to marry  including their mother, Marmee (Laura Dern), who confesses to Jo that she is angry every day of her life; Gerwigs film is only the second adaptation to include this pivotal line from the book.

Accordingly, the March sisters make the brunt of their decisions with family in mind. In a scene thats also famous in the book, a teenage Jo cuts her hair and sells it in exchange for money to give her mother. Her sisters accuse her of abandoning her one beauty, but Derns Marmee is quietly moved.

Later on, it is Amy who sacrifices her ambitions as a painter in order to marry the wealthy Laurie (Timothee Chalamet) and support her family financially: As a woman, theres no way for me to make my own money, she tells Laurie, steely-eyed, her hair pulled off her face in an elegant updo. Not enough to earn a living or to support my family, and if I had my own money, which I dont, that money would belong to my husband the moment we got married so dont sit there and tell me that marriage isnt an economic proposition, because it is.

By the end of Gerwigs film, Jo has written the novel Little Women, started her own school, and (maybe) married Professor Bhaer; Amy has married Laurie; and Meg has married John Brooke, Lauries tutor. However, it is never lost on the viewer that the March women remain parts of a whole, forever interwoven like braids  not because they want to be, but because they need to be to survive.

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HONG KONG  China on Wednesday moved to pump more cash into its financial system, suggesting that Beijing remained concerned about faltering growth despite signs that the worlds second-largest economy was stabilizing.

Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China, announced that it would inject about $115 billion into the economy by freeing up banks to lend more money. The move comes after a similar action in September.

The change, announced on the New Years Day holiday, is likely to focus renewed attention on the health of the Chinese economy, a major driver of global growth. The move is relatively modest given the vast size of the Chinese economy, but the timing suggests that the countrys leaders are on high alert for new evidence of a slowdown. It follows a recent meeting of the countrys top economic planners and comes just weeks before Beijing releases closely watched estimates of year-end growth.

Chinas leaders are contending with the countrys slowest pace of growth in nearly three decades.

The countrys slowdown has sent ripples through the global economy. Germany narrowly avoided a recession last fall, and its manufacturing sector has slumped in part because of reduced demand from China. Other European countries have also seen growth slow and their industrial sectors contract.
In his traditional New Year's address, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "rapid compromise" with unions over a pension overhaul that has sparked the country's biggest transport strikes in decades. But there is one issue upon which he has no intention of compromising: ending the early retirement schemes enjoyed by striking transport workers.

A centrepiece of Macron's sweeping plans to reform France, the pension overhaul would get rid of 42 separate schemes and replace them with a single, points-based system the government claims would be fairer and more sustainable.

Unions have baulked at the plan, which would see some public employees lose their right to early retirement  and likely result in benefit cuts for millions. They have staged four consecutive weeks of strikes that have crippled train and metro services across the country and wreaked havoc on Christmas holiday plans.

In his keenly awaited New Years Eve address on Tuesday, Macron stayed firm on the principles of the reform, including its most decried measure: raising the eligibility age for full pensions from 62 to 64.

But he called for a rapid compromise between unions and his government, which has already offered concessions to a growing list of sectors in an effort to woo workers and divide the unions.

Police officers, gendarmes, firefighters and prison guards were among the first to secure guarantees that they would still be able to retire at 57  and, in some cases, at 52. Air traffic controllers  notorious hard-bargainers  won the same rights, while air pilots and stewards obtained smaller concessions, as did truck drivers, fishermen and Paris Opera dancers (who have so far shunned the offer).

As the list of exemptions grows longer, opposition parties have mocked a reform that is becoming universal in name only. Macron himself has warned against allowing special treatment for any one group, arguing that more concessions would surely follow, like dominoes.

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But two categories have been noticeably ignored by the government as it doles out special exemptions to its universal retirement age: workers at SNCF, Frances national rail company, and RATP, the Paris transport firm  which have spearheaded the strike movement and rank among the reforms biggest losers.

Privileges

Since the start of the conflict over pension reform, ministers and lawmakers from Macrons ruling LREM party have repeatedly targeted the perks and privileges enjoyed by rail and metro workers, while sparing other sectors that also benefit from special pension schemes  known as regimes speciaux.

It is no longer fair that people who work for SNCF or RATP should have additional rights, said LREM lawmaker Aurore Berge in an interview with Sud Radio on December 16, arguing that improved working conditions meant early retirement was no longer justified.

There are clear electoral motives for the governments intransigence on this issue. While polls continue to show broad support for the pension strikes, they also suggest that a majority of the French are in favour of ending the early retirement schemes enjoyed by some categories  of which SNCF and RATP are the most emblematic.

As analysts point out, support for ending the regimes speciaux is especially high among Macrons core support base of centrist voters and his key target constituency of centre-right voters.

According to an Elabe survey published on December 18, 67% of voters supported a single pension system for all. The figure rose to 90% among people who voted for Macron at the last presidential election and 87% among those who backed right-wing candidate Francois Fillon.

As a result, Macrons camp is calculating that it can appease some categories while playing hardball with transport workers, mindful that the electoral dividends are likely to outweigh the cost of a protracted strike.

Cutting costs

However, such a strategy risks fuelling suspicions about the real motive of the pension overhaul, with critics  including erstwhile supporters of the reform  accusing the government of turning a supposedly progressive reform into a cost-cutting ploy.

If the reforms stated aim is to set up a universal system for all, they ask, then why keep some special schemes while removing others?

>> Why Frances unsustainable pension system may well be sustainable

In an op-ed published last month by Le Monde, a group of prominent economists with close ties to Macron called for greater clarity over the reform, arguing that budgetary considerations had cast a pall over its objectives.

One of the signatories, economist Antoine Bozio, who helped write Macrons pension proposals during his election campaign, asked in a separate op-ed: Is the [reforms] aim to set up a universal pension system that gives people greater guarantees and reduces pension inequalities, or is to cut the pension bill?

While reiterating their support for a points-based retirement system, Bozio and his colleagues urged the government to drop its plans to raise the eligibility age for a full pension.

By refusing to do so, Bozio wrote, the government had come clear about its objective to reduce spending on pensions  and thus vindicated the reforms opponents.

This article was adapted from the original in French


Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We note that Avingtrans plc (LON:AVG) does have debt on its balance sheet. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together.

View our latest analysis for Avingtrans

How Much Debt Does Avingtrans Carry?

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at May 2019 Avingtrans had debt of UK8.76m, up from UK11.2 in one year. But on the other hand it also has UK8.91m in cash, leading to a UK147.0k net cash position.

AIM:AVG Historical Debt, January 1st 2020

How Healthy Is Avingtrans's Balance Sheet?

The latest balance sheet data shows that Avingtrans had liabilities of UK42.6m due within a year, and liabilities of UK10.4m falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of UK8.91m and UK28.5m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities total UK15.6m more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables.

Since publicly traded Avingtrans shares are worth a total of UK88.7m, it seems unlikely that this level of liabilities would be a major threat. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Avingtrans boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

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It was also good to see that despite losing money on the EBIT line last year, Avingtrans turned things around in the last 12 months, delivering and EBIT of UK3.7m. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Avingtrans's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

But our final consideration is also important, because a company cannot pay debt with paper profits; it needs cold hard cash. Avingtrans may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Happily for any shareholders, Avingtrans actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT over the last year. There's nothing better than incoming cash when it comes to staying in your lenders' good graces.

Summing up

While Avingtrans does have more liabilities than liquid assets, it also has net cash of UK147.0k. The cherry on top was that in converted 157% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in UK5.8m. So is Avingtrans's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. Of course, we wouldn't say no to the extra confidence that we'd gain if we knew that Avingtrans insiders have been buying shares: if you're on the same wavelength, you can find out if insiders are buying by clicking this link.

If you're interested in investing in businesses that can grow profits without the burden of debt, then check out this free list of growing businesses that have net cash on the balance sheet.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Tamala Edwards is the co-anchor of 6 ABCs morning newscast that airs from 4 to 7 a.m. weekdays. Lately, or to my belated notice, she is keeping pace with Matt ODonnell, Karen Rogers, and Matt Pellman at her desk.
Mexico City, Jan 1 : Millennials, please take note if you are about to own a car (or if your parents are gifting you one on New Year) as this can boost your sex life too. According to researchers, owning a car gives young adults higher self-esteem, making it a status symbol that women find attractive, and fall for them.

Having a car increased sexual desire and the probability of having action between the sheets, reported researchers from the University of Colima in Mexico.

Owning a car early in life "can act as a sexual enhancer in emerging adulthood. Women still demonstrate a clear preference for men that possess or show the potential to acquire material resources," said study lead author David Soriano-Hernandez.

For the study, published in the journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy, the researchers asked 809 students aged 17 to 24 studying at a small university in Western Mexico about their sex lives.

The students were surveyed in relation to their sexual conduct, along with other socio-economic aspects.

The participants were then separated into two groups, one with cars and other without it.

Having a car increased sexual desire and the probability of having sexual intercourse at a younger age, of having more sexual partners, and increase in the frequency of sexual activities.

According to the researchers, having their own cars gives young men higher self-esteem and is a status symbol women find attractive.

Those with a car typically had sex twice as often, and with double the number of partners.

One drawback was that they were engaged in unsafe sex, the researchers said.

A car also makes it easier to get to places for sex and can be used at public places too, it added.

"It is not unusual for cars to have a type of erotic effect on their owners and spectators. Expressions such as 'hot', 'sexy', and 'exciting' are often used to describe automobiles," Soriano-Hernandez said.

The study noted that the automobile can also act as a sexual enhancer in emerging adulthood, which should be taken into consideration in the development of sex education strategies.

Given that emerging adults in the study belonged to a vulnerable and psychologically immature group, future studies are required in other social groups to reach a broad conclusion, the researchers noted.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy's 'language' used against Anjani Kumar, Commissioner of Police (CP), Hyderabad is 'intemperate' and should not have been used.

"Congress leader Uttam Kumar's language against CP Hyderabad is intemperate and should not have been used. He must understand that Darussalam is a large space of AIMIM itself and had once even hosted Indira Gandhi's public address," Owaisi said in another tweet.

After the Hyderabad Police denied permission to Congress to hold a rally on its 135th foundation day, Reddy allegedly termed the city Police Commissioner a "puppet" of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and said that they will meet the Governor over the issue.

"He was so enthusiastic about protesting against CAA that his party declined our invitation to participate in the protest public meeting held in Nizamabad," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra cabinet minister Jayant Patil said on Wednesday that there were no differences between the allies Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress over the allocation of portfolios.

Patil, who heads state unit of the Nationalist Congress Party, was speaking to reporters at Mantralaya, the state secretariat here.

"There are no differences between us," Patil told reporters when asked about reports of friction between the allies over portfolio allocation, expected to be announced on Wednesday or Thursday.

With the swearing-in of 36 ministers on Monday, the state now has a 43-member council of ministers.

Patil was speaking after attending a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The meeting was about how to increase the GST revenue, he said.

About a question about whether the scam-hit Pujab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank would be merged with Maharashtra State Co-operative (MSC) Bank as demanded by some leaders, Patil, currently in charge of finance department, said, "PMC bank operations are spread over three states. So there are difficulties in merging it with the MSC Bank."



On Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis criticizing the government over its loan waiver scheme, Patil said, "I have sympathy for Fadnavis. He is in opposition now, so he will continue to speak like this."



Earlier in the day, Congress ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Vijay Wadettiwar held a closed-door meeting to discuss portfolio allocation amongst the party's ministers, sources said.

They were expected to meet chief minister Thackeray during the day, after which the allocation of portfolios might be announced, sources added.

The Congress is reportedly upset that it has not got agriculture, co-operation, housing and rural development ministries. Currently, rural development, co-operation and housing are with the NCP and agriculture with the Shiv Sena.

Meanwhile, asked about the disgruntlement among some senior MLAs of the Congress and NCP over exclusion from the cabinet, deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said, "It is not wrong to have expectations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over 400 people were arrested for consumption or possession of liquor during the New Year celebrations in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city, police said on Wednesday.

Gujarat is a 'dry' state where manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor is banned.

People came out at the Sabarmati Riverfront and some prominent lakes in the city in large numbers around midnight to welcome 2020, a police official said, adding that no untoward incident was reported from any area.

However, several people were caught drinking or possessing liquor during the New Year revelry, specially in Sardarnagar, Bapunagar and Meghaninagar area, he said.

Security was stepped-up at various places in Ahmedabad in view of the late night parties and celebrations, and the city police kept a watch on revelers, the official said.

Random breath analyser tests were also conducted on people to check if they were drunk, specially while driving, he said.

"As many as 368 people were arrested for consumption of liquor, while 41 others were held for possessing liquor last night," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Control) Vijay Patel said.

"No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city and the celebrations went off peacefully," he added.

Hundreds of revelers thronged the Sabarmati Riverfront, Vastrapur and Kankaria lakes, and there was huge rush at hotels and restaurants as people came out late Tuesday night to usher in the New Year.

Many of the residents who stayed at home organised dance parties in their housing societies to bid goodbye to 2019 and welcome the New Year.

Residents of Bopal, Satellite localities celebrated the New Year with dazzling fireworks.

The police kept an eye on celebrations in various parts of the city with the help of nearly 1,000 CCTV and Quick Response Teams.

Women police personnel in plain clothes also mingled with the crowds to prevent incidents like eve-teasing, a police official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2019-12-31 21:40:22|Editor: huaxia

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A man celebrates during the inauguration ceremony of newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, South Africa, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

The year 2019 was a year of mixed fortunes for South Africa. The country successfully hosted its national general elections and a second investment conference that aimed to revive stagnant economic growth. Meanwhile, a spate of attacks on migrant communities and struggling state-owned entities pose big challenges to the Africa's major economy. Critics and scholars urged more bold and concrete steps must be taken in 2020.

JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The year 2019 was a year of mixed fortunes for South Africa. The country successfully hosted its sixth national general elections and a second investment conference that aimed to revive stagnant economic growth. But a spate of attacks on migrant communities and struggling state-owned entities pose big challenges to the Africa's major economy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has used the year to declare war on corruption that was rife under his predecessor.

Critics and scholars say more bold and concrete steps must be taken in 2020. "We didn't see enough bold moves in 2019. We hope the country will act with more authority in 2020," said Jannie Rossouw, professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends his inauguration ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa, May 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Yeshiel Panchia)

POLITICS ACHIEVEMENTS

South Africa managed to successfully hold its national general elections in May and assumed a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in January.

The ongoing state capture inquiry has also been commended for continuing to question politicians on allegations of malfeasance that occurred under former president Jacob Zuma's administration.

Jacob Zuma made his first appearance before the state capture commission of inquiry in July and testified. The inquiry stems from allegations of improper relations between Zuma and the infamous Gupta family. The Gupta family which has close ties to Zuma has been accused of influencing cabinet appointments under the Zuma administration. The graft trial against Zuma is expected to go ahead in 2020.

In September, Ramaphosa also appointed a team of special envoys to visit some African countries and to apologize for the attacks directed at foreign nationals mainly in Gauteng Province. The president said this initiative was about repairing the damaged relations between South Africa and African nations.

An aerial photo shows a city view of Durban, South Africa, on Oct. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

STAGNANT ECONOMY

After South Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.8 percent in 2018, there was optimism that it would be above 1.5 percent this year.

However, with the economy being stagnant, the growth is projected to be at 0.5 percent. The GDP declined by 3.2 percent in the first quarter and contracted by 0.6 percent in the third quarter of 2019.

Amid the sluggish economy, Ramaphosa hosted the second South African Investment Conference, having raised over 20 billion U.S. dollars in investment pledges. The investment conference was part of the government's plan to generate more jobs and revitalize the ailing economy.

After more than a decade of providing billions in bailouts to the South African Airways (SAA), in September the government said the entity would be placed under business rescue.

"It has to be one of the highlights, a major development after years of this company surviving on bailouts and not making profits," Rossouw said.

Meanwhile, with the new leadership at stated-owned power utility Eskom, Rossouw said South Africans are looking forward to seeing how issues such as load shedding which affects the economy would be dealt with.

The photo shows the jacaranda blossoms along the street in Pretoria, South Africa, on Oct. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE

All eyes will be on the 2020 budget speech which Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is set to deliver in February. This budget speech will shed light on the direction South Africa would be taking on how the government would reduce its huge salary bill and deal with its SOEs and rising debt.

In September, Mboweni conceded South Africa's debt was at 200 billion dollars, which are projected to rise further in the coming years.

Rating agencies specifically said they would be keeping tabs on the budget.

Rossouw said the National Treasury must take tough decision when it comes to SOEs and set realistic growth projections. "We cannot continue throwing money at non-essential SOEs," he added.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker on Wednesday lauded the students of Jamia Millia Islamia for waking up the entire country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which she claimed is a "targeted" law.

"We have woken up late but now we have woken up. You have woken up the entire country. We are here to thank you," she said.

The actress said hatred is being legitimised through terms like 'tukde tukde' gang and legislation like CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Terming the CAA a "targeted" law, she said it is an attack on the Constitution of India.

She was present outside the university to participate in a public meeting on the new legislation.
Kim Jong Un is planning to introduce a new strategic weapon in the near future.

That's according to North Korean state media, who said that Kim is planning to further develop its nuclear weapons.

And comes as denuclearisation talks between the U.S. and North Korea reached a standstill.

This week, Kim presided over a four-day meeting with top officials.

That comes amid rising tensions with the U.S.

Washington has not responded to calls for concessions in order to reopen negotiations.

During the meeting -

Kim accused the US of making quote -

'gangster like demands' and maintaining a 'hostile policy'.

He was referring to the continued joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea -

as well as imposing sanctions.

According to state media -

Kim said there were no grounds for North Korea to put off testing its nuclear weapons... any longer.

However -

Kim said the scope and depth of its nuclear weapons testing

would depend on Washington's attitude.

He also signaled that dialog with the U.S.  was still possible.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it would be quote 'deeply disappointing' -

if Kim backed out of his commitment to denuclearize.

But on Tuesday -

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a good relationship with Kim -

and thought that the North Korean leader would keep his word.

(SOUNDBITE) (English)

"He did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization. And that was signed. Number one sentence, denuclearization. That was done in Singapore. And I think he's a man of his word. So we're going to find out. But I think he's a man of his word."

Nuclear talks have made little progress -

despite three meetings between Kim and Trump since 2018.

In recent months -

North Korea conducted a series of weapons tests and engaged Trump in verbal warfare.

Kim said that there would quote 'never be denuclearization on the Korean peninsula'

if Washington continued to adhere to its policies.
Kathmandu, January 1

A Chinese technical team has arrived in Kathmandu to assess the proposed Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi tunnel road, authorities said on Wednesday.

The team is expected to conduct a preliminary assessment of the Tokha-Chhahare-Gurjubhannjyang section of the tunnel road. Department of Roads Director-General Keshav Kumar Sharma said the team has started its field survey of the area where the tunnel is to be built. The team is busy in the field. We dont know how much time they will take, he added.

The government plans to build a 5-km-long tunnel to connect Tokha with Gurjubhanjyang and a 24-km-long tunnel to connect Betrawati with Rasuwagadhi. As the Nepali army is currently working on opening the track of the Betrawati-Rasuwagadhi, it wants the Chinese side to focus on the Tokha-Gurjubhanjyang section.

The Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi tunnel featured on the agreement signed between the two countries during the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to the agreement, China will foot the bills for the study of the project. The team, which is working in Nepal now, will submit its report and authorities will then start work on the DPR. Although the funding modality of the project will only be discussed after the DPR is ready, sources say the government hopes Beijing will finance the strategic project as a handful of Chinese companies have expressed their interest in building the tunnel under the BOOT model.

This is the first time that China has expressed interest in a tunnel road in Nepal. Following the 2015 earthquake, China has present Kyirong as an alternative to the Tatopani border crossing, which Beijing considers as a liability due to the Tibetan issue. After the tunnel comes into operation, traveling to and from China will be easier and this is expected to boost trade and tourism between the two countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday requested speaker of the Knesset -- countrys parliament-- to grant parliamentary immunity for three criminal cases against him.

I would like to lead the government of Israel for many years. According to the law, immunity is always temporary. Immunity gives the peoples representatives temporary protection from the judiciary. It lasts until the current convocation of the Knesset [Israeli parliament] stops functioning, he said, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

In November last year, Israels Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu has denied all the allegations, saying they are part of a politically orchestrated witch-hunt to oust him from office.

In a swift response to Netanyahus request, Avigdor Liberman, his political rival of the Yisrael Beytenu opposed the immunity request in a social media post.

On his plea for immunity, he further said, I would like to lead the government of Israel for many years. According to the law, immunity is always temporary. Immunity gives the peoples representatives temporary protection from the judiciary.

The Israeli PM has been the subject of multiple corruption investigations and cases of impropriety, including, advancing a law that would benefit one of Israels major newspapers, and supporting looser regulation of telecommunication company Bezeq in return for positive coverage. (ANI)

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The Pentagon announced Tuesday night it has ordered a full battalion from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in response to Iranian-backed Shiite militiamen storming the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday.

"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a statement released by the Pentagon.

"Approximately 750 soldiers will deploy to the region immediately, and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days."

Fox News reported earlier that at least 500 paratroopers from the 82nd were en route to Kuwait following the embassy assault; some 4,000 troops in total are on alert ahead of possible deployment orders, the outlet reported.

Related: At Least 500 Fort Bragg Paratroopers Deploying to Kuwait Amid Baghdad Unrest

The Pentagon announcement comes after large groups of protesters, many in uniform, pushed into the embassy compound in Baghdad early this morning. Smoke from the tear gas rose in the area as protesters hanged a poster on the wall: "America is an aggressor."

The rising tensions follow U.S. airstrikes Sunday on five Iranian-backed militia positions in Iraq and Syria. The strikes came in response to a series of rocket attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq; one of those attacks killed a U.S. contractor and wounded four American troops.

More than 100 U.S. Marines arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad earlier Tuesday to help reinforce security. The Marines are assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command, a ground-based unit spread across the Middle East, U.S. officials confirmed to Military.com.

The California-based 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, is the infantry unit currently assigned to the crisis response task force. The unit is one of several the Marine Corps created following the deadly 2012 attack on a U.S. post in Benghazi, Libya.

The battalion of paratroopers from the 82nd is part of the Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based rapid-deployment unit's ready brigade. The 82nd Airborne keeps one battalion of the ready brigade on alert to deploy within 18 hours after notification. The second battalion can deploy in 36 hours and the third in 54 hours.

There are roughly 5,000 U.S. troops currently deployed to Iraq as part of a larger force of about 60,000 U.S. troops deployed to the region. Roughly 14,000 troops have been added since May as the threat from Iran increased, the Associated Press reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries to any U.S. personnel. There also were no evacuations of U.S. personnel and no reports of demonstrations or incidents at other bases throughout Iraq.

The deployment of additional ground forces is an "appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper said in the statement.

"The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world," Esper said.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

-- Military.com's Gina Harkins contributed to this report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read More: 100 Marines from Crisis Response Unit Sent to Secure US Embassy in Iraq
California Lost More Than 200,000 People to Other States in 2019: Report

California lost more than 200,000 people to other states and 180,000 people left New York state to live in other parts of the United States in 2019, according to new Census figures.

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia lost population through net domestic migration between 2018 and 2019, six of which had losses over 25,000, and three of which experienced losses greater than 100,000, the Census report said.

The top states with net domestic migration loss were California at 203,414, New York with 80,649, Illinois with 104,986, New Jersey with 48,946, Massachusetts with 30,274, and Louisiana with 26,045.

It was not enough to reduce Californias total population, which is nearly 40 million, but it contributed to a population slowdown. Californias Finance Department said its population grew at around 0.35 percent over the last year, which is the lowest in more than 100 years.

While natural increase is the biggest contributor to the U.S. population increase, it has been slowing over the last five years, said Dr. Sandra Johnson, who is a demographer/statistician in the Population Division of the Census Bureau. Natural increase, or when the number of births is greater than the number of deaths, dropped below 1 million in 2019 for the first time in decades.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the Golden States decrease in population was the result of the states shifting migration patterns and economic strains that are making it harder to afford living here.

An expert with the Brookings Institution noted that the population shift means that California could lose a seat in Congress, dropping the number of seats in the House from 53 to 52.

Its got a lot to do with dispersion from California to the rest of the west, William Frey, a senior fellow, told the LA Times. Arizona, Texas and Colorado are all big destinations for California migrants, and they all are gaining seats.

Frey said that Texas will likely gain three seats after 2020. Meanwhile, Arizona, Oregon, and Colorado could gain a seat, he said.

California officials have linked the migration to other states to a shortage in housing.

Our failure to build enough housing is at the heart of CAs challenges: Its exploding housing costs; Its fueling homelessness & poverty; Its creating sprawl, increasing traffic, commutes & wildfire risk, Democratic California state Sen. Scott Wiener wrote on Twitter.

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom also noted the states housing pitfalls in a Twitter post last week.

The cost of housing is the defining quality-of-life concern for people across this state. Thats why California passed the nations strongest statewide renter protection legislation to combat the housing crisis. #CaliforniaForAll, he wrote.
He brought to the job a winning combination of literary taste, commercial instincts and personal charisma. His office, where he was said to indulge in scotch without ever appearing inebriated, teemed with books. He often had a cigarette in hand; in what was perhaps a reflection of a career divided between London and New York, he favored Silk Cuts, a British brand, and American Spirits. He was an insatiable and omnivorous reader, his tastes running from high literature to detective fiction. The latter, he said, portrays the underbelly of society and holds a mirror to society.
The militiamen were protesting deadly US airstrikes that targeted an Iran-backed militia over the weekend, killing 25 fighters.

Baghdad: US troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered for a second day outside the American Embassy compound in Baghdad.

Dozens of Iran-allied militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy in Baghdad overnight, a day after they broke into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows in one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

The US Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas Wednesday as more crowds arrived and after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area. Smoke rose from the building.

The militiamen were protesting deadly US airstrikes that targeted an Iran-backed militia over the weekend, killing 25 fighters. Those strikes were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi army base that killed a US contractor.

The violence comes as Iran and its allies have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and after heavy US sanctions on Iran that have cratered its economy and raised tensions across the region. In Iraq, the protesters have been angered at their own government's corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as its close ties to Tehran.

US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the embassy and Defense Secretary Mark Esper later announced the immediate deployment of an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. He did not specify their destination, but a US official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

Iran has denied any involvement in the attack on the embassy. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was quoted by state media on Tuesday as warning the US against any "miscalculation" in the worsening standoff.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticized the US airstrikes on the Iran-backed Iraqi militia on Sunday. He accused the US of taking revenge on Iran for the defeat of the Islamic State group, which he said was an American creation. He condemned US "wickedness," according to the remarks carried by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

The US and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iran has close ties to Iraq's Shiite majority and many of its major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilize tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed. In the subsequent campaign against the extremists, the US and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory in December 2017.

The pro-Iranian militias' political influence in Iraq has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of mass protests since October that are unrelated to the attack on the embassy.

The anti-government protesters have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq. They have also set up a major protest camp in central Baghdad.

For weeks, the anti-government protesters have been trying to enter the Green Zone housing the government and the US Embassy, but have been beaten back by security forces Hundreds of demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.
"What's in a name?" Shakespeare famously wondered in Romeo and Juliet. In the fast-paced world of San Francisco real estate, it turns out that it means quite a bit, according to local agents.

Across the city, areas that were known for years by one designation have changed names over the last decade to indicate that they have their own flair and personality, as well as desirability.

"Neighborhoods will start to differentiate themselves and seem ripe for renaming when there is a commercial strip that starts to thrive and drive shoppers and bar and restaurant patrons to it," said Compass agent Nina Hatvany. "At that point people get interested in living close by and start to want a name to describe the neighborhood they are interested in, as opposed to surrounding neighborhoods."

She pointed to NOPA as a recent example. The area just west of the Divisadero corridor and, yes, just north of the Panhandle, used to be part of Western Addition. But when the popular restaurant Nopa opened in 2006 it marked the beginning of a higher profile for the area that separated it from the rest of Western Addition, which used to stretch west from Van Ness to Masonic, or even Arguello back in the day.

In the intervening decades, Hayes Valley, Cathedral Hill, Alamo Square, Anza Vista, Lone Mountain and Lower Haight all broke away from the larger designations as separate neighborhoods in their own right. Now NOPA has followed suit. "North of the Panhandle meant nothing 10 years ago and now of course its a very hip neighborhood," Hatvany said.

Other examples of more recent neighborhood renamings are Yerba Buena, which used to be part of SOMA, and Polk Gulch ("So vibrant and desirable," said Hatvany), which used to be part of Russian Hill.

Many of these redubbings are, of course, led by real estate agents. "As realtors we will start referring to the neighborhood by its new name when touring with clients to show that we are tuned in to neighborhood changes," said Climb agent Hector Orozco. It can take at least a year for that new name to be accepted by the city at large, he added.

ALSO: Fascinating stories behind San Francisco neighborhood names

As a San Francisco native, Orozco was particularly surprised by the "Inner Mission" designation that sprung up relatively recently to describe the area centered around the Valencia and Mission corridors approximately between 14th and 24th streets. "Growing up it was always known as the Mission," he said. "Although that area does have a separate feel now than the rest of the Mission."

Orozco and Hatvany agreed that a renaming only sticks if there's a genuine change going on in the area. For that reason, they both questioned whether the East Cut (formerly considered part of Rincon Hill or South Beach) would make the grade, despite its Google Maps designation. "East Cut was a bit surprising since it was so clearly a marketing ploy to rebrand the neighborhood, rather than an evolution over time of a distinct community," said Hatvany.

She feels there are many other neighborhoods that are developing that distinctive feeling and may earn a renaming in the years ahead. In the Inner Richmond we may soon see "Clement Gulch" break away at the tail-end of Geary. "Sutro Heights" is "quite different from its Outer Richmond surroundings," Hatvany said. She can also imagine the Outer Sunset area closest to the beach getting its own designation.

"It seems to me that the Outer Sunset is a huge neighborhood and should really be split into what is adjacent to the beach, with its surfer culture and alternative vibe, and what is not," she said. "Perhaps Central Sunset and Ocean Beach?"

Emily Landes is a writer and editor with an obsession for all things real estate.
The Silver Spring Township supervisors moved to table until next month a proposed agreement with the owners of the Hempt Farm tracts that would rezone the parcels to allow for development.

Citing some last-minute changes to the deal, as well as the fact that details of the agreement were previously not made public, the board of supervisors moved Monday evening to delay their decision for 30 days, even though the board generally voiced support for the deal.

It would limit the intensity of development relative to what the owners had originally asked for.

Sleeping on it doesnt change what I would do, but Id like to have a solid document sitting in front of me, Supervisor Nancy Konhaus Griffie said.

The supervisors said they were faced with a tough decision over the best deal.

Theyre trying to make the best of it, Supervisor Harry Kotzmoyer Jr. said of his colleagues. I know people dont like warehouses and everything. But were trying our best.

The agreement arises out of a court filing by the owners of the Hempt Farm parcels, under the legal title of HSS Investors.

In October 2018, HSS filed with the township for a Curative Amendment to the zoning of its property, saying that the land was incorrectly zoned as agriculture despite the more intensive land uses surrounding the nine parcels.

Those parcels sit on both sides of Hempt Road south of the Carlisle Pike and north of the fuel storage facility on Texaco Road, a total of 451 acres.

Curative Amendment applications must include a site plan that becomes the basis for relief if the amendment is granted, according to Charles Courtney, HSS Investors attorney. The plan for the Hempt Farm showed that, if fully maximized, the area could house more than 5 million square feet of warehousing.

Finding that unacceptable, the township declined to hold a hearing on the amendment, resulting in HSS filing suit in August to have a judge force the re-zoning. Although the township could still fight the request in court, the supervisors have been negotiating with HSS on a compromise.

Compromise

The compromise zoning agreement includes a number of concessions to the township, according to an outline of the proposal given by Courtney.

Tracts to the west of Hempt Road would be turned into a business park that would likely include warehouse.

The 25-acre section of the property abutting the south side of the pike would become commercial storefronts, and the tracts on the east side of Hempt Road would be scheduled for apartments and town houses.

Roughly 25 acres to the far east of the Hempt Farm area, closer to Woods Drive, would be sold to the township for public works space, supervisor David Lenker said.

Another 50 to 60 acres on the south of property, surrounding Hogestown Run, would be a dedicated greenway that could also be deeded to the township, Courtney said. The original Hempt farmstead would also be preserved under the terms of the agreement.

Were not talking about whether the Hempt Farm will be developed, Courtney said. It will be developed, the question is how it will be developed.

By Zack Hoopes The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa. (TNS)
After spending their day shopping in downtown Aspen, Colorado, Scott Disick and Sofia Richie opted for a low-key evening out.

The reality star, 36, and the Instagram influencer, 21, stepped out with his two kids Mason, 10, and Penelope, aged seven, on New Year's Eve for a night of fun.

As Scott held hands with his daughter, Sofia made Aspen her runway while rocking a slimming black number while out with the family.

Time to celebrate: Scott Disick and Sofia Richie stepped out with his two kids Mason and Penelope on New Year's Eve for a night of fun in Aspen, Colorado

The best friend to Kylie Jenner had her hair pulled back in a sleek knotted bun while rocking minimal makeup for the occasion.

She sported a long blazer jacket despite the freezing temperatures and wore a pair of high-waisted black pants.

Her much-older beau wore a light gray puffer jacket that had a teal lining on the inside with a pair of simple khaki pants.

Looking good: She sported a long blazer jacket despite the freezing temperatures and wore a pair of high-waisted black pants

During the day, the couple stepped out in downtown to do some light shopping.

With his kids in tow, Sofia and Scott browsed around a local store as Sofia wore a pair of pink furry slides and a pair of thin black socks.

Later, the cold must have settled in as she swapped out the sandals for a pair of cozy gray boots as the family continued to explore Aspen.

Low key: To continue her low key evening, Sofia shared a clip of herself relaxing with eye patches underneath her eyes while watching the New Year's Rockin Eve event with Ryan Seacrest

Nice set up: She showed a brief preview of her home for the holidays while relaxing in the living room

Meanwhile, Scott's famous ex Kourtney Kardashian stayed put in Los Angeles with their third and youngest child, Reign.

The two were spotted walking hand-in-hand while out in Studio City as they headed to Color Me Mine to do some pottery painting.

Both Kourtney and Reign rocked a comfortable sweatpant style as they enjoyed their lowkey New Year's Eve.

Family outing: Sofia and Scott stepped out with his two kids during the day while out window shopping in Aspen
BAGHDAD  Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world.

The attack and its volatile aftermath prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East an d U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay a European and Central Asian trip.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest U.S. airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a U.S. contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at U.S. Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias  many backed by Iran  called on its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

By late afternoon the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies. U.S. Apache helicopters circled overhead.

After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly, said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. We rubbed Americas nose in the dirt. Trump has vowed to exact a big price for an attack he blamed squarely on Iran.

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the U.S. airstrikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse. The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

We dont care about these planes that are flying over the heads of the picketers. Neither do we care about the news that America will bring Marines, said Mohammed Mohy, a spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah. On the contrary, this shows a psychological defeat and a big mental breakdown that the American administration is suffering from, he said, before withdrawing from the area.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Irans economy.

Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October fueled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Irans heavy influence over the countrys affairs. Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

The Pentagon sent an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait. Pompeo postponed a trip that was scheduled to start in Ukraine late Thursday so that he can monitor developments in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly.

Iran later summoned the Swiss charge daffaires, who represents American interests in Tehran, to protest what it said was war-mongering by U.S. officials.

Public consular operations at the embassy were suspended and future appointments cancelled, it said in a statement.

Tensions have steadily risen since Trump withdrew the U.S. from Irans 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and embarked on a campaign of maximum pressure through economic sanctions. Iran has responded by abandoning some of its commitments under the deal.

U.S. officials have blamed Iran for the sabotage of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in September that caused a spike in world oil prices. But the Trump administration has not responded with direct military action, apparently fearing a wider conflict.

The U.S. has sent more than 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression. At the time of the attack, the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

The U.S. and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iran has close ties to Iraqs Shiite majority and major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilize tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed. The U.S. and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory over the extremists in December 2017.

The political influence of the Popular Mobilization Forces has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of the anti-government protesters, who have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq.

They have also set up a sprawling protest camp in central Baghdad, and for weeks have been trying to enter the Green Zone. Iraqi security forces have beaten them back with tear gas and live ammunition, killing hundreds.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

Iraqs government vehemently condemned the airstrikes on the militia, saying it violated national sovereignty. But Iran and its allies might have also seen the attack as a way of diverting attention from the anti-government protests.

Iran has been trying to provoke the U.S. into helping it solve its Iraq problem, said the Crisis Group, an international think tank. The Trump administration, by responding to the attacks in Kirkuk and elsewhere with airstrikes, has obliged.

___

Krauss reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Robert Burns in Washington contributed.
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Australia is teetering on the edge of a humanitarian crisis as remote communities remain cut off from medical help, water sources are compromised and food and fuel supplies run low.

Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving at least 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather conditions forecast for Saturday.

HMAS Choules, which delivered emergency supplies to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, left Sydney on Wednesday and docked off the coast of fire-stricken Mallacoota mid-morning on Thursday.

The vessel can carry 700 passengers but there are 4,000 people who remain stranded in the seaside town after it was devastated by bushfires.

The ship has also brought much-needed relief for those who will remain.

Authorities are considering airlifting more supplies, such as water, toilet paper and basic medical supplies as some roads may be closed for weeks.

On New Year's Eve residents and tourists fled to Mallacoota's beach, ready to throw themselves in the water to protect themselves from the flames while the sky turned an apocalyptic red.

There are concerns that the town's water supply has now become contaminated due to the fires, and residents have been told to boil water until it can be tested.

HMAS Choules (pictured leaving Sydney Harbour on Wednesday) will provide relief to 4,000 people who remain stranded in Mallacoota, Victoria

HMAS Choules, which delivered emergency supplies to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, left Sydney on Wednesday and docked off the coast of fire-stricken Mallacoota mid-morning on Thursday

HMAS Choules' flight deck team marshals an aircraft as the ship prepares to provide support to the communities affected by bushfires

Thousands of people are stranded in the seaside town of Mallacoota (pictured trapped on the beach on Tuesday)

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra on the NSW south coast

Business owner Sally Anne Wilson (left) stands in front of her destroyed shop with her partner Christopher Lee in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 2020

On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, NSW, which has experienced power outages

This satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay, on the NSW south coast, early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread

Hundreds of fires are still burning out of control across the country, destroying millions of hectares, killing 18 and leaving 1,200 homes destroyed, with catastrophic 46C weather forecast for Saturday

Water supplies in towns in both Victoria and New South Wales have been affected by the fires.

On Tuesday boil notices were issued for Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele after disinfection infrastructure was lost.

Power was restored to 11,000 homes in New South Wales' South Coast on Wednesday but more than 30,000 people are still without electricity or internet.

People who had suffered horrific burns or were injured in the fires were forced to wait for more than 24 hours until they were rescued by the Navy as roads remain closed.

Since Monday, eight have been killed and four are missing feared dead in the fires in NSW and Victoria.

On Wednesday a 42-year-old man was rescued by a Navy helicopter from Cadgee, south of Moruya, and a 49-year-old woman and 23-year-old woman were rescued from Nowra.

Many people have taken the advice to flee the area, however, this has created a backlog of traffic out of Batemans Bay.

Pictures show a large stretch of cars waiting in a smoke haze as holidaymakers try to get out before Saturday.

Although some roads reopened on Wednesday, including the Princes Highway - the main road running through the fire affected region - some will remain closed for weeks.

Many people have taken the advice to flee the area, however, this has created a backlog of traffic out of Batemans Bay (pictured: Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales to head north)

Traffic has been barely moving as hundreds flee Batemans Bay in New South Wales before temperatures skyrocket on Saturday

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that trees had fallen on roads and had become welded to the bitumen making the task of clearing highways even more difficult.

There are concerns that food supplies will deplete quickly with no way to deliver more food.

On Wednesday more than 300 residents were seen queuing outside a Woolworths in Ulladulla, which has experienced power outages.

Store manager Craig Scott said the supermarket was running on a recently purchased generator - but it was close to running out of fuel.

He was hoping local boat owners would share their diesel to ensure essential food and milk wouldn't spoil.

'The power's out in town, but we decided to open the store just for necessities, so people can get nappies, baby food, all that sort of stuff,' he said.

In the town of Tura Beach there were long queues of people waiting to fill up on petrol and to get supplies at the supermarket.

One woman called Kerry told the ABC: 'A car queue of 50 waiting to get petrol and people in Woolworths clearing the shelves  apocalyptic.'

Ulladulla Woolworths opened its doors on Wednesday to give locals unable to leave the chance to stock up on supplies

A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra, NSW, on Tuesday

Vehicles gutted by bushfires are seen in the town of Lake Conjola in New South Wales on January 1, 2020

Local petrol stations have been forced to post signs letting residents know they've been run completely dry of petrol - while others simply don't have any power to operate.

Conditions improved on Wednesday for firefighters but RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons warned of hellish weather this weekend which would be worse than Tuesday, despite roads reopening.

'Unfortunately that also correlates with where we have some of the worst, most damaging ad destructive bushfires in NSW at the moment,' he said.

Very high fire danger is forecast on Thursday for eight fire districts on or west of the Great Diving Range while high fire risk is due for some coastal regions.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said communities needed to brace for the worrying weekend and more fatalities possibly coming to light in coming days.

'Many people who have been here for decades are just completely shocked that the fire reached as far as it did,' she told reporters at Batemans Bay.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys asked for patience as police and utility providers tried their best to get power and telecom services restored down the south coast.

'We have to make sure that when we restart the power, we do that with safety and confidence, that it will remain on. People need to understand this is not a simple or easy task.'

Mr Fitzsimmons said the fires would dominate a vast area from the south eastern corner of NSW up to Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Tourists were warned to get out while they still could.

Eight people have died in bushfires since Monday, seven in New South Wales and one in Victoria.

SLEEPLESS NIGHT FOR NSW SOUTH COAST EVACUEES A Rural Fire Service firefighter conducts mopping up near the town of Sussex Inlet on December 31 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS As fires took hold over the NSW south coast on New Year's Eve, evacuees, daytrippers, dogs and a tortoise crammed into a bowling club. Sussex Inlet man David Warner was among a group of locals who had travelled to Nowra by bus before the Princes Highway was blocked off on Tuesday. 'When we came in, everything was blue, it was all good and then 11 o'clock (there was) all these fires, smoke, sirens everywhere,' Mr Warner told AAP on Wednesday. 'I said, we're not going to get back.' Unlike those who had evacuated to Bomaderry Bowling Club, Mr Warner had nothing with him. He said those running the centre were very nice but 'none of us slept at all'. 'It was shocking,' he said. 'I will never forget this New Year's. 'It'll be stuck in my head 'til the day I die.' Near people and their pets - including dogs, cats and a tortoise - he watched Sydney's famous foreshore fireworks on a giant projection screen hanging at the front of the room as sausage sandwiches were served. 'I forgot it was New Year's actually because of all of what was going on,' Mr Warner said. Reality hit home on Wednesday as information from Sussex Inlet began filtering through the evacuation centre. The body of a yet-to-be-identified man was found about midday in a vehicle on Wandra Road. Sussex Inlet was a community where 'everyone knows everyone', Mr Warner said. 'I'm a bit upset about it because I don't know who it is, and we know a lot of people in Sussex,' he said. Crews on Wednesday built containment lines around the massive Currowan fire that impacted Sussex Inlet and other towns over a 100km stretch of the coast. A watch-and-act alert advises communities to monitor conditions, beware of falling trees and seek shelter as the firefront approaches. Advertisement

Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

Pictured: People lining up to use a public telephone booth after telephone reception was cut across the south coast of NSW

NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.

The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.

Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, as found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.

An 81-year-old woman who was missing from Conjola Park was found alive on Wednesday.

Destroyed buildings are seen in Cobargo, NSW, Wednesday, January 1, 202. Several bushfire-ravaged communities in NSW have greeted the new year under immediate threat

Pictured: Food truck in Narooma offering free food to locals who have been displaced or affected in the bushfire catastrophe

VICTORIA REELS FROM 'HORRIFYING' EAST GIPPSLAND BUSHFIRES Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flies in helicopter over the East Gippsland fires in Victoria on Wednesday January 1 By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Victorians are reeling from 'hurricane-like' and 'horrifying' bushfires which have claimed the life of a man in East Gippsland. Mick Roberts had not made contact with family for more than 24 hours and on Wednesday his niece Leah Parson confirmed he had been found dead at his Buchan home. 'He's not missing anymore,' Ms Parsons wrote on the East Gippsland fire season 2019-2020 Facebook page. 'His body has been found in his house..very sad day for us to srart (sic) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick.' Victoria Police said a person had been found dead in Buchan, but the cause of his death has not yet been confirmed. Earlier on Wednesday Premier Daniel Andrews said four people were still missing, but would not say what communities in East Gippsland the people belonged to. 'Everything is being done to try and establish the whereabouts of these people,' he told reporters at the Bairnsdale incident control centre. Mr Andrews lamented reports of Mr Roberts' death. 'It is of course the worst of all news, the notion that someone has lost their life,' he told ABC Gippsland. After spending more than a day on emergency alert, the bushfire threat in East Gippsland and at Corryong in northeast Victoria was downgraded to watch and acts. More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt, after three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday. The blaze at Corryong has burnt at least 109,000 hectares. The total area burnt has exceeded that of the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009. There were more than 40 fires still burning across Victoria at 9:30pm on Wednesday with 11 at the watch and act level. The risk of flare-ups elsewhere remains. Conditions are expected to worsen on Saturday and dry lightning has continued to spark new fires. Mr Andrews spent Wednesday in East Gippsland where he said emotions were running high. 'I spoke with people today and they just said it was hurricane-like, horrifying, terrifying, the most frightening experience of their life.' 'The next few days are going to be a lot of hard work and the next few months will be a very long and steady process of helping these communities to rebuild,' the premier said. So far, confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa. Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast. AusNet said it could take days to restore power because it was unsafe to attend and assess the extent of damage. Phones remain cut across much of the region and people are struggling to communicate with loved ones and get the latest information on the fire risk. A boil water notice was put in place for Mallacoota, an isolated coastal holiday town near the NSW border, from Tuesday to reduce public health risks. A NSW police boat brought in water to Mallacoota on Tuesday and a Victoria water police boat is taking 1.6 tonnes of water on Wednesday. A barge from Melbourne with two weeks' supply of food, water and fuel is also making its way to the town. After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel have begun helping with the relief effort, including undertaking rapid damage assessments. Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in coming days to move people out of the area. Naval vessels including HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed. Advertisement

This bushfire season NSW has lost more than 1,000 homes have been razed and entire towns, including Mogo and Cobargo have been destroyed.

At least 110 fires are still burning across New South Wales, with seven burning at a watch and act warning level. More than 40 significant bushfires are still burning in Victoria.

Four remain missing after the inferno tore through East Gippsland this week.

The Australian Defence Force are helping to respond to fires raging in the Victorian coastal region where four people are missing in blazes which have destroyed at least 43 homes.

In addition to the homes and lives lost, those who remain are faced with increasingly stretched resources.

More than 30 fires are still burning in the state of Tasmania, with at least seven of those of significance.

One home has been destroyed during the blazes, which have decimated 8,000 hectares of land.

Two people died in South Australian fires in late December after an out-of-control fire tore through the Adelaide Hills.

Ron Selth, a 69-year-old engineer, died in the Cudlee Creek bushfire on December 19.

He was remembered by family and friends as a doting and generous man.

Frightening satellite images from January 1 showed the horrifying extent of the bushfires on the NSW South Coast

Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowr

2019/2020 FIRE SEASON DEATH TOLL NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday. The recent deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega. A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning. The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday. Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning. On Sunday, young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was fighting a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, when the truck he was in rolled, killing him instantly. Two other firefighters died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, were later named as the volunteers involved in the tragic accident the following day. Both men were young fathers and had volunteered with the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service brigade for more than a decade. Two people also died in South Australian fires before Christmas, including 69-year-old engineer Ron Selth. His body was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21. Another person died in a fiery car crash on the same day. In early November, just weeks into the horror fire season which has been baring down on the nation for months, three people perished in northern NSW. George Nole's body was found in a burnt out car near his home in Glen Innes while 63-year-old Julie Fletcher's body was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree. Vivian Chaplain, a 69-year-old woman from Wytaliba, succumbed to her injuries in hospital after attempting in vain to save her home and animals from the blaze. The fourth victim was named just days later as 58-year-old Barry Parsons. His body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on November 13. 77-year-old Bob Lindsey and 68-year-old Gwen Hyde were found in their burned out property on October 9th. Advertisement

'He will be remembered for his incredible  sometimes injury-causing  hugs and will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends,' Mr Selth's family said in a statement.

'Some people give firm hugs - I don't know what's beyond firm, but that's what Dad occasionally delivered. When he gave a hug, he meant it.'

The grandfather's body was found on his Charleston property after the bushfires swept through.

Another fatality was reported at Lameroo when a car hit a tree, sparking a grass fire.

About 20 fires are still burning across the state. Again, seven are currently of significance.

At least 90 homes have been destroyed by the inferno in the state so far this season.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said there were 'scenes of absolute devastation' as residents returned to their homes that had been reduced to rubble.

Emergency crews also suffered injuries with 23 firefighters injured, one seriously, and two police officers needing treatment.

In Western Australia, another 40 bushfires are still raging, but despite burning through more than 1.2million hectares of land the fires have only destroyed one home.

A bushfire south of Perth was controlled and contained late on Wednesday leading authorities to downgrade their alert about the blaze.

An emergency warning had been issued for the fire at Sandringham Park, Orelia, about 3pm on Wednesday, with residents told the flames could put their homes at risk.

Aerial support had been sent to assist ground crews battling the blaze.

Authorities downgraded the alert to an advice level an hour later, once the fire was under control and contained.
Its no secret that the past year has been extremely difficult for Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. The couple has been trying to adjust to life as newlyweds while also becoming parents for the first time, though they also had to deal with many negative news reports about them in the press. Thats why in Fall 2019, Prince Harry suddenly announced that he would be working with a team of lawyers to fight back against these malicious news articles about him and Markle.

However, there might evidence showing that this move was not such a good idea after all. Read on below to find out why it could actually have been a mistake for Prince Harry to lash out against the press.

Prince Harry sued the tabloids and complained about royal life

Prince Harry  The Duke of Sussex | Matt Dunham  WPA Pool/Getty Images

In early October, Prince Harry shocked the world when he released a statement announcing his plan to take legal action against a few U.K. newspapers. According to him, these news outlets had been engaging in a ruthless campaign against his wife ever since she was revealed to be his girlfriend.

My wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences, Prince Harry said. I have been a silent witness to her private suffering for too long. To stand back and do nothing would be contrary to everything we believe in.

A few weeks later, Prince Harry and Markle also starred in a documentary called Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, where they openly talked about how they had been struggling in the past year. Prince Harry seemed to confirm the rumors that he and Prince William are not getting along well. Meanwhile, Markle said that she was having a lot of difficulties with royal life.

Royals have traditionally been expected to stay quiet about these things

The Sussexes lawsuit and documentary shocked the world simply because it is rare to see royals revealing their inner struggles. Queen Elizabeth has a mantra that says never complain, never explain, and many royals have followed it by not talking to the press about any private matter that theyre going through.

Royals also do not often take legal actions against negative news reports. Even when dealing with harsh rumors about them, they tend to stay quiet and rely on a press secretary to talk to the media.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might have tension with other royals

Because of the non-traditional way in which Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are dealing with their problems, there have been reports that other royals are not supporting the couple.

A source told People in November that Prince Harry still has a tense relationship with Prince William, and Prince Harry speaking to the press about their rift did not help anything.

The Sussexes might have hurt their relationship with Queen Elizabeth as well. They declined the queens invitation to both the annual summer gathering at Balmoral Castle as well as the Christmas gathering at Sandringham House. Queen Elizabeth also removed a picture of the couple that she once had framed.

Was it a mistake for the Sussexes to be so open about their struggles?

Given the reports that Prince Harry and Markle now are not getting along well with many other royals, it could be that perhaps in hindsight, the release of the lawsuit and the documentary was not such a good idea. For example, the Sussexes could be hurting their relationship with Queen Elizabeth while the monarch is in her final years.

However, we could also argue that it takes time for most people to adjust anytime something big happens. It is possible that the royal family only has tension now because they are still trying to deal with Prince Harry and Markles sudden moves. Things could get better with time, especially if the Sussexes lawsuit and documentary create positive lasting effects for the next generation of royals.
- Some male showbiz personalities have captured the attention of many people because of their fashion style

- They always turn heads whenever they post their awesome pictures on social media

- We made a list of these celebrities and we attached some photos for reference

- James Reid, Enrique Gil, and Alden Richards are some of those who made it to our list

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Several handsome celebrities in the Philippines just proved that they can also be considered as fashion icons in the year 2019.

KAMI made a list of 10 male showbiz personalities who evidently showed their greatness when choosing what to wear.

1. James Reid

James Reid is undeniably one of the most adored celebrities when it comes to fashion. His photos on Instagram featuring the kind of wardrobe that he likes to wear always stun many people. Other individuals also get inspiration from him in terms of dressing up.

2. Daniel Padilla

Aside from being a really handsome showbiz personality, Daniel Padilla had been a fashion icon in 2019. He always makes sure that his outfits are Instagrammable and can really catch the attention of netizens.

3. Enrique Gil

Who would not be stunned upon seeing the pictures of Enrique Gil where can be seen wearing formal and casual attires? It seemed that every outfit that he wears always become an inspiration to his supporters.

4. Xian Lim

Many people admire Xian Lim for being a fashionable male celebrity. His excellent choice of what to wear was evident during the ABS-CBN Ball 2019. He really looked amazing during the event and it was no surprise that he was able to turn heads because of his outfit.

5. Alden Richards

Based on his Instagram photos, Alden Richards deserves to be named a fashion icon in 2019. He often gets thousands of likes whenever he posts pictures showing his OOTD or Outfit of the Day. It is almost impossible for many people to dislike the choices of Alden when it comes to his clothes.

6. Jak Roberto

Jak Roberto, one of the most popular Kapuso actors, also proved that he has something to offer when talking about fashion. Many social media users adore the simplicity of his outfits.

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7. Richard Gutierrez

Being the Best Dressed male celebrity at the ABS-CBN Ball 2019, it is an obvious fact already that Richard Gutierrez has a good taste when it comes to what he should wear. His fans also take notice of his outfits whenever he uploads photos of him on social media.

8. Jericho Rosales

Jericho Rosales was indeed a fashion icon in 2019. He always assures that he wears the best outfit whenever he goes to different places or gracing events.

9. Paulo Avelino

A lot of netizens already expressed their compliments regarding how Paulo Avelino dresses up in many occasions. He even received praises because of the barong that he wore during the ABS-CBN Ball in September.

10. Coco Martin

The charming-but-astig look of Coco Martin on his social media posts is something that his supporters adored about him. Even his simplest attire has become an inspiration to many, especially to people who want to follow his footsteps.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author and not to KAMI.

Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
Amit Shah to visit Ram Lalla, Hanumangarhi temple today, to address 3 public rallies in UP

Targeting Akhilesh, Shah asks why Lord Ram had to live in a tent

Tamil orator Nellai Kannan arrested on charges of provocative speech against PM Modi, Amit Shah

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Chennai, Jan 01: The noted Tamil orator and former Congress leader Nellai Kannan was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police on the New Year Eve on Wednesday after the state BJP staged a protest demanding action over his alleged provocative remarks against the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah and others.

On Wednesday evening the arrest of the Tamil orator was confirmed by the police personnel of the Tirunelveli police division.

Reportedly, it seems pressure had mounted on the police after the BJP staged a protest and gave them an ultimatum to arrest Kannan by Thursday evening.

The Tamil writer and orator Kannan had participated at a recent anti-CAA meeting organised by the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Tirunelveli in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Kannan reportedly landed in trouble after a video of his purported speech at the meeting against the Citizenship Amendment Acton on Saturday went viral on social media and the BJP lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution.

According to PTI, the Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi earlier this week lodged a police complaint, claiming that Kannan had called out the names of PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the meeting and told the crowd he was "shocked as to why Muslims have not yet killed the Prime Minister and Home Minister..."

On Wednesday, Several senior BJP leaders staged a protest in Chennai demanding the arrest of Kannan.

Creation of CDS will help India face challenges of modern warfare: PM Modi

Presently, Kannan has been hospitalised after he complained of "chest pain" when police visited his home on Tuesday after registration of a case against him.
A week after the International Monetary Fund warned of serious downside risks to Cambodias economic outlook, trade unions in the country called on the government to work with the European Union to retain critical trade privileges.

The IMF forecast, published last week, showed that a complete suspension of the Everything But Arms trade preferences would see Cambodias GDP growth rate drop by 3 percentage points.

It also reported that a full suspension would lead to a permanent decline in garment sector output and employment in the long-run. Garment and footwear exports make up a significant portion of Cambodias exports to the European Union. The sector also employs around 800,000 Cambodians, mostly women, and indirectly supports 3 million people.

The body also estimated Cambodias GDP growth rate, without factoring an EBA withdrawal, to fall to 6.8 percent in 2020, down from the 7.5 and 7 percent in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Ath Thorn, a member of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, said that Cambodia needed to do its best to engage in a dialogue with the European Union, to convince the trading bloc to not suspend trade preferences.

I think that the EBA is a crucial issue, which is able to maintain macroeconomic stability, as well as decent job growth and income stability for workers, he said. If we lost the EBA in any way, I think it will not be good for Cambodia.

The European Commission initiated an investigation into the potential suspension of the trade privileges earlier this year, which is expected to be completed in a few months. This, the EU said, was on account of major human rights violations over the years, including the recent crackdown on the political opposition, NGOs and independent media organizations.

Preliminary findings of the report, accessed by VOA Khmer, shows that the EU Commission had not seen little improvement in the countrys human rights record, also pointing to a further worsening since the announcement of the investigation.

The EU has pointed to labor rights violations as one of the major concerns during the investigation. Major concerns are long-pending criminal cases against union leaders and the contentious Trade Union Law, which was recently amended but still flagged as restrictive by pro-worker unions.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Cambodian government, could be reached for comment on Monday.

Khun Tharo, coordination officer at labour rights group Central, said it was incumbent on the government to engage with the EU to ensure that the EBA was not suspended. The government earlier this month sent its reply to the EUs preliminary findings.

The government must show a higher political will because the deal would not be made with merely economic [concessions] but it would be done with political exchanges too, he said, referring to the imminent treason trial for opposition leader Kem Sokha.

In statements, the EU has said that it would like to see the treason charges against Kem Sokha dropped and reinstatement of the Cambodia National Rescue Party.
As she waited to receive her degree certificate, 21-year-old Rachael Campey quickly scanned the packed auditorium, searching out the faces of her loved ones.

Standing tall in her cap and gown, she could see her mum, Julie, and grandad, Peter, in the front row of the graduation hall at Leeds Trinity University, bursting with pride.

But it was the excited little girl sitting with them  furiously waving and beaming from ear to ear  that Rachael most wanted to impress.

And as she stepped up onto the stage, a small voice suddenly rang out, very loud and clear: 'That's my mummy!'

'That's when I finally thought, "Yes, I do deserve to be a mum",' says Rachael.

Just 15 when Lily-Rose, who is now six, was born in October 2013, Rachael Campey (pictured) despaired of being a good role model to her daughter Lily-Rose

'The tears just started and I realised, for the first time in my life, that I was good enough. I'd spent so many years questioning myself, feeling judged, but I felt I'd made my daughter proud.'

Pregnant at 14, Rachael thought her education was over when she was kicked out of school. Just 15 when Lily-Rose, who is now six, was born in October 2013, she despaired of being a good role model to her child.

Back then, no one, not even her own parents, ever imagined she would be among the 150 students to graduate from Leeds Trinity last year. Nor could anyone have predicted that the story of this schoolgirl mum would go viral, as it did when she shared it on social media.

Posting a picture of herself and her daughter holding hands at her graduation, next to a photograph of her teenage self holding Lily-Rose as a newborn, Rachael wrote: 'When I found out I was pregnant with you at 14, I promised I would work non-stop to give you the best childhood I could.

Rachael's mum; an aunt, who is a midwife; and Lily-Rose's dad were all present for the birth at St James's University Hospital in Leeds

'7/8 education systems later, countless jobs and everything life could possibly throw at us. Today I graduated at 21 with my six-year-old by my side.'

Now working part-time for an under-25 mental health website, commissioned by the NHS, Rachael, who has a degree in counselling psychology, is considering doing a masters.

'I remember going to get my cap and gown, seeing all the other graduates, and it felt like a dream. Lily-Rose said, "You look like Harry Potter. Are you off to Hogwarts?"'

Lily-Rose is a confident, talkative, imaginative child, who wants to grow up to be just like her mummy. Or maybe her other hero, Eddie the Eagle, the former British Olympic ski-jumper, who never gave up on his dream, either.

'My mum is magic like Harry Potter,' she says, 'she can turn everyone into frogs!' Not quite, but Rachael's story is perhaps just as remarkable  although she really wouldn't recommend the journey she has taken to anyone else.

Racheal posted a picture of herself and her daughter holding hands at her graduation which went viral on social media

The only child of a fast-food restaurant manager father, now aged 54, and a mother, 50, who worked in a call centre, Rachael grew up in one of Leeds's most deprived areas. She was two when her father fell ill with a long-term medical condition, and from an early age was a young carer.

A vulnerable and anxious child, she says she became an easy target for bullies when she moved to secondary school, and from the age of 11 was attacked verbally, physically and on social media.

Suicidally depressed by the age of 12 and anorexic at 13, her worried parents sought help from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) and Rachael spent long spells off school or in hospital.

To her parents' dismay, aged 14, she accidentally fell pregnant by her 15-year-old boyfriend.

'I refused to even consider a termination. In no way am I an advocate for teen pregnancy. I'm actually pro-choice when it comes to abortion. For some people, it is the right decision, but it felt wrong for me,' says Rachael.

Now working part-time for an under-25 mental health website, commissioned by the NHS, Rachael, who has a degree in counselling psychology, is considering doing a masters

'Once my family could see how adamant I was, they supported me, and I don't know what I would have done without them.

'Lily-Rose gave me a reason to be alive and, if I hadn't had her, I really don't think I'd be here today. She is the light of my life.'

Rachael's mum; an aunt, who is a midwife; and Lily-Rose's dad were all present for the birth at St James's University Hospital in Leeds. At that time, the teenage parents thought they could make a go of it as a family.

'Holding Lily-Rose for the first time, I was just overcome with emotion. I knew I had to do everything to make her life as good as possible,' says Rachael. It was then that she set a goal to win a place at university.

Rachael and her boyfriend split just three weeks after Lily-Rose's birth. He later moved away with his family and has had no contact with his daughter since then.

After Lily-Rose's birth, Rachael was home-schooled before she enrolled at a 14-plus apprenticeship academy.

While her daughter was at nursery, Rachael studied for her GCSEs, passing three. She later went to York College, where she got enough qualifications to enable her to apply to Leeds Trinity.

'It's been really tough getting there with a young child. I've had to learn to survive on just a few hours of sleep a night, studying whenever Lily-Rose was napping during the day or in bed at night.

'But I never felt I was missing out on the normal teen life. From the moment Lily-Rose was born, I became very career-orientated.'

However, shortly after Lily-Rose's birth, Rachael discovered her old school bullies had set up a social media hate group to attack her.

'They said I deserved to be dead, and didn't deserve to be a mum. That's something that stayed with me until the day I graduated,' says Rachael.

Rachael's parents split up three years ago, but she remains close to her father, who was too unwell to attend her graduation.

'When I first went to university, I didn't tell the other students I had a daughter, because when I say how old she is, you can see people doing a mental calculation,' says Rachael.

'As I've learned to trust people, I have become more open, and no one at university has judged me.'

She supported herself through university by working as a waitress while also volunteering at a crisis helpline.

Looking back at the nervous teen mum she once was, Rachael can't believe how confident she now feels as a graduate mental health worker and campaigner, much in demand as a public speaker at conferences.

She says, 'For someone who used to suffer panic attacks, it's overwhelming to think I can now speak publicly in front of hundreds of people. My mum is so proud of me. I think there were many times when she didn't think I'd ever make it, even though she kept telling me I could.'

Rachael has been nominated for the Inspirational Individual gong in the Yorkshire Choice 2020 Awards, for her work in mental health support, and she is brimming with ideas for books and documentaries.

'I want young girls to know they can achieve the career they want, even when things go wrong. It might take them a few years, but they can get there in the end,' she says.

Rachael, who is single and says she doesn't particularly want more children, says: 'The best part of being a mum is knowing that I have Lily-Rose in my life.

'I want her to be happy and to know that hard work will take you places. And I would like her to have my determination.

'I just don't want her repeating my childhood  I hope I've broken that cycle.'
The pro-Iranian Kataeb Hezbollah militia, which broke through one of the outer gates of the American embassy in Baghdad yesterday, has now withdrawn across the Tigris River. It isnt clear whether the retreat was prompted by the U.S. show of force that involved sending Marines and Apache helicopters to the site, or whether there was some other motive. The militia leaders are claiming a moral victory. No doubt the Trump administration will find an opportunity, before long, to make Iran pay a price for the terrorist attack. In the meantime, assuming the attack is now over, the mini-crisis has ended happily.

Yesterday, countless Democrats were crowing over the terrorist attack, taking Irans side and hoping for another Benghazi. As I mentioned yesterday, Benghazi was the number one trending term on Twitter, with, at that time, 231,000 tweets. Nothing surprises me anymore. But how about this: has a single Democratic politician criticized those members of his or her party who apparently were cheering the prospect of American casualties? Is there a Democrat anywhere who has expressed concern about the insane hate that has overtaken that partyhate that is directed in the first instance against President Trump, but more broadly against America herself? I am not aware of any.

The Democrats, it seems to me, have gone beyond the Stalinist rule of no enemies on the left. Now, the operative principle seems to be, no criticism of anyone on the left.
CAMPBELL, CA, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Friendable, Inc. (OTC PINK: FDBL) today announced that it has entered into an amendment to the debt restructuring agreement, specifying the dates upon which the debt holders can reset their conversions. The amendment also confirms that the Company has achieved all milestones for the closing of the debt restructure agreement, as of November 5, 2019. The amendment provides the Company with additional time to build value, prior to any conversion reset being completed.



Currently, the debt holders are able to exchange their debt for shares of the Companys common stock at approximately $1.00 per share. Prior to the amendment, the debt holders would have been able to adjust the conversion price on December 26, 2019 and April 24, 2020. Pursuant to the amendment, the reset dates are now March 4, 2020 and July 2, 2020.

The amendment provides Friendable and our management team a foundation on which to build and allows for a capitalization table that we believe is reasonable and attractive for securing additional capital, said Robert A. Rositano, Jr., CEO, Friendable, Inc.

To re-cap what this means for the Company and our shareholders, it is important to revisit what has been achieved as we believe our path to growth in 2020 is wide open. The debt restructure agreement eliminates approximately $8.1 million of the Companys debt/liabilities, including a reduction of approximately $7.1 million by the debt holders and approximately $1 million coming from the Companys management and vendor debt write downs, concluded Rositano, Jr.

About Friendable, Inc.

Friendable, Inc. is a mobile focused technology and marketing company, connecting and engaging users through two distinctly branded applications:

The Friendable and Fan Pass Mobile Applications.

The Company initially released its flagship product Friendable, as a social application where users can create one-on-one or group-style meetups. In 2019 the Company released its new version of Friendable with a focus on dating and building subscription based revenue, starting with its existing and historical database of approximately 900,000 registered users.

Fan Pass is the Companys newest app/brand, scheduled for release in 2019. Fan Pass believes in connecting Fans of their favorite celebrity or artist, to an exclusive VIP or Backstage experience, right from their smart phone or other connected devices. Fan Pass allows an artist fan base to experience something they would otherwise never have the opportunity to afford or geographically attend. The Company aims to establish both Friendable and Fan Pass as premier brands and mobile platforms that are dedicated to connecting and engaging users from anywhere around the World.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected by Friendable, Inc. The iTunes rankings should not be construed as an indication in any way whatsoever of the future value of the Friendable's common stock or its present or future financial condition. The public filings of Friendable, Inc. made with the Securities and Exchange Commission may be accessed at the SEC's Edgar system at www.sec.gov. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. Friendable, Inc. cautions readers not to place reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, Friendable, Inc. does not undertake, and Friendable, Inc. specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

Contact:

Friendable: Phone: (855) 473-7473 Ext. 101

Email: Info@friendable.com

www.friendable.com
A family-of-six have revealed how they ditched a third of their belongings to live on a bus they bought for $13,000 from eBay.

Whitney, 29, and Andrew Chardoulias, 35, from Muscatine, Iowa, and their four children have already traveled across nine states and 5,000 miles within six months of buying and renovating their 45-foot vehicle.

The couple, who own dog-breeding firm Cedar Bend Labradoodles, spent $63,000 in total, with their bus costing just $13,000 from the auction site, but needing a new $30,000 engine and $20,000 worth of renovations.

Whitney was inspired to abandon her house-bound life and move her family into a home-on-wheels after browsing through Instagram feeds capturing travelling lifestyles.

Soon after, the family rid themselves of a third of their belongings and stored the rest at Whitney's parents' house before moving on board in July 2019 - despite warnings from relatives that they 'would be kidnapped or mauled by bears'.

Whitney, 29, and Andrew Chardoulias, 35, from Muscatine, Iowa, and their four (pictured together) have revealed how they ditched a third of their belongings to live on a bus they bought for $13,000 from eBay

The family have already traveled across nine states and 5,000 miles within six months of buying and renovating their 45-foot vehicle. Pictured: One of the children plays in the kitchen

The couple, who own dog-breeding firm Cedar Bend Labradoodles, spent $63,000 in total, with their bus (pictured) costing just $13,000 from the auction site, but needing a new $30,000 engine and $20,000 worth of renovations

Whitney, mother to Quincy, seven, Fletcher, four, Rowe, two and River, one, said: 'I had seen other families on Instagram living in a converted bus and travelling the country and I was so envious.

'I remember telling Andrew I didn't want to be old and grey and wishing we had traveled more. I told him about the buses and asked him "why not us?"

'He bought the idea but when we told friends and family, they were against it at first.'

She added: 'My mother was especially convinced that our kids would be kidnapped or mauled by bears. They have all come around to it now though and our friends think it's really cool.'

Describing her moving home, Whitney said: 'The bus is 45-foot-long and eight foot wide. It includes a full kitchen, living room, toy room, bathroom with a tub, king size bed and three bunks.

Describing her moving home, Whitney said: 'The bus is 45-foot-long and eight foot wide. It includes a full kitchen, living room (pictured), toy room, bathroom with a tub, king size bed and three bunks

Whitney was inspired to abandon her house-bound life and move her family (pictured) into a home-on-wheels after browsing through Instagram feeds capturing travelling lifestyles

When not travelling, the bus sits on land at Whitney's parents' farm. Due to cold nights the family (pictured) are currently all sleeping in the farmhouse at night while sorting out the insulation on their bus

'We have extra sleeping space on a sofa that opens into a double bed.

'My husband has two other children Brenna, 15, and Bria, 10, who live with their mother so they don't get to travel with us as much, but we love it when they can.'

When not travelling, the bus sits on land at Whitney's parents' farm.

During the day the couple work on their dog breeding business while the children attend school, but next year the duo are hoping to start home-schooling so that they can travel more frequently.

Due to cold nights the family are currently all sleeping in the farmhouse at night while sorting out the insulation on their bus - but as soon as that is fixed they intend to get back on it full time.

Next year, the couple are hoping to start home schooling their children so that they can travel more frequently. Pictured: The youngsters' bedroom, seen left, and one of the corridors in the bus, right

The family support themselves through their own dog breeding business. Pictured: The children with one of their pets

Despite lacking a schedule and the mechanical issues they've experienced so far the family love travelling to new places. Pictured: The bathroom, left, and the corridor, right

The family have covered nine states and over 5,000 miles since they started their journey just a few short months ago.

Despite lacking a schedule and the mechanical issues they've experienced so far the family love travelling to new places.

'Our kids have been excited every step of the way and we've covered more than 5,000 miles now across the states of Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky and Indiana,' Whitney explained.

'Sure, sometimes it's been difficult not having a consistent schedule, and it was hard to get our two-year-old to take normal naps while travelling, and our four-year-old struggles with change.

The eight-foot wide bus includes a fully fitted kitchen, with a stylish white and black theme as well as silver appliances

The whole family - even the children (pictured) - took part in renovating the bus to transform it into a beautiful home

'We have quickly learned not to cram too much into each day. We narrowed this down to one outing in the morning and one in the afternoon. Any more than this and our kids were overtired.

'The best thing about this journey is travelling and seeing our children experience new things. Every time we get back "home" they ask us when we are leaving again.

She added: 'Also I love only having to clean 360 sq. feet each day, though I must admit I don't enjoy doing the kids bunks.

The comfortable vehicle was even decorated with Christmas decorations, seen above, when the festive period rolled around

'For a large family it's been very good for our budget too and I would guess that we spend only around $1,500 a month.'

Offering some tips to those who want to start a similar journey, Whitney said: 'I think everyone starts this process by thinking that they could never do this and that it's just not possible for them for whatever reason.

'I think it's possible for anyone who really wants to do it. You just have to overcome one obstacle at a time. You will hit bumps with anything you do in life all you have to do is figure out a remedy for them and move without ever giving up.

'We consider ourselves incredibly blessed. We simply love our bus and we can't wait to experience more adventures in it.'
Pakistan on Wednesday shared a list of its nuclear installations with India under a bilateral agreement.

The list was handed over to an Indian High Commission official in accordance with Article-II of the Agreement on Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between Pakistan and India signed on December 31, 1988, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

"The list of nuclear installations and facilities in Pakistan was officially handed over to a representative of the Indian High Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, at 1030 AM (PST)," it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi handed over the list of Indian nuclear installations and facilities to a representative of the Pakistan High Commission at 1100 AM (IST), the FO said.

The agreement contains the provision that both countries inform each other of their nuclear installations and facilities on 1st of January every year.

This is being done consecutively since January 1, 1992, according to the FO.
I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry, Mr. Kolb said. There is no excuse and no justification for what occurred Tuesday evening. I made the wrong decision, and it is one I deeply regret.

Image Assemblyman Brian M. Kolb Credit... Ontario County Sheriff's Office

On Friday, Mr. Kolb announced that he was relinquishing his position as Republican leader.

I have always tried to put the needs and best interests of our conference ahead of my own, he said in a statement. That is why I have decided to step down as minority leader.

A spokesman for Mr. Kolb said separately that the assemblyman had no plans to give up his seat.

Mr. Kolb was driving his state-issued 2018 GMC Acadia just in front of his home around 10:30 Tuesday night in the town of Victor, N.Y., about 15 miles southeast of Rochester, when he drove into a ditch, the Ontario County Sheriff Kevin Henderson said.

Sheriff Henderson said one of his deputies, called to the scene by a passer-by, administered several field sobriety tests and then took Mr. Kolb to the county jail.

There, an alcohol breath test indicated that the assemblymans blood-alcohol content was over 0.08 percent, the sheriff said. Mr. Kolb was charged with driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and released pending a future court appearance, the sheriff said, adding that no one was hurt and no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
At the current toll of 3,066 Trinidad and Tobago now has the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the Caricom region, both numerically and number of deaths per million people.

This unenviable standing could quickly change, depending on when new variants take hold and the impact they have on any given country.
Rudy Giuliani said he'd be open to take on just about any role in President Trump's impeachment trial - telling reporters he'd testify, or even 'try' the case.

'I would testify. I would do demonstrations, I'd give lectures, I'd give summations,' Giuliani told reporters on the red carpet Tuesday night at Mar-a-Lago. 'Or I'd do what I do best, I'd try the case.'

Giuliani is not expected to be a part of Trump's defense team during his impeachment trial, which is expected to begin as early as the second week of this month.

The former New York City mayor, who also served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said he'd 'love to try the case.'

'Well, I don't know if anybody would have the courage to give me the case,' Giuliani said. 'But if you give me the case, I would prosecute it as a racketeering case.'

'Which I kind of invented anyway,' he bragged.

President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani speaking to the press outside the grand ballroom as he arrived for a New Year's party at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, last night

First lady Melania Trump listening as President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before his New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago property on Tuesday night

Giuliani was likely saying that he would go after Joe and Hunter Biden, who the ex-mayor continues to characterize as corrupt.

This week Giuliani said he has compiled a massive report on the Bidens that could verify the president's concerns about corruption that he wanted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate.

The issue of Hunter Biden's time on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry.

In Trump's July 25 phone call with Zelensky he is accused of trying to pressure the newly-elected Ukrainian leader into announcing investigations into the Bidens in return for the release of about $400 million in U.S. military aid.

Two of Giuliani's associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman allegedly traveled to Ukraine to dig up dirt on the Bidens. And all three were called out by former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, for trying to oust her from her position in order to install someone more compatible with their agenda.

Parnas and Fruman are among a group of five charged with using straw donors to funnel illegal contributions to politicians they thought could help their political and business interests, including a pro-Trump super PAC as well as committees supporting other Republicans.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff giving an opening statement in November during the first public hearings held by the House as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump

Rudy Giuliani said he would testify at Trump's impeachment trial. He is pictured (above) speaking to the press at the president's NYE party last night

Giuliani himself returned from Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, last month after meeting with former general prosecutors and parliamentarians who have been known to peddle Russian conspiracy theories, including supposed plots that suggest Ukraine intervened in the 2016 presidential election instead of Russia.

Giuliani later said publicly that Trump asked him to relay the intelligence to GOP lawmakers.

As Giuliani entered Tuesday night's glitzy New Year's Eve fete at Trump's Palm Beach club Mar-a-Lago, he dodged a question about whether he had plans to make a return trip to Ukraine.

The ex-mayor was one of the few guests to stop and gab with reporters while walking the red carpet at the annual party.

Trump, standing alongside first lady Melania Trump, also made the stop, with son Barron lingering nearby.

On impeachment, Trump said he'd be fine with there being a trial.

'I don't really care. It doesn't matter,' the president told reporters.

So far, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held onto the articles of impeachment as Democrats and Republicans go back-and-forth on what a Senate trial would like like, including whether the Senate would call witnesses.

Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, want to see White House officials, including acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Advisor John Bolton, tell lawmakers what they know.

'As far as I'm concerned, I'd be very happy with a trial,' Trump said. 'Cause we did nothing wrong. We didn't even have a witness and we won 196 to nothing, we didn't have a witness.'

While Trump was impeached by votes of 230-197 and 229-198, he's boasted since the December 18 vote that no GOP lawmaker voted against him.
While children have a right to know about a pandemic sweeping the globe, adults should protect them from any distress.
A man named Shakeel Massey, 20 is accused of attacking a Pablo Picasso painting worth 20 million at Tate Modern in London. The man is being held by Metropolitan police until a pretrial hearing on January 30. After the incident, the venue has taken down the painting off the display while the damage is being assessed. A Tate spokesperson said that the painting is with their conservation team and is being assessed by experts.

Read: French Artist Paul Gauguin's Painting Sells For 9.5 Million Euros At Paris Auction

Famous artwork painted in 1944

According to the museum, the oil painting named 'Bust of a Woman' depicts Marie-Therese Walter, who was Picasso's mistress at the time of its creation. The famous artwork was painted in 1944 in Paris during the final months of Nazi occupation. It is not yet clear as to why Shakeel attacked Picasso's painting in the museum. Shakeel is a resident of High Road, NW10, London and was denied bail when he appeared at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

Read: Renaissance Painting Found In Elderly Woman's Kitchen Sells For 20.7m

The painting was displayed at the Tate Modern museum that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, international modern and contemporary art. The museum is part of the Tate group and is based out of the Bankside area of the London Borough of Southwark. The museum was established in 2000 and is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world.

Read: George W Bush's Paintings Get Big Honour, Will Be Showcased At Prominent Washington Gallery

Recently, Pablo Picasso's servant was convicted of stealing 271 rare artworks by famous artists. Picassos electrician has been held guilty for the third time as Frances top appeals court upheld the earlier jail sentence. Pierre Le Guennec and his wife Danielle had hoarded 271 artworks of the great painter in their garage for 40 years which was stolen. The recovered artwork includes six oils on canvas, nine rare Cubist collages, 28 lithographs, and sketchbooks dating between 1900 and 1932, with an estimated worth between $74 million to $98 million.

Read: Pablo Picasso's Electrician Convicted For Stealing 271 Rare Artworks
Austria's conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government with the Greens, capping almost three months of negotiations. "We have succeeded to unite the best of both worlds... It is possible to protect the climate and borders," said Kurz, whose People's Party (OeVP) again gained the most votes in snap elections in September. The polls were triggered after a corruption scandal engulfed Kurz's far-right ally after just 18 months in government together, during which the 33-year-old had carefully cultivated his image as a hardliner on immigration. - 'Future of Austria' - Greens leader Werner Kogler said the two disparate parties had managed to "build bridges" to form a government for "the future of Austria". It will mark the first time the Green party has been in power. The ecologists made key gains in the September polls with the environment replacing immigration as the top voter concern. Kogler said the Alpine country -- which has been among just a handful of EU nations that have seen their greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase between 1990 and 2017 -- would aim to become a frontrunner in terms of fighting climate change in Europe. The two leaders indicated they would reform the tax system to lower the burden on Austrians -- a key OeVP promise -- but at the same time introduce higher eco taxes in line with the Greens' campaign. Kogler said transparency, including freedom of information, and fighting poverty among children, the elderly and women would also be a priority. The two leaders will present their detailed government programme on Thursday. Observers have said the new government would face challenges after Kurz's previous rule with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) saw a raft of anti-immigration measures passed, sharply dividing Austrians. Describing a deal as a "huge stretch", analyst Thomas Hofer warned Kurz could lose voters he gained from the FPOe, which he managed to pick up in the September polls, when the OeVP got 37.5 percent in total. The Greens secured 13.9 percent of the vote, their best-ever result, due to the environment replacing immigration as top concern in the country of 8.8 million people. - Trend setter? - Hofer said other European countries, such as Germany, could also see Conservative-Green party coalitions in the future. Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Luxemburg already have Greens in government. "Kurz is setting a certain trend maybe ahead of time, and this is certainly something also on the international stage that he would be able to sell," he said. Hofer described Kogler, who is expected to be vice-chancellor, as a "pragmatist" who had stabilised the party. The 58-year-old took on the leadership after the party lost all their parliamentary seats in a shock defeat in 2017, largely due to infighting and splits. A congress of the party's almost 280 delegates must still endorse the coalition agreement, but they are expected to do so. "It's a historical chance for them," Hofer said. As junior coalition partner, the Greens are expected to get four ministries, including an enlarged environment ministry that also comprises infrastructure, traffic, energy and technology, according to a party representative familiar with the negotiations. The OeVP will maintain control of the rest, including the coveted interior ministry -- previously headed by a far-right official and embroiled in scandal -- and the finance portfolio. The far-right FPOe -- previously riding a wave of populist sentiment seen across Europe -- was routed in the polls after the so-called "Ibiza-gate" graft scandal brought down their then-leader and vice-chancellor in May and caused the government to collapse. Austria's conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz (L) and Greens leader Werner Kogler on Wednesday agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 13:37:29|Editor: zyl

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MEXICO CITY, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 prisoners were killed, five others wounded after riots occurred Tuesday afternoon in a prison in the northern Mexican state of Zacatecas, local media reported.

A conflict between different groups of prisoners broke out at 2:30 p.m. local time (2030 GMT) in a jail in the town of Cieneguillas, about 13 km away from Zacatecas City, the state capital, said the reports.

Local police soon intervened and managed to control the situation later in the afternoon, said the state public security department.
STAMFORD  An attorney representing Jennifer Dulos in her acrimonious two-year divorce is seeking legal fees to cover the cost of the recent motions filed by her estranged husband who has been charged in her disappearance.

Attorney Richard Rochlin, representing Fotis Dulos, filed a motion last week to dismiss the divorce case so he can go to juvenile court to appeal his clients mother-in-law being granted guardianship of the five children.

Attorney Ruben Midler, representing Jennifer Dulos, has responded by requesting Fotis Dulos to pay for all of his legal fees and costs associated with Rochlins motion.

Midler contends in the court documents that Fotis Dulos is paying several attorneys and a private investigator in the various civil, foreclosure and criminal cases filed against him with foreign money, possibly from Greece, and could be trying to dissipate martial assets against court orders.

Midler wants a judge to require Fotis Dulos to pay for the cost of depositions and any other legal fees related to defending the dismissal and the guardianship in juvenile court or any future motions filed by Rochlin in the divorce.

Rochlin is seeking to have the divorce dismissed because the disappearance has stalled proceedings. If the divorce is dismissed, it would pave the way for one judge to rule on custody issues instead of the three who have been overseeing the probate, criminal and divorce cases.

The custody battle will be the subject of a hearing in Stamford juvenile court on Jan. 9  the same day Fotis Dulos is scheduled to appear at the courthouse for his next pretrial hearing on the criminal charges related to his estranged wifes disappearance.

Rochlin said his client plans to seek access to the children when his appeal of the guardianship is heard next week.

A Stamford family court judge had limited Fotis Dulos access to his children prior to the May 24 disappearance. Fotis Dulos was allowed supervised visits with his children, the last of which occurred at his estranged wifes New Canaan home two days before she vanished.

Fotis Dulos has since been banned from all contact with his children as part of the conditions of his release on bail for charges of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the disappearance.

In November, a New Canaan Probate Court judge granted Jennifer Dulos mother, Gloria Farber, guardianship of the couples five children. Farber, who has been granted the right to intervene in the divorce, has been caring for the children since the disappearance and is seeking permanent custody of them.

In his appeal motion, Rochlin accused Farber of violating state law by denying Fotis Dulos access to his childrens medical and school records.

Rochlin said Farber has also denied Fotis Dulos family members access to the children, despite a long and positive history with these individuals. Fotis Dulos sister and his niece recently sought to spend time with the children, but were denied, Rochlin said.

Fotis Dulos is also fighting his mother-in-law in civil court, where Farber has filed a $2.5 million lawsuit for business loans she said were not repaid to her family. Fotis Dulos has countered that the Farber family owes him $1 million. A two-day trial was held last month in Hartford and a Superior Court judge is expected to issue a ruling soon.

Farber is also foreclosing on the Farmington home Fotis Dulos built in 2011. Jennifer and Fotis Dulos lived there until 2017 when she moved with the children to New Canaan and filed for divorce.

Jennifer Dulos was last seen on a neighbors security camera returning to the Welles Lane home she had been renting around 8:05 a.m. May 24. According to arrest warrants, police believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait when she arrived home from dropping off their children at a nearby school.

Police said two people resembling Fotis Dulos and his former girlfriend Michelle Troconis were captured on video in Hartford later that night around the time Jennifer Dulos was reported missing. The man police contend is Fotis Dulos was seen on the videos dumping bags that were later determined to contain his wifes blood and clothing, the warrants said.

A separate arrest warrant said Fotis Dulos and Troconis  who faces the same charges  also took a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck belonging to a Fore Group employee to a car wash in the days after the disappearance. Police said in the warrant that they believe Fotis Dulos drove the truck to New Canaan the morning of the disappearance.

Fotis Dulos also urged the employee to remove the seats, which testing later revealed contained Jennifer Dulos blood, according to the warrant.
Syrian government forces shelled a rebel-held village in the country's northwest on Wednesday, hitting a school and killing at least six people, opposition activists said.

The attack in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold Syria, was part of an ongoing offensive in which Syrian troops have captured more than 40 villages and hamlets over the past two weeks.

Idlib is dominated by al-Qaida-linked militants and is also home to 3 million civilians. The United Nations has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region, which lies along the Turkish border.

A war-monitoring group, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said a teacher and four students were killed in Sunday's government shelling of the village of Sarmin.

Hadi Abdullah, an Idlib-based opposition activists, gave a slightly higher death toll, saying seven people were killed, including a woman and four children. Different death tolls are common in the immediate aftermath of bombings.

Syrian troops have been bombarding parts of Idlib since last month, with the shelling and airstrikes intensifying since the ground offensive began on December 19.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that as a result of hostilities, more than 235,000 people had been displaced between December 12 and December 25.

Many of them have fled from the town of Maaret al-Numan, toward which the Syrian troops have been steadily advancing.

Elsewhere in northern Syria, a car bombing on Wednesday in the town of Suluk, controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters, killed three people, according to Syrian state media and the Observatory.

Areas controlled by Turkey-backed fighters have witnessed several explosions, with dozens killed and wounded in the past weeks. Turkey has blamed Syrian Kurdish fighters for the attacks. They deny the charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expressing deep frustration over stalled nuclear talks, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned of unspecified ``shocking'' action and that his country will soon reveal a new ``strategic weapon'' to the world as its bolsters its nuclear deterrent in face of ``gangster-like'' U.S. pressure.

Kim also said North Korea was no longer obligated to maintain a self-imposed suspension on the testing of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which President Donald Trump has touted as a major diplomatic accomplishment. But Kim gave no clear indication that a resumption of such tests was impending and appeared to leave the door open for eventual negotiations.

Kim has used the diplomatic stalemate to expand his military capabilities by intensifying tests of shorter-range weapons. His arsenal is now estimated to include 40-50 nuclear bombs and various delivery systems, including solid-fuel missiles designed to beat missile-defense systems and developmental ICBMs potentially capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

Kim has also strengthened his negotiating position, moving the diplomacy closer to an arms reduction negotiation between nuclear states rather than talks that would culminate in a unilateral surrender of the weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival.

Lee Sang-min, spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, said North Korea carrying out its threat to showcase a new strategic weapon would be unhelpful for diplomacy.

Strategic weapons usually refer to nuclear-capable delivery systems such as ICBMs, but North Korea otherwise has been vague about what new arms it would display. It announced in December that it performed two ``crucial'' tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent.

Kim's comments published in state media Wednesday were made at a key, four-day meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee as talks between Washington and Pyongyang have faltered over disagreements on disarmament steps and the removal of sanctions.

Some experts say North Korea, which has always been sensitive about electoral changes in U.S. government, will avoid serious negotiations in the coming months as it watches how Trump's impending impeachment trial over his dealings with Ukraine affects U.S. presidential elections in November.

Kim may instead seek to strengthen his leverage by promoting a united front with Beijing and Moscow, Pyongyang's traditional supporters, which seek to establish themselves as major stakeholders in North Korean diplomacy. Both have called for the U.N. Security Council to consider easing sanctions on the North to spur progress in nuclear negotiations.

Kim last year had said the North would pursue a ``new way'' if the Trump administration doesn't make concessions to salvage the negotiations by the end of December. Kim's defiant words entering 2020 indicate his ``new way'' could look very much like the old one _ a patient determination to wait out sanctions and pressure, which will possibly weaken over time, while cementing the country's status as a nuclear state.

Kim at the party meeting declared the North will never give up its security for economic benefits in the face of what he described as increasing U.S. hostility and nuclear threats, the Korean Central News Agency said.

``(Kim) said that we will never allow the impudent U.S. to abuse the DPRK-U.S. dialogue for meeting its sordid aim but will shift to a shocking actual action to make it pay for the pains sustained by our people so far and for the development so far restrained,'' the agency said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Kim added that ``if the U.S. persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy,'' KCNA said.

``(Kim) confirmed that the world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future, declaring that we cannot give up the security of our future just for the visible economic results ... now that hostile acts and nuclear threat against us are increasing,'' it said.

Trump late Tuesday urged Kim to stick to his alleged commitment to denuclearize. The leaders after their first summit in Singapore in June 2018 issued a vague statement on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula without when and how it would occur.

``Look, he likes me, I like him, we get along,'' Trump said as he walked into a New Year's party at Mar-a-Lago. ``But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization ... I think he's a man of his word so we're going to find out, but I think he's a man of his word.''

North Korea has held to its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and ICBM testing since 2018, though last year it ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity by testing a slew of solid-fuel weapons that potentially expanded its capabilities to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases there.

While Kim gave no clear indication he was abandoning negotiations entirely or restarting the suspended tests, he said North Korea's efforts to bolster its deterrent will be ``properly coordinated'' depending on future U.S. attitudes.

Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korean expert at Seoul's Dongguk University, said it would be irrational for Pyongyang to risk shattering its negotiations with Washington by resuming ICBM tests when Beijing and Moscow are campaigning for eased sanctions.

``When you are developing an unfinished nuclear program, you conduct test after test in efforts to manufacture a crisis that would force your rival into negotiating, which was North Korea's previous pattern of behavior,'' said Koh, an adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

``But once you reached a strategic (nuclear) status and need to consolidate it, you do it quietly while holding back provocative tests, like the way India and Pakistan did it,'' Koh said.

Kim did warn there were no longer grounds for the North to be ``unilaterally bound'' to its moratorium, criticizing the United States for expanding sanctions, continuing military exercises with South Korea and providing the South with advanced weaponry.

The allies have scaled down their major military exercises since 2018 to create space for diplomacy, but North Korea considers such drills to be rehearsals for an invasion and insists even the smaller drills violate agreements between the leaders. The North has also criticized the allies over South Korea's recent acquisition of advanced U.S. F-35 fighter jets.

The extensive KCNA report from the party meeting may have replaced a New Year's speech like Kim has given in past years announcing major changes in security and economic policies. No speech was broadcast as of Wednesday afternoon, though Koh said a broadcast or statement could come later.

Kim touched on economic issues in his remarks to the party meeting, saying his nation was prepared for a ``long confrontation'' with the United States and vowing to build ``internal strength'' to withstand sanctions.

Kim called for his people to stay resilient in a struggle for ``self-reliance'' a nd lamented unmet goals in economic objectives laid out in 2019, calling for significant improvements in agricultural production and removal of unspecified ``evil practices and stagnation'' across industries including coal mining, electricity production, machinery and railway transport.

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December 31, 2019

Release

DOD Statement on Iraq From Secretary Esper

Statement by Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper:

"The Department of Defense is working closely with the Department of State to ensure the security of our Embassy and personnel in Baghdad. We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy. As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so. The United States continues to support the Iraqi people and a free, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq."



https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2048868/

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Three people were killed and two others injured when their car rammed into a stationary truck on the Jaipur-Delhi highway here, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Tuesday night.

The victims were returning home to Shahpura from Jaipur when the incident took place near Bidara turn under the Shahpura police station area.

Kaluram (33),Shivpal (40) and Rameshwar (60) died on the spot while two others received mild injuries, police said.

The bodies were handed over to the family members after post-mortem on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Auto stocks will be in focus as these companies will declare their December monthly sales.

Yes Bank said CARE downgraded the rating on infrastructure bonds to A/Negative {from A+ (Credit Watch with Developing implications) and Negative outlook assigned}. The outlook for the ratings is Negative considering the uncertainty related to equity raising, which is critical for the bank to maintain adequate capital buffers over the minimum regulatory requirement as well as fund future growth of the bank.

Sterling and Wilson Solar said the promoters have enabled repayment of Rs 1,000 crore. The outstanding loan from the date of listing has fallen from Rs 2,563 crore to Rs 1,644 crore.

Adani Green Energy (AGEL) said its step down subsidiary, Adani Renewable Energy (GJ), has commissioned its 75 MW Wind Power Project having Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) at Rs 2.85/kWh for a period of 25 years. Commercial sale of power from the Project to MSEDCL is expected to commence w.e.f. 1 January, 2020.

Skipper said CARE downgraded long term rating on the company's bank facilities to BBB+ with a stable outlook, from A with a negative outlook. The revision in the ratings is on account of deterioration in the financial performance of the company in FY19 and H1 FY20 on account of weak operational performance.

PTC India announced its selection as aggregator for Pilot Scheme - II issued by Ministry of Power for resolution of stressed thermal assets. The scheme is for procurement and supply of 2500 MW power on medium term basis for three year's period.

Bajaj Electricals said a meeting of the Board is scheduled to be held on 6 January 2020 to consider, among others, the proposal for raising of funds by issue of equity shares, convertible securities or any other securities, including, through a rights issue, preferential issue and/or qualified institutions placement.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A dash camera video of a rear-end collision involving two cars near Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park sparked a lively Reddit discussion about the incompetence of Bay Area drivers.

One Reddit user called it "the most Bay Area crash Ive ever seen."

The footage taken earlier this week at California Route 84 and Willow Road shows a white compact caught in slow-moving traffic attempting to cross three lanes of traffic in order to make a right at Willow. But before it reaches the intersection a fast-moving sedan plows into its rear.

The majority of comments faulted the white car for dangerously merging from the slow-moving queue into fast-traffic lanes.



"I guess I'll just cut over four lanes of traffic without looking. Because I need to go right here..." is how one commenter put it.

"This is why I got a dashcam, for when a car attempts to cross 3 lanes from 0 in a 45 zone meaning cars are most likely going 55," wrote another.

But others thought the gray car that rear-ended the lane crosser was going too fast and probably would be held at least partly liable for damages. In that stretch of CR 84, the speed limit ranges from 50 to 55 mph.

Many Reddit users complained about both the skills and manners of Bay Area drivers, calling them the worst in the country. It wasn't unanimous: Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles and Honolulu received votes for exceeding the Bay Area in driver ineptitude. Even Delaware drivers got a mention.

RELATED: The worst habits of Bay Area drivers in the rain

The post, which garnered more than 300 comments, veered off on various tangents, including the need for better public transit to ease automobile congestion and onerous commutes, especially Hayward/Fremont to the South Bay. BART should be a complete loop around the Bay, wrote one frustrated commuter.

---

Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
More grants from the civic body, privatisation and increase in bus fare are the only ways to improve the civic transport service, said Maruti Khodke, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Transport (KDMT) chief, on Wednesday, while presenting the draft budget for the year 2020-21.

The draft budget, presented to KDMT committee members, showed 69.5 crore as income and 66.81 crore as expenditure for the year 2019-20. It also stated the estimated income at 91.35 crore and expenditure at 89.25 crore for 2020-21.

Last year, the KDMT chief had presented the draft budget of estimated income at 97.88 crore and expenditure at 93.58 crore for 2019-20.

Last year, we had asked for a grant of 20 crore, which the civic body had given. This year, we have demanded 23 crore so that staff and worker wages are given on time. It will be difficult for KDMT to operate without the grant,said Khodke.

Out of the 20 crore grant demanded, the civic body had given only 13.87 crore to KDMT for payment of wages.

The KDMT chief also emphasised on the importance of privatisation to improve services.

Another way of improving the services is privatisation but there is no response from any agency. One of reason for no response is KDMTs lack of good services. The poor service is due to the bad condition of the roads as well as frequent jams due to pending infrastructure projects,added Khodke.

KDMT officials said that privatisation will ensure job security for 526 permanent workers (drivers, conductors and other staff) of KDMT and recruitment of more permanent staff members. It will also help in clearing all pending wages of the workers. The transport body has allotted 5 crore for payment of pending wages.

The civic transport body has been operating at a loss for almost a decade now, with few buses plying on the streets, lack of manpower, no maintenance of the buses and lack of infrastructure. Services have been adversely affected as the buses are not on time and they break down frequently.

The budget does not comprise any new proposals for 2020-21.

The civic transport body has 218 buses but only 65 to 70 ply on roads. In 2020-21, KDMT plans to add around 120 to 137 buses to the service after repairing them

This year, a budgetary allocation of 32.25 crore has also been made under the smart city scheme in which the KDMT plans to introduce transit management vehicle tracking and passenger information system.

The transport body chief also talked about the need to increase bus fares.

The standing committee and general body of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation has approved the fare hike proposal and sent it to the state government for approval. We expect its approval in 2020,added Khodke.

KDMT has planned to repair the buses as the private contractor appointed in March 2019 failed to do the job efficiently.

The transport body plans to repair 70 buses between January and March 2020.

For the financial year, the civic transport body has plans to build a workshop at Khambalpada depot in Dombivli and Vasant Valley depot in Kalyan, build a shed at Ganesh Ghat depot in Kalyan and repair its offices.

KDMT will also try to hire more drivers, conductors and workers for the workshops through private contractor to improve service.

In 2019-20, KDMT earned 16.46 crore while the estimated income is 30.4 crore for 2020-21.

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Strike-hit Paris welcomed the New Year with a huge fireworks display while London's Big Ben rang out after a long restoration, as crisis clouded celebrations elsewhere at the end of a year of upheaval around the world.

In the French capital, tens of thousands gathered on the Champs-Elysees, despite a gruelling transport strike that has spelt weeks of misery for commuters.

Billions around the world are cheering in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political upheaval and action on climate change. By DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS (AFP)

They came on foot, by bike, taxi -- and a few by metro -- to ring in the new decade as a dazzling light show lit up the Arc de Triomphe.

In the British capital, thousands of revellers lined the Thames to watch fireworks fired from the London Eye for the last new year before Brexit.

Big Ben rang out 12 times after the bell fell mostly silent this year while renovation work was carried out.

Police in Hong Kong cleared protests as demonstrators marked the new year with rallies. By ISAAC LAWRENCE (AFP)

It followed a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledging to leave the European Union on January 31.

Billions around the world cheered in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political upheaval and action on climate change.

Australia's largest city usually puts on a dazzling display of pyrotechnics over the glittering harbour, but this year's celebrations were overshadowed by calls to cancel the fireworks as devastating bushfires rage across the country. By PETER PARKS (AFP)

Smoke-choked Sydney ushered in the New Year with an enormous pyrotechnics display, but celebrations were overshadowed by calls to cancel the fireworks as devastating bushfires raged across the country.

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

But the show did go on and more than 100,000 fireworks lit up the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the city centre.

Celebrations amid upheaval

In South Korea people flocked to bell-ringing ceremonies, a traditional ritual marking the start of the new year. By Jung Yeon-je (AFP)

In Hong Kong, after more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, 2020 was ushered in with tear gas and water cannon, as pro-democracy protesters took their movement into the new year with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for Wednesday.

Before midnight, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong.

Tens of thousands gathered in downtown Bangkok to welcome the new year in Thailand. By Mladen ANTONOV (AFP)

Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" as they lit up their phones in a sea of lights.

Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades and riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response.

Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighbourhoods.

Malaysians celebrated with bubbles in Kuala Lumpur. By Mohd RASFAN (AFP)

As the clock struck midnight in North Korea, a large crowd gathered for a concert in the centre of Pyongyang cheered as the clock struck midnight, with fireworks bursting in the sky above a neon-lit stage hosting a tightly choreographed dance performance.

Across the border, South Koreans flocked to bell-ringing ceremonies -- a traditional ritual marking the start of the new year -- with thousands watching in central Seoul alongside performances by Korean pop stars.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual New Year address, 20 years after he was elevated to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin's shock resignation in his 1999 end-of-year speech.

Russia celebrated the new decade over several time zones, with Muscovites flocking to the centre of the capital for fireworks over the Kremlin.

burs-aph/jah
4,000 people were trapped in the town on Thursday as flames raced towards it

Ms Marion said she took now-iconic photo to 'record our story for our family'

Allison Marion's photo of her son Finn has become a symbol of the bushfire crisis

A mother whose haunting photo of her 11-year-old son fleeing a blaze became a symbol of the ongoing bushfire crisis has revealed the heartbreaking story behind her family's escape.

Allison Marion, her two sons Finn and Caleb and their family dog were among 4,000 stranded in Mallacoota in Victoria's far east as a horrific bushfire closed in on the town on Tuesday.

Fleeing the seaside town in an aluminium power boat in a thick red haze, Ms Marion said she took the jarring photo to 'record our story for our family'.

Finn, meanwhile, said escaping the burning inferno behind them was 'pretty scary', but was happy his family are now safe.

Allison Marion's photo of her son Finn fleeing the advancing bushfires in the seaside town of Mallacoota in Victoria's far east has become an symbol of this year's bushfire crisis

His picture has also featured on news websites and newspapers around the road, but Finn told 9News his new fame was not a priority to him.

'I'm not really fussed, it's just a photo,' he said. 'We were just worried about getting away from the fire and just being safe.'

The image has since been splashed across the front pages of newspapers both in Australia and internationally as the world watches on at the unprecedented bushfire crisis.

Ms Marion told ABC News she was proud of how Finn - who was pictured with a mask covering his mouth - and Caleb pulled together in an emergency.

'We were lucky enough to be with a group of other people from Mallacoota and other families who assisted us,' she said.

'We followed them out to Goodwin Sands where we were located for the day and there were a lot of Mallacoota people sheltering.'

Speaking after escaping the inferno racing towards his town in a small aluminum boat, Finn said his experience was 'pretty scary' but he was happy his family were safe.

Residents are pictured on the wharf at Mallacoota about 10.30am on Tuesday; Ms Marion's home was spared from the blaze but aerial footage on Wednesday showed multiple homes destroyed by the blaze

The family's home was spared by the blaze, which mercifully also missed the rest of her street.

Aerial footage taken on Wednesday showed there were others in the town who were less lucky though - with streets and buildings razed to the ground.

'Our street somehow escaped the fire somehow, however, I feel for many people in our community who have lost their homes. It's just truly saddening,' Ms Marion said.

On Tuesday evening, it was revealed thousands of people would be rescued by army helicopters after spending New Year's Eve stranded on the beach.

The Australian Defence Force are helping to respond to fires raging in Victoria's East Gippsland where four people are missing in blazes which have destroyed at least 43 homes.

Pictured: The sky turned a deep shade of red in Mallacoota about 7.30am on Tuesday. Residents woke to pitch-black conditions are the fire approached

Firefighters will also be flown out of the small town so there can be a shift change.

'We've got choppers taking 90 firefighters out of the Mallacoota area, they can't be removed any other way - we're essentially doing a shift change by the air,' Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.

'We've never done that before, getting firefighters that are essentially isolated in that Mallacoota community out and fresh teams going in.'

Mr Andrews and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the situation had been unprecedented.

The sky transformed into a deep red in Mallacoota on Tuesday, with residents reporting 'hot embers' and a 'roar'

'I know everyone wants it to be simple. We do, too. It is not. This is a complex set of fires and the coming days and week also be very challenging,' Mr Andrews said.

More than 500,000 hectares have been burnt as three fires in East Gippsland combined on Tuesday.

The sky turned an eerie shade of black on Tuesday morning before transforming into a deep red, with residents reporting 'hot embers' falling from the sky and a deafening 'roar' as the fire approached.

The blaze at Corryong in northeast Victoria on the NSW border is also at risk of spreading and merging.

Confirmed property losses are 24 structures at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and up to 15 at Cudgewa.

Power has been cut to more than 7000 properties at East Gippsland and more than 1800 in the northeast.
On Christmas Eve, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb's local newspaper, the Daily Messenger of Canandaigua, published an op-ed from the Republican lawmaker that urged drivers to avoid drunken driving.

"Many of our holiday traditions, especially our New Years Eve celebrations, involve indulging in spirits. Done safely, and in moderation, these can be wonderful holiday experiences. However, tragedy can be only one bad decision away," he wrote.

On New Year's Eve, Kolb was charged with driving while intoxicated near his home in Victor. The Ontario County Sheriff's Office said Kolb crashed a 2018 GMC Acadia on County Road 41 in his hometown. The Assembly issued the vehicle to Kolb in 2018.

The New York Daily News reported in early 2018 that Kolb was issued the taxpayer-funded vehicle worth $43,601 at the same time Speaker Carl Heastie was issued a 2018 Chevy Tahoe by the Assembly.

Kolb was taken into custody after the 10:27 p.m. single-vehicle crash and charged with DWI at the county jail, deputies said. There were no injuries, the sheriff's office said. It was unclear if any passengers were in the SUV when it crashed. The sheriff's office could not immediately share the accident report filed by the deputy and Kolb's blood alcohol content was not available.

Kolb was given a ticket and released from custody.

"This was a terrible lapse in judgment, one I have urged others not to make, and I take full responsibility for it," Kolb said in a statement issued by his office.



"I want to offer sincere apologies to my family, friends, colleagues and the people of the 131st Assembly District. I fully recognize the severity of the situation and I am profoundly sorry. There is no excuse and no justification for what occurred Tuesday evening. I made the wrong decision, and it is one I deeply regret."

Kolb's spokesman, Michael Fraser, confirmed the arrest and said it took place in Victor but deferred further comment to the sheriff's office.

The 67-year-old lawmaker was first elected to the Assembly during a special election in February 2000. He has been re-elected nine times. Kolb became the minority leader April 6, 2009.

After his arrest was announced, Kolb faced criticism from within his own caucus. Assemblyman Kiernan Michael Lalor, a Republican from Dutchess County, called on Kolb to step down as minority leader.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"That he hasnt done so already is a disgrace," Lalor tweeted late Wednesday morning.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a Rotterdam Democrat, called Kolb's DWI arrest a "serious crime" that merited his resignation as minority leader.

"All Assemblymembers should support a call for resignation," Santabarbara said in a statement released by his office.

Kolb's office had no immediately reply.

The sheriff's office said a state trooper assisted with the investigation.
Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming festivals, the Sambhal administration in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday announced that prohibitory orders will prevail in the region to maintain law and order till January 31.



Protests erupted in the region including stone-pelting and burning of the public transport over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), section 144 of the CrPC was imposed to maintain law and order which has expired on December 31.

"To maintain law and order in the area the prohibitory order will remain the region as the orders of Section 144 have expired on December 31. In view of the possibility of stoning, sabotage and rioting in the district and festivals, prohibitory orders have been imposed till January 31," said Kamlesh Kumar Awasthi, Additional District Magistrate, Sambhal in a press statement.

The festivals due to which this measure has been taken are January 2-Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, January-14 Lohri, January 15-Makar Sakranti, January 26-Republic day and January 29-Basant Panchmi.

Under these orders, gathering or protesting will be banned. No public property including railways stations and bus stand will be closed. People cannot carry any kind of material which can be used to attack others. People should not indulge in war-mongering and posting or sharing any instigating messages through social media tools, written or verbally will be termed as an offence.

"Under the veil of the traditional festivals, no new kind of ritual will be formed and celebrated. Exhibiting arms or any kind of weapons in public places will be termed as an offence. Before 6 am and after 10 pm, no public gatherings will be held. Also, selling the Chinese 'manjha' will be banned," the release added.

At least 48 people have been arrested in connection with violence during a protest against CAA

An FIR has also been registered against 17 people including some Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders on December 20.

CAA grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

Section-144 was imposed in various parts of the state in view of the prevailing law and order situation. (ANI)


: It is the Congress, a party with a over 100 year history and one to have seen many ups and downs, and not the BJP, which is the main rival of the TRS in Telangana, party working president K T Rama Rao said here on Wednesday.

"With two or three wins (in elections), success should not go to our head.

Congress as a party has 100 years plus history. It has witnessed many ups and downs and the party should not be taken lightly. Congress is a party which cannot be ignored. I am saying this with all humility, Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said.

He stated this when his attention was drawn to TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddys reported comments that he would step down as PCC chief after the urban bodies polls and focus more on his constituency.

He said that irrespective of wheter it was under Uttam Kumar Reddy's leadership or somebody else, the Congress is the main opposition party in telangana for the TRS.

The BJP's position was still as it used to be during his childhood, he said.

"Sometimes they (BJP) hit (wining four Lok Sabha seats ) with luck, Rama Rao further said in an informal chat with mediapersons.

The Congress, despite its poor performance in the Assembly polls in 2018, bagged three seats, while BJP wrested four seats during the parliament elections in April 2019.

The ruling TRS, which won 88 seats in the 119-seat Assembly poll, won only nine in the Lok Sabha polls out of 17.

Telangana BJP chief spokesperson K Krishna Saagar Rao said Rama Rao has exhibited his'inner fear' on BJP's rise in the state by referring to Congress as the only opposition for TRS.

He said BJP believed that the last two wins by TRS in the Assembly elections werea fluke, as the party factually lacked any organizational structure to fight and win any elections.

TRS has to indulge in emotional divisive regional and minority appeasement to win elections, he said.

"If any election is fought on TRS government's performance in the last two terms, TRS will not even win a single seat in Telangana.

BJP considers itself the only alternative to TRS in Telangana, as voters have written off Congress long backand will reject TRS "misgovernance" in the next assembly elections, the BJP leader told PTI.

To a query on the coming urban local bodies poll, Rama Rao said his party would emerge victorious with the lion's share of seats.

The state will go for polls to 120municipalitiesand 10 municipal corporations on January 22.

He hoped the 2020-30 decade belongs to Telangana and the state leads in several initiatives under lTRS leadershp.

On implementation of National Population Register in the state, KTR said the Government would take an appropriate decision on that.

Rama Rao, also minister for IT and Industries said the proposed Pharma City would be launched this year.

About 10,000 acres of land has been acquired and another 2,000 would be bought.

"Environmental Clearance (EC) was also granted. No hurdles for the project... NIMZ (National Investment and Manufacturing Zone) status was also accorded (by the centre), he said.

The Minister said the state has received a report from E&Y on setting up dry ports and the Government was working out a strategy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Iran's supreme leader today hit back at the US and warned his country would not hesitate to strike after Donald Trump said Tehran would pay a 'big price' for Hezbollah's assault on the American embassy in Baghdad.

'I and the government and the nation of Iran strongly condemn this American crime,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said of US strikes which killed 25 members of Kataeb Hezbollah in Iraq on Sunday night.

Thousands of Hezbollah fighters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday in retaliation for the airstrikes - breaking down the gate and setting the entrance on fire.

President Trump, who deployed 100 Marines to protect the site last night and sent another 750 paratroopers to the Middle East, has accused Tehran of 'orchestrating' the assault

And on Wednesday morning the Iran-backing militia attacked the embassy for the second day in a row, forcing the US Marines to fire tear gas at the fighters who set part of the embassy on fire again.

Video has also emerged of one fighter telling cameras that he hopes to kill all Americans inside the embassy during the attack. He said: 'God willing if this fire reaches inside the embassy, we will not spare a single employee.'

Hezbollah finally ended their siege this afternoon and withdrew after laying siege to the embassy for 36 hours.

It comes after Trump last night tweeted: 'Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat.'

In response, Khamenei retweeted the post and said: 'That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran.

'First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran. Secondly, be logical... The people of this region hate America. Why don't Americans understand this?'

Scroll down for video.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) has hit out at the United States in his first public comments since deadly weekend US air strikes on pro-Iran fighters in western Iraq.

In response, Khamenei retweeted Trump's post and said: 'That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran. First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran. Secondly, be logical... The people of this region hate America. Why don't Americans understand this?'

A U.S. Army soldier from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force-Iraq, mans an observation post at Forward Operating Base Union III in Baghdad on Tuesday

US Marines fired tear gas at the Iran-backed militia and their supporters early on Wednesday as the siege outside the US embassy in Baghdad continued for a second day. Iraqi flags were seen being flown, as well as the yellow of Kataeb Hezbollah

A pro-Iran Hezbollah militia fighter wears a gas mask as he and another man attack the US embassy in Baghdad on New Year's Day

A picture shows the burnt entrance of the US embassy in Baghdad, where people usually go through security scanners to enter, on New Year's Day. Furious demonstrators descended on the consulate yesterday in retaliation for US air strikes that killed 25 militants of Kataeb Hezbollah on Sunday night

Donald Trump (pictured with his wife Melania at Mar A Lago on New Year's Eve) has accused Tehran of 'orchestrating' the assault on the embassy

The US embassy in Iraq yesterday after supporters and members of the Hashed al-Shaabi military network breached the outer wall of the diplomatic mission during a protest

He later added: 'You Americans have committed crimes in Iraq, you have committed crimes in Afghanistan. You have killed people. If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly.

'We are strongly committed to the interests of our country... We are strongly committed to the dignity of our nation. We are strongly committed to the progress and greatness of the nation of Iran.

Who are the mob at the embassy gates? The mob are supporters or members of Kataeb Hezbollah, which is separate but linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah, and operates under the umbrella of the Iraqi government sanctioned umbrella of militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many of the groups, but particularly Kataeb Hezbollah, are backed by Iran. Kataeb Hezbollah has for months been firing rockets and mortars at US forces throughout Iraq. It actively stockpiles and smuggles Iranian-made weapons into Iraq. The terror group has in the past received weapons from the Palestinian Hezbollah, which is also a key ally of Iran. Hundreds of the yellow flags of the terror group were seen among the masses on Tuesday. Advertisement

'Should anyone threaten these, we will confront him without any hesitation and will strike our blow.'

Trump's reinforcements were engaged early Wednesday when tear gas was fired to disperse those who had spent the night outside the main gates. Several ambulances arrived to ferry those stricken by the gas.

Many of those involved in the embassy attack are members of the Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), of which Kataeb Hezbollah is a member. The Hezbollah group in particular is backed by Iran and was blamed for last week's missile strike on Kirkuk, which killed one US contractor.

Earlier today US soldiers fired tear gas at the protesters, several of whom were reported wounded. A cordon of Iraqi security forces that had formed around the embassy dissipated when the gas was fired.

But reinforcements from the federal police soon arrived and the brief skirmishes calmed.

Trump said Tuesday that he would hold Iran 'fully responsible' and ordered 750 troops from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to head to Kuwait, with another 4,000 on stand-by to head to the same Middle East outpost.

Those numbers will add to the 14,000 who have been deployed to the hostile region in the last six months.

No U.S. casualties or evacuations were reported after the attack Tuesday by dozens of Iran-supported militiamen. U.S. Marines were sent from Kuwait to reinforce the compound.

Under siege: US soldiers keep watch on the US embassy in Baghdad from an observation post

Cooking pots set up outside the embassy where 50 tents and a number of portable toilets have been shipped in for the long haul

Donald Trump announced that the US embassy in Baghdad is safe after some 6,000 pro-Iran militia fighters stormed the compound on Tuesday, set walls ablaze and chanted 'Death to America!' in a violent retaliation for American air strikes

In a third tweet he quipped 'The Anti-Bengahzi!' The post was an effort to distinguish his administration's response to that of the Obama administration in the 2012 attack on a diplomatic compound in Libya that left four Americans dead. The tweet, which had a spelling error, was deleted soon after

One furious militant said yesterday: 'God willing if this fire reaches inside the embassy, we will not spare a single employee.'

This map shows the Embassy compound located along the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq

Smoke billowing from the embassy's entrance yesterday after it was set alight by the rioters

US Marines fired tear gas at the Iran-backed militia and their supporters early on Wednesday as the siege outside the US embassy in Baghdad continued for a second day. Iraqi flags were seen being flown, as well as the yellow of Kataeb Hezbollah

Cooking pots set up outside the embassy where 50 tents and a number of portable toilets have been shipped in for the long haul

U.S. Army soldiers from 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Task Force-Iraq, man a defensive position at Forward Operating Base Union III in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday

Iraqi security forces deploy during the second day of protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Wednesday

Iraqi security forces face off with demonstrators on Wednesday after yesterday's carnage led to 100 US Marine reinforcements being sent to the embassy

U.S. Embassy security men use stun grenades to disperse protesters and militia fighters during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces, the PMF), outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad today

Attack comes seven years after US ambassador was killed in Benghazi attack On September 11, 2012, Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia launched a planned attack on US government facilities in Benghazi, Libya. The night time raid killed U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. Stevens was the first US ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979. At 4pm the following day, the militants fired mortars at the CIA annex around a mile away, killing CIA contractors Tyrone S. Woods and Glen Doherty and wounding ten others. Initial analysis found that the attack arose from a protest. But later investigations showed it had been premeditated, although rioters and looters had played an initial role in the chaos. The attack was highly controversial due to accusations that the Obama administration had allowed for security lapses. As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton later accepted responsibility for security failings following a high level State Department resignation and suspensions of long-standing officials. Advertisement

The assault on the embassy is being carried out by members of the Iran-supported Kataeb Hezbollah militia, which is separate but linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah.

It operates under the umbrella of the state-sanctioned predominantly Shiite militias known collectively as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Many are supported by Iran.

The US says Kataeb Hezbollah is responsible for 11 attacks on US-led coalition bases in the past two months.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday night that 'in response to recent events' in Iraq, and at Trump's direction, he authorized the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He did not specify the soldiers' destination, but a U.S. official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

'This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today,' Esper said in a written statement.

Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airborne's quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Esper said. The U.S. official, who provided unreleased details on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of about 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

The 750 soldiers deploying immediately were in addition to 14,000 U.S. troops who had deployed to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression, including its alleged sabotage of commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. At the time of the attack the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

A tear gas canister is lobbed back over the wall of the US embassy compound on Wednesday as hundreds gathered outside for a second day of demonstrations

Iraqi flags flutter this morning, while a man bearing the flag of Kataeb Hezbollah waves it while standing on part of the consulate building today

Demonstrators waving Iraqi flags outside the US embassy in Iraq as the siege rumbled on for a second day. Trump has squarely levelled blame at Iran for the assault on the consulate

US Embassy security men use stun grenades to disperse protesters and militia fighters during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to the PMF, outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday

Demonstrators gather outside the embassy in the Iraqi capital as green smoke from a protester's hurled canister spews across the wall

The breach of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday was a stark demonstration that Iran can still strike at American interests despite Trump's economic pressure campaign. It also revealed growing strains between Washington and Baghdad, raising questions about the future of the U.S. military mission there.

'They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!' Trump tweeted Tuesday afternoon, though it was unclear whether his 'threat' meant military retaliation. He thanked top Iraqi government leaders for their 'rapid response upon request.'

American airstrikes on Sunday killed 25 fighters of an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. said those strikes were in retaliation for last week's killing of an American contractor and the wounding of American and Iraqi troops in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the U.S. blamed on the militia. The American strikes angered the Iraqi government, which called them an unjustified violation of its sovereignty.

While blaming Iran for the embassy breach, Trump also called on Iraq to protect the diplomatic mission.

'Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many,' he tweeted from his estate in Florida. 'We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!'

Even as Trump has argued for removing U.S. troops from Mideast conflicts, he also has singled out Iran as a malign influence in the region. After withdrawing the U.S. in 2018 from an international agreement that exchanged an easing of sanctions for curbs on Iran's nuclear program, Trump ratcheted up sanctions.

Tear gas fills the air this morning as Iran-backed militia and their supporters continued their demonstrations outside the embassy in Baghdad

Furious demonstrators fly Iraqi flags as they stage a sit-in outside the US embassy in Baghdad on day two of their siege

U.S. Embassy security men use tear gas to disperse protesters and militia fighters during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to the PMF, outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday

Furious demonstrators at the US embassy in Baghdad surrounded the complex for a second day on Wednesday after alarming scenes on Tuesday

Furious demonstrators at the US embassy in Baghdad surrounded the complex for a second day on Wednesday after alarming scenes on Tuesday

Those economic penalties, including a virtual shut-off of Iranian oil exports, are aimed at forcing Iran to negotiate a broader nuclear deal. But critics say that pressure has pushed Iranian leaders into countering with a variety of military attacks in the Gulf.

Until Sunday's U.S. airstrikes, Trump had been measured in his response to Iranian provocations. In June, he abruptly called off U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets in retaliation for the downing of an American drone.

Robert Ford, a retired U.S. diplomat who served five years in Baghdad and then became ambassador in Syria, said Iran's allies in the Iraqi parliament may be able to harness any surge in anger among Iraqis toward the United States to force U.S. troops to leave the country. Ford said Trump miscalculated by approving Sunday's airstrikes on Kataeb Hezbollah positions in Iraq and Syria - strikes that drew a public rebuke from the Iraqi government and seem to have triggered Tuesday's embassy attack.

The Department of Defense released this photo showing Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command preparing to deploy from Kuwait to support the US embassy in Baghdad

'The Americans fell into the Iranian trap,' Ford said, with airstrikes that turned some Iraqi anger toward the U.S. and away from Iran and the increasingly unpopular Iranian-backed Shiite militias.

The tense situation in Baghdad appeared to upset Trump's vacation routine in Florida, where he is spending the holidays.

Trump spent just under an hour at his private golf club in West Palm Beach before returning to his Mar-a-Lago resort in nearby Palm Beach. He had spent nearly six hours at his golf club on each of the previous two days. Trump spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and emphasized the need for Iraq to protect Americans and their facilities in the country, said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.

Trump is under pressure from some in Congress to take a hard-line approach to Iranian aggression, which the United States says included an unprecedented drone and missile attack on the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry in September. More recently, Iran-backed militias in Iraq have conducted numerous rocket attacks on bases hosting U.S. forces.

Iraqi protesters set ablaze a sentry box in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim

Demonstrators and members of the militia are seen in the entrance to the compound where visitors and vehicles are usually screened by security forces

Militia fighters in military garb pictured setting fire to the US embassy wall and throwing rockets over the fencing

US soldiers fire tear gas onto protesters who broke into the compound as black smoke from fires set by the rioters billows into the air

Demonstrators wearing military fatigues and flying the white flag of the Popular Mobilization Forces, of which Kataeb Hezbollah is a member

Protesters and militia members set fire to a reception room in the US embassy during the furious protest condemning US airstrikes on Sunday

A protester holds an Iraqi flag during a protest to condemn air strikes belonging to paramilitary forces on Tuesday. In the ambush US forces fired back with tear gas and stun grenades, wounding dozens

Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and supporter of Trump's Iran policy, called the embassy breach 'yet another reckless escalation' by Iran.

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, blamed Iran for the episode and faulted Trump for his 'maximum pressure' campaign against Iran.

'The results so far have been more threats against international commerce, emboldened and more violent proxy attacks across the Middle East, and now, the death of an American citizen in Iraq,' Menendez said, referring to the rocket attack last week.

By early evening Tuesday, the mob had retreated from the compound but set up several tents outside for an intended sit-in. Dozens of yellow flags belonging to Iran-backed Shiite militias fluttered atop the reception area and were plastered along the embassy's concrete wall along with anti-U.S. graffiti. American Apache helicopters flew overhead and dropped flares over the area in what the U.S. military called a 'show of force.'

The embassy breach was seen by some analysts as affirming their view that it is folly for the U.S. to keep forces in Iraq after having eliminated the Islamic State group's territorial hold in the country.

A wounded protester is seen held by pro-Iran militia members as chaos unfolds outside U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday. The protester may have been wounded by American stun gun fire or in the tumult of the demonstrations

US soldiers watch from behind a smoke screen as Iraqi protesters surround the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad. They fired warning shots, followed by stun grenades and tear gas

Protesters burned the property in front of the U.S. compound on Tuesday waving flags and banners for their specific groups in protest of the US airstrikes in Iraq on Sunday

US embassy security personnel are seen through a glass window as protesters and militia fighters wreak havoc outside

US soldiers could be seen inside the building filmed from the outside by furious protesters who pressed up against the glass taunting the personnel

This photo taken through a broken window shows a vandalized room in the US embassy in Baghdad after protesters breached the outer wall of the compound

Protesters and militia fighters carry the logo of the US embassy in Baghdad during the massive protest that unfolded Tuesday

A U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is also a long-term hope of Iran, noted Paul Salem, president of the Washington-based Middle East Institute.

And it's always possible Trump would 'wake up one morning and make that decision' to pull U.S. forces out of Iraq, as he announced earlier with the U.S. military presence in neighboring Syria, Salem said. Trump's Syria decision triggered the resignation of his first defense secretary, retired Gen. Jim Mattis, but the president later amended his decision and about 1,200 U.S. troops remain in Syria.

Trump's best weapon with Iran is the one he's already using - the sanctions, said Salem. He and Ford said Trump would do best to keep resisting Iran's attempt to turn the Iran-U.S. conflict into a full-blown military one. The administration should also make a point of working with the Iraqi government to deal with the militias, Ford said.

For the president, Iran's attacks - directly and now through proxies in Iraq - have 'been working that nerve,' Salem said. 'Now they really have Trump's attention.'
The Reserve Bank released data relating to India's International Investment Position at end-September 2019. Net claims of non-residents on India declined by US$ 14.8 billion during July-September 2019. The decline in net claims was due to an increase of US$ 7.4 billion in Indian residents' overseas financial assets and a reduction in foreign-owned assets in India by US $ 7.4 billion during the quarter.

The decline in foreign-owned assets in India was mainly due to reduction in portfolio equity investment. Depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar during the quarter contributed to the reduction in India's liabilities, when valued in US dollar terms.

Increase in reserve assets, currency and deposits as well as overseas direct investments resulted in higher foreign assets of Indian residents. Reserve assets accounted for nearly 65 per cent of total foreign assets. The share of debt liabilities in total liabilities increased marginally to 51.0 per cent in September 2019 from 50.6 per cent a quarter ago.

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WOODBRIDGE, VA, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Contacts: Danielle Lam, Publishers Clearing House PRIZE PATROL

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New Delhi [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said that the 'one nation, one ration card' facility has been started in 12 states in the country on the first day of the new year.



"Today from January 1, 2020, the 'One Nation, One Ration card' facility has been started in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Jharkhand and Tripura," Paswan's tweet, roughly translated to English from Hindi, reads.

Under this facility, the beneficiaries of the public distribution of these states can get their share of rations in any of the 12 states in which they are residing, according to the Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution.

The facility will be implemented in all states in the country by June 2020.

"The beneficiaries of public distribution systems of these 12 states can now get their share of rations in any of these 12 states where they are residing. The scheme will be implemented in all states of the country by June 2020," Paswan's second tweet read.

Earlier on December 3, Paswan had announced that the 'One Nation, One Ration card' system will be 'implemented without fail in the entire country' by June 30, 2020. (ANI)


A Swissport refuelling truck is shown at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montreal on December 31, 2019. Swissport Canada and the union representing employees who refuel the planes at two Montreal airports will return to the negotiating table tomorrow morning, with workers set to spend a second straight day on the picket lines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, said that he has no enemy in the ruling party.

Oshiomhole said this while addressing some party members at his hometown in Iyamho, Edo state.

The former Governor added that he has moved the APC to greater heights since he assumed office.

He said, I became chairman precisely on the 24th of June, 2018. We won the first election in Ekiti State. 

By the special grace of God, we also won the next election which was the Osun states governorship election.

The next election was the presidential and national assembly elections, and by the special grace of God, we won the presidency and our President was re-elected for the second term.

Read Also: Oshiomhole Remains Suspended From APC Until He Apologises: Obaseki

We also won more seats in the Senate and we won more seats in the House of Representatives.

Unlike in 2015, we managed our victory more creatively, smartly and we conducted peaceful secret ballot and our party won all the principal officers that were there to be contested.

I am proud to say that under my chairmanship, we won one state in the south-south. It is not just another state, it is a very special state, the state that produced the immediate past president, he said.

I have no enemies; I have brothers and I have sisters. Some may be happy with me today some may not be happy with me tomorrow but that is alright.

We have quality minds because the governance of our country and the quality of politics must reflect the quality of the people who are in it.

So, we are not just celebrating good people today, we are celebrating quality re-union with my brothers and my sisters.
President Donald Trump has suggested that he may be pulling some flavored vapes from the market.

The commander-in-chief was vague about what the plan would entail, but implied 'certain flavors' in e-cigarette cartridges would be pulled from shelves 'for a period of time.'

Trump said the move would be one of his administration's strategies to tackle underage vaping.

'We're going to protect our families, we're going to protect our children, and we're going to protect the industry,' he said.

It comes on the heels of news that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to ban all e-cigarette flavor pods aside from tobacco and menthol.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he wants to ban 'certain flavors' of e-cigarettes cartridges. Pictured: Trump speaks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday as Melania Trump stands next to him

Trump suggested the ban would be temporary and that they would only be pulled from the market 'for a period of time'. Pictured: Trump speaks next to Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) during a meeting on 'youth vaping and the electronic cigarette epidemic' in November 2019

This is not the first time that Trump has suggested a ban on e-cigarettes.

In September, the president and his top health officials said they would soon sweep virtually all flavored vapes from the market because of their appeal to young children and teens.

But that effort stalled after vaping lobbyists pushed back and White House advisers told Trump the ban could cost him votes with adults who vape.

On Tuesday, Trump suggested a ban of flavored e-cigarettes might be temporary.

'Hopefully, if everything's safe, they're going to be going very quickly back onto the market,' he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he was hosting a New Year's Eve party.

'People have died from this, they died from vaping. We think we understand why. But we're doing a very exhaustive examination and hopefully everything will be back on the market very, very shortly.'

This is a reference to the vaping-related lung illnesses that have swept the nation.

A total of 2,561 people have been hospitalized since the 'outbreak' began, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The death toll has risen to 55 people across 27 states and Washington, DC, but appears to be slowing down after speaking in September.

Most of the victims are male and under the age of 35, with ages of those who died ranging from 17 to 75.

Health officials say they are 'confident' that vitamin E acetate, a vitamin derivative found in THC products, is the cause of the outbreak.

The CDC has not changed its warning against using these vaping products and continues to urge Americans who don't use e-cigarettes not to start.

A report on Tuesday said the FDA is planning to ban the sale of flavored vapes such as those sold by JUUL (pictured) with only tobacco and menthol flavors remaining on shelves

The CDC says 2,561 people have been sickened across the US from vaping-related lung illnesses and that 55 people have died (file image)

Although the agency says that smokers who have switched to vaping should not return to using combustible cigarettes, the CDC also advises vaping products should 'never be used by youths, young adults or women who are pregnant.'

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that most flavored cartridges, including those sold by JUUL and NJOY, would be pulled from shelves.

However, tank systems, which allows users to custom-mix flavors, will reportedly not be affected by the ban.

Additionally, cigarette pods formulated to taste like tobacco or menthol would still be allowed, according to The Journal.

In Florida, Trump added: 'Look, vaping can be good from the standpoint - you look at the e-cigarettes, you stop smoking. If you can stop smoking, that's a big advantage. So, we think we're going to get it back on the market very, very quickly.'
The Facebook-owned company WhatsApp will no longer be available on Windows Phones. WhatsApp is ending support for Microsoft managed mobile platforms. The changes will take place today, as explained in a Frequently Asked Question support page No matter the Microsoft phone you are using, WhatsApp will not be supported on any of these. Note that, WhatsApp has about 1.5 billion users right now with 400 million in India alone. Along with Windows phone, WhatsApp will stop its support for Android version 2.3.7 and some iPhones working on iOS 8 or older operating systems from Feb 1, 2020.Ending support does not mean that the application will stop working instantly. It means that it will no longer get any updates or security fixes in the future.WhatsApp has already been unavailable on the Microsoft store since July, but it is now official that it is leaving Microsoft.Millions of people are using Microsoft phones all over the world, so such a big change can seriously affect effective communication all over the world. However, it can create chances for other applications to take the place of WhatsApp on Microsoft devices.Currently, the iOS 8 and older, and Android 2.3.7 and older users are facing restrictions to create new accounts or verify the older ones.Read next: Internet Is More Interested In Hacking Apple iPhones and Instagram Accounts Than Other Devices and Apps: Study
As many as 8 policemen have been killed and three injured in a checkpoint in the northern Afghan province of Balkh by Taliban militant groups on January 1, according to the Balkh police chief, Ajmal Fayez. Fayez said a group of Taliban insurgents attacked and took control of a police checkpoint located in Mazari Sharif -- Sheberghan highway for a short period of time on the night of Tuesday, December 31.

They were soon repelled from the area by the security forces. According to the State media, the insurgents are believed to have some links among the checkpoint's 14 officers who helped carry out the attack. The Taliban has not yet claimed any responsibility for the attacks.

READ: Afghanistan: 17 People Die Due To Respiratory Ailments As Pollution Spikes

Similar attack in northern Afghanistan

Similarly, a Taliban attack in northern Afghanistan targetting a pro-government militia compound reportedly killed at least 14 members of the Afghan security forces on December 30. According to international media reports, out of the 14 fatalities in the attack in Jawzjan province, 13 members were of pro-government militia and one was a policeman. Five others were also reportedly wounded and two are still missing.

Abdul Maroof Azer, the government's spokesman told a local media outlet that the reinforcements later managed to reach the area and the compound is now firmly back under government control. However, the attack was immediately claimed by the Taliban and just hours before it was also reported that a temporary nationwide cease-fire had been agreed upon among their council leaders, although, it wasn't clear when the cease-fire would go into effect.

READ: Afghanistan: 14 Servicemen Killed, 5 Wounded In Taliban Attack

The Taliban have also intensified their attacks in northern Afghanistan in recent days as they recently also targeted a local militiamen compound in northern Takhar province which reportedly killed at least 17 Afghan militiamen. In another recent attack, ten Afghan soldiers were reportedly killed on a checkpoint in southern Helmand province. Taliban presently controls over half of the country along with ISIS and stage near-daily attacks targetting Afghan and US forces and Afghan government officials. However, an air raid by national security forces in Afghanistan's northwestern Badghis province killed nearly eight Taliban terrorists on December 25.

(With inputs from ANI)

READ: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Key Commander Shot Dead In Afghanistan

READ: Taliban's Ruling Council Agrees To A Temporary Cease-fire In Afghanistan
It looks like Jenelle Evans is back in a relationship. While the former Teen Mom 2 star hasnt exactly introduced her new love interest to her fans, shes been busy liking every single one of his Instagram pictures in recent days and has shown up in his Instagram story more than once. Things seem to be moving pretty quick for Evans, who just filed for divorce from her husband of two years, David Eason, in November 2019, but that doesnt come as a big surprise. Fans have assumed Evans was seeing someone since she left North Carolina for Nashville, Tennessee. There seem to be a couple of glaring issues with her new love, though.

Who is Evans rumored boyfriend?

While Evans has been trying to keep the new beau off her Instagram page, he doesnt seem to be interested in doing the same. Eagle-eyed fans spotted Evans on the Instagram feed of a man named Herbert Wilkinson. Wilkinson is a 31-year-old who was born and raised in Massachusetts, and he has the accent to go along with it.

It is unknown how the pair met, but it doesnt look like Wilkinson lives down in Tennessee, which is where Evans is currently residing. Wilkinsons LinkedIn profile suggests he still lives in Massachusetts, but the pair have reportedly been making regular trips to see each other, according to Inquistr.

Wilkinson and Evans do have one thing in common it would seem  reality TV. Wilkinson appeared on an MTV reality show back in 2010 with his then-girlfriend Noelle Trudeau. Trudeau later went on to appear on the reality TV series, Breaking Boston, according to Starcasm. The show they appeared on together, Is She Really Going Out With Him, also featured Nicole Snooki Polizzi of Jersey Shore fame.

Hes no stranger to the police

Wilkinson, just like Evans past love interests, has had a couple of run-ins with the police, although he doesnt seem to be on the same level as Eason. In 2012, the then 23-year-old was picked up by Massachusetts police for suspicions of driving under the influence. The outcome of the incident is unknown.

According to Patch, Wilkinson was tried for assault in 2013. The charge stemmed from a 2011 incident. According to the police blotter, Wilkinson approached a man while driving got out of the car and punched him in the face. The police responded. It is not known if Wilkinson knew the man he attacked.

Has David Eason commented on the recent development?

While Evans is trying to keep a low profile, fans can assume that Eason has heard about her new beau by now. For the first time ever, Eason is staying quiet. While he has updated his Instagram Story in the last 24 hours, he has failed to mention Evans new love interest. That, however, can change at any time.

Eason has been posting fairly regularly, but it would seem that hes heeding the judges warning to avoid speaking about Evans on social media. Most recently, he posted a shoutout to a musician he likes, and before that he shared a photo of himself and his daughter, Maryssa, in front of a Christmas tree. Evans and Eason will face off in court again on Jan. 13. Evans has a restraining order against Eason at least until that date. The judge can choose to extend the order further if they still feel that Eason is a threat to Evans.
Likee, the short video creation platform from Singapore based BIGO Technology, has launched an exciting campaign called #2020NewLook that allows people to create an animated character of oneself as a new look for themselves for the New Year 2020. The campaign allows users to sport a new look of their choice using special features available on the app. Users can share their new look on Instagram and tag Likee to stand a chance of winning exciting gifts.

To join the campaign, users need to create a page with their name and sex and click their photo. An animated version basis the photo will be created and later users can then change their look with the advanced features on the app - from changing skin colour, sporting a nice outfit, to choosing fancy shoes, enhancing the background with decorations of their choice, and lots more. Adding to the fun, the campaign will allow users to unlock new outfits, accessories, photo backgrounds and more basis completion of a given mission. Users can save the pictures and use them on various platforms or occasions and adopt a creative approach.

After creating the perfect look for 2020, users can invite their friends to join the campaign by sharing the link of the photo on social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp. Users can even ask their friends for presents. There is more in store since if a user gets three friends to join the campaign, Likee will give them more decorations or outfits to enhance the look.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
New Delhi:

Former Bigg Boss contestant Nehha Pendse Nehha Pendse is all set to tie the knot to businessman boyfriend Shardul Singh Bayas on January 5, 2020. As everyone brought in the New Year in their own style, Nehha too, celebrated it in style. Nehha shared a romantic picture with husband-to-be Shardul. She looked stunning in a blingy short blue dress. Nehha captioned the post as: "Because its the last single girl kiss - Carrie Bradshaw."

The actress recently had a grahmukh pooja before her wedding and pictures of the ocassion went viral on the internet. Talking about her wedding, Nehha said, ''I am so happy to be in this phase. I am marrying the man of my dreams and entering into a new and amazing family. They are beautiful humans and I cant wait to start my life there. Its the best feeling of my life. I cant thank enough all the people in my life who made this occasion so beautiful and worthy.''

The actress will tie the know in the presence of close family and friends in Pune. It will be a three-day affair with a lavish mehendi, sangeet and wedding ceremonies. Talking about the prep, Nehha had earlier said, ''It will be a Maharashtrian wedding that will happen in early 2020; I plan to wear a saree for the main rituals. This is what we are looking at right now. But we have to take a call on whether we will go all out or to make it a small family affair. As far as the honeymoon is concerned, we dont want to go to a run-of-the-mill or commercial destination; it will have to be something unusual.

Recently, Shardul showed me some pictures of Antarctica cruise, so we may just go for something like this, although it hasnt been finalised yet.''

On the work front, the actress has been a part of several Hindi and Marathi films and television show which includes May I come in Madam, Partners Trouble Ho Gayi Double, Family Time with Kapil Sharma amongst others. Nehha had also appeared on season 12 of Bigg Boss last year but was among the first to be evicted.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"This will not be a 'Benghazi.' Benghazi should never have happened. This will never, ever be a Benghazi."

The Iran-backed paramilitary groups tied to violent protests laying siege to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad have now convinced their supporters to withdraw.

After the U.S. deployed hundreds of additional troops, from a unit created as a response to the 2012 Libya consulate disaster.

Mohammed al-Haydari is a ranking member of the coalition known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.

The PMF leadership says their message has been heard, and never intended for violence.

The Americans are there to train Iraqi forces or combat terrorism, he says, and the killing of PMF members is unacceptable.

The U.S. air strikes that targeted the Kataib Hezbollah militia, which falls the PMF's umbrella, killed or wounded scores.

However, Kataib Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by Washington, even though it is technically a unit within the Iraqi government's own armed forces.

The prime minister is furious over the air strikes but has pleaded for calm.

The PMF says its call to withdraw is in deference to him.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING.

"No. I want to have peace. I like peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody."

Back in the United States, the New Year's Day political fallout has been swift. The president has threatened to retaliate against Iran but also says he doesn't see war happening.

He claims that Iran -- through the militia -- orchestrated both the protest and the recent killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack that prompted those U.S. air strikes.

Both claims Iran denies.

Trump opponents, including Democratic presidential candidates, have seized on the incident to underline the rapid escalation of proxy wars with Tehran under his watch.

The air strikes have galvanized calls in Iraq to expel U.S. forces, not just from allies of Iran but their political rivals as well.
Jakarta: Severe flooding hit Indonesia's capital as residents were celebrating New Year's Eve, killing at least nine people, displacing thousands and forcing the closure of a domestic airport.

Floodwaters in Jatibening, on the outskirts of Jakarta, on Wednesday. Credit:AP

Tens of thousands of revellers in Jakarta were soaked by torrential rain as they waited for New Year's Eve fireworks.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said on Wednesday that monsoon rains and rising rivers submerged at least 90 neighbourhoods and triggered a landslide in Depok, a city on the outskirts of Jakarta.

He said the dead included a 16-year-old high school student who was electrocuted. More than 19,000 people were in temporary shelters after floodwaters reached up to three metres in several places.
Former Nissan-Renault boss Carlos Ghosn fled Japan  where he was on bail awaiting trial for alleged financial misconduct  for Lebanon, surprising even his lawyer, who was dumbfounded by the news. The 65-year-old auto tycoon maintains he has "not fled justice" but "escaped injustice and political persecution" in Japan, where his arrest 13 months ago stunned the business world.

With questions flying over how Ghosn masterminded his exit from Japan and what fate awaits the fallen executive after this new spectacular twist in an extraordinary saga, FRANCE 24 presented a live special on Tuesday, Carlos Ghosn, whats next?

Guests and correspondents from across the world discussed how a charismatic businessman once hailed for turning around loss-making companies might parlay his reputation into a new life away from the charges he faces in Japan.

FRANCE 24s correspondent in Beirut, Leila Molana-Allen, said it now seems Ghosn was smuggled out of Japan, without any official knowledge on the part of the Japanese. No extradition treaty exists between Lebanon and Japan, although this development is clearly bound to cause a diplomatic problem between the countries, she explained.

The Japanese do send a lot of aid to Lebanon. Lebanon is not in a situation right now to be able to let go of the international aid that it is receiving because it is facing a dire economic crisis, Molana-Allen reported. But Mr. Ghosn is so popular in this country, hes seen as a national hero. Hes one of the countrys most successful entrepreneurs internationally. He has a hand in many Lebanese businesses. And so it seems very likely that he has decided to come back here and has had the support of some institutions here to come back, rebuild his life here and start running those businesses again.

France had no information of departure

Born in Brazil to parents of Lebanese origins, Ghosn was raised in Beirut before moving to France for further education. He has Brazilian, Lebanese and French citizenship.

Story continues

A day after news of his shock flight broke, French authorities said they were unaware of the auto tycoons plans to leave Japan.

"The French authorities were not informed of his departure from Japan and have had no information about the circumstances of this departure," the French foreign ministry said in a statement issued Tuesday, adding that it learned of Ghosn's flight "in press reports".

Ghosn had benefited from consular assistance via the French Embassy in Tokyo, the ministry noted, and "regular contacts" were maintained between the embassy, Ghosn and his lawyers.



"His situation, as well as the application of certain legal principles, was followed closely and permanently by our embassy in Tokyo," the ministry said.



Love, hate

FRANCE 24s James Andre, reporting from Renault-Nissan headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt outside Paris, said there is a love, hate relationship with [Ghosn] in France where, after a stint at Michelin, he transformed Renault from a national company into an international motor behemoth.

There was criticism that he was more and more disconnected with what was happening inside the company and on the factory floor and also criticism of his salary which was considered huge here in France, James Andre reported. Only a few years ago, the French government voted against that huge salary saying it was too high, but the board of Renault went ahead and gave him that money nevertheless;

Hes been a man hugely respected but also criticised for the way hes been handling his own wealth and his position as the CEO of Renault, Andre added.

Economist Jean-Francois Di Meglio, president of the Asia Centre Think Tank in France, told FRANCE 24 the latest stunning twist in the Ghosn saga is in keeping with Carlos style, recalling that he was seen as an extraordinary character and daring in Japan, where he even featured in manga comics.

FRANCE 24s Douglas Herbert in studio in Paris, too, noted that Ghosn was an outlier even among the jet-setting elite, a businessman who was a global citizen with a certain mystique.

Tokyo-based investigative reporter Jake Adelstein, meanwhile, told FRANCE 24s Genie Godula that Ghosns escape is an interesting turn of events and perhaps a smart one on the auto tycoons part.

I think that Ghosn probably made the wisest decision because he was never going to get a fair trial here, Adelstein said from Japan.

This isnt the way people thought it would play out, but Ghosn's decision to run, where he can actually speak to the media freely, makes sense.

To watch the half-hour special in its entirety, with those interviews and more, click on the video player above.
Two Alaska men on a snowboarding trip to British Columbia died when they were caught in an avalanche, according to provincial officials.

Haines Borough officials named the the two dead men as Zane Durr and Matthew Green, both 21, according to KTUU.

The two men and a third friend who survived the avalanche were from nearby Haines, Alaska.

The avalanche occurred Monday in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, according to BC Coroner Service spokesman Andy Watson. The park is between Haines and Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.

Royal Canadian Mountain Police notified the Haines Volunteer Fire Department that they had received a signal from an emergency locator west of Three Guardsman Mountain in the mountain pass between the cities, Canadian Press reported.

The two men and a third friend who survived the avalanche were from Haines, Alaska

Canadian authorities launched a rescue operation that included a helicopter, emergency support and the Haines Junction Search and Rescue team, the fire department said. Rescuers found one person alive and the two others who died.

The B.C. coroner office will investigate to determine how and where the men died.

Christmas week saw storms, snow and strong winds that led to an increase in dangerous conditions for that corner of British Columbia, said James Minifie, lead avalanche technician for Avalanche Canada.

The area where the snowboarders were found is "fairly remote" mountainous terrain and is used for recreation by Canadian and American citizens, he said. High avalanche conditions persist in the area, Minifie said, and users should have an emergency plan and carry satellite-enabled communication.

Canadian authorities are making arrangements to transport the bodies back to the United States, according to the fire department.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says it helped more than 1,700 Irish citizens caught up in major incidents while abroad last year, including terrorist attacks, protests, and natural disaster.

Releasing its figures for 2019, the department said its consular assistance team is working on more than 150 active cases at any one time.

Medical help was required in 270 cases, while 268 families sought consular assistance following the death of a loved one abroad. Meanwhile, 243 arrests overseas required the departments attention, while welfare issues accounted for 184 cases handled in 2019.

A total of 112 cases related to assisting the victims of crime abroad, while mental health issues accounted for 92 cases taken on by the consular assistance team.

Missing persons were reported to the department 72 times last year, there were 64 instances of deportation that required attention, while prisoners accounted for 40 cases handled.

Child welfare and abduction incidents accounted for 21 and 13 cases respectively, while 344 were classified as other, bringing the number of new cases opened by the consular assistance team to 1,723.

The department cited terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka and Kenya, protests in Hong Kong, and political instability in South America as incidents that led to calls from Irish citizens for consular assistance.

Reflecting on the end of year figures, the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney recommended that citizens consult the departments travel advice before travelling.

Irish citizens continue to travel more often and more widely than ever before  meaning a greater frequency and complexity of consular cases. This presents ever-growing challenges in providing assistance for Irish citizens who get into difficulty overseas, Mr Coveney said.

He said constantly updated travel advice is available on the department website and Twitter account.

The Tanaiste also recommended that citizens consider comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.

While most journeys overseas go smoothly, the 2019 statistics show that things can and do go wrong and that it is important to be prepared.

As people consider travel plans for the year ahead, I urge them to get comprehensive travel insurance.

Anyone travelling to Europe should also carry the EHIC European Health Insurance Card, while those going to higher-risk countries should register their travel details with us online.

I greatly appreciate the efforts of our network of 94 honorary consuls in 60 countries, and the assistance they provide to Irish citizens. Our honorary consuls complement the work of our embassies and consulates in providing vital frontline services.

I also want to acknowledge the great work done by our partner organisations including the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas in assisting citizens who find themselves in distress.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 20:52:15|Editor: huaxia

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The China-ASEAN Free Trade Area marks its 10th anniversary.

As a most populous FTA, it has boosted regional economic connectivity as multilateral trade triumphs. Dongxing, a border city in southern China, offers a snapshot of promising cooperation between China and ASEAN in the next golden decade.



NANNING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At 8 o'clock in the morning, the Wanzhong International Wholesale Market in the border city of Dongxing was buzzing with merchants from China and Vietnam haggling amid endless arrays of goods from neighboring countries.

The scene at the market, a beneficiary of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) established 10 years ago, is expected to extend well into the next decade.

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2019 shows the Nanning Area of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Qin Guanghua)

Dongxing, a city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sits on the opposite bank of a river to Vietnam's Mong Cai, and the proximity has made it a trading hub for locals on both sides.

It takes Nguyen Thu Hoai, a 28-year-old Vietnamese merchant, only about 20 minutes to reach her specialty store in the Wanzhong market from her home in Vietnam.

Her shop has stood in Dongxing for two years. She earns about 5,000 yuan (715.69 U.S. dollars) to 6,000 yuan per month from selling Vietnamese specialties, about four to five times what she made in Vietnam as a mobile-phone reseller at her last job.

"Many Vietnamese had concerns about opening stores in a different country before, but after we made it here, more Vietnamese came," Nguyen said.

Yang Baoyun, professor of ASEAN studies at Thailand's Thammasat University, said that the last decade of the China-ASEAN FTA saw bilateral trade and investment surge forward along a fast route, during which China has made outstanding contributions to regional development.

Customers from Harbin shop in a store run by Vietnamese merchant Nguyen Thu Hoai in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Guo Yifan)

Dongxing-based Anbaoda Vietnam Logistics Company, set up in 2002 when China and ASEAN were in trade talks, saw goods expand in scale and varieties after the FTA area was established.

"At first, the goods from Vietnam were mainly small amounts of cassava flour, seafood and some other farm produce. To save costs, they were transported by small trolleys," said Yin Gang, general manager of the company.

When the FTA was set up, tariffs were slashed and the variety of goods expanded. Nowadays, it is common to see more than 100 truckloads of goods ranging from farm produce to electronic products transported between the two countries every month, Yin noted.

China has been ASEAN's largest trade partner since 2010. The region became the second-largest trading partner of China during the first half of 2019 when the volume almost surpassed the annual record of 2010, and the year-end figure in 2019 is expected to reach 600 billion U.S. dollars.

Ponchai Wala, a durian grower in Thailand, sells 85 percent of the durians he grows to China. In the past decade, he has expanded the scale of his operations five to six times over, with annual sales surging from 10,000 dollars to about 150,000 dollars.

"In Thailand, thousands of fruit growers have benefited just like me, the Chinese market has helped improve local employment," he said.

People buy durians from a Vietnamese vendor at Wanzhong International Wholesale Market in Dongxing, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dec. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Chi)

On Oct. 22, the protocol on upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area came into effect. The two sides are committed to pushing forward a more balanced and innovative FTA with greater synergy and broader cooperation in new fields such as the digital economy, e-commerce, smart cities and 5G.

Nguyen, the shop owner, is among those who have already been reaping the rewards from China's booming e-commerce. "Now I sell more online than in my brick-and-mortar stores," she said.

Nguyen noted that an increasing number of Chinese merchants had made investments in her hometown as well, thanks to the business convenience facilitated by the China-ASEAN FTA, the biggest FTA among developing countries.

In Indonesia, SAIC-GM-Wuling, a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, invested 700 million U.S. dollars to build a manufacturing base.

More than 6,000 local workers were employed as the base was put into operation. It also attracted dozens of auto parts companies from China and abroad to Indonesia. The vehicles made in the base have been exported to Thailand since September, said Chen Weidong, a deputy general manager of the firm.

Chinese investment is booming in other ASEAN countries too. The China-Laos railway, once constructed, will bridge the inland southern country with its neighbor. In Indonesia, Chinese investors inked 400 manufacturing projects, among which China's CRRC Corporation Ltd. helped the country in building its first "railroad factory."

Statistics show that, as of August 2019, China and ASEAN have about 230 billion U.S. dollars of mutual investments. A total of 25 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones were set up by both sides, which have attracted more than 600 enterprises.

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 8, 2019 shows the Nanning Area of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Qin Guanghua)

Zhou Fangyin, a researcher with the Guangdong Institute for International Strategies, said many ASEAN countries are still in the early stages of industrialization and have a pressing need for capital, technologies and facilities.

"China has a solid industrial foundation, complete industrial chains and high-quality labor force after more than 40 years of rapid growth," said Zhou. "The mutual integration of China's industrial and value chain with the ASEAN countries is reciprocal."

Azlimi Zakaria, consul general of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, said the establishment of the China-ASEAN FTA aims to facilitate bilateral trade of all kinds.

The rich fruits achieved in the first golden decade have strongly demonstrated the increasingly close economic and trade relations between the two sides and testified to the vigor brought by multilateralism and free trade, Zakaria noted.

Though unilateralism and protectionism have impacted global economic growth and threatened the global industrial chain and supply chain, multilateral trade remains the general trend, according to Zhou.

"With the in-depth implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is expected to further reinforce the diversified trade patterns including trade with ASEAN, spur the world economy and establish a closer community of common destiny," Zhou said. Enditem

(Video reporters: Qin Guanghua, Pan Qiang, Yang Chi, Guo Yifan, Mai Linghan; Video editors: Liu Xiaorui)
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She is known to put on a sizzling display on stage and while hitting the town.

And Monday was no different for two-time Grammy winner Dua Lipa, as she flaunted a peek of her under-boob in in a sexy black string bikini while hitting the hot tub with boyfriend Anwar Hadid in Miami.

The 24-year-old pop star's cheeky polka-dot two-piece barely covered her slim 5ft8in figure, which helped her 'sun charge before 2020', as she posed up a storm a day before hitting the stage for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Steamy: Two-time Grammy winner Dua Lipa flaunted substantial underboob in in a sexy black string bikini while hitting the hot tub with boyfriend Anwar Hadid in Miami on Monday

Following the stunning sighting, Dua, who boasts 56.5M Instagram followers - gushed on Tuesday: 'I'm so grateful for everything this year has given me!...

'Thank you for the very best of times, all the lessons learnt, the people it has brought into my life and the memories I get to keep forever. I'm so thankful and I'm so excited for 2020! I love music + more tour dates!'

For the last six months, Dua has been practically inseparable from the jewellery designer, 20. She was seen passionately kissing and embracing Hadid, who comes from a family of models including his sisters Gigi and Bella as well as his mother Yolanda.

Aside from being an IMG Model, Anwar co-founded the lifestyle brand Martyre with Yoni Laham last year.

'Sun charge before 2020!' The 24-year-old pop star's cheeky polka-dot two-piece barely covered her slim 5ft8in figure

The British-Albanian belter gushed on Tuesday: 'I'm so grateful for everything this year has given me! Thank you for the very best of times, all the lessons learnt, the people it has brought into my life and the memories I get to keep forever'

She added: 'I'm so thankful and I'm so excited for 2020! I love [you new] music + more tour dates [soon]!'

Jacuzzi time: For the last six months, Dua has been practically inseparable from the 20-year-old jewelry designer

Still going strong! Lipa was seen passionately kissing and embracing Hadid, who comes from a family of models including his sisters Gigi and Bella as well as his mother Yolanda

The PDA pair were joined at their Florida vacation home by a squad featuring swimwear designer Sarah Lysander Carter, Muslim songwriter Mustafa, photographer Pixie Levinson, Select Model Rosie Amanda Viva, and Julian Rupert.

On Tuesday night, ABC finally aired the Don't Start Now songstress' pre-taped performance from November 23 during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Dua - who relies on stylist Lorenzo Posocco - sang her song One Kiss while clad in a strapless blue-fan top tucked into a b&w checkered mini-skirt and white strappy heels.

Leggy lady: Dua sang her song One Kiss while as she appeared at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve the following day

Bleach-haired duo: Aside from being an IMG Model, Anwar co-founded the lifestyle and accessories brand Martyre with Yoni Laham last year

Travels in a pack: The PDA pair were joined at their Florida vacation home by a squad featuring Sarah Lysander Carter, Mustafa, Pixie Levinson, Rosie Amanda Viva, and Julian Rupert

Chasing: It's clear that Anwar and Dua share a playful, affectionate bond

Handsy: Hadid enjoyed a smoke and grabbed a handful of his famous girlfriend's pert posterior

Hairstylist Iggy Rosales coiffed Lipa's two-tone platinum bob and make-up artist Anthony H. Nguyen made sure she was ready for her close-up at the Los Angeles show.

The bushy-browed beauty - who drops her sophomore album next year - kicks off her 24-date Future Nostalgia Tour on April 26 in Spain.

The Labour Party activist actually rang in 2020 in Miami while wearing a structured silver-embellished mini-dress and sipping from a plastic red Solo cup.

Not live at all! On Tuesday night, ABC finally aired the Don't Start Now songstress' pre-taped performance from November 23 during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest

Serenading the crowd: Hairstylist Iggy Rosales coiffed Lipa's two-tone platinum bob and make-up artist Anthony H. Nguyen made sure she was ready for her close-up at the Los Angeles show

Confetti drop! The bushy-browed beauty - who drops her sophomore album next year - kicks off her 24-date Future Nostalgia Tour on April 26 in Spain
Mr. Buttigieg, who turns 38 on Jan. 19, has the rare distinction of being a presidential candidate whose day job ended in the heat of his national candidacy. He leaves the stewardship of the city, where he grew up, as a household name  though a name even locals sometimes stumble over. Is it Buddha-judge, as most in South Bend seem to say, or, as the presidential campaign mnemonic has it, Boot Edge Edge?

One thing for sure: The candidate will no longer be able to say, Mayor Pete is fine.

Elected mayor when he was 29, Mr. Buttigieg announced in December 2018 that he would not seek a third term. He jumped into the presidential race one month later. Year-end fund-raising figures his campaign announced on Wednesday reported a door-busting $24.7 million haul in the final quarter, and more than $76 million for the year.

We started out as an exploratory committee with four people in a little office, Mr. Buttigieg reminisced about his presidential start in the exit interview on Tuesday. We had no money, not much of a mailing list even.

Mr. Buttigieg may have left office, but his mayoral tenure will hardly recede. As he heads into Iowa and New Hampshire voting next month as a leading candidate, his record is drawing strafing fire from opponents who question his experience and results.
Everyones favourite food secrets are back for a fifth season! Go behind the scenes of the factories churning out delicious sweets, old-time classics and the new generation of artisanal treats.

Wednesdays from 9:30pm AEDT.
Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

As we step into New Year, The New Indian Express looks at the netas who are likely to play important roles in state politics, both at party levels and in the government

BJPS HOPE IN MANDYA IS A GOWDA

Disqualified JDS legislator-turned-BJP MLA KC Narayana Gowda is set to be inducted into the BS Yediyurappa cabinet. As the only BJP MLA from Mandya, he will be the partys pointsperson in Mandya, so far considered a JDS and Congress bastion. BJP is likely to give Gowda an important portfolio, as it works towards expanding its footprint in the Vokkaliga heartland. It is yet to be seen how Gowda will use the opportunity to strengthen his leadership and help the party, as his victory in KR Pet was largely credited to work done by other party leaders.

CAMPUS KINGS GOT A LOT TO DO

Srinivas is the first Congress leader from Karnataka to be appointed president of the Indian Youth Congress. The young leader from Shivamogga is in the forefront of Congress agitations against the central government. He is working on taking the party to campuses. For now, he is mostly focused on Youth Congress activities at the national level.

FAMOUS DAD ASIDE, SOWMYA TREADS HER OWN PATH

Activist and environmentalist-turnedpolitician Sowmya Ramalinga Reddy is the only woman MLA from the state capital. The daughter of former Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy is emerging as a prominent youth voice of state Congress. Like her father, Sowmya has been doing her best to keep her hold on Jayanagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, and is expected to play a major role in the upcoming Bengaluru city corporation elections, which has around 100 seats reserved for women councillors. She is also general secretary of the All India Women Congress Committee. Apart from her good equation with the party high command, she has not identified with any of the factions in the state unit. With her clean image, she is trying to move beyond her fathers footprint.

YOUNG BLOOD RUNS DEEP IN RIZWAN

After two back-to-back electoral defeats, Rizwan Arshad finally arrived in Bengaluru after he won the recent Shivajinagar assembly bypoll in Bengaluru. The Congress MLC from Mysuru contested Lok Sabha elections twice from Bangalore Central -- in 2014 and 2019 -- and lost. The former Youth Congress president is said to have been handpicked by former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is also from Mysuru. With former minister R Roshan Baigs exit from the party, the Congress is likely to project Rizwan as its urban young face. Zameer Ahmed Khan, MLA from Chamarajpet assembly segment, is the other prominent minority face in the Congress. Unlike Rizwan, Zameer crossed over to the Congress from the JDS.

A LOT MAY REST ON PREETHAMS SHOULDERS

One of the youngest MLAs, Preetham Gowda, is also the only BJP MLA from Hassan district - former Prime Minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowdas home turf. Preethams victory in the Gowda bastion had surprised many in 2018. He is known for his organisational skills and had played an important role in the BJPs victory from KR Pet. Preetham, 38, is expected to get more responsibility in the party in the coming days. The party credits him with getting many JDS and Congress supporters to switch to the BJP during enrolment drives. He is likely to play an important role in the BJPs plan to expand its base in the Old Mysore region.

DITCHING THE ANTI-KANNADA TAG

Second-term BBMP councillor M Gowtham Kumar was recently elected the 53rd Mayor of Bengaluru. With the BBMP council term ending in 2020, Gowtham is the first BJP Mayor after the four-year-long Congress-JDS coalition. Representing the Jain community, he was depicted as anti- Kannadiga in the beginning. Now, Gowtham has taken pro- Kannada initiatives, including implementing the rule where 60 per cent of a commercial name board must be in Kannada, which have been applauded by many. Since the BBMP election is expected to be held in the first half of 2020, Gowthams decisions and initiatives will give the BJP a boost in the upcoming elections.

TAKING THE SINGH NAME FORWARD

Taking his father former CM and late Dharam Singhs legacy forward, Dr Ajay Singh is a second-time MLA from Jewargi constituency in Kalaburagi district. He and brother Vijay Singh played an important role in the partys victory in Shivajinagar assembly constituency in the recent bypolls. Ajay, Vijay and a few other young party leaders worked out a campaign strategy for Rizwan Arshad, and focused on directly reaching out to voters, instead of big rallies. Ajay, a medical practitioner, is not an aggressive leader, but is among the young Congress netas likely to play important roles in the future.

JDS GRAND HOPE

Post the bypolls, the JDS has been going through a rather difficult phase, and is likely to head towards an existential crisis. Former PM Deve Gowdas grandson Prajwal Revanna is one among the very few leaders in the regional party who is working to retain their base. Deve Gowda gave up his seat Hassan to his grandson, and took the risk of contesting from Tumakuru, where he lost to the BJP candidate in the 2019 LS polls. Many in the party hope he will play an important role in the partys revival plans.

VICTORIOUS REBEL WITH A CAUSE

Like Sumalatha Ambareesh, Sharath Bache Gowda contested as an Independent and won against the ruling party candidate in the Hoskote byelection. Son of BJP MP from Chikkaballapur BN Bache Gowda, Sharath had turned down the governments offer of taking up the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) chairman role, and instead, decided to contest from Hoskote. Sharath put his political career at risk, and won. The young leader was expelled from the BJP, but the buzz is, he is likely to return to the party fold.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

In 2018, a few weeks before the Assembly elections, the then- BJP CM candidate BS Yediyurappa announced that his son BY Vijayendra would not be contesting from Varuna constituency. This came as a surprise to many, as Vijayendra had started campaigning and was getting good response. However, the young leader kept working for the party and with other party leaders, eventually playing an important role in the KR Pete win. Thanks to Vijayendras organisational skills and consistent efforts to strengthen the partys base in Old Mysore, the BJP is likely to give him more responsibilities. The young leader is said to have set the ambitious goal of emerging a strong Lingayat leader, like his father.
A backpacker has urged other travellers to be careful after she said her apparent spider bite became flesh eating.

Alyssa Cassidy, from Canada, said she was recently working on a rural property in Australia during her travels when she noticed a bump suddenly appear on one of her legs.

In a post on Facebook, the young woman shared details of the horror discovery.

I came back one day from the shearing sheds and ended up with a bump on my leg which I later found to be a spider bite that became flesh eating within a few days, she said.

After a heap of peroxide and good dressing it ended up fine, but just thought Id share.

Alyssa Cassidy, from Canada, was recently working on a rural property during her travels in Australia when she noticed a bump suddenly appear on one of her legs. Source: Facebook

Ms Cassidy said she went to the hospital, but claimed they simply wrapped the wound.

Just a reminder to folks in Australia or coming to Australia to be aware of spiders hiding in your backpack/clothes, she said.

Dozens of other backpackers claimed they had similar infections and they believed it was the result of a white-tailed spider bite.

My white tale (sic) bite looked the same, one woman said.

Oh my God, I'm glad you're okay! Thanks for the heads up, I'll definitely check my shoes more regularly from now on since I always leave them outside, another said.

Omg it happened to me!!! 5 bites somehow. Ruined my legs. Definitely something to treat asap. I thought they were just mosquito bites, a third person wrote.

Dozens of other backpackers said they had similar infections and they believed it was the result of a white-tailed spider bite. Source: Australian Museum

White-tailed spiders are commonly found in Australian homes and have a tendency to hide in clothes or bedding.

Occasionally, blisters or symptoms known as necrotising arachnidism can arise after someone is bitten, according to the Australian Museum.

Necrotising arachnidism is a type of skin inflammation and ulceration that is caused by the bite of some spiders. Occasionally, the reaction is so severe that the person loses large amounts of skin and needs extensive skin grafts, experts said.

Although the spiders bite has long been blamed for such symptoms, a study in 2003 found there was no link between white-tailed spider bites and necrotising arachnidism.

Story continues

There is no confirmed cause of necrotising arachnidism. It is unclear why most people who are bitten have only mild reactions, while a very tiny minority suffers from skin ulceration, according to Victoria Health.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Seven has pulled episodes of Bride & Prejudice off 7plus and removed the shows homepage following the death of 2019 participant Micah Downey.

Downey died on December 28, aged just 26.

The cause of death has not been confirmed but the The Daily Telegraph quoted his drug counsellor Jodi Barber saying, a mixture of illegal and prescription drugs were the reason for Downeys death.

Ex-fiancee Milly Johnson, who has a son with Downey and is pregnant with his second child, posted on Instagram, It is so sad & unbelievably surreal that I am making this post ? On the 28 December 2019 Micah Patrick Downey passed away. I am struggling to put into words how sad & heartbreaking this is ? I just hope he is at peace wherever he is & that he will always be watching over his babies ?? A bad, bad dream. I cant believe youre not here. Rest In Peace Micah ?

In a statement, Seven said: The team at Bride & Prejudice is devastated by the news of the loss of Micah Downey. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

On Bride and Prejudice Downey was portrayed as a Californian who smoked pot as a lifestyle choice, but Millys mother, Catherine, branded him a stoner, a loser, he is not the man that I want for my daughter or the father I want for my grandson.

While the couple had an off / on relationship, Downey had moved back to the US after he was asked to leave the home he shared with Milly & her mother.

The visa that I had didnt allow me to work in Australia and I had run out of money, so there was no other option, I had to move back to the US. Having to leave Julian and Milly was absolutely devastating for me. Everyone makes mistakes but I know that I need to show that I have changed, he had said.

Despite Milly seeking her mothers approval, she broke up with Downey during filming, which she described as not easy on national television, but also a difficult decision the show helped her make, while she was pregnant.

Seven has also removed all videos of Downey from its Facebook page.

A Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: These were removed out of respect during this very difficult time.

Source: News Corp, Daily Mail
Thousands of people visit Bhima Koregaon village to offer their tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on 1 January, 1818, between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Pune: Lakhs of people paid their tributes on Wednesday at the "Jaystambh" (victory pillar) in Perne village in Pune district of Maharashtra on the occasion of the 202nd anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle amidst tight security.

The area had witnessed violent protests two years ago.

At least four lakh people have paid their respects till 3 pm at the memorial, which Dalits view as a symbol of their pride, with no report of any untoward incident so far.

In early morning, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar, Union minister Ramdas Athawale and several other leaders visited the 'Jay Stambh'.

As a precautionary measure, Internet services in and around Koregaon Bhima have been suspended.

Violent clashes had broken out in the area around Koregaon Bhima on the 200th anniversary of the 1818 battle on 1 January, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

"The commemoration is peaceful so far, and till 3 pm, approximately 4 to 5 lakh people have paid their tributes at the 'Jaystambh'," said Pune superintendent of police Sandip Patil. The police officer said that local residents are extending their cooperation and help to ensure that the event passes off peacefully, unlike the January 1, 2018 incident.

Smarter from the previous experience, police have made elaborate security arrangements in the area. "Apart from a large number of police personnel, companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), teams of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) are also deployed in the area," a police official said, adding that drone cameras are also being used to monitor crowd.

As part of preparations, ample space has been provided for installing stalls to sell various souvenirs and other items, he said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Ajit Pawar said he offered tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra. "This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar urged people visiting the site to maintain peace. "I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but also maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the senior NCP leader said.

As per the Dalit narrative, around 500 soldiers from the dalit Mahar caste, who were part of the British Army, defeated forces of Peshwas (who were Brahmins), in the 1818 battle. Every year, lakhs of people, especially Dalits and those from Ambedkarite movement, visit the Jaystambh on 1 January to pay their respects.

Pawar said Maharashtra has a tradition of maintaining peace and harmony. "This particular area has history of valour and bravery. Similarly, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj also had a connection with this land and the youth should take inspiration from the valor showcased by those who sacrificed their lives in the battle and go ahead in their life," he said

Meanwhile, Prakash Ambedkar claimed that some people had tried to spark trouble during the ongoing congregation, but the new government has foiled their intentions. "As the new government is in place, some people who tried to politicise the issue had intentions to create riots (in the congregation), but we, along with the government, foiled that motive," he said without elaborating.

Ambedkar expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements around Koregaon Bhima. When asked about the 2017 Elgaar Parishad case and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent demand to withdraw cases against activists in connection with the 2018 Koregaon Bhima incident,Ambedkar said the stand of all the three ruling constituents- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- in the state government is of cooperation, which is welcoming.

Union minister and RPI (A) chief Athawale also praisedthe district administration for making "good arrangements". Elaborate security is also maintained at historic Vadhu Budruk village, located near Perne.

Last week, Pune Police had issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from 29 December.

The notices, as part of a preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago. Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima. Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the 2018 violence to the ElgaaParishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made. Police are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists to the Elgaar Parishad conclave.
A village development officer has been arrested in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs. 600, an official of the state's anti-corruption bureau said.

The accused Hansraj Bairwa, posted in Badla panchayat samiti in Kotdi of Bhilwara, had demanded Rs 1,000 as bribe from one Mukesh Solanki for registry of the ownership document of his father's ancestral property, the official said.

Bairwa had taken Rs 400 at the time of verification of the complaint on Monday and was caught while taking the remaining amount on Wednesday, he said, adding the officer has been arrested and booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sibiraj, who is in his second coming in Kollywood, has not had any releases in the last two years. He was last seen in the action thriller Sathya, alongside Ramya Nambessan and Varu Sarathkumar! This movie had a very good reception amidst the audiences. He had since announced a number of movies, which are currently in various stages of production. We now have an interesting update on one of his upcoming movies, which has been titled Ranger!

Ranger's director Dharanidharan has revealed through his Twitter handle that the shoot for the talkie portions of this movie have been wrapped up. His post also states that only the songs and patchwork are pending and that these would also be wrapped up soon! Ranger is bankrolled by Kaviya Mahesh under the Auraa Cinemas banner and is said to be made on a story based on the man-animal conflict! Sibiraj is said to be playing the role of a forest ranger, in this movie, which is also said to involve a man-eating tiger.

The final schedule of Ranger began towards the mid of December and has been wrapped up in quick time. This movie also has the talented Madhu Shalini and Kaali Venkat playing vital roles. Dharanidharan made his directorial debut in 2014 with Burma and he collaborated with Sibiraj for his second movie Jackson Durai. This horror comedy was well received by the audiences and the director-hero duo will be looking to reprise the success with Ranger too.
SPRINGFIELD  Abnormally moist ground conditions and unseasonably higher river levels in the upper Midwest could lead to a considerable risk for repeat flooding this spring, according to the National Weather Service.

Illinois officials are encouraging Illinois residents to consider flood insurance before the next flood occurs as part of its Resolve to be Ready campaign for 2020.

Anywhere it rains, it can flood, said Acting IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. You do not have to live in a river community to experience the devastating effects of flooding.

On June 7, 2019, the Illinois River at Hardin set its second highest crest ever at 38.2 feet, about four feet lower than the 1993 record. That same day, Grafton set its second highest crest ever on the Mississippi River at 35.17 feet, three feet below the record set there in 1993.

Two days later, the Mississippi River posted its second highest crest ever in Alton at 39.01 feet. The record crest of 42.72 feet was set in 1993. Flooding also caused problems along the Missouri River in spring 2019.

Eight months later, parts of the Missouri River are slightly above flood stage at a time when river levels traditionally run low, according to the Associated Press. NWS hydrologist Mark Fuchs of the agencys St. Louis office told the AP that he also is concerned that soil is extremely saturated in northern states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas, and the long-range forecast offers a strong possibility of a wetter-than-normal winter.

Were worried about rivers in general, primarily the Missouri and Mississippi for the spring, Fuchs said. Well see how the winter plays out.

Both the Mississippi and Missouri rivers dipped below flood stage by early fall, then they turned around and went right back up in October with more rain in both basins, Fuchs said.

For both rivers, there really hasnt been much chance to recover, he said.

The NWS is scheduled to release more details on this years flooding projections on Feb. 13, Feb. 27 and March 12. According to the NWS, based on current conditions the risk of flooding is near average to much above average for 2020, with the greatest threats in northern Illinois along the Rock, Fox, Kishwaukee and Pecatonica rivers.

Fuchs said soil moisture levels in many places to the north were at the 99th percentile in late fall.

If you have rain, its supposed to go into the ground, Fuchs said. Well, theres just not room in the soil to accept rainfall or snowmelt.

Adding to the worry is the weather services December-February forecast which shows a significant chance of above-normal precipitation in the upper Midwestern states that feed water into the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

River flooding was the biggest disaster to impact the state in 2019, state officials said. Flooding occurred in more than 33 counties, affecting 2.1 million residents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Illinois request for Individual Assistance. But the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has provided more than $19.7 million to Illinois homeowners who submitted flood insurance claims.

What is important to remember about flood insurance is that this policy takes 30 days to take effect, said Tate-Nadeau. That is why it is important to purchase and review your plan today in order to protect your family for the future.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the NFIP in Illinois, working with river communities to limit new development in flood risk areas, protect existing development from flooding and encourage residents and business to insure property, according to IDNR Director Colleen Callahan.

It really is a win-win for both the community and policy holders., said Callahan. The program not only protect homes and businesses in the event of a flood, but also helps mitigate perennially flooded areas, reducing the risk of flooding in the future.

Nearly 90 percent of Illinois communities participate in the NFIP. A few communities have not adopted local floodplain regulations and have not enrolled in NFIP. In these communities, private flood insurance is available through licensed insurance agents.

Flooding is the most frequent and costly disaster in the U.S. with average flood insurance claim payments that can surpass $100,000 depending on the disaster, said said Illinois Department of Insurance Director Robert Muriel. So private flood insurance can help fill the gap for those without NFIP coverage and offer higher amounts of coverage.

He said IDOI recommends consumers check their eligibility for NFIP coverage. He added IDOI insurance analysts are available to answer consumers questions and give tips on purchasing private flood insurance.

Flood Insurance Rate Maps can be found online at http://msc.fema.gov. For more information on NFIP, visit https://www.fema.gov/cis/IL.html. For more details about flood insurance, visit https://www.insureuonline.org/insureu_special_flood.htm.
Lisa Smith signing on at a Garda station after being released on bail

Alleged former Isis member Lisa Smith has been seen in public for the first time since being released on bail from a Limerick prison yesterday.

The former Defence Forces member signed-on at a garda station this morning as part of her bail conditions.

She was driven from the address where she is staying in the north east at around 10.30am, walking calmly to the car from the house.

She was dressed in clothing that left only part of her face uncovered.

Mother-of-one Ms Smith did not spend long at the garda station.

After signing-on at the garda station she was driven back to the house where she had come from but declined to make any comment when approached by Independent.ie.

Yesterday, the former Defence Forces member was escorted from the jail in a white prison van at around 4.45pm and was brought to an undisclosed location where it is understood she was met by a family member.

The escort, which is not usually provided to accused persons granted bail, was provided by the Irish Prison Service for security reasons, a source said.

Ms Smith had been granted bail by the High Court but the District Court had rejected an attempt by a third party to lodge an independent surety on the grounds he had previous criminal convictions and was not related to Ms Smith. Yesterday a 5,000 surety, of which 1,000 was to be lodged, was accepted by the courts. Ms Smith was to lodge 500 of her own cash.

Ms Smith (37), whose address cannot be published for legal reasons, was said to be anxious to be reunited with her two-year-old daughter.

The Co Louth woman is charged with being a member of an unlawful terrorist group "styling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (Isil), also known as Isis, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, between October 28, 2015, and December 1, 2019.

As part of strict bail conditions set by the courts, Ms Smith must reside at an address in the north-east and sign on at a garda station twice daily between 10am-1pm and 3-6pm. She was also ordered to obey a curfew, having to remain indoors from 8pm to 7am.

She cannot leave the jurisdiction or apply for travel documentation.

She must also provide gardai with a contact mobile phone number within 48 hours of taking up her bail.

Ms Smith, who denies the charge, has also been banned from accessing the internet or using any social media and she must not have contact with non-garda witnesses in the case.

Ms Smith, who left Ireland and married after she converted to Islam, had been found in a Syrian refugee camp.

After a trek to Turkey with her daughter, they were brought back to Ireland on December 1.

Ms Smith was remanded on bail to appear before Dublin District Court again on January 8.
Fawad Saleh, the Balkh highway police commander, said the attack took place at a highway police checkpoint in Alam Khail village of Balkh province on Tuesday night, Tolonews reported.

Kabul, Jan 1 (IANS) At least eight soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack in Afganistan's Balkh province, local officials said on Wednesday.

There were 14 soldiers at the checkpoint and six soldiers survived the attack, Saleh said.

The checkpoint is located on the Balkh-Jawzjan highway.

A source told TOLOnews that the Taliban conducted the attack with the help of an infiltrator.

The Taliban have not commented yet.

Two ANA soldiers were also killed in a Taliban attack on Tuesday night in Takhar province, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.

The incident happened late at night in Darqad district when a group of Taliban attacked a joint forces checkpoint.

Two others, including a police officer, were wounded in the attack, the MoD said.

sdr/
San Francisco, Jan 1 : Despite Google's effort to curb internal activism and deter union activities, nearly 2,300 cafeteria workers who serve meals to employees in the San Francisco Bay area -- including the company's headquarters in Mountain View -- have unionised, claiming they were overworked and underpaid.

According to a report in Recode, dishwashers and food preparers who serve Google employees all three meals, including at the headquarters, voted to form a union after a two-year push.

"We're fed up and want change because at one of the richest companies in the world, we're being overworked and underpaid. The disrespect from management is just adding insult to injury," the workers were quoted as saying in the report.

Google contracts the workers through a company called Compass Group which said that all of the company's associates have the right to decide whether to be represented by labour organisation.

A Google spokesperson told The Hill that the company will continue to work with Compass Group.

"We work with lots of partners, many of which have unionised workforces and many of which don't," a company spokesperson said.

The cafeteria workers' unionisation has not been reported earlier because of other high-profile worker activism at Google like employee protests about sexual harassment and "allegations that the company retaliates against employees for reporting HR issues".

Google last month fired another employee for sending browser pop-ups about the labour rights at the company. She becomes the fifth staffer fired for being involved in internal activism.

The US government has also launched a probe into Google over its labour practices following a complaint from employees who have been fired by the tech giant.

The tech giant has been accused of "union busting" and retaliatory behaviour after it sacked the employees for allegedly violating the company's data security policies.

Meanwhile, the cafeteria workers are organising with a local chapter of the union called "Unite Here" which represents some 300,000 workers in the hotel, food service, laundry, warehouse, and casino gaming industries.

Service workers in the tech industry, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, have long seen stagnating wages that haven't kept up with rising housing prices.
Japanese tea making arts



The event was jointly organized by the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association in HCMC, Ao Dai Museum, and Vietmark company.

Diverse activities such as tea ceremony, Haiku poetry, origami, and martial arts, Ao dai fashion show, calligraphy painting and chau van singing were held.

Japanese origami (Source: hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association of HCMC Nguyen Cong Tanh emphasised that culture is an effective bridge to unite the nations and peoples of the world.

The regular organisation and diversification of such activities helps promote the friendship between the two countries, in general, and between Ho Chi Minh city and the provinces and cities in Japan, in particular.

While Japanese Consul General in HCMC Kawaue Junichi spoke highly of the associations efforts in organizing the cultural festival and expected the event will continue next year./.
Toronto's first new baby of 2020 arrived just seconds after the stroke of midnight at Humber River Hospital.

The child, Amiir Deeq Mohammed, was successfully delivered at precisely 12:00 a.m. on New Year's Day. The hospital said he arrived almost instantly after the clock struck midnight.

"I'm very happy to have this miracle boy," said his father Deeq Mohameed Farah after welcoming the family's first-born child.

Amiir's time of birth was listed as "0000" on a whiteboard in the family's hospital room.

Little Amiir barely edged his fellow 2020 baby Aryan Walia, who was born 50 seconds after midnight at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga.

Martin Trainor/CBC

"We definitely weren't expecting the baby to come on New Year's Day," said mother Anu Walia. Her first child was due later in January, but made a surprise appearance a few weeks before schedule.

"Our whole world changed. Best New Year's ever," added Aryan's father Simran Walia.

According to Statistics Canada, the country's most recent population estimate is 37,874,794.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Opposition demonstrations announced...

Me Andre Michel Port speech of the radical opposition announces anti-government mobilizations, from Wednesday 1st to Monday January 13th, 2020. According to the opposition, this Wednesday January 1st, 2020, will be a "day of national mobilization", demonstrations are announced among others in Gonaives, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Mirebalais and Arcahaie. In Port-au-Prince, the opposition intends to head towards the residence of President Moise in Pelerin 5 before going before the National Palace to demand the resignation of the Head of State...



Wishes for the 216th anniversary of independence



Joseph Lambert

"Thanks to the Arcahaie Congress, our country is celebrating the 216th anniversary of its independence today. I express the hope that our country will carry out real dialogue as soon as possible for a new start. Happy Independence Day and Happy 2020."



Deputy Gary Bodeau

"Happy new year! Happy new year 2020! Yon bon lane 2020! Happy Independence Day ! Health! Prosperity! Mwen swete tout jen fanm ak jen gason bon lane 2020. Konsey mwen pou nou, pou 2020 an : pa kite moun defini nou,se nou ki pou defini tet nou ; pa kite moun di kiyes nou ye, se nou ki pou di ki moun nou ye ; pa kite moun di yap defann nou, se nou ki pou defann rev nou ak lavni nou."



US Embassy closed

The Embassy is closed on Jan 1 & 2 in observance of New Years Day and Ancestry Day. Happy New Year!



MUPANAH closed

The Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon MUPANAH informs the public that, the museum will remain closed to visitors on Wednesday January 1st and Thursday, January 2, 2020. Regular activities will resume on Friday, January 3, 2020, starting at 8:00 a.m. according to the usual schedule.



Iraq : Haiti Condemns Attack on US Embassy

"Haiti strongly condemns attack on the US Embassy in Iraq

that left 1 dead & many wounded. Diplomatic compounds must be respected & must not be terrorists targets. While keeping victims in our thought,well always support all efforts to combat international terrorism, a threat to all," Chancellor Bocchit Edmond.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















An infant girl received critical burns in the fire incident at Geetanand Government Hospital, Alwar on Tuesday and succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government on Wednesday suspended two doctors, three nursing staff and a ward boy and terminated the services of a contractual staffer, a day after a child died in a fire that broke out in the newborn care unit of Alwar hospital.

Two doctors, unit in-charge Mahesh Sharma and Kirpal Singh, who was on duty when the fire broke out, were suspended, said Medical and Health Department Director KK Sharma.

Besides the two doctors, three nursing staffers and one ward boy too were suspended on the basis of a preliminary enquiry report, he added. An electrician, who was on contractual appointment in the hospital, too was terminated.

An infant girl received critical burns in the fire incident at Geetanand Government Hospital, Alwar on Tuesday. She succumbed to the injuries during treatment at JK Lon hospital in Jaipur on Wednesday.
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission has determined that Rahmat Shoureshi, former president of Portland State University, violated state ethics laws three times in his short stint leading the school.

Shoureshi agreed to resign as the universitys top executive last May after he had come under fire for his treatment of employees and several ethically dubious deals following a 2019 investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Highly touted as a change agent who would bring private-sector ambition and discipline to Oregons largest university, Shoureshi lasted less than two years on the job.

The ethics commission determined that Shoureshi violated state law three different times.

In July 2018, Shoureshi traveled to the Bohemian Grove campground in Northern California. He did so as the guest of noted local real estate investor Jordan Schnitzer. Shoureshi initially recorded his time as workdays.

After The Oregonian/OregonLive filed a public records request seeking travel documents pertinent to the trip, Shoureshi asked his staff to revise his records to show personal vacation on those days.

In November 2018, the PSU board directed Shoureshi to repay Schnitzer. Shoureshi wrote a check to Schnitzer for $1,450. As of Dec. 18, the date the ethics commission stipulated order with Shoureshi was signed, Schnitzer has not cashed the check.

State law prohibits public officials from soliciting and accepting any gift worth more than $50.

The commission also found that Shoureshi violated state ethics laws in connection with the PSU presidential mansion.

As part of a generous compensation package, the PSU board agreed to pay Shoureshi $6,000 a month to cover his housing. One of the new presidents first moves was to get that stipend increased by nearly 50 percent to $9,200 a month.

But Shoureshi quickly grew dissatisfied with his Pearl District condo. He suspended the universitys efforts to sell the PSU presidential mansion in the exclusive Dunthorpe neighborhood while he considered various options to remodel the existing structure or sell it in order to fund construction of a new mansion.

Shoureshi remained involved even after PSUs general counsel advised him he should recuse himself from the process due to his conflict of interest.

The ethics commission determined that Shoureshi violated state law prohibiting public officials from using their position or office to obtain financial gain.

Finally, the commission ruled that Shoureshi violated ethics laws when he continued work on a new shoe technology at Portland State that he had developed while working at another college. In December 2017, he directed PSU staff to purchase certain materials with money from the PSU Foundation needed to continue the work.

PSU staffers asked Shoureshi for confirmation that PSU was in a position to benefit from the work. Shoureshi responded that he held the patent on the technology and his intent was to generate new intellectual property at PSU after the prototype was complete.

Shoureshi agreed to repay the university $2,523 for the materials following The Oregonian/OregonLive investigation, the commission said.

The commission determined Shoureshis work on the shoe technology constituted a conflict of interest.

The commission has reached a tentative settlement with Shoureshi which calls for him to pay a $2,580 fine. Thats a far cry from the $800,000-plus severance package the trustees agreed to pay him on his way out.

Portland State University officials declined comment. Shoureshi has not been on campus since May 10, the day the trustees put him on paid administrative leave. His resignation became effective Dec. 14.

The PSU Board of Trustees appointed long-time professor Stephen Percy as interim president. The trustees seem in no hurry to replace the low-key academic  they havent yet started a search for a new full-time president.
The U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division's alert brigade has been issued orders to deploy rapidly to Kuwait amid the unrest in Baghdad, three U.S. defense officials told Fox News on Tuesday.

At least 500 paratroopers are already making their way to Kuwait, Fox News is told.

The alert brigade of roughly 4,000 paratroopers, known as the DRB -- the Deployment Ready Brigade -- has been told to pack their bags for a possible deployment in the days ahead after hundreds of Iranian-backed militiamen tried to storm the U.S. embassy in Baghdad Tuesday.

Within that alert brigade, three rifle battalions have a certain alert sequence, 18 hours, 36 hours and 54 hours for the third. The entire brigade has a 96-hour alert window to deploy.

The Pentagon is expected to issue a statement in the coming hours about the deployment.

Some of the paratroopers already have left their base in Fort Bragg, N.C., to fly overseas in Air Force C-17 cargo planes, according to officials.

The U.S. Army has kept an alert brigade of roughly 4,000 paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne for crisis response like this.

There are roughly 5,000 U.S. troops currently deployed to Iraq now, among the roughly 60,000 U.S. troops currently deployed to the region. According to the Pentagon, 14,000 have been added since May as the threat from Iran increased.

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has been in the Gulf of Oman, its strike group armed with hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles in addition to the dozens of strike aircraft aboard Truman.

More than 100 U.S. Marines arrived at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad earlier Tuesday to help bolster security after the mob of Iranian-backed Shite militiamen tried to storm the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

The crowd attacked the embassy following funerals for 25 Iranian-backed fighters killed in U.S. airstrikes Sunday in Iraq and Syria--retribution for an American defense contractor killed in Iraq Friday, according to U.S. defense officials.

Lucas Tomlinson is a Pentagon correspondent for Fox News Channel. Follow him on Twitter: @LucasFoxNews
When readers of this weekly effort take the time to write me a letter or email, its a safe bet they want to have the final word on whatever riled them to write. Im fine with that.

In fact, because of their remarkable diligence, I turn this space over to reading writers twice a year so everyone might enjoy some of the more colorful ways people think I should spend my time other than writing.

Take Joe from Ohio who was so steamed about a mid-July column on climate change that he wrote (in all capital letters) "we totally reject your columns because of your evil hatred of President Trump!! If we were the editor (of this newspaper) we would kick you out the first minute."

Five months later, another email arrived from Ohio  this one didnt include a name, only an email address  equally steaming: "These are not news articles but paragraphs of Trump- and Republican-bashing. Get rid of this guy."

A similar, but much longer, email from Bill arrived in October to  correctly as it turns out  note that my column isnt a "news article" at all. In fact, wrote Bill, "Funny how I can tell your political affiliation from the content of the article and the slant of your opinions. This would not have been tolerated 40 or 50 years ago"

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In fact, Bill, it would have been tolerated because this began as an opinion column 26 years ago and remains an opinion column. It wouldnt be much of an opinion column if it didnt include an opinion  like yours just now.

Several emailers thought columns that dissected the White Houses trade policies werent just wrong, they were downright unpatriotic. In attempting to make that argument, however, Norm from Indiana gave me more credit than I either possess or deserve.

"AG, if you spend just a little time explaining how the Chinese Commies have been ripping off the USA instead of attacking the President, perhaps they would be more willing to come to a trade agreement."

Well, Norm, I can certainly give it the old US of A try. I wouldnt count on the "Commies" changing soon because of me and my musings, though.

John from New York wrote to make a similar point, but he got lost in the ongoing tariff tangle that is U.S. trade policy. "Trump is the FIRST PRESIDENT that has acted to end these tariffs. See what our President is fighting for?"

Not really, John, but then again Im focused on converting communists into socialists right now.

Not all correspondence contained suggestions on when, where, and how to fire me. Most, in fact, contained warm praise and good wishes. David, for example, emailed on July 18 to say, "Im sure you get lots of negative feedback, so I want to say I always enjoy your columns."

Joe, from Florida, seconded Daves emotion with more enthusiasm. "You are one of the top five writers in the U.S.! You get the message out through the lines!"

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Thanks, Joe!

Another emailer, Roy from Nebraska, was nearly as effusive: "First, I love your column. Next, I dont know how you do it You are spot on in my opinion"

Whats more, adds Roy, "Since when is the definition of a good Lutheran farm boy one that covers his eyes and sticks his head in the ground?"

Amen, Roy. Theres enough of that going around already and, in 2020, we dont need more sand in our eyes, ears, and gears. We will, however, need more cards, letters, and emails because, honestly, the June "letters" column that youll need to write is just around the corner.

So, Happy New Year and happy writing! Yes, even to my fiery friends in Ohio.
For the first time in 46 years, the Quaker City String Band will dance through Philadelphias Mummers Parade without the iconic Bob Shannon, who served as captain for 37 of those years.

Shannon, a 6-foot-10 force who couldnt be missed as he led the band through parades across the United States and Europe, was known as the most famous Mummer all across the world," said Harry Brown, the string bands president. Shannon, 71, of Blackwood, died in his sleep of a stroke March 4, just a day after marching in Gloucester Citys St. Patricks Day parade.

The string band not only lost Shannon this year, but also five other members: Joe Volkert, James Shallow Sr., Charles Rowan Sr., Reese Davis, and William Scat Powers. The group is dedicating its New Years Day performance to Shannon and the others, and will host a moment of silence and give speeches before beginning the march.

Its going to be sad, its unfortunate, but we will do what Bob will want us to do and continue our tradition, Brown said.

Shannon retired as capatin in 2008 after experiencing health problems, yet continued to march with the group. Health issues totally sidelined him two years ago, but he continued to attend and watch the march. He had participated in parades since he was 11, playing saxophone and following in the footsteps of his father, also a longtime member of Quaker City.

Under Shannons leadership, Quaker City won the top honor nine times. Captains are also judged for their performance, and Shannon won first place in that category seven times, a Mummers historian told The Inquirer last year.

Brown said that he hopes the memories of Shannon and the others will offer some spiritual help in the bands quest to be back-to-back Mummers Parade champs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday talked to Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and conveyed good wishes for 2020 to him and the people of the strategically important Indian Ocean island.

The telephonic conversation came weeks after Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid paid an official visit to India for the 6th India-Maldives Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi.

Indian Embassy in Maldives said: "Prime Minister @narendramodi had a telephonic conversation with President @ibusolih. Conveyed good wishes for 2020 to him and the people of Maldives".

As a close friend and maritime neighbour, India is committed to partnering with the Maldives for its development, Prime Minister Modi said last month.

Modi paid a two-day visit to the Maldives in June, his first bilateral trip after his reelection for a second term.

He also visited the Maldives in November 2018 to attend President Solih's swearing-in ceremony.
Legislature should act now

Plastics have become a bigger and bigger problem that affects our environment and our water. Plastic bags clog storm drains and fill up detention basins, affecting our water quality. Animals get strangled and suffocated by plastic bags. Microplastics have been found near our drinking water supply, so we could literally be drinking plastic.

So far, over 40 towns in New Jersey are moving forward on banning plastic, but NJ needs a comprehensive plastic ban bill that will protect our environment and public health.

NJ Legislature is working to get a statewide comprehensive plastic ban, S2776 (Smith), passed in lame duck. This bill will ban single-use plastic bags within one year and have a two-year phase-out of paper bags and a three-year phase-out of polystyrene. It also makes plastic straws available only upon request. Polystyrene is dangerous to human health because it contains carcinogenic chemicals like benzene and styrene, and it has been found in breast milk. Last year, NJ found that over 80% of trash is plastic and there was an increase in plastic straw waste by 59%.

The state has to act quickly on landmark plastic legislation. We need this comprehensive statewide ban to more effectively combat our plastic pollution. People are fed up with plastic pollution filling up their storm drains and threatening their drinking water. Reducing plastic use will also reduce fracking and fossil fuel use. We cannot wait any longer. Murphy and the Legislature need to get this bill through lame duck before our plastic waste problem gets worse.

Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club

De Niro perpetuates myths about Italians

Robert De Niro recently stated that he would like to see the President get hit in the face with a bag of feces. In my opinion, every Italian should hurl a bag of the same organic matter into the face of Robert De Niro.

Mr. De Niro is a stronzo in every sense of the word. Robert De Niro has made a career portraying Italians as shiftless gangsters and Mafiosi. Basically, through his acting roles, Robert De Niro has reinforced and perpetuated the hurtful myth - the embarrassing stereotype - that the Italian people have had to endure for many years.

The majority of Italians are hard working individuals who want the very best for their families and their communities. The constant slander against the Italian people - being labeled gangsters, Mafiosi, etc. - and the unsavory words used to describe the Italian people - such as guido and others - should cease.

Actors of Italian descent - such as Robert De Niro - who not only accept, but relish in the roles of Mafiosi, are nothing more than shameful hypocrites who deserve to be shunned by the very people they hurt.

John Di Genio, Jersey City

Submit guest columns and letters to the editor at jjletters@jjournal.com
Manama has been named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2020 by Arab tourism ministers for the second time, following the recognition being bestowed on the kingdom in 2013.



The announcement was made during the 22nd session of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism, hosted by the Saudi city of Al-Ahsa, the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2019.



Bahrain's delegation to the session was headed by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Chairman of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, and included the chief executive officer of BTEA, Nader Khalil Al Moayyed and the acting director of Marketing and Tourism Promotion Directorate at BTEA, Dr Ali Follad.



Commenting on this occasion, Al Zayani expressed Bahrains pride in being named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2020, noting that the move was in recognition of the kingdoms rich tourism and civilisational features.



On behalf of BTEAs Board of Directors, BTEAs employees as well as representatives from the tourism industry, Al Zayani extended his gratitude to the wise leadership on this milestone achievement and lauded their support in further driving the development of Bahrains tourism sector.



He also affirmed BTEAs commitment towards further developing this vital sector and bolstering bilateral and Arab ties in this field.



BTEAs strategy focuses on developing unique tourism products through hosting a series of events and activities that target all segments of the society including families from the GCC and other Arab countries, further contributing to the development of the tourism sector," he added.



The selection of Manama as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2020 is a testament to the kingdoms efforts in strengthening bilateral tourism relations between GCC and Arab countries as well as introducing historical cities and ancient civilizations in the region.



It is also the fruitful outcome of the efforts exerted by BTEA to promote the kingdom as an international and Arab tourism destination thanks to its multiple distinguished tourism and heritage sites. - TradeArabia News Service


Known as the Civil Defense Caves in Dubois, Idaho, the ancient lava tubes, once a valuable resource during the Cold War, have become a family excursion for exploring the easily accessible caves. In August of 1979, one family hunting for arrowheads in the caves, instead turned up a headless, burlap wrapped male torso. Local law enforcement had little to go on except that the torso was found outfitted in a dark red sweater. A little over a decade later, another youngster exploring the same cave came up with more burlap wrapped remains: two arms and two legs. Law enforcement brought in volunteers to search for a key component to the mystery, the head. Unfortunately, it was not found, and the case eventually went cold.

The remains, which became known as the Buffalo Cave Torso, were examined by the FBIs elite forensic team with no resulting identification, and also examined at the Smithsonian, again without an identification being made. The case was eventually turned over to Idaho State Universitys anthropological researchers in cooperation with the Clark County Sheriffs Office. Dr. Amy Michael, at the University of New Hampshire and formerly of ISU, and Dr. Samantha Blatt at ISU reached out to Anthony Redgrave for help. Redgrave is a team leader at the DNA Doe Project and the lead forensic genealogist at Othram. With funding assistance from the DNA Doe Project, work began to see if DNA testing could reveal the identity of these remains.

Othrams laboratory digitized the degraded remains from this case using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing. Once the genetic data was generated, Redgrave and his team took over building a genetic genealogical tree and what happened next was a surprise to everyone.

The Buffalo Cave Torso was not forty or so years old. It was an incredible 103 years old. In a press conference held on December 31, 2019 at the Clark County Community Center in Dubois, Idaho, the Clark County Sheriffs office announced the identity of the victim and expressed thanks to the team for enabling a positive identification.

We can now confidently say that the torso found in the Civil Caves in 1979 belonged to Joseph Henry Loveless, born in Utah Territory in 1870, Anthony Redgrave commented. This is one of the oldest cases solved using autosomal DNA. We solved the case in about three and a half months after getting the DNA information back from the lab.

Henry Loveless, born in 1870, and murdered in 1916, was a known bootlegger and counterfeiter. He had many encounters with the law and went by a number of aliases, including Walter Currans/Cairins, Cairns and Charles Smith. In May of 1916, he took an axe to his wife, Agnes Octavia Caldwell and fled, wearing a maroon sweater under overalls. Having escaped jail numerous times with a saw kept secretly in his shoe, he eventually befell a grisly fate, not unlike that which he inflicted on his wife, in the depths of the Civil Defense Caves of Idaho.

"Our team is proud to have helped law enforcement with this historic identification as it showcases the power of Othram's forensic sequencing in digitizing and preserving even the most degraded and contaminated evidence, " said David Mittelman, Othram CEO, "We look forward to scaling this approach in the New Year to bring this technology to more unsolved cases."

About Othram Inc.:

Othram is the worlds first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. Our scientists are experts at recovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace amounts of degraded or contaminated materials. We are passionate about developing and deploying new genomic technologies in dedicated forensic environments. Founded in 2018, and located in The Woodlands, Texas, our team works with academic researchers, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve results where other approaches fail. Follow Othram on Twitter @OthramTech or visit http://request.othram.com to learn how we can help you with your case.
Maharashtra Congress chief pacifies sulking MLAs left out of cabinet

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jan 01: Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said party MLA Sangram Thopte, who was miffed at not getting a ministerial berth, has been pacified and assured that he will get his due.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the Congress over allocation of portfolios. Everyone cannot be accommodated as there is a three-party alliance government in the state, the Congress leader told reporters here. "I spoke to Sangram Thopte last night. The Congress isa family and he will get his due," he said.

"Since we are part of a three-party government, we got less ministerial berths," the Congress leader said. Some supporters of Thopte, who is the Congress MLA from Bhor, on Tuesday attacked the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the state ministry.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar pays tributes at Koregaon Bhima war memorial

The police late Tuesday night arrested 19 supporters of Mr Thopte and later released them on bail. Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the party over portfolio allocation. "Discussions are on and the allocation of portfoliosis expected today," he said.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43.

Following the expansion, the NCP now has 12 Cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, the Shiv Sena has 10 Cabinet ministers and four MoS, while the Congress has 10 Cabinet ministers and two MoS in the Thackeray-led government.

The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 16:57 [IST]
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES.

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Century Metals Inc. (Century Metals or the Company) (CMET.V). Further to the Companys news release of September 24, 2019, the Company provides the following update on its proposed acquisition (the Acquisition) of all the issued and outstanding share capital of Reyna Silver Corp. (Reyna Silver).



Acquisition Terms

In conjunction with the Acquisition:

(i) Century Metals will eliminate all of its current and long-term liabilities by paying the same in cash or issuing Century Metals common shares in settlement thereof;

(ii) Century Metals will then consolidate its outstanding common shares (the Century Consolidated Shares) so as to have 5,357,620 Century Consolidated Shares outstanding prior to closing the Acquisition (previously announced 4,278,596 Century Consolidated Shares to be outstanding);

(iii) Century Metals and Reyna Silver will use their commercially reasonable efforts to raise an aggregate of at least $4,200,000 by April 30, 2020 through the following financings:

(a) Reyna will sell units (Units) at $0.20 per Unit, each Unit to consist of one Reyna common share and one-half of one warrant (each whole warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Reyna common share at $0.45 per share for 24 months) (the Reyna Financing); and

(b) Century will sell subscription receipts (Receipts) at $0.20 per Receipt (the Century Financing). Each Receipt will entitle the holder to receive either (i) one Century Consolidated Share and one-half of one warrant upon completion of the Acquisition, or (ii) the return of the subscription proceeds should the Acquisition not close within 90 days from the date of closing of the issuance of the Receipts. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Century Consolidated Share at a price of $0.45 per share for a two year period following closing.

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(iv) On closing the Acquisition, Century Metals will issue

Century Consolidated Shares to the holders of Reyna Silver shares, including those issued in connection with the Reyna Financing, on a one-for-one basis;





issue Century warrants to the holders of Reyna warrants on a one-for-one basis;





Century Consolidated Shares to MAG Silver on the basis that MAG Silver will hold 19.9% of the aggregate number of Century Consolidated Shares outstanding on closing; and





units comprised of Century Consolidated Shares and warrants to the holders of the Receipts purchased in the Century Financing.

Board of Directors and Management Changes

On completion of the proposed Acquisition, the Companys Board of Directors and management team will be reconstituted to consist of a number of directors determined by Reyna Silver. The names and a description of the initial new directors and officers of Century Metals are as set forth below:

Name Current Position with Century Metals or Reyna Silver Position with Century Metals upon Completion of Acquisition Jorge Ramiro Chief Executive Officer of Reyna Silver Director and Chief Executive Officer Michael Wood n/a Director Sandy Chim Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of Century Metals Director and Executive Chairman of the Board Peter Jones Director of Century Metals Director

A brief biographical description of the directors and officers of Century Metals upon completion of the Acquisition is provided below:

Jorge Ramiro Monroy - Proposed Director and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Ramiro Monroy is the founding and managing director of Emerging Markets Capital, a mining focused investment company based in Hong Kong and which has participated in the financing of numerous TSX Junior and Mid-tier exploration and mining companies. Mr. Ramiro Monroy is also director of:

Prime Mining Corp. (PRYM.V),





Arabian Shield Resources (a private mining company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious, base and battery metal assets in the Arabian-Nubian Shield and surrounding prospective regions with emphasis on Saudi Arabia), and





Reyna Silver Limited (Hong Kong), a private investment company located in Hong Kong, focused on acquiring and developing silver assets in Mexico and the principal shareholder of Reyna Silver.

Mr. Ramiro Monroy holds a Bachelor's degree from the State University of New York, an MBA in Finance from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; and currently doing a Certificate in Mining Studies from the University of British Columbia.

Michael Wood  Proposed Director

Mr. Wood is a director at Emerging Markets Capital, a Hong Kong based private investment and advisory firm focused on natural resources. Mr. Wood is also a director of Arabian Shield Resources, a private natural resources company focused on acquiring & developing precious and base metals mining assets in Arabian-Nubian shield, with an emphasis on Saudi Arabia Michael is a Director of Reyna Silver Limited (Hong Kong), a private investment company focused on acquiring and developing silver assets in Mexico. Mr. Wood holds a MBA from Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, and a BSc Economics from Cardiff University.

Sandy Chim  Proposed Director and Executive Chairman

Mr. Chim, MBA, CPA, CA, is currently the Chairman, director, President and Chief Executive Officer of each of Century Global Commodities Corporation (the principal shareholder of Century Metals) and Century Metals. Since 2005, Mr. Chim has been involved in capital raises and listings of companies in various industries on international capital markets, including in Australia, London, Hong Kong as well as Canada. He has been a director and member of corporate governance bodies of publicly listed companies on the TSX, TSXV, AIM (London), ASX (Australia), HKEx (Hong Kong) and SHSE (China). Mr. Chim received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales, Australia and an M.B.A. from York University, Canada. Mr. Chim is a member of Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario Canada and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Canada, and a Fellow Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Peter R. Jones  Proposed Director

Mr. Jones is a Professional Engineer and retired mining executive with more than 40 years of experience in executive, operational, project and consulting roles. Mr. Jones is presently a director of Century Metals. Mr. Jones has provided consulting services to Century Global since 2013 and is currently Chairman of Century Globals Advisory Committee. Previously, he was CEO of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited during its ownership by Anglo American plc and subsequently President and CEO of the publically traded HudBay Minerals Inc. Mr. Jones has been past Chairman and CEO of Adanac Molybdenum Corporation, Chairman of Medusa Mining Limited and Chairman of Augyva Mining Resources. He is currently a Corporate Director of Rubicon Minerals Corporation, Mandalay Resources Corporation, and Victory Nickel Inc. He was also the past Chairman of the Mining Association of Canada for two terms and in 2006 was named prairie region, turnaround Entrepreneur of the Year, by Ernst & Young. Mr. Jones graduated from the Camborne School of Mines, UK in 1969 and the Banff School of Advanced Management in 1984.

Related Party Matters and Shareholder Approval

The Acquisition will be a Reverse Takeover under Policy 5.2 of the TSX Venture Exchange.

In accordance with Exchange Policy, Century Metals advises of the following interests of the insiders of Century Metals in Reyna Silver, and the insiders of Reyna Silver in Century Metals:

Interests of Insiders of Reyna Silver in Century Metals :



 EMC Capital Markets, a private company of which Jorge Ramiro Monroy is the founder and managing director and Michael Wood is a director, is the owner of 800,000 common shares (pre-Consolidation) of Century Metals; and



 Michael Wood is the owner of 433,333 common shares (pre-Consolidation) of Century Metals.





Interests of insiders of Century Metals in Reyna Silver:



 Century Global, the principal shareholder of Century Metals, has an approximate 3% equity interest in Reyna Silver Limited (Hong Kong), the principal shareholder of Reyna Silver. Century Global does not otherwise have any equity interest in Reyna Silver, and does not exercise any control, directly or indirectly, over the affairs of Reyna Silver Limited Hong Kong.

Century Metals understands that, based on the limited nature of the above relationships, the completion of the Acquisition will be an Arms Length Transaction under Exchange Policy 5.2. None of the directors or officers of Century Metals have any direct or indirect interest in Reyna Silver.

It is anticipated that Century Metals will seek approval of its shareholders either at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on or before March 31, 2020, or if permitted by the Exchange, by the written consent of the holders of a majority of Centurys outstanding shares. It is anticipated shareholders will be requested to approve: (A) the Acquisition, (B) the change of name of Century to such name as may be specified by Reyna Silver, (C) the election of new directors, (D) the Consolidation, (E) any change of control which may arise pursuant to the Acquisition, and (F) such other matters that may be reasonably required in order to give effect to the Acquisition.

Definitive Agreement

The Letter of Intent contemplates that the Acquisition will be completed through a definitive agreement (the Definitive Agreement) that is to be negotiated by Century Metals and Reyna Silver, which will contain customary representations and warranties for similar transactions. Century Metals and Reyna Silver have agreed to an exclusivity period expiring April 30, 2020 during which the parties have agreed to negotiate in good faith and settle the Definitive Agreement on or before February 29, 2020.

Conditions to Closing

Completion of the Acquisition will be subject to a number of conditions, including Exchange acceptance. Key conditions are anticipated to include:

receipt of all regulatory and third party approvals, including the approval of the Exchange;

approval of the shareholders of Century Metals;

completion of the Reyna Financing and the Century Financing;

no material adverse changes to the businesses of Century Metals and Reyna Silver;

receipt of required financial statements of Reyna Silver and NI 43-101 technical reports on the material properties of Reyna Silver, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Century; and

other customary conditions to closing.

Sponsorship

Century Metals will apply to the Exchange for waiver of sponsorship of the Acquisition to the extent that no exemption from the sponsorship requirements is available under Exchange policies.

Trading Halt

Trading of the common shares of Century Metals have been and will remain halted pending further filings with the Exchange.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Century Metals Inc.

Sandy Chim

Chief Executive Officer

For further information please contact:

Sandy Chim

1-416-977-3188

investors@centurymetals.ca

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS



Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and, if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Century Metals should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Century Metals as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by Century Metals at the date the forward-looking information is provided, are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information may include, but are not limited to, risks generally associated with the Companys business, as described in Centurys prospectus dated April 3, 2019. There is no assurance the reverse takeover, acquisition of Reyna Silver, or any of the other related matters outlined above will complete on the terms as contemplated, or at all. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While Century may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 22-year-old man charged Syracuse police officers with a hatchet before the officers opened fire on him Tuesday evening, according to the district attorney.

Michael Viola, 22 of Syracuse, was critically wounded by officers at 707 Grant Blvd. just before 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2019. Viola is expected to survive.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said someone who lives at the house called police Tuesday afternoon to report a man acting odd. Syracuse police have had frequent interactions with people at the home, he said.

When officers arrived, Viola was in a third-floor bedroom holding a hatchet or small ax, Fitzpatrick said. The officers spent at least 15 minutes trying to talk the man down.

At one point, an officer stunned Viola with a Taser to subdue him, Fitzpatrick said. Viola got right back up and charged the officers, who responded by opening fire, Fitzpatrick said.

Two officers fired at Viola and one hit him. Fitzpatrick said he was not sure where the man was shot or how many times.

Viola is currently in critical but stable condition according to Fitzpatrick.

Police have not yet identified the officers involved. Police policy is to release the officers name within 72 hours.

According to county tax records, the house is owned by Donald Fida and James C. Fida. Donald Fida, 96, is a World War II veteran, according to his Facebook page. Neighbors said James is his son.

Police vehicles and a crime scene lab remained outside the scene of a police-involved shooting at 707 Grant Blvd. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020.

Fitzpatrick said the relationship between Viola and the residents of the house is unclear, though someone who lives at the house made the call to police Tuesday.

Viola has been arrested nine times in the last three years by Syracuse police, Geddes police and state troopers, according to the Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard police blotter. Hes been charged with larceny, criminal mischief and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, among other things.

He was arrested in 2018 for an armed robbery near Clinton Square. According to Post-Standard archives, he pointed a BB gun at a 31-year-old man and demanded money. He was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree menacing and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Fitzpatrick said his office will likely handle the investigation of the shooting, since the man was armed. Any police-involved shooting with an unarmed person is referred to the New York Attorney General.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Guides take selfies at a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei]

Visitors take selfies while viewing a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei]

Visitors take selfies while viewing a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Yin Gang]

Students visit a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Yin Gang]

A visitor poses for photos with China's first sedan of brand Hongqi, meaning "red flag", at a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei]

Visitors view a grand exhibition of achievements in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 31, 2019. The 100-day exhibition concluded Tuesday, seeing about 3.16 million visitors in total. [Xinhua/Yin Gang]

(Source: Xinhua)
Raviji, the same thing just happened to me: Shashi Tharoor to seek explanation from Twitter

What is itat e-dwar the new e-filing portal of the IT appellate tribunal

Social media companies free to do business, but should be accountable to Indian laws: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Big step towards transparency: Prasad on first compliance report by Google, FB under new IT rules

If over 45 countries use Pegasus, why target just India?, asks Ravi Shankar Prasad

CAA protests: Law cleared by parliament trumps states, says RS Prasad

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Jan 01: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act was binding on the entire country and was perfectly legal and constitutional.

"It is only Parliament which has got the powers to pass any law with regard to citizenship; not any assembly, including the Kerala Assembly," he said.

"There is a Constitutional obligation on every state to exercise the executive power in such a way that ensures compliance with laws made by Parliament," he added.

However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rejected BJP's critisism against it, saying the state assemblies have their own privileges.

"State Assemblies have its own privileges. Such actions are unheard of anywhere. But we cannot rule out anything in the present circumstance as unprecedented things are happening now-a-days in the country," Vijayan told reporters here when asked about the breach of privilege proceedings.

The Assemblies have its own special protection and it should not be violated, he said.

Kerala becomes the first state to pass a resolution against a law which has been violating the fundamental principles of the Constitution.

To a question on PFI's role during violence in UP, the minister said that "Home Ministry will decide on further action based on evidence. There're many allegations against them including connection with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)."

Citizenship Act Protests: Congress, AAP fanned anti-CAA violence in Delhi, says Javadekar

The Uttar Pradesh Police has sought a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), days after its complicity was suspected in the recent statewide violent protests against the amended citizenship law.

UP DGP OP Singh said on Tuesday that they had written to the Union Home Ministry, seeking a ban on the PFI after its Uttar Pradesh head, Wasim, and 16 other activists were arrested for allegedly masterminding the violence in the state capital during anti-CAA protests.

Around 150 people were taken into preventive custody after the UP Police got intelligence inputs about the PFI "planning unrest" in Kairana and Kandhla towns of Shamli.

The PFI was formed in 2006 in Kerala as a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF). Security agencies have alleged that its leaders have been groomed in the SIMI ideology.

with PTI inputs
The United States is deeply disappointed by North Korea's threat to resume nuclear missile tests but wants peace rather than confrontation with Pyongyang, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.

"If Chairman Kim has reneged on the commitments he made to President Trump it's deeply disappointing," Pompeo said after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

"We have lived up to our commitments. We continue to hold out hope that he will live up to his," the top US diplomat told CBS television.

"President Trump has taken an approach where we have tried to create a diplomatic pathway. We hope that the North Koreans will reconsider, that they will continue down that pathway.... We want peace not confrontation."



In a separate interview with Fox shortly after state media quoted Kim as threatening a demonstration of a "new strategic weapon" soon, Pompeo urged the North Korean leader to think again.

"We're hopeful that ... Chairman Kim will make the right decision and he'll choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war.

"I saw that reporting. I hope he doesn't go in that direction." A self-imposed ban on such tests has been a pillar of nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington over the past two years, which has seen three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, but little tangible progress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Find the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB at Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale.

Luxury SUV shoppers can find the new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB SUV at local Scottsdale dealership Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale. The newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz lineup has raw power and sophisticated technologies for drivers to encase themselves in luxury on and off the road.

The Mercedes-Benz GLB is designed to go off-road. Equipped with multi-position seats to provide versatility and a high-resolution digital cockpit to display information, the GLB is filled with modern technologies. Shoppers also enjoy the numerous safety technologies this luxury SUV carries. Standard safety features include Active Brake Assist, Downhill Speed Regulation, and Crosswind Assist while optional features include Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keep Assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

Concerning luxury, this SUV has natural-grain wood trims, aluminum accents, and multicolor ambient lighting. This embodies the luxury feel while still giving drivers the features they need to make this a truly modern driving experience.

Residents are encouraged to find their future luxury vehicle at Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale. This dealership has a reliable team and sophisticated vehicles for sale in Scottsdale. It has both new and used models, including Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes-Benz models. From sedans and SUVs to coupes, cabriolets, and roadsters, Mercedes-Benz of Scottsdale has plenty of body styles for its customers to choose from. Shoppers can take this model for a test drive today. Call 480-409-0409 to speak with a team member or show up in person at 4725 N Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale. More information about the Mercedes-Benz GLB can be found at http://www.mbscottsdale.com.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Pine Exploration Inc. (RPX.V) (Red Pine or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced brokered private placement (the Offering), pursuant to which the Company has sold an aggregate of (i) 25,892,850 units (the FT Units) comprised of one flow-through common share (a FT Share) of the Company and one-half of one non-flow-through common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a Warrant) at a price of C$0.035 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of C$906,249.75 and (ii) 82,099,214 non-flow-through units of the Company (the Non-FT Units and together with the FT Units, the Securities) with each Non-FT Unit being comprised of one common share (issued on a non-flow-through basis) and one whole Warrant, at a price of C$0.035 per Non-FT Unit for gross proceeds of C$2,873,472.49, for aggregate gross proceeds to Red Pine in the Offering of C$3,779,722.24. Each whole Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share at a price of C$0.05 per share for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. Each FT Share partially comprising the FT Units has been issued on a flow-through basis within the meaning of such term in the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Offering was led by Haywood Securities Inc. (the Agent). The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.



Alamos Gold Inc. (AGI.TO) (Alamos) has subscribed for 52,995,253 Non-FT Units at a purchase price of C$1,854,833.86 as part of the Offering. Alamos now owns 52,995,253 common shares of the Company, or 11.10% of its issued and outstanding common shares on an undiluted basis, and 52,995,253 common share purchase warrants, or 19.99% of its issued and outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis. Prior to the Offering, Alamos did not hold any common shares of Red Pine. Alamos and the Company have entered into an investor rights agreement, pursuant to which Alamos, provided that it owns at least a 10% interest in the Company, will be granted certain investor rights including but not limited to:

Story continues

Alamos will have the right to participate in future equity financings of the Company to maintain its pro rata ownership prior to the equity financing. Alamos will have a one-time right, on the first equity financing completed under the investor rights agreement, to increase its ownership to 19.99% of the Companys issued and outstanding common shares on a partially diluted basis.

Alamos will have the right to appoint one member to the Companys Board of Directors.

Alamos will have the right to appoint two members to a newly created Exploration Committee, with Red Pine having the right to appoint any number of members.

Quentin Yarie, CEO of Red Pine, commented, The addition of Alamos as a strategic investor is a major step in validating the Wawa Gold Project as a top tier exploration property, and further positions Red Pine to deliver shareholder value through aggressive exploration. Alamos investment will allow us to continue our exploration plans at the Wawa Gold Project, expanding known mineralization along strike and at depth, while also identifying and evaluating new targets across the land package. We are excited to be working with Alamos and are eager to learn from the exploration and operating experience they bring to the project.

Alamos has acquired the Red Pine shares for investment purposes, which will be evaluated and increased or decreased from time to time at Alamos' discretion. A copy of the Alamos Early Warning Report is available on SEDAR at https://www.sedar.com or can be requested by contacting Scott Parsons, Vice-President, Investor Relations, at SParsons@alamosgold.com, 416-368-9932 (ext 5439) or by mail at Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 3910, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3. Alamos is incorporated pursuant to the laws of the Province of Ontario. Its principal business is mining and exploration. The head office address of Red Pine is Suite 1001, 145 Wellington Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 1H8.

The proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used as set out in the press release of the Company announcing the Offering dated December 10, 2019 and will include using the proceeds from the sale of the FT Units for Canadian exploration expenses (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) in connection with the mineral exploration programs of Red Pine.

All of the securities issued or issuable, including the Compensation Options (as defined below) and all underlying securities, in connection with the Offering are subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day, or May 1, 2020, after the closing of the Offering and the issuance of such securities. In consideration for its services, the Company has paid the Agent a cash commission in the amount of C$226,783.33 equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering, and issued to the Agent 6,479,523 non-transferable options (Compensation Options) equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Securities issued under the Offering. The Compensation Options will be exercisable into Non-FT Units of the Company at a price per Compensation Option of C$0.05 per Non-FT Unit for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering.

Insiders of the Company acquired a total of 5,546,427 Securities in the Offering (the Insider Participation), which is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). The Company intends to rely on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in Sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a), respectively, of MI 61-101 in respect of such Insider Participation.

The securities offered have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States.

About Red Pine Exploration Inc.

Red Pine Exploration Inc. is a gold and base-metals exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "RPX". Red Pine has a 64.5% interest in the Wawa Gold Project with Citabar LP holding the remaining 35.5% interest. Red Pine is the Operating Manager of the Project and is focused on expanding the existing gold resource on the property.

For more information about the Company visit www.redpineexp.com

Or contact:

Quentin Yarie, CEO, 1(416) 364-7024, qyarie@redpineexp.com

Or Mia Boiridy, President, 1(416) 364-7024, mboiridy@redpineexp.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, should, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such statements include our intended or expected use of proceeds of the Offering as set out in this news release. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The promoters of Prince Pipes and Fittings' repaid Rs 200 crore loan in escrow and there is no pledge or encumbrance on shares.

The scrip was currently trading 0.36% higher at Rs 153.05. It traded in the range of Rs 152.50 and Rs 155.90 so far during the day.

Express Infra Projects LLP had issued bonds aggregating up to Rs 200 crore, of which Rs 191.50 crore was outstanding as on 31 October 2019.

For securing these bonds, promoters had pledged equity shares aggregating 35% of the equity share capital of company on a fully diluted basis, with IDBI Trusteeship Services, acting as a trustee on behalf of the bondholders.

Further, Parag Jayant Chheda and Vipul Jayant Chheda had also provided a non-disposal undertaking with respect to an additional 16% of the equity share capital of the company, on a fully diluted basis.

Shares of Prince Pipes and Fittings debuted on Monday (30 December) at Rs 160, a discount of 10.11% to IPO price of Rs 178. The issue opened for bidding on 18 December 2019 and it closed on 20 December 2019. The price band was fixed at Rs 177 to Rs 178 per share. The IPO was subscribed 2.21 times.

The IPO comprised a fresh issue worth Rs 250 crore and an OFS (offer for sale) of an equal amount. The proceeds from the OFS were received by the promoter selling shareholders, which they intended to use towards repayment of the outstanding bonds issued by Express Infra Projects LLP.

The company reported net profit of Rs 26.67 crore and total income of Rs 379.77 crore in the quarter ended June 2019.

Prince Pipes and Fittings is recognized as one of the leading polymer pipes and fittings manufacturers in India in terms of number of distributors. The company markets its products under two brand names: Prince Piping Systems and Trubore. The company has more than 30 years experience in the polymer pipes segment.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday issued a decree to form a new board of directors of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) for a term of four years.



Under the presidential decree, the CBE board will be chaired by Tarek Amer.



It will also comprise two deputies and six members.

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La Casa de las Madres, a San Francisco nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence, finally has a permanent home.

The nonprofit has been forced to move its drop-in center several times over the past 20 years, as it outgrew previous spaces and struggled with rising rents. After receiving a $1 million grant from the city, La Casa de las Madres was finally able to buy a space of its own in the South of Market neighborhood.

The grant helped La Casa de las Madres  which translates to the mothers home  from having to move further and further out of the hub of where we are needed most, Executive Director Kathy Black said at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new space. We are in a neighborhood where we are accessible, people can come here, they can get services in a safe way.

Founded in 1976, the nonprofit was Californias first shelter dedicated to women and children escaping domestic violence. Last year, it served more than 27,000 people  men, women, teens and children  through its various services, such as a 24-hour hotline, drop-in counseling center and confidential shelter.

After La Casa de las Madres moved into its new space at 1269 Howard St. this spring, the nonprofit says it has seen an increase in clients from the nearby permanent supportive housing units and shelters.

We need to help nonprofits stabilize themselves, and one of the essential components of that is having real estate thats theirs to help smooth out the costs over time, said Joaquin Torres, director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, which gave out the grant. So now they can focus on services, rather than the economic costs of real estate.

It not only provides a temporary shelter for people fleeing from domestic violence, but it also offers legal assistance and counseling. Most importantly, it helps people  like Cassandra Poggi  get back on their feet.

Poggi, 29, says she doesnt know where she would be without La Casa de las Madres. After being stuck in an abusive relationship for two years, Poggi said she finally ran away from her home one night after a particularly sadistic beating. She didnt know where or what she was running toward  but she knew she needed to get away from her partner who had manipulated, controlled and beat her.

Suddenly, she said, a logo for La Casa de las Madres that she had randomly seen a few months back popped into her head. So she hid in a strangers garage and searched online for the nonprofits name.

I found their emergency hotline number and I gave them a call, not knowing what to say, she said. All I was able to tell the woman on the other line was that I was just beat up, I feared for my life, and I needed somewhere safe to stay. So she gave me instructions to one of their undisclosed shelters, where I was able to stay for the night when I knew that he would not be able to find me.

The help didnt end at the shelter. Over the next few months, Poggi said, the nonprofit provided her with legal counsel to file a civil restraining order and advocates attended every single court date with her to make sure she was never alone as she faced her abuser.

I can only learn and share my experiences and hope to just save one other person from having a similar story to mine, she said. Abuse thrives in silence. And I could not be more proud that we're here together today to bring a voice to this social injustice.

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 grant that La Casa de las Madres received was through San Franciscos Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative, which is funded by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. It is administered as a multiagency partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development and Community Vision.

Though the grant did not cover all of the expenses of the move, which amounted to about $6.9 million, it helped trim the cost.

The fund provides technical and financial assistance to nonprofits, many of which are struggling amid the citys soaring costs of doing businesses. Other nonprofits that received grants over the past year include Mission Neighborhood Centers and the Mission Neighborhood Health Center.

I know that this organization has moved around quite a bit, but has never lost the essence of who they are, Mayor London Breed said at La Casa de las Madres ribbon cutting. When people are dealing with a situation and fleeing a situation in the middle of the night ... they will have this organization to depend on for years to come.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
Fordlover88 BHPian



Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: WB-08 Posts: 146 Thanked: 820 Times

View My Garage





To the Old Silk Route



Our last trip to the foothills of Himalayas(My next would be travelogue-Roadtrip to south sikkim) was left incomplete due to an issue with a fellow friend's car. My hand's were itching to visit sikkim again, so i floated the idea of visiting silk route to some fellow travelers. All of them agreed instantly & the plan was chalked gradually.This was going to be an eventful trip.



The line up is as follows:



Ford Ecosport-Myself & Priyankar

Maruti Wagon R- Souvik da & Shantanu

Honda Jazz- Daipayan da & family

Maruti Baleno- Bratin & family

Volkswagen Ameo- Subhayan & Slivina



Day 1:Kolkata to Lingtam- All of us assembled at Shaktigarh at about 7 p.m. It was going to be an overnight drive so all of us had our fair share of energy drinks(Sting). We followed the conventional burdwan-SH7-moregram-farakka-malda-botolbari- islampur-siliguri route. We halted for dinner & refuelling at COCO moregram & continued on NH34 after that. Just after crossing malda town we had our first of many events of our trip. My car was the lead car and just infront of Hotel Golden Park Malda, there came a huge pothole out of nowhere. I couldn't spot it in this darkness and had to go over it. I stopped to check for any possible damages but couldn't find any,so we carried on. Then after few kilometres, there were moderate size humps created by cement at places. We tried to avoid them but all of us hit them. Again we stopped to check any serious underbody hit.I noticed that my front right tyre was nearly flat n rim was bent. With no other option left,i switched over to spare tyre with the help of fellow members and we continued our journey. Our initial plan was to halt at COCO ghoshpukur for refreshments and breakfast. But we stopped at a Petrol Pump near islampur to refresh ourselves. Then we continued till Sevoke where had our breakfast break.We had delicious noodles n tea. I was driving for close to 13 hours by now, so i handed over the steering to priyankar who has comparatively fresh.



The gang at shaktigarh





Dinner halt at COCO Moregram





Near Islampur





Breakfast halt at sevoke bazar







Day 2:Lingtam- We followed the conventional siliguri-sevoke-melli bazar-rangpo-rongli route to reach rongli. After reaching there, we submitted the document's required for our as well as our car's permit's at rongli police station. In the meantime we had sumptuous lunch at a nearby restaurant.After collecting the permit's everyone proceeded towards our homestay at lingtam while i got my bent rim repaired at a local tyre shop and joined them later.



Our homestay at lingtam





At lingtam





Our beast's lined up for The Silk Route













Day 3: Lingtam to Nathang Valley- Today was going to be our first drive on THE OLD SILK ROUTE and all of us were very very excited. We got our permits verified at lingtam check post and together we set sail. The weather was cloudy and it was raining at times. No sooner the rain converted into snow rain and it was an awesome experience to drive in snowfall. We drove along the twists and turns of the famous loops of zuluk and reached thambi view point. But to our disappointment, everything was covered in clouds & we couldn't get any view of the famous zigzag roads. We continued with a heavy heart as weather was deteriorating with time and visibility was almost nil at places.We had a small pit stop at lungthung amidst heavy snowfall. The place reminded me of Russia during World War Era(as depicted in movies). We halted for lunch at a food joint before nathang valley. Outside temperature was 3 degrees and it was bone chilling experience.We had noodles & Coffee there and proceeded towards our homestay at nathang valley.



At que khola falls





Photosession at padamchen





Enroute zuluk





Zuluk





At zuluk





Lungthung





Nathang valley





Nathang valley





Nathang Valley





My Beast









Day 4:Nathang to Gangtok- Today was going to be an eventful day of our drive(more on that later). We experienced sunshine early morning which was a big relief to all of us. Bratin decided to leave early because he wanted to visit thambi view point again(as we missed any view the previous day). But within half an hour he was back with a flat tyre(First event of the day). Upon inspection we couldn't see any tyre cuts, but the nozzle to fill air was missing. It must have fell during some impact. So with no other option he had to switch to Spare tyre which had 15 inch rims.We proceeded towards gangtok. Our first halt was Old Baba Mandir which is the Highest Point on Silk Route at an altitude of about 14k feet.It was chilling outside with temperature of nearly 3 degree. Here few army men informed us that it's snowing heavily towards gangtok part of silk route & the route may be closed anytime. Keeping this in mind we continued towards gangtok without any delays. Next stop was supposed to be Kupup Lake, but we hardly saw it as it was covered with clouds.We continued towards new baba mandir. After visiting the temple we proceeded towards the famous changu Lake.We crossed Nathula gate en route changu lake. All of us badly wanted to visit nathula pass but the permit's for the same were available only from gangtok .So we had to give it a miss. We visited changu lake and halted there for lunch. It was freezing temperature outside. After having Sumptuous noodles n coffee, we proceeded towards gangtok. We were relaxed a bit as we have crossed the critical sections of silk route & the possibility of route closure was gone too.The weather was also clearing up eventually.

Just when we thought that everything was going according to plan, the next event of the day happened. There was a Huge Pothole in the middle of the road in a sharp turn and the first three cars fell victim to it. Thankfully nothing happened to my ecosport,but bratin's baleno & souvik's wagon R had flat tyres due to it. Bratin was already running in spare tyre, so it was a major issue for us. Baleno's tyre required 4 lug nuts & among the available spare tyres, only honda jazz's spare wheel matched the required configuration. So we resorted to Jazz's spare tyre which was 14 inch & it had 4 lug nuts. Thankfully it did fit, but to our shock the tyre was not touching the ground even after tightening. The reason was simple- Baleno was in THREE TYRE PROFILES now-16 inch, 15 inch & 14 inch . Eventually we had to deflate all other tyres a bit to make 14 inch tyres touch ground. In the meanwhile souvik had switched to his spare tyres. After this, 3 cars(wagon R,jazz & baleno) are without spare tyres. With no other option left, we proceeded towards gangtok. Thankfully the rest of the drive was uneventful and we reached gangtok safely.



Baba Harbhajan Mandir





Baba Harbhajan Mandir





New Baba Mandir





Bratin & his baleno





Souvik da's waggy





Photo session causing traffic jam





Changu lake





The convoy





Changu lake





Hangu lake







Day 5: Gangtok- Today was supposed to be reserved for local sight seeing. But after yesterday's incidents, the first and foremost thing to do was to Hunt for tyres. So myself,souvik & bratin left hotel in search of tyres.We found a puncture repair shop nearby. They didn't repair souvik's tyre. They converted it to tube ones, but couldn't repair bratin's tyre. Again we went hunting for bratin's tyre. After nearly 10 kilometres, we found a tyre shop who had stock of baleno tyres(Apollo Alnac 4G). Bratin wanted yokohama but they were hard to get in gangtok. With no other option, he bought one tyre of 16 inch rims. The new tyre was fitted in place of Jazz's spare tyre and the same was returned to daipayan da. Finally Bratin was on 3 16 inch rims and 1 15 inch rims. Souvik was running on spare tyre & put the repaired tube tyre as spare. In the meanwhile, others visited local sightseeing places in gangtok. They insisted us to join, but i was feeling very tired, so myself & souvik decided to stay back and assured that we will join them in M.G Marg at evening. We went to M.G Marg at evening, did some shopping , had sumptuous dinner at Taste Of Tibet and returned back to hotel. The next day was going to be a tiresome one as we would be going to kolkata direct. Departure time was fixed at 4 a.m so that we can avoid the jam in siliguri town. But since it was our last day of trip, we continued gossiping around. Finally we retired at around 1 a.m.



Local sight seeing in gangtok





M.G Marg





Final parting shot at M.G Marg







Day 6: Gangtok To Kolkata- We left at approx 4 a.m after a short sleep. Gangtok to Kolkata was a breeze. We halted at malda pathasathi for delicious Lunch. Rest of the jouney was mostly smooth sailing. Finally reached Kolkata at about 10 p.m.



It was an exciting & thrilling trip. We thoroughly enjoyed a lot. But we missed out on most view points, and with this on mind we will be visiting Silk Route again. The photograph's in this travelogue were clicked by myself & other fellow travelers, so photo courtesy goes to them as well. This is going to be my first travelogue here, so i would request fellow BHPian's to bear with me as i am just a casual writer and an amateur photographer. But let me assure all of you that this is just the beginning of more travelogue's to come. We did this trip on may-2018 when i was not a member of Team-BHP. Since i am a member now,i decided to pen down this travelogue.Our last trip to the foothills of Himalayas(My next would be travelogue-Roadtrip to south sikkim) was left incomplete due to an issue with a fellow friend's car. My hand's were itching to visit sikkim again, so i floated the idea of visiting silk route to some fellow travelers. All of them agreed instantly & the plan was chalked gradually.This was going to be an eventful trip.The line up is as follows:- All of us assembled at Shaktigarh at about 7 p.m. It was going to be an overnight drive so all of us had our fair share of energy drinks(Sting). We followed the conventional burdwan-SH7-moregram-farakka-malda-botolbari- islampur-siliguri route. We halted for dinner & refuelling at COCO moregram & continued on NH34 after that. Just after crossing malda town we had our first of many events of our trip. My car was the lead car and just infront of Hotel Golden Park Malda, there came a huge pothole out of nowhere. I couldn't spot it in this darkness and had to go over it. I stopped to check for any possible damages but couldn't find any,so we carried on. Then after few kilometres, there were moderate size humps created by cement at places. We tried to avoid them but all of us hit them. Again we stopped to check any serious underbody hit.I noticed that my front right tyre was nearly flat n rim was bent. With no other option left,i switched over to spare tyre with the help of fellow members and we continued our journey. Our initial plan was to halt at COCO ghoshpukur for refreshments and breakfast. But we stopped at a Petrol Pump near islampur to refresh ourselves. Then we continued till Sevoke where had our breakfast break.We had delicious noodles n tea. I was driving for close to 13 hours by now, so i handed over the steering to priyankar who has comparatively fresh.The gang at shaktigarhDinner halt at COCO MoregramNear IslampurBreakfast halt at sevoke bazar- We followed the conventional siliguri-sevoke-melli bazar-rangpo-rongli route to reach rongli. After reaching there, we submitted the document's required for our as well as our car's permit's at rongli police station. In the meantime we had sumptuous lunch at a nearby restaurant.After collecting the permit's everyone proceeded towards our homestay at lingtam while i got my bent rim repaired at a local tyre shop and joined them later.Our homestay at lingtamAt lingtamOur beast's lined up for The Silk Route- Today was going to be our first drive on THE OLD SILK ROUTE and all of us were very very excited. We got our permits verified at lingtam check post and together we set sail. The weather was cloudy and it was raining at times. No sooner the rain converted into snow rain and it was an awesome experience to drive in snowfall. We drove along the twists and turns of the famous loops of zuluk and reached thambi view point. But to our disappointment, everything was covered in clouds & we couldn't get any view of the famous zigzag roads. We continued with a heavy heart as weather was deteriorating with time and visibility was almost nil at places.We had a small pit stop at lungthung amidst heavy snowfall. The place reminded me of Russia during World War Era(as depicted in movies). We halted for lunch at a food joint before nathang valley. Outside temperature was 3 degrees and it was bone chilling experience.We had noodles & Coffee there and proceeded towards our homestay at nathang valley.At que khola fallsPhotosession at padamchenEnroute zulukZulukAt zulukLungthungNathang valleyNathang valleyNathang ValleyMy Beast- Today was going to be an eventful day of our drive(more on that later). We experienced sunshine early morning which was a big relief to all of us. Bratin decided to leave early because he wanted to visit thambi view point again(as we missed any view the previous day). But within half an hour he was back with a flat tyre(First event of the day). Upon inspection we couldn't see any tyre cuts, but the nozzle to fill air was missing. It must have fell during some impact. So with no other option he had to switch to Spare tyre which had 15 inch rims.We proceeded towards gangtok. Our first halt was Old Baba Mandir which is the Highest Point on Silk Route at an altitude of about 14k feet.It was chilling outside with temperature of nearly 3 degree. Here few army men informed us that it's snowing heavily towards gangtok part of silk route & the route may be closed anytime. Keeping this in mind we continued towards gangtok without any delays. Next stop was supposed to be Kupup Lake, but we hardly saw it as it was covered with clouds.We continued towards new baba mandir. After visiting the temple we proceeded towards the famous changu Lake.We crossed Nathula gate en route changu lake. All of us badly wanted to visit nathula pass but the permit's for the same were available only from gangtok .So we had to give it a miss. We visited changu lake and halted there for lunch. It was freezing temperature outside. After having Sumptuous noodles n coffee, we proceeded towards gangtok. We were relaxed a bit as we have crossed the critical sections of silk route & the possibility of route closure was gone too.The weather was also clearing up eventually.Just when we thought that everything was going according to plan, the next event of the day happened. There was a Huge Pothole in the middle of the road in a sharp turn and the first three cars fell victim to it. Thankfully nothing happened to my ecosport,but bratin's baleno & souvik's wagon R had flat tyres due to it. Bratin was already running in spare tyre, so it was a major issue for us. Baleno's tyre required 4 lug nuts & among the available spare tyres, only honda jazz's spare wheel matched the required configuration. So we resorted to Jazz's spare tyre which was 14 inch & it had 4 lug nuts. Thankfully it did fit, but to our shock the tyre was not touching the ground even after tightening. The reason was simple-. Eventually we had to deflate all other tyres a bit to make 14 inch tyres touch ground. In the meanwhile souvik had switched to his spare tyres. After this, 3 cars(wagon R,jazz & baleno) are without spare tyres. With no other option left, we proceeded towards gangtok. Thankfully the rest of the drive was uneventful and we reached gangtok safely.Baba Harbhajan MandirBaba Harbhajan MandirNew Baba MandirBratin & his balenoSouvik da's waggyPhoto session causing traffic jamChangu lakeThe convoyChangu lakeHangu lake- Today was supposed to be reserved for local sight seeing. But after yesterday's incidents, the first and foremost thing to do was to Hunt for tyres. So myself,souvik & bratin left hotel in search of tyres.We found a puncture repair shop nearby. They didn't repair souvik's tyre. They converted it to tube ones, but couldn't repair bratin's tyre. Again we went hunting for bratin's tyre. After nearly 10 kilometres, we found a tyre shop who had stock of baleno tyres(Apollo Alnac 4G). Bratin wanted yokohama but they were hard to get in gangtok. With no other option, he bought one tyre of 16 inch rims. The new tyre was fitted in place of Jazz's spare tyre and the same was returned to daipayan da. Finally Bratin was on 3 16 inch rims and 1 15 inch rims. Souvik was running on spare tyre & put the repaired tube tyre as spare. In the meanwhile, others visited local sightseeing places in gangtok. They insisted us to join, but i was feeling very tired, so myself & souvik decided to stay back and assured that we will join them in M.G Marg at evening. We went to M.G Marg at evening, did some shopping , had sumptuous dinner at Taste Of Tibet and returned back to hotel. The next day was going to be a tiresome one as we would be going to kolkata direct. Departure time was fixed at 4 a.m so that we can avoid the jam in siliguri town. But since it was our last day of trip, we continued gossiping around. Finally we retired at around 1 a.m.Local sight seeing in gangtokM.G MargFinal parting shot at M.G Marg- We left at approx 4 a.m after a short sleep. Gangtok to Kolkata was a breeze. We halted at malda pathasathi for delicious Lunch. Rest of the jouney was mostly smooth sailing. Finally reached Kolkata at about 10 p.m.It was an exciting & thrilling trip. We thoroughly enjoyed a lot. But we missed out on most view points, and with this on mind we will be visiting Silk Route again. The photograph's in this travelogue were clicked by myself & other fellow travelers, so photo courtesy goes to them as well. Last edited by Fordlover88 : 31st December 2019 at 14:20 .
Sometimes you don't quite believe what you read. You read it again to make sure that you have wasted your time on some bizarre thing. This is surely one of those. One of the foremost South Asian revolutionary Urdu poets, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, has come under the scanner of IIT Kanpur after being accused of writing anti-Hindu poetry. Yes, you read it right, Faiz and anti-Hindu in the same sentence.

According to IANS, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge, lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

This has come as a response to complaints that the protesting students were chanting anti-Hindu poetry.

Reports suggest that the panel will also probe whether the students violated prohibitory orders clamped in the city on the day of the march, whether they posted objectionable content on the social media and whether the Faiz poem is anti-Hindu.

'Hum dekhenge' is one of the most famous works by Faiz, who was jailed in Pakistan along with other communist leaders in the state. Faiz is a revered poet across the literary circles in India, Pakistan and most places where people understand Urdu.

A few lines of the powm read -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge."

Reports suggest that objection came for the last line that can be loosely translated making reference to the word Allah for the almighty.

Faiz is said to have written this poem in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan.

He had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately."

It's such an insult to the revolutionary poet that he is accused of being anti-Hindu. Faiz has inspired many revolutionaries and his work remains undisputed in its class. He hardly needs any certificate.

Here's the poem.

With IANS inputs
A woman thought to be missing after bushfires swept through her town has been found safe and well.

Fears grew for the 81-year-old woman after her Conjola Park home on the New South Wales South Coast was burned to the ground at 2pm on Tuesday.

But she was confirmed she was safe at 5pm on Wednesday.

A fire in nearby Bateman's Bay. Many homes were destroyed in the South coast bushfire

Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters (back R) battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra

The woman's family had rescued her from her home, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Seven people have died in the devastating bushfires ravaging the region.

The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.

Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado

Dairy farmer Patrick Salway (pictured with his wife, Renee), 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.

Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.

'Today we have the three deaths. The police have confirmed at Yatte Yattah, a body found in a vehicle there, which is near Lake Conjola,' NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told media on Wednesday afternoon.

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street of Cobargo on the South Coast

'One at Sussex Inlet, a body in a vehicle. And ambulance officers have told us about a body that they have located as well deceased.'

'In terms of the situation down on the South Coast, we have three emergency operation centres operating locally up and down the coast that are dealing with any amount of local issues and doing their best to solve those problems for people down there.

Hundreds of properties have been destroyed since the flare-up on Monday night.

At least 176 homes were destroyed and another 50,000 left without power in the region.


Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday visited the state-run Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Old Age Home at Narsingarh in the outskirts of the capital to celebrate the New Year.

Chief Minister Deb interacted with the inmates and later took part in the birthday celebration of an octogenarian lady for whom a birthday party was organised. The Chief Minister also distributed shawls and had his lunch with them.

"Starting the New Year with the blessings from the elders is our tradition. I have an elderly person at my home -- my mother. She blesses me every day. So, on this New Year day, I came here to seek blessings from the elderly people, who live here," Deb told ANI.

The Chief Minister further said that the inmates would get Rs 1,000 as a monthly social allowance in the form of Old Age pension, which will be increased to Rs 2,000 in phases.

"Here, a total of 49 elderly people live. I came to spend some time among them. I pray for their good health and hope that with their blessings I can take Tripura to the path of development and achieve our goal," added Chief Minister Deb.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday the island would not accept a one country, two systems political formula Beijing has suggested could be used to unify the democratic island, saying such an arrangement had failed in Hong Kong.

China claims Taiwan as its territory, to be brought under Beijings control by force if necessary. Taiwan says it is an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.

Tsai, whos seeking re-election in a January 11 vote, also vowed in a New Years speech to defend Taiwans sovereignty, saying her government would build a mechanism to safeguard freedom and democracy as Beijing ramps up pressure on the island.

Fear of China has become a major element in the campaign, boosted by months of anti-government protests in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong.

Hong Kong people have showed us that one country, two systems is definitely not feasible, Tsai said, referring to the political arrangement that guaranteed certain freedoms in the former British colony of Hong Kong after it was returned to China in 1997.

Under one country, two systems, the situation continues to deteriorate in Hong Kong. The credibility of one country, two systems has been sullied by the governments abuse of power, Tsai said.

Hong Kong has been hit by months of anti-government protests triggered by widespread resentment of perceived efforts by Beijing to exert control of the city despite the promises of autonomy.

Taiwan passes 'anti-infiltration law'

Taiwans parliament passed an anti-infiltration law on Tuesday to combat perceived threats from China, further straining ties between Taiwan and Beijing.

The anti-infiltration bill pushed by Tsais Beijing-sceptic ruling party became law despite strong opposition from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.

It bans hostile foreign forces from activities such as campaigning, lobbying, making political donations, disrupting social order or spreading disinformation related to elections.

Story continues

Violators face a maximum five-year prison term and a fine of up to around $332,000.

We passed the bill to prevent China, which is Taiwans only threat, from using its sharp power and its capital to pollute, manipulate or sabotage Taiwans democratic activities, said lawmaker Wang Ting-yu, a member of Tsais Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), after the bill was passed.

The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwans top China policy-making body, said the new law would help strengthen the islands democratic defences.

Chinas propaganda and infiltration to divide (Taiwan) are getting more serious and have threatened our national security as well as the normal operations of social order and democratic politics, it said in a statement.

In Beijing, the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) lashed out at the DPP over the new law.

The DPP imposes Green Terror for its political and election gains to damage cross-strait exchanges while creating hostility and confrontation between the two sides, office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian said, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Tsai said the law will protect Taiwans democracy and cross-strait exchanges will not be affected amid worries that the legislation may damage business ties with China.

China suspects Tsai and her independence-leaning DPP of pushing for the islands formal independence, and has threatened it with war if there was any such move.

Tsai denies seeking independence and reiterated that she would not unilaterally change the status quo with China.

The bill has been a hot topic in the run-up to the elections as relations with China have dominated the campaign.

Tsai, who has described the vote as a fight for Taiwans freedom and democracy, is seeking a second term against the KMTs Han Kuo-yu, a city mayor who favours warmer relations with Beijing.

She has said the bill was a response to fears in Taiwans society over Chinas infiltration from all sides.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
The Beckham family threw their annual New Year's soiree, at their country pile, complete with a dinner party, a fireworks display across the lawns and plenty of singing and dancing on Tuesday night.

2020 was welcomed with open arms by the famous brood who took to the lawns to watch an impressive fireworks show for them and their guests.

David was seen on eldest son Brooklyn's Instagram stories with daughter Harper, eight, on his shoulders.

Have a Beckham New Year! The Beckham family threw their annual seasonal soiree, at their country pile, complete with a dinner party, a fireworks display across the lawns and plenty of singing and dancing. David was seen on eldest son Brooklyn's Instagram stories with daughter Harper, eight, on his shoulders

They bopped along to Yvonne Elliman's If I Can't Have You, having welcomed 2020 in with Carly Simon's You're So Vain blaring out.

Brooklyn, 20, filmed himself dancing to this with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz, miming the words of the famous tune.

Cruz, 14, filmed the impressive firework display that lit up the sky above the family's Cotswold's getaway, where they have been spending the festive season.

Earlier in the night, the family enjoyed a sit-down dinner, which appeared to involve a plethora of other guests.

She can't hide the Posh! Victoria was seen dancing as midnight drew closer, performing her famous Posh Point

You're so vain! Brooklyn, 20, filmed himself dancing to this with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz, miming the words of the famous Carly Simon tune

Disney character challenge: The Beckhams gave the latest Instagram fad a go during their NYE party

Explosive! Cruz, 14, filmed the impressive firework display that lit up the sky above the family's Cotswold's getaway, where they have been spending the festive season

Disney character challenge: The Beckhams gave the latest Instagram fad a go during their NYE party

The Beckhams gave the latest Instagram fad a go during their NYE party - the Disney character challenge.

Brooklyn tried it out on his mum, Victoria, who stunned in a black criss-cross top with a swan-emblem belt.

Victoria's Disney character was Dory, from Finding Nemo, while Cruz was Olaf - the snowman from the Frozen franchise.

Romeo seemed thrilled to be hunky John Smith from Pocahontas, while Nicola was even more delighted to be Cinderella, demanding her boyfriend 'send her that' immediately.

In the country: The Beckhams hosted their annual NYE festivities from their country pile, with Brooklyn posing with his girlfriend Nicola and Victoria teasing her evening's attire with a swan-themed belt

Earlier in the night: The family enjoyed a sit-down dinner, which appeared to involve a plethora of other guests

You gotta get with my friends! Not at the party was Victoria's former Spice Girls band mate Emma Bunton, who spent the weekend between Christmas and New Year's at the Beckhams' pad with the family

Not at the party was Victoria's former Spice Girls band mate Emma Bunton, who spent the weekend between Christmas and New Year's at the Beckhams' pad with the family.

The fashion designer, 45, shared a sweet snap of herself and husband David cuddled up next to Emma and her fiance Jade Jones on a sofa.

In the snap, Victoria lay sprawled across the sofa with David's arms wrapped around her as he flashed a beaming smile to the camera. Emma and Jade also appeared to be in high spirits as they cuddled up on the other end of the sofa next to the couple.

Victoria posted the festive snap on her Instagram page and penned in the caption: 'The most perfect few days with Emma and Jade and their beautiful babies x We love u all so much xxxx So much fun and so many kisses x VB x'

Emma also shared the picture of the two couples on her own Instagram page and penned in the caption: '#family Brilliant couple of days with this lot! #headsupgang #festivefun #bellylaughs love you all so much!'

Haha! At one point David hilariously got down on one knee and 'proposed' to Jade, while Victoria poked fun at the situation and said: 'Something I need to know?'

The two families later enjoyed a fun game of charades, as Victoria filmed David and Jade acting out words while she and Emma attempted to guess what they meant.

At one point David hilariously got down on one knee and 'proposed' to Jade, while Victoria poked fun at the situation and said: 'Something I need to know?'

The two families also spent time during the day enjoying a country jaunt, with Harper and Emma's youngest child Tate seen horse riding.

Earlier on New Year's Eve, Victoria reeled off both her personal and professional achievements in a gushing Instagram post, saying that she and her husband David, 44, had 'come a long way' throughout the year.

Loving: Victoria posted the festive snap on her Instagram page and penned in the caption: 'The most perfect few days with Emma and Jade and their beautiful babies x We love u all so much xxxx So much fun and so many kisses x VB x.'

Pals: Victoria and Emma have remained firm friends since their days in the Spice Girls (pictured in 1995)

Victoria detailed at length what she has done over the past year, while playing particular emphasis on her relationship with David, with whom she marked her 20th wedding anniversary

Alongside the series of snaps, Victoria wrote: 'What a year! Im so grateful to the community that has supported me this past decade. In 2000, I dreamed big and in 2019 I dared to dream even bigger...

'I launched @VictoriaBeckhamBeauty, with my co-founder and good friend @sarah.creal, as well as partnerships with @Reebok and @Sothebys. Im so happy to be home again and showing on the #LFW schedule...

'And like the @spicegirls we went on tour! From Berlin to NYC, Dubai to LA, Doha to San Francisco, I met some inspirational leaders like Sir #JonyIve and @SherylSandberg. And so many of you all high-kicked the #VBPose...

Happy days: Earlier on New Year's Eve, Victoria reeled off both her personal and professional achievements in a gushing Instagram post, saying that she and her husband David , 44, had 'come a long way' throughout the year

My guys: Alongside the series of snaps, Victoria wrote: 'What a year! Im so grateful to the community that has supported me this past decade. In 2000, I dreamed big and in 2019 I dared to dream even bigger'

'Even @theellenshow joined the gang (see more on #worldofVB!) 2019 will also be known as the #cooltobekind year and I continue my work as a @UNAidsglobal ambassador and led charity initiatives at #Pride and #IWD...

'There were also hours #InTheChair and singing @barbrastreisand @davidbeckham and I have come a long waywe celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and every day my family makes me the proudest mumI love u so much @brooklynbeckham @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham #HarperSeven...

'Thank you all again and #TeamVB for continuing to support me on this journey. x I wish everyone a happy 2020! x'
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy took a subtle jibe at those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act pointing out their silence to the restrictive immigration policy adopted by Hungary. In a tweet on Wednesday, Swamy claimed that the Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban has adopted an immigration policy that will allow only Christians to settle there. He also noted that "Muslim immigrants" will not be allowed in the central European country.

READ | Swamy Digs Up Old Records To Counter Oppn's Accusations Of CAB Violating Art 14

Hungarys PM has just announced according one Delhi newspaper that only Christians will be allowed to immigrate to his country. Hungary will not allow Muslim immigrants. Any howls please?  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 1, 2020

Doubting Thomases please read: RT @jagdishshetty: @Swamy39 Yes and it is reported in Indian Express today and see below Hungary PM Viktor Orban on Immigration issues # pic.twitter.com/AfHJ9ztN1s  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 1, 2020

READ | Subramanian Swamy On National Herald Case: Will Prove My Version On The Basis Of Documents

Why Swamy cited Hungary?

To put it in context, Hungary's right-wing PM Victor Orban has pursued a hardline immigration policy that aims to restrict immigration from predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa. He has been vocally Islamophobic and has challenged the European Union, of which Hungary is a part of, on the immigration issue. Orban recently put forward a new government policy that favours immigration of workers from Eastern and Southern European countries which are predominantly Christian.

READ | Kerala: CPI(M) And BJP Trade Barbs Over Resolution Passed By State Assembly Against CAA

Russian anecdote

Subramanian Swamy also cited from the news article that said Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that his countrymen weep when they see the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. He again pointed towards the "no howls" state of critics the issue faces. He added that the criticism only comes in when India provides relief to persecuted Hindu minority elsewhere.

It is interesting that now Putin has said that Russians have tears in their eyes when they see Christians being massacred by Muslims in Middle East! No howls?  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 1, 2020

READ | Dr. Subramanian Swamy 'shocked' As RTI Reveals Air India Serves Only Halal Meat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held telephonic conversations with top leaders of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Maldives, conveying New Year greetings and emphasizing India's commitment to regional peace and security as well as 'neighborhood first' policy.

Modi spoke to King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

The prime minister also spoke to his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

"The prime minister conveyed to the leaders his New Year greetings and good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf," the PMO said in a release.

It said Modi emphasised India's commitment to 'neighbourhood first' policy and the vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of India's friends and partners in the region.

In his conversation with Hasina, Modi congratulated her on being re-elected as the president of the Awami League for the next three years.

The prime minister also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali.

"He also stated that the upcoming birth centenary of Bangbandhu and 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government," the PMO said.

In his conversation with the Bhutanese King, Modi highlighted important achievements of the last year which have led to further consolidation of special ties between India and Bhutan.

The prime minister also mentioned that he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit of the King to India.

In his talks with Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Modi expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka would further enhance their friendly ties in the year 2020.

Speaking to Prime Minister Oli, Modi expressed satisfaction over the progress in India-Nepal relations in 2019 with the completion of several projects.

"He specifically noted the completion of Motihari (India)- Amlekhgunj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline in a record time," the PMO said.

"Both the leaders also agreed to an early inauguration of the Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar and the housing reconstruction project in Nepal through video conference," it said.

In his conversation with the prime minister of Sri Lanka, Modi reiterated India's commitment to further expand the close and extensive cooperation with the island nation.

Modi also wished the President of the Maldives Solih.

"President Solih warmly reciprocated prime minister's wishes and expressed his keen desire to further deepen and strengthen the ties with India by enhancing the existing bilateral cooperation and exploring newer areas for working together," the release said.
Authorities in central Nha Trang Town are investigating the hospitalization of 37 foreigners showing symptoms of food poisoning.

The group of tourists ate a buffet breakfast at Diamond Bay Condotel Resort in Nha Trang of Khanh Hoa Province on Tuesday that contained 30 dishes and served around 600 customers, including Vietnamese, Russians and Chinese.

Several hours later, many began suffering stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea and were sent to the emergency room at a local hospital, said Le Tan Hung, deputy director of the provincial health department.

All victims are now in stable condition and were discharged from hospital on Wednesday.

The health department said it had collected food samples from the resort to determine the cause of the food poisoning, results to be announced Thursday.

Nguyen Ngoc Hoang, general manager of the resort, said the buffet lasted from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Early in the afternoon, he received information that a group of Chinese tourists were hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms while many others remained normal.

"We are not clear as to the cause, but joined local authorities to review the stages of food preparation," Hoang added.

Nha Trang has long been a hotspot among Chinese tourists, accounting for the majority of total foreign arrivals in Khanh Hoa. Last year, Khanh Hoa province welcomed two million Chinese, up 41 percent from a year ago, according to official data.

Food poisoning occurs frequently in Vietnam, especially after meals at school and factory canteens.

There were 84 cases of food poisoning recorded in 2018, affecting 3,174 people and killing 11. In 2019, 63 cases of food poisoning have been recorded, affecting 1,723 people and causing nine deaths.
By AFP

SARMEEN (SYRIA): A war monitor said that land-to-land missiles fired by Syrian regime forces killed eight civilians including four children in a school in northwestern Syria on Wednesday.

Part of the building in the town of Sarmeen had been turned into a shelter for the displaced, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Sixteen people were wounded including some in a critical condition, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

An AFP correspondent in Sarmeen saw the remains of a missile several metres long fuming in a nearby olive grove. In the latest round of violence in Syria's nearly nine-year-old war, regime forces have upped their deadly bombardment of the northwestern opposition bastion of Idlib in recent weeks.

In December alone, the violence pushed some 284,000 from their homes in the jihadist-run region of some three million people, the United Nations says. The mass movement of people has seen public buildings such as mosques, garages, wedding halls and schools turned into shelters, UN humanitarian agency OCHA says.

Regime ally Russia announced a ceasefire for Idlib in late August after months of deadly Russian and regime bombardment that killed around 1,000 civilians. But sporadic clashes and bombardment persisted throughout the autumn before a spike in violence in the past month, the Observatory says.

Syria's civil war has killed more than 370,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. In total 11,215 people including more than 1,000 children were killed during the war last year, although it was the least deadly year on record since the beginning of the conflict.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1, 2020)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) will continue its current organizational structure, with Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano overseeing its operations.

Ano said close supervision of operations of the PNP is important to ensure that all the necessary reforms will be instituted.

He also sits as the chairman of the PNP's policy-making body, the National Police Commission or Napolcom.

The current PNP structure retains Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa as the PNP officer-in-charge until he retires this September.

If the President has yet to appoint a permanent PNP Chief by then, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan will be the next OIC by rule of succession.

PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said under the current system, the PNP is directly under the Interior Department.

As the caretaker, it is within Ano's power to fill the vacant position in the PNP's command group.

He was earlier appointed as the caretaker of the national police force until the President steps down in 2022.

The command group holds the three highest positions in the police force in the absence of a permanent PNP Chief: the deputy chief for administration who also acts as the OIC of the PNP; the deputy chief for operations; and the directorial staff chief.

"Magiging mabigat dahil malaking hamon ang pangunguna o pamumuno sa PNP. Subalit ibibigay natin ang full support natin sa ating butihing Secretary of Interior and Local Government, si Secretary Ano, at dahilan ito upang wala tayong makikitang magiging problema," Banac said.

[Translation: It's going to be heavy because it's a big challenge to lead the PNP. But we will give our full support to our dear Secretary of Interior and Local Government, Secretary Ano, and we do not see any problem with it.]

"Compared before, the PNP has improved so much thereby reducing the total crime volume and increasing the public trust rating. But a lot of work still has to be done specially in our fight against drugs and in weeding out the few remaining scalawags in the ranks," Ano said in a statement.

"We need the support of the community on this by providing us timely information. We'll enforce the law without fear or favor and we'll ensure the safety of the people 24/7," he added.
Iraqi Politicians Condemn US Strike on Pro-Iran Shi'ite Militia

By Edward Yeranian December 31, 2019

Multiple Iraqi politicians condemned U.S. airstrikes on the pro-Iranian Shi'ite Kataib Hezbollah militia Sunday, which left 25 dead and over 50 wounded, according to Iraqi government TV. Local reports say the group is becoming increasingly unpopular with large segments of the Iraqi public. Iraq's Parliament met Monday to debate the U.S.'s action, but failed to muster a quorum.

Amateur video showed survivors of the U.S. airstrike on the pro-Iranian Kataib Hezbollah picking through the rubble and gathering the remains of victims killed in the strike Sunday. Iraqi government media reported that 25 people died, including three Iranian officers.

On social media, pro-Iranian Shiite groups spread photos of militia fighters killed in the raid, calling them martyrs.

Iraqi state TV read a list of political leaders who condemned the raid. The broadcast added that Sunni Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi was calling on all Iraqi forces to "use self-control" to avoid any escalation.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Parliament met Monday afternoon, apparently aiming to condemn the airstrike. But a large number of MPs from Sunni, Kurdish and some Shi'ite political parties stayed away from the session, and no quorum was reached.

The head of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia hit by the air raid, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, vowed revenge, as militia fighters shouted approval.

Many Iraqi protesters who gathered in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, however, chanted slogans against Iran, which has become increasingly unpopular for meddling in Iraqi politics.

They chanted, "Iranians get out of Iraq," and "Free Baghdad."

Iraqi analyst Ahmed Shawki told Alhurra TV that pro-Iranian Shiite militias, including the Hezbollah group struck by U.S. warplanes Sunday, have become increasingly unpopular for their repression of popular protests.

He says that it has become clear to everyone since the protests began that the Shi'ite militias are under the command of Iran's supreme leader, and they have killed and maimed many demonstrators. Shi'ite militias, he adds, dominate the government, and no one dares to stop them.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told journalists that the U.S. airstrikes were a response for pro-Iranian Shiite militia attacks on U.S. forces.

"What we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months, which is that we will not stand for the Islamic Republic of Iran to take actions that put American men and women in jeopardy," he said.

A U.S. contractor was killed, and several others wounded several days ago, when Shiite militia fighters, reportedly from the Hezbollah militia group, fired rockets on the K-2 military base in Kirkuk. Pro-Iranian Shiite militia forces have also fired rockets or attacked U.S. forces at other Iraqi bases in recent months, including Balad, Taji, Ain al-Assad and Baghdad Airport, as well as the U.S. Embassy.

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A New Years Eve incident in which two firefighters were assaulted and threatened with a knife while on duty is the latest example of an increased level of violence being directed towards service members, Winnipegs fire chief says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A New Years Eve incident in which two firefighters were assaulted and threatened with a knife while on duty is the latest example of an increased level of violence being directed towards service members, Winnipegs fire chief says.

"It is very disheartening to stand in front of you on New Years Day to kick off 2020 in this manner," Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief John Lane said Wednesday, addressing media.

An unnamed 19-year-old man faces several charges, including assault with a weapon, in the wake of the incident shortly before 11 p.m. Tuesday, in an apartment building on the 500 block of Elgin Avenue.

The WFPS said a crew responded to a fire alarm and was resetting the system, going floor to floor, when members encountered individuals outside a suite on the eighth floor. A young man punched one of the firefighters "for unknown reasons," the service said, before allegedly threatening to kill crew members and arming himself with a knife.

A second firefighter was injured while others restrained the man until police arrived, Lane said.

One WFPS member sustained defensive knife injuries to his hands; another sustained facial and hand injuries. Both were treated in hospital and released, Lane said. The suspect was also treated for unspecified injuries.

"This is one of the more acute episodes of violence towards first responders that weve been seeing in the past year or two in Winnipeg," said Lane, citing use of drugs, particularly methamphetamine at street level, to be a common factor.

"Its extremely concerning that responders who go into scenes with the intention of helping and assisting and serving citizens are faced with increasing levels of violence," he said.

"We go to a call that has absolutely no indication of any sort of violence and we end up in this situation where there was clearly a life threat to staff involved."

As a result, the WFPS has engaged consultants to conduct a review into circumstances when violent incidents occur to service members.

"That process got underway about six or eight weeks ago, and were expecting the results of that early in this year, and then look to implement the measures that are recommended," Lane said.

Meanwhile, two men are charged with assaulting city police officers in separate incidents on New Years Eve and New Years Day.

In the first, a man injured two officers while resisting arrest, the Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday.

Officers had been called to a "family-related incident" at a home on the first 100 block of Dzyndra Crescent shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Police said a man assaulted a woman in her 50s and threatened to kill her as he fled the home. Officers stopped a man in the area of Rougeau Avenue and Bournais Drive and arrested him after a struggle. One of the injured officers was treated in hospital.

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Alen Mikic, 39, is facing several charges, including assault and two counts of assaulting a police officer.

The second incident happened shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, after police saw a truck travelling on Inkster Boulevard at Keewatin Street with the lights off and no licence plates. After coming to an abrupt stop on the 100 block of Kinver Avenue, a man got out and allegedly lunged at the officers with a knife.

Officers used a Taser to subdue the man.

Police learned the truck had been stolen from the Heritage Park area of the city Monday.

Kevin Bradley Sinclair, 34, is charged with assaulting a police officer with a weapon, two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, and other offences.

belle.rileythompson@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 19:33:07|Editor: xuxin

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Russian-run Hmeimim air base in the northwestern Syrian province of Latakia responded to "unknown targets" fired by rebels earlier on Wednesday, a war monitor reported.

Several explosions were heard in the city of Jableh in the countryside of Latakia as a result of the Russian base's fire, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The watchdog group said it is not yet clear whether the targets were drones and shells fired by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib.

No reports on losses emerged yet, said the Observatory.

The attack is the latest to target the base by the rebels in the nearby areas in Idlib.

Hmeimim air base has been the target of Syrian rebels' drones, which are usually flown from the nearby rebel-held Idlib Province in northwestern Syria.

The legal status of the base is regulated by a treaty signed by Russia and Syria in August 2015. At the end of 2017, Russia said that it had decided to turn the base into a component of its permanent military contingent stationed in Syria.
A crowdfunding appeal to raise money for legal support for a British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped has passed 80,000.

The help teen victim get justice in Cyprus GoFundMe page was set up by British lawyer John Hobbs in August to raise cash for the 19-year-olds legal representation.

The teenager said she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

But she was charged and the dozen young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

The woman, who had been due to go to university in September, claimed in court she was raped but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

The GoFundMe page has continued to receive thousands of pounds in donations after the woman was found guilty on Monday, and had hit its 80,000 target on Tuesday night.

The Foreign Office said the UK was seriously concerned about the fairness of the womans trial and it is understood officials have raised the deeply distressing case with the Cypriot authorities.

The UK is seriously concerned about the fair trial guarantees in this deeply distressing case and we will be raising the issue with the Cypriot authoritiesForeign Office

Lawyers and campaigners criticised the justice system after she was convicted of public mischief at Famagusta District Court, in Paralimni, on Monday.

And the psychologist who assessed the woman as part of her defence case, Dr Christine Tizzard, said she was concerned the trial had not fully considered that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

She told the Guardian: The salient point is that she was diagnosed with PTSD. Thats a standalone diagnosis. Its a valid diagnosis and it hasnt really been fully represented.

Aside the fact it hasnt been fully represented, it means shes been unable to get the treatment she so sorely needs and every day shes not having treatment the worse it gets.

But the government of Cyprus has said it has full confidence in the justice system and the courts.

Cyprus attorney general said on Tuesday that he could not suspend the trial because she had levelled grave accusations against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.

He said the womans allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim could not have been left to linger so he could not move to suspend the trial.

In a statement, Mr Clerides added: Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciarys work.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said he believed the woman had made false allegations because she felt embarrassed after realising she had been filmed having sex in a video found on some of the Israelis mobile phones.

The defendant gave police a false rape claim, while having full knowledge that this was a lie, he said.

There was no rape, or violence, and police had carried out a thorough investigation making all necessary arrests.

The woman has been on bail since the end of August, after spending a month in prison, and could face up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (1,500) fine when she is sentenced on January 7.

Her lawyers said they will appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court of Cyprus and the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

The teenager said that she was dedicated to seeking true justice, while her mother described the verdict as absolutely astonishing and said her daughter was effectively in a gilded cage as she awaits sentencing on the island.
(CNN)  North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that there "will never" be denuclearization on the Korean peninsula if the US "persists in its hostile policy towards" the hermit nation, according to the country's state news agency.

At a meeting of ruling party officials, the North Korean leader also said his country's long term security will be guaranteed by staying on constant alert and relying on "the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the US," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA released the report at the end of "The 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea." In the plenary, Kim said "the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism is built."

In an indication that North Korea could soon resume nuclear weapon testing, Kim said his country should no longer feel bound by its self-imposed halt on nuclear weapons and long-range missile testing. He also announced that "the world will witness a new strategic weapon" in the near future, KCNA reported.

On Tuesday night US time, President Donald Trump told reporters he was still optimistic about the future of diplomacy  despite Kim's new rhetoric. Touting his relationship with Kim, Trump said he believed the North Korean leader was a "man of his word."

"He likes me, I like him, we get along," he said. "He did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization ... I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out."

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News Tuesday that he hoped Kim "doesn't go in that direction" and instead will "choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war."

The US is "hopeful" that Kim "will make the right decision," he said, also telling CBS Evening News that "if Chairman Kim has reneged on the commitments he made to President Trump, that is deeply disappointing."

"We've lived up to our commitments, we continue to hold out hope that he'll live up to his as well," Pompeo said.

Kim was expected to give his annual New Year's speech on Wednesday a highly anticipated address as he had said he would only give the United States until the end of 2019 to change its negotiating strategy.

But at the time of reporting, the speech had not gone ahead. Kim had given a New Year's speech ever year since 2013, and traditionally used the address to make major announcements, update his people on a handful of government policies, and chart a direction for the country in the coming months..

A 'Christmas gift' to the US

Kim's latest threats come as American officials closely monitor North Korea following its promise in December to deliver a "Christmas gift" to the US.

The specific language  North Korea referred to its first successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch in 2017 as a "gift" sparked speculation that Pyongyang could do something equally provocative, though the holiday came and went without any weapons test.

A source familiar with the North Korean leadership's current mindset told CNN ahead of Christmas that the "gift" was more likely to be a new, hardline policy in which Kim would reinforce the state ideology of self reliance as a means of improving the economy  a pledge Kim made to his people in 2018 rather than pursuing sanctions relief in exchange for denuclearization.

Trump said on Christmas Eve that the US would be ready to handle the "gift," whatever it was. On Tuesday night US time, he again downplayed the prospect of a "Christmas gift" the North has threatened. "I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase," he joked.

On Sunday, National security adviser Robert O'Brien said the US is prepared to take action if the so-called gift is delivered, including a potential long-range missile test. Pompeo said Monday that the US is watching Pyongyang "very closely" in light of the "Christmas gift" threat.

The country had promised the gift if the US doesn't provide concessions like sanctions relief by its self-imposed, year-end deadline. The Trump administration had widely interpreted the promise of a "Christmas gift" to mean a weapons test, especially as intelligence indicators grew. Though no such tests have been detected from North Korea since Christmas, officials have remained watchful in the days following the holiday.

The KCNA report Tuesday said that Kim "solemnly declared that there is no need to hesitate with any expectation of the US lift of sanctions even now that we had close look into the real intention of the US."

The leader also said North Korea "will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the US," the state news agency reported.

This, Kim said, will guarantee "our long-term security, noting that the scope and depth of bolstering our deterrent will be properly coordinated depending on the (US') future attitude (toward) the DPRK."

Political ramifications for Trump

Kim's harder line could have political ramifications for Trump and his reelection campaign. Trump and his administration have sold the talks as an important foreign policy win, but Kim's new policy could spell a return to the tense days of 2017 when the two leaders traded insults and threats of nuclear war.

The two sides already started employing some of that rhetoric last month in the lead-up to the deadline. Trump revived his "Rocket Man" moniker for Kim, and North Korean state media referred to the US President as a "dotard" an archaic insult for a senile old person that Pyongyang first used to insult Trump after his address at the UN General Assembly in 2017.

While North Korea may be publicly blaming the Trump administration for the stalled talks, political calculations are also likely at play.

The source familiar with the North Korean leadership's current mindset said Pyongyang views Trump as politically vulnerable due to his impeachment and the looming 2020 presidential election.

Analysts believe Pyongyang is worried that if it does cut a deal with Trump and he loses in November, his successor may not uphold the accord. North Korea and the United States have reached previous agreements that did not survive successive administrations.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Kim Jong Un warns hostile US policy means there will never be denuclearization on Korean Peninsula'
BRUSSELS - December served up a warning of the massive challenges ahead for the European Union.

Freak storms wreaked havoc on parts of southern Europe, showing how the impact of extreme weather will drive the blocs thinking and climate change policy over the coming years. The EU has already said it wants to spend effort and money to remain the global driver of measures to fight climate change.

The United States also threatened sanctions against companies working on a gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, again showing that the trans-Atlantic alliance between EU nations and the U.S. stands for less and less in the age of power politics.

And across the Channel, a rare December election in Britain brought Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson a solid majority to back up his efforts to get Brexit done. As things stand, Britain on Jan. 31 is scheduled to become the first nation ever to leave the EU.

All these challenges will need a strong co-ordinated response from the EUs soon-to-be 27 nations if they want to live up to their goal of having a bigger global impact.

Europe must raise its voice more strongly in the world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in her New Years message.

Yet as time goes by, such European messages have become ever more plaintive and homegrown issues demand attention.

EU headquarters in Brussels, looking ahead to 2020, is now beset by tireless bickering over a fraction of the 1% of gross national income that the nations are supposed to spend on the EU during the blocs 2021-2027 budget period. As populism in Europe has turned the EU and its perceived elites into a pet target, national leaders are wary of being seen by voters as too generous toward Brussels.

EU Parliament President David Sassoli stressed the need for a budget deal as quickly as possible in order to avoid delays in implementing the Unions policies and programs.

Many, however, fear the year 2020 will get partly wasted on intricate EU budgetary manoeuvring. That would leave the EU  for all its mighty trading bloc, aid spending and diplomatic footprint  still hitting well below its weight when it comes to global issues.

Europeans are in danger of becoming hapless playthings in a tussle for pre-eminence between China, Russia, and the United States, wrote former Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt and Mark Leonard in a sobering account for the European Council on Foreign Relations think-tank .

Such a conclusion might seem counter-intuitive, considering how the EU has bounced back over the past few years and what it is striving for over the next decade.

It staved off Greeces exit from the shared euro currency and helped several other EU nations recover from staggering debt crises. It was a major player in getting both the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal signed. And it stood united as Britain lurched through three years of political turmoil over its impending Brexit divorce from the bloc.

In many ways, 2020 could mark a bright new dawn for the EU. A new regime is in place, with Germanys Ursula von der Leyen taken over as European Commission president and Belgiums Charles Michel the new Council President.

In addition, the Brexit will-they-or-wont-they drama has also turned a corner. The U.K. is set to leave on Jan. 31 and while the following trade talks will be tense and exacting, its hardly the stuff that will liven up newspaper headlines. Tensions still could arise between EU nations with widely disparate economic interests in trading with Britain.

But political shoals lurk. The year still could see a flare-up between EU headquarters and Poland and Hungary, two eastern member states where many feel the democratic credentials on which the bloc is built are being openly flaunted.

EU policies on climate change, the pre-eminent issue where the EU wants to lead the world, are facing domestic challenges. Coal-burning Poland is resisting calls to move more quickly in fighting climate change and farmers and workers in the Netherlands, France and beyond have protested new laws aiming to curb pollution. An EU summit in December had to go through linguistic contortions to claim a deal on an overall commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Outside EU borders, the United States has gone from a trusted ally under former President Barack Obama to an unpredictable partner under Donald Trump, who pulled out of the Paris climate accord that the EU was instrumental in brokering.

Strong recent disagreements over Iran policy and NATO show the trans-Atlantic rift is widening between the allies.

Existing powers are going down new paths alone, von der Leyen said in a thinly veiled criticism of the United States.

The EU is still a staunch defender of multilateralism and seeking global compromise. That approach is being tested daily, however, as China and the United States vie for economic and military supremacy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin seeks to undermine democracies and extend his nations influence around the globe.

The resurgence in great power competition has put pressure on the EUs dream of a multilateral world order, Bildt and Leonard wrote. The EU wants to play softball in a hardball world.

___

Follow APs full coverage of Brexit and British politics at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit

___

Follow APs climate coverage at https://www.apnews.com/Climate
Parliamentary immunity has stopped being in effect from January 1, 2020.

As reported, On September 3, the Verkhovna Rada voted to adopt on its merits bill No. 7203 amending Article 80 of the Constitution of Ukraine which fully abolishes parliamentary immunity from 2020.

The law removes from Article 80 of the Constitution the provision stating that parliamentarians cannot be prosecuted, detained or arrested without the consent of the Verkhovna Rada and that they are guaranteed parliamentary immunity.

Only one provision remained in the article. This states that Ukrainian parliamentarians do not bear legal liability for the voting outcomes or statements made in the parliament or its bodies, with the exception of liability for slander or defamation.

At the end of 2019, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed bill No. 2237 into law, bringing the Ukrainian legislation regarding the immunity of deputies into line with the Constitution of Ukraine.

According to the adopted amendments, the application for permission to detain, select the measure of restraint (detention in custody, house arrest), and other investigative search actions must be agreed with the prosecutor general.

Investigators of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the central office of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) are entitled to conduct pretrial investigation of criminal proceedings opened against MPs. It is forbidden to entrust the execution of a pretrial investigation of a criminal offense committed by an MP of Ukraine to other bodies of pretrial investigation, except for the NABU and the central office of the SBI in accordance with their investigative jurisdiction.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:36:34|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people were killed after a truck collided head-on with a passenger minibus on Wednesday in Ethiopia's Oromia regional state, local police officials said.

The accident happened in Gidami district in western Wollega zone of Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state on Wednesday morning.

Eight others sustained injuries from the incident, state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported, quoting Gejaso Abera, who heads the zonal traffic police office.

They are currently undertaking medical treatments in nearby healthcare facilities, according to police.

The deadly accident came on the backdrop of another deadly car accident on Sunday that left 27 people dead after an overloaded minibus collided head-on with another bus in East Shewa Zone of Oromia regional state.

Despite having one of the lowest per capita car ownership in the world, deadly traffic accidents, blamed on bad roads, flawed driving license issuance system, and lax enforcement of road safety, are common in the east African country.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday said his country will continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future, state media KCNA said, after the United States missed a year-end deadline for a restart of denuclearisation talks.

Kim convened a rare four-day meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's policy-making committee since Saturday as the United States had not responded to his repeated calls for concessions to reopen negotiations, dismissing the deadline as artificial.

Kim had warned he might have to seek a "new path" if Washington fails to meet his expectations. U.S. military commanders said Pyongyang's actions could include the testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it has halted since 2017, alongside nuclear warhead tests.

There were no grounds for North Korea to be bound any longer by the self-declared nuclear and ICBM test moratorium as the United States continued joint military drills with South Korea, adopted cutting-edge weapons and imposed sanctions while making "gangster-like demands", Kim said, according to KCNA.

He pledged to further develop North Korea's nuclear deterrent but left the door open for dialogue, saying the "scope and depth" of that deterrent will be "properly coordinated depending on" the attitude of the United States.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," Kim said, using the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the U.S. and guaranteeing our long-term security."
Manchester City host Everton on New Year's Day as part of the evening Premier League action at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola's men will be looking to avoid any more slips up, having already lost five times, which has resulted in City trailing league leaders Liverpool by 14 points, in what will have almost definitely ended their bid of defending the title this season.

Elsewhere, Norwich host Crystal Palace while David Moyes takes charge of his first West Ham game since his reappointment against Bournemouth.

Sportsmail's NATHAN SALT will provide live Premier League coverage including score, lineups and building-up, with full commentary of Manchester City vs Everton.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive for a day-long visit to Pakistan on Thursday and meet Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral ties, media reports said on Wednesday.

During his visit, the Crown Prince will also hold meetings with the top Pakistani officials including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Prime minister Khan and the Crown Prince will also exchange views on "matters of mutual interest and the regional and global situation", the Dawn quoted UAE's ambassador in Islamabad as saying in a statement.

It said the visit is aimed "to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two brotherly countries".

This will be the Crown Prince's second visit to Pakistan since Khan took office in August 2018. He had last visited Pakistan on January 6 last year, just weeks after his country offered USD 3 billion financial assistance to Pakistan to deal with its balance of payment crisis.

This is also the second visit by an Arab leader in just two weeks. Last month, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud visited Pakistan for a day-long trip.

Riyadh has said that it will host a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Kashmir issue.

The Saudi minister arrived after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that Riyadh had issued economic threats to Pakistan and pressured it into withdrawing from the Kuala Lumpur summit of leaders of Islamic nations in Malaysia.

The summit was seen by Riyadh as an attempt to create a new bloc to replace the dysfunctional OIC led by Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi embassy in Islamabad dismissed the reports that it pressured Pakistan to pull out of the summit.

Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the summit hosted by Malaysia, but skipped the event at the eleventh hour. The decision to pull out of the summit came after his visit to Riyadh for a meeting with the Saudi leadership.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This morning, many of us awoke to the news that a mob composed of an Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters had targeted the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad. The attack was the third phase in a series of back-and-forths between the United States and Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iraq-based branch of Hezbollah, Irans overseas terrorist organization.

Kataeb Hebollah had attacked an Iraqi base, killing an American contractor, as well as wounding many others. On Sunday, the U.S. launched a responsive airstrike that killed 25 Kataeb Hezbollah fighters. It was this airstrike that the mob used Tuesday to justify attacking the American embassy (which, is should be noted, is the same as attacking American soil directly).

In an early morning tweet on Tuesday, President Trump pithily brought the world up to date about events:

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

President Trump also tweeted out more specific information about the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad. He assured the world that Embassy personnel were safe, that the Embassys security had been reinforced, and that Iran could expect a certain and serious reprisal for the attack it had launched on American soil:

....Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Within a short time of the Presidents text messages, the Marine Corps Times posted an article detailing the support the Marines are delivering to the embassy in Baghdad:

A detachment of 100 Marines is deploying to Iraq to reinforce security at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad after Iraqi protesters supportive of an Iran-backed Shiite militia attempted to storm the compound, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. All U.S. personnel are secure and there are no plans to evacuate the embassy, the State Department told Military Times in a Tuesday email. The State Department added that the U.S. ambassador for Iraq, Matt Tueller, is returning to the embassy from previously scheduled personal travel. The Marines were requested by the U.S. State Department and their deployment was approved by Iraqi Security Forces, Central Command spokesman Mike Lawhorn told Military Times by phone Tuesday. Two Apache attack helicopters are providing over watch.

In addition to putting boots on the ground (and helicopters in the air) as fast as possible, Trump also let it be known that he was stacking up troops as close to Iran as possible:

The U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Divisions alert brigade has been issued orders to deploy rapidly to Kuwait amid the unrest in Baghdad, three U.S. defense officials told Fox News on Tuesday. At least 750 paratroopers are set to deploy to the region immediately, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. The alert brigade of roughly 4,000 paratroopers, known as the DRB -- the Deployment Ready Brigade -- has been told to prepare for a possible deployment in the days ahead after hundreds of Iranian-backed militiamen tried to storm the U.S. embassy in Baghdad Tuesday. Within that alert brigade, three rifle battalions had a certain alert sequence, 18 hours, 36 hours and 54 hours for the third. The entire brigade had a 96-hour alert window to deploy.

People on Twitter immediately noticed the difference between Trumps immediate and overwhelming responses, both to the initial Kataeb Hezbollah attack and to the attack on the Embassy:

Thank you Mr. President for actually caring about our personnel overseas!



It's such a breath of fresh air for our AMAZING President to actually send help rather than letting everyone die 



BEST PRESIDENT EVER!   Mr. Jones (@MrJones_tm) December 31, 2019

Hillary Clinton should take notes  Joey Saladino (@JoeySalads) December 31, 2019

Hillary Clinton should take notes  Joey Saladino (@JoeySalads) December 31, 2019

No doubt Iran would prefer pallets of cash, ala Obama, but a threat from a President with cojones will do the trick!



And its a lot easier on the American taxpayers!



Thanks to the best President EVER! President Trump!  Linda Suhler, PhD (@LindaSuhler) December 31, 2019

Trump himself is of course fully cognizant of the fact that he is blazing a different trail from that taken by Obama and Carter in the face of Iranian aggression:

The Anti-Benghazi!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

During World War I, the British had a saying about the Germans: The Hun is either at your throat or at your feet. The point was that Germany was not an egalitarian society. If it felt that another nation was weak, it would pounce.

Osama bin Laden said much the same when he summed up the Arab world: When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse. After eight years of Obamas weak horse, one that spent its time nuzzling Irans feet, Trumps aggressive approach will show whether a stronger approach will bring Iran to heel.
01.01.2020 LISTEN

It appears concerns and stiff opposition raised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the compilation of a new voters' register for the 2020 General Elections may not hold any water

This is because the Electoral Commission (EC) has mounted yet another defence on the compilation of a new voters register.

This justification is coming in despite the concerns raised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that there is no real need for a new register for the upcoming polls.

News from the EC to compile a new voters' register has been a controversial subject in the country with political parties expressing divergent views.

The Commission insists the software being used to run the current biometric devices is outdated and out of service, and that most of the biometric verification devices are faulty with high repairing costs hence the need for a new and better Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS).

Addressing the media on Tuesday, Deputy Chairman in-charge of Operations, at the EC, Mr. Samuel Tettey , maintained that:

There is no doubt that the voters register is bloated. The bloat is because we have not developed an effective way of cleaning the register. The bloated register increases the cost of our elections. The Commission always procures election materials based on the number of registered voters. This causes a lot of waste as the number of registered voters exceeds the actual voters. Again, the Commission will go ahead with the preparation of a new biometric voters register based on the reasons provided earlier, he said.

General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Aseidu Nketia has said it would be a waste of resources to buy biometric equipment for the election.

Samuel Tettey, Deputy EC Chair

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has on countless occasions disagreed with the introduction of the new biometric system and a new register.

It is for this reason that its officers walked out of a meeting with the Electoral Commission on December 10, 2019.

According to the EC however, the new biometric system the commission intends to procure will have a facial recognition technology to be deployed in cases where the devices are unable to verify fingerprints of voters.

The Commission intends to reduce the increasingly high identification failure rate by using a new software to improve fingerprint capturing and image quality. The current biometric voter device and the biometric voter registration kits are challenged by their inability to do biometric fingerprints, he said.

This was a labour intensive and expensive process that spanned through several months. The Commission had to hire additional hands to get the device ready for the district level election. The Commission spent close to GHc2 million to repair the machines for the district level election. The amount used for replacing a faulty device cost more.compared to getting new ones, Mr. Tettey added.

EC's new biometric register needless  Yaw Oppong

Legal Practitioner, Yaw Oppong had earlier described as needless the EC's decision to procure a new biometric system.

Mr. Oppong believes the EC should channel its energy towards getting a credible system of verifying prospective voters rather than procuring a new biometric register.

We should concentrate on getting one system of verification. Once we do that we will reduce this procurement. We need to ensure that we complete the registration process and avoid all these. I think it is so needless.

Ghana started using biometric system in 2020

Ghana's Electoral Commission first used biometric technology to register and verify voters in the 2012 general elections.

The EC again used the biometric system to organise the district level elections, three years after it was first used.

The EC also used the same system and voters register to organise the 2016 general elections.

---CitinewsRoom
Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that Prophet Nigel Gaisie has released a list of possible events in the year 2020.

A list of over 20 prophecies has gone viral on social media on a page associated with the founder and leader of the Prophetic Hill Chapel, Nigel Gaisie.

Amongst the prophecies are predictions about the possible manipulation of the Togolese political system by the sitting president, Faure Gnassingbe.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

READ ALSO: 31st December anniversary: Photo of former president Rawlings in full military uniform emerges

Prophet Gaisie also indicated that the Lord has rejected the government of President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

As a result, he went on, there is a possible return of former president John Dramani Mahama with a 52.1% win in the 2020 general elections.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that he prophesied the defeat of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2020 elections.

Some of his predictions are yet to materialize and others are often a repeat of prophesies from previous years.

His predictions have meanwhile generated responses by social media users:

Antwi expressed surprise at the prophecies.

Abiwu agreed with him, saying Akufo-Addo's government is the worst ever.

Ayisah wondered if God showed all the prophecies to Nigel Gaisie in a day.

Ankrah said she would record the prophecies to find out which of them really come to pass.

Amenyo however wondered why Ghanaians are blaming the man of God for his prophecies.

In other news, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has revealed that it spent about GHc6 million to promote the Year of Return campaign.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GTA, Akwasi Agyemang, the GHc6 million excluded media documentaries.

Agyemang, however, indicated that the returns far exceeded the expenses incurred by the government.

He also noted that the GTA directly engaged groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Congressional Black Caucus of the US to drive in more visitors to Ghana as part of the campaign.

READ ALSO: 5 major 2019 achievements Akufo-Addo believes would help him win the 2020 elections

Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos

Source: YEN.com.gh
Your age makes parent/teacher conferences challenging? Why? You are there to discuss your sons schoolwork. If a teacher brings up your age, or your childs sensitivities surrounding it, you should ask for the teachers advice about how to handle it, and be open to a course correction.
New Delhi:

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused the Shiv Sena of betraying the public mandate by forging an alliance with the NCP and Congress to form government after the state elections.

Addressing a rally, Fadnavis asked people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls in Palghar. It is unfortunate that the Shiv Sena has to compromise with those who abused Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the infighting.

The Sena not only betrayed the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.

Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the Shiv Sena bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.

Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power, the leader of opposition in the Assembly said.

Hitting out at Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for betraying the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.

Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices, he said.

Notably, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte attacked the party office in Pune on Tuesday to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry.

Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine to form government, but later things took a different turn and citizens have a witness to the political developments in the state.

It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet, the BJP leader said.

On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme.

The Shiv Sena made tall claims that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be wiped clean (of liabilities).

They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit, Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses. Now, they have gone back on their word, he alleged.

Fadnavis said when the Shiv Sena is queried about it, the party points fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi (for assistance). Did you ask Modiji when you joined hands with the NCP and Congress? No doubt, Modiji will help you, but remember farmers and citizens of the state will make your (Shiv Senas) political slate blank and show you the door, he said.

This government will be controlled not from Matoshree (Thackerays residence in Mumbai), but by the Matoshree of Delhi, Fadnavis said in sarcastic remarks, apparently referring to the top Congress leadership.

On Uddhav Thackerays comments that he gave a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra, Fadnavis asked if the CM said he would do so with the help of the NCP and Congress.

Balashaeb will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Senas move in the state politics, he said. He asked BJP activists to go to every house in Palghar and tell them about the work done by the party in the last five years.
The trade war, wild weather and angry farmers all generated major headlines in 2019 on corn and soybeans. But thinly traded niche commodities posted the most impressive gains for the year.

Rice, vegetable oils and lumber all posted price increases of at least 25 per cent. The reason: Crazy climate conditions were magnified in smaller markets where theres often less certainty over the supply cushion. Lower trading volumes can also make for exaggerated price moves.

Here are some of the little markets that saw large gains:

Rice and oats

Excessively wet field conditions hampered U.S. planting and harvesting of rice, soybeans, corn and spring wheat. While crop concerns helped spark annual gains for all those markets, rices 28 per cent surge was outsized.

As concerns mounted over U.S. supplies, Brazils rice output was also hampered. That means there are fewer options for countries that typically source supplies in the western hemisphere.

We have one of the smallest rice crops on record in the western hemisphere, said Milo Hamilton, president of Austin, Texas-based Firstgrain, a rice-trading advisory company. The domestic price in Brazil is shooting through the roof.

Oats are on pace to post a fourth straight yearly gain, the longest streak since 2007. The climb was propelled in part by rising demand for oat milk, according to Scott Shiels, grain procurement manager at Grain Millers Canada in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Its hard to tell if the gains will last, since relatively better prices may entice farmers to plant more in 2020.

Rice has outperformed soybeans and corn, so that will create some acreage next year and probably some lower prices, said Jack Scoville, vice president at Chicago brokerage Price Futures Group.

Vegetable oils

Prices for cooking oils saw a big boost. The move comes amid the spread of African swine fever in Asia, which is killing off tens of millions of hogs. With a shrinking hog herd, Chinese soybean processors are crushing less to make livestock feed, thereby also reducing supplies of soy oil. The palm-oil market has also been helped by supply concerns and expectations for robust biofuel demand.

Soybean oil traded in Chicago is up 27 per cent in 2019, heading for the largest increase since 2010. Palm oil traded in Malaysia jumped about 47 per cent.

Lumber

Lumber prices had a bit of a roller-coaster ride in 2019. First, Chicago futures fell as much as 15 per cent to this years low of $286.10 per 1,000 board feet in late May. The wet spring caused U.S. housing starts to tumble, while producers in Canadas British Columbia were struggling to manage supplies.

Tides turned when lumber companies finally curbed production, while U.S. housing starts rebounded. Prices are now on pace for an annual gain of 27 per cent.

The rally is expected to continue in 2020. The Canadian curtailments will keep supplies tight in North America, said Kevin Mason, managing director of ERA Forest Products Research.

Its going to be definitely a much stronger market, Mason said.
Alleged Islamic State member and former Irish Defence Forces private Lisa Smith has been released from prison after a bail guarantee was accepted by the courts.

Ms Smith was escorted in a white prison van from Limerick Prison at around 4.45pm and transported to an undisclosed location where she was to be met by a family member, a source said.

The escort, which is not usually given to accused persons granted bail, was provided by the prison service for "security reasons", the source said.

rejected

Ms Smith had been granted bail by the High Court, but the District Court rejected an attempt by a third party to lodge an independent surety on the grounds they had previous criminal convictions and were not related to Ms Smith.

Yesterday, a 5,000 surety, of which 1,000 was to be lodged, was accepted by the courts.

Ms Smith was due to lodge 500 of her own money.

Ms Smith (37), whose address cannot be published for legal reasons, was said to be anxious to be reunited with her two-year-old daughter.

The mother-of-one, from Co Louth, is charged that, between October 28, 2015, and last Dec- ember 1, she was a member of an unlawful terrorist group "styling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (Isil), also known as Isis, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005.

As part of strict bail conditions set by the courts, Ms Smith must reside at an address in the northeast and sign on at a garda station twice daily between 10am and 1pm and 3pm and 6pm.

She was also ordered to obey a curfew and must remain indoors from 8pm to 7am.

She cannot leave the jurisdiction or apply for travel documentation.

She must also provide gardai with a contact mobile phone number within 48 hours of taking up her bail.

Internet

Ms Smith, who denies the charge against her, has also been banned from accessing the internet or using any social media.

She is further prohibited from having any contact with non-garda witnesses in the case.

Ms Smith, who left Ireland and married after she converted to Islam, was found in a Kurdish-controlled Syrian refugee camp.

After a trek to Turkey with her daughter, they were brought back to Ireland on December 1.

Ms Smith has been remanded to appear before Dublin District Court again on January 8.
What Repatriation of French General Might Do for Franco-Russian Ties

By Jamie Dettmer December 31, 2019

French President Emmanuel Macron hopes the repatriation of the body of General Charles-Etienne Gudin, who was killed in Russia more than two centuries ago, could play a symbolic role in his diplomatic courting of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Gudin, one of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's favorite generals, succumbed to gangrene three days after a cannonball destroyed his leg in an 1812 battle 20 kilometers east of the Russian city of Smolensk. Bonaparte reportedly sat at Gudin's side as he died.

If all goes according to French officials' plan, Gudin's remains will be returned to Paris in 2020 and reburied with great fanfare in a ceremony Macron hopes Putin will attend.

Gudin's heart is already in the French capital, having been transported there by his loyal troops. In July, a one-legged skeleton was discovered in a wooden coffin in a park in Smolensk. Subsequent DNA tests established it was Gudin's.

If the Kremlin agrees to France's request, Gudin, who was 44 when he was killed, will be reburied in Les Invalides where the tombs of Napoleon and other military war heroes are located.

Russian specialist Helene Carrere d'Encausse told Le Figaro newspaper that Macron "has a sense of symbols" and sees a reburial ceremony as possibly helpful in his four-month diplomatic campaign to coax Russia into the Western fold.

"President Macron is trying to put Franco-Russian relations back on track," she said.

Ahead of last August's G-7 summit in Biarritz, Macron showed how adept he is at using symbols and history when he hosted Putin at his summer residence on the French Riviera. Macron hailed the impact Russian artists and writers had on France, saying they served as a reminder of how Russia is essentially a European nation.

It was a far cry from 2017, when fresh from an election victory in which he beat two pro-Kremlin challengers, Macron berated Putin at a joint press conference at the Palace of Versailles. Standing beside the uneasy-looking Russian leader, Macron blasted Russia for seeking to meddle in Western elections by spreading fake news, disinformation and falsehoods. He condemned brutal tactics, including the use of chemical weapons, allegedly employed by the Moscow-partnered Syrian government to regain control over the war-torn Middle East country.

Macron's about-face has made some of France's allies nervous, especially Russia's neighbors in Central Europe and the Baltic States. They fear that in his determination to move from hostility to rapprochement with the Kremlin, he risks falling into a trap of rewarding bad behavior for little in return.

But Macron has countered that "Europe would disappear" if it does not rethink strategy toward Russia, and that prolonging hostility will push the Kremlin into the arms of an assertive China, which also is courting Russia.

Russia reaction

Earlier in December, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin will look favorably on a request for the return of Gudin's remains.

"We know that French and Russian archaeologists indeed made such a discovery and performed a DNA analysis that proved 100% correct," Peskov said. "So, those are indeed the remains of General Gudin. We know that it is big news for France, and we also know that the agenda has the topic of returning these remains."

He added, "If France sends an official request, Russia will respond positively to returning these remains."

French officials have confirmed that Macron raised the issue in December with Putin during the Ukraine peace talks in Paris. Le Figaro said the reburial "could become a symbol of Franco-Russian fraternity."

Before considering an official tribute to Gudin, Elysee Palace advisers researched Gudin's life to ensure he was safe from reproach or possible historical embarrassment, French magazine Le Point reported. The advisers were mindful of the political controversy in 2018 surrounding Macron's praise of General Philippe Petain as a "great soldier" during commemorations of the centenary of World War I.

Jewish leaders and Macron's political foes argued that Macron's praise was ill-deserved, as Petain became a Nazi collaborator. Macron was forced to justify the homage.

Gudin appears to have passed the "honor" test. He is seen as a valiant warrior, above politics. He served the monarchy before the French Revolution and loyally commanded the armies of the French Republic.

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A woman is celebrating one year without buying anything she 'didn't need' after being inspired to cut down on consumption by a David Attenborough documentary.

Music teacher Becky Dell, from London, grew concerned about the amount of plastic in the ocean after watching the Blue Planet programme and set herself the challenge last December.

She decided to only buy food, drink and basic toiletries in 2019, and avoided spending money on items like clothes, presents, jewellery, plants or anything disposable.

Becky took to Twitter last night to announce the end of her year-long challenge, revealing she saved 1,621.69 after the 12 month effort, which she donated to charity.

Becky Dell, from London, is celebrating one year without buying anything she didn't need, and saved 1,621.69

Celebrating the end of the challenge, she wrote: 'I am on the last day on not-buying-anything-I-don't-need-year and thought I'd share in case it inspires you to do the same.'

She said she was inspired to take 'massive action' after watching the David Attenborough programme last year, saying: 'I watched the plastic floating in the oceans and wondered, with shame, how much was mine.

She went on: 'I decided to do a year of not consuming. My only rule was "not to buy anything I didn't need". This meant I could buy food, drink and basic toiletries etc.

'I didn't buy; clothes, shoes, presents, other makeup, hair products, jewellery, bags, decorations, anything disposable, plants, flowers, house items etc.'

After a year without buying anything she 'didn't need', Becky revealed she was looking forward to investing in some new socks

She decided to 'level up' the challenge by donating the money she had saved to charity.

And after the year without spending, Becky saved a total of 1,621.69.

However, she acknowledged she had occasionally bought items, saying: 'I bought 12 things during the year, for example, a new jacket when my zip broke at -15 up a mountain, brr, a couple of essential things for my very elderly cats and a couple of essential house items. Each one made me really annoyed!'

She also said she told supportive friends and family about her challenge, and was prompted to make more presents throughout the year for birthdays and Christmas, including jam, cakes, and embroidery.

The Londoner said she was sharing her story in case it inspired others to attempt the same kind of challenge

She added: 'The thing I missed the most was buying plants and flowers, I love nature and found that hard.

'Solutions were growing flowers from seed (harder than it sounds but I tried!) and getting cuttings from friends (lovely thing to do). I now have rhubarb growing!'

She explained the first thing she would buy were a new pair of socks, saying: 'I am so desperate for socks, and tights and pajamas.'

'According to my list, I also want to buy a Chilli water bottle, plants, nice tea-towels and a tea strainer. Exciting.'

Becky was inspired to challenge herself after watching David Attenborough's Blue Planet documentary and feeling 'ashamed' about how much plastic was floating in the ocean

Becky also revealed that January to August were 'surprisingly easy' months, while she admitted the challenge became more difficult in the second part of the year.

She said: 'Clothes started running out and however much I darned my socks they just stayed holey. It got easier in December as I could start counting down.'

Becky went on to say that she hoped the challenge would inspire others to consider how much they were consuming.
BERLIN (AP)  The German government has welcomed a deal between Russia and Ukraine to ensure the continued transit of Russian natural gas to Europe.

In a statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the agreement finalized late Monday in Vienna a good and important signal to guarantee the security of our European gas supply.

Germany imports about a third of its natural gas from Russia, mostly through the Nord Stream undersea pipeline.

A planned expansion of the pipeline, known as Nord Stream 2, has caused considerable friction between Berlin and Washington. The United States has warned that the new project risks increasing Europe's dependence on Russia gas and recently opened the way for sanctions against companies involved in its construction.

By contrast, the transit of gas through Ukraine is widely seen as vital for the energy security of countries in southern and eastern Europe.
Turn of a year; turn of a decade (colloquially at least); and  perhaps  a turning of the tide?

At first glance, the strange death of liberal democracy and the rise of populist nationalistic movements is a trend that shows little sign of reversing. The arrival of the first Conservative administration with a substantial majority in 30 years  absurdly dubbed the peoples government  would seem to confirm it. There are authoritarians increasingly given to repressing human rights ensconced everywhere from Brazil, Italy and India to Russia, Turkey, China and the Philippines  often with uncomfortable levels of public enthusiasm for their exclusivist policies.

Still, the facts on the ground, as they say in military circles, may make some impact. To take the overriding challenge facing humanity  the human-made climate crisis  the facts literally are there. Extreme weather events are more frequent and more devastating. Today, eastern Australia is burning, and the sheer scale of the disaster means mitigation is simply impossible. From the firestorms in Arctic Russia covering an area the size of the European Union, to the floods across England and drought across southern Africa, the threat to human life from global warming is growing more apparent by the day.
Alanna Partin scored a victory in Benton County Circuit Court on Tuesday when Judge Joan Demarest dismissed a felony charge of failure to appear against her.

Partin, a 39-year-old Sweet Home resident who has a history of defiant behavior in court and frequently acts as her own attorney, was criminally charged after she skipped a June 4 trial readiness hearing in another case before Judge Locke Williams. In that case, she is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm and several other counts stemming from a November 2018 traffic stop in downtown Corvallis.

The Benton County District Attorneys Office argued that failing to attend that hearing was a violation of Partins pretrial release agreement, which states in part: I do hereby agree that I will appear at all times and places as ordered by the court.

On Tuesday, Partin was in court for a daylong trial on the felony failure to appear charge (known as an FTA for short) before a 12-person jury. Instead, the case was thrown out after a hearing that lasted all of seven minutes.

Deputy District Attorney Andrew Jordan asked Demarest, with apologies to the court, to dismiss the charge based on fresh case law brought to his attention just before the start of trial by Partins defense attorney, Thomas Hill.

Hill had cited an October ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals, which held that criminal defendants dont always have to appear in court personally, provided they are represented by a lawyer. At the June 4 hearing, Partin was represented by Clark Willes.

For felony crimes, the personal appearance of a defendant is statutorily required only at certain critical stages  arraignment, entry of plea, trial, and sentencing, Justice Bronson James wrote in the appeals courts majority opinion.

After agreeing to dismiss the FTA charge, Demarest congratulated Partin on her decision to have legal counsel present at Tuesdays trial and scheduled her next appearance in the firearms case for Jan. 30.

The judge also gave Partin clear instructions from the bench regarding all her future court dates: I am requiring that you personally appear, Alanna Partin, unless you are excused.

On top of the Benton County case, Partin has a half-dozen cases pending against her in Linn County Circuit Court, including multiple counts of failure to appear. It wasnt immediately clear on Tuesday how those cases might be impacted by the Court of Appeals decision.

In an interview after the hearing, Hill said that would depend on how the release agreements in those cases are worded.

It could have the same or similar impact, Hill said. If Linn Countys currently using the same language we are (in Benton County), its inadequate because it doesnt have that word personally in there.

Benton County District Attorney John Haroldson said his office is scrambling to review all of its pending FTA cases. That includes listening to recorded court proceedings to check for oral instructions by judges to defendants.

To the extent where we have FTAs that dont meet that standard of having that express statement, were going to have to dismiss, Haroldson said.

Linn County District Attorney Doug Marteeny could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but the Court of Appeals ruling is sure to have impacts in other parts of the state.

Kyle Krohn, deputy public defender in the Oregon Office of Public Defense Services and one of two attorneys for the appellant in the precedent-setting Court of Appeals case, said hes only heard of two or three FTA cases being dismissed since the courts October ruling, but he expects there will be others.

There are some counties that are affected and some that arent, just based on the language theyre using in pretrial release agreements, Krohn said. On the other hand, he added, it shouldnt be difficult to change court procedures to eliminate the problem in future cases.

As far as future compliance, its an easy fix to make, he said. All they have to do is make sure the release agreements specify a personal appearance.

Reporter Bennett Hall can be contacted at bennett.hall@lee.net or 541-812-6111. Follow him on Twitter at @bennetthallgt.

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NEW YORK (AP)  When a machete-wielding attacker walked into a rabbis home in Monsey, New York, during Hanukkah and a gunman fired on worshippers at a Texas church 14 hours later, the two congregations in different regions of the country joined a growing list of faith communities that have come under attack in the U.S.

It is a group that crosses denominations and geography and has companions around the world. The frequency of attacks has faith leaders and law enforcement grappling with how to protect people when they are at their most vulnerable.

FBI hate crime statistics show that incidents in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques increased 34.8% between 2014 and 2018, the last year for which FBI data is available.

For a person bent on hate crime against a particular religion or race, you go to a place where you know a lot of people in that group will be congregating  and vulnerable, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Bostons Northeastern University. One place you can go to find people of a certain religion is where they worship. Most congregations, he said, do not have security.

Three of the deadliest attacks on congregation members have occurred since June 2015, when a gunman killed nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA TODAY and Northeastern University. The database includes attacks where four or more victims are killed.

However, the database wouldn't include the most recent attacks that have refocused attention on the security vulnerabilities at religious institutions.

The FBI's hate crime highlights list a number of crimes, including a Colorado plot to blow up a synagogue, an Oregon man sentenced to federal prison for targeting a Catholic Church and two guilty pleas in the bombing of an Islamic Center in Minnesota where congregants were worshipping in the mosque.

In this Nov. 10, 2017, file photo, family and friends gather around a makeshift memorial for the victims of the First Baptist Church shooting at Sutherland Springs Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AP

A five-year compilation of AP reports showed the frequency of attacks countrywide.

Recent stories included the stabbing of an Orthodox Jewish man as he approached the driveway of his synagogue in Monsey in November, as well as a Las Vegas incident where a suspect torched a Buddhist temple, then shot toward at least one monk fleeing the fire.

The data is definitive enough that the FBI invited faith leaders to its Washington, D.C., headquarters last June to discuss how to protect themselves and their congregants from bias-based attacks.

Mark Whitlock Jr., pastor of Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland, said his own staff and volunteers have met five times in the last month to discuss safety.

Our first responsibility is to make sure our congregants have faith in God and second, that they are safe," Whitlock said. We must not create an environment of fear but we also must not fail to recognize things do happen and evil is present.

Reid has a paid security staff of about 20 who wear uniforms and are armed. There are volunteers as well, made up of former and current federal agents, law enforcement officers and military who also provide security, Whitlock said.

Even with the protection, he is watchful. On Sunday, he was in the pulpit and saw the security force reacting to something. They explained later it was a stranger they wanted to identify.

When you're looking at thousands of people and you see your security force walking around, your mind begins to wonder," he said.

In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, right, of Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Congregation hugs Rabbi Cheryl Klein, left, of Dor Hadash Congregation and Rabbi Jonathan Perlman during a community gathering held in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)AP

The new spate of anti-Semitic attacks has added to the sense of urgency thats been felt by Jewish security experts since the 2018 massacre at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue, where 11 people were killed.

The greatest adversary we truly face is not an external threat, its a sense of denial, said Michael Masters, national director of the Secure Community Network. It was formed by leading Jewish organizations in 2004 to coordinate a response to security threats.

The conversation prior to Pittsburgh was whether safety and security was necessary, Masters said. Now its a question of how do we effectuate that  theres now a reality that these events can happen anywhere.

In this June 19, 2015 file photo, Najee Washington holds a photo of her grandmother Ethel Lance, one of the nine people killed in a shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)AP

Sundays attack in White Settlement, Texas, in which the gunman was shot dead by a highly trained leader of the churchs security team, came barely two years after more than two dozen people were killed at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. That remains the deadliest shooting at a house of worship in the U.S. in modern times.

The two Texas attacks have heightened worries among churchgoers in neighboring Oklahoma, said the Rev. Derrek Belase, a former police officer turned pastor who coordinates security training for the more than 480 United Methodist churches in Oklahoma.

Texas is close to home for us, Belase said. People see it on the news and think, That could be us.

Under Oklahoma law, houses of worship are among the places where adults are allowed to carry firearms, whether concealed or openly. Churches may ask worshippers not to bring guns with them, but Belase says thats not a common request.

When Belase is advising churches on security, his core recommendations are to work in tandem with local law enforcement, be wary of for-profit security consultants, and be sure that members of any church security team are thoroughly trained.

The security team leader in White Settlement wasnt just a guy with a gun, Belase said. He was trained to do that.

Pardeep Singh Kaleka, executive director of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, said his own Sikh temple has armed guards and an evacuation plan, the result of a 2012 attack in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, that killed six worshippers, including his father. He said the conference members talk regularly about how to prevent the next tragedy. All faiths want to remain open, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Christians, but you also have to be vigilant and institute safety protocols.
By PTI

KARACHI: A Chinese national was arrested on Wednesday in Karachi for allegedly beating up a traffic constable who tried to stop him from parking his car in a no-parking zone, police said. The incident happened at Qayyumabad area.

According to police, traffic police constable Amir, who was posted at Zaman Town traffic section, tried to prevent the Chinese national from parking his car there, which was a no-parking zone.

This enraged the Chinese national, who beat up the constable and tried to flee from the scene. However, some passerby stopped his car and handed the man over to police. An FIR has been filed against the man, who is currently in police custody.
The BJP takes right decision at right time, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday about the party's chief ministerial candidate in the poll-bound Delhi, adding nothing has been decided in this regard as yet.

He said media will be informed whenever a decision is taken about chief ministerial face of the BJP in Delhi, where polls are due before March.

Javadekar, who is Delhi BJP in-charge for the Assembly polls, blamed the Congress and the AAP for violence in Delhi during protests against the amended citizenship law.

The BJP will contest elections on a positive note highlighting the Modi government's works in Delhi, and register a "grand" success, he asserted at a press conference held at the Delhi BJP office here.

"The BJP takes right decision at the right time as per strategy. As soon as we take any decision about this, we will inform you," Javadekar said when asked about the BJP's chief ministerial face for Delhi polls.

The party will "soon" select candidates for the elections on 70 Assembly seats, the Union minister said.

He said Delhi polls are a contest of "nationalism versus anarchy" and "truth versus falsehood", and slammed the ruling AAP and the Congress for a host of issues including violent protests in the city against the amended citizenship law, lack of development and pollution.

"The Aam Aadmi Party and Congress are responsible for the violence during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Delhi. They have maintained silence and did not condemn violence and their people incited it," Javadekar claimed.

The AAP and Congress rubbished Javadekar's charges and hit back at the BJP.

"The AAP is absolutely against riots (violence) and we all know which party indulges in it. The masters of riots are accusing others (of violence) and are trying to distract attention of people from real issues," said senior party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Delhi Congress chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma termed Javadekar's charges "baseless" and said it was a BJP "drama" in the wake of elections.

Javadekar also claimed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal practises a of "misleading" people and tries to take credit for the Centre's work in reducing pollution and municipal corporations' efforts in containing dengue.

Javadekar said the BJP's agenda in the upcoming poll will be achieving "complete development" of Delhi, which he claimed was "denied" by the AAP.

He said that the BJP government at the Centre has provided property ownership right to 40 lakh residents in unauthorised colonies, free hold rights to 10 lakh shopkeepers, relaxed household industry norms, and providing houses in slums.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The chairman of Huawei has warned that survival must be the Chinese tech giants priority as it faces a boycott by western countries.

Eric Xu said life would remain hard for the telecoms firm after it was banned from doing business in the US over spying fears. In the UK, it is awaiting a decision on whether it should be allowed to participate in the rollout of 5G mobile networks.

But in a defiant message to staff, Xu urged them to fight back against the pressure by going all-out. If not for the bone-deep bite of winter, where would we get the heady scent of plums? Xu added.

Huawei already faces bans in the US, Australia and New Zealand, three of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, with the UK and Canada yet to decide on whether it can participate. In Europe, Germany is also due to make a decision on the matter

It comes as Huawei is fighting American-led calls for its equipment to be boycotted, with critics claiming it could be used for spying by Beijing.

This follows long-held concerns about the firms links with Chinas communist government, including some 57billion it is alleged to have received in financial support.

Huawei denies the claims. But the company already faces bans in the US, Australia and New Zealand, three of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing nations, with the UK and Canada yet to decide on whether it can participate. In Europe, Germany is also due to make a decision on the matter.

It has prompted threats from China that it could retaliate by reducing trade with countries who sideline Huawei.

Donald Trumps White House has warned allies that it could restrict intelligence sharing if Huawei supplies them 5G kit.

Responding, Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted he could side with Washington when he is due to decide later this month.

At a Nato summit in December Johnson said: We cannot prejudice our vital national security interests. That will be the key criterion that informs our decision.

It was reported on Sunday that security chiefs had given Johnson the go-ahead to allow Huawei into Britains 5G network, with certain restrictions.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday accused the BJP of being against "good and affordable" and demanded an explanation from it over the hike in CBSE examination fees that "burdened six lakh families" in the city.

Sisodia's remarks came hours after the BJP accused the Aam Aadmi Party of taking credit for the work "done by someone else".

Both the parties exchanged fresh allegations ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Talking to reporters, Sisodia claimed that Delhi BJP leaders asked the Centre to increase Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) exam fees after the AAP government decided to pay the fees of the students.

The CBSE in August increased the fees for classes 10 and 12 board exams by up to Rs 1,150, the first hike in five years.

Sisodia, who also holds the portfolio of the minister, alleged that the BJP is against affordable and quality education.

While the Delhi government is still committed to bear the full fees for government school students, this move by the BJP has imposed a huge financial burden on private school students in Delhi, he said.

"These families are not going to forgive BJP," he said.

"By increasing the fees, the BJP has put the burden on Delhi's six lakh families. This shows that the BJP is against education," he said.

"BJP is a political party which is entirely against any education reform. Today, the question I want to ask the BJP leaders why they are against affordable education model of the AAP government? I also want to ask why is the BJP is opposed to the idea of affordable and quality education across India?" Sisodia said.

Sisodia said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced that the Delhi government will pay the full CBSE examination fees of all classes 10 and 12 students of government schools.

"This fee was Rs 450 for General and Rs 125 for SC/SC," he said.

In Delhi, nearly 44 lakh students are studying in CBSE-affiliated schools of which around 6 lakh are in classes 10 and 12, Sisodia said.

He said his government's decision to pay CBSE exam fees was benefitting more than 3.5 lakh students in government schools.

"The BJP thought that this decision will affect their politics, therefore, the Delhi BJP leaders immediately approached their national leaders to ask CBSE to increase its fees. Thereafter on August 2, 2019, CBSE announced a steep hike in the Examination Fee for classes X & XII for the Examination to Rs 1,950 for General and Rs 1,650 for SC/ST," Sisodia said.

He said this decision has also affected the families of private school students and the four-fold hike of the fees shows that "the BJP is against the very idea of affordable education system".

"This also shows that the BJP opposes any kind of education development and quality education model in Delhi. If they have increased the fees marginally then it would have been understandable but this four-fold hike was a criminal offence with the families of students of Delhi," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Various stakeholders have raised concerns over job reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in state-run companies after divestment, Hindustan Times reported.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) to look into the matter, the report said. A PMO reference has been received by DIPAM on the issue of SC/ST reservation in PSUs listed for disinvestment. It is under examination, an official told the paper.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

Around 15 percent of jobs are designated for SCs, 7.5 percent for STs and 27 percent for OBCs in public sector units (PSUs).

The policy does not include PSUs where the government has sold its stake to a private entity, officials told the paper. Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) would also come under this category after the planned strategic divestment, officials said.

The legal stance is not yet clear in cases where the government is diluting its stake to below 51 percent, but still retains management control, the report said.

Petronet LNG was cited as an example of a company where the government has a 50 percent stake, but it does not follow the employment reservation policy, an official told the paper.

The government's holding in Petronet LNG is through four companies: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), BPCL and GAIL (India). Its chairman is the petroleum secretary.

In March last year, a parliamentary panel asked the government to introduce Reservation Policy for SCs and STs in all joint ventures like Petronet LNG in order to ensure adequate representation of SCs and STs.

Apart from BPCL and Air India, the Centre has proposed strategic divestment of its stakes in Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR).
The Japanese media lashed out at former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn after he jumped his bail and fled to Lebanon, on December 31, to avoid trial in Japan. A Japanese newspaper called the act cowardly and said that Ghosn mocked the countrys justice system.

Ghosn was awaiting trial in Japan on financial misconduct charges after Nissan claimed that the former chairman used the companys money for personal gain. He was out on conditional bail in which he was not even allowed to contact his wife but media reports claim that his wife played an important role in planning his escape.

Read: French Official 'very Surprised' After Ghosn Flees Japan

Japanese tax officials had found out that the 65-year-old former executive diverted corporate money for his private use. The National Tax Agency of Japan had reached the conclusion that Ghosn made donations to a Lebanese University and paid consultants fees to his sister using Nissan money.

The tax agency had ordered Nissan to pay taxes on the 150 million yen, which was recorded as office expenses for three years, since they determined that money was spent for private purpose. Though the revelation could not have led to a criminal case, it is considered that the findings would have strengthened Nissans case against Ghosn.

Read: Ghosn In Lebanon, Says He Left Japan Because Of injustice

'Lost opportunity'

The Japanese daily opined Ghosn lost an opportunity to prove his innocence and there is a high probability that the trial will not be held. It further added that the former Nissan executives wish to go through the trial in order to prove his innocence is now in question. The paper noted that the court, immigration control officials, and his defence lawyers are also partly responsible for the affair.

Carlos Ghosn served as chairman and CEO of Renault as well as chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. He was also the chairman of the RenaultNissanMitsubishi Alliance, a strategic partnership between the automobile manufacturers. It is said that Ghosn was working on strengthening Nissans relationship with Renault when he got arrested in November 2018.

Read: Former Nissan Chief Carlos Ghosn's Daring Escape From Japan To Lebanon Without Passport

Read: Japan Court Allows Nissan Ex-chairman Ghosn To Talk With Wife
A special court in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district has sentenced five men to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a 16-year-old tribal girl in 2018.

Special Judge (Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) Girjia Devi Meravi on Tuesday evening convicted Rajendra Nishad (26), Lalit Sidar (24), Kheeramohan Paikra (24), Sunil Gupta (22) and Girdhari Paikra (22) in the gang rape case, Special Public Prosecutor A K Shrivastav said on Wednesday.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each of them, he added.

According to prosecution, the five men had abducted the girl from Rajpur village on October 25, 2018 in a car, and raped her in a nearby village.

They were booked under sections 376 D (gang rape), 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 366 A (procuration of minor girl), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 B (criminal intimidation) and provisions of the SC and ST (prevention of atrocities) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Shrivastav said.

The chargesheet was filed in the special court on January 23, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The annual release of British secret state papers relating to Northern Ireland is a fascinating read for both politicians and historians. And if current revelations do not throw up any shocking surprises, they at least act as a reminder of what we came through 30 years ago.

A brief summary of what was happening here in 1989 is a grim reminder of the appalling events of the late Eighties. That year saw the outrageous murder of Belfast criminal defence solicitor Pat Finucane in front of his wife and children as they were having their Sunday lunch. There was also the murders of RUC senior officers Harry Breen and Ken Buchanan as they crossed the border in an IRA ambush and Garda were suspected of collusion. In October the Guildford Four were freed by the Court of Appeal in London after having spent 14 years in jail for terrorist murders because police had fabricated their confessions.

Those who rightly complain about the current state of affairs here should appreciate just how bad things were in those tragic and turbulent days. We should be thankful for the peace we now enjoy.

The sinister murder of Pat Finucane is, however, an issue that has still not been properly addressed and remains a canker in the our public life. Despite various approaches to this issue by the British Government, they have consistently failed to sort it out.

The Desmond de Silva review initiated by Prime Minister David Cameron into this egregious murder and published in 2012 confirmed that there was high level collusion by the RUC and the intelligence services in the carrying out of this appalling act. Cameron fully accepted the findings of the report, that there were agents of the state involved in Pat Finucane's killing. He accepted the report's finding that RUC officers proposed that Finucane be killed, passed on information to his killers, and failed to stop the attack.

It was also accepted that investigation of this crime was obstructed from within the RUC itself. Furthermore, the secret Army unit the Force Research Unit ( FRU ) bore a degree of blame as one of their agents, Brian Nelson, was involved in selecting targets for assassination. Along with Prime Minister Cameron, the then Chief Constable of the PSNI Matt Baggott, accepted that the police had "abjectly failed".

While David Cameron, to his credit, apologised to the Finucane family for the criminal and unlawful misbehaviour of the state and its agents, he also accepted the de Silva report's dubious conclusion that there was: "no overarching state conspiracy".

But this murder was not just an extremely brutal attack on a family in north Belfast, it also represented an attack on lawyers involved in defending paramilitaries, especially the IRA, in our courts. It was thereby an attack on the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland by state agents. There was a very clear threat by loyalist paramilitaries that defence solicitors, if they continued to defend suspected IRA members, their lives would be at serious risk.

The fact - long suspected - that the state had colluded in this murder meant that the state had attempted to undermine the rule of law. This was a shocking and unacceptable state of affairs. The fact that nobody has been made accountable is a scandal. While the agents involved in carrying out this grotesque killing are known, we are still unaware of the invisible political plumbing that lay behind it. It is simply not credible that individual state agents carried out such a high profile murder unilaterally and without some high ranking political approval.

Without doubt the de Silva report was an honest investigation by an eminent lawyer into this hugely damaging web of deceit and criminal behaviour by agents of the British Government itself. It was a good report coming to shocking conclusions, that were both critical and highly damaging of the Government.

Yet this was not the public inquiry solemnly promised by the British Government as far back as Tony Blair. David Cameron, for political reasons and from pressure within the security forces, abandoned that commitment and ordered an investigation that fell short of a public inquiry and thereby reneged on a binding governmental commitment.

In February 2019 the Supreme Court, in judicially reviewing this matter, decided that the Da Silva report fell short of a proper Article 2 inquiry under the European Convention of Human Rights. While the Supreme Court did not actually order the Government to establish a full public inquiry, its decision strongly implied that the Government should do so. To date they have not done so and have left this troubling matter still in abeyance. The best way forward is for the British Government to meet its legal obligations and establish a full public inquiry.

Happy new year.
Benjamin Netanyahu said today he will ask Israel's parliament to grant him immunity from corruption charges, in a step which is likely to delay his trial for months.

The Israeli PM faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, but has dismissed the allegations as a witch-hunt and refused to step down.

Today he revealed in a televised address that he would approach the speaker of the Knesset to ask for immunity.

The request is likely to languish in the deadlocked Knesset until after March elections, effectively postponing a trial.

Defiant: Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured in Jerusalem today) will ask Israel's parliament to grant him immunity from corruption charges, in a step which is likely to delay his trial for months

In addition, Netanyahu's move turns the upcoming election campaign into a referendum on whether the PM should be granted immunity.

A recent poll indicated that a majority of Israelis oppose giving him immunity.

In his address today, Netanyahu repeated his claim that he is the victim of an unfair conspiracy and said he would seek immunity while he remains in office.

'In order to continue to lead Israel to great achievements, I intend to approach the speaker of the Knesset, in order to fulfill my right, my duty and my mission to continue to serve you for the future of Israel,' he said.

Two 2019 elections left Israel in political deadlock, with neither Netanyahu nor challenger Benny Gantz able to form a government.

Responding to Netanyahu's speech, Gantz said the PM was 'jeopardising the civic principle upon which we were all educated - that everyone is equal before the law'.

Normally, a request for immunity would need to be approved by a parliamentary committee and then submitted to a full vote.

But the committee in question does not currently exist because a proper government was never formed after September's election.

Israel's attorney general cannot file the indictment until the question of immunity is settled, effectively delaying any court proceedings.

The request most likely means that parliament will address the matter after March elections.

Challenger: Two 2019 elections left Israel in political deadlock, with neither Netanyahu nor opposition leader Benny Gantz (pictured) able to form a government

If immunity is ultimately granted, Netanyahu can avoid standing trial as long as he is a member of parliament.

However, Israel's Supreme Court could still review the decision and strike it down.

The request also carries political risks, handing more ammunition to challengers who seek to portray him as an autocratic leader who sees himself above the rule of law.

Netanyahu was indicted in November over allegations he granted favours worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israeli media barons in return for gifts and favourable coverage.

He is Israel's first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime, but has remained in office as caretaker prime minister since the second drawn election and was re-elected leader of the ruling Likud party last week.

Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations as an 'attempted coup' and has vowed to battle them from the prime minister's office.

The 70-year-old has long accused judicial and law enforcement officials of trying to drive him from office.

His allies have issued stern warnings against what they call an 'activist' court overstepping its authority.
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Donald Trump's children were dressed to the nines for the president's glam New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.

Barron, 13, who was smartly attired in a tuxedo and black tie, was joined by sisters Tiffany and Ivanka, brothers Eric and Don Jr. on the red carpet for the swanky shindig.

Trump's children looked on from the wings as their father addressed the press before the party, with the president delivering a strong warning to Iran and laughing off renewed bluster from North Korea.

Though Barron has been a regular attendee at the bash since at least the end of 2014, he stood out on Tuesday following a notable growth spurt over the past year. While Barrons official height isnt publicly available, photos show that the teen is at least as tall as his six-foot-two father.

Prior to Tuesday's festivities, Trump, with First Lady Melania at his side, addressed reporters and spoke on some of the pressing topics of the day.

First daughter Tiffany Trump, a Georgetown Law student, was accompanied on the red carpet by her boyfriend Michael Boulos

Tiffany Trump attended the party with her boyfriend Michael Boulos. She clutched a 2020 rhinestone purse

Ivanka Trump walked into the party holding the hang of her daughter Arabella, while Jared Kushner escorted their sons

President Trump's 13-year-old son Barron was seen on the red carpet taking in his dad's brief press gaggle with reporters before Tuesday night's New Year's Eve fete at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida

Dapper Don Jr. stepped onto the red carpet, ready to ring in the New Year with his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle and her son Ronan

Eric Trump (left) and his wife Lara Trump (right) are seen entering the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party Tuesday. Eric Trump came over to reporters and wished them a happy new year, while Lara Trump told DailyMail.com she was wearing a design by Oscar Lopez

Asked if there would be war with Iran, Trump responded: 'I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn't last very long.'

'Do I want to? No I want to have peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody, so I don't see that happening,' Trump said, again saying it would go 'very quickly' if the two countries' militaries engaged.

Trump also said he still had hope North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un would behave, responding to reports that Kim said his country is no longer to the pause in nuclear testing, to which he and the American president previously agreed.

'I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase, that's what I like, a vase, as opposed to something else,' the president said, repeating comments he previously made.

'I think he's a man of his word, we're going to find out,' Trump added, referring to the two leaders' previous meetings.

President Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) stopped on the red carpet so the president could address the press before his official arrival at the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party Tuesday night

President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who is at the heart of the impeachment scandal, mugged for reporters on the red carpet at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night

President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani couldn't resist stopping and chatting with reporters as he entered the president's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago

The president had a few last minute 2019 insults to toss out as well.

'Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself. She's a highly overrated person. I know her well,' Trump told reporters during one of his typical anti-impeachment rants. He also went after House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, like Pelosi, a California Democrat, calling his a 'corrupt politician.'

As his impeachment heads to the Senate in early 2020 - though has been tied up by Pelosi for how it will be conducted in the GOP-ruled body - Trump said he wouldn't mind a trial.

'I don't really care, it doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned I'd be very happy with a trial,' Trump said. 'Cause we did nothing wrong. We didn't even have a witness and we won 196 to nothing, we didn't have a witness,' the president went on.

He was referring to how every Republican voted against impeachment, while three Democrats also joined the GOP.

The vote was actually 230 for impeachment and 197 again on the first article, and 229-198 on the second article of impeachment.

Trump spoke for about nine minutes before heading inside to chat with family and friends.

'I want to thank everybody, I want you to have a great year. Look, you're honorable people. You have to stay honorable. If you're honorable, I'm going to win the election by a lot. If you're not honorable, I'm just going to win the election by a little. So I'd rather have you be honorable, OK?' Trump told reporters before he walked away.

He also wouldn't reveal his New Year's resolution because he said, at Melania's urging, that he might 'jinx it.'

At the opening of the red carpet, Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, whos central to his impeachment drama, stopped and mugged for the camera for minutes, while other guests strutted through.

Other prominent faces include My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, news anchor Lou Dobbs, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican.

Eric and Lara Trump walked through together, wishing reporters a Happy New Year.

Lara Trump told DailyMail.com her swan-like light blue dress was designed by Oscar Lopez.

Ivanka Trump, wearing a red satin number, walked the red carpet holding the hand of daughter Arabella. Husband and White House adviser Jared Kushner sauntered in along her side.

Donald Trump Jr. was accompanied by girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle and her son Ronan.

Tiffany Trump showed up a little later than her older siblings, accompanied by boyfriend Michael Boulos.

Directly after, the parents of Melania Trump - Viktor and Amalija Knavs - walked through.

When the president and first lady made their appearance, with POTUS briefly talking to the press, the youngest Trump child, Barron, stood behind his parents, taking his dad's remarks in.

Trump missed his annual New Year's party at the opening of 2019 because he was stuck in Washington thanks to the government shutdown.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The privacy rights lawyers at Goldman Scarlato & Penny, P.C. are investigating claims on behalf of all persons whose payment card information was stolen through the Wawa data breach.

On December 19, 2019, Wawa announced that customers at all 850 Wawa locations had their customer data stolen starting on March 4, 2019, if not earlier, through December 10, 2019. Wawa allowed hackers to access its customers' data for nearly ten months before it discovered the breach on December 10, 2019. Wawa waited over a week before notifying its customers of the breach.

The customer data stolen includes the names, credit and/or debit information including expiration dates, and possibly other private information. Hackers installed malware on Wawa's point of sales systems to steal customer data.

If your private information may have been compromised, please contact a GSP attorney to learn more about your rights. GSP's privacy rights lawyers are currently representing or have represented victims of data breaches against Anthem, Inc., 21st Century Oncology, Community Health Systems, Inc., Athens Orthopedic Clinic, PA, Premera, Intuit, Medical Informatics, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, United Shore, Xerox Mortgage Services, and Target Corporation. Most recently, GSP attorneys representing victims of the Athens Orthopedic Clinic data breach scored a 9-0 victory in a ruling by the Georgia Supreme Court which recognized that victims of data breaches like this may have claims even if their information has not yet been used by criminals or if they have not yet experienced identity theft.

For more information, please email Mark Goldman directly at [email protected] or call Mr. Goldman at (484) 342-0700 to talk to a lawyer free of charge.

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Yogesh opened fire on him when he tried to flee the spot. Khan was rushed to hospital by the locals. His condition was stated to be critical.

Bhopal: The son of former Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader of Madhya Pradesh late Satyanarayan Katare opened fire on a passerby for not stopping his car, leaving him grievously wounded, police said here on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on the outskirt of Bhopal late on Tuesday night, police said.

According to the Govindpura police here, the deceased Congress leaders son Yogesh Katare allegedly ordered the driver of a car in which the victim Iqbal Khan (52) was travelling, to stop.

He along with some of his friends had then allegedly forcibly stopped the car and then picked up quarrel with Khan. He then allegedly thrashed him.

Yogesh opened fire on him when he tried to flee the spot. Khan was rushed to hospital by the locals. His condition was stated to be critical.
The city witnessed a dip in temperature with India Meteorological Department (IMD) recording a minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius, with the mercury dropping 3 degrees Celsius from the average.

For many of the residents, the sudden chill took them by surprise. At around 10 pm, it was suddenly quite cold and I was out at a wedding. Although I wasnt prepared for this sudden temperature drop, it felt good to feel cold as Pune has been warm the past month and its not really winters in Pune without the chill its famous for, said Jolene Fernandes, nutritionist and resident from Camp.

Pune is witnessing a dip in the temperature due to clear sky and northerly winds, with the core temperature dropping due to western disturbances. The city will witness a continuous drop in the temperature for the next two to three days, said an IMD official.

While New Year witnessed minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, the city will maintain mainly clear skies over the next four days with the minimum temperatures hovering between 10 and 11 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature between 30 and 31 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD, the western disturbance created due to a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and neighbouring areas between 3.1 and 3.6 km above mean sea level persists. The trough aloft with its axis at 5.8 km above mean sea level now runs roughly along longitude 72E to the north of latitude 30N. The system is likely to move east-northeastwards, while the cyclonic circulation over Haryana and adjoining northeast Rajasthan has become less marked. The other cyclonic circulation over north Gujarat and neighbourhood now lies over south Gujarat region and neighbourhood and extends upto 1.5 km above mean sea level while another trough runs from northwest Madhya Pradesh to above cyclonic circulation and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level as well as a north-south trough runs from Bihar to northwest Bay of Bengal between 2.1 and 3.6 km above mean sea level creating severe cold conditions in northern part of India. The night temperatures were appreciably below normal in some parts of Odisha, Saurashtra and Kutch and in remaining parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and were below normal in some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Konkan and Goa and in remaining parts of Saurashtra and Kutch. Night temperatures were markedly above normal in some parts of Nagaland-Manipur-Mizoram-Tripura and Telangana; appreciably above normal in some parts of Madhya Maharashtra, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 12/29/2021



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Which couples are still together and which MAFS couples have split up and divorced? And where are they now?

's first thirteen seasons featured 49 different couples getting married at first sight -- so which couples are still together, who has split up and divorced, and where are they all now?Each season of -- which premiered in the United States seven years ago and is based on a Danish series -- features couples (previously three couples, but four couples on Seasons 8 and 9, and five couples beginning with Season 10) being matched together by relationship experts and agree to marry when they first meet.Complete strangers become husband and wife in a matter of minutes, and the couples' lives are then documented by TV cameras over the course of the next four to eight weeks (eight weeks, in the case of 's most recent seasons).The couples typically enjoy their first night together in a hotel after exchanging vows -- with some couples deciding to consummate their marriage immediately -- and then embark on a honeymoon, move in together, and simply attempt to deal with the struggles of daily life as man and wife.At the end of the extreme marriage experiment, each couple must decide whether they'd like to stay married or get a divorce on "Decision Day."has experienced very mixed results over the years. While a significant number of couples decide to stay together and continue their new marriage at the end of their season, the real world seems to hit them hard after the cameras leave, resulting in the couple splitting up only months later.Do cast members see a different side of their spouses once cameras are gone, or do the romances naturally fizzle over time?Some couples are still together to this day and are extremely happy. Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner from Season 1, for example, have had two children.Several other couples have also had children -- including Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico Shawniece Jackson and Jephte Pierre Danielle Bergman and Bobby Dodd Deonna McNeill and Greg Okotie , and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd However, there are also relationships that ended badly. Jessica Castro from Season 2, for instance, accused Ryan De Nino of alleged death threats, and she went on to file a restraining order and lawsuit against him.Some couples have also never even made it to "Decision Day" and ended their marriage prematurely, including Season 4 couple Heather Seidel and Derek Schwartz as well as Season 6 couple Molly Duff and Jonathan Francetic Are the remaining couples now lovers, friends or enemies?! What about early season couples like Cortney Hendrix and Jason Carrion, Jaclyn Methuen and Ryan Ranellone, Vanessa Nelson and Tres Russell, Sonia Granados and Nick Pendergrast, and Lillian Vilchez and Tom Wilson?And how about more recent season couples like Danielle DeGroot and Cody Knapek Sheila Downs and Nate Duhon Jaclyn Schwartzberg and Ryan Buckley Dave Flaherty and Amber Martorana , and Tristan Thompson and Mia Bally Keith Dewar and Kristine Killingsworth , and AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Click thelink below to see photos of each couple and find out!

BEGIN GALLERY >>

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
Canberra, Jan 1 : Three more people lost their lives in the raging Australian bushfires on Wednesday, bringing the total number of deaths since October to 16 in deadly blazes that have forced thousands to seek refuge due to the worst fire crisis that has hit the country in decades.

"Police have confirmed a further three deaths as a result of the fires on the South Coast," New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters.

He said a person also remained unaccounted for in the state.

The fires have also destroyed dozens of homes and left three people wounded in the state that has been battling the deadly inferno since September 2019, Efe news reported.

Firefighters are trying to control the flames before Saturday when the temperature is expected to touch the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

Some 50,000 homes were said to be without power on the south coast of New South Wales, the worst affected state where some 2,500 firefighters are currently battling over 100 blazes raging across the province.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews, told reporters that military aid, food, water, and fuel have been sent to areas affected by fires in the state.

Military helicopters and navy ships have been deployed to assist in the evacuation of thousands of people trapped on a beach in the town of Mallacoota, located in East Gippsland in the extreme southeast of Victoria that shares a border with New South Wales.

On Wednesday, two Black Hawk and Taipan helicopters were sent to the disaster zone, while two Chinooks were also expected to arrive on Friday to aid in the operation.

The choppers will help firefighters in evacuations, as well as in the transport of food, fuel, and medicines to remote communities isolated by fires.

The raging bushfires in Australia, one of the worst in recent decades, have burned over 3 million hectares since last September.

The current wave of fires began before the start of the southern summer, which commences in December and could continue for months, with high temperatures and a shortage of rain expected until March.
Think of it as a new year's gift for St. Paul's most miniature learners: a college savings account for babies born to city residents.

Starting Wednesday, St. Paul newborns will automatically receive that college account with $50 in it.

CollegeBound Saint Paul is modeled after programs in other cities like St. Louis and San Francisco, and is designed to encourage children and their parents to think about college early on.

Mayor Melvin Carter said it will cover the about 5,000 children who are born to city residents each year. Children who are born elsewhere and move to St. Paul before the age of 6 will be eligible to opt into the program.

"Our goal is to figure out, whats everything we can do to ensure that St. Paul is a safe and promising place for the young people who grow up here?" Carter said. "This is a great opportunity to both invest in their long-term future, and their likelihood to go to college and to become taxpayers and teachers and professionals in our community."

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Carter said the college saving accounts are just one part of the citys efforts to expand opportunities to everyone in St. Paul.

The citys Office of Financial Empowerment works to help residents improve their economic situations, Carter said. It includes other programs that help residents file for the taxes theyre owed or improve their credit score. Its also worked to promote worker-owned cooperatives in the city.

"If you can learn how to save for college, you can save for a rainy day, or you can save for retirement, or you can save for vacation," Carter said. "Its one more way we can help families meet their goals."

Many families are too distracted by daily pressures to even start thinking about college plans, said Ikram Koliso, who runs the college savings account program for the city.

"Even small amounts of dollars, especially for children from low-income communities  that makes a huge difference," Koliso said. "That helps them build a college-going identity, that tells them, Your family, your community, care about you and your success."

Some research, including a 2013 study at Washington University in St. Louis, found that kids with college savings accounts with less than $500 in them are three times more likely to attend college than those with no savings account.

The program will also include some bonuses for families that take advantage of other financial services, Koliso said.

The program is expected to cost a little over $1 million each year for the next three years. State appropriations cover the first two years of the deposits. Carter said theyre hoping to foundations and other community partners will support the ongoing program.

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This story originally appeared at: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/01/01/welcome-to-the-world-kid-and-heres-50-bucks-for-college of story Questions or requests? Contact MPR News editor Meg Martin at newspartners@mpr.org  2019 Minnesota Public Radio. All rights reserved.


HONG KONG - Hundreds of thousands of people packed Hong Kong streets for an annual New Year's Day protest march as the monthslong pro-democracy movement extended into 2020 with further violence between police and demonstrators.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Protesters react as police fire tear gas during a demonstration in Hong Kong, early Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year's address Tuesday has called for Hong Kong to return to stability following months of pro-democracy protests that began in June over a proposed extradition law, and have spread to include other grievances and demands for more democracy. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

HONG KONG - Hundreds of thousands of people packed Hong Kong streets for an annual New Year's Day protest march as the monthslong pro-democracy movement extended into 2020 with further violence between police and demonstrators.

Police said they arrested some 400 people for unlawful assembly and carrying offensive weapons as hard-line, black-clad youths broke off from the main group of marchers and attacked banks and ATM machines with spray paint, hammers and Motolov cocktails. They smashed crossing lights, ripped bricks from sidewalks and barricaded roads in the downtown financial district.

Banks and businesses identified with mainland China have been frequent targets of hardcore protesters.

Police used pepper spray, tear gas and a water cannon to drive off the demonstrators, although a government statement said officers were deploying the minimum necessary force."

Senior Superintendent Ng Lok-chun told reporters that rioters hijacked the protest march and at one point endangered police officers by surrounding and throwing objects at them, which led to police ordering the rally to be called off at 6:15 p.m. Thousands, however, remained in the area and many had yet to set off from the starting point at Victoria Park.

Hong Kong people participate in their annual pro-democracy march on New Year's Day to insist their five demands be matched by the government in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. The five demands include democratic elections for Hong Kong's leader and legislature and a demand for a probe of police behavior during the six months of continuous protests. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

The massive rally followed overnight clashes between police and protesters on New Year's Eve in a densely populated shopping district. Police also used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons to break up groups of demonstrators who blocked traffic and lit fires in the street in the working class district of Mong Kok.

Hong Kong toned down its New Year's celebrations amid the protests that began in June and which have dealt severe blows to the city's retail, tourism and nightlife sectors.

Eric Lai, the vice convener of the march organizer, the Civil Human Rights Front, said he hoped to avoid a recurrence of the previous night's violence.

Police arrive to remove barricades set up by protestors in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Hong Kong toned down its New Years celebrations amid the protests that began in June and which have dealt severe blows to the citys retail, tourism and nightlife sectors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

We hope that the police can facilitate us, rather than provoking us, and to fire tear gas and water cannon at us," he said.

Such marches have often devolved at their conclusion into violence. Both sides have been accused of provoking clashes, and nearly 6,500 protesters as young as 12 have been arrested in scores of incidents on streets, in shopping malls and on college campuses.

Recent protests have drawn participants from across Hong Kong society, sometimes numbering more than 1 million and packing the downtown area from Victoria Park to the government office complex a short distance away. Many of those joining in are concerned about an erosion of the former British colony's civil liberties it was promised after being handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, along with a shortage of well-paying jobs and a yawning divide between the city's ruling class and those merely getting by amid soaring housing costs.

Police arrive to chase away protestors in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Hong Kong toned down its New Years celebrations amid the protests that began in June and which have dealt severe blows to the citys retail, tourism and nightlife sectors. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

This year's event appeared to be significantly larger than in past years, although estimates of the numbers of participants often vary widely between organizers and police.

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The protests began in June over proposed legislation that could have allowed residents to be extradited to China where they could face possible torture and unfair trials. The legislation was withdrawn, but not before the protests expanded to wider calls for reforms in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Protesters Tuesday also gathered at the Prince Edward subway station where police four months ago had rushed in, beating and tear gassing demonstrators who had no way to flee. That incident is among many cited by demonstrators as cases of police abuse for which no one has been held accountable.

The protests show no sign of ending despite an overwhelming victory by anti-establishment candidates in recent elections for district representatives, although their frequency and the level of violence has dropped off somewhat.

In her New Year's address, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the months of protests had brought sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage," and she vowed to tackle underlying social and economic problems in the coming year.

Lam said she would listen humbly" to help bring an end to the protests but also reinforced the importance of the one country, two systems" framework under which China rules Hong Kong and which brooks no challenge to the ruling Communist Party's ultimate authority.

In his own New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to the protests, saying Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation for the people of the motherland."
Fretting families and tireless firefighters have rung in the new year watching a cool change wreak further havoc across NSW's fatal firegrounds.

As fire authorities predicted the loss of multiple homes, a telecommunications outage left families on New Year's Eve unable to contact loved ones on the fire-ravaged south coast.

"No communication is a rarity in today's world so it's an uncomfortable feeling," Melbourne man Nic Baxter told AAP on Tuesday evening, as he waited to hear from his father in Batemans Bay.

"Fortunately, he is located in an area where I'm sure he is OK, but still very uncomfortable.

"I don't think I can celebrate NYE to be honest, too much on my mind thinking about the fires and family."

NSW Police earlier confirmed all power had been lost from South Nowra to Moruya and "potentially beyond", affecting at least 46,000 people and the supported telecoms network.

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo. Source: Getty

Fire conditions are expected to ease Wednesday after a cool change, bringing gusts of up to 80km/h and dry lightning strikes, crossed the state.

Before 7am no fires were at emergency warning level, but eight - including the 230,000-hectare Currowan blaze on the south coast and the 64,000ha Clyde Mountain fire ringing Batemans Bay - were at watch and act level.

Waterbombing aircraft helped efforts to stop a 250ha blaze reaching residential homes at Blue Haven on the Central Coast.

Total fire bans are in place for Southern Slopes, Southern Ranges and Central Ranges on Wednesday, ahead of predicted worsening conditions over the weekend.

Conditions set to worsen on Saturday

Authorities are preparing for what is expected to be a horror Saturday when conditions could be even worse than what crews faced on Monday and Tuesday.

We are assuming that on Saturday weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters Wednesday morning. That is something all of us have to brace ourselves for.

So at the very least, weather condition also be as bad as what they were yesterday and that's why all of our people on the ground, thousands of them, are taking advantage of the milder conditions to make us as well prepared as possible for Saturday.

Story continues

Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra. Source: Getty

Multiple property losses have been confirmed along the NSW south coast but it will take several days to assess all the losses, the RFS says.

The towns of Fishermans Paradise, Broulee and Mogo, which is home to a popular zoo, have experienced significant damage.

At least 50 properties and structures in Conjola Park, a small town north of Ulladulla, have been lost.

Conjola has certainly been identified as an area that has been heavily impacted by the fires and we're expecting a considerable toll in that area. As we are in a number of other locations up and down the coast, NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile major roads, including several parts of the Princes Highway linking south coast communities, are likely to remain closed for some time due to hazards.

People cover their faces in Batemans Bay, NSW, on Tuesday. Source: David Gray/Getty

Communities are also mourning three lives lost since Monday.

Firefighter Sam McPaul, and young father Patrick Salway and his dad, Robert Salway, died in two incidents in the state's south.

"We are broken," Renee Salway told friends via Facebook on Tuesday night after her husband's death was confirmed. "I will see you again Patrick, my best friend."

A 72-year-old man remains missing 50km north of Cobargo but police have been unable to safely reach his property.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expected to visit south coast communities on Wednesday after receiving a briefing at RFS headquarters.

Late on Tuesday, environmentalist Greta Thunberg weighed in on the NSW fires, tweeting the ironic hashtag (hash)ThisIsFine with a video of a fire front passing over a Fire and Rescue NSW crew's truck.

The crew from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming recorded this video showing the moment their truck was overrun by the bushfire burning South of Nowra. The crew was forced to shelter in their truck as the fire front passed through. #NSWFires #ProtectTheIrreplaceable pic.twitter.com/Hb0yVrefi9  Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) December 31, 2019

The crew from Wyoming had been cutting a path along a dark, smoky road south of Nowra on Tuesday before the fire front closed in on their left flank and passed over them.

Two trucks nearby were destroyed in South Nowra in a similar incident but the firefighters inside were unharmed.

More than 100 fires were burning across NSW as of midnight on Wednesday, with over half of those uncontained.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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A miniature horse named Diesel who survived horrifying bushfires was shot dead in what police have described as a 'despicable act'.

Chantal Press and her husband found Diesel's body about 300m from their property in Ewingar, near Tenterfield about 800km north of Sydney, on Sunday.

The couple had adopted the pony after its owners had their property burnt when bushfires ravaged nearby Drake in September.

Chantal Press and her husband found Diesel's body about 300m from their property in Ewingar, near Tenterfield about 800km north of Sydney, on Sunday (stock image - Diesel not pictured)

Ms Press said she was furious someone had trespassed onto their 44 hectare property, walked up the 1km driveway and killed the pony, the Northern Star reported.

Ms Press told the regional news outlet that a stray bullet was found in Diesel's body, which Ms Press said she believes was used to hunt kangaroos nearby.

The miniature horse was let out at 6.30pm and when the couple went to bring him back in at 11.10pm, he was dead.

'He already had rigor mortis, which meant he had been dead for some hours,' Ms Press was quoted saying.

'By his hoofprints, police said he appeared to have only gone 300m from the house to eat some grass and the other horses were very distressed.'

The couple had adopted the pony after its owners had their property burnt when bushfires ravaged nearby Drake (pictured) in September

The couple initially thought the pony was attacked by dogs as he had blood all over his mane, but the injury looked deliberate.

Ms Press said Diesel was 'a real sweetheart' and is offering a reward for anyone with information on his death.

'We hope the person responsible comes forward and apologises. They knew what they were doing. Diesel was very gentle he did not deserve this,' she said.

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia they are investigating the horse's death.

'Officers from Richmond Police District attended a property at Ewingar, about 90km south west of Casino, just after 10.30am Monday, after reports a miniature horse had died,' a NSW Police Force spokesperson said.

'An investigation is underway to establish how the horse died. The cause of death is unknown at this stage.'
The GST Council never ever had to resort to voting to decide an issue before its December 2019 meeting. In fact, the provision for voting under GST law was more a matter of an academic interest prior to that meeting.

The controversial issue of the GST rate on lotteries was decided by voting when the Council met on December 18 last year. Most of the votes were in favour of a uniform tax rate of 28 per cent on both state and private lotteries, with effect from March 1, 2020. The move was a partial defeat for the proposal by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac, on whose insistence the ...
The Bexar Country Sheriff's Office arrested a man Tuesday afternoon in connection with a domestic violence incident with his wife Monday at a Valero gas station in the city's West Side.

According to BCSO spokesperson Johnny Garcia, Mario Perez Ramirez, 44, allegedly punched his wife in the face and used a pistol to hit her in the rib area while parked at the gas station.

Garcia said the wife "feared for her life and managed to escape from Ramirez, who later drove back to his residence from the gas station. The wife called authorities shortly after escaping and is said to be OK, Garcia said.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

On Tuesday morning, Garcia said deputies found Ramirez after driving near the area of the residence. In an attempt to get away, Garcia said Ramirez fled from the deputies in his vehicle.

The pursuit lasted about 10 minutes and ended at a gas station near the intersection of Texas 211 and Culebra Road, Garcia said. Ramirez then ran inside the gas station where he was eventually tased after a brief altercation with deputies.

Ramirez has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a deadly weapon.

Garcia said Ramirez has a pretty extensive criminal history that includes previous assaults. The most recent charge was in May 2019 when Ramirez allegedly hit his wife with a plastic pipe in the back of the head, Garcia said.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
- The employees were hired through recruitment firm Career Directions Limited

- The sacking came barely two weeks after the airline announced a new acting CEO

- Outgoing CEO Sebastian Mikosz said employees were using unscrupulous means to benefit from the airline

Kenya Airways (KQ) has fired at least 70 employees affiliated to Career Directions Limited (CDL), a recruitment firm.

The employees most affected were those tasked with ground handling who were recruited to work on contract.

READ ALSO: Fishermen who said Kenya Navy ignored them at sea now unsure soldiers saw them

The employees were among those hired on contract by Kenya Airways. Photo: Kenya Airways

Source: Depositphotos

READ ALSO: Dennis Okari, his friends raised KSh 7 million for daughter Ivanna's hospital bill, journalist Ken Mijungu reveals

The loss-making national career had hired over 1,000 staff through CDL, Insight Management, Tradewinds Aviation Services, Preferred Personnel Africa and Strami, reported Citizen TV.

Among other requirements for employment was a through background check which involved contacting landlords and caretakers of the places that they stay.

The latest sacking came barely two weeks after the airline announced a new acting CEO Allan Kilavuka.

Outgoing Kenya Airways CEO cited frustrations among other reasons for his resignation. Photo: Kenya Airways

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Garissa Town MP Aden Duale hints at retirement from politics if Ruto becomes president

Although the reasons for firing the 70 staff were not clear, recently outgoing CEO Sebastian Mikosz while narrating how the airline made losses disclosed some of his employees used all unscrupulous means to benefit from the airline.

In one scenario, he said he watched CCTV cameras and witnessed how his workers tried to twist them out of view so they could load tyres into trucks and sneak them out.

The tyres were later traced to a shop where they were being sold openly.

We found the tyres in a shop. And there was a guy who was not even hiding (the theft). He said these are tyres from KQ, said Mikosz as quoted by Daily Nation.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
AKRON, Ohio -- A man died after he was shot while sitting in a car late New Years Eve in Akron, police said.

A 34-year-old man was shot multiple times just before 10:45 p.m. as he sat in a car on Kenyon Street near Oberlin Street, in the Summit Lake neighborhood, police said. He died after an ambulance took him to Cleveland Clinic Akron General.

The Summit County Medical Examiners Office will release his name once his family has been notified.

Officers were investigating a report of shots fired when they found a silver Chevrolet Malibu in the middle of the street. The man was found shot in the car, police said.

Investigators learned two men were involved in the shooting and drove away in a dark-colored vehicle, police said.

Officers recovered several bullet casings at the scene. The deadly shooting remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Akron Police Departments detective bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip, or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tips can also be sent in via text message by texting TIPSCO and the tip to 274637. Tipsters may remain anonymous, police said.

To comment on this story, visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments page.

Read more crime stories:

Cuyahoga County prosecutor continues high rate of charging juveniles as adults

13 people shot in violent nine-hour stretch late New Years Eve, early New Years Day in Cleveland

Man fatally shot girlfriend while popping off rounds to celebrate New Years Day in Cleveland, police say

While homicides in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio dip, the killing of children soars

Appeals court lowers bond for Strongsville Catholic priest accused of possessing child pornography
Reacting to BJP's objection against the passing of an anti-CAA resolution in the Kerala Assembly, CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat on Wednesday said that it was a request to the Central government to take back the "unconstitutional" Citizenship Act.

Speaking to ANI here, Karat said that the Assembly urged the Centre to roll back the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as it feels that the law is discriminatory in nature.

"Objections can be raised against any bill passed by Parliament. Everyone has the right to say that any law is wrong. Since the state felt that this (CAA) is unconstitutional, the Assembly urged the Centre to back it back since it can not strike the law down," he told ANI.

He said that the Assembly resolution was not against the law. "The Assembly has not taken any unlawful step. They (the Centre) are attacking the Constitution which can not be allowed," Karat said.

The Kerala Assembly passed the resolution seeking withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act on Tuesday.

Irked over the development, BJP MP and spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao demanded Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation, saying he does not have trust in the Constitution.

"CAA is a central law passed by both Houses of Parliament. If you are passing a resolution against it that means you are making a mockery of the Indian Constitution. In this case, Pinarayi Vijayan should resign from the (state) government and say I don't have trust in the Constitution," Rao said.

Reacting to the opposition to the resolution, Vijayan on Wednesday said: "The resolution passed by Kerala (Assembly) is against the unconstitutional Act passed by the Centre. It has been noticed by the whole country."

He said that any challenges arising out of the move will be "faced together by Kerala".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump entered the new year facing flare-ups of long-burning crises with two old adversaries  Iran and North Korea  that are directly challenging his claim to have reasserted American power around the world.

While the Iranian-backed attack on the United States Embassy in Baghdad seemed to be under control, it played to Mr. Trumps longtime worry that American diplomats and troops in the Middle East are easy targets and his longtime position that the United States must pull back from the region.

In North Korea, Kim Jong-uns declaration on Wednesday that the world would witness a new strategic weapon seemed to be the end of an 18-month experiment in which Mr. Trump believed his force of personality  and vague promises of economic development  would wipe away a problem that plagued the last 12 of his predecessors.

The timing of these new challenges is critical: Both the Iranians and the North Koreans seem to sense the vulnerability of a president under impeachment and facing re-election, even if they are often clumsy as they try to play those events to their advantage.
The NSW Rural Fire Service has warned people to leave the South Coast if they don't need to stay before the return of bushfire dangers possibly more extreme than those that destroyed hundreds of homes and left several people dead on New Year's Eve.

Senior RFS spokesman Ben Shepherd told The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday evening that teams of staff were planning to visit camping grounds, caravan parks and other accommodation in a region stretching from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border from Thursday morning, to ask people to leave if they had no reason to stay.

Inspector Shepherd said fires remained active near many towns and, with the return of high temperatures and strong winds, particularly on Saturday, "it is likely we will see them flare up".

"We don't want a large population in the region," he said.
Tel Aviv [Israel], Jan 2 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday requested speaker of the Knesset -- country's parliament-- to grant parliamentary immunity for three criminal cases against him.



"I would like to lead the government of Israel for many years. According to the law, immunity is always temporary. Immunity gives the people's representatives temporary protection from the judiciary. It lasts until the current convocation of the Knesset [Israeli parliament] stops functioning," he said, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

In November last year, Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu has denied all the allegations, saying they are part of a politically orchestrated "witch-hunt" to oust him from office.

In a swift response to Netanyahu's request, Avigdor Liberman, his political rival of the Yisrael Beytenu opposed the immunity request in a social media post.

On his plea for immunity, he further said, "I would like to lead the government of Israel for many years. According to the law, immunity is always temporary. Immunity gives the people's representatives temporary protection from the judiciary."

The Israeli PM has been the subject of multiple corruption investigations and cases of impropriety, including, advancing a law that would benefit one of Israel's major newspapers, and supporting looser regulation of telecommunication company Bezeq in return for positive coverage. (ANI)
Fearing that Muslim refugees living in India might return to Bangladesh, the Sheikh Hasina government on Monday suspended mobile services in areas along the border.

Though the Bangladesh high commission officials in New Delhi said they were not aware of the decision, the Dhaka media reported that the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had issued an order for suspension of services on Sunday.



"We don't have any such information. Only BTRC can confirm it. We have nothing to do with it," a high commission official told IANS.





Media reports however said that BTRC in its order to telecommunications service providers- Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi and Banglalink had asked them to suspend the network in border areas "until further notice for the sake of the country's security in the current circumstances".



Dhaka newspapers said the network had been suspended on Monday, affecting around 10 million users in 32 districts of Bangladesh along the border. The decision was taken by the government after a high-level meeting, media reports said.



Intelligence sources however told IANS that the Bangladesh government was concerned about the ongoing protests by both supporters and opponents of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that India passed recently.The law grants citizenship to non-Muslims who were persecuted for their faith in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and had arrived as refugees in India till December 31, 2014.



Earlier, in Assam in northeast bordering Bangladesh, after a long movement against both Hindu and Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, a National Register of Citizens (NRC) was created to identify Indian citizens living since March 24, 1971, or before on the instructions of the Supreme Court. The process disqualified over 19 lakh people.



The CAA has triggered massive protests in India. While in Assam, ethnic natives are opposed to the citizenship of Hindu Bangladeshi refugees granted under CAA, in the rest of the country, opposition has been protesting for excluding Muslims.



Bangladesh has expressed its displeasure over CAA and Modi government's intent to conduct a country-wide NRC. Early this month, Bangladesh ministers cancelled their visit to India because of the strain caused due to CAA. The Sheikh Hasina government has sought from the Modi government, a list of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India, along with proof.
The dispute over the 2017 fine stemmed from Exxon's deals with Moscow-based Rosneft, whose CEO, Igor Sechin, was on the list of sanctioned Russians.

Exxon Mobil Corp. won a lawsuit challenging a $2 million fine levied against it by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin after the company allegedly violated Ukraine-related sanctions with a series of oil and gas deals in Russia.

Exxon wasn't given sufficient notice that the 2014 contracts with a powerful ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin would violate restrictions put in place after Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle said in a ruling Tuesday in Dallas, Bloomberg reports.

Read alsoU.S. voices deadline for companies involved in Nord Stream 2, threatens with sanctions

The dispute over the 2017 fine by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control stemmed from Exxon's deals with Moscow-based Rosneft PJSC while Rosneft's chief executive officer, Igor Sechin, was on Treasury's list of sanctioned Russians.

Exxon argued in the lawsuit that it was being wrongfully penalized for doing business with Rosneft, which wasn't under sanction, simply because Sechin signed the deals. The company said the agency's interpretation of a 2014 executive order by former U.S. President Barack Obama violated the Administrative Procedure Act because it was "arbitrary and capricious."

"ExxonMobil acknowledges the court's decision, which confirms we complied with the applicable sanction," Exxon said in a statement Tuesday.

Treasury didn't respond to a message seeking comment.
JACKSON, Miss. - Candidates for federal offices can start filing qualifying papers on Thursday in Mississippi.

The states longest-serving member of Congress, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that he is seeking another two-year term. The states three Republican U.S. representatives  Steven Palazzo, Trent Kelly and Michael Guest  are also expected to run again.

One of Mississippis two U.S. senators, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, is seeking a full six-year term. The Democrat she defeated in a November 2018 special election, former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, said weeks ago that he is running again. If both win the party nominations, that would set up a rematch.

Mississippis qualifying period for Democratic and Republican candidates for president runs Jan. 2-15. For independent candidates for president, the qualifying period is Jan. 2-Sept. 4.

Qualifying for all candidates for U.S. House and Senate seats runs Jan. 2-10.

Mississippis primaries for president, House and Senate are March 10. If runoffs are needed, they will be March 31.

For Mississippi judicial candidates, the qualifying period is Jan. 2 to March 2.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant appointed Hyde-Smith to the Senate in the spring of 2018 when longtime Republican Sen. Thad Cochran retired. She had to win the special election to fill the final two years of the term Cochran started. Hyde-Smith campaigned as an ally of President Donald Trump, and he travelled to Mississippi to campaign for her. Espy received support from several prominent Democrats, with U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick all travelling to Mississippi to appear with him.

Mississippis other Republican U.S. senator, Roger Wicker, won a six-year term in a regular election in 2018.

Thompson is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. He won a 1993 special election to succeed Espy in the House after then-President Bill Clinton chose Espy as agriculture secretary. Thompson represents Mississippis 2nd Congressional District, which stretches through the Delta and into the metro Jackson area.

Palazzo was elected to the House in 2010 in south Mississippis 4th District, unseating Democratic U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor.

Kelly won a special election in north Mississippis 1st District in June 2015 to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee, who died of brain cancer.

Guest is the newest member of Mississippis congressional delegation. He was elected in the central 3rd District in November 2018 to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper, who chose not to seek reelection after a decade in Congress.

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Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : After the cabinet expansion in Maharashtra, the discontent amongst the legislators is rising day by day. Pune MLA Sangram Thopte's supporters ransacked the Congress office as he was denied a cabinet berth. Not only Thopte, former Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's daughter Praniti Shinde has also been left out in the expansion.

The supporters of Thopte have written to interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, while some have shown a rebellious attitude towards the party.

Sources say that senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be talking to these people to quell a Karnataka type rebellion within the party.

Other MLAs who have not gone public have listed their grievances before the party. Some of the MLAs have said that they will meet Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to apprise them of the situation.

While the intervention from New Delhi has yielded results as Praniti Shinde has denied any differences with the party and Sangram Thopte has said that he is with the party.

Earlier on Tuesday, Congress ministers accompanied by Mallikarjun Kharge, K.C. Venugopal and party secretary Ashish Dua, met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and apparently talked about the dissent.

Senior ministers, including Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan who took oath on Monday, also met the top leadership.

The Congress in the state has been facing internal differences with some senior leaders saying that they have been ignored in the cabinet expansion.

Amin Patel, the two time MLA from Mumbai, was expecting a cabinet berth, but was overlooked while younger members Aslam Sheikh and Varsha Gaikwad were inducted in the cabinet. In Mumbai, former minister Arif Nasim Khan who narrowly lost the election is also believed to be upset. Now he has demanded that the Maharashtra Government follow Kerala and pass an anti-CAA resolution.

The senior leaders have made their grievances known to the party leadership. The Congress, which came fourth in the Assembly polls, is now planning to accommodate senior leaders in the party and many may be assigned organisational work, said a source.

The Congress has got 12 berths in the cabinet and is eyeing some key portfolios. Apart from the Speaker's post, the party has to appoint a new state president as Balasaheb Thorat has been inducted in the cabinet.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was the frontrunner for the Speaker's post, is now being tipped to be the next state Congress chief. Another former chief minister Ashok Chavan is now part of the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet.
Two army personnel were killed in a gunfight with heavily-armed Pakistani infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said.

Jammu: Two army personnel were killed in a gunfight with heavily-armed Pakistani infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said.

The infiltrators were intercepted in the Khari Thrayat forest when they were trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), they said.

"Two army soldiers martyred during cordon and search operation in Nowshera sector. The operation is still in progress and further details are awaited," Jammu-based Indian Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lt Col Devender Anand said in a statement.

The search operation was launched following information about the movement of suspected terrorists, the officials said.

The infiltrators opened fire on the troops and during a fierce gunfight, the two soldiers were killed, they said.

The officials said a massive operation is on in the area.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is trying to take its so-far-unsuccessful battle over Pennsylvania tolls to the U.S. Supreme Court.

At the heart of the effort by the OOIDA and several other plaintiffs in the case is the question of whether there is legally such a thing as an excessive toll. The definition of "excessive" here is not just that it gets motorists and truckers complaining about how high it is. Rather, the question is whether a toll can be so high that it impinges on interstate commerce, the regulation of which is a federal activity, and whether the Pennsylvania tolls are so excessive that they meet that standard.

OOIDA is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari and review an April decision of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, upheld in August by the Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, which is based in Philadelphia.

In that decision, according to the petition submitted by OOIDA's legal counsel, The Cullen Law Firm, the court found "that Congress expressed unmistakably clear' intent to authorize states to impose unlimited tolls that would otherwise violate the dormant Commerce Clause" in a federal statute "that addresses how toll receipts may be spent, but which is silent as to the amount of tolls a state may impose and collect." The "dormant" Commerce Clause is a legal term defined by one legal website as "not federal power to act but restrictions on state power that are inherent in the Commerce Clause."

The writ of certiorari focuses not only on the legal questions involved but also on the size of the tolls. The certiorari request, in order to help drive home its point about the size of the tolls (first approved in 2007), takes the Pennsylvania tolls and extrapolates them out to a national scale.

It notes these numbers: a class 8 vehicle would pay $3,169 to go from San Francisco to Atlantic City, New Jersey, if the size of the Pennsylvania tolls were applied to a cross-country highway. A regular passenger car would pay $510. "There is no indication that either the district court below or the Third Circuit considered these broader consequences if other states followed Pennsylvania's lead," the writ says.

Story continues

Source: OOIDA writ to U.S. Supreme Court

That Pennsylvania planned to use the increased toll revenue for a variety of infrastructure projects around the state beyond the support of existing Pennsylvania toll roads is not in dispute. The request for review to the Supreme Court says the revenues raised by the toll are 250-300% of the cost of operating the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

But the primary thrust of the OOIDA argument is that states cannot just do what they want when it comes to tolls. The request for certiorari relies heavily on a legal precedent from 1972 involving the airport serving the Evansville, Indiana, area. Under Evansville, according to the OOIDA petition, a levy is "reasonable ... if it is based on some fair approximation of use of the facilities; is not excessive in relation to the benefits conferred and does not discriminate against interstate commerce."

But the spending of the funds raised is far from a "fair approximation," according to the writ. "These excessive toll receipts are directed by statute to be transferred  in amounts now totaling billions of dollars  to PennDOT to support mass transit and other infrastructure projects having no functional relationship to the Turnpike," it says.

But the decisions by the 3rd Circuit district and appellate level to approve the tolls is groundbreaking, OOIDA argues. "Never in the history of the United States has Congress or a court concluded that user fees of this magnitude are constitutionally appropriate," the certiorari writ says.

The filing by OOIDA also spells out several other court precedents that it says limit a state's ability to levy fees that are particularly large or not aimed at the specific activity being tolled. With the decision of the 3rd Circuit at odds with these other decisions, the writ says, the inconsistency "is simply unacceptable."

Or as the writ says in the title of one section of arguments: Congressional Legislation Addressing the Spending of Toll Revenues Does Not Free State Tolling Authorities from Dormant Commerce Clause Limitations on Toll Collections."

That section title focuses on the absence of something: Congress saying what a state couldn't do. It said what it could do, like how to spend toll revenues. But by not putting limits on the size of the tolls collected, according to OOIDA's attorneys, there is now the question "of whether congressional authorization may be implied on the basis of legislative silence." That absence of anything concrete is what brings the "dormant" Commerce Clause into question.

OOIDA in its earlier actions said the high fees would interfere with the "right to travel," a right that it said has been recognized by many courts in a variety of cases. But the courts of the 3rd Circuit instead adopted a standard which the writ says has "never [been] endorsed by this court ... that petitioners must allege that their travel was actually deterred by [the state's] toll amounts."

Besides OOIDA, the National Motorists Association is a plaintiff, as well as individual organization members.

Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay

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90 Day Fiance couple Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester have had a less-than-stable pleasant relationship. Fans of the show have felt uncomfortable about the couple, with many viewers feeling as if Tania is selfish and disrespectful to Syngin. Meanwhile, Tania has claimed that Syngin is incredibly clingy  despite the fact that shes leaving him stranded in America to go party it up in Costa Rica.

All of this has fans wondering whether or not that couple has managed to keep their relationship strong following their season of 90 Day Fiance.

Tania leaves Syngin for Costa Rica

When Tania Maduro first arrived in South Africa, she was there to meet another man entirely. However, things went south with her original date, and Tania wound up meeting Syngin Colchester tending bar when she went out for a drink. The couple was approved for a K-1 visa, and Syngin has since moved to the U.S. to be with Tania.

However, it hasnt been all perfect and happy since then. In fact, the 90 Day Fiance stars behavior towards Syngin has left many fans feeling affronted on his behalf. Tania has Syngin essentially living in a tool shed in her mothers backyard. Meanwhile, shes decided to go off on a trip to Costa Rica.

Syngin told Tania, Im literally around everything that is yours. Im all alone in the backwoods of America, you knowSo I am not at all looking forward to staying here by myself. I kind of feel lost and it sucks.

Since leaving on her trip, Tania has not been very communicative with Syngin. In fact, shes appeared irritated that Syngin wants to hear from her more often. Tania was also seen discussing cute boys at the club.

One of Tanias friends asked her, Do you tell Syngin if youre talking to someone? Or like if youre dancing with someone, do you share that stuff with him?

Tania replied, He knows I like to go out. He knows I like to dance. However, she also added that she doesnt tell Syngin every time she talks to or dances with another guy.

Tania calls Syngin clingy

While many people might think it normal to keep in touch with their significant other during an extended trip  especially after bringing them to a foreign country and leaving them behind alone in a shed  Tania seems to think this is clingy behavior.

Shes previously told 90 Day Fiance producers, Syngin definitely is the clingiest man Ive ever been with.

Before leaving for Costa Rica, Tania told Syngin, Your needs are a lot moreI dont need to talk as much.

Are they still together?

90 Day Fiance couples are required to sign an NDA that prevents them from disclosing what happens in their relationship during and after the show. That means couples on the show will often avoid posting too many pictures together on social media, so as not to clue viewers in.

According to Soap Dirt, a source is claiming that Tania is pregnant, and the couple broke up, with Syngin leaving the U.S. for South Africa. However, the couple still follows each other on social media, and Tania recently posted a throwback photo of herself and Syngin doing yoga together.

It seems unlikely that shed do this if they had split up. Honoring an NDA probably would not require Tania to post photos of her with Syngin in the past.


The wife of ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has described her joy at being reunited with her husband after he fled Japan while awaiting trial on corruption charges.

Carole Ghosn, who is staying with her husband in a Lebanon hideaway after helping to mastermind his escape, said that having him back was 'the best gift of my life'.

She spoke out as friends of Mr Ghosn said he decided to get out of Japan after the country's courts banned him from contacting her over Christmas.

The 65-year-old former CEO also feared his trial would not start until 2021 - meaning more time away from his wife - after a Christmas Day hearing where judges appeared to be seeking a delay.

It is thought Mr Ghosn, who has been on bail and prevented from leaving Japan since April last year, was smuggled out of the country inside a double bass case before flying on private jets to Istanbul and then Beirut.

Japanese media branded him a 'coward' who had 'lost the opportunity to prove his innocence and vindicate his honour' as news of his escape spread.

Carole Ghosn (right, with her husband) has said that being reunited with the 65-year-old former CEO is 'the best gift of my life' after he skipped bail in Japan while awaiting trial on corruption charges

Carole is thought to have reunited with Carlos at the airport in Lebanon after he arrived on a private jet, and the pair are now holed up in this mansion in Beirut

Ghosn is said to have flown from Tokyo to Beirut via Istanbul in Turkey after being 'smuggled' out of his home in a musical instrument case

By Monday morning he had arrived in Lebanon, where he is regarded as a national hero, and reunited with his wife.

His plan is now to seek a trial in Lebanon, having previously blasted the 'injustice' of the Japanese legal system.

Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan, where he faced trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he denied.

However, the country confirmed Ghosn will forfeit some 10.5million he surrendered as a condition of his bail.

Other stringent bail conditions included being prevented from seeing his wife without the permission of the court.

Ghosn reportedly met Lebanon's president after his escape, where he was smuggled out of house arrest by a private security company, two sources claimed.

Brazilian-born Ghosn is of Lebanese descent and lived in Lebanon as a child.

Under the terms of his bail, he had been confined to his house in Tokyo and had to have cameras installed at the entrance.

He was prevented from communicating with his wife, Carole, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

For the past seven months they have been unable to speak to each other at all.

The sources said the Lebanese ambassador to Japan had visited him daily while he was in detention.

Ghosn is accused of using 14million of Nissan cash to buy homes in Paris, Beirut, Rio de Janeiro and Amsterdam. Pictured is the plush interior of his 2.7million Tokyo apartment

Ghosn owns the penthouse apartment in this exclusive block in Tokyo

Lebanese news channel MTV reported that a 'paramilitary group' had posed as musicians hired to perform at Ghosn's home, believed to be a 2.7million penthouse apartment, during a dinner party.

While some Lebanese media have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, his wife called the account pure fiction.

She declined to provide details of the exit of one of the most recognise titans of industry. The accounts of the two sources suggest a carefully planned escape few were aware of.

They said a private security firm oversaw the plan, which was three months in the making and involved shuttling Ghosn out via a private jet to Istanbul before pushing onward to Beirut, with even the pilot unaware of Ghosn's presence on board.

'It was a very professional operation from start to finish', said one of the sources. The other source said Ghosn was in good health.

The full details are not known, but there was speculation that 5ft 6in Ghosn squeezed himself into a 6ft long double bass case at the end of the performance.

He was then taken to a small local airport and flown to Istanbul, in Turkey, in a private plane, MTV said.

From there it is believed he boarded a Bombardier Challenger private jet to Beirut-Rafic Hariri international airport where it landed shortly after 4am on Monday, according to plane tracking site FlightRadar.

Ricardo Karam, a Lebanese television host and friend of Ghosn, said: 'He is home. It's a big adventure.'

Carlos Ghosn's attorney Junichiro Hironaka addresses the media as he heads to his office in Tokyo on Tuesday

There was speculation that 5ft 6in Ghosn squeezed himself into a 6ft long double bass case to be smuggled out of his Tokyo home under the noses of the Japanese police

Ghosn is accused of using 14million of Nissan cash to buy homes in Paris, Beirut, Rio de Janeiro and Amsterdam as well as a 2.7million penthouse apartment in Tokyo.

MTV reported: 'The band entered his home in Japan under the guise of a band for a Gregorian dinner, then returned and exited after the party's logical time had passed.

'The Japanese authorities did not know at the time that Carlos Ghosn had hidden in one of the boxes intended for the transfer of musical instruments, and then left the country through a local airport.'

The Tokyo Shimbun also said Ghosn's actions had made a mockery of the Japanese justice system.

'The defendant Ghosn insists he escaped political persecution... but travelling abroad without permission is against the conditions of his bail, and mocks the Japanese justice system,' the paper wrote.

'There is a high probability that the trial will not be held, and his argument that he wants to prove his innocence is now in question.'

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, several people close to Ghosn said his escape plan was launched at the weekend after weeks of careful planning including by accomplices inside Japan.

The claims were swiftly picked up by media outlets around the world but were denied by a member of his entourage.

Ghosn's lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said he was 'surprised and baffled' by reports of the escape as all three of his passports had been confiscated.

He said: 'It would have been difficult for him to do this without the assistance of some large organisation.

A house identified by court documents as belonging to former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut

'I want to ask him, 'How could he do this to us?' I wanted to prove he was innocent.

'But when I saw his statement in the press, I thought he doesn't trust Japan's courts.'

The auto tycoon's abrupt departure was the latest twist in a rollercoaster journey that saw him fall from boardroom to detention centre and it sparked questions over an embarrassing security lapse in Japan.

His bail conditions barred him from exiting the country he had been held in since his sudden arrest in November 2018 sent shockwaves through the business world.

He and his lawyers have repeatedly voiced fears a fair trial would be impossible in Japan and have called for the case to be thrown out, citing missteps by the prosecutors' office.

Lebanese media reported Ghosn had flown by private plane from Turkey to Lebanon, where his parents were born and where he spent most of his childhood after arriving there as a toddler.

A source in the Lebanese Presidency said Ghosn had entered the country from Turkey with a French passport and his Lebanese identity card.

'He is in Lebanon in his house with his wife,' a family friend told AFP. 'He is very happy. He is free.'

In a brief statement on Tuesday, the 65-year-old tycoon said he would 'no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system, where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied.'

A member of the Lebanese security forces leaves from a door of the house identified by court documents as belonging to Ghosn in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday

People walk past a house that is believed to belong to Carlos Ghosn on Tuesday

'I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution,' said Ghosn.

'I can now finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.'

Born in Brazil of Lebanese ancestry, Ghosn grew up in Beirut and has retained close ties to Lebanon.

French junior economy minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Tuesday that she was 'very surprised' by news that Carlos Ghosn had left Japan and flown to Lebanon, adding she had heard of it via the media.

Pannier-Runacher also told France Inter radio that, regarding Ghosn, no-one was above the law but Ghosn would be able to get French consular support as a French citizen.

Many Lebanese view Ghosn as a symbol of their country's large diaspora, and a prime example of Lebanese entrepreneurial genius and have been shocked by his arrest.

But in Tokyo, the unexpected turn of events will spark questions about how he could apparently have given authorities the slip.

His Japanese lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said he was 'dumbfounded' by the news and confirmed that lawyers were still in possession of Ghosn's passports.

'I don't even know if we can contact him. I don't know how we will proceed beyond that,' Hironaka told reporters.

The Japanese lawyer for former auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn, Junichiro Hironaka, leaves after a press briefing outside his office on December 31

Former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn pictured in 2012. In a statement on Tuesday, the 65-year-old tycoon said he would 'no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system, where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied'

Public broadcaster NHK cited a foreign ministry official as saying: 'He was not supposed to leave the country. Had we known about it beforehand, we would have reported that to proper law enforcement authorities.'

Taichiro Motoe, a lawmaker from Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), said the news had come as a 'shock.'

'There have been so many flight cases in 2019 by criminally accused individuals on bail and by those facing imprisonment after their crimes have been confirmed,' said Motoe, calling for 'swift and effective' improvements.

His sudden departure from Japan is nearly as dramatic as his arrest out of the blue at a Tokyo airport.

Prosecutors stormed his private jet in scenes captured by a local paper, and whisked him off to a Tokyo detention centre where he spent more than 100 days in spartan conditions far removed from his sometimes extravagant lifestyle.

He eventually won bail, striding out of the detention centre disguised in a workman's uniform complete with mask and cap in an apparent bid to fool the world's media camped outside.

Then one morning in April, he was rearrested on another set of charges just days before he was due to give a hotly anticipated news conference.

He released a video apparently pre-recorded in which he accused 'backstabbing' Nissan executives of a 'conspiracy'.

Prosecutors stormed his private jet in scenes captured by a local paper, and whisked him off to a Tokyo detention centre where he spent more than 100 days in spartan conditions far removed from his sometimes extravagant lifestyle (pictured in 2017)

Later that month, he was released again on bail - this time leaving in a business suit - and he had been in Tokyo ever since preparing for his trial in 'combative' mood, according to his lawyers.

He stands accused of two counts of under-reporting his salary to the tune of 9.23 billion yen ($85 million) from 2010 to 2018, deferring some of his pay and failing to declare this to shareholders.

Prosecutors also allege he attempted to get Nissan to cover around 1.85 billion yen in personal foreign exchange losses during the 2008 financial crisis.

The fourth charge against him is that he allegedly transferred millions from Nissan funds to a dealership in Oman, from which the executive supposedly skimmed off $5 million for his personal use.

He has consistently denied all charges against him, saying they are a 'plot' by Nissan executives to get rid of him because they feared he was moving the Japanese firm to a closer tie-up with Renault.

In the meantime, Ghosn has lost the business empire he was once lauded for creating. Sacked from Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, he resigned from Renault - the third firm in the uneasy car alliance he forged.
Communist Vietnam Signals Retreat From Centralized Economy

By VOA News December 31, 2019

Authorities in Vietnam's business hub of Ho Chi Minh City said recently they will not be investing in the economy directly anymore, signaling the latest move in the communist nation's ongoing transition away from a centrally planned economy.

The secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee, Nguyen Thien Nhan, noted that state investment, frequently in the form of state-owned enterprises, has decreased in recent years. By 2020, he reckons state investment will account for about 16% of the city's economy, just half of the 32% figure seen in 2005.

"Up to a later stage, in terms of production and business investment, our state will basically not invest anymore," Nhan, who serves a position similar to a mayor of the city, said. "So the engine for economic growth lies in the private sector and foreign investment."

The communist party has ruled the nation since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, including with state-issued production quotas and price controls. However, the economy has been transitioning toward more private enterprise since the 1980s. That has meant that foreign corporations, domestic enterprises, and, most recently, startup enterprises have been playing an increasing role in the economy. That has also meant the government has been divesting and allowing more private shares in state owned enterprises, a process it refers to as equitization.

Role of the state is changing

Instead of investment, the state will be focusing on the investment environment, according to Nhan. Its role is to have dialogue with stakeholders and work on tax, land, and other public policies that encourage the private sector to invest in the areas that people need, he said.

"The environment is also important," Nhan said last month in one of his regular updates to the public on the state of the economy. "What is the quality of the air, when investors ask, we have to have an answer. It is not only land, but also with a clean environment, good traffic, and good air quality that investors will come."

He referred to farmers as an example. In keeping with the communist system all land is collectively owned but individuals are able to lease it for decades. It appears some farmers, such as those in the outlying areas of Ho Chi Minh City, have been transitioning from agriculture into other kinds of work. However, that transition has created confusion about land zoning and what usage rights people have on various types of land. About two thirds of Vietnam is rural but urbanization is increasing.

Economic outlook 'positive'

Equitization has also been a big part of Vietnam's transition. It has a goal to open 403 state owned enterprises to private investors in the 2017 to 2020 period, but has reached only about one fifth of its goal.

However, the Fitch Ratings company changed its official outlook on Vietnam's economy from "stable" to "positive" in May, saying that equitization has raised funds that has contributed to a reduction in the government's level of debt.

"The reduction has also been aided by stable receipts from privatization of state-owned enterprises [known in Vietnam as equitization], high nominal GDP [gross domestic product] growth and lower fiscal deficits," Fitch Ratings in Hong Kong said in its explanatory note. "The overall pace of equitization has slowed, but the process has nevertheless continued to advance, with 28 state-owned enterprises being equitized [in 2018] compared with 69 in 2017."

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Lakhs of people paid their tributes on Wednesday at the "Jaystambh" (victory pillar) in Perne village in Pune district of Maharashtra on the occasion of the 202nd anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle amidst tight security.

The area had witnessed violent protests two years ago.

At least four lakh people have paid their respects till 3 pm at the memorial, which Dalits view as a symbol of their pride, with no report of any untoward incident so far.

In early morning, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar, Union minister Ramdas Athawale and several other leaders visited the 'Jay Stambh'.

As a precautionary measure, Internet services in and around Koregaon Bhima have been suspended.

Violent clashes had broken out in the area around Koregaon Bhima on the 200th anniversary of the 1818 battle on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

"The commemoration is peaceful so far, and till 3 pm, approximately 4 to 5 lakh people have paid their tributes at the 'Jaystambh'," said Pune superintendent of police Sandip Patil.

The police officer said that local residents are extending their cooperation and help to ensure that the event passes off peacefully, unlike the January 1, 2018 incident.

Smarter from the previous experience, police have made elaborate security arrangements in the area.

"Apart from a large number of police personnel, companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), teams of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) are also deployed in the area," a police official said, adding that drone cameras are also being used to monitor crowd.

As part of preparations, ample space has been provided for installing stalls to sell various souvenirs and other items, he said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Ajit Pawar said he offered tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.

"This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar urged people visiting the site to maintain peace.

"I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but also maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the senior NCP leader said.

As per the Dalit narrative, around 500 soldiers from the dalit Mahar caste, who were part of the British Army, defeated forces of Peshwas (who were Brahmins), in the 1818 battle.

Every year, lakhs of people, especially Dalits and those from Ambedkarite movement, visit the Jaystambh on January 1 to pay their respects.

Pawar said Maharashtra has a tradition of maintaining peace and harmony.

"This particular area has history of valour and bravery. Similarly, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj also had a connection with this land and the youth should take inspiration from the valor showcased by those who sacrificed their lives in the battle and go ahead in their life," he said



Meanwhile, Prakash Ambedkar claimed that some people had tried to spark trouble during the ongoing congregation, but the new government has foiled their intentions.

"As the new government is in place, some people who tried to politicise the issue had intentions to create riots (in the congregation), but we, along with the government, foiled that motive," he said without elaborating.

Ambedkar expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements around Koregaon Bhima.

When asked about the 2017 Elgaar Parishad case and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent demand to withdraw cases against activists in connection with the 2018 Koregaon Bhima incident, Ambedkar said the stand of all the three ruling constituents- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- in the state government is of cooperation, which is welcoming.

Union minister and RPI (A) chief Athawale also praised the district administration for making "good arrangements".

Elaborate security is also maintained at historic Vadhu Budruk village, located near Perne.

Last week, Pune Police had issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from December 29.

The notices, as part of a preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago.

Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima.

Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the 2018 violence to the Elgaar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made.

Police are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists to the Elgaar Parishad conclave.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rogue financiers are shifting their operations abroad to fleece pensioners of millions of pounds.

An overseas base helps them dodge tighter UK regulations while also still taking advantage of official listings with the Inland Revenue.

Victims who have lost their life savings last night called on the Government to clamp down on the flagrant abuse of HMRCS system for registering non-UK pension schemes.

Pension scammers are moving their operations abroad to dodge tighter UK regulations while taking advantage of Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (Qrops). Continental Wealth Management is facing a 2.5million legal action in the Costa Blanca for using Qrops in alleged scams

They had thought it was safe to switch their nest eggs into the foreign funds because they were recognised by the British authorities.

But the money went into high-risk and often toxic investments that paid huge commissions to the scammers. The revelation follows a Mail investigation this week that has exposed how savers lost up to 10billion between them in UK schemes registered with HMRC and the Pensions Regulator.

This official registration led Army veterans, police officers, firemen, paramedics, care workers and teachers to believe the schemes were above board  until their money vanished.

The Government belatedly tightened regulations on British-based schemes  only for the swindlers to move abroad. This allows them to cold-call potential customers  a sales tactic outlawed in the UK this year because of its use by conmen. It also means rogue financial advisers can levy huge commissions, a practice also banned here.

Many people have lost their retirement savings (file image) as they were duped by scammers who are listed with HMRC and immediately 'lends credibility', according to Susan Monaghan, who was one of the victims

Pensions can be moved abroad only to companies on the official list of Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (Qrops). And some of these have been exploited by scammers.

Continental Wealth Management is facing a 2.5million legal action in the Costa Blanca for using Qrops in alleged scams. Pension pots were poured into high-risk and complex products suitable only for professionals. The scammers then plundered the funds for huge commissions and savers who tried to withdraw what remained of their money faced crippling exit fees.

Susan Monaghan, who was one of the victims, said: This formula is used over and over again in offshore financial services  and it makes plenty of commission for everyone involved but destroys the fund for the investors.

Being listed with HMRC lends credibility and that gave people reassurance. The Maltese authorities are considering 50 complaints about the Momentum Malta Retirement Trust, which accepted clients from CWM.

Miss Monaghan accused Momentum of failing in its duty of care and allowing an insurance bond to be purchased that locked investors in for up to ten years and at great expense.

She added: Momentum have known this for years with complaints being made as far back as early 2015 but they have continued doing the same thing since, allowing even more pensions to be destroyed.

They have allowed unqualified, unregulated firms to give investment instructions and despite seeing peoples funds go down, year on year, have done nothing.

Julie Elsden, who lost almost her entire retirement fund after investing through Momentum with CWM, said she went ahead with her pension transfer only because it was HMRC approved.

She said CWM went to great lengths to convince her of this and produced documentation with HMRC logos. This situation has now left me with very little funds for my retirement, she added.

Stewart Davies, head of Momentum Pensions, said: CWM collapsed over two years ago and since then, Momentum Pensions Malta  in conjunction with other advisers and trustees in the market  has assisted many consumers that have been affected.

We do not, and never have, provided investment advice and we do not choose or manage the assets which clients invest in.

Investment company documentation is also provided to all members at inception, which includes a clear cost disclosure and cancellation notice period.

An HMRC spokesman said: HMRC has done much to combat pension scams. We will continue to come down hard on scammers.

It warns on its website that it is up to the person transferring their cash to check a scheme fulfils the criteria to be legitimate.

I put 64,000 in Malta scheme on HMRCs list A grandfather lost most of his 64,000 pension pot after being persuaded to switch to an overseas scheme recognised and listed by HMRC. Derrick Towlson, a former plumber and heating engineer, moved his money to the Malta-based scheme after being cold-called in 2013 by Continental Wealth Management. The 63-year-old said the big selling point was that the money would be put into the Momentum Malta Retirement Trust which is on HMRCs list of recognised overseas schemes. Derrick Towlson (pictured with wife Carol), 63, lost most of his 64,000 pension pot after being persuaded to switch to an overseas scheme recognised by HMRC. While he was told told his savings would grow to 80,000, he only got 19,000 He was told his savings would have grown to 80,000 by the end of this year  instead he has just 19,000. Mr Towlson, who lives with wife Carol near Colwyn Bay in North Wales, said he had to pay huge fees and some of his cash was lost in high-risk investments. He is now withdrawing the cash but exit fees will cost him another 4,000. This is destroying lives, he said. The UK government has left the doors wide open for fraud and scams. There is such a lack of control, its incredible. Its so lax. Its giving the UK a really bad name across the globe. The HMRC listing was a big selling point. You think it must be OK. Momentum said all investment costs were fully disclosed and authorised and verified by the pension members and their advisers. It also said it took action as soon as it discovered the problems with CWM. Advertisement

Ex-models champagne life as firm went bust

A company director accused of fleecing hundreds of Britons out of their pensions had the sort of life most of us would give our right arm for.

Jody Smart, also known as Jody Bell, flaunted her luxury lifestyle while customers of her Spanish-based firm Continental Wealth Management say they lost most of their retirement savings.

Many were persuaded to invest because CWM was listed on the HMRC website.

In September 2016 the former model appeared on the Channel 5 show How the Other Half Live  just a few months before her company went bust.

Jody Smart, also known as Jody Bell, ran Continental Wealth Management and left many people without their retirement savings. Three British claimants are pursuing combined 2.5million claims against Miss Smart, Mr Kirby and two others of aggravated fraud, fake accounting and belonging to a criminal organisation

Footage showed her at the Costa Blanca headquarters of CWM, which the programme said was worth 13million. She was also filmed enjoying a champagne picnic, driving a Mercedes and showing off her floor-to-ceiling shoe collection.

Presenter Eamonn Holmes told viewers: The corporate world has given Jody the sort of life that most of us would give our right arm for. A stunning house in Spain, fast cars and a vast shoe collection.

She was on the show to promote her fashion company, Jody Bell SL, which was funded almost entirely with money from CWM. The cash helped pay for her to travel to New York Fashion Week to present her outfits. A mother of two, she grew up in Herefordshire before moving to Spain where she started a relationship with CWM founder Darren Kirby.

Despite having no financial qualifications or experience, she became the sole director of the company. She was paid a salary of 122,000 a year, a Spanish court heard last month.

Three British claimants are pursuing combined 2.5million claims against Miss Smart, Mr Kirby and two others of aggravated fraud, fake accounting and belonging to a criminal organisation. The court has heard that when CWM went bust it had just 56,000 in the bank.

Yet from 2015 to 2017, hundreds of thousands of pounds was paid to her fashion label and to a property holding company registered in her name.

Miss Smart denied ever dealing with clients or having anything to do with the running of CWM other than promoting it in the Spanish media.

She said she visited the office in Denia occasionally because it had a room where she kept her designer clothes.

She and Mr Kirby, who did not respond to a court summons for cross-examination, did not answer requests for comment.
Most people visit Vietnam to learn about the culture or enjoy the fantastic scenery, but for these three Australians, their love for the country stretches further.

Mike Stephens has worked with the NGO ChildFund Viet Nam on projects to improve water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in remote areas.  Photo Courtesy of Duc Hoang

Mike Stephens has worked with the NGO ChildFund Vietnam on projects to improve water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in remote areas by working with local people and private enterprises.

Previously, he worked in Australia as a hydrologist, followed by a short period co-operating with small development NGOs in the WASH sector, providing fresh water to Kho Mu and Mong communities.

Stephens felt lucky to travel in Vietnam during 2017, and thought that if he got the chance he would come back to work in Vietnam. He said his most memorable moment was working with ChildFund, which was established in Vietnam in 1995, to protect childrens rights.

I was able to visit remote areas in the northern mountain so that means I get to see places and people, and talked to them. I found them incredibly beautiful. We were working in three provinces and I have been to all of them: Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Hoa Binh.

"So there have been projects that I am learning from, and that we are taking the lessons we have learnt, and we applied them to the new projects that we are designing now.

"So for something we did to the old project, we say 'hey, we want to keep that, and we want to use that for the future'.

"And if we see something that did not work we think we can improve, we go 'hey, we can learn from that', and when we do these new projects, we can outwork them."

He also added his work was focused on projects targeting children.

Me and my team asked children what they thought about water sanitation in their community and at school, if anything we could do with the government to support them, how they thought about their conditions.

"I did not approach any children directly, but worked on the sidelines as a consultant.

"I think children, or people in any country, are happy to have clean water and with this programme, although I have had to live miles away from my parents in Australia for a long time, I feel extremely lucky to be able to be a volunteer in an open and friendly environment like here.

"People always have a positive mindset and are full of creativity.

"I would definitely return to Vietnam next year to see the result of our ongoing work on water and sanitation.

For Rebekah Thielemans, volunteering is all about environmental sustainability. She works as a communications, campaigns and community engagement specialist. For the past six years, Thielemans has devoted her time to the environmental sector, both private and not-for-profit industries, living and studying in France, India and Indonesia.

She lives in Sydney and likes spending time in nature with her friends, but moved to Vietnam recently for her volunteer work.

Rebekah Thielemans, (fourth from right) thinks volunteering is all about environmental sustainability.  Photo Courtesy of Rebekah Thielemans



This is my first long-term volunteering assignment on environment and community development.

"When I did volunteer work in Australia, it would be much shorter and mostly lasted for six months.

"I have been working with GreenHub, a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation co-founded by local experts in Hanoi that is fully immersive.

"It influenced all aspects of my life, so I decided to come live here. This is just not something I do in my spare time.

"It is not just volunteer work, but an opportunity for me to learn about the environmental context here as well. "

Among the projects she has been working on in Vietnam, she is focusing on reducing plastic waste in Ha Long Bay and sea level rises as a result of climate change in the Mekong Delta. She also helps educate children about the importance of protecting the environment and researches marine debris.

She concluded that to raise peoples awareness on protecting the environment, they need to understand the problem of environmental issues, and the issues should be personalised.

For example, for fishermen in the bay, they need to see their livelihood and source of income may disappear.

"For farmers in the Delta, because of climate change to cause sea level rises, they may lose their agricultural lands.

"Therefore, the problem is not happening out there, but to me, in my home.

Brett Simmonds has more than 30 years of experience working in the hospitality industry throughout Australia and overseas.

Brett Simmonds dedicated his time teaching young people at KOTO on hotel managements.  Photo Courtesy of Duc Hoang



Over the years Brett has brought a wealth of knowledge to KOTO, a 20-year-old hospitality training centre in Hanoi, giving at-risk and disadvantaged youths the opportunity to learn and thrive.

He took a year off to travel Southeast Asia and became a self-funded volunteer at KOTO in August last year to help teach customer service.

He said balancing work and making profit is very challenging, since KOTO has been carrying out a lot of fund raising, with two restaurants in HCM City and Hanoi to make money, and a lot of international sponsorships which help the organisation continue its work.

But for youngsters from 16 to 22, I do not find any challenges.

"They are very respectful, resilient and hardworking people who are completely different from teenagers from Australia.

"The advantage for them is I show them international standards in hospitality, and for me it's that the training has taught me a lot.

"I think tourism in Vietnam is booming, as well as the quality of hotels is increasing. When I asked my trainees, some of them said they wanted to stay here to open restaurants, while most wanted to go abroad. I think it is exciting and I want to learn more about management here.

I will bring my family to Vietnam this Tet to enjoy Hanoi and Hoi An, he added.  VNS

An Vu

Australian MasterChef shares his cooking philosophy Adam Liaw works as a cook, writer and TV presenter in Sydney. He took part in the Taste of Australia 2019 programme in Hanoi on June 1-3, where he gave a cooking demonstration to some restaurants in Hanoi and to KOTO.

Masterchef Australia 2010 winner set for Vietnam visit Adam Liaw, the winner of the 2010 version of Masterchef Australia, will be in Hanoi on June 1-3 to introduce Australian gastronomy as part of the Taste of Australia 2019 and ASEAN now programmes.
Siddhartha Khemka

The stock benchmark Nifty surpassed the 12,000 mark in November 2019 and continuously scaled new heights in December on the back of improved sentiment. What worked wonders was foreign investors buying streak --a seven-month high in November-- whose net inflows stood at more than Rs 95,000 crore till date.

Sentiment took a turn for the better, especially after the corporate tax rate cut announcement in September 2019.

We believe that the initiatives taken by the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will take time to show results on the ground. However, long-term fundamentals of the Indian economy continue to remain strong with an expected gradual recovery in growth and a domestic consumption-driven economy.

While stock benchmark indices have been touching new highs, not many portfolios are making money. This peculiarity in the market has seen concentration on select stocks and a big divergence in performance within the Nifty and mid/small cap indices.

The market has clearly rewarded quality, growth and steady businesses irrespective of market capitalisation. A major theme for 2019 was corporate governance, and companies with a good, clean management were rewarded handsomely  a theme which may well continue in 2020 as well. With earnings growth set to improve, we expect more stocks to participate in this party and perform in 2020.

Outlook

After the recent rally, we believe that the Nifty at around 18x FY21E P/E captures the expected earnings recovery. The upside from current levels may be capped.

We expect participation in quality mid caps to increase, given their significant underperformance and discount to larger peers. The Nifty fetched returns of around 12 percent in 2019 and broke new ground despite the weak macros and slower earnings growth.

We expect the market momentum to continue in 2020 on the back of global economic revival, earnings growth, liquidity and any further announcements from the government to boost demand or consumption or both.

Going ahead, we also believe that large private banks, consumer, FMCG, core sectors like cement and capital goods would do well. We are positive on banks on expectations of asset quality normalisation over the next two years.

Further, with a revival in the economy, large private banks will be in a sweet spot to garner larger chunk of business and market share. Consumer companies will be the largest beneficiary of demand revival as and when it happens.

Both cement and capital goods sectors are trading at around 20x P/E, which is a discount to their 10-year average P/E as the capex cycle has yet not picked up. However, once the measures adopted by government start taking effect and capex cycle revives, these sectors will be big gainers. The insurance sector in India is in a sweet spot with strong structural potential as it is highly under penetrated.

Stock Picks for 2020

UltraTech (Target Price Rs 5,050)

UltraTech is the largest manufacturer of grey cement, ready mix concrete and white cement in India, with an installed capacity of 95 mt (million tonnes). The acquisition of Centurys cement asset and Binani increased its capacity to 109.4 mt, taking its pan-India market share to 24 percent.

Given limited capex needs, strong FCF (free cash flow) generation of over Rs 7,500 crore per annum (7 percent yield) from FY20 should drive deleveraging and stock price appreciation. North/Central India are structurally the preferred regional markets for us where UltraTech has the highest exposure. We forecast a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 26 percent/48 percent in EBITDA/EPS over FY19-21, driven by a 6 percent CAGR in volumes and better margins. We expect RoE (return on equity) to improve 550 bps (basis points) to 13.8 percent by FY21.

ICICI Bank (TP Rs 625)

ICICI Bank has increased its focus towards high-yielding retail loans like personal loans and credit cards. The retail business remains a key growth driver and constitutes ~61 percent of the total loan book.

ICICI appears firmly positioned to deliver healthy sustainable growth, supported by continued investments in technology and expansion in its digital offerings. It has one of the highest provisioning coverages in the banking sector. It remains one of our top ideas in the BFSI (Banking, financial services and insurance) space -- We estimate RoA (return on assets)/RoE to improve to 1.6 percent/15.7 percent in FY21. Our SOTP (sum of the parts)-based TP is Rs 625 (2.5x September 2021E ABV, Accredited in Business Valuation), primarily as we roll forward our valuations.

Titan (TP Rs 1,275)

Titan Industries is the market leader in watches and a pioneer in branded jewellery. The longer-term investment case remains promising as Titan is well-placed to grow its share in the largely unorganised jewellery market in India from the current level of ~8 percent. This makes it one of the most attractive candidates in terms of top line and earnings from a three-year perspective. With over 60 percent of the jewellery segment growth continuing to come from SSSG (same-store sales growth), operating margins are also likely to improve. This should help RoE improve from 25 percent in FY19 to 30 percent in FY21.
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has begun an exercise to shed excess cost at the Mumbai offshore oil and gas fields of Panna-Mukta, whose control it regained after two and half decades and has already saved Rs 1 crore in the shipping cost. ONGC has changed the contract for bringing oil produced from the fields lying in the Arabian Sea to land, resulting in saving of about $5,000 per day, sources with direct knowledge of the development said.

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The police sources said that the militants may have escaped from the area.

SRINAGAR: Two Army jawans were killed in a firefight with militants in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri on Wednesday.

The heavily-armed militants, the officials said, are believed to had sneaked into J&K from across the Line of Control the previous night as they had before the clash intercepted a village head to seek his guidance about the area.

The Army officials said that the clash took place after the Army intercepted the infiltrators in the Khari Thrayat forest area when they were trying to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Devender Anand said in Jammu that two soldiers were killed in the militant firing during cordon-and-search-operation in Rajouris Nowshehra sector. He said that the operation launched following information about the movement of suspected militants in the woods close to the LoC was under way as reports last came in.

The police sources said that the militants may have escaped from the area.
Abhijit Mulye By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: There is major unrest within the Shiv Sena with at least 12 MLAs contemplating to quit the party over non-inclusion of certain leaders in the cabinet. There is also a question mark over the stand of its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut after his Facebook post.

Though leaders from the Congress as well as the NCP said that the resentment within their parties has been contained, the portfolio allocations are still awaited. About a month after forming the government, Thackeray expanded the cabinet on Monday.

ALSO READ| Get down on implementing CMP promises, Sonia advises Maharashtra ministers

However, he had to exclude several of his party leaders including many who were ministers in the cabinet under Devendra Fadnavis. This is said to have led to widespread resentment within the party. While sources said that the disgruntled MLAs would soon meet Thackeray, queries at Thackerays office revealed that no appointment has been sought by them.

The legislators are unhappy over NCP chief Sharad Pawars imprint on the cabinet expansion. Sources said that they are also said to be dissatisfied about all important departments being given to the NCP.

While Bhaskar Jadhav from Chiplun, who had recently joined the Shiv Sena after quitting the NCP, had blamed Thackeray for not keeping his promise, another former minister Tanaji Sawant too is said to be unhappy due to his non-inclusion in the cabinet.



Sawant was in charge of party work in Solapur and Osmanabad districts and hence party leaders from Solapur held a meeting on Wednesday demanding a ministerial berth for him. "The meeting is not against anyone but to request the party leadership to consider Mr Sawant for a ministerial berth," said party district head Lakshman Thonge at the meeting.



Yavatmal-Washim MP Bhawana Gavli and Thane MLA Pratap Sarnaik too have expressed their resentment over the choice of leaders for cabinet formation.



While Raut had earlier clarified before the media that he is not unhappy with the party, his Facebook post on Wednesday led to a new row. "People who present you with togetherness, time and devotion always need to preserved," said his Facebook post with a suggestive photograph showing sand slipping out of a fist.

ALSO READ| All is not well in Uddhav government? Sena mouthpiece criticizes choice of Maharashtra Ministers

After the post was being interpreted as an expression of his resentment, he pulled it down. However, he didnt give any explanation this time and party insiders said it indicated that all is not well between him and Thackeray. Raut had also skipped the cabinet expansion ceremony.



Meanwhile, Thackeray had a meeting with state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat and former CM Ashok Chavan on Wednesday. While both are his cabinet colleagues now, they reportedly had differences over portfolios. The Congress is also said to have demanded additional portfolios which had gone to other parties during initial negotiations.



While Thorat currently holds the revenue department, the Congress has reportedly demanded the agriculture department which the Shiv Sena currently holds. The Congress contended that it needs to hold departments that have a direct grassroot connection in rural areas.

Due to the inclusion of Chavan, the party also sought to swap certain departments. Chavan, a former CM, is said to have indicated that he would like to hold revenue or public works. However, sources said that Chavans party colleague Dr Nitin Raut holds the public works portfolio and doesnt want to part with it.



Speaking to the media after the meeting, Thorat said that the dissatisfaction within the party has been contained and the announcement on portfolio allocation can be expected anytime.



Earlier in the day, Thorat said that he spoke to the disgruntled MLA from Bhor in Pune, Sabgram Jagtap, adding, "He will get his due as the Congress is a family."
Bioaccumulation refers to the gradual increase of toxic chemicals in the body tissues of living organisms over time. It occurs because the chemicals cannot be broken down by the organism (that is, it cannot be metabolized). Bioaccumulation may not be of a concern if the compounds in question are not harmful. However, harmful compounds such as lead and mercury can accumulate in the body tissues of living organisms. The source of pollutants that bioaccumulate in the body include pesticides, industrial chemicals, and by-products. Rainwater can transport residues of pesticides used in the farms in the creeks and eventually find their way into rivers, streams, estuaries, and oceans, among other water bodies. Automobile emissions and industrial smokestacks are among the leading source of toxic pollutants found in the environment. They return to the ground when it rains, and they find their way into water bodies in different ecosystems. Deliberate discharge of pollutants in the environment is also another source of contaminants.

Bioaccumulation And Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation is the gradual buildup of chemical toxins in the body tissues of an organism. It occurs when the uptake of chemical toxins by the organism is faster than the rate it is lost through excretion or catabolism. It implies that if the biological half-life of the chemical toxins is greater, then the risk of poisoning will be higher even if the levels of toxins in the environment are low.

On the other hand, biomagnification, also known as bioamplification, refers to the concentration of chemical toxins that increases progressively along the food chain. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are processes that take place in tandem. Biomagnification traces the movement of toxic pollutants through different trophic levels within an ecosystem. In a food chain, energy is typically transferred from one lower trophic level to another higher level, as one organism consumes another. However, it is not energy alone that is transferred in the food chain, but also pollutants ingested by organisms.

Bioaccumulation And Biomagnification In The Food Chain

Bioaccumulation typically occurs at the bottom of the food chain, particularly among the primary producers, for instance, the phytoplankton. These microscopic organisms absorb Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) directly from their ecosystems (oceans) that accumulate in their bodies over a period of time. The pollutants build up in their body tissues because they absorb them from water at a rate that is higher than the rate they can eliminate. Biomagnification takes place when larger organisms such as zooplankton consume phytoplankton, which is already contaminated and therefore absorbs the POPs that accumulate in their own body tissues at a higher concentration. As zooplankton consumes more of contaminated phytoplanktons, the more pollutants will accumulate in their bodies. The POPs are transferred from producers to primary consumers, secondary consumers, and finally to the top of the food chain. Biomagnification continues at each trophic level to the apex of the food chain. The POPs become more concentrated on each subsequent trophic level, and therefore the apex predators in the oceans are at high risk of fatal levels of POPs.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

According to the World Health Organization, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) refer to chemical pollutants of global concern. These toxic pollutants have the potential to persist in the environment and have a long-range transport, as well as the ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in different ecosystems. As a result, they have a significant adverse impact on the environment and human health and other animals. People are exposed to these pollutants in different ways, which include food that we consume, the air we breathe indoors, outdoors, and workplaces. Besides, several products used every day in our lives may contain POPs that have been added for the purposes of improving the quality of the products, for instance, surfactants and flame retardants. Therefore, POPs are found almost everywhere in measurable concentrations around the world. Some of the sources of POPs include organochlorine pesticides like Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), as well as by-products of other industrial processes such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), and dibenzofurans (PCDF), popularly known as dioxins among many others.

Minamata Disease

Minamata disease refers to the poisoning of methylmercury (MeHg) that affects people who have ingested shellfish or fish contaminated by methylmercury. Methylmercury finds its way from industrial waste to the oceans. Minamata disease was first discovered in May 1956 in Minamata City, Kumamoto prefecture in the southern part of the Japanese island of Kyushu. Chisso Corporation was responsible for discharging its industrial waste on a massive scale into Minamata bay between 1932 and 1968. At the time, it was not clear as to the cause of the disease. The marine products from the bay exhibited a high level of Mercury (Hg) contamination of between 5.6 ppm and 35.7 ppm. Similarly, the patients had high Hg levels in their hair, and the residents of the Shiranui coastline also had high concentrations of mercury, some with as high as 705 ppm.

The highly toxic methylmercury bioaccumulate in fish and shellfish found in Shiranui and Minamata. The poisoning affected humans, pigs, cats, dogs, and birds, among other animals. Some of the symptoms of Minamata disease include ataxia, sensory disturbance, dysarthria, auditory, and visual impairment. Fetuses were also affected by mercury poisoning through mothers who ingested contaminants from marine products. The disease was named congenital Minamata disease. It was observed that the number of grave incidences with acute Minamata disease was decreasing during the initial stages; however, the number of cases with chronic Minamata disease showing symptoms over a long time was on the increase. Records indicate that a total of 2,265 people affected by Minamata disease had been officially identified as of March 2001, out of which 1,784 had died.

Global issues On POPs

POPs are potentially harmful to human health, and they can adversely affect the environment. These harmful chemicals can be transported by water or wind over long distances causing harm to people and wildlife in different countries from where they were disposed of or generated. POPs can persist in the environment for long and therefore bioaccumulating and biomagnifying along the food chain. The US, with other 90 countries, including the EU, signed a groundbreaking UN treaty in Sweden in 2001. The treaty is known as the Stockholm Convention. The countries agreed to eliminate or reduce the use, production, and release of 12 main POPs of global concern. Since then, several other POPs of global concern have been added.

Some Of The POPs On Stockholm Convention

Most of the POPs covered in the Stockholm convention are no longer produced in most of the developed countries. However, different habitats in most of these countries may be at risk because of these toxic chemicals which have persisted in the environment originating from unintentionally produced POPs originating within these countries or from other regions.

DDT

DDT was commonly used during WWII to control insects that spread typhus and malaria, among other diseases. After the war, it was used to control diseases and insects among agricultural crops, particularly cotton. DDT is still used in different countries to control mosquitoes that cause malaria. DDT has stability and persistence, and up to 50% could remain in the soil for as long as 15 years following application. Its residues can be found everywhere because of its widespread use in the past. The DDT residuals have been found in the Arctic. In 1970, Sweden, Norway, and Hungary banned the use of DDT, and in 1972, it was banned in the US, Canada, and Germany. The total ban in the EC was in 1983, and the UK banned the use of DDT in 1984. Australia banned the use of DDT in 1987.

Other POPs On Stockholm Convention

Other than DDT, the other POPs include pesticides such as endrin, dieldrin, chlordane, aldrin, toxaphene, mirex, hexachlorobenzene, and heptachlor. In the list are industrial products such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene. Different by-products are also listed, and they include polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, hexachlorobenzene, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and PCBs. Other than the original 12 POPs listed, several others have been added since 2001. By 2017, sixteen new POPs had been added.

Effects Of POPs

POPs are toxic chemicals that biomagnify along the food chain, and they also bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms. As a result, the highest concentrations of POPs are found in the apex predators, or organisms are the top of the food chain. This implies that POPs in the environment would eventually be found in the human body. It has been established that POPS affect the immune, reproductive, and endocrine systems. They are linked to causing a myriad of neurobehavioral impairments, genotoxicity, thyroid problems, diabetes, birth defects, and cancer, among others.

According to longitudinal studies, infants whose mothers ingested substantial amounts of contaminated fish from Lake Michigan indicated that they had shorter attention span, small head circumference, and lower birth weight compared to infants whose mothers did not consume the contaminated fish. Over the years, there has been significant deteriorating health of marine mammals, and most of the resurgent and emerging diseases are associated with dysfunction of the immune system, which suggests a wide environmental distress syndrome. The metabolic imbalance is one attribute associated with marine mammals, and they are considered the most vulnerable regarding long-term toxicity of human-made chemicals like organochlorides. Dolphins and Whales (Cetaceans) have a poor ability to get rid of organic pollutants because they do not have isozymes needed to detoxify pollutants such as PCBs and DDT.
Australia's capital rang in the new decade while choking through the worst air pollution in the world.

Residents in and around Canberra woke on January 1 to thick smoke and haze 15 times greater than hazardous levels at 3589 in the Air Pollution Index on Wednesday morning.

Any reading over 200 is considered hazardous.

Meanwhile, fire-affected Batemans Bay, east of Canberra, recorded just 999.

Scroll down for video

The Canberra region experienced the worst air pollution in the world over the New Years Eve period after winds redirected masses of bushfire smoke into the area

 Slide me  The iconic water jet in Canberra's lake was unrecognisable as the city was choked in smog

A woman at the shore of Lake Burley Griffin used a smoke mask against the toxic pollution

Canberra's massive figure smashed the old record of 1420 which was recorded just two days before.

Fires continue to burn on the South Coast of New South Wales and authorities said the thick haze is expected to stick around for the remainder of Wednesday.

A number of Canberra residents took to social media to share their experiences.

'I never thought Canberra would end up being one of the worst places on Earth,' one resident wrote.

'Our air filter is registering 150-200 whatever unit it's using. Normally it's like single digits...This is crazy,' another added.

'This is definitely the worst in the 3+ weeks weve been dealing with smoke. That was a proper thick bank rolling in quickly,' a third replied.

 Slide me  Canberra's Old Parliament House disappeared inside the hazardous bushfire smog

Many residents took to social media to share images of the wall of smoke they woke up to on the first day of the new decade (pictured)

Locals suffered through toxic air quality that was 15 times greater than hazardous levels

Acting chief health officer Dr Paul Dugdale told The Canberra Times residents needed to avoid physical activity and stay indoors where possible.

'With windows and doors closed, and not using evaporative airconditioners which draw air into the house from outside,' he said.

'Anyone with a heart or lung condition should take their medication as prescribed by their doctor. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan.'

Bateman's Bay (pictured) recorded the single worst air quality in the world for New Years Eve as the area was covered in a tick layer of smoke haze

Fires continue to burn on the South Coast of New South Wales and authorities said the thick haze is expected to stick around for the remainder of Wednesday

An official statement described the current weather conditions as unprecedented for the area.

'The unusual weather patterns we are experiencing, along with the fires across Victoria and the New South Wales Coast are unprecedented,' a statement from the ACT Emergency Services Agency read.

'We are cautioning the community to be well prepared.'

The ACT is currently under a total fire ban with a Fire Danger Rating of 'very high'.

'Weather conditions remain unpredictable and thick smoke from fires across the border continues to impact the ACT,' an ACT ESA statement read.

'Residents in bushfire prone areas are urged to review their Bushfire Survival Plan or if you don't have a plan in place, to take the time to create one.'
Veteran actor Jamie Lee Curtis is set to be recognised at the 2020 Society of Camera Operators (SOC) Awards celebration in Hollywood.

According to Deadline, the Curtis will receive the group's Lifetime Achievement Awards President's Award during a ceremony on January 18 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel.

"We are honoured to present this award to such an iconic, talented, and truly brilliant professional as Jamie Lee Curtis.

"Her work has inspired so many of us and we are appreciative for all of her extraordinary contributions to the business and the creative community at large," said SOC President George Billinger III.

Curtis has many iconic films to her credits over the decades including "Halloween", "A Fish Called Wanda", "True Lies" and "Halloween H20: 20 Years Later".

She most recently featured in the critically acclaimed thriller "Knives Out" (2019).

The actor will next be seen in "Halloween Kills", which is a sequel to 2018's "Halloween" and the 12th installment in the 'Halloween' franchise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Clare Verrall has welcomed the New Year with a new look and a new man.

The former Married At First Sight star flaunted her slimmed-down figure and dyed red hair at a New Year's Eve party in Melbourne on Tuesday.

She was spotted cuddling up to The Bachelorette's Ryan Anderson, whom she has previously confessed to having a crush on.

New year, new me! Former Married At First Sight star Clare Verrall flaunted her incredible weight loss at a New Year's Eve party in Melbourne on Tuesday

Clare's crush on Ryan dates back to 2017, when she praised him on social media after he was nominated for the Cosmopolitan X Tinder Bachelor of the Year.

'So, um, pretty sure I just found my soulmate on Instagram,' Clare wrote on Instagram at the time.

She then directly mentioned Ryan's profile handle, @aussiedogguy, to ensure that he'd be notified of her post.

Clare also added the hashtags: 'Animal rescue', 'loves dogs', 'hot', 'single', 'lives in another state,' and 'that's annoying.'

What's going on here? Clare was spotted cuddling up to The Bachelorette's Ryan Anderson, whom she has previously confessed to having a crush on

Having fun? While it's unclear if anything romantic is going on between the pair, Clare certainly looked happy to mingle with her longtime crush on New Year's Eve

Clare wasn't done there, as she added: 'He also now knows I totally just IG stalked him #NotSubtle. He's getting my cosmo-tinder bachelor of the year vote that's for sure! #Stalker #OhWell #NothingToLose!'

While it's unclear if anything romantic is going on between the pair, Clare certainly looked happy to mingle with her longtime crush on New Year's Eve.

In photos taken at the star-studded event, the pair goofed around in front of the media wall and posed together on a silver disco ball.

Wild thing! Clare pulled an outrageous expression for the cameras as Ryan looked on in shock

They certainly have a lot in common, with a shared past in reality television and a passion for fostering animals.

Clare has been on a weight loss journey since 2018, gradually shedding the pounds she put on after filming Married At First Sight back in 2016.

The former blonde, who is now a vivacious redhead, previously told New Idea that she weighed 119kg at her heaviest and was ordering three pizzas a day.

Journey: Clare has been on a weight loss journey since 2018, gradually shedding the pounds she put on after filming Married At First Sight back in 2016

Slim and trim! The flame-haired vixen stunned as she posed next to a potted plant

At the time, she told the publication that her resentment over her failed TV marriage to Jono Pitman was partially to blame for her weight gain.

'I was still holding on to resentment that Jono and I were both set up to fail on MAFS and I finally realised that was just a waste of time. I had to let it go,' she said.

'I still have a curvy body with rolls, wrinkles and cellulite, but I have totally accepted this and no longer need validation from others.'
Bangladesh's former foreign secretary and a good friend of India Syed Muazzem Ali was on Wednesday given a state guard of honour after his funeral prayers were held in Dhaka.

Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen, former finance minister A M A Muhith, former foreign minister A H Mahmood Ali, Indian high commissioner in Dhaka Riva Ganguly Das, former diplomats and senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at State Guesthouse Padma to pay their last tributes.

Representatives for President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina placed floral wreaths on the coffin of Ali, who was also a freedom fighter, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

The guard of honour was given to Ali after funeral prayers, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, adding that former foreign secretary will be buried at Banani graveyard.

Read: Bangladesh orders telecom companies to snap services along India border

Read: Sheikh Hasina and Mamata Banerjee to meet on the sidelines of Indo-Bangla cricket match

Muazzem, 75, passed away on Monday at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) here while undergoing treatment days after he arrived in Dhaka from New Delhi ending his five-year stint in India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had expressed grief over Ali's demise, saying he was a "good friend" of India.

"Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of former High Commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali. He was a good friend and a strong partner for so many of us. Our thoughts are with Tuhfa and family," Jaishankar said in a tweet on Monday.

Born in 1944, Ali joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1968, and retired in December 2001. While serving in the Pakistan embassy in Washington in 1971, he declared his allegiance to Bangladesh.

As a founding member of the Bangladesh mission in Washington DC, he was active in the lobbying process for political support for Bangladesh's independence movement.

Ali also served in Bangladesh embassies in Warsaw (1975-1978), and New Delhi (1986-1988), and in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York (1982-1986).

He is survived by wife and two sons. His wife Tuhfa Zaman obtained her MA from Dhaka University and MPhil from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.
West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar triggered a controversy and received flak on social media on Tuesday after he, in a tweet, described the table on which Lord Curzon signed the order on Bengals Partition in 1905 as iconic.

Recording of New Year Message for the people of State of West Bengal in the historical Raj Bhawan Library while sitting on the iconic table from which Lord Curzon signed first Partition of Bengal in 1905, Dhankhar wrote on Tuesday morning. He also posted photos.

People shared screenshots of his tweet hundreds of times, accusing Dhankhar of lacking sensitivity towards the state and peoples emotions, as the 1905 Partition is considered a black chapter in Bengals history, one that prompted Rabindranath Tagore to hit the streets in protest and eventually triggered the Swadheshi and Boycott movement.

Shame on you ! Partition of Bengal is the worst thing that could have happened to Bengal and Bengalis.  Arijit Das (@genetish) January 1, 2020

Why is Governor of Bengal @jdhankhar1 celebrating partition of Bengal. One of the worst events in our collective memory?



He should immediately write a formal apology. Deleting the tweet is it enough. @MamataOfficial @BanglaPokkho https://t.co/QoUlPWxxN3  Ujaan (@ujaanghosh) December 31, 2019

Senior Trinamool Congress minister Subrata Mukherjee called Dhankhars tweet unfortunate. Its a black chapter and revives bitter memories, said Mukherjee.

It is shocking to see the Governor, WB taking pleasure to greet our people while sitting on the iconic table from which Lord Curzon signed that infamous first Partition of Bengal in 1905! , Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra wrote on Twitter.

It is shocking to see the Governor,WB taking pleasure to greet our people 'while sitting on the iconic table from which Lord Curzon signed' that infamous 'first Partition of Bengal in 1905' ! Wish he knows what happened thereafter. pic.twitter.com/N9Ze628j44  Surjya Kanta Mishra (@mishra_surjya) December 31, 2019

Dhankhar removed the controversial tweet around 7.15 pm.
Laura Glen Louis at The Hudson Review:

Written in 1947, Kleins Monotone-Silence Symphony has been performed in Paris, New York City, and most recently, at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., for a total of some ten performancesoccurrences more rare than a solar eclipse. Now at a cathedral near me. A few years ago, wanting to branch out from the Baroque, Classical and Romantic repertoire that I had been singing, I joined an a cappella chamber chorus that performs only new music, nothing written before 1980. I love dissonance, crunches, uncommon intervals, uncommon and shifting meters, cascading tritones, so when an email came from a music blogger not to attend the Klein but to sing in itI jumped.

Yves Klein. Painter. Creator of the vibratory International Klein Blue (IKB), 1960. An orchestra struck up the D major chord in the Parisian premiere. Nude female models strode into the gallery, coated their breasts, bellies, thighs with IKB and pressed themselves full frontal onto canvases spread on the floor or mounted on the wall, years before the 1967 Off-Broadway debut of Hair.

more here.
Actress Salma Hayek is not known for being shy or withdrawing in any way. She is known for her boldness and gregariousness in her craft and in real life as well.

Salma Hayek | Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

One of the more outrageous things shes done was grabbing someone elses child to breastfeed them. Find out more about the incident and how it came about.

Hayek was bold in starting her career

When Hayek sees something she wants or sees a wrong that needs to be righted, she jumps right in. Her acting career is an example. She left Mexico  in the middle of a very successful career there acting in telenovelas, which are hugely popular and steady work for any actor. She felt she could do more, and left for Los Angeles in 1991.

It wasnt easy at first. She told Lucky Magazine in 2012, When I was 25 and I left being a soap opera star in Mexico to go try to be a movie star in Hollywood and all of Mexico was laughing at meI could barely get work as an extra. But the future superstar didnt give up.

Her mother, Diana Jimenez, told Hola! magazine in 2017, I always knew that Salmita would be something big in her life because of her personality, her way of always working for what she wants, but she surprises me  because Salma is unstoppable.

Hayek is a mom herself

The 53-year-old is mom to her preteen daughter, Valentina. Hayek loves to post on Instagram about her 12-year-old, from the time she was first born to now.

I like being a mother, she told The Guardian in 2013. For some people, its so much work that it can be a burden. But its not for me, maybe because I had my daughter, Valentina, later on in life, at 41. I have never been apart from Valentina for more than a week  even when my husband, Francois-Henri Pinault, and I went on our honeymoon, we were only without her for one week.

Hayeks breastfeeding incident

At UNICEFs annual ball in 2018, the actress recalled her trip with the humanitarian organization over ten years ago to Sierra Leone, during which she breastfed another womans child.

This 15-year-old girl is sobbing and shaking with a newborn baby and she said, Please help me. I need milk, Hayek Pinault recalled. We had so many things but we didnt have milk, except I remembered that I had milk because I was weaning my daughter.

I just weaned my daughter from breastfeeding not long ago and I said, I got milk. I sat down and I breastfed this baby. You should have seen his eyes. When he felt the nourishment, he immediately stopped crying.

However, the Frida stars truly selfless act wasnt made public immediately since her publicist asked the organization not to release the photo that had been taken of Hayek nursing the baby.

She joked about it at the time, You know what? They could have milked that milking moment, Hayek Pinault said.

Again, selflessly, a few years later, the actress allowed the photo to be used in promotional materials about breastfeeding in Africa.

Its proof that, not only is Salma Hayek beautiful and cool, shes also compassionate and caring.

Read more: What Is Salma Hayeks Net Worth and What Is Her Background?
In what might come as bracing news to Polar Bear Plungers on this New Years Day, the main weather feature well be noticing in central Pennsylvania this New Years Day is high winds.

Meteorologist David Martin with the National Weather Service in State College said we can expect sustained breezes in the range of 10 miles per hour by late morning, with the potential for gusts as high as 25 mph.

But those winds will help the new decade get off to a bright start as morning clouds give way to sunny skies for the afternoon. Daytime highs will peak around 40. Winds will taper and the clear conditions will continue into the evening, with a forecast low around 27 for Harrisburg.

For your back to work Thursday, Martin says the forecast is for sunshine through the day, with highs in the upper 40s. Rain expected for Friday, however.
State Department photo by Freddie Everett(WASHINGTON) -- Less than 24 hours before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was scheduled to depart for his first visit to Ukraine in his official capacity, the trip was cancelled because of the protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, according to the State Department.



"Pompeo must postpone his visit to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus due to the need for the Secretary to be in Washington, D.C., to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on Wednesday.



The cancellation comes one day after Iran-backed militias and their supporters stormed the American embassy and then camped outside the compound overnight.



Protesters dispersed on Wednesday, but the U.S. embassy has suspended all public consulate operations until further notice and advised U.S. citizens to avoid the area.



During Tuesday's protests, marchers pushed their way past an outer wall right up to the embassy gates, but a State Department spokesperson said that the embassy itself was never breached. U.S. Marines were sent to the embassy from Kuwait and soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division were deployed to the Middle East "immediately," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement Tuesday night.



The assault on the compound grew out of anger over U.S. airstrikes against an Iranian-backed militia Sunday.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.






Cairo-based Bahraini Embassy Charge dAffaires Abdulrahman Hasan Hashem yesterday attended the emergency meeting of the Arab League Council at the level of permanent delegates to discuss the latest developments in the State of Libya.

The meeting was held following the request of the Arab Republic of Egypt to discuss recent developments in the State of Libya and the potential for escalation that could threaten the stability of Libya and the region, and to adopt an Arab position in this regard with a view to restoring stability in Libya through political solutions, and avoiding foreign interference.

The Kingdom of Bahrain supported the draft resolution proposed by the Arab Republic of Egypt as it is balanced and it affirms the unity and integrity of Libyan lands, and calls to eliminate terrorism.
Addressing a meeting with party officials, Kim Jong-un on January 1 has reportedly announced that North Korea will abandon its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. The North Korean leader also told that the country would unveil a new strategic weapon in the new future. Since 2017, North Korea has not tested a long-range missile or nuclear warhead under a self-imposed moratorium. The announcement comes as the US has not met its deadline to reduce sanctions and go for unilateral denuclearization which was set on December 31.

Kim said that there is no ground for North Korea to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer. He also announced a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK, reported the North Korean news agency.

Read: New Structure Seen At Missile Equipment Production Site In North Korea

Trump hoped for denuclearization of North Korea

On the New Year's eve, US President Donald Trump told the media that he believed Kim would stick to his commitments on denuclearisation. Speaking at his holiday retreat in Florida, Trump added that he considered Kim a man of his word. He also emphasized that he and Kim "like" each other and have a very good relationship.

There were speculations of betterment when Trump met both Moon Jae-In and Kim Jong-Un at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which divides North and South Korea at the end of June 2019. Until now, Trump claimed that the suspension of nuclear tests was evidence that his approach had succeeded where others had failed and that Kim could be persuaded to give up his nuclear arsenal. Yet things could not be bettered and the situation has worsened after the North Korean leader struck a harsh note at the meeting of the ruling Workers Party.

Read: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Holds Party Meeting Ahead Of US Deadline

North Korea warned the US of 'Christmas gift'

Kim told the media that the US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of North Korea and is adopting a brigandish attitude, quoted North Korean news agency. Kim had warned that if the US persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy.

North Korea had warned that it might just have a "Christmas gift" for the US and the nature of the gift will depend on the US' actions. Nuclear talks between the two states have been stalled since the February summit between leaders US President Donald Trump and Kim apart. Trump took a dig at Kim Jong-Un saying the latter must be planning to gift something nice such as a beautiful vase and not a missile launch. Just after Christmas week, the US flew four surveillance planes over the Korean Peninsula.

Read: North Korea's Kim Jong Un To Unveil 'new Path' In New Year Speech

Read: North Korean Leader Calls For 'military Countermeasures'

(with inputs from agencies)
Taiwan's 'anti-infiltration bill' signals DPP hostility to cross-Straits ties

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2019/12/31 18:44:55

The island of Taiwan's "anti-infiltration bill," which was passed on Tuesday by Taiwan legislative authority, is a move of "green terror" by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and will hurt the interests of Taiwan people, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Tuesday, adding that the bill is a bid to score political brownie points.

"[The DPP authorities] sabotaged cross-Straits communication and exchanges, triggered cross-Straits hostility and confrontation, hurt the feelings of the people on both sides, and seriously undermined the interests of Taiwan people," said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

People from all walks of life within the island strongly condemned and are in opposition to the DPP's actions that are against the trend of the times and are deeply concerned about the consequences of sabotaging the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, according to Zhu.

"We sternly warn the DPP authorities that no force will be able to change the will of compatriots on both sides and the fact that blood is thicker than water. If they wish to look out for one another, then no force will be able to change the trend of compatriots on both sides as they share the same fate," Zhu said.

Going against the interests of the people, creating wilful cross-Straits hostility and confrontation will definitely lead the DPP to fall victim to its evil deeds, Zhu said.

The "anti-infiltration bill" bans people on the Taiwan Island from receiving instructions, requests, financial aids or political donations from "infiltrating sources," or taking part in election activities listed in the island's "Civil Servants Election And Recall Act," media reported.

This includes any political party, organization, and individual that holds a position contradictory to the DPP, media that criticizes the DPP, Taiwan people who come to the Chinese mainland for education or work, including participants of cross-Straits communications and cooperation, said Zhu in a routine press conference held on December 25.

Violators will be sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years, besides fine of up to 10 million new Taiwan dollars ($334,600), reports said.

KMT party candidate Han Kuo-yu told media on Sunday that once the "anti-infiltration bill" is passed, people like (music band in Taiwan) Mayday and baker Wu Pao-chun (who has a bakery in Shanghai) might also be liable for prosecution.

This is like hanging bombs around the necks of Taiwan people, which the DPP can detonate at any time, Han said.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have rang in the New Year by hitting a staggering 10 million Instagram followers.

Yet despite the success of Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry's, 35, social media account - it's still the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 37, who boast the most followers.

Kate Middleton and Prince William's Kensington Royal account has 10.6 million fans, while their in-laws have reached 10 million overnight.

The Queen's profile, The Royal Family, has garnered a respectable 7.1million followers, but Clarence House - run on behalf of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall - lags behind with just 939,000.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in October) have rang in the New Year by gaining a staggering 10million Instagram followers

Yet despite the success of Meghan and Prince Harry's social media account - it's still the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured with their children) that boast the most followers

Meghan, 37, and Prince Harry, 35, reached 10 million overnight on their social media account

Kate and Prince William's Kensington Royal account, seen above, has 10.6 million followers

The Duke and Duchess' Sussex Royal account broke a Guinness World Record when launching on April 2 last year.

It became the fastest Instagram profile to reach one million followers in less than six hours.

This was later beaten by Friends star Jennifer Aniston who gained a million followers in five hours and 45 minutes, upon joining the site in October.

The Queen's profile, The Royal Family, has garnered a respectable 7.1million followers. Pictured: Her Majesty, 93, leaving church in Sandringham on Sunday

Clarence House - run on behalf of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured in December) - lags behind with just 939,000

It perhaps comes as no surprise to discover that the top three most liked pictures on the account are dominated by baby Archie.

The most popular among royal enthusiasts proved to be a black and white photo of Harry, Meghan and Archie greeting the Queen, Prince Philip, and the duchess' mother Doria Ragland.

With 3million likes, it was closely followed by the couple's post announcing the birth of their son a few days before - which received 2.9million likes.

The most popular SussexRoyal post among royal enthusiasts proved to be a photo of Harry, Meghan and Archie greeting the Queen, Prince Philip, and the duchess' mother Doria Ragland

A photograph, seen above, of the duke and duchess with their little one in the Great Hall at Windsor Castle took third place

A photograph of the duke and duchess with their little one in the Great Hall at Windsor Castle took third place.

Gaining 2.8million likes, it was the family's first photo call, two days after Archie's birth on May 6.

Among the SussexRoyal followers are celebrities David Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Princess Eugenie.

Ex-Suits star Meghan used to have her own personal Twitter and Instagram accounts, as well as a lifestyle website thetig.com, but closed them down ahead of her wedding to Harry in 2018.
Two more suspects were arrested Monday in connection with a Dec. 18 shooting at South Park Mall that injured four people.

Markees Fanning, 17, and Jonangel Cervantes, 17, are facing four counts each of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, said Sgt. Michelle Ramos, a spokeswoman for the San Antonio Police Department.

The two were together in a vehicle on San Antonios South Side when they were detained by police.

Right now, were very happy to get these individuals off the street, said Ramos.

On Dec. 22, police arrested Lawrence Frambs, 21, and Daonte Johnson, 22, in the case. Frambs and Johnson also are facing four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

We do anticipate an additional arrest or arrests, said Ramos. The case is still very active and early on in the investigation.

Four people  a 19-year-old woman, 17-year-old boy and two men, ages 26 and 41  were shot near the entrance of the J.C. Penney store while leaving the mall on Southwest Military Drive just before 9 p.m. on Dec. 18, officials said. Police believe the victims were targeted.

The suspects then fled in a black Dodge Charger, which was later recovered by police.

The victims were taken to the hospital. The one victim who was in critical condition is now stable, Ramos said Monday. She did not provide information about the other victims.

Marina Starleaf Riker is an investigative reporter for the San Antonio Express-News with extensive experience covering affordable housing, inequality and disaster recovery. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | marina.riker@express-news.net | Twitter: @MarinaStarleaf
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday slammed the Congress and the AAP by accusing them of spreading misinformation and inciting violence over the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi. Javadekar said that both the parties should extend an apology to the people. Javadekar made the statement during BJP's press briefing in Delhi.

'This is a fight of truth vs lie'

The Information and Broadcasting Minister said, "In a peaceful city like Delhi, the atmosphere that was created by spreading misinformation on Citizenship Amendment Act, and the damage that was done to property, Congress and AAP are responsible for it. They must apologise to the people. This is a fight of truth vs lies, nationalism vs anarchy." Javadekar claimed that Aam Aadmi Partys Amanatullah Khan had incited protestors. Javadekar also attacked the AAP, ahead of Delhi Assembly polls which are expected to be held in February. He said the Delhi government has made false claims.

Anti-CAA protests

There have massive protests in different parts of the nation both for and against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. At least 26 people have died in the anti-CAA protests. The Citizenship Amendment Act, approved by Parliament on December 11, provides citizenship to refugees from six minority religious communities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, provided they have lived in India for six years and entered the country by December 31, 2014. In Delhi, thousands of people were detained as protests raged last month. Internet services were suspended for brief periods and hundreds of people, many of them students, were injured in clashes with the police.

READ | CAA: BJP to launch campaign strategy to counter TMC

READ | Puducherry BJP petitions Kiran Bedi against plan to set up casinos

BJP's outreach programme

The BJP leadership has decided to launch a campaign blitzkrieg in West Bengal to counter the TMC's "misinformation programmes" regarding Citizenship (Amendment) Act and reach out to refugees. The West Bengal BJP leadership had hoped that the new citizenship law would be its "political trump card" ahead of the 2021 assembly polls in the state. But an aggressive campaign against the CAA by the Trinamool Congress, other opposition parties, civil society groups, students and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's declaration not to implement the CAA in the state, has put the saffron party on the backfoot.

Apart from launching a state-wide campaign against the new legislation, Banerjee has participated in six protest marches and three rallies in various parts of the state. According to state BJP sources, a blueprint of Bengal-specific programmes and campaigns has been prepared to reach out to the masses and allay fears and misinformation campaign about the CAA.

READ | BJP to announce its Delhi CM face in first week of Jan: Sources

READ | Citing negative reporting, BJP to brief international media over Citizenship Act

(with PTI inputs)
The Shiv Sena-led coalition government in Maharashtra will be controlled by "Matoshree of Delhi" and not from "Matoshree" in Mumbai, senior BJP leader and former chief minister said on Wednesday in an apparent reference to leadership.

Fadnavis made the remarks targetting Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while campaigning for the upcoming Palghar Zilla Parishad elections.

"This government will be controlled not from 'Matoshree' (Thackeray's residence in suburban Mumbai), but by the 'Matoshree' of Delhi", the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly told a rally.

Fadnavis, however, didn't take any names while firing the "Matoshree in Delhi" barb. 'Matoshree' means mother in Marathi.

The and the are the other constituents in the Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

'Matoshree' gradually emerged as a formidable power centre in Maharashtra when Sena founder Bal Thackeray was alive.

Many prominent personalities, including tallest political leaders of the BJP, Bollywood actors and even late King of Pop Michael Jackson, had visited "Matoshree" in suburban Bandra.

Fadnavis' remarks are set to raise hackles of the Sena, which always takes pride in "calling the shots" from the Bandra residence of the Thackerays.

Continuing his diatribe, Fadnavis also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray's comments that he had given a word to his father late Balasaheb Thackeray of making a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra.

"Bal Thackeray will be crying in heaven if he learns about the Sena's move to go with the and after polls," Fadnavis said.

He also accused the Sena of "betraying" the public mandate by forging an alliance with the and Congress after the state elections.

Fadnavis appealed to people to give a befitting reply to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in the upcoming zilla parishad polls.

It is unfortunate that the has to compromise with those who "abused" Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, the BJP leader said, wondering how many days the Thackeray-led government will survive amid the "infighting".

The Sena not only "betrayed" the public mandate but also its pre-poll ally BJP with which it jointly contested the Assembly elections, he alleged.

Fadnavis said in the Assembly polls held in October last year, the BJP won 70 per cent of the seats that it contested and emerged as the single largest party, while the bagged only 45 per cent of the seats that it fought.

"Citizens gave a clear mandate to the BJP- combine, but unfortunately due to betrayal by the Sena, which joined hands with the NCP and Congress, the BJP has to remain out of power," he said.

Hitting out at Uddhav Thackeray for "betraying" the BJP, he said from day one (since Sena formed government with the NCP and Congress), the three parties were not able to decide the names of ministers.

"Even after the selection of ministers, there is growing discontent among the Shiv Sena leaders and activists, and in case of the Congress, its activists have even gone to the extent of ransacking their party offices," he said.

On Tuesday, some supporters of Congress MLA Sangram Thopte had vandalised the party office in Pune to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, which was expanded on Monday.

Fadnavis said people of Maharashtra gave a "clear majority to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine" to form government, but later things took a different turn. He said citizens are witness to the political developments in the state.

"It is unfortunate that it took weeks (for the Thackeray-led alliance) to finalise government formation and then form the Cabinet," the BJP leader said.

On the farm loan waiver scheme announced by Thackeray, he said, "It is nothing but an eyewash and several conditions are attached to it, as a result of which nearly 60 lakh farmers in the state will not get benefit of the scheme."



The Shiv Sena made "tall claims" that the 7/12 (land title) of farmers would be made free of encumbrance.

"They have taken the farmers for a ride and none of them will get the benefit," Fadnavis said, while recalling that Thackeray had earlier demanded Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers who suffered from crop losses.

"Now, they have gone back on their word," he alleged.
Forfootsake, the individualistic shoe shop opened in March 2019 at North Main Street, Naas, is to close. The business was launched last year having previously been run as a website (www.forfootsake.ie). The service was renowned for its unique, upmarket and stylish footwear for men, some made from Italian calf leather but notably, quality European footwear.

It is regrettable, but the store is not commercially viable said owner Charles McEvoy. Forfootsake is a niche market retailer of handmade shoes. Some, maybe too eclectic for Naas shoppers.

However, for those who have purchased, I would like to thank them and other well wishers for their support. I have no regrets and will continue to sell online at forfootsake.ie.

He continued: I would also like to wish my fellow retailers success in 2020. Retail is difficult and somewhat of a vocation.

Speaking to the Kildare Post, he appealed to locals: I do have a call to action for local residents. Too often I've witnessed the evisceration of towns due to the establishment of retail parks.

Retail parks have their uses, but towns are the heartbeat of the community. I would urge the residents of Naas and its surrounds to support the retailers of this town and not to allow any further decline.. They need your support to sustain a moderate income. None of them are here to become millionaires.

It would be a tragedy for Kildare to lose any more of its retailers. You have excellent butchers, jeweller, pharmacies, menswear, ladies fashion, shoes and much much more. Please do not underestimate the great value in retaining the heartbeat of the town - protect the small retailers, please!

Some landmark businesses such as Mattimoe's, Conroy's Menswear, The Candied Walnut restaurant and Donal's were among the businesses to close in recent years, albeit new coffee shops and stores have opened in Naas town since.

Forfootsake also stocked a selection of designer casuals and accessories, along with designer lines in ladies handbags via the BagLady.

Charles coincidentally opened his first business in Naas at the store which previously housed a vape shop roughly opposite Fletchers landmark pub. Charles got his love for footwear and style from from his grandfather who wore handmade Italian shoes and travelled to his home in Italy every year to secure his shoes. It was a further coincidence that Giuseppe Mirolo, who settled in Ireland in the 1930's, worked in the same store over 60 years ago when he installed the terrazzo floor which was an iconic floor of the 1950's and 60's and even into the 70's in many Irish pubs, take-away outlets and hospitals throughout Ireland. It was Mirolo and two Italian friends who were largely responsible for this phenomenon.

Furthermore,. Giuseppe Mirolo worked on churches and cathedrals creating the works of mosaic art to be seen today. However, every Sunday he discarded his working clothes and dressed in the finest suit, borsalino hat, silver tipped cane and completed the look with carefully chosen handmade shoes  which is where Charles' interest in style was ignited.

Remember, Forfootsake.ie will continue to operate online providing its unique and stylish European shoes for men.
India and Pakistan on Monday exchanged lists of nuclear installations that cannot be attacked in the event of hostilities, maintaining a tradition dating back nearly three decades.

The two countries also exchanged lists of their nationals held in prisons of the other country, with New Delhi seeking the early release of Indian civilian prisoners, missing defence personnel and fishermen.

The lists of nuclear installations were exchanged simultaneously through diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Islamabad. These facilities are covered by the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations signed on December 31, 1988.

Under the pact, the two countries inform each other of nuclear installations to be covered under the agreement on January 1 every year. This was the 29th consecutive exchange of such lists, with the first one having taken place in January 1992. Both sides do not disclose details of the facilities.

The lists of prisoners were exchanged under the Agreement on Consular Access signed in May 2008. Under this pact, the two sides exchange comprehensive lists on January 1 and July 1 every year.

India handed over a list of 267 Pakistani civilian and 99 fishermen who are in its custody. Pakistan shared a list of 55 civilians and 227 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed to be Indians, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

The Pakistani side was asked to expedite the release of four Indian civilians and 126 fishermen whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in Pakistans custody, the statement said.

India asked Pakistan to grant visas to a team of medical experts and facilitate their visit to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan.

It asked Pakistan to organise an early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee, which is covered by the Agreement on Consular Access, and to also organise the visit of a four-member team to Karachi to facilitate the release of 22 Indian fishing boats.

India also asked Pakistan to act speedily to confirm the nationality of 82 Pakistani prisoners, whose repatriation has been held up as Islamabad hasnt as yet confirmed their citizenship.

The signing of the 2008 agreement helped speed up the identification and release of hundreds of prisoners, a majority of them fishermen. However, the process has been hit in recent years by tensions between the two sides.
BELCHERTOWN  Ongoing redevelopment at the former Belchertown State School off of Route 202 got another boost with a $550,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration.

State and local officials welcomed the grant, which requires a state match, meaning $1.1 million is being added to ongoing efforts to create a 17-acre industrial and business park within the approximately 55-acre site.

The state agency coordinating redevelopment of the property, the Massachusetts Development Finance Authority, in a statement Tuesday, thanked the federal government for its investment in the project.

"MassDevelopment is grateful to the U.S. Department of Commerce for their support of this transformative project. This key funding will advance development of Carriage Grove, a continuing and collaborative effort between MassDevelopment, the town of Belchertown, and the Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, the agencys deputy director of communications, Jessica Beliveau, said in a statement.

The Commerce Department, in a statement on Dec. 23, said the money would be used for the construction and installation of an electrical feed to the development site, replacement of existing water mains, and construction of an industrial cul-de-sac and stormwater management system.

These improvements will support the construction of a new industrial brewery and will help attract other businesses to the site, the statement said, projecting $19.5 million in private investment and creation of 262 jobs.

Town Administrator Gary Brougham called the grant great news.

It will accelerate the demolition and redevelopment effort substantially, he said in an interview.

Although many of the numerous buildings that used to dot the property have been bulldozed to make way for redevelopment, some remain to be torn down. The 83-unit, $16 million Christopher Heights of Belchertown assisted living facility has already opened on the property.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fleming said in a statement that the money going to the Belchertown project is part of President Donald Trumps commitment to improving American infrastructure and job availability.

The new Belchertown industrial site will help diversify the regions economy by attracting new businesses, he said. The projects location near an Opportunity Zone will further drive private investment into the region.
2019 was a banner year for Canadas Express Entry-linked PNP streams Nomination streams in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia had a big year

2019 was a banner year for Canadas Express Entry-linked PNP streams Nomination streams in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia had a big year

2019 was a banner year for Canadas Express Entry-linked PNP streams Nomination streams in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia had a big year CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Perhaps the best news to come out of Canadas Express Entry system in 2019 was the amount of activity among Express Entry-linked provincial nomination streams.



Canadas Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows participating provinces and territories to nominate a set number of skilled workers and other economic immigration candidates for permanent residence.

Each of the nine provinces and two territories that take part in the PNP has at least one so-called enhanced nomination stream that is linked to the Express Entry system and allows them to nominate candidates with a profile in the Express Entry pool.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence, or ITA.

Many enhanced nomination streams have a low or even no CRS requirement and, as a result, provide opportunities to selected Express Entry candidates who may not otherwise have the minimum required score to obtain an ITA.

Candidates selected through these streams generally have work experience that is needed in the province, among other requirements.

Some of the most notable activity in 2019 took place in enhanced nomination streams operated by the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.

Find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool

Ontario

Ontarios three Express Entry-linked nomination streams  Human Capital Priorities, French-Speaking Skilled Worker and Skilled Trades  issued a combined 8,906 invitations to Express Entry candidates in 2019.

Of that total, 6,958 were issued through the Human Capital Priorities Stream over the course of five draws in 2019.

All three streams allow the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to search the Express Entry pool for candidates who appear to match the respective requirements for each pathway.

A key innovation introduced by Ontario in 2019 were dedicated Tech Draws that targeted Express Entry candidates with work experience in one of six tech-related occupations. These focused invitation rounds accounted for two of the draws conducted through the Human Capital Priorities Stream in 2019 and resulted in 3,396 invitations to Express Entry candidates.

Alberta

One of the big stories of 2019 was the emergence of the Alberta Express Entry Stream as one of Canadas most active PNP pathways.

The stream allows the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) to search the Express Entry pool for candidates who have demonstrated strong ties to Alberta or who can help support the governments economic development and diversification priorities.

The AINP invited 6,884 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination over the course of 31 selection rounds in 2019. Five of these selection rounds had a minimum CRS score requirement of 300 and none had a minimum CRS score requirement higher than 400.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewans Express Entry sub-category also turned heads in 2019, issuing more than 5,000 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence to Express Entry candidates.

In order to be considered for this immigration pathway, Express Entry candidates must register a separate Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program and have work experience in an eligible occupation related to their field of study.

A key development in this pathway was the switch from an In-Demand Occupation List to an Excluded Occupation List in September. This move expanded the number of eligible occupations from 19 to more than 200 and sparked a flurry of EOI selection rounds that saw just over 3,800 Express Entry candidates invited to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence between September 25 and December 20.

In total, the SINP invited 4,836 Express Entry candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in 2019.

Nova Scotia

On Canadas Atlantic coast, the province of Nova Scotia also made regular use of its Labour Market Priorities Stream to invite candidates in the Express Entry pool.

The stream allows the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) to search the pool for candidates with work experience in occupations facing labour shortages in the province.

The NSNP used the Labour Market Priorities Stream on eight occasions in 2019 to invite a range of professionals from the Express Entry pool including financial auditors and accountants, registered nurses, social workers, early childhood educators and candidates with work experience in advertising, marketing or public relations.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

 2019 CIC News All Rights Reserved
The United States has stepped up its response to unrest in Iraq after the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was attacked by deploying 750 troops to the region at the direction of President Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday.

"[The] soldiers will deploy to the region immediately & additional forces from the [Immediate Response Force] are prepared to deploy over the next several days. This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world."

 Esper's announcement via Twitter

Driving the news: The deployment comes after thousands of protesters and militia fighters attacked the U.S. Embassy in gates in Baghdad in fury at U.S. airstrikes in Iraq following a Hezbollah rocket barrage last Friday that killed a U.S. defense contractor in a military compound in northern Iraq.

Why it matters: The developments represent a major downturn in U.S.-Iraq relations that could further undermine American influence in the region and also weaken Washington's hand in its maximum pressure campaign against Iran.

What they're saying: Esper said in a statement the Departments of Defense and State were working closely together to ensure the security of "our Embassy and personnel in Baghdad."

"We have taken appropriate force protection actions to ensure the safety of American citizens, military personnel and diplomats in country, and to ensure our right of self-defense. We are sending additional forces to support our personnel at the Embassy. As in all countries, we rely on host nation forces to assist in the protection of our personnel in country, and we call on the Government of Iraq to fulfill its international responsibilities to do so. The United States continues to support the Iraqi people and a free, sovereign, and prosperous Iraq."

Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida that he doesn't want a war with Iran, nor does he envisage there being one.

"I want to have peace. I like peace," he said. "And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening."

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Background: Trump tweeted earlier: "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!"

Trump also tweeted: "To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time!"

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
Ever since Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, earlier this month, India has seen widespread protests. These protests have involved political parties, civil society, and student groups, as well as large number of ordinary Muslim citizens. Many of these protests have been marred by violence, involving the destruction of public property and clashes between police and protesters.

However, the police in many states have also been accused of using excessive force on protesters. In Uttar Pradesh, there are reports and allegations that the police targeted Muslim protesters, even attacking some Muslim neighbourhoods and houses. To be sure, there is another side to the story  Uttar Pradesh police officials have spoken of large, well-organised mobs, intent on violence, and armed with guns in some cases.

Still, this is a good time to remember the findings from the Status of Policing in India report, released earlier this year by Common Cause and CSDS-Lokniti, which showed that the police in India suffers from inadequacies and biases which might lead to such behaviour. The report said that large sections of the police force are not trained to care about human rights, believed that use of violence is justified against criminal elements, and are more prejudiced against the Muslims in believing that the community was naturally prone towards committing crimes.

The report is based on a survey conducted across 21 states.

It showed that in Assam and Uttar Pradesh, two of the states which witnessed multiple protests in the last two weeks, 31% and 19% personnel never received training in human rights. Assam also tops the states in share of personnel who did not receive training in caste sensitisation and crowd control.

Even among the personnel who received training in any of the three modules, a majority received the training only at the time of joining the police force. This study said that was also true for those who were in the police force for more than five years. (See Chart 1)

The survey data further suggested an inherent prejudice existed among police personnel against various socio-religious communities, but largely against Muslims. For instance, when asked to what extent were people from several communities naturally prone towards committing crimes, 50% police personnel said Muslims were very much or somewhat naturally prone towards committing crimes. This figure was under 35% in case of Dalits, tribal communities, upper-caste Hindus and people from the other backward classes. (See Chart 2)

Uttar Pradesh was among the eight states where a majority of the police personnel surveyed showed this bias against Muslims. It was the highest in Uttarakhand at 79%. Uttar Pradesh was also among the states where the survey found a majority of personnel having a similar prejudice against Dalits.

The need for training in human rights also gains significance as the survey found a large number of police personnel had the inclination to use extrajudicial measures against criminals over a legal trail. Three in every four police personnel surveyed felt it was justified for the police to be violent towards criminals, while one in five felt that killing dangerous criminals was better than a legal trial. To be sure, more educated police personnel, who are more likely to be officers, were found to be more likely to believe that it was alright for the police to be violent towards criminals. (See Chart 3).

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The jawans of Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated New Year 2020 here with joy and fervour.

They danced to "folk songs" played in the background and greeted each other.

Similarly, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans also celebrated NewYear in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

Chhatisgarh is a Naxal dominated state and CRPF is deployed to carry out lethal counter-insurgency operations in naxal affected area.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Oscar winner Goldie Hawn braved the frosty 20F-degree winter weather to run errands on in Aspen on New Year's Eve.

The 74-year-old grandmother-of-six bundled up in a black furry hat, fur-trimmed houndstooth-print parka, and fur-trimmed boots.

Goldie flashed her effervescent grin and she toted an overstuffed blue-quilted bag as she made her way down the snow-filled street.

Brrrrrr! Oscar winner Goldie Hawn braved the frosty 20F-degree winter weather to run errands on in Aspen on New Year's Eve

Chilly stroll: The 74-year-old grandmother-of-six bundled up in a black furry hat, fur-trimmed houndstooth-print parka, and fur-trimmed boots

That same day, Hawn posted an uplifting quote from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu about how 'loving someone deeply gives you courage.'

'May this year surround you with love,' the Washington, D.C.-born blonde wrote to her 2.9M social media followers.

'Many blessings to everyone for a healthy, joyous and kinder 2020.'

Goldie also received a New Year's Eve shout-out from her non-profit neuroscientific MindUP program, which has been taught to '6M children worldwide since 2003.'

Last day of 2019! Goldie flashed her effervescent grin and she toted an overstuffed blue-quilted bag as she made her way down the snow-filled street

'May this year surround you with love!' That same day, Hawn posted an uplifting quote from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu about how 'loving someone deeply gives you courage'

'Our incredible leader!' The Washington, D.C.-born blonde also received a New Year's Eve shout-out from her non-profit neuroscientific MindUP program, which has been taught to '6M children worldwide since 2003'

The official MindUP Twitter account gushed: 'We'd like to extend our sincerest thank you to all of you [and] our incredible leader, @GoldieHawn, for a successful 365 days full of new learnings [and] making a lasting change in students' lives.'

Hawn celebrated the holidays in Colorado with her family, including son Oliver Hudson, from her six-year marriage to ex-husband #2 Bill Hudson.

The 43-year-old Splitting Up Together actor posted a funny Christmas Eve video of himself downing shotgun shots with his famous mother, who winced 'that went up my nose.'

'This woman is a human outlier!' Goldie celebrated the holidays in Colorado with her family, including son Oliver Hudson (L), from her six-year marriage to ex-husband #2 Bill Hudson (pictured December 24)

'One day there will be a statue': The 43-year-old Splitting Up Together actor posted a funny Christmas Eve video of himself downing shotgun shots with his famous mother

'That went up my nose!' Hawn is also mother to 40-year-old daughter Kate Hudson (with Bill Hudson) and 33-year-old son Wyatt Russell (with current partner Kurt Russell)

Goldie is also mother to 40-year-old daughter Kate Hudson (with Bill Hudson) and 33-year-old son Wyatt Russell (with current partner Kurt Russell).

Last year, Oliver portrayed doomed dad Doug opposite Hawn and her 68-year-old partner's Santa & Mrs. Claus in The Christmas Chronicles, and Netflix greenlit a 2020 sequel.

According to THR, production is already underway on Chris Columbus' festive family flick also featuring Tyrese Gibson and Darlene Love.

Netflix greenlit a 2020 sequel! Oliver portrayed doomed dad Doug opposite Hawn (R) and her 68-year-old partner's (L) Santa & Mrs. Claus in The Christmas Chronicles last year

'I'm still ringing Santa's jingle bells!' Production is already underway on Chris Columbus' festive family flick also featuring Tyrese Gibson and Darlene Love (pictured December 6)

'A year later and I'm still ringing Santa's jingle bells,' the SPF-18 narrator joked on December 6.

'I couldn't be happier to be working on @christmaschronicles again with Kurt Russell, my real life Santa. @netflix 2020'

Goldie and the Golden Globe nominee fell in love on the 1983 set of Jonathan Demme's Swing Shift, and they also played lovers in Garry Marshall's 1987 rom-com Overboard.
Updated 3:24 p.m.:

One of the victims in an early Monday shooting that took place between Portlands Pearl District and Old Town Chinatown neighborhoods has died. The suspect in the shooting is now facing a murder charge.

Portland Police say 42-year-old Anthony Higginbotham died at an area hospital. He was one of two men struck by a hail of bullets believed to have been fired by a man who claims he was robbed.

Police arrested Curtis Harris, 46, Monday night on charges of attempted murder, but the case has now become a homicide investigation. Harris remains in the Multnomah County jail. The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said on Thursday afternoon that Harris would likely be arraigned on a new murder charge Friday morning.

The suspected gunman told police he opened fire on two men, identified as Higginbotham and Jamar Rodriguez, after they robbed him at gunpoint, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Harris was selling liquor and snacks from his car outside the Everett Station Lofts, according to court records and witnesses. Harris told detectives that two men came up and robbed him of his money and some of his merchandise, the probable cause affidavit says. He also claimed one of the men held a gun to his head.

Harris told police he got in his car and drove across the street, near Northwest Broadway and Flanders Street, where he parked and got out with his own gun. As one of the alleged robbers pointed a gun at him, Harris told officers he started firing his weapon. Police said at least 50 shots were fired.

He kept saying, It wasnt my fault. It wasnt my fault. It was self-defense, Cindy Pankoff, who lives at Everett Station, told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Police said Higginbotham suffered multiple gunshot wounds; Rodriguez had one gunshot wound to his buttocks.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh and Jayati Ramakrishnan contributed to this story.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Body of a man was found hanging inside a dilapidated building of City Centre in SBS Nagar here on Wednesday afternoon. According to police, the body was decomposed and it appeared that the man had died almost a month ago.

The police are suspecting it to be a case of suicide, but will wait for the autopsy report to ascertain the cause of death.

Locals had informed police as after they experienced foul smell coming from the spot.

Dugri SHO inspector Davinder Sharma said residents suspected that somebody was inside the city centre because of the foul smell. On getting information, we reached the site and found a body hanging from an iron rod, he added.

The SHO said there was no visible sign of struggle on the body.

It is suspected that the man had hung himself. However, we will wait for the autopsy report to confirm it, he added.

No identity proof has been recovered from the spot. The police have kept the body in mortuary of the civil hospital. Other police stations have also been informed to share details of missing persons in a bid to identify the deceased. The police have made announcements in nearby areas for identification of the body.
US troops fired tear gas in response to violent protests at the country's embassy in Iraq, as militiamen set fire to the building for a second day.

Defence Secretary Mark Esper said about 750 troops would be deployed after one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

Iran-allied militiamen and supporters had camped out at the gates overnight, a day after breaking into the compound and vandalising a reception area.

They began to withdraw on New Year's Day as troops came in, heeding a call from the Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella group that gathers mainly Shia militia. By evening, all had withdrawn from the perimeter of the compound, the Iraqi military said.

A protest camp has been set up in front of a nearby hotel.

Additional forces from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division are also prepared to deploy in the next several days.

Mr Esper said: "This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today.

"The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world."

Asked about the possibility of war with Iran, US President Donald Trump said: "Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace.

"And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I don't see (war) happening."

Earlier on Tuesday, protesters, many of them in militia uniforms, had marched outside the embassy compound , shouting slogans against the US, Israel and Mr Trump.

They pelted the entrance with stones and set fire to a reception area after forcing their way into the site.

One protest leader told crowds: "Our sit-in is eternal, until this devil's den is closed off forever, but don't give anyone an excuse to make your protest violent. Don't clash with security."

Gunfire was heard and there were reports of tear gas, with the Reuters news agency saying 12 people involved in the protests were injured.

Story continues

The State Department has said all American personnel are safe and that there are no plans to evacuate the embassy.

Mr Trump blamed Iran for the protests and called on Iraq to protect the diplomatic mission, tweeting: "Iran is orchestrating an attack on the US Embassy in Iraq.

"They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!"

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Iran has rejected accusations it was behind the violent protests.

The protesters are angry at Washington for the strikes that killed more than two-dozen fighters from an Iran-backed militia over the weekend. Iraq has condemned the airstrikes.

US officials said the move was in response to rocket attacks on a military base in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, which left a US contractor dead.
Turkey backed Free Syrian Army militants at Libya. pic.twitter.com/NYd9xfaidG  Erkin Oncan (@ErkinOncan) December 29, 2019

geolocation of SNA fighters next to al takbali camp

32.806398, 13.228440https://t.co/foevLxGWsy pic.twitter.com/ABjqwZpAuu  il kanguru (@il_kanguru) December 28, 2019

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According to the Director of the Non-State Actors in Fragile Environments Programme at the Centre for Global Policy, Hassan Hassan, the footage is the clearest evidence yet of Syrian fighters being deployed in Libya on behalf of the GNA.

Syrian rebels loyal to Turkey show up in Libya. The clearest evidence yet.



I still dont get their utility in Libya, unless theyll serve as auxiliary, guards or cannon fodder to the Turkish forces. More trusted by the Turks?pic.twitter.com/lNgf1h7RpQ  Hassan Hassan (@hxhassan) December 28, 2019

Yesterday, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that 300 Syrian fighters are already present in Libya, with another 1,000 currently encamped at a Turkish base. On Friday, it was reported by Bloomberg that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be dispatching Syrian rebels to help support the GNA.

The Turkish parliament is expected to vote on Thursday on the motion to authorise sending the army to Libya in support of Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj. Earlier this month, Erdogan expressed his countrys readiness to send troops should the Libyan government request them, in addition to establishing a military base in the country.

However, the New York Times reported today that the main opposition party in Turkey, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), which has previously expressed concerns, has stated that it does not support the governments decision to deploy Turkish troops in Libya. We dont want this terrible picture that unfolded in Syria to unfold in yet another country, Unal Cevikoz, the CHPs deputy chairman, told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 1, 2020 - 20:01 | All, Japan

Here is a collection of photos and videos taken during New Year's celebrations around Japan.

(Photo taken from a Japan Airlines special New Year's day flight shows Mt. Fuji and the year's first sunrise.)

(Sunrise on New Year's Day seen from Tokyo Skytree.)

(People watch the year's first sunrise at the observation deck of Tokyo Skytree.)

(Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other members of Japan's imperial family attend a New Year's ceremony at the Imperial Palace.)

(Mail carriers depart from the Nihombashi post office in downtown Tokyo on Jan. 1, 2020 to deliver New Year's greeting cards.)

(Photo taken Jan. 1, 2020 shows a big "daruma," a popular talisman of good luck, at a daruma market in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture.)

(A huge crowd of people gather for a countdown event at Tokyo's famed Shibuya Crossing on Dec. 31, 2019.)
Students from various colleges and universities across India came together on Wednesday and pledged to fight the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register.

The CAA aims to fast-track citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The NRC is meant to identify illegal immigrants and the NPR is a population enumeration exercise conducted simultaneously with the 2021 census.

At Delhis India Gate, hundreds of protesters shouted slogans against the CAA and read out a pledge that said they will not furnish any papers to prove their citizenship.

Our new year resolution is to defend the constitution. They cannot keep doing whatever they want to, there have to be some norms followed and the basic structure of the country cannot be demolished, said Sarthak Chaubey, a Jamia Millia Islamia student.

In Hyderabad, about 250 students belonging to five different universities took a similar pledge.We shall not show any document with regard to our place of birth or religion and citizenship details, All India Students Association (AISA) secretary Faizan Sarwar said. Osmania University professor Gali Vinod Kumar made the students read out the preamble of the Constitution.

In Bhopal, students from several institutions in the city and activists assembled under the banner of a Joint Action Committee against NRC, CAA and NPR and took a pledge to agitate against the central governments steps.

Ainul Yaqeen, an executive member of the Committee said, Students from several institutions took part in the protest. Several organisations too extended their support to us. The CAA and NRC are not in sync with the spirit of the Constitution.

Another group of students assembled to support the CAA. We welcomed the humanitarian act passed by the governmentIt is congruent with our ancient Indic values of giving shelter to helpless people, said third-year B Tech student Prashant Rao Gokhle.
San Mateo police Tuesday released more details about the arrest of two people connected to a shooting Monday in San Mateo.

After a car chase, police arrested two East Palo Alto residents, a man and woman, thought to be involved in the shooting at La Hacienda Market at 201 N. Amphlett Blvd.

A single victim was treated at a hospital for a gunshot wound to his leg that was not considered life-threatening, police said.

According to police, the victim and the shooter knew each other and a dispute between them led to the shooting.

Officers were tipped off to the location of the suspects by a citizen listening to police scanners. The suspects were driving in a Jeep along University Avenue and Bay Road in East Palo Alto, police said.

An East Palo Alto police officer tried to stop the Jeep, but the suspects fled, leading police in pursuit onto eastbound state Highway 84 across the Dumbarton Bridge into Fremont.

During the chase, the woman apparently got out and ran into an apartment complex with a duffel bag and was arrested by Fremont police.

The driver allegedly kept going and eventually surrendered in a parking lot near Post Street and Thornton Avenue in Fremont. He was allegedly found with a Glock 9mm pistol with a high capacity magazine and a duffel bag with marijuana inside, police said.

The driver and passenger of the Jeep were said to be 21-year-old Jose Longino and 19-year-old Dania Juarez.

Longino is suspected of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, carrying a loaded firearm during a felony, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, reckless driving while evading police and possessing a firearm as a convicted person.

Juarez is suspected of possessing a firearm as a convicted person and resisting/delaying/obstructing a peace officer.

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.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday dismissed reports of dissent among Congress and Shiv Sena leaders over cabinet expansion, saying that no one is unhappy.



The clarification came after reports surfaced that several leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government were reportedly upset with the cabinet expansion that took place on Monday.

"Order on portfolios might be released tomorrow. Nobody is unhappy with the portfolio allocations," Pawar said after a key meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of the coalition.

"In today's meeting, we discussed which responsibility should be given to which minister. Other issues were also discussed in the meeting," Pawar said.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that many MLAs wanted to be included in the Cabinet but there are less ministerial berths in the government. (ANI)


Kim had previously warned that he would put his country on a new path if the United States failed to drop what Pyongyang calls a hostile attitude and make fresh concessions by the end of 2019, threatening to deliver an unwelcome Christmas gift to the United States. While Christmas came and went without any missile tests, this weeks statement shows Kim moving in a more aggressive direction.
Prashant Kishor (left) with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Gloves were off between the Bihar BJP and Prashant Kishor, vice-president of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), whose outspokenness on contentious issues like the CAA, NRC and sharing of seats in the assembly polls next year, has left a large section of his party flummoxed and the ally rankled.

After raising the BJP's hackles last month by opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill - which the JD(U) supported in Parliament and triggering a storm two days ago with the contention that the CM's party must contest more seats than its ally, Kishor intensified the political heat with a frontal attack on Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Kishor expressed bemusement on Twitter at the 'vyakhyan' (discourse) from Sushil Modi on coalition dharma, and made a close-to-the-bone remark about "circumstances" that helped the veteran BJP leader return as deputy in 2017, despite his party having lost the assembly polls two years before.

His jibe at Sushil Modi was prompted by a couple of tweets of the latter on the previous day wherein the wily BJP leader had refrained from mentioning the JD(U) vice president by name, but made snide remarks about his "business interests" trumping his political commitment and benefiting the opposition.

The deputy CM, arguably the most prolific Twitter user among top politicians of Bihar, chose not to join issue with the 1977-born Kishor, and sources close to him said he was away in Chennai to enjoy New Year celebrations with family.

However, the faction-ridden state BJP rose in unison against Kishor who shot to fame after handling Narendra Modi's election campaign in 2014.

Mounting attacks on Kishor, whose company IPAC has among its clients BJP baiters like Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Chandrababu Naidu, leaders of the saffron party sought to remind the election strategist-turned-politician that it was Sushil Modi's sustained campaign highlighting Lalu Prasad's complicity in the fodder scam that paved the way for the ouster of the mighty RJD from power.

Those lambasting the JD(U) vice-president included, expectedly, Sushil Modi's loyalists like ministers Suresh Sharma and Pramod Kumar as also MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav and MLA Nitin Nabin neither of whom is perceived to be a part of the Deputy CM's camp.

In contrast, leaders of the JD(U) seemed baffled at the utterances of its national vice-president, who was inducted into the party only a year ago and elevated to the top post within a few weeks, and treated the matter as a hot potato.

The chief minister, on his part, evaded queries from journalists when they approached him to know his stand on the issue here in the morning, muttering "sab theek hai" (all is well) while hurrying past them.

Kumar was visibly embarrassed to have faced the questions at a function organised to mark the death anniversary of late BJP veteran Nabin Kumar Sinha, where many state ministers, MPs and legislators belonging to the saffron party were also present.

Neeraj Kumar, JD(U) MLC and the state's minister for information and public relations, never known to be at a loss for words in his previous role as party spokesman, got flustered when asked to comment on the latest imbroglio and snapped "hamaare adhikar kshetra se bahar ki baat hai" (the matter falls outside my jurisdiction).

Another state minister Shyam Rajak who is also a JD(U) national general secretary and its deputy leader in the assembly tried to wriggle out with the remark, "nobody should utter anything that hurts anybody's feelings".

On Monday, the party's national general secretary (organisation) RCP Singh a confidant of the chief minister had criticised Kishor for his "untimely" utterances on sharing of seats in assembly polls.

JD(U) sources said on condition of anonymity that Singh's public criticism of Kishor for opposing CAB when the party had voted in its favour in Parliament, followed by the latter's meeting with the CM and his claim that Kumar has asked him "not to worry about what anybody else says in the party", has left the rank and file confused as to what was the official line.
A day after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday rejected BJP's criticism against it, saying the state assemblies have their own privileges.

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday rejected BJP's criticism against it, saying the state assemblies have their own privileges.

Hours after the Assembly had passed the resolution on Tuesday demanding the scrapping of the CAA, union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had hit out at the Left government and said Vijayan should seek "better legal advice".

Prasad had also said it is only "Parliament which has got the powers to pass any law with regard to citizenship; not any Assembly, including the Kerala Assembly.

BJP's Rajya Sabha member, GVL Narasimha Rao also wrote to the House chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to initiate breach of parliamentary privileges and contempt proceedings against the Kerala chief minister over the resolution.

"State Assemblies have its own privileges. Such actions are unheard of anywhere. But we cannot rule out anything in the present circumstance as unprecedented things are happening now-a-days in the country," Vijayan told reporters when asked about the breach of privilege proceedings.

The Assemblies have its own special protection and it should not be violated, he said.

Kerala has become the first state to pass a resolution against a law which has been violating the fundamental principles of the Constitution and it has great significance, the chief minister added.

On a question regarding state Governor Arif Mohammed Khan supporting the CAA, the chief minister said he is entitled to have his opinion on various issues.

So, his views can be seen in that way only, he added.

The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution demanding scrapping of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), becoming the first state in the country to do so.

While chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states like Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal have announced that they would not implement CAA, CPM-ruled Kerala was the first to take the legislature route to register its opposition to the law.

Setting aside their political differences, the ruling CPM-led LDF and Opposition Congress headed UDF, once again came together to launch a joint fight against the Centre on the CAA, which has seen unprecedented protests all over the country.

Vijayan, who moved the resolution and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, who seconded it, alleged that CAA was an attempt to make India a religious nation.

The lone BJP member in the assembly, O Rajagopal rejected the allegation saying the Act was being "misinterpreted" and lies were being spread by the fronts for narrow political gains.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that Pyongyang is abandoning its moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, state media reported on Wednesday.

"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the official KCNA agency cited him telling top ruling party officials.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," it cited him as saying.

Kim declared in 2018 that the North had no further need for nuclear or ICBM tests, and Wednesday's announcement threatens to upend the nuclear diplomacy of the last two years, with US President Donald Trump regularly referring to Kim's "promise" to him not to carry any out.

But nuclear negotiations between the two have been largely deadlocked since the breakup of their Hanoi summit in February, and the North set the US an end-of-year deadline for it to offer fresh concessions, or it would adopt a "new way".

Kim's statement to a full plenum of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party made clear that the North was willing to live under international sanctions to preserve its nuclear capability.

"The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.

Washington had "conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop" and sent high-tech military equipment to the South, he said, and stepped up sanctions against the North.

"We can never sell our dignity," he added, saying Pyongyang would "shift to a shocking actual action to make (the US) pay for the pains sustained by our people".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI -- Fourteen people lost their lives to homicide in Muskegon County during 2019.

Among them were a victim of a murder-suicide, victims of a double stabbing and three teenagers shot within three months of each other.

Police and prosecutors have arrested and brought charges against suspects in nearly all the cases. Women are suspects in three homicides, all of them stabbings.

Here are the 14 homicides, listed in chronological order:

Raymond Elliot Coleman Jr.

Raymond Elliot Coleman Jr., 27, of Muskegon was found Jan. 19 in the trunk of burned out vehicle abandoned on two-track near Lakewood Club. Police concluded that he was shot to death Jan. 18 by Antonio Demarro Wiggers, 33, of Montague, who committed suicide Jan. 20 at the Rodeway Inn in Whitehall Township.

A witness saw Wiggers shoot Coleman at a Montague home on Jan 18, but did not come forward out of fear of retaliation, police said.

Read more:

Man whose body found in car trunk was murder-suicide victim: sheriff

Skeleton remains found in trunk of burned car leads to additional crime scene

Body found in burned car prompts homicide investigation

Don't Edit

Jamie Thomas-Flowers

Jamie Thomas-Flowers, 50, of Muskegon Heights was shot several times at her home on Mona Street on Saturday, May 18. Her husband, Vashon Flowers, turned himself in the next day and is charged with open murder.

Thomas-Flowers daughter testified at a court hearing that the couple began arguing over smoking cigarettes around 6 p.m. the previous night, and that the fight continued off and on throughout the night.

Read more:

Wife shot dead in Muskegon Heights after domestic dispute

Man turns himself in in shooting death of wife in Muskegon Heights

Witness details arguments that preceded her mothers shooting death

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William Charles Bass

William Charles Bass, 51, was shot multiple times outside East Park Manor apartment in Muskegon Heights on May 22.

Bass had been outside barbecuing with family members in the 600 block of Hovey Street when a vehicle pulled up close to them, police said.

Bass started swearing at individuals in the vehicle as he approached it, and then exchanged gunfire with at least one person in the vehicle, police said. He was shot in the upper chest and neck.

No one has been charged in connection to Bass's death.

Read more:

Man shot dead outside Muskegon Heights apartments

Don't Edit

Mike Krebs | MLive.com

Derek Wade Peterson

Derek Wade Peterson, 18, was shot in the head on June 5 while in drivers seat of a car in the 2700 block of Sixth Street near Broadway Avenue in Muskegon Heights.

Rodney Neal, 30, was arrested a few days later and charged with open murder. Darese Sanders, 25, later was arrested and also charged with open murder.

Police said Peterson was shot by someone standing outside the driver's side of his vehicle, which also was shot from behind. Witnesses testified at court hearings that Neal and Sanders had been looking for cell phones used for drug sales that they believed had been stolen, but actually had been lost.

Read more:

Judge closes Muskegon courtroom during emotional murder hearing

Murder case weakened by witness intimidation, judge says

Fugitive suspect apprehended in Muskegon Heights murder case

Suspect charged with murder in shooting of Muskegon Heights teen

Man fatally shot in the head in Muskegon Heights

Don't Edit

Shaune Ellcey

Shaune Ellcey, 39, was shot early in morning of June 10 on the front porch of a home in Muskegon.

Police said he was winning a fistfight against Patrick Hotz when he was shot by Michael Williams, who is charged with open murder. Hotz has been charged with tampering with evidence.

Williams and Hotz had gone to the home on Austin Street where Ellcey was staying looking for him, according to the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office. Hotz and Ellcey were fighting when Ellcey was shot once in the head by Williams, prosecutors allege.

Hotz is accused of tampering with the firearm and clothing related to the case.

Man shot and killed in Muskegon, 2 in custody

Man killed because he was winning physical fight: prosecutor

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Kalob Long

Kalob Long, 37, of Whitehall was found shot several times in Nevada Street in the city of Muskegon the night of June 16.

His ex-wifes husband, Mark Thurlow, has been charged with open murder.

Long had been to Thurlows house that evening, and when Long left in his vehicle, Thurlow allegedly pursued him in his and cut Long off in the street, according to the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office. Both men exited their vehicles and and Long was shot, according to prosecutors.

Court records show that Thurlow's wife had previously obtained personal protection orders against Long.

Read more:

Man fatally shot in Muskegon, suspect arrested

Man charged with murder of wifes ex-husband in Muskegon

Muskegon man charged with killing wifes ex-husband headed to trial

Don't Edit

Curtis Stovall

Curtis Stovall, 61, was found stabbed to death in his Bayview Tower Apartment around 5:50 p.m. on June 23, according to police.

Pamela Harvey, 59, who also lived at Bayview, has been charged with open murder and lying to investigators.

Stovall had been bound with duct tape and stabbed 138 times, according to police testimony at a court hearing.

At one point the two had been friends, police said.

Read more:

Murder victim was bound, stabbed over 100 times, detective says

Woman charged with murder in Muskegon mans death

Woman charged with lying to police investigating Muskegon homicide

Don't Edit

MLive.com

Danny Burch

Danny Burch, 64, fatally shot inside his home as the result of a drive-by shooting in the city of Muskegon around 2 a.m. June 24.

Police responded to a 911 call about shots fired and found the home in the 1600 block of Superior had been shot at multiple times, police said earlier. It appeared to have been targeted, according to police.

No one has been charged in connection to Burch's death.

Read more:

Police continue to seek whoever shot up house, killing man inside

Man killed in drive-by shooting of his home in Muskegon

Don't Edit

Charles Cooper and Linda Martin

Charles Cooper, 70, and Linda Martin, 66, were found stabbed to death in their home in the 2100 block of West Sherman Boulevard in the city of Muskegon around 5 a.m. July 14.

Monica Bagley, a neighbor, was charged with open murder. Police believe an argument preceded the stabbings, and that the suspect waited several hours before calling 911.

Family members said both victims were frail: Cooper used oxygen and Martin weighed less than 100 pounds.

In September, Bagley was found mentally incompetent to stand trial and was sent for psychiatric treatment. In most cases, those initially found incompetent later are found to be competent for trial.

Family struggles with questions about couples stabbing deaths

Woman charged with 2 counts of murder in couples stabbing deaths

Suspect in double homicide in Muskegon ruled incompetent

Don't Edit

Evan Yonker

Evan Yonker, 28, shot with his own shotgun at his home on Meeuwenberg Road in Twin Lake around 11 a.m. Aug. 15.

Ryan Allen Berry, 27, has been charged with open murder and unlawful imprisonment. It's alleged Berry waited at Yonkers home, shot Yonker when he returned and then forced Yonkers girlfriend (who Berry previously dated) to drive him to Grand Haven. There, he entered Lake Michigan where he presumably tried to commit suicide by drowning.

Ottawa County law enforcement officials took him into custody out of Lake Michigan.

Read more:

Homicide reported north of Muskegon, suspect caught in Grand Haven

Homicide suspect fled into Lake Michigan when approached by police

Murder victim was ambushed, killed with own shotgun, judge told

Details of homicide, Lake Michigan suicide attempt outlined by prosecutor

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Zamarian Cooper

Zamarian Cooper, 16, was shot outside a party around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 on Smith Street in the city of Muskegon.

Family has said Zamarian, a sophomore at Muskegon High School, went to the party to take care of his sister, and was not ordinarily one to go out.

Prosecutors believe there were as many as four shooters at the party and that shots rang out after "tempers flared." Zamarian was not a target and was fleeing when he was shot twice in the head, according to authorities.

TJ Purnell, 17, was charged in November with open murder.

Read more:

Family mourns teen homicide victim they say was caught in hail of bullets at party

Teen charged with murder in Muskegon shooting of 16-year-old Zamarian Cooper

Teen headed to trial on murder charge in Muskegon party death

Don't Edit

Mervin Bonner

Mervin Bonner, 18, was found shot in the head lying in the 1500 block of Seventh Street in the city of Muskegon the evening of Aug. 25.

Bonner, who used the nickname Merv Moneyy, was a 2019 graduate of Muskegon High School. Police believe he was shot inside a car and dumped at that location.

Jainautica Watkins, 18, initially was charged in September with lying to police, but a month later was charged with open murder.

In addition, Jaun Bates, 17, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and with lying to police during a violent crime investigation.

Its alleged that he helped dispose of Bonners body and the weapon used to kill him, according to prosecutors.

Read more:

18-year-old charged with open murder in teen homicide

Arrest made in connection to teens homicide in Muskegon

Muskegon community honors slain teen at vigil

Lying charge dropped in investigation into teens homicide

Police ID man found fatally shot in Muskegon Sunday

Don't Edit

Gary Phillips II

Gary Phillips II, 28, of Muskegon Heights was found shot in car at Sixth and West Hackley in Muskegon Heights around 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2.

Muskegon Heights Police Chief Joseph E. Thomas Jr. said Phillips was a "model citizen" and he was infuriated by his senseless death. Thomas told MLive in late December that investigators were "moving in on evidence that we need to put the suspect... away."

No one has been arrested in connection to his death.

Read more:

Model citizen identified as victim of Muskegon Heights homicide

Man shot to death in vehicle, Muskegon Heights police say
Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting: Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas a few minutes into 2020 on Wednesday as pro-democracy protesters took their movement into the new year with midnight countdown rallies and an enormous march planned for January 1.

The city has been battered by more than six months of unrest with marches attended by millions, as well as confrontations in which police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets  and protesters have responded with petrol bombs.

Before midnight on Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong.

Protesters at the harbourfront counted down chanting: Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now! as they lit up their phones in a sea of lights.

Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades early on Wednesday, prompting riot police to unleash 2020s first volleys of tear gas in response.

Shortly before the final day of 2019 drew to a close, police used water cannon to disperse protesters in the same area while, in nearby Prince Edward neighbourhood, officers arrested several protesters staging a candlelight vigil.





Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighbourhoods.

They chanted slogans, sang: Glory to Hong Kong  a protest anthem  and held up posters calling for people to fight for democracy in 2020.

Thanks to 2019, which tore off the ugly masks of the police and the government and let the people see the truth, said protester Kris, a medic who joined the protest.

The movement is kind of like at its bottleneck now. Hopefully, a huge turnout at tomorrows march could bring back peoples passion, he added.

The citys traditional New Year Eves bumper fireworks display was cancelled due to safety concerns, but a light show and smaller-scale fireworks took place instead.

Economic disruption

In late November, the citys pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed governments handling of political unrest.

The protest movement has since become quieter but sporadic clashes have persisted.

Before midnight on Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong [Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters]

In a New Years video message broadcast on state media, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Hong Kongs recent upheaval was concerning and that the people of our motherland expected stability in the restive city.

But protesters have promised to continue their effort to push for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability.

On Tuesday night, demonstrators also swarmed large shopping malls, which have become regular protest venues in an effort to cause economic disruption.

2019 is a remarkable and special year for every single Hongkonger, 25-year-old teacher Sam told AFP news agency as he celebrated New Years Eve with his family at the harbourfront.

The Civil Human Rights Front, the chief organiser of marches, hopes for a huge turnout at Wednesdays rally to urge the government to respond to the demands of the pro-democracy movement  which include an independent inquiry into the police, amnesty for arrestees and fully free elections.

Police have arrested nearly 6,500 people since June  nearly a third of them aged under 20.

The youngsters have sacrificed a lot for justice  2019 is a wake-up call, a 63-year-old retiree, who gave his surname as Shiu, told AFP news agency.

People will be more determined in the new year. People know that the future of Hong Kong depends on whether we can achieve the five demands.

The demonstrations were sparked by a now-abandoned bill to allow extraditions to the authoritarian mainland, but have since morphed into a popular revolt against Beijings control  the biggest crisis since the former British colonys return to Chinese rule in 1997.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Karnataka on Thursday and Friday.

At Tumkur, Modi will visit the Sree Siddaganga Mutt, where he will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone for a memorial museum of Shri Shri Shivakumar Swamiji.

A PMO release said that the Prime Minister will offer prayers and also plant a sapling at the mutt.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and other dignitaries including Siddalingeshwara Swamy will be present on the occasion. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India has cut import taxes on crude and refined palm oil from Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries after a request from suppliers, a government notification said on Tuesday.

The reduction will lead to higher imports of palm oil by the world's biggest edible oil buyer in coming months as it would narrow the difference between the tropical vegetable oil and competitors such as soyoil and sunflower oil.

Higher imports could support Malaysian palm oil prices, which have risen 44% in 2019.

The duty on crude palm oil was lowered to 37.5% from 40%, while a tax on the refined variety was cut to 45% from 50%, the notification said.

The revised lower tax would apply to almost all palm oil imports as India primarily imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, which are members of the ASEAN group, refiners said.

Imports of refined palm oil are set to jump in the coming months as the duty gap between crude and refined palm oil has narrowed to 7.5% from 10% earlier, said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA), a Mumbai-based trade body.

"The new duty structure has opened the floodgate for refined palm oil. It is detrimental to local refiners," Mehta said.

The SEA has requested Indian government to maintain a duty difference between crude and refined palm oil to 10%, he said.

India relies on imports for 70 percent of its edible oil consumption, up from 44 percent in 2001/02. Palm oil accounts for nearly two-thirds of India's edible oil imports of around 15 million tonnes, according to data compiled by SEA.

India's palm oil imports fell 3% in November from a year ago to the lowest level in 17 months.

Indonesia and Malaysia, the top two palm oil producers, were seeking a reduction in the Indian import tax to cut inventories.

Palm oil competes with soyoil and sunflower oil in Indian markets.

India on Tuesday kept import tax on soyoil and sunflower oil unchanged, which could make imports of palm oil more attractive, said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of the Sunvin Group, a Mumbai-based vegetable oil importer.

India imports soyoil mainly from Argentina and Brazil and sunflower oil from Ukraine and Russia.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by David Evans)
Nagaland Speaker Vikho-o Yhoshu was on Wednesday laid to rest with full state honours at his native village, on the outskirts of Kohima, in the presence of family members, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Chief Secretary Temjen Toy among others.

A funeral service was held at Yhoshu's official residence at Old Minister's Hill in the city, before his mortal remains were taken to Kigwema village.

Angami Baptist Church Council executive secretary Reverend Atsi Dolie read out the eulogy at the funeral.

Hundreds of people had since morning gathered at Kimipfiiphe Ground in Kigwema, 15 km south of the state capital, to pay tribute to Yhoshu, before he was laid to rest.

Yhoshu died of lung cancer at a Mumbai hospital on Monday morning at the age of 67. He is survived by wife, 10 children and seven grandchildren.

Describing him as a "kind-hearted and highly capable" person, the chief minister said Yhoshu's demise was a "great loss" to the state.

"He was a fine gentleman and humble person, always concerned about the Nagas. I value his commitment to the government and the people as the most trusted legislator of the 13th House. He will be remembered fondly," Rio said.

Deputy Speaker Sharingain Longkumer said Yhoshu's death "created a vacuum, which would be difficult to fill".

Opposition Leader TR Zeliang said Yhoshu had always maintained a "neutral approach" in the Assembly.

"He lived an exemplary life. Yhoshu was an honest and humble person," Zeliang added.

Born on October 1, 1951, Yhoshu was elected to the state Assembly thrice from Southern Angami-1 constituency in Kohima district.

In 2008 and 2013, he had bagged the seat as a candidate of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and served as Adviser and parliamentary secretary of various departments. He joined the NDPP ahead of the state elections in 2018.

Yhoshu won for the third consecutive term from the Southern Angami-1 seat in the 2018 assembly polls and was elected as speaker.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Since 9/11, Muslim migration to the USA has increased at a time when the political orthodoxy of welfare socialism, identity politics, government by administrative fiat, and corruption of the constitutional rule of law have weakened the body politic. In this debilitated environment, Islamic centers have proliferated like mushrooms on a rotted tree trunk, along with the continual splintering of the weakened trunk into "victim" categories that give cover to the Left's greed for political control. This, despite the last-ditch emergency attention of the Trump presidency and the anger of those who put him in the White House.

Islam retains domination over its people through religious education from an early age. It resists integration into Western culture and demands the right to retain its despotic Sharia law. Further, it has a mandate from its prophet to convert, subdue, and out-populate the infidel and is therefore a destabilizing force inside Western civil society. But it is not the only one. Islam is licensed by the "Progressive" Left, which is resolved to finalize its mastery over the State, having already "marched through the institutions" (and debauched them along the way). If Islam and the Left are not attacked head on, the future of individual freedom will be diminished to the latitude of a dog on a leash.

Although Islam is an anachronism and the "Progressive" Left is a postmodern offshoot of Marxism and French Critical Theory, they share the same attitude toward knowledge. Their orthodoxies are both fixed, settled, and closed to intellectual contest. There is no neutral forum where debate can occur. Any criticism of Islam is branded as "Islamophobia." Any assault on the Left elicits the charge of "right-wing Nazi."

Enough is enough. Western culture was built on the struggle for knowledge. Our brave forebears lost their lives in pursuit of it. If Islam and Western academia are closed systems, then let's jettison them and build new centers of learning and inquiry. The Left's fake "scholarship" and Islam's antediluvian dogmas are abhorrent. Both Islam and the Left refuse to practice respect for the dignity of every individual. We have had unprecedented outbursts of antisemitism, hate crimes, terrorist attacks, Antifa violence, and massive political corruption.

Harmonious human relations have been compromised. The family unit is under attack. Our national history has been shredded, while the histories of Muslims and every other ethnic group are privileged. Let's have a conversation about slavery in the USA and slavery (still ongoing) in Muslims cultures, shall we? Let's study comparative history and evaluate which culture has provided the most fertile ground for human development, shall we? Let's throw out the Marxist Cuckooland tales that masquerade as history and shrink the cognitive development of our children, who are indoctrinated, day after day, in the "progressive" classroom. In some Western universities, indigenous knowledge is fashionably given equal respect with Western science. Magical thinking has made a comeback! The traditional concept of "validity" is forsaken, along with the laws of evidence.

And what has happened to art since the Marxists triumphed? Where is the modern equivalent of Rembrandt's spiritual depth? A sick society produces sick art! The destruction of Judeo-Christian-Hellenic values has been more effective than environmental pollution (of which the Left is so enamored) in contaminating the health of the community. Churches have succumbed to this degradation and put a fraudulent, sentimental gloss on the Left's program, while, like harlots, they accept government money for bringing in Islam  the archenemy of Christianity. (How convenient for the Left!)

Yet the human mind is a creative phenomenon without horizon (apart from its structural limits). No one can stop us thinking or seeking knowledge beyond the prejudice and creeds fixated in those who despise us. Our challenge is to employ knowledge for the communal good. Regressive Islam manipulates its religion to enforce submission. The "Progressive" Left exploits the doctrines of sociology to frivolously recalibrate human nature and socially engineer an ill conceived virtual reality. But life is not a computer game, though so many of our children have already been persuaded to give that fallacy credence.

The mind seeks knowledge as the body seeks food. The soul longs to revere the sacred, not sneering at God as the Left, nor fearing an Islamic god that demands unquestioning obedience. The heart desires peace between neighbors in a shared history, not being forced to swallow others' indigestible values that stick in our gullet like fishhooks. Islam and the Left, far from being conducive to these fundamental necessities for a good life, deliberately sabotage them. They have zero to contribute to our future. But perhaps we need to thank the Muslims and the leftists for spurring a moral and intellectual renaissance.
The Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia (AAJMI) here on Wednesday participated in a candlelight march at Jamia Nagar here against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Register of Citizens (NRC) and Population Register (NPR).

Scores of protestors took out a march from the association office to gate number 7 of the university by holding candles in their hand and singing patriotic songs.

"We support our students against the Act and we will keep protesting until the government take any action in our support. The Centre should pass some resolution in the Act if they want us to end our protest," Faraz, Vice President of AAJMI told ANI.

"The alumni from all over the country have gathered here and we appeal others to support us," another alumnus said.

Since the enactment of CAA on December 12 last year, protests have erupted in various parts of the country including the capital.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A drunken driver crashed into a mailbox after leaving an Allentown night club, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Fogelsville said the accident happened on Dec. 14 at 2:35 a.m. on Smith Hill Road in Washington Township, Lehigh County. Anahi Martinez Mendiola, 31, of Slatington, was driving a 2016 Honda Civic when she allegedly lost control and struck the mailbox.

Mendiola told a responding trooper she left DeJaVu night club in Allentown. She showed signs of alcohol impairment, police said.

Mendiola was taken into custody and charged with DUI.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Kwanzaa in San Francisco wraps up on New Year's Day with the lighting of the final candle at a church, organizers said.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, the last of seven candles of the kinara will be lit at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church at 2097 Turk Blvd.

The celebration of Kwanzaa, which was created by Maulana Karenga in 1966, provides critical tools for addressing the challenges faced by the African-American community through The Seven Principles.

Kwanzaa is celebrated by more than 30 million people around the globe. The 2019 celebration in San Francisco, the city's 14th annual, started at noon on Dec. 26 at City Hall.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Investment in India's real estate sector is likely to rise by 5 percent to USD 6.5 billion (around Rs 46,000 crore) this year, driven mainly by huge demand for commercial office assets from IT firms, according to global property consultant Colliers.

Last year, the real estate sector attracted an investment of USD 6.2 billion, up 8.7 percent from 2018 as foreign investors bought many office properties. Foreign funds accounted for about 78 percent of the total investments in 2019.

According to Colliers, India's real estate sector has recorded inflows of USD 56.6 billion (Rs 410,000 crore) since 2008.

"During 2019, investments into the real estate sector touched USD 6.2 billion (Rs 43,780 crore). During 2020, Colliers projects investments inflows of USD 6.5 billion in the real estate sector," it said in a report.

The consultant expects investors to remain committed to commercial office assets over the next three years, with strong demand and outlook for further rental appreciation.

"We project that the commercial office sector will account for about 40 percent of the inflows in 2020," Colliers said.

Commercial office assets accounted for 46 percent of the total inflows during 2019 at USD 2.8 billion (Rs 19,900 crore).

Investors interest have risen because of plethora of reforms such as enforcement of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), roll-out of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and a relaxation of foreign direct investment norms, the consultant said.

Colliers recommended investors to look at opportunistic assets including under construction office assets, supported by strong demand dynamics in information technology (IT)-led markets such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune.

"Due to the prolonged slowdown in the sector, investors should continue to adopt a more conservative approach towards residential assets in general, as compared to commercial assets," the report said.

Coliving would draw considerable attention from investors as demand for rental homes rises among professionals relocating to cities having employment opportunities, the consultant said.

Warehousing, retail and coworking segments are also on investors' radar.
With many Brits across the country likely to be nursing a hangover today, young Muslims up and down the UK decided to get out of bed early in order to clean up the litter-strewn streets after New Years Eve celebrations.

While some revellers stumbled home from a night out, more than 1,500 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) took to the streets to pick up the mess.

They said a special prayer before donning hi-visibility jackets and heading out in their local areas.

During the annual clean-up they collected hundreds of bags of rubbish in places such as London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Walsall.

In Walsall these two young men were seen smiling as one held open the rubbish bag while the other dropped litter in

The youngsters got up early this morning and were pictured above with bags of rubbish

Speaking to Metro, Imam Qamar Ahmed Zafar said the group runs the events in order to help to instil lifestyle changes in young Muslims.

Many people will be out on the night of new years eve celebrating the start of the New Year. As Ahmadi Muslims, our year begins with congregational prayer, we come together and pray for the world, for all those struggling.

Thereafter we all get together and go out on to the streets to clean up after the celebrations have ended, this isnt just to keep our surroundings clean, but is also done to remind our young Muslim youth about the duty they have to serve their country.

In Wimbledon, youngsters were seen donning high-vis vests while picking up the litter

More than that, it is also about trying to instil lifestyle changes in the youth, we take for granted the amount of food and plastic which is wasted, and such events are a reminder of how current consumption is destroying our planet.

The group has been cleaning up the streets for a number of years and according to the clean-up coordinator Mubashar Raja, it is looking to expand its coverage across the whole of the UK.

He said that this year the team aimed to pick up 5,000 bin bags worth of litter in the morning alone and said that the local councils and communities are also on board in some areas.

One youth who participated in the clean-up said the turnout at the events shows how a good cause can bring everyone together.

Malik Takreem Ahmed said that it was amazing to see the smiles on the faces of the people they help and said that most of his friends celebrate the new year by being with family and friends but claimed that there is much more to it if people can spend the time helping others.

Malik also said the group makes him feel as though he belongs to something which is a positive driving force in the world.

AMYA is a national faith group which is made up of young Muslim youths. It aims to nurture the physical, moral and spiritual development of its members.

It is a subsidiary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK which has over 8,000 members.
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice is optimistic as 2020 begins.

Giudice, 47, took to Instagram on Wednesday with a New Year's Eve message as he wrapped up a difficult year in which he was incarcerated, deported and separated from wife Teresa, 47.

He shared a vintage clip of himself from the Bravo series, writing, 'Rolling into New Years!! yep thats me!'

Looking to the future: Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice, 47, says he's optimistic as 2020 begins, as he took to Instagram Wednesday with a message as he wrapped up a difficult year in which he was incarcerated, deported and separated from wife Teresa, 47

The father-of-four daughters - Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 13, and Audriana, 10 - shared how he's headed into the new year with humility and patience.

'A New Year's resolution is something that went in one ear and out the other!' said Joe, who separated from Teresa earlier this month following a 20-year marriage that began October 23, 1999.

'Well, not today I sat with myself in Rome and reflected about how Im jumping into 2020,' he said, noting how his new 'Juicy Joe' motto is 'Dont regret anything, think twice, ask, absorb be a sponge, and be humble and patient to my new surroundings!'

Joe, who has welcomed his daughters to Italy as the year wrapped up, ended the upbeat post, 'AaaaaawwYeah!'

Rolling with it: Joe shared a vintage clip of himself from the Bravo series, writing, 'Rolling into New Years!! yep thats me!'

Moving forward: Joe and his daughters reunited for the Christmas break in Rome

Joe spent most of the year behind bars in connection to his 2014 guilty plea to mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud charges.

Teresa spent most of 2015 in custody in her 11-month sentence in her related conviction, while Joe in March of 2016 started serving his 41-month sentence.

Because Joe was not a U.S. citizen - the reality star was born in Saronno, Italy and brought to the United States when he was a year old, never applying for citizenship - federal authorities ordered him deported due to legal statutes related to 'a crime of moral turpitude' or 'aggravated felony.'

Fighting weight: Joe has gotten into better shape amid his years of incarceration, as he looks sleeker than he did six years earlier (R)

Joe concluded his sentence at Fort Dix, New Jersey's Federal Correctional Institution this past March, and was held in ICE custody until he was deported to Italy October 11 amid an appeal in the case.

He's taken to social media frequently as he has his family in town, sans Teresa, who had professional obligations keeping her in the states, according to E! News.

'I posted this message in morning but I choked up and I took it down then I thought part of regrowth is acceptance!!' he said earlier this week. 'This year, I have done a lot of self reflection I now know to be Happy and content with who I am and what I have food, bed, air, girls, and family.

'I learned in there All you have to do is love yourself and be the BEST! I'm letting go of 2019 with my beautiful girls but promising them the BEST of ME IN 2020!!'
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the state of relations between their two countries in a phone call instigated by Putin, the White House said yesterday.

The official reason for the call, according to both sides, was for Putin to thank Trump for what White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said was information the United States provided that helped foil a potential holiday terrorist attack in Russia.

No details were provided, but Russia said on Sunday it had thwarted attacks reportedly planned in St. Petersburg thanks to a tip from Washington. Gidley said both presidents committed to continuing counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.

The presidents also discussed the state of relations between the United States and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control, he said, an apparent reference to Trumps stated desire for a new nuclear arms control deal.

Trump, on a two-week working vacation at his Mara-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, has longed for strong US relations with Russia and complained that a US probe into whether his 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia had stymied him.
Cong office ransacked by Bhor MLA Sangram Thopte's supporters; 19 held

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Pune, Jan 01: Nineteen people were arrested for the attack on the Congress office in Pune by supporters of party MLA Sangram Thopte to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, police said on Wednesday.

Thopte's supporters attacked the 'Congress Bhavan', located in Shivajinagar area here, on Tuesday and vandalised the property. They shouted slogans against the Congress leadership for not giving ministerial berth to Thopte, the MLA from Bhor seat here and son of former minister Anantrao Thopte.

The police subsequently arrested 19 supporters of Thopte late Tuesday night and booked them under Indian Penal Code sections for rioting and unlawful assembly, an official at Shivajinagar police station said.

Congress Maharashtra ministers meet Rahul Gandhi

"We arrested 19 people who were involved in rioting, stone-pelting and vandalism at the Congress Bhavan. They were later released on bail," he said, adding that all the IPC sections slapped on the accused were bailable. Party sources said anger has spread among supporters of political families from the Congress after their leaders were not picked for Cabinet berths in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

Chief Minister Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43. The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's PM Imran Khan has launched the Health Justice Health Insurance Card Scheme for transgender people living in the country, showing generosity to them. On the occasion of the launch of this scheme in Islamabad on Monday, Imran Khan has commended the Government Health Department for coming up with the idea of providing health insurance to transgenders.

Center extended the tenure of large posts of railway board

Sources say that while addressing the function organized to provide health insurance cards to transgenders, Imran Khan said that sadly, our country does not have any idea what kind of difficulties the transgenders would face. is. Seeing the enemies of transgender people, the government has decided to bear their responsibility. At the same time, the government will now provide them health insurance card. According to the report of Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Imran Khan assured the transgender community gathered on the occasion that the government will ensure their protection. At the same time, it will work to end the prevailing negative attitudes against transgenders. It is known that Pakistan has officially recognized transgenders as the third gender since 2009.

CAA: Assam Tourism lost 500 crores due to violence

At the same time, according to the census of 2017, there are 10,418 transgenders in Pakistan. Punjab province alone has 64.4 percent transgender population of the country. Sindh has the second largest population of transgenders in Pakistan (24 percent). Just a few months ago, Imran Khan started a polio-free campaign. But the worrying thing is that this campaign is also not bringing any special color. There has been a record increase in polio cases in Pakistan this year. In such a situation, it has to be seen how effective Imran's campaign has been with transgenders.

Bank fraud: ED gives a major blow to media group, attachment of crores of assets
Writer Chris Terrio, who wrote "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" with director JJ Abrams, has defended the film that has been facing criticism for sidelining actor Kelly Marie Tran's character Rose Tico.

The movie, which opened worldwide on December 20 last year, has received polarising reviews from the critics, who say that Abrams has tried to retcon the events of franchise's previous installment "The Last Jedi" (2017).

One of the criticisms pertaining to Rose Tico, who was introduced by filmmaker Rian Johnson in "The Last Jedi", was that the character was treated poorly in the latest release.

In an interview with Awards Daily, Terrio explained the less screen time for Tico.

"One of the reasons that Rose has a few less scenes than we would like her to have has to do with the difficulty of using Carrie (Fisher)'s footage in the way we wanted to. We wanted Rose to be the anchor at the rebel base who was with Leia.

"We thought we couldn't leave Leia at the base without any of the principals whom we love, so Leia and Rose were working together. As the process evolved, a few scenes we'd written with Rose and Leia turned out to not meet the standard of photorealism that we'd hoped for. Those scenes unfortunately fell out of the film," the writer said.

Terrio maintained they were not trying sideline Tran's character.

"The last thing we were doing was deliberately trying to sideline Rose. We adore the character, and we adore Kelly so much so that we anchored her with our favourite person in this galaxy, General Leia," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I dont mean that everything thats happened since 2010 is awful. Any decade that saw both the underdog Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals win the World Series  and a hip-hop musical about the Founding Fathers become a megahit  cant be all bad. There is much to be said, too, for a decade that began with the death of one terrorist mastermind (Osama bin Laden) and ended with the death of another (Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi). Gay rights advanced, with same-sex marriage recognized in the United States and 21 other countries. The struggle against sexual exploitation also made progress thanks to the #MeToo movement. And from an economic perspective, the past 11 years have been pretty positive: This is the longest, if not the most robust, expansion in U.S. history. The decade was especially good for the worlds poor, with the rate of extreme poverty cut in half.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Pretty big year coming up.

Maybe one of the most historic and eventful years that many of us have ever seen.

So let's get right to it. These are the stories you're going to be talking about in 2020.

Advance file photo

The trial of President Donald J. Trump

It looks like a pretty good bet that Trump will beat the impeachment rap in the U.S. Senate. If the Dems actually send impeachment over for trial, that is.

No matter what happens, the Democrats and the mainstream media will breathlessly insist that this is the most important event in the history of the Republic, instead of the crassest political hit job ever.

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Advance file photo

Secession

Staten Island tried and failed to leave the city in the 1990s.

GOP City Councilman Joe Borelli is spinning up a new movement, but with both the Fresh Kills landfill and Mayor David Dinkins distant memories, is there real separatist fervor here?

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Advance file photo

That guy

Is Pete Davidson's 15 minutes of fame almost up yet?

Can he be the next "Saturday Night Live" alum to make it big in the movies?

Is fellow Staten Islander and "SNL" colleague Colin Jost jealous of all the attention that Pete gets?

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Advance file photo

Congestion pricing

We still don't know how much we'll have to pay to drive into the heart of Manhattan. Or whether other congested areas of the city will also become toll zones. Perhaps the new year will bring some answers.

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Advance file photo

Whither the New York Wheel?

The Wheel project died a protracted death. But there have been rumors that a smaller-scale Wheel could be built.

Failing that, what's the city going to put on that site? Maybe a casino?

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Advance file photo

Weed world

New York lawmakers still want to legalize marijuana for recreational use. And with a $6 billion budget deficit looming, they have plenty of monetary incentive to do so.

But will the health controversy around vaping stymie the drive to legalize? And how would legal weed be kept out of the hands of minors? How will police deal with stoned drivers? Who gets to decide how any weed tax revenue is spent?

A haze of questions.

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Democratic slugfest

After a seemingly endless debate season, Democratic voters will finally start to cast ballots to choose their candidate against Trump.

Can Joe Biden stay in front? How will Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren fare? Will Peter Buttigieg break from the pack? Can Michael Bloomberg have any impact at all by sitting out the first four primaries?

The Iowa caucuses are Feb. 3.

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Advance file photo

The re-elect

Besieged by impeachment but professing not to care, Trump will ask voters for a second term in office. Will Staten Island stay strongly in the president's column? Can Trump win and not be accused of cheating by the Dems? Will impeachment cost the Dems control of the House?

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Staten Island Advance

The race for Congress

Will Island Trump voters make Rep. Max Rose suffer for his pro-impeachment vote? The Dem flipped a usually reliable GOP seat in 2018, but may have a tough time holding onto it given Trump's popularity here.

GOP Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis has backing from Washington Republicans, but has had a fractious relationship with her local colleagues. She also backed Sen. Marco Rubio in the 2016 GOP primary, and has said she regretted voting for Trump in the general election.

Former Brooklyn prosecutor Joseph Caldarera is also seeking the GOP nod.

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Advance YouTube video

Our wild. wild life

First it was turkeys.

Then it was deer.

Now, reports of coyotes.

How safe are we with all this wildlife running around?

How long before a coyote runs off with someone's little pet dog? THEN you'll see outrage.

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Advance file photo

Incoming freshmen

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Borough President James Oddo are term-limited out of office at the end of 2021. That means that speculation about who will replace them, and other city officials, will start to percolate in 2020.

Who will Islanders vent their fury on once de Blasio is gone? What's next for Big Bill? And what's Oddo's second act?

Who will be the new major players on the stage? Can a GOP-backed official hold onto Borough Hall, which the party has controlled or help control since 1990?

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Advance file photo

North Shore redevelopment

The Bay Street rezoning. Empire Outlets. Lighthouse Point. The Wheel site. Is that predicted golden age actually coming to Staten Island's "Gold Coast" after years of misfires? Or will the Bay Street build-up be a mess of crowds, congestion and over-taxed infrastructure?

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Advance file photo

The Tompkinsville homeless shelter

The shelter, to be run by a group headed by former Council Speaker Christine Quinn, will be de Blasio's true Island legacy.

Will the shelter hurt the positive economic development that we've seen in that part of the North Shore in recent years?

Will nearby Tompkinsville Park and the surrounding area, already plagued by drugs and other criminal activity, spiral even farther downward?

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Advance composite by Tom Wrobleski
President Muhammadu Buhari, in commemoration of the new year, reaffirmed his commitment to fight insecurity, diversify the economy, tackle corruption and strengthen the electoral process.

The president also pledged to reinforce the security outfits in the country with modern weaponry, and improve staffing and training.

He added that all that country needs is a democratic government that can guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hard-working people, adding that his administrations policies are geared towards achieving this.

Our policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry. Our new Economic Advisory Council brings together respected and independent thinkers to advise me on a strategy that champions inclusive and balanced growth, and above all fight poverty and safeguard national economic interests, Mr Buhari said.

He also noted that the government is committed to inclusive growth by signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the creation of the National Action Committee to oversee its implementation and ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to allow Nigeria to fully capitalise on regional and continental markets.

He, therefore, hinted that the opening of the nations borders would be done once we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed.

On his part, a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, urged Nigerians to stay together more than ever before and also take on the nations common enemy: insecurity.

He added that in the new decade, the government needs to be more responsible to tackle the challenges of economic instability, unemployment, out-of-school children, and poverty which fuels the problems of violent extremism that we spent the past decade contending with. We cannot win the fight against terrorism if we do nothing to reduce or eliminate poverty and illiteracy.

In this new decade, we must start to do things differently if we are honest about our desire for a better and prosperous future. There must be a deliberate effort to improve the material well being of the people, by lifting millions of Nigerians out of the extreme poverty belt at a start, and to prosperity. Government must rethink many of its policies that is sinking more people into the abyss of extreme poverty.

It is incumbent on government at all levels to pursue policies that will provide decent housing to the mass majority; put food on the table; provide healthcare and education. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different outcome. It is therefore high time we caused a rejig of economic policies that will promote an expansion of the economy and create jobs opportunities aplenty.

He charged the government to uphold the democratic tenets of rule of law and separation of powers. He also tasked individual Nigerians to show more empathy and sacrifice to their fatherland.

Also, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, assured Nigerians the government will continue to do its best to make things better for the people.

He added that the National Assembly will maintain cordial working relationship with other arms of government for the smooth administration of the country and benefit of the people.

I have no doubt in my mind that with the timely passage of the budget, restoration of the January to December financial year and other amendments recently made to our laws by the ninth National Assembly, the economy will enjoy significant growth in the new year, Mr Lawan said.

His counterpart in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, also through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, urged Nigerians to be optimistic for a better Nigeria in 2020.

This New Year, lets unite more against our challenges. Lets be our brothers keepers as always. Our resolve to remain together as a people should be unshakeable.

We cannot relent in our prayers for continuous peaceful coexistence among us. Let this 2020 be a year of more prospects for the citizens, Mr Gbajabiamila noted.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress national leader, Bola Tinubu, admitted that Nigerians have been through a lot in past years but through resilience and unity, they have sustained the continuous existence of the country.

But we are a resilient and strong people. The difficulties of the past cannot deter us from the benefits of a greater future, Mr Tinubu said.

No matter the odds, we strive. No matter how much others say we cannot, we still achieve. No matter how long the road, we shall walk it.

He told Nigerians to shun division. He also urged them to work together with purpose and belief to build a nation that works.
Kyle Sandilands and his new girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston, have gone public with their relationship - after insisting for weeks they were just friends and colleagues.

The 34-year-old blonde, who used to be Kyle's personal assistant, shared a photo to Instagram of herself kissing the radio host, 48, on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year's Eve.

In November, Tegan had categorically denied rumours she was dating her employer, describing the reports as 'completely not true'.

It's official! Kyle Sandilands and his new girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston, have gone public with their relationship - after insisting for weeks they were just friends and colleagues

Kyle split from his ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony last year.

On November 5, he told listeners of his KIIS FM radio show they had been living apart 'for several months'.

Tegan uploaded the New Year's Eve photo to her private Instagram account, and captioned it with a flower emoji.

Kyle has a tradition of watching the Sydney fireworks and posed for similar photos with Imogen during their eight-year relationship.

Secret's out: Tegan, 34, who used to be Kyle's personal assistant, shared a photo to Instagram of herself kissing the radio host, 48, on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year's Eve. Pictured in Cairns, Queensland, on December 17

Deja vu? Kyle has a tradition of watching the Sydney fireworks and posed for similar photos with his ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony during their eight-year relationship. Pictured in 2017

Kyle and Tegan were romantically linked in November, after his split from Imogen.

But when Woman's Day first reported on the relationship, Kyle's manager, Bruno Bouchet, described the story as 'garbage', 'hurtful' and a 'fabrication'.

The same magazine claimed this week that Bruno 'may have been the last to know' about their romance, which the couple had gone to great lengths to keep secret.

Tegan is director of communications for Sandilands' company King Kyle Pty Ltd and was previously his personal assistant, according to her LinkedIn account.

Two months ago, Tegan categorically denied she was dating her boss.

'We just work together and we're in the Nueva [Sangria] business together with my brother and that's pretty much it,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

'Completely not true': In November, Tegan had categorically denied rumours she was dating her employer. Pictured: Kyle in Sydney on November 8

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kyle's manager for comment.

In recent months, the couple have spent time in Los Angeles together, and also visited Tegan's mother, Claire, in Cairns just before Christmas.

On the morning of Saturday, December 7, Tegan allegedly damaged the door of Kyle's $350,000 car while the pair were having a public spat in Bondi Beach.

Kyle reportedly asked a bystander to call Triple Zero, and when police arrived Tegan allegedly then assaulted one of the officers.

Business and pleasure: Tegan is director of communications for Sandilands' company King Kyle Pty Ltd and was previously his personal assistant, according to her LinkedIn account

Tegan was arrested and taken to St Vincent's Hospital to be mentally evaluated.

She was served with a court summons the following evening after police located her at her Bondi home.

At the time of the incident, Tegan was serving an 18-month bond for cocaine possession and resisting police arrest.
So about 12:30 a.m. he walked over to Sunnyside cannabis dispensary, 3812 N. Clark St., surprised to be the first person in line. As he waited, Kennedy became friendly with a man who arrived soon after him. That man asked Kennedy if he had his ID. He realized he didnt and had to call his wife to drop it off. She made the delivery, but wasnt happy about the surprise wake-up call.
A fire ripped through the Alpine headquarters of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police on Wednesday, officials said.

The were no injuries, but the station was badly damaged, according to a report by NorthJersey.com.

Officials at the station could not immediately be reached for comment. Alpine police confirmed the fire but said no other details were available.

Numerous local fire departments responded to the blaze.

State Police assisted at the scene, said a spokesman for the agency, Major Brian Polite. But Polite said he had no more information about the fire or the cause.

Robert Metzdorf, a councilman in nearby Park Ridge, shared photos of the blaze on Facebook showing flames and heavy smoke coming out of a window and door.

Palisades Interstate Police HQ & Court Posted by Robert Metzdorf on Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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Popular Front of India, or PFI, the Islamic fundamentalist organisation allegedly at the centre of violent protests in Uttar Pradesh against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has often been accused of carrying out forced conversions, radicalisation of Muslim youth and maintaining links with banned groups.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has even termed it a threat to national security. Then minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju had in January 2018 said the ministry of home affairs was considering banning the PFI -- a move the government has so far held off on.

The demand to outlaw PFI has once again been revived, this time by Uttar Pradesh police chief O P Singh, who has written to the ministry of home affairs (MHA) asking to declare the Front a proscribed organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA.

PFIs national secretary Anees Ahmed said, Everyone knows whats happening in Uttar Pradesh, how UP police crossed all the lines to indulge in violence. Now, to hide their failures and to silence the voice of people, they are coming up with this diversion of seeking a ban on PFI. We (PFI) are not even fully operational in UP. We just have an ad-hoc committee here.

This is not for the first time PFI has had a brush with controversy. It has been named in at least four cases by the NIA: Chopping off the palm of a professor in Keralas Idukki district (July 2010), murder of RSS activist Rudresh in Bengaluru (October 2016), association with the Islamic State Omar Al-Hindi module in Kochi (October 2016) and organising a training camp in Kannur from where bombs, improvised explosive devices and swords were recovered (April 2013).

NIA had also claimed in a 2016 probe that a PFI institution, Sathya Sarini, was involved in conversion of women in Kerala including Akhila Asokan, whose marriage was annulled by the high court in 2017 on the grounds submitted by NIA, to Islam. However, PFI has not been charged by the agency in this case.

Anees Ahmed said, Why dont they provide evidence of PFIs role in such cases if they think PFI has a larger role? What we are seeing is a strong misinformation campaign from one side against the PFI. Primarily based in Kerala, PFI is a successor to the National Democratic Front (NDF), started in Kozhikode in 1989 after political clashes there.

The demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in December 1992 provided an impetus to Muslim organizations in Kerala to form resistance groups to meet the challenges from the Sangh Parivar, according to a 19-page NIA dossier on PFI. HT has a copy of dossier.

It says most of the founding members of the NDF are ex-Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members who wanted an effective platform for their radical ideology. The formation of PFI was first announced on November 9, 2006, at Bengaluru.

It has now spread to Manipur, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal besides having a strong presence in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Its leadership claims it has a presence in 23 states.

The PFI also has a political group  Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) -- which took part in panchayat elections in Kerala.

According to the NIA dossier, PFI has over 50,000 regular members and 100,000 to 150,000 sympathizers in Kerala, with an increase of 3% to 5 % per annum.

On its funding, the agency says PFI receives funds through the India Fraternity Forum (IFF), started almost as a counterpart of the PFI in Gulf countries. The agency claims PFIs national leaders -- E Abubacker, A Sayed and E M Abdul Rehman -- often visit Gulf countries with the aim of discreet fund collection.

The Muslim Relief Network (MRN), a Kerala-based NGO launched by PFI, mobilizes funds, especially from Gulf countries, by receiving donations from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah, and has established links with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and the National Confederations of Human Rights Organisations. Besides PFI collects funds from ~10 to ~1,000 for purposes such as membership fee and Ramadan collection, according to the NIA.

The central anti-terror probe agency has also linked PFI with several left-wing extremist and dalit organizations that campaign on issues like police atrocities, fake encounters and operation Green Hunt (an all-out operation against Naxals by government and paramilitary forces post-2009).

PFI always maintains a soft approach towards LWE {left-wing extremism} and other anti-national elements in order to ensure mutual help, adds NIA dossier. Terming its activities detrimental to national security, the dossier states that the PFI has been pursuing a multi-pronged strategy aimed at communalizing the nations polity, enforcing a Taliban brand of Islam, heightening existing social divisions, dislodging moderate mainstream Muslim organizations from the collective mind of the community.

Internal security expert Ajai Sahni told HT, PFI, when it had a different identity some 20-30 years back, was definitely involved in violent extremist activities. But the evidence and record for banning an organisation has to be seen from current context whether there have been recent extremist activities, ample evidence etc. I cannot comment on their current activities but yes, they have had a history.

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Golden eagles are back from Canada, spending the winter in the eastern U.S.

Researcher Trish Miller said there are probably around 5,000 east of the Mississippi River, compared to estimates of 1,000 to 2,500 when she and her husband, Michael Lanzone, began studying them in 2005. Other scientists have come up with similar figures.

Golden eagles are among North America's largest birds of prey, some with wingspans broader than 7 feet (2.1 meters). They're mostly brown, but are named for the golden feathers at the back of the head and neck. An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 live worldwide, including Europe, Asia and North Africa. In North America they're far more numerous in the West, where an estimated 40,000 live or winter, but some can be found for at least part of the year in most of Canada and the United States, and parts of Mexico.

Miller, of Conservation Science Global in West Cape May, New Jersey, said the greatest numbers wintering in the eastern U.S. are probably along the Virginia-West Virginia state line, though she and Lanzone, of Cellular Tracking Technologies in Rio Grande, New Jersey, haven't analyzed likely densities.

Hundreds of camera traps, with bait set in front of motion-sensitive game cameras, have documented them in every state east of the Mississippi River and cellular tracking tags have shown them venturing into others, she said.

"A couple of the birds we've tagged in Alabama have gone to Mississippi and Louisiana. We have one bird we caught in Georgia that is right now in Missouri, in the Ozarks," she said Tuesday. "He's been spending several weeks there now. I don't know if he'll end up spending more time there or go down to Georgia."

Tennessee and Alabama are the focus of a habitat study she and Lanzone hope to complete by the end of 2020, she said.

Unlike bald eagles, golden eagles prefer remote forests and mountains. Miller said she and Lanzone rarely see the birds unless they're in a blind at a repeatedly visited camera trap. The scientists set up a box-shaped net launcher near the bait to catch birds for tagging while they wait in the blind where they hid before dawn.

Four tagged birds have returned to Alabama, and a fifth is on its way, Mercedes Bartkovich, in charge of Alabama's golden eagle research, said Tuesday.

There are certainly more golden eagles, but their elusiveness makes it hard to estimate how many winter in Alabama, said Bartkovich, a nongame wildlife biologist for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The first to return to Alabama this year was a female dubbed Coosa, at the Talladega National Forest. Keeton is at the Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area and Trace at the Freedom Hills WMA. A female dubbed Natchez was in Illinois at the start of the week and a male named Coon Dog had just made his way from Tennessee into Alabama, Bartkovich said.

In this photo provided by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, biologist Jeff Makemson releases a female golden eagle dubbed Elliot creek after she was fitted wtih a cellular tracking tag in February 2017 at the Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area. An estimated 5,000 golden eagles winter in the eastern U.S. after spending the breeding season in eastern Canada. The last data received from this eagle's tag showed her near Lake Superior in Ontario in November 2018. (Drew Tincher/Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)AP

Alabamas tagging so far has been in the north, but this Januarys tagging trip will focus on the southern part of the state, Miller said.

The birds always return to the areas where they were tagged, Bartkovich said, and each follows a nearly identical migration route each year, sometimes with one path to and another from its breeding ground in Canada.

Coon Dog has flown farthest, often to the tips of Quebec and Newfoundland, Bartkovich said. Natchez and Trace went up around the eastern side of Hudson Bay and Keeton on the bay's western side.

Coosa "kind of went all over," Bartkovich said. "I can tell you where he went but not positively exactly where his breeding location was."

She said Coosa's most northern flight took him just east of a town called Labrador City, near the Labrador-Quebec line and about 480 miles (770 kilometers) east of James Bay, which projects southeast from Hudson Bay.

Coosa, Trace and Keeton all were tagged last January, Natchez and Coon Dog were both tagged at Freedom Hills, Natchez in 2015 and Coon Dog in 2016.

The birds don't have to be sedated  putting a hood over a bird's head calms it down, she said.

Golden eagles look a bit like juvenile bald eagles, but golden eagles' legs are feathered to their toes, unlike bald eagles' yellow legs. Golden eagles eat mammals such as rabbits, hares, ground squirrels and prairie dogs  and they do their own hunting, while bald eagles often steal fish from smaller raptors such as osprey.

OutdoorAlabama.com has maps showing some golden eagles paths but is no longer getting data for most of those birds.

Sometimes we got multiple years of data from some of the birds, sometimes we just got a season, Bartkovich said. Its sort of out of our hands once we get the transmitter on.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 10:59:17|Editor: zyl

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Tuesday that the United States will deploy about 750 troops immediately to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"Approximately 750 Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF (the Immediate Response Force) are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said the Pentagon chief in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

The Pentagon's decision came hours after hundreds of demonstrators in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet. He later threatened in another tweet that Iran "will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities."

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," the White House host added.

U.S. forces on Sunday attacked five locations in Iraq and Syria controlled by Iraq's paramilitary Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), or Hezbollah Brigades, in response to recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, triggering strong responses from Iraq and Syria. And Iran has denied any role in the recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.

Hashd Shaabi, an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization, was formed by the KH and other Shia Iraqi paramilitary groups in 2014. It currently consists of more than 40 militant groups.
The 2008 recession  aka the Great Recession  was Americas worst financial decline since the Great Depression. Millions of jobs were lost, countless homes were foreclosed on and many people depleted their life savings in an attempt to stay financially afloat.

Even though its been over a decade since the Great Recession hit and ended, some cities in the U.S. are still reeling from its effects. For example, in Illinois, one city suffered an almost 60% decline in home values, which it never recovered from. And one city in California saw an unemployment rate that escalated from 9.7% to 19.6% within a decade.

To discover which cities are still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, GOBankingRates analyzed median home values, unemployment rates, labor force participation rates and median household incomes from 2007, 2009, 2017 and 2019 in cities across the country. To offer some perspective, here are the U.S. averages for the most relevant statistics in the study:

Change in median home value from 2007-2019: 17.12%

Change in median home value from 2009-2019: 37.35%

Change in unemployment rate from 2009-2017: -0.6 percentage points

Change in labor force participation rate from 2009-2017: -1.6 percentage points

Change in median household income from 2007-2017: 15.29%

Change in median household income from 2009-2017: 12.11%

By looking over the data, you might be able to spot certain trends and learn the warning signs of another recession.

Last updated: Dec. 31, 2019

Alabama

Dothan has fared the worst among cities in this Southern state. Over a decade, unemployment rose by 2.6 percentage points  from 5.5% in 2007 to 8.1% in 2017. However, Montgomery had the most drastic change in median home value from 2007 to 2019. In approximately 12 years, home values in the city dropped by 18.29%, plummeting from a median home value of $102,500 to $83,750.

Alaska

Fairbanks has seen the biggest negative changes in terms of its unemployment rate and labor force participation rate. The unemployment rate rose by 1.6 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, increasing from 7.8% to 9.4%. The labor force participation rate dropped by 3.9 percentage points  going from 76.8% to 72.9% between 2007 and 2017.

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Arizona

Overall, Catalina Foothills has struggled to bounce back from the 2008 recession. The median home value in the city plunged by 13.08% from 2007 to 2019, going from $635,758 to $552,590. Flagstaff, on the other hand, has fallen short mostly with its unemployment rate and labor force participation rate. Within 10 years, the unemployment rate rose by 3.7 percentage points, from 4% to 7.7%. During the same period, labor force participation dropped by 4.9 percentage points.

Arkansas

West Memphis has experienced the greatest decrease in home values among Arkansas cities. The median home value dropped from $74,408 to $68,490 between 2007 and 2019, equaling a 7.95% change. However, unemployment rates rose by 1.1 percentage points in Russellville, from 8.2% in 2007 to 9.3% in 2017. The city also experienced the largest decrease in median household income between 2007 and 2017, dropping from $36,390 to $35,295  a 3% change.

California

Reedley has fared the worst overall, but its unemployment rate, in particular, stands out. The rate jumped by 8.5 percentage points over a decade  from 8% in 2007 to 16.5% in 2017. And out of the top five California cities that have recovered the least from the Great Recession, Indio saw the largest decrease in labor force participation. The participation rate dropped by 5.5 percentage points over 10 years.

Colorado

Grand Junction qualifies as Colorados most economically troubled city since the 2008 recession. For example, its unemployment rate jumped by 2 percentage points from 2007 to 2017, going from 6.5% to 8.5%. However, Highlands Ranch and Brighton stand out for their lack of labor force participation. Over the decade, labor force participation dropped by 5.2 percentage points and 5.7 percentage points in those cities, respectively.

Connecticut

Home values took a nosedive in many cities across Connecticut between 2007 and 2019. In Norwich, the median home value plunged from $214,575 to $157,490  a decrease of 26.6%. And in Waterbury, the median home value dropped from $167,033 to $128,380, which is a decrease of 23.14%. Plus, New London had a 2.8 percentage point change in its unemployment rate between 2007 and 2017, from 9.4% to 12.2%.

Delaware

Home values in Wilmington fell by 15.98% between 2007 and 2019  from $152,800 to $128,380  whereas home values in Newark dropped from $244,933 to $237,450 during those 12 years. The labor force participation rate also decreased in both cities. In Wilmington, the rate dropped by 2.5% from 2007 to 2017. In Newark, it dropped by 1.9% during that same period.

Florida

Titusville has struggled the most with unemployment. From 2007 to 2017, the unemployment rate increased by 5.8 percentage points, from 3.7% to 9.5%. Fruit Cove  the place that was the most affected by the recession  saw a 3.6 percentage point increase in unemployment, from 2.9% to 6.5%.

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Georgia

The top three cities in Georgia that have struggled the most to bounce back from the 2008 recession are Albany, Valdosta and Columbus. In all three cities, home values took a hit between 2007 and 2019, with Columbus homeowners suffering the most. The median home value in that city dropped from $105,383 to $93,350  an 11.42% change.

Hawaii

The unemployment rates for many cities in Hawaii may have risen between 2007 and 2009, but they typically decreased by 2017. Kahului and Kailua were the exceptions. Kahului experienced the largest unemployment rate increase  a change of 2.4 percentage points, rising from 2.8% to 5.2%. And Kailua experienced a 0.7 percentage point increase in its unemployment rate, going from 4.2% to 4.9%.

Idaho

Rexburg saw the largest unemployment rate increase from 2007 to 2017  a change of 1.4 percentage points, going from 9.1% to 10.5%. Labor force participation rates experienced the most dramatic decline in Meridian, with a decrease of 6.3 percentage points, dropping from 72.1% to 65.8%. The second-most dramatic decline in labor force participation happened in Post Falls, where the rate dropped by 4.9 percentage points, from 71.2% to 66.3%.

Illinois

Overall, Harvey was hit the hardest by the recession compared to other cities in Illinois. From 2007 to 2019, the median home value nosedived from $104,592 to $42,550, which is a decrease of 59.32%. Plus, the median household income plummeted from $39,378 to $24,343 in just 10 years  a 38.18% decrease. However, Lansing suffered the most dramatic increase in unemployment rates, with a rise of 6.7 percentage points, from 5.8% to 12.5%.

Indiana

Lawrence, the city that has struggled the most, also suffered the largest jump in unemployment. From 2007 to 2017, the unemployment rate in Lawrence increased by 3.1 percentage points, from 4.7% to 7.8%. Meanwhile, the city of Elkhart saw the largest decline in labor force participation during the same period, with an 8.1 percentage point decrease, from 71.3% to 63.2%.

Iowa

Urbandale saw the largest jump in unemployment between 2007 to 2017. There was a 0.7 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, going from 2.9% to 3.6%. The cities of Ames, Clinton and Davenport, however, saw the largest decline in labor participation rates, with a decrease of 5.6 percentage points, 4.2 percentage points and 3.8 percentage points, respectively.

Kansas

Overall, Hutchinson has experienced the hardest time recovering from the Great Recession. One example of that is the citys unemployment rate, which increased by 0.7 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, rising from 4.6% to 5.3%. However, other cities have suffered as well. Topeka saw the largest decline in labor force participation over the decade, with the rate dropping by 3.3 percentage points. During the same period, labor force participation in Salina dropped by 3.2 percentage points.

Kentucky

Overall, Covington is the Kentucky city that has recovered the slowest from the recession  it had an unemployment rate that consistently increased between 2007 and 2017. The rate rose by 1.6 percentage points, from 7.6% to 9.2%. Additionally, the most dramatic change in labor force participation occurred in Nicholasville, which suffered a 5.8 percentage point decrease, from 71.4% to 65.6%.

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Louisiana

Slidell experienced the largest uptick in unemployment rate  3.4 percentage points  from 2007 to 2017. The unemployment rate in Houma also rose by 2.8 percentage points during the same period. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate in Bossier City declined by 4.8 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, dropping from 69.8% to 65%.

Maine

Among the cities in Maine, Bangor and South Portland experienced the largest increases in unemployment from 2007 to 2017. Bangors unemployment rate rose by 4 percentage points, from 3.4% to 7.4%. South Portlands rate grew more slowly, gaining 1.4 percentage points over the decade, from 4.7% to 6.1%.

Maryland

Montgomery Village saw a 27.33% decrease in home values from 2007 to 2009, with the median home value dropping from $333,117 to $242,083. In 2019, home values increased, but only to $289,910  $43,207 below the median home value from 12 years earlier. The median household income in Montgomery Village also dropped between 2007 and 2017, going from $82,129 to $77,034.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, Randolph has struggled the most to bounce back from the 2008 recession. Unemployment went up by 5.1 percentage points, from 5.5% in 2007 to 10.6% in 2017. Plus, the citys median household income has never quite recovered. In 2007, it was $70,506, and 10 years later it was just $69,969.

Michigan

Flint has had to deal with not only the effects of the Great Recession, but also its own water crisis. In 2015, it was discovered that lead was present in the citys drinking water, which had previously been declared safe for consumption. By 2017, the effects of the recession and the water crisis had driven the median home value to 63% below where it was a decade earlier. Lincoln Park, Eastpointe and Lansing also experienced declines of 17.84%, 18.72% and 17.3% in median home values during the same period.

Minnesota

Owatonna, located in southern Minnesota, is approximately 65 miles south of Minneapolis. Its labor force participation rate decreased by 4.8 percentage points from 2007 to 2017. But Owatonna wasnt the only Minnesota city that experienced labor force woes. During the same period, Maple Grove and Inver Grove Heights both suffered a decline of 5.4 percentage points and 7.6 percentage points, respectively.

Mississippi

Among the cities in Mississippi, Hattiesburg and Pearl saw the greatest increases in unemployment, with rates rising by 4.1 percentage points in each city. Hattiesburgs unemployment rate increased from 10.5% to 14.6%, and Pearls rate grew from 4.5% to 8.6%. Additionally, Biloxi has a median household income thats lower than what it was 10 years ago  $43,632 in 2017 versus $44,528 in 2007.

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Missouri

Both Hazelwood and Florissant saw a decline in home values  changes of 7.64% and 12.05%, respectively  during the period between 2007 and 2019. In Hazelwood, the 2007 median home value was $122,925, which dropped to $113,530 by 2019. Florissants median home value was $122,450 in 2007, but by 2019, it had decreased to $107,690.

Montana

Bozeman experienced a 1.5 percentage point increase in unemployment between 2007 and 2017, going from 3.6% to 5.1%. Within the same period, Missoulas unemployment rate experienced an increase of 1 percentage point, rising from 5.2% to 6.2%.

Nebraska

The unemployment rate in Bellevue rose by 0.3 percentage points, going from 5.6% in 2007 to 5.9% in 2017. In Grand Island, unemployment was also on the rise, increasing by 0.8 percentage points, from 5% to 5.8%. In Lincoln, however, it was labor force participation that suffered. Over the decade, the citys labor force participation rate saw a decline of 2.5 percentage points, dropping from 73.9% to 71.4%.

Nevada

Home values in North Las Vegas declined by 48.32% from 2007 to 2009. By 2019, the median home value had climbed back up but was still 2.87% below where it sat in 2007. From 2007 to 2017, the unemployment rate in North Las Vegas also increased by 3.5 percentage points, going from 5.4% to 8.9%. And in 2017, the median household income in the city was $55,828  it was higher in 2007, at $56,716.

New Hampshire

While most cities in New Hampshire witnessed a decrease in unemployment between 2007 and 2017, Nashua is the only city that had a higher unemployment rate in 2017 than in 2007  5.5% vs. 5.3%. However, labor force participation rates declined for all cities in New Hampshire over the decade. As of 2017, none of those rates had recovered to what they were in 2007.

New Jersey

The median home value in New Brunswick took a nosedive of 10.4% between 2007 and 2019, declining from $300,517 in 2007 to $269,270 in 2019. Plus, the median household income in this city plummeted by 17.86% from 2007 to 2017. The unemployment rate was also notable, increasing by 4.6 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, from 4.9% to 9.5%.

New Mexico

Rio Rancho has been the slowest to recover from the recession, and its unemployment rate proves it. The rate increased by 2 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, going from 5.2% to 7.2%. Additionally, the city saw a 6.3 percentage point decrease in its labor participation rate, dropping from 69.5% to 63.2%.

New York

The median home value in Shirley has declined by 14.55% since 2007, falling from $309,000 to $264,050. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Harrison increased by 3.3 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, going from 4.2% to 7.5%. In Deer Park, a 3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate occurred over the decade, rising from 3.9% to 6.9%.

North Carolina

In Rocky Mount, the median home value went from $103,717 in 2007 to $91,460 in 2019  a decrease of 11.82%. Plus, during the period from 2007 to 2017, the citys unemployment rate rose by 1.6 percentage points, going from 9.1% to 10.7%. In Matthews, however, the median household income declined by 5.74% during the decade.

North Dakota

Compared to the other cities in North Dakota, Grand Forks has struggled the most in recovering from the Great Recession. While it made gains in some areas, the citys unemployment level in 2017 was higher than its 2007 rate. Over the decade, the unemployment rate increased by 0.8 percentage points, going from 3.3% to 4.1%.

Ohio

Garfield Heights has been the hardest-hit Ohio city. The median home value plunged from $103,650 in 2007 to $67,740 in 2019  a decrease of 34.65%. Plus, it suffered a 2.78% decrease in median household income. During the same period, however, Euclid and Cleveland also experienced plummeting median home values, with decreases of 27.31% and 34.9%, respectively.

Oklahoma

Midwest City saw the largest unemployment rate increase between 2007 and 2017, when unemployment rose 1.6 percentage points, from 4.1% to 5.7%. Broken Arrow had the second-largest unemployment rate increase  1.3 percentage points. Owasso and Bartlesville tied for third, with a 1 percentage point increase in each city over the same period.

Oregon

Labor force participation declined across this Northwestern state from 2007 to 2017. In Albany, the labor force participation rate dropped by 4.9 percentage points, going from 67.5% to 62.6%. Keizers decreased by 4.5 percentage points, moving from 66.9% to 62.4%. And in Grants Pass, labor force participation dropped by 3.8 percentage points  57.2% to 53.4%.

Pennsylvania

In Harrisburg, the median home value decreased by 18.3% between 2007 and 2019. Home values fell in Scranton too, but more drastically  by 24.26%. Harrisburg also suffered an increase in unemployment, going from 10.2% to 12.8% between 2017 and 2017, which amounted to a change of 2.6 percentage points.

Rhode Island

Woonsocket has felt the biggest residual effects from the recession. The citys 2017 median household income was 3.07% below where it stood in 2007. Woonsockets labor force participation rate also declined by 1.3 percentage points, going from 61.3% to 60%. And its unemployment rate has risen by 3.2 percentage points over the decade, growing from 5.4% to 8.6%.

South Carolina

Hilton Head has seen the largest decline in home values, which plummeted by 15.3% between 2007 and 2019. The median home value in Myrtle Beach also took a nosedive, with an 11.09% decline during the same period. Additionally, the unemployment rate in Myrtle Beach increased by 4.5 percentage points, going from 4.7% to 9.2%.

South Dakota

In Rapid City, the unemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points between 2007 and 2009, but it has since declined. However, the citys labor force participation rate also decreased by 2.9 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, going from 68.6% to 65.7%.

Tennessee

The unemployment rate in Cookeville rose by 2.6 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, going from 5.8% to 8.4%. Morristowns unemployment rate also grew by 3.1 percentage points over the same period, whereas Lebanon saw a slightly lower increase of 3 percentage points. Additionally, labor force participation in Bartlett dropped by 6.1 percentage points, moving from 70.5% to 64.4%.

Texas

As a result of the Great Recession, Harker Heights has fared the worst among the cities in Texas. Its unemployment rate increased by 2.7 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, jumping from 6.8% to 9.5%. Deer Park wasnt far behind, with an unemployment rate increase of 2.4 percentage points. Additionally, Harker Heights labor force participation rate plummeted by 8 percentage points during the same period.

Read More: States Least Prepared for the Recession

Utah

The unemployment rate in American Fork rose by 3.2 percentage points between 2007 and 2017, from 2% to 5.2%. Meanwhile, St. George and West Jordan saw some of the biggest decreases in labor force participation, with their rates dropping by 3.1 and 2.8 percentage points, respectively.

Vermont

Burlington experienced a slight decrease of 1.41% in home values between 2007 and 2009, but the median home value has since increased. And while the unemployment rate never increased between 2007 and 2017, labor force participation in the city declined by 1.8 percentage points, dropping from 67.1% to 65.3%.

Virginia

More than one city in this state experienced a decline in home values between 2007 and 2019. The median home value plunged by 10.5% in Portsmouth, 9.28% in Newport News, 8.57% in Hampton and 8.75% in Suffolk. Additionally, in all four cities, unemployment increased during the same period. In 2017, unemployment rates were still higher than where they were 10 years prior.

Washington

Unemployment consistently rose from 2007 to 2017 in the cities of South Hill and Olympia, resulting in a 1.3 percentage point increase and a 2.2 percentage point increase, respectively. In Parkland, the unemployment rate rose by 1.7 percentage points during the same period. Additionally, South Hill saw the largest decrease in the labor force participation  6.2 percentage points.

West Virginia

Between 2007 and 2017, Morgantown experienced the largest increase in unemployment  2.7 percentage points. However, Huntington saw the largest decrease in labor force participation, with a drop of 2.7 percentage points. Charleston followed close behind with a 2.1 percentage point decrease, going from 61.5% to 59.4% in labor force participation.

Wisconsin

Fitchburg witnessed the largest decrease in median household income, dropping by 4.76% between 2007 and 2017. However, during the same time frame, Fond du Lac and Franklin experienced decreases of 4 percentage points and 5.7 percentage points, respectively, in their labor participation rates. New Berlin fared slightly worse, with a 5.9 percentage point decrease in labor participation.

Wyoming

Between 2007 and 2017, the unemployment rate in Cheyenne outpaced that of other cities, increasing by 1.4 percentage points, from 4.5% to 5.9%. Laramie followed with an unemployment rate that increased by 0.9 percentage points. However, Gillette was the Wyoming city that saw the biggest dip in labor force participation  8.2 percentage points  from 82.2% to 74% during the same period.

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: To find the cities in every state that havent recovered from the 2008 recession, GOBankingRates looked at cities with 25,000-plus in total population according to the 2017 American Community Survey. They had to have the following data available: 2007, 2009 and 2019 median home values; 2007, 2009 and 2017 unemployment rates; 2007, 2009 and 2017 labor force participation rates; and 2007, 2009 and 2017 median household incomes. Home value data was sourced from Zillow, and all other data was sourced from the American Community Survey for each respective year. If the criteria were met, the cities moved on to be analyzed across the following eight factors: (1) percentage change in median home value from 2009 through 2019 (how it has recovered since the Great Recession); (2) percentage change in median home value from 2007 through 2019 (how it compares to pre-Great Recession figures); (3) change in unemployment rate from 2009 through 2017 (how it has recovered since the Great Recession); (4) change in unemployment rate from 2007 through 2017 (how it compares to pre-Great Recession figures); (5) change in labor force participation rate from 2009 through 2017 (how it has recovered since the Great Recession); (6) change in labor force participation rate from 2007 through 2017 (how it compares to pre-Great Recession figures); (7) percentage change in median household income from 2009 through 2017 (how it has recovered since the Great Recession); and (8) percentage change in median household income from 2007 through 2017 (how it compares to pre-Great Recession figures). These factors were scored among the other qualifying cities in each respective state. The cities with the highest scores were deemed to be the ones that are the least recovered from the 2008 recession. In final tallies, factors No. 5 and 6 were weighted 1/2 times the other factors. All data used to conduct this study was compiled and verified on Dec. 12, 2019.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Cities in Every State That Havent Bounced Back From the 2008 Recession
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for Hong Kong to return to stability following months of pro-democracy protests.

In a New Year's address Tuesday evening, Xi said a peaceful, harmonious environment was key to the Asian financial hub's prosperity. "Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation for the people of the motherland," Xi said in the televised address.

The protests broke out in June over proposed legislation that could have extradited suspects in Hong Kong to face trials in mainland China. Though the legislation was withdrawn, the protests have continued with demands for democratic reforms and an investigation into alleged abuses by police against protesters. The often violent disturbances have sent Hong Kong's economy into recession and tarnished the city's reputation as one of the world's safest.

The former British colony was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise it could retain its own capitalist economy, legal system and civil liberties, although many see those as eroding as Beijing tightens its grip.
New Delhi/Srinagar, Jan 1 : The Indian Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) held ceremonial Border Personnel Meetings on the occasion of New Year at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD meeting points in eastern Ladakh.

The Indian delegation were led by Brigadier H.S. Gill and Colonel Manoj Kumar, while Senior Col Bai Min and Lt Col Lee Ming Ju led the Chinese side.

"Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The meeting reflected the mutual desire to maintain and improve relations at functional level in the border areas," the Indian Army said in a statement.

A cultural programme showcasing Chinese culture and traditions was organised by the Chinese side.

The delegations parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and trust along the border, the statement said, adding both sides agreed to build on the mutual feeling to maintain peace and tranquility along the border.
The internet is a vital utility, but two thirds of primary schools lag behind the minimum speed in the National Broadband Plan. Jess Casey talks to teachers whose schools enjoy high-speed internet and to some whose schools do not

THE majority of us know the blood-boiling frustration that tends to go hand-in-hand with slow broadband speeds.

Most of us have found ourselves in a situation at least once where our router fails us at the very moment its needed the most; A streamed movie starts buffering, an urgent email fails to send, a download takes seemingly forever with very little signs of progress.

But imagine this mishap happening as you are standing at the front of a class of 30-odd energetic school children, and theyre growing more and more restless every passing second as the internet stalls.

Its a situation faced by hundreds of teachers on a daily basis in primary schools across the country.

While in recent years, high-speed broadband was rolled out across all post-primary schools, and in almost 60 special schools, primary schools still have no guarantee of connectivity.

Figures from the Department of Education show that almost 60% of all primary schools had a download speed of less than 30Mbps (megabits per second) during the 2018 to 2019 school year. A download speed of 30Mbps is the baseline speed guaranteed under the National Broadband Plan.

Almost 1,500 of these primary schools had a download speed of less than 20Mbps during the 2018 to 2019 school year, and more than 400 of these primary schools had a download speed of less than 10Mbps or less.

When it comes to the schools with the fastest broadband speeds, the majority are based in Dublin, but schools based in Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, and Tipperary all feature in the top 20.

In Kerry, 70% of primary schools have a download speed of less than 30Mbps.

In Cork, almost 55% of all primary schools have download speeds of less than 30Mbps, according to the Department of Education figures.

A further 2,282 children are in Cork primary schools that have a download speed of less than 10Mbps.

In East Cork alone, there are more than 5,500 children in primary schools with broadband speeds of less than 20Mbps. That is according to a study of the figures by local TD Sean Sherlock.

Proper broadband is key to learning if we are to encourage learning and growth for all our school children, no matter where they live, said Mr Sherlock. In an age where information is vital, speed of access to the web is a critical component of learning. Those 5,502 schoolchildren are practically offline compared to their more urban counterparts.

And while there are plans in place to provide high speed broadband to some 700 primary schools through the National Broadband Plan, including almost 80 in Cork, this will still leave many primary schools short.

Principal Padraig O Breacain in Scoil Naomh Iosafs computer room with second class pupils Andrea, Natasha, Faye, and Adrian.

In Left to their Own Devices, a recent report on the current state of play of information and communication technology (ICT) in primary schools, researcher Eemer Eivers pointed to broadband connectivity, wifi coverage, and a lack of technical support skills at primary school level.

Providing quality connectivity to all primary school pupils should be an educational priority in its own right, not something appended as a priority to the eventual implementation of the National Broadband Plan, Dr Eivers said.

A survey carried out by the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) as recently as 2018 found that more than one third of principals who took part in the study said their school did not have a reliable and adequate internet connection.

ANECDOTALLY, student teachers embarking on teaching practice are often warned to be prepared in case they cannot access the internet as planned during a lesson, and to bring backups and printouts for each lesson, just in case.

Ryan working with teacher Karen Ward at CBS Primary School in Limerick City, the primary school with the countrys fastest internet connection. Pictures: Brendan Gleeson

However, broadband speeds at a primary school level are improving, and have improved significantly in within the last eight years, according to the Department of Education. A framework of 14 providers was put in place in 2017 and, to date, approximately 1,600 primary schools have download speeds of 30Mbps or greater, a spokesman for the department said in a statement.

This is almost 50% of all primary schools, compared to fewer than 100 primary schools that were on those speeds in 2012, he added.

Services are reviewed on an ongoing basis to enhance connectivity where available, in accordance with procurement and contractual requirements.

So, what makes a good download speed? A good download speed mainly depends on what the internet is being used for: Most broadband providers say that the speed needed by a home or a business depends on how many people will be using it, and what they use it for. plan on using it for.

For example, to send emails or check social media, a download speed of 1 to 5 megabits per second (Mbps) is ideal. To Skype someone, you need 1.5Mbps, and to stream music you need a speed of 2Mbps.

A download speed of at least 5Mbps is needed to watch a movie on Netflix, according to the streaming service. However, if someone wants to stream a movie in super-sharp ultra-HD, then they will need a download speed of at least 25Mbps. Higher speeds are also required when it comes to online gaming or downloading movies.

Jake and Cian with teacher Karen Ward, enjoying their work on the laptops at CBS Sexton Street Primary School, Limerick.

Upload speeds also depend on what someone uses the internet for  to upload things like pictures or attachments on emails, a speed of 3Mbps is considered sufficient, according to Switcher.ie.

And while each of these activities on their own dont necessarily require high-speed broadband, depending on how many different people are all connecting to devices at the same time, a faster speed is needed.

If the speed doesnt match up with the activities plus the amount of people connected, it can lead to buffering, crashing, and sluggish, or downright infuriatingly slow, downloading.

Now put these speeds in the context of a bustling, busy primary school attempting to connect multiple different devices often at the same time, for a million different uses.

Pupils might be attempting to download ebooks, or use the internet to research a project, or using an iPad or a tablet to play a maths or phonetics game. Teachers might be attempting to plan their own lessons, or using the internet to instruct pupils.

On the administration side of the house, school secretaries and principals are checking and sending emails to parents and different staff members.

OVER the last few years, there has been an explosion of very good educational online resources available to teachers, often free and readily available to use.

CBS Sexton Street Primary School in Limerick has wifi in every room and a suite of laptops that pupils such as Conor can use for projects.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is also considered a valuable tool to help assist pupils who have learning difficulties, and for those who are struggling with a certain subject. ICT can also be helpful for pupils whose first language is not English.

Some of these teaching resources include, but are not limited to, reading and spelling aids, and multimedia programmes that pair text with audio and pictures, animations and easy-to-use interfaces.

Even something as simple as using YouTube to show a class a live performance of a song they are working on, or a piece of historical footage, can help teachers to bring their lessons even further to life.

But for schools with slow broadband, these resources cannot be accessed. Many schools contacted by the Irish Examiner did not wish to discuss their schools situation on the record, apart from describing it as shocking or abysmal.

One Cork city primary school contacted by the Irish Examiner had a maximum download speed of 150Mbps, and an upload speed of 15Mbps during the 2018-2019 school year, according to the Department of Education figures. This made gave the primary school with upwards of 300 pupils one of the highest speeds in the county. However, broadband in the school was and is regularly excruciatingly slow, according to one teacher, who did not wish to be named.

The max speed we get is about 30Mbps, but its regularly closer to 10. When its working that is. It can go at any time, and it does regularly.

We cannot plan lessons around our broadband, because some mornings it wouldnt even be adequate to take the rolla [school roll].

In terms of ICT equipment, the school has several Android tablets, a number of projectors, and a suite of desktop computers.

The desktops are about 15 years old. Ive stopped bringing kids down to use them because Ive spent 40 minutes trying to turn them on and they are so old all they do is crash.

When it comes to the IT grants, they are used to cover the maintenance of the equipment the school already has, the teacher added.

We have to be strategic in the tech we invest in, a lightbulb for a projector can cost around 300.

CBS Sexton Street Primary School in Limerick has wifi in every room and a suite of laptops that pupils such as Adam and Malik can use for projects.

Its a marked difference from the experience of CBS Primary School in Limerick City, the primary school with the fastest download and upload speeds in the country. The all-boys schoolin Limerick city has a download speed of 300Mbps and an upload speed of 30Mbps.

I wasnt aware that we were the fastest in the country, but I was aware that we have exceptionally fast broadband in the school, CBS principal Denis Barry told the Irish Examiner.

The last school I was in, we had maybe 2 or 3Mbps download speeds, and an upload speed of 1Mbps.

Speeds like that made it very difficult to use the iPads that we had, but ours now in CBS is very manageable. Everything is so quick, we never have a problem with our interactive whiteboards.

Its just reliable and we have very little outages.

We have wifi in every room, we have a suite of laptops that students can use for research or for projects, we have desktops, and the ASD class has tablets. They are not used all the time but they can be.

Its a huge difference from the last school I was in, Mr Barry added.

It was very slow, and if more than five or six computers were using it at once it would stall. It makes life more difficult, it makes it difficult to use tech  we couldnt use something like an interactive whiteboard.

In that school, we were meant to get about 16Mbps but it was closer to 3 or 4. It made using tech so much more difficult. We had a set of iPads and we just couldnt use their full functions as much as would have liked.

CBS recently partnered with Virgin Media to work on CoderDojo, programming workshops for children, kids, and they have started bringing in pupils from a nearby girls school to take part as well, Mr Barry added.

The school is also working on VEX Robotics projects with Dell, he added. All of these projects are made much easier. Im very much of the opinion that it needs to be blended.

Tech certainly has a place, but we cant let the teaching go away from teaching. Tech in the classroom is an excellent tool for research, but if we focus on it full-time, Id be afraid wed lose the concepts behind learning. So it needs a blended approach.

You can still teach, and teach well, without it  but it does make it easier for us to roll out tech for students. With the CoderDojo, you can access projects from other years, you can download the software readily when you need it.

And while broadband speeds werent always the fastest in Riverstown in Cork City, County Cork, Scoil Naomh Iosaf has seen a number of improvements in recent times, according to principal Padraig O Breacain.

Along with Strawberry Hill NS, Scoil Naomh Iosaf, Riverstown, (above) has one of Cork Citys fastest school internet connections

With a download speed of 250Mbps, and an upload speed of 25Mbps, the school in Glanmire is one of the two primary schools with the fastest speeds in Cork, the other being Strawberry Hill National School in Sundays Well.

It was a lot slower back in the day but we have grown along with the developments in ICT. Riverstown is a developing area, and its rapidly growing, and I think thats been recognised that we have to have the infrastructure to match.

We are fortunate enough really. Were a big school, and we have a dedicated computer lab. We had kind of hobbled along over the last 10 ten years, getting a few secondhand computers from here and there to patch together. But we splashed out 20,000 on 30 thin client Dell PCs.

Speed isnt an issue. It means if a teacher asks a class of 30 kids to look at a video, they can all watch it themselves, together at the same time. We have wifi right around the whole school, and the speed is just not an issue. We also use a VDI  a virtual digital interface  and I believe we are one of the few schools in the country to have access to it.

In the last two years, wifi has been extended across the whole school.

Each of the ICT grants hasve been spent on development, upgrades, things like cabling or wifi. The grant money has been fantastic, said Mr O Breacain.

IT and interactive whiteboards, things like that are tools. They are teaching aids. At the end of the day, teachers have to be able to communicate with their students, its not about sitting down on your backside behind a laptop, controlling what is on the whiteboard.

Really, you have to be able to communicate with your class, especially when you consider things like anxiety and wellbeing. You might be able to use tech to entice a child with difficulties to participate in a class, but teachers have to be able to communicate directly with them.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday finally officially admitted that Chandrayaan-2s lander Vikram was "in pieces" on the Moons surface, even as the space agency's chief K Sivan congratulated the Chennai-based techie who alerted NASA to the precise site where the lander had crashed.

On being persistently asked by the media on Wednesday why ISRO was not being transparent about the fate of the lander as the entire nation was waiting with bated breath for a successful landing, Sivan finally said, "Yes, yes...it is in pieces...!"

ALSO READ| Chandrayaan-3 launch in 2021, four from IAF chosen for Gaganyaan: ISRO

Ironically, even days after the lander crashed on the Moons surface with rover Pragyan in its belly, ISRO scientists continued maintaining that the "hard-landing" lander was "in one piece" but in a tilted position.

Even a scientist privately insisted that he had seen the pictures taken by Chandrayaan-2 orbiter and that the lander was in one piece. Sivan also congratulated the 33-year-old Chennai-based amateur space scientist and software engineer Shanmuga Subramanian, who had studied the pictures of probable crash sites near the designated landing site.

The young man studied pictures taken on September 17 by NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter before the landing scheduled on September 7 and after the failed attempt taken ten days later, and noticed the difference in markings on the lunar surface.

ALSO READ| ISRO to attempt second lunar landing in 2020, cost will be lesser than Chandrayaan-2: Centre

There were patches spread across a few kilometres on the lunar surface, suggesting "something" had

"crashed" there. He alerted the NASA top brass about his findings, and the American space scientists

confirmed that there was "disturbance" on the lunar surface, mostly because of lander Vikrams crash.

This negated ISROs version claimed to be based on pictures taken by Chandrayaan-2 orbiter that the lander was in "one piece".For days after the Chennai techies revelations were confirmed, ISRO had maintained a tight-lipped silence on the matter - until now, with Sivans admission.

ISRO chief, when questioned about the lack of transparency, said that there was a "strategic reason" for that.
Tokyo

Nissan's former Chairman Carlos Ghosn skipped bail while awaiting trial in Japan on allegations of financial misconduct, confounding authorities by showing up in Lebanon, where he announced Tuesday that he had fled to avoid "injustice and political persecution."

Ghosn, who is of Lebanese origin and holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports, disclosed his location in a statement through his representatives but did not describe how he left Japan, where he had been under surveillance. He promised to talk to reporters next week.

"I am now in Lebanon and will no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan's legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold," the statement said.

Speaking anonymously, prosecutors in Japan told Japanese media they did not know how Ghosn got out. His lawyer also denied all knowledge of the escape, saying he was stunned. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, which said Ghosn had entered the country legally and there was no reason to take any action against him.

"He is home," Ghosn's friend, television host Ricardo Karam, said in a message. "It's a big adventure."

Karam said Ghosn arrived in Lebanon on Monday morning, but declined to elaborate. The Lebanon-based newspaper Al-Joumhouriya said Ghosn arrived in Beirut from Turkey aboard a private jet.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Ghosn was arrested in November 2018 and was expected to face trial in April 2020. He posted $14 million bail on two separate instances after he was arrested a second time on additional charges, and released again.

Prosecutors fought his release, but a court granted him bail on condition he be monitored and not meet with his wife, Carole, who is also of Lebanese origin. Recently, the court allowed them to speak by video.

Ghosn, who was charged with under-reporting his future compensation and breach of trust, has repeatedly asserted his innocence, saying authorities trumped up charges to prevent a possible fuller merger between Nissan Motor Co. and alliance partner Renault SA.

The charges Ghosn faces carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff was part of a ''momentous and comprehensive reform'', which will help the country face the ever-changing challenges of modern warfare.

The Prime Minister also paid homage to all those who had served and laid down their lives for the nation and heaped praise on the newly-appointed CDS General Bipin Rawat as an 'outstanding officer'.

PM Modi took to Twitter and said, ''I am delighted that as we begin the new year and new decade, India gets its first Chief of Defence Staff in General Bipin Rawat. I congratulate him and wish him the very best for this responsibility. He is an outstanding officer who has served India with great zeal.''

I am delighted that as we begin the new year and new decade, India gets its first Chief of Defence Staff in General Bipin Rawat. I congratulate him and wish him the very best for this responsibility. He is an outstanding officer who has served India with great zeal.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2020

In another tweet, the PM said, ''As the first CDS takes charge, I pay homage to all those who have served and laid down their lives for our nation. I recall the valiant personnel who fought in Kargil, after which many discussions on reforming our military began, leading to todays historic development.''

As the first CDS takes charge, I pay homage to all those who have served and laid down their lives for our nation. I recall the valiant personnel who fought in Kargil, after which many discussions on reforming our military began, leading to todays historic development.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2020

The PM further also reminded that on 15th August 2019, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he had announced that India will have a Chief of Defence Staff.

''This institution carries tremendous responsibility of modernizing our military forces. It would also reflect the hopes and aspirations of 1.3 billion Indians,'' the PM tweeted.

Live TV

The PM expressed confidence that the ''creation of the Department of Military Affairs with requisite military expertise and institutionalisation of the post of CDS, which is a momentous and comprehensive reform, will help the country face the ever-changing challenges of modern warfare.''

On Wednesday, the very first day of New Yar 2020, CDS General Bipin Rawat refuted allegations about him being politically inclined and asserted that the services work on government directions.

"We stay far away from politics, very far. We have to work according to the directions of the government in power," General Rawat said during a media interaction when his reaction was sought on allegations about his political inclination.

It may be recalled that on December 26, Rawat, then Army Chief, had said that leading masses and crowds to carry out arson and violence in cities and towns is not leadership, in a reference to the countrywide anti-CAA protests.

"Leaders are not those who lead people in an inappropriate direction," he had said. Several leaders across the political spectrum had taken exceptions to his statement and condemned his remark.

Communist Party of India (CPI) released a statement on General Rawat`s remark, accusing him of violating Section 21 of the Army Act. The remark violated service rules which prohibit him from making any kind of comment unrelated to Army matters, it said.

Taking a dig at him, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had said, "Leadership is knowing the limits of one`s office. It is about understanding the idea of civilian supremacy and preserving the integrity of the institution that you head."Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had also expressed similar sentiments.

Several parts of the country witnessed a spate of protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), many of which turned violent.
The Kansas police officer who claimed that he had received an insulting message on his McDonalds coffee cup has resigned after admitting to making up the incident.

Following an investigation by the McDonalds in Junction City and the Herington Police Department, both parties determined that the franchises employees were not responsible for writing f****** pig on the officers coffee cup. The incident had gone viral after Herington Police Chief Brian Hornaday took to Facebook last Saturday, to share the image, which he had called a black eye for Junction City.

This is what he paid for, Hornaday had written in his post. Although I understand this is likely the act of one person and not a representation of the company, when it was brought to their attention the company offered him a free lunch. No thank you.

At a press conference two days later, however, Lenor Brazzi, the director of operations at the fast food restaurant, maintained that her staff was innocent and reiterated the franchises respect for law enforcement.

We appreciate the Herington Police Departments efforts to thoroughly investigate this troubling incident, she said. While were glad that the evidence confirmed our evaluation that the McDonalds and our employees, crew members were absolutely not involved, we stand with our community in being disappointed about these actions.

According to KSNT, Dana Cook, the owner of the McDonalds at the center of the controversy, had claimed that security footage confirmed that none of the restaurants employees were behind the message on the officers cup.

My McDonalds have the utmost respect for all members of law enforcement and the military and were troubled by the accusation made, Cook had told the station in a statement. We thoroughly reviewed our security video from every angle, which clearly shows the words were not written by one of our employees.

At the conference, Hornaday confirmed as much, acknowledging that the department had been duped by the incident.

Story continues

In that investigation, we have found that McDonalds and its employees did not have anything, whatsoever, to do with this incident, he said. This was completely and solely fabricated by a Herington police officer, who is no longer employed with our agency.

The officer in question had reportedly been working in law enforcement for five years as a military police officer in the United States Army and just two months in the Herington Police Department. Hornaday said that the officer had meant for the message to be a joke.

Now, this is absolutely a black eye on law enforcement, Hornaday said in response to a question about his original Facebook post. I truly hope that the former officer of the Herington Police Department that did this, I hope he understands the magnitude of the black eye that this gives the law enforcement position from coast to coast.

The police chief said that the case had been referred to a Dickinson County attorney but that no charges were expected.

The Kansas incident comes just several weeks after an Oklahoma police chief accused a Starbucks employee of giving an officer a cup with a label that called him a pig. Both the employee and the coffee shops manager were subsequently fired.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun speaks during the Mobility Innovators Forum 2019 in San Francisco, Nov. 7. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group



Samsung, Hyundai, SK, LG seek new growth engines for next decade



By Nam Hyun-woo



The nation's top conglomerates  Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK and LG  are moving to overhaul their business models by reducing reliance on existing main revenue sources, industry officials said Wednesday.



Their attempt is interpreted as a bid to find a breakthrough amid a slowdown in their businesses and morph into service or product providers in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the officials said.



During a meeting with employees in October, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun said automobiles would account for half the group's business. The remainder would be air taxis or private air vehicles (30 percent) and robotics (20 percent).



"And we will become a company providing such services," Chung said. "The global automobile industry is facing an oversupply and many carmakers may vanish in the future. To survive, we have to provide not only quality vehicles but also services and solutions that will attract customers."



Hyundai Motor Group made a series of investments matching Chung's vision in recent months, increasing its stakes in future mobility, car sharing and artificial intelligence firms in the U.S. and Europe. Among them was a $2 billion investment to set up a joint venture with U.S. self-driving tech firm Aptiv, announced in September.



As part of Chung's vision, the group is expected to introduce a prototype air taxi and hub at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, starting Jan. 7.





Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, walks with Kim Ki-nam, head of the company's Device Solutions Division, second from right, and other executives during their visit to a Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant in Onyang, South Chungcheong Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics
Spanish media has uncovered a new slavery story in Tindouf camps after an 18 year-old girl succeeded in breaking the chains of enslavement by escaping to Barcelona via Algeria.

The girl who was sold out by her father entered Spanish territory using false passport, triggering the interest of Spanish media.

She explained to the media that she was put by her father between death or accepting an arranged marriage to an old man in return for money that her father will get.

My father threatened to kill me if I dont accept to get married, she told the media in Barcelona where many activists offered her help.

Slavery, an institutionalized practice

Human auctions in Tindouf are an institutionalized practice that is a relic of an archaic tribal system. In these camps, slave masters hold documents attesting to their ownership of other human beings, mostly blacks.

In 2009, two Australian journalists with the Sydney Morning Herald were invited to the camps by the Polisario representative in Australia with the aim to carry out a propaganda coverage in favor of the Polisario leadership. While in the camps, the two journalists noticed slavery practices and decided to secretly film a documentary on the ordeal of black people in the camps.

The film, dubbed Stolen, exposes modern-day slavery in the refugee camps of Tindouf through telling the story of a Sahrawi girl called Fatim Sellami, herself a slave, who was reunited with her mother after 35 years of separation with the help of the United Nations.

The film, which also tackles several cases other than Fatims, was not initially meant to deal with slavery. Journalists Ayala and Fallshaw wanted to make a documentary on the living conditions in the Tindouf camps, but when they arrived there, they found out about the slave trade and decided to shift focus.

The film shows that those Sahrawi girls offered for sale are persecuted and are frequently beaten. Their names are also changed and they are not allowed to marry except with the permission of their masters who have to provide them with a document stating that they have been granted freedom.

In its annual reports on the human rights conditions in the Tindouf camps, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the persistence of slavery practices.

Practices of slavery that centuries ago were a basic feature of traditional nomadic culture in the Western Sahara appear all but nonexistent among the Sahrawi refugees today, HRW said in its report on Tindouf camps.

The persistence of certain forms of slavery highlights the need for continuous, on-the-ground human rights monitoring, it said.
The beginning of a new year and a new decade is an opportunity to reflect on our hopes and aspirations not only for our future, but the future of those who will come after us, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. As the calendar flips each January, we are reminded of all the possibility and potential of each child embarking on her or his lifes journeyif they are just given that chance.

Photo: UNICEF

Fiji in the Pacific will most likely deliver 2020s first baby. The United States, its last. Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in eight countries:

India  67,385; China  46,299; Nigeria  26,039; Pakistan  16,787; Indonesia  13,020; The United States of America  10,452; The Democratic Republic of Congo  10,247; Ethiopia  8,493.

Each January, UNICEF celebrates babies born on New Years Day, an auspicious day for child birth around the world.

However, for millions of newborns around the world, the day of their birth is far less auspicious.

In 2018, 2.5 million newborns died in their first month of life -- about a third of them on the first day of life. Among those children, most died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections such as sepsis. In addition, more than 2.5 million babies are born dead each year.

Over the past three decades, the world has seen remarkable progress in child survival, cutting by more than half the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday. But there has been slower progress for newborns. Babies dying in the first month accounted for 47 per cent of all deaths among children under five in 2018, up from 40 per cent in 1990.

In Viet Nam, significant progress has been made over the past 25 years in improving survival rates for children under five years of age. Between 1990 and 2018, deaths per 1,000 live births reduced from 52 to 21 However, infant mortality rates in the North and Central Highlands remain high and in some provinces, such as Lai Chau and Kon Tum, the rates are three times higher than the national average.

It is estimated that 47 newborns die every day in Viet Nam. Most are from preventable causes. Simple interventions such as skilled birth attendance, early essential newborn care, early initiation of breastfeeding, and kangaroo-mother care for premature and low weight babies can save lives of women and their infants. I would like to commend the enormous efforts made by the Ministry of Health in prioritizing and scaling up these effective interventions and would call for further investment so that those interventions could reach those in mountainous and hard-to-reach areas, said Lesley Miller, UNICEF Viet Nams Acting Representative.

UNICEFs Every Child Alive campaign calls for immediate investment in health workers with the right training, who are equipped with the right medicines to ensure each mother and newborn is cared for by a safe pair of hands to prevent and treat complications during pregnancy, delivery and birth.

Too many mothers and newborns are not being cared for by a trained and equipped midwife or nurse, and the results are devastating, added Fore. We can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into this decade and beyond if every one of them is born into a safe pair of hands./.
Hai Minh, 27, waits for a phone call at 4 p.m. every day. It is from Husam Najim Abdulwahed.

The 15-minute call would always seem to finish in the wink of an eye. Before hanging up the 34-year-old petroleum engineer at Anwar Al Khaleej company would always send her his location.

He works offshore in Dhi Qar Province, Iraq, 6,800 km away from his girlfriend in Vietnam.

Husam Najim Abdulwahed is a petroleum engineer in Umm Qasr, a port city in southern Iraq. Photo courtesy of Husam Najim Abdulwahed.

They have been together for more than three years.

In July 2016 Minh, an assistant manager at a five-star hotel in HCMC, went on a business trip to Egypt. Abdulwahed had come for a training program, and they were staying in the same hotel, their rooms next to each other.

Minh says: "I would talk loudly. So he knocked on the door and told me to keep silent."

She gave him a pack of Vietnamese coffee afterwards to apologize. But she also told him that since it was a public place making some noise was acceptable, and he need not have brought it up.

Bursting into laughter, he told her, "It is so strange of you to say sorry and criticize me at the same time."

They often met in the lobby during the next few days. They started chatting with each other on Whatsapp. One day Hussam invited her to go around the city with him in a jeep. Small talk about careers gave way to more intimate conversations. He gave her parents Egyptian scarves and she gave him a precious stone she had bought during a trip to Mexico the previous year.

On their way back to the hotel, he took her to a majestic mosque. Suddenly he said in Arabic: "I have found my missing piece with Allah as my witness. I hope I will live happily ever after with her."

Touched by his love, Minh said yes. She says: "I do not know why exactly I fell in love so quickly. The heart just wants what it wants."

Seeing her off at the airport, Abdulwahed promised that they would meet again soon.

Five days had been enough for love to blossom. Unlike other Arabic men she knew, who were sweet and romantic, Husam had a stern look. "He gave me the feeling he can protect me," she says.

The long distance between them notwithstanding, they spent lots of time talking to each other. He sometimes taught her his mother tongue. He would say, "Ana baibbik" (I love you) to her every day. He would often remind her to call her parents since she was their only child. He would tell her about his mother and sister, who lived 500 km away from Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.

Whenever there was any news about Vietnam on television, he would text her immediately. They subsequently met once each in Dubai and Malaysia.

Except when he worked offshore on the oil rig, he would contact her every day. He would always keep his word about informing her at least five days in advance if he had to work offshore. When they could not speak, he would send her photos and videos afterwards to reassure her.

A storm tore through the relationship in July 2018. A medical report said he might have become infertile due to exposure to toxicants at the workplace. Afraid he would be unable to have kids, he did not want to marry her. But she was willing to be with him and even live in a new country if they could be together. However, he was adamant.

"I was so confused by the thought of him being unfaithful. I assumed that if I kept silent, he would beg for my forgiveness. But a week passed by without any response."

Then she texted him saying: "I know there is a huge burden on your shoulder, but you are not alone. Im here to share it with you."

There was no reply.

She contacted the mobile network operator in Iraq and found out his phone was still active. She thought he was deliberately ignoring her. Angry and upset, she blocked his number and deleted her Whatsapp account.

A week later there was a call from an unfamiliar number informing her that Abdulwahed had had an accident. Confused, she did not unblock his number.

She took unpaid leave and travelled to Kenya for voluntary work to overcome her sorrow.

On October 17, 2018 she reactivated her Whatsapp account and saw to her surprise that he had sent her a lot of messages and photos from hospital.

He had been poisoned and had to be put on a respirator. Finally convinced, she tried to contact him but in vain. He seemed to have vanished.

Needle in a haystack

Minh began to explore every possibility -- the ship on which he worked, all the ports the ship passed by -- in the hope of finding him. But it was all in vain.

Hai Minh, assistant manager of a 5-star hotel in HCMC, in July 2016. Photo courtesy of Hai Minh.

On October 26, 2018, she took a flight to Egypt and went back to the hotel where they first met. But the hotel staff said they could not provide Husams personal information. She uploaded his photos on several Iraqi forums, and again none of it worked.

"People called me crazy, but the fear of losing him took me to Iraq. The only thing I had was his picture from the workplace, and I hoped to trace him with his companys name and the place where the photo was taken."

In early December 2018 she left for that country. She wore a niqab that covered her entire body, Muslim style. She also wore bold make-up so that that nobody would realize she was an East Asian.

It was a seven-hour bus trip from Baghdad to Umm Qasr Naval Base, the location of the vessel in Husams photo. But it was a military zone, and she was denied entry.

Everything was written in Arabic, and it all seemed hopeless to her. Overcome by despair, she cried her eyes out.

She showed people Husams photo in the hope that someone would know him. Finally she heard that his vessel was working at an offshore rig and its return date was not known.

She hung around the place waiting for him day after day. The weather was brutal, hot during the day and cold at night and she fell sick.

On the night of December 15, 2018 she was dozing when her host brought a person to her room.

It was Husam!

"I started trembling. We hugged each other tightly and could not hold back our tears, not bothered by the presence of the host and photographer."

He showed her his medical report in which he was diagnosed with oil poisoning and had to spend two weeks in hospital. He had been working offshore and was unable to call her.

In June this year Abdulwahed came to Vietnam with his siblings and visited Minhs parents to ask for permission to marry their daughter.

They plan to have a traditional Vietnamese wedding.

His father passed away when he was young, and he told Minh he always longed for a family with both parents.

He has a new job in Singapore and would like to take his mother and her parents there. It is their responsibility to take good care of them, he says.

Their wedding will take place in early 2020 at a hotel in District 3, HCMC.

*Hai Minh is a pseudonym.
A couple and their twin boys were executed inside their home in Puerto Rico after celebrating New Year's Eve.

Edwin Ramos, 47, his wife, Dorothy Wickline, 40, and their nine-year-old twins, Erick Ramos Wickline and Jorge Ramos Wickline, were gunned down at around 3.50am Wednesday in the northern town of Trujillo Alto, south of the capital of San Juan.

Authorities said the couple's 16-year-old son, whose name was not publicly revealed, was shot in the mouth, arm and leg and is hospitalized at the Rio Piedras Medical Center.

Cops believe the massacre could be in retaliation for the couple's older son Luis 'Goldo Yaga' Ramos Wickline, 23, going to the police after someone tried to murder him.

Someone allegedly attempted to kill him on Monday afternoon at a residential complex. He ran to the Trujillo Alto police precinct seeking help and he filed a complaint with police. While reporting the attack, he was arrested for outstanding federal carjacking charges and state weapon and assault charges.

Authorities expected to interrogate Luis on Thursday. They also said they plan on speaking to the wounded teenager.

One of the two adult victims is taken out on a stretcher after a married couple and their nine-year-old twin sons were executed approximately at 3:50am Wednesday after arriving at their home in Trujillo Alto, a town south of Puerto Rico's capital city of San Juan. The couple's 16-year-old was shot in the mouth, knee and arm and is hospitalized. No arrests have been made

Police in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, investigate Wednesday morning's massacre scene where a married couple and their nine-year-old twin sons were murdered and their 16-year-old was shot three times after they arrived home from ringing in the new year

Puerto Rico Police Detective Carlos Nazario told reporters Wednesday morning that the parents and their twin children had celebrated New Years Eve with relatives and were shot shortly after they returned home.

According to Puerto Rican newspaper Primera Hora, the couple's 20-year-old son accompanied them and the two boys to the home and then left to drop off his girlfriend at her home.

Police think that suspects targeted the family after the elder son, Luis Ramos Wickline, ran to the cops on Monday afternoon after he was almost killed at a nearby housing complex. He was subsequently arrested after a warrant showed he was wanted for federal carjacking charges and state weapon and assault charges

Authorities found bullet casings from 9mm and .40 caliber hand guns. One of the bullets pierced through a window shutter

A police spokesman said investigators have spoken to area residents and also checked security cameras as they hunt the suspect(s)

The victims' family member then rushed to the home after hearing several shots.

Primera Hora reported that Ramos was shot near a balcony and his wife was shot in the living. The children were gunned down in the bedroom.

No arrests have been reported.

A police spokesman said Wednesday afternoon that several residents were interviewed. Security camera videos in the are were also being reviewed.

Authorities found bullet casings from 9mm and .40 caliber hand guns.
Local fighters, traders urged to lay down arms after deadly clashes in mainly-Muslim PK5 district in the CAR capital.

The United Nations and government forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) have declared a flashpoint district in the capital, Bangui, where recent clashes claimed dozens of lives, a weapons-free zone.

More than 30 people were killed last week, according to the Red Cross and a local imam, Awad al-Karim, as fighting erupted in the mainly-Muslim PK5 neighbourhood between local fighters and traders angered by extortion. But now the UN has stepped in, calling on both sides to disarm.

Anyone seen with arms will be arrested, disarmed or neutralised if he or she resists, Brigadier General Frank Chatelus, head of the UN forces in CAR, known as MINUSCA, announced on Tuesday.

The population shouldnt take law into their hands. Its the responsibility of MINUSCA and local forces. We will also occupy and control bases of self-defence groups.

The CAR government will deploy patrols by the Domestic Security Forces (FSI)  police and gendarmes  and a police commissioner will be sent to PK5, a MINUSCA spokesman told the AFP news agency.

The ball is in the camp of the armed groups, he said. We are waiting for their members to come along with their weapons and lay them down.

Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris, reporting from Bangui, said: The declaration of the PK5 neighbourhood as a weapons-free zone came just hours before a deadline to surrender all arms expired.

Traders had told the gunmen they formerly relied on for protection to give up their weapons or face an all-out war, he said.

And a shoot on sight policy has now been issued for anyone caught carrying a gun.

I still see danger

The CAR has been gripped by sporadic violence since 2014, after then-President Francois Bozize was removed in a coup.

Fierce fighting then erupted between predominantly Christian and Muslim fighters, prompting the intervention of former colonial power France, under a UN mandate.

Most of the country lies in the hands of armed groups, who often fight over the countrys mineral resources.





The PK5 district, where many Muslim traders took refuge in 2013, is a trigger point.

In April 2018, MINUSCA launched a crackdown on fighters there in response to appeals by local traders, but the operation ended bloodily with about 30 deaths, sparking anger among local people.

As a fragile calm returned to the streets of PK5 and the markets reopened, despite the destruction, residents told Al Jazeera they were fed up of the vigilantes.

Our message is clear, people should really be careful. We are going to make sure no one is using guns to hold people to ransom, Souvenance Yakitte, a PK5 resident, told Al Jazeera.

Youssouf Djibrine, head of the traders association in PK5, was cautious, recalling the failure of the April 2018 operation, codenamed Sukula, meaning cleanup in the national language Sango.

MINUSCA has to honour what it says about disarming, he said. I can still see danger.

The local imam, al-Karim, was more optimistic, saying that Tuesdays announcement was a major step forward.

Several fighters, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said they were keen on giving up their weapons and integrating into civilian life.

A disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme is being funded to the tune of $30m by the World Bank, aiming to encourage 9,000 fighters to return to civilian life.
A man (31) has been arrested after a robbery of a shop in Warrenpoint.

It happened in the Warrenpoint Road area of Newry on Tuesday just before 7pm.

Detective Sergeant Brannigan said: A man wearing a green coat and a grey scarf entered the shop in the area. He then threatened a female member of staff and demanded money. He made off towards another business premises close by with a sum of money. The female member of staff was left badly shaken, but not injured following the incident.

The male was arrested inside the other premises on suspicion of two counts of robbery. One of these was in relation to an armed robbery at an off-licence in the Warrenpoint Road area of Newry on Monday December 30, in which a sum of money was taken during the incident. He is currently in police custody.

Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone who witnessed either of the incidents on the 30th or 31st December to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1401 31/12/19. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.
We have all witnessed the practical difficulties of living together in our societies. How should we react to certain situations?





by Zulkifli Nazim





Excerpts from the wisdom of the ancient:





The Constitution of the Five Nations - or - The Iroquois Book of the Great Law. Known as the Great Law of Peace. This law of the Iroquois, guides us to make community decisions that will serve those who will be born seven generations into the future.









Article 24 of The Great Law of Peace stated: The chiefs of the League of Five Nations shall be mentors of the people for all time. they shall be proof against anger, offensive action, and criticism. Their hearts shall be full of peace and good will, and their minds filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the League. With endless patience, they shall carry out their duty. Their firmness shall be tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor fury shall find lodging in their minds and all their words and actions shall be marked by calm deliberation.- Akwesasne Notes, 1977  [Akwesasne Notes was a newspaper published by the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, whose lands are on both sides of the border between New York and Canada.]





You will have to keep in mind that this wisdom of the ancient survives after some 500 or 600 years, and was originated by people that the white-man mistakenly considered as "savages". Some sources place the origin of the Five Nation Confederacy as early as 1390 AD; it was well before any possible contamination by European invaders. Early explorers and colonists found the Iroquois well established, as they had been for many generations: with a democratic government.





[This version was prepared by Arthur C. Parker, Archeologist of the State Museum in New York in 1915, and published by the University of the State of New York as Bulletin 184 on April 1, 1916.]





In todays highly diverse set up in a country, the ability to work with people having diverse values and cultures is extremely important. Citizens need to feel included -- that their values are being recognized, understood and respected. They need to feel that their ideas and concerns are being heard. Those conditions create strong motivation and momentum for strong satisfaction and performance in the development and progress of a country.





It can be a major challenge to work with people and cultures where others have values, beliefs and certain conventions that are distinctly different. These Differences can lead to increased resistance to leadership and change because others might not understand and trust you.





In the domestic setting as well as at the international level religious freedom has always been one of the most contentious of fundamental liberties. We live in a world today where religious diversity is a reality that many contemporary societies are forced to deal with. When multiple religious views exist side by side, differences are bound to occur and it can be the root causes of disharmony. One of the root causes of disharmony is discrimination as well as marginalization in its many forms and facets.





Although it has been said that religion has been a divisive force in society, peaceful co-existence has always been the way of life in Sri Lanka. But the reality is that ethnic and religious diversity brings obvious challenges and inherent difficulties.





We see them succumbing to their emotional impulses as a moral failing. We see a lack of self-control as a sign of a deficient character.





Although there has been religious harmony and tolerance for a very long time, a number of controversial issues have emerged which undermined religious ties between the different religious groups during recent years and raises difficult practical issues and challenge of legal pluralism. Over the years, the country has seen incidents of intolerance.





It is against this background that the following questions are always being asked: How can a society effectively accommodate multiple and sometimes competing worldviews within its midst, while at the same time upholding social cohesion and harmony?





Is it possible to allow religious groups the complete freedom to reaffirm their identity and practice their diverse rituals and traditions, without leading to resentment and conflict within the society?





To what extent is the religious freedom of minorities protected in multi-religious societies?





These are some of the challenges confronting a multi-faith democracy. At the heart of this is the need in a democratic society to reconcile the interests and respect the beliefs of the population as a whole. Balancing the diverse interests in such a multi-faith democracy can be enormously challenging. And so one of the biggest challenges facing multi-societies is how to deal with diversity.





We have all witnessed the practical difficulties of living together in our societies. How should we react to certain situations?





We all know that it is the States duty to strike a fair balance between the different rights and interests at stake, and when we talk about the States responsibility in ensuring peaceful coexistence, we are, of course, talking about a wide range of actors: not only judicial bodies, parliaments and national governments but also, and sometimes especially, regional and local authorities.





The need to respect diversity without creating divisions in society and the need to live together while respecting a common set of rules, which constitute a sort of societal public order and today the need to reconsider what equality means, takes precedence as the most fundamental asset to community building, to personal growth, and to the very survival of our planet. People dont make decisions based on truth or facts.





There is a saying that, If you love someone do not expect anything in return; otherwise its not truly love. You respect someone without expecting anything in return; otherwise you dont truly respect him. You must speak honestly without expecting a pat on the back or a high-five or a gold star next to your name; otherwise you arent truly being honest.





The veracity of such quotes are veritable, transfinite.





At the heart of many faiths, practices, and cultures, advancing peaceful co-existence is essential to ensuring productive, meaningful lives and sustainable societies. On an individual level, peace may start with having calmness within oneself. Expanding outward, peace entails agreement and harmony among people.





Peace underlies our quality of life and the fabric of our communities; and, as our weaponry becomes ever more powerful, our very survival as people on this planet depends upon it.





Many spiritual traditions and teachings throughout history have emphasized peace, both as an inner journey and as an outward commitment to live in mutual benefit with our families, our communities, and in the world. Yet in our current global landscape we often see peace described in an inverted way, so that keeping the peace has come to refer to soldiers and peace-keepers, or to armed militia.





A number of other terms and concepts are necessarily related to the creation of peace, including fairness, justice, inclusiveness, and human rights. These must be embedded into the community in order to foster agreement and harmony.





Peace is strongest when derived from social justice, which can be defined as ensuring fundamental rights and equity to all. Strengthening civil society  the rules that bind us and allow us to live productively together, with established means of resolving conflict  is the means to those ends.





Its a natural human tendency to dwell on when someone did us wrong or when we did ourselves wrong. But this prevents us from moving forward. If we dont forgive those who have wronged us, we risk coloring all our future interactions and relations with the scars of those who hurt us. And by not forgiving ourselves, we dont allow ourselves to move forward and become our best selves. To forgive is to let go of the past and it is only by letting go of the past that we can stop being slaves to it and become our ideal selves.





Peace enriches our communities and individual lives, as it directs us to embrace diversity and support one another to the fullest extent possible. Through caring, generosity, and fairness we provide a cornerstone for attaining a sustainable, just, meaningful, vibrant, and fulfilling personal and community life.





Three are three things in this world that cant stay hidden for long: the moon, the sun, and the truth.  Lord Buddha.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan automatically became a statesman of international repute when he voluntarily handed over power to the current President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2015. He was the first incumbent President to lose an election and he was famously quoted to have said My ambition is not worth the drop of the blood of any Nigerian. This set him apart as a different specie of African leader in a continent where the sit tight syndrome is the order of the day and there is the general unwillingness of incumbents to concede victory to their opponents. Former President of The Gambia, Yahyah Jammeh was reluctant to hand over power to his opponent, Adama Barrow who defeated him in 2016 and had to be forced to do so before he left the tiny former British colony for exile in Guinea.

Jonathans action made him the toast of the west as he was regularly invited to give speeches. He also became an envoy of the African Union on peace missions where he brokered peace deals in warring nations in the worlds second largest continent.

On Christmas Eve, there was an attack near his residence in Otuoke by some armed men. They were resisted by some soldiers who were stationed in the area and immediately repelled through the combined action of the former.

Fortunately, the ex President wasnt in his residence as he was said to have left for an event in the state capital, Yenogoa. The Ijaw Youth Council averred that there was indeed an assassination attempt on the former lecturer turned politician who was lucky to have cheated death during the yuletide period.

In a statement released by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze and made available via the Nation newspapers, he was quoted to have said: He explained that the gunmen had attacked a security post located about 100 metres away from Jonathans Otuoke residence.

The attackers came in about five motorboats around 1:30am, he said. They attempted to take away a gunboat belonging to the military stationed at the creek beside the residence.

They were, however, resisted by gallant soldiers who engaged them in a firefight.

Tragically, a soldier was killed, and another was injured. Three of the attackers were said to have been killed.

One wonders why these dare-devil attackers chose to attack a security post filled with soldiers. Were they that asinine to want to risk their lives? Why fight the lion in its den? What was the rationale behind the attack of the security post near Jonathans edifice? The police have a lot of investigative work to do and owe it to all Nigerians to unravel the raison detre behind the sinister attacks.

We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for reaching out to Jonathan through a phone call and reassuring him that all was well. The sportsmanship of Sai Baba as he is fondly called is highly commendable but we urge him to extend his gesture to all Nigerians especially the vulnerable ones who get murdered on a daily basis without any presidential call or media coverage. In this New Year, the security of lives and property must be paramount in the mind of the President and he must fulfill this obligation he swore on oath before the Nigerian people. Life must be made bearable especially for the masses that have no one to fight their cause through a heavy government intervention in the protection of their lives. It is not sufficient to grandstand  there must be the necessary action taken to ensure that the country is indeed a habitable place for all irrespective of social status.

Why would the attackers attempt to pilfer a gun boat? What did they want to use it for? Where they former militants who wanted to return to the creeks and hence needed it for their covert operations? More questions begging for answers await the police investigation. We commiserate with the family of the soldier who lost his life in active service to his motherland and pray the good Lord grants the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss. We urge the President to declare him a national hero and ensure that the welfare of his family is adequately taken care of.

If foreign investors are to come into the country with the much needed funds required to jack up this ailing economy, then security must be of paramount concern to the government. It is not enough to junket around the globe trying to attract them when news like this travels faster than the speed of light to meet them. The President really must do something urgent to stem the tide of this ugly trend. The incident is highly embarrassing and lot of damage control needs to be done in order for the country to still be found investment worthy.

We hope we never see this again and this New Year must see a drastic reduction in crime and insecurity if Buhari is to leave a legacy as time is fast ticking.

This is to wish my highly esteemed readers a Happy New Year which will usher in unprecedented peace and prosperity.

Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently shared a picture of baby Archie on their official Instagram account, as part of a roundup video for 2019. The picture shows Prince Harry holding his seven-month-old son while wearing a blue beanie and an olive green coat. Archie, on the other hand, can be seen wrapped in a warm grey beanie, thick brown coat with matching brown boots.

The video posted along with a caption that read, Looking back at 2019. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and thanking you for your continued support! Weve loved meeting so many of you from around the world and cant wait to meet many more of you next year. We hope 2020 brings each of you health and continued happiness. - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

READ: Prince Harry-Meghan Markle Share Their Christmas Card; Baby Archie Steals Attention

The video also included moments like, Duke and Duchess royal visits, Prince Harry with Ed Sheeran and also the first moment the royal couple introduced baby Archie to the world. The video has also left internet users overwhelmed. One Instagram user commented, What a beautiful recap of the year and one of the best photos of Harry and Archie. Another wrote, What a beautiful picture of HRH with baby Archie.

READ: Meghan Markle And Prince Harry To Miss A Royal Christmas Tradition? Here's Why

Duke and duchess share their Christmas card

The royals recently also shared their first family Christmas card with son Archie Harrison. Prince Harry and Meghan who did not celebrate this Christmas with the royal family looked picture perfect in their monochrome Christmas card. Baby Archie Harrison is seen stealing all the attention with his small eyes and cute face. The Christmas card was posted by the Queens Commonwealth Trust on their Twitter handle. In the card, former Meghan Markle and baby Archie were twinning as both of them were wearing warm sweaters. Prince Harry, on the other hand, was seen wearing simple pants and shirts.

Just sharing the sweetest Christmas Card from our President and Vice-President, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Very Merry Christmas, everyone! pic.twitter.com/McOcHALoGl  The Queen's Commonwealth Trust (@queenscomtrust) December 23, 2019

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly on a six-week-long break. The royal couple spent quality time with Meghan Markles mother Doria Ragland. Both spent their Christmas holidays in Canada and the same was confirmed by the Buckingham Palace. After the Palace confirmed, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau also took to Twitter and wished Meghan Markle and Prince Harry a blessed and quiet stay in Canada.

READ: Meghan Markle And Prince Harry To Break Another Royal Tradition?

READ: Meghan Markle Hasn't Worn Tiara Since Her Wedding To Prince Harry, Heres Why
The chorus against climate change got louder than ever in 2019, and the government took a slew of measures to mitigate its impact such as launching a national clean air programme, providing financial aid to states to save forests and Himalayan glaciers besides envisaging a national coastal mission to protect India's shorelines.

India also led from the front at prominent global conferences under the United Nations convention in 2019 and hosted one such meet on land desertification, a major contributor to climate change, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the land restoration target from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares to be achieved by 2030.

The year 2019 also saw not just environmentalists being critical of the government, but school children hitting the streets urging the authorities to be serious about saving the planet from climate change.

From signing and circulating petitions to holding placards in protest across the country, children did it all to shake the conscience of the authorities to declare climate change a national emergency and expedite the process of reducing carbon emissions.

From 16-year-old Swedish girl Greta Thunberg to eight-year-old Licypriya Kangujam from north-east India, the passion to fight climate change united even the children, who took the global stage to urge leaders around the world to "act now".

At the UNCCD COP14, held in Delhi-NCR in September, over 190 countries participated and adopted a declaration which aims to consider land-based solutions for climate action and bio-diversity to achieve long-term goals of Paris Agreement.

A few days later at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, Modi gave a clarion call for a "global people's movement" to bring about behavioral change to deal with climate change as he made a path-breaking pledge to more than double India's non-fossil fuel target to 450 gigawatts.

The year ended with the most significant conference of parties on climate change - the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 25 - held in Madrid from December 2-14, where Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said India was "walking the talk" on climate goals under the Paris Agreement, but urged developed nations to fulfill their commitment of providing USD100 billion per year to developing countries for climate resilience.

India also ranked among the top 10 in this year's Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), presented at the COP 25 summit, but despite an overall high rating for its performance, the report also pointed out that the Indian government was yet to develop a roadmap to phase out fossil fuel subsidies that would consequently reduce the country's high dependence on coal.

Under the Paris Agreement, India had pledged to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 30-35 per cent by 2030 and create additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest cover by 2030.

On the domestic level, the government released nearly Rs 50,000 crore to states for compensatory afforestation and other green activities, including prevention of forest fires, biodiversity management and soil conservation.

The year also saw pollution levels spiking and rise in sea level with several reports coming out as warnings for the country to brace for the climate change impact.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body, came out with a special report on oceans where it cautioned that due to rise in sea level, India's coastline may get severely affected.

According to the report, India's financial capital Mumbai, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world, is at risk of being submerged by 2050.

It also warned that Andaman and Nicobar islands might not be inhabitable in future due to increase in climatic events like cyclones.

A report published in the Lancet journal also said that climate change will damage the health of an entire generation of children, particularly in India, due to food shortages, infectious diseases, floods and deadly heatwaves, unless there are immediate cuts to fossil fuel emissions.

According to official data, nearly 1,900 people lost their lives and another 46 were reported missing this monsoon season in rains and floods that affected more than 25 lakh people in 22 states.

While over 350 people died in Maharashtra, there were over 220 deaths in West Bengal. In Bihar, more than 160 people lost their lives.

Besides these, several reports by World Health Organisation, Greenpeace India and Centre for Science and found that one lakh kids under five years of age die each year in India due to air pollution and life expectancy in the country had come down by 2.6 per cent due to worsening air quality.

However, the findings of all these studies have been rejected by the central government which has maintained that "no Indian study has shown that pollution shortens life" saying these reports only created a "fear psychosis" among people.

Such remarks from the government have been condemned by the experts who said such statements add to injury.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 1 : The BJP is leaving no stones unturned to come back to power in the national capital where it is out in the cold for nearly two decades. That is the reason, even on the New Year Day, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar was fronted by the party to not only advertise the party's 'achievements' in terms of regularising illegal colonies but also train guns at ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress for allegedly spearheading the anti-CAA violent protests in Delhi last month.

Centre's decision to regularise 1731 illegal colonies has helped nearly 40 lakh people, just ahead of the Delhi elections. This is also the prime electoral issue with which Delhi BJP is going door to door. The party has already set up 5000 placards in such colonies. On Wednesday, Javedekar said, "The AAP government is spreading false propaganda against this move. While this law was passed in both the houses and became law after the approval of the President, the AAP is confusing people even on this issue." Javadekar even credited BJP-ruled MCD for the better fogging this year. He, in a philosophical note, said, "The battle of Delhi is between truth and falsehood, this fight is between chaos and development. We will keep fighting for the truth and development of Delhi." But what appears to be a new election issue this year is the anti-CAA protests and the violence that followed. On Wednesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar blamed opposition parties for allegedly spearheading the anti-CAA violent protests in Delhi last month.

"Violence on the CAA issue was spread by AAP and the Congress in Delhi. AAP MLA Amantullah Khan made a statement to instigate riots that spoiled Delhi's atmosphere," claimed the Union Minister on the the very first day of the year.

Delhi was rocked by a series of protests, violence and arson against the Citizenship Amendment Act in December. Buses were burnt and vehicles were damaged.

Javadekar said: "Now the people of the national capital and the country have understood their politics. Hence, there is peace in Delhi. Everyone has understood that CAA is not against any religion. No matter how much AAP and Congress try, we will not let them spoil the atmosphere of Delhi." Delhi violence and the purported video clip of Khan and alleged involvement of a Congress leader has given the entire movement a political colour which is bound to be an election issue in the forthcoming Delhi elections which are expected to be announced anytime soon, by the poll body.

In a bid to bolster it's preparation, BJP President Amit Shah will hold a town hall with all the booth Chiefs and BJP cadres of Delhi on January 5, in the national capital.








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Agora Publishing teams up with Toronto Book Expo to provide an accessible self-publishing service at the 2020 multicultural literary event. Aspiring and hopeful authors alike will be given access to a competent self-publishing company. The presence of the self-publishing service will give authors and aspiring authors the opportunity to consider self-publishing their work.

The Toronto Book Expo aims to illuminate a path toward a better way to publishing your work alongside Agora Publishing.

Although a lot of doubt surrounds self-publishing, this is often due to the fact that most self-publishing companies do not care about how your book turns out. In true support of the literary community, the Toronto Book Expo has made sure that authorswhether published or aspiring, are aware of companies like Agora Publishing.

Contrary to most of the self-publishing companies youll come across, Agora Publishing offers a cesspool of helpful information for aspiring self-published authors. The company offers various workshops and informational guides to self-publishing to fully prepare you for the challenges of self-publication.

The literary industry is highly competitive. It is for this very reason that thousands of aspiring authors face failure on a daily basis. There is only a small percentage of chance that the work you submitted will get published. As a result, plenty of authors wait years before their work gets publishedif at all.

This can be incredibly disheartening especially when the literary work of the aspiring author itself isnt the problem. Plenty of potentially good books go unpublished each year. The problem lies in recognition and whether your views align with the publishers.

Published authors face a similar dilemma as well. Traditional publishers often restrict an authors rights to their work. This includes creative authority from the books cover to the way it is promoted and most importantlyfinancial matters.

Traditionally published authors often earn a significantly small royalty for every sale of their book. This might not be a problem if youre a multi-time bestselling author. However, truth be told, even best-selling authors have a difficult time making a stable living off of their meagre royalties.

There are multiple benefits to self-publishing. Perhaps the most important benefit would be having complete creative control over your work on top of being able to retain all the rights to your intellectual property.

Compared to traditional publishing companies, self-publishing companies do not retain any rights to your intellectual property. Basically, their services are limited to publishing your work according to your specifications. While this sounds appealing, you should be careful of self-publishing companies that offer side-services like barcode generation, cover art design and many more.

Bear in mind that unless youre working with a company like Agora Publishing that only has your best interests in mind, youll likely be spending money on meagre additional services.

The appeal of Agora Publishing is that unlike most self-publishing companies, it was established by an accomplished author with the goal to help authors and aspiring authors. It is extremely rare to find a company that truly cares about the direction your book goes after publication.

Among the many benefits of self-publication is the opportunity to earn more per sale of your book. This doesnt mean you should go crazy with the pricing of your work. However, you are able to gain a better royalty per sale of your book due to the fact that youre generally paying for the publishing company to manufacture your book.

The additional royalties can go towards promotion and marketing features for your book to maximize your sales. This means that your book is most likely to succeed if you put in enough time and work into it.

Self-publishing can be a terrifying thing to think about. In all honesty, very few self-published authors are actually successful and are able to make a living off of writing. However, that was before the presence of self-publishing companies like Agora.

The Toronto Book Expo encourages and enables authors and aspiring authors to pursue their goals through self-publishing.

True success in the literary world can only be achieved with perseverance and arming yourself with companies and a community that will help you succeed in the literary industry.

What are you waiting for? Book a ticket and apply to be an author at the Toronto Book Expo in 2020 now!
When Esperanza Gutierrezs fifth-grade class visited Burbank Middle School, a field trip designed to acclimate students with their next campus, she became mesmerized by an unexpected sight: dozens of kids performing karate.

Gutierrez, then a student at Houston ISDs Berry Elementary School, watched a Burbank demonstration team move with power and precision, wondering if she could one day don their uniforms and belts.

When I first saw it, I was like, How did they do that? Thats awesome! Gutierrez said.

Two years later, Gutierrez respectfully bowed as she entered her first-period class at Burbank, wearing a clean white karategi and newly-acquired orange belt, ready for one of Houston ISDs most unique traditions.

Now Playing: It's not just about punching and kicking. Popular Kickstart Kids karate class at Burbank Middle School aims to teach character and responsibility along with martial arts. Video: Brett Coomer

For more than 25 years, dozens of public schools across the Greater Houston area have offered daily karate classes as part of their physical education curriculum, teaching students the arts of self-defense and self-respect during regular class schedules. The initiative, operated through the Kickstart Kids nonprofit founded by martial artist and actor Chuck Norris, reaches 12 campuses in HISD and 14 in Fort Bend ISD, enrolling thousands of children annually.

Each school day, Kickstart Kids instructors function as teachers on their campuses, while also running a regimented operation mirroring any of the areas private martial arts academies. The program thrives in HISD amid a movement in public education toward more social-emotional learning instruction, which typically involves teaching students how to manage their emotions, build positive relationships and make responsible decisions.

I have to make sure that when they walk out of my room, theyve learned two things: self-character and being able to defend themselves, said Roy White, a sixth-degree black belt and one of Kickstart Kids founding instructors.

On a recent Wednesday morning at Burbank, White put about 40 barefoot seventh-graders through a series of combinations in his matted classroom, wandering the room to ensure proper posture. As well-attuned students punched, stepped and shouted kiai with each aggressive move, White offered subtle tips, bending back a flat wrist and nudging an out-of-place knee.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston ISD has a big, bold vision for helping students outside the classroom. Will it work?

At Burbank and other schools throughout HISD, karate has become as synonymous with school as band and performing arts. Kickstart Kids boasts more than 100,000 alumni from Texas public schools, producing hundreds of black belts and champions in Norris United Fighting Arts Federation. Dozens of schools employ demonstration squads that perform at campus and community events, building a camaraderie similar to other extracurricular teams.

Tax records from 2017-18, the most recent year with available data, showed the nonprofit operated on a $5.7million budget, with nearly two-thirds of revenue derived from fees paid by students families and martial arts class participants. The program costs $50 per child each year.

Instructors acknowledged the allure of karate for students raised on Dragonball Z and martial arts cartoons, but they emphasized the program focuses on self-defense and character-building inherent in the discipline. Kickstart Kids curriculum also weaves in lessons aligned with the states requirements for physical education instruction, educating students on anatomy, biomechanics and personal health.

Exzavier Lopez, an eighth-grader and green belt in Whites class at Burbank, said the initiative has helped him communicate better with his parents and temper his emotions. Lopez said simple lessons, such as responding yes, sir to Whites questions in a prompt and authoritative voice, will have a lasting impact beyond middle school.

I used to have a really bad temper, but when I joined karate, doing karate let my anger out, said Lopez, who hopes to attend one of HISDs college preparatory high schools next year. I was excited, because I knew I had to change up. Its been good for me.

Lopezs experience mirrors that of Kickstart Kids instruction Matthew Garza, who started karate as a sixth-grader at HISDs Black Middle School in the mid-2000s. Garza said the physicality of karate appealed to him, while instructor Derrick Stinson became a strong male figure at a time when his father was not a major presence in his life.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Despite takeover threat, Houston ISD performs well compared to big-city peers

Now 28, Garza has returned to Black as the schools Kickstart Kids instructor, aiming to build strong relationships with students from a similar upbringing. He remains in regular contact with Stinson, who now works as a regional director for the nonprofit.

I can do these backflips or cool moves for them, but if theres no connection, Im just like a movie to them, Garza said. I know what its like waiting for your mom and dad to get back together, or your grandfather passing away. I had two kids just last week saying, I need to talk to you, and theyre just crying. I can tell them its OK to cry, that its OK to talk to me.

Kickstart Kids only operates in HISD middle schools, at a vulnerable, hormone-riddled point for many students. White said he believes karate provides an optimal outlet for children facing academic, family and social pressures, instilling a sense of community and discipline.

In high school, theyve already kind of figured out which route theyre going, White said. In middle school, theyre not sure yet. They can go left and do something good, or they can go right and do something bad. We want to be able to catch them there and help guide them in the right direction.

For Burbank eighth-grader Destiny Olguin, karate classes have made her more self-assured and helped build bonds with new friends, no small feat for an admittedly shy teenager.

Whenever I was in a class or after-school activity, I was really insecure and didnt really want to open up to people, said Olguin, an orange belt. But then when I joined karate and started staying after school with Mr. White and all the other kids, I really did open up and gain confidence for myself.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Three young women were taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Cork on New Year's Day.

The incident occurred at around 1:10am at Bakers Road, Gurranabraher.
The CBI on Wednesday arrested an Additional Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Chander Shekhar and a middleman in connection with Rs 25 lakh bribery case, officials said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested an Additional Director General of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Chander Shekhar, and a middleman in connection with Rs 25 lakh bribery case, PTI reported, adding that the central investigative agency's suspicion of a "huge" scam had prompted the operation.

Searches were launched in New Delhi, Noida, and Ludhiana soon after the arrest. According to the DRI web site, Shekhar is posted as ADG, Ludhiana.

The agency had arrested the middleman while he was allegedly receiving the bribe on behalf of the officer. During the questioning, the middleman told the sleuths that the bribe was allegedly for the officer, the report said.

The agency suspects it to be a part payment of a huge bribe which was discussed between the two.

The DRI is the apex investigative agency for matters relating to the violation of the Customs Act.

With inputs from PTI
Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said that no governor, past or present in the state has accomplished one-tenth of achievements.

Okorocha, who stated this while speaking on Channels TVs Newsnight, described himself as the most highly misunderstood person in Nigeria.

He said: I wish you can meet the governor of Imo state (Emeka Ihedioha) and ask that Rochas said what he has done is not up to one-tenth of what I have done, or other governors put together have done.

The first international cargo airport in Imo state, I built it and it was adjudged the best in the country by FAAN.

I built 30 hospitals, some of them completed, while most are not completed, but they have all the roofs, tiled, except equipping; I built one of the best state high court, the best prison, the best police headquarters

I know my nature, I am highly misunderstood in this country, and some people define me from different angles.

If I do one-tenth of what the governor is doing there, the whole world will hear about it.

Okorocha also revealed that he is yet to know what caused his rift with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole. He said; If I was told in my dream that Ill be treated this way, Id have said its not possible.

One day, the opportunity may occur that I might hear from Adams what really went wrong because till today I am very much confused as to what went wrong.

I have tried to make an excuse for him that probably somebody must have gossiped or do something that he believed.

Or alternatively, it must be a search for political power or relevance or it would have been who he is.

But whatever happened in APC was still like a dream to me, because APC had no reason to lose Imo state. He also said he wont be leaving the APC because the political party is like a family to him.
A new crisis text line funded by the HSE will be launched in the coming weeks.

Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7, confidential service that allows users to communicate with trained professionals in minutes.

Ireland will become the fourth country to introduce a crisis text line service. Similar services already operate in the US, Britain, and Canada.

Health Minister Simon Harris said he is pleased that they can press go on Crisis Text Line in 2020.

It is never easy to ask for help. It is even harder to pick up the phone and ask for help. It can be tough and even impossible.

"This crisis text line means you dont have to. It will allow you to communicate with trained professionals through text messages, said Mr Harris.

We can all remember times when there was nowhere to go in a crisis. This will mean help will never be more than a text away.

Jim Daly, the minister of state with responsibility for mental health, said the crisis text line, which is not a replacement for care, will offer people a connection when feeling most alone and vulnerable.

He said the crisis text line service could detect behavioural triggers to help medical personnel reach people who are in crisis as speedily as possible.

I have no doubt the availability of this technology will save lives, he said.

The chief executive of Crisis Text Line Ireland is Ian Power, who also heads SpunOut.ie which offers a text message support service.

We currently have over 100 volunteers providing a service to young people texting us, said Mr Power.

If #NewYearsEve is hard for you, you're not alone and there is always someone there to listen to you.



Text SPUNOUT to 086 1800 280 to speak to a trained volunteer 24/7.



Standard SMS rates may apply. pic.twitter.com/d5CCuknVg9  spunout.ie (@SpunOut) December 31, 2019

We expect to have 300 volunteers by the time the new national service is launched.

I think it is really important for young people to have access to a service like this. It is the medium they use to communicate most because they feel comfortable using it.

Mr Power said those who use the service by texting a short code will be responded within five minutes and a conversation will be started.

Meanwhile, key measures included in the 2019 GP agreement, such as the chronic disease management programme, will come on-stream early this year, Mr Harris has announced.

The effective management of chronic disease within community settings is an important step in the delivery of Saintecare, said Mr Harris.
Ltd (HMIL) on Wednesday reported 9.9 per cent decline in total sales in December at 50,135 units as against 55,638 units in year-ago month.

The company said its domestic sales were at 37,953 units in December 2019 as compared to 42,093 units in the same month previous year, down 9.8 per cent.

Exports during the month were also down 10.06 per cent at 12,182 units as against 13,545 units in December 2018, it said in a statement.

Total sales in 2019 were down 2.6 per cent at 6,91,460 units as compared to 710,012 units in 2018.

Domestic sales last year were at 510,260 units as against 550,002 units in 2018, a decline of 7.2 per cent, it added.

Exports in 2019 were, however, up 13,2 per cent at 181,200 units as compared to 160,010 units in 2018, the company said.

Commenting on the sales performance, HMIL Director Sales, Marketing and Service Tarung Garg said, "The Year 2019 has been a challenging year for the Indian automotive industry. Even in such adverse conditions, as committed has launched 4 new benchmark products in different segments."



He further said,"As we gear-up for a significant year in 2020, we will offer BS-VI in both petrol and diesel engines across different models in our product portfolio.
New Delhi, Jan 1 : As part of privatisation policies, Indian Army's Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) on Wednesday hired PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd. (PwC) to evaluate whether government owned corporate operator (GOCO) model can be implemented at eight army base workshops across the country. The Army said that the move is to drive higher operational efficiencies.

"As part of the process, PwC intends to hold conferences and consultations with industry participants, who may be interested in participating in the process going forward," said an Army source.

The agenda of these interactions would be to "understand from interested industry participants their views on opportunities envisaged and issues and concerns if army base workshops were to be run under the GOCO model".

The MGO unit has identified eight army bases workshops across Indian to ascertain whether these can be operated run under the GOCO model.

In Delhi, the MGO wants to see whether a corporate operator can tackle depot level repairs and overhauling of the T-72 and T-90 tanks, including engines. The unit also wants to know whether the corporate operator can carry out component level repairs of all rotables.

At Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, the MGO wants to see whether depot level repairs and overhaul of guns, mortars and small arms can be carried out under GOCO model, and in West Bengal's Kankinara, it seeks to know if depot level repairs and overhaul of Scania and Kraz vehicles including their engines and engineer equipment be put under GOCO.

In Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad, the MGO wants to put depot level repairs and overhaul of Tatra and Scania vehicles including their engines under the GOCO model and in Agra, depot level repairs and overhaul of communication systems, radars, optical systems including various sights, electronic equipment and power equipment like generators.

Also at Meerut, it seeks to know whether the depot level repairs and overhaul of air defence weapons systems, guns, anti-tank guided missiles, heavy recovery vehicles, specialist vehicles and engineer equipment can be placed under this model.

The Army also seeks to place a similar system for depot level repairs and overhaul of infantry combat vehicle BMP II and their variants, armoured recovery vehicles and armoured fighting vehicles' engines at Pune.

At Benguluru, it wants to place manufacture of spares for indigenisation, manufacture of simulators for the field and overhaul of aviation rotables under GOCO.

The Ministry of Defence has proposed privatisation of army base workshops under the GOCO model in January 2018, acting on the recommendations of the committee headed by Lt Gen D.B. Shekatkar (retd).

Under the scheme, the MoD had then stated that government will provide land, infrastructure, plant and machinery, equipment system support, oversight and facilitate the contractor.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in )
A conductor of a Rajasthan roadways bus was killed while the driver was injured after the vehicle hit a divider and turned turtle near the bridge in front of Hyatt hotel, a Delhi Fire Service official said.

The fire department said they received a call at 6.50 am that a bus has overturned in front of Hyatt hotel after which three fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

The bus did not have any passengers on board. But the bus driver and conductor were injured, said Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Service.

The driver was saved but the conductor died in a hospital, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave a nod to their royal tour of Australia with the unseen photo of Archie shared last night.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dressed their seven-month-old son in a pair of fluffy Ugg boots that they were given in Sydney - just hours after it was announced they were expecting their first child.

The boots were presented to the couple by Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on the first day of the royal tour - and now it seems Archie is finally big enough to wear them.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex dressed their seven-month-old son in a pair of fluffy Ugg boots that they were given in Sydney - just hours after it was announced they were expecting their first child. The photo, pictured, was shared as part of a year in review round-up

The boots were presented by Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on the first day of the royal tour (pictured) - and now it seems Archie is finally big enough to wear them. The Duke and Duchess announced they were expecting the day before this photo was taken

The smiley baby, who was photographed in his father's arms in Canada, is also seen wearing a beanie hat and a 36 brown cord jacket from British retailer Boden.

It is the second time Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have signaled their support for the British brand, after dressing Archie in a Boden jumper for their Christmas card photo.

The new image of Archie and Harry was shared in a highlight reel of their top moments of 2019.

The candid snap shows Prince Harry standing by a lake in what is thought to be their Canadian Christmas hideaway of Vancouver Island, as he smiles at a beaming Archie.

Smiley Archie, who was photographed in his father's arms in Canada, is also seen wearing a beanie hat and a 36 brown cord jacket from British retailer Boden, pictured in a product shot

Sharing the post, which racked up over 260,000 likes in half an hour, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote: '2019 in review. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year and thanking you for your continued support!

'We've loved meeting so many of you from around the world and can't wait to meet many more of you next year. We hope 2020 brings each of you health and continued happiness. - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.'

They added: 'Special thanks to Chris Martin and Coldplay for allowing us to use one of their songs.'

It is the second time Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, have signaled their support for the British brand, after dressing Archie in a Boden jumper for their Christmas card photo, pictured

The compilation video runs alongside the hit song Clocks, which includes the lyrics: 'The lights go out and I can't be saved, Tides that I tried to swim against, Have brought me down upon my knees, Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing'.

Some fans claim the song is about despair, hopelessneess and doubt, as the protagonist pleads for salvation.

The video offers some retrospective of the Sussexes' busy year.

A picture shows the Duchess of Sussex during her pregnancy at the National Theatre, on January 30, 2019.

In another snap, Harry proudly stands next to Sir David Attenborough, his brother William, 37 and Prince Charles, 71, at a screening at the Natural History Museum in London for the world premiere of his new Netflix series 'Our Planet'.

The video fondly looks back on several of Harry and Meghan's joint engagements as expecting parents, like their Morrocco visit in February, where they met with local children.
By Devjyot Ghoshal and Zeba Siddiqui

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Thousands of Indians ushered in the New Year by demonstrating against a citizenship law despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attempts to dampen protests that have run for nearly three weeks.

The protests have rocked India since Dec. 12, when the government passed legislation easing the way for non-Muslim minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to gain Indian citizenship.

Combined with opposition to a proposed national register of citizens, many Indians fear the law will discriminate against minority Muslims and chip away at India's secular constitution.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Citizens' Register (NRC), which were part of the election manifesto of Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist party.

Protesters had planned at least three demonstrations in New Delhi, the capital, including the area of Shaheen Bagh, where hundreds of residents have blocked a major highway for 18 days.

Irshad Alam, a 25-year-old resident of Shaheen Bagh, stood with his one-year-old in his arm and his wife by his side. He said hed been participating in the protest every day.

"Its freezing here," he said, "But we are still here because we care about this movement."

More than 200 people gathered in and around a makeshift stage in the Muslim neighbourhood chanting slogans and reciting poetry.

Resident Maqsood Alam said protesters were not afraid of a police crackdown.

"Weve been expecting that every day. But Ill tell you one thing," he said. "This crowd here is not afraid of the government. They are ready to give their lives for this movement. We wont leave here until the government takes back the law."

Poetry recitals and speeches had been planned by organisers at a protest outside New Delhi's Jamia Millia University, which was stormed by police this month.

"New Year's resolution to defend the constitution," read the schedule for another protest planned in New Delhi, now in the grip of its second coldest winter in more than a century.

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Police said they had deployed additional forces in New Delhi on New Year's Eve, with traffic curbs imposed in some parts of the capital.

"All precautionary measures are in place," said police official Chinmoy Biswal, who oversees the southeastern part of the city that includes Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Millia University.

"Recently, there have been no incidents. So we hope things will remain fine," he told Reuters.

In the southern city of Hyderabad, at least two small groups of demonstrators have been organising flash protests, to skirt police restrictions on larger gatherings.

Typically, half a dozen demonstrators pop up in public places, such as malls and coffee shops, holding up placards and encouraging passersby to join in, a member of one of the groups, which has held 11 protests, told Reuters.

Street-side poetry recitals, stand-up comedy, and music performances are also planned in the financial capital of Mumbai and the eastern city of Kolkata.

But some protests have turned violent, particularly in the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, and at least 25 people have been killed in clashes with police since early December.

Initially caught off guard by the scale of the protests, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scrambled to douse public anger, with Modi declaring that there had been no discussions on the NRC, contradicting party colleagues.

The BJP is running a campaign to say that the CAA is not discriminatory and is needed to help non-Muslim minorities persecuted in the three neighbouring countries.

(Reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal and Zeba Siddiqui; Additional reporting by Philip George in Bengaluru; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Grant McCool)
She set to jet to South Africa in a matter of days to commence her hosting stint on the upcoming winter version of Love Island.

And having much to celebrate, Laura Whitmore brought in the New Year with a bang as she celebrated alongside her longtime beau Iain Stirling on Tuesday evening.

The TV presenter, 34, pulled out all the stops for the evening as she posed up a storm in a black sequined blazer dress which she accessorised with a chunky belt.

Loving life: Laura Whitmore brought in the New Year with a bang as she celebrated alongside her longtime beau Iain Stirling on Tuesday evening

She styled the dress with a pair of tights and a selection of gold pendant necklaces, while adding a pop of colour with a slick of red lipstick.

The blonde beauty wore her sleek tresses in a loose, flowing style and beamed with delight as she posed in front of an old wooden door where she hosted the party.

Laura and her pals appeared to enjoy a candlelit dinner at the beginning of the evening, before it descended into a night of revelry with boozy beverages and party games.

Hostess with the mostest! The venue also boasted a bar and Laura and Iain appeared to have the cocktails in order as they shared a selfie preparing some drinks for the guests

Laura offered her fans a glimpse at the perfectly-laid dinner table, which had been adorned with festive foliage and covered with sparkling tealights.

The venue also boasted a bar and Laura and Iain appeared to have the cocktails in order as they shared a selfie preparing some drinks for the guests.

The Irish TV personality ensured she enjoyed a tipple herself, as she sipped on a drink with an adorable fluffy pooch in the background.

During the evening the hot couple shared a New Year's Eve smooch on her Instagram Stories, while also offering an insight into the evening's party games.

Sophisticated: Laura and her pals appeared to enjoy a candlelit dinner at the beginning of the evening, before it descended into a night of revelry with boozy beverages and party games

Ahead of the evening's festivities, Laura reflected on the past decade in a post uploaded to her Instagram page on Tuesday.

Laura admitted she still feels 'overwhelmed at times' and like she's 'completely blagging it' when it comes to the 'big rollercoaster' of her career.

The Love Island host joked that while she still has a penchant for wearing 'band tees', one major change in her life has come in the form of the improved camera quality on her mobile phone.

Pals: The Irish TV personality ensured she enjoyed a tipple herself, as she sipped on a drink with an adorable fluffy pooch in the background.

Posting a side-by-side comparison snap, Laura wrote: '2009 V 2019 the scariest thing about these two pictures is I feel the exact same.

'Still curious, still feeling overwhelmed at times - that I'm completely blagging it and that it's all a big rollercoaster. I still love a band tee but thankfully those denim skirts have long gone!

'Back in 2009 I was just starting out in MTV and had moved by myself to a new country. I still like the idea of pushing myself and trying new things - and I can tell you that ain't going to change in the next decade.

Mwah! During the evening the hot couple shared a New Year's Eve smooch on her Instagram Stories, while also offering an insight into the evening's party games

'And despite all the madness of the last decade, all achievements and failures, ups and downs I'm still that girl that is excited by life.

'One major thing that HAS changed in the last 10 years though ... the camera quality of my mobile phone. #endofadecade.'

Laura's reflective post follows an exciting conclusion to the year, which saw her take the reins as Love Island host for the first ever winter series when filming kicks off in South Africa in January.

The Irish TV presenter has taken over from embattled former presenter Caroline Flack, 40, who was forced to step down from the 1.2million-a-year role in the wake of her arrest and subsequent charge for assault earlier this month.
By PTI

KOLKATA: A young filmmaker was allegedly assaulted by an acquaintance during an argument over CAA-NRC in neighbouring Salt Lake City, police said on Wednesday.

The police have arrested the accused following a complaint by the filmmaker.

According to a senior police officer, the argument over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) began following a social media post by the filmmaker.

The accused allegedly went to the house of the filmmaker on Monday night and picked up an argument, which led to a scuffle.

"During the scuffle, the accused attacked the filmmaker with a knife," the senior police officer said, adding that the accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Performers during the New Years Day Parade in London (Victoria Jones/PA)

Thousands of performers from across the world took to the streets of the capital for the 34th London New Years Day parade.

An estimated 500,000-strong crowd lined the streets of London, from Green Park to Parliament Square, for the parade on Wednesday which included performers from the UK, Europe and the US.

Organisers said there were about 10,000 performers including marching bands, samba bands, cheerleaders and dancers.

The Miniature Steamers for Charity rode six small steam engines through the streets, while motorbike stunt performers from Moto-Stunts International performed daring tricks, including leaping from a ramp at the back of a car.

Expand Close Performers during the New Years Day Parade in London (Victoria Jones/PA ) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Performers during the New Years Day Parade in London (Victoria Jones/PA )

Expand Close Cheerleaders took to the streets in London (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Riders from All The Queens Horses, wearing a variety of brightly coloured jockey outfits, rode some 60 horses through the streets.

Performers in checked outfits and sporting colourful capes raced through the streets on rollerskates, rollerblades and skateboards.

Expand Close About 10,000 performers took part in the annual parade (Victoria Jones/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp About 10,000 performers took part in the annual parade (Victoria Jones/PA)

The march started near Green Park at midday, went along Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and on to Parliament Square.

Since the inaugural parade in 1987, the event has raised more than 1.5 million for London charities.
Isabel dos Santos denies the charges against her, saying they are politically motivated.

Angola has frozen the assets of Isabel dos Santos, the billionaire daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in a sign that President Joao Lourenco is taking a tougher line against the former first family.

Isabel dos Santos  nicknamed the Princess  denied allegations of financial irregularities on Tuesday, calling the claims politically motivated.

She is under investigation for alleged irregularities involving state companies including the OPEC nations giant state oil company Sonangol.

The allegations are riddled with obvious lies, errors and omissions, she said.

This court decision, which is the outcome of an injunction that was not communicated to the parties, is clearly arbitrary and politically motivated.

Isabel later told Reuters news agency that she had never been summoned or questioned by an Angolan court or prosecutors.

Fall from grace

Her father ruled Angola for 38 years  a time widely associated with corruption and nepotism  until Lourenco succeeded him in 2017.

Since taking power, Lourenco has been trying to erase the influence of his predecessor and reform sub-Saharan Africas third-largest economy, which continues to contract.

Isabel, like most of the dos Santos family, left Angola, claiming she faced death threats after her father stepped down.

She was appointed head of Sonangol in 2016 but was forced out the following year, in one of the first acts undertaken by Lourenco to remove dos Santoss relatives from power.

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An Angolan court, acting as part of the corruption investigation, on December 23 froze bank accounts belonging to dos Santos and her husband Sindika Dokolo.

Their holdings in several Angolan companies, including the telecoms firm Unitel and cement company Cimangola, have also been frozen, the statement said.

The courts decision also applies to a Portuguese businessman, Mario da Silva.

His family accuses Lourencos government of persecution.

The former presidents son, Jose Filomeno dos Santos, 41, who is Isabels half-brother, went on trial in early December for alleged corruption.
(Newser)  Anti-American protests continued for a second straight day near the US embassy in Iraq on Wednesday, prompting US forces to fire tear gas at one point. However, Reuters reports that protesters have withdrawn after a militia umbrella group told demonstrators to disperse. Meanwhile, US-Iran tensions were rising over the situation. Coverage:

Banner: Despite leaving, the protesters left their mark by putting up a green banner bearing the name of the umbrella groupthe Popular Mobilization Forces"as if to remove any doubt of who was in charge," says the New York Times.

Despite leaving, the protesters left their mark by putting up a green banner bearing the name of the umbrella groupthe Popular Mobilization Forces"as if to remove any doubt of who was in charge," says the New York Times. Iran responds: On Tuesday, President Trump blamed Iran for fomenting the anti-American protests and promised the nation would pay a "big price." But on Wednesday, Iran's supreme leader dismissed the threat, reports Newsweek. "You cant do anything," said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a speech in Tehran. "If the Islamic Republic decides to challenge and fight, it will do so unequivocally."

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Context: The Washington Post provides some context to the situation, observing that "Trump now faces a potentially combustible situation where the United States and Iran are elbowing for influence in Iraq as US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with some of Trumps in-house advisers, urge a more forceful confrontation with Tehran over its aggressive tactics across the Middle East."

The Washington Post provides some context to the situation, observing that "Trump now faces a potentially combustible situation where the United States and Iran are elbowing for influence in Iraq as US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with some of Trumps in-house advisers, urge a more forceful confrontation with Tehran over its aggressive tactics across the Middle East." Americans safe: As the protests have unfolded, American staffers and diplomats have remained holed up in the heavily fortified embassy. No injuries have been reported inside or outside the compound.

As the protests have unfolded, American staffers and diplomats have remained holed up in the heavily fortified embassy. No injuries have been reported inside or outside the compound. Umbrella group: The number of protesters dwindled after the Popular Mobilization Forces called on them to withdraw. "Your message has been received," the group said. Its message came after the Iraqi government made a similar appeal.

The number of protesters dwindled after the Popular Mobilization Forces called on them to withdraw. "Your message has been received," the group said. Its message came after the Iraqi government made a similar appeal. Powerful allies : Iran's allies in the Iraqi government now plan to press for a parliamentary vote to have US troops withdrawn from Iraq, notes the Wall Street Journal. The paper adds that the ordeal "starkly revealed the dominance of factions allied to Tehran within the Iraqi government, drawing it more closely into Irans orbit."

: Iran's allies in the Iraqi government now plan to press for a parliamentary vote to have US troops withdrawn from Iraq, notes the Wall Street Journal. The paper adds that the ordeal "starkly revealed the dominance of factions allied to Tehran within the Iraqi government, drawing it more closely into Irans orbit." More troops: On Tuesday, Trump ordered the deployment of about 750 soldiers from Fort Bragg to the Middle East, reports the AP. The soldiers are from the infantry division of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, and they are believed to be en route to Kuwait. A bigger deployment may follow. Defense chief Mark Esper said the deployment is in "response to recent events" in Iraq.
This post is part of CoinDesks 2019 Year in Review, a collection of 100 op-eds, interviews and takes on the state of blockchain and the world. Leah Callon-Butler is the director of Emfarsis, a consulting firm focused on the role of technology in advancing economic development in Asia.

There he was, belting out Fats Waller jazz vibes like it was nobodys business: Roger Wilkins, the former president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Wed just completed a practice run for the next days V20 Summit, and while the rest of us were exhausted and ravenous, sniffing out dinner options, Wilkins relished the opportunity to jump behind the keys of a lonely baby grand at the farthest end of the Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Osaka. Leaving my run-sheet behind, I sidled up to catch an impromptu performance from the man who once steered international standards in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Related: What Is a Cryptocurrency? We Need Clearer Definitions

I usually play Bach or Chopin, Wilkins said, wrapping up his medley.

The next morning, more than 100 of the worlds most formidable figures in crypto compliance assembled to unpack one of the most pivotal regulatory developments in the history of our fledgling industry. Held June 28-29, 2019, in parallel to the G20 Leaders Summit in Osaka, Japan, the V20 Summit was a chance for the industry to respond to a highly controversial new set of recommendations handed down by the FATF.

Some saw it as an opportunity to legitimize crypto and bring virtual assets into the mainstream financial system; others feared an assault against our communitys most fundamental values of privacy and decentralization. CoinDesks Marc Hochstein told me via Twitter DM he thought it might be a bigger story than Facebooks recently announced Libra. Another journalist suggested it might be cryptos Bretton Woods moment.

Recommendation 16 was the one causing all the ruckus. As per the FATFs new guidance, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) would be required to identify the sender and recipient on either side of a crypto transaction. Known as the Travel Rule due to the fact that data that must travel along with a traditional wire transfer, international banks and financial institutions had been forced to comply with these standards since the mid-1990s, giving law enforcement greater transparency and traceability to combat financial crime. And while the vast majority of major crypto exchanges already have Know Your Customer (KYC) policies in place for remitters, including beneficiaries opened up a Pandoras Box of complexity. In any case, the FATF delivered their directives in Osaka, giving G20 member countries a tight 12 months to implement the guidelines, with a review set for June 2020.

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Not-so-draconian

Related: Thanks to Better UX, This Year Dapps Will Go Mainstream

It would have been nice for these FATF recommendations to be more accommodating to the sector but time constraints effectively ruled that out, said Sian Jones, co-founder of xReg Consulting. The major nations of the world got together to set that timetable and the FATF policy group had very little time to develop something more tailored to virtual assets.

Jones, a self-described poacher-turned-gamekeeper-turned-poacher, has worked both sides of the regulatory fence and has watched the whole thing unfold over the past few years. She said the resulting guidelines were not as draconian as they might have been, were it not for the technical experts in that policy group  herself included  that were able to provide some balance.

During her technical overview on the implications of the FATF guidance, Jones congratulated VASPs at the V20 on being included in the global financial system. She said this might come with some benefits, such as making it easier for VASPs to get bank accounts, but it would also come with responsibilities. The critical piece now was to find the most appropriate strategies to help the industry develop and innovate in ways that still meet public-policy objectives to thwart money launderers and terrorists.

This is a rapidly evolving landscape where regulators and industry just have to catch up with the new reality, said Jones, who was also instrumental in enacting blockchain-friendly legislation in Gibraltar. Her presentation to the V20 opened with a warning slide:

Wake up! Smell the coffee!

The V20 was a great effort to bring the world of crypto together in one room with FATF on the sidelines of the G20, said Benedicte Nolens, advisor to Circle, who said that even though crypto-assets have presented a great challenge to traditional finance, they have also opened up opportunities that will continue to evolve in the years ahead.

We have to keep in mind that the goal of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulation is not to impose unnecessary process, but rather to demand process, so that the most nefarious activity in the world is starved for funding, Nolens said. Examples of this could be slavery and the drug trade as well as terrorist activity.

A month prior, Nolens was at the FATF Private Sector Consultative Forum in Vienna, invited to present on Recommendation 16. There, she reiterated the importance of a globally-coordinated and consistent approach to implementing the new regulations in G20 member countries, to avoid a situation where firms might try to sidestep the new rules via regulatory arbitrage or through moving jurisdiction, known as island hopping.

She also explained how there was currently no crypto equivalent to the International Bank Account Number (IBAN) system, which is what banks use to achieve compliance with the Travel Rule, so VASPs would be forced to come up with something new. Further, Nolens observed that coordination would be tricky given the still very nascent, albeit global nature, of the crypto industry.

Its true the cryptocurrency sector isnt very used to talking to regulators, and it can be very hard and very time consuming to build a constructive relationship between companies and their regulators, said FATF Senior Policy Analyst Tom Neylan, who showed up alongside Wilkins, ready for a grilling from top VASP execs from Circle, Coinbase, Coincheck, bitFlyer, Kraken, BitMEX, Huobi, OKCoin, Bitfinex, Bithumb, Crypto.com, BITPoint, Liquid and more. But its a critical step we have to go through if cryptocurrencies are going to become a real part of peoples daily lives.

At the V20, Neylan told attendees that regulation can be a good thing for industry; its not something we should fear.

The fear was that these new rules would force VASPs out of business, said Ronald M. Tucker, convener of the V20 and founder of the Australian crypto exchange Bit Trade. This risked driving the industry back underground and into dark markets, which, ironically, would make it even more difficult for law enforcers and regulators to do their job.

Tucker was quick to realize the true gravity of the FATF intervention, as he dealt with a similarly existential threat back in 2014, when Australia was grappling with the issue of double taxation. The rules meant consumers were taxed at the time of buying crypto, and again later, when they used it to purchase items subject to local goods and services tax.

Many exchanges thought that the new rules wouldnt apply to them.

To tackle the problem, the blockchain community needed clear direction and leadership, and at the time, there was no such vehicle. This moved Tucker to form the Australian Digital Currency Association (ADCA), with the goal of coordinating key stakeholders to develop a robust governance framework to organize all sectors. ADCA was to become a unified voice for the burgeoning industry, ensuring commercial operators were aligned, media were informed and government was educated.

Recently rebranded to Blockchain Australia, today the organization is recognized globally as a leader in regulatory engagement and best practice. And so, with the FATF rules pending implementation, and a lack of global coordination taking place, a sense of deja vu gave Tucker the impetus to elevate ADCAs proven formula to a global stage.

A community effort

It was just after CoinDesks Consensus 2019 in New York City when Tucker mobilized the core V20 organizing team  including myself, Anson Zeall of ACCESS Singapore, Philippe Le Saux of GMI Post, Nathan Smale of Emfarsis Consulting and the futurist Mark Pesce, well-known for his podcast, The Next Billion Seconds, who championed the role of Summit Chair.

We had less than seven weeks to pull the whole thing together and, at the beginning, our outreach efforts were met with some skepticism. For the VASPs that had actually heard about the FATF issue (most hadnt, so that required a considerable education effort on our part), many thought the new rules wouldnt apply to them. Or, they thought their time and money would be better spent lobbying against the FATF.

We spent a lot of time rallying the community to stop petitioning against the Travel Rule and start collaborating toward a compliance solution of the industrys own design, said Teana Baker-Taylor, executive director of Global Digital Finance (GDF), an industry membership body that sets out standards and best practices for blockchain and digital assets.

GDF members knew the FATFs hasty timeline and global coordination requirements posed a significant risk to the industry, especially given the additional operational and commercial costs of compliance. But it was also the perfect imperative to finally get the crypto compliance clique working together on a globally interoperable solution. As such, GDF was one of the first to lend its support to Blockchain Australia and ACCESS Singapore to help get the V20 off the ground.

As a community, we talk about mainstreaming and mass-scale adoption, but its often inside our own echo chamber, said Baker-Taylor, who was named Blockchain Leader of the Year at the 2019 Women in Tech Awards. If we want the future to reflect our ideals, weve got to take some responsibility and step up to educate policymakers, as opposed to resisting them.

When a trio of policymakers pledged their support to the V20  namely ex-FATF President Wilkins, Japanese Congressman Naokazu Takemoto and Taiwanese Congressman Jason Hsu  we observed a ripple effect throughout the industry, with huge momentum building among the VASPs. Behind the scenes, we were working like mad to rejig the agenda for Day 2 to accommodate Hsus schedule. Hellbent on speaking at the V20, hed have to fly straight to Osaka from Washington, D.C., where hed been participating in the U.S. Department of States International Visitor Leadership Program and other key think-tanks discussing major industry developments, such as Libra.

I felt I needed to be there to support industry and act as a bridge between them and the policymakers and regulators, said Hsu, who was nicknamed The Crypto Congressman by Vitalik Buterin in 2018. Coming from a background in entrepreneurship, Hsu is a rare breed of politician, uninhibited by the usual glacier-pace of government innovation.

If we want to go long on this industry, we need to regulate, but the current government are still scratching their heads on how best to do it, said Hsu. He believes FATF will ultimately shed a positive light on the crypto industry, which still struggles to shake its associations with the darknet.

In the absence of clear guidance, Hsu said its critical for industry players to lay down the guardrails.

This industry is prone to security infringement and the crypto operators have to look that truth square in the eyes, said Hsu, with a nod to the hacks, data leaks and other security hazards making headlines every other day. If we set the bar high and pave the way for the industry to be formalised, we will see less and less misunderstandings about the true qualities of crypto from the public as well as governments. The VASPs must bring their determination to the table to fix this.

The site for the V20 Summit was apt. After all, Japan is home to the two biggest crypto exchange hacks in history: Mt Gox and Coincheck. These hefty security breaches ultimately led to Japans proactive stance on VASP regulation, becoming the only nation in the world to grant legislative status to its self-regulatory body, the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA). The Financial Services Agency (FSA) was the regulatory body behind the establishment of JVCEA in October 2018. Both JVCEA and Japans Ministry of Finance were on the speaker lineup for the V20, together with representatives from public sectors including FSA and the Australian Government agency, AUSTRAC.

The impact of hacking tends to be bigger than that of ordinary crypto-related money laundering transactions in terms of amount, said Katsuya Toshihiko, who was the president of Coincheck when he attended the V20. The target of a major hack in January 2018, Coincheck had 500 million NEM tokens stolen by hackers, worth an eye-watering USD $530 million at the time. He says that painful experience is what triggered Coinchecks deep sense of social responsibility and seriousness about responding appropriately to the FATFs new guidance.

Yuzo Kano, representative director of the Japan Blockchain Association and co-founder of bitFlyer, an exchange, says it was Japans troubled history that motivated it to put its security protection and compliance standards under the microscope.

Today, Japan is two to three years ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to self-regulation, Kano said, demonstrating how painful circumstances can lead to innovation, provided we embrace the discomfort and look for growth opportunities. Kano spoke at the V20 about the contributions JBA has made, including its strong backing for the establishment of JVCEA as well as a Cryptoassets Governance Task Force aimed at developing safety standards for consumer protection.

Drawing insights from Japans story, V20 participants broke into groups to workshop a blueprint for the requirements of a technical solution that could satisfy the FATF (rather than prescribing any specific product, brand or service provider). A key outcome of these discussions was that the industry needed a governing body to represent its interests at an international level. As such, the International Digital Asset Exchange Association (IDAXA) was established as a vehicle to continue proactive engagement with the FATF.

Since the V20, more organizations have joined the initiative, and now, IDAXA represents the national blockchain associations of Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Switzerland and JBA and JVCEA from Japan.

Work to do

To arrive at something that satisfies the FATF Recommendations while still being workable for business, a sustained industry-led effort is necessary to ensure the blockchain communitys ethos of decentralization is upheld and consumer privacy is protected above all.

The V20 was an early catalyst but the work is far from done. Most VASPs are still coming to grips with how to comply and how much its going to cost, especially all those smaller firms that are struggling to navigate a jumble of regulatory regimes and requirements with less staff and less resources. Meanwhile, a slew of exchanges have already delisted privacy coins such as monero and Zcash due to regulatory pressure.

Despite the near-term hurdles, its widely believed that the crypto sectors strong tech focus can actually help achieve FATFs goals to stymie financial fugitives. Further, industry frontrunners in the race to compliance believe that FATF compliance and data privacy neednt be mutually exclusive.

In any case, with the big review due in June 2020, there is a very real need to demonstrate progress and a number of groups around the world are working tirelessly to ensure we have the necessary languages, protocols and products to make sense of this new chapter. So by the time the V20 convenes again, at the G20 Leaders Summit in Riyadh, November 2020, we could be another step closer to seeing crypto go mainstream.

Related Stories
Aurangabad (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): BJP lawmaker Satyapal Singh on Wednesday said that the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests across the country by different political parties and outfits are "politically motivated" and asserted that the law was not for any Indian citizen.



"Anti-CAA protest across the country by different political parties and outfits are totally politically motivated. The Act was not for any Indian citizen," Singh said in a press conference here.



The former chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of CAA also said that the CAA has been introduced during the Congress regime and the opposition is now using it as a "tool for vote bank".



Emphasising on the Act, Singh said, "The present act is for those refugees who have been staying here at least for six years. They will get citizenship."

"Those refugees including Buddhist, Sikh, Jain and Parsi were targeted in the name of religion in Islamic countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, will get citizenship as per the new Act. At present, their number is 31,313 in the country," he added.

Asked that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will not implement CAA in the state, Singh said, "As per the Indian Constitution's 7th schedule, if the Union Government has passed an amendment in the Parliament, no state government has the power to not implement the Act."

He further said that oppressive conditions on refugees like fees of Rs 15,000 for applying citizenship were relaxed by the BJP government considering their financial condition. (ANI)


The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, says no positive change will come from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in 2020.

According to the opposition coalition, except the president stops what it called continuous mismanagement of the economy and divisive tendencies.

CUPP said this in its New Year message, through its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Read full statement below

The Coalition of United Political Parties,CUPP joins Nigerians in welcoming the New Year 2020. It is heartwarming that we all made it into the new year despite all the odds associated with 2019, especially in our dear nation, Nigeria.

The CUPP regrets to remind Nigerians that what lies ahead of the country in 2020 is a cloud of uncertainty due to the continuous mismanagement of the economy and the deliberate assault on the nations unity by the administration of the All Progressives Congress-led by Muhammadu Buhari.

It is almost certain that 2020 may be more disastrous for the country except the present administration ends its divisive tendencies and improve on its competence.

The CUPP holds the view that the option to make 2020 prosperous for us all and make Nigeria a better place lies on the hands of every Nigerian citizen.

The sure way of achieving this is to resolve to stand up against the excesses of this administration in 2020. We should be ready to hold this government accountable and force it to do all those things that are good and right for the benefit of this generation and the coming generation.

We must wake this government up from its slumber to its responsibilities of ending unnecessary shedding of blood across the country, poverty, kidnapping and armed robberies among other numerous challenges facing our dear country.

Despite all the bad things staring us in the face however, we urge our compatriots to keep hope alive and resolve to stand for the progress and unity of this country.

May the new year bring with it good tidings for the country. Prayer alone cannot, however, achieve this. It will take concerted efforts from all of us.
President Trump, in his brief interaction with reporters, said that the situation in Iran has been handled very well. (Photo Credit: PTI)

Washington:

US President Donald Trump has said that war with Iran is not a good idea even as he threatened Tehran after Iraqi supporters of pro-Iranian regime factions attacked the American embassy in Baghdad, forcing its diplomats to stay inside for safety.

His statement came hours after hundreds of angry Iraqi Shiite militia supporters, including women, broke into the US embassy compound in high-security zone on Tuesday after smashing a main door near parking and setting fire to a reception area chanting "death to America" in anger over air strikes that killed at least 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah.

President Trump, in his brief interaction with reporters, said that the situation in Iran has been handled very well.

"We had some great warriors come in... this will not be a Benghazi... they got in there very quickly," he said in response to a question as he walked up to the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago for the New Year's eve party.

Asked about the possibility of a war with Iran, the US President said: "I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran... I like peace... I don't see that happening". Earlier, Trump threatened Iran after the attack on the American embassy which was one of the worst in recent years.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning; it is a Threat. Happy New Year!" he warned in a tweet.

"The US embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request...," trump said in another tweet.

Soon thereafter, the Pentagon announced deployment of additional troops in Iraq as part of its effort to secure its personnel in Baghdad.

"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorised the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the US Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq," US Defence Secretary Mark T Esper said.

Approximately 750 soldiers will be deployed to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days, he said.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world," Esper said.

On Tuesday, Trump spoke to Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi of Iraq.

"The two leaders discussed regional security issues and President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the White House said in a statement.

According to State Department spokesperson, their first priority is the safety and security of US personnel.

"US personnel are secure and there has been no breach. There are no plans to evacuate Embassy Baghdad," said the official.

US Ambassador to Iraq Matt Tueller has been on previously scheduled personal travel for over a week and reports that he has been evacuated are false.

"He is returning to the Embassy," the State Department spokesperson said.

The Iranian-backed demonstrations in front of the US embassy should not be confused with the Iraqi protestors who have been in the streets since October to decry the corruption exported to Iraq by the Iranian regime, the official said.

"We have made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq. We are closely monitoring the situation in Iraq and call on the Government of Iraq to protect our diplomatic facilities as per their obligations," said the spokesperson.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is continuously monitoring the situation.

"The embassy is being monitored. It's safe. The actions that we took today were prudent. Under President Trump's direction, our team worked together today to quickly, decisively, prudently take the appropriate responses to keep our American people safe," he told CBS.

Responding to questions, Pompeo said that the US never contemplated evacuating the facility.

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Reliance Industries Ltd. started testing its online shopping portal, moving a step closer to billionaire Mukesh Ambanis goal of setting up a digital platform to take on e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. in India.

JioMart, open to select customers who pre-register, promises more than 50,000 grocery products, free home delivery and a return policy that asks no questions. Labeled the nations new store, it is currently available in only three neighborhoods surrounding Mumbai, according to the website.

The pilot site provides an early glimpse of how the energy-and-petrochemicals conglomerate controlled by Asias richest man is stepping up consumer offerings in a pivot toward newer businesses. With the unveiling of the portal, Reliance Industries will join the battle with Amazon.com and Walmart Inc.s Flipkart Online Services Pvt. for a slice of an e-commerce market that KPMG says is set to grow to $200 billion by 2027.

Ambani, 62, is giving shape to his online retail ambitions by spending billions of dollars on a string of small acquisitions. The newer businesses, including telecommunications and retail, are likely to contribute 50% of Reliance Industries earnings in a few years, from about 32% now, Ambani said in August.

A spokesman for Mumbai-based Reliance Industries declined to provide further details on the retail project.

Previous Project

Ambanis previous project, which needed almost $50 billion of capital expenditure, is already showing signs of success.

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., the groups wireless carrier started in 2016, is Indias No. 1 operator today and has more than 350 million users. The company entered the worlds second-largest market by subscribers with free calls and cheap data, forcing some incumbents to exit or merge with rivals.

Ambani is seeking to replicate that success in online retail as well. Terming it new commerce, the tycoon said in August that his goal is to completely transform Indias unorganized retail market -- mostly mom-and-pop stores -- which accounts for 90% of the nations industry.

This tech-enabled partnership will link producers, traders, small merchants, consumer brands and consumers, Ambani told shareholders in August. After beta trials with thousands of merchants across the country showed promise, we are now getting ready to roll out the platform at a larger scale, he said.

Reliance Industries has unveiled a sweeping plan to create a $24 billion digital-services holding firm, and also vowed listings of the new businesses within five years.

Betting the plan would unlock value, investors have piled on Reliance Industries shares, sending the stock soaring 36% this year against the 15% advance in the benchmark index. The gains helped Ambani add more than $15 billion to his wealth -- the most in Asia -- and taking his net worth to almost $60 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Smoke from the Australian bushfires has turned the skies red as thousands of people were left trapped after fleeing to beaches for safety.

About 4,000 people in Victoria were forced to take shelter on the beach in the holiday town of Mallacoota on Monday as the fires continued to rage out of control.

Another 4,000 displaced people were said to be sheltering in community centres in the town.

Bushfire situation terrifying, say residents

Helicopters are reportedly being brought in to evacuate people from coastal areas  with many already taking to boats to escape the inferno.

A father and son died on Tuesday defending their home in Cobargo, New South Wales (NSW), and five others are currently missing.

Locals have described the situation as terrifying.

The fires are part of several burning across Victoria state's East Gippsland region. (Reuters)

Thousands of tourists and residents in an Australian seaside town sought refuge in boats (Reuters)

The afternoon sky glows orange from bushfires in the area around the town of Nowra in New South Wales (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Authorities in Victoria told those on the beach to retreat to the water if the fire situation worsened.

Similar advice was given to people in several NSW coastal towns, where fearful residents and holidaymakers had also abandoned their dwellings to move onto beaches.

In Mallacoota, four people were missing in the area, where more than half a million acres of forest have been burnt out and where the intense heat and smoke from fires has been creating localised storm systems.

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Mallacoota is currently under attack, Victorias state emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp said.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

It is pitch-black, it is quite scary the community right now is under threat but we will hold our line and they will be saved and protected.

"It should have been daylight but it was black like midnight and we could hear the fire roaring," David Jeffrey, a business owner, said. "We were all terrified for our lives."

"There's a rock wall that they've built to keep back the sea, and that was where we were going to jump into the water if the radiant heat had hit," he added.

EMERGENCY WARNING: Arizona Rd, Charmhaven (Central Coast).



Crews continue to protect homes around Charmhaven and slow the spread of fire. This photo taken a short time ago from firefighters on the ground. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/dkIj25S8yf  NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 31, 2019

Emergency services officials said it was possible towns in the Gippsland area could be evacuated by sea as the fires, fanned by strong winds, continued.

Another person was unaccounted for in the NSW town of Belowra.

The death toll from more than three months of wildfires in multiple states now stands at 12.

Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated (Getty)

A fire truck patrols the streets of Bombala looking for people to evacuate (Getty)

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes, with more than 1,000 dwellings razed.

The premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, on Tuesday said requests had been made for 70 firefighters from the US and Canada to be flown in to help local crews.

Thousands displaced from homes amid Australia bushfires

Prime minister Scott Morrison posted a video address expressing sympathy over the death on Monday of volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28.

He died when what was described as a fire tornado flipped his truck off the ground while he attended a blaze near Albury, southern NSW.

As 2019 draws to a close, the devastating impact of these terrible bushfires continues, Mr Morrison said.
On Wednesday, cries of kagaz nahin dikhayenge (we wont show papers), Tanasahi nahin chalegi (we wont allow dictatorship) rang out at the iconic India Gate in Delhi as protesters took a pledge to defend the constitution and continue to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modis new citizenship law. Thousands of Indians brought in the New Year on Tuesday night with protests all over the country. Social media buzzed with protest notes and invitations to demonstrations at midnight. One note from the women of the Shaheen Bagh neighborhood in South Delhi  who have been holding a nonstop 17-day protest  invited people to join them for biryani, tea and protest songs and slogans to bring in the new year and salute the fallen heroes in the struggle against this fascist regime, in Kashmir, in Assam, in Uttar Pradesh, in Karnataka, hit by police brutality in all corners of the country and to mark the first nationwide revolution for a new secular India.

Anti-government protests had been brewing across India since almost 2 million people were stripped of their citizenship in the northeastern state of Assam earlier this year as part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise that makes it mandatory for all Indians to provide certain documents to prove citizenship.

That was followed by the Modi governments move to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passing a bill on Dec. 11 that offers a fast track to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh  specifically Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who arrived in India before 2014. Protesters say that by granting citizenship to these communities but discriminating against Muslims, Modis Hindu nationalist government is undermining Indias secular constitution.

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In response, tens of thousands of Indians have taken to the streets of Indian cities, in what marks the first serious opposition to the Modi administration since he took office in 2014. The protests grew after Dec. 15, when Delhi Police stormed into one of Indias oldest Muslim-majority universities  Jamia Millia Islamia  to curb student protests. A few hours later, police in Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state, cracked down on the Aligarh Muslim University, another Muslim majority university. After images of the crackdown on students at Jamia and Aligarh University started surfacing, the protests exploded. More than 1,100 people have been arrested so far and over 5,558 kept in preventive detention.

Together with the NRC, critics say the citizenship law is part of a broader plan by Modis party to expel Muslims. We had to be here, a young female student told TIME at an emergency protest in central Delhi on Dec 15. As police officers pushed against them with their riot gear, she stood holding hands with her peers in a human chain. We are here in solidarity with the students and with everyone else in this country. We cannot be silent anymore.

While much of India has been roiled by protests in the last three weeks, the violence has been particularly bad in Uttar Pradesh, where an estimated 19 people have died. The northern state is home to more than 200 million people, 19% of whom are Muslims. In cities across the state  from Lucknow to Meerut to Kanpur to Bijnor to Varanasi  there has been a constant stream of videos and reports of illegal detention, arrests on false charges, open firing on peaceful protesters, arson and looting by the police.

The state is ruled by Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Appointed the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the 47-year-old  in his saffron robe, shaved head, and crimson mark on his forehead  unapologetically represents the interests of a Hindu state. In 2002, he founded a Hindu youth militia, headquartered in his constituency. The group, which describes itself as a fierce cultural and social organization dedicated to Hindutva and nationalism, was charged by the police for inciting riots, arson and murder in Mau in eastern Uttar Pradesh in 2005.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state Yogi Adityanath celebrates the party's victory in Lucknow, India, on May 23, 2019. | Rajesh Kumar SinghAP

The Mau riots were, according to an independent fact finding team at that time, the culmination of efforts by Adityanath over the last one-decade to organize Hindus against Muslims and polarize the state. I am sending out a strong message, Adityanath said in a speech given at an undisclosed location, recorded in Saffron War, a 2011 documentary by three Lucknow-based activists. If one Hindu is killed, we will not use the administration to lodge an official complaint, we will rather use them to kill at least 100 such people who were responsible for killing him.

On Dec. 27, a tweet from the Twitter account of Adityanaths personal website and office said the Adityanath governments strict crackdown had stunned protesters. Every violent protester will cry now because there is a Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh.

Indeed, it was a chilling New Years eve on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh, with many protesters languishing in jail for taking part in a peaceful demonstration on Dec. 19 in Lucknow, UPs state capital, that soon erupted into violence. One of them was social activist and Congress party spokesperson Sadaf Jafar. A livestream by Jafar had showed the police standing by as rioters wreaked havoc at the protest site. In the video, Jafar repeatedly requests the police to intervene and stop the rioting. These are not protesters, they have come from outside, she tells the police.

There were women and children with us. We were peacefully protesting when suddenly miscreants took over and we were herded into shops and locked up while the police did nothing to stop the rioters, Naheed Varma, Sadaf Jafars older sister, who was also present at the protest, told TIME.

Of the 39 people arrested on Dec. 19, all remain in detention. Jafar has been denied bail twice, despite the evidence in her videos that she was documenting the violence rather than inciting it. Varma couldnt find her younger sister, for two days. When she was finally allowed to meet her, Jafar said a male officer had assaulted her. They kicked her in the stomach and hit her with a baton. She was bleeding internally, Varma told TIME. The UP police denied torture and said they have enough proof against her, Indian media reported.

Some hours after Jafars arrest, police also arrested Mohammed Shoaib, a 76-year-old human rights lawyer and founder of the Rihai Manch, a group that fights against police repression and illegal detention, and S.R. Darapuri, a Dalit rights activist. Both Darapuri and Shoaib had been put under house arrest on Dec. 18 and were arrested the next evening.

Jafar and 33 others were charged with 18 offences including attempt to murder, arson, criminal intimidation, intent to provoke breach of the peace, among others.

When theater actor and poet Deepak Kabir went to Hazratganj police station in Lucknow to find out about Jafar and others who had been arrested, he was assaulted by the police and then arrested himself. You are asking too many questions, the police told him when he went to the police station, Veena Rana, Kabirs wife told TIME. When I met him he looked battered. She said her husband said he had been tortured.

Of the 39 people arrested in the Lucknow violence, 36 were Muslims, including prominent activists and dissident voices, although hundreds of Hindus also turned up for the protests, according to an open letter written by activist and Magsaysay winner Sandeep Pandey to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Incidents outside Lucknow have been equally troubling. In Muzaffarnagar, a 72-year-old timber trader had told the Kolkata-based Telegraph newspaper that policemen had vandalized his home, assaulted him with a rifle butt, looted jewelry and money and told him that Muslims had only two options; Pakistan or Kabristan (Pakistan or the graveyard).

An independent fact-finding team earlier this week confirmed these reports. The report had said Adityanaths government was using unlawful and lethal tactics against protesters, especially Muslims and civil society activists not just to suppress dissent against the new law but to send a signal to anyone who may dare to raise a voice against anything.

Its not the first time Adityanaths administration has been accused of violence since he took office. In 2018, Human Rights Watch and the U.N., too, expressed concern over custodial violence and extrajudicial killings by the UP police. HRW said in a report that after the BJP formed the government in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, 63 people died in alleged extrajudicial killings by state police between March 2017 and August 2018. In January 2019, United Nations human rights experts sent detailed information to the Indian Government on 15 of the cases, 13 of whom were Muslims.

A sense of fear has pervaded the atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh. On Dec. 23, at the Civil Court in Lucknow, a group of parents were trying to blend in with the lawyers in their black and white clothes. Their children had been picked up by the police on Dec 19. The crowd included the father of a young mechanic, who was passing the protest site to deliver a scooter to a client. A day earlier, the parents were allegedly attacked on the court premises by right-wing lawyers, who rained kicks and punches on them, screaming, These are the parents of anti-nationals. They are anti-nationals too. Beat them up.

How is it possible in any country for lawyers to resort to violence against parents of minors who had come to the court to secure their release? A Lucknow-based human rights lawyer, who was in court on the day, told TIME. But in Uttar Pradesh today, such violence seems to have become the new normal.
Angelina Jolie is spending New Year's Eve in a very special place.

People reports the actress and four of her children  Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 13, and 11-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne  are celebrating the holiday in Ethiopia, where Zahara was born. During the trip, Jolie brought Shiloh and Zahara to meet with Sahle-Work Zewde, the president of Ethiopia and the first woman to hold the office.

According to People, they spent the meeting discussing education, sanitary pad solutions to help girls continue their schooling, and Ethiopian culture and history.

Office of the President, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

At just 14, Zahara is already following in her mother's footsteps of philanthropy and giving back  in October, she launched her own jewelry collection, the proceeds of which went to the House of Ruth Shelters, an organization that provides transitional housing and support for women and children dealing with domestic violence.

Earlier this month, E! News reported that the Jolie-Pitt children would also be spending part of the holidays with dad Brad Pitt in Los Angeles, though the outlet's source said it was unclear if all six children would be going.

RELATED: Angelina Jolie Wrote a Heartbreaking Letter About Her Mother's Breast Cancer Battle

"He will see them for his birthday and for Christmas Eve," the source said at the time. "The kids will come over to Brad's house and spend the day with him. They have some traditions where they eat and exchange gifts. They play music and just hang out. Brad always wants to make it special for them and loves to see the excitement in their eyes."
Nervous about the new year? You're not alone. Around the world, there are countless new-year's traditions centered on one shared hope: Make it a good year - please. Humanity's tried-and-true superstitions come in all different forms, from house cleanings to warding off bad spirits, to eating certain foods or jumping around in a specific way because . . . well, it could work.

Here's a look at some beloved new year's traditions worldwide. For optimal results, it's best to pair these customs with reading the news on what's happening in the countries and communities they come from, per (very real) Washington Post New Year's lore.

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Eat 12 grapes at midnight

This tasty tradition originated in Spain and is now practiced across Central and South America, from Mexico to Cuba. Each grape represents good luck for one month of the year. But luck doesn't come easily: Each grape must be eaten with each stroke of the midnight clock - i.e. 12 grapes in 12 seconds - in the first challenge of the year.

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Pick underwear wisely

In Central and South American countries, such as Brazil and Ecuador, underwear color can say a lot about what kind of year it could be: Yellow ones signify that good luck is coming, red ones love, green ones money and well-being, and white ones peace. For some of us, it probably can't hurt to just wear all four.

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Eat lentils

Lentils are a new year's super food. Italians often pair their lucky lentils with sausage or other pork dishes to signify a bountiful future. Brazilians and Chileans dine on lentils in the hope that the coin-shaped legume will bring good fortune. In Colombia, people fill their pockets with them on New Year's Eve.

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Run around with an empty suitcase

Hoping to travel this year? Then embrace this Colombian and Ecuadoran tradition of taking a lap around the neighborhood with an empty suitcase to will it to happen.

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Smash plates against the wall

Taking a cue from Denmark, save chipped plates and then smash them against the wall on New Year's Eve. Luck-inducing or not, that sounds very cathartic.

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Bang bread against the wall

Another interpretation: In Ireland, people bang bread against the wall to ward off evil spirits, and to ensure there's plenty of it for the coming year.

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Blow up an effigy of last year's bad things

Grab an Ano Viejo (Old Year) doll, attach fireworks or light a match at midnight, and watch all the bad parts of the past year burn away. It's a tradition found across Central and South America, including in Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. These effigies are traditionally dressed in old clothes and made to represent a politician or another displeasing figure.

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Eat special soba noodles

In Japan, toshikoshi (year-crossing) soba noodle soup is traditionally cooked up on New Year's Eve. These prized noodles are long and thin and can be easily cut, symbolizing a clean break with the past year, as well as a lengthy and prosperous life.

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Eat bread or cake with a coin in it

There are many ways to go with this one. There's vasilopita, a sweet bread made in Greece in honor of St. Basil, or banitsa, a Bulgarian egg and cheese phyllo dough pastry. The only trick is to look out for the slice that comes with the lucky coin baked in.

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Eat anything round or coin-shaped

In Denmark and Norway, people dine on Kransekage or Kransekake, meaning wreath or doughnut cake, which is a marzipan-based tower cake built from stacked concentric rings and decorated with icing. In the Netherlands, oliebollen, or fried doughnuts, are another new year's crowd favorite. The pomegranate, with its round shape and seemingly endless seeds of possibility, features in many communities' customs, including in Armenia, Brazil and the Jewish new year. The Swiss drop a dollop of whipped cream onto the floor. In the Philippines, people eat 12 round fruits, one for each hopefully prosperous month of the year to come.

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Be the first one to cross the threshold

As part of Scottish Hogmanay, or New Year's celebrations, it's good luck to be the first person to cross the threshold into a friend or family member's home once midnight has struck. More fortune, according to tradition, is afforded to those who come bearing a gift.

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Melt tin to see the future

In Finland, Germany and Austria, people melt tin, pour it into cold water and seek meaning in the shapes that form.

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Stand on chairs and leap into the future

After smashing all the plates, some Danes stand on chairs and jump off as the new year hits.

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Make noise

Scare away bad spirits or unleash a year's worth of frustrations by making noise. In Japan, there's Joya no kane, a Buddhist ritual of ringing temple bells 108 times on New Year's Eve. Other communities around the world light fireworks and bang pots and pans together.

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Wear polka dots

If you've already eaten all the round and coin-shaped foods you can find, try wearing polka dots for good luck, as people do in the Philippines.

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Try again next time

Dec. 31 may be important for the Gregorian calendar, but the world has many other calendars and new years to celebrate. There's the Chinese, Jewish, Persian and Muslim new years, among others, for which communities have perfected the art of both celebrating the possibilities of life and being made to feel guilty for being alive.

So, happy new year, all year long.
One of the unintended, yet significant, consequences of the postponement of the Narendra Modi-Shinzo Abe summit in Guwahati this month because of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in Assam was the nixing of an announcement of 5G test-bed trials with special strategic partner Japan.

The summit was scheduled between December 14 and 17 but was called off at Tokyos request.

While the telecom ministry has opened the 5G trials to all global entities, the Guwahati summit was to showcase the 5G technology with both Prime Ministers using special visual glasses to scan the mighty Brahmaputra river, according to top officials.

The groundwork for the test-bed trials with Japanese collaboration was laid during a visit by Prof K Vijay Raghavan, principal scientific advisor to the government ,and Indias cybersecurity chief Lt Gen (Retd) Rajesh Pant, along with a senior ministry of external affairs official, to Tokyo in September.

Japan will showcase its 5G technology during the July-August 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Although the telecom ministry has looked at the 5G technology purely from a commercial viewpoint by inviting all players, including Chinese giant Huawei,national security planners understand the leverage and long-term impact of this future technology.

First of all we must ensure very strict integrity pact with Indias global 5G partner with provision of heavy penalties being levied on the main supplier even if its ancillary units open the back door. Secondly, India must use 5G technology to diplomatically and commercially leverage a deal with the supplier country. We should be able to answer the question on what is in it for India, said a senior official. India has already noted that western countries led by US have barred Huawei because of doubts over long-term data integrity.

With Prime Minister Modi being seized of the matter, it is quite evident that the very-soon-to be established Core Information and Communication Technology (Core-ICT) commission will be at the heart of the 5G decision. The new Commission will take India towards the path of 5% share of the global market with a revenue potential of 700,000 crore in the next 10 years.

There are strong indications within the government that former Telcom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan, a 1982 batch Indian Administrative Service officer, is the front runner to head the commission, which was proposed by the policy think tank Niti Aayog exactly a year ago.

The commission, with full executive and financial powers with a budget of over ~100 crore, will have 15 part-time members including the principal secretary to PM and the cabinet secretary.

Even though the Scandinavian countries have also been at the forefront of the 5G technology, it is evident that national interest will prevail over commercial interest in Indias case.

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The people of Cann River are low on food, water and fuel and also feel their little East Gippsland town is a low priority.

There was some good news for the town on Wednesday when the CFA downgraded the two out-of-control fires in the area from emergency status to "watch and act".

But that hasn't reduced concern among locals, many of whom spent the past two nights seeking refuge in the local school and who are feeling the pinch as their town is running low on supplies because the Princes Highway remains closed.

With Cann River  in between Orbost and Mallacoota and with a population of about 200  isolated, some residents on Wednesday said they felt forgotten.
Every year Bollywood treats us with a wide variety of movies which cater to completely different audiences. As we welcome 2020, the month of January looks as exciting as ever for Bollywood movie buffs. From something as serious as the life story of acid attack survivor Laxmi Aggarwal to a light-hearted Jawaani Jaaneman, here are the nine movies we are looking forward to in January 2020.

Sab Kushal Mangal (January 3)

Filmmakers are expected to say 'Sab Kushal Mangal Hai' when you have an actor like Akshaye Khanna on board. The movie is a love story about a young woman, a TV anchor, and a local big shot. Akshaye said in a statement, "I really liked the story and the character. Also, the fact that the comedy is never forced, it is situational. The movie also stars Priyaank Sharma, the son of actor Padmini Kolhapure, and Riva Kishan, daughter of Bhojpuri star Ravi Kishan in lead roles.

Bhangra Paa Le (January 3)

If you are a Vicky Kaushal fan, you would surely like his brother Sunny Kaushal on the big screen as it seems like the acting runs in their blood. The viewers have loved the trailer and want to see more of him on the big screens. Directed by debutant Sneha Taurani, the movie talks about Bhangra as an art form. Just like Street Dancer 3D, we would see the leads showing off their dance moves and can be seen at loggerheads in the trailer.

Shimla Mirchi (January 3)

Shimla Mirchi, a film starring Rajkummar Rao, Rakul Preet Singh, and Hema Malini, will showcase how a single mother (Hema Malini) and her daughter (Rakul Preet Singh) fall in love with the same man (Rajkummar Rao). It's surely an unusual love story and will be interesting to see it on the big screen.

Chhapaak (January 10)

Easily one of the most-anticipated Deepika Padukone movies, the actor would be portraying the role of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal in Chhapaak. The trailer has already left us speechless, thanks to Deepika's excellent acting. While talking about the preparations that went into making Malti look real on the screen, Deepika had earlier said, I'd say it's the toughest movie I have ever done. Not because of the role, but because of the prosthetics. I am an extremely patient person, but I had to dig deep to go through that every single day for 42 days. We are surely looking forward to watching this one on the big screens.

Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (January 10)

Ajay Devgn's 100th film promises to be a grand affair. The film will feature Ajay as Maratha warrior Tanhaji Malusare who fought the Battle of Sinhagad (1670) against Udaybhan Singh Rathod. Rathod's role will be essayed by Saif Ali Khan. Audiences will also get to watch Kajol as Ajay's on-screen wife, Savitribai Malusare, in Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.

Jai Mummy Di (January 17)

Sunny Singh and Sonnalli Seygall's Jai Mummy Di has already made the right noise as viewers have appreciated the trailer. The trailer shows the mad journey of two lovers struggling to keep their affair secret from their obsessive mothers. Jai Mummy Di has been written and directed by Navjot Gulati. Jai Mummy Di is slated to releases on 17 January 2020. Sunny and Sonnalli previously starred together in Luv Ranjan-directed Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2.

Street Dancer 3D (January 24)

Varun Dhawan, Prabhu Deva and Shraddha Kapoor are set to burn the dance floor with their upcoming movie Street Dancer 3D. Set in London, the movie shows Varun playing a dancer of Indian origin and Shraddha hails from Pakistan and the two are ready to pin each other down on the dance battlefield. In an interview, director Remo D'Souza said, The story of Street Dancer is close to my heart. The way Varun, Shraddha and I are bringing the story alive on the screen, the audience will become a fan of the film. It is an inspirational story and a family entertainer.

Panga (January 24)

After playing an edgy role in her last film Judgementall Hai Kya, Kangana Ranaut is back on the big screen to entertain her fans with another venture, Panga. In the movie, she will be seen playing the role of a kabbadi player who is also a mother. The movie also stars Jassie Gill in the lead role. The trailer has already impressed people and they are looking forward to watching the movie.

Jawaani Jaaneman (January 31)

It will be a treat to see Saif Ali Khan and Tabu reunite on the big screens for Jawaani Jaaneman. The two had earlier acted in films like Hum Saath Saath Hain and Biwi No. 1 before this collaboration. In an earlier interview with Mumbai Mirror, Tabu opened up about working with Saif in R Balki's film. She said, "This is a different film and it's amazing to work with Saif after so many years. We did Biwi No. 1, but we didn't have any scenes together. Saif has a great sense of humour and I was looking forward to doing this kind of film with him," she said. The posters have been quite quirky and fans are excited to know what the movie has to offer.

Which one are you most excited to watch this January? Let us know in the comments section below.
Officials block the Princes Highway as wildfires approach in South Coast, New South Wales (Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel 9, Channel 7/AP)

Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by devastating wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Navy ships and military aircraft were taking water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads had been cut off by the fires.

Authorities confirmed three bodies were found at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales on Wednesday, taking the death toll in the state to 15.

More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region.

On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames.

Stranded residents and holidaymakers slept in their cars, and petrol stations and surf clubs were transformed into evacuation areas.

Dozens of homes were burned before winds changed direction late on Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town.

Expand Close People in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames (@AvaTheHuman/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp People in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames (@AvaTheHuman/AP)

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission which would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

Conditions cooled on Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing.

We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state, Mr Crisp said.

In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 89 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesdays fires.

At 3am on 1 January 2020, there are 112 fires burning across NSW. Several large & dangerous fires continue burning on the South Coast where 2 fires remain at emergency warning. A further 6 fires are at Watch and Act. Over 2500 firefighters continue working on these fires. #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/5wgY6UnjOD  NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 31, 2019

More than 100 fires were still burning in the state on Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level.

Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car, and a father and son who died in their house.

Firefighting crews took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning, before conditions were expected to deteriorate on Saturday as high temperatures and strong winds return.

There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday, said New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers.

Expand Close The Royal Australian Navys HMAS Choules departs Sydney on Wednesday to help relief efforts in areas affected by the wildfires (Australian Defence Force/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Royal Australian Navys HMAS Choules departs Sydney on Wednesday to help relief efforts in areas affected by the wildfires (Australian Defence Force/AP)

The early and devastating start to Australias summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change.

Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Mr Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australias lucrative coal industry.

Mr Morrison won a surprise third term in May and among his governments pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030  a modest figure compared with the centre-left opposition Labour Partys pledge of 45%.

The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nations highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

If he (Mr Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns, Mr Di Natale said.

Expand Close A water-bombing helicopter tackles the fires in eastern Victoria (State Government of Victoria/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp A water-bombing helicopter tackles the fires in eastern Victoria (State Government of Victoria/AP)

About five million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with at least 17 people dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Year fireworks celebrations, but Sydneys popular display over its famous harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revellers.

The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant that, on Wednesday, Canberra, the nations capital, had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world.

The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 1 held telephonic conversations with top leaders of Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, conveying New Year greetings and emphasising India's commitment to regional peace and security as well as 'neighbourhood first' policy. Modi spoke to King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Nepalese Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

The prime minister also spoke to his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

"The prime minister conveyed to the leaders his New Year greetings and good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf," the PMO said in a release.

It said Modi emphasised India's commitment to 'neighbourhood first' policy and the vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of India's friends and partners in the region.

In his conversation with Hasina, Modi congratulated her on being re-elected as the president of the Awami League for the next three years.

The prime minister also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali.

"He also stated that the upcoming birth centenary of Bangbandhu and 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government," the PMO said.

In his conversation with the Bhutanese King, Modi highlighted important achievements of the last year which have led to further consolidation of special ties between India and Bhutan.

The prime minister also mentioned that he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit of the King to India.

In his talks with Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Modi expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka would further enhance their friendly ties in the year 2020.

Speaking to Prime Minister Oli, Modi expressed satisfaction over the progress in India-Nepal relations in 2019 with the completion of several projects.

"He specifically noted the completion of Motihari (India)- Amlekhgunj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline in a record time," the PMO said.

"Both the leaders also agreed to an early inauguration of the Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar and the housing reconstruction project in Nepal through video conference," it said.

In his conversation with the prime minister of Sri Lanka, Modi reiterated India's commitment to further expand the close and extensive cooperation with the island nation.

Modi also wished the President of the Maldives Solih.

"President Solih warmly reciprocated prime minister's wishes and expressed his keen desire to further deepen and strengthen the ties with India by enhancing the existing bilateral cooperation and exploring newer areas for working together," the release said.
Shares of CSB Bank (formerly known as Catholic Syrian Bank) were trading lower for the seventh straight day, down 3 per cent at Rs 210, on the BSE on Wednesday. The Kerala-based bank was trading at its lowest level since its listing on December 4, 2019.

CSB Bank had made a strong debut at the bourses, soaring 54 per cent over its issue price of Rs 195 at Rs 300. The stock has erased almost all its listing gain, and is now trading 8 per cent higher against the issue price. In the past seven trading days, the stock has slipped 13 per cent, as compared to a per cent decline in ...
Operators began shutting down the Philippsburg nuclear power plant in southern Germany on Tuesday, as the country puts into motion its plan to begin decommissioning all 17 of its atomic energy facilities by the end of 2022.

After 35 years on the grid, Block 2 of the Philippsburg station was fully turned off. Neckarwestheim 2, the other remaining nuclear plant in the southwestern state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is not set to be turned off until the end of the nuclear phase-out plan.

Philippsburg had previously supplied 6% of Baden-Wurttemberg's energy. However, nuclear power has long been unpopular in the region, which has a Green party leader in State Premier Winfried Kretschmann.

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The 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan led to widespread anti-atomic-power protests across Germany.

Two months after the accident, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that all plants would be closed over the next decade, making Germany the second country after Italy to shut down all of its atomic energy stations.

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The German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) welcomed the news. A BUND spokesman said the group hoped to see the end of nuclear power being "conjured up again and again as a supposed healing charm and climate savior."

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However, Wolfram Konig, who heads the German government's office for the nuclear phase-out, warned that the country still faced the great "challenge" of trying to phase out both coal and atomic energy at the same time.
The city of Moscow is known for a variety of reasons. The capital city of Russia each year has tons of people coming in to see its majestic beauty. Moscow is also famous for plenty of kid-friendly destinations that shall not only be fun to see but you can also click some great pictures there. Listed below are some of the best things to do with kids in Moscow:

Family Vacation Moscow: Best Things to Do with kids in Moscow

1) Visit the Red Square & St.Basils Cathedral

This is the oldest church and it looks very different. The onion-shaped colourful domes are a sight to see. One can visit the exciting GUM department store with kids to buy some goodies. The place is famous for the glass roof built by the famous Shukhov. One can even head to the fountain and try the various food dishes there. One must try some tea with mini cakes or try the famous milk ice cream in a waffle. One can even head to the Stolovaya 57 with kids and enjoy a ride on the merry-go-round.

READ: Here Are A Few Places You Can Go To For A Day Trip From Moscow

2) Visit the famous Parks

When it comes to kids, parks are one of the best places to head to. Moscow has more than 100 parks and has plenty of different activities in each of them. One can go to the Gorky Park or the Vorobyovy Gory Nature Preserve. Once you reach there, you can rent bicycles, paddle boats, etc. Visit the Park Zaryadye for some eye-catching interactive exhibits. These are among the best things to do with kids in Moscow.

READ: Russia 's Richest Man Mikhelson Unveils New Moscow Arts Center

3) Theatre for kids

Moscow has some exciting theatres for children. One can visit the Moscow Children's Musical Theatre to sing and dance, or the Obraztsov Puppet Museum for some puppet show learnings. One can even visit the animal theatres at the Kuklachev's cats or Durov's animals. If you're in the mood for some laughter, one can try the various circus shows at the Bolshoi Circus on Vernadskogo or the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Bulvar. These are among the best things to do with kids in Moscow.

READ: 2 Protesters Convicted Of Assault Charges From Moscow Rally
A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against a mortuary and crematorium for allegedly colluding with his in-laws to deny him half of his late wife's ashes after she died of cancer.

Dr. Alexander Sinclair claims he was only given two ounces of his wife Kyoko Yonezawa's ashes despite paying more than $7,000 to have her cremated after she died early last year.

His in-laws, Seiji Yonezawa and Yoriko Yonezawa, allegedly received the bulk of his wife's ashes.

Dr. Alexander Sinclair claims he was only given two ounces of his wife Kyoko Yonezawa's ashes despite paying more than $7,000 to have her cremated after she died early last year

The lawsuit claims Kubota Mortuary and Evergreen Cemetery breached the contract they had with Sinclair over the disbursement of his wife's ashes.

Sinclair, who has been a plastic surgeon for 35 years, claims his in-laws agreed to reimburse him for the cost of the services and cremation but they never paid him

He said he had a written agreement with the mortuary to receive half of the ashes, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Gene Shioda, an attorney representing Kubota Mortuary, said the situation 'took place when a different person was in charge of the mortuary'.

'The mortuary will be thoroughly investigating,' he said. 'At this time, the mortuary will deny the allegations.'

A representative for Evergreen Cemetery said the business had not received any notification about a lawsuit and could not comment.

Sinclair filed a separate lawsuit in August against his wife's parents who live in Japan.

His wife was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer back in February 2017 and she died almost two years later.

He alleges in the lawsuit that her parent's refused to let him participate in making funeral arrangements.

The lawsuit claims Kubota Mortuary and Evergreen Cemetery breached the contract they had with Sinclair over the disbursement of his wife's ashes

Kyoko Yonezawa was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer back in February 2017 and she died almost two years later

Sinclair, who has been a plastic surgeon for 35 years, claims his in-laws agreed to reimburse him for the cost of the services and cremation but they never paid him.

He claims his in-laws never approved of him marrying their daughter in Los Angeles back in 2016 after dating for several years.

Sinclair says he financially supported his wife's parents over the years even though they disapproved of the relationship.

'They were not shy about taking all they could from Dr Sinclair and using Dr Sinclairs good character and reputation and vast resources to their personal and business advantage, the lawsuit claims.

Sinclair is seeking an injunction ordering the defendants to provide him with half of Kyoko's ashes and punitive damages in excess of $5 million.
I think one thing that really distinguished him was his willingness to help, Ginny Aronson said. Whether we were at a magic convention with thousands of people or he gets a phone call or email, people always said how sweet he was and how he never said no. He said, OK, how can I help? Hed get down on the floor with a 10-year-old and help him figure a trick out.
Alain Baron, a French national flying with national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines from France to Hanoi, became the first foreign tourist to set foot in the capital city in 2020.

A ceremony to welcome Baron and 14 other foreign visitors was held at the Noi Bai International Airport on January 1 by the municipal Department of Tourism, the Vietnam Airlines Corporation and the Noi Bai International Airport.

The ceremony to welcome the first foreign visitors to Hanoi is hoped to help the capital city promote its image and people to international friends.

The number of tourists to Hanoi reached nearly 29 million in 2019, up 10 percent from the previous year, including over 7 million foreigners, a year-on-year rise of 17 percent.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Department together with the Tourism Association of Ho Chi Minh City and airlines organize a ceremony to welcome international delegations to Ho Chi Minh City on the first day of 2020.

The event aims to show the hospitality tradition of Ho Chi Minh Citys people, creating sympathy for domestic and foreign tourists on the occasion of New Years Day , contributing to promoting and attracting tourists to the city in particular and Vietnam in general.

In addition to the meaningful gifts of the tourism industry, the airlines will also gave away round-trip tickets for lucky guests. At the same time, these guests will also be participating in tour programs around Ho Chi Minh City in the chain of promoting tourism programmes organized by the city tourism businesses. In particular, to Ho Chi Minh City, visitors will mingle and join in the exciting atmosphere to welcome the new year and celebrate New Year with the locals.

The city has set a goal of welcoming 10 million international visitors; 35 million domestic tourists and the total tourism revenue are expected to reach VND165 trillion in 2020.
The Taliban unleashed a new wave of attacks in northern Afghanistan, targeting members of the country's security forces and killing at least 26, local officials said Wednesday.

The insurgents quickly claimed responsibility for all the attack.

The Taliban today hold sway over practically half of Afghanistan, staging near-daily attacks that target soldiers, security forces and government officials but also kill scores of civilians.

In northern Kunduz province, at least 10 Afghan forces were killed and four others were wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on Tuesday night, according to Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of provincial council.

And in Balkh province, the Taliban killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint.

The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed that the insurgents in the Balkh attack had infiltrated police ranks from a while ago, waiting for a chance to strike.

Though the Taliban often exaggerate their claims, the insurgents also on occasion disguise themselves in Afghan uniforms to get easier access to their targets.

In a third attack on Tuesday night, a gunbattle with the Taliban killed seven members of the security forces in Takhar province, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman.

He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.

The shootout took place in Darqad district after the security forces had successfully cleared out the Taliban from several other districts in the past week, said Hajri.

Fighting was still underway there on Wednesday, he added, The Taliban have intensified their attacks in northern Afghanistan in recent days.

They struck a pro-government militia compound in Jawzjan province before dawn on Monday, killing 14 members of the Afghan security forces.

A similar militia compound was targeted in Takhar on Sunday, when at least 17 militiamen were killed.

On Friday, at least 10 Afghan soldiers died in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in southern Helmand province.

The latest Taliban attacks underscore that the insurgents are at their strongest in the 18-year war, America's longest conflict, even as their leadership, based in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar, has been negotiating with a US envoy.

Washington has demanded that a cease-fire take place before any peace agreement could be signed.

The fighting has shown no signs of abating.

US airstrikes and operations by Afghan security forces over the past two days killed 35 Taliban fighters in offensives across the country, including an airstrike in Kandahar province that killed 11 Taliban insurgents, the US military said.

Several Taliban were also detained, the US military added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world. The attack prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East.

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militia have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters set a fire during a sit-in in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of pro-Iran militiamen and other protesters who were gathered for a second day outside the American Embassy compound in Baghdad. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

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An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of smoke rising from a fire set by pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters in the U.S. embassy compound, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday as hundreds of Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American Embassy in Baghdad for a second day and set fire to the roof of a reception area inside the compound. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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A man waves the Iraqi flag while the Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi security forces are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters board trucks loaded with items from a sit-in while driving away from the U.S. Embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters receive free meals from the back of a truck while Iraqi army soldiers and security forces are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militia have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters dismantle a tent in front of the U.S. Embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters board trucks loaded with items from a sit-in while driving away from the U.S. Embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Iraqi army soldiers are deployed in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters board trucks loaded with items from a sit-in at the U.S. Embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters board trucks loaded with items from a sit-in while driving away from the U.S. Embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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A man sprays a slogan that reads "the Martyrs wish is fulfilled," at the wall of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Iran-backed militiamen have withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad after two days of clashes with American security forces. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters load trucks with items that were used in a sit-in at the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters dismantle a tent in front of the U.S. embassy, in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

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Injuries Reported After Protesters Storm U.S. Embassy Compound In Iraq Following Strikes

By RFE/RL December 31, 2019

Protesters have stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad to condemn recent U.S. air strikes that killed at least 25 members of an Iran-backed militant group, causing Iraqi security forces and compound guards to fire tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

Reuters reported that 12 militiamen were injured during the attack, which U.S. President Donald Trump blamed on Iran.

Thousands of protesters converged on the compound on December 31 in response to the air strikes carried out by the United States in Iraq and Syria on December 29 targeting members of the Kataib Hizbullah militia.

The embassy was evacuated to protect staff and the U.S. ambassador, Reuters reported, citing Iraqi officials. No U.S. staff were reported hurt.

The AP news agency reported that the embassy's gate door was broken down, and gunshots were heard as demonstrators entered the compound, while video emerged showing protesters setting fire to a wall outside the compound.

The protesters later withdrew but vowed to camp indefinitely outside the compound. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the United States would be sending more troops to protect the embassy, while Trump said Iran will face consequences.

Trump tweeted on December 31 that "Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible."

Trump added that "we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy."

The protesters may have gotten through the heavily fortified compound amid support from Iraqi security forces sympathetic to their cause, The New York Times reported.

The attack may be the most violent against a U.S. Embassy since the 2012 assault against a diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, were killed in that attack.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet that he called Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih on December 31 to warn them of "their obligation to protect our U.S. personnel and property."

The United States earlier said it had carried out "precision defensive strikes" against five targets in response to repeated Kataib Hizbullah attacks on Iraqi bases that house U.S. troops, including one on December 27 that killed a U.S. defense contractor and injured U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Kataib Hizbullah, which said that 50 militia member were killed and 50 wounded in the attack, has denied being behind the attacks and on December 30 vowed revenge.

Dpa reported on December 31 that protesters stormed the gates of the U.S. Embassy located in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, chanting "Death to America" and "No, no, America."

The German news agency also reported that mourners raised flags of Iraq's powerful Hashd Shaabi militia (Popular Mobilization Units), while The New York Times reported that demonstrators hung Kataib Hizbullah flags.

The caretaker Iraqi government ruling since Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi's resignation demanded on December 31 that protesters leave the embassy and added that "any aggression against embassies or foreign representations will be prevented and punished by law."

The caretaker government had said on December 30 it might "review" its relations with the United States following the air strikes, saying that "American forces acted on their political priorities, not those of the Iraqis."

Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who carries considerable influence over a leading bloc in the country's parliament, in a statement on December 30 urged Iranian-backed militias to avoid "irresponsible actions," according to Reuters.

An unnamed senior official at the U.S. State Department said later of Iraqi authorities that it was "their responsibility and duty to protect us. And they have not taken the appropriate steps to do so," according to AFP.

Pompeo wrote on Twitter on December 31 that he spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "U.S. defensive strikes in Iraq and Syria to counter Iran's threats. The U.S. will take decisive action to defend its citizens and interests."

In a separate tweet he said he had spoken with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and "made clear that our defensive action was aimed at deterring Iran and protecting American lives."

With reporting by The New York Times, dpa, and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/demonstrators-storm-us-embassy- compound-in-iraq-following-deadly -air-strikes/30353823.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.

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There are a lot of traditions and superstitions for the coming new year and it differs by region, country, culture, and other factors. There are traditions on what to serve for dinner, the color of clothing, the type of clothes to wear, and others.

Some of the traditions from different cultures are considered strange by many while some are plain hilarious. No matter the reasons for such traditions and superstitions, everyone should respect each other's beliefs.

There is a different set of Latino New Year traditions for welcoming and celebrating the coming of a new year.

The following are some of the Latino New Year traditions that many members of the Latino community practice during the celebration of the New Year:

1. Eating Grapes

It is a common tradition in Latin American homes to eat twelve grapes at midnight. For the first twelve seconds of the New Year, one grape is eaten. It is believed by Latinos that the faster they can finish the twelve grapes, the greater the fortune they will attain the entire year.

2. Putting on Clothes of Specific Color

Latinos believe in superstitions involving their clothing. Wearing new clothes mean that a person will not be needing any new clothes or will not be buying new clothes in the entire year. This is just one of the many clothes-related superstitions of Latin America.

According to the BBC, many people from Brazil may be wearing an all-white attire in welcoming and celebrating the coming of a new year. They will then jump seven waves in the ocean and float flowers in the sea.

In other Latin American nations, people wear red, white, or yellow underwear to bring them luck throughout the year. Red is perceived to help a person with luck in their love life while wearing black is similar to walking below a ladder.

3. Cleaning the house

For Latin Americans, cleaning the house before the coming of the New Year means removing all of the bad energies. This results in welcoming the New Year right. They also ensure that unneeded possessions are given away or trashed.

4. Putting Cash in shoes

For good luck in money, Latin Americans place cash in their shoes. Some also put bills in their pockets. Another superstition of Latinos is putting thirteen gold coins in a red coin purse. This is needed during dinnertime on New Year's Eve.

5. Splashing Water

People from Uruguay have a tradition that involves water during the celebration of the coming of the New Year. It is a tradition in Uruguay to through water in a container out of the window during New Year's Eve. It is believed by them that doing so released bad energy from the home and the people living in the home.

A lot of people have traditions and superstitions to follow that are done during New Year's Eve including the Latino New Year traditions. Some perceive these traditions and superstitions differently. Respect in everyone's beliefs is a good value to keep in understanding the differences of many traditions and having harmonious relationships in the diverse global community.
The governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the 2019 election in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, on Wednesday accused Governor Seyi Makinde of abandoning his party after it helped him to win the election.

Mr Alli spoke through a statement he personally signed, a copy of which was made available to Premium Times in Ibadan, the state capital.

ZLP was one of the political parties that formed an alliance with Mr Makindes Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to defeat the candidate of the then ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebayo Adelabu, in the March 9, 2019 election.

Other parties in the coalition were the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The coalition was coordinated by a former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja.

But, nine months after the agreement, Mr Alli accused the governor of failure to fulfil his promises to the ZLP.

He said the governor has denied the ZLP political patronage, in alleged repudiation of the agreement between them.

A mans word should also be his bond, Mr Alli said.

The governor should go into retrospect and review our 2019 political coalition agreement. Our party, the ZLP had been largely abandoned and relegated in the scheme of things, especially political patronage. The governor should seize this moment and do the needful. I wish him the best as he pilots the affairs of our state.

While commending Mr Ladoja for being a father to all, Mr Alli also prayed that God grant all the traditional rulers in the state: the Alaafin of Oyo; Olubadan of Ibadan; Soun of Ogbomoso and others, more strength to guide their respective domains to continuous peaceful coexistence.

Olufemi Lanlehin, the ADC gubernatorial candidate, had in November accused the governor of failing to fulfil any of the promises made to him as contained in an agreement they reached.

Phone calls and text messages to Taiwo Adisa, the chief press secretary to Mr Makinde, were not responded to.
Congress invited predatory for-profit colleges to defraud military veterans when it wrote a loophole into the rules governing federal education aid. The loophole, added to the Higher Education Act in 1998, encouraged the schools to take the education aid of Americans who had served the country while giving them valueless degrees  or no degrees at all  in return.

A bipartisan bill pending in the Senate would close this loophole. But Congress has a lot more to do if it intends to curb these fly-by-night schools  for instance, by forcing the Department of Veterans Affairs to use the authority it already has to stop education fraud.

Congress amended the Higher Education Act two decades ago with what has become known as the 90/10 rule. The rule requires for-profit schools to get at least 10 percent of their revenue from sources other than federal student aid. This common-sense effort was intended to prevent the federal aid program from becoming the sole revenue source of inferior schools that could not attract private support. But Congress undermined the rule by allowing for-profit schools to essentially count some federal aid  including G.I. education benefits and Department of Defense tuition assistance  as privately raised.

Not long after World War II, sham schools sprang up to cheat veterans of their G.I. Bill benefits, with fake courses, false attendance records and the like. One federal report published during the 1950s concluded that hundreds of millions of dollars had been frittered away on worthless training. Another 1950s report estimated that of the more than 1.6 million veterans who had attended for-profit schools, only one in five had completed the course of study.
Paris is often called the dream destination for many. It is heaven on earth which is home to some breathtaking destinations and picturesque architectural design. Paris is the capital of France, and it is an exceptionally popular tourist destination due to the presence of the fascinating Eiffel Tower. Individuals generally go to this captivating city with family or friends to absorb the beauty of Paris. But why to restrict the charm of Paris by only visiting it when you are in a good space. Instead, you visit Paris when are going through a hard time emotionally or probably recovering over the agony of a broken heart. The gorgeousness of Paris can make you forget all your pain and make you alive once again. Amongst countless places you can visit in Paris, take a look at the must-visit ones here.

Also Read: Wondering About Best Places To Go In Asia During December? Here Are Our Picks

Eiffel Tower

The entire world is aware of this wonderous tower built by Gustave Eiffel, which stands at an astounding height of 905 feet above the ground. The Eiffel Tower is amidst the tallest towers ever made across the globe. This stunning location is a must-visit. In fact, travellers from all around the world visit Paris just to see the iconic Tower. Don't forget click pictures while you look at the scintillating Eiffel Tower, which shines at night with zillions of lights glowing all over it.

Also Read: From Tbilisi To Montaluce Winery: Take A Look At Top 5 Places To Visit In Georgia

Palace of Versailles

Another must-visit tourist destination in Paris is the regal Palace of Versailles. The ancient Palace holds a very significant place in the history of France. It is a lavish Palace, which holds some breathtaking artworks by several established artists. The Halls mirrors, Musical Fountain Shows and Queens Chamber are must-visit areas in the Royal Palace of Versailles. The Palace opens from 9 am to 6:30 pm.

Also Read: Lucknow, The City Of Nawabs, Has Some Historical Places That Are A Must-visit

Moulin Rouge

Remember the popular Hollywood movie Moulin Rouge starring Nicole Kidman in the lead role? Well, the movie was inspired by an actual destination under the same name. Moulin Rouge is a highly famous tourist destination in Paris, which is an ancient cabaret theatre located at Montmarte highland. You can only visit this place during the night from 9 pm to 1 am and enjoy the grand and galore of the alluring dancers, forgetting about all your life's stress.

Also Read: Honeymoon In Europe: Check These Ideal Offbeat Places To Go On Your Honeymoon
I cant help but wonder if Messiah is a response to the rise of Trump and politicians who have amassed fervent followers. Are they really the answer or just complete frauds?

The premise of this new Netflix drama centres around a charismatic man (Mehdi Dehbi), with fleeting resemblance to Jesus, who emerges in the Middle East and seemingly performs miracles. But while social media explodes the CIA are on the case.

Jude Laws upcoming New Pope may take an irreverent approach to big religion, but theres really nothing around that challenges faith.

There are several intersecting threads to this drama from Australian writer Michael Petroni (Queen of the Damned, Till Human Voices Wake Us, The Book Thief, Miracles).

The man who will come to be called Al-Masih emerges when ISIL is bearing down on Damascus in Syria. While he tries to convince a fearful throng that salvation is at hand a terrifying sandstorm overwhelms the city and cripples ISIL vehicles. Footage instantly goes viral of the defiant man offering hope and he soon amasses 2000 followers, thats real not online.

This attracts the attention of CIA officer Eva Geller (Michelle Monaghan) who is keen to get to the bottom of his credibility and thwart any unnecessary movement. But she is also battling an illness which will doubtless become her Achilles heel

When Al-Masih leads his flock blindly to the border, Israeli intelligence officer (Tomer Sisley) enters the scene, questioning the arrested man. Juggling his own family problems, he is shocked when Al-Masih seems to know much about his personal life. Does he have a higher power?

By episode two another subplot is introduced when struggling Texas preacher (John Ortiz) is considering drastic action and daughter Rebecca (Stefania LaVie Owen) is about to flee her smalltown woes. Aussie Wil Traval also surfaces as FBI agent, complete with a Southern drawl.

Theres also a young Palestinian refugee Jibril (Sayyid El Alami) who we keep hearing will be required to undertake a pivotal role as part of Gods plan.

These threads weigh things down heavily and more focus would be welcome. But Messiah is otherwise rather Homeland in tone. Scenes are filmed in Jordan and New Mexico with subtitles added for foreign languages. Theres an ongoing tension around Middle East conflict with an American determined to take charge. But unlike the terrorist drama, this provokes questions of faith. Even the promotion for the show asks Will he CONvert you?

The cast also includes Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney, Jane Adams and Philip Baker Hall. Aussie Kate Woods is one of 2 directors.

Having viewed several episodes Im intrigued as to where this is headed, but nervous about whether it will offer a payoff or leave everything ambiguously in the eye of the beholder.

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey -both of whom produced that dreadful series The Bible are also producers here meaning there is probably good reason to tread with caution.

Messiah is now screening on Netflix.
"Italy will not accept Hindus or Sikhs as they are poor people," the minister said. (Photo Credit: PTI file)

Varanasi:

Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday asserted that it is the "moral responsibility" of India to give shelter and citizenship to Hindus and other minority communities of Pakistan, which has been persecuting them persistently.

"It's our moral responsibility to give citizenship to the minorities (from the three neighbouring Muslim countries). If they don't come to India, where will they go? To Italy?" he asked.

"Italy will not accept Hindus or Sikhs as they are poor people," he said.

Stating that owing to persistent persecution of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jains in Pakistan, the population of the minorities there has come down drastically from its earlier 30 percent-level, the minister said it's the moral responsibility of India to give shelter and citizenship to non-Muslims from the three neighbouring country.

The minister also claimed that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi knows no difference between the CAA and GST and that is why he says the recent changes in the citizenship law would lead to an increase in the tax.

The "immature statement" of Rahul Gandhi shows he "cannot distinguish between CAA and GST" as he says the GST will further increase due to CAA.

"I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that if he does not know the difference (between CAA and GST), he should take tuition from a better tutor in the matter," said the minister.

"It seems he doesnt have any idea about NPR and NRC either," he said.

The minister also accused the opposition of playing "cheap politics", saying that it is instigating people to protest against the recent changes in the citizenship law by misleading them.

He rued that the opposition was instigating violence instead of appealing them to resort to peaceful protests.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
There are many islands in the world, which are very special in themselves. One such island is between France and Spain, which changes its country every six months. This means that both France and Spain are in possession of this island and both countries rule the island for six months. Yes, today we are going to tell you about such an island.

This country will renounce its nickname in New Year 2020

The name of this island is Feijant Island, which is called French island in French and Spanish. The most important thing is that there is no quarrel between France and Spain on this island, rather the two countries exchange it with free will. You will be surprised to know that this tradition has been going on for the last 350 years. This island stays near Spain from February 1 to July 31, while the remaining six months i.e. from August 1 to January 31, remain near France. The island is in the middle of the river Bidaso separating Spain and France.

Couple threw 14 lakh rupees cash in garbage, senses flew when news received

It is a quiet island at the moment, but there was a time when there was a lot of war between France and Spain for this. However, after three months of negotiations, a treaty was reached between the two countries in the year 1659. During this time a peace agreement was signed, which is called the Treaty of Pyrenees. This area was swapped and boundaries were set. The treaty was concluded with a royal wedding, in which King Louis XIV of France married the daughter of King Philip IV of King of Spain. This island is very small, which is only 200 meters in length and 40 meters in width. According to a report, sentries were erected every 100 meters along the river adjacent to the island to prevent people from coming from the other side. However, due to the fast flow of water and the negligence in keeping safe, more than half of this island is now ending.

Stealing cost a lot for thief, After entering 8 flats gets this...
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BJP cadres, led by senior state party leader, staged a protest demonstration here on Wednesday, demanding the arrest of a Tamil orator for his 'provocative' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The protesters, including BJP National Secretary H Raja, raised slogans against Nellai Kannan for his alleged remarks, and they were were detained by police.

The demonstration was held near Gandhi statue point on the Marina beach front and the protesters were taken away to a marriage hall at nearby Mylapore and detained there.

Police said they had not granted permission for anyone to hold a protest on or around Marina beach.

Former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and other senior leaders, including L Ganesan and C P Radhakrishnan, took part.

Kannan landed in trouble after a video of his purported speech at a meeting against CAA held by the Social Democratic Party of India on Saturday at Tirunelveli went viral on social media and the BJP lodged a police complaint seeking his arrest and prosecution.

He is a Tamil litterateur and has taken part in several television shows based on literature and oratory.

State BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathi on Monday lodged a police complaint, alleging that Kannan called out the names of Prime Minister and Home Minister at the meeting and told the gathering he was "shocked as to why Muslims have not yet killed the Prime Minister and Home Minister...

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
From family computer gaming to 'period parties' for girls reaching puberty, these are the trends that will define the way children are raised in the next decade, according to parents.

Some 2,000 parents from across the UK were asked for their thoughts on how family life will change over the next 10 years in a survey by Channelmum.com.

Results show a shift towards more progressive parenting ideas, including encouraging child activists like Greta Thunberg and a rise in co-working nurseries where parents can catch up on emails while their children play.

Unsurprisingly, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also set to be an influence, with more parents looking to follow their lead by having fewer children as a way to reduce their family's carbon footprint.

As we officially welcome 2020, a look at the parenting trends to come suggest an influx of environmentally-friendly led movements (stock photo)

The Greta Effect

Dubbed the 'Greta Effect', named after the teenage activist Greta Thunberg, the organisers claim more adults will encourage their children to become activists in the new decade.

ChannelMum.com founder Siobhan Freegard said: 'We've had girl power and now it's time for child power. 'Consumer trends in the 2020s will increasingly be driven by the concerns and needs of the youngest members of society. 'Kids are hyper aware of their impact on the world and the positive changes they want to see and are actively making them happen, rather than waiting for the adults to do it for them.' Advertisement

They added: 'Activism has been turned on its head and instead of listening to adults, children are becoming increasingly vocal about causes they believe in.

'2020 will see more youngsters defying convention to teach adults, such as the recent climate strikes.'

Research found 85 per cent of parents would be 'proud' for their child to campaign for a cause they care about, and teach adults at the same time.

This is causing a power shift in families as parents are increasingly listening to their children's concerns about the environment and mental health, and responding by altering how they behave, according to the parenting website.

The 'Anti-natalist' movement

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they'd limit themselves to two children after the birth of their son Archie Harrison in May. Pictured on 8 May, two days after Archie was born in Windsor

'Harry and Meghan generated headlines around the world by announcing they will stop at two children to help save the planet, but the Anti-Natalist movement is pressing people to volunteer to stop having kids at all,' the website explained.

'One extremist in India has gone even further, attempting to sue his parents for giving birth to him 'without his consent,' they added.

Family gaming

ChannelMum.com said: 'British teenagers spend an average of 12 hours a week gaming while eight to 10-year-olds game for 10 hours.

'The old tradition of sitting down to watch TV together is increasingly being replaced by a multi-player, bonding family gaming session.'

The study found 47 per cent of parents are planning to try gaming together in 2020, instead of sitting down to watch TV or a film.

Period parties 'To eliminate the stigma around periods, UK parents have begun to adopt the US 'period party' phenomenon - compete with red-themed food and drink - to celebrate their daughter's first period. 'Backers say it's a new 'coming of age' celebration which helps put periods in a positive light.' Advertisement

Natural pregnancy

'No scans, no painkillers and minimal medical appointments, will be one of the biggest trends to happen,' according to the popular parenting website.

'The trend is gaining ground with eco-mothers wanting to get right back to nature.'

Co-working Nurseries

According to the site, 'ONS figures show eight in 10 mothers now work and since the 2008 downturn, 58 per cent of the newly self-employed have been female.'

The website went on to explain that co-working space were the future: 'Co-working spaces like Cuckooz Nest and Mama Works are responding to demand by providing offices where mothers can meet, network and share childcare in a very modern 'mum village'.

Plastic-Free Parenting

'Wooden toys are no longer enough,' they wrote. 'The top eco-trend is to remove all family plastic, from nappies to bathing products to clothing and buggies.

'It can be expensive and difficult to do but with 93 per cent of families trying to use less plastic, brands are beginning to respond with the right products,' it went on.

Everyday Take 20

'A fitting trend for 2020, parents are setting aside 20 minutes every day to simply sit with their children and listen to them,' channelmum wrote.

'This mindful antidote to a busy world lets children know their feelings are important and validated, and brings families closer together.

Micro scheduling

'8am dishwasher goes on, 8.05am write shopping list, 8.10am check emails before school run while kids pack their bags: an increasing number of modern mother tightly plan their entire day minute-by-minute to cram in everything,' channelmum wrote.

'Downloadable micro scheduling templates are now available online. However, some psychologists have warned the trend is 'self-bullying' and can damage children's creativity by limiting free play,' they added.
Defense Lawyers Admit Robert Durst Wrote Cadaver Note

Lawyers for New York real estate heir Robert Durst acknowledge he penned a note tipping off police to the location of the body of a friend hes accused of killing, according to court documents.

In a court filing last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, lawyers for Durst conceded he had written the note directing police to the home where his best friend, Susan Berman, was shot point-blank in the back of the head just before Christmas of 2000.

Durst, 76, pleaded not guilty to murder in Bermans death but told a documentary film crew that the letter could only have been sent by the killer.

The revelation he sent the note was made in a joint filing by defense lawyers and prosecutors of stipulations theyve agreed to before his trial scheduled for Feb. 10. Attorneys for Durst said they made the concession as a strategic decision after the judge agreed to admit the evidence based on analysis by handwriting experts.

In a statement sent to news outlets, Dick DeGuerin, Dursts defense attorney, said: We will not be publicly discussing strategy or evidence. This does not change the fact that Bob Durst did not kill Susan Berman and doesnt know who did.

The note sent to the Beverly Hills Police Department on the same day Berman was killed has been considered a smoking gun in the case since the bombshell finale of The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst aired on HBO in 2015.

Durst was shown the note written in block capitals that only included the address of Bermans house and the word cadaver. He denied writing the note but said only the killer could have written it. The envelope was addressed with Beverly misspelled Beverley.

Filmmakers then confronted him with a letter he sent Berman a year earlier that appeared to have identical handwriting, including the same misspelling.

I wrote this one but I did not write the cadaver one, Durst insisted. But moments later, he couldnt tell the two apart. After an awkward moment in which he blinked, burped, and put his head in his hands, he denied being the killer.

The interview then ended and Durst walked into a bathroom unaware he was still wearing a live microphone. He was heard muttering to himself: Youre caught! What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.

The note was postmarked the day before Bermans body was found with a bullet through the back of her head and arrived on the day she was found.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mark Windham said in July hed allow prosecutors to call at least two witnesses who concluded Durst likely wrote the note, but warned he wanted the experts to outline the scientific basis on how they reached the determination.

Windham also said he decided to reject analysis from William Leaver, a Los Angeles Police Department handwriting expert, who concluded it was likely the note was actually written by Nyle Brenner, Bermans manager. The analysis was rubber-stamped by Leavers supervisor, who admitted she did not read it. Leaver stuck with his analysis even after Durst was added to the mix.

At this point with the limited [exemplars] on Durst, there are more similarities w/Brenner. Need more, Leaver wrote, according to a defense court filing. But prosecutors said Leaver changed his analysis to concluding Durst probably wrote the note after investigators obtained more writing samples from Durst.

Windham said Leavers conclusion, that it was highly probable Brenner didnt write the note, was garbage and that it was truly shocking Leavers supervisor signed off on the report without reviewing it.

Dursts family owns a billion dollar real estate company that includes the World Trade Center. Durst married into the family and he and his wife, Kathie, enjoyed traveling and partying in the 1970s, her brother, Jim McCormack, told CBS. Durst later said both had affairs and Durst committed physical abuse against his wife.

Kathie vanished in January 1982. Friends said the couple had a fight at their New York weekend house before her disappearance, but Durst said he dropped her off at a train station so she could go into New York City. Her disappearance has never been solved.

Berman became Dursts spokeswoman when reporters started calling. Berman was found dead on Dec. 23, 2000.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
IMAGE: Bhor MLA Sangram Thopte, whose supporters attacked Congress office in Pune on Tuesday in protest against his non-inclusion in the council of ministers. Photograph: ANI

19 people were arrested for the attack on the Congress office in Pune by supporters of party MLA Sangram Thopte in protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, police said on Wednesday.

Thopte's supporters attacked the 'Congress Bhavan', located in Shivajinagar area in Pune, on Tuesday and vandalised the property.

They shouted slogans against the Congress leadership for not giving ministerial berth to Thopte, the MLA from Bhor seat in Pune and son of former minister Anantrao Thopte.

The police subsequently arrested 19 supporters of Thopte late on Tuesday night and booked them under Indian Penal Code sections for rioting and unlawful assembly, an official at Shivajinagar police station said.

"We arrested 19 people who were involved in rioting, stone-pelting and vandalism at the Congress Bhavan. They were later released on bail," he said, adding that all the IPC sections slapped on the accused were bailable.

Party sources said anger has spread among supporters of political families from the Congress after their leaders were not picked for Cabinet berths in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

Chief Minister Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43.

The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said Thopte has been pacified and assured that he will get his due.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the Congress over allocation of portfolios.

Everyone cannot be accommodated as there is a three-party alliance government in the state, the Congress leader told reporters in Mumbai.

"I spoke to Sangram Thopte last night. The Congress is a family and he will get his due," he said.

"Since we are part of a three-party government, we got less ministerial berths," the Congress leader said.

Thorat also dismissed rumours of unrest in the party over portfolio allocation.

"Discussions are on and the allocation of portfolios is expected today," he said.
The unleashed a new wave of attacks in northern Afghanistan, targeting members of the country's security forces and killing at least 26, local officials said Wednesday.

The insurgents quickly claimed responsibility for all the attack. The today hold sway over practically half of Afghanistan, staging near-daily attacks that target soldiers, security forces and government officials but also kill scores of civilians.

In northern Kunduz province, at least 10 Afghan forces were killed and four were wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on Tuesday night, according to Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of provincial council.

And in Balkh province, the killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint. The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed that the insurgents in the Balkh attack had infiltrated police ranks from a while ago, waiting for a chance to strike. Though the Taliban often exaggerate their claims, the insurgents also on occasion disguise themselves in Afghan uniforms to get easier access to their targets.

In a third attack on Tuesday night, a gunbattle with the Taliban killed seven members of the security forces in Takhar province, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.

The shootout took place in Darqad district after the security forces had successfully cleared out the Taliban from several other districts in the past week, said Hajri. Fighting was still underway there on Wednesday, he added,



The Taliban have intensified their attacks in northern in recent days.

They struck a pro-government militia compound in Jawzjan province before dawn on Monday, killing 14 members of the Afghan security forces. A similar militia compound was targeted in Takhar on Sunday, when at least 17 militiamen were killed.

On Friday, at least 10 Afghan soldiers died in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in southern Helmand province.

The latest Taliban attacks underscore that the insurgents are at their strongest in the 18-year war, America's longest conflict, even as their leadership, based in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar, has been negotiating with a U.S. envoy.

Washington has demanded that a cease-fire take place before any peace agreement could be signed.
I just purchased the movie Thirteen Hours about the attack on our temporary Embassy in Benghazi, Libya in 2012, where Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed along with one aid and two former Seals working as contractors.

As with the usual double talking Obama and Hillary Clinton, their conclusion was that the attack was neither premeditated nor preplanned.

A week later after their statements didnt carry any truth, their stories changed to it was a terrorist attack, well planned out.

The ongoing House Select Committee investigation lasted through 2016 with a 800 page report putting blame on the Obama administration for inadequate security resulting in the death of four Americans with Clinton being the main reason. Being Secretary of State she was responsible for all of our embassies and as usual dodged another crime.

Now here we are again in Baghdad, Iraq with Islamists attacking our Embassy there. One huge difference between the bull of Hussein Obama and the current administration of the POTUS Trump is that action will be taken.

Pray for our troops and their safe return to their families.

Jack Varner

* * *

Jack, does that movie "Thirteen Hours", which by the way is purposely being peddled to a rightwing conservative leaning audience, mention anything about House Republicans cutting funding to embassies around the world to the tune of $128 million in 2011 and another cut of $331 million in 2013? Or that Hillary Clinton in 2011 warned Republicans such cuts would be "detrimental to America's national security?" That in 2009 Republican's Ryan, Issa and other House Republicans voted for an amendment to cut $1.2 billion from state operation including funds for 300 more diplomatic security positions? All of this was in the news at the time. How could anyone miss it? The excuse by some Republicans supporting the cuts was they had to "prioritize." The safety of those embassies around the world must not have been at the top of their list of "priorities."

In addition to "praying" for out Troops, "pray' for world peace, Jack. So the world will never again have to witness footage of bloated bodies of little toddlers and their families washing ashore after having to flee their homeland in war torn countries brought about for the sake of greedy old men dreaming up wars to send the young to fight and die in and the most innocent and vulnerable to perish.

Brenda Washington


This month a new study of the oldest known sample of the measles virus has revealed promising new insights into the history of the disease.

Researchers had previously thought the virus first emerged in the medieval era, some time between 400 AD and 1400 AD.

After analyzing the newly discovered sample, they now suggest measles could have first appeared in human populations around a thousand years before, as early as 300BC.

Researchers analyzed samples from the preserved lungs of a two-year-old girl who died from measles in Berlin in 1912 (pictured above), the oldest known measles sample by more than 40 years

The sample was discovered in the basement storage facility of the Museum of Medical History in Berlin, and hadn't previously been examined by any other teams.

The specimen was a preserved lung taken from a two-year-old girl who died from measles in 1912.

Previously the oldest known sample of a measles virus dated back to 1954, and was used to develop the first measles vaccine.

The lung sample had been preserved in formalin, a formaldehyde mixture, which left it in ideal condition, according to a summary of the findings in Science.

Researchers were able to isolate the RNA from the measles virus contained in the sample and compare to more recent samples to better understand how the virus has changed over time.

One theory has it that the measles virus is an evolved form of a virus thats been tied to sheep and goat from that date back to 300 BC and even earlier.

WHAT IS MEASLES, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND HOW CAN YOU CATCH IT? Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads easily from an infected person by coughing, sneezing or even just breathing. Symptoms develop between six and 19 days after infection, and include a runny nose, cough, sore eyes, a fever and a rash. The rash appears as red and blotchy marks on the hairline that travel down over several days, turning brown and eventually fading. Some children complain of disliking bright lights or develop white spots with red backgrounds on their tongue. In one in 15 cases, measles can cause life-threatening complications including pneumonia, convulsions and encephalitis. Dr Ava Easton, chief executive of the Encephalitis Society told MailOnline: 'Measles can be very serious. '[It] can cause encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain. 'Encephalitis can result in death or disability.' Treatment focuses on staying hydrated, resting and taking painkillers, if necessary. Measles can be prevented by receiving two vaccinations, the first at 13 months old and the second at three years and four months to five years old. Source: Great Ormond Street Hospital Advertisement

It's possible, though far from proven, that the virus could have made the jump between species as humans began to move toward more densely populated cities with less space between both their neighbors and their livestock.

Researchers suggest the virus depends on large populations to keep itself alive through exposure to new hosts, something that can be difficult because once a person's been infected by the virus they develop a lifetime immunity to it.

For this reason, they believe the virus would have ideally needed populations of between between 250,000 and a million people to spread widely and not just die out.

The biggest cities in the world around the fourth century AD would fall within that population rangeas many as a million people lived in Rome around that time and Xian, China is believed to have had a population of over 400,000.

It seems like changes in human ecology really did coincide with the successful emergence of these viruses, researcher Sebastien Calvignac-Spencer told Science.

Measles has been resurgent in the last several years, with more than 9.7 million documented cases in 2018 and 142,300 deaths, the majority of which were children under four years old.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa last night exchanged cables of congratulations on the advent of the New Year 2020, with the leaders of Arab, Islamic and friendly countries. HM the King extended deepest congratulations, wishing them all abundant health and happiness and their brotherly and friendly countries and peoples further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty prayed for security, peace and prosperity for all countries and peoples in the world during the New Year. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier also exchanged similar cables of congratulations with leaders of Arab, Islamic and friendly countries.

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) hosted New Years Eve celebrations at The Park, The Avenues  Bahrain, last night. As part of the festivities, BTEA organised a series of events and activities to mark the occasion. Spectators enjoyed the breath-taking musical aerial performance by the dancers and acrobats of Sonic, in addition to a projection of the countdown timer chiming in the New Year on the side facade of the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay hotel; marking the beginning of 2020.

Unforgettable performances and a spectacular fireworks display were added attractions. In Dubai, Emaar, the master developer of the Burj Khalifa, wowed over two billion people across the globe with a breathtaking pyrotechnic show on the worlds tallest building to ring in 2020.

In a mesmerising story, the Burj Khalifa transformed through animation, light, sounds and a synchronised fountain show taking viewers on a journey at the onset of a new decade. Following the traditional 10 second digital countdown on the lit facade of Burj Khalifa, the clock struck midnight, signalling the Downtown Dubai skyline to be filled with a flurry of fireworks and colour for a record-breaking eight-minute and forty three second-long show.

Those lucky enough to view the show, were treated to the longest set of consecutive fireworks in the history of the Burj Khalifa NYE shows, timed at over five minutes. The show featured a total of 1,371 kg of fireworks, which were placed across a colossal 207 firing locations. To mark the dawn of a new decade the show on Burj Khalifa was conceptualised by Emaar.

Every second of the show was as enchanting as previously billed and incorporated fireworks, animations on the Burj Khalifa LED facade, music compositions and a beautiful fountain show. The highly anticipated event welcomed over one million onlookers in Downtown Dubai, Emaars flagship mega-development, to witness 15,000 perfectly choreographed fireworks showcasing 48 pyrotechnic patterns, signalling the start of a new decade.

Celebrations also included the longest ever The Dubai Fountain Show since the fountains launched in 2009, adding yet another prestigious milestone of the water-music spectacle. The world-famous show took 160 hours across four weeks to choreograph and featured 113.5 kilolitres of water in the air at one time, released from an astounding 1,137 water shooters, and 6,612 lights.
Heres a look at some high-profile fugitives from the business world in recent years.

Carlos Ghosns stunning escape from Japan makes him one of the most famous white-collar fugitives in recent years, joining the likes of Malaysian businessman Jho Low and Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya.

The former head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, who was facing trial for financial crimes, defended his move to Lebanon by saying in a statement hell no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system.

Its unclear how Ghosn escaped as hes been under house arrest and close surveillance since being granted bail in April following his initial arrest in November 2018. Hes a citizen of Lebanon, which doesnt have an extradition treaty with Japan, and is held in high esteem there. He also holds Brazilian and French citizenship. Ghosns lawyer Junichiro Hironaka said his legal team has all of his passports, adding that its likely he entered his ancestral home country using a different name.

Heres a look at some high-profile fugitives from the business world in recent years.

Jho Low

[File: Jho Low, Bloomberg]

Malaysia is still trying to bring in Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the siphoning of billions of dollars from state-owned investment fund 1MDB. The scandal led to Prime Minister Najib Razak losing a 2018 election, ending 61 years of his partys rule, and has entangled individuals and businesses far and wide, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Malaysian authorities last week complained about a lack of cooperation from other countries in their search for Jho Low. In September, Inspector-General Abdul Hamid Bador said the financier was in a jurisdiction that has an extradition treaty with Malaysia and talks were being held with a party suspected of protecting him.

Marc Rich

The commodities trader fled to Switzerland hours before being indicted in 1983 on more than 50 counts of wire fraud, racketeering, trading with Iran during an embargo, and evading more than $48 million in U.S. income taxes. The charges stemmed from a multimillion-dollar chain of U.S. crude-oil deals that roiled the global petroleum industry in the early 1980s.

The businessman was celebrated for inventing the spot-oil market before becoming one of the most wanted white-collar fugitives in American history for 17 years. After leaving the U.S., he founded a commodities trading company that became the forerunner of todays Glencore Plc.

On the last day of his presidency in January 2001, Bill Clinton pardoned Rich, who repeatedly maintained his innocence. Rich died in 2013.

Christopher Skase

[File: Christopher Skase, pictured right, Bloomberg]

The entrepreneur died in Majorca in 2001, a decade after fleeing Australia as his media and hotel empire Qintex Australia Ltd. collapsed. The businesses included Seven Network Australia Ltd., the countrys second-largest television network.

Australian Media Law Changes to Spark Takeovers, Analysts Say

Skase successfully fought bids to extradite him to Australia. An order to expel him was in place but suspended by the Spanish government a month before he died of cancer at the age of 52.

Vijay Mallya

The so-called King of Good Times has been subject to extradition efforts by Indian authorities for years. Mallya is based in London, where this month he was taken to court by a dozen state-owned Indian banks petitioning for him to be declared bankrupt over 1.15 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) in unpaid debts.

Mallyas business interests stretched from liquor to motor racing to airlines. He was the founder of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd.

Nirav Modi

The celebrity jeweler was arrested in London in March for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of $2 billion. He was denied bail due to substantial risks hed flee the country to avoid extradition to India.



With assistance from Enda Curran, Paul Geitner and Sam Nagarajan.
For Many Sudanese, Death Sentences for Protester Killing Raise Hopes for Justice

By Naba Mohiedeen December 31, 2019

A Sudanese court decision sentencing 29 intelligence officers to death for the killing of a protester earlier this year is being welcomed by thousands who rallied against the rule of ousted President Omar al-Bashir.

Protesters blocked the streets leading to the Sudanese court, celebrating death sentences given to 29 national intelligence officers Monday in what they called the first victory after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir.

Despite countless demonstrations that ended in clashes, it is the first time in Sudan's history that security officers were ordered to be executed for killing a protester.

Thirteen other defendants were sentenced to prison while four more were acquitted.

While appeals are expected, prosecuting lawyer Mohamed Jouda says the strong sentencing raises confidence in the judicial system after three decades of Bashir's authoritarian rule.

He says now they're confident that they're capable to proceed in the cases on the table of Sudan's judiciary. They trust that the system is now capable to judge in a professional way, he says, and they'll provide convincing and complete trials.

The victim, teacher Ahmed Al-Khair, lived in Eastern Sudan. His death was seen as a rallying point in Sudan's protests that started a year ago against Bashir.

After Khari's death, demonstrations escalated all over the country for months until the military in April ousted Bashir.

But a deadly June crackdown by security forces on the protesters left dozens of people dead.

The lack of prosecution against security forces raised concerns that justice would remain elusive.

But while those responsible for the crackdown have yet to face justice, Monday's verdict has given hope to many relatives of victims.

Mohamed Gasim El-Seed's son was killed when troops cleared the protest camp around army headquarters.

He says the verdict gives them comfort that their sons' sacrifices will not be wasted. Seed says he expects justice for all protest victims, as long as Sudan's judiciary restores its sincerity and gets rid of political subordination.

Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service was deeply feared during Bashir's rule.

But Sudan's public prosecutor last week issued an arrest warrant for former chief of the service, Salah Ghosh, a step welcomed in Sudan as a break from past abuse.

The United States in August banned Ghosh from entering the U.S. over allegations of torture.

The US Embassy in Khartoum welcomed Monday's verdict, saying on their official Facebook page that Sudan has proven the importance of an independent judicial system.

The protests that led to Bashir's ouster broke out in December 2018 over skyrocketing prices and a shortage of cash but, quickly morphed into calls for democracy.

After his ouster, a military court earlier this month sentenced Bashir to two years detention for corruption, receiving illegal gifts, and having foreign currency.

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Two terrorists arrested for their involvement in the killing of two policemen on polio duty last month were gunned down by unknown gunmen in police custody on Wednesday while they were being taken for identification parade in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said.

The incident happened when Hamidulla and Osama Saeed were being taken to Markhanai area under police custody when the gunmen opened fired at the two killing them on the spot.

The two were arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police for killing two police officials deployed on polio duty on December 18.

"The terrorists were arrested a few days ago and were being shifted to Markhanai area for identification parade when the armed assailants ambushed them and killed on the spot," the police said in a statement.

However, the police team remained unhurt in the incident.

"The police has shifted the dead bodies to district head quarter for autopsy," the police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams (AIADMK) backing for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is likely to cost it the minority votes in Tamil Nadu, say political analysts while pointing at the desertion of Muslim leaders from the party ahead of the urban local body elections slated for this year and assembly elections early next year.

While CM Edappadi K Palaniswami maintains that CAA will not affect any Indian citizens, several senior party workers including a former MP, MLA and numerous ground-level office bearers, are publicly contradicting their own party chief.

Recently AIADMKs former MP and the minority face, Anwar Rajaa said the party will lose the community votes if it didnt reverse its position on the CAA. The AIADMK should not have voted for the CAA. If AIADMK doesnt change its position, the party will lose its minority vote bank, Rajaa had said.

Another Muslim leader, Nainar Mohamed, a former MLA from Tirunelveli district and AIADMKs former district minorities wing secretary, recently quit the party in protest over its support to the CAA.

AIADMK has not considered the interests of Muslims and voted in favour of the CAA. So, I resign from my partys primary membership, the former legislator said in a Facebook post.

Several ground-level party office bearers in Vellore and Ramanathapuram districts also quit showing their dissatisfaction.

Palaniswami last week appealed to party workers and TN residents to disbelieve rumours that the partys support to CAA was a stand against minorities. He slammed the opposition for false propaganda and said AIADMK will continue to support and work hard for minorities developments.

After the AIADMK supported the CAA, more than 25 Muslim outfits have conducted anti-CAA rallies in TN for the past few days, said Babu Jayakumar, a noted political analyst.

He said the Muslim outfits used to maintain equal distance from all parties in the past but were now, inviting speakers from the Congress, DMK, and MDMK to address their rallies.

TN has more than 15% of minority voters. So, the AIADMK is feeling the heat and is anxious about the electoral impact it may have, said Jayakumar.

He says AIADMK has reasons to be worried since the Muslims vote could prove to be the difference between winning and losing the urban local body elections and the 2021 state polls.

The AIADMK lost the Vellore Lok Sabha elections in August by a wafer-thin margin of around 8000 votes. It was only due to the minorities deserting the party in areas like Ambur and Vaniyambadi and Vellore assembly segments, Jayakumar said.

Another political analyst Aazhi Senthilnathan says AIADMKs desire for a good relationship with the BJP led central government might help it now at the cost of the future.

The AIADMK is seen kowtowing to the BJP. If the BJP led union government implements something, the AIADMK is the first party to support it. It is because the AIADMK wants to have a good relationship with the BJP until it completes its current term, said Senthilnathan.

It seems the party leaders are more worried about completing their current tenure rather than focus on the future, Senthilnathan added.

However, AIADMK spokesperson Babu Murugavel dismissed the apprehensions. Our party is clear that we will always protect the rights of Muslims in TN. CAA will not affect any Indian citizens. We are not concerned. We just want to remove the misconception created by opposition parties in the mind of the minorities, Murugavel told HT.
Will make Assam govt party to case against CAA in SC if voted Congress to power: Gaurav Gogoi

Activists in Delhi lend support to anti-CAA protests with poetries, songs

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 01: Several activists and artistes on Wednesday recited poems, sang songs and performed plays to express their solidarity with people protesting against the amended citizenship law.

They had gathered at the Constitution Club of India under the aegis of Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT). Sohail Hashmi, brother of Safdar Hashmi, said on January 1, 1989 Safdar was fatally attacked during a theatre performance by a troupe in Sahibabad.

"Every year we mark this day, to underscore the democratic and inclusive secular values with songs, poems, theatre and other artistic expressions, for which SAHMAT was founded in February 1989," he said.

"What is happening in the country today, whether the Citizenship (Amendment) Law or CAA being foisted upon people or the situation in Kashmir with the abrogation of Article 370 before that or the situation of tribals, and people are not even allowed to protest. Our democratic values are under threat," Hashmi alleged.

He said the event seeks to lend "creative support" to people who are "bravely opposing" the CAA and other "anti-Constitutional decision" of the government.

Govt mulls making process of granting citizenship under CAA online to bypass states

Theatre and film personality M K Raina, former bureaucrat Harsh Mander, economists Prabhat Patnaik and Jayati Ghosh, among others attended the event.

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Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 18:31 [IST]
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Woman Part of Group that Staged Car, Home Accidents for Insurance Payouts

Seattle, Washington - Swerving to avoid a deer. Tripping over a dog and falling down the stairs. Losing control on a dark road and hitting another car. These all seem like strokes of bad luck.

FBI investigators, however, determined the series of accidents were scams designed to collect insurance payments. The elaborate ploy wasted first-responder resources and cost innocent homeowners, motorists, and taxpayers millions of dollars.

Sandra Talento and her family members were part of the long-running scheme staging accidents for insurance payouts.

It was a tight-knit group of family and friends, said Special Agent Ryan Butler, who worked the case out of the FBIs Seattle Field Office. They recruited othersoften people they knew needed money.

In the case of car accidents, the group would pre-arrange who would be the at-fault driver and who would be the victim driver. The crashes were staged at night, when there would be no witnesses. To increase the insurance claims, there were multiple passengers.

The scammers went to great lengths to make the passengers appear injured. Participants would also have their heads cut with razor blades or their bodies bruised in advance of the crashes. The group occasionally used car crash victims who had pre-existing but unaddressed injuries.

Sometimes they would say, If you need to get that knee or shoulder fixed, go along with us, and well get it fixed for you, Butler explained.

After arriving at the hospital via ambulance, participants then lied about their symptoms and pursued as much medical care as possible.

Talento herself often played a victim, using different names. She also ensured the other participants went to as many follow-up doctor appointments as possible. This drove up the value of the insurance settlements.

The insurance companies paid out large settlements to the participantsabout $5.6 million over six years. They staged at least 33 accidents during that time frame, both in the Spokane area, where Talento lived, and in surrounding states.

FBI investigators worked closely with the National Insurance Crime Bureau to examine claims. Investigators also reviewed participants financial records. Lower-level participants agreed to cooperate with the FBI and plead guilty.

And while the participants were paid, Talento and her husband reaped most of the rewards. They lived a lavish lifestyle, owning a large home, fancy cars, and a yacht. The government will pursue asset forfeiture to recoup some of the couples ill-gotten gains.

Fortunately, in this case were not aware of anyone being seriously injured in any of these crashes, and everyone was a willing participant, Special Agent Butler said. But its a dangerous practice, and it does happen where they will hit innocent third parties.

Talento, 58, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, and related charges. She was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in November.

Her husband, the accused ringleader of the group, faces charges but is currently considered a fugitive, according to court documents.

Its all complete greed, Butler said. And when the insurance companies make these payouts, it raises premiums for everyone. The fake accidents also take police officers and EMTs away from real emergencies.
Karl Lagerfeld's most trusted assistant and confidante has revealed how he looked on the late designer as a father, despite the difficulties of working for the Chanel creative director who could reduce people to tears with his outbursts.

Lagerfeld, who died on 19 February 2019, first discovered Sebastien Jondeau, now 44, when he was working with a removals firm, aged 14, in Paris.

Speaking to French magazine Paris Match, Jondeau reflected on his 20 years working with the designer, going from bodyguard to modelling on the runway to becoming Lagerfeld's most trusted friend, never leaving his side, and holding his hand on his death bed at the American Hospital of Paris.

Their relationship transcended that of a boss and employee, and Jondeau admitted he saw Lagerfeld as his 'everything,' his only family, and said he 'fought for him like he was [his] own father.'

However, he admitted his employment was a 'golden prison' were his whole life was controlled by the designer, leaving him struggling to fit friends and family into his busy schedule.

Sebastien Jondeau, 44, from Paris, was the late designer Karl Lagerfeld's most trusted assistant. Pictured on December 12 at the Annual Charity Dinner hosted by the AEM Association Children of the World for Rwanda in Paris

Ten months after the Chanel creative director's passing, he who worked as his model, bodyguard and ultimately became his confidant reminisced on life with Karl. The designer and assistant pictured together at the Karl Lagerfeld Homme boutique opening in Paris on 9 October 2014

'Planning a dinner, I can't do it anymore. It scares me,' Jondeau said, 'I dedicated 98 percent of my time to Karl.'

'All his coworkers had families and went home, I didn't. My home was Karl's,' he added.

Jondeau added that since the designer died, he's had an anxiety attack everyday at 5pm or 6pm without fail, the time when he and the German-born fashion icon and him would be hitting the town.

When Lagerfeld was diagnosed with cancer - Jondeau insists the designer suffered from prostate cancer and not pancreatic cancer, as has been reported - his employee and confidante admits he collapsed in his girlfriend's arms, devastated by the news.

More than an assistant. Jondeau revealed the iconic designer died holding his hand after an intense fight with prostate cancer. Pictured at the A Visual Journey Karl Lagerfeld Photo Exhibition at the Pinacotheque in Paris in 2015

But there were some dark times between Lagerfeld and Jondeau, which the former employee mentioned in the interview, like the fact he saw the designer reduce people to tears on more than one occasion.

'He could be horribly tough. I saw him make people cry, I broke doors out of rage. He played s****** tricks on him. Karl never said sorry, he apologised through his actions,' he said.

Yet, he looked after the designer's schedule until the very end, and his devotion remains intact now that he has gone, looking after Lagerfeld's will and settling some of his affairs.

Jondeau was a child of the Parisian northern banlieue, and used to work as a moving man aged 14 when Karl Lagerfeld met him for the first time. Pictured at the opening party of the Karl Lagerfeld Homme boutique in Paris in 2014

The former assistant went from manual jobs moving furniture or loading luggage onto private jets to rubbing elbow with legends of fashion. Pictured with Anna Wintour at the Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld: The White Shirt project on 25 September 2019

Nothing predestined Jondeau to become the right hand man of one of France's most influential designers.

From his early teens, he was known to get into fights often, and worked on several physical jobs, like moving furniture.

That's how he met Lagerfeld, when the designer employed his team during a move in 1989 and gave them 500 francs (65, a generous tip for the time).

Ten years later, Jondeau was loading suitcases in Lagerfeld's private jet when the designer handed him a contract to be his bodyguard.

Just like that, the youngster's life changed, and he went from manual jobs and sweatpants to designer suits and rubbing elbows with the most fashionable celebrities.

Now looking to make it on his own in the fashion world, Jondeau said he thought Lagerfeld would be proud of him, after years of forced closeness - the designer barely let two hours pass without texting his trusted assistant.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Wednesday reported 38 percent decline in total sales at 7,769 units in December 2019. The company had sold 12,489 units in the same month previous year, TKM said in a statement.

Domestic sales in December 2019 stood at 6,544 units as compared to 11,836 units in the same month in 2018, down 45 percent.

Exports last month were at 1,225 units as compared to 653 units in December 2018, it added.

Domestic sales stood at 1,26,701 units in 2019 as compared to 1,51,480 units in 2018, down by 16.36 percent, the company said.

Commenting on the sales performance, TKM Senior Vice President, Sales and Service Naveen Soni said: "We are happy that there has been a continued positive retail sales momentum despite the overall slowdown in the industry. We currently don't cater to the entire market with our products, although the segments we represent have shown de-growth of around 22 per cent, yet our de-growth as compared to the segment has been much lesser."

Commenting on 2020 outlook, he said In the coming year, we would continue to sustain our volumes as 2019. Since we have leadership in the segments we operate in, we would grow at the same pace as the market growth."

He said, the company will keep working towards introducing innovations and newer technologies in its models keeping in mind the changing needs of Indian customers.
Hyderabad: Taking a dig at state Congress president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and coming out in support of Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, AIMIM president Mr Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted of how he had followed the process of law for his protest meeting, which was held at Darussalam.

The Congress leaders also carried out a meeting at Gandhi Bhavan and were preparing to carry out a rally when police stopped him. Apparently furious, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy had called Anjani Kumar as an agent of RSS.

Mr Owaisi took to his twitter handle and said Congress leader Uttam Kumar Reddys language against Hyderabad Police Commissioner is intemperate and should not be used. He must understand that Darussalam is a large space of AIMIM itself and had once even hosted Indira Gandhis public address.

In another tweet he said He was so enthusiastic about protesting against CAA that his party declined our invitation to participate in the protest public meeting held in Nizamabad.

In defence of the top cop, Mr Owaisi said, I made an application on December 20th for the protest march. We have also proposed routes for January 4 and 5 from Darussalam to Eidgah Bilali and Charminar to Dharna Chowk. My request has been considered and accepted.
Kataib Hezbollah, the militia targeted by American fighter bombers, is regarded as the most potent of the dozens of militias, mostly Shiite and backed by Iran, that were assembled into an umbrella organization, the Popular Mobilization Forces, to fight ISIS under the auspices of  and with salaries paid by  the Iraqi Army. But Kataib Hezbollah, whose commander once fought against American troops and now ranks among the most powerful men in Iraq, is also a sworn enemy of the United States, which has 5,000 or so troops and an unclear number of civilian contractors in Iraq to train security forces and prevent a jihadist resurgence. The militia would like to see the Americans driven out and Irans influence in Iraq unchallenged.

Another part of the equation is that Iraq has been weakened by months of violent demonstrations, which have forced the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, setting off a power struggle. One target of the demonstrations has been the power wielded by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, and Kataib Hezbollah may have correctly gambled that provoking the United States into airstrikes inside Iraq would divert popular passions toward anti-American actions.

Iraq, lacking a functioning government, now finds itself trapped in a fray over which it has little control, compelled by public indignation to denounce the American airstrikes on its territory but loath to lose the American counterbalance to Iran and its proxies. Iran, apart from its political calculations in Iraq, is also struggling under American economic sanctions and would no doubt like to make Americas hostility as costly as possible for the Trump administration.

After Mr. Trump loudly pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and imposed tough sanctions on Iran, it is hard to see what incentives he could dangle to prevent Iran and its proxies from further complicating the task of American forces in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East. The president could conceivably lessen tensions by opening some form of dialogue with Iran, whether about a possible renegotiation of the nuclear deal or resolving conflicts in Yemen or Syria.
As thousands gather to take movement into new year, police fire tear gas and arrest pro-democracy protesters.

Hong Kong  Determined to carry their fight into the new year, protesters kicked 2020 off with a march from the citys central park.

Thousands of demonstrators, mostly dressed in signature black attire, started out peacefully along the six-lane main road from Victoria Park to the downtown business district.

Fear not persecution! Release all political prisoners! they shouted. Investigate police brutality!

About three hours in, clashes erupted. Police fired tear gas, deployed water cannon and started a wave of arrests  about 400 protesters were arrested by nightfall.

Organisers urged demonstrators to leave after police revoked the permission to march.

Wednesdays march was led by some of the district councillors who were sworn in only hours earlier.

They were swept into office in late November after nearly 1.7 million voters handed a landslide victory to the so-called pro-democracy camp with a record turnout of 71 percent.

Anti-government protesters sit after being arrested during a demonstration on New Years Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms in Hong Kong [Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters]

No sign of public anger abating

Even though freedom of assembly is enshrined in Hong Kongs own constitution, an ordinance inherited from the colonial era mandates a letter of no objection from the police for marches of more than 30 people.

In recent months, police have rejected requests for such letters, citing clashes at previous gatherings.

Still, many of the demonstrators on Wednesday shrugged off the dispersal order and continued marching.

I came out to show support, Popz Au, 36, told Al Jazeera. Ill carry on for as long as I can. Otherwise therell be no hope for our city.

Last June, two marches that each drew between one and two million people forced Chief Executive Carrie Lam to shelve a controversial extradition bill that had sparked the protests, which have since evolved into a wide-scale movement for greater democracy in the semi-autonomous territory.

Although the extradition bill was finally withdrawn four months later in October, public anger has remained intense, driven by Lams refusal to address protesters other demands.

These include an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality; amnesty for the more than 1,000 people charged with offences stemming from the protests; a retraction of the police assertion that protesters are guilty of rioting; and universal suffrage to elect the full legislature and chief executive.





At the stroke of midnight local time (16:00 GMT), Hong Kong Watch, a UK-based advocacy group, issued an open letter signed by 40 parliamentarians, religious leaders and other prominent figures from 18 countries including Canada, Germany, India and Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States.

They called on Lam to heed the protesters demands for an independent investigation into the police and the right to elect her successor and all legislators.

A devout Catholic, Lam was last seen in public attending Christmas mass with her family and visiting the police headquarters, handing out boxed lunches.

Protest anniversaries

Hong Kong citizens have a tradition of protesting on certain anniversaries.

June 4 is remembered as the date of the 1989 crackdown on student demonstrators in Beijings Tiananmen Square. July 1 marks the day the former British colony returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Both dates have long been marked on the citys activism calendar.

New Years Day is a recent addition, with the first march called on the dawn of 2010 for the right to vote for the semi-autonomous Chinese territorys highest office of chief executive.

Before halting the march on authorities order, organisers estimated the turnout at more than a million, compared with the police figure of 60,000 people.

Either count made Wednesdays event the largest New Years Day march in Hong Kong, a city of 7.4 million.

Im here today because I cant bear to think our younger generations may face a future of perpetual struggle for their freedoms and rights, said Jackson Chan, 30, as he reached downtown, the intended destination of the march.

My new years resolution is for our government to offer a resolution to our demands, said Chan.
Cooperation is essential for Fourth Industrial Revolution



Complaining about the dysfunctional government and political community, leaders of major business organizations have called for broad-based regulatory reform. Their criticism appears to have come from the stark reality that bureaucrats and politicians stand in the way of entrepreneurs' efforts for innovation, even as the Fourth Industrial Revolution gains traction.



In his recent New Year's press conference, Park Yong-mann, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "I was very angered to find that three data-related bills were blocked at the National Assembly for nonsensical reasons." Park revealed that he had visited the legislature as many as 15 times last year alone to appeal for deregulation.



In his New Year's message, Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, expressed hope that government policies will aim to boost corporate vitality. "Business sentiment has been dampened by such policies as the excessive minimum wage increase and the 52-hour workweek system. Problems that can burden corporate management should be addressed comprehensively from a long-term perspective," Sohn added.



Huh Chang-soo, chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, also emphasized bold deregulation, saying, "It's time to establish a new framework. A new era offers both challenges and opportunities."



At a time when the prospects from the U.S.-China trade war are uncertain, it is true there is little indication that the Korean economy will pick up anytime soon. Furthermore, the rapidly aging population and the low birthrate will continue to be a major drag on Asia's fourth-largest economy.



The New Year will be a crucial period in the global competition for hegemony over the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Certainly, this is the time for bold innovation so that Korea won't fall behind other countries in this fast-paced worldwide trend. The government and the political community should join forces to remove cumbersome regulations. Labor groups, for their part, ought to provide support without being entrenched in vested interests.


Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, has condemned racism as he called for tolerance towards immigrants.

The Archbishop was delivering his homily in the Church of Saint Therese, Mount Merrion today, as the Catholic Church celebrated World Day of Peace.

Mr Martin said that since World Day of Peace was initiated by Pope Paul VI in 1968, progress has been made and many countries have fortunately returned to peace.

He continued however: It seems almost inevitable that when peace is attained in one place, war raises its head elsewhere.

Peace must be built up continually. The tolerance that led to peace can be undermined quickly.

The decades-long persistence of conflict and of violent and immense civilian suffering in some African countries is linked to unscrupulous exploitation of natural resources for economic interests.

Lack of respect for difference can undermine even peaceful societies. Fear of the immigrant can be exploited in terms that support narrow populism. Racism and intolerance are dangerous explosives that we only play around with at our own peril.

The Department of Justice admitted in December that Ireland is perilously close to no longer being able to accommodate asylum seekers.

Some 6,085 people are currently accommodated in 39 direct provision centres in Ireland.

A further 1,500 people are currently being accommodated in temporary accommodation - hotels and guest houses - and applications are coming in on a constant basis.

Despite the need for more accommodation for asylum seekers, however, many communities have spoken out and protested when this type of accommodation has been proposed on their doorstep.

Mr Martin called for more tolerance and for Irish people to adopt this years theme the journey of hope.

Hope is not a pipedream. Hope is realism, he said.

It is a journey that reaches out and touches hearts. It aims at reducing the tensions and the intolerance and the misunderstandings that give rise to thoughts of vengeance.

The history of humankind is marked by the persistence of hatred and violence.

However, it is also marked by those who could rise up above the prejudice.

Our young people understand this in a way that my generation failed to do.
More than 2,300 migrants were blocked in the Channel in 2019 as they tried to get to Britain illegally in 231 small boats laid on by people smugglers, it was revealed today.

The extraordinary figure is four times the number picked up in the sea between France and Britain in 2018 when just 586 people were stopped, the French coastguard has said.

The most recent operation took place off Dunkirk on New Year's Eve with an average of around 200 migrants being detained every month in France.

But it emerged yesterday that 1,900 migrants actually reached UK soil after crossing the Channel  including 43 people who made the hazardous journey to Dover yesterday.

But just 50 people traffickers have been prosecuted in either France or Britain in 2019.

Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, last night demanded France does much more in 2020 to stop boats setting off from its beaches and coastline.

New Year's Eve: Six migrants are picked up off Dunkirk as the French authorities revealed they have stopped 2,300 people trying to get to Britain - up from 586 a year earlier

December 30: 19 migrants including two young children were rescued by the Marine Nationale from a overloaded pleasure boat that was trying to get them to the UK

April: These 11 migrants were stopped on the French side of the Channel - but 1,900 others still made it in 2019

On the British side one Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels currently patrol the Channel.

Specialist vehicles and night vision goggles are being used on French beaches to detect migrants trying to get into small boats but critics say more ships and border agents should be deployed.

Some 2,358 people had to be rescued compared to 586 in 2018, the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea told AFP today.

December 5: Eight migrants in a packed dinghy are stopped by the French

In total 261 cases of crossings or attempted crossings were recorded by the French and British authorities, mainly in small, often overloaded, inflatable boats.

Over the past year, growing numbers of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia have taken to the treacherous waters of the Channel in small fishing boats or inflatable dinghies.

Rights groups have linked the crossings to a police crackdown to prevent the establishment of migrant camps in Calais and other areas along the French coast.

At least four migrants died in 2019 attempting to make the dangerous crossing in the Channel, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, with strong currents and icy waters.

A spokesman for the UK's Home Office said a Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels were patrolling the Channel.

'There has also been a doubling of patrols on French beaches and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to stop small boats leaving French shores and arriving in the UK illegally.

'Individuals who reach the UK illegally should be in no doubt about our determination to return them to Europe as it is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.'

November 24: An average of around 200 migrants a month have been stopped taking the perilous journey in the Channel

October 4: Migrants are wrapped in foil blankets as they tried and failed to cross the Channel in freezing conditions

April: Two boats full of migrants are stopped by a coastguard boat who picked them up using searchlights

Crossings have continued into the winter months despite Home Secretary Priti Patel having vowed to halve the numbers by November and virtually eliminate the problem by spring.

Border Force vessels intercepted three rigid-hull inflatable boats as they approached the Kent coast yesterday morning.

Twelve Iranian men were picked up at 3.35am and an hour later a second boat containing 22 males was intercepted.

Those in the second boat claimed to be Iraqi, Iranian or Afghan, with eight of them saying they were under the age of 18. If they are children, they will be transferred into the care of social services.

The final boat, which was carrying an Iranian group of seven men and two women was picked up at around 7.50am.

The migrants, who crossed the world's busiest shipping lane at night in freezing conditions, were assessed by a doctor before being transferred to an immigration centre where they will be interviewed.

French authorities intercepted a fourth boat and took those on board back to mainland Europe where they were detained.

Figures from publicly available sources show that about 1,870 migrants reached Britain or UK waters in small boats last year.

About 400 have arrived since October 15  meaning the Home Secretary has failed to honour her pledge.

A migrant is pictured being assisted into a shipping container at Dover yesterday when 43 made it across from France to Britain yesterday

Last year there were 16 successful prosecutions in France linked to the human trafficking of migrants.

Some 30 people were convicted and received sentences ranging from three months to six years.

Last winter Sajid Javid, the then Home Secretary, declared a major incident when migrant numbers in the Channel soared. He also pledged a crackdown on migrants who cross it in small boats and the people smugglers who help them.

In January he said: 'While we have obligations to genuine asylum seekers we will not stand by and allow reckless criminals to take advantage of vulnerable people. I will continue to do all I can to stop these dangerous crossings.'

Mr Javid called in extra Border Force cutters and allocated millions of pounds to tackling the issue. But the problem has worsened throughout 2019.
A patient at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital has been charged with murder after a stabbing death Tuesday inside the troubled state-run institution, authorities said.

Hospital staff encountered Rashid Davis, 28, in a hallway with blood on his hand, authorities said. They then located the victim in Davis room lying on the floor in a pool of blood, authorities said.

The cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the neck, the Morris County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday.

The victims identity was not released but, according to Donna Leusner, director of communications for the Department of Health, the person who died was also a patient at Greystone.

The 510-bed hospital, which straddles Morris Plains and Parsippany, is one of five psychiatric facilities overseen by the Division of Mental Health in the states Department of Health.

A lawsuit was filed in December 2018 and amended in June 2019 saying that Greystone is a dangerous place for patients and staff because of inadequate security and staffing shortages.

It is the second time advocates have sued to change conditions at Greystone. The first case resulted in a settlement in 1977 that installed a court-ordered monitoring panel until 2009.

A call to Greystone was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Davis was charged with first-degree murder, third degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and fourth degree unlawful possession of a weapon. He remained in custody pending his first appearance in court, the prosecutors office said.

Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The couple met in high school after they were introduced by her brother

Mr Molnar said he wanted to turn a negative last day of the year into a fresh start

Lachlan Molnar, 20, and Hailey McAlpine, 18, found out they'd lost everything

Lachlan Molnar, 20, and Hailey McAlpine, 18, got engaged on New Year's Eve

A young man has proposed to his girlfriend at midnight on New Year's Eve after they lost their home, car and all their possessions in bushfires.

Lachlan Molnar, 20, and Hailey McAlpine, 18, lost everything on Tuesday as blazes tore through their hometown of Sarsfield in East Gippsland, Victoria.

Despite suffering the devastating loss, Mr Molnar got down on one knee and proposed to his high school sweetheart at the stroke of midnight at a New Year's Eve party with friends.

The happy couple took to social media to share the news.

'What a way to end the year huh. Lost my home, lost all my precious possessions. But at least I have my family and my, now fiance,' Mr Molnar wrote on Facebook.

'I thought since we had the worst end of a year that I would help with making the best start to a new one.'

Ms McAlpine described the moment as 'amazing'.

'I had earlier yesterday said to him that there was nothing to look forward to - we have to find a new house, get furniture,' she told the Herald Sun.

The couple found out their family homes had been destroyed in bushfires before Mr Molnar popped the question

The couple met at Bairnsdale Secondary College after they were introduced by her brother

'This has made it a lot of easier on the brain ... it is now a better start to the year.

'I'm just glad that he is here with me and all our family is safe,' she said.

The couple met at Bairnsdale Secondary College after they were introduced by her brother.

They had been dating for four and-a-half years.

Mr Molnar's family home was also razed to the ground.

Mr Molnar's family home before it was ravaged by bushfires in the Gippsland region

People pick through he wreckage of the Molnar family home after it was burned to the ground

Tourists have been urged to leave New South Wales' south coast as soon as possible as firefighters brace for the worst bushfires yet.

Eight people have lost their lives in the bushfires since Monday, seven from NSW and one from Victoria.

In NSW 186 homes have been razed and entire towns, including Mogo and Cobargo have been destroyed.
C hildren as young as seven are being caught with weapons in school but are too young to be prosecuted.

Figures from one of Britain's largest police forces reveal pupils are taking knives into class.

A seven-year-old was among a small handful of youngsters found in possession of a knife on school premises.

They could not be charged with an offence because they were below the age of criminal responsibility.

The law says children aged under 10 cannot currently be charged with a crime.

The investigation found young children are taking knives into classrooms / PA

Data from Kent Police, obtained under Freedom of Information laws (FoI), shows that between April 2017 and December 2019 109 children were investigated for possessing, or threatening with, an offensive weapon or blade  or attempting to  in Kent.

Two children, aged seven and nine, were prevented from being prosecuted for a knife-related offence because of their age, while a 10-year-old was also let off for the same reason, meaning he or she was likely suspected of committing an offence while still below the age of criminal responsibility.

Data showed the most common age for suspects was 14 (23 incidents), while 13-year-olds were involved in 21 incidents, and 15-year-olds were suspected of 20 offences.

Five adults, aged 45, 35, 31, 19 and 18, were also investigated for having knives on school premises.

Three of them, the 35-year-old and the two teenagers, were later charged with an offence.

In total, 116 incidents were recorded by Kent Police during the two-and-a-half-year time frame

116 incidents were recorded by Kent Police during the two-and-a-half-year time frame / Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

All but three of them involved a knife.

There were 15 community resolutions, where police deal with low-level offences without resorting to formal criminal justice sanctions.

Seven cases resulted in a youth caution, while evidential difficulties put an end to a potential prosecution in dozens of cases.

On other occasions, the incident was either passed on to another body to deal with away from the courts, or prosecution was deemed not to be in the public interest.

The release of data by Kent Police follows similar disclosures by the majority of forces in England and Wales under FoI laws earlier in the year

An investigation carried out in October found thousands of children had been caught carrying weapons in school, with suspects as young as four years old.

Police seized scores of knives, blades and other sharp instruments, while a 14-year-old was found in possession of a sword.
Over 2,300 migrants had to be rescued attempting to cross the English Channel in 2019, four times the number for 2018, local authorities in northern France have said.

In total 261 cases of crossings or attempted crossings were recorded by the French and British authorities, mainly in small, often overloaded, inflatable boats, the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea told AFP on Tuesday.

Some 2,358 people had to be rescued compared to 586 in 2018.

Over the past year, growing numbers of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia have taken to the treacherous waters of the Channel in small fishing boats or inflatable dinghies.

Rights groups have linked the crossings to a police crackdown to prevent the establishment of migrant camps in Calais and other areas along the French coast.

At least four migrants died in 2019 attempting to make the dangerous crossing in the Channel, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, with strong currents and icy waters.

A spokesman for the UK's Home Office said a Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels were patrolling the Channel.

"There has also been a doubling of patrols on French beaches and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to stop small boats leaving French shores and arriving in the UK illegally.

"Individuals who reach the UK illegally should be in no doubt about our determination to return them to Europe as it is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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When you have an office that has a grand reception with a piano thrown in, a dining hall with leather Chesterfield chairs, workstations with Herman Miller chairs and a conference room that overlooks either the Jantar Mantar or the Qutub Minar, its much more than an ordinary shared working space  its a bespoke facility offering both a corporate and a cultural experience.

Hong Kong-based The Executive Centre (TEC) is Asias premium flexible workspace provider with over 141 centres in 32 cities and 14 countries across Greater China, Southeast Asia, North Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and the Middle East. Globally, it has 2.78 million square feet of collaborative workspace in its kitty. The company entered the Indian market in 2008 and has since expanded to over 30 centres in seven cities over the past 11 years.

In Asia, besides Colombo and Dubai, the company has a presence in India across Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai.

In India, there are about 30 centres out of which eight are in Gurugram and NCR. It has already signed up for nine more multiple centres  four in Mumbai, five in Bengaluru and three more are in the offing, says Rajat Kapur, senior director, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Dubai Region  South Asia and GCC, The Executive Centre.

In 2020, the company plans to expand across cities - Mumbai, Bengaluru, NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, Dubai and Colombo, he says.

The office suites specialist has a steady approach when it comes to expansion plans. We cannot mushroom everywhere, we are organically bound to our clients. In todays business environment, expansion is a client driven requirement. We have had had a steady approach to plans to get into Tier II cities. We are primarily focusing on expanding our footprint within category A cities. To cite an example, we have recently signed up with a client in Gurugram for a 23,000 sq ft space with bespoke fit-outs. In return we have asked for a longer lock-in, he says.

By 2021-end, the company hopes to have at least 35 to 38 centres in South Asia spread across India, Sri Lanka and Dubai. Of these, at least 60 percent would be in India. India is giving us the highest growth rate. The average number of centres a year is around seven to eight. These cities would typically include Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Cochin, says Kapur.

The average size of these centres range from 25,000 sq ft to 30,000 sq ft. The largest that the co-working company has signed up for is about 60,000 sq ft centre. As for average rentals, the Gurugram market commands anything between 40,000 to 45,000 per workstation while the Connaught Place Centre overlooking the Jantar Mantar commands Rs 50,000 to Rs 55,000 per workstation.

Since we work in the premium space, we cannot mushroom all over. Our prerequisite is a Grade A building since we attract Fortune 1,000 companies. In terms of the industry, we may be smaller on our footprint but are highest on profitability globally, he says.

How is it different from dime a dozen co-working operators setting up shop across the country? A usual co-working facility has everybody working out of a large living room. The Executive Centre offers office suites located in category A plus buildings catering to a particular company. The size of the workstation too is more than 20 percent than what is available in the market. It also focuses on wellness with its air quality control, shower rooms, massage chairs, Herman Miller chairs, soundproof meeting rooms and even phone booths to cut down on sound, he explains.

Tenants differ across geographies. Connaught Place caters to a certain type of clientele such as legal firms, companies dealing with the government or the media whereas Gurugram cater to the IT and the consulting set. Overall, we cater to all major industries from IT, consulting, media, telecom, recruitment, social media to the funded start-ups. Brands such as BCG, Microsoft, Netflix, Twitter, Gartner, Salesforce are all our clients, he says.

Any specific plans for 2020? The flexi-workspaces companies plans to cater to a more holistic clientele going forward. While flexi space is getting more popular across industries, the concept of a business centre is diminishing and serviced offices, enterprise solutions, collaborative and co-working spaces are becoming more vigilant. The focus for the next three years will be to make The Executive Centre more visible in the bespoke solution space rather than just opening and filling centres, he says.

The company recently opened a 35,000 sq ft R&D centre for a global tech giant in This, Kapur adds, will pave the path for other clients going forward.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Deputy Commissioner Gilgit Naveed Ahmed has said that three temporarily Shelter Homes have been established for attendants in the hospitals of the district

GILGIT (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jan, 2020 ) :Deputy Commissioner Gilgit Naveed Ahmed has said that three temporarily Shelter Homes have been established for attendants in the hospitals of the district.

He said this while briefing the Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan Capt (R) Khuram Agha here on Wednesday.

He told the first Shelter Home has been established in district Head Quarter Hospital Gilgit, second in the city hospital and third one in Shaheed Saif Urehman Hospital. The needy attendants with patients are provided shelter and foods after scrutiny and registration from district administration and an official from health department.

The Chief Secretary appreciated the establishment of Shelter Homes by the district administration and health department and said that more shelter homes would be established in other district of GB.


The Moon Jae-in administration confidently said Dec. 19 that Korea will have a 2.4 percent growth rate in 2020, recovering from the chip industry downturn and boosting exports. However, skepticism has emerged over this rosy outlook, as the country is facing political uncertainties in the short run and an aging population in the long run. Against this backdrop, calls have grown for the government to take proper measures to overcome those challenges and inject new vigor into the economy.



The Korea Times conducted interviews with six global economic experts to ask for their advice for the country to get back to its growth track. They are Natixis Asia-Pacific chief economist Alicia Garcia-Herrero, Wharton School professor Mauro F. Guillen, Loyola Marymount University professor Sohn Sung-won, Moody's Senior Vice President Christian de Guzman, S&P Asia-Pacific economist Vishrut Rana and ING Asia-Pacific chief economist Robert Carnell.



The following discussion has been reconstituted based on separate interviews, which were conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9.  ED.



By Park Jae-hyuk



Q: What would be the biggest short- and long-term challenges facing the Korean economy?



Alicia Garcia-Herrero: Short-term is the China slowdown followed by the U.S-China trade war and the Korea-Japan trade war. China is still Korea's most important trading partner, and imports from China are collapsing not only because China is decelerating but also because it is moving up the ladder and, thereby, shedding imports of intermediate goods from Korea. Medium-term is aging and the lack of openings to immigration and also competition.



Mauro F. Guillen: Short-term is the trade war, and long-term is population aging.



Sohn Sung-won: Demographics and productivity are the two long-term challenges. In the short run, political uncertainties at home and the trade war between the U.S. and China are key concerns.



Christian de Guzman: We still view demographic change as the biggest structural challenge given the projected impact of aging on growth and fiscal outcomes.



Vishrut Rana: Demographic changes represent a significant structural challenge for the economy.



Q: Could you provide short- and medium-term policy suggestions for President Moon Jae-in and his economic team to inject new vigor into the Korean economy and put its growth back on track?



Garcia-Herrero: More immigration and more openness to foreign competition. Also, extending working life to support the cost of the elderly population.



Guillen: Diversifying exports is very important.



Sohn: In order for consumers and businesses to spend money, uncertainties must decrease. Unfortunately, Korea has many uncertainties, both political and economic emanating from home and abroad. Fiscal policy could be more stimulative, and the Bank of Korea should be more supportive of the economy.






A Helena man convicted in the double homicide of a Helena Valley couple in 2018 was sentenced to life in prison Friday in Lewis and Clark Coun
Krueger: With some care over the years, the old family barn keeps standing
There are many uncertainties in life, but one thing that is very certain is that 2nd Dist. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a former Democrat who recently joined the GOP, is not truly a Republican.

If there was ever any doubt that the Republican Party has lost its soul and independence, it has been squashed with the partys fawning over Van Drews switch.

The South Jersey GOP, especially, should be embarrassed. Van Drew beat their candidates in past elections that were often nasty, with attacks on core values. Now these independent Republicans are being ordered to support Van Drew if he runs in the 2020 primary election. President Donald Trump has said he supports Van Drew, even if multiple GOP candidates are running for the House nomination.

Let us face it, when Trump says Jump! to the South Jersey Republicans, theyll say Yes, Sir !

What a joke!

As a Democrat who supported Van Drew for many years, I would love to be a fly on the wall at local Republican gatherings where Van Drew explains his hundreds of anti-Republican votes he cast when he was a state lawmaker in Trenton.

Van Drew is a good politician. He will look GOP leaders right in the eye and tell them how he has always been "one of them. Both he and they know that is not true. But they will clap because they were ordered to clap. They will vote for him because they were ordered to vote for him.

Van Drew is just a politician looking to save his seat (after key Democrats rebuffed him over his anti-impeachment vote).

What is the South Jersey Republican Party saving? Certainly not its dignity.

Michael J. Makara, Mays Landing

Navy SEAL got raw deal with atrocity charges

I find the Dec. 28 South Jersey Times print edition story headlined SEALs described chief as psychopath, NCIS interviews reveal, about the court martial of Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator Eddie Gallagher, to be questionable.

The article, from the San Diego Union Tribune, cited an earlier New York Times disclosure of Naval Criminal Investigative Service interview videos in which other SEALS in Gallaghers unit said they witnessed acts that constitute war crimes, including the 2017 stabbing to death of a wounded ISIS fighter. In July 2019, Gallagher was found not guilty on charges of murder and shooting at civilians, but was convicted of posing for photographs with a corpse. President Donald Trump in November reversed a Navy decision to demote Gallagher, and ordered that he be allowed to return to the SEALS.

Any wars, as we know them, are ugly, and atrocities are often committed on both sides. I find what Gallagher is alleged to have done to be not much different than the actions of the late, highly decorated U.S. Sen. John McCain in Vietnam.

As a fighter pilot, McCain dropped bombs from 30,000 feet. Gallagher used his hands, which doesnt seem any more cruel than pushing a button to release tons of explosives on villagers below.

There are also horrific videos of Islamic terrorists decapitating innocent Victims for the thrill of shock and awe, which undoubtedly influenced Gallaghers his behavior towards the enemy.

It seems that the more people someone kills during battle from an aircraft, the more likely they are to be labeled a hero. Pilots are rarely, if ever, accused of atrocities. However, the same forgiveness is not to afforded to ground troops.

Larry Lueder, Mantua Township

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

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By Trend

2019 is about to end. It has been a successful year for our country. All the goals we set ourselves at the beginning of the year have been successfully fulfilled and Azerbaijan has successfully developed, reads the congratulation message from Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev to people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.

In 2019, our country lived in a stable and peaceful environment. The processes going on around the world are obvious. Conflicts, wars, bloody clashes, public protests, police violence, human rights violations have become widespread in various parts of the world, in our region, in post-Soviet republics, in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In the meantime, Azerbaijan is a place of stability, a place of development. This is our great achievement. In 2019, the Azerbaijani people lived, built and created in the conditions of security.

Our international positions have strengthened further. During the year, more than 40 heads of state and government visited Azerbaijan. Our bilateral ties have significantly expanded. We successfully cooperate in a multilateral format, several prestigious international events have been held in our country. I should specifically mention the Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States. As a result of the summit, Azerbaijan assumed chairmanship in the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States. A meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit was held in Azerbaijan and by a unanimous decision of 120 countries, Azerbaijan will chair this large organization for three years. It is a sign of great confidence in us. This shows that the vast majority of the world community supports Azerbaijan and treats us with great respect.

This year, Baku hosted the Summit of World Religious Leaders, and religious leaders from 70 countries gave a very positive assessment to the processes taking place in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan asserted itself at the summit as a multicultural country committed to its traditions, national and religious values.

Our position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unchanged. Our position of principle is that this conflict must be resolved within the territorial integrity of our country. Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient Azerbaijani land, an integral part of Azerbaijan from an international legal perspective. All leading international organizations have made decisions and resolutions on the conflict and expressed their position. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions which explicitly state that the occupying forces must immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the occupied territories. The Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the OSCE, the European Parliament, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other organizations have adopted similar decisions and resolutions. The Partnership Priorities document signed between the EU and Azerbaijan expresses great support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of its borders. Thus, from the point of view of history and international law, Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan.

Throughout the year, Armenia has been making very conflicting, contradictory and nonsensical statements in relation to the conflict. They said that the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic is allegedly an independent state and Azerbaijan should hold negotiations with this independent state. This is a lie. Nagorno-Karabakh is not an independent state, no country has ever recognized this illegal entity, including Armenia itself, and during this year the negotiations were held between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Thus, their ludicrous thesis was smashed to smithereens. Then they said that Nagorno-Karabakh was allegedly Armenia and period. It is possible to make such populist statements, but it is impossible to stand behind them. This is also a lie. Nagorno-Karabakh is not Armenia and the whole world knows this. And I stated again that Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan and exclamation mark!

I am convinced that our consistent and thought-out policy will lead to the resolution of the conflict. Our economic strength, our military strength, our political strength and our demographic growth  all these factors are strengthening our position. I am sure that the day will come when Azerbaijan will restore its territorial integrity. To achieve this, we need to be even stronger, and great steps have been taken this year.

2019 will go down in history as a year of in-depth reforms. Political reforms, personnel reforms, structural reforms, economic, reforms in the political and social spheres have made us stronger. Our economy grew this year, the non-oil sector of the economy grew by more than 3 percent. Our foreign debt accounts for only 17 percent of the GDP. This is the ninth indicator in the world. In the following years, our foreign debt will decline further. Our foreign exchange reserves have grown by $4.5 billion this year, reaching a record high of $50 billion. Our currency reserves exceed our foreign debt more than five times. In other words, this shows the sustainability of the economic and financial opportunities of our country. Industrial production has increased, especially in the non-oil sector, by 14 percent. There is a 7 percent increase in agriculture. So the successful development of our country in all key areas is a reality.

We have become a donor country  according to a report of the International Development Association. We are now a lender, not a borrower. All this is a manifestation of a thought-out policy. All these successful accomplishments allow us the opportunity to allocate to the social sphere, and we did that. This year has been a memorable year from this perspective too. A broad and comprehensive social package was introduced, covering a total of 4,200,000 people. Some allowances have increased by 50 percent, some by 100 percent, that is more than doubled. The minimum wage has doubled and the minimum pension increased by 70 percent. We are in first place in the CIS for the purchasing power of the pension. Our social policy shows again, as I have repeatedly said, that our policies are centered on Azerbaijani citizens. I am confident that as we expand our economic opportunities in the coming years, even more attention will be paid to the social sphere.

In terms of transparency, this year has been a very successful year. Tax and customs authorities have added more than 1 billion manats to the treasury. Of course, this will enable us  I am sure that this trend will be observed next year too  to carry out even more extensive social and infrastructure projects.

Problems of the IDPs are being resolved. This year, new apartments and homes were built for more than 5,000 IDP families and about 800 martyr families. Thousands of homes have been built for the residents of Shamakhi, Ismayilli and Aghsu districts affected by the earthquake. The absolute majority of the consequences of this major earthquake were eliminated in just 10 months. This is also a unique issue because it demonstrates our intentions and strength. The Azerbaijani government and leadership demonstrated again that they are always with citizens.

This year, the TANAP project was commissioned. It is a historical project. TANAP has already reached the EU. We celebrated this historic event in November this year. TANAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor. The Southern Gas Corridor consists of four projects and three of them Shah Deniz-2, the South Caucasus Pipeline and TANAP  have already become reality. The fourth project, TAP, is being successfully implemented and is more than 90 percent through. We are redrawing the energy and transport map of Europe and Eurasia. We initiated this project. We took on a major burden  both financial and technical  and are successfully implementing this enormous and important project together with our partners.

This year was a record year in terms of tourism. More than 3 million tourists visited Azerbaijan for the first time in history this year as a result of our policies, the development of our country, security and peace available here and the major events we have held in Azerbaijan.

Ten millionth citizen of Azerbaijan was born this year. This is also a historic event. In the years of independence, our population grew by more than 3 million. This increases our strength and responsibility because a growing population is a major advantage. At the same time, economic growth should always be ahead of the growing population. Growing population means that new schools, new kindergartens and new hospitals should be built, new jobs should be created. Thus, as the population of Azerbaijan grows, so does our strength. The beautiful girl Mehriban who was born this year made us all very happy. May God make her happy, may God make all our children happy, may God protect all our children!

It is also the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis today. I take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt greetings to all the Azerbaijanis in the world. They should know, and they do, that a strong Azerbaijani state is behind them.

Dear fellow compatriots, I sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and wish you good health and happiness in the New Year.

Happy Holiday!
SPRINGFIELD  When Illinois recreational cannabis law took effect Jan. 1, Illinois State Police officials said the agency wont revoke Firearm Owners Identification cards based solely on recreational use. But questions remain.

A defense attorney who focuses on Second Amendment cases said the matter remains a question mark.

Recreational cannabis is legal in Illinois. Illinois also is one of the only states that require residents to obtain a card to own a firearm. The governmental entity charged with running that program and its daily background checks will also have knowledge of some people who are using cannabis, a no-no for gun ownership in the eyes of the federal government.

While possessing less than 30 grams of cannabis flower has not been a crime in Illinois since 2016, it is still a Schedule I drug in the eyes of the federal government and gun buyers are specifically asked if they use cannabis.

The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside, the Firearms Transaction Record states after it asks if the applicant is an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance.

A yes answer to that question means a denial of the firearm sale. The punishment for lying on an FTR form is a felony. Felons cannot own guns in most cases.

The Illinois State Police will not revoke Firearm Owners Identification cards based solely on a persons legal use of adult-use cannabis, the agency said in a statement Dec. 23.

Pursuant to both State and Federal law, a person who is addicted to or a habitual user of narcotics is not permitted to possess or use firearms, the statement said. Accordingly, the ISP will revoke FOID cards where it is demonstrated that an individual is addicted to or is a habitual user of cannabis. The ISP would also revoke or deny the FOID cards of those who violate certain provisions of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

This appears to be a similar tact to how ISP treated medical cannabis cardholders, but there have been reports of denied gun purchases for medical cannabis cardholders.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms made clear in 2011 that a firearms dealer must not sell a gun or ammunition to a medical cannabis cardholder.

This conflict of what information state police have creates an interesting intersection between federal and state statutes.

Once that information gets in the hands of the Illinois State Police, then it could be their policy to automatically take someones FOID card away based on the argument that they are unlawful users of marijuana, said Michael Donahue, a defense attorney in Kankakee.

One client Donahue represents was arrested for driving under the influence charge after using cannabis and was informed by ISP that his FOID card had been revoked due to the charge, the attorney said.

Some sources say cannabis users would have to buy a firearm through a private sale that doesnt require a background check, but Illinois closed what has been referred to as the gun show loophole in 2013.

An inquiry with the Department of Justice was not immediately returned.
Treasure Island, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/01/2020 -- Affordable beach weddings can be planned from a distance with the help of a local team of wedding planners. Couples often travel from another state or even another country to get married on the west coast of Florida, famed for its golden sunsets. Suncoast Weddings, premier Florida wedding planners based on the west coast in Treasure Island, offer a range of affordable beach wedding packages which typically 'bundle and save' ceremony elements which could be pulled together from the 'a la carte' menu. This means that the couple can be involved as much as they want to. Some couples are not interested in the detailed plans for the ceremony and instead ask the experienced team at Suncoast Weddings to design the aisle and the arch decor. Others have seen an image they particularly like on a social media site such as Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook. They then refer to this as their master blueprint for their own ceremony and the 'look' can be recreated. There are several color themes and floral themes that have served as inspiration for many couples over the years. Perhaps one of the most requested designs is a four-post bamboo arch with ivory chiffon and dendrobium orchid accents. Others like to be involved every step of the way, planning every detail from the aisle markers to the sash colors, the pomanders to the starfish hangers. Another way to personalize the service is to write vows. When couples ask for inspiration, the team at Suncoast Weddings have many insights on what balance to strike between funny and romantic. Perhaps one of the most meaningful and useful pieces of advice is to look to the lyrics of a favorite song. When spoken as a vow at the arch, the lyrics take on a deep significance and will always be remembered by family and friends. Suncoast Weddings also offer the option to add pre-recorded music before and after the wedding ceremony, so the music could follow the ceremony in addition to the lyrics being read. If there is a large wedding party, there is also a microphone available to rent to make sure everyone in attendance can hear the vows. For small beach wedding packages, adopting a circular or spiral seating plan is also an option. This brings guests closer to the arch and, in the case of the spiral seating plan, the couple gets to pass by each person on their way to and from the arch.



A popular twist on a familiar theme is to gather family and friends together for a Florida beach house wedding. Suncoast Weddings partner with the Sunset Beach House to offer a venue directly on Treasure Island Beach. The shore is transformed into a ceremony site and then the back yard of the property becomes the 'al fresco' reception venue. Any of the Suncoast Weddings beach wedding packages would work well at this venue. If the wedding party is more than twenty or so, there are hotels nearby or boutique cottages offering the prospect of a memorable stay.



Treasure Island Florida Wedding Packages, St Pete Beach weddings, Siesta Key weddings, and Clearwater beach weddings boast spectacular sunset views over the Gulf of Mexico, perfect for couples who want sunset wedding day portraits. Florida beach weddings and reception packages can be purchased which includes the ceremony and also the party to follow. This may include items such as a DJ, a custom made cake, a coordinator for the wedding and a professional beach wedding photographer.



About Suncoast Weddings

Suncoast Weddings are based in Treasure Island and offer beach weddings in Florida on the sandy beaches of the west coast of Florida in the Clearwater, St Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island area. With a range of Florida beach wedding packages ranging from a simple 'Toes in the Sand' ceremony to their tropical 'Island Oasis' and 'Ultimate Romance' packages, they have the experience to tailor each special day to the couple and their unique wishes. Choose from themes and color schemes featured on their website or choose something totally new. With eclectic inspiration like a seashell-inspired spiral aisle and a team of beach wedding photographers, videographers, ministers and planners who craft Florida beach weddings and Florida vow renewals to delight. They take the guesswork out of planning a beach wedding in Florida.



Contact Details



Phone: 727-443-0039

Email: sue@suncoastweddings.com

Online: http://www.suncoastweddings.com/
KABUL, Afghanistan - For three miraculous days in June 2018, the Afghan war came to a halt. Under a brief cease-fire agreement, Taliban fighters appeared in towns and cities, mingling with civilians and uniformed troops, praying in community mosques and getting a taste of peace.

The fighting quickly resumed, and in the 18 months since, thousands more Afghan civilians and security forces have been killed, as well as over 40 American troops. Peace talks between Taliban and U.S. officials dragged on for a year, and were abruptly canceled in September by President Donald Trump.

But suddenly, in the past week, rumors of a possible new truce have flooded the news, striking a rare spark of hope among the war-weary citizenry. International media outlets have reported that a cease-fire is imminent, citing unnamed sources after Taliban leaders held several meetings in Pakistan.

The prospect of a truce, seen as the first step toward a U.S.-Taliban peace deal that would soon be followed by negotiations between Taliban and Afghan leaders, has also sparked a flurry of political activity and controversy over who would lead and participate in such talks.

Spokesmen for the insurgents have adamantly denied the reports of a nationwide truce deal. But they have held open the possibility of accepting a narrower, more vaguely defined period of lessened conflict, with the time frame and territory still in dispute.

"The Islamic Emirate has no intention of declaring a cease-fire," Zabihullah Mujahid, the main Taliban spokesman, said in a statement, using the group's name for a religious government. "The United States has asked for a reduction in the scale and intensity of violence, and discussions being held by the Islamic Emirate are revolving solely around this specific issue."

American officials have said nothing about the conflicting reports; even the main U.S. negotiator, Zalmai Khalilzad, usually a fount of upbeat tweets, has fallen silent since returning to Washington this week after meeting with Taliban and Pakistani officials.

Afghan officials said they have received no word from either side. The Taliban have refused to recognize Ghani's government, but he appears to have narrowly won re-election in a September poll and has asserted that the final results will confirm that, giving him a mandate to lead the peace effort.

"We have not heard anything that raises our hopes for a truce," said Javid Faisal, an aide to Ghani. "We want it to happen, because it will be an important step forward toward negotiations among Afghans. But it has to be a real truce, a complete truce that is guaranteed and assured."

In the absence of facts, a wave of confusion and commentary has swept media and political circles here. One common theory is that Taliban leaders in Pakistan agreed to a truce but that some field commanders still oppose it, believing they can win the 18-year war and return the country to full-fledged religious rule.

The momentum has also been slowed by the likelihood that Trump may soon reduce the 13,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan to about 8,600. Previously, U.S. officials insisted that the insurgents had to sign a peace agreement before any major troop cuts would take place.

Other points of contention include whether the fighting pause would last one week or longer, whether it would be confined to certain cities or include rural areas, and whether it would be called a formal truce or a more subjective reduction in violence.

"The Taliban are under pressure from Pakistan and the U.S. to sign a deal, and they may be putting on an appeasing face to buy time, but their past behavior shows they are difficult to trust," said Haroun Mir, an analyst in Kabul who helped found Afghanistan's Center for Research and Policy Studies. If the insurgents agree to a brief truce during a cold winter, when fighting always slows, he said, "it will mean nothing."

On Tuesday, comments from Taliban and Afghan officials suggested that mistrust and intransigence remain high on all sides. One Taliban military commander insisted that as long as U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, there can be no truce. A member of the government's High Peace Council said both Ghani and the insurgents are being too stubborn; the president, in turn, announced plans to dissolve the entire council.

Since preliminary election results showed Ghani winning re-election by about 10,000 votes, his opponents have filed thousands of fraud complaints that may take months to investigate. But Ghani is racing to form a delegation to negotiate with the Taliban, even as an array of rivals have objected that they are being left out.

"The whole country is keenly interested in peace, but the ground is not being prepared for it," said Ehsanullah Zia, Afghan director of the nonprofit U.S. Institute of Peace. Even with people dying every day, he said, some Afghans are demanding "red lines for peace. We don't have the luxury of setting red lines. People need to suppress their personal ambitions for the sake of the country."

Aides to Ghani insist that the list of peace delegates, kept secret so far, will represent all sectors of society. In April, when Kabul tried to choose a group to meet with insurgent leaders in Qatar, it became so unwieldy that the insurgents canceled the talks.

"These talks will be very inclusive," said Faisal. "All sides that matter will be included. If the Taliban don't accept it this time, the blame will go to them."
Dennis Vega

Vega is the president and chief executive of Americas Promise Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of nonprofits, businesses and individuals to catalyze action on behalf of young people.

Oregon communities are doing something a little different when it comes to education.

School district leaders, school staff and community partners increasingly recognize that wellness  including mental health  goes hand in hand with positive academic outcomes for students. Put simply, what happens outside the classroom, and what happens emotionally inside a young person, is inextricably linked to performance in the classroom.

This focus on mental health is enormously important for the young people of Oregon. According to Mental Health America, Oregon has the fifth highest prevalence of mental health illness  which factors in substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and other indicators  for youth of any state in the nation. At the same time, the states high school graduation rate of 79% lags far behind the national average of 85%. We know that the future is not bright for young people who do not graduate from high school. A serious focus on mental health can be a breakthrough to a greater level of academic success. By making social, emotional and mental health priorities in schools, Oregon can create school cultures where everyone feels safe and where students experience an improved sense of connectedness and wellbeing.

For instance, Better Together Central Oregon, a regional, cross-sector partnership working collectively to improve education outcomes for children and youth from cradle to career, and the Crook County School District are teaming up to destigmatize mental illness in schools and equip school staff to work with students who have experienced trauma.

Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500-700 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

They chose this approach because of a significant increase of visible signs of students having experienced trauma. These trauma-informed approaches accelerate academic achievement by providing supportive environments for both young people and school staff members. In Crook County, all school staff  including custodians, teachers and counselors  are being trained in trauma-informed practices and now have a shared understanding around trauma and how it shows up differently for individual students and adults.

Its critical work. Families and young people need higher levels of access than they currently have to mental health care and other supports.

Luckily, theres good news on the state level. The Oregon Student Success Act, the states education plan, will deliver $1 billion a year in new funding to school districts across Oregon. The allocation includes a strong focus on social and emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and student mental and behavioral health. This is desperately needed.

The efforts in Oregon can show the way for communities across the nation. Thats why Americas Promise Alliance recently convened a summit in Redmond with leaders from two communities involved in our Every School Healthy initiative that are making progress in creating schools that support the whole child  central Oregon and St. Louis, Missouri. We brought together partners from Mosaic Medical, Oregon State University-Cascades, Bend La-Pine Schools, Pioneer Secondary Alternative High School, and Alive and Well Communities in St. Louis to share promising practices that create supportive learning environments with a national audience that tuned in via a livestream.

For example, Bend La-Pine schools are undergoing an excellence and equity review, involving dozens of listening sessions with underserved populations and data collection, to create a continuous improvement plan that better addresses the needs and experiences of communities of color. At OSU-Cascades, researchers are looking at resilience among students and teachers, a key measurement which can inform the development of effective care environments.

From the beginning, young people have been at the center of this work. And that continues. Oregons young people have taken the lead in saying that their mental health matters. Through this activism, high school students successfully pressed the state Legislature to allow excused mental health days.

At our summit, we were reminded of what young people want: adults who will talk to them and have conversations about whats meaningful in their lives beyond academics. Adults who arent afraid of kids and who will honor young peoples experiences and perspectives. Fortunately, people are listening. Mosaic Medical convenes youth advisory councils in alignment with school-based health centers. Through these efforts, students are codesigning spaces and practices alongside adults and are informing decisions that ultimately affect their own success.

As Tamarra Harris of Mosaic Medical says, Youth want to talk, and they want their stories to be heard.

If we listen to the wisdom of people on the ground  especially young people themselves  then we can remove barriers and pave the way for all students to succeed in school, work and life.

We still have a long way to go to make sure every student succeeds, but this work in Oregon gives us hope of better futures for all young people.
Manipur attack: Mortal remains of Assam Rifles personnel to head to their homes

Protesters in Assam show black flag to the convoy of CM Sarbananda Sonowal

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Guwahati, Jan 02: On Wednesday when people across the world was welcoming the new year, the student union of Assam took a vow to continue their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). People even showed black flag to the convoy of state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in Barpeta district of Assam.

Reportedly, Sonowal's convoy was shown black flags by people protesting against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act in Sarthebari area of Barpeta district earlier on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, while addressing to media, Sonowal said, not to ostracise him, where would he go?

He also added that the people of Assam have chosen him to lead the state, and he can't let the people down. He added that he have never compromised with the interest of the people of Assam.

#WATCH Assam: Convoy of state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal shown black flags by people protesting against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct in Sarthebari area of Barpeta district, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/02uGZf3HPb  ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2020

NEWS AT NOON JAN 2nd, 2020

The students and office-bearers of the unions of the Gauhati University, Dibrugarh University, Cotton University, and the Tezpur University assembled at the gate of Cotton University in Guwahati and staged a two-hour protest against the new contentious citizenship law.

The protesters pledged to continue their protest till the contentious Act is withdrawn. The students have also decided to protest against the Centre's apathy in dealing with the long-festering issues of the state.

Besides this, the members of the Asom Sahitya Sabha wearing black masks staged a sit-in in Guwahati.

Assam Rifles ambush case: NIA charges six terrorists

Since December 9, days after the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed in Parliament protest have been continuing across all the districts in Brahmaputra valley of Assam.
New U.S. Ambassador To Russia Discusses State Of Relations With Counterpart

By RFE/RL December 31, 2019

Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has met with his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Antonov, in Washington.

"The sides exchanged views on the current status and prospective development of Russian-U.S. relations," the Russian Embassy said in a statement following the December 30 meeting.

Sullivan, who has served in two previous administrations and is a close ally of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, was confirmed by the Senate on December 12. He was sworn in on December 23.

Sullivan, as deputy secretary of state in the administration of President Donald Trump, has been involved in developing U.S. policy on Russia, led counterterrorism talks with Moscow in July, and has been involved in restarting negotiations on a broad range of security issues.

He also briefly served as acting secretary of state following the resignation of Rex Tillerson in the spring of 2018. As ambassador, Sullivan succeeds Jon Huntsman Jr., who resigned in August.

During his confirmation hearing in December, Sullivan said that "our relationship with Russia has reached a post-Cold War ebb," and listed a number of examples of "Russia's malign actions" that have strained relations.

Among them he named "attempting to interfere in our and our allies' elections, violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and Georgia, employing a weapon of mass destruction in an attempt to assassinate its citizens abroad, violating the INF Treaty, and infringing on the basic human rights of its people."

However, he added, "the need for principled engagement with Russia is as important to our national interest as ever."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has described Sullivan as "a highly professional and experienced diplomat."

With reporting by The New York Times, TASS, and Interfax

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/new-us-ambassador-to -russia-discusses-state-of-relations- with-counterpart/30353711.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.

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : At a time when the nation is celebrating New Year, BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah got into a huddle with senior party leaders at the BJP headquarters here to evaluate how far the party has been able to counter the popular narrative on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The BJP President is reviewing the outreach programme launched by the party on Sunday. The BJP has identified six leaders who are entrusted with the job of spearheading it's nationwide outrich exercise.

Apart from Shah, those present in Wednesday's meeting include BJP working President J.P. Nadda, General Secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh and all other General Secretaries of the party. As per sources, BJP Vice President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe is also present in the closed door meeting.

Holding a review meet just three days after the plan was kicked off is also a way to signal how serious the top BJP leadership is about the outreach programme. This also coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the "India supports CAA" campaign on Twitter and NaMo app.

Anil Jain is leading the party's charge in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- two states which have witnessed major minority resentment towards the CAA.

Avinash Rai has been entrusted with leading and coordinating the outreach programme in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.

Saroj Pandey will coordinate in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Daman and Diu, while Suresh Bhatt will lead the programme in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir.

For the southern zone, the party has selected Ravindra Raju who will coordinate with the media to organise press conferences, meetings and outreach programmes in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, the Andamans, Puducherry and Lakshadweep.

For the eastern belt, former Bengal BJP chief Rahul Sinha has been made in-charge of West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and the northeast. He will be working in coordination with Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Minister of Health & Family Welfare, in the northeast.

Delhi, which will go to polls this year, has witnessed large-scale violent protests against CAA, particularly near Jamia Millia Islamia. Since then, the national capital has been witnessing protests -- virtually every day -- either by student organisations or civil society groups.

The protests have spread to other parts of India, creating a narrative that CAA will hurt the interests of Indian Muslims. BJP's outreach programme aims is to counter this narrative.
Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Wednesday said the joint security outfit, Amotekun, initiated by the six governors in the zone would commence work on January 9.

Mr Fayemi, who disclosed this in his New Year message to the people of the state, said the outfit would complement the efforts of the regular security agencies.

On January 9, 2020, the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun shall commence operations in all the six states in our zone

Ekiti is very active in this initiative which will go a long way in securing the people and protecting the state

The fact remains, however, that criminality cannot be totally eradicated even as we are working meticulously at reducing it to the barest minimum in Ekiti State, and the evidence is there for all to see and acknowledge that we are making steady progress

Since we are not an Island, we are working with neigbouring states to strengthen our security architecture, he said.

Mr Fayemi also urged community leaders and groups not to allow themselves to be used to cause unnecessary tension that could trigger crisis in the state.

I have personally kept a close watch on the security situation within and around Ekiti State, and I can assure you that as a government, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure safety of lives and property in our dear State.

Ekiti remains one of the safest places to live, work and conduct business in Nigeria.

Henceforth, I urge our community leaders or groups not to allow themselves to be used to spread fake or unsubstantiated news with a view to setting the residents against themselves or destabilising the peace of the state

We must encourage our people to report any strange signal or incident, but we must resist the temptation to resort to self-help at any time, he said.

The governor also stated that the 2020 budget bears eloquent testimonies to his deliberate and honest quest at providing good road network and improving the enabling environment for business concerns.

Mr Fayemi added that residents of the state would continually enjoy affordable education at all levels, good and motorable roads, improved agriculture, social security benefit and development at the grassroots.

(NAN)
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(Newser)  A fire at a zoo in western Germany in the first minutes of 2020 killed more than 30 animals, including apes, monkeys, bats and birds, authorities said. Police said the fire may have been caused by sky lanterns launched to celebrate the new year, the AP reports. Witnesses reported that they had seen the cylindrical paper lanterns with little fires inside flying in the night sky shortly after midnight near the Krefeld zoo, Gerd Hoppmann, the city's head of criminal police told reporters Wednesday, just before the zoo began to burn. Police and firefighters received the first emergency calls at 12:38am. The zoo near the Dutch border said that the ape house burned down and more than 30 animals, including five orangutans, two gorillas, a chimpanzee and several monkeys, as well as fruit bats and birds, were killed. Only two chimpanzees could be rescued, zoo director Wolfgang Dressen said.

story continues below

"It's close to a miracle that Bally, a 40-year-old female chimpanzee, and Limbo, a younger male, survived this inferno," Dressen said, adding that many animal handlers were in shock at the devastation. "We have to seriously work through the mourning process. This is an unfathomable tragedy." The zoo director also said many of the dead animals were close to extinction in the wild. Police said that the use of sky lanterns is illegal in Krefeld and most other parts of Germany and that their use is uncommon. Sky lanterns, sometimes called Chinese lanterns, are a sort of hot-air balloon made of paper. They have been used in Asia for celebratory events for centuries. Hoppmann said investigators found used lanterns on the ground that hadn't burned entirely. They were 13.4 inches long, made out of white paper with an opening at the bottom where a small fire would have been suspended. The fire heats the air inside, making them fly and shine at night. Hoppmann said some of the lanterns had handwritten notes on them.

(Read more zoo stories.)
Denver, Colo., Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We live in an uncertain world where crises can impact our brand, reputation or business in a split second. It can feel overwhelming and not worth the effort to even develop a crisis management plan because there are so many areas where you could be hit. M&C Communications has developed the Brand Protection Tool to help you focus on your three most vulnerable areas, so you can make the most of your crisis management plans.

The M&C Communications Brand Protection Tool helps you to start thinking through the unthinkable: likely crisis scenarios and how your response can help protect your business. Think of it as insurance that protects your brand.

The Brand Protection Tool is a 3-step process:

Brainstorm crisis scenarios: Get your team together and come up with every crazy scenario you can think of. Nothing is too outlandish. Make sure everyone who leads any part of your team is involved. Score your crisis scenarios on a scale of 1-10. What could impact these scenarios to make them more or less likely to occur: legislation, taxes, geopolitical forces, new industry trends, customer sentiment change? Add up your score. You might be surprised what types of scenarios rise to the top of the list. Choose the top 3 highest-scoring scenarios to develop crisis management plans to mitigate the likely impacts on your business. Develop your crisis management team and plan outline. Make sure to involve all the team leaders who helped you brainstorm. Your goal is to encourage a team approach instead of a siloed approach; to have each member better understand the impact on other departments and what types of pressures they experience. Go through each scenario and talk about how it would impact each team members specific audience, such as HR, Investor Relations, Legal and of course, your customers. Now talk about how different team members can back each other up. Finally, designate a crisis leader and assistant leader to handle each scenario and develop a plan outline, no more than 1-2 pages, for each scenario.

It isnt always the obvious problem that can cause a reputation snafu. The more you think about a plan, the more flexible and prepared you will be when one of these events happens. M&C Communications can help you create a crisis plan so you can exponentially increase your chances of successfully managing the crisis situation.
Navalny 'Completely Pessimistic' About Western Curbs on Russian Corruption

By Danila Galperovich, Pete Cobus December 31, 2019

After one suspected chemical poisoning, two arrests, 40 days in jail and multiple police raids on his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) offices nationwide, it's safe to say Russia's most prominent opposition figure has had a rough year.

But for Alexei Navalny, 2019 wasn't without at least one small victory. His calls for mass demonstrations over the exclusion of opposition candidates from local Moscow elections sparked the largest sustained protest movement in years, prompting state investigators to launch a money-laundering probe and label his group a "foreign agent," a move that he and others call part of a Kremlin-orchestrated campaign to stifle growing dissent.

Despite house-to-house searches for FBK staffers, asset seizures and frozen bank accounts, the well-known blogger and activist says he also maintained a regular jogging routine while preparing new investigative exposes on alleged corruption that fuels the excessively lavish lifestyles at the highest echelons of Russian officialdom.

Navalny recently sat down with VOA's Russian Service to reflect on 2019, the state of the American and Russian political systems, and accusations that he's been needlessly hard on Moscow banker Andrei Kostin, one of Russia's most powerful civilians.

Just hours after this interview was conducted, Russian officials again raided FBK's Moscow headquarters using power tools to gain entry before dragging Navalny out by force and confiscating computer equipment. The latest raid came one day after police broke into Ruslan Shaveddinov's Moscow flat, forcibly conscripting the 23-year-old FBK project manager to serve at a remote military base in the Arctic, a move Navalny has since called tantamount to kidnapping.

The following has been edited for brevity.

QUESTION: How serious are FBK's financial losses as a result of these raids, and in what other ways did Russian authorities try to interfere with your work this year?

ALEXEI NAVALNY: In order to impede, complicate, and paralyze the foundation's work, a wide range of tools are used. First, it's just non-stop "searches," which are in fact planned confiscations of computers, phones, flash drives  any data-processing electronics of FBK employees, staff, their relatives, neighbors, sometimes even random people. Second, it's the freezing of accounts, such that people can't, for example, pay or receive a salary. All accounts and cards are blocked, even for child care and survivor benefits. And then there's the recently launched criminal case, which allows [officials] to call in anyone in for questioning at any time, along with unending efforts to nightmare and harass people through ostensibly legal actions. And while our people are quite resilient, the pressure strongly affects their relatives.

As for finances, we now have several million rubles on the account blocked. The question is not even what the financial losses are, but that we're prevented from receiving cash inflows. ... After the last [election] campaign for the Moscow City Duma, there were quite a lot of [donations], so the authorities are simply trying to block this cash flow, and the campaign to designate us as "foreign agents" means all of FBK's monetary assets were declared "criminal."

Q: Which events of 2019 were most significant to you?

NAVALNY: Undoubtedly the Moscow City Duma elections. Initially, we didn't think it would have any great national political significance, but the actions of the authorities, which were extraordinary in their stupidity, severity and senselessness, caused these events to resonate nationally. We received, on the one hand, new independent [Moscow City Duma] deputies, and, on the other hand, a huge number of people [were blocked from voting, which only made more people sympathetic to our cause]. So we got new political prisoners, new political stars. ... In this sense, the Moscow City Duma elections were the main event.

Q: You do what many would call the kind of high-quality investigative journalism, which, in the West, might topple an entire government. Yet your exposes of government corruption aren't compelling most Russians to protest. Why?

NAVALNY: This is indeed a cause of frustration on our part. We grasp perfectly well the quality our investigations, and we see many examples where exposes of less impact trigger government resignations and parliamentary crises in other countries. But in Russia this doesn't have major consequences due to the general political situation. And it's not a purely Russian phenomenon  we see similar things in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, any number of other authoritarian countries with staggering levels of corruption. That's where we also see this unfortunate, conditioned familiarity with corruption: the population already understands the elite stole everything, and the whole country exists only for the enrichment of this elite. And then of course there's censorship and intimidation. Therefore, we don't believe that the population is indifferent to our investigations  they know about them, but they're afraid of the state aggression toward those who choose to protest.

Q: You don't suppose that since quite a lot of people are now connected with state structures in Russia, and because they have families to feed, that corruption schemes have now become the new normal for a significant part of the populace? That the fight against corruption is a threat to a broad class of people?

NAVALNY: That's a good question. Does, say, the deputy head of the consumer market department of the city of Kostroma feel himself a direct part of Putin's "power vertical"? In fact, the vast majority of officials are not corrupt, if only because corruption isn't as lucrative in lower-level bureaucracies, [whereas theft of natural resource commodities such as oil and gas] is basically limited to maybe a thousand or so families with direct ties to Vladimir Putin at the highest level of his administration. But yes, in a certain sense, the system is built in such a way  and the belief systems of individuals within the system are built in such a way  that you live a very poor but stable life within the system. And of course you receive some informal privileges by being inside of it, such that your rational choice is to defend it rather than try to change it for the better.

Q: Your recent expose showed that Andrei Kostin, president and chairman of Russia's state-owned VTB bank, gave millions of dollars in gifts, including property, a private jet and a yacht, to his purported romantic partner, Russian state TV presenter Nailya Asker-Zade. Some commentators then accused you of prying into the personal affairs of private citizens as opposed to state officials. How do you feel about such accusations?

NAVALNY: Personal life is peoples' relationships. We are not interested in the relationships, love, passions and dramas that occur in the families of Kostin, Asker-Zade or anyone, not even Putin. However, when it comes to colossal spending from a state bank, it's already about corruption, not about personal relationships. And if a state banker spends literally tens of millions of dollars on his mistress, providing her with a standard of living on par with Arab sheikhs, that's already far, far beyond the limits of a private, personal affair. We try, as far as possible, not to condemn or evaluate Kostin from the point of view of public morality or "family values," but we certainly reserve the right to discuss his morals from the point of view of corruption, from the point of view of lifestyle, from the point of view of expenditures.

Q: There's the impression that you now regularly visit the United States, where your daughter studies. What's your impression of American political life?

NAVALNY: Unfortunately, I don't visit so often. I took my daughter to the university and went to shoot a story about Nailya Asker-Zade's plaque on a bench in New York City's Central Park, [which she had engraved with a declaration of her love for Kostin]. My feelings are unambiguous and probably align with those of many people, including most Americans: the country is split, the political class is split. Everyone on the left is [feeling] a kind of frustration, demoralization and rage, while those on the right are probably also furious, frustrated and demoralized, because it's not clear what to do about it or where it's all headed. It's still not very clear, for example, why the newspapers consistently reported [that Hillary Clinton had a commanding lead in the race, and then Trump won]. This is a very interesting but difficult time for Americans. But overall, even though I see a lot of exasperated people, I do think checks-and-balances generally works. Nothing so terrible is happening to America. Democracy works.

Q: Can Western countries somehow influence Russia's behavior in terms of corruption and human rights? What mechanisms are effective?

NAVALNY: I think we already understand empirically that, unfortunately, they can't influence anything, and they don't really want to. There's always some fictitious geostrategic interests or, perhaps, short-term political interests, some ideas about "peacekeeping missions," etc ... that simply prevent us from taking steps that are long overdue. Western countries need to protect not Russian citizens but themselves from the secondary effects Russian corruption by implementing their own laws. But this isn't happening. We repeatedly see that, despite the sanctions, despite the fact that there is a lot of talk on this subject, the entire Putin elite feels completely at ease. We haven't seen any real examples of asset freezes or seizures. On the contrary, we see people under sanctions traveling quite freely and continuing to buy up properties and assets only to register them to their children. And regulators, including American ones, pretend not to notice.  I am completely pessimistic about the role of the West in the fight against corruption in Russia.

Q: What are your political plans? The much discussed 2024 [presidential election] is still more than 4 years away; what are you going to do?

NAVALNY: It's still a long time until 2024, but we don't plan our activities from election to election. Elections take place constantly, and we're actively engaged in them. We also have the anti-corruption foundation, so we're engaged in the investigations, and we'll continue to build a nationwide system combating censorship through YouTube channels and blogs. We have a system of more than 40 headquarters, which now face the main task of learning how to survive under new conditions, in which [the state] is trying to paralyze our entire structure and funding with constant raids. We'll continue what we are doing, and we'll reinvent ourselves so that we can do it even more effectively in the new environment. And we'll try to expand. We have a lot of work to do.

Q: Are you going to continue trying to register a political party? You've been doing this for a long time, but you keep getting rejected.

NAVALNY: As we've stated many times, this is our right. Court cases on this issue have been going on for many years, and we are constantly making new attempts to register. We'll always do it. At the same time, of course, we're well aware that the Kremlin simply can't afford to register our party, because then it's unclear what they will do with it in the elections. But it's our right, and we'll continue to defend it.

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President Trump speaks to the press outside the grand ballroom as he arrives for a New Year's celebration at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 31, 2019. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Says He Doesnt Want War With Iran After Attack on US Embassy in Baghdad

President Donald Trump said on Dec. 31 he does not want war with Iran, hours after he said that Iran will be held fully responsible after an attack led by Iranian-backed militias on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump dismissed concerns that tensions between the two countries could spiral into a war.

Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace, he said. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening.

Earlier on Dec. 31, Trump emphasized he was not just warning Iran when he said that the Ayatollah regime will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities.

He wrote on Twitter: They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

.Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Trumps threat came after a group of protesters, including supporters of Iran-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah, breached the outer walls of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, threatening the lives of Americans inside.

The attack prompted the deployment of 100 Marines, part of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task ForceCrisis ResponseCentral Command from Kuwait.

None of the groups members or protesters entered the embassy itself, the State Department said.

Some Iraqi security forces were keeping the groups at bay as the crowd scrawled slogans on walls, hurled stones at buildings, and chanted Death to America.

A contingent of Marines was inside the embassy awaiting reinforcements and two Apache helicopters were flown overhead as a show of force.

Early reports said the U.S. embassy was being evacuated but the State Department later said all U.S. personnel at the embassy were safe and that there were no plans to evacuate.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper later said in a statement that about 750 soldiers from the U.S. Armys 82nd Airborne Division alert brigade were being rapidly deployed to Kuwait amid the unrest.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, Esper said.

The Pentagon said preparations were being made to deploy additional troops over the next several days. U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in the coming days if needed, Fox News reported.

The alert brigade, which has been told to prepare for deployment, is known as the Deployment Ready Brigade (DRB) and is made up of about 4,000 paratroopers, according to the news outlet. U.S. officials said the brigade had a 96-hour alert window to be dispatched to the region.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. Since May, about 14,000 additional U.S. troops have been deployed to the region as tensions with Iran escalated in the region, according to the Pentagon.

Esper said he authorized the deployment of troops at Trumps direction and in response to recent events in Iraq.

The groups who breached the embassy walls were ostensibly angry after the U.S. conducted defensive strikes on Kataib Hezbollah targets in Iraq and Syria. The Dec. 29 strikes were approved after the death of a U.S. defense civilian contractor who was killed in a rocket attack on a northern Iraqi military base.

At least 25 Kataib Hezbollah fighters were killed and at least 55 wounded in three U.S. air strikes in Iraq, and at least four local Kataib Hezbollah commanders were among the dead, according to Iraqi security and militia sources. The groups headquarters near the western Qaim district on the border with Syria was one of the targeted sites. It was destroyed.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified! President Donald Trump said in a statement earlier Tuesday.

To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time! Trump wrote.

Reuters and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Judge Seamus Hughes has once again spoken out on the level of feuding that has been taking place in Longford over the past twelve months.

Following a lengthy hearing, which saw him refuse bail to five of the eleven defendants who appeared before him last Friday evening, Judge Hughes expressed his concern for the towns reputation.

Theres a presumption of innocence in granting bail toward a persons charge. Over the last 12 months, there have been various feuds in Longford. This town has received publicity nationally. It was described in one newscast as a ring of steel clasped around Longford - a reputation that no rural town deserves or wants, he said.

This bench has announced on several occasions that it wont tolerate this type of conduct, which is feud related.

This incident was a spontaneous, organised gang of two mobs who decided to meet up on Main Street - a location of high footfall.

Old age pensioners were collecting their social welfare. People were posting their Christmas cards. Mothers with babes in arms were going around, contemplating their Christmas shopping. I could go on and on.

This is a very special time of the year - the gathering of families. However, this court does not show sentimentality or emotion at this time.

Ive considered all of the evidence very carefully - both the prosecution and defence. Im not satisfied that further spontaneous feuds will not be perpetrated in the immediate future if any one of you receives bail, he concluded, refusing bail to the four men who applied for it.

Read more: Judge refuses bail in Longford feud incident
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 13:23:28|Editor: zyl

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NEW DELHI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and several others injured after an elevator at a private property crashed in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said Wednesday.

The accident took place in Patalpani-Mhow of Indore district, about 225 km west of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.

The accident happened during a party organised by a business family at their farmhouse on New Year's Eve.

"When some members entered the elevator to come down to the ground floor, suddenly its belt broke and it crashed on the ground," a police official in Mhow town said. "Six people including the owner of the house were killed, while few others left injured."

The injured were immediately moved to the nearest hospital, where one woman was in critical condition, police said.

The deceased in the accident also include the relatives of the house owner.

The elevator fell from a height of around 100 feet (about 30 metres), according to the police, who have registered the case and ordered an investigation.
Anti-infiltration bill passes legislature amid protests

ROC Central News Agency

2019/12/31 17:12

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) An anti-infiltration bill which criminalizes political activities backed by hostile foreign forces such as China, was pushed through the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-controlled legislature Tuesday, despite protests from the opposition that the bill could be used to suppress those who hold different political views to the government.

The bill cleared its third reading around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after lawmakers conducted a clause-by-clause review of the 12-article act amid protests launched by the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT).

KMT lawmakers chose not to vote during the bill review process and staged a sit-in protest to show their dissatisfaction.

The KMT has expressed concern that the bill could be used by the government to level unsubstantiated accusations and thus pose a direct threat to the 2 million Taiwanese who work and study in China.

Meanwhile, the People First Party (PFP) said the bill was initiated by the DPP in late November, and that pushing it through the legislative process in just one month meant there has been insufficient time for proper discussion and rational debate.

However, the DPP administration insisted the bill will not impact law-abiding Taiwanese citizens living in China.

It added that the bill is urgently needed, especially with the upcoming Jan. 11 presidential and legislative elections, to safeguard Taiwan's democracy from the increasing coercion and threats of China, with its repeated attempts to infiltrate the country's politics.

The KMT and PFP caucuses both said they will request a constitutional interpretation from the Constitutional Court on the legitimacy of the bill as a last resort to overturn it.

According to the DPP, the bill complements existing law to prevent hostile forces from intervening in the nation's democratic political system or influencing national security through "infiltration sources."

"Infiltration sources" are defined in the bill as organizations or institutions affiliated with the government, political parties or other political groups of a foreign hostile force, and individuals dispatched by those entities.

A hostile force is defined as a country or group at war or in a military standoff with Taiwan that upholds the idea of jeopardizing Taiwan's sovereignty by non-peaceful means, which clearly refers to China, although Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong () said the bill applies to all foreign hostile forces.

It prohibits anyone from making political donations, influencing elections, proposing the recall of government officials, or launching a public referendum, at the instruction or with the financial support of an infiltration source.

It also prohibits lobbying on issues concerning national security, diplomacy and cross-strait affairs, at the instruction or with the financial support of an infiltration source.

The maximum penalty for such actions is five years in prison or a fine of NT$10 million (US$330,578), according to the bill, which will officially take effect after being promulgated by the president.

Defending the government's decision to push through the bill with minimal review, President Tsai Ing-wen () said on Dec. 27 that it has to be done this legislative session or the whole process will have to start from scratch in the new legislature.

Taiwan is holding its presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 11, and it is uncertain whether the DPP will have a majority of seats in the new legislature as it currently does.

(By Chen Chun-hau and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/AW

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NEW DELHI : Hrithik Sohankar has just taken a break from directing a TikTok video. Set in a back lane of Connaught Places B block, it features a young man saving a blind woman from a thief, with a Punjabi song as background score. It took Sohankar 30 minutes to perfect the 15-second production, which stars his friends. I make every video with the belief that it will go viral," says Sohankar, 19, as we sit down on the pavement.

For the past two years, every Sunday, Sohankar, a Delhi University student, and his five friends, aged 17-21, meet in the lane at 11am, and spend 9 hours making TikTok videos of each other. They cry; they laugh; they lip sync to songs; they dance; they moonwalk; they act out short skits; they express anger, sadness, fear, disgust, surpriseall in 15 or 60 seconds. They break for lunch at 2pm, when they share food from tiffin boxes brought from home or go to the gurudwara for langar.

Their agenda is more than just fun. They want to become TikTok stars, with a fan following of a million or more and a deluge of brand endorsements. We have to make 60 videos in a day so we stick to a strict schedule," says Sohankar, a resident of east Delhis Mayur Vihar, who has over 2,000 TikTok followers. Also, it gets very crowded on the street."

B Blocks back lanewith colonial white pillars on one side and crumbling office buildings on the otheris like any other 250m stretch in the Capital city, full of vehicles and pedestrians.

But on Sundays, it turns into TikTok street. Hundreds of young people throng the street, coming from as far as Moradabad, about 175km from the capital, to make videos, which will be uploaded with hashtags and filters over the course of the week. Music and dialogues blast from tiny speakers as the youngsters face their phone cameras. All are working to achieve what most people only secretly dream offame.

But why TikTok? Its easier to get famous here; some people have become famous for no reason," laughs Sohankar, as he gets up to rehearse. The groups theme for this chilly December Sunday is disability awareness" because talking about social issues gets more views". Our themes depend on what videos are trending on Saturday. The performance needs to be spontaneous," says Sohankar, while checking his reflection in a window. He sucks in his cheeks, fixes the collar of his navy-blue floral shirt, pulls his skinny jeans up, and admires his gelled hair with tan-brown spikes.

Action," shouts his director, Deependu Das, 21.

It was Das who introduced Sohankar to TikTok in 2017. Initially, we watched it for fun. Then I heard someone got endorsement gigs after his videos went viral," says Das, a correspondence student who works as a clerk in the Supreme Court. If they can do it, whats stopping us? Imagine the thrill of people knowing your name wherever you go."

For many, TikTok is just another Chinese import, a video-sharing app that provides mindless yet refreshing entertainment without too many ads or news. But for some millennials and post-millennials, the app is a ticket to success.

The desire to be an influencer is so strong that 86% of millennials and post-millennials want to be an influencer, says a report by US research firm Morning Consult, which surveyed 2,000 people in the 13-38 age group.

Ashutosh Harbola, founder of influencer marketing company Buzzoka, says a social media celebrity can earn 20,000 to 1.5 crore for an endorsement video or post, depending on their popularity. Whether its YouTube or TikTok, brands recognize the power of influencers and are ready to spend. Unlike celebrities, an influencer is a regular person who people can relate to and trust," says Harbola.

India is the biggest market for TikTok with over 200 million users across Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities. It works because it is a place for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic levels, says Sachin Sharma, TikTok Indias director of sales and partnerships.

Back-street story

A few metres from Sohankars group is a team of five spiky-haired men in T-shirts, denim jackets and skinny jeans, doing acrobatic moves to the tune of Calvin Harris My Way. We are just making goofy videos today," says Pawan Thakur, 25, a bus conductor who lives near Rohini. I told my family, Weekdays I work to earn money, and weekends I work to become famous," says Thakur, who learnt about TikTok from his 10-year-old niece a year ago. His group has been a TikTok street regular since 2017.

Whats so special about TikTok street? The light, the white background and the fact that most viral videos were shot here, Thakur says. It looks like a foreign street."

TikTok street regulars treat their videos like an enjoyable work assignment. They make as many videos as possible till its time to go home and edit them. We all know how to use PhotoShop and Final Cut thanks to YouTube," says Sohnakar. His father, Sanjay, keeps a tab on the videos. He checks whether I was working or roaming around," smiles the son.

Like all parents, I want Hrithik to be happy, but not at the cost of his studies," says Sanjay, an office attendant at state-run power company NTPC. We never got the opportunity to do what we really wanted (singing). At least our children should follow their hearts."

Two years ago, Rishabh Puri, 22, a graduate of Amity University, used to travel two hours from Faridabad to make videos on TikTok street, but no more. Since his videos, showing funny, daily-life shenanigans, started going viral a year ago, brands started reaching out to him for endorsements. So, he started focusing on marketing videos. But, of course, keeping his two million TikTok followers entertained is his first love".

I got my fans after years of hard work. They have made me who I am. Thats why Im conscious of my content," says Puri. He recently turned down an opportunity to promote an alcohol brand. How did he develop the confidence to face the camera? You need to be a bit of a narcissist," says Puri, who plans to become a producer within the next two years.

Unlike him, Gunjan Joshi, 30, gained fame within a few months. I shared my weight loss journey," says Joshi, who used to come to TikTok street from her home in Gurugram. After building a steady following, she quit her engineering job at a multinational. She began from uploading exercise videos and health food recipes and today, she shares diet plans with some of her 2.2 million followers. She hopes to launch a wellness website soon.

In a world where the slightest hint of controversy can end a career, these TikTokers are aware that fame has an expiry date. They are practical enough to create, or at least plan, another career. Sohnakar wants to get into event management, Das wants to find a better job within the Supreme Courts administrative block, and Thakur is saving money to buy a bus on loan.

We know how to hustle," says Sohnakar.

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Known by her initial, Trinh Nhat G, the second child of Trinh Sy D and Nguyen Thi H from Ha Nam province, had her umbilical cord cut by Associate Professor Tran Danh Cuong, who is the director of the hospital.

Welcoming the baby girl into the world, Associate Professor Cuong said it was a moment of pure bliss for the mother as well as the pride of the doctors who were fortunate enough to help deliver the baby.

After G, many more babies continued to be delivered healthily right into the early hours of 2020 at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

In Ho Chi Minh City, ten expectant mothers delivered their babies successfully at Tu Du and Hung Vuong, two of the citys largest obstetric hospitals, within the first 30 minutes of 2020.

At Tu Du Hospital, the first baby of 2020 was a baby girl who was born at 0:02, followed by another baby girl who was brought into the world just one minute later.

Meanwhile at Hung Vuong Hospital, the first baby born in 2020 was a 2.9-kilogram boy.
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described 2019 as a bad year for Nigerians.

In a New Year message on Tuesday, Atiku the presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections said Nigeria is still in the throes of economic instability, with more people losing jobs and the attendant outcome of more children being out of school and more families having hard time in accessing basic needs of life

He said he did not share the sentiment when some people claimed that the out-gone 2019 was a successful year for Nigerians, saying such sentiments were reductionist and did the harm of making the people have a false sense of victory.

According to him, The coming of the New Year 2020 is symbolic in many ways. First, it heralds a brand new decade. Secondly, and probably more important, is that this New Year will require us all to stay together more than ever before to take on, head front, the common enemy of insecurity that challenge our everyday lives as Nigerians

In this New Year, however, I will rather ask that Nigerians stand together with renewed vigour and determination to battle the hydra-headed demon of insecurity that has plagued us in the past decade.

We must challenge the inadequacies that made us become the global headquarters of extreme poverty; much as we must work hard and fast enough to eliminate the scourge of out-of-school children in the country. These are the challenges that this new decade has thrown at us and we cannot afford to slumber and submit to defeat, he stated.

Atiku added that the reality of this new decade required of Nigerians to recalibrate their approaches and to pursue some tough choices, saying if failure was not an option, then we must let go of our egos and conveniences.

In this new decade, we must start to do things differently if we are honest about our desire for a better and prosperous future. There must be a deliberate effort to improve the material wellbeing of the people, by lifting millions of Nigerians out of the extreme poverty belt at a start, and to prosperity. Government must rethink many of its policies that is sinking more people into the abyss of extreme poverty, he said.

He stated that at the individual level, this moment called for more empathy and sacrifice, as the New Year and a new decade come with the opportunity to make better impressions in lives Nigerians and in the lives of people around them.

Atiku said he expected that in the New Year, there would be a better observance of rule of law and greater respect for citizens democratic rights.

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Dazzling fireworks, dance parties and mid-night gatherings marked the onset of the New Year in the country.

Thousands of people held celebrations at various places throughout the night to welcome 2020.

On Wednesday morning people thronged temples and religious places and also went out to tourist spots in various cities on the first day of the year.

The New Year began on a chilly note for North India as several places, from the plains to the hills, recorded temperatures below 1 degree Celsius with Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar, which nearly touched the 50-degree mark last summer, shivering at 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended new year greetings to people, hoping aspirations of everyone are fulfilled in 2020.

'May everyone be healthy and may everyone's aspirations be fulfilled,' he wrote on Twitter.

Here's a glimpse of how the country held celebrations to welcome 2020.

IMAGE: People record fireworks on mobile phones at the Gateway of India on New Year's Day in Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: Visitors gather at India Gate on the first day of the New Year 2020, in New Delhi. Photograph: Ravi Choudhary/PTI Photo

IMAGE: In Agra, people thronged the historic Taj Mahal to celebrate New Year's day. Photograph: PTI Photo

IMAGE: Massive crowd of visitors at Jabalpur's Bhedaghat Falls on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo

IMAGE: People cheer as they release balloons during New Year celebrations outside a church in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

IMAGE: At Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi anti-CAA protesters held up their phones with flashlights to mark the arrival of 2020. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

IMAGE: People visit Tirupati Devasthanam on the occasion of New Year in Chennai on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo
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Arun Kumar Shukla on Wednesday took charge as the chairman and managing director of Hindustan Copper, an official release issued by the company said.

He had joined the company in 2018 as director (operations), it said.

A mining engineer graduate of 1985 batch from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, and M.Tech in Environmental Engineering, Shukla has a vast experience in the Indian mining industry.

He started his career from Central Coalfields Ltd, where he worked for more than 21 years.

Shukla had also worked as Executive Director in NMDC. On deputation from NMDC, he had served as managing director at Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Ltd.

Hindustan Copper posted 83 per cent jump in net profit for the year 2018-19 to Rs 145.74 crore, compared to the previous fiscal, riding on higher production and sales volume.
Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force Wednesday ordered its supporters to end their sit-in at the US embassy compound in Baghdad, but hardliners pledged to stay put outside the mission.

"You delivered your message," the Hashed said in a statement addressed to the crowds encircling the embassy since Tuesday in outrage over deadly American air strikes on a pro-Iran Hashed faction at the weekend.

It called on supporters to regroup outside the high-security Green Zone where the mission is located, but a leading commander in Kataeb Hezbollah, the group targeted in the US raids, told AFP they would "remain" at the embassy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkey mulling sending allied militants from Syria to Libya: Report

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 10:50 AM

Turkey is reportedly considering sending militants from an allied, anti-government militia group in Syria to Libya as part of planned military support for the government in Tripoli.

Reuters quoted two senior Turkish government officials and two other sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, as saying on Monday that Ankara planned to send militants from the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) to Libya but that it had not yet deployed any.

"Evaluations are being made and meetings are being held on this issue, and there is a tendency to go in this direction," said one source, adding that no decision had been made on numbers yet.

Turkey has previously backed  and been backed by  the FSA militants, who have been fighting the Syrian government roughly since 2011.

On October 9, Turkish army forces and the militants of the FSA launched a cross-border offensive into northeastern Syria in a declared attempt to clear Kurdish militants from near the Turkish border.

It was unclear whether Ankara was mulling sending Syrian militants as part of a first deployment into Libya.

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between two rival camps: one based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and the other, the internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, in the capital, Tripoli.

A renegade general, Khalifa Haftar, is the self-proclaimed commander of an array of militia groups, collectively known as the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), and is apparently supporting the eastern camp.

Turkey supports Libya's internationally-recognized government in Tripoli, which has been under assault by Haftar's forces trying to seize the capital for nine months, while the LNA receives support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The LNA has also previously seized a Turkish vessel, although it has released it afterwards.

Meanwhile, legislative approval is expected in Turkey to approve the deployment of troops to Libya, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Separately, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited sources as saying that 300 Ankara-backed Syrian militants had already been sent to Libya while others were being trained in Turkish camps.

A video circulating online purportedly shows Syrian militants deployed by Turkey in Libya.

The footage could not be independently verified.

And there was no immediate reaction from Ankara to the Observatory's report.

A source within the FSA told Reuters that the group was not being deployed to Libya, but that Syrian militants in Syria and Turkey had signed up on an individual basis to work as paid "bodyguards" for a Turkish security company to protect bases and headquarters that Turkish forces will use in Libya.

Last month, Ankara and the Tripoli government signed an expanded security and military cooperation accord, which irked the power base in the east of Libya.

The Turkish parliament has already approved the bilateral security accord and the Libyan government has ratified it. However, for Turkey to deploy troops to Libya, a separate mandate is needed from the parliament.

The deployment bill was sent to parliament on Monday, prompting the main opposition party to reject it on the grounds it would exacerbate the conflict in Libya.

The bill's text warns that Haftar's militia have threatened Turkish companies in Libya and Turkish ships in the Mediterranean.

The reported dispatch of the militants to Libya, effectively using them as mercenaries, raises concerns of an escalation in the Libyan conflict.

Libya has been the scene of fighting between rival groups since the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. His ouster created a huge power vacuum, leading to chaos and the emergence of numerous militant outfits, including the Daesh terrorist group.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:31:26|Editor: yan

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JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Two women were killed and six others injured in a drive-by shooting early Wednesday in Melville, northwest of Johannesburg, police said.

Two of the injured victims are listed in critical condition, Gauteng Province police spokeswoman Mathapelo Peters said.

"It is reported that a BMW SUV approached and suddenly multiple shots were fired from the BMW at patrons who were sitting outside the restaurant. Eight people were shot, two declared dead on the scene," she said.

The women who died were between the ages of 30 and 40. Peters called on the public to help police with information that might assist with the arrest of perpetrators.

Gauteng Commissioner of Police Elias Mawela condemned the shooting that marred New Year's celebrations.
Ministry of Climate Change Jobs 2020 For Islamabad

Latest Ministry of Climate Change Management Posts Islamabad 2022 Ministry of Climate Change Government of Pakistan required qualified and experienced individuals for the positions of Regional Project Director and Wildlife Specialist in Islamabad.

How to Apply on Ministry of Climate Change 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.
Emergency services plan to visit caravan parks and encourage people to leave to both ensure the safety of visitors and reduce strain on local resources amid the interruption to power and other services. Premier Gladys Berejiklian echoed these comments about thanking people for their patience. Several petrol stations were unable to pump fuel due to power shortages, putting more pressure on those that could. Mick Preo of Bendy Kates Roadhouse in Tathra said the coast was facing a massive exodus. "I've got power and I've got fuel and I've got a queue about a mile long," Mr Preo said.

As the fires subsided amid cooler conditions on Wednesday, emergency workers were able to reach towns that the firefront had rolled over and count the cost to lives and property. A mans body was found in a car a few kilometres off the highway at Yatte Yattah, eight kilometres from Lake Conjola on the South Coast, about 7.30am on Wednesday, and a 70-year-old man was found dead outside his home in the same town on Tuesday night. Displaced residents line up to use a payphone in Narooma. Credit:James Brickwood The body of another man who is yet to be identified was discovered in a vehicle at Sussex Inlet. Ambulance officers confirmed that another body had been found at Coolagolite, about 10 kilometres east of Cobargo. A 72-year-old man from Belowra, north-west of Cobargo, is missing.

The seven deceased include Cobargo father and son Robert and Patrick Salway, from a South Coast dairy farming family, and 28-year-old RFS member Sam McPaul, who died near the Victorian border when his truck flipped in cyclonic fire winds. Loading Hundreds of homes were lost in the Batemans Bay area, including 40 homes destroyed in Malua Bay and 15 in Rosedale. A single chimney was all that remained of the six shops on the main street of Mogo. North of Ulladulla, about 89 properties were destroyed in Conjola. Further south, the towns of Quaama and Cobargo west of Bermagui were decimated. Mr Fitzsimmons said that in some pocket communities up to 80 per cent of houses were destroyed. "It's an easier task, sadly, to count the buildings that are untouched or undamaged than it is to count those that are not," Mr Fitzsimmons said.

Meanwhile, conditions on Saturday are expected to be at least as hazardous as those on Tuesday, with temperatures forecast to reach into the 40s and wind speeds of 50 to 60 km/h. The south-eastern quadrant of the state will be affected in particular, when the hot westerly wind from the outback collides with an easterly sea breeze over the Great Dividing Range. If we start getting those winds mixing across firegrounds, we can actually have very turbulent situations, we can have quite dynamic and changing wind strengths, so its going to be a very difficult day, Mr Fitzsimmons said. Bushfires reach Moruya on New Years Eve. Credit:James Brickwood The Princes Highway was closed south of Batemans Bay and north of Milton, stranding holidaymakers and residents between Moruya and Sussex Inlet. Others in the Bermagui area faced a long route to Sydney, travelling south and then west through Canberra to get around the fires still burning.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said authorities faced a "complex and difficult" task in returning power and telecommunications to the area and re-opening the roads while fires still circled the area. "There is no magic wand to wave across this and fix it in a short amount of time," Mr Worboys said. Loading Returning power to the area will involve fuel-powered generators and back-up batteries, while returning road access will require fallen wires and trees to be removed from the roads and ensuring that none of the blackened trees lining the highways are likely to fall. Fire authorities remain concerned about fires to the south of Bateman's Bay, in the Bega Valley and east of Cooma. The Currowan fire burning between Nowra, Braidwood and Batemans Bay has grown to nearly 230,000 hectares.

There are also fears that the fires that devastated north-eastern Victoria could threaten homes south of Eden, near the Victorian border, at the end of the week. The Eurobodalla Shire Council, which stretches from north of Batemans Bay to south of Narooma, advised visitors to leave the area as soon as possible on Wednesday afternoon if it was safe to do so. It advised people to leave via the Snowy Mountains Highway that runs from near Bega to Cooma, which was open on Wednesday afternoon but draped in heavy smoke. The property of Barbara Rugendyke and Dave Rugendyke in Cobargo has been devastated by bushfires. Credit:James Brickwood Elsewhere in the state, the fire at Wollondilly broke containment lines on Tuesday and firefighters were racing to bring it under control before Saturday when it has the potential to threaten western Sydney.
Nigerian industrialist, Aliko Dangote, became $4.3 billion richer in 2019.

Bloomberg reports that Mr Dangotes fortune continued to grow following investments in cement, flour and sugar.

Mr Dangote, widely reputed as Africas richest man, ended the last decade with a net worth of almost $15 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The development makes the 62-year-old Nigerian businessman the 96th wealthiest man in the world, according to data from the index.

The billionaire mogul was born into a wealthy family of prominent traders in Kano. At a relatively young age of 21, Mr Dangote incorporated his own cement business. He has since diversified into manufacturing of different goods, spreading his tentacles across the African continent.

One of his numerous companies is the Dangote Cement Plc, a Nigerian multinational publicly traded cement manufacturer headquartered in Lagos. The company is engaged in the manufacture, preparation, import, packaging, and distribution of cement and related products in Nigeria and has plants or import terminals in about nine other African countries.

The High, Low Moments in the last decade

For years, the Dangote brand has been a recurring feature in the Nigerian economy. The brand has also extended its reach beyond the West African sub-region to other parts of the continent and beyond.

In the last decade, it has recorded feats in different significant areas of the economies of major countries across the continent.

In 2016, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) bought Twister B.V., a company headquartered in the Netherlands delivering reliable, high-yield and robust solutions in natural gas processing and separation to the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors. Twisters unique separation capabilities are designed for augmenting production and streamlining processes, to capitalise on high-yield gas processing for maximising revenues.

Based on sophisticated patented technology, Twister gas plants are cheaper to build and operate compared to alternative technologies and deliver better performance. The company has customers in Nigeria, Malaysia, and South America. The acquisition at the time complemented DILs portfolio of investments in the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the sector.

Although it has not really been all smooth for the business mogul and his chain of companies, he has managed to stay afloat despite business uncertainties.

For instance in November 2019, following the approval from Dangote Flour Mills (DFM) shareholders, Olam International Ltd. completed its acquisition of DFM for N120 billion ($331 million).

In April 2019, Olam submitted a binding offer to acquire 100% equity of DFM. Under terms of the transaction, Olam acquired all the outstanding and issued shares of DFM that it does not currently own through a Scheme of Arrangement.

Earlier, the Nigerian Stock Exchange had put shares of the company on full suspension. The loss-making company was subsequently delisted from the Main Board of the NSE.

Dangote Refinery

Meanwhile, Mr Dangote is close to completing what has been described as one of the worlds largest oil refinery jn Nigeria. The plant is expected to impact Nigerias fuel consumption records and the local economy.

Last year, the businessman took delivery of the Worlds largest single Crude Distillation Column at the refinery site in Lagos. The tower arrived Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, after spending four months on the sea. The equipment, built by Sinopec, had left a wharf in Ningbo, China, in July.

Apart from the plant, Mr Dangote is also constructing a fertiliser factory on the site.

In the same vein, to strengthen his cement production outfit, the businessman is equally embarking on some aggressive restructuring moves that could see Dangote Cement outperforming its competitors in the market.

Last week, the management of Dangote Cement Plc announced the appointment of Michel Puchercos as the new managing director of the company. The new MDs appointment becomes effective on February 1, 2020, a disclosure notice by the company said.

Mr Puchercoss appointment was made public after he resigned from rival cement company, Lafarge Africa Plc.

The Board of Lafarge Africa had earlier notified the investing public of the resignation of Mr Puchercos from the company as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) with effect from January 17, 2020. Mr Puchercos served the company as an executive director on the board since April 1, 2016.

Lafarge is a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building materials company, dealing in cement, aggregates and concrete. It is also listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 20:53:15|Editor: xuxin

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BISSAU, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Guinea-Bissau's former prime minister Umaro Sissoco Embalo has won the presidential election held on Sunday, the West African nation's electoral commission said.

According to the provisional results published Wednesday by the National Election Commission of Guinea-Bissau (NEC), Embalo, candidate of the Movement for Democratic Alternation (MADEM-G15), obtained 53.55 percent of the votes during the presidential election runoff held on December 29.

He was competing with another former prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, candidate of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), who won 46.45 percent of the votes.

The turnout rate for the presidential election runoff was 72.67 percent, slightly lower than in the first round, the NEC said.

A total of 761,676 voters were called to cast their ballot during Sunday's presidential election runoff in 3,139 polling stations across the country and overseas.

The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) to Guinea-Bissau's presidential election on Tuesday disclosed that the election was "conducted in peace and security necessary for the free expression of suffrage".

On Nov. 27, the NEC announced the provisional results of the first round of presidential election, which showed former prime ministers Pereira and Embalo won respectively 40.13 percent and 27.65 percent of the votes, respectively.

Born in 1974, Embalo served as Guinea-Bissau's prime minister under the presidency of Jose Mario Vaz from November 2016 to January 2018. The incumbent president Jose Mario Vaz also contested for presidency during the first round of the presidential election, obtaining only 12.41 percent of votes.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Come January 26, a Haridwar-based Uttarakhand Sanskrit Academy, in a first, has made it compulsory to speak the Sanskrit language on its campus.

Anand Bhardwaj, secretary of the academy, said, "The step is being taken to promote the language and make students as well as faculty efficient speakers. We will provide training to the students as well as the faculty to use the language in everyday life."

Officials from the institution said that they have also adopted a village to train people to speak Sanskrit to promote the language.

ALSO READ: 300 students break ground with oppana set to Sanskrit lyrics

India has a total of seven villages where the locals communicate in the Sanskrit language for their day to day affairs. The most famous of these is Mattur village, 300 kilometres from Bengaluru in Karnataka.

"A team of experts has been formed to adopt one village at a time in Uttarakhand and teach the residents to use the Sanskrit language in their daily life. We hope to make the language as popular as Hindi in Uttarakhand," said Bhardwaj.

The Uttarakhand government is also planning to launch a satellite Sanskrit TV channel titled 'SS- Sanskrit evam Sanskriti' to promote the language of Hindu religious scriptures.

The proposed channel is planned to be run by the academy only under Public-Private-partnership (PPP) model.

The channel will air programmes based on Sanskrit literature and Hindu mythology such as shows on Ramayana and Mahabharata along with Hindi and English subtitles.

Apart from this, the channel will also be live streaming rituals in prominent shrines of Uttarakhand such as Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
By Samia Nakhoul and Laila Bassam

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Fugitive former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn met Lebanon's president after fleeing from Japan, where he was smuggled out of house arrest by a private security company, two sources close to Ghosn said on Wednesday.

One of the sources said Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying into Beirut via Istanbul and was now in a buoyant and combative mood and felt secure.

The plan to slip Ghosn out of Japan, which marked the latest twist in a year-old saga that has shaken the global auto industry, was crafted over three months, the two sources said.

"It was a very professional operation from start to finish," one of them said.

In his meeting at the presidency, Ghosn thanked Aoun for the support he had given him and his wife Carole while he was in detention, the sources said. He now needs the protection and security of his government after fleeing Japan, the sources added.

The meeting between Aoun and Ghosn has not been made public and a media adviser to the president's office denied the two men had met. The two sources said specifics of the meeting were described to them by Ghosn.

Ghosn could not be reached for comment on the meeting and has been silent publicly other than to issue a written statement shortly after his arrival saying he had "escaped injustice and political persecution."

Lebanese officials have said there would be no need to take legal measures against Ghosn because he entered the country legally on a French passport, although Ghosn's French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports are with lawyers in Japan.

The French and Lebanese foreign ministries have said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey.

Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan.

Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 and faces four charges - which he denies - including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to car dealerships in the Middle East.

Story continues

He has enjoyed an outpouring of support from Lebanon since his 2018 arrest, with billboards proclaiming, "We are all Carlos Ghosn" erected in solidarity with his case.

Under the terms of his bail, he had been confined to his house in Tokyo and had to have cameras installed at the entrance. He was prevented from communicating with his wife, Carole, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

The sources said the Lebanese ambassador to Japan had visited him daily while he was in detention.

'FICTION'

While some Lebanese media have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, his wife called the account "fiction" when contacted by Reuters.

She declined to provide details of the exit of one of the most recognized titans of industry. The accounts of the two sources suggest a carefully planned escape known only to a few.

They said a private security firm oversaw the plan, which involved shuttling Ghosn out via a private jet to Istanbul before pushing onward to Beirut, with even the pilot unaware of Ghosn's presence on board.

An attorney for Ghosn said he would hold a news conference in Beirut on Jan. 8. The sources close to Ghosn, however, said a date for the news conference had yet to be finalised. They said Ghosn was unwilling to share details of his escape so as not to jeopardizes those who aided him in Japan.

He is staying at the home of a relative of his wife, but plans to return soon to a gated villa in the upscale Beirut neighborhood of Achrafieh, one of the sources said.

Nissan sacked Ghosn as chairman, saying internal investigations revealed misconduct including understating his salary while he was its chief executive, and transferring $5 million of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.

In Lebanon, Ghosn is considered a poster boy for success in a country where rampant unemployment pushes young Lebanese abroad to find work and the economy relies heavily on remittances amid a deep financial crisis that has sparked a wave of protests.

Ghosn was born in Brazil of Lebanese descent and lived in Lebanon as a child. He oversaw a turnaround at French carmaker Renault that won him the nickname "Le Cost Killer" and used similar methods to revive Nissan.

(Reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Laila Bassam; writing by Eric Knecht; editing by Philippa Fletcher and Howard Goller)
Insufficient conceptual cogency seems to mark the appointment of retiring Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat as the countrys first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The announcement, made hours before the general retired on December 31, gives the impression the government was just very keen to rush through the appointment in order to have Gen. Rawat fill the post. The rushed job shows.

It is hard to see how the position of CDS, as conceived at present, can leave any meaningful impact on the armed forces operational effectiveness and bring about synergy and jointness  the expression favoured by CDS votaries after the Kargil Review Committee made the recommendation for instituting the position. On the other hand, the way things are, a vexatious new layer will be added to the military bureaucracy.

As CDS, Gen. Rawat will remain a four-star general, just like the three service chiefs. He will be one of the four advisers to the defence minister, along with the three chiefs. Unlike them, however, he will have no force to command. Meanwhile, at the legal level, it is the defence secretary who is charged with the defence of the nation.

The CDS will not be in any position of leverage though he will head the newly-created department of military affairs in the defence ministry. This can potentially be a cause of friction as the CDS shall have no powers with which to influence budgetary appropriations for the armed forces, or determine distribution of the revenue or capital budget between the three services. In short, the CDS becomes something like a consultant  a toothless tiger. His effectiveness or lack of it will depend on his personal equation with the Prime Minister.

When it was discovered the Pakistanis had intruded fairly deep into our territory (and thanks to local herders in the Kargil area, and not our military or intelligence), catching the Atal Behari Vajpayee government by surprise, it took enormous will and courage on the part of our soldiers to push the enemy back. The Kargil Review Committee made several recommendations for reform, including in the field of intelligence and border management. A CDS was recommended to coordinate the efforts of the armed forces  especially in logistics, communications and training. In the initial phase, gaps had been noticed between the Army and IAF.

Two decades on, a CDS has been announced. To achieve inter-services coordination, an Integrated Defence Staff, which may now be made the CDS's secretariat, was created. Its not clear what the need for a CDS was.

The Americans and some European powers have a CDS, a relatively recent innovation. But these nations have tri-services commands divided into theatres, spread across practically the whole globe. Their CDS is a five-star general and is a higher authority than the service chiefs. The Indian armed forces, in contrast, is sub-continental, defensive in nature, and has a very small budget. The CDS becomes nothing more than a vanity position in the circumstances.
A man in California was arrested after police say two cameras were found in front of the toilet in a Starbucks bathroom over the weekend.

Just before 5 p.m. on Sunday, police in San Jose received a call that someone had found a camera in a drain pipe right in front of the toilet in a Starbucks bathroom, KGO-TV reported.

When officers arrived, they found another camera attached under the sink in front of the toilet, according to the outlet.

Police say the cameras could have been in the bathroom for up to 24 hours, KPIX reported. Officials are investigating to determine who was filmed and whether it was an isolated incident, according to the outlet.

An investigation led police to a man sitting in his car outside the coffee shop, Mercury News reported. He was identified as Shawn Patrick Evans, 37, of San Jose, police said.

Shawn Patrick Evans, 37, was arrested after police in San Jose, California, say two cameras were found in the bathroom of an area Starbucks.

When officers searched Evans car, they found multiple electronic devices and other evidence that connected him to the cameras along with methamphetamine and a glass pipe for smoking drugs, Mercury News reported.

Evans was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, invasion of privacy, possession of paraphernalia and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, KNTV reported. There was also a warrant out for his arrest for possession of paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, according to the outlet.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 408-277-4102, KGO-TV reported. Those who desire to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 408-947-7867.
Kevin Bacon has paid tribute to a murdered man who shares his name.

The actor drew attention to the killing of a man in Michigan who had reportedly left home for a Grindr date on Christmas Eve, but who was found killed over the weekend.

For obvious reasons Im thinking this morning about the friends and family of this young person Kevin Bacon, the Footloose star wrote on his Instagram page.

His life was taken from him much too soon. His love was hair dressing. I bet he would have done a great job on this mess on my head. RIP KB.

The victims father, Karl, said that he had chosen the name because he wanted his son to have the same initials, but wanted to avoid using the name Karl Jr. He said that the actor wasnt as famous when the 25-year-old was born.

But the name also led to the attention from his namesake, who posted the tribute alongside a picture to his almost 1 million followers. It has since been liked more than 17,000 times and has drawn a vast number of comments.

The death also led to tributes from internet personality Jeffree Star, who shared a link to a crowdfunding page that has been established in the young mans memory.

Bacon left home on Christmas Eve, telling friends he was planning to see a man he had met on a dating app. He was reported missing after not arriving for breakfast the following day, and his body was found on Saturday at a nearby home.

A man has been arrested in relation to the killing, according to local reports.
It's fair to say that Phoebe Burgess has had a heartbreaking 2019, after separating from her husband, Sam, in late September.

And on New Year's Eve, the 30-year-old journalist reflected on the year that was in an emotional Instagram post - but made no mention of the retired NRL star.

Phoebe shared a gallery of photos of herself and her children, Poppy and Billy, at her family's home near Bowral, writing in the caption: 'These are the memories I choose.'

'The memories I choose': Phoebe Burgess (pictured with her two children, Poppy and Billy) reflected on the year that was in an emotional Instagram post on New Year's Eve - but made no mention of her estranged husband, Sam Burgess

Phoebe wrote: '2019... these are the memories I choose. 2020... the harder we work, the luckier we get. Family.'

In the accompanying photos, Phoebe doted on her two-year-old daughter, Poppy, and one-year-old son, Billy, whom she shares with Sam.

Other pictures showed her with her sisters and mother, Sarah Hooke, at her parents' multi-million dollar estate in the NSW Southern Highlands.

Doting mother: Phoebe shared a gallery of photos to Instagram of herself with her children at her family's home near Bowral, NSW

Telling: Phoebe wrote in the caption, '2019... these are the memories I choose. 2020... the harder we work, the luckier we get. Family'

Supportive: In the accompanying photos, Phoebe was shown spending time with her sisters and mother, Sarah Hooke, at her parents' multi-million dollar estate in the Southern Highlands

It was reported in October that Phoebe and Sam, 31, had split for a second time the previous month.

They had initially separated in December 2018 - shortly after the birth of their son, Billy - but reconciled in April.

The former Rabbitohs captain was allegedly involved in an incident with his father-in-law, Mitch Hooke, at the businessman's country home on October 19.

Splitsville: It was reported in October that Phoebe and Sam (left) had split for a second time the previous month. They had initially separated in December 2018 but reconciled in April

Making headlines: Sam was allegedly involved in an incident with his father-in-law, Mitch Hooke (left), at Phoebe's family home near Bowral on October 19

The sportsman had visited the property to spend time with his children when Phoebe was not present, but was asked to leave by Mr Hooke, 63, following an alleged altercation during which police were called.

At the time, police took out a temporary AVO on behalf of Mr Hooke, which was upheld by a court the following month.

While the AVO is in place, Sam is not able to go within one kilometre of his father-in-law nor any place he works.

Following the October 19 incident, Sam was also charged with intimidation. His solicitor, Bryan Wrench, pleaded not guilty to the charge on his behalf at Moss Vale Local Court on December 18.
Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the fire.

No casualties have been reported so far. The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. (Photo: ANI)

Hyderabad: A car burst into flames in Hyderabad while parked at a petrol pump for refueling.

The black Skoda Superb caught fire when the driver went to the washroom while his car stood dangerously close to the fuelling machines.

"Petrol spilled over and because the vehicle was overheated after a long distance drive. As the car went up in flames, the driver and owner ran away from the area. The pump management reacted quickly and called 100 and fire service. Both reached within 5-10 minutes. The staff also helped and we were able to control the damage and prevent this from becoming really big," a police official told NDTV.

Five fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the fire and it was eventually doused, Kontham Chandra Shekhar Reddy, Chief Inspector, Golconda told ANI.

No casualties have been reported so far. The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Bangladesh has reversed its decision of shutting down mobile networks along the country's over 4,000 km-long borders with India, two days after asking telecom operators to block the services citing "security" reasons, according to media reports on Wednesday.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) on Sunday directed the shut down of around 2,000 base transceiver stations, affecting around 1 crore users in 32 districts that share border with India and Myanmar.

The government's directive to the telecommunication operators came days after India's Parliament passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), causing much concern in Dhaka that it could lead to an influx of migrants from India.

The reports did not give any reason for reversing the government's decision on Sunday.

The BTRC, in its order to telecommunications service providers- Grameenphone, Teletalk, Robi and Banglalink- said network coverage within one kilometre band along the border areas with India should be suspended until further notice "for the sake of the country's security in the current circumstances."

Jahurul Haque, BTRC chairman confirmed the latest decision to reverse the restrictions, bdnews24.com reported.

According to The Daily Star, the authorities sent an email to all the mobile operators early today, asking them to restore the networks.

Please reinstate operations of the BTSs (Base Trans-Receiver Stations) near the Bangladesh-India boarder sites immediately, the email, by Md Sohel Rana, deputy director of BTRCs spectrum management division, said.

Mobile operators also confirmed that they have started to up their network again but it will take about a day to fully reinstate the connections as some of the towers are in very remote areas, the report said.

"As per the directive from BTRC, we have already started reactivating the BTSs located along the border areas. The reactivation process will take a while to complete since a lot of BTSs are involved here," Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata Ltd, told The Daily Star.

Earlier, Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar told The Daily Star that the networks were blocked as the security of the state is the government's first priority.

He clarified that the decision was not taken by his ministry and they just carried it forward.

The report quoted him saying that the decision was made following a consensus of three to four ministries, and the foreign ministry was leading the efforts.

Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh has requested New Delhi to provide a list of Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in India, "if any", to be repatriated.

He had also cancelled his visit to India beginning December 12, hours before he was to arrive in New Delhi.

According to diplomatic sources in New Delhi, Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal cancelled their visits to India over the situation arising out of the passage of the controversial Citizenship Bill in Parliament.
In 2014 David Wild was appointed CEO of Domino's Pizza Group plc (LON:DOM). First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This method should give us information to assess how appropriately the company pays the CEO.

View our latest analysis for Domino's Pizza Group

How Does David Wild's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

At the time of writing, our data says that Domino's Pizza Group plc has a market cap of UK1.5b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK699k for the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK510k. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of UK755m to UK2.4b. The median total CEO compensation was UK1.4m.

This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business.

You can see, below, how CEO compensation at Domino's Pizza Group has changed over time.

LSE:DOM CEO Compensation, January 1st 2020

Is Domino's Pizza Group plc Growing?

Over the last three years Domino's Pizza Group plc has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 12% per year (measured with a line of best fit). Revenue was pretty flat on last year.

Few shareholders would be pleased to read that earnings per share are lower over three years. And the flat revenue is seriously uninspiring. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Has Domino's Pizza Group plc Been A Good Investment?

Story continues

With a three year total loss of 2.9%, Domino's Pizza Group plc would certainly have some dissatisfied shareholders. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously.

In Summary...

It looks like Domino's Pizza Group plc pays its CEO less than similar sized companies.

Shareholders should note that compensation for David Wild is under the median of a group of similar sized companies. But then, EPS growth is lacking and so are the returns to shareholders. Considering all these factors, we'd stop short of saying the CEO pay is too high, but we don't think shareholders would want to see a pay rise before business performance improves. So you may want to check if insiders are buying Domino's Pizza Group shares with their own money (free access).

Important note: Domino's Pizza Group may not be the best stock to buy. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Naaz Ghani By

Express News Service

I would like to see India grant marital and adoption rights to same-sex couples. Only a few people came out and expressed who they are after section 377 was introduced. We need our lawmakers to consider legalising same-sex marriage and adoption for society to also accept our presence. In society, when something is illegal, people think its wrong, but legality is different from morality, right? People would want to raise a child regardless of gender or marital preferences  we should be granted that right. Unfortunately, media and news channels have projected sexuality and LGBT communities as something that was a choice...that s not true. Institutions must also include LGBTQA clubs to give the community a space to voice their concerns and help them accept themselves.

Sridhar, social worker, researcher and gay person

Until now, our community has been suffering a lot in terms of issues with the police, finding houses and other social issues. So far we have not got any recognition for what we are. In 2020, we are looking for our work to be recognised. We should be able to do our work without fear. Many of us look at this as a means for livelihood and a way of getting money. Just as people go for other work, we go for this work. We have been a part of a large number of protests but at this time all that we are protesting for is a framework where we can work freely. We also want to be able to work and earn money to support our families, without being pulled up by the police.

Roja (name changed), sex worker, Theni

Violence against women should stop. They should be given equal rights. Women should be able to confidently come out in public spaces. Particularly for us, women who are also into sex work, we face major violence from the police. This also should change this year. As far as violence against women is concerned, there must be stricter law enforcement in place. Culprits just go to prison and then are released a few days later. I feel that if somebody is committing serious sexual crimes against a woman or a girl, they should be subjected to capital punishment.

Prema, sex worker, Marthandam, Kanyakumari district

If we go to the police, they ridicule us. They say that it is better to die than to do sex work. It is difficult for us to look for houses. If goons create trouble for us, we cant even go to the police. Right now, we have to hide the work we are doing from everyone in society. We always live in fear that if people come to know we are into sex work, we may be discriminated against. We may even be pushed to an extreme situation that may result in our death. We should be allowed to openly do our profession. The government must force the police to stop harassing us. I look forward to a country where we can live freely.

Latha, sex worker, Theni

CHENNAI: As observed by the learned judges of the Honorable High Court of Delhi in a 2009 judgement, if there is one constitutional tenet that can be said to be the underlying theme of the Indian Constitution, it is that of inclusiveness. Unfortunately, this is under serious threat today. The way forward would be to challenge the narrative of one nation, one language, one religion that has been fabricated by our politicians. We need to instead build a culture of inclusion in which diversity is accepted and celebrated. I would also like to see greater power given to state and local governments.

Delfina, social worker and transgender person

I want to feel accepted. We need acceptance so that society sees us as any other woman. A person doing any other profession is first seen as a man or a woman doing that profession, I also want to be considered as a human being with a profession. I want India to be safer for women. Sexual harassment and violence of women has to stop. If you accept us for our profession, it may help society stop the injustices against women. Considering the welfare of all women, we want India to accept women who are doing sex work voluntarily so that the safety and rights of all women can be ensured.

Geetha, sex worker, Madurai

India should protect its good democratic traditions. I speak not only for my community of sex workers but all communities at large when I say that the current Citizenship Amendment Act is a major concern. The ideal of our country has been to not discriminate in terms of caste or religion. However, with the CAA, there is discrimination in those sectors. Among sex workers, there are many Muslims. The Act singles out Muslims which affects us as a community as well. As for the NRC, many of us do not have Aadhar or voter ID cards to prove our citizenship. I would like to see both the CAA and NRC revoked in the next year. Sex work is work. It is not a crime. I want our society to remain united and support sex workers right to self-determination. I am voluntarily doing sex work, I am not trafficked into it. We want the government to recognise this and not force us into rehabilitation. In the past, there has been some legal recognition for the LGBT communities. I would like to see that kind of recognition for sex workers as well.

Gokila M, sex worker, Madurai

In the past year, Ive seen India regress, not progress at all. It has gone backwards. As a person from a minority community, it feels a bit threatening right now. I can see the increase in hate crimes-speech in minority groups. I think thats what has to change. Everyone must be given the right to speech. The government must improve its criteria for scholarships. Socially, India must focus on addressing topics like disability and mental health. More schools must be set up to teach children suffering from mental and physical disabilities. These are issues that have only been touched upon lightly and should be given more attention in the next year.

Krithik Shiva, student, visually impaired trans-male

Even though we are with family, people see us differently. Peoples perception is different, even our own family doesnt see us in a good way. My wish for this year is that the people should start treating us with the same perspective as they see any other woman. For society at large, our presence is good. If a customer comes with any intention, we know how to handle the situation. Therefore, other women are protected against sexual violence. I want a place where there is no police violence and brutality against my profession. Where we are free to practice our profession just like others. For this year, I want to make sure that we have a place to practice our profession without being troubled. We dont trouble anyone. Even our customers are happy with our work and they come back. There is a need for our profession. The government should recognise it and stop trying to eradicate it.

Rosey, sex worker, Chennai
Private companies, emergency services and the navy are sending ships and boats to Mallacoota carrying supplies for up to two weeks with the fire-ravaged coastal town still unreachable by road.

On Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said helicopters had been used to facilitate a shift change at Mallacoota by flying in about 90 fresh firefighters and flying their weary colleagues out.

Esso's Far Saracen supply boat arrived off Mallacoota on Wednesday.

Esso sent one ship and two helicopters to Mallacoota by Wednesday morning, after being asked by state emergency services to provide support.

The fuel company was preparing a second boat to head to the small East Gippsland town in the next 48 hours, it said. Operating out of Longford, south of Sale, the boats and choppers usually supply Esso's gas rigs in Bass Strait.
The image trumped the visual chaos of violence, and shored up hope with more self-assuredness.

Symbolism sometimes becomes more real than the reality it shadows. Observing the dark times Indians are fighting against with a blend of grit and determination, I am reminded of the nattily dressed Omid, the blind man from Bamiyan in Afghanistan whose name spells hope.

Bamiyan is, of course, famous for its ancient Buddha statues and remembered with sadness for their destruction by the Afghan Taliban. Omid is a waiter at a restaurant that serves food in pitch-dark rooms. Thats the way this popular outfit in Canada does brisk business.

I remember a smiling Omid taking my hand firmly into his hand and nudging two others to line up behind me to form a train with our arms linked. Mobile phones were required to be switched off, not even a light-emitting wristwatch was permitted.

Threading his way in the lightless room through a clutter of furniture and people who could be heard munching but not seen, he led us to a table whose shape we have remained uncertain about. He served food without mixing orders. We groped and searched for cutlery, but decided to eat with fingers as a good option given the situation we were in.

Omid exuded confidence needed in his job as he negotiated the packed room avoiding furniture and people on the way. His worldview was imprinted in the stoic verbal interaction, which gave just a faint hint that he belonged to the Shia minority group of Muslims, vulnerable and targeted in a puritanical, Sunni-dominated Afghanistan.

It is well known that clarity of thought usually sharpens in the dark, a reason why people close their eyes to concentrate. Some of the best literature has come from the pens of people confined to dimly lit prison cells. Gramscis prison diaries have remained a perennial source of intellectual insights into a troubled world jousting outside the walls of what became for him an oasis of intellectual burgeoning.

Sitting with eyes shut for a stretch of time, getting momentarily into Omids shoes, can perhaps help one see the world with greater clarity than, say, would reading a newspaper or watching TV news do. The minds eye can perceive a small gesture of kindness before it becomes an invaluable link in ones struggle against rampaging injustice and prejudice. A little noticed news item sifted from images of tragic bloodletting could become a truer anchor of support.

Newspapers, for example, highlight images of police brutality and the states indulgence of petty bias in the current Indian context, and that would move any of the young comrades to anger or action. Something that Omid would spur one to see with greater clarity though is the man with the janeo, the sacred thread worn across the shoulder by high-caste Hindus. This man stood his ground the other day against a baton-wielding policeman at the Jamia Millia students protest In Delhi. Im not a Muslim. Heres my janeo. Hit me too since Im protesting. The image trumped the visual chaos of violence, and shored up hope with more self-assuredness.

From Kerala, a report spoke of a Christian church that gave space to Muslims to offer prayers as they both linked up in a march against a communally divisive new law imparting citizenship to everyone except Muslims from three chosen countries.

Images of determined Muslim men throwing a protective ring around a church in Peshawar quickly came to mind. Christians were targeted by Muslim zealots there. And Muslims came out promptly to protect the Christians from the zealots. Thats what rattles the toxic state most. Glimpses of another Gujarat are being woven into the narrative of state-backed communal violence in Uttar Pradesh where police under the command of an ignorant Hindu monk have gone berserk in Muslim localities. Historical reality challenges such easy assumptions. Uttar Pradesh is where the 1857 revolt began with Muslims and Hindus jointly fighting British rule. New videos have emerged of ordinary Hindus in the state vociferously rejecting the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah bias against Muslims.

The most reassuring prospect the mind can see in the new year is the unravelling of the Hindutva plot. And this is not something the youth from college campuses and universities have set into motion. Their role has been pivotal in spurring the opposition to Modi. However, it is comforting for the young men and women (actually in the reverse order) that there has been a political earthquake in Maharashtra, a source of immense confidence whether the students see it or not.

The revolt within the Hindutva alliance in Maharashtra has actually given spine to the students movement. It was no small deal for Udhav Thackeray, the head of the notoriously anti-Muslim Shiv Sena, to admit the other day that mixing religion with politics had been a mistake. Its not an ordinary mea culpa but possibly a tectonic shift in the countrys political matrix.

The fact is that the Prime Minister and his home minister are riding a tiger. They will throw anything at the Opposition that would help thwart the street anger. The divisive citizenship law they ushered and the damaging citizens register they seem to be stepping back from tactically following intense pressure on the streets were both aimed at the state of West Bengal.

Suppose Mr Modi in his desperation to win at any cost decides to dismiss chief minister Mamata Banerjees government to set the stage to capture power in the state in 2021. Nothing is impossible after what he did with Maharashtra, where he tried to sneak in his own chief minister in a pre-dawn coup of sorts. Maharashtra stalled Modi and shored up the opposition. A critical historical fact is that the Marathas are the only cohesive force after the Mughals and before the British to have come

within a whisker of ruling India. They today comprise the core of the Indian state apparatus, straddling every wing of it, and, therefore, are not to be trifled with. This much again one can say with eyes closed.

By arrangement with Dawn
Congressman John Lewis opened up about his battle with stage four pancreatic cancer saying he's 'hopeful' for his treatment in a New Years Eve interview

Civil rights activist and longtime Georgia Congressman John Lewis is opening up about his battle with pancreatic cancer.

The 79-year-old Democratic Representative opened up for the first time about his health calling facing cancer 'a challenge and a fight', but noted, 'I have had challenges before and been fighting all my life.'

'I am ready for the fight. I will go through the treatment and face the day each day like it is a new day. I will continue to be hopeful and optimistic,' Lewis said in a New Years Eve interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Lewis announced on Sunday that during a routine medical visit this month he learned he had stage four pancreatic cancer.

'I am doing good. I am feeling well,' Lewis said.

Congressman John Lewis opened up about his battle with stage four pancreatic cancer saying he's 'hopeful' for his treatment and he's 'ready for the fight'

Lewis didn't share details about his treatment, but said he is looking forward to seeking medical help.

'As you well know, I will be going through something that I have never been through before. I have had friends and colleagues who have gone through similar situations. I will be talking and learning from them and obeying my physicians,' he said.

He says he's hopeful as new medical treatment options are 'no longer debilitating as they once were'.

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis when detected late. Its the nations third leading cause of cancer deaths.

After his Sunday announcement, he receive a massive wave of support on social media.

Former President Barack Obama wrote: 'If theres one thing I love about John Lewis, its his incomparable will to fight. I know hes got a lot of that left in him. Praying for you, my friend.'

Former President Barack Obama shared a message of support for Lewis after he announced his cancer diagnoses on Sunday, saying: 'If theres one thing I love about John Lewis, its his incomparable will to fight. I know hes got a lot of that left in him. Praying for you, my friend'

'It means so much that people all over America and different parts of the world are worried about me. After the announcement, in a matter of a few hours, I had more than 154 calls coming to my personal phone,' Lewis said.

'A lot of it from young people, and some people my age, who have been deeply moved and inspired by the civil rights movement. That is what the movement was all about, trying to help people,' he added.

Despite his health, Lewis says he will continue working and will return to Washington D.C. later this week to prepare for a legislative session slated to begin on Monday.

In fact, he says he has no plans to retire at all and will seek re-election this year.

He's held a Congress seat for Georgia for 32 years.

Before entering Congress, Lewis made a name for himself as a key figure in the civil rights movement. He was a friend of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. Pictured left with fellow Freedom Rider James Zwerg after being attacked and beaten by pro-segregationists in Montgomery, Alabama

Lewis was first elected in 1986 and became the second African American to represent Georgia in Congress since Reconstruction. Since then he's been reelected 16 times.

In 2018 he ran unopposed for his current term and he faces no serious candidate in the 2020 election.

In 2010 Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Today he's one of President Donald Trump's harshest critics, voted to impeach him, and has been dubbed the 'conscience of the House'.

Before entering Congress, Lewis made a name for himself as a key figure in the civil rights movement. He was a friend of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr and was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington.

He was one of the original Freedom Riders and was brutally beaten in 1961 as he was riding through the South addressing laws prohibiting black and white riders from sitting next to each other on public transportation.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:55:57|Editor: Xiaoxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday strongly condemned the recent deadly U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, official IRNA news agency reported.

"I together with the Iranian government and nation strongly condemn this evil act of America," Khamenei was quoted as saying.

On Sunday, the U.S. military launched deadly airstrikes on three locations in Iraq and two in Syria controlled by the Iraqi paramilitary group of Kata'ib Hezbollah "in response to the killing of a U.S. civilian contractor in a Friday rocket attack on its military base in Iraq."

The Iranian leader dismissed the U.S. officials' claims that Iran was behind the anti-American moves in Iraq.

He also said that the United States takes revenge on the Iraqi popular forces since they defeated the "Daesh," also known as the Islamic State militants in Iraq.
One of the Indian Armys senior-most generals has asked commanders under him to shun military pageantry, ensure offices shut by 2 pm (the time they are meant to be shut), and encourage professional dissent (as different from insubordination) as they focus on their primary task  constant readiness for battle.

In directions issued on New Years eve to improve the operational readiness of the Jaipur-based South Western Command , its chief Lieutenant General Alok Singh Kler has written to 265 commanders to adopt a nuts-and-bolts approach to soldiering as its not a question of if but when we go to war.

Kler said he wrote the letter because we cant afford to be a peace-time army.

ALSO WATCH | 58-yr old Lt Gen Alok Kler cycles Delhi to Jaipur for new Army assignment

The air force and our Special Forces are 24x7 operational and combat worthy due to their nuts-and-bolts approach to soldiering. There is a fabulous saying, If you want to be peaceful you must retain the ability of intense violence. If you lack the capability of violence, you are not peaceful you are harmlessI want to retain combat capability and worthiness at all times in peace, he stressed.

The command has around 130,000 soldiers and is responsible for guarding Indias border with Pakistan in Rajasthan and Punjab.

Soldiers are authorised to smile, Klers directions read. Commanders at all levels must ensure that they lead a happy team, which is well bonded, maintains excellent bonhomie and looks out for each other.

HT has reviewed the five-page letter written by Kler to the commanders. I have interacted with over 120 commanding officers and all my brigade commanders in a series of skip-level meetings. I have introspected on the core issues that plague our system that affect operational readiness. Certain functional changes will thus be ruthlessly executed, writes Kler, who took charge of the command four months ago.

The commanders have also been told there will be no ostentatious display of red carpets, flags and pageantry during visits by top officers.

In June, soon after taking over Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh also issued a draft of instructions to curb ostentatious displays in the force, from doing away with multiple cars for the navy chief during official visits to asking junior officers to be respectful not subservient.

Klers directive also asks officers to strictly adhere to office timings as anyone working beyond 2 pm lacks efficiency. The armys office hours in commands end at 2 pm because soldiers are also required to spend time on physical training and operations.

His letter also explains why these measures are necessary  because the command has to stay prepared for war, conforming to high military standards and professional excellence. Every individual must believe that he or she is a professional trained to fight the adversary, both internal and external, and must prepare his or her mind, body and soul as such, Kler writes.

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Every day, Americans are tracked across the internet by a trillion-dollar industry that mines and stockpiles thousands of their data points to target ads at them.

Nearly 8 in 10 people say theyre concerned about what companies do with all that data they quietly cull, according to the Pew Research Center. Yet this massive private surveillance dragnet is largely beyond Americans' control.

Until now. On Wednesday, a landmark law in California will grant consumers the right to see the personal information that companies collect about them and stop them from selling it. The law is the California Consumer Privacy Act or CCPA.

If companies extend these new rights to consumers outside the state, or if other states follow California's lead, the CCPA could effectively become a national law, privacy advocates say.

Myth-busting: Unmask these four privacy untruths to protect yourself online

3 things you can do: to start safeguarding your privacy online

Like stories about the Golden State? Click here to get our In California newsletter in your inbox.

But the law faces challenges. Business trade groups and lobbyists are seeking to revise it with amendments or preempt it with watered-down federal legislation, claiming the regulations are overly broad and could have unintended consequences that harm consumers and small businesses.

Bay Area real estate developer turned privacy activist Alastair Mactaggart, who put up more than $3 million to place privacy protections before California voters in 2018, says he isn't backing down from his fight to give consumers more control over how Silicon Valley tracks them to target advertising. The statewide ballot initiative he funded drew more than 600,000 signatures, leading California lawmakers, tech companies and privacy advocates to hammer out a legislative compromise: the CCPA.

Whether or not we have everything in this particular law or the next one, its a massive beachhead, Mactaggart says. Being California, we just have a unique opportunity. As we go, so goes the nation.

Story continues

With calls for privacy regulation from Capitol Hill and the presidential campaign trail intensifying, Mactaggart is capitalizing on a growing unease with the tech industry's business tactics post-Cambridge Analytica. He says hes prepared to spend millions more on a new initiative for the 2020 ballot in California to keep business interests from chipping away at the CCPA. The ballot initiative would also protect sensitive information, like your health and financial records, and your precise location. And it would create a California agency to enforce the regulations.

But Jennifer King, director of consumer privacy at the Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, says the law may not help as many people as supporters hope.

"Im skeptical that the average person will even know this law exists, let alone know how to take advantage of it. Mostly I imagine that privacy advocates will put it to the test and publicize the results," she says. "One of my concerns is that there is no budget allocated to public education on the issue, so most people are going to learn about it via word of mouth from advocates or friends. And, depending on how hard it is to exercise ones rights from company to company, and what results you receive in turn, individual experiences may vary a lot."

Want to take more control over your online data? Heres what you need to know.

What is the California Consumer Privacy Act?

California consumers have already begun to receive email notifications alerting them to changes under CCPA. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, gives California residents the right to know what data companies collect about them and to opt out of having their data sold. Businesses are also restricted in selling the personal information of children under 16.

Under the law, Californians can sue businesses for certain types of data breaches. For other violations, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will be able to bring enforcement actions starting in July. The regulations used to enforce the law are still being finalized.

What's the catch?

CCPA may be the nations strongest privacy law, but privacy advocates warn it has limitations and the business community says it has drawbacks.

The law still puts the onus on consumers to take steps to protect their data. The problem: Americans trade away their privacy all the time. We click through privacy policies and terms of service without reading them. We buy phones that track us everywhere we go. We use smart speakers that record us in our homes. We take quizzes that give up intimate details about our lives.

Even if people want to assert their privacy rights, many dont know what those are, and the law will have little impact unless people use it, advocates say. Some 63% of Americans say they understand very little or nothing at all about the laws and regulations that protect the privacy of their data, Pew Research found.

It's not yet clear exactly how the law will apply to major tech companies such as Facebook and Google, which argue they do not sell the information of consumers they track on the internet. "In our case theres nothing to opt out from," Facebook said in a statement. Becerra is expected to offer more guidance on this issue in 2020.

If a business violates the law, it can be fined $2,500 per violation or $7,500 if the violation is determined to be intentional. But consumers have little recourse on their own except for data breaches. For the most part, they cannot sue companies that violate the law. Only Becerra can enforce the rules when companies don't respond to consumers' requests or delete their data.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will enforce the state's new privacy law.

We have a law that effectively makes the California Attorney General the chief privacy officer without the budget to do that, says Electronic Privacy Information Center associate director Mary Stone Ross, who helped draft the ballot initiative that led to the California law. It makes me nervous that some businesses are just going to take their chances.

What if I don't live in California?

In response to the upcoming law, some corporations like Microsoft are extending California's consumer protections to all Americans. Privacy advocates are betting other companies will follow suit. So they are urging consumers across the country to demand that companies delete their data and stop stockpiling it. Many companies are expected to comply with these requests.

Whether you are in California or not, you should take advantage of this great law, says Girard Kelly, counsel and director of the privacy program at Common Sense Media, the nonprofit advocacy group that helped draft the legislation. Know what companies are collecting about you. Know how its being used, whether they are selling it, and, if they are selling it, know that you can opt out and say No, I dont want you to try to make money from my data.

How do I exercise my privacy rights?

So, if you stream a lot of music on Spotify, you can send a form to the company directing the company not to sell your data. If your teen uses TikTok, you can send a form on your teen's behalf. A business must comply unless the information is necessary to complete a transaction or protect against fraud.

For instance, Hulu informs Californians that it collects all sorts of information, such as age, gender, IP address and viewing habits and makes inferences about you to recommend more programming.

You can opt out of having your information shared with advertisers including geolocation data and the insights Hulu gleans here. But if you ask Hulu to delete all the information it collects about you, the streaming company warns it will have to cancel and delete your account.

In general there are two steps:

 Fill out forms  one form per person, per company  to request your information, to have your information deleted or to instruct a company not to sell your information. Each form should take five to 10 minutes to complete. You can find USA TODAY's forms here.

 Then file your forms electronically or by mail.

Common Sense Media has free resources for consumers including instructions on how to exercise your rights and the forms you need to request a company delete your personal information.

You can expect to get confirmation of your request to see your information and have your information deleted within 10 days. Businesses are supposed to send a response to that request within 45 days. You can request your personal information from businesses twice a year for free. The information they provide will go back 12 months.

Which businesses have to comply with the law?

Its not just big tech. Broadly speaking, most companies, no matter where they are based, must comply with the CCPA when serving California customers.

The law exempts some small businesses. It applies only to companies with at least $25 million in revenue, personal information on at least 50,000 people or which generate at least half their money from selling consumers' personal information.

Why do businesses oppose the law?

Business interests complain the regulations are an overreaction to troubling revelations from the tech industry, such as Facebooks handling of user data, and place unfair burdens on small businesses that are not exempt and could deprive consumers of loyalty and rewards programs.

For example, businesses complain that the new California law broadens the definition of personal information to any information, including a specific device or browser that could be linked directly or indirectly to a consumer or household.

These interests are pushing California lawmakers to water down the law and Congress to pass federal legislation that would preempt it.

California weighs in: State passes nation's toughest online privacy law

Data privacy is top concern: Americans are more concerned with data privacy than job creation, study shows

"There may yet be unintended consequences to small businesses and consumers that can affect access to data, apps, advertising, and software tools," says Shoeb Mohammed, policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce.

How did California get a privacy law?

Mactaggart was chatting at a party with a Google engineer who confided that Americans would be horrified by how much Google knew about them.

In 2018, the real estate developer gathered signatures to put a privacy initiative on the California ballot. Tech companies put up $1 million to fight the measure before backing off. Mactaggart agreed to take the measure off the ballot if the California legislature passed a data privacy law, which it did. That is the law that takes effect Wednesday.

Throughout 2019, tech companies worked to weaken the law before it takes effect and privacy advocates worked to strengthen it. So far, there have not been any significant changes.

What's next for privacy in California?

Mactaggart is working on the new ballot initiative. In California, these initiatives bypass the state legislature and the governor to create new laws.

If approved by voters, Mactaggarts measure would limit the sale of sensitive information such as sexual orientation and race; require that companies only collect as much information as is necessary for business purposes and inform consumers how long they intend to hold onto it; and would impose tougher penalties for violations involving children under age 16.

What are the privacy laws where I live?

Federal privacy legislation is stuck in Congress. No other states have adopted California's privacy regulations, though some states are exploring similar laws. Privacy advocates say if you want these protections in your state, call your representatives.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Protect your data: Calif. data privacy law could help all Americans
Oil in New York capped its biggest annual increase since 2016, as OPECs production cuts tempered supplies while a trade pact between the U.S. and China buoyed the outlook for demand.

West Texas Intermediate futures fell 1% Tuesday yet climbed 34% this year as OPEC and its allies cut production and a trade deal between Washington and Beijing neared. With hedge funds net-bullish bets at a seven-month high, even protesters storming the American embassy in Iraq, OPECs second-biggest producer, couldnt support prices on the final trading day of the year.

The U.S.-China trade war was in the drivers seat when we entered 2019 and remains there as we exit the year, said Vandana Hari, founder of industry consultant Vanda Insights in Singapore.

.PREVIOUSLY: Oil on track for best year since 2016 as supply concerns ease

Prices initially picked up on Tuesday as dozens of Iraqi militiamen and their supporters stormed the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad to vent their rage over deadly American airstrikes against an Iranian-backed force.

The U.S. had launched air strikes on five bases in Iraq and Syria used by an Iranian-backed militia as a warning to Tehran over its aggressive moves in the region, the State Department said. The attack heightened concerns of destabilization in Iraq, which pumps nearly 5 million barrels of oil each day, or roughly 5% of global supplies. Iran, which the U.S. blamed for Septembers strike on Saudi Arabia and earlier attacks on oil tankers, said this week that it detained a ship carrying smuggled fuel near the Strait of Hormuz.

The market is looking past the Iraq developments at this stage, as it is unlikely that there will be an impact on supply in the near term, says Bart Melek, head of global commodity strategy at TD Bank in Toronto. Any attempt by Iran to disrupt Iraq supply is not a factor at this time.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

Oil markets have faced a tumultuous year, with much of WTIs gains coming in its first few weeks. Prices saw their steepest one-day loss in four years on Aug. 1 after President Trump threatened to impose more tariffs on China, then soared the most in more than a decade in September when key oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were disabled in a missile attack.

WTI for February delivery fell 62 cents to $61.06 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices advanced by about $16 a barrel this year.

Brent for March settlement fell 67 cents to $66.00 a barrel on Londons ICE Futures Europe exchange. The commodity ended the year 23% higher, posting the biggest annual gain since 2016.

In 2020, oil prices are likely to remain in check as OPEC+ production cuts are offset by higher output from other countries and a mixed outlook for demand, analyst forecasts show. Nevertheless, prices are seen climbing in the middle of the year amid stronger emerging-market consumption.

--With assistance from James Thornhill and Saket Sundria

2019 Bloomberg L.P.
ROME  Pope Francis apologized on Wednesday for the flash of anger  or self-protection  that he exhibited while greeting the faithful around the Vaticans giant Nativity scene after a New Years Eve liturgy the evening before.

In an incident captured on video and spread across the internet, Francis can be seen reaching into the crowd and seeking the hands of children. As he turns away, a woman in the crowd grabs his right hand with both of her hands and yanks the 83-year-old pope back, causing him to momentarily lose his balance. Francis, visibly upset, slaps twice at the womans hands to free himself, rebuking her, and then angrily turns away.

In his traditional Wednesday remarks, the pontiff offered an apology as he ruminated on patience and how it conquers iniquity and power.

Many times we lose our patience, he said. I do, too, and Im sorry for yesterdays bad example.

This is not the first time the world has focused on papal handshakes gone awry. In March, Francis repeatedly withdrew his hand from worshipers as they sought to kiss his ring.
A few blocks down the hill from my home in Berkeley lives a guy named Ethan Dang. Wed never met before, but for two days he gave me his $45,000 Tesla Model 3 to drive around.

We met up through a car-rental app called Turo. The San Francisco company is known as the Airbnb of car rentals. It works like this: One individual owns a car. Another wants to rent it. Turo puts them together.

In the inelegant language of Silicon Valley, thats known as a peer-to-peer rental. Turo is growing fast  it says it has more than doubled its inventory over the past two years, to about 400,000 vehicles. And it appears to be riding out a consolidation in the app-based alternative car-rental business.

Beyond a couple of hitches with account setup, my Turo experience was smooth. After you create an account, you go to the website or tap on the app. You pull up a map and see the cars available near you, what days theyre available, who the owner is, and how much youll pay. With a click, Turo charges your credit card. The app puts you in touch with the owner. The two of you take it from there. Turo also operates valet-service lots in the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets where renters can pick up and drop off cars.

My two days with the Model 3 cost me $316.99: the basic, advertised rate of $110 a day, plus $44 for insurance, $10 for an EV-recharge fee, an $11 cleaning fee (an option I chose in order to avoid possible hassles over smudges on the windows) and a $31.99 trip fee. That last one is apparently Turos take on the Ticketmaster convenience charge, a way to build in profit at the back end while advertising a lower price up front. (Insurance for both owner and renter is handled through Turo by Liberty Mutual.)

Plenty of cars on Turo cost less. Dang also owns a Mini Cooper and rents it out for $53 a day, plus fees. There are Camrys (around $70 a day), Cadillac XTSs ($70) and Escalades ($200) and Fiat 500s ($70). Just about any late-year make and model can be found on the site, but the inventory leans toward luxury and performance cars.

Turo competes with another San Francisco company, Getaround, but Turo is the leader and continues to pull ahead in market share. Its 400,000 listings compares with about 60,000 listings claimed by Getaround.

Getaround uses a hardware device to remotely lock and unlock car doors. That makes pickup and drop-off easier because the owner and renter dont need to meet. Hardware installation is an added cost and hassle for owners. But the device doubles as a GPS tracker.

Turo gained share against Getaround in part because theres no hardware cost and hassle for owners. But that makes it harder to track renters who abuse the cars. (Because Tesla uses over-the-air software, Dang was able to track one of his Model 3 renters hitting 130 mph.)

A Getaround spokeswoman said that its hardware makes car sharing more accessible.

Getaround is several years ahead of the closest competition in connected car-sharing technology, and uniquely own our hardware and patents, she said.

Mike Ramsey, an analyst at Gartner, said Turo got a leg up by building its inventory faster.

For car sharing to be useful, it has to be everywhere, he said.

There are others in the market. Zipcar owns its fleet and drivers leave its cars about town.

Care by Volvo offers the automakers cars at a monthly rate  not quite a rental, not quite a lease. Automakers call this a subscription, where drivers can turn in their cars for new models under varying plans. Audi and others offer similar services.

Outdoorsy is similar to Turo, but specializing in RVs and campers.

Turo is capitalized with $470 million, giving it an implied value, the company claims, of $1 billion. Only those investors have access to Turos core financials. The company wont reveal revenue or how much money its making or losing.

Some Turo competitors are pulling in their horns. In 2019, General Motors pulled its Maven service out of Chicago, Boston and six other cities, though its still operating in nine others, according to the company. A BMW-Daimler short-term rental partnership called Share Now exited the North American market in December. Automotive News said competition from Uber, Lyft and electric scooter companies contributed to its demise.

The companies started their services a decade ago, placing a bet that peak car had been reached and new mobility services were necessary to make up for a decline in the auto business. But automobile sales reached record highs over that time, and the services turned out to be money losers.

One advantage Turo and Getaround have is that, while automakers limited app-rental choices to their own models, the upstarts can offer any make or model that owners want to post.

Daimler, Mercedes-Benzs parent, is a major Turo investor. Nissan is working with Turo in what it calls the Nissan Experience Test Drive. Users in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and northern New Jersey can rent from Nissan dealer inventories to spend time with a car they might want to buy. If they buy a Nissan, they get $300 back. Porsche provides training and educational sessions through Turo in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where Porsche owners can be trained to become hosts for Turo renters, providing exposure to the brand and a way for Porsche owners to help pay for their pricey cars.

Dang, who works full time as an estate liquidator, said, Im not doing this to pay off the Model 3. But because he owns the liquidation business, he has the flexibility to rent out three cars on Turo: the Model 3, the Mini and a Jaguar F-Pace SUV. Recently he bought a Ford Transit Connect van; hes making it into a camper at his parents house in Sacramento and plans to list it on Turo.

Since September, Dang said, hes pulled in more than $6,000 by renting out the Mini Cooper and the Model 3 on Turo. (The F-Pace is new.) He gets immediate cash flow, and, he said, once the three rental-only cars are sold, he believes hell score a profit. How much, hes not yet sure.

Neither Turo nor Getaround could have taken off without custom insurance that covers both the renter and the owner.

Insurance is the first question we get from anyone not familiar with the business, said Andre Haddad, a longtime eBay executive who became Turos CEO in 2011. Liberty Mutual is Turos exclusive provider.

When Turo renters crash their cars, they can contact Turo rather than their own insurance provider.

This is a novel kind of insurance. It didnt exist before, Haddad said.

Basic liability insurance for the renter is included, but more coverage is available at a price. You can also decide to use your own insurance policy, if your existing coverage allows it. Including your drivers license information during sign-up lets Turo and Liberty check your driving history and whether you have a criminal record. (The company says it screens all members, but this varies from person to person.)

Owners take a bit of a gamble that their car will be returned clean; if not, the owner can charge $50 for cleaning.

So far, Dang said, nobodys trashed his cars. Hes basically happy with Turo.

It has some issues, he said, but because its the largest, its the easiest way to find clients.

His Model 3, by the way, was great fun to drive. I liked the big-screen dashboard; other automakers could pick up some lessons on user interface design. The cars quality has proven uneven and Tesla service can be a nightmare. But with Turo, those potential problems are Dangs, not mine.

Russ Mitchell is a Los Angeles Times writer.
A visibly indignant Pope Francis had to pull himself away from a woman in a crowd at St Peters Square on New Years Eve after she grabbed his hand and yanked him toward her.

Pope Francis was walking through the square in Vatican City and greeting pilgrims on his way to see the large Nativity scene set up in the huge, cobbled esplanade.

After reaching out to touch a child, the pope turned away from the crowd only for a nearby woman to seize his hand and pull her toward him. The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain and Francis, 83, swiftly wrenched his hand free.

The woman had made the sign of the cross as the pope had approached. It was not clear what she was saying as she subsequently tugged him toward her.

The woman is seen grabbing Pope Francis' hand as he turned away from the crowd. Source: Reuters

Despite the upset, the thousands of tourists and locals appeared to be delighted by the Popes presence.

In his Christmas message, the 83-year-old urged the world to let the light of the holiday pierce the "darkness in human hearts" that leads to religious persecution, social injustice, armed conflicts and fear of migrants.

He called for peace in the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Venezuela, Ukraine and several African countries caught up in conflicts.

The common thread of his address to tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square and millions watching or listening around the world was that change starts in the hearts of individuals.

"There is darkness in human hearts, yet the light of Christ is greater still," Francis said as he marked the seventh Christmas of his pontificate.

"There is darkness in personal, family and social relationships, but the light of Christ is greater. There is darkness in economic, geopolitical and ecological conflicts, yet greater still is the light of Christ," he said.

Pope Francis was seen winching in pain after she yanked on his hand. Source: Reuters

Pope highlights plight of migrants

Francis singled out the persecution of Christians by militant groups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, asking God to console those who suffer for their faith.

The Pope, who has been scorned by populist politicians because of his defence of refugees and migrants, dedicated a section of his address to their plight.

Story continues

"It is injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. It is injustice that forces them to endure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement of every kind and torture in inhumane detention camps," Francis said.

This month, the Pope called for the closing of migrant detention camps in Libya.

Francis said that while there were many huge problems in the world, people did not have to look far to correct injustices.

They could make a difference in their own communities as a start to healing all the "suffering members of our human family".

To underscore his message, the two cardinals Francis chose to join him on the basilica's central balcony were Renato Martino, president emeritus of the Vatican's immigration office, and Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner who distributes aid to Rome's poor and homeless.

"Through our frail hands, may he clothe those who have nothing to wear, give bread to the hungry and heal the sick," he said, adding through friendship, everyone could be close to the elderly, the lonely, migrants and marginalised people.

"On this joyful Christmas Day, may he bring his tenderness to all and brighten the darkness of this world," he said.

with Reuters and AAP

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Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav for opposing the NPR and the NRC, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh on Wednesday said the Samajwadi Party chief should stay in Pakistan for a month to understand the atrocities being faced by Hindus there.

Singh also asserted that the amended Citizenship Act was not against the poor and accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of misguiding the people on the law.

"Akhilesh should stay in Pakistan for one month and pray in Hindu temples, then he will have first hand experience of atrocities committed on Hindus in Pakistan," the state BJP chief said.

His remarks come after Yadav on December 29 said the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) were against the poor and minorities of the country, while asserting that he will not fill up the NPR form.

"There is nothing wrong in the NPR as it provides simple options like presentation of Aadhaar card or driving license, etc or confirmation by three residents of the area that the person is a bonafide resident of the area," Singh told reporters at a gaushala in Vrindavan.

He also accused Yadav of ignoring his party's workers and promoting his family members.

Attacking Priyanka Gandhi, who is also a Congress general secretary, the BJP leader said, "The visit of Priyanka to victims of riots with the sole purpose of misguiding them and creating a ruckus, is objectionable, since people are misguided about the CAA."



He said there should be healthy as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is in the interest of the poor.

According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants, and be given Indian citizenship.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are trying to provide a respectable life to people hit by atrocities in Pakistan through the citizenship law, Singh said.

Owing to the negative approach of the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party on the CAA, neither Hindus nor Muslims will vote in their favour, he asserted.

He asked leaders of these parties and students of JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia to go through the CAA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 05:47:55|Editor: yan

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PRAGUE, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis delivered his New Year address on Wednesday, describing the situation in the country as one of the "most successful and happiest periods".

Babis took the opportunity to assuage fears that the country's growth will slow in the coming decade and outline the priorities of his government's National Investment Plan published in December.

"I want to tell you: Don't worry. We have nothing to worry about," said the prime minister.

He noted that long-term growth must be based mainly on investment, promising that the government would take a leading role in investment if the private sector lagged.

Babis also addressed climate change, focusing on the drought persistent in the country.

He mentioned efforts to scale-back the use of fossil fuels and develop nuclear energy. "We are significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are investing in renewable sources. And we are preparing for the end of the coal period," he said.

The new Building Act was a key topic in next year's parliament, according to Babis.

"Next year it will probably be the most important topic in the House. It must be a common agreement of all parties. One office. One stamp. This is the main aim," he said, referring to the goal of the planned law to facilitate the construction projects' approval process.
On This Day The Day the British Annexed Upper Myanmar

British troops surround the royal capital in Mandalay.

On this day 134 years ago, the British announced the annexation of upper Myanmar, while they were in the process of sending the countrys last monarch and his family into exile in Ratnagiri, a small town in India overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Despite the collapse of the Konbaung dynasty and independence, armed resistance against colonial rule in Myanmar raged for another four years. In response, the British launched a heavy-handed crackdown, using such tactics as beheading resistance leaders. During more than six decades of British rule, Myanmar saw developments in sectors like the economy, administration and transportation, but the sole beneficiaries of this development were British, Indian and Chinese, rather than Myanmar people.

On the plus side, British oppression kindled nationalism among Myanmar people that was strong enough to prompt the establishment of anti-British movements like the 1930 Peasants Armed Struggle, the 1936 Rangoon University Boycott and the General Strike of 1938.

After World War II, the British, facing growing calls for independence within Myanmar and the rise to power of the anti-colonialist Labour Party at home, finally granted Myanmar independence in January 1948, after 62 years of colonial rule. It was widely rumored that the British were involved in the assassination of General Aung San, the leader of Myanmars independence struggle, and his colleagues five months before relinquishing colonial rule over the Southeast Asian country.

You may also like these stories:

The Day Myanmars Modern Military First Took Shape

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Under the backdrop of ongoing protest against the discriminatory and unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Act that spurred from Jamia and AMU, there are debates that faith-based chants like Allahu Akbar and La illaha illallah are anti-hindu and non-Muslims face religious discrimination in such institutions.

A section of people, even in media, are claiming that in minority-run institutions such as Jamia and AMU, religion is a binding force among many students of the community and that those who do not belong to the faith have to remain silent is both laughable and specious.

Such claims not only grossly misrepresents the harmonious solidarity shared among students transcending religion, region, and political divide; it also flouts the principle of ethical journalism that one must heed to when asking for viewpoints on a particular issue.

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Any such coverage in media tries to paint a wrong picture that every minority in Jamia and AMU feels the same way as those who were interviewed by the journalists. Lacking the diversity of opinion in reports and making sweeping statements is clearly reflected in the coverage of the current issue.

It's true that the faith-based slogans such as la illaha illallah and Allahu Akbar were chanted at anti-CAA protest. Some commentators have raised fears about radical organisations using this slogan.

By linking radical organisation and students/protestors, shouting the same slogans, such reports brush off the contextual reading of the events. It must be kept in mind that no one has the monopoly over slogans, and therefore if some slogans have been used by fundamentalist for their causes, it doesnt mean that well-meaning citizens could not use them.

The victims of lynching were made to chant Jai Shree Ram by their perpetrators, but that does not mean that the radical Hindutva outfits have the monopoly on that slogan.

bccl

The faith-based chants, especially by the Muslims, have been negatively-normalised to such an extent that even those who claim to be liberals find them problematic. However, these faith-based chants are not problematic but are a course correction to normalise them just as Hinduism based slogans are. The very purpose of these chants is to remove the negative connotation associated with it which has been normalised by mass media and to make it as welcoming as the usage other religious symbols in public spaces.

These chants taking place in anti-CAA protest makes them more powerful and empowering because it is the assertion of their faith for whose allegiance they are oppressed and affirmation of their multiple identities in the Indian Republic.

A recently published article claims to have interviewed students, who remain anonymous, saying that they felt excluded, alienated and scared by faith-based sloganeering. Such claims might be true for a few students but the majority of non-Muslim students in the university do not feel so. Its the students, who felt excluded and alienated by the faith-based slogans, needs to reflect on their idea of India. It is for them to change their perception of plural Indian society, where slogans such as Allahu Akbar is as much welcomed as Jai Shree Ram in the public sphere.

bccl

The article also claimed that the interviewee students said that student leaders use faith tool to suppress dissent, non-Muslims do not have much voice. Though at present Jamia does not have students union, but the scan at previous records of students union would tell the author that there had been Hindu presidents too. Similarly, students might have their differences with other students based on political beliefs, but in no away any student faces religious discrimination or is forced to be silent. As Student Union does not exist at the present moment, every department has elections for the subject association for the position of Vice President, General Secretary and Class Representative. The department which I belong to, Academy of International Studies has a Hindu-born atheist boy, a Buddhist girl and a Muslim girl respectively on these positions.

bccl





There are many stereotypes about the Muslim community in general and minority universities in particular, normalised by mass media and popular culture. However, the present juncture demands us to break those negative connotation associated with the display of Muslim symbols in public spaces. The very hypocrisy of Indian Republic is that, till we are talking about caste it is termed as identity politics, however as soon as we talk of Muslim identity, it is seen through the lens of communal politics.

bccl

Those who see slogans such as Allahu Akbar as something divisive or pandering to religious extremism need to shift their gaze away from the lenses of orientalism to that of a pluralistic society.

Just as the references and use of religious metaphors from the texts of Ramayana and Mahabharata are continuously used in public spaces and political rallies and its contextual understanding allows us to see them as problematic or normal. Similarly, the assertion of Muslim identity in public space either through chants of Allahu Akbar or through invoking other religious symbols needs to be seen as normal.

The fight against CAA and NRC is surely a fight to save the constitutional values and secular fabric of the country. But we should not forget that the combination of CAA and NRC is essentially anti-Muslim, and therefore our fellow co-religionists are fighting dual battles, one to save the constitution and another, to have the freedom to assert their religious identity.

The systematic crackdowns on Jamia, AMU and in localities of Uttar Pradesh points out how people and institutions linked to a certain religious identity, in this case, Muslims are being targeted by the states coercive apparatus.

Therefore, even under these circumstances when their life is at risk because of their religious identity, slogans such as Allahu Akbar and la illah illallah are being chanted shows the grit determination of the protestors, who are unwilling to compromise on their multiple identities, both as Indians and Muslims.

Rishabh Yadav is currently pursuing M.A Politics (International and Area Studies), from Jamia Millia Islamia. He can be reached out on twitter - @therealrishabh. The views expressed are author's own.
Bengaluru, Jan 1 : Four ace pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were selected for India's maiden manned mission Gaganyaan around the earth's orbit by 2022, a top space official said on Wednesday.

"We have selected 4 IAF pilots for our first manned space mission in 2021-22. Three of them will go into space to orbit around the earth for a week and conduct experiments in micro-gravity and bio-science," state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan told reporters here, but did not reveal their identities or names.

The quartet will undergo training in Russia from the third week of this month for becoming the first Indian crew to go into space from native soil.

"The four pilots have undergone medical tests at the Indian Aviation Medicine of the IAF in Bengaluru and in Russia at the space agency which will train them in all aspects of a manned mission in outer space," said Sivan.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted in his Independence address on August 15, 2018 from the Red Fort that three Indians, including a woman, would be sent into space, Sivan said that the crew would be all men as all the four selected are males.

Then IAF test pilot Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to have gone into space as a cosmonaut aboard Soyuz-T from Russia on April 2, 1984 when he was 35 years old.

In the run-up to the ambitious manned mission, the space agency will launch 2-3 unmanned missions in 2020 and 2021 with humanoids to test the human rating of the propulsion modules, including the crew module and the escape system in the event of any emergency in the spacecraft.
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Its kind of trendy right now to contemplate any changes we might like to make personally or professionally and think of a theme word for the year ahead. As I reflect on 2019 and look at all the hurt and pain being dealt with and acted out on social media, I have decided the best word for 2020 is healing. This word perfectly encapsulates what we need as individual women and also as a society.

Where might this healing begin? The first and best way is through prayer. Not just alone in my prayer closet, but for, by and with other women. For this next year, Im going to renew my efforts to have an active, vital prayer life, with times of both individual, private prayer, and times of praying together with other women, for the healing that we need personally and collectively.

Im reminded of two key points from the Bible on the subject of prayer and accountability with others. First is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV), which states that: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Dont you love how spot on these biblical analogies are? Can you just picture your friend reaching back and giving you a hand up if you stumble and fall? Or remember those childhood camp-outs where you slept much warmer snuggled up in your sleeping bag next to your parents, sibling or best friend? And in this day of brokenness, how strengthening is it to envision that thick coil of rope bound together from many individual strands, able to withstand the greatest weights or pressures without tearing? This is why it is so important and so empowering for our prayer life to find others with whom we can join in prayer and to whom we can be accountable.

Secondly, Im reminded of James 5:16, where it says: The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) avails much. I especially appreciate that word fervent. Youve been there, havent you, praying on bended knees, face to the floor, barely knowing the words to say because the need is so great? Isnt it reassuring to know God hears those prayers, and they are powerful? They accomplish much, it says. Even if we dont feel they reach above the ceiling, we can trust Gods Word is true, and we can keep on praying.

Im excited about the opportunity to give my prayer life a fresh start for 2020, by focusing on healing. So many times we pray for physical healing for our friends and loved ones, but for this year, Im praying for emotional and spiritual healing for those around me who are feeling so much pain, anger and bitterness. There is a lot of hurt in this world, but we also know there is a Healer who can lift those burdens and bring peace and joy in the midst of our suffering.

Im especially looking forward to lifting my prayers for healing in the company of hundreds of thousands of women across the country as we join together for She Loves Out Loud, a historic, interactive live-streamed prayer event on Feb. 15, 2020, broadcast FREE from the Life Today studios in Dallas. If two or three women praying together is powerful, can you imagine what 200,000 or 300,000 of us could do? Or even 2 or 3 million? See how you can join with other women or even host your own group and become involved in the livestream at www.shelovesoutloud.org. And collectively, we can bring healing to our nation in 2020.
Taiwan's military raises alert status for upcoming elections

ROC Central News Agency

2019/12/31 16:01

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) Taiwan's military is on "focused alert" for the Jan. 11 presidential and legislative elections, which puts the troops on guard against possible external threats and any internal contingencies, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday.

The security alert, implemented under the "Regulations on ROC Armed Forces' Responses to Contingencies During Peacetime," is the second highest level in the military's three-tier defense readiness status during peacetime, which includes regular and heightened alerts.

A mid-level alert is usually adopted during major holidays or on special occassions such as elections, with the aim of putting the military on guard in the event of any threats from external forces or contingencies that might arise in Taiwan.

"In preparation for the 15th presidential and 10th legislative elections, the Republic of China (ROC) Armed Forces alert has been raised to "focused" to facilitate manpower rotation," the MND said in a press statement. "This will allow soldiers to vote without compromising the country's security."

Lin Wen-huang (), chief of the Policy Development Division of the Office of Deputy Chief in the General Staff for Operations and Planning, said the troops will vote in shifts to avoid security issues that could arise from manpower shortage.

However, about 5,000 soldiers, or 2.6 percent of military personnel, will not be able to vote because of the nature of their duties on Election Day, which include patrolling the Taiwan Strait, he said.

Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections will be held on Jan. 11, 2020.

(By Emerson Lim) Enditem/pc

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Legal experts warn that the Australian subsidiaries of big foreign companies are side-stepping new laws against modern slavery, creating an uneven playing field for businesses.

The Law Council of Australia said the Modern Slavery Act requires Australian companies that turn over $100 million or more and their subsidiaries to report on any risks of modern slavery practices in their operations and supply chains.

The Commonwealth legislation, however, does not impose the same obligations on Australian subsidiaries of foreign parent companies that generate more than $100 million.

"This creates an uneven playing field between Australian headquartered companies and foreign headquartered companies," outgoing Law Council president Arthur Moses said.

The warning comes after UK-based supermarket giant Tesco halted production at a Chinese factory suspected of using forced labour to produce charity Christmas cards for the chain after six-year-old Florence Widdicombe discovered a message written in one of the cards that her family bought at Tesco. The message was from a prisoner in China who claimed to be working against his will.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on his 59th birthday, saying he has been energetically serving the people of the state.

"Birthday wishes to the hardworking CM of Manipur Shri @NBirenSingh Ji. He has been energetically serving Manipur and fulfilling dreams of the state's youth. May he lead a long and healthy life," PM Modi tweeted.

Singh was born in 1961 in Imphal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
North Korean state TV has broadcast a show on 'vases today' hours after Donald Trump said he hoped Kim Jong-un's 'Christmas surprise' would be a vase.

President Trump was referring to the tyrant's ominous claim that he would deliver a Christmas 'gift' to the US if they did not meet his nuclear demands by the New Year.

Defense experts speculated Kim would carry out a nuclear missile test, but Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago last night: 'I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase. That's what I'd like a vase.'

Just hours after Trump's quip, Pyongyang's propaganda channel aired a program all about vases, referred to as 'Vases Today' by North Korean expert Steve Brown. In Korean culture vases traditionally decorate Royal tombs.

Trump told reporters last night: 'I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase. That's what I'd like a vase.' (pictured: the President and First Lady Melania Trump speak to the press outside the grand ballroom as they arrive for a New Year's celebration at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida)

Just hours after Trump made his comments, Pyongyang's state broadcaster aired a program all about vases. In Korean culture vases traditionally decorate Royal tombs

Many speculated whether the airing of the show could really be a coincidence or whether it was more likely that Kim was watching the US President closely.

On Tuesday, the rancorous despot accused the Trump administration of 'gangster-like' sanctions and pressure.

And he warned he would soon unveil a new strategic weapon to the world.

Kim made the comments during a four-day ruling party conference held in Pyongyang, where he declared that the North will never give up its security for economic benefits.

Kim's comments came after a standoff between Washington and Pyongyang over disagreements involving disarmament steps and the removal of sanctions imposed on the North.

'He said that we will never allow the impudent U.S. to abuse the DPRK-U.S. dialogue for meeting its sordid aim but will shift to a shocking actual action to make it pay for the pains sustained by our people so far and for the development so far restrained,' the Korean Central News Agency said, referring to the North by its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

An array of vases featuring in a program on state TV after Trump made his quip last night

Trump has requested a 'beautiful vase' despite defense experts predicting a missile test by Kim

Kim added that 'if the U.S. persists in its hostile policy toward the DPRK, there will never be the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy,' according to the agency.

However, Kim showed no clear indication of abandoning negotiations with the United States entirely or restarting tests of nuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles he had suspended under a self-imposed moratorium in 2018.

He did issue a warning that there would be no grounds for the North to get 'unilaterally bound' to the moratorium any longer, criticizing the United States for continuing its joint military exercises with rival South Korea and also providing the South with advanced weaponry.

'In the past two years alone when the DPRK took preemptive and crucial measures of halting its nuclear test and ICBM test-fire and shutting down the nuclear-test ground for building confidence between the DPRK and the U.S., the U.S., far from responding to the former with appropriate measures, conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop and threatened the former militarily through the shipment of ultra-modern warfare equipment into (South Korea),' the KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

Some experts say North Korea, which has always been sensitive about electoral changes in U.S. government, will avoid engaging in serious negotiations for a deal with Washington in coming months as it watches how Trump's impending impeachment trial over his dealings with Ukraine affects U.S. presidential elections in November.

In this June 30, 2019 file photo, President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea

Kim and President Donald Trump have met three times since June 2018, but negotiations have faltered since the collapse of their second summit last February in Vietnam, where the Americans rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities.

Kim's speech followed months of intensified testing activity and belligerent statements issued by various North Korean officials, raising concerns that he was reverting to confrontation and preparing to do something provocative if Washington doesn't back down and relieve sanctions.

The North announced in December that it performed two 'crucial' tests at its long-range rocket launch site that would further strengthen its nuclear deterrent, prompting speculation that it was developing an ICBM or planning a satellite launch that would provide an opportunity to advance its missile technologies.

North Korea also last year ended a 17-month pause in ballistic activity by testing a slew of solid-fuel weapons that potentially expanded its capabilities to strike targets in South Korea and Japan, including U.S. military bases there. It also threatened to lift a self-imposed moratorium on the testing of nuclear bombs and ICBMs.
India's biggest gun-running scandal is waiting to explode into a massive controversy, and may throw up the names of certain high profile individuals and senior Jammu and Kashmir state government officials

New Delhi: India's biggest gun-running scandal is waiting to explode into a massive controversy, and may throw up the names of certain high profile individuals and senior Jammu and Kashmir state government officials. As the investigation is proceeding in the matter, several individuals in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have filed for anticipatory bail fearing arrest.

Sources told Firstpost that the entire scam was carried out at two levels within the state machinery of Jammu and Kashmir  district-level officials including district collectors and other senior officers of the state home department. So far the investigation has primarily focussed on officers from district level, however, the role of state home department manned by senior IAS officers cannot be ruled out. Word is that top bureaucrats, too, were involved in facilitating the validation of license across the whole country; however, the probe still remains at the preliminary stages.

"It has been two years since the scandal tumbled out. But nothing will be found by investigating district-level officials as a lot of time has passed. Moreover, the district collectors and members of their staff, whose calls were monitored, have already destroyed certain records linked to the case. The main culprits are Jammu and Kashmir state home department officials, who signed on the sensitive files, approving licenses with pan-India validity to anyone who had deep pockets. So far their roles have not been thoroughly investigated," a source said.

According to top sources, names of owner of Adarsh Credit Cooperative Society, and his nephew have popped up during the probe in over two lakh fake arms licenses across the country. He is already in jail in connection with Rs 9,000 crore housing society-scam. His nephew had faked a Jammu domicile certificate to procure a licensed gun while studying at a college in Pune. The investigators have recorded the statement of college principal and collected other evidence like call records and attendance register.

The documents reviewed by Firstpost highlight that fake arms license scam was brazenly carried out by state officials in clear violations of rules. Call intercepts of certain senior state officials reveal interesting conversations that bureaucrats had with the the cartel. One of the officer is heard telling someone, "Investigators will not be able to touch us, so don't panic.'

In another interception, a record keeper in the district collector's office was advised to 'get admitted to a hospital', just before the office was raided. It was apparently a move to help him avoid grilling by the agency sleuths.

Later, a clerk from Kupwara district collector's office said that records related to issuance of arms license were destroyed in the rain and flood. An IAS officer and former District Collector of Jammu, when quizzed, told the investigators that 'everybody was doing such things ( issuing fake arms license) so why is he being singled out?'

The Central Bureau of Investigation officials, however, claimed that the probe in over two lakh fake arms license case and the subsequent searches earlier this week are just the tip of the iceberg. Officials said the meticulous probe by the agency since July 2019 and at least two rounds of raids at the premises of suspects is just the prelude to the unravelling of a scam, where big players made a fortune by selling fake arms licenses and supplying sophisticated weapons to businessman, builders and even to certain journalists based in Delhi.

"It is true that all the names that have been revealed so far is from lower level of the government. We need to question these people to uncover the bigger players and operators of gun-running cartel. Individual beneficiaries are being probed to ascertain whether they knowingly purchased the fake arms license and weapons. In some cases, 2-3 guns were issued on the same license and it appears that huge amount of kickbacks were paid to the authorities to circumvent the rules," the CBI officials said.

The well-bred network involving a cartel spread in several states have been providing fake license in the name of serving and retired army jawans, fictitious residents of various districts like Kupwara and Baramula since 2006 at a huge price.

Rules are considerably relaxed for military personnel posted in the Valley who wish to keep a personal weapon. They can get arms licences from any district they are posted in on the recommendation of a letter from the commanding officer of their unit, and they can skip the verification process which other ordinary citizens are required to undergo. It is this loophole that was exploited by the masterminds running the racket and arms licenses were allegedly issued even to people who have never had any connection with the armed forces.

When the first operation was launched by the Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad team led by decorated IPS officer Vikas Kumar, it was estimated that number of fake licenses issued from 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir could be more than five or six lakh. The CBI officials believe that the racket, which began more than a decade ago might have sold more than five lakh illegals arms license and weapons across the country.

"So far investigation reveals that more than 60-70 individuals of gun-running cartel in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and Jammu andKashmir were involved. Some high-profile names are still under the surveillance and appropriate action at an opportune time will be taken against the culprits. We need to dismantle the entire chain of those making fake licenses and others who are supplying arms on the basis of fake licenses," the CBI official further added.

It is pertinent to mention that the operation to dismantle this fake arms license and gun-running racket was first launched in 2017 when undercover police officers and a backup anti- terror team had unearthed around 50,000 fake arms license issued from only one district, Kupwara. Subsequently, the net was widened to nab more players involved in the gun-running cartel.

There are three key players of the cartel- Zuber, Vishal and Rahul who operated as a team playing the role of a retailer, supplier and manufacturer of the fake arms licenses. The trio had roped in several licensed arms dealer to buy weapon at a price ranging from Rs. 10-12 lakh. A woman, part of the gun-running cartel has turned approver in this case. Sources said, she has also named a senior state officer, who has been posted in Delhi since 2015.

"A lower level officer has also revealed that this officer, now under the scanner, was facilitating issuance of fake arms license from Jammu and Kashmir while sitting in Delhi. The call records of the gun running cartel show that some of the senior state home department officers were directly in touch with them while others were operating through their clerk and personal assistants. A state home department officer who was summoned for questioning apparently told the investigators that it was a government matter and he will not disclose anything without an approval from the state government. He was threatened with arrest but ultimately refused to cooperate with the investigation," sources said.
New Delhi [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Two people, who were reported missing from Christmas last week were found in Sikkim on Tuesday, police said.

A resident doctor at AIIMS Dr Sridhar filed a missing complaint about his wife Dr Hima Bindu and his friend Dr K Dileep Satya on December 25 last year.



Police said that during the investigation, mobile phone and social network accounts of both the missing persons were kept on electronic surveillance.

On December 31, Satya's presence was detected in Sikkim on the basis of electronic surveillance.

Both of them were found safe and are being brought to Delhi for further investigation. (ANI)


Masaru Okuyama - the Japan-trained but Hong Kong-based shoemaker - made me this pair of shoes over the past 10 months.

Their relevance is twofold. As a review of Masaru and his work, of course, but also as an experience of Japanese shoemaking, as this is my first pair from a Japanese maker.

In brief, the make is superb and the fit very good too. There are some minor issues on the fit, but overall these might be the best first bespoke pair Ive had.

Masaru is slightly unusual among Japanese shoemakers in that he learned in Japan but - despite a few months travelling around - didnt then train in Europe.

He was advised by Ricardo Bestetti not to waste his time starting at the bottom with a house in England, France or Italy, when he could already make everything from scratch.

He is also unusual in deciding to set up in Hong Kong (in 2010), rather than Japan. This has made him more accessible for some customers, given the number of people travelling through Hong Kong.

However, in recent years his travels have increased that accessibility more significantly. He is one of the few Japanese makers that travels to London (twice a year) - which is one reason I decided to work with him.

He also travels to Singapore, Beijing and Hanoi three times a year, and Shanghai twice a year.

Although based in Hong Kong, Masarus style isnt really influenced by it.

He is a Japanese shoemaker, and as a result tends to a finely made, slim shoe on an elongated last. He can make different styles, but he has this tendency in common with many other Japanese makers.

Those makers can also be divided up by their European influences and training of course: a simple English shoe, a flashier French one, or a longer Italian one, perhaps.

But even though there are these differences, I think its fair to say the Japanese as a whole have this tendency towards slim refinement.

You see that in Shoji Kawaguchi (Marquess) and Yuki Shirahama, even though one trained in England and the other in France.

The execution of those points on my shoes is superb.

I have to say I had high expectations, but these have fulfilled them.

The way the heel cup runs smoothly into the heel itself; the slight pitch of the heel; its curve on the bottom into a bevelled waist; the consistency of the finishing all round the welt.

These are all points for the enthusiast, but its what you can get from a handmade shoe - and should perhaps expect from a good bespoke one.

I illustrated them (with helpful red lines) on my review of Foster & Sons bespoke.



At this point in my journey through bespoke shoes, I would never expect fit to be absolutely perfect on a first pair.

Its one of the big problems with bespoke, and something I reflected on with my second pair from Stefano Bemer.

The biggest argument for bespoke footwear is as a long-term project.

If you have one maker, and make a pair every year or two, then 20 years down the line, it will seem virtually irrelevant that the first pair wasnt quite right. But it doesnt feel that way if you only buy one.

Masaru came close with this pair.

The heel shape is perfect, the toes have plenty of room to move (without the shoe itself being too wide - a delicate balance) and the arch of my foot is followed precisely.

The issues are with the vamp, where you bend the shoe as you walk. There is a little too much room here, which is causing wrinkling.

This is a delicate balance though - I have a high joint on my big toe, and when other makers have left too little room here, that has been pressed painfully.

Personally I also think the wrinkling is down to the length of the shoe. Because its long, the vamp is creasing in almost two places. A shorter style might remove that problem.

However, Masaru will be able to diagnose it better the next time hes in London. Although he checked the fit when he delivered the shoes to me, it will be much clearer when theyve been worn 10 or 20 times.

A tightness on one side of the heel has already subsided, as the leather has softened.

From a style point of view, its also worth noting that as with a lot of bespoke makers, Masaru does no real finishing on the shoes.

Theyre polished of course, in a similar colour, but there is no patina, no burnishing. This makes them look a little flat - particularly if you compare them to a ready-made shoe - but that will come in time, as I polish them myself.

Ive already started using a little black polish on the toe cap and heel, and that will build slowly. Character will also come through the creases and little signs of wear.

Lastly, I think I made the wrong decision on the style around the heel.

This is a balmoral oxford: balmoral referring to the horizontal seam running along the side of the shoe, rather than curving down to meet the sole.

At the back, Masaru suggested tweaking the style, so that the vertical seam on the heel is moved around to the side of the shoe.

This makes the heel look cleaner (no seam); and because the seam is placed on the internal side of the shoe (between your two feet), it is also not that visible.

But when you do see that seam (as you can above) it looks of place to me. Floating; unmoored. I should have left it on the back.

Oh well. Contrary to what you might expect, I know that in the long term, that imperfection will almost make me more fond of the shoes, not less.

Masarus starting price for bespoke is currently HK$38,000 (3,695). Delivery time is around 10 months.

He also now offers an MTO service, where shoes have a hand-sewn welt but outsole sewn by machine. They are based on ready-made sizes, with the ability to alter width and in-step height. It starts at HK$16,000, and delivery is four months.

You can see a full range of Masarus styles on his Tumblr here. There is also a nice interview with Masaru going into more detail on his background, here.

www.masaruokuyama.com

Shoes worn with trousers in charcoal 19oz flannel from Fox Brothers (FS405/A2069/33), made by Whitcomb & Shaftesbury. Experimenting with a slightly slimmer leg (19cm bottom).

Photography: shots of shoes on me, Jamie Ferguson; of shoes in isolation, Permanent Style; of Masaru, Masaru Okuyama.
Austria's conservatives led by Sebastian Kurz on Wednesday agreed to form an unprecedented coalition government with the Greens, capping almost three months of negotiations. "We have succeeded to unite the best of both worlds... It is possible to protect the climate and borders," said Kurz, whose People's Party (OeVP) again gained the most votes in snap elections in September. The polls were triggered after a corruption scandal engulfed Kurz's far-right ally after just 18 months in government together, during which the 33-year-old had carefully cultivated his image as a hardliner on immigration. - 'Future of Austria' - Greens leader Werner Kogler said the two disparate parties had managed to "build bridges" to form a government for "the future of Austria". It will mark the first time the Green party has been in power. The ecologists made key gains in the September polls with the environment replacing immigration as the top voter concern. Kogler said the Alpine country -- which has been among just a handful of EU nations that have seen their greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase between 1990 and 2017 -- would aim to become a frontrunner in terms of fighting climate change in Europe. The two leaders indicated they would reform the tax system to lower the burden on Austrians -- a key OeVP promise -- but at the same time introduce higher eco taxes in line with the Greens' campaign. Kogler said transparency, including freedom of information, and fighting poverty among children, the elderly and women would also be a priority. The two leaders will present their detailed government programme on Thursday. Observers have said the new government would face challenges after Kurz's previous rule with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) saw a raft of anti-immigration measures passed, sharply dividing Austrians. Describing a deal as a "huge stretch", analyst Thomas Hofer warned Kurz could lose voters he gained from the FPOe, which he managed to pick up in the September polls, when the OeVP got 37.5 percent in total. The Greens secured 13.9 percent of the vote, their best-ever result, due to the environment replacing immigration as top concern in the country of 8.8 million people. - Trend setter? - Hofer said other European countries, such as Germany, could also see Conservative-Green party coalitions in the future. Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Luxemburg already have Greens in government. "Kurz is setting a certain trend maybe ahead of time, and this is certainly something also on the international stage that he would be able to sell," he said. Hofer described Kogler, who is expected to be vice-chancellor, as a "pragmatist" who had stabilised the party. The 58-year-old took on the leadership after the party lost all their parliamentary seats in a shock defeat in 2017, largely due to infighting and splits. A congress of the party's almost 280 delegates must still endorse the coalition agreement, but they are expected to do so. "It's a historical chance for them," Hofer said. As junior coalition partner, the Greens are expected to get four ministries, including an enlarged environment ministry that also comprises infrastructure, traffic, energy and technology, according to a party representative familiar with the negotiations. The OeVP will maintain control of the rest, including the coveted interior ministry -- previously headed by a far-right official and embroiled in scandal -- and the finance portfolio. The far-right FPOe -- previously riding a wave of populist sentiment seen across Europe -- was routed in the polls after the so-called "Ibiza-gate" graft scandal brought down their then-leader and vice-chancellor in May and caused the government to collapse.
12:30 p.m. Over lunch, we continued to talk about holiday 2020 ideas, because a few key accounts would like to see previews. We reviewed cards that need to get to the printer. We ordered take out from Sweetgreen and ate at the conference table in the office. In Florida, nobody eats at their desks. I didnt think that was weird until we hired New Yorkers and they would say, Where is everyone? And I would say, Theyre out taking their lunch break.

2 p.m. Trish brought up some big collaborations she wants me to consider. I passed on most of them. We have a capsule collection at Anthropologie of mugs and travel accessories, categories we have not yet fully developed. Anthropologie wants to keep some of that going and I did say yes to that.

7 p.m. I went back to Greenwich Hotel and ordered room service (spaghetti). I was in bed by 9:30. One of my goals when I come to New York is to sleep. Child-free sleep is a deep, magical sleep.

Tuesday

7:45 a.m. I had breakfast with a friend in the pretty parlor room at the hotel. He works at the Art Academy and weve been talking about our doing a workshop with the students, where we would end up with a limited-edition print.

9:30 a.m. I did a few emails. We use Slack at Rifle, so I checked in on some Slacks from the Florida team. I personally like Slack for group-chat back-and-forth conversation, whereas email is good for discussions you need to keep organized.

1 p.m. We had an epic two-hour meeting discussing our spring marketing initiatives, so that I can go to the creative team in Florida to talk about how we can support it all. We had lunch during the meeting. I ordered from a random Japanese place I found on Uber Eats.

3:30 p.m. We reviewed some 2021 planners and a few tech samples. Like an AirPod Pro case we are making with Case-Mate.
Chandrayaan-3, the third edition of Indias moon mission, has been approved by the government, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Sivan said on Wednesday. All the activities related to Chandrayaan-3 are going on smoothly, Sivan said at a press conference on Bengaluru on the first day of 2020.

Giving details about the mission, he said that Chandrayaan-3 will be almost similar to its predecessor Chandrayaan-2.

We had orbiter-lander-rover configuration in Chandrayaan-2. In Chandrayaan-3, we will have landing and rover with propulsion module, said Sivan adding, This is going to be an eventful year for ISRO.

Watch l Chandrayaan-3 & Gaganyaan: All theres to know about ISROS plans for 2020

He also listed the space agencys achievements in 2019 and what it plans to do this year.

This year is going to be the year of Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan, the ISRO chief said.

We had good progress on Gaganyaan in 2019. The training for four astronauts has been planned in third week of January, said Sivan. Gaganyaan is Indias first manned mission to the space. Scheduled to be launched in 2022, Gaganyaan aims to send three astronauts to space and bring them back safely.

In 2019, our strategy was focused on expansion. We wanted to expand ISROs capacity for missions. So we have acquired land in Tamil Nadus Thoothukudi for a second space port, Sivan said.
Jeju Island remains the top tourist destination for Koreans. / Courtesy of Kayak



Jeju most-searched destination; Chinese cities gaining favor



By Kang Seung-woo



As 2019 is now in the history books, it might be the right time to look back on tourist destinations that Koreans loved and those emerging as new attractions luring travelers last year.



Global travel search engine Kayak recently released the trends of vacation spots that Koreans were interested in in 2019 based on users' searches on the website.



Favorite places



Jeju Island topped the list as the most-clicked destination by Koreans on the Kayak website in 2019, followed by Japan's Osaka and Vietnam's Da Nang. Other Japanese cities also drew interest from Koreans, as evidenced by Tokyo and Fukuoka ranking fourth and seventh, respectively.



However, they lost favor in the second half of the year in the wake of the trade restriction-triggered anti-Japan boycott campaign, under which Koreans opted not to travel to Japan. For example, Osaka was the most-searched destination from January to April, but since then, it barely made the top six.



While Japanese cities were struggling, Thailand's Bangkok, Guam and the Philippine island of Cebu filled their places on the top-10 list.



Up-and-coming destinations



The destination with the largest increase in the number of clicks was Boracay of the Philippines. In addition, the rise of Chinese destinations was another to watch. With Yanji ranking second, other cities such as Hangzhou at fifth, Tianjin at sixth, Shenyang at seventh, Harbin at ninth and Qingdao rounded out the top 10. Not only did most of these regions appear on TV programs, the rise was influenced by the diversification of routes to China by domestic low-cost carriers, after the distribution of new traffic rights obtained from the Korea-China Aviation Conference in March. Vladivostok, Russia, sat eighth, showing growing demand from Koreans.





Vietnam's Da Nang is one of the most popular vacation spots for Koreans. / Courtesy of Kayak
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Linkedin (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, January 1, 2020 20:06 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207fbf7 2 Environment Prince-William,Britain,royals,climate,environment,climate-crisis,climate-change,Earthshot-Prize Free

Britain's Prince William launched a multi-million pound prize on Tuesday to encourage the world's greatest problem-solvers to find answers to Earth's biggest environmental problems, saying the planet was now at a tipping point.

The Earthshot Prize, described in its publicity as the "most prestigious environmental prize in history", will be awarded to five winners a year over the next decade with the aim of producing at least 50 solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

"The earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem-solve," William, 37, said in a statement.

"Remember the awe-inspiring civilizations that we have built, the life-saving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon," he added. "People can achieve great things. The next 10 years present us with one of our greatest tests - a decade of action to repair the Earth."

The British royal family have for many years been vocal campaigners on a host of environmental issues, with William's father Prince Charles speaking out for decades about the impact of climate change and the importance of conservation.

The Earthshot initiative, which comes after more than a year of consultations with over 60 organisations and experts, aims to generate new technologies, policies and solutions for issues of climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and fresh water.

Read also: Climate champions Thunberg and Attenborough join forces to push for change

Kensington Palace said the prize drew its inspiration from the concept of Moonshots, which it said since the 1969 moon landings was synonymous with ambitious and ground-breaking goals.

"Just as the Moonshot that (US President) John F. Kennedy proposed in the 1960s catalyzed new technology such as the MRI scanner and satellite dishes, the Earthshots aim to launch their own tidal wave of ambition and innovation," the palace said.

It gave no detailed figures of the size of the prizes or how they would be funded, saying the project was supported by a global coalition of philanthropists and organisations.

The project will be formally launched later in 2020 with challenges announced at events around the world and annual award ceremonies in different cities between 2021 and 2030.

A film to coincide with Tuesday's launch was narrated by veteran British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, who has been making nature programs such as the popular Blue Planet series since the 1950s.

"This year Prince William and a global alliance launch the most prestigious environment prize in history: The Earthshot Prize," Attenborough said, describing it as "a global prize designed to motivate and inspire a new generation of thinkers, leaders and dreamers to think differently".
U.S. soldiers fire tear gas towards protesters who broke into the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday. Read more

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Tuesday was pulled toward the kind of Middle East tinderbox he has tried to avoid as he blamed Iran for an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq that further damaged U.S. relations with Baghdad and appeared to put Trumps hopes for diplomacy with Tehran further out of reach.

Hundreds of supporters of an Iranian-backed militia chanted "Death to America" as they breached part of the outer security layer at the vast compound in Baghdad's protected Green Zone.

U.S. diplomats were barricaded and unharmed inside the $750 million embassy, built as a powerful symbol of U.S. permanence after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that Trump has derided as the worst U.S. foreign policy blunder. But the hulking structure may now serve as a symbol of how difficult it can be to disentangle U.S. interests from Iraq and the region despite the president's stated desire to get out of "endless wars" and reduce the United States' footprint in the Middle East.

Trump now faces a situation in which the United States and Iran are elbowing for influence in Iraq as U.S. allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, along with some of Trumps in-house advisers, urge a more forceful confrontation with Tehran over its aggressive tactics across the Middle East -- a potentially combustible situation.

The president struck a bellicose tone Tuesday, but it's unclear what moves he will make next as he feels the tug between taking a tough line with Iran and trying to avoid getting more involved in the region.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump tweeted late Tuesday afternoon from Florida, where he is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort. "Happy new year!"

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the president held what he called a good meeting with advisers and approved sending a small contingent of Marines and two Apache helicopters to reinforce security at the embassy while tweeting that "The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE!"

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), a Trump ally and foreign policy adviser, had breakfast with the president Tuesday and said in an interview that Trump was determined to have no Benghazi on his watch, a reference to the 2012 attack on U.S. government facilities in Libya that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

Republicans harshly criticized the Obama administration and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the response to the Benghazi attacks, and Trumps wariness over any comparisons between the two events was publicly on display Tuesday.

"The Anti-Bengahzi!" he tweeted about his administration's response to the situation in Baghdad.

Graham said Trump is not looking for a fight and hopes Iran will take steps that allow tensions to be ratcheted down soon.

"The goal is to de-escalate, but it takes two to do that," he said, adding that Trump and his national security team are discussing "a lot of options" he would not detail.

In general, the U.S. has options to confront Iran indirectly through military action against its proxy forces in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, and to increase economic and political pressure on Tehran. The United States could also retaliate against Iraq, an ally of both Washington and Tehran, for not doing more to protect the embassy and the American contractor whose death Friday at the hands of an Iranian-backed militia set off the current crisis. The United States responded to the contractor's death by carrying out airstrikes Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah bases near the Iraqi-Syrian border.

"The president is determined not to let Americans be attacked without them paying a price," Graham said of Iran.

The developments in Baghdad came on the eve of the new year, when Trump is seeking reelection on a platform that boasts of strong international leadership and a commitment that the United States will not be a global policeman for age-old conflicts.

"They're fighting for 1,000 years, they're fighting for centuries. I want to bring our soldiers back home," Trump said in October, as he announced that U.S. forces had killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. "I had absolutely nothing to do with going into Iraq, and I was totally against it."

Trump has long viewed U.S. involvement in the Middle East as a political loser that only leads to the loss of money and lives, according to a Trump adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the president's views.

"I can tell you 100% that the president has no desire to get into some kind of new conflict in the Middle East during 2020," this person said.

This fall, Trump withdrew all but a few U.S. forces from Syria to make good on his promise to shake off the sand of faraway Middle East conflicts, but the move was condemned by both Republicans and Democrats because it allowed Turkey to move against the Kurds, who had been allies of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State. Trump sought to portray his decision as a win after a cease-fire was declared, but his detractors countered that only occurred because Turkey had already achieved what it wanted in the region at the expense of the Kurds.

Trump has distanced himself from the current Iraqi leadership and criticized its stewardship of oil resources. The White House issued only a cursory summary of a phone call Tuesday between Trump and the country's placeholder prime minister.

"The two leaders discussed regional security issues and President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the statement said.

"Regional security issues" is often shorthand for the White House view that Iran stirs up trouble throughout the Middle East and endangers Israel. Some of Trump's advisers view Iraq as a long-term U.S. partner and a foothold of U.S.-backed democracy in the Middle East, while others mainly see Iraq through the prism of its next-door neighbor Iran.

Trump has wanted to talk to Iran's president in an effort to strike some kind of deal, a move opposed by many in his administration, that he contends would be far better than the nuclear agreement the Obama administration struck with Tehran and that Trump abandoned soon after taking office. But there has been little progress on that front and the attack on the embassy appeared to make those talks even less likely in the near future.

Tensions were also high between Washington and Baghdad before the embassy assault, as officials traded accusations over Sunday's U.S. airstrikes that Iraqi leaders called a violation of their country's sovereignty.

"I think the first thing he should be thinking about is stabilizing the Iraqi government and not putting more pressure on it," said Christopher Hill, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq. "If the net result of all this is an unstable Iraqi political situation, we will be sucked into it one way or another."

Ryan Crocker, also a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said Trump should think carefully about how his next steps will be viewed by Iran, which has its own calculations to make about how far to go in flexing its influence. Crocker welcomes Trump's stated interest in negotiating with Iran eventually, but said the president is raising the likelihood for conflict or miscalculation now.

"Trump sends a lot of different signals," that Iran may not be able to interpret, he said. "I just hope that they took that into account before those F-16 strikes that with that level of force, the chances of some kind of response are pretty high."

Retired Army general Barry McCaffrey, who has led troops in Iraq, said Trump is making it harder for Iran to back down.

The economic sanctions on Iran are choking them, and theyre looking for a way out. Our own demands have been maximalist -- and in public, he said. Its a pressure cooker and its going to blow.

McCaffrey and Hill noted that Iran has more military resources in and around Iraq than the United States.

"Trump has dealt with this in the worst possible way. He's publicly, not privately, confronting the Iranians not on a conflict of our choosing but of their choosing," McCaffrey said.

Iraqi security forces appeared to do little to prevent the initial assault on the embassy perimeter but later intervened, erecting a steel barrier at the smashed gate into the compound's reception area.

Some of the Iraqi protesters set up tents outside the compound Tuesday night, condemning the airstrikes and vowing to stay until all U.S. troops and diplomats leave Iraq.

The strikes against the Iranian-backed group Kataib Hezbollah killed 25 militia members and injured more than 50.

Douglas Ollivant, a former Army officer and National Security Council official who served in Iraq, questioned why Trump didn't retaliate for the contractor's death with a strike at Iranian assets in Syria rather than in Iraq. The United States has no stake in the Syrian government the way it does in the Iraqi one, and both have interwoven ties with Iran, Ollivant said.

The militia attack that killed the U.S. contractor "clearly gave the Iran hawks the justification they needed to strike Iranian-affiliated groups inside Iraq," said Ollivant, now managing partner at the Iraq-focused consultancy Mantid International.

As for what Trump does now, Ollivant said the president may have less leeway than he imagines to reduce U.S. involvement in Iraq.

Were now on our second president in a row that seems unable to disentangle themselves from this just by clearly wanting to, he said.
While disposing of the petition of Hem Raj, a law student, a division bench comprising Chief Justice L. Narayana Swamy and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua said the appointment was made by adopting and following the due procedure as mandated by the Constitution and the respondent had been discharged by a Special Judge in allegations of corruption.

Shimla, Jan 1 (IANS) The high court here on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the order of appointment of Meera Walia, wife of Subhash Ahluwalia, former Principal Private Secretary to ex-Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, as a member of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC).

The court said the petitioner approached the court not with clean hands, but it refrained itself from imposing cost on him for filing such a petition despite being a law student.

The judges hoped the state must step in and take urgent steps to frame memorandum of procedure, administrative guidelines and parameters for the selection and appointment of the chairperson and members of HPPSC so that the possibility of arbitrary appointment is eliminated.

The petitioner had challenged Walia's appointment on the ground that a first information report (FIR) was lodged against her in the state Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act in 2008.

Official sources told IANS that Ahluwalia has been accused of misusing state funds to acquire assets during his previous tenure as Principal Private Secretary to Virbhadra Singh from 2003-07.

He has been asked for details about foreign remittances received by him from his children who are working in the US.

Ahluwalia was re-appointed as Principal Private Secretary in 2013.

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Horror bushfire conditions will return with a vengeance on Saturday, with 40C temperatures and gusty winds set to create worse conditions than this week's blazes.

In the wake of devastating infernos which claimed the lives of as many as seven people on the NSW south coast and Victoria's East Gippsland region, authorities have warned it's only going to get worse at the weekend.

Firefighters and their Defence Force reinforcements had a welcome reprieve from the blazes on New Year's Day with volunteers desperately trying to take advantage of cooler weather to contain and douse the blazes while they can.

At least 176 homes have been destroyed on the NSW south coast and the main streets of towns such as Cobargo and Mogo are unrecognisable.

But NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim: 'We are assuming that on Saturday weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday,' she said.

Temperatures will hit 45C in some part of the country as horror conditions are expected for Saturday

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled

Residents of Cobargo, NSW, inspect the damage the fire left after it ripped through the town on Tuesday

'That is something all of us have to brace ourselves for.'

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska explained to Daily Mail Australia how conditions will be similar to Tuesday - with extremely hot temperatures followed by powerful gusts.

'Yesterday temperatures peaked before a southerly came through,' she said. 'Saturday will be the next big day to look out for.'

The mercury will start to rise on Friday when 'large areas' of the state will have temperatures of more than 40C and these hot conditions will carry over to Saturday.

A southerly is expected to come through during the late afternoon and the strong winds expected will pose issues for firefighters.

Then: Cobargo as it was before bushfires sparked by the worst conditions Australia has had in living memory ripped through the town

Now: Devastation in Cobargo. Authorities have confirmed more than 200 properties were destroyed in yesterday's NSW blazes

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska explained to Daily Mail Australia how conditions will be similar to Tuesday - with extremely hot temperatures followed by powerful gusts, creating the potential for similar scenes to Cobargo

'The dry and strong winds will make the blazes burning across the state flare and drive them in a new direction,' the forecaster said.

She said the winds will also cause embers to move further and pose a significant issue for people facing the flames and people need to be wary.

Despite the cooler conditions parts of the state - including the north west of the Great Dividing Range, are still 'quite warm'.

Hazardous smoke conditions are also expected following the southerly change but the impact will depend on which part of the state you are in

Four people are confirmed dead and there are concerns for five people who are missing after fires left scenes like the one in Cobargo across the state

Three thousand firefighters were deployed to help battle the blazes and protect homes, businesses and vehicles

Victoria is set to experience similar conditions to New South Wales on Saturday.

Temperatures are set to rise before gusty winds will develop in the western part of the state around dawn before hitting the east in the afternoon.

The change is set to bring some isolated showers and thunderstorms.

The eastern part of the state will be covered in a smoke haze.

Today, authorities confirmed four people are dead and there are grave fears for a fourth person in the NSW South Coast blazes.

Cobargo has been destroyed by fires on Tuesday after blazes ripped through the town and burned several buildings

In the wake of devastating infernos which claimed the lives of as many as eight people on the NSW south coast and Victoria's East Gippsland region, authorities have warned it's only going to get worse at the weekend

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today told reporters the forecast is grim

Firefighters have confirmed Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, are among those dead after they tried to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

The fourth person confirmed dead was found in a motor vehicle in Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola.

One hundred fires are blazing across New South Wales as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, hope is fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland holiday region on the Victorian coast, following the deadly New Year's Eve blaze.

The fires in Cobargo not only destroyed homes and buildings but two men lost their lives

Cobargo wasn't the only town destroyed - Batemans Bay was also devastated, according to local Federal MP

There are 46 fires still burning and 43 properties have been destroyed in the popular holiday destination.

After a day sheltering on the beach, tourists and locals in Mallacoota spent the night sleeping in a local cinema.

Many spent New Year's Eve on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been leveled.

Patrick Salway, 29, (pictured with his pregnant wife Renee) died fighting the fires with his father Robert Salway

Bereaved widow Renee Salway took to social media on Tuesday (pictured) and said she is 'broken'. 'I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will,' she wrote

Batemans Bay has also been 'absolutely destroyed,' according to local Federal MP for Gilmore Fiona Phillips.

'It's just been absolute devastation. The building loss we believe around the Batemans Bay area and Mogo is in the hundreds. It's very, very significant,' she said, according to the ABC.

'The industrial area at Batemans Bay has certainly suffered significant damage and the Mogo CBD is unrecognisable.'

Ms Phillips said hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the area.

Fires have been burning in Australia - such as this one near Tahmoor known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 - since September

Conditions are expected to get worse on Saturday with smoke filling the air. Pictured: Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

A home lost to a bushfire on Hassall Road in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

Federal MP for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly said at least 200 homes have been lost on the Far South Coast.

Mr Kelly said he is expecting more bad news.

Mr Salway was expecting a second child with his pregnant wife Renee, who paid tribute to her husband on Tuesday night, telling friends she was 'broken'.

'I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will,' she wrote.

'I will see you again Patrick, my best friend. Hope you are up there 'fixing things in the stars tonight'.'

A telecommunications outage left families unable to contact loved ones in fire-ravaged areas.

One hundred fires are blazing across New South Wales as of Wednesday morning

'No communication is a rarity in today's world so it's an uncomfortable feeling,' Melbourne man Nic Baxter told AAP on Tuesday evening, as he waited to hear from his father in Batemans Bay.

Military aircraft and vessels are continuing to assist emergency services on Wednesday in New South Wales and Victoria.

Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons said there were 'literally thousands of people taking refuge on the beaches' after being trapped by blazes.

Army Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters were deployed to rescue thousands stranded on a beach in the fire-ravaged area.

US and Canada are understood to have been asked to provide 'specialist aviation resources' to help Australia's emergency efforts.

Waterbombing aircraft helped efforts to stop a 250ha blaze reaching residential homes at Blue Haven on the Central Coast.

Total fire bans are in place for Southern Slopes, Southern Ranges and Central Ranges on Wednesday, ahead of predicted worsening conditions over the weekend.

Multiple property losses are likely but it will take several days to assess all the losses, the RFS says.

There are six watch and act warnings in place in New South Wales in places such as Clyde Mountain, Talmalmo, Dunns Road, Currowan, Werri Berri and Countegany.

In Victoria there are ten fires at a watch and act level including the areas around Sunbury, Goongerah, Walwa, Mallacoota, Tambo Crossing, Alpine National Park, Bainsdale and Buchan Valley.

Volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul (pictured with his wife Megan) was tragically killed when a 10-tonne truck rolled on Monday

The towns of Fishermans Paradise, Broulee and Mogo, which is home to a popular zoo, have experienced significant damage.

Meanwhile major roads, including several parts of the Princes Highway linking south coast communities, are likely to remain closed for some time due to hazards.

NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer Samuel McPaul also lost his life after the firetruck he was travelling in was lifted from the ground by a 'fire tornado', which flipped the truck on its roof and trapped the three volunteer firemen inside.

The newlywed was expecting his first child.

Around 30,000 tourists as well as 45,000 locals were told to leave the East Gippsland region on Sunday in what was poised to be one of the biggest mass evacuations in Australia's history.

Four people are unaccounted for in Victoria.

There are six watch and act warnings in place in New South Wales in places such as Clyde Mountain, Talmalmo, Dunns Road, Currowan, Werri Berri and Countegany.

In Victoria there are ten fires at a watch and act level including the areas around Sunbury, Goongerah, Walwa, Mallacoota, Tambo Crossing, Alpine National Park, Bainsdale and Buchan Valley.
Two years after caste clashes marred the Koregaon Bhima battle commemoration event in Pune district of Maharashtra, at least 8 lakh people on Wednesday visited the "Jaystambh" (victory pillar) in Perne village on the occasion of the 202nd anniversary of the historic battle in a peaceful manner amidst heavy security.

No untoward incident was reported throughout the day at the event which passed off peacefully, officials said.

As a precautionary measure, Internet services in and around Koregaon Bhima remained suspended for the day. Services were resumed in the evening.

"The entire programme of commemoration took place as per our plans. We wanted this entire event to be free of any dispute or incident, and it happened as per the plans," Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram said.

Police officials put the number of people who have visited the victory pillar at 8 lakh.

Elaborate security was also maintained at historic Vadhu Budruk village, located near Perne.

The district administration and police officials held a string of meetings with villagers in the area over last one month to put in place the confidence-building measures to ensure peaceful commemoration of the 202nd anniversary of the January 1, 1818 battle.

In early morning, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar, Union minister Ramdas Athawale and several other leaders visited the 'Jay Stambh'.

Violent clashes had broken out in the area around Koregaon Bhima on the 200th anniversary of the historic battle on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Pune superintendent of police Sandip Patil said local residents cooperated with officials to ensure that the event passes off peacefully.

Smarter by the previous experience, police had made elaborate security arrangements in the area.

"Apart from a large number of police personnel, companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), teams of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) were deployed in the area," a police official said, adding that drone cameras were also used to monitor crowd.

As part of preparations, ample space was provided for installing stalls where various souvenirs and other items were sold, he said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Ajit Pawar said he offered tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.

"This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar urged people visiting the site to maintain peace.

"I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but also maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the senior NCP leader said.

As per the Dalit narrative, around 500 soldiers from the dalit Mahar caste, who were part of the British Army, defeated forces of Peshwas (who were Brahmins), in the 1818 battle.

Every year, lakhs of people, especially Dalits and those from Ambedkarite movement, visit the Jaystambh on January 1 to pay their respects.

Pawar said Maharashtra has a tradition of maintaining peace and harmony.

"This particular area has history of valour and bravery. Similarly, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj also had a connection with this land and the youth should take inspiration from the valor showcased by those who sacrificed their lives in the battle and go ahead in their life," he said.

Meanwhile, Prakash Ambedkar claimed that some people had tried to spark trouble during the ongoing congregation, but the new government has foiled their intentions.

He expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements around Koregaon Bhima.

When asked about the 2017 Elgaar Parishad case and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent demand to withdraw cases against activists in connection with the 2018 Koregaon Bhima incident, Ambedkar said the stand of all the three ruling constituents- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- in the state government is of cooperation, which is welcoming.

Union minister and RPI (A) chief Athawale also praised the district administration for making "good arrangements".

Addressing a meeting in Perne village, Athwale demanded implementation of the Koregaon Bhima development plan.

"As lots of people visit the memorial, there is a need of facilities to the visiting people in and around Koregaon Bhima and that is why there is a need of implementation of development plan of the village," he said.

He also said that some people are inciting Muslims on the issue of CAA and NRC by distorting facts.

Last week, Pune Police had issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from December 29.

The notices, as part of a preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago.

Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima.

Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the 2018 violence to the Elgaar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made.

Police are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists who had attended the conclave.
Carlos Ghosn has tried to give the media the slip before. (AFP/Behrouz MEHRI)

That's the question being asked in Japan, where Carlos Ghosn's abrupt departure and arrival in Lebanon is being seen as an embarrassing lapse in security.

The 65-year-old, who holds Brazilian, French and Lebanese passports, had all three confiscated as part of his bail conditions as he prepared to defend himself against multiple charges of financial misconduct.

One of his lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, confirmed to reporters that they still had them in their possession, confessing he was "dumbfounded" at the news of his client's flight - which heard about via the media.

Public broadcaster NHK cited an anonymous source as saying the Immigration Services Agency had no record of a Carlos Ghosn leaving the country, and authorities were reviewing whether he left using another name.

NHK also quoted a foreign ministry official as insisting: "He was not supposed to leave the country. Had we known about it beforehand, we would have reported that to proper law enforcement authorities."

"If this development is true, it would be a matter between the legal authorities of the two countries," the official added.

Taichiro Motoe, a lawmaker from Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), said the news had come as a "shock" and called for "swift and effective" improvements.

Another LDP lawmaker, Masahisa Sato, said: "If this is true, it was not 'departing the country', it was an illegal departure and an escape, and this itself is a crime.

"Was there help extended by an unnamed country? It is also a serious problem that Japan's system allowed an illegal departure so easily," complained Sato, also a former state minister for foreign affairs.

Although there is no extradition agreement between Japan and Lebanon, the two have diplomatic ties, with a deputy Japanese foreign minister visiting Beirut 10 days ago.

"POLITICAL PERSECUTION"

It is also another blow for the reputation of Japan's justice system, which came under widespread fire both at home and abroad during Ghosn's detention for provisions that allow suspects to be held for long periods.

Amnesty International has accused Japan's justice system of creating an environment of "aggressive interrogations" that "risk producing forced confessions and false convictions".

Ghosn and his family had repeatedly attacked this "hostage justice system", and he said in a statement released after his arrival in Lebanon that he was not fleeing justice but had "escaped injustice and political persecution".

He has now vowed to give his side of the story, and Nobuo Gohara - a former elite prosecutor who now runs his own private practice - told AFP this could pose a problem for the prosecution, accused by Ghosn's defence team of several illegal steps.

"One thing is for sure. For prosecutors, this presents a significant and serious situation. Nissan must be afraid. Prosecutors are also afraid," said Gohara, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the handling of the case.

"The defence team have completely lost face. They promised he would stay in Japan as a condition of his bail," added Gohara.

The Lebanese government would be unlikely to extradite him even if there was a treaty between the two countries, Gohara said.

One of the reasons authorities used to justify his lengthy detention was that he was a potential flight risk.

At a hearing on January 8 to rule on his continued custody, presiding Judge Yuichi Tada said Ghosn was being detained because he was a flight risk and there was a possibility he would conceal evidence.

The suspect has "bases in foreign countries" and may "escape", Tada said.

But Go Kondo, one of Ghosn's lawyers at the time, countered: "There is no risk that he will run away. He's CEO of French company Renault. He's widely known so it's difficult for him to escape."
The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 26,039 babies would be born in Nigeria on New Year Day.

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, disclosed this in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the figure placed the countrys babies as making up 7 per cent of the estimated 392,078 babies that would be born on the day globally.

Hawkins said over half of these births are estimated to take place in eight countries globally.

India  67,385, China  46,299, Nigeria  26,039,

Pakistan  16,787, Indonesia  13,020, The United States of America  10,452, The Democratic Republic of Congo  10,247, Ethiopia  8,493,

The beginning of a new year  and this year, a new decade  is a chance for us to reflect on our hopes and dreams for the future of Nigeria  especially for those who stand to inherit this country; its children.

As we start each new year, we are reminded of the potential of each and every Nigerian child embarking on her or his lifes journeyif only they are given that chance to survive and thrive, Mr Hawkins said.

According to him, each January, UNICEF celebrates babies born on New Years Day, an auspicious day for childbirth around the world.

Disheartening records

Sadly, for millions of newborns around the world, including in Nigeria, the day of their birth is far less auspicious, and sadly is often their last.

He said in 2018, 2.5 million newborns died in just their first month of life around the world; about a third of them on the first day of life. In Nigeria, this was 318,522 deaths.

He decried that most of these children died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections like sepsis.

More than 2.5 million babies are born dead each year  with more than 400,000 stillborn deaths taking place in Nigeria annually.

Over the past three decades, the world  including Nigeria  has seen remarkable progress in child survival, cutting the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday by more than half.

In Nigeria, this number has been cut by about 500,000 between 1990 and 2018. But there has been slower progress for newborns.

Babies dying in their first month of life accounted for 47 per cent of all deaths among children under five in 2018, up from 40 per cent in 1990. In Nigeria, these figures are 29 per cent, up from 21 per cent in 1990 he said.

Panacea

Mr Hawkins calls for immediate investment in health workers with the right training to ensure the safety of every mother and child.

Too many mothers and newborns are not being cared for by a trained and equipped midwife or nurse, and the results are devastating.

We can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into this decade and beyond if every mother has good pregnancy care and every baby is born into a safe pair of hands.

That means having well-equipped facilities with well-trained staff who can be there to welcome every Nigerian child into this world safely and healthily. This is especially critical as we now only have 10 years to deliver on the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), he said.
Ex- President Jerry John Rawlings has described the interventions of June 4, 1979, and December 31, 1981, as effects of the mood of the country at the time and called for the context and circumstances of the period to be factored when telling the story.

Addressing a durbar to climax the 38th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution at the Winneba Lorry Park on Tuesday, the leader of the two uprisings described those leading the distortion of the history as cowards, promising, we will face them firmly.

We will tell our story! he said.

He called on adherents of June 4 and December 31 not to allow the distortions of our history to continueThose who have allowed corruption to rear its ugly head and permitted it to fester want to belittle the discipline, the law and order we introduced into this country, so they can justify their corrupt tendencies.

Many, he indicated, had today forgotten the circumstances that gave birth to June 4 and December 31 with some spending huge resources to sponsor the distortion of the history through outright lies, half-truths and rendition by cowards who ran away during those heady days.

The former President said it was unfortunate that some had chosen to leave out the overwhelming gains made by these interventions, focusing only on the negatives.

Lessons lost

Flt Lt Rawlings cautioned that an important lesson is going to be lost on this nation because a handful of warped minds, full of hate and bitterness are being paid to distort and cover up events in our history with callous stories and lies.

The Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) that ruled Ghana between 1982 and 1992, questioned why we sit and allow these perfidious characters to get away with these lies and deceitful machinations through the power of the media all to the detriment of the nation?

The former President said, the lighting of the perpetual flame and the laying of wreaths is to show reverence to all who sacrificed their lives during that difficult time in our country. Let no one downplay those sacrifices through historical distortions, twists and utter fabrications.

UEW

Touching on the controversies surrounding the University of Education Winneba (UEW), the leader of the revolution commended government for instituting a roadmap for a peaceful resolution of the matter of over 20 dismissed staff of the University, stating, however, that no significant progress had been made over the past three months.

More than 20 dismissed staff at the UEW are going through discontent and pain. I hope this important matter is given the urgency and attention that is required, the former President implored.

Earlier in the morning, former President Rawlings and his delegation paid a courtesy call on Nenyi Ghartey VII, President of the Effutu Traditional Council, before proceeding to the durbar grounds where a parade and wreath-laying ceremony was held ahead of the durbar which was also addressed by NDC flagbearer former President John Dramani Mahama, NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia and a host of cadres and leading members of the NDC.

Myjoyonline
In a prison fight in the northern Mexican state of Zacatecas, about sixteen inmates were killed and five wounded on December 31, told the authorities to the media. The state government said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening that the fight broke out around 2:30 PM on December 31 afternoon at the Regional Center for Social Reintegration in the town of Cieneguillas, located on the western flank of state capital Zacatecas. The incident is one of the worst outbreaks of violence in the countrys troubled penal system since President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took power.

Read: Mexico City Hails 2020 With Music, Not Fireworks

Inmate arrested with firearm, more weapons ceased

The police have reportedly arrested an inmate with a firearm, and three more guns were found in the prison, as well as various knives. Following the incident, a probe has been launched to determine those responsible for the fight, according to the government statement. Moreover, security will be beefed up following the rise in prison fights in the state, they added.

Read: Mexico Arrests Seven Suspects In Mormon Family Massacre

Prison fight killed 28 in Acapulco

Mexico has a history of prison violence. At least 28 inmates were killed when a brutal fight broke out in a prison in the Mexican Pacific resort of Acapulco in 2017. Acapulco is one of Mexico's most lawless states and a center of opium poppy production that has been a major concern to US officials. A state security official told the media that the fight broke out between rival gangs in the maximum-security wing of the prison. Bodies were discovered throughout the wing, including inside and just outside the kitchen, as well as the area for conjugal visits, he said. A law enforcement official informed the media that four bodies were decapitated.

Read: Mexico And Bolivia React To Expulsions

Homicide surge in Mexico

While the President of Mexico, Lopez Obrador who came to power in 2018 pledged to reduce record levels of violence, the incident is the latest blow. According to the latest data, in 2019, Mexico was on track to surpass the previous years total of homicides. Mexican Secretariat of Public Security reported a total of 127 people killed on December 1.

Read: Mexico's Zapatistas Host 'Women Who Fight' Gathering

(With inputs from agencies)

Read: Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo Welcomes Second Baby Giraffe Of The Year


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President Donald Trump threatened Iran, warning the country's leaders they will be held responsible for any death or destruction after protestors attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, CNN reports.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities," Trump tweeted from Florida. "They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat."

And later, while speaking with reporters as he entered a New Year's Eve gala at Mar-a-Lago, the President said he doesn't want war but that if it comes to conflict, Iran wouldn't last long.

"I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran," Trump said, adding later that a potential conflict "would go very quickly."

Protesters attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, scaling the walls and forcing the gates of the compound, as hundreds demonstrated against American airstrikes on an Iran-backed militia group in Iraq.

As night fell, protestors set up tents near the embassy, suggesting another day of upheaval lies ahead. Iraqi counterterrorism forces were deployed around the perimeter of the embassy, while the Pentagon announced additional Marines would be sent to Baghdad and more troops would be deployed to the Middle East in response to the embassy crisis.
Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma has revealed he does not think Donald Trump is a good role model.

Lankford, 51, said in a recent interview with CBSs Face The Nation that the presidents vocabulary in speeches and on social media did not set an example for the way that Im raising my kids.

I dont think that President Trump as a person is a role model for a lot of different youth, he in the segment that aired on Sunday. Thats just me personally. I dont like the way that he tweets, some of the things that he says. His word choices at times are not my word choices.

He comes across with more New York City swagger than I do from the Midwest, he added.

While Lankford criticized the presidents rhetoric, he admitted he agreed with some of Trumps policies.

Saying that, there are policy areas that we agree on, and when we agree on those things we work on those things together, he added. But its also been a grand challenge to be able to say  for a person of faith, for a person who believes that there is a right way to go on things  I wish he did and was more of a role model in those areas.

RELATED: Greta Thunberg Says Discussing Climate Change with Donald Trump Wouldve Wasted My Time

Senator James Lankford and President Donald Trump | Meredith Dake/CQ Roll Call; Noam Galai/WireImage

RELATED: A Brief History of President Trumps Stance on Climate Change: Lies, Misstatements, Misspellings

As noted by Time, Lankford  the former director of Student Ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma  said that he held out hope the party would select a role model candidate during the 2016 primaries that saw the likes of Ted Cruz, John Kasich and Marco Rubio vie for the Republican presidential nomination.

In a campaign year full of lies, personal attacks, vile language and immoral behavior, today was yet another reminder that there is no role model, from either party, running for President this year, Lankford wrote on his campaign Facebook page before the 2016 election, according to The Oklahoman.

Story continues

I think hes throwing gasoline on the fire with his communications, he said a year later of Trumps rhetoric. I dont want my children to speak that way. I dont think it helps.

RELATED VIDEO: Hunter Biden Slams Trumps Ridiculous Conspiracy Idea, Says Making President Angry Is a Feather in My Cap

Lankford spoke to Face the Nation alongside Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware for a discussion about faith in politics. He said he is continually asked about Trumps controversial comments by the media and his constituents.

At the end of the day, what were really looking for in an Administration is folks that allow us to be able to live our principles, Lankford said in the interview.

The president has a spokesperson and Im not the presidents spokesperson, he continued. One of the interesting things about Washington, D.C. is I dont get to pick the people that I work with. The American people pick the people that I work with.
The change means that from the last day of 2019 men and women in Britain are able for the first time to join hands in civil partnerships as an alternative to getting married, the Xinhua news agency reported.

London, Jan 1 (IANS) A couple who went to Britain's highest court to win the right to legalise their relationship without getting married were among the first in the country on Tuesday to celebrate a change in marriage laws.

British media reported on Tuesday how Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan celebrated their civil partnership with a ceremony at the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office in London.

They won a legal battle in 2018 for the right to heterosexual civil partnerships, paving the way for today's change in the law. The couple took their fight to the Supreme Court, the highest court in Britain, forcing the law change.

Steinfeld told journalists it was their personal wish to form a civil partnership which came from a personal desire to formalise their relationship in a more modern way, with a focus in equality and mutual respect.

She said it creates new, modern possibilities for thousands of people to express their love and commitment and ends the unrivaled position of marriage.

The change means couples will be able to access the same tax benefits, pensions and inheritances as those available to married couples.

The government said thousands of civil ceremonies were taking place across England and Wales Tuesday as the new rules came into operation.

A spokesperson for the Government Equalities Office said: "Civil partnerships are not intended to compete with marriage but rather to provide an alternative option for those couples who do not wish to marry but want legal certainty and stability for their families."

rs/
Turkish Defence Chief Denies Rift With Russia Over Libya

Sputnik News

21:45 31.12.2019

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar has denied there were frictions between Ankara and Moscow over Libya amid Turkey's recent moves to send troops to Tripoli's aid.

"No, Turkey and Russia have very good channels for dialogue", he told the Turkish broadcaster NTV in response to whether a row was brewing between the two.

He said talks had been held between the nations' presidents and defence officials. Turkey intends to iron out any differences with Russia through negotiations, Akar added.

The Tripoli-based government of national accord has asked Turkey for "air, land and naval" aid after the rival forces of eastern-based General Khalifa Haftar redoubled their efforts to seize Tripoli.

The Turkish government wants to push the motion through the parliament at an extraordinary sitting on 31 December. It is asking to deploy troops to Libya to protect national interests.

In late November, Turkey and the GNA signed agreements on military cooperation and a new maritime border. Both sides have already ratified the deal, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on 26 December that Ankara was ready to provide military assistance in the fight against the LNA.

Libya has been facing an acute armed conflict since its long-time leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown and killed in 2011. The eastern part of the country is now governed by the Tobruk authorities and the allied LNA, while the GNA operates in the country's west. The situation has escalated over the past several weeks as Haftar ordered his troops to advance on the GNA-controlled capital of Tripoli.

 Sputnik

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Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday claimed that some people had intended to trigger riots on the occasion of the 202nd anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima to derive a political mileage, but the new government has foiled their plans.

Throughout Wednesday, lakhs of people paid their tributes at the 'Jaystambh' (victory pillar) in Perne village in Pune district of Maharashtra to mark the anniversary of the historic battle amidst tight security.

Dalits view the memorial as a symbol of their pride.

"During the time of the 'namantar andolan' (renaming movement) of the Marathwada University in 1977, political situation in the state changed and there were riots.

"....Today is January 1. The government has changed in Maharashtra and some people, who wanted to politicise the issue (202nd anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle) had the intention to plan riots, but this time, we along with the state government foiled their plans," the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief told reporters after visiting the 'Jaystambh'.

Refusing to elaborate, Ambedkar said he would speak on the topic later.

Violent clashes had broken out in the area around Koregaon Bhima on the 200th anniversary of the 1818 battle on January 1, 2018, in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Meanwhile, Ambedkar also expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements in place around Koregaon Bhima.

When asked about the 2017 Elgaar Parishad case and NCP chief Sharad Pawar's recent demand to withdraw cases against activists in connection with the 2018 Koregaon Bhima incident, Ambedkar said the stand of all the three ruling constituents- Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- in the state government is of cooperation, which is welcoming.

The police had attributed the 2018 violence to the Elgaar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made by some speakers.

Police are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists who had attended the conclave.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAGHDAD - Thousands of angry supporters of an Iranian-backed militia chanting "Death to America" stormed entrances to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, laying bare the fragility of the U.S. presence in Iraq despite hundreds of billions of dollars and 17 years of investment in the country.

Members of the U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces stood by as supporters of the Kataib Hezbollah militia surged into the usually heavily guarded Green Zone, breached the main embassy reception area and set it on fire.

They hung the flags of their militia on the barbed wire protecting the compound, daubed pro-Iranian slogans on its walls and tossed molotov cocktails onto its lawns. "America is the Great Satan," they chanted, and "Death to America" - slogans that echoed those of the Iranian revolutionaries who held U.S. diplomats hostage in Tehran 40 years ago.

The demonstrators then set up tents to camp outside for the night, saying they would not leave until all U.S. diplomats and troops had pulled out of Iraq.

As diplomats and staffers huddled together in a fortified safe room inside the embassy compound, the stage seemed to have been set for a potentially long siege that leaves the United States with little room for maneuver.

The Pentagon dispatched about 100 Marines and two Apache helicopters to reinforce security at the embassy, which was opened with much fanfare a little over a decade ago as the biggest and most heavily fortified U.S. embassy in the world, a symbol of America's vast new influence in Iraq as well as of the threats that have always stalked its presence.

President Donald Trump was defiant, tweeting angrily that Iran was responsible for the siege, because it backed the militia.

"Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many," Trump tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. "We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!"

But Tuesday's events instead seemed to reveal the extent to which Iran emerged ascendant from the aftermath of the U.S. invasion as the chief influencer in Iraq.

The day began with supporters of the Kataib Hezbollah militia converging on the embassy compound to protest the killing of 25 fighters in U.S. airstrikes Sunday. The strikes were carried out in response to the death of the U.S. contractor in a rocket attack against a military base in Kirkuk that the United States blamed on Kataib Hezbollah.

A spokesman for the militia said the intent was for the demonstrators to lay siege to the embassy until the facility shuts down and U.S. diplomats leave Iraq.

But the demonstrators nonetheless smashed their way into one of the facility's heavily guarded reception areas, breaking down armored doors and bulletproof glass before setting fire to the room.

American guards inside the embassy fired tear gas to keep the militia supporters at bay, and U.S. troops could be seen nearby and on rooftops, their weapons drawn. Embassy civil-defense workers just inside the gates attempted to put out the fires with water hoses.

The demonstrators also smashed security cameras, set two guardrooms ablaze and burned tires. They made a bonfire out of a pile of papers and military MREs (meals ready to eat) found in the reception area, where guards normally search and X-ray visitors.

The embassy's sirens wailed as the fires sent dense black smoke billowing over the compound.

The Marine Corps released photographs of the reinforcement unit deploying from Kuwait in the dark aboard MV-22 Osprey aircraft. The Marines are assigned to a task force that the service created in the wake of the 2012 attack on diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, and are primarily infantrymen.

Later in the day, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he had authorized the Army to deploy about 750 additional soldiers to the region in "an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today."

The soldiers are from an "immediate response force" with the 82nd Airborne Division designed to deploy quickly in responses to crises.

After Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Iraq's acting prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, the threat of an imminent invasion of the embassy eased. An Iraqi army commander told the Iraqi security forces to prevent demonstrators from entering the compound. Abdul Mahdi issued a statement appealing for calm, and the security forces formed a cordon to prevent any further incursions.

But the demonstrators remained outside the embassy gates, denouncing America, attempting to tear down razor wire atop the compound's walls and tossing molotov cocktails over them.

The U.S. diplomats and embassy staffers inside the safe room felt secure, according to two reached by a messaging app. They declined to give details.

It was unclear how many U.S. officials were in the compound. Officials have given different estimates of the number of American full-time staffers in Iraq, ranging from 300 to 352, but have not provided a breakdown of their locations.

U.S. Ambassador Matt Tueller is out of the country on previously scheduled personal travel but plans to return, a State Department official said.

In an interview with Fox News, Pompeo said there are no plans to evacuate diplomats from Baghdad or to withdraw any of the 5,000 troops currently in the country.

"We're going to make sure that we do everything we can to keep that facility safe and secure and have the resources to push back against anything that may confront us there," he said.

In a separate interview with CBS News, Pompeo said he had repeatedly pressed Iraqi officials in phone calls Tuesday to live up to their responsibility to protect U.S. facilities.

But as the day wore on it became increasingly unclear whether the United States could safely retain a diplomatic and military presence in Iraq without embarking on a wholesale confrontation with the militia - and its Iranian backers - now effectively besieging the embassy.

Iraqi leaders, political figures and clerics have universally condemned the U.S. airstrikes that prompted the assault on the embassy, a situation Iran appears to be intent on exploiting, said a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Douglas Silliman.

Tuesday's protests, Silliman said, seemed to reflect an effort by "pro-Iranian elements to try to take advantage of what they're going to define as a disproportionate American response to the killing of an American military contractor and to Iraqi police officials." He added, "This is not a massive popular anti-American demonstration."

Rather, he said in an interview in Washington, it "appears to be an attempt by Iran and pro-Iran factions in Iraq to take pressure off of themselves," because demonstrations in the past few months "have been anti-Iranian and anti-government-corruption and anti-militia."

The ease with which the demonstrators reached the embassy underscored, however, how little sway the United States now has over the Iraqi government it installed after 2003 and the security forces it trained.

The embassy compound lies inside the Green Zone, which is normally off limits to ordinary people. But thousands walked unimpeded into the zone to participate in the embassy assault. Iraqi security forces mingled with the crowd, and some joined in. One member of the force that guards the zone's checkpoints was photographed helping militia supporters smash the bulletproof glass at the embassy reception gate.

Many drew comparisons with the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, the prelude to decades of hostility between Iran and the United States.

"From the siege of their embassy in Tehran in 1979 to Baghdad in 2019, history repeats itself," said Abu Alaa Al-Awalae, who heads one of the Iranian-backed militias that joined in the embassy attack.

Many of the demonstrators wore militia uniforms and carried flags signifying their allegiance to Kataib Hezbollah.

Among the crowd were some of Iran's most powerful allies in Iraq, including Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Organization; Qais al-Khazali, who heads the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia and was once imprisoned by the U.S. military; and Jamal Jaafar Ibrahimi, better known by his nom de guerre, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, who spent years in prison in Kuwait for bombing the U.S. Embassy there.

The graffiti scrawled on the embassy walls signified allegiance to Iran: the names of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the powerful Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Other slogans simply read: "America get out."

- - -

Sly reported from Beirut. The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe, William Branigin, Alex Horton, Carol Morello, Philip Rucker, John Hudson and Paul Sonne in Washington contributed to this report.
Former DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly hasn't decided if she will remain in politics following the loss of her South Belfast seat in last month's Westminster election.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph on Tuesday night, she said she needed time to "reflect and recharge" after her defeat.

Ms Little-Pengelly also outlined her plans to head to the jungle to volunteer with an animal wildlife sanctuary.

The former barrister was elected South Belfast MP in 2017, but the seat was won by the SDLP's Claire Hanna in last month's poll.

Read More

The only DUP Assembly vacancy has been filled by outgoing MEP Diane Dodds. But party sources have indicated that, if devolution is restored, the former MP and barrister could return to Stormont as a special adviser - a position she previously held before becoming an elected representative.

However, Ms Little-Pengelly said she needed time to decided on her next career move.

"I hope the Assembly gets up and running, and I will be involved in the talks over the next few weeks," she said.

"I am passionate about politics but I need a bit of time to sort myself out and decide if I am going to remain personally involved.

"I will see what's out there and take time to reflect and recover. I always knew it would be very tough to hold on to the South Belfast seat particularly in the context of a Brexit election."

Ms Little-Pengelly said it had been a privilege to be the constituency's MP.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Westminster - what an interesting time it was," she said.

"I am in the process of winding up my constituency office and closing my cases.

"That should be done by the end of February and I could be volunteering abroad in an animal wildlife sanctuary in April.

"I'd plan to stay there between two and four weeks."

Read More

She said it was something she had wanted to do from her student days.

"I had friends at university who went off to volunteer with the charity Raleigh International but I never could do that because I was working," she said.

"I've always liked monkeys so I'm looking at an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo.

"There is also another wildlife sanctuary in Indonesia that I'm interested in. I will apply to them and see what's available at a suitable time.

"I think it will be a really interesting challenge and I want to learn about animal sanctuaries and conservation.

"Some sanctuaries take groups of just eight volunteers and others take as many as 60. I'm looking forward to meeting people from across the world."

Ms Little-Pengelly said she hadn't discussed her decision to head to the jungle with any DUP colleagues.

But she said her husband Richard, who is the Department of Health permanent secretary, was "very supportive" of her decision to volunteer.

Ms Little-Pengelly, who celebrated her 40th birthday on Tuesday, met her 300 target of a fundraising drive within 48 hours.

"As I turn the big 40 (!!!), and after a rather bumpy year, I have decided to finally take the leap and go volunteering in an animal wildlife sanctury!" her Facebook post said.

"I am hoping to head off to the jungle in the first part of this year, so I am running this big birthday fundraiser to help with some volunteer costs to the organisation.

"Those who know me that I have long been a passionate advocate for animals, great and small.

"So what better way than to volunteer and see this vitally important work in action."
Newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here at South Block on Wednesday.

During the meet, the Defence Minister extended his best wishes to General Rawat for a successful tenure ahead.

On Tuesday, General Rawat received the guard of honour from all the three forces after demitting office on retirement as Chief of Indian Army.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated former Army chief Rawat for taking over as the first CDS and called him an "outstanding officer" who has served India with great zeal.

"I am delighted that as we begin the New Year and new decade, India gets its first Chief of Defence Staff in General Bipin Rawat. I congratulate him and wish him the very best for this responsibility. He is an outstanding officer who has served India with great zeal," Prime Minister Modi said in a series of tweets.

General Manoj Mukund Naravane took over as the 28th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on Tuesday, succeeding General Bipin Rawat who has become India's first CDS.

General Naravane previously served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff. He has taken over the reins of the Army amid prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan due to provocations by Islamabad through terror activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rep. Khang Hyo-shang of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) has his head shaved to protest President Moon Jae-in's appointment of key political ally Cho Kuk as justice minister at a square near Dongdaegu Station in Daegu, in this Sept. 17 file photo. Yonhap



By Jung Da-min



The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is showing no signs of dropping its criminal complaints filed against a lawmaker and a diplomat.



The prosecution indicted Rep. Khang Hyo-shang of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Tuesday, for leaking details of a phone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump months earlier. A former diplomat, Khang's high-school alum, who has been fired by the foreign ministry for providing the information, has also been indicted.



In early May last year, Khang held a press conference at the National Assembly, where he claimed Moon had asked Trump to visit Seoul right after his visit to Tokyo in late May. Cheong Wa Dae denied Khang's claim and the foreign ministry filed a criminal complaint against him and the diplomat for illegally collecting and mishandling secret diplomatic information. Trump visited Seoul in late June.



Khang also spread the leaked details on online platforms including Facebook.



According to Criminal Act Article 113, which covers the divulgence of diplomatic secrets, "a person who divulges diplomatic secrets shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a fine not exceeding 10 million won" which "shall apply to a person who searches for or collects diplomatic secrets for the purpose of divulging them." The information from phone conversations between presidents is categorized as a Level III diplomatic state secret.



Khang's National Assembly immunity is likely to be overruled, as the information he leaked was classified as a state secret; and he posted it on social media, which is seen as an activity outside the Assembly.



Khang phoned the diplomat working at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., the day before the press conference.



Early December last year, the diplomat filed a suit against the foreign ministry for wrongful dismissal. He said he did not intend to leak the information but was delivering correct facts regarding foreign ministry policy in replying to questions from Khang.



But Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the ministry viewed the diplomat as having a certain motivation in disclosing the information. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has also condemned Khang for disclosing diplomatic state secrets for political purposes.




Gary Hinton was among those who fled the New South Wales town of Cobargo as fires raced through. He returned to a scene of devastation

A major operation to reach thousands of people stranded in fire-ravaged seaside towns was under way in Australia on Wednesday after deadly bushfires ripped through popular tourist spots and rural areas leaving at least eight people dead.

Navy ships and military aircraft were deployed alongside emergency crews to provide humanitarian relief and assess the damage from the deadliest spate of blazes yet in a months-long bushfire crisis.

Police said three more bodies were discovered Wednesday, bringing the confirmed death toll since late Monday to eight, including a volunteer firefighter killed when a "fire tornado" flipped his 10-tonne truck.

There were mounting fears for several others missing after the country's southeast was devastated by out-of-control blazes, which destroyed more than 200 homes and left some small towns in ruins.

Information was trickling out of coastal communities where thousands of holidaymakers and locals were thought to have seen in the New Year taking refuge from flames at surf clubs, as power outages and damage to telecommunications towers brought down phone lines and the internet.

New South Wales (NSW) Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said emergency services faced a "real challenge" trying to help injured people in isolated areas.

"We haven't been able to get access via roads or via aircraft. It's been... too dangerous and we simply can't access, nor can the people in these areas get out," he said.

Fires were raging across the country and the defence force said it could take days for the military to reach people in some remote areas.

Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra

'Ember attacks'

There was relief in the town of Mallacootawhere towering columns of smoke turned the sky pitch black and nearby fires caused waves of "ember attacks"after a change in the wind spared around 4,000 people who had huddled on the foreshore.

Survivors cheered firefighters who battled to protect them by creating a protective ring of fire trucks.

"I understand there was a standing ovation at the end of that for the firefighters," Victoria Emergency Management commissioner Andrew Crisp told public broadcaster ABC.

Authorities were preparing for the possibility that Mallacoota could be cut off for weeks: aircraft have begun dropping supplies into the town while a barge with two weeks' worth of supplies was due to arrive later Wednesday.

Paramedics were reportedly assessing the injured and moving those requiring further treatment to a 25-bed floating medical centre off the coast.

Many people have returned to find their homes burned to the ground, with the task of rebuilding shattered communities expected to take years.

Despite criticism, a multi-million dollar firework display went ahead in Sydney on New Year's Eve

Gary Hinton escaped flames roaring through Cobargo early Tuesday and returned to the stricken town to find his father's house largely intact, but many other buildings reduced to cinders.

"It wasn't good. It's turned out pretty devastating for everyone," he told AFP.

'Long and dangerous fight'

Cooler temperatures and easing winds provided a window of opportunity for relief efforts Wednesday, but there were concerns over new fires sparked by lightning in alpine regions.

"There's a lot of people holidaying, again, up in those areas," Crisp said. "We'll be prioritising those (fires) and hitting them as hard as we can. We don't need any new fires."

Firefighters were racing to take advantage of the milder weather in the country's southeast to contain dozens of blazes, as authorities warned the fire danger would spike on Saturday as temperatures soar again.

"At the very least, weather conditions will be at least as bad as what they were yesterday," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Tinder-dry conditions and strong winds have fanned a devastating fire season

"That makes this a long and dangerous and complex fight, a long and dangerous process to support everyone who's been impacted by it," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews added.

This season's blazes have killed at least 17 people, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and scorched about 5.5 million hectares (13.5 million acres)an area bigger than Denmark or the Netherlands.

For weeks, major Australian cities have been choked by toxic bushfire smoke, and on Wednesday air quality reached hazardous levels in Canberra as visibility in the capital plummeted.

Satellite images showed smoke from the latest fires had blown across the Tasman Sea to reach New Zealand.

The unprecedented crisis has sparked street protests calling on the government to immediately act on climate change, which scientists say is creating a longer and more intense bushfire season.

Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under increasing pressure for his response, which has included holidaying in Hawaii as the disaster unfolded and reiterating his steadfast support for Australia's lucrativebut heavily pollutingcoal mining industry.

Officials in Sydney have also been criticised for ignoring calls to cancel the harbour city's famed New Year's Eve fireworks display.

Explore further Thousands trapped on Australia beaches encircled by fire

 2020 AFP
BUNKER HILL  Illinois legislation to keep Daylight Savings Time all yearround has Missouri officials pondering how the change might affect them.

Time ran out this fall for Senate Bill 533 proposed by State Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. The measure passed 44-2 in the state Senate, but the House of Representatives did not vote on the matter. It is unknown what action will be taken when lawmakers return to Springfield next week.

Manar introduced the bill after being presented the idea by five Carlinville High School students  Andrew DeNeve, Tyler Behme, Travis Osborn, Tristen Burns and Tucker Green  as part of a civics class project in May. The students shared research showing a switch back to standard time in the fall is associated with a spike of diagnoses of depression and an increase in heart attacks.

This was a new topic, Manar said in October. Wed never debated this before and it did need debate. Just because its been one way our entire lives doesnt mean it has to be.

If approved in Illinois, the measure would either need an exception to the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, or Congressional action making a similar change for the whole country.

In Missouri, Manars proposal has some residents and business owners worried about the confusion it could cause at the state border. Tens of thousands of people in the St. Louis area work in one state and live in the other.

Having Illinois and Missouri in different time zones would just be inconvenient, Deborah Bruyette, who lives in Freeburg, Illinois, and cares for her 95-year-old father in Missouri, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Not everyone is worried about having Missouri and Illinois on different time zones, though. Eric Michel, of Edwardsville, is finance manager at Mercedes-Benz of St. Louis.

Half of the year Id have to go to work at 8 and half the year Id have to go to work at 9, he said. I dont think it would have a huge impact.

In 2019, about three dozen states  including Missouri  introduced legislation to do away with seasonal time changes by eliminating or standardizing daylight saving time. In Missouri, two separate proposals were offered by Republican state representatives. Both failed to advance. Another Republican, Rep. Tim Remole of Excello, recently proposed making daylight saving time permanent in Missouri, but only after 20 other states join a pact.

Hawaii and Arizona are the only states that do not use daylight saving time. No other state has put a plan into action to stick to either just daylight saving time or standard time.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, which regulates the nations time zones, has said that observing daylight saving time conserves energy, lowers the number of traffic-related injuries and reduces crime.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi hoped that the new year would bring stability, peace, and prosperity to Egypt and the whole world.



"I greet all Egyptians and the whole world on the occasion of the new year, and I wish a new year full of stability, prosperity and peace," Sisi said on his official social media pages on Tuesday.

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PITTSBURGH, Jan. 1, 2020 - Worldwide, more people die from tuberculosis (TB) than any other infectious disease, even though the vast majority were vaccinated. The vaccine just isn't that reliable. But a new Nature study finds that simply changing the way the vaccine is administered could dramatically boost its protective power.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) discovered that intravenous TB vaccination is highly protective against the infection in monkeys, compared to the standard injection directly into the skin, which offers minimal protection.

"The effects are amazing," said senior author JoAnne Flynn, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the Pitt Center for Vaccine Research. "When we compared the lungs of animals given the vaccine intravenously versus the standard route, we saw a 100,000-fold reduction in bacterial burden. Nine out of 10 animals showed no inflammation in their lungs."

Flynn's team tested several routes and doses of the only commercially available human TB vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), which is made of a live, weakened form of TB bacteria found in cattle.

The BCG vaccine has been around for 100 years and is among the most widely used vaccines in the world, but its efficacy varies widely.

The idea for an intravenous TB vaccination came from earlier experiments by the other senior author on the study, Robert Seder, M.D., at the NIAID's Vaccine Research Center. Seder showed in both animals and humans that the malaria vaccine is more effective when delivered intravenously.

To test whether the method of administration matters for TB, Flynn and colleagues separated their colony of monkeys into six groups: unvaccinated, standard human injection, stronger dose but same injection route, mist, injection plus mist, and finally, the stronger dose of BCG delivered as a single shot directly into the vein.

Six months later, the researchers exposed the animals to TB and monitored them for signs of infection.

Monkeys are extremely susceptible to TB. All of the animals who received the standard human dose had persistent lung inflammation, and the average amount of TB bacteria in their lungs was only slightly less than in the monkeys who received no vaccine at all. The other injected and inhaled vaccines offered similarly modest TB protection.

The intravenous vaccine, on the other hand, offered nearly full protection. There was virtually no TB bacteria in the lungs of these animals, and only one monkey in this group developed lung inflammation.

"The reason the intravenous route is so effective," Flynn explained, "is that the vaccine travels quickly through the bloodstream to the lungs, the lymph nodes and the spleen, and it primes the T cells before it gets killed."

Flynn's team found BCG and activated T cells in the lungs of all the intravenously vaccinated animals. Among the other groups, BCG was undetectable in the lung tissue and T cell responses were relatively meagre.

Next, the researchers plan to test whether lower doses of intravenous BCG could offer the same level of protection without the side effects, which mostly consist of temporary inflammation in the lungs.

But before this method can be translated to humans, researchers need to know that it's not only safe, but also practical. An intravenous vaccine requires more skill to administer and carries a higher risk of infection.

"We're a long way from realizing the translational potential of this work," Flynn said. "But eventually we do hope to test in humans."

###

Additional authors on the study include Patricia Darrah, Ph.D., Joshua Hackney, Supriya Pokkali, Ph.D., Phillip Swanson, M.D., Megha Kamath, and Mario Roederer, Ph.D., of NIAID; Joseph Zeppa, Ph.D., Pauline Maiello, Nicole Grant, Mark Rodgers, M.S., Chelsea Causgrove, Edwin Klein, D.V.M., Alexander White, and Charles Scanga, Ph.D., of Pitt; Marc Wadsworth, Travis Hughes, M.P.H., and Alex Shalek, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University; Dominick Laddy, Ph.D., and Danilo Casimiro, Ph.D., of Aeras; Aurelio Bonavia, Ph.D., of Vir Biotechnology; and Philana Ling Lin, M.D., of UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

This research was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (grants 5U24AI118672 and 2RM1HG006193) and the NIAID Intramural Research Program. PARI Pharma GbmH provided the aerosol vaccine delivery device.

To read this release online or share it, visit https://www.upmc.com/media/news/010120-bcg-iv-vaccine [when embargo lifts].

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.

http://www.upmc.com/media

Contact: Erin Hare

Office: 412-864-7194

Mobile: 412-738-1097

E-mail: HareE@upmc.edu

Contact: Allison Hydzik

Office: 412-647-9975

Mobile: 412-559-2431

E-mail: HydzikAM@upmc.edu
Bhima-Koregaon Anniversary: Lakhs gather at mega event near Pune, Internet shut down

India

oi-Deepika S

Mumbai, Jan 01: Nearly five lakh people, mainly neo-Buddhists, members of Ambedkarite outfits, politicians gathered near the ransthamb or victory pillar for the 202nd anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle of 1818 on New Year's Day on Wednesday. Security has been heightened and internet access has been suspended in areas around the event to prevent rumour mongering on social media.

The celebration marking the 200th year of the battle was marred by caste violence, which police claimed was due to provocative speeches at the Elgar Parishad in Koregaon Bhima a day earlier.

Several groups organised a public conference in the name of the Elgar Parishad at the Shaniwar Wada, which was the seat of the Peshwas until 1818.

During that conference which was attended by Jignesh Mewani and Prakash Ambedkar, Hindutva politics was said to have been referred to as neo-peshwai (new Peshwas). This led to trouble and was cited as one of the reasons for the violence.

Several arrests were made, including of well-known rights activists whom the Pune police accused of having Maoist links.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

Bhima-Koregaon:

Bhima-Koregaon is a small village in Pune district, Maharashtra. On January 1, 1818, Mahar soldiers of the East India Company led by the British, defeated the Peshwa army that was led by Peshwa Bajirao II at Koregaon.

The Dalits who follow Dr B R Ambedkar view this as a great victory of Mahars over the injustice meted to them by the Brahminical Peshwas.

Every year on January 1, the Dalits who follow Ambedkar gather at Bhima-Koregaon to pay their respects at the victory pillar called the Vijay Sthamb. This pillar was erected by the East India Company in memory of those who fought the battle. The names of those Mahar soldiers who brought an end to the Peshwa rule in 1818 are inscribed on the pillar.
Hailing Ran is the CEO of Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. (HKG:1963). This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

Check out our latest analysis for Bank of Chongqing

How Does Hailing Ran's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. has a market capitalization of HK$15b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth CN436k over the year to December 2018. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at CN168k. Importantly, there may be performance hurdles relating to the non-salary component of the total compensation. As part of our analysis we looked at companies in the same jurisdiction, with market capitalizations of CN7.0b to CN22b. The median total CEO compensation was CN3.8m.

This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. However, before we heap on the praise, we should delve deeper to understand business performance.

You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Bank of Chongqing, below.

SEHK:1963 CEO Compensation, January 1st 2020

Is Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. Growing?

Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. saw earnings per share stay pretty flat over the last three years, albeit with a slight positive trend. It achieved revenue growth of 9.6% over the last year.

I would argue that the improvement in revenue isn't particularly impressive, but the modest improvement in EPS is good. Considering these factors I'd say performance has been pretty decent, though not amazing. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future.

Story continues

Has Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. Been A Good Investment?

Since shareholders would have lost about 22% over three years, some Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. shareholders would surely be feeling negative emotions. So shareholders would probably think the company shouldn't be too generous with CEO compensation.

In Summary...

It appears that Bank of Chongqing Co., Ltd. remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies.

Hailing Ran is paid less than CEOs of similar size companies, but growth hasn't been particularly impressive and the total shareholder return over three years would leave many disappointed. I am not concerned by the CEO compensation, but it would be good to see improved performance before pay increases. Shareholders may want to check for free if Bank of Chongqing insiders are buying or selling shares.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Bank of Chongqing, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Lucknow, Jan 1 : The owner of scooty on which Priyanka Gandhi rode pillion here on Saturday and who was fined for driving without helmet paid the fine.

He returned the money given to him to by the Congress saying, "I have paid the fine from my pocket." Rajdeep Singh, scooty owner, said he was not a Congress worker but was impressed by Priyanka Gandhi's work.

When Priyanka Gandhi, who was on way to meet the family of S.R. Darapuri, here, was stopped by the police, she drove away on the scooty driven by party Secretary Dheeraj Gurjar.

She had alleged manhandling by the police.

The scooty owner was fined as both the riders were without helmet.
Former foreign minister Alexander Downer feared Australia was seen as "overly supportive" of Israel while it was isolated "in poor company" supporting the Middle East nation in international forums.

A cabinet submission from 1998, released on Wednesday by the National Archives of Australia, that canvassed Australia's approach to an upcoming visit by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu reveals tensions within the Howard government over the Middle East and particularly Israel and Palestine.

Alexander Downer's 1998 cabinet submission on a visit by Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu noted Australia should not be seen as "unduly supportive" of Israel or Palestine. Credit:AAP

Mr Downer's submission noted Mr Netanyahu was a "controversial figure" and his visit would "require careful handling". He said Australia's relationship with Israel was sound, with the visit a chance to expand it with a heavy focus on possible business and trade links.

Australia's long-standing position, supporting Israel's right to exist while acknowledging Palestine's right to self-determination, was reaffirmed in Mr Downer's submission.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 01:58:44|Editor: yan

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TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires to Tehran on Wednesday to protest against what it called "warmongering statements" by U.S. officials.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry presented the Swiss envoy with "Iran's strong protest against warmongering statements by U.S. officials in violation of the United Nations Charter," according to Iran's Foreign Ministry's website.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran after blaming it for an attack on the U.S. embassy in Iraq on Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also held Iran "accountable" for the attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

On Wednesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations, noting that "the U.S. officials had better drop their blame game policy and stop accusing us without presenting any evidence."
One month before Mama the chimpanzee turned 59 and two months before Professor Jan van Hooffs 80th birthday, these two elderly primates, who had known each other for more than 40 years, had an emotional reunion.

Mama, emaciated and near death, was the long-time queen of the chimpanzee colony at Burgers Zoo in the Dutch city of Arnhem.

Jan, with his white hair standing out against a bright red rain jacket, was the biologist who set up that colony in the Seventies and wanted to make one final visit to its ailing matriarch.

Many emotions long-thought to be uniquely human can be found in all mammals, from voles to elephants, dolphins and whales. Dogs (file image) trained to lie still in MRI scanners show the same brain activity when they are expecting to be given a frankfurter to eat as businessmen have when theyre promised a monetary bonus

This was a first for them both. Even though they had shared countless grooming sessions through the bars of her night-cage, chimpanzees are so mercurial that the only humans safe in their presence are those who have raised them.

That was not the case for Jan with Mama, but the fact she was so weak changed the equation.

As Jan approached with a few friendly grunts, Mama remained curled up in a foetal position in her straw nest and didnt look up. But when she did see Jan, her face broke into an ecstatic grin and she yelped the soft, high-pitched sound reserved for moments of great emotion in chimpanzees.

Reaching for him as he bent down, she stroked his hair gently, then draped one of her long arms around his neck to pull him closer, rhythmically patting the back of his head in a comforting gesture that chimpanzees use to quiet a whimpering infant.

Research has shown Chimpanzees are one of the key species in showing gratitude. They are complex creatures, are always seeking dominance and demonstrate human expressions

She had sensed his trepidation about invading her domain and was letting him know not to worry. She was happy to see him.

Mama died a few weeks later, and when Jans video of their goodbye was seen by millions of YouTube viewers worldwide, people were profoundly moved by the way she had embraced him.

It made them realise that a gesture that looks quintessentially human is, in fact, a general primate pattern, and its often in the little things that we best see the evolutionary connections between other species and ourselves.

Those connections apply to 90 per cent of human expressions, from the way hairs stand up when we are frightened, to men  and male chimpanzees  slapping each others backs in exuberance. The connections are found in many other mammals, too, because our bodies all have the same basic structure. Indeed, our brains are generally so similar that the treatment of human phobias is based on studies of how fear manifests itself in the brains of rats.

Dogs trained to lie still in MRI scanners show the same brain activity when they are expecting to be given a frankfurter to eat as businessmen have when theyre promised a monetary bonus.

Scientists are gradually beginning to accept that humans are not the only species with the capacity to feel emotions.

After four decades of research into animal behaviour, including thousands of hours watching Mama and the other chimpanzees, the question for me has never been whether or not animals have emotions, but how science could have overlooked them for so long.

I believe that many emotions long-thought to be uniquely human can be found in all mammals, from voles to elephants, dolphins and whales.

Chimpanzee who showed GRATITUDE

During the time I was observing Mama, I never saw a single disagreement between her and Kuif, her female sidekick and best friend. They groomed each other frequently and always supported one other. My own relationship with Kuif, however, was fraught.

Chimps are always seeking dominance, and Kuif often tried to grab me aggressively. But then things improved.

She had lost several babies because she couldnt produce enough milk. Every time one died, she went into a depression, rocking and making heart-rending screams. Seeing her suffer again and again, I taught her to bottle-feed and, from then on, she became the most caring mother imaginable. She would even remove the bottle if the infant needed to burp  something we hadnt taught her.

After this, Kuif showered me with affection whenever she saw me. I took this as a sign of gratitude, an inference supported by the behaviour of Wounda, a chimpanzee rescued from poachers and cared for at a rehabilitation centre in the Republic of Congo.

A video of the moment Wounda was released back into the forest in 2013 shows her walking away, then returning to hug the people who had taken care of her, as if realising it wouldnt be nice to disappear without thanking them.

There are similar accounts of netted or beached dolphins and whales who were rescued by human divers. Many have returned to their rescuers and nudged them or lifted them half out of the water before swimming off  the cetacean way of saying thank you.

The grumpy dog who had Food envy

Researchers at the University of Vienna have shown that dogs are fully capable of envy.

First, the team at the Clever Dog Lab trained two dogs to offer up a paw for no reward. Both were happy to do so. But if one dog received a piece of bread, the other would give up and refuse. Capuchin monkeys behave similarly.

Dogs (file image) are capable of envy, according to researchers at the University of Vienna. Clever Dog Lab trained two dogs to offer up a paw for no reward. Both were happy to do so. But if one dog received a piece of bread, the other would give up and refuse

Looking for their sense of fairness, I once placed two monkeys side by side and asked them to perform a simple task in return for slices of cucumber. They happily did so. But when I started rewarding one monkey with a grape instead, there was drama.

Even though her reward was unchanged, the one still receiving cucumber went on strike and began hurling the slices at me.

Incidentally, when I published a short video of that experiment online, it went viral.

People recognised their own behaviour in the monkeys and wrote to tell me they had forwarded the clip to their bosses to let them know how they felt about their salaries.

Why voles can feel broken-hearted

The standard way to dismiss animal feelings is to shift the argument on to biological imperatives. If you propose that an animal shows pride, youll be told that it just puffs itself up to look larger and more intimidating, whereas if you suggest that an animal is afraid, you will hear that they dont need to feel fear as long as they can escape danger.

Above all, if you suggest two animals love each other, the answer will be that they dont need to because all that matters is reproduction. Even if we view human romantic love as special, the neural mechanisms involved in creating bonds within other species are strikingly similar to our own.

The meadow vole lives a promiscuous life while the prairie vole forms pairs in which male and female mate exclusively and raise pups together

People in love have higher levels of oxytocin in their blood than single people. The hormones functions include shielding us from sexual experiences with outsiders. When married men are given oxytocin in a nasal spray, they feel uncomfortable around attractive women and prefer to keep their distance.

The same hormone shapes the love lives of two species of vole found in North America. While the meadow vole lives a promiscuous life, the prairie vole forms pairs in which male and female mate exclusively and raise pups together. The latter have far more oxytocin in their brains, resulting in an intensely positive association with sex and an addiction to the partner they mate with.

Prairie voles (file image) have more oxytocin in their brains, resulting in an intensely positive association with sex and an addiction to their partner than other vole species

If they lose their mate, they show chemical changes suggesting stress and depression and become passive in the face of danger, as if they dont care any more whether they live or die  the voles equivalent of a broken heart.

Mammals that really care

Youll have heard of guide dogs, but perhaps not of a seeing-eye elephant such as Mae Perm, the resident of an open-air sanctuary in Thailand. Whenever her blind friend Jokia was upset or spooked, Mae Perm would rush to her side, make reassuring noises and caressing her with her trunk or placing it in the other elephants mouth.

This made her very vulnerable (nothing is more sensitive and important to an elephant than the tip of its trunk) and Jokia did the same by placing her trunk into Mae Perms mouth.

Chimpanzees anticipate others' needs and seek to make them feel comfortable. Whenever Mae Perm's blind friend Jokia was upset or spooked, she would rush to her side at an open-air sanctuary in Thailand

When I was studying bonobos at San Diego Zoo, the keepers had cleaned the moat surrounding their enclosure and were about to refill it when the groups alpha male, Kakowet, started screaming and waving his arms at them, almost as if he was talking.

It turned out that several young bonobos had jumped into the dry moat and couldnt get out. Since apes dont swim, they would have drowned, but thanks to Kakowet they were all rescued with the help of a ladder, save the smallest one who he pulled up himself.

This anticipation of others needs was also seen at the American primate research centre where I have worked for 25 years. When our former alpha male, Amos, was dying, a female called Daisy often visited him in his bedroom, tenderly grooming him and stuffing soft wood wool between his back and the wall.

It was as if she realised he was in pain and would be better off leaning against something comfortable, like the way we arrange pillows behind a patient in the hospital  behaviour that in humans would certainly be attributed to sympathy.

Apes love a bit of slapstick

Aristotle thought that laughter was what set humans apart from beasts, and many psychologists still doubt that any animal laughs for joy or because something is funny.

But its well known that apes love slapstick movies, probably because of all the physical mishaps. When a person they like walks toward them and slips, their first reaction is worried tension, but if the person turns out to be fine, they laugh with apparent relief, the way we do in similar circumstances.

Apes understand jokes of deception as well as having an appreciation of slapstick movies because of all the physical mishaps

In my experience, chimps certainly do have a sense of humour. At Burgers Zoo, a colleague once tested their response to predators by donning a panther mask.

Always alert, Mama and the other chimpanzees pelted the predator with sticks and stones until, after several confrontations, he took off the mask to show his face.

At that point, Mamas angry expression changed to a laughing face which she held for a while, suggesting that she saw the joke of his deception.

Jackdaw who mourned its mate

There are many stories of dogs loyalty to their owners even in death, including Greyfriars Bobby, the terrier who guarded the grave of his owner in Edinburgh for 14 years, before his own death in 1872.

The same loyalty apparently drives other animals. Elephants will gather the ivory or bones of a dead herd member, holding the pieces in their trunks and passing them around.

Terrier Greyfriars Bobby is an example of dogs' loyalty as he spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner in Edinburgh. Here a statue has been made of the beloved dog to pay tribute

One chimp mother in a West African forest carried her dead infant for 27 days.

Dolphin mothers may keep a dead calf with them for days, and comparable behaviour has even been seen in birds.

When the mate of one of my tame jackdaws disappeared, he called for days while scanning the sky. When she failed to return, he gave up; and when he died a few days later, it was my turn to mourn.

And the elephant in the room . . .

The possibility that animals experience emotions like humans do makes hard-nosed scientists feel queasy.

For many years, it was suggested that consciousness depends on the number of neurons in ones brain, so the recent discovery that elephants have three times more such nerve-cells than us could trouble those scientists.

Do we need to rewrite the story of human consciousness? What proof is there actually that we are more conscious than the elephant?

Elephants (pictured in Ayutthaya on December 23) have more genes dedicated to smell than any other species which makes the common thought that the mammal is less aware of its own physique and surroundings come into question

This animal has a three-ton body and 40,000 muscles in its trunk alone (not to mention a penis with which it can pick up objects); it must carefully orchestrate every step (think of tiny calves walking between the legs of their mothers) and has more genes dedicated to smell than any other species.

I would question how certain we can be that the elephant is less aware of its own physique and surroundings than we are. But of course it has long suited us to assume that animals are dumb automatons devoid of feelings and awareness, as science has done for a long time.

This animal (pictured at the Addo Elephant National Park) has a three-ton body and 40,000 muscles in its trunk alone

That they are not, presents us with a serious moral dilemma, and in this era of factory farming, animal sentience is, you might say, the elephant in the room.

There are thousands of animals in zoos, millions in labs, and millions more in human homes, but literally billions and billions in the farm industry.

I am too much of a biologist to question the natural circle of life and I have no problem with meat-eating in itself. But there is a lot wrong with how we treat, raise, transport and slaughter animals. The conditions are often degrading and sometimes plainly cruel and for that reason I have banished nearly all mammalian meat from my kitchen.

In my professional life, I hope to do far more. Its up to scientists like me to push for a new appreciation of our fellow travellers on this planet and help make a reality of my prediction that a science of the emotions will be the next frontier in the study of animal behaviour.

Adapted from Mamas Last Hug by Frans de Waal, published by Granta at 14.99.  Frans de Waal 2019. To order a copy for 12 (offer valid to January 10, 2020; P&P free), visitmailshop.co.uk or call 01603 648155.
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President Trump and first lady Melania Trump entertained hundreds of guests at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night, ringing in the New Year among family, friends and political allies.

But before the ball dropped, Trump had some predictions for 2020 - such as he thought there wouldn't be war with Iran.

'I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran. It wouldn't last very long,' Trump chided.

He stood next to Melania on a red carpet outside his lavish Palm Beach resort. Thirteen-year-old Barron Trump stood nearby, watching the brief New Year's Eve press conference.

President Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) stopped on the red carpet so the president could address the press before his official arrival at the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party Tuesday night

President Trump's 13-year-old son Barron was seen on the red carpet taking in his dad's brief press gaggle with reporters before Tuesday night's New Year's Eve fete at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida

President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who is at the heart of the impeachment scandal, mugged for reporters on the red carpet at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night

President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani couldn't resist stopping and chatting with reporters as he entered the president's New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago

Eric Trump (left) and his wife Lara Trump (right) are seen entering the Mar-a-Lago New Year's Eve party Tuesday. Eric Trump came over to reporters and wished them a happy new year, while Lara Trump told DailyMail.com she was wearing a design by Oscar Lopez

Ivanka Trump walked into the party holding the hang of her daughter Arabella, while Jared Kushner escorted their sons

'Do I want to? No I want to have peace. And Iran should want peace more than anybody, so I don't see that happening,' Trump said, again saying it would go 'very quickly' if the two countries' militaries engaged.

Trump also said he still had hope North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un would behave, responding to reports that Kim said his country is no longer to the pause in nuclear testing, to which he and the American president previously agreed.

'I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase, that's what I like, a vase, as opposed to something else,' the president said, repeating comments he previously made.

'I think he's a man of his word, we're going to find out,' Trump added, referring to the two leaders' previous meetings.

The president had a few last minute 2019 insults to toss out as well.

'Nancy Pelosi should be ashamed of herself. She's a highly overrated person. I know her well,' Trump told reporters during one of his typical anti-impeachment rants. He also went after House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, like Pelosi, a California Democrat, calling his a 'corrupt politician.'

Tiffany Trump (right) attended the party with her boyfriend Michael Boulos (left). She clutched a 2020 rhinestone purse

First daughter Tiffany Trump (right), a Georgetown Law student, was accompanied on the red carpet by her boyfriend Michael Boulos (right)

As his impeachment heads to the Senate in early 2020 - though has been tied up by Pelosi for how it will be conducted in the GOP-ruled body - Trump said he wouldn't mind a trial.

'I don't really care, it doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned I'd be very happy with a trial,' Trump said. 'Cause we did nothing wrong. We didn't even have a witness and we won 196 to nothing, we didn't have a witness,' the president went on.

He was referring to how every Republican voted against impeachment, while three Democrats also joined the GOP.

The vote was actually 230 for impeachment and 197 again on the first article, and 229-198 on the second article of impeachment.

Trump spoke for about nine minutes before heading inside to chat with family and friends.

'I want to thank everybody, I want you to have a great year. Look, you're honorable people. You have to stay honorable. If you're honorable, I'm going to win the election by a lot. If you're not honorable, I'm just going to win the election by a little. So I'd rather have you be honorable, OK?' Trump told reporters before he walked away.

He also wouldn't reveal his New Year's resolution because he said, at Melania's urging, that he might 'jinx it.'

At the opening of the red carpet, Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, whos central to his impeachment drama, stopped and mugged for the camera for minutes, while other guests strutted through.

Other prominent faces include My Pillow founder Mike Lindell, news anchor Lou Dobbs, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican.

Eric and Lara Trump walked through together, wishing reporters a Happy New Year.

Lara Trump told DailyMail.com her swan-like light blue dress was designed by Oscar Lopez.

Ivanka Trump, wearing a red satin number, walked the red carpet holding the hand of daughter Arabella. Husband and White House adviser Jared Kushner sauntered in along her side.

Donald Trump Jr. was accompanied by one of his sons and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Tiffany Trump showed up a little later than her older siblings, accompanied by boyfriend Michael Boulos.

Directly after, the parents of Melania Trump - Viktor and Amalija Knavs - walked through.

When the president and first lady made their appearance, with POTUS briefly talking to the press, the youngest Trump child, Barron, stood behind his parents, taking his dad's remarks in.

Trump missed his annual New Year's party at the opening of 2019 because he was stuck in Washington thanks to the government shutdown.
Hidden under bags of fruit and vegetables, this poor Palestinian boy was not having the easiest path to a promised new life.

The ten-year-old was found by Spanish police inside a shopping trolley being pulled by a couple trying to get to Spain from Morocco on Monday.

He was found inside a shopping cart when they stopped a Moroccan couple trying to cross the Beni-Enzar border crossing in the Spanish city of Melilla in north Africa.

The Moroccan man and woman were arrested after suspicious officers approached them in the city of Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast, and a notorious smuggling point.

A ten-year-old Palestinian boy was discovered hidden under bags of fruit and vegetables in the city of Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the north African coast

It is thought the boys mother, who was found living in Melillas temporary migrants shelter, had paid for him to make the journey to Europe. It is not known if he had family waiting to pick him up on the other side.

According to Melilla's chief of police, authorities decided to search the pull-along trolley when they realised the weight was well above normal for what they had described as being there.

The couple was arrested and the boy was sent with his mother who is already housed at a temporary shelter in Melilla.

Melilla has been a hotspot for migrant border crossings as it is one of the only EU territories that shares a land border with the African continent. Pictured is a group of rescued migrants arrive on board of Salvamento Maritimo ship Alcor at the port of Melilla on Christmas Day

Both the 38-year-old woman and her 34-year-old male accomplice have been arrested on trafficking charges.

Melilla has been a hotspot for migrant border crossings as it is one of the only EU territories that shares a land border with the African continent, with the other being the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, also bordering Morocco.

Migrants are forbidden from boarding ferries that travel from the Spanish enclaves in Africa to mainland Europe, in a policy that has been condemned by the European Commission's special representative for migration.
A four-year-old West Bengal boy was allegedly murdered by two juvenile boys from his village because they wanted the mobile phone the kid was playing with.

Two minors were held in Cooch Behar district for the crime after the childs body was found inside a sack dumped in a bamboo grove not far from his house on Wednesday morning, a day after he had gone missing while playing with a mobile phone. The bodys discovery led to tension in the area.

Both accused,14-years of age, were interrogated for hours by Sitalkuchi police before their detention. They will be produced before the district juvenile justice board on Thursday morning.

The incident triggered tension in the area. The police had a tough time managing the crowd. As a result, the FIR was registered after 5 pm. At night, the arrested boys will be kept in a child-friendly corner, especially built-in police stations for cases like these, said Gita Acharjee, member of the district juvenile justice board.

A number of serious crimes in recent months have seen involvement of juveniles in Bengal.

On November 29, two minor pavement dwellers were sexually assaulted allegedly by two minor boys and a man in south Kolkata. The boys were nabbed while the man absconded.

On July 7 last year, a 15-year-old boy in Bengals Farakka was held for allegedly raping a four-year-old girl.

In December, five people were arrested in Murshidabad district for pelting stones at a train and making videos, when violent protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act were being held in the state. Three of the accused were minors.
Hong Kong, Jan 1 : Hong Kong welcomed the New Year with subdued celebrations that were eclipsed by protests registered throughout the night until the early hours of Wednesday and fresh clashes between protesters and police officers.

Although the clashes were not as intense as some previous occasions, the Mong Kok shopping district witnessed radical protesters blocking roads, igniting fires and interrupting traffic, local media outlets reported.

In response, the police fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, it confirmed in a statement.

In the neighboring Yau Ma Tei district, at least five rounds of teargas were fired in the early hours of Wednesday, just after the police warned the protesters that they were participating in an illegal assembly, Efe news reported.

Earlier, more than 1,000 people formed human chains in different districts to block roads and chant slogans, while other protesters entered shopping malls to urge people to not forget what had happened in 2019 and continue protesting in 2020.

Meanwhile, thousands of people are expected to gather Wednesday for a march called by the Civil Human Rights Front, a group that has mobilized more than one million pro-democracy protesters on earlier occasions.

Although the police gave permission for the march, it warned in a video posted on its website that protesters would "not get public support" if they used violence and officers would be forced to arrest them.

Demonstrations in Hong Kong began in June following a controversial extradition bill, already withdrawn by the government, but have mutated into a movement seeking to improve Hong Kong's democratic mechanisms and safeguard the region's partial autonomy from Beijing.

Some demonstrators have opted for more radical tactics than peaceful civil disobedience and violent clashes with the police have been frequent.

Months of protests have plunged Hong Kong's economy into recession for the first time in a decade, having contracted by 2.9 per cent in the third quarter, due to falling imports and exports, retail sales and declining tourism.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 19:30:06|Editor: xuxin

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Airstrikes targeted rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib on Wednesday as the rebels also fired against positions of the government forces in nearby Hama province, a war monitor reported.

A total of 22 airstrikes targeted rebel-held areas in Idlib province, which is the last major rebel stronghold in the country, with no reports on casualties, according to the Syrian Observation for Human Rights.

The watchdog group said the airstrikes were carried out by Russian warplanes.

There was no immediate response by Russia on the strikes.

Meanwhile, the Observatory said the rebel groups also fired shells on several areas controlled by the government forces in the nearby northern countryside of Hama province.

The shelling and airstrikes come as part of the ongoing confrontation that has recently flared between the government forces and the rebels in Idlib.

A day earlier, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that the battle against terrorism in Idlib province is a priority to the Syrian government.

Assad said the aim behind the battle in Idlib is to eliminate terrorism, adding that counter-terrorism is the priority and comes ahead of anything else.

Assad's remarks come at a time the Syrian army is scoring victories against the ultra-radical rebels in the southern countryside of Idlib.

Idlib has emerged as the main destination of the rebel groups, which have evacuated several positions across Syria after surrendering to the Syrian army.

That province is now considered as the last major rebel bastion in Syria.

Certain parts of Idlib are included in a de-escalation zones' deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, which backs the rebels.

However, such deals exclude the ultra-radical rebels who are affiliated with the al-Qaida and branded as terrorist groups by the UN.
The Year of Return, 2019 is an initiative of the government of Ghana. President Nana Akufo-Addo in September 2018 declared that Ghana was going to welcome and encourage African diasporans to come to Africa to settle and also invest in the continent.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Also the Year of Return, was a year-long campaign which climaxed in December 2019.

According to the President and the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Year of Return is also to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the African slaves that arrived in America.

READ ALSO: Notable Ghanaians who passed on in 2019

So following the big announcement by President Akufo-Addo calling on people of African descent to return to their home, all was set for a show down in Accra and other parts of the country.

So far the Year of Return has been a success, with December climaxing the program with events planned across Ghana for the visitors.

The events included concerts, African-American celebrity sightings, art exhibits, visits to heritage sites, fashion shows, movie premieres, and creative economy and trade conferences.

Figures and statistics from the Ghana Immigration Service for example indicates that between January and September 2019 the highest number of Americans have visited the country, about 26% increase.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

The numbers of visitors from the UK (24%), Germany (22%), South Africa (10%) and Liberia (14%) also grew.

In all, Ghana reportedly issued 800,000 visas this year. Government also announced that all nationalities will be eligible to receive a visa on arrival for the next month or so due to the heavy demand.

READ ALSO: Mahamas son Sharaf spotted on the streets of Accra buying Fan Yogo

The Year of Return has been laudable in many ways, this has led Ghanas President to express shock at the activities generated by the programme.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has announced that a sequel of the Year of Return will be launched in 2020 to continue to welcome the diasporans and sustain the relations.

The sequel will be dubbed Beyond the Year of Return - a Birthright. The new campaign is on the theme: A decade of African Restoration 2020-2030.

READ ALSO: An emotional letter to Dr Kwame Nkrumah about the current state of Ghana

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the contribution of the late Theodosia Salome Okoh to Ghanas political, sporting and educational history is one that cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

Okoh was a Ghanaian stateswoman, sportswoman, teacher and artist who designed the national flag in 1957.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Nigerians living abroad remitted about $25 billion in 2019, the Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said this on Tuesday while briefing State House correspondents in Abuja on the activities of the commission since it was set up May last year.

She said although $25 billion has been remitted, there are some areas that have not been captured which indicates that the actual value of remittance is higher.

Concerning the welfare of Nigerians who returned from South Africa due to the xenophobic attacks in that country, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa urged the state governments who are yet to reach out to their indigenes among them to do so.

She said reaching out to them is not difficult as they are not many.

She said the returnees have not been abandoned, adding that the commission plans to meet with them in January.

We are working with SMEDAN (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria) and other agencies to see what more can be done for the returnees.

She further stressed the importance of Nigerians in Diaspora, stating that the commission will always engage with Nigerians wherever they are and follow the presidents instruction to ensure that no one is taken for granted or neglected.

In 2019, the commission organised a Nigeria in Diaspora Investment Summit. It also plans to launch a Nigerian in Diaspora Trust Fund.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said the commission believes that this is important because Nigerians in Diaspora want to invest in their country. She said such Nigerians would find the trust fund useful.

Also, she said, the commission would establish a Diaspora Database which will reveal the exact number of Nigerians who are in the Diaspora.

She also urged the National Assembly to look into Diaspora voting, saying Nigerians in Diaspora remit so much to the country and contribute so much to the economy.

The National Assembly needs to amend relevant laws to make it possible for Nigerians in Diaspora to vote, she said.

Diaspora matters will be put on the front burner moving forward, she said.
P ep Guardiola has failed to end the uncertainty over Joao Cancelos Manchester City future.

Cancelo became the most expensive right back in history when leaving Juventus in a 60m deal in the summer. But he has failed hold down a regular place at Man City and has been linked with moves to Bayern Munich and Valencia amid fears about his chances of making Portugals squad for the Euros.

Guardiola insists the 25-year-old has been bought for the long term  but made it clear Kyle Walker is his first choice.

In the last month weve had the best Kyle and I give continuity to him, he said. Hes (Cancelo) adapting and he has a special quality and he can help us in many, many games.

We bought him for many years, not for six months, but what happens, happens. I dont know what will happen in a few weeks. In the summer we will discuss.

Man City squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers 1 /28 Man City squad 2019-20 | Injuries, contracts and squad numbers We run you through Man City's squad for the 2019-20 season... AP Claudio Bravo Squad Number: 1



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2020 PA Kyle Walker Squad Number: 2



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 PA John Stones Squad Number: 5



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 Getty Images Raheem Sterling Squad Number: 7



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 AFP/Getty Images Ilkay Gundogan Squad Number: 8



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2020 REUTERS Gabriel Jesus Squad Number: 9



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images Sergio Aguero Squad Number: 10



Condition: Knee injury (ruled out)



Contract expires: 30/06/2021 REUTERS Oleksandr Zinchenko Squad Number: 11



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Aymeric Laporte Squad Number: 14



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 Getty Images Rodri Squad Number: 16



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 AFP/Getty Images Kevin De Bruyne Squad Number: 17



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images Bernardo Silva Squad Number: 20



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 AFP/Getty Images David Silva Squad Number: 21



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Getty Images Benjamin Mendy Squad Number: 22



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images Fernandinho Squad Number: 25



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2020 Man City via Getty Images Riyad Mahrez Squad Number: 26



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Getty Images Nicolas Otamendi Squad Number: 30



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2022 REUTERS Ederson Squad Number: 31



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2025 REUTERS Phil Foden Squad Number: 47



Condition: Fit



Contract expires: 30/06/2024 AFP/Getty Images Angelino Squad Number: 69



Condition: On loan at RB Leipzig



Contract expires: 30/06/2023 Manchester City

If a player wants to leave, its simple, the agent has to call to the club, arrive at an agreement, and he will leave. And if he doesnt get an agreement he will stay here.

Cancelo has made only six Premier League appearances all season  leading to speculation about his future.

TODO: define component type apester

Asked if the player was happy, Guardiola added: I dont know. I didnt speak to him.
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's pro-democracy protesters marked the new year Wednesday by marching in the tens of thousands to reiterate their calls for greater autonomy in the Chinese-controlled city, and denounce their government and the police.

What started as a peaceful mass rally descended into bouts of chaos after protesters vandalized a bank branch, prompting police to respond with force and cancel the demonstration, which had been authorized. More than a hundred people appeared to be detained and arrested by police, adding to the more than 6,000 arrests made since demonstrations began in June.

Yet, the large gathering, the biggest seen in the territory in weeks, underscored the continued momentum behind the anti-government movement now in its seventh month. Organizers said more than a million people participated, while police put the number at about 60,000. As Hong Kong authorities double down on denials of wrongdoing and balk at charges that basic freedoms are being eroded, protesters say they will not back down or give up - setting the stage for more clashes that will continue to pose a major headache for Beijing, also contending with greater demands for autonomy in nearby Taiwan.

By late afternoon, police had fired tear gas against a group of protesters in the Wan Chai area and made arrests. Protesters had spray-painted graffiti and smashed the glass fronts of HSBC branches along the route of the march, upset at the bank's decision to shut down an account controlled by the anti-government activist group Spark Alliance. Last month, police froze almost $1 million raised by Spark Alliance in support of the movement.

As night fell, some protesters began gearing up for a standoff with police, ripping bricks from the sidewalks and preparing petrol bombs. Police deployed a water cannon at two locations against the crowd, sending them fleeing down side roads and flattening makeshift barricades that protesters had set up to slow authorities.

Carrying signs calling for an independent investigation into police and for Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to step down, protesters set off from a park in the early afternoon and traveled along a familiar route into central Hong Kong. Among them were the elderly and families with their children, shouting chants like "Fight for freedom," and "Stand with Hong Kong," and reiterating the five demands of the protest movement, among them universal suffrage for the territory.

Shortly after 5:30 p.m., the police told the organizer of the rally, the Civil Human Rights Front, to dismiss the crowd, revoking their authorization for the rally. The thousands who remained in the park were barred from setting off.

The Civil Human Rights Front condemned the decision to cancel the rally, and accused the police of using an "absurd excuse."

Hong Kong's "government have shown its unwillingness to listen to the voices of the mass, infringing the right of assembly of Hong Kong citizens," the group said.

Protesters who attended the march had hoped to show that their movement was still vibrant.

"It is very important to show that our momentum is still strong as we start off the new year," said Clement Chung, 26. "We need to show our endurance, and our perseverance."

Marching alongside the protesters were representatives from dozens of newly formed pro-democracy labor unions representing industries from insurance to hospitality, hoping for sign-ups that will allow them to organize strikes and other disruptions in the new year. Over the past six months, protesters have frequently changed tactics to solicit a government response - from large peaceful marches to smaller, violent ones, sit-ins to general strikes - but authorities have only responded to one demand, the full withdrawal of the extradition bill that sparked the unrest back in June.

"We can try to push the movement to the next level, and increase our efforts for a general strike," said Michael Chan, an organizer at the Catering and Hotel Industry Employees General Union, who was manning a booth encouraging people to sign up. "We want to tell laborers that it is possible for them to fight in their workplace, and to organize in their workplace to fight for democracy."

Among the biggest and most emotive issues for many in Hong Kong continues to be the conduct of the police, who protesters believe have responded with brutality and unnecessary force to the unrest. Over the Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays, police used crowd control weapons including tear gas and pepper spray to disperse and arrest small groups of protesters staging demonstrations in malls and shopping districts. Marchers shouted vulgarities and hurled insults at masked riot police Wednesday as they walked past them.

Responding to the march, a spokesman for the government said the procession was "generally smooth and orderly, with the majority of the members of the public expressing their views in a lawful, peaceful and rational manner."

The Hong Kong government "has all along respected people's rights and freedoms to participate in peaceful processions and assemblies and express views rationally, as these are the important core values cherished by Hong Kong people," the spokesman added, appealing the crowd to "not to take part in any illegal or violent acts that may occur."

Later, the police condemned "rioters" who they said had thrown trash and petrol bombs and vandalized traffic lights.

The government in recent weeks has issued a flurry of rebuttals to civil society groups and watchdogs who have expressed concern over the behavior of the police. Authorities also issued a rebuttal to an investigation from The Washington Post that found that police have frequently broken their own internal guidelines, referencing leaked documents that detailed these guidelines and protocols around use of force.

The police "do not initiate actions against protesters and only respond with appropriate and proportionate force when protesters take part in illegal activities," a government spokesman said. "The actions and response of police over the Christmas period, and at all times over the past six months, were only in response to the blatant disregard for public safety and order by radical protesters."

Surveys show that some in Hong Kong have come to understand protester violence, even if they do not explicitly condone it, in the face of police force and government inaction. Unlike previous mass demonstrations in Hong Kong in 2014, there has been a striking degree of solidarity between the more violent front-line protesters and the "wo lei fei" group, a Cantonese phrase meaning peaceful, rational and nonviolent.

"We understand the frustration of the young people," said a 45-year old protester at Wednesday's march who gave her last name as Fung. "We may not agree with their violence, but we see how it has come to this, and we have empathy."
Kite maker Jagmohan Kanojia flies a kite made by him with the message of a Happy New Year 2020" on the eve of New Year, in Amritsar. (Image: PTI)
The Nitish Kumar government on Tuesday decided to celebrate former Union finance minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitleys birth anniversary on December 28 as a state function every year.

Decision to this effect was taken in the cabinet meeting presided over by the chief minister here.

Kumar had on December 28 last unveiled Jaitleys life-size statue in Kankarbagh area of the state capital on occasion of his birth anniversary.

The veteran leader died at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi on August 24 this year.

The departed BJP leader had close bonding with the Bihar where he served as party in-charge for a long time and played an important role in functioning of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition in the state since the days they formed a government there ending 15 -year rule of the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 2005 end.
JERUSALEM  Fighting for his future, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Wednesday asked Parliament to grant him immunity from prosecution in three graft cases, a rare and contentious step that critics say violates the principle of equality before the law.

The immunity request is the latest twist in the political and legal drama that has paralyzed the Israeli government.

Long famed for his survival skills, Mr. Netanyahu is taking the risky move to fend off charges that imperil his legacy and could eventually land him in prison. But the effort also threatens to further polarize a divided nation and prolong the political deadlock that has left the country without a fully functioning government for nearly a year.

Submitted barely three hours before the legal deadline, the immunity request could delay for months the criminal cases against Mr. Netanyahu, who faces a general election in two months, the countrys third in less than a year. If it is approved, immunity could keep him out of court for as long as he remains a member of Parliament.
Real Estate Investment Trust REIT on double exsposure business background.

These days, for investors seeking real estate stocks, there is a major choice to make. The Canadian real estate industry has been hot the last decade, as most people know, and this doesnt exclude real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Due to the major run up in real estate values, many investors have wondered if the housing market is safe, but whether or not housing prices climb or fall, demand for housing will remain largely the same.

Plus, at a time when consumer debt is stretched and many investors believe there may be a recession coming, investors have been buying up what they believe to be the safest stocks first.

The combination has left residential real estate stocks with growth valuations and smaller yields than many investors want, leaving would-be REIT buyers to look elsewhere for larger yields.

To find these bigger yields, investors will have to look to what has been thought of as a higher-risk sector of the real estate industry: the retail REITs.

Not all retail REITs have that much risk though, such as Choice Properties REIT (TSX:CHP.UN), which is one of the top retail REITs in Canada.

Choice Properties owns a variety of projects across Canada, with most of its assets in retail locations, but also complementing those properties with some office, residential, and industrial properties, as well as development land.

I generally agree that retail-oriented REITs carry increased risk, such as those that operate malls and other properties that have higher exposure to a reduction in consumer spending. That risk is almost non-existent with Choice Properties though, considering the type of properties it owns and the tenants it serves.

Many of the properties are located in key markets with growing populations and house tenants such as large grocery stores and banks, businesses that arent going anywhere.

Its strong portfolio is evidenced by its solid occupancy rate, which is nearly 98%, and its solid and consistent growth in net operating income.

Story continues

In its most recent quarter, the company reported funds from operations per share of $0.25, giving it an annual payout ratio of 74% on its dividend, which yields roughly 5.35% today. That dividend is one of the most attractive in the industry given relative values of risk and potential for growth in the future.

Its future growth looks inevitable, especially with development properties in strategic areas that will give the company flexibility and add a tonne of value for shareholders over the coming years.

The companys debt is spaced out strategically over the next decade, reducing risk considerably, which is another thing investors dont have to worry about, despite its large debt position.

Currently its enterprise value (its market value plus outstanding net debt) is roughly $10.8 billion, which, excluding the writedowns it took when it disposed of assets earlier in 2019, would give it an enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ratio of roughly 10 times  a pretty fair valuation for such a large and stable REIT.

Choice Properties is the ideal stock for investors looking for real estate exposure today, especially if you want a significant dividend. Although its not in the highly defensive residential sector, Choice is extremely well managed to provide stable income and long-term growth.

Its stock was up roughly 20% in 2019. Stable companies with high yields such as real estate stocks will be some of the most in-demand stocks for investors in 2020. Grabbing some shares now could prove to be very rewarding.

More reading

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
It is a tradition of Chinese leadership to address the public on all critical occasions. President Xi Jinping addressed the nation on the eve 2020. He expressed satisfaction regarding the achievements made during 2019, mentioning that China worked hard and pressed ahead with many concrete efforts. Thanks to the steady pursuit of high-quality development, China's GDP is expected to edge close to as high as 100 trillion yuan with the per capita figure reaching the level of 10,000 U.S. dollars.

Although China faced several challenges, especially geopolitical challenges, and domestic issues, economic growth and prosperity were still witnessed during the year 2019. It all is due to the hard work of common people and the collective efforts of the masses. The government has provided the enabling policies and environments, while it was the hard work of the people of China to achieve economic growth in spite of the global recession.

One of the most impressive aspects of his speech was his love for people. He always places the most importance on the welfare of people. He proudly highlighted some of the achievements in 2019: about 340 impoverished counties and more than 10 million people were lifted out of poverty. The lunar probe Chang' e-4, for the first time in human history, landed on the far side of the moon; the Long March-5 Y3 rocket was successfully launched; the Xuelong 2 icebreaker set sail on its maiden voyage to the Antarctic; the construction of the global Beidou Navigation Satellite System network is sprinting towards completion; the commercial application of 5G technology is accelerating; the Beijing Daxing International Airport opened like a phoenix spread its wings all these achievements are the result of the efforts and sweat of those who are striving in this new era, and they demonstrate extraordinary Chinese splendor and Chinese strength. Moreover, he mentioned that as usual, no matter how busy he was, he always spared time to make visits to people living in the countryside.

People shared many of their innermost thoughts with him, and he always keeps them in mind. Further elaborating on the essential achievements of 2019, he cited that the most memorable moment of 2019 were celebrations pertaining to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. We cheered for the glorious achievements China has made over the past 70 years and were overwhelmed by the sheer force of patriotism. The formations during the military parade were mighty, and the mass pageant found to be thrilling. Tiananmen Square was turned into a sea of happiness.

Based on the achievements of 2019, he is right to be optimistic for 2020, believing it will be a year of milestone significance. China will finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realize the first centenary goal. 2020 will also be a year of a decisive victory for the elimination of extreme poverty.

He praised the development of Macao under "One Country, Two Systems" and expressed his satisfaction over the achievements of Macao. He expressed his feelings regarding the situation in Hong Kong and said, "I sincerely wish Hong Kong well and our Hong Kong compatriots well. Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation of the people of our motherland".

He conveyed a strong message to the whole world "China is determined to walk along the road of peaceful development and will resolutely safeguard world peace and promote common development. We are willing to join hands with people of all countries in the world to together realize the Belt and Road Initiative, and push forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and make unremitting efforts for the creation of a beautiful future for all". At the end of his speech, he once again wished everyone "A Happy New Year."

The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online.

Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected]
Deftly blending crime, comedy and a vibrant trio of female characters, Good Girls isnt a new release, but it is a notable one. Created by Jenna Bans (a writer on Desperate Housewives, Greys Anatomy and Scandal), it stars Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) as Beth, a mother of four young children who discovers that her car-dealer husband (Matthew Lillard) is cheating on her and has also lost all of the familys money.

With so many entertainment options, it's easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on, or skip.

Beths sister, single-mother Annie (Mae Whitman, Parenthood), works on the checkout in a local grocery store under the creepy eye of manager Boomer (David Hornsby). Shes preparing to fight her wealthy ex (Zach Gilford) for custody of their teenage daughter, a legal battle that she cant afford. The sisters long-time friend, Ruby (Retta, Parks and Recreation), works as a waitress at a diner and is happily married to Stan (Reno Wilson), but their daughter has kidney disease and urgently needs medicine that they cant afford.

So the women, in dire financial straits and with two of them employed in dead-end, minimum-wage jobs, decide that their only way out is to rob the store where Annie works. They see it as a one-time crime, a gamble that could save them from their pressing money problems. And they regard themselves as decent people  good girls  citizens who work hard and pay their taxes, mums who dutifully bring oranges to their kids sporting events.

Christina Hendricks, from left, as Beth Boland, Retta as Ruby Hill, Mae Whitman as Annie Marks in Good Girls.

But they soon discover that theyve bitten off more than they can chew and careened into something much bigger than theyd anticipated. They also discover how resourceful and resilient they can be. Gradually, through two suspenseful, playful seasons, events spiral out of their control. They confront an unanticipated foe who becomes a dangerous associate (Manny Montana). They evade detection and deal with a troublesome threat (the wonderful Allison Tolman, the policewoman in the first season of TVs Fargo). They get into more trouble, conspire to get out of it and then find themselves in deeper.

Set in suburban Michigan, the series pace is lively as the plot continually thickens. It also ponders the idea of what happens when people cross a line, when good girls do something bad, and it keeps moving that line: would they do this? Well then, what about this?
New Delhi, Jan 1 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the third installment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) of Rs 2,000 on Thursday for the period December 2019-March 2020 to benefit six crore beneficiaries at a public meeting in Tumkur in Karnataka, a government statement said on Wednesday.

More than Rs 2,000 crore was released to over one crore farmers' families across the country in the first two installments. The amount is being released in three four-monthly installments of Rs 2,000 each to be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries held in destination banks through direct benefit transfer mode.

In February last year, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister had approved the PM-KISAN scheme, seeking to provide income support to all small and marginal landholder farmers' families with cultivable land holding of up to two hectares across the country, by way of payment of Rs 6,000 per year.

Modi will also hand over certificates to the beneficiaries under the PM-KISAN scheme from eight states and Union Territories.

He will distribute Krishi Karman awards and Commendation awards to the states at the public meeting to progressive farmers. At the same event, the Prime Minister will also hand over the keys of deep sea fishing vessels and fishing vessel transponders to select farmers of Tamil Nadu.

He will also distribute Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to select farmers of Karnataka.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he does not foresee war with Tehran, after pro-Iranian demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Iraq.

I dont see that happening, Trump said at his holiday retreat in Florida when a reporter asked about the possibility of war with the Islamic republic.

I like peace, the president said before heading in to New Years celebrations.

The president spoke after Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that around 750 troops from a rapid response unit of the 82nd Airborne Division are prepared to deploy over the next several days to the Middle East.

The US had already flown a rapid response team of Marines into Baghdad to reinforce its embassy after the attack Tuesday, which left smoke and flames rising from the compounds entrance and further heightened tension between Tehran and Washington.

US officials said there were no plans to evacuate the mission, and no US personnel were reported injured.

The US reinforcements got in there very quickly, Trump said.

I think its been handled very well.

He added that this will not be a Benghazi, a reference to an attack in 2012 by radical Islamists on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were killed inside the smoke-clogged building including the ambassador, Chris Stevens.
Rome: Pope Francis has apologised for hitting the hand of a woman who grabbed his hand and yanked him towards her in St Peter's Square on Tuesday.

Francis was walking through the square in Vatican City and greeting pilgrims on his way to see the large Nativity scene set up in the huge, cobbled esplanade.

After reaching out to touch a child, the Pope turned away from the crowd only for a nearby woman to seize his hand and pull her towards him. The abrupt gesture appeared to cause him pain.

Francis, 83, exclaimed and then struck the woman's hand twice to free his hand.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:05:36|Editor: xuxin

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TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Eighteen fighters including seven security personnel have been confirmed dead as clash flared up in Darqad district of the northern Takhar province on Wednesday, police spokesman in the restive province Abdul Khalil Asir said.

A group of Taliban insurgents, according to the official, stormed security checkpoints in Qara Tepa area of Darqad district early morning triggering a gun battle, which lasted for couple of hours leaving 18 dead, including seven police and army personnel and 11 militants on the spot.

Seven more fighters including five militants were wounded in firefight, the official said.

Taliban militants, who are active in parts of Takhar province with Taluqan as its capital 245 km north of Kabul, have not commented on the report.
SPRINGFIELD  Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker's first year in office has been marked by key legislative victories overshadowed lately by the sweeping federal probe of alleged state government corruption.

Just two months after Pritzker signed the expansive capital infrastructure plan  the first one passed by the General Assembly in a decade  the Statehouse office of one of the bills lead architects was raided by the FBI.

Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Chicago Democrat who was chair of the Senate Transportation Committee at the time, eventually submitted his resignation from the chamber effective Jan. 1.

News quickly followed of raids on a former lobbyist for ComEd, an electric utility company with close ties to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. Later it was revealed that federal agents also executed search warrants in several small towns in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, apparently searching for information about red light camera contracts.

Neither Sandoval nor any ComEd representatives have been charged with wrongdoing despite the ongoing investigations.

In October, however, Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, was arrested on charges that he tried to bribe an unidentified state senator who was later revealed by federal affidavits to be wearing a wire for investigators.

Before any of that, state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a distant cousin of the Senate president, was indicted in August on charges he collected a salary as well as health and pension benefits from a labor union for which he did little or no work. He remains in the Senate.

The constant flow of headlines pertaining to alleged corruption put ethics reforms at the top of the agenda for the fall veto session, which produced measures tightening disclosure laws for lobbyists and creating a commission to study potential changes to ethics laws.

Sen. Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park, said it will be incumbent upon lawmakers in 2020 to demonstrate our responsibility to voters. He said the General Assembly should overhaul statements of economic interest and institute an even greater separation between legislative responsibility and fundraising obligations.

I hope (the federal investigations) reminds us all of the importance of the public trust we hold and that we can only lead by example, even in the face of these outliers, he added.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said she did not believe the ethics probe slowed down lawmakers progress, as those under investigation do not represent the full body of the Legislature.

I think it just showed that were even more committed to making sure that the personal failures of a few members does not get in the way of the work were doing and how were hoping to address problems to improve our state, she said.

Rep. Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat, who was named to the ethics commission by Madigan, said it will draw upon best practices in other states, bills filed by both parties in the General Assembly, think tanks and others to craft effective ethics policies. The commission is scheduled to report its findings in March, and he said it would discuss pushing out reforms before that deadline.

I don't want this to be a kicking-the-can-down-the-road exercise, he said. I don't want it to be a grandstanding exercise. I want people to come in there and do real work. I think everyone in the state agrees that we have some real problems with some of this lobbyist stuff and the ethics, governmental ethics stuff, and transparency and accountability, and we need to step up and fix them.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who criticized what he said is a partisan tilt to the commission, said he will continue to be hopeful that it does its job.

But at the end of the day, what really needs to happen is all these investigations, all these concerns about members of the General Assembly wearing wires, needs to come to rest, he said. And the federal government needs to give us some conclusion on the illegal activities which are already illegal regardless of ethics reform.

Christopher Mooney, a professor of state politics at the University of Illinois-Chicago, was less optimistic, saying the platitudes put before a task force dont always translate into effective legislation, because the general public is more interested in headlines proclaiming ethics reform than they are of minute details of the reforms.

People that are affected by the ethics reforms, they're much more into details. ... The general public's not that interested. Obviously, they just want people to knock it off, he said. But the people that are involved, the lobbyists and whatever and the legislators that these restrictions are imposed upon, they would like to make them as loose as possible.

Senate leadership change

The surprise retirement announcement of the states top senator earlier this year joins the federal investigations in creating uncertainty for the 2020 political agenda.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, told reporters at the end of this years fall veto session that his reason for leaving was to spend more time with family. Democratic Senate caucus members are scheduled to choose his successor on Sunday, Jan. 19, and several have been jockeying for position in recent weeks.

Mooney said the dynamic in the Senate will be an interesting one to watch in 2020.

When you're running for leader, you hand out goodies, he said. That's how you get it. You give out favors. But once you're in, you owe people stuff.

Cullerton said becoming a leader is a humbling experience.

Its very humbling, because youre asking your peers to elevate you and youre reminded of your shortcomings by your colleagues. Theyre folks who dont say, Ill vote for you, right away. You have to win them over. Youre constantly being reminded of your shortcomings.  Thats where the humility comes in, he said.

Cullerton said he plans to not vote on his successor and has chosen not to endorse a candidate.

While the change to the Senate will be the first in majority leadership since Cullerton assumed the office of president in 2009, House Speaker Madigan will remain in the position he has held for all but two years since 1983.

Through a spokesperson, Madigan declined to be interviewed for this article but distributed a statement to Capitol News Illinois.

This upcoming legislative session will largely focus on passing a responsible, balanced budget. While we accomplished quite a bit last session, there's plenty of work that remains to be done. I look forward to working with the legislative leaders and the governor on another productive session that puts working families first, the speaker said in that statement.

The next session

The governor reiterated his commitment to passing ethics reforms and laid out some of his other 2020 agenda items at a news conference in Chicago earlier this month.

He said a top priority will be addressing the states $137 billion pension debt, though he did not go into specifics. He also said he was focused on expanding early childhood education in the state, further reforming the criminal justice system and expanding opportunities for working families to get ahead.

Ive talked a lot about lowering the cost of health care, lowering the cost of child care, lowering the cost of education so that we can raise the standards of living for people who are working in our state in addition to creating jobs for competition for labor so that were lifting up their wages while were lowering their day-to-day costs, he said.

Some observers said the federal probes into ComEds lobbying practices and their connections to Madigans office have hampered another of Pritzkers campaign promises  addressing climate change by putting Illinois on a path to 100 percent carbon-free energy use.

It's on life support right now, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican, said of energy reforms. And until we get a full understanding of what is going to happen with the investigations that are currently related to ComEd, and also members of the Legislature, I don't see any desire for the Legislature to take up that particular piece of legislation

But Harris said the Clean Energy Jobs Act will be on the top of the agenda for House Democrats, despite the ComEd investigation having some effect on its prospects.

But you know, there are a lot of different players involved in the whole energy discussion, he said. You have the different solar providers, you have wind providers you have downstate fossil fuel providers who are trying to get things. You have Exelon, which is a nuclear generator which has some specific asks. So, yeah, there's a lot of moving pieces, but from what I hear from people who are involved in those negotiations,  they seem to be moving along.

The governor also said he would renew a legislative push to make a Chicago casino more feasible, as the $45 billion capital plan depends, in part, on revenues from such a facility.

Harris said much of the focus in 2020 will also be on making sure some of the newly created programs in 2019 can be successfully implemented.

Durkin said House Republicans plan to focus heavily next year on two issues: ethics reform and overhauling the way the General Assembly redraws legislative and congressional districts each year  a proposal they refer to as fair maps

Durkin said the mapmaking issue should be brought to voters in the form of a constitutional amendment ballot question.

That is whether or not they should take the legislative map-drawing for the Legislature and Congress out of the hands of the Democrat power brokers in Springfield and leave it to an independent commission.  That is the one way in which you can clean and get rid of the culture of Springfield, he said.

Brady, the Senate Republican Leader, echoed that sentiment, pointing to a Pritzker campaign promise to veto partisan legislative maps.

I could only take Gov. Pritzker at his word that he will not sign a gerrymandered, unfair map, he said. I think he knows the best way to get there is to remove the opportunity that two people have, the president of Senate and the speaker the House, to draw the map.

He also said he is looking forward to hearing recommendations from a property tax reform task force that was established last year so the General Assembly can get to work on the issue.

While it is still unclear who will lead the Senate in 2020, Majority Leader Lightford, who is running among her caucus for the office of president, said a focus will be working on business development and business growth, and attracting more jobs to Illinois, as well as retaining high school graduates.

Recreational marijuana goes on sale Jan. 1  heres how, where and what youll be able to buy in Illinois

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Bello El-Rufai, son of the governor of Kaduna state, says he was trained to destroy his opponents. He said this on Twitter while res...

Bello El-Rufai, son of the governor of Kaduna state, says he was trained to destroy his opponents.





He said this on Twitter while responding to some people who disagreed with him over the reports on the arrest of Shehu Sani, former senator representing Kaduna central.





The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested the former lawmaker for allegedly collecting money from a businessman while promising to pass it on to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the commission.







Commenting on this, Bello had tweeted: There are reports that former Senator and current contender for best blogger of 2019, Comrade Shehu Sani has just been arrested by the EFCC operatives on a fraudulent related case. Theres a limit to how deceit under the veil of populism can take you. A leopard and spots.

There are reports that former Senator and current contender for best blogger of 2019, Comrade Shehu Sani has just been arrested by the EFCC operatives on a fraudulent related case. Theres a limit to how deceit under the veil of populism can take you. A leopard and spots.  Bello El-Rufai (@B_ELRUFAI) December 31, 2019

A Twitter user had responded, saying he knew Bello would love this news more than anyone else, to which the governors son replied: I was trained to destroy my opponents.

Bello later deleted the tweet.





Bellos father and Shehu Sani were at loggerheads during the last two years of the former senator in the upper legislative chamber.





In the buildup to the 2019 elections, the governor backed Uba Sani, one of his allies, to pick the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna central.





This forced Shehu Sani out of the APC. He had secured the ticket of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) where he contested but lost to his APC rival.





Bello currently serves as a legislative aide to Shehu Sanis successor.
IM the very worst kind of consumer. Theres nothing in the world I like better than getting a good bargain  even if its something I didnt want in the first place.

Its a good thing that Im not within an asss roar of the nations rich list or Id cover the planet with tat, all wrapped in plastic and procured at a 50 per cent discount. But a bargain is a bargain and does wonders for the psyche, and although its years since I got one, Im always on the look-out for a bit of self-affirmation.

Youd think then that Id be in my element in advance of Black Friday. Except that Black Friday began yesterday (as I write) and now threatens to last until at least Christmas Eve, leaving me somewhat disorientated as far as bargain hunting is concerned.

But its not Black Friday that bothers me so much this week as Thanksgiving. Everyone I know is having a turkey this Thursday to celebrate the festival initiated by the Pilgrim Fathers and endorsed by Abe Lincoln himself. As far as I know it has nothing at all to do with us. Actually since weve lost the Faith in such numbers, I dont even know who we might be giving thanks to. Anyhow, weve embraced the festival wholeheartedly and before we know it well all be indulging in Thanksgiving and giving ourselves another holiday. Who, or what, were thanking is irrelevant.

I wont be celebrating Thanksgiving myself, because I have enough on my plate already with Christmas creeping up on me unawares, accompanied by serious bouts of terrifying seasonal stress and panic. Also, Black Friday dawns the following day -or it should, if it hadnt already started a week ago  and I greatly fear that the country will be hit by a tsunami of consumerism that will put the Planet in a tailspin, with or without my participation.

Personally, despite my penchant for bargains, I regard Black Friday, as an American import that we could well have done without. Even the title freaks me out because of its sinister connotations. It feeds our manic consumerism and makes idiots of us all. We buy things we dont need or want simply because theres a 50% discount on the price and it doesnt matter if the item isnt even worth the 50 per cent we fork out. We all lose the run of ourselves at the sight of a bargain, but were not quite as bad as American shoppers who have been known to lose their lives as well in Black Friday stampedes. Its a dangerous addiction and I dont know how were going to be rehabilitated.

Even if we do manage to wipe Black Friday from the Christmas calendar and detox completely from the compulsive shopping drug, well still have to contend with Cyber Monday which occurs on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. Why does everything have to revolve around Thanksgiving anyway? Cyber Monday holds out even more on-line inducements to make us part with our cash. Online shopping is the phenomenon of our times. But honestly, I cant even allow myself to window-shop online in case I press the wrong key by mistake and order something I cant afford  like a Ferrari.

Now, wouldnt you think that all this black and white craziness would be enough to satiate our deep-seated urge to splurge demonically? But we still have to brace ourselves for Green Monday which falls this year on December 9, and if you can survive Green Monday without losing your shirt, then youre a better person than I am. I had never heard of it before and assumed because of the title that it was a day of reparation, the day when rabid consumers gave something back to the Planet. I was wrong, of course, Green Monday is for people like me who missed the boat on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains and are now ripe for a right fleecing.

But what I want to know is this. What ever happened to December 8th, the traditional Christmas shopping day in this country, when rural Ireland came to town en masse to enjoy a days shopping in the real world and to boost the economies of towns and cities? It was a much more relaxing, festive and enjoyable experience than all the Black Friday madness in the world.

By the way, Im still on the look-out for bargains. But since Black Friday arrived prematurely this year, I now fear that I may have to wait for the January sales, that is, if theres going to be anything at all left by then.
New Year's revellers who feel anxious about returning to work after binge-drinking during the festive season may actually be suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms, a liver expert has warned.

Dr Mark Wright, a consultant in liver medicine at an English hospital, said thousands of people will put feelings of nausea, shaking and general irritability down to "work dread" as the holiday season draws to a close.

But he warned alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and not fears about returning to work, were likely to be to blame and urged people to avoid turning to drink in an attempt to quell their symptoms. "People will now be feeling anxious about their impending return to work and may also be feeling sick, shaky and irritable," he said. "However, far from concerns about the end of the Christmas and New Year period and the reality of work, the cause of this for many will be alcohol withdrawal symptoms following sustained heavy drinking. "For those who don't realise this, drinking more to calm that feeling is very tempting - but it is also a great way to become addicted." Dr Wright, who works at University Hospital Southampton, said people should think about "scaling back" their alcohol intake after New Year's Eve celebrations, increasing their water intake and taking some days off alcohol.
By Online Desk

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the role of Popular Front of India (PFI) is coming forward in violence and the Home Ministry will decide on an action against the organisation based on evidence.

"PFI's role in violence is coming forward. The Home Ministry will decide on further action based on evidence. There are many allegations against them including connection with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)," Prasad told reporters here.

Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had requested the Union home ministry to ban the PFI, an organisation that is said to have played a key role in triggering violence during the recent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.

A written communication made to the MHA a day after Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) O P Singh sent a letter to the state home department seeking a ban on the PFI.

Sources said that the MHA has received the Uttar Pradesh government's request letter and is likely to consult legal as well as other concerned departments before imposing a ban on the organisation.

The Ministry is also likely to take inputs from the intelligence and other central government agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Uttar Pradesh DGP told IANS that the state police force has arrested as many as 23 PFI activists from various violence-hit areas and that made it clear as to who the primary instigator was.

"We have got significant information from the arrested PFI members, but cannot disclose it at this point in time."

This marks the beginning of the process for the ban on the controversial organisation.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, on Tuesday, told reporters that the state government was strongly in favour of banning the PFI.

It is said to be a 'recycled' organisation of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was designated as a terrorist organisation and banned in 2001.

"A number of SIMI activists are now in the PFI and have been instigating violence in the state. Nearly 22 of their members have been arrested during recent protests. The PFI is active in seven states including Uttar Pradesh, said Maurya."

(With agency inputs)
With developments going from bad to worse for the Iranian regime, the mullahs have decided to play a 40 year-old card. They have orchestrated an attack on a U.S. embassy, this time the one in Baghdad.

President Trump summarized the situation in this tweet:

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified.

Trumps expectation of protection from the Iraqi government may be too optimistic. Indeed, Trump seems to recognize this. Reportedly, he is sending additional forces to keep U.S. personnel in Iraq safe.

According to CNN, the number of troops will initially be less than a 1,000. A larger force of several thousand soldiers has also been placed on stand-by and could also be deployed to the region if the need arises.

Lets hope that Trump is able to avoid an embassy takeover or similar disaster. And if there is an embassy takeover, lets hope that Trump handles it a whole lot better than Jimmy Carter did 40 years ago.
The end of 2019 marks the second time in a row that Big Buzz, a woman-owned business, exceeded $1 million in revenues. In 2018, the first year Big Buzz crossed that threshold, Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) reported only 1.7% of U.S. women-owned businesses generated more than $1 million in revenue.

In 2014, Big Buzz CEO Wendy ODonovan Phillips pitched her firm for the Make Mine a Million initiative, which inspired her to go for the goal. The number of businesses generating $1 million run by women increased by 46% in the past 11 years, as reported in American Express OPENs State of Women-Owned Business Report.

Success has come with its challenges. Just last year, despite the fact that she was finically qualified and approved weeks later by another bank, Phillips was turned down for a corporate line of credit with a prominent national bank. She was told in writing, I know you dont want to do this, but we need your husband to cosign on the loan. Big Buzz is 100% owned by Phillips.

Harvard Business Review reported recently it will take 165 years to close the gender pay gap in North America. CoBiz reports a study found that 29% of businesses in the Denver-metro area are female-owned and operated, and that Denver has one of the better pay gaps across metros in the country.

Phillips says, By starting their own businesses and growing them to $1 million and beyond, women can create more jobs for both genders and help more readily close that gap. Its well worth getting over any hurtles for that reward.

At Big Buzz, our vision is to help people create marketing, careers and lives they never believed possible. It is our mission to offer healthcare organizations result-driven marketing that moves more quickly and easily to market than ever before, all with top-notch customer service. We are relentless about our commitment to agility so that we can help each client organization attract their ideal patients or clients and become more readily productive, profitable and successful.

References:

The 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report. (2018). Retrieved from https://about.americanexpress.com/files/doc_library/file/2018-state-of-women-owned-businesses-report.pdf.

Gavett, G., & Perry, M. (2019, September 27). The Gender Gap in 6 Charts. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/09/the-gender-gap-in-6-charts.

Longwell, A. (2019, October 25). Denver Ranks as the Best City for Women to Start a Business. Retrieved from https://www.cobizmag.com/Trends/Denver-Ranks-as-the-Best-City-for-Women-to-Start-a-Business/.
Tourism officials in Ho Chi Minh City warmly welcomed the first 13 visitors to the southern hub from abroad on board two flights touching down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on Wednesday morning.

The four visitors Kazuno, Jorgen, Plummer, and Coggishall came to the city from Japan on the first day of 2020 aboard the flight JL079 operated by Japan Airlines. Their flight landed at 5:50 am.

Jorgen was surprised and pleased to be given gifts as he became one of the special guests to Ho Chi Minh City.

Bui Ta Hoang Vu (R), director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, gives flowers to new visitors touching down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from France, January 1, 2020. Photo: Gia Khang / Tuoi Tre

The nine other visitors arrived from France on board the flight VN2106 operated by national carrier Vietnam Airlines in cooperation with Air France.

The annual reception for the first visitors to Ho Chi Minh City is a tradition meant to exhibit Vietnamese hospitality and impress both local and foreign tourists, in a bid to spur tourism development.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, extends her compliments to new visitors touching down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport from France, January 1, 2020. Photo: Gia Khang / Tuoi Tre

Ho Chi Minh City expects to receive 10 million foreign visitors and 35 million domestic tourists while earning VND165,000 billion (US$7 billion), with the introduction of sustainable and culture-based tourism products in 2020.

The first visitors from abroad receive flowers and wishes from Ho Chi Minh City tourism officials at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, January 1, 2020. Photo: Gia Khang / Tuoi Tre

In 2019, the city welcomed 8.6 million international visitors, up 13.5 percent year on year, and 32.8 million local tourists, a 13 percent rise against 2018.

Its tourism turnover reached over VND140,000 ($6 billion) last year, up 10.1 percent compared to one year earlier.

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Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey has emerged somewhat victorious from another legal battle.

The Oscar winner's federal lawsuit involving a massage therapist who accused him of sexual assault was dismissed Monday, according to court documents obtained by The Times. The dismissal comes nearly four months after the anonymous accuser died unexpectedly ahead of the trial.

The cards keep tumbling: Kevin Spacey has another court win over allegations of sexual misconduct. Credit:AP

The case, filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, was dismissed with prejudice  meaning that it cannot be refiled. Sky Alves, a special administrator and legal representative for the masseur's estate, was also appointed and named as the plaintiff for the record instead of the John Doe.

"Alves and [Kevin Spacey] Fowler, acting through counsel ... stipulate and agree to the dismissal with prejudice of this action, including all claims stated against all parties, with each party to bear his or its own attorneys' fees and costs. The dismissal with prejudice shall occur immediately upon substitution of Alves as plaintiff," the documents said.
SANAA, Yemen - Yemeni rebels released six Saudi prisoners Wednesday, a rebel official said, after the kingdom two months ago released over 100 rebels, known as Houthis.

The releases signal that the Saudi coalition and the Iran-backed Houthis are advancing a U.N.-brokered deal aimed at ending the stalemated war in the Arab worlds poorest country.

The Saudi-led coalition launched its campaign in 2015 to drive out the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, now exiled in Saudi Arabia. The grinding war has killed over 100,000 people, many of them civilians, and created a humanitarian catastrophe.

Abdul-Qader al-Murtaza, a rebel official in charge of prisoners affairs, said the rebel side handed over the released prisoners to the International Committee of the Red Cross at the airport in the capital, Sanaa. He called on the Saudi-led coalition to take similar steps and free other Yemeni rebel detainees in the war.

The ICRC said it facilitated the release following an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

We are happy to see a momentum occurring with the release of detainees that has been happening on both sides, said Freya Raddi, the ICRCs deputy head of delegation in Yemen. Today is important as 6 more families will be reunited. It is a special moment when this happens, and we are honoured to be part of it.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that the six were brought home, according to Saudi Arabia state television.

Last September, the ICRC facilitated the release of over 200 captives who had been held since the rebels seized Sanaa, along with much of northern Yemen, in 2014.

The war in Yemen has also left millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

In recent months, Saudi Arabia started backchannel negotiations with the Houthis in Oman, after the rebels claimed an attack on Saudi oil infrastructure that threatened global oil supplies. The United States blamed the attack on Iran, which denied involvement.
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Residents in Australian towns ravaged by the bushfires have gone into 'panic stations' following 'apocalyptic' blazes that left 50,000 families without power and entire towns with a contaminated water supply.

Desperate locals and tourists were clearing shelves in supermarkets and filling up their fuel on Wednesday.

Weather conditions are expected to worsen by Saturday and there are currently road closures impacting traffic in and out of fire-affected communities across the New South Wales south coast and parts of Victoria.

Water supplies in both states have been contaminated in some areas, while it is simply running out all together in others.

One woman who was in the town of Tura Beach phoned the ABC and described the situation as 'panic stations'.

'A car queue of 50 waiting to get petrol and people in Woolworths clearing the shelves apocalyptic,' she said.

Steve McKenzie, managing director of East Gippsland Water, said a 'boil water notice' had been issued in multiple towns.

He said the water could remain contaminated until late tomorrow - when it could finally be tested - and also urged residents in fire-ravished towns to use as little water as possible to reserve what they could for battling blazes.

Supermarkets are giving out bottled water for free and more supplies are en route.

Bega Valley Shire Council announced a boil water notice for Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Fairhaven, Wallaga Lake, Wallaga Lake Heights, Wallaga Lake Koori Village and Akolele on Wednesday.

'All water for drinking, food preparation, the cleaning of teeth and ice-making needs to be boiled before use,' a statement read.

Ulladulla Woolworths opened its doors on Wednesday to give locals unable to leave the chance to stock up on supplies

About 300 people turned out and lined up for at least two hours to get in the stores and make their purchases

More than 110 fires are still burning across NSW on New Years Day after conditions worsened last week. Infernos are also still ravaging Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

At least seven people on the NSW south coast and another in Victoria died on Tuesday and Wednesday, as destructive infernos razed entire communities to the ground.

On the south coast alone, at least 176 homes were destroyed and another 50,000 left without power.

The townspeople have been told it is too late to leave - and in some cases it is even too dangerous for fire crews to enter.

As a result, residents in Ulladulla in the Shoalhaven area and nearby Narooma took the opportunity on Wednesday to stock up on essentials at the local Woolworths.

This picture taken on December 31, 2019 shows a firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra

A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses in Nowra on Tuesday

AUSTRALIA'S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE NEW SOUTH WALES: - 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours - One person remains missing - More than 110 bushfires burning - 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium - 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed VICTORIA: - Two people dead, 17 more missing - About 50 bushfires burning - More than 766,000 hectares burned - 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly TASMANIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance - 8000 hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed SOUTH AUSTRALIA: - One person dead - About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance - More than 60,000 hectares burned - 88 homes confirmed destroyed QUEENSLAND: - About 30 bushfires burning - 250,000 hectares burned - 45 homes confirmed destroyed WESTERN AUSTRALIA: - More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance - 1.2 million hectares burned - One home confirmed destroyed Advertisement

But they have been urged not to over-buy out of panic.

Amanda Findley, the Mayor of Shoalhaven City Council, reminded her townspeople the power is not predicted to be restored any time soon - meaning most homes have no access to refrigeration therefore shouldn't be looking to unnecessarily stock up on food.

She went on to say there would not be a shortage of food and asked people to buy only what they need.

Craig Scott, the store manager at the Ulladulla Woolworths, said the store was running on a recently purchased generator - but it was close to running out of fuel.

He was hoping local boat owners would share their diesel to ensure essential food and milk wouldn't spoil.

'The power's out in town, but we decided to open the store just for necessities, so people can get nappies, baby food, all that sort of stuff,' he said.

He noted about 300 people were lining up on Wednesday morning, and that most people waited about two hours to be served.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are in Batemans Bay (pictured) experiencing the devastation firsthand

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, has been levelled

Local petrol stations have been forced to post signs letting residents know they've been run completely dry of petrol - while others simply don't have any power to operate.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday evening said power was slowly starting to be restored in towns, and thanked those who had been affected for their patience.

NSW Police confirmed a total of seven people have been killed and two are unaccounted for in the South Coast bushfires since Monday.

The deaths include dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega.

Young father and volunteer firefighter Samuel McPaul, 28, was also among those confirmed dead after he was killed by a fire tornado.

Another satellite image shows the devastation of the fires devastating the coastal town of Batemans Bay early Wednesday morning as the blaze continues to spread

A kangaroo can be seen moving away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra on the NSW South Coast

A 70-year-old man was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola, on Tuesday night, while another man's body was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah Wednesday morning.

The body of a man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am Wednesday but is yet to be formally identified, while a seventh body was found outside a home Coolagolite, about 10km east of Cobargo, on Wednesday.

Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on Wednesday morning.

'Today we have the three deaths. The police have confirmed at Yatte Yattah, a body found in a vehicle there, which is near Lake Conjola,' NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told media on Wednesday afternoon.

'One at Sussex Inlet, a body in a vehicle. And ambulance officers have told us about a body that they have located as well deceased.'

'In terms of the situation down on the South Coast, we have three emergency operation centres operating locally up and down the coast that are dealing with any amount of local issues and doing their best to solve those problems for people down there.

A home lost to a bushfire on Hassall Road in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19

Smoke and flames are seen rising from burning trees as bushfires hit the bushland surrounding the small town of Nowra

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast

'There is no magic wand to wave across this and fix it in a short amount of time.'

Meanwhile, a 72-year-old man is unaccounted for at Belowra, 50km north-west of Cobargo.

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the death toll is expected to climb as well, as the RFS analyse the extent of the damage on the South Coast.

'So we know that the damage that's been occasioned right throughout the south-east corner of New South Wales is a heavy toll. And more importantly we're seeing unfortunately the tragedy of lives lost as well,' he said on Wednesday afternoon.

'As the Premier quite rightly indicated, we need to prepare ourselves for that number to climb with information coming out this afternoon.'

Residents of Cobargo, NSW, inspect the damage the fire left after it ripped through the town on Tuesday

A horse escaped from the nearby bushfires at a residential property near Nowra as bushfires ravage the area on Tuesday

Three people are confirmed dead and there are concerns for five people who are missing after fires left scenes like the one in Cobargo across the state

Three thousand firefighters were deployed to help battle the blazes and protect homes, businesses and vehicles

Cobargo has been destroyed by fires on Tuesday after blazes ripped through the town and burned several buildings

Fires have been burning in Australia - such as this one near Tahmoor known as the Green Wattle Creek Fire on December 19 - since September
My friend and former colleague Tom Nichols has been going on one of his regularly scheduled Twitter anti-gun rants over the past few days. In his latest, he slammed the spread of gun worship among conservatives. That Nicholss opinions on the subject, which resemble a progressive 17-year-olds knowledge of American gun culture, get a lot of attention from anti-gun types tells you something about the anti-gun movement: that it, too, has very limited experience with guns and the people who own them.

Among Nicholss beliefs is that, as he put it this week, conservatives now measure freedom by how many of us walk around with guns. He also believes that concealed carry culture is really just conservative virtue-signaling as a stand-in for real patriotism, that gun owners measure [their] sense of worth by whether or not they are carrying firearms, and that gun worship has become a litmus test for conservatives, to the detriment of conservatism itself.

It is safe to say that none of this is true. What Nichols advances is a grossly distorted view of American gun culture, one that suggests he either has spoken to zero gun owners about guns or didnt listen to them when they did speak.

In fact, the people whom Tom is clumsily describing  those of us who carry guns, who take a keen interest in gun policy, and who believe that it is fine for responsible and well-trained gun owners to carry their firearms in public places  do not actually worship guns. Nor do we tie these interests and habits into our sense of self-worth and patriotism.

Here is the truth: Guns are many things, and one of the things they are is tools. Like any tool, guns have a good and meaningful application when used properly and correctly, e.g. when they are carried by trained, law-abiding citizens and used for proper defensive and life-saving measures. A good example of that is the recent shooting at the church in White Settlement, Texas, in which an armed parishioner shot and killed a murderous gunman before a rampage could really begin.

Story continues

Tom calls that scenario a lucky break. But this is precisely the point. The vast majority of gun carriers will never have the need to draw their weapons. Virtually none of them (a few blustery dimwits aside) wants to draw his weapon. Toms claim that the Right has undergone a pornification of gun ownership does not comport with the reality of those gun owners who would be happy to live out their lives without getting in a firefight.

For these gun owners, carrying guns has nothing to do with some base desire to get in a shootout. They carry because they want to be able to protect themselves and other innocent people if an insane murderer decides to start shooting. Its not rocket science.

Statistics are not on the side of Nicholss argument. In the past twelve years concealed permits have increased by over 300 percent; homicides, meanwhile, have been dropping since the early 90s, with the murder rate 5.3 percent lower than it was in 2009, at the beginning of the concealed-carry boom. Nicholss persistent prognostication notwithstanding, the rise of concealed carry has not actually led to more accidental gun deaths, either; such deaths are at historic lows.

There are plenty of other reasons besides self-defense that many Americans enjoy guns: They are fascinating machines, they are fun to shoot for sport, they are both a potent symbol and a practical example of the unique American brand of civic and political freedom. Yes, we like guns. Yes, many people carry firearms for self-defense. No, we do not worship guns. Nichols and his friends would do well to get off their sneering Twitter feeds and actually talk to gun enthusiasts at length, as we are not the idiotic slack-jawed trigger-happy cowboys he so desperately wants us to be.

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The PSNI has appealed for information about the incident

A Belfast bookmakers was held up in an attempted armed robbery on Tuesday.

It happened at the Falls Road business at around 5.30pm.

Detective Sergeant Corrigan said: "A man armed with a suspected firearm entered a bookmakers in the area. He is believed to have demanded money from two members of staff inside the premises, but left empty handed.

"Both the male and female staff members were left badly shaken, but not injured following the incident.

The male is described as being 510 in height, wearing a dark coloured hooded top with a white Nike log on the front. He was wearing a scarf around his face and with his hood up during the incident.

"Enquiries are continuing and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1266 31/12/19. Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime."
By David G. Savage

WASHINGTON  Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., whose new year will include presiding at a Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump as well as leading the Supreme Court, called Tuesday for more focus on civic education at a time when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale.

In his year-end report on the judiciary, Roberts steered clear of politics, Trump and the looming impeachment trial, speaking instead about the importance of independent courts and citizens who understand democracy.

Each generation has an obligation to pass on to the next, not only a fully functioning government responsive to the needs of the people, but the tools to understand and improve it, he said. I ask my judicial colleagues to continue their efforts to promote public confidence in the judiciary, both through their rulings and through civic outreach. We should celebrate our strong and independent judiciary, a key source of national unity and stability. But we should also remember that justice is not inevitable. We should reflect on our duty to judge without fear or favor, deciding each matter with humility, integrity and dispatch.

This is not a new theme for the chief justice. Just over a year ago, Roberts issued an extraordinary statement in response to Trumps tweeted critique of a judge as being an Obama judge.

We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges, Roberts said. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.

His devotion to nonpartisan judging will be put to a test in the next year. The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Democratic-controlled House committees and a New York prosecutor can subpoena Trumps financial records, including his tax returns.

And in the weeks ahead, Roberts will cross First Street on Capitol Hill and preside over a Senate impeachment trial of Trump.

The details and timing of the Senate trial await the return of lawmakers to Washington next week. The high court is due to hear arguments in the morning during the weeks of Jan. 13 and Jan. 21.

Roberts official title is chief justice of the United States, and as such he is the leader of the entire federal court system, not just the Supreme Court. In this years report, he described the importance of the 85 brilliant essays that appeared in New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788 and became known as the Federalist Papers. They explained the core principles of our constitutional democracy, Roberts said.

Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote most of the essays, while John Jay, the nations first chief justice, contributed only five. Perhaps if Jay had been more productive, America might have awarded him with a Broadway musical, Roberts wrote, referring to hit musical Hamilton. But he was badly injured in what was dubbed the Doctors Riot, Roberts said.

It began with a rumor that medical students were robbing graves to practice surgery on cadavers, he said. An angry mob formed and stormed a New York hospital. Jay, who lived nearby, grabbed a sword and tried to defend the medical staff, but a rioter tossed a rock that struck him. He survived, but did not contribute further to the influential essays.

It is sadly ironic that John Jays efforts to educate his fellow citizens about the framers plan of government fell victim to a rock thrown by a rioter motivated by a rumor. The three authors ultimately succeeded in convincing the public of the virtues of the principles embodied in the Constitution. Those principles leave no place for mob violence, he wrote.

But in the ensuing years, we have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the publics need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital.

The court also announced that the chief justices mother. Rosemary A. Roberts, died Saturday surrounded by her family in Westminster, Md. She was 90.



2019 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
UPDATE 4:03 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17 - New details in the search for a missing 27-year-old Redding woman.

Redding police have found surveillance footage of a vehicle and a white man they said may be linked to her disappearance.

Thursday, Investigators located the van in the surveillance footage previously released, in Linn County Oregon. Investigators also located the man seen in surveillance and interviewed him in Linn County.

At this time, he is considered a witness to Danielle Bisnells disappearance.

There is a $2,500 reward offered for any information leading to Danielle Bisnells whereabouts.

---

UPDATE 2:38 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16 - Detectives in Oregon are now working with the Redding Police Department in their search for a missing woman.

Danielle Bisnell was reported missing on Dec. 31, according to detectives. Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon said she traveled through Linn County in Oregon, on her way back to Redding on Dec. 10, when she stopped communicating with her family and friends.

Redding Police have shared surveillance footage of Danielle traveling with an unknown man in a minivan. There is now a $2,500 reward being offered to help find Bisnell.

---

UPDATE: 6:28 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 - The Redding Police Department has released surveillance photos of a man who they say is believed to be associated with Bisnell's disappearance.

Police say the man was seen at a Redding business in dark clothing and driving an older model mini-van.

During the investigation, police believe Bisnell traveled I-5 to the central Oregon area during the early morning on Dec. 8.

On Dec. 10, though, police say she stopped communicating with friends and family.

If you have any information related to the identity of the man or his vehicle, please contact Redding Police Investigations at 530-225-4200 or Shasta County Secret Witness at 530-243-2319.

---

REDDING, Calif. - 27-year-old Danielle Renee Bisnell is the subject of a missing person investigation being conducted by the Redding Police Department.

On Tuesday at approximately 5 p.m. Redding police announced the investigation.

Police said Bisnell was reported missing by family and friends.

Officers said her current location is not known, but said she frequents Northern California, Oregon, and Nevada.

If anyone has information regarding her whereabouts please contact the Redding Police Department Investigations Division at 530- 225-4200.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested 21 people for illegally firing their guns during the New Year revelries, injuring seven people.

As of 6 a.m. on Wednesday, authorities said violators have been arrested in 13 regions for the illegal discharge of firearms. The tally includes one police personnel as well two members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines nabbed from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the PNP Public Information Office said.

"They will face the stiffest criminal and administrative sanctions appalicable," PNP Spokesperson Bernard Banac said separately. He added that three security guards have also been apprehended for firing guns.

Two people in Metro Manila and five others from the Bangsamoro area have been reported injured. There were no deaths reported so far.

Police also arrested Kimy Chan, a Chinese national caught firing his weapon in front of a music bar along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.

The PNP also tallied three cases of stray bullets which hit rooftops amid the New Year's Eve celebrations.

Meanwhile, the PNP tallied 81 firecracker-related injuries on New Year's Day.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:40:56|Editor: Xiaoxia

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KAMPALA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said a decision will soon be made to end year-long tensions with neighboring Rwanda.

Museveni tweeted late on Tuesday that he had sent a special envoy to meet Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and that the two sides had fruitful discussions.

"Soon, the two sides will be taking decisive actions to end the tension. Uganda, I can guarantee, will do its share for the normalization of the relations between our two countries," he said.

Relations between the two central African countries became strained in February last year when Rwanda closed its main border crossing, accusing Uganda of harboring its dissidents. Uganda has denied the accusation.

The two countries have engaged in negotiations to normalize their relations. In August, Museveni and Kagame signed a memorandum of understanding in the Angolan capital of Luanda to cease hostilities.
Fitch Solutions maintain 2019 fiscal deficit forecast at 6.6%, but are revising up our 2020 and 2021 fiscal deficit forecasts for Vietnam to 7.0% and 7.2%, respectively, from 6.6% previously.

This follows the release of the Ministry of Finances three-year budget estimates in October, which indicates high debt repayments over 2020 and 2021.

Fitch Solutions forecasts are fairly in line with the governments projections, given the governments strong track record of meeting their fiscal deficit targets.

Risks to our deficit forecast stem heavily from debt repayment. A larger repayment than the government had initially forecast would see the deficit come in wider than we forecast, vice versa.

Excluding of debt repayment (to provide a like-for-like comparison with the governments announced decit projections), we are revising our 2019, 2020, and 2021 scal decit forecasts to 3.4 %, for all three years, from 3.1%, 3.3%, and 3.5% previously. The forecasts are fairly similar to the governments projections of 3.4 %, 3.4 %, and 3.5% for the respective three years, given a strong track record of the government in meeting their deficit targets.

Net of debt repayment, Fitch Solutions' wider deficit forecasts are informed by several headwinds to revenue collection, which it expects to persist over the coming years.

First, while Vietnams total trade will remain on a rm uptrend, supported by increasing relocation of manufacturing facilities from China, the countrys multitude of free trade agreements mean that revenue growth from import and export activities (14 % of total revenues) is likely to remain weak.

Second, it expects the equitisation process of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) to remain sluggish, despite a revised lis t of companies in August, due to weak private sector interest, in part driven by the poor operating performance of most SOEs. Therefore, this segment will likely fail to contribute signicantly to government coffers.

The Prime Minister issued Decision 26 /2019 on August 15 which provides a revised lis t of 93 SOEs which the government intends to equitise by the end of 2020 . Decision 26 /2019 has replaced the previous lis t of 137 SOEs which was provided in Decision 58 /2016 as of August 15.

Third, crude oil revenue (2-3% of total revenues) will also weaken over the coming years. Vietnam collects a Natural Resource Tax from industries exploiting the countrys natural resources, including petroleum, minerals, and natural gas.

The tax rate ranges from 1-40 % and depends on the natural resource being exploited, and are applied to the production output at a specied taxable value per unit. Crude oil is taxed at progressive rates according to the daily average production output. Our Oil and Gas team forecasts Brent Oil prices to remain weak and also for Vietnams oil output to fall over the coming years (see chart above).

Additionally, the government has also removed a 5% import duty on crude oil from November 1 2019 , owing to an increasing demand for imported crude (see chart below). Both of these bode poorly for crude oil revenue over the coming years.

Fitch Solutions expects expenditures to come in fairly in line with the governments projections. The Vietnamese authorities have historically demonstrated a strong track record of meeting their own spending projections and also meeting their decit targets. This is despite signs during the year which suggest that expenditures may fall short of the annual target.

Expenditures attained just 64 .9 % of the budget estimate in September 2018 , but came in at 106 % of the budget estimate by the end of the year. Similarly in 2017, expenditures over the rst nine months came in at just 65.1% of the budget estimate, but eventually reached 105% of the budget estimate at the end of the year.

The governments strong track record of achieving their projections by year-end suggests that the trend is likely to repeat in 2019, where expenditures also just came in at 63.1% of the full-year estimate in September, and also over the coming two years.

Risks to deficit forecasts are evenly balanced. The government has tended to meet their revenue and expenditure targets for the year. However, one factor which could vary signicantly is the level of debt repayment. A larger than initially projected debt repayment could see the scal decit come in wider than our forecasts, vice versa.

Thien Van
Natalie McDonald has always been a little impatient.

It was definitely a very crazy night. We were on our way to the hospital and I just didnt want to wait so... she trails off and flashes a wide smile at her parents, Heather Sinclair-McDonald and Wayne McDonald.

So, 20 years ago, Natalie graced the cover of the Star after being born in the passenger seat of a car pulled over on the side of the Gardiner Expressway, at exactly 12:05 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2000.

The New Millenium fireworks display going off over Lake Ontario accompanied her entrance into the world, a worthy fanfare.

It turns out Natalie has also always had a flair for the dramatic.

Natalies mother is a nurse. At the time, she was a labour and delivery nurse at St. Michaels Hospital. And the absolute last thing she wanted that night was to go in too early and be sent home  the embarrassment!

She was in pain but she didnt feel like she was in active labour, as she had been 16 years earlier with her daughter Natisha. There was no need to drive to St. Mikes from their Mississauga home just yet.

First-time dad-to-be Wayne, however, felt differently. So did her nurse friends at the hospital. Finally  rather than have Wayne carry out his threat to call an ambulance  Heather agreed they could drive over. About 15 minutes after Heather, Wayne and Natisha headed out, Heather felt a sudden, strong pressure.

It felt like something was happening that shouldnt be happening, she said. They pulled over and Wayne came around to the passenger side and helped her pull down her pants. There was a big contraction, her water broke and Natalie was born.

In the meantime, Natisha was calling 911 and passed the phone to Wayne.

I had one hand on the phone and one hand on (Natalies head) ... I was freaking out, he said. I just remember once the head came out that was the end of my usefulness. I was done.

Heathers professional training kicked in and Wayne saw her reach down with both hands. Two pushes later, Natalie was fully out. Heather checked her airway, made sure she was OK, and then swaddled her against her chest, inside her winter clothes, the umbilical cord still attached.

Im not sure if we were totally relaxed, Wayne said, of when he got back into the car. But I think there was some sort of comfort in the fact the baby was out ... she looked OK.

They proceeded to St. Michaels Hospital as originally planned  Heather said there was no need to go to the nearby St. Josephs.

Once I pulled up to the hospital and saw a police officer I exhaled, Wayne said. You think your ordeal is now over.

But the officer told them they couldnt go in. There was a hostage-taking happening in the emergency room.

A 26-year-old man had brought in his three-month-old son demanding he be treated, though an inquest later heard that the baby was fine other than a runny nose. The man  for reasons that remain a mystery  held an unloaded pellet gun that resembled an automatic pistol against a doctors neck and was shot dead by police.

Outside the hospital, Wayne barely listened to what the police officer was saying as he tried to figure out where they needed to go next.

Natalie  born after a long struggle with fertility treatments and a difficult pregnancy  was doing great but he could only think about getting them to a hospital, stat.

I was fine, Heather said.

I was not good, Wayne said. In my mind St. Mikes was the only hospital that existed in the entire world and now you are banning me from St. Mikes.

They eventually made it to Mount Sinai hospital and the hospital staff took over.

The whole labour had lasted two hours and five minutes, from first contraction to delivery.

The next day, Wayne took the car in to be cleaned.

When we went to pick it up, we had (Natalie) in the carrier, Heather said. And they were like what happened in your car, man? We just kept scrubbing and there was blood...

Before Heather could explain, they saw the newborn baby. Wait, was that...? Yeah.

It feels very normal, said Natalie, after the story of her birth was recounted for the umpteenth time. Yeah I was born in a car.

And a photo of her and her mother was on the front page of the Star the next day.

You were born in a car, so youre definitely going places, wrote reporter Kerry Gillespie at the time.

She has. Natalie is now in her second year of university in Alberta, studying psychology.

I do think my personality was moulded by being born in a car, she laughs. I definitely have a mind of my own. Definitely the night I was born ... I felt that I want to do this right now.

When she was first born, she cried for five seconds, then was totally peaceful, her father added. There had been enough commotion for a while, at least.

Its a story people have loved to hear over the years.

Its one of those stories that are uplifting to people, Wayne said. Some of it sounds made up ... but it warms peoples souls.

Every time he tells it, that reaction reminds him of how he felt that night.

At the end of the day, so many things could have gone wrong. We were dealing with infertility for the longest time. When we got pregnant we werent sure if the baby was going to stay, for the longest time we were prepared for her to lose it, he said.

And you try not to get too attached, he said, but then on an ultrasound he saw Natalies profile and the same pointy chin as her mother.

From that point on I fell in love with that little person. When she was born and everything was OK, and she was fine. That was a warm feeling.

The story has also served Natalie well over the years.

Armed with this tale, she has never lost at the icebreaker game of two truths and a lie.
A North Dakota woman is being mercilessly mocked on social media for her ring  which is shaped like a coffin and surrounded by fake pearls.

Bryana Guzman from Minot, North Dakota was likely prepared for some jokes and criticism when she shared a photo of the bling on her ring finger in the Facebook group 'That's it, I'm ring shaming.'

But may not have been expecting hundreds of commenters to poke fun at her 'hideous' jewelry, taunting her about the shape, the materials, and even her relationship.

Yikes! A North Dakota woman is being mercilessly mocked on social media for her ring  which is shaped like a coffin and surrounded by fake pearls

The ring doesn't actually appear to be an engagement ring, since Bryana lists her status as 'in a relationship' with her partner Calvin Kelly.

But whether it's a promise ring or just a gift, commenters were not impressed.

'Onyx and faux pearls (because we respect animals in this household). Do your best,' she wrote, inviting others to make fun of her  and they did.

'That looks like a coffin. Id kill myself for wearing it,' wrote one of many to point out the coffin-like shape.

'Pretty sure he wasn't asking you to marry him... It's a coffin. He's letting you know the relationship is dead,' said another.

Not fans: Hundreds of commenters poked fun at her 'hideous' jewelry, comparing it to a coffin

'You know what I wasn't gonna say anything because the whole coffin s*** is so stale but the preachy attitude, my goodness! Take your fake pearls and your crooked coffin, you ain't Morticia, you are Fester!' one more commenter wrote.

'Who died and let their angsty 15 year old make that ring?' quipped yet another.

Another chimed in: 'We get it, you're obsessed with Twilight and My Chemical Romance.'

Several mocked her for her comments about respecting animals.

'So you respect animals, but you clearly don't respect yourself,' wrote one.

'Whether the pearls are real or not the ring still sucks. looks like tiny bits of rock salt surrounding an old piece of dark chocolate,' another said. 'Coffin shaped rings are ugly anyway. we get it, you're a hardcore vegan goth. woohoo.'

High horse: Others were disgusted by the 'faux pearls' and put off by her comment about respecting animals

'You can get on your high horse all you want, that ring's still gonna be ugly,' one more quipped.

Nearly 600 commenters have chimed in, comparing to things like tonsil stones, kidney stones, teeth, 'eye boogers when I have pink eye,' and 'the tiny gravel bits you pick out of the tread of your shoes after going to the rock sand beach.'

Several have indicated that it gives them Addams family vibes, with one suggesting that it's Wednesday Addams' engagement ring.

While the ring has been roundly mocked, Bryana at least seems like a good enough sport, as she hasn't deleted the post.
One of the nights few mortal locks, Zellweger came on strong early this season with her passionate performance as Judy Garland and she has never given up her place as the best-actress front-runner. Though Johansson is the only nominee whos also fronting one of the best-drama contenders, this is Zellwegers to lose  and she wont.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Christian Bale, Ford v Ferrari"

Antonio Banderas, Pain and Glory

Adam Driver, Marriage Story

Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes

Driver couldnt be having a better year: Alongside recent star turns in The Report and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, he has delivered one of his most moving performances in Marriage Story, which scored more Golden Globe nominations than any other film. If he werent up against Phoenix, hed win this in a walk, but Phoenix, a six-time nominee who won a Golden Globe for Walk the Line, likely has the edge for his more talked-about, transformational performance.

Best Motion Picture, Drama

1917

The Irishman

Joker

Marriage Story

The Two Popes

If the Hollywood Foreign Press Association picks Martin Scorseses The Irishman or Noah Baumbachs Marriage Story, everyone will simply nod and say, That seems about right. Which is why I think it may not happen! After all, this is the voting body that curved last years perfectly respectable best-drama choice, A Star Is Born, and selected Bohemian Rhapsody instead. It wouldnt be a Globes ceremony without a big win that comes out of left field, and I think Joker could provide the shock of the night.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 19:27:06|Editor: xuxin

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least three civilians were killed and four others wounded on Wednesday when a booby-trapped vehicle exploded in Syria's northern province of Raqqa, state news agency SANA reported.

The explosion rocked the village of Suluk in the northern countryside of Raqqa, said SANA, without giving more details.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the explosion was a powerful one, noting that it comes after 21 explosions that rocked areas controlled by Turkey and the Turkey-backed rebels in northern Syria since October 2019.

The Turkey-backed rebels and Turkish forces entered areas in northern Syria following the Turkish operation against Kurdish-controlled areas in October, 2019.

The watchdog group said there are almost daily explosions and a state of lawlessness in Turkey-held areas in northern Syria.
Driver escapes injury as Jeep flips on I-94

A call of a crash on Interstate 94 early Monday sounded dramatic but ended with no serious injuries.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department was called to the 1400 block of Interstate 94 near Highway E at 6:45 a.m. Monday, the caller reporting that a Jeep had flipped seven times and that the driver had been ejected.

When emergency crews arrived they found the vehicle had flipped from the northbound lanes of the interstate, coming to rest near the East Frontage Road.

But the driver was not ejected and was not seriously injured.

The driver said he lost control after another driver cut him off.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Man on scooter reportedly takes vacuum cleaner

An elderly man on a medical scooter drove into a store in Kenosha Monday afternoon, grabbed a vacuum cleaner and drove back out.

Police Sgt. Matt Strelow said the incident occurred at about 4 p.m. Monday. He declined to identify the store.

Kenosha Police shared a photograph of the man on his scooter on the departments Facebook page asking for the publics help in identifying him.

A number of people commented that they have seen the man riding his scooter around town, including in a fast food drive-up lane.

Although the Facebook post states that the man has been identified, Strelow said police are still investigating the incident.

Domestic violence incident ends in mans arrest

A man was arrested for a domestic violence incident Wednesday morning that Kenosha Police initially worried could turn into a standoff.

Police were called to a home on the 7400 block of 8th Avenue at about 9 a.m. When officers were called to the scene, according to scanner traffic, they were told that someone in the house was wearing a ballistic vest and had a rifle pointed at the door.

That initial information had police considering calling tactical officers to the scene. However, according to police, the 31-year-old man was quickly taken into custody. No one was seriously injured.

Sheriffs deputy in two-vehicle crash





A Kenosha County Sheriffs deputy was involved in a two-vehicle crash with a squad car Tuesday morning.

The crash occurred at 20th Avenue and 63rd Place at about 11 a.m.

A spokesman for the department said both the deputy and the driver of the other vehicle had minor injuries.

He said the cause of the crash is under investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Zion man arrested for OWI in crash

A man from Zion, Ill., has been arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated following an accident with minor injuries in the Village of Dover.

The incident occurred at 11:26 p.m. Tuesday at the intersetion of N. Raynor Avenue and Washington Avenue. A vehicle fled from the scene and was located by Racine County Sheriffs Department deputies approximately 2.5 miles away.

After the on-scene investigation, Gil Sanchez Saucedo, 46, was arrested for OWI and was also issued citations for failing to report an accident, no injuries, displaying unauthorized registrationa nd non-registration of a vehicle.

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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 13:38 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207546b 1 World South-China-Sea,exclusive-economic-zone,Natuna,China Free

The Foreign Ministry has summoned Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian to lodge a diplomatic protest over China's violation of Indonesias exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Natuna Islands, which are located adjacent to the southernmost tip of the highly disputed South China Sea.

On Monday, the results of an interagency meeting at the Foreign Ministry confirmed that there were violations in the Indonesian EEZ, including IUU [illegal, unreported and unregulated] fishing activities and violations of sovereignty by Chinas Coast Guard in Natuna waters, the ministry said in a statement late on Monday.

Previously, the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) had alerted Jakarta that dozens of Chinese coast guard ships were found escorting traditional fishermen, whom the authorities suspect were illegally fishing in Indonesian waters that China has claimed as part of its traditional fishing grounds.

According to the agency, about 50 Chinese ships entered Indonesian waters for the first time on Dec. 19 and left the territory a day later. However, more ships returned on Dec. 24 under heavy guard by Chinese coast guard vessels.

The Chinese ambassador had noted Indonesias concerns and would immediately report to Beijing, according to the press statement.

Natuna is located at the southern part of the South China Sea, a heavily disputed body of water with many overlapping territorial claims. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have their own claims in the waters and China's sweeping nine-dash line claim was invalidated by an international tribunal ruling in 2016.

The ministry said Indonesias exclusive rights in the EEZ were conferred to it by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which China is also a party and to which it is legally bound.

The ministry also reiterated that Indonesia did not have any overlapping jurisdictions with China and that Jakarta would never recognize Chinas nine-dash line because it is contrary to UNCLOS in accordance with the 2016 tribunal ruling.

China is one of Indonesia's strategic partners in the region and it is the obligation of both parties to continue promoting mutual respect and explore mutually beneficial cooperation, it said.

The relevant agencies -- the Foreign Ministry, the Indonesian Military, Bakamla and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry -- would continue to coordinate closely to uphold Indonesias EEZ rights, the ministry stated.
While it remained unclear how Ghosn had escaped surveillance and border controls in Japan, he entered Lebanon carrying his French passport and a Lebanese ID card, said a Lebanese security official who was not authorized to comment publicly. Ghosns Japanese lawyers insist they still have all his passports in their possession under the terms of his bail.
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,
(Natural News) Most rational foreign policy experts were aghast when they discovered the lengths the Obama administration went to in order to make its nuclear deal with Iran.

As The National Sentinel reported:

It involved loose promises of delayed nuclear development to some timeframe down the road, the shipment of $1.5 billion in cold, hard cash to the Iranian regime (some of it in the middle of the night to free hostages against prior U.S. policy), and the sabotaging of a DEA operation to interdict a $1 billion-per-year drug smuggling operation conducted by Iran proxy Hezbollah.

The Iranian regime used the massive infusion of cash to continue funding its terrorist activities throughout the Middle East, some of which led to the deaths of American troops.

Whats more, it isnt as if the Obama administration was not aware the Iranians would do that. Then-Secretary of State John Kerry told CNN, I think that some of it will end up in the hands of the IRGC or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists.

He added: You know, to some degree, Im not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented.

Well, of course it could have been prevented. Had Obama never authorized the transfer of the money in the first place, the Iranians would not have had it to spendon terrorismtargeting U.S. interests and personnel. (Related: Barack Obama committed treason against America by approving Spygate  is he now the focus of investigations?)

But it gets worse that that.

You are likely aware that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad came under siege by militants on Tuesday following American airstrikes against Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq in recent days. What you may not be aware of is that the militants are essentially Iranian proxy forces controlled by Tehran.

Great Power War reports:

Tensions have been increasing in Iraq for months. Iran has been working to influence the political and foreign policy direction of the entire region, including its neighbor and one-time enemy, undermining what remaining influence the United States has there after occupying much of the country for a decade.

Trump wont allow any more Benghazis

Theres more. The group that led the embassy siege is called the Iraqi Badr Corps, and its leader, Hadi Farhan al-Amiri, was once invited to Obamas White House.

Fox News reported in December 2011:

An official tied to Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps was part of the Iraqi delegation that visited the White House Monday for a meeting with President Obama, alarming some who say Iraqs growing ties to Iran are among the most worrisome aspect of a U.S. pullout.

Hadi Farhan al-Amiri, Iraqs current transportation minister, accompanied Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and several other top Baghdad advisers on the high-profile visit to Washington timed with the official wind-down of U.S. military involvement in Iraq.

During the rule of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, Amiri was head of the Badr Corps, which at the time was backed by the IRGC, which has been linked to several attacks on Western targets, Fox News added.

Obamas diabolical treachery towards his own country was so profound he made deals with terrorist countries, gave them access to billions and billions of dollars, and allowed groups associated with Iran to target and kill American forces that he kept in Iraq and throughout the Middle East as commander-in-chief.

And all while lying to the American people that the deal he was attempting to make with Iran would keep us safe.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The silver lining in this, however, is that Donald Trump is now president and, as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reminded us this week, the current commander-in-chief isnt going to tolerate any Bengazis.

To the Iranian government: Be careful what you wish for  a country that depends on the ability to refine oil for its existence needs to be cautious. (2/4)  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019

Sources include:

TheNationalSentinel.com

FoxNews.com

GreatPowerWar.com

CNN.com
Mumbai, Jan 1 : While B-Towners are busy welcoming the New Year 2020, partying with friends and family, each one of them took out time to wish the fans. Bollywood stars took to social media to wish their fans a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Posting a black and white picture of himself, Shah Rukh Khan wrote on Instagram: "Not one for telling anyone how they should be...or do what should be done...or what this year & future made to be. I have so many frailties myself...that I wish may the future be kind to all of us...& we be who we are. May Allah be kind to us inspite of ourselves.

Happy New Year." Kajol shared a beautiful collage of her photos wearing a red saree and jewellery and shared: "Facing off with 2020. Wishing everyone a fabulous new year."

Varun Dhawan who is on a vacation to Switzerland with his ladylove Natasha Dalal, shared a photo where he poses with her amid the white snow. He captioned: "Let there be snow. Wishing everyone out there a very happy new year 2020."

Sara Ali Khan shared on Instagram: "Wishing everyone a joyous, peaceful, auspicious and amazing New Year! #gratitude #blessed #love #luck #laughter."

Kiara Advani through her New Year wish shared a list of her upcoming movies with her fans. The actress posted: "2019 has been an extremely special year for me in more ways than one...It has truly been a blessing! Thank you for the immense love for Kabir Singh & Good Newwz! I take all of this with utmost gratitude and wanna thank not only the audience, but also everyone working with me! Whatever I am is because of you all. Wishing you all a very blessed 2020! See you at the movies with Laxmmi Bomb, Indoo Ki Jawaani, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Shershah & Guilty."

Disha Patani wrote: "May the year 2020 come with a lot of amazing surprises for you. Happy New Year!" Ishaan Khatter posted: "Happy new year to you all! Love love love. Can't wait for all the new decade brings."

Urvashi Rautela shared: "HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL. I LOVE YOUUUUU ALL."

Nushrat Bharucha shared: "2020 calling! Gratitude for all that has happened and all the rewards earned & lessons learnt! Goodbye 2019, you'll be missed! Happy New Year everyone!"

Radhika Apte expressed that her new year resolution is to drink more wine! The actress posted a photo of her on Instagram where she can be seen enjoying a glass of red wine. She captioned: "Happy new year to you all!! Wine drinking! #newyearsresolution #drinkmorewine".

Shilpa Shetty wished her fans with good health and fitness in the new year and wrote: "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing you and your loved ones the very best in 2020. 365 NEW days means 365 NEW OPPORTUNITIES... make the best of this year. Dedicate this year towards achieving a happier, healthier, positive, and fitter version of YOU. Make it happen! #SwasthRahoMastRaho #GetFit2020 #NewYear #happiness #healthylifestyle #fitness #peace."

Emraan Hashmi, who is currently on a trip to Amsterdam, shared a beautiful picture of the city's fireworks on Instagram and wrote: "?Seasons greetings and happy new year from #Amsterdam. #happynewyear2020."

Kunal Kemmu shared a family photo with wife Soha Ali Khan and their little munchkin Inaaya Naumi Kemmu walking towards the sea. He captioned: "Wishing all of you amazing people a very happy new year. May this year be bright and happy and May your spirit be the firework that lights up even the darkest hour. May love peace compassion and laughter be our guiding forces #happynewyear #2020"

Bipasha Basu wrote: "Happy New Year. Lets make 2020 the best year of all our lives. #happy2020."

Preity Zinta shared a video with a touching message for those who are not being able to celebrate the commencement of the New Year with their friends and family, who are feeling lonely or upset. She captioned: "Not everyone is feeling happy and amazing right now. It's ok to feel down - because when you are down, there is no place to go but UP! Hold on, think positive, love your self and pull yourself up. Remember there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and someone, somewhere loves you and cares for you. I hope in my small way I can make a big difference to the way you feel Loads of love & Happy New year #positivethoughts #loveyourself #4amfriend #happynewyear #ting."

Twinkle Khanna shared a note of optimism along with a picture of hers where she can be seen sipping red wine. She wrote: "Here's to a remarkable decade! Happy New Year folks and see you on the other side. #GlassIsAlwaysHalfFullWhenDrunk".

Sushmita Sen shared a photo with her boyfriend Rohman Shawl and daughters Alisah and Renee where they can be seen posing inside a gym. She wrote: "Me familia es Tu familia!! Happy New Year!!!! what a fantastic year it's going to be, filled with new hope & potential!! Welcome to #2020 Remember to repeat to yourselves...IT'S MY YEAR!! Own it & live it!!! Let's share our blessings, after all we are one big family choosing to be born from the heart!!! ??Love & kisses, Alisah, Renee @rohmanshawl & #yourstruly #duggadugga #partytime".

Lovely photographs and messages kept flooding social media throughout the day as Bollywood celebs shared the happiness of welcoming the New Year 2020 with their well-wishers and fans!

-- Syndicated from IANS
Maple Ave. E., 300 block, 8:34 p.m. Dec. 16. A female reached into her pocket while demanding cash from a cashier and fled from a pharmacy. Shortly after, the female was apprehended after leaving the scene of a second robbery.
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Guinean President Alpha Conde Tuesday in his televised address to the nation on the occasion of the New Year, called his compatriots to participate massively in next 16 Februarys parliamentary elections which he described as a decisive moment in the history of the country
Let bygones be bygones, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said on Wednesday hoping that in the New Year, "bitterness, ill-will and mistrust" caused by his recent exchanges with Prashant Kishor will fade away ahead of the assembly elections in the state.

The senior BJP leader, who was receiving guests at his residence on the occasion of New Year, also hoped that the people of the state will vote for the NDA in assembly polls with the same enthusiasm as was evident in the Lok Sabha polls wherein the coalition won 39 out of 40 seats.

"May the New Year bring peace and prosperity to the people of Bihar who give their blessings to NDA just like they had done in the parliamentary elections last year", Modi said when asked by journalists what message he would like to give on the day.

Flanked by a large number of cabinet and party colleagues, supporters and officials, Modi who returned from a day-long vacation at Chennai where one of his son lives



celebrated the New Year by cutting a sumptuous cake with an icing that read "2020".

Polls are due in Bihar in 2020.

When asked about the bitterness in the wake of his veiled attack on Kishor and the latters strongly worded riposte to the same, Modi said 'jo baat beet gayee so beet gayee (let bygones be bygones)'.

He also hoped that "katuta (bitterness), dwesh (ill-will) and avishwas (mistrust)" in the NDA camp would fade away.

Notably, political temperature in the state had soared in the last few days after Kishor in interviews granted to a number of channels contended that the JD(U) must contest on more number of seats in assembly polls than the BJP.

On Monday, Modi launched a veiled attack on Kishor



without mentioning him by name making snide remarks on twitter about his businesses as a professional electoral strategist and accusing him of violating coalition dharma and benefiting the opposition.

Kishor hit back on Tuesday as he wrote on twitter, mentioning the Deputy CM by name, that he was bemused to hear about coalition dharma from the BJP leader who owed his position to "circumstances" alluding to the saffron party having lost the assembly elections of 2015 but achieving power two years later on account of a volte face by Nitish Kumar.

Kishors attack on Modi left the BJP fuming and the partys leaders cutting across factions inveighed against the JD(U) national vice president even as the Chief Ministers party sought to avoid getting drawn into the controversy.

On Monday, Kishor had also drawn flak from JD(U) heavyweight RCP Singh who had questioned the "untimely" utterances on seat-sharing.

Kumar evaded queries about the raging controversy on Tuesday and muttered "sab theek hai" (all is well) while hurrying past the posse of journalists.

After receiving guests at his residence, Modi paid a visit to the Chief Minister who lives next door and the two exchanged New Year greetings with a warm hug.

Kumar also told the Deputy CM that he was pleasantly surprised to see the latter on the day as he had expected Modi to be away in Chennai for a while.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A New Year message from the main church leaders has called for "courageous decision-making" in order to make political progress in 2020. (stock photo)

A New Year message from the main church leaders has called for "courageous decision-making" in order to make political progress in 2020.

They called for "leadership across all sections of society" in Northern Ireland to support the return of devolved government "that will be sustainable in the context of significant social, economic and political challenges".

The leaders added the new round of political talks "gave renewed hope that the profoundly-damaging political vacuum might be brought to an end".

"A sense of collective responsibility will be required to enable a new Executive and Assembly to take difficult decisions in the interests of the common good," they said.

"Our political context north and south demands courageous decision-making which moves beyond self-interest and takes account of the whole of society.

"Our call is also to all people of goodwill to commit to building relationships across the political and cultural divisions so that in this New Year, and in the years to come, we build communities where all can flourish."

The joint message is signed by Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Richard Clarke, Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin, Presbyterian Moderator the Rt Rev Dr William Henry, Methodist President Rev Sam McGuffin and Irish Council of Churches President Rev Brian Anderson.

They said: "In the past few years we have faced difficult and divisive referenda and elections across the island.

"The effects of these events do not cease to be felt once the polls have closed.

"In our conversations with friends, family and those with whom we interact day to day, we feel the weight of these cultural and political divisions."

In his first New Year message as the recently-appointed Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, said he was on an "emotional roller-coaster". He said: "As the New Year approaches, I am filled with excitement at the possibilities of what lies ahead, but unsettled at the same time by the awesomeness of it all.

"The New Year chimes will scarcely have subsided when we find ourselves confronted by harsh reality.

"Brexit looms in all its complexity.

"There will be renewed efforts to cut the Gordian knot at Stormont and to restore political institutions.

"Also in Northern Ireland the less well-off are threatened by impending changes to the welfare system, while in the Republic various crises - homelessness, a shortage of social housing and rent costs - defy solution.

"Globally the damage we are doing to our planet is becoming more obvious and more frightening.

"In the face of such challenges it would be easy, indeed entirely understandable, to become dispirited. But as Christians we are people of faith and hope."
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn arrives at his residence in Tokyo on March 8, 2019. Photo: BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images

Former Nissan (7201.T) boss Carlos Ghosn masterminded an audacious escape from Japan hidden in a musical instrument case, according to local media reports in Lebanon.

News emerged late on Monday night that Ghosn had fled Japan, where he was facing charges of financial misconduct, and travelled to Lebanon.

Ghosn said in a brief media statement that he had escaped injustice and political persecution, according to Reuters.

The surprise move has shocked the world. Millionaire Ghosn was under strict house arrest in Tokyo and did not have his passports, leading to questions about how he was able to leave the country.

Lebanese TV news channel MTV on Tuesday reported alleged details of how Ghosn made his escape. He was apparently smuggled out of his house in a case meant for a musical instrument. A Gregorian band held a concert at Ghosns house in Tokyo and he was able to slip into an instrument case at the end of the recital. He was then taken to a nearby airport, MTV reported, as part of an operation carried out by para-military forces.

Members of Lebanon's security forces stand at the parking gate of the house identified by court documents as belonging to former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn in a wealthy neighbourhood of the Lebanese capital Beirut on 31 December 2019. Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP via Getty Images

MTV said Ghosn met with the president of Lebanon after arriving in Beirut and received official protection from the state. Pictures showed Lebanese security officials standing outside Ghosns house in Beirut on Tuesday.

65-year-old Ghosn was born in Brazil to Lebanese parents and spent his youth in Beirut. He holds Brazilian, Lebanese, and French passports.

Questions still remain as to how Ghosn was able to pass through airport customs. MTV said Ghosn entered Lebanon on a French passport, aboard a private plane that flew from Turkey.

However, Ghosns Japanese lawyer told reporters he still held all of Ghosns passports. He said he was dumbfounded by the news and had not been in contact with his client since his escape.

READ MORE: Nissan confirms 12,500 jobs to go worldwide amid fears for Sunderland plant

Ghosn, the former head of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Motors alliance, was arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 on charges of falsifying financial information and breach of trust. Ghosn denies the charges.

Story continues

Nissan sacked Ghosn as chairman around the time of his arrest. The car company said an internal investigation found he under-reported his salary and misused company funds. Ghosn, who is worth an estimated $120m, claims he is the victim of a conspiracy at Nissan.

Ghosn was detained for nearly four months after his arrest but was released on bail of 1 billion yen (6.8m) in March. He was arrested in connection with fresh allegations and taken back into custody in April but was bailed again under house arrest later that month.

The Japanese lawyer for former auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn, Junichiro Hironaka, speaks to the media outside his office in Tokyo on 31 December 2019. Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images

In a statement sent to the media on Monday, Ghosn said he would no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, according to Reuters. He said he could finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week.

Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Lebanon, meaning prosecutors will likely struggle to get Ghosn back to the country unless he travels of his own free will.
A 27-year-old man has been arrested after a woman was stabbed in Lisburn.

The stabbing happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Iniscarn Close area of the city.

Police said they received a report at around 4.05am that a 27-year-old woman was taken to hospital for injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening.

Detective Constable Crothers said: The man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He is currently in police custody at this time.

Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with any information to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 704 01/01/20."

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Matt Lauer is reportedly dating marketing guru and long-time friend Shamin Abas, who bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife Annette Roque.

The former Today host, 62, and his new love, 50, who runs a luxury marketing firm, have known each other for around 15 years.

It comes after he and his wife of over 20 years finalized their divorce this fall.

The couple was just recently pictured travelling to spend the holidays together in New Zealand, where he owns a $9.2 million lakefront ranch, InTouch first reported.

Matt Lauer, (pictured), is reportedly dating marketing guru and long-time friend Shamin Abas, who bears a striking resemblance to his ex-wife Annette Roque

Matt Lauer's new girlfriend Shamin Abas, (left), bears a striking resemblance to his former wife Annette Roque, (right)

A source told Page Six: Matt and Shamin have known each other for many years, as she spends a lot of time in the Hamptons, as does he.

'They very recently began dating, she is a lovely woman.' The news giant was fired from NBC in 2017 following allegations of sexual harassment in the work sphere.

In Ronan Farrows new book Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, former NBC producer Brooke Nevils accuses Lauer of sexually assaulting her during non consensual sex at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

And while many of the former TV personalitys friends 'turned their backs on him,' Abas supported him throughout the episode.

'She knows who he is,' a source told InTouch exclusively. 'Shes thrilled shes with him. She doesnt seem to have a care in the world.

'For everything he may have done, Matts very charming. I can see how Shamin fell for him.'

In October, Lauer opened up about his sexual misconduct scandal, revealing he kept quiet about it because he 'got what he deserved' but now wants to speak out after he was accused of sexual assault.

Matt Lauer's wife Annette Roque has officially filed for divorce in July, two years after they split up. The couple are pictured together in September 2013

Ali Natella and Shamin Abas attend Pershing Cocktail Reception In Sag Harbor at Onboard the Pershing 9X on June 22 in New York

Lauer sat down for an off the record interview with conservative radio show host and Medlite senior columnist John Ziegler, where he admitted 'to making numerous serious mistakes.

'It appears he was silent after his firing because he felt he got what he deserved, but now that he has been publicly accused of sexual assault, finds himself in a completely different situation,' Ziegler said on their conversation.

He revealed that Lauer wanted to speak out  but hasnt figured out 'the best manner or timing' to do it and fears being vilified by the press, particularly after Farrows book.

Lauer did break his silence after the rape allegation was released earlier this month by issuing an angry denial that he anally raped her, claiming that they had consensual sex that led to a three-month affair in a sharp three-page, 1,400 word response.

Annette Roque filed papers with the Suffolk County Court, New York to officially end her marriage to the former Today Show host

Shamin Abas looked stunning as she was pictured attending The Bridge 2019 at The Bridge on September 14

In his statement he went into graphic detail about their interactions, calling her a 'willing partner.'

'It is categorically false, ignores the facts, and defies common sense,' he said of the rape allegation.

Ziegler slammed Farrows reporting as 'shockingly lacking in basic journalistic standards', where he heavily replied on anonymous sources and 'assumed Lauers guilt from the start.

'To be clear, if Nevils said multiple times that she did not want to have anal sex and was too drunk to consent, that would be rape. But it is imperative to point out that according to NBC, and Farrows own reporting, she never used the word rape when she made the original complaint to NBC,' Ziegler said on Farrow reporting.

Lauer's wife Annette Roque has officially filed for divorce two, years after they split up.

The model filed papers with the Suffolk County Court, New York in July to officially end her marriage to the former Today Show host, USA Today reports.

The couple have three children together, ages 18, 15 and 12, who will reportedly remain in the Hamptons with Roque while the 61-year-old Lauer moves elsewhere.
This article is part of our continuing Fast Forward series, which examines technological, economic, social and cultural shifts that happen as businesses evolve.

This was the year that Teslas lock on high-end all-electric vehicles began to break, with Audi and Jaguar sending electric S.U.V.s out into the world. They joined more workaday E.V.s from Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan.

So 2019 was, finally, the year of the electric vehicle. Right?

Sales of electric autos were double those from the year before, but they were still dwarfed by their fossil-fuel-powered brethren. With a slew of new models promised for next year and beyond, and with charging station infrastructure still being built out, the tipping point for electric autos is still in the future.

But automakers are betting big on that future, and how quickly the industry takes off depends not just on choice but on a shift in customer expectations. Hurdles to a breakout include higher prices, the end of federal tax subsidies for some models and a paucity of charging stations  even though the industry argues that most charging will be done at home at night. That, especially, can be a deterrent given electric cars shorter range.
(Newser)  It will take a while to figure out exactly how former Nissan exec Carlos Ghosn managed to jump bail in Japan and flee to Lebanon, but the Wall Street Journal reports that his wife played a big role in the escape. "Best gift of my life," she texted the newspaper on Tuesday. Reports have suggested that Ghosn hid inside a box designed for a large musical instrument that was loaded onto a private jet. The Journal doesn't confirm that, but it says Ghosn's supporters were planning for weeks to get him out of Japan, where they feared he would be unfairly convicted and imprisoned on financial charges. To pull off the plot, they had to get Ghosn out of his court-monitored residence in Tokyo and onto a plane.

story continues below

Ghosn is believed to have flown first to Turkey and entered Lebanon from there, and the BBC notes that it is unclear how he did so legally because he had surrendered his three passports in Japan. It's possible he held duplicate passports, which is sometimes allowed for business people, the outlet notes. When he landed in Lebanon, he was reportedly met by his wife. The next step: Ghosn hopes to have a trial in Lebanonhe is of Lebanese descentto help clear his name. He believes he would get a fairer trial there. (Among other things, Ghosn is charged with misappropriating $5 million in Nissan funds for personal use.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:39:35|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year speech Tuesday evening in Beijing to ring in 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

"The impressive statistics on the continued drop in poverty levels in China continues to be the most extraordinary hallmark of the recent decades of China's transformative economic transformation," Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation, said.



BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The international community has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping's New Year speech delivered on Tuesday, saying that China's development benefits people, and giving thumbs up to China's commitment to world peace and common development.

Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation and former U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, said he was impressed by China's high-quality development and its achievements in poverty alleviation that Xi mentioned in the speech.

"The impressive statistics on the continued drop in poverty levels in China continues to be the most extraordinary hallmark of the recent decades of China's transformative economic transformation," Quinn noted.

Aerial photo taken on Oct. 13, 2019 shows photovoltaic power panels installed on roofs of residential houses in Hebei Village of Jincheng City, north China's Shanxi Province. As one of the poverty-alleviation measures, local government built photovoltaic power stations in 211 villages to help villagers increase their income with earning from the generated electricity. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Xi's pledge to promote common development will benefit his city's partnership with China.

"I've seen for myself that the fantastic contribution made to London success by Chinese businessmen and women, Chinese tourists, students and other visitors to our great city," he said, hoping for a further strengthening of bilateral cooperation and friendship.

Xi's New Year speech was "comprehensive and confident," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation.

"I have been long impressed by President Xi's assertion for China to truly be a 'moderately prosperous society in all respects,'" he said, adding that he was also impressed by Xi's remarks that "no matter how busy I was, I spent time visiting people in the countryside."

People celebrate the New Year on the Shiniu Mountain in Dehua County, Quanzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 1, 2020. (Photo by Zhang Jiuqiang/Xinhua)

Brian Lantz, representative of the Schiller Institute in Houston, spoke highly of "the simple humanity that shines through in the president's speech."

"The mention of the letters he has received -- and to which he responded to -- from fellow Chinese citizens of all walks of life," and "the touching acknowledgment of ... ordinary people living extraordinary lives" in Xi's New Year speech impressed him a lot, Lantz added.

Noting Xi's words on poverty alleviation in China, former Italian Ambassador to China Alberto Bradanini said that "in the light of the success achieved by China, all countries aspiring to exit from their underdevelopment should look at the Chinese experience."

People dance at a square during a culture and tourism festival themed on Dolan and Qiuci culture in Awat County of Aksu Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region, Oct. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Sadat)

Francesco Maringio, president of the Italy-China Association for the Promotion of the Silk Road, said that he was impressed by Xi's remarks that "no matter how busy I was, I spent time visiting people in the countryside."



"The message is clear: the needs and dreams of every Chinese come above all any other obligation," Maringio noted.

Xi highlighted that China has "friends in every corner of the world" in the New Year speech, said Varaprasad Sekhar Dolla, a professor of Chinese studies at India's Jawaharlal Nehru University.

The professor said that the Chinese government is trying to expand the number of friends across the world through win-win cooperation, which is "a very positive development." 
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTCPK: ATDS), a leading data security and privacy software company, wishes everyone a very happy new year, while reminding everyone that the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has taken effect.



What is the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)?

Signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown on June 28, 2018 and effective today, the CCPA is a comprehensive data privacy law, which is comparable to privacy laws in the European Union (General Data Protection Regulation) and the Canada (The Digital Privacy Act).

The CCPA is designed to strengthen data security requirements for businesses and other organizations and give consumers - California residents living in the state for anything other than a temporary or transitory purpose - more control over their personal information. The CCPA accomplishes this by creating a number of new consumer rights. These rights must be protected by organizations in order to avoid major fines.

Jason Remillard, Founder and CEO of Data443 stated, What many businesses are learning is that much like the GDPR, the CCPA affects businesses outside of the state of California as well due to its size and scope. I believe that its only a matter of time before a federal law is adopted that will create a standard for customer data collection throughout the country. Microsoft has already announced a national-level compliance program for CCPA-level services, in 2020. I expect others to follow suit in the absence of a national legislation.

A California Government impact assessment estimates that businesses will allocate for CCPA activities approximately $50k, 100k, $450k, $2M for businesses of 20, 100, 500 and over 500 employees respectively.



How does Data443 help businesses become compliant in CCPA?

GDPR and CCPA requirements consist of more than just preparation. You need process and technology in order to maintain your compliance with the CCPA and other state-level privacy legislation that is already slated to come in 2020 (NV, WA, etc.). Some basic guidelines and options:

Offer a Do Not Sell My Information option to all your consumers Clearly labelled on your website and add the option of a toll-free number for good measure. Enable current and past customers the ability to submit a Subject Access Request for information discovery requests This should be clearly available on your public facing properties and simple and cost effective to utilize.

Consider employees, pensioners and other categories of information holders as well Update all your privacy and compliance policies with updated disclosures and collection policies  especially those related to the states in which you operate in Ensure you have special handling, processing and collection processes for all children and minors that are related to your specific business processes and the states in which you operate in Continue to monitor privacy legislation changes on a state by state level, paying attention to certain counties that may have special requirements.

Data443 Global Privacy Manager provides the industrys only end to end privacy compliance, governance and auditing platform. Purpose built, battle tested during the European unions GDPR and refined with over 30,000 active clients using our companion GDPR specific Framework  the platform is available as an instantly available solution that can be deployed over the phone with one link from your website.



The new platform launched today provides:

Fully branded Subject Access Request Form

Custom Workflow Engine

Cookie and Consent Management Tracking

Opt-in and Opt-out Management

Do Not Sell Management Interface

Full On Premise and In Cloud Data Discovery

Complete End to End Data Mapping

Full Data Classification and Governance

Data Deletion and Monitoring Compliance Management

Data Stores instantly available: Windows NTFS, OneDrive, Dropbox, Office365, Google Mail, Salesforce, QuickBooks, MailChimp, SharePoint, MySQL, MSSQL, PostGreSQL, Mongo

Data Stores addons available: over 200 SaaS, On Premise databases & File shares

PowerBI and Dashboarding

For more information, including scheduling a demo for your business, please visit: https://data443.com/global-privacy-manager

About Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc.

Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTCPK: ATDS), enables secure data  across local devices, network, cloud, and databases  at rest and in flight. Its suite of products and services is highlighted by: (i) ArcMail, which is a leading provider of simple, secure and cost-effective email and enterprise 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 an organizations 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; (v) Data443 Global Privacy Manager, which is integrated with ClassiDocs to do the delivery portions of GDPR and CCPA as well as process Data Privacy Access Requests  removal request  with inventory by ClassiDocs; enables the full lifecycle of Data Privacy Access Requests, Remediation, Monitoring and Reporting; (vi) Data443 Protect, which provides nearly instant Cloud-deployed Data Loss Prevention capabilities with false positive rates unmatched enabled by ClassiDocs ; (vii) Data443 Virtual Data Protection Officer program that offers a turnkey and outsourced DPO capability for smaller organizations; (viii) DATAEXPRESS, the leading Data transport, transformation and delivery product trusted by leading financial organizations worldwide and, (ix) the WordPress GDPR Framework with over 20,000 active users enables organizations of all sizes to comply with the GDPR and other privacy frameworks. For more information, please visit http://www.data443.com .

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///***ClassiDocs Classification: PUBLIC ***///
Bushfires ravaging Australia have now killed at least 17 people and created a plume of smoke thought to be present over an area greater than that of Europe.

The government has deployed military ships and Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires.

Authorities confirmed three bodies were found on Wednesday at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales. More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region.

An area of thick smoke covering nearly 5.5 million sq km (2.1 million sq miles) has started drifting over the Pacific Ocean towards New Zealand.

Antti Lipponen, a physicist and research scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, said the plume was 14 times the size of Japan, and superimposing it over a map of Europe, showed it would stretch from Iceland to Turkey.

Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the state of New South Wales on 31 December 2019 AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billows from a huge bushfire that has torched over 200,000 acres of land in East Gipplsand, Victoria on 2 January EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Residents look on as flames tear through bushland in Lake Tabouriee, Australia on 4 January on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola on 2 January Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter tackles a bushfire in East Gippsland, Victoria on 31 December EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter gives water to a parched koala in Cudlee Creek, South Australia AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters tackle a blaze as it tears through a farm in New South Wales on 21 December AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky is turned red over East Gippsland as fires continue to rage through Australian bushland on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A kangaroo near bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale State Government of Victoria/EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters work to tackle a blaze on the outskirts of Sydney on 31 December 2019 Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a bushfire on the outskirts of the town of Bargo near Sydney Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A satellite image of the Batemans Bay showing smoke and fire from wild bushfires European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data via REUTERS Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The afternoon sky glows red from bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria Jonty Smith via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The remains of burnt out buildings along a main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales NSW Rural Fire Service/AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale Glen Morey via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Business owners stand in front of their shop which was destroyed by a bushfire in Cobargo EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter dumping water on a fire in Victoria's East Gippsland region Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Think smoke from bushfires fills the air in eastern Gippsland Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures "Carmelised" snow caused by dust from Australian bushfires is seen near Franz Josef glacier in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. More than 800,000 hectares have been burnt in East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures LIFES.A.BREEZE via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke and wildfire rage behind Lake Conjola Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A house and van are seen destroyed after bushfires ravaged the town of Bilpin, west of Sydney AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region State Government of Victoria/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Amy, left, and Ben Spencer sit at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property under threat from the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The main street of the New South Wales town of Bombala is pictured shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires AFP via Getty

The size of the cloud symbolised the size of the emergency in southern Australia, where it is feared conditions could worsen further in the next 48 hours.

Forecasters predict very hot and windy conditions for the south on Friday, with temperatures again set to reach 45C or more, and dangerous bushfire conditions for eastern Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) on Saturday. Thousands of firefighters are battling more than 100 blazes in the state of New South Wales (NSW) and nearly 40 in Victoria on Wednesday, with new fires starting daily.

A race against time is under way to rescue by air or sea thousands of people who have fled to beaches on the countrys south and east coasts, as well as deliver supplies. Some 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota, Victoria, fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire towards their homes.

Victoria emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

I think that was our biggest threat in terms of what are we doing with the children if we need to go in the water to protect ourselves given the fact that they are only 1, 3 and 5, tourist Kai Kirschbaum told ABC Australia. If youre a good swimmer it doesnt really matter if you have to be in the water for a longer time, but doing that with three kids that would have been, I think, a nightmare.

Supermarkets were closed and people were queueing for up to three hours to get food in some areas of New South Wales. On New Years Day, it was estimated 50,000 homes were without power, as phone networks were down and fuel ran low. Some residents were forced to camp on wharves after multiple fires near Mallacoota, cutting off road access. Nearby, 100 people took shelter in a school.

Conditions cooled on Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across Victoria state, where four people are missing.

Since the fires started in September more than 1,000 homes have burnt, with the blazes destroying communities while wiping out wildlife in unprecedented numbers.

It was like a war zone. Or something out of a movie, said Paul Murphy, from Lake Conjola.

More than a dozen people were reported to be trapped in the Belowra Valley, inland in NSW, after fires cut off road access to the area and wrecked homes. There were fears 600 cattle would die within days without emergency feed.

Pippa Biglia told The Sydney Morning Herald her neighbour had been killed. It burned through his place and in a matter of minutes it was at my mum and dads house, she said. It came from every direction and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

In the city of Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, Victoria, donations of clothes, blankets and long-life food were being collected for people who had lost everything. More than 200 homes in East Gippsland have been razed to the ground.

Even with three months of summer to go, the early start to Australias summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and sparked debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Mr Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australias coal industry.

Recommended Firefighters save group of koalas from Australian bushfires

Up to 500 million mammals, birds and reptiles  including 8,000 koalas  have been killed, say ecologists from Sydney University, prompting fears entire species of animals and plant life may be lost for ever.

More than 300 baby flying foxes have been abandoned by their mothers trying to survive, experts said.

Jenny Packwood, a wildlife rescuer, told the Herald: Mothers are abandoning babies at two weeks after birth because there is no food for them. Last week we had 300 come in, and weve been flat out feeding since then.

Ive never seen anything like this before  were calling it a starvation event.

Other experts told how the wildfires had obliterated all the small creatures that keep forests alive, leaving species such as bats vulnerable to local extinction.

Koala Crisis wrote on Facebook: Not one carer KC has spoken to has seen bees, insects, grubs, worms, snails, beetles, millipedes, for months. Nothing struggles through the dustbowls which are now covering millions of hectares in all states.

Theres no grass for the roos, no insects for the birds, the leaves on eucalypts are brittle, ensuring starvation for koalas, gliders, possums, birds, insects.

The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, has demanded a royal commission, the nations highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

If he (Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns, Mr Di Natale said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy said planning was under way to work with scientists, parks authorities, land managers and others to identify recovery priorities and future protection strategies.

Funding is already in place for koala hospitals and additional funding will be directed towards koala habitats, he said.

Mapping is already commencing in some areas of northern NSW to understand fire impacts on koala habitats and determine the most effective options.

Authorities must wait until the fire-affected areas are declared safe before they can begin to fully assess the impacts, he added.
More details are emerging over how Nissan's former boss -- now an international fugitive -- escaped from Japan.

And, apparently, was received by Lebanon's own president after reaching that country.

Reuters sources are now saying that Carlos Ghosn was smuggled out of Japan by a private security company onto a private jet.

Even the pilot was unaware that Ghosn was aboard.

The plot is said to have been the result of three months of planning.

The sources, close to the former auto titan, also say that Lebanon's ambassador met Ghosn daily while he was on house arrest in Tokyo.

Lebanon does not have an extradition treaty with Japan and says it has no plans to take action against him.

The Lebanese president's office denies that the two men met and there are still a lot of unknowns.

Lebanon says Ghosn entered the country, the country of his childhood, legally using a French passport -- even though the man's French, Lebanese, and Brazilian passports are with his lawyers in Japan.

How he got through Japan's airport security -- also unknown.

And there's a daring tale being spun in Lebanese media that he was smuggled out of his house -- under surveillance -- inside a container of musical instruments after a private party.

His wife denies it.

His internet and phone communications were restricted during detention.

Carlos Ghosn was under arrest on allegations of financial crimes before he was fired from Nissan.

He denies it all, and says he was the victim of a boardroom coup.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1,2020)  Two Filipino seafarers were among those kidnapped by gunmen off a port in Cameroon on New Year's Eve.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that a total of eight crew members were kidnapped while they were aboard the Happy Lady oil tanker anchored off Cameroon.

"The DFA is closely following the reported kidnapping yesterday of eight seafarers, which included two Filipinos, aboard a Greek-flagged oil tanker, in a Cameroon port," it said in a statement.

"The Philippine Embassy in Abuja, which has jurisdiction over Cameroon, is coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure safety and security of the Filipino seafarers," the DFA added.

International news agency Agence France-Presse said five Greeks and a Ukranian were the other abducted victims. A total of 28 members were aboard the tanker when armed men staged the night raid.

In August last year, 13 Filipino seafarers were reportedly abducted by pirates. Nine of them were taken from a Greek ship while another four were from a German-owned vessel.

READ: DFA closely monitors case of kidnapped seamen in Cameroon
Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts at the Supreme Court Building in Washington on Nov. 30, 2018. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Supreme Court Chief Justice Warns of Internet Disinformation in Year-End Report

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robertswho may soon be presiding over President Donald Trumps impeachment trialsaid in his year-end report that people should be aware of disinformation on the Internet spread through social media.

Roberts recounted the story of John Jay, one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, getting injured during the Doctors Riot in 1788 after an angry mob gathered, riled up by a rumor that students at a hospital were dissecting a childs recently deceased mother.

A rioter struck Jay, who was helping to quell the riot, in the head with a rock, leading to him being by far the least productive contributor to the papers.

In the ensuing years, we have come to take democracy for granted, and civic education has fallen by the wayside. In our age, when social media can instantly spread rumor and false information on a grand scale, the publics need to understand our government, and the protections it provides, is ever more vital, Roberts wrote (pdf).

Special Counsel Robert Mueller was tasked with probing Russian interference in the 2016 election and found that Russia circulated propaganda online and hacked the Democratic National Committee in attempts to sway the outcome of the election. Mueller also found no evidence that either Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia.

The judiciary has an important role to play in civic education, and I am pleased to report that the judges and staff of our federal courts are taking up the challenge, Roberts added.

Roberts said that judges written opinions help advance public understanding of the law and cheered the fact that federal court opinions are easily available online. He also noted that the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has developed educational products, including online programs that advance knowledge of the law, and highlighted efforts by various courts in civic education.

The American Peace Commissioners negotiating the Peace of Paris at the end of the American Revolutionary War, circa 1782: (L-R) John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and Franklins grandson William Temple Franklin. From an unfinished painting by Benjamin West. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump greets Supreme Court Justices John Roberts, Elena Kagan, and Neil Gorsuch after the State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 5, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Roberts singled out Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the District of Columbia Circuit, for tutoring for 10 years at a local elementary school. Garland was President Barack Obamas third Supreme Court nominee. Republicans didnt hold a vote on the nomination, saying that it was an election year and that any nomination should be left for the incoming president. President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch after assuming office.

Roberts urged judges to continue their efforts to promote public confidence in the judiciary, both through their rulings and through civic outreach.

We should celebrate our strong and independent judiciary, a key source of national unity and stability. But we should also remember that justice is not inevitable, he wrote. We should reflect on our duty to judge without fear or favor, deciding each matter with humility, integrity, and dispatch. As the New Year begins, and we turn to the tasks before us, we should each resolve to do our best to maintain the publics trust that we are faithfully discharging our solemn obligation to equal justice under law.

Roberts, 64, was nominated to the court by Republican President George W. Bush in 2005.

The House impeached Trump in a strictly partisan vote in December. If the Senate holds an impeachment trial, as the Constitution outlines, Roberts would preside over the trial in a largely ceremonial but very visible role.

Roberts publicly clashed with Trump in late 2018 after Trump called a judge who ruled against his policy barring asylum for certain immigrants an Obama judge. A number of lower courts have seen opinions issued against Trump policies overturned by higher courts, including the Supreme Court.

We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges, or Clinton judges, Roberts said in a statement.

What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for.

Trump issued a rebuttal, writing, Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have Obama judges, and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country.
A measles alert has been issued for Sydney's inner west and other locations after a young man contracted the highly-contagious disease.

The man, aged in his 20s, visited Sydney's inner west, northwest and eastern suburbs while infectious in the past week, NSW Health said on Wednesday.

'(He) had not travelled immediately prior to his illness and has no known links to previously identified measles cases,' the statement said.

The man travelled from Wollongong to St Peters via Central on December 27, before travelling by train from Sydenham to Bondi Junction and taking a bus to Bondi Beach.

A measles alert has been issued for Sydney's inner west and other locations after a young man contracted the highly-contagious disease

He retraced the route about 5pm.

On Sunday the man caught a train from Sydenham to Berowra via Central about 11am before retracing the route about four hours later.

He also visited Marrickville Metro on Monday about 3pm before heading to a nearby GP on Tuesday.

Sydney public health expert Leena Gupta said the alert should serve as a reminder for everyone to check they are protected against measles.

The virus can survive in the air and on surfaces for a couple of hours.

'It is possible that other people have been exposed to this case so everyone needs to be on the lookout for the early signs of measles,' Dr Gupta said in a statement.

Symptoms include fever, sore eyes and a cough followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head to the rest of the body.

All people born since 1966 need two measles vaccinations. Those unsure whether they've been vaccinated in the past can safely have another dose.
Bengaluru, Jan 1 : As Indian Space Research Organisation chief K Sivan on Wednesday revealed that the government had given the go-ahead to the third lunar mission, Twitterati tweeted congratulatory messages, with quite a few posting memes and funny comments.

#Chandrayaan3 trended with 2,501 tweets.

BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda tweeted: "Wishing @isro the very best on the New Year's Day as they announce 2020 will be the year of #Chandrayaan3 and #Gaganyaan.

"This is the next logical step up for space research & experiments in India." Another user said: "Big news to start the year 2020. ISRO is making us proud. We as Indians are confident that #ISRO will be successful in these mega project this year." "Kudos to @narendramodi government." "#Chandrayaan3 on track, will aim for launch in 2021, says #ISRO chief. This news made my day awesome. Thanks @isro," read one post.

One user had a funny take: "Yet another script is getting ready for Akshay Kumar." A user posted a meme of a bawling man and wrote: "Suparco, Chawdhary Fawad and Imran Khan after the chandrayaan 3 announcement." The caption read: "Why don't our troubles come to an end?"
Two women have been killed and a toddler injured in separate New Year's Eve celebratory gunfire incidents across the country.

Philippa Ashford, a 61-year-old nurse, was standing on her driveway in Harris County, Texas, watching as her family fired off fireworks just after midnight when she was struck by a bullet.

Authorities said she suddenly clutched her body and said: 'I think I've been shot.'

Ashford collapsed on the ground and then died, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office believes it may have been a bullet fired during celebratory gunfire.

Philippa Ashford, 61, was killed by celebratory gunfire while watching New Year's Eve fireworks in the driveway outside her home in Harris County, Texas, on Wednesday

Shooting guns into the air to celebrate the New Year and other holidays is a longstanding practice in some parts of the country.

'At this point from our witnesses and seeing at the scene, we believe this may very well be a case of celebratory gunfire somewhere else in the neighborhood,' Sgt Ben Beall told ABC13 of Ashford's death.

'No indication a family member or anyone else in the cul-de-sac was discharging a firearm.'

Investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood for shell casings and interviewing residents to determine where the gunfire originated.

'I don't know you can even figure what the odds are,' Beall said. 'You've got the family together, celebrating the new year and now the matriarch of the family is deceased.'

A neighbor said that Ashford and her family had gone outside after the clock hit 12am and deputies responding to a call about the shooting arrived 10 minutes later.

Investigators are pictured at the scene after the shooting. They are working to determine where the gunfire originated by interviewing residents in the neighborhood

The 61-year-old, who went by the nickname 'Phil', had been a nurse at The Menninger Clinic for more than 15 years and managed a team of about 25 other nurses.

She worked in the acute stabilization unit, which is part of the crisis psychiatric branch. Ashford also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

She was honored with the Texas Nurses Association District 9 Top 25 Outstanding Nurses Award in 2015.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old woman was shot dead in Ohio when her boyfriend fired off celebratory gunfire just after midnight.

The couple, who have not been named by authorities, were celebrating New Year's at their Cleveland home at the time.

The woman was struck by at least one bullet and later died in hospital.

Police said her 38-year-old boyfriend, who has since been arrested, was 'popping off' rounds.

Ashford (right) had been a nurse at The Menninger Clinic for more than 15 years and managed a team of about 25 other nurses

Random gunfire also struck and injured a toddler on New Year's Eve in a Phoenix backyard.

The three-year-old boy was expected to survive the wound left by a bullet fragment.

Phoenix police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune said officers were looking for whoever fired the shots.

Though it wasn't immediately clear why the shots were fired, shooting guns into the air to celebrate the New Year and other holidays is a longstanding practice in some places.

In Arizona, the practice became a felony punishable by up to two years in prison after a stray bullet killed a 14-year-old girl in Phoenix.

The measure stiffening penalties was called "Shannon's Law" after Shannon Smith, who was killed by a stray bullet in 1999.

Since then, police have knocked on doors to warn people about firing guns on holidays. They can also use a system called ShotSpotter, a system that pinpoints the location where a gun has been fired.
Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters set a fire while US soldiers fired tear gas during a sit-in in front of the US embassy in Baghdad - AP

Iran's supreme leader and US President Donald Trump are locked in an unprecedented war of words over the storming of the American embassy in Iraq, each blaming the other for unrest engulfing the country

Mr Trump ordered hundreds of US troops to the region after thousands of angry supporters of an Iranian-backed militia chanting "Death to America" besieged the mission on Tuesday, forcing staffers to take refuge in a safe room.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans highest religious and spiritual authority, blamed the US for the recent unrest, warning the president that Tehran was not afraid to defend its interests.

US Marines guarding the mission fired tear gas on Wednesday as more crowds arrived and lit a fire on the roof of the reception area.

US Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force prepare to deploy from Kuwait in support of a crisis response mission Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Robert G. Gavaldon via AP

Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities, Mr Trump tweeted before his administration announced the immediate deployment of an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers.

They will pay a very BIG PRICE!, he said. This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

Over the weekend, the US carried out strikes on positions of Iran-backed militia Khataeb Hizbollah in western Iraq in retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American civilian contractor at a military base in northern Iraq on Friday.

In another tweet, Mr Trump accused Tehran of "orchestrating" that day's storming of the US embassy in Baghdad by protesters angry over the American raid.

Khamenei, not known to have ever directly addressed Mr Trump on social media responded by saying the US was ultimately responsible.

That guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad & we will respond to Iran, he said, referring to Mr Trump. 1st: You cant do anything. 2nd: If you were logical which youre not youd see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you.

If the Islamic Republic decides to challenge & fight, it will do so unequivocally, he continued, quote-tweeting the US president. Were not after wars, but we strongly defend the Iranian nations interests, dignity, & glory.

Story continues

That guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad & we will respond to Iran.

1st: You cant do anything.

2nd: If you were logical which youre not youd see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you. https://t.co/hMGOEDwHuY  Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) January 1, 2020

The two countries have been battling for influence in Iraq, which has tried since the fall of Saddam Huseein's government to balance ties between the foes.

The image of the biggest and most heavily fortified US embassy in the world, a symbol of Americas vast presence in Iraq, coming under attack signalled Washingtons weakened power in the region.

Dozens of Iran-allied militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy in Baghdad overnight, a day after they broke into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows in one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

The Population Mobilisation Forces (PMU) umbrella group issued a statement asking crowds to leave the embassy, and protesters withdrew later in the day.

Kataib Hizbollah said that this was only the "first message to the US", and that the next step will be to expel US troops from the country.

America is the Great Satan, they chanted, and Death to America  echoing the chants of Iranian revolutionaries who held US diplomats hostage in Tehran in 1979.

Iraqi protesters burn tires in front of the US embassy building in the capital Baghdad to protest against the weekend's air strikes by US planes on several bases belonging to the Hezbollah brigades near Al-Qaim Credit: AFP

The violence comes as Iran and its allies have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and after heavy US sanctions on Iran that have cratered its economy and raised tensions across the region.

In Iraq, the protesters have been angered at their own government's corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as its close ties to Tehran.

The supporters who stormed the embassy on Tuesday were not the same group of protesters who have been out on the streets for months in largely peaceful demonstrations.

It was unclear how many diplomats and embassy staffers were holed up inside the compound, but there is believed to be a permanent presence of around 300-350. Many had already left in recent days and weeks and the security situation deteriorated in Iraq.

The ambassador had been out of the country on holiday at the time.

Mark Esper, Defense Secretary, later announced the immediate deployment of an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, in an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today.

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, told Fox News there were no plans to evacuate diplomats from Baghdad or to withdraw any of the 5,000 troops in the country.

Were going to make sure that we do everything we can to keep that facility safe and secure and have the resources to push back against anything that may confront us there, he said.
The value of exports of Bahrains national origin decreased by 9 per cent to BD177 million ($466.5 million) during November 2019, compared to BD195 million for the same month of the previous year, a report said.



The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 81 per cent of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 19 per cent, according to the foreign trade report of November 2019 issued by the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA).



Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD51 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, the US was second with BD22 million and UAE third with BD12 million.



Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported during November2019 with BD34 million; unwrought aluminium (not alloyed) was second with a value of BD20 million; and aluminium wire third with BD14 million.



The total value of re-exports increased by 30 per cent to reach BD69 million during November2019, compared to BD53 million for the same month of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 93 per cent of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for the 7 per cent. The UAE ranked first with BD32 million, Saudi Arabia second with BD 20 million, and Kuwait third with BD2million.



Gold ingots emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD13 million, Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates came in second place with BD9 million, and four-wheel drive cars came third with BD9 million.



The trade balance, the difference between exports and imports, recorded a deficit totalling BD134 million during November 2019 compared to BD206 million for the same month the previous year, an improvement of the trade balance by 35 per cent.



The value of imports decreased by 17 per cent, reaching BD379 million during November2019 compared to BD455 million for the same month the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 70 per cent of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 30 per cent.



According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD55 million; Saudi Arabia was second with BD34 million; and the US was third with BD33 million.



Aluminium oxide emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value ofBD21 million, while parts for aircraft engines was second with BD17 million, and four-wheel drive cars third with BD16 million.  TradeArabia News Service
In a recent interview with Anderson Cooper which partially aired Monday night, Grammy Award winner Linda Ronstadt compared President Trump to Adolf Hitler, citing Trumps demonization of Mexicans when he announced his candidacy.

This came after she said there are great parallels between present-day United States and the Weimar Republic, Germanys short-lived government that eventually gave way to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

As Hitler rose to power there were a lot of chances to stop him and they didnt speak out, Ronstadt said. And the industrial complex thought that they could control him once they got him in office and, of course, he was uncontrollable. And by the time he got established, he put his own people in place and he, ya know, stacked the courts and did what he had to do to consolidate his power.

When Cooper challenged her assertion, saying that people would be surprised to hear the comparison between then and now, Ronstadt replied, If you read the history, you wont be surprised. Its exactly the same. Find a common enemy for everybody to hate. I was sure that Trump was gonna get elected the day he announced, and I said its gonna be like Hitler and the Mexicans are the new Jews. And sure enough, thats what he delivered.

Ronstadt also talked about the rare brain disease, supranuclear palsy, that ended her singing career, and how politics have affected her family in this charged environment.

Its a strain on my family relations because some of my family in Tucson are Republicans, and instead of talking about that, we sing together. Wed have a great time, Ronstadt said, adding, Now I have to be careful because weve had so much taken away from us by this administration, Im not willing to let him take my family relationships away. My family, the parts that were Republican were fairly rational Republicans. We dont have that in our current White House.

Anderson Cooper 360 airs weeknights at 8 p.m. on CNN.

Story continues

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New Delhi:

Stirred by Kangana Ranaut on Koffee with Karan, the debate on nepotism is still as fresh as it started. On Monday, Rajeev Masand sat down with 2019s seven of the year's most promising debutants. The star guests consisted of Tara Sutaria (Student of the Year 2, Marjaavaan), Vishal Jethwa (Mardaani 2), Ananya Panday (Student of the Year 2, Pati Patni aur Woh), Siddhant Chaturvedi (Gully Boy), Geetika Vidya Ohlyan (Soni), Abhimanyu Dassani (Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota), and Saloni Batra (Soni).

Talking about their venture into tinsel town by hard-work, stroke of chance, the table roundabout came at a standstill when Ananya Panday dived into the defence of nepotism telling the host and her fellow freshies about how she had always wanted to be a star and how she is in the limelight today not because of her father, Chunky Panday.

Ananya Pandey complaining about nepotism and Sidhant Chaturvedi ending her existence with one line Y look at her reaction lol pic.twitter.com/hX2R7Jc1F7  Devdas (@shahrukhdevdas) January 1, 2020

Everyone says that its all glamorous and Ive gotten everything that I wanted. But Im very grateful that Im my Dads daughter and I wouldnt want it any other way. When people hate on me for nepotism, Im not going to shy away that Im Chunky Pandeys daughter. My Dad has worked really hard and hes still working.

Im so proud of him. Im proud of being his daughter. When Student got delayed, my Dad didnt even congratulate me till it released. Thats how fickle the industry is. Thats how indispensable people are. Anything can happen and he knows that. Mine has been a lot of personal experience and Ive seen my Dad go through a lot. I overcompensate personally. Ill come extra early to places. Im so happy Ive this chance, Im the most starstruck person in a room.

Ananya, who made a debut with Dharma Productions in Karan Johars Student of the year further went on to add that her father never had his career kickstart with Dharma films,

Just because my Dad is an actor Im not gonna say no to a film. My Dad never did a Dharma film, my Dad never went on Koffee with Karan. It isnt as easy people say it is. Everyone has their own journey she added.

Ananyas defence on nepotism was supported by other stars seated who went to add that one shouldnt blame the rising stars for being born to famous parents until, Siddhant Chaturvedi, who was sitting silently the whole time had this to say,

Everyone has their own struggle. But difference yahi hai ki jahan hamare sapne poore hotein hai, wahan inka struggle shuru hota hai. (The difference is that where our dreams get fulfilled thats where their struggles begin).

Check out how tweeple reacted to Siddhant's reply:

OH DAMN. That was some brutal truth YY  TAKHT asiAAAAAY (@TakhtTheMovie) January 1, 2020

1 min 30 seconds of nonsense is the perfect build up for the last ten seconds... YYY@RajeevMasand @SiddhantChturvD  Amogh Venkatanarayan (@taknevhgoma) January 1, 2020

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She prides herself on her party planning.

And Kate Ferdinand was going all out on Tuesday evening as she and her husband Rio threw a spectacular New Year's Eve bash for their beloved pals.

The happy couple, aged 29 and 41, were pulling out all the stops for the swanky bash, where they hired a magician, a garage DJ and a saxophonist, and even created a logo, while also erecting warning tape to ensure nobody went upstairs.

Wow! Kate Ferdinand was going all out on Tuesday evening as she and her husband Rio threw a spectacular New Year's Eve bash for their beloved pals

Kate and Rio tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony in Turkey in September before marking their first New Year as a married couple on Tuesday.

No expense was spared for the party which saw a vast balloon wall at the entrance sitting behind huge box lights reading 'Ferdys NYE' [sic].

A water feature saw an elaborate gold slogan read 'The Ferdies', with block lettering reading NYE placed underneath and in front of the flowing water.

Kate made sure she looked jaw-dropping for the bash, where she donned a plunging black dress with off-the-shoulder detailing.

Happy days: Rio went more low-key however as he donned a black jacket with tight trousers and a crew-neck top while rocking out among his nearest and dearest

Bouncing! No expense was spared for the party which saw a vast balloon wall at the entrance sitting behind huge box lights reading 'Ferdys NYE' [sic]

Lavish: A water feature saw an elaborate gold slogan read 'The Ferdies', with block lettering reading NYE placed underneath and in front of the flowing water

She scraped her blonde locks into a high bun on top of her head while opting for a super-glamorous red lipstick and fluttering lashes.

Rio went more low-key however as he donned a black jacket with tight trousers and a crew-neck top while rocking out among his nearest and dearest.

The music was provided Essex's beloved CJ Sax, a saxophonist who played at the couple's wedding and also flew to the Maldives for Billie Faiers' wedding.

Yum! Their logo was also adorned on cupcakes at the bash

No entry! While proceedings downstairs were certainly raucous, the couple made sure upstairs was a no go zone with the help of neon police tape

Jazz it up! The music was provided Essex's beloved CJ Sax, a saxophonist who played at the couple's wedding and also flew to the Maldives for Billie Faiers' wedding

Rock on: As well as CJ, the couple hired UK & International Multi Genre DJ O'Neil McDowall to blast out tunes during the swanky party

As well as CJ, the couple hired UK & International Multi Genre DJ O'Neil McDowall to blast out tunes during the swanky party.

While proceedings downstairs were certainly raucous, the couple made sure upstairs was a no go zone with the help of neon police tape.

Kate has recently released her first fitness book Fitter, Happier, Healthier: The Ultimate 4 Week Body Transformation Plan, in which she detailed her former work as a PA and events planner - explaining the incredible party.

Cheers! She was living it up with her pals at the party as they danced to the music
(Newser)  Even the pope gets a little ruffled in public sometimes. As he walked in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, Pope Francis greeted a few people, then turned from the crowd. At that point, a woman seized his hand and pulled him toward her. A "visibly indignant" Francis smacked the woman's hand away, per Reuters, which says the woman's move appeared to cause the 83-year-old pontiff some pain. (See the video here.) On Wednesday, the pope addressed the incident publicly. "So many times we lose our patience; me too, and I apologize for yesterdays bad example, he said, per the Washington Post. It was unclear what the woman had been trying to say to the pope. (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
Indonesia is in talks with Russia's State Space Corporation Roscosmos on sending its first domestic astronaut to space, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin said, Sputnik reports.

"We have started negotiations with countries such as Turkey, Indonesia, Hungary as they want to launch their own cosmonaut. They want to cooperate with Roscosmos", Rogozin said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television.

Earlier reports indicated that Russia could send Turkish and Hungarian astronauts into space.
Dont Believe a Word, a new book by the Guardian writer and editor David Shariatmadari, delves into the riddles of language: the opacities, ambushes, dead ends, sudden ecstasies. Its a brisk and friendly introduction to linguistics, and a synthesis of the fields recent discoveries. So much more is now known about how language evolves, how animals communicate and how children learn to speak. Such findings remain mostly immured in the academy, however. Our insatiable appetite for linguistic debate, Shariatmadari writes, is born out of confusion. Why do millennials speak their own language? Do the words they choose reflect the fact that they are superficial, lazy, addicted to technology? How can you protect a language against outside influence? Does the language we use to talk about climate change, or Brexit, change the way we think about them?

Shariatmadari organizes his book around a few core misapprehensions, taking decisive aim at some well-chosen foes. Enemy Number One: The pedant or self-styled grammar snob, who has been with us for at least 400 years judging by the examples presented here, wringing his hands and lamenting the decline in linguistic standards. Even though the idea that language is going to the dogs is widespread, nothing much has been done to mitigate it, Shariatmadari writes. Its a powerful intuition, but the evidence of its effects has simply never materialized. That is because it is unscientific nonsense.

Image David Shariatmadari, author of Dont Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language. Credit... David Leven

The expressive power of language is undiminished, but human communication is in constant flux and ought to be understood, this book argues, as a snapshot of a time, place and particular community of speakers. Even the simplest words alter with time. Adder, apron and umpire, for example, were originally nadder, napron and numpire. Bird used to be brid, and horse, hros, transpositions of letters that later became the norm. Empty used to be emty  a transformation that reveals physics at work, according to Shariatmadari. The simple mechanics of moving from a nasal sound (m or n) to a non-nasal one can make a consonant pop up in between  in this case, the p sound we hear.

Our bodies drive these changes, as do our yearnings for status and belonging. Members of a community in Papua New Guinea were found to have flipped the masculine and feminine gender agreements to distinguish themselves from the neighboring tribes, with which they shared a language. A study of Marthas Vineyard in the 1960s found that longtime residents were unconsciously adopting an accent to separate themselves from summer visitors.
OTTAWA - The Trudeau government has long characterized it as a dispassionate policy exercise drawing on expert evidence.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The Trudeau government has long characterized it as a dispassionate policy exercise drawing on expert evidence.

But the political drumbeats are growing louder  at home and abroad  as the federal Liberals come closer to deciding whether to let a Chinese telecom firm help build Canada's next-generation mobile networks.

The development of 5G, or fifth-generation, networks will give people speedier connections and provide vast data capacity to meet the ceaseless demand for emerging applications, like virtual reality and autonomous driving, as more and more things link to the internet.

In Canada, China-based Huawei Technologies, Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia are among the leading candidates to help telecommunication firms such as BCE and Telus build their 5G networks.

The opposition Conservatives are pressing the Liberals to deny Huawei a role in assembling the country's 5G infrastructure, alleging it will allow Beijing to spy on Canadians more easily.

Some security experts say Huawei's participation could give it access to an array of digital data gleaned from how, when and where Canadian customers use their electronic devices. In turn, the theory goes, Chinese security agencies could pressure the company into handing over the personal information.

Such fears stem from the fact Chinas National Intelligence Law plainly states that Chinese organizations and citizens shall support, assist and co-operate with state intelligence work.

At a forum in Halifax last November, Donald Trump's national security adviser urged Ottawa to bar Huawei from 5G efforts because the technology would be used as a "Trojan horse" to undermine Canada.

The warning came a day after China's ambassador to Canada, Cong Peiwu, dismissed the notion Huawei could compromise users' security by installing "back-door" channels in equipment, calling it a "groundless accusation."

Huawei emphasizes it is not a state-controlled enterprise and that it would never do the bidding of spymasters from China or any other country.

Benjamin Howes, a Huawei Canada vice-president for international media affairs, notes the company's involvement in Canada's existing 4G networks has never led to any such security incident.

He points to Huawei's $650-million investment in research and development in Canada since 2009, with major labs in Ottawa, Toronto, Waterloo, Ont., Montreal and Vancouver, as well as plans for one in Quebec City.

"In every country where we have a business presence, we're committed to complying with the applicable laws and regulations, and Canada is no different," Howes said. "So we will continue to be compliant, as we have been over the decade that we've been here, with Canadian laws and regulations."

Ottawa is carrying out a comprehensive review of Huaweis potential role in 5G that includes a broader, strategic look at how the technology can foster economic growth.

Given the scope of the review, several agencies  namely Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Communications Security Establishment, Global Affairs, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development  are taking part.

"We will ensure that our networks are kept secure and will take the appropriate decisions in due course," said Scott Bardsley, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair.

The government has been tight-lipped about the exercise, but the results are expected relatively soon.

"We respect the process, and we just hope that it's going to be based on technology and security, not politics," Howes said.

However, the public debate has already been tinged by political developments.

Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior Huawei executive, in December 2018 at the request of the United States, where she is wanted over allegations of violating sanctions on Iran. Her extradition case is before a Canadian court.

The move angered Beijing, and two Canadians working in China were arrested soon after on vague allegations of endangering national security  a move widely seen as retaliation against Ottawa.

The U.S. and Australia, key intelligence allies of Canada, have already taken steps to curb Huawei's participation in 5G networks.

In the House of Commons, the Conservatives have persistently needled the Trudeau government over the issue.

"When will the Liberals ban Huawei?" Conservative MP Steven Blaney asked Blair during a recent question period.

"Would they rather see Canadians' personal information in the hands of the Chinese?"

Blair's answer underscored the fact the government has long had a security-review program in place to manage cybersecurity risks that might stem from new equipment and services.

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"We will continue to work with telecommunication service providers and the vendors through this collaborative program to mitigate the security concerns," Blair said. "We will examine all security, economic and global considerations when making this determination."

Canada will be watching closely for Britain's coming decision on Huawei's participation in its 5G projects. If Boris Johnson's new government adopts the Australian and U.S. line, it could be more politically challenging for Canada to embrace Huawei.

Ottawa's examination of 5G technology and the associated security and economic dimensions will include "the careful consideration of our allies' advice," Bardsley said.

For its part, Huawei insists it will remain committed to Canada, no matter how the 5G microchips fall.

"Regardless of the decision, our position is we will continue to serve our customers in Canada with our products and networks," Howes said. "And we will continue to enhance our investments in R and D."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2020.
Miley Cyrus may have had a big year that featured a divorce and two rebound romances.

But she chose a low-key way to welcome in 2020, blowing number-shaped candles from two different cakes in a video she posted to Instagram on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Mother's Daughter songstress wore her hair in a tousled bun with a crown that read 'Cheers' framing her fringe.

Celebrate: Miley Cyrus chose a low-key way to welcome in 2020 as she blew number-shaped candles from two different cakes in a video she posted to Instagram on Tuesday

Sassy: The 27-year-old Mother's Daughter songstress wore her hair in a tousled bun with a crown that read 'Cheers' framing her fringe

She wore a black button-down shirt and eyeshadow that dusted her lids with flecks of gold glitter.

Miley's clip went live an hour after she also posted a 10-minute montage of career and personal highlights from the past ten years.

The vintage-filtered video reflected on everything from her days as Disney Channel's Hannah Montana to her infamous twerk on R&B crooner Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards.

It also recapped Miley and Liam's whirlwind relationship from their first meeting on the set of The Last Song in 2010 to their last split in 2019.

Throwback: The vintage-filtered video reflected on everything from her days as Disney Channel's Hannah Montana to her infamous twerk on R&B crooner Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards

Early days: It also recapped Miley and Liam's whirlwind relationship from their first meeting on the set of The Last Song in 2010 to their last split in 2019

Picture perfect: A clip of the couple's at-home wedding was included in the montage

Miley's mother Tish Cyrus left some love in the comments: 'I cannot believe what I just watched.

'I just watched the last 10 years of my life flash before my eyes. I am so proud of u @mileycyrus. Cant wait to see what the roaring 20s has in store for us! Im ready for the ride!'

Both posts come a little under a week after it was reported that Miley and actor ex-husband Liam Hemsworth had reached a divorce settlement.

Support: Miley's mother Tish Cyrus left some love in the comments: 'I cannot believe what I just watched

'Miley is relieved that she and Liam reached an agreement when it comes to the divorce,' an insider told People.

Reports of the settlement were released a year following the couple's nuptials and four months after Hemsworth filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Property has been divided and Miley will keep custody of the animals they shared.

Meanwhile, Miley's romance with fellow musician Cody Simpson is going 'great,' according to the insider.

Lovebirds: Meanwhile, Miley's romance with fellow musician Cody Simpson is going 'great,' according to the insider

'They had a wonderful Christmas Day with her family. They plan on celebrating New Years together, as well.

'They are also talking about an Australia trip next year. Miley seems very happy.'

Miley and Cody began dating in October just weeks after Miley called it quits with Brody Jenner's ex Kaitlynn Carter in September.

Her romance with Kaitlynn was revealed after the ladies were spotted kissing on a yacht in Lake Como, Italy.

It was confirmed in August that Liam and Miley had gone their separate ways.

Scandal: Her romance with Kaitlynn was revealed after the ladies were spotted kissing on a yacht in Lake Como

Happier times: Reports of the settlement were released a year following the couple's nuptials and four months after Hemsworth filed for divorce

'Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time,' the statement said.

'Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is whats best while they both focus on themselves and careers.

'They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share. Please respect their process and privacy.'

The divorce will be finalized in March 2020.
Californias landmark gig-work law, AB5, takes effect Wednesday amid a swirl of controversy, confusion and escalating challenges.

Gig companies, truck drivers and freelance journalists are suing over it. Hours before its implementation, truck drivers won a temporary restraining order blocking California from enforcing AB5 against them. Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart are mounting a $110 million ballot campaign seeking to exempt their workers. Some out-of-state companies are dropping California freelancers while others are requiring them to incorporate. Some companies are reclassifying workers as employees; others are not. The laws author plans to introduce additional legislation soon to clarify more aspects.

Despite the hoopla, AB5 will not cause legions of independent contractors to magically be transformed into employees. That requires companies to take proactive steps  or be forced to act by government agencies or courts.

The laws intent is simple. It codifies, clarifies and extends a 2018 California Supreme Court decision called Dynamex that makes it harder for companies to claim workers are independent contractors. It says workers should be employees unless a) they are free from a companys control, b) do work outside the companys core business, and c) have independent enterprises performing the same type of work.

A range of professions, including doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants and more, are exempt from the new laws strict test and instead covered by a previous test known as Borello.

AB5s author, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, and other vocal supporters, such as organized labor, say workers need the protections and benefits of being employees to prevent them from being exploited.

Its equally vocal foes say its an end run that jeopardizes the flexibility that companies and workers rely on. Its irrational and unconstitutional, Uber and Postmates wrote in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that seeks to block AB5 from applying to them. Not coincidentally, turning contractors into employees can add about 30% to companies labor costs.

A look at some of the issues:

What are companies doing? Uncertain about the bills implications, organizations are taking a variety of approaches, said Mike Boro, partner for workforce of the future at giant consulting firm PwC.

I have a couple of clients who are actually affirmatively not complying with the law, he said. Part of what theyre counting on is that the individuals (currently working as contractors) prefer not to become employees so wont raise the issue and the state will have too much to do to look at them. A PR representative later emailed to clarify that Boro did not mean companies plan to defy the law.

Other strategies his corporate clients are using include contracting with third-party agencies that hire gig workers, turning their gig workers into employees, or not hiring freelancers from California, he said.

I cant think of a single industry that doesnt have parts of it impacted, he said. Lots of traditional employers have decided that a particular part of what they do is better served by nonemployees. It allows them to flex the size of the workforce on an as-needed basis.

Emily Baker, a Los Angeles lawyer who advises small online businesses, said the law means her clients face either closing shop, running their entire business by themselves or moving out of state. Many are pausing operations while figuring out what to do.

Ive had more crying on the phone about AB5  the confusion, frustration and increase in overhead, she said. AB5s numerous exceptions and some inconsistencies in the language increase uncertainty, making it hard for businesses to figure out what to do, she said.

What are workers doing? Since AB5 does not automatically reclassify contractors, those who meet its criteria would have to act to seek a change in their status, by filing lawsuits or complaints with government agencies.

Some Uber drivers have already sued to be reclassified as employees under AB5 and Dynamex. Similar lawsuits by workers at Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other gig companies are already in courts under the previous Borello criteria.

Conversely, contractors who wish to remain independent may not have much say in the matter  thats what prompted the lawsuits by truck drivers, freelance writers and photographers. A driver for Uber and one for Postmates each joined in those companies lawsuit, seeking to remain contractors.

The new law exempts businesses providing services to other businesses under certain conditions. Some contractors have decided to incorporate or register as limited liability companies in a bid to stay independent.

Thats what Alessandra Bonatti did. A conference interpreter who speaks four languages, she set up a corporation because I understand that companies that hire me here in California would require me to be incorporated or run the risk of finding themselves in trouble, she said.

Incorporating was complicated and expensive, requiring the services of a lawyer and accountant, and will continue to cost more in the future, she said. But it gives me ease of mind for sure, she said. Indeed, there have been agencies (organizing events and conferences) that have asked.

While its still early to draw firm conclusions, data from the California secretary of state show an increase in new registrations for corporations and limited liability companies since September, when AB5 was passed, compared with the same time frame in 2017 and 2018.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

How will AB5 be enforced? The law empowers city attorneys to go after companies for noncompliance, something that Gonzalez tweeted she hopes will happen as soon as possible. The Uber-Postmates lawsuit specifically raises this possibility and seeks a preliminary injunction to forestall it.

It was important to provide city attorneys with the ability to sue because that might be the only way to get group relief without being blocked by the federal arbitration act, said William Gould, an emeritus law professor at Stanford, referring to the fact that gig companies require workers to agree to mandatory arbitration, blocking their ability to file class-action lawsuits.

The city attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles in September both expressed willingness to take action to enforce AB5.

Other government entities can act as well. The Employment Development Department and the Department of Industrial Relations have already mailed a letter to more than 1 million California employers and set up a website explaining the law, said EDD spokesman Aubrey Henry in an email.

Its goal is to ensure both workers and employers have the information and resources they need to ensure compliance, Henry wrote. Businesses suspected of non-compliance may be selected for payroll tax audits or inspections. Companies could cross its radar for independent contractor tax forms, worker claims for unemployment or disability benefits, on-site inspections and referrals from other government agencies.

What about the ballot initiative? Signature gathering should start this month for a proposed measure that would leave app-based drivers and couriers as independent contractors while guaranteeing them a wage floor and some benefits. It needs about 630,000 signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Uber, Lyft and DoorDash have each pledged $30 million for the initiative; Instacart and Postmates are each putting in $10 million. That $110 million war chest plus opposition spending could make it among Californias costliest ballot fights.

Were gearing up for a major campaign against the measure, said Steve Smith, a spokesman for the California Labor Federation, which views AB5 as a significant worker victory  and hopes to organize Uber and Lyft drivers and other gig workers once they are employees. Given the heavy spending on the other side, were going to be prepared to move forward on educating voters earlier in the cycle than normal.

With a presidential election, November turnout is likely to be heavy in the Democratic bastion of California. Virtually every leading Democratic presidential candidate has endorsed AB5 and backed similar legislation at the federal level.

All the people who come out to vote against Trump  that doesnt bode very well for the ballot initiative, said Beth Ross, a San Francisco labor lawyer.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Two young men have been charged with grievous bodily harm after a car park fight left a 20-year-old man with serious head injuries.

Police said the brawl broke out near Noosa Parade and Hastings Street in Noosa Heads on the Sunshine Coast about 11pm on New Year's Eve.

Two men were being questioned and detectives confirmed charges were laid on Wednesday afternoon. Credit:Queensland Police Service

The victim was allegedly assaulted and rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a serious condition, before being flown to Brisbane for further treatment.

Two men, aged 19 and 20, were charged on Wednesday afternoon and it will be alleged all involved knew each other prior to the fight.
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Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

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Table of Contents

Coffee in South Africa

HEADLINES

PROSPECTS

Time-restrained South Africans appreciate convenience offered by instant coffee

Greater demand for fresh coffee beans through foodservice, supported by affluent urban consumers who enjoy the cafe culture

Further niche areas could emerge within coffee over forecast period

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Nestles reputation and wide product portfolio help to maintain convincing leadership

Jacobs Douwe Egberts could offer competition to Nespresso over forecast period

Mixed performance for National Brands

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: Volume 2014-2019

Table 2 Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: Value 2014-2019

Table 3 Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 4 Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: % Value Growth 2014-2019

Table 5 Retail Sales of Fresh Ground Coffee Pods by Hard vs Soft: % Volume 2014-2019

Table 6 NBO Company Shares of Coffee: % Retail Value 2015-2019

Table 7 LBN Brand Shares of Coffee: % Retail Value 2016-2019

Table 8 Forecast Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: Volume 2019-2024

Table 9 Forecast Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: Value 2019-2024

Table 10 Forecast Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 11 Forecast Retail Sales of Coffee by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Marginal improvement for hot drinks but tea continues to suffer from several negative factors

Health and wellness trend continues to influence purchasing decisions of more affluent consumers

Nestle retains convincing lead of hot drinks supported by wide product portfolio

Players seek to address enthusiasm shown by young urban South Africans to experiment with different flavours and formats

Stronger performance predicted for hot drinks supported by improving economy and environmental factors

MARKET DATA

Table 12 Sales of Hot Drinks by Retail vs Foodservice: % Volume Breakdown 2014-2019

Table 13 Sales of Hot Drinks by Retail vs Foodservice: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 14 Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Volume 2014-2019

Table 15 Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Value 2014-2019

Table 16 Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 17 Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2014-2019

Table 18 Foodservice Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Volume 2014-2019

Table 19 Foodservice Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 20 Total Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Total Volume 2014-2019

Table 21 Total Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2014-2019

Table 22 NBO Company Shares of Hot Drinks: % Retail Value 2015-2019

Table 23 LBN Brand Shares of Hot Drinks: % Retail Value 2016-2019

Table 24 Penetration of Private Label in Hot Drinks by Category: % Retail Value 2014-2019

Table 25 Retail Distribution of Hot Drinks by Format: % Volume 2014-2019

Table 26 Retail Distribution of Hot Drinks by Format and Category: % Volume 2019

Table 27 Forecast Sales of Hot Drinks by Retail vs Foodservice: % Volume Breakdown 2019-2024

Table 28 Forecast Sales of Hot Drinks by Retail vs Foodservice: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 29 Forecast Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Volume 2019-2024

Table 30 Forecast Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Value 2019-2024

Table 31 Forecast Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 32 Forecast Retail Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2019-2024

Table 33 Forecast Foodservice Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Volume 2019-2024

Table 34 Forecast Foodservice Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Volume Growth 2019-2024

Table 35 Forecast Total Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: Total Volume 2019-2024

Table 36 Forecast Total Sales of Hot Drinks by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2019-2024

DEFINITIONS

SOURCES

Summary 1 Research Sources

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Market Reports on South Africa is thus the one-stop solution for the entire market research requirements with regards to South Africa. We provide you with insight and analysis on the countrys economic outlook at the national, regional and city level, presenting a deep understanding of disparities and evolutionary paths. Get a complete, consistent and concise view of your markets with comprehensive industry reports. Our latest regional data-banks, forecasts, and detailed risk ratings will help you to identify risk and opportunities in every industry and develop strategic plans to deal with the competitiveness in South Africas market.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:16:37|Editor: ZX

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NANNING, China, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,200 winter swimming enthusiasts from home and abroad participated in a Yongjiang River-crossing event on Wednesday in Nanning city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to celebrate the New Year.

The swimmers crossed the 400m-wide Yongjiang River from its north bank to south bank. The oldest swimmer this year is over 90 years old and the youngest is only four.

"This is the fourth time I have participated in this event. I have been swimming since I was a child. I met many like-minded friends through swimming. I feel really excited now and I cannot wait to get started," said Claire Wadsworth, a 54-year-old swimmer from Plymouth, Britain.

"Swimming helps build up one's body. I hope more people can take part in swimming," said 64-year-old local swimmer Wu Jingquan.

12-year-old Liu Shaochang has come to this event for the third consecutive year. "I am so happy I finished such a long distance. I will come back next year!" he vowed.

A number of rescue boats were arranged on the water to ensure the safety of swimmers.
Movie star Kevin Bacon is taking a moment to think about the death of a young man that hits very close to home, especially since the victim's name is his own.

50-year-old Mark Lutanski was arraigned Monday in Corunna, Michigan on charges of murder and mutilation in connection with the death of 25-year-old Kevin Bacon. Bacon's family became worried when the man did not show up for breakfast on Christmas day, after he had been out on a date. After officials were led to the suspect's home, they found Bacon's remains.

Related:

It's National Sandwich Day! Celebs Between the Bread

'RIP KB'

On Monday, the "Tremors" star took to his Instagram page to pay tribute to the loss of the other Kevin Bacon in an emotional message. Alongside a photo of the young man, the star wrote:

"For obvious reasons Im thinking this morning about the friends and Family of this young person Kevin Bacon. His life was taken from him much too soon. His love was hair dressing. I bet he would have done a great job on this mess on my head. RIP KB"

What Happened

Bacon's friend and roommate told the The Flint Journal-MLive that he had informed her he was meeting a man on Christmas Eve after connecting on a dating app. The app in question was allegedly, Grindr.

He later texted that he was going to be out for a while and that he was "having fun," but wasn't sure when he'd be back. After Bacon no-showed at his family's home on Christmas morning, they alerted authorities and filed a missing person report.

Bacon's father, Karl, led the charge on informing the media about his missing son, and Bacon's photo soon went viral on social media.

Tragic Ending

Bacon's car was eventually located in a parking lot near Swartz Creek, along with his cellphone, wallet and a bag of clothes.

Using Facebook postings and help from friends, police were soon directed to a home where they found Bacon. The manner of death is currently unclear.

Latunski appeared via video from an undisclosed room for his arraignment when he was hit with the charges of murder and mutilation. He had a long beard and stood with his hands behind his back while he denied to be the person officials were after. Latunski faces life in prison if found guilty.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the expenses of Bacon's funeral, and the page has already raised over $34,000.
Local and national charities receive nearly $2,000 in donations from lucky gamblers

Black Hawk, Colo, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generous gamblers at Monarch Casino Resort Spa donated a total of $1,926.40 to local and national charities during 2019 thanks to donation modules that make it easy.



Monarch Casino is a long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society of Colorado, which received $450.21. Several additional local and national charities received a total of $1,476.19.

The community supports us in such a fantastic way and we are honored to help give back through wonderful non-profits helping people and changing lives around the state, said David Farahi, Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Casino Resort Spa.

So, how do the donations work? If you win $299.68 on a slot machine, you can donate the 68 cents from your winnings to any of the eligible charities. Slot machine manufacturing company Everi makes it easy for winners to cash out at a kiosk, decide which charity to donate the spare change to, and the machine handles the rest!

Monarch Casino Resort Spa welcomes everyone 21 and over to make the short drive from Denver and take advantage of plenty of free parking when you arrive!

Erica Ferris

Monarch Casino Resort Spa

720-406-3769

EFerris@monarchblackhawk.com


New York

A Rudy Giuliani associate who was indicted on campaign finance charges is asking a judge to allow him to turn over documents to Congress as part of the impeachment proceeding against President Donald Trump.

Lev Parnas wants to turn over to the House Intelligence Committee documents and data that were seized by the government when he was arrested in October, his attorney, Joseph Bondy, said in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Paul Oetken on Monday. Bondy said he expects to receive the documents taken from Parnas' home and data extracted from Parnas' phone from the Justice Department on Tuesday.

Parnas and another man, Igor Fruman, played key roles in efforts by Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, to launch a Ukrainian corruption investigation against Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Parnas and Fruman were indicted in October on federal campaign finance violations related to a $325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump's re-election. They have pleaded not guilty.

Parnas has already been providing documents to the intelligence committee in response to a congressional subpoena. He now wants to provide additional information that falls "within the scope" of the subpoena, including two batches of documents seized from his home by federal investigators and the contents of one of his iPhones, according to the letter.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Bondy said he didn't know how much of the information he or his client intended to provide to congressional investigators on the Democrat-controlled House panel. He said prosecutors didn't object to turning over the information as long as the judge agreed.

"Review of these materials is essential to the Committee's ability to corroborate the strength of Mr. Parnas's potential testimony," Bondy wrote.

A report from Democrats released as part of the House impeachment inquiry detailed phone records obtained from AT&T and Verizon that show Giuliani was in frequent contact with the White House and with Parnas. It also revealed contact between Giuliani and California Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the intelligence committee.
An eastside Brisbane cafe was gutted by fire on New Year's Day, the third restaurant in the city to be destroyed in the past fortnight.

Emergency services were called to Andana & Co on Riding Road and Victoria Street in Balmoral just before 3.30am on Wednesday, where a fire at the double-storey building was also threatening a nearby townhouse.

Andana & Co cafe in Balmoral burned out in the early hours of New Year's Day.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said at least five trucks with about 25 firefighters battled the blaze.

"There was exposure to the townhouse next door but due to good firefighting, it did not spread and there was no damage to nearby homes," she said.
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, Dec. 31 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government is seen asking Lebanon to hand over former Nissan Motor Co. <7201> Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who left Japan without permission ahead of trial, officials said Tuesday.

The government has been shocked that Ghosn, who was awaiting trial on bail, managed to leave for Lebanon.

"Ghosn was under strict restrictions on activity. I wonder how he eluded them," a senior official said.

As soon as the news broke that Ghosn, accused of financial misconduct, entered Lebanon, the government checked the database of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan and other resources.

But the government could not find any record of his departure, officials said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Christian prayer hall dedicated to Jesus Christ attacked by Hindu radicals

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A Christian community hall in Indias predominantly Hindu West Bengal state was attacked by Hindu radicals during a launch ceremony, according to local reports.

The Indian English daily newspaper The Telegraph reports that three people linked to President Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party were arrested Sunday night in connection to the attack on the community hall dedicated to Jesus Christ in East Midnapore Village.

The attack took place on Saturday afternoon when around 800 people from 28 different villages were gathered for the buildings inauguration. The building is called Jishur Aradhona Griho (or Jesuss Prayer Home).

Hindus in the area were suspicious that the community hall would be used to convert Hindus to Christianity.

A first information report was filed with police by the organizer, pastor Anup Kumar Gosh. Gosh said that a mob of about 20 men attacked with crude bombs and sticks. The activists are also said to have planted Hindu flags.



News 18 India reports that the attackers first attacked vehicles parked in the vicinity of the center and then hurled crude bombs and beat worshipers as they tried to flee. The men also entered the church and destroyed church property.

They damaged everything that belonged to the church, Gosh told News 18.

Gosh told The Telegraph that four people, including two children, were injured in the incident.

Kanai Lal Das, the husband of a BJP official, was accused of being the leader of the attack. BJP leader Swapan Ray, however, told The Telegraph that Das and the three men who were arrested have been framed.

District Superintendent of Police V. Solomon Nesakumar told News 18 India that seven men were accused of participating in the assault.

We are carrying out raids and hopeful of nabbing the remaining accused, Nesakumar said.

Gosh told The Telegraph that of the 800 people who gathered for the inauguration, hardly 10 were Christians.

The Christian Post reached out to the persecution advocacy nonprofit International Christian Concern, which also reported the attack in West Bengal, for information as to why so many non-Christians attended the event. A response is pending.

Christian Persecution in India has greatly increased since the election of Modi in 2014 and the rise of the BJP party. India now ranks as the 10th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2019 World Watch List.

Every year more violent incidents are registered, mainly because the government is looking the other way, an Open Doors USA dossier on the situation in India reads.

According to Open Doors, Hindu radicals view Christians as alien to the nation.

Driven by a desire to cleanse their country from Islam and Christianity, nationalists do not shy away from using extensive violence to achieve their goals, an Open Doors fact sheet reads.

In December, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom voiced concern about a new bill that the panel believes is trying to create a religious test for Indian citizenship in the majority Hindu nation.

Despite increasing religious freedom concerns in India, the country is not recognized by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for religious freedom violations. However, India is listed by USCIRF as a Tier 2 country of concern.
Taipei, Jan 2 : Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday strongly defended a controversial anti-infiltration law aimed at preventing Chinese interference in the islands presidential polls, to be held on January 11.

In her New Year speech, Tsai, seeking re-election, said the law would protect Taiwan's democracy from any illegal attempt to sabotage the island's unity, freedom, and liberty, the Efe news reported.

"It is true that Taiwan, being at the frontline against China's pressure, (is) a victim of constant interference and infiltration by China. We do need such a law to make Taiwan safer so that the society would not be divided by infiltration and interference," the President said.

The Taiwanese government - led by Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party - brought the contentious law to thwart attempts like foreign political funding and spreading of misinformation by foreigners in order to impact elections or the work of the government of Taiwan.

Any violation of the law - which was passed by the parliament, where the DPP enjoys a majority - would invite a five-year prison term and a fine of up to 10 million Taiwanese dollars approximately ($3,35,000).

On Wednesday the president said China in recent years had repeatedly threatened Taiwan with a "very clear" goal of forcing the island to "give up on its sovereignty".

Tsai rejected offer of inclusion in the "one country, two systems" political framework that the Chinese government has extended to Taiwan if it agrees to be merged with the mainland.

She expressed her "gratitude to all of the Taiwanese people for their greatest support to the government for our firm stance on telling the whole world that Taiwan will not accept the 'one country, two systems'." The President said such a political arrangement had failed in Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous region that has been rocked pro-democracy and anti-Beijing protests for over seven months now.

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the 'one country, two systems' for Taiwan last year as Beijing continued to build up its pressure on the island to come under its control.

China considers Taiwan - a de facto sovereign nation since the end of a civil war in 1949 - as its territory.

As Taiwan readies to hold a presidential vote, the campaign has been marred by allegations of Chinese intervention to influence the polls.

An alleged Chinese spy, Wang Liqiang (26) claimed in the run-up to the election that Beijing was directly interfering in the island nation's politics.

Wang claimed he was assigned to meddle in the election as China's intelligence agencies were trying to disrupt democracy, not only in Taiwan but also in Hong Kong. The allegation was dismissed by China's Taiwan Affairs Office as "nonsense".

He also claimed to have financed the campaign of pro-China candidate Han Kuo-yu's, Tsai's main rival, who represents Taiwan's main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT).

The KMT did not participate in the parliamentary vote on the infiltration law and criticised the legislation as a "green terror" to "intimidate" the government's critics.

Han, and the KMT, advocate improving ties with Beijing within the framework of the "one-China policy" that doesn't recognize Taiwan as an independent state but a part of China.

According to a survey published Monday by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation, Tsai was predicted to win the elections with 52.5 per cent votes.

Han was expected to get 30.6 per cent support, although the pre-poll survey said 35 per cent of the voters had not made their final voting choices.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised "great warriors" from the US marines for their handling of the crisis at the US embassy compound in the Iraqi capital earlier in the day.

Angered by deadly airstrikes targeting an Iran-backed militia, dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the compound in Baghdad.

US guards fired teargas as the protesters smashed a main door and set fire to a reception area in one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory.

Speaking as arrived for a New Year's Eve reception at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the president was adamant that the incident would "never, ever be a Benghazi", referring to the 2012 attacks in Libya that left the US ambassador and three other Americans dead.

Trump also commented on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's accusation that his administration was dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations.

North Korea's state media said Kim warned that his country would soon show a new strategic weapon to the world as it bolstered its nuclear deterrent in the face of gangster-like US pressure.
BSP supremo Mayawati on Wednesday accused the BJP of weakening the Constitution through its communal approach but cautioned against any protests that are violent.

"The New Year should not be painful like last year. Due to the communal and narrow thought process of the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state, the Constitution was weakened in 2019," she said, adding that the year ended on a violent note, which is extremely worrying and unfortunate.

"The manner of protests should be as such that it should neither hurt feelings of people of any religion nor disturb the atmosphere of amity prevailing in the country," she said in a statement issued here. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said persons holding responsible positions should not forget that India is secular country, where people follow different religions.

"They have their style of living and culture. We should give respect to the culture of religions," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 23:40:35|Editor: yan

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BISSAU, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Domingos Simoes Pereira, one of the two candidates in Guinea-Bissau's presidential election runoff, on Wednesday contested provisional results published by National Election Commission (NEC) that give victory to Umaro Sissoco Embalo with 53.55 percent of the votes.

At a press conference after the results were published, Pereira denounced "military interference in the electoral process."

"We will go to court to challenge these results," he said.

Both Pereira and Embalo are former prime ministers.

Pereira said the provisional results published by the NEC are "false" and resulted from interference of the military that continues to meddle in the country's political affairs.

According to the electoral law, the final results will be announced within 72 hours if no one contests to the Supreme Court, which is responsible for validating the election results.
Jammu (Jammu Kashmir) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Two Army soldiers were killed during an encounter with terrorists in Naushera sector on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1.



They have been identified as Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar.

"In the intervening night of December 31- January 1, a contact was established with infiltrators in a forest in Naushera Sector. The heavily armed terrorists retaliated by fire. In the ensuing exchange of fire, two soldiers of the Indian Army were critically injured and later succumbed to their injuries and attained martyrdom," a defence spokesperson said.

He said that the operation is in progress.

Raghunath, 29, belonged to Maharashtra and is survived by his wife. Magar, 25, hailed from Nepal and is survived by his parents.

"Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar were brave, highly motivated and sincere soldiers. The nation will always remain indebted to them for the supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty," the spokesperson said. (ANI)


A headless torso found in a remote Idaho cave 40 years ago has finally been identified as belonging to an outlaw who killed his wife with an ax.

Joseph Henry Loveless, a bootlegger and counterfeiter, was last seen escaping from a jail in St Anthony, Idaho, in 1916.

Clark County Sheriff Bart May said Tuesday that the cold case will remain open because investigators don't yet know who killed Loveless. However, they were able to notify Loveless' 87-year-old grandson of the outlaw's fate.

The mystery began when a family found his remains wrapped in burlap and buried in a shallow grave in Buffalo Cave near Dubois on August 26, 1979.

Few additional clues turned up until March 30, 1991, when a girl exploring the same cave system found a mummified hand. Investigators began excavating, finding an arm and two legs nearby, also wrapped in burlap.

Joseph Henry Loveless, a bootlegger and counterfeiter, was last seen escaping from a jail in St Anthony, Idaho, in 1916 (pictured: a composite sketch provided by Anthony Redgrave, courtesy of Lee Bingham Redgrave)

Local authorities turned to Idaho State University for help, and over the subsequent years anthropology students and staffers from ISU worked on the case.

Experts from the Smithsonian Institution and the FBI were recruited to assist. No other remains were ever found, however, and without the head, identifying the John Doe of Buffalo Cave seemed unlikely.

The scientists were able to determine the slain man's hair was reddish brown, that he was of European descent, that he may have been around 40 years old when he died, and that his body had been there for at least six months and possibly as long as 10 or more years.

They weren't able to tell what killed the man, though they could determine that his body was dismembered by a variety of sharp tools, perhaps to make it easier for his killer to hide the remains.

Earlier this year ISU and Clark County authorities asked the DNA Doe Project for help. The non-profit organization uses DNA data to identify John and Jane Does in hopes of returning their remains to their families.

Experts from Othram, a technology company focused on forensic DNA sequencing, analyzed a sample taken from the remains.

Then Lee Bingham Redgrave, a forensic genealogist with DNA Doe Project, worked with her colleagues to build a 'genealogical tree.'

The mystery began when a family found his remains wrapped in burlap and buried in a shallow grave in Buffalo Cave near Dubois on August 26, 1979

It was huge. The Buffalo Cave John Doe was descended from pioneers who came to Utah with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and his likely grandfather was a polygamist with four wives. That meant Doe's cousins and other relatives numbered in the hundreds, said Bingham Redgrave.

Investigators also weren't sure what time period the remains came from, further broadening the field of possibilities.

'He ended up having a lot of matches that were first cousins three times removed, which is very unusual in this type of scenario,' Bingham Redgrave said. 'One by one we eliminated certain candidates and kept coming back to him.'

They used news articles, gravestone information and other records to try to find proof of life for all of the DNA candidates, she said. They noticed a few things about Joseph Henry Loveless's life didn't seem to add up. His gravestone was actually a cenotaph, a stone with his name on it but no body buried underneath.

Loveless's second wife, Agnes Octavia Caldwell Loveless, was killed with an ax on May 5, 1916, by a man named Walt Cairns, according to news articles and a wanted poster created by local law enforcement at the time.

But according to another local news article on Agnes' funeral, one of her children said that it was his father in jail for the murder, not Walt Cairns. The child also remarked that his dad would be escaping soon because he never stayed in jail long.

The DNA Doe Project team eventually unraveled the truth: Joseph Henry Loveless was born December 3, 1870, in the Utah Territory to Mormon pioneers. He married twice - his first wife Harriett Jane Savage divorced him for 'abandonment,' according to Salt Lake City court records - and became a bootlegger, counterfeiter and general outlaw in Idaho.

Loveless's second wife, Agnes Octavia Caldwell Loveless, was killed with an ax on May 5, 1916

Loveless used a variety of aliases during his criminal career, including Walt Cairns, Charles Smith and other variations of his given and phony names. He was also notorious for escaping custody, Bingham Redgrave said, sawing through jail bars with a blade he kept in his shoe and once managing to stop a moving train that he was being transported on to flee law enforcement.

Investigators believe he died shortly after he escaped from the St. Anthony jail on May 18, 1916, where he was being held for Agnes' murder.

'It's blown everyone's minds,' Bingham Redgrave said of the investigation. 'The really cool thing, though, is that his wanted poster from his last escape is described as wearing the same clothing that he was found in, so that leads us to put his death date at likely 1916.'

Loveless' descendants were unaware of their ancestor's sordid past, so at this point there's not much more to go on besides speculation when it comes to the identity of Loveless' murderer.

Still, with the Clark County Sheriff's Office keeping the case open as a homicide investigation, more clues may turn up yet.

'Who knows? Someone might recognize that name and say, `Oh, let me look at the old family photos. Someone may find something, an old news story, that isn't digitized,' Bingham Redgrave said. 'I'm really excited to see what else comes out.'
During the Angelus, Pope Francis called on "believers and non-believers to let themselves be blessed and open our heart to his [Jesuss] goodness. He added that Contemplating the Creche we see, through the eyes of faith, the world renewed, freed from the dominion of evil. And Jesus is the blessing for those who are oppressed by the yoke of moral and material slavery, those who have lost self-esteem", and those who are victims of injustice and exploitation". The pontiff thanked those behind peace initiatives. He noted that it cannot be taken for granted that our planet started to revolve again around the sun. Indeed, it is always a miracle to be surprised by and thankful for. He apologised for losing his patience.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  On the first day of the year, which the Church has dedicated to Mary Mother of God, she blesses us by showing us her Son ... She blesses the entire Church; she blesses the entire world, said Pope Francis today in his address to the pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square before the Angelus.

"For this reason, he explained, Saint Pope Paul VI decided to dedicate the first day of the year to peace: prayer, awareness and responsibility for peace. For the year 2020, the message is as follows: peace is a journey of hope, a journey in which we move forward through dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion.

The eyes of faith give birth to the positive attitude about the new year. "Contemplating the Creche we see, through the eyes of faith, the world renewed, freed from the dominion of evil and placed under the royal lordship of Christ, the Child who lies in the manger.

For the Holy Father, it cannot be taken for granted that our planet started to revolve again around the sun and that we human beings continue to live on it. This cannot be taken for granted; it is, in fact, always a miracle to be surprised by and thankful for.

Jesus did not remove evil from the world but defeated it at the root. His salvation is patient, not magical, i.e., it involves the patience of love". In fact, We all lose our patience, too. My apologies to you.

So let us set our gaze on the Mother and on the Son she shows us. At the start of the year, let us be blessed! Jesus is the blessing for those who are oppressed by the yoke of moral and material slavery. He liberates through love. To those who lost their self-esteem by remaining prisoners of vicious turns, Jesus said that the Father loves them, does not abandon them, awaits their return with unwavering patience (cf. Lk 15:20).

To those who are victims of injustice and exploitation and see no way out, Jesus opens the door of brotherhood, a place to find welcoming faces, hearts and hands, to share bitterness and despair, and regain some dignity. To those who are seriously ill and feel abandoned and discouraged, Jesus comes close, touches the wounds with tenderness, pours the oil of consolation and transforms weakness into power to undo the most tangled knots. To those imprisoned and tempted to turn inward, Jesus reopens a horizon of hope, starting from a small glimmer of light.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us step off the pedestal of our pride  We are all tempted by pride  and ask for the blessing of the Holy Mother of God. She shows us Jesus: let us be blessed, open our hearts to his goodness. Hence, the year that begins will be a journey of hope and peace, not in words but in daily deeds of dialogue, reconciliation and care for creation.

After the Angelus prayer, Francis first asked all the pilgrims to repeat the invocation Holy Mother of God three times, as he did during the homily in this mornings Mass. Then he extended his best wishes to everyone, and thanked Italian president Sergio Mattarella, who yesterday mentioned him in his Speech to the Nation.

Francis also greeted and encouraged "all the initiatives for peace that particular churches, associations and ecclesial movements have promoted for this Day of Peace".

My thoughts, he added, also go to the many volunteers who, in places where peace and justice are threatened, choose with courage to be present in a nonviolent and unarmed form. This goes as well as for military personnel operating in peacekeeping missions in many conflict zones. Thank you very much to them.

Lastly, "To all, believers and non-believers, I wish for them to never stop hoping for a world of peace, to be built together day by day.




Haiti - Politic : Our elites never knew how to build the Nation where... dixit Jovenel Moise





This January 1, 2020, on the occasion of the 216th anniversary of the independence of Haiti, President Jovenel Moise went to the Champ de Mars where he laid, in tribute to the heroes of independence, a wreath of flowers at the foot of the Toussaint Louverture monument. Then at the National Palace delivered a speech to the Nation which we invite you to read.



Extract from President Jovenel Moise's speech :



"[...] each time we are divided, each time we are disunited we kill another time Dessalines, we kill Toussaint, we kill Petion, we kill Christophe and the others. The path of division is the road of trouble, the road of trouble leads us into disorder, and disorder is the mother of violence, violence leads us directly into the holes of misery and poverty [...]



Our country never came out of the colonial pact [...] they [peasants descended from slaves] never had neither road, nor school, neither hospitals nor water, nor electricity, the State, our State has served only to guarantee the conditions of reproduction of this post-colonial order, the whole State served to perpetuate this state of things. Those who continue to get rich find it normal that they do not pay tax, find it normal that there can be no competition, find it normal that they set prices for consumers and especially when this consumer is the State itself.



In short, the State only exists as a source of rent in various forms. In this way groups are enriched without ever participating in the effort of production, creation of wealth, they are enriched for the benefit of the hinterland, the country outside, which now populates our disadvantaged neighborhoods.



Our elites never knew how to build the Nation where all can meet for the pursuit of dreams common to all of us



[...]"



Listen to President Jovenel Moise's full speech :









HL/ HaitiLibre


















The United States government recently proposed new rules designed to improve transplant operations.

The goal is to ease a severe shortage of kidneys and other organs. The shortage is so severe that more than 113,000 Americans are on the transplant waiting list  and about 20 die each day.

Part of the problem is this. An Associated Press study recently found some organ collections agencies miss opportunities that could have saved lives. Some of these groups secure donors at half the rate of others.

The U.S. government currently has little way to directly compare organ collection agencies and force poor performers to improve.

The rules come after President Donald Trump ordered a reworking of care for kidney disease.

Crackdown on OPOs

Under the proposed rules, Medicare, the national health insurance program, would rate the performance of organ procurement organizations, or OPOs.

No life-saving organ should go to waste, Medicare chief Seema Verma said while announcing the proposals.

Organ transplant activists praised the move.

Patients are dying, and they deserve better, said Jennifer Erickson about the government campaign targeting OPOs. Erickson worked on transplant policy for the administration of former president Barack Obama.

The association that represents the organ collection groups promised to work with Medicare to put the stronger rules into action.

The new measures are an opportunity to drive meaningful changes that will increase the availability of organs for transplant and save more lives, said Kelly Ranum, the associations president. Ranum also heads the state of Louisianas OPO.

A 2017 study by University of Pennsylvania researchers estimated that an improved transplant system could get as many as 28,000 more organs for patients.

How to Increase the numbers of living donors?

The Trump administration also aims to increase the numbers of living donors. The idea is that living donors should be reimbursed for lost wages and other costs during their hospital stay and recovery.

Currently, the transplant recipients insurance company pays the donors medical costs. But donors are out of work for weeks while they recover. And not all employers permit some form of paid time off.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azars father received a kidney transplant from a living donor. When an American wishes to become a living donor, we dont believe their financial situation should limit their generosity, he said.

Most transplant organs come from deceased donors. But people lucky enough to receive an organ from a living donor often cut their wait time.

Yet fewer than 7,000 of the 36,529 transplants performed nationwide last year were from living donors.

Im John Russell.

Lauran Neergaard reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

opportunity  n. chance; a series of events that makes it possible to do something

insurance  n. a system by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of payment for damage, sickness or death

deserve  v. to do something or show qualities worthy of praise or recognition

procurement  n. the act or process of getting something

reimburse  v. to pay someone an amount of money equal to an amount that person has spent  often + for

generosity  n. the quality of being kind, understanding, and not selfish

deceased  adj. no longer living

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Ekite (Cameroon) (AFP) - It was a "dirty war" waged by French colonial troops but it never made headlines and even today goes untold in school history books.

The brutal conflict unfolded in Cameroon, which on January 1 marks its 60th anniversary of independence -- the first of 17 African countries that became free from their colonial masters in 1960.

Many decades on, those who witnessed the violence recall events that shaped countless lives in the central African country yet remain unchronicled today.

"My life was overturned," Odile Mbouma, 72, said in the southwestern town of Ekite.

On the night of December 30, 1956, French troops arrived in the town and slaughtered dozens of people, perhaps as many as a hundred, she said.

"We were sitting under a tree when we suddenly heard the crackle of gunfire," she said. "It was everyone for themselves."

Taking to her heels, the seven-year-old found herself jumping over bodies. "They were everywhere."

The troops were looking for independence fighters -- members of the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), a nationalist movement established in 1948 that faced repression first by the French and later by Cameroonian soldiers.

French authorities labelled the UPC "communist" and cracked down from 1955, driving the movement underground, though its charismatic founder Ruben Um Nyobe preached non-violence.

 Buried in cement 

In September 1958, Um Nyobe -- nicknamed Mpodol (for "he who brings the word" in the Bassa language) -- was killed by French troops.

"His body was dragged around and displayed so that everybody (saw the corpse) of a man who was considered immortal," said Louis Marie Mang, UPC activist in Eseka, where Um Nyobe is buried in a Protestant graveyard.

"To prevent traditional rites from being held, he was put in a block of cement and buried (without) a coffin."

The conflict continued long beyond independence, for repression of the nationalists continued under Cameroon's first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, who also banned public references to the UPC and to Um Nyobe.

Story continues

The violence "passed unnoticed, wiped from memories," according to Thomas Deltombe, Manuel Domergue and Jacob Tatsitsa, authors of "La guerre du Cameroun" ("Cameroon's War"), published in 2016.

They estimate that between 1955 and 1964, tens of thousands of people, including civilians as well as UPC members, were killed.

In Ekite, a wreath of flowers lies on the soil of a scrubland field at the end of a dirt track. "The Nation will remember your sacrifice," says a memorial notice.

"This is one of the mass graves where the nationalists were buried," said Jean-Louis Kell, a UPC militant.

A second ditch was apparent a dozen metres (yards) away, and "a third was discovered not long ago," said Benoit Bassemel. He was seven during the French massacre and has tears in his eyes when he tells how his father was murdered.

 'Free like the others' 

UPC nationalists believe that the independence granted on January 1, 1960 was not what they fought for.

They view the country's two post-independence presidents, Ahidjo and Paul Biya, who has been in office since 1982, as working hand-in-hand with France.

"We wanted to be free like the other countries. We no longer wanted white people to subjugate us," said 80-year-old Mathieu Njassep, in his tiny family apartment in Petit Paris, a poor district of Douala, the economic capital.

In 1960, aged 21, Njassep joined the Cameroon National Liberation Army (ALNK), the UPC's armed wing.

After two years of fighting, he was appointed secretary to Ernest Ouandie, a leading figure in the movement. He was sentenced to death but escaped the firing squad, unlike Ouandie, who was executed in 1971.

"We had almost nothing to wage a war with," Njassep said.

"We carried out ambushes" with machetes, sticks and homemade guns. "If we had had enough weapons, we would have beaten them."

At the time, the ALNK had established its headquarters in the village of Bandenkop, on the land of the main western tribal group, the Bamileke. Fighting was fierce between the nationalists and the French army.

In the rugged valley from which ALNK commanders led operations, there is no sign of human life today and the only sound is that of a bubbling stream.

"This whole zone was regularly bombed" by the French air force, said Michel Eclador Pekoua, a former UPC official.

Pekoua and other nationalists say French planes dropped napalm. France has neither confirmed nor denied the use of the notorious incendiary weapon.

- Decapitations -

On a road 30 kilometres (19 miles) to the north, in Bafoussam, a roundabout is known as the "crossroads of the guerrillas," for it was where the decapitated heads of nationalists were placed on show, said Theophile Nono, head of a historical association, Memoire 60.

The regime's methods "ranged from the arrest and arbitrary imprisonment of any Cameroonian suspected of 'rebellion' to systematic torture, with extrajudicial summary executions," Nono said.

For many years the conflict mostly remained taboo in Cameroon. It was in the 1990s, when the authorities came under mounting pressure for democratic change, that people began to raise the historic past.

Biya, in a speech in 2010, paid tribute to "people who dreamed of (independence), fought to obtain it and sacrificed their lives for it... Our people should be eternally grateful to them."

After years of French silence, then president Francois Hollande in 2015 became his country's first head of state to speak of "a repression" of Cameroonian nationalists leading to "tragic episodes".

For many survivors, this is not enough.

"France must accept its responsibility," Nono said.

"It must undertake to compensate victims of the dirty war, which has been carefully concealed by both the French side and the Cameroonian side."
A Helena-area teenager whose organ donation saved six lives will be honored on the Donate Life float in the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day.

Much of the Helena community knew Julie Shepherd, who died in 2017 at age 17, as a standout softball player and a state power lifting record holder during her time at Helena High School.

While her parents still maintain their daughter's trophy wall as a testament to her prowess, many Helenans remember Julie as a caring, selfless neighbor.

Julie once cut off the bulk of her long black hair to donate to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.

A non-verbal autistic child frequented Park Avenue Bakery, where Julie worked, just to visit with her.

She was fiercely protective over her younger siblings, Sam and Lauren Shepherd, who are now 19 and 18 years old, respectively.

But perhaps her greatest act of selflessness was her donation of six organs after her death. Julie, a registered organ donor, gave the gifts of her soft tissue, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, corneas and heart, which Julie's parents said the surgeon described as the "mythical perfect heart."

Her caring, friendly nature never betrayed her inner battle with severe depression, which eventually proved too much for Julie to overcome.

She was kept on life support for three days at Benefis Health System in Great Falls while the organ recipients, surgeons and overall logistics were arranged.

When LifeCenter Northwest, a federally designated nonprofit organ procurement organization based in Bellevue, Washington, held a ceremony in honor of Julie at the Great Falls hospital in November, at least one recipient of Julie's organs was in attendance. A teenage girl from Utah who because of congenital heart disease suffered a heart attack at age 14 received Julie's heart. Because of the generous gift, that Utah girl was able to continue swimming competitively.

"Meeting with her heart recipient really helped our family heal," said Julie's mother, Janene Shepherd, who characterized her daughter's organ donation as "a little bit of light in the darkness."

Julie's father, Derek Shepherd, said meeting the young woman who received Julie's heart was a surreal moment.

"That was her heart beating right there," he said. "That's the impact being a donor can have. She saved lives."

During the LifeCenter Northwest ceremony in November, the Shepherds were also afforded the opportunity to put the finishing touches on their daughter's floragraph, a portrait of Julie made entirely of organic material that will be displayed on the Donate Life float along with the floragraphs of 43 other organ donors from across the country.

While losing a child has been devastating, the Shepherds said it has also inspired them.

"One of our first thoughts was, 'Hey, we need to make sure we're all registered (organ donors),'" Derek Shepherd said.

They have since participated in outreach work with LifeCenter Northwest, helping to spread awareness about the benefits of organ donation.

LifeCenter Northwest flew the Shepherds to Pasadena this week, so they could see their daughter's image on the Donate Life float. They will also be meeting with other families of organ donors and the artists who created the floragraphs.

Julie would have turned 20 on Dec. 21.

"She had such a tremendous impact on those around her," Janene Shepherd said, unable to hold back tears. "Imagine what she could have accomplished."

For more information about becoming an organ donor, visit donatelifemt.org.

Anyone experiencing mental health crises or having thoughts of suicide are encouraged to seek help through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org or calling (800) 273-8255.

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Linkedin Megan Rowling (Reuters) Barcelona, Spain  Wed, January 1, 2020 09:04 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3206e47e 2 Environment Greta-Thunberg,David-Attenborough,bbc,environment,climate,climate-activists,climate-crisis Free

Two titan climate campaigners, Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, joined forces on Monday to push politicians and businesses to step up action on climate change after a year in which schoolchildren took to the world's streets in protest.

Swedish teen activist Thunberg, who turns 17 this week, said 2019 had been "a very strange year" as millions of young people skipped school to demonstrate over slow progress on tackling climate change, inspired by her weekly vigils at the Swedish parliament.

British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough, 93, said Thunberg had "aroused the world" about the urgency of reining in global warming, achieving things that people who had worked on the problem for 20-odd years had not.

Attenborough - famous for his TV series showing the impact of environmental degradation on flora and fauna - said he had flagged the need for changes to political structures and daily lives two decades ago, but "no one took a blind bit of notice".

Thunberg urged people to "read up" about climate science and what is being done - or not - to tackle the problem. "We climate activists are being listened to - but that doesn't mean that what we are saying is translated into action," she told BBC Radio 4's Today show on which she was guest editor.

"It needs to be a big shift, and that's what we are waiting for - this tipping point," said Thunberg who has Asperger's syndrome and has also suffered from depression in the past.

Attenborough said it was depressing when governments in the United States, Brazil or Australia indicated they were not taking any notice of what should be done.

"It needs a real electric shock - such as you have produced socially - to bring them to their senses, and let's hope that shock will go on," Attenborough told Thunberg on the Today show.

Read also: Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is Time's Person of the Year

Thunberg has transformed over the past year from an unknown, solo campaigner to the figurehead of a global movement, winning a list of accolades and awards along the way including being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2019 for her work.

Her father Svante explained how he and his wife had changed their lives as their daughter found out about climate science.

He said Greta did not eat for three months, nor speak to people outside her family at one stage, but becoming a climate activist had enabled her to recover and become a happy teenager who "dances around" and "laughs a lot".

The family has since become vegan and no longer uses planes, instead sailing across the Atlantic this year to attend a UN climate action summit in New York and then sailing to Spain for December's global climate talks in Madrid.

"I didn't do it to save the climate, I did it to save my child," said her father.

Both Thunberg and Attenborough called on politicians to ensure next year's UN climate talks in Scotland produce a successful outcome, with governments due to strengthen their national plans to combat climate change.

The annual conference in Madrid this month was viewed as disappointing, with large carbon-polluting countries resisting pressure to step up their targets to reduce emissions.

"We, and they, must do everything they can to make sure that it doesn't fail and that we succeed in bringing the science into the conversation," Thunberg said.
Image credit: IAEA

01.01.2020 LISTEN

In the next decade, beginning on January 1, 2020, African nations must pursue nuclear energy. This is necessary to provide energy to the continent, which is suffering from a huge deficit in electricity, but nuclear technology has many additional benefits to African economies. This includes creating large amounts of potable water. With nuclear power plants along the Mediterranean and Red Sea, the equivalent of a second Nile River from desalination through nuclear powered desalination would transform the nations of the Nile Basin. Constructing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors-SMRs (see below) in every African nation would be a important first step towards ending poverty and industrializing the continent. Let me bluntly state: without abundant, low cost energy, Africa will not develop, and its people will suffer. Energizing Africa is not an option, it is a life and death necessity!

{Sustainable Times} published a valuable article on December 23, 2019: Can Nuclear Unlock Africas Development?

Excerpts:

Combining renewables with nuclear power, however, makes the task of powering Africas growing economies more viable  not to mention the other useful and often overlooked aspects that nuclear can contribute to development. Although South Africa is the only country on the continent currently operating a nuclear power plant, the technology is being increasingly considered by African leaders. For example, works are set to begin on a new 4.8GW plant in El Dabaa Egypt next year, which is being developed by Russias Rosatom.

Other countries including Ethiopia, Zambia, Nigeria and Ghana also have memorandums of understanding with Rosatom that pave the way for nuclear development. South Korea are also looking to invest in the continents energy industry, while Chinese nuclear firms have entered into agreements with Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Energy is a key driver for development. In Ghana, for example, nuclear is seen as the obvious way to provide reliable energy for bauxite refineries which would increase jobs and export capacity.

Technology beyond electricity

But nuclear technology provides more than just energy: many advanced nuclear designs produce high-temperature process heat for uses in desalination plants, chemical production and even district heating systems. These subsidiary features would allow nuclear technology to benefit society beyond the generation of electricity  and potentially accelerating its deployment.

Nuclear technologies are already being used in agriculture, for example, where isotopes and radiation techniques are harnessed to combat pests and diseases or to increase livestock and crop production. For instance, farmers in Benin have increased their maize yields by 50 percent, while simultaneously reducing the amount of fertiliser used by 70 percent, thanks to the deployment of nuclear-derived nitrogen-fixation methods  the same techniques that are allowing Maasai farmers in Kenya to double vegetable crop yields with half the irrigation of traditional methods.

By contrast, nuclear desalination could use the excess heat from new reactor designs like Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) to produce thermal and electrical energy without emitting greenhouse gases, which then transforms seawater into freshwater. While capital costs for nuclear plants are initially high, fuel costs are low and stable: a doubling in the price of uranium would result in only a five percent increase in the total cost of energy generation. In contrast, an equivalent increase in oil would cause freshwater production costs to surge by 70 percent.

Read: Can Nuclear Unlock Africas Development?

Progress for Small Modular Reactors

by Nancy Spannaus  December 13, 2019

December 13, 2019Theres some real good news for the U.S. economy today. NuScale, an Oregon company that is developing a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR), has passed the next stage of review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Cross-section of NuScale small modular reactor (world nuclear news)

As this blog has reported before, the mass development of nuclear power is a critical component to bringing the productivity of the U.S. economy out of the doldrums, and thus bringing us into a new era of prosperity. High-speed rail, modernized water systems, the space program, and many other components of an economic recovery program depend upon generating huge amounts of electricity that are way beyond our current capacity. Nuclear represents a leap in productivity that will allow us to get there, as well as a step on the way to the development of thermonuclear fusion.

NuScales design for an SMR has now gone through four phases of review. It still has to go through stages 5 and 6. According to the companys press release, the Oregon-based company is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as other companies. It has received support from Congress.

As I outlined in a post approximately one year ago, the promise of SMRs lies not only in their safety design, but in the fact that the United States still has the industrial capacity to produce them assembly-line fashion. Over the past 40 years, the heavy industrial capability for producing a standard-sized nuclear reactor (measured in hundreds of megawatts or over 1000) has been dismantled. But a small reactor of 12 to 50 megawatts could be produced in assembly-line fashion, and provide a flexible means of providing power outside major urban areas, including hard-to-reach regions.

The United States is not the only country working on SMRs, and some in the industry are seeking to motivate investment in NuScale on the basis of beating the competition. Such peaceful competition has a huge positive payoff for the human race, and can only be encouraged. Thus NuScales progress with the NRC is most welcome news.

The NuScale press release can be read in full here.
Mayank Singh By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Hours after taking over as the new Army Chief, General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday said India reserves the right to preemptively strike at sources of terror if Pakistan does not stop state-sponsored terrorism.

Speaking to a couple of news agencies, Gen Naravane said a strategy of resolute punitive response has been evolved to punish cross-border terror. Multiple options across the spectrum of conflict are on the table to respond to any act of terror sponsored or abetted by Pakistan, he said. A new normal in our response mechanism has been emphatically underlined, he added.

On the reading down of Article 370 in J&K, he said, the situation in Kashmir has since improved significantly. However, the problem remains. It has not gone away. So, we will always be ready (to take) whatever measures are required to deal with the challenges there, he added.

Talking about the security challenges along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control with China, said the focus has shifted from the Western border to the Northern border as part of re-balancing of priorities. We will continue to improve capability building along the Northern border so we are prepared when the need arises.

ALSO READ | General Manoj Mukund Naravane takes charge as new Army chief

He pointed out that transgressions occur due to differences in perception on where Line of Actual Control lies. The Army Chief stressed that the bottom line for reform in the Army will be to increase efficiency and operational readiness. Referring to the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff, he said it will significantly reform the entire military system.
At least 24 people have been killed after an attack on a camp for displaced people in Sudan, according to an international peacekeeping group.

The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has said Krinding Camp in the state of West Darfur was raided on 29 and 30 December following a dispute between Arab and African ethnic groups.

The Arab tribesmans people came to the camp and started shooting and killing and burning, Ashraf Eissa, a UNAMID spokesperson, said.

Then relatives went to the hospital and threatened hospital staff at gunpoint and destroyed the blood bank.

Mr Eissa added that a government police officer was shot dead when they tried to intervene at the hospital.

The women at the front of Sudans political protests Show all 12 1 /12 The women at the front of Sudans political protests The women at the front of Sudans political protests Khadija Saleh, 41, a political activist and blogger, poses for a photograph in Khartoum, Sudan. After six years abroad, Saleh returned to her home country when people took to the streets demanding change. She was at a sit-in near the defence ministry in Khartoum on 3 June when security forces stormed the site. The area had become a centre for anti-government protests. Saleh said she was beaten with sticks, and still wears bandages on her wounds. I came back from a safer place because I want a better future for this country, she said. Photos Reuters The women at the front of Sudans political protests Awadiya Mahmoud Koko Ahmed, 60, is the head of Food and Tea Sellers Union. She said: I went to see the sit-in area to check what is happening there. I served them free tea with the money my daughter gave me. And we made a kitchen as a group of union members. We prepared food every day. All the people were good. They called me mom. When I was in America, I saw that even animals had rights. If I was the president, I would make sure that there was justice. I would treat everyone equally. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Duha Mohmed, 23, escaped the sit-in site at the beginning of the June raid, returning later to help the injured. The student said she was also motivated by a desire for a better life. I don't want to wear headscarf, but it is not my choice. I want my right to wear what I want, she said. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Shems Osman, 32, is an employee at an international company. Osman studied psychology in Canada. She has Canadian citizenship but she chose to return to Sudan. She said: In Sudan it is definitely different how women carry themselves and how they are treated, and I think this is because of our African culture more than our Arab culture. Sudanese women are just naturally strong. So, they are naturally on the frontline and they are naturally a part of revolution. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Mai Atya, 27, is a musician. Atya said she was beaten during the raid. She said: My main objective like many others is that we believe there should be a change; a good change in a good direction. I was at the sit-in area during the raid. I heard gun shots and ran away but when I jumped over a fence a Rapid Support Force (RSF) soldier caught us. They kept beating us again and again ... they think women should stay at home. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Amel Tajeldin, 41, a housewife and mother of four. Tajeldin said she would take turns with her husband to watch the children so that she could go out to protest. While it was his turn to look after the children, I took part in the demonstrations, she said. She used to teach songs to street children in a makeshift tent at the sit-in. On 3 June, members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces shouted at her and other protesters and told them to run, she said. We ran. We were surrounded by soldiers and policemen, she said. Both her arms are now wrapped in bandages. While we were running, they beat us. To protect my head, I used my hands. This is why my two arms are broken, she said. The ones like us beaten by police were lucky, the ones beaten by RSF members were brutally injured. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Nagda Mansour, 39, is a translator. Mansour was imprisoned for 75 days after attending a demonstration in December. She said it was difficult for many to accept the idea of negotiating with the military because of its leaderships involvement in the war in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by the deputy leader of the council Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, are accused of committing atrocities in Darfur  charges officials have in the past denied. The finalisation of an agreement with the military council remains the beginning not the end, said Mansour. We as human rights defenders want to have a guarantee for transitional justice in Sudan. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Hadia Hasaballah, 42, is a counsellor and political activist. Hasaballah works for an NGO dealing with the victims of the 3 June raid. She and her team are supporting more than 100 victims. This regime thinks in a traditional way, she said. They know that if they humiliate the women, they will humiliate the whole people... None of the Sudanese women will officially say that they were raped because of the stigma. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Samra Siralkhatim, 21, is a student. During the June protests, Siralkhatim hid from the military in various peoples homes for five days. She said: Sudanese are almost like refugees in their own country. During the June 3 raid night, we sought refuge from the military like we did in previous attacks. That time, they let us go into the defence ministry compound. But this time, the doors were closed during the raid. Security personnel were laughing and a member of the military behind the fence told us that the military was taking a holiday, she said. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Mahi Aba-Yazid, 35, is unemployed. Under President Omar al-Bashirs rule, womens lives were tightly controlled by men, even the way they dressed. Morality laws meant that a woman could be arrested for wearing trousers. For that reason, Aba-Yazid wore trousers while she called for change at the sit-in site. She believes she was beaten more because of this choice. There was already a bullet in my arm. I was bleeding but they continued to beat me, she said. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Nahid Gabralla, 53, is a human rights activist. Gabralla said she was beaten with sticks and threatened with rape at the sit-in. Sudan can be better, she said. My daughter deserves to live in a nice country... We will fight for a democratic Sudan, real change and for our rights. Reuters/Umit Bektas The women at the front of Sudans political protests Manal Farah, 49, is a housewife. Farah lost her son, a 22-year-old university student, when security forces stormed the sit-in. She said he insisted on protesting even though she asked him to stay home. The aim of the government is to convince mothers of revolutionaries to prevent their sons to join the revolution, but no matter what we say to them they will never stop before achieving their objectives, Farah said. When he started in university, he started to ask why there is corruption in Sudan. He said there must be a change, a new Sudan ... I pray for my sons dreams to come true. Reuters/Umit Bektas

At least 17 people were also wounded in the violence which occurred just east of the state capital of el-Geneina, according to Mr Eissa, and many people from the camp have fled to the city or nearby mountains.

The violence has reportedly spread to the surrounding area, where at least 10 villages have been burnt, and some people have tried to flee across the border into Chad.

A statement from the non-Arab Masalit ethnic group has put the death toll at more than 50 people, although that figure has not been independently confirmed.

The UNAMID statement came as senior officials arrived in el-Geneina, the state capital, on Wednesday and were briefed on the security situation in the area.

Military and civilian authorities have been attempting to broker lasting peace in region of Darfur and other parts of Sudan following the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir.

The former leader, who had been in power since 1989, was removed by a military coup in April 2019 and convicted of corruption in December.

Mr Eissa said West Darfur has been generally calm since 2010, although tensions between the Masalit and Arab tribes resurfaced in 2017 and have led to occasional, smaller scale skirmishes.

UN estimates suggest up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million people displaced, including more than 180,000 displaced in West Darfur, since conflict broke out in 2003 after mostly non-Arab rebels rose up against the government.

UNAMID has been gradually winding down its presence in Darfur and withdrew from el-Geneina in May 2019.

Last week, hundreds of men in uniform and civilians raided and looted another former UNAMID camp in South Darfur, according to the peacekeeping group.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): The BJP workers on Wednesday staged a protest at the Marina Beach in Chennai demanding the arrest of Tamil writer Nellai Kannan for his alleged speech during the protest meet against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).



The speech given by Kannan was given at a protest meeting called by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on December 29.

The Tamil writer had reportedly used harsh language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the speech.

During the protest, BJP leaders H Raja, La Ganesan, Pon Radhakrishnan, CP Radhakrishnan among other workers were detained by the police.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)


The British royal family could have an exciting new start to the new decade, astrologists have predicted.

According to London-based star sign experts Francesca Oddie and Ann-Louise Holland, Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 37, could add to their brood, which already includes Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1.

Additionally, a lunar eclipse is said to be a big year of transition for the Cambridges, with the experts predicting they could 'break traditions' and carve out a 'new style for the monarchy'.

Meanwhile Mars retrograde in Aries in September could mean we see less of Meghan Markle, 38, in the second half of 2020, either due to a second pregnancy with Prince Harry, 35, or because of a reduced schedule.

Elsewhere Harry looks to be focused on protecting his family and set up new privacy precedents, while Princess Eugenie steps out of father Prince Andrew's shadow following his Epstein scandal.

Speaking to Femail, Francesca and Ann-Louise said: '2020 is a big year for all of us in the UK, particularly the royals whose stars are so intimately entwined with the legacy of this nation.'

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

According to star sign experts Francesca Oddie and Ann-Louise Holland, Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 37, could add to their brood, which already includes Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, (all seen in September on their first school day) and Prince Louis, 1

A transformational year

'William and Kate are both experiencing transits of a lifetime with eclipses and planetary action that is thrusting them into a world of change.

'A lunar eclipse on the 10th of January, is the day after the Duchess of Cambridges 38th birthday.

'Eclipses repeat themselves every 19 years, and in 2001 Kate went to university, where she met Prince William and the trajectory of her life changed dramatically.

'We can expect something as transformational this year, if not more so as these eclipses fall in Cancer where they both have their natal moon.'

A possible pregnancy

'If she falls pregnant again, this will be an important child and will change Kates outlook where she establishes herself as the nations ultimate mother.

Breaking traditions for the future monarchy

'The need for freedom, change and independence is calling the Cambridges as Uranus the planet of change opens up new and exciting pathways for Kate and helps break ties with family and tradition for William.

'These two really could carve out a new style for the monarchy in 2020 that is meaningful and credible.'

The Duchess of Sussex

Mars retrograde in Aries in September could mean we see less of Meghan Markle, 38, in the second half of 2020, either due to a second pregnancy with Prince Harry, 35, (both seen with Archie in May) or because of a reduced schedule

A support network

'Heavyweight planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto repeatedly urge the Duchess of Sussex to upgrade her inner circle of friends as well as her support network, or even the household at Frogmore Cottage, as these planets meet repeatedly in her relationship sector.

Baby number two

'Mars retrograde in Aries in September could mean we see less of her, either due to a reduced schedule or potentially another pregnancy.

'The royal family could definitely be expanding.'

Prince Harry

Elsewhere Harry, seen at the OnSide Awards in November, looks to be focused on protecting his family and set up new privacy precedents

Fighting for new laws

'Meanwhile Prince Harry will definitely be showing a more serious and determined side to him as the Sagittarius lunar eclipses sits on his natal mars, and another in July on his Capricorn ascendant.

'The usually happy and jokey Duke of Sussex will change his whole demeanor to a more fierce but mature figurehead with leadership qualities as he turns to the law to protect his family and set up new privacy precedents.'

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie, seen with husband Jack Brooksbank in October 2018, steps out of father Prince Andrew's shadow following his Epstein scandal

Turning 30

'Princess Eugenie is experiencing her Saturn Return, a rite of passage that we all meet when we turn 30 that has lots to do with how we become our own authority figure, replacing the directive of our father which is timely.'

Leaving Prince Andrew's shadow

'Whilst it may seem like she has everything, she has had a weak or narcissistic father figure and her chart shows she hides her pain or unhappiness and puts on a front, yet she has the potential to be a true humanitarian in 2020 and demonstrate her true individuality.'

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice with fiance Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in March

Creativity and children

'Eugenies sister, Princess Beatrice may be in the throes of marriage plans, but the Capricorn solar eclipse in 2019 hits her emotionally, right opposite her natal moon and Venus in her sector of self-expression, creativity and children.

'Urging her to evolve how she presents herself, she will no longer have the aura of royal protection and she will be grappling with a new vulnerability, whilst also being centre stage.

'The Venus retrograde in May and June will see her re-evaluating her lifestyle even further since it crosses her home sectors.

'This is much more than just moving into a marital household, as this is Gemini which rules information, she will want to research new ideas about where she comes from and what she has inherited.'
New York dropped its traditional crystal-encrusted ball to ring in 2020 in a packed Times Square, after crisis-marred celebrations in other countries ended a year of worldwide upheaval that saw strike-hit Paris welcome the new decade with fireworks, and London's Big Ben ring out after a long restoration.

Billions around the world cheered in 2020 after a tumultuous year dominated by demonstrations calling for political revolt and action on climate change.

"I'm not particularly optimistic about the future," 29-year-old Natalie Reinhart told AFP ahead of New York's midnight celebration.

"I don't think anybody thinks the world is in a good place, and I think that's one of the defining things of the decade," the New Yorker said.

"There's a sort of overt pessimism. Even our pop songs are sad." Performers in Times Square pulled through nonetheless, as artists including feminist rocker Alanis Morissette took the stage ahead of a highly anticipated performance by K-pop sensation BTS.

New Yorker Gabriel Rodriguez, 53, voiced gloom over society's future but told AFP his way of coping: "I live day by day."



Chile saw thousands of demonstrators gather at Santiago's Plaza Italia -- the epicenter of protests against President Sebastian Pinera's right-wing government since October -- to celebrate a "New Year with Dignity." One of the world's biggest New Year festivals took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with an estimated three million revelers.

Most of them wore white as they listened to concerts and watched a traditional fireworks show at Copacabana Beach.

In the French capital, tens of thousands gathered on the Champs-Elysees, despite a grueling transport strike that has spelled weeks of misery for commuters.

They came on foot, by bike, taxi -- and a few by Metro -- to ring in the new decade as a dazzling light show lit up the Arc de Triomphe.

In the British capital, thousands of revellers lined the Thames to watch fireworks fired from the London Eye for the last new year before Brexit.

Big Ben rang out 12 times after the bell had fallen mostly silent in 2019 because of renovation work.

It followed a year of political wrangling that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Theresa May and culminated in Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson's pledging to leave the European Union on January 31.

As US-Iran tensions rose again in the Middle East, fireworks exploded in Dubai around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

In Abidjan, Ivory Coast, pyrotechnics reflected off the waters of the Ebrie lagoon.

Smoke-choked Sydney ushered in the New Year with an enormous pyrotechnics display, but celebrations were overshadowed by calls to cancel the fireworks while devastating bushfires raged across the country.

Toxic smoke haze has shrouded Sydney for weeks and a petition to cancel the event out of respect for fire victims attracted more than 280,000 signatures.

But the show did go on: more than 100,000 fireworks lit up the skyline for the hundreds of thousands of spectators thronging the city centre.

After more than six months of near-daily demonstrations, Hong Kong ushered in 2020 with tear gas and water cannon. Pro-democracy protesters took their movement into the new year with midnight countdown rallies and a massive march planned for Wednesday.

Before midnight, thousands of protesters gathered across the financial hub, including along the waterfront of Victoria Harbour and at nightlife hotspot Lan Kwai Fong.

Protesters at the harborfront counted down chanting "Ten! Nine! Liberate Hong Kong, revolution now!" in a sea of light from their mobile phones.

Smaller crowds of protesters in the Mong Kok district set fire to barricades and riot police unleashed 2020's first volleys of tear gas in response.

Earlier in the evening, thousands of people linked arms in human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and through local neighbourhoods.

In impoverished North Korea, a large crowd gathered for a concert in the center of Pyongyang cheered as the clock struck midnight. Fireworks burst in the sky above a neon-lit stage hosting a tightly choreographed dance performance.

Across the border, South Koreans flocked to bell-ringing ceremonies -- a traditional ritual marking the start of the new year -- with thousands watching in central Seoul alongside performances by Korean pop stars.

In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual New Year address, 20 years after he was elevated to the presidency by Boris Yeltsin's shock resignation in his 1999 end-of-year speech.

Russia celebrated the new decade over several time zones, with Muscovites flocking to the centre of the capital for fireworks over the Kremlin.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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JSW Steel said it has completed the acquisition of Vardhman Industries Ltd (VIL) by infusing Rs 63.50 crore into the debt-ridden company.

The acquisition has been done as per the resolution plan approved by the lenders of VIL and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).

JSW Steel also said it has acquired 100 per cent equity shares of VIL by infusing Rs 63.50 crore into the company as per the plan, which was also clarified by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in an order on December 4.

Following this, VIL has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Steel, the company said in a regulatory filing.

"JSW Steel has infused Rs 63.50 crore in VIL and has been issued equity shares and compulsorily convertible debentures in VIL in lieu thereof," the company said in the filing.

According to JSW Steel, "All required approvals, including approvals from the NCLT and NCLAT, have been obtained."

VIL manufactures galvanised tubes, coils, precision steel tubes, corrugated steel tubes, and cold-rolled steel sheets, among others.

Earlier, NCLAT had set aside conditions imposed by NCLT on JSW Steel related to unrecovered dues, carried-forward losses and rights of subsidiaries in VIL.

VIL has a production capacity of 2,500-3,000 tonnes per month with manufacturing facility located at Rajpura, Patiala (Punjab).

It had a turnover of Rs 74.59 crore for 2018-19.
Qatar has donated nearly $1.5 billion to U.S. primary schools and universities, promoting its image and radicalizing curricula. Lastly, Qatar has funded think tanks, thereby censoring criticism.

To preserve both academic freedom and morality, academia and think tanks must sever all future ties to and funding from the Qatari government. This would undermine Qatar's grooming efforts while also raising the awareness of students  who are, by definition, America's future  to Qatar's abuses.
John Boyega has clashed with Star Wars fans over a disgusting joke about the sex life of Daisy Ridleys character Rey.

The actor made the crude joke on Instagram, after responding to a fan who remarked that the death of his characters romantic rival in The Rise of Skywalker had enabled him to potentially date Rey.

Its not about who she kisses but who eventually lays the pipe. You are a genius, Boyega responded.

Some fans, however, did not see the funny side of Boyegas joke, with one writing: Bro youre extremely disgusting and gross also f***ing disrespectful

In response, Boyega wrote: You obviously dont know the difference between a fictional world and reality. He added in another tweet that Ridley herself would recognise said difference, writing: Daisy knows she isnt the character. Lol so tbh she doesnt give AF.

The best films of 2019 Show all 20 1 /20 The best films of 2019 The best films of 2019 20. Minding the Gap One of the years biggest cinematic curveballs occurs at the midway point of this stirring documentary. Billed as a film about small-town US skate culture, Bing Lius Minding the Gap grows into a haunting depiction of class and masculinity, and how once inseparable groups of friends tend to untangle and diverge as they come of age. Few of 2019s films cast quite as long a shadow. Adam White Hulu The best films of 2019 19. The Farewell The Farewell rips your heart out of your chest. Then it hands it back to you, wrapped gently in cotton wool. Director Lulu Wang loosely adapts a chapter in her own life, as we follow a young woman (Awkwafina) travelling back to China to say goodbye to her terminally ill grandmother. Delving into all the intricacies of immigrant identity and family politics, its a comedy of warmth and bracing honesty. Clarisse Loughrey A24 The best films of 2019 18. Us An opportunity for Jordan Peele to cement his status as one of horrors modern maestros, Us reels us in with old-fashioned thrills. Then it leaves us with the terrible dread of realising weve been looking into a mirror this whole time. Lupita Nyong'o delivers two of this years best performances in one film, both as our hero and as her sinister doppelganger  one of an army of Tethereds that emerge from underground seeking vengeance. Clarisse Loughrey Universal Pictures The best films of 2019 17. Pain & Glory All of Pedro Almodovars films feel autobiographical in one way or another, but Pain & Glory couldnt be more lived-in if he stepped out in front of the camera to introduce every scene. A lushly romantic ode to cinema, shared history and cruelly interrupted love, it features a career-best performance from Antonio Banderas  Zorro at his most tender and vulnerable. Adam White Sony Pictures The best films of 2019 16. Vox Lux Vox Lux is 2019s most damning filmic portrait of American culture. We begin with a teenage girl (Raffey Cassidy), who survives a school shooting and ends up a pop star. As an adult, shes played by a breezy, vicious Natalie Portman. Her strut is one part Sia, two parts Lady Gaga. Its an ugly, despairing film that comes gift-wrapped in sequins, presenting art as the cavernous pit we throw our traumas into. Clarisse Loughrey Neon The best films of 2019 15. Under the Silver Lake A paranoid puzzle box of a mystery, Under the Silver Lake is far more interested in the directions down the rabbit hole than allowing star Andrew Garfield to crawl his way out of it. Thats also the most pleasurable aspect of David Robert Mitchells film, a sunny LA noir which is sinister, hilarious and (potentially ruinously) male. Its probably 2019s most polarising film, adored and reviled in equal measure, but undeniably a work of striking creative autonomy. Adam White Mubi The best films of 2019 14. High Life High Life has its silly sub-Barbarella moments (Juliette Binoche testing out the spaceships very own orgasmatron machine) and clearly wasnt made on a Hollywood budget. Nonetheless, veteran French auteur Claire Deniss first English language film is a typically provocative and subversive affair. Binoche plays Dr Dibs, a scientist on board a ship full of criminals and trying to harvest healthy foetuses. Geoffrey Macnab A24 The best films of 2019 13. Ad Astra Ad Astra is a space movie with an Oedipal undertow. Brad Pitt gives a fine, understated performance as the introspective astronaut trying to save the world and find his father at the same time. Writer-director James Gray throws in references to Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now. This is a slow-moving but beguiling film with an unexpected emotional kick. Geoffrey Macnab Fox The best films of 2019 12. Happy as Lazzaro A bee keepers daughter, Italian director Alice Rohrwacher is one of European cinemas visionary young talents. Happy As Lazzaro, her best film yet, is a magical realist fable that combines hard-hitting social comment about the exploitation of rural workers with flights of astonishing lyricism. The film also has one of the best performances of the year from newcomer Adriano Tardiolo, an 18-year-old economics student who plays the holy innocent, Lazzaro, with an ingenuousness which rekindles memories of Peter Sellers in Being There. Geoffrey Macnab Simona Pampallona/Netflix The best films of 2019 11. Burning Based on a Haruki Murakamis short story, Burning  from South Korean maestro Lee Chang-dong  is a meditation on dealing with isolation and the tricks being alone might play on your memory. Jong-su (Ah-in Yoo) is forced to play detective when Steven Yeuns affluent bachelor rolls into town  an event that coincides with the disappearance of a schoolfriend. Burning is a searing drama whose central unanswered mystery unnerves long after the credits role. Jacob Stolworthy Thunderbird Releasing The best films of 2019 10. For Sama News coverage has hardly been short of harrowing, violent footage of the Syrian Civil War. But too often missing are the human moments inbetween the bombings and the bloodshed. In Waad Al-Kateabs first person account of the uprisings aftermath, her cameras gaze never flinches from the horrors it sees  as she and her husband try to maintain a rebel hospital amid a reign of bombing from President al-Assad  but nor does it stop rolling while she falls in love, has a baby, and jokes around with her friends and neighbours. This is the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It is an important, powerful, astonishing documentary. Alex Pollard Republic Film Distribution The best films of 2019 9. Can You Ever Forgive Me? It feels almost blasphemous to be glad of Julianne Moore stepping down from a role, but Lee Israel  the cantankerous, lonely literary forger who found herself the target of an FBI investigation in the Nineties  feels like a part Melissa McCarthy was born to play. Nimbly directed by Marielle Heller (who was shunned by the Oscars in the Best Director category), Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a sharp, funny and deeply compassionate examination of loneliness and self-destruction. Richard E Grant and Dolly Wells give wonderful supporting performances, too. Alex Pollard AP The best films of 2019 8. Booksmart As deeply indebted to the teen movie genre as it is formally and narratively rebellious, Booksmart grounds its traditional night-before-graduation plot (teenagers eager to crash a party) in touching character-driven drama. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, both instant stars, convey the ever-shifting dynamics and heightened dramas of adolescent best-friendship perfectly. Behind the camera, meanwhile, actor-turned-director Olivia Wilde demonstrates a staggering amount of emotional empathy and technical mastery for someone so green. Adam White Annapurna Pictures The best films of 2019 7. The Irishman Comparisons to Martin Scorseses previous films (Goodfellas, Casino) are unfounded considering The Irishman is unlike any other gangster film youll see. With his three-hour-30-minute-long opus, Scorsese places the harsh spotlight on mortality. Instead of tracking the rise of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro) from regular family man to seasoned hitman with glitzy panache, we see him shamefully confess his crimes as an elderly man ruminating on his past in a nursing home. The result is an unsettlingly moving character study unafraid to ask the big questions.Jacob Stolworthy Netflix The best films of 2019 6. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood With his ninth feature, Quentin Tarantino took a breath and crafted an unhurried, oddly heartwarming fable, one that came with a career-best performance from Brad Pitt. Its release rolled around with the usual smattering of discourse-steering controversy but, for all the complaints about the directors depiction of his film star subjects, including the scant usage of Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, the fact remains that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of the filmmakers most accomplished films  a freeneasy sun-soaked delve into Sixties Hollywood, whose much-discussed final 20 minutes provided topics of conversation all summer long. Jacob Stolworthy Andrew Cooper/Sony-Columbia Pictures via AP The best films of 2019 5. Eighth Grade For too many years the internet was exclusively evil in movies, something for tech boffins to hack, or used to steal Sandra Bullocks identity. Bo Burnhams Eighth Grade felt so comparatively real because it felt like the real internet, which has been as toxic and terrifying as it has been helpful to a generation of young people. Elsie Fisher, as a 13-year-old girl chronicling her confidence and anxieties in a vlog, is an adorable delight here, in a film that is devastatingly, heartbreakingly and endearingly human. Adam White Rex The best films of 2019 4. The Favourite Yorgos Lanthimoss delightful, subversive vision has shaken the cobwebs out of costume drama. Set in the 18th century, it follows a trio of women  two cousins, Sarah (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail (Emma Stone), and the ruling Queen Anne (Olivia Colman)  as they vie for power over each other and England. Desire, savagery, and manipulative vulnerability all become weapons in the hands of those who have no choice but to fight dirty. But, then, Colmans childless, gout-ridden Queen Anne tenderly reveals her shattered soul  its an Academy Award-winning performance that brings a slice of tragedy to an otherwise sublime farce. Clarisse Loughrey AP The best films of 2019 3. If Beale Street Could Talk The marriage of disparate talents united to ensure If Beale Street Could Talk is worthy of mention alongside Barry Jenkins previous film, Moonlight  The Independents film of the decade. With his film, Jenkins takes the words of James Baldwin and translates them into visual poetry. From Nicholas Britells mesmerising score to Regina Kings towering supporting performance (that Oscar was well deserved), the result is a creative tour de force. Jacob Stolworthy Photos Annapurna Pictures The best films of 2019 2. Marriage Story Here is a love story about divorce. Noah Baumbach writes and directs this aching, empathetic depiction of a couple whose marriage has fallen apart. As ruthless divorce lawyers driving a wedge between two people already hanging by a thread, Ray Liotta and Laura Dern are magnificent, while Scarlett Johansson gives her best performance in years as a woman trying to do the right thing without knowing what that is. But the real star is Adam Driver, who  hulking as he is  makes himself seem small and fragile. For his rendition of Sondheims Being Alive alone, Marriage Story deserves all the awards coming its way. Alex Pollard Netflix The best films of 2019 1. Little Women Greta Gerwigs adaptation of Louisa May Alcotts 1868 novel  the story of four Massachusetts sisters coming of age during the American Civil War  may be a period piece, but there is nothing staid or stuffy about it. The girls, played by Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen, talk and clamber over one another, their hair messy, their dresses scorched, their ambitions unfettered. It is a lively, profound adaptation. Alexandre Desplat provides the exuberant score, and Yorick La Sauxs cinematography is lush and textured. I didnt want it to be beautiful at the expense of being real, said Gerwig. But I did want it to feel like you wish you can jump inside and live in there or eat it. I remember trying to explain that to the gaffer, who was like, You want what? I was like, I want them to want to eat it. And how delicious it is. Alex Pollard Sony Pictures Entertainment

After another fan urged Boyega to stop tweeting as he is worsening his image, the actor wrote, in reference to Game of Thrones: You know nothing Jon Snow.

In another tweet, Boyega continued to defend his joke, writing: I will say it 500000 times. Two consenting adults can lay down whatever the hell they want ya sensitive!

Youre still a misogynist, wrote another fan, to which Boyega replied: And youre an idiot.

The Attack the Block actor also spent his New Years Eve posting a number of GIFs in response to the furore, including Joaquin Phoenix kicking the air in a scene from Joker, and one depicting The Hills star Lauren Conrad rolling her eyes.

He later wrote that he wished to put the upset aside, tweeting: We did good SW fans! Now onwards to 2020!

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Boyega recently denied that he called his Star Wars co-star Kelly Marie Tran weak for being hurt by social media backlash to her character Rose Tico.
The Taliban terrorists have attacked a police checkpoint in the northern Afghan province of Balkh, leaving eight policemen dead and three others injured, the Balkh police chief, Ajmal Fayez, told Sputnik on Wednesday.

Fayez said that a group of Taliban terrorists attacked and seized control of a police checkpoint on the Mazari Sharif -- Sheberghan highway for a short period of time overnight Tuesday and were soon repelled from the area.

According to Afghan media citing local officials, the Taliban had a mole among the checkpoint's 14 officers who helped carry out the attack.

The Taliban have not yet responded to the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fifty years after the first government-sponsored music festival in U.S. history, Oregons Vortex festival will return.

A website for Vortex2020 officially announced the return of the music festival on Tuesday. The festival will take place at the original site, Estacadas Milo McIver State Park, on Aug. 22 and 23.

Vortex2020 will not be a nostalgia project, but a fresh statement of our values: community, unity, kindness, historic awareness and stewardship of our precious public lands, the website said.

Robyn Tenenbaum, one of the organizers of the 2020 event, said this years festival will not be state-sponsored.

We seek to honor the history of the original Vortex but we do not seek to re-create it, Tenenbaum said.

According to the festival website, the event will be free, and in place of payment, attendees will be asked to volunteer with specific community organizations. Those organizations were not immediately identified. Musicians, performers and artists will have a connection with the Pacific Northwest.

About 100,000 people attended the first event, which took place as tensions between anti-war activists and government officials were running high. The first festival was spearheaded by a group of hippies who asked then-governor Tom McCall to sponsor a weeklong rock festival that they said would draw potential protesters away that many predicted would descend on Portland in protest of the upcoming American Legion national convention in the city. City officials feared violence and rioting, and at least 50,000 at the protest.

McCall agreed, to the shock of many and the dismay of some. While organizers called the event Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life, others called it a publicly funded orgy.

But the event did what the hippies said it would: protests in Portland were subdued, as most festival-goers went home to rest instead of protesting the American Legion convention in Portland.

This story will be updated.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:17:54|Editor: Xiaoxia

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DHAKA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Citing security concerns, the Bangladeshi government has ordered the country's all four cell phone operators to shut down services along the border with India.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) this week issued the order to the operators -- Grameenphone, Robi, Airtel and Teletalk, an official said on Wednesday.

According to the BTRC official who declined to give his name, all the operators have already suspended mobile networks within one kilometer of the borders with India.

"Four operators closed around 2,000 base transceiver stations through which they provided smooth mobile network services to some 1 million Bangladesh people," said the official.

The BTRC in its order to the operators said they have to suspend mobile network coverage in the border areas "for the sake of the country's security in the current circumstances."

The Bangladeshi government's move reportedly came in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new citizenship law which critics in parts of the world say discriminates against Muslims.

The law aims at granting citizenship to illegal immigrants belonging to six religions - Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Parsi and Christianity - from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it has kept out Muslim immigrants from applying for citizenship.

Against this backdrop, there has been widespread speculation here that Indian Muslims may flee to Bangladesh amid fears of deportation in India.

"Mobile network shutdown is aimed at foiling any possible of bid of Indians to enter Bangladesh with support of their friends and well wishers in our country," said a Home Ministry official who declined to be named.

Bangladeshi border guards have recently detained 238 people, who fled from India.
The escape follows a stunning fall from grace for Ghosn, who rose to become the car industry's most powerful executive and united Japanese firms Nissan and Mitsubishi with the French company Renault in a global alliance. After almost two decades of untrammelled power during which he became a superstar in Japan, amassed a $A172 million fortune and even had a comic book written about him, Ghosn was suddenly arrested in late 2018 and accused of taking millions of dollars in secret payments from his company. Then Nissan president and CEO Carlos Ghosn speak during a press conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, in 2012. Credit:AP The executive - who was born in Brazil but raised in Lebanon from the age of six - was locked up in Tokyo Detention Centre for more than 100 days and reportedly grilled by investigators for 14 hours at a time as they sought in vain to extract a confession before he went to trial, in a country which has a 99 per cent conviction rate. He was eventually released on bail in March 2019 following the payment of a record $A20 million bond, which will now reportedly be confiscated.

Ghosn's escape is all the more remarkable given the strict conditions under which he was placed after his release. He was shadowed at all times by police, prosecutors and a private detective while out in public. A 24-hour surveillance camera was installed at the entrance of his apartment, he was prohibited from accessing the internet and using email, and for months was forbidden from communicating with his wife. A pedestrian passes the garage at the property of Carlos Ghosn, former head of Nissan and Renault, in Beirut, Lebanon. Credit:Bloomberg In a previous interview with The New York Times, Lebanese national Carole Ghosn, 53, said the authorities at one point confiscated her phones, passport, diary and letters she had written to her husband while he was in jail. She said that a woman from the prosecutors' office followed her into the bathroom and when she stepped out of the shower, the woman handed her a towel.

"They wanted to humiliate me and my husband. I was treated like a terrorist... like I had a bomb on me," she said. Loading Ghosn had three passports, issued by Lebanon, France and Brazil. All were confiscated on his arrest and are still being held by his lawyers in Japan, who insist they played no part in his flight. A person resembling Ghosn entered Beirut international airport under a different name, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported, citing a Lebanese security official. Selim Jreissati, Lebanon's state minister for presidential affairs, told local press that he landed legally with a French passport and Lebanese ID. Jreissati said he had previously pressed the Japanese to hand Ghosn over for trial in Lebanon in accordance with international anti-corruption laws.

The businessman has become a folk hero in Lebanon - where he also part-owns the premium Ixsir vineyard - and is seen as victim of cruel injustice. Lebanese TV host Ricardo Karam, a friend of the fugitive, said: "He is home. It's a big adventure." When the charges against him were first announced, his face appeared on billboards all over Beirut with the message "We are all Carlos Ghosn" as a gesture of support. That enthusiasm apparently remains strong despite mass anti-corruption protests which have rocked the tiny Mediterranean country since mid-October and forced out prime minister Saad Hariri, leaving the country locked in political stalemate and heading for economic collapse. One man posted a "Carlos, welcome home!" letter through the gate of Ghosn's $A21 million pink mansion in the exclusive neighbourhood of Achrafieh on Tuesday, although another passing local muttered that he epitomises what the Lebanese are trying to get rid of with the protests.

Back in Japan, Ghosn's own lawyers condemned his actions although the authorities' response was more muted. At a hastily arranged press conference, Ghosn's lead defender Junichiro Hironaka - known as "the Razor" for his sharp legal arguments - said he was "dumbfounded". Hironaka, who last saw his client on Christmas Day, said: "His act is unforgivable and a betrayal of Japan's justice system. Maybe he thought he would not get a fair trial. I don't blame him for thinking that way." "Dumbfounded": Junichiro Hironaka, lawyer for Nissan's former boss Carlos Ghosn. Credit:Kyodo/AP The French government also said it had no prior knowledge of the escape plan. Junior Economy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher told French radio Ghosn would be able to get consular support as a citizen of the country. Meanwhile Japan's ambassador to Lebanon, Matahiro Yamaguchi, was at a party in Beirut when the escape became public knowledge. He was approached by MTV at the gathering but said he had no information about what had happened.

Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida at the automaker's headquarters in Yokohama, near Tokyo, last month. Japanese securities regulators are recommending the company be fined 2.4 billion yen ($31 million) for the under-reporting of compensation of its former chairman, Carlos Ghosn. Credit:AP A Tokyo court has now granted prosecutors' request for Ghosn's bail to be revoked, according to NHK. However, Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon - or any other country apart from the US and South Korea - meaning he is likely to remain at large. Loading Ghosn has always denied wrongdoing and insisted his arrest was part of a politically motivated coup as he sought to integrate Nissan and Renault. The case has put Japan's often harsh justice system under international scrutiny and was expected to lead to a closely fought trial in four months' time. Ghosn's former top aide Greg Kelly, 63, has also been awaiting trial on similar misconduct charges and remains in Tokyo.

The charges Ghosn faces include under-reporting his income from Nissan for eight years through to March 2018 and of transferring a loss-making private derivatives contract to a Nissan account. He is also accused of paying $US14.6 million ($20 million) in company funds to a Saudi Arabian businessman in a deal that was not sanctioned by Nissan. The fourth charge is that he ordered a Nissan subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates to pay $US10m to a distributor in Oman and to have $US5m of that total subsequently transferred to an account at a Lebanese investment firm that Ghosn effectively owns. Ghosn has denied all the allegations. Lebanese minister Jreissati said his government will not yet be taking a formal stance on Ghosn, as it has received no official word from Japan. Neither the Japanese embassy in Lebanon nor the Lebanese embassy in Japan was immediately available to comment.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 15:51:44|Editor: xuxin

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SUVA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The ban on the manufacture, sale, and supply of single-use plastic bags in Fiji is effective from Wednesday, which is a step towards achieving a plastic-free environment that will help Fiji's tourism industry and marine life.

Fiji's Ministry of Economy Head of Climate Change Nilesh Prakash urged Fijians to add the ban on single-use plastic bags to their New Year resolutions.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service Chief Executive Officer Visvanath Das said the heavy penalties for manufacturing, selling and supplying of single-use plastic bags is seen as a deterrent.

Das said manufacturing fines will be 500,000 Fijian dollars (about 232,000 U.S. dollars) or seven years imprisonment or both. For the sale of plastic, the fine will be 150,000 Fijian dollars (about 69,000 U.S. dollars).

In January 2021, there will be a ban on styrofoam and plastic straws as well.

With the plastic ban enforced on Wednesday, Prakash said some women's groups in Fiji were already taking initiatives to help in the transition process by making cloth shopping bags.

He said manufacturers are already in the transition process, resorting to the production of paper bags to be used when plastic is phased out from Wednesday.

Eight million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean each year and it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in ocean.

Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) Kosi Latu said at the opening of the Clean Pacific Roundtable 2018 that plastics was now a food security issue.

A study on fish ingestion with samples from the Pacific including Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa showed that 97 percent of all fish species sampled had micro-plastics, 30 percent higher than the global average.

Latu said this is very concerning for the Pacific where fish is the main source for protein, and where fish consumption is at least approximately three or four times higher than the global average.
U.S. to deploy 750 U.S. troops to Middle East after embassy attack in Baghdad

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Tuesday that the United States will deploy about 750 troops immediately to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

"Approximately 750 #Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately & additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days," said the Pentagon chief in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

The IRF refers to the Immediate Response Force of the 82nd Airborne Division.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today," Esper added.

The Pentagon's decision came hours after hundreds of demonstrators, mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. attack in Iraq on Sunday, stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone.

U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Iran for "orchestrating an attack" on the embassy in a Tuesday morning tweet.
The UK looks set to introduce new laws to make tech company executives more personally liable for harm visited upon users of their products and services.

The move, flagged for almost a year, could mean jail time for bosses in big social media and online service companies.

As part of the initiative, the British government will create a statutory duty of care for technology giants such as Facebook, Google and Twitter.

This will reportedly be overseen by Ofcom, the UK regulatory body tasked with keeping order over telecoms firms.

According to the London 'Times', the new code will also include a "senior management liability", which would mean that executives of the technology firms would become directly responsible for breaches of care.

The result could include prosecution and incarceration for tech bosses under extreme circumstances, it is reported.

Most of the companies the new law is aimed at are headquartered in Ireland.

To get around this, the legislation would require the nomination of a UK-based director, who would take responsibility under British law.

The UK initiative comes as the Irish Government prepares to introduce legislation for a new Online Safety Commissioner, which would marginally increase the State's power to fine tech companies based here.

The legislation is aimed at reducing harassment, bullying and threats for users of online services. It will give the new commissioner increased powers to order take-downs of offending material.

It also comes as US presidential candidates debate the merits of breaking up big tech companies which, it is claimed, have amassed too much control over citizens' daily lives.

"Today's big tech companies have too much power over our economy, our society and our democracy," said one of the US Democratic Party's leading presidential election candidates, Elizabeth Warren.

Ms Warren proposes to break Facebook up into constituent parts, which could result in separate corporate structures for WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook itself.

She also suggests doing this with Google, by separating YouTube from its search engine.

Last month, the British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen called on governments to make tech executives more personally legally responsible.

"Maybe fines are not enough," he said.

"Maybe it's time to tell... the CEOs of these companies, 'you already allowed one foreign power to interfere in our elections, you already facilitated one genocide in Myanmar; do it again and you go to jail'."
Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican authorities have arrested seven suspects in connection with last month's massacre of nine Mormon women and children in the country's north, the attorney general's office said.

A local police chief suspected of links to organized crime was among those taken into custody, according to local media.

The victims -- six of them children -- had dual US-Mexican nationality and were shot dead on a rural road in a lawless region known for turf wars between drug cartels fighting over lucrative trafficking routes to the United States.

Investigators believe the cartel mistook the families for members of a rival gang, but some relatives reject that theory, saying they were deliberately targeted.

The prosecutor's office said in a statement Monday that three suspects were arrested on December 26 for "probable responsibility" in organized crime. The charges against the other four, arrested earlier, were not specified.

The November 4 killing took place between the states of Sonora and Chihuahua and increased pressure on President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's government to show it was acting against brutal violence by drug cartels.

Following the massacre, US President Donald Trump threatened to designate drug cartels as terror groups, which many Mexicans saw as opening the door to further meddling by the US.

Lopez Obrador met with relatives of the victims earlier this month to report on the investigation.

A second meeting between the family and Mexican authorities is expected in coming days.
ALTON  The Yoga Connection is hosting two workshops in January.

Foresight to Success: Creating the Life You Want, is planned at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan 4. The interactive workshop will use meditation, yoga, chakra balancing and writing exercises. Supplies will be provided; no yoga experience necessary. The cost is $25.

Spiritual Energy of Kundalini: Rebirthing Kriyas, is planned at noon Sunday, Jan. 5,. The kriyas are essentially a series of profound pranayam (breathing) practices. A gong meditation is included. No yoga experience necessary; the cost is $25.

Pre-registration and payment is required. People can take both workshops for $40. For details visit theyogaconnection.me or contact Danette Watt at 618-467-8827 or dmwatt33@gmail.com.

A six-week introduction to yoga will start Jan. 9. All events start at 6 p.m.; cost is $60 until Jan. 3 and then $75. The course will teach fundamental yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation and applying yoga philosophy to daily lives. Safety will be emphasized and students can expect a slow pace with detailed instructions.

For more details, contact Watt. The Yoga Connection is within Be Well Now, 221 E. Center Drive, Alton.
Many Kashmiris who were waiting for midnight to wish their friends a happy new year were disappointed as SMS services were restored only for BSNL users, contrary to government claims.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has claimed that it has restored SMS services for postpaid mobile phones in Kashmir from the midnight of 31 December, 2019. However, as of now, the service has been restored only for BSNL users.

On New Year's Eve, Maheen Jan, who has an Airtel postpaid connection, stayed up till midnight, hoping that she would be able to message her friends. She had even typed out several SMSs to her friends to wish them for the new year. However, she was disappointed.

Jan said, "I thought SMS services would resume at 12 am, but that didn't happen. I had compiled all the messages, and had to just send them at 12 am. But when I typed the 'send' icon, a message saying failed to send messages appeared. I was so disheartened. This incident gave me another reason for distrust the government.

Like Jan, Mommin Shabir, a student of Class 12, could not sleep till 3 am in the night, with the hope that he would be able to send SMSs, only to be disappointed. "I thought I would wish my friends a happy new year," Shabir, who has a Jio postpaid connection, said.

Another student, Ubeer Shah, who has postpaid mobile connections of Jio and BSNL, was only able to send SMSs through the latter network. He rued, "We have been saying for a long time that we need SMS facility to get OTPs for several purposes. But no one listens to us."

On Wednesday morning, Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan confirmed that SMS services have only resumed for BSNL users. An Airtel official in Kashmir said that the order to restore SMS services is "under implementation."

On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir administration spokesman Rohit Kansal had told reporters, "It has been decided to restore internet connectivity to all government hospitals with effect from midnight of 31 December besides fully restoring SMS on mobile phones." However, the SMS facility has only been restored for BSNL phones.

Meanwhile, internet and pre-paid mobile services are yet to be restored for Kashmiris.

On 5 January, the internet blackout and suspension of SMS services in the Kashmir Valley will complete five months. The state had witnessed a complete communication blackout on 5 August, after the Centre effectively scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.

On 14 October, the administration resumed postpaid mobile services in the Valley. Subsequently, there was a huge rush at mobile showrooms of people who wanted to get postpaid services activated.

When the government resumed postpaid mobile services in the Valley, there were 1,46,742 lakh Jio users, 86,700 Airtel users, 16,642 Vodafone Idea users, and 98,600 BSNL users. However, many users registered themselves after postpaid services were restored.

Before that, only about 12,000 users were in a 'white list' (connections that were made functional), while the rest were in the blacklist. According to a report in The Print, most users whose connections were made functional in the 'white list' were state administrative officials, and officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and paramilitary forces.

People in Kashmir are also facing problems due to the ban on prepaid services. Many are visiting Banihal, located 108 kilometres from Srinagar, to port their numbers.
Bengaluru, Jan 1 : India's maiden attempt to soft land on moon during the Chandrayaan-2 mission failed in September last year, as its spacecraft Vikram 'crash landed' near the moon's south pole due to a velocity glitch, a top space official said on Wednesday.

"The velocity reduction was more than the required pace during the second (rough-breaking) phase of the lander's descent. Hence, it was not able to perform the third phase, as it was beyond the navigational system," state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K. Sivan told reporters here.

Contrary to the space agency's claim that Vikram had a hard landing on the lunar surface on that fateful day (September 7, 2019), Sivan admitted to IANS that the lander crashed on impact.

"For strategic reasons we could not admit Vikram crash landed because its images from the mission's Orbiter did not show that it disintegrated on hitting the lunar surface as it fell in the shadow," Sivan clarified.

Admitting that the velocity (speed) reduction was more than it should have been, Sivan said as the descent was on an autonomous mode, the system was not designed to factor the deviation.

Though ISRO had set up a committee to find out what went wrong with the lander on the descent mode that led to the mission control room on the ground (Bengaluru) losing contact with it, its report was not made public as the findings had to be analysed with the data generated during the incident.

However, Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh had told the Parliament during its winter session on November 21 last year that the velocity of the lander reduced more than what was anticipated, leading to the crash.

"The velocity was reduced from 1,683 metres per second to 146 metres per second. During the second phase of the descent, the reduction in velocity was more than the designed value.

"Due to this deviation, the initial conditions at the start of the fine braking phase were beyond the designed parameters. As a result, Vikram hard landed within 500 metres of the designated landing site," Singh had said in a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha.

An image of Vikram's landing site, captured by Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in December, showed 21 pieces of confirmed or likely spacecraft debris scattered over several kilometres, indicating that the lander disintegrated on impact.

The US space agency located Vikram's debris with the help of Chennai-based techie Shanmuga Subramanian, who contacted the LRO project with a positive identification of the debris.

"Subramanian contacted the LRO project with a positive identification of debris. After receiving this tip, the LRO team confirmed the identification by comparing before and after images. The debris first located by Subramanian is about 750 meters northwest of the main crash site," Nasa said in a statement on its website on December 3.

Sivan, however, complimented Subramanian for locating Vikram's debris.

"I congratulate Subramanian and appreciate his efforts in locating our lander's parts on the moon's surface," Sivan said.

Chandrayaan-2, comprising an orbiter, lander (Vikram) and a rover (Pragyan), was launched onboard heavy rocket GSLV Mark-3 on July 22 from ISRO's spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 90 km northeast of Chennai.

After four earth-bound manoeuvers and trans-lunar injection, Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft was inserted into the lunar orbit on August 20. Vikram was separated from the orbiter on September 2. After two de-orbiting manoeuvres, a powered descent of the lander was initiated on September 7 for soft landing on the moon's surface, about 600 km from its south pole.

As the lander's velocity deviated in the last 2.1 km of its descent, it hard landed 500 metres from the chosen landing site.

A successful landing would have made India the fourth country to do so after the US, former Soviet Union and China and the first country to have landed so close to the lunar south pole.
Twenty-two proposals, 16 from states and union territories and six from central ministries -- out of a total 56 have been short-listed for this Republic Day parade, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Ministry had received 32 tableau proposals from states and union territories and 24 from central ministries and departments.

"Out of these, 22 proposals, comprising 16 states/UTs and 6 ministries/departments, have finally been short-listed for participation in the Republic Day Parade 2020 after a series of five meetings," a statement by the ministry said.

The West Bengal government's proposal was rejected after an Expert Committee examined it in two rounds of meeting, it said.

"The tableau proposal of the West Bengal government was not taken forward for further consideration by the Expert Committee after deliberations in the second meeting.

"It is pertinent to mention here that the tableau of the Government of West Bengal was short-listed for participation in the Republic Day Parade 2019 as an outcome of the same process," it added.

There is a well-established system for selection of tableau for participation in the Republic Day Parade.The Ministry of Defence invites proposals from all states, union territories, central ministries and departments.

The proposals are then evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert Committee comprising eminent persons in the fields of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc.

The Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations, the statement said.

Due to time constraints, only a limited number of tableau can be short-listed for participation in the parade."The selection process in vogue, leads to participation of the best tableau in the parade," the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Louise Da Costa was completely autonomous and continued conquering the world of electronic music all by herself. She played everywhere and set up her own label. If you didnt make it to one of her shows in the last twelve months I strongly recommend you change your ways in the coming twelve.

Oisin OScolai became an employee of the Empire in Belfast and a minion of R G Shiels Black Trajik label and released Vacant Sea



Conor McAteer released the beautiful North under the pen name We Are Aerials, at the time of writing there is no proof that he is actually an aerial but plenty that he is a complete.

Maya Goldblum lived here, played here, released Light Shadow Boom Boom played more then left. Sandpoint, Idahos regain is our loss.

The late Eamon Friel (right) enjoying a joke with fellow Derry musician Paddy Nash.



As part of Record Store Day celebrations Glen Hansard played St Columbs Hall twice and we learned two things, Cool Discs is the compos mentis brain of the scene (they also put on the Murder Capital in-store that showed Sunday afternoon gigs are a goer) and that Derry crowds are absolutely terrible people. Like McAteer.



Red Organ Serpent Sound came back to headline the magic Tuned In Projects fundraiser show. They then released their second albums demos. They havent released their first album yet but Im assured its on its way.

We proved ourselves more than capable of putting ourselves on the map via the Celtronic, Feile, Together, Stendhal, Oscillations and Modulations festivals, not to mention the fundraiser gigs for NICU and the Tuned In Project, great times and great music were had by all.



Damien Dempsey came back to Derry for the anniversary of the Civil Rights movements most important work.

The music and performing arts course in the tech headed up by Rory Donaghy and Grainne McNamara (North West Regional College to your parents) gave itself the credit it deserves and is now living under the new identity MAPA and being rightfully celebrated for training up the musicians and tech-heads that keep our funny wee engine running.



Marty Coyle went to Bulgaria as a musician in residence and came back with whole new bag of ingredients for future Balkan/Derry work. You were probably in Tinneys watching them last night and no doubt agree wholeheartedly.

Janet Hoy and a group of other artists created The Stone Tapes which were sonic representations of the Walls of Derry, the memories trapped in stone can be heard at www.stonetapes.com.



The Clameens played their first live show since disbanding without Doyle at Lisahally in August and promised us nothing really. They came, they saw, they conquered and theyll let us know the craic sure.

The Clameens have sadly aged and now the young punks have taken over. No Collusion are leading the way for independent, frenetic noise and keeping the spirit of Bam Bam & The Calling well and truly alive. Between them, Fast Thursday and Happy Out the punk scene is well and truly flourishing.



Rebecca Harkin released Things Man Be Someway and Great White Lies released Chrysalis and both proved that jazz isnt as terrible as I thought and, more importantly, the young musicians of Doire and Donegal know a million times more about music than the frequenters of the start of may party.

The late Micky Griffiths who is sadly missed.



Keith Harkin continued to soar around America but landed back in Ireland to build and promote his Barn Studios and work with White Denim and The Eagles collaborators. Contact the Barn Studios on Facebook, its an absolute treat and the rates are magic.

The year belonged to Quiet Arch and the work of Eoin OCallaghan and Ryan Vail on their Borders album. Everything about it came from here, from writing and making, to promoting and videoing. A true triumph of independence that will live forever. It won the album of the year at the NI Music prize and their stablemates Cherym picked up the Oh Yeah Contender award.



Sadly this year we lost Eamon Friel in June and his loss is reverberates still, a truly loved, inspiring and cherished foundation of everything musical in Derry left the kind of memories that will outlast us all. Then, in December, Micky Griffiths passed away.

Joe Brown said he stopped him from going sane. I cant think of a more beautiful tribute. I genuinely hope that everyone has someone in their life like Micky. Theres loads to come in the New Year but Ill get to that later.
Tsai Ing-wen far ahead in final opinion polls before Taiwan vote

ROC Central News Agency

2019/12/31 18:19

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () is a virtual shoo-in to be re-elected as Taiwan's president on Jan. 11, 2020 if the final polls released before a 10-day poll blackout period are to be believed.

Based on the polls, Tsai could repeat or exceed her 25-point victory in 2016, in which she grabbed 56.12 percent of the vote, against 31.04 percent for Eric Chu () of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and 12.83 percent for James Soong (), chairman of the smaller People First Party.

In the final poll issued by cable news station TVBS, Tsai had a 45 percent-29 percent lead over Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu () of the KMT, with Soong a distant third with 7 percent. The other 19 percent of respondents were undecided.

That was a slight improvement for Han from a 22-point deficit on Dec. 4, a 19-point deficit on Dec. 14 and an 18-point deficit on Dec. 28, the day before the only presidential debate of the campaign debate.

The poll, which was conducted on the evening of Dec. 29 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.0 percentage points, showed the narrowest lead for Tsai among the major polls released Sunday and Monday.

An Apple Daily poll conducted Dec. 27-29 with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, had Tsai with a 48.6 percent-15.4 percent lead over Han, and Soong with 6.3 percent, while 29.7 percent said they were undecided.

In its poll that also had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, my-formosa.com had Tsai at 48.2 percent support against 20.3 percent for Han and 10.3 percent for Soong.

The results represent a major turnaround from as recently as early August, when Han had a 3-point lead over Tsai in a TVBS tracking poll, and trailed Tsai by only 1.9 points in an Apple Daily poll.

Since then, Han has been hurt by allegations of previously owning expensive homes, eroding his average-Joe image, and a campaign to recall him as Kaohsiung mayor for running for president just months after being elected mayor.

At the same time, Tsai has been helped by intensifying protests in Hong Kong that have only reinforced Beijing's authoritarian, anti-democratic image, reinforcing her message that China cannot be trusted and that Taiwan cannot compromise on its sovereignty.

One potential variable that could affect the accuracy of the polls was Han's plea to supporters in late November to lie to pollsters.

Dismayed by surveys that he contended underestimated his support, Han told supporters on Nov. 29 to tell pollsters they were backing Tsai to artificially inflate her backing and lull the DPP into a false sense of security.

The Apple Daily poll estimated that of the 29.7 percent of voters in its poll who said they were undecided, just over a fifth were Han supporters who were unwilling to make their intentions known, which would narrow Tsai's lead to 48.6 percent-21.7 percent.

My-formosa pollster Tai Li-an () felt Han's request would have only a marginal effect on poll numbers. He said he did not expect most Han supporters to follow Han's lead, and that those who did would not form a large enough group to affect a poll's validity.

Economic issues do not seem to be driving voters in this election.

Although 60.2 percent of the respondents in the my-formosa poll said Taiwan's economy was not good, while 35.4 percent said it was good, they still were generally satisfied with Tsai's performance since she took office in May 2016 by a 51.4 percent to 43.9 percent margin.

Even respondents who felt the economy was not doing well favored Tsai by a 31.8 percent-28.7 percent margin, with Soong getting 12.2 percent.

Han also fared relatively poorly on relations with China.

According to the my-formosa poll, 39.7 percent of respondents favored a more open policy toward China, compared to 48.4 percent who backed the status quo and 2.9 percent who supported a more restrictive policy.

Yet Han, who is for more conciliatory relations with China, only carved out a 35.0 percent-24.8 percent edge among those advocating a more open approach, while trailing by a 68.4 percent-9.0 percent edge among backers of the status quo and a 78.5 percent-2.6 percent edge among those wanting to limit contact with China.

Tsai was also given the nod by a 47.9 percent-21.1 percent margin when respondents were asked who they felt would be more able to protect the Republic of China.

By age, Tsai's biggest strength is with younger voters, leading Han by a 63 percent-24 percent margin among 20-29 year olds and a 56 percent-21 percent margin among 30-39 year olds in the TVBS poll.

But she only had a 41 percent-33 percent edge among 40-49 year olds and a 42 percent-36 percent edge among those aged 50-59, two age groups that were firmly behind Han earlier in the year.

The my-formosa poll showed Tsai with a more comfortable margin over Han among all age groups, and had Soong even leading or running close behind Han among voters aged 20-39.

Regionally, the only area in which Han was within 10 points of Tsai was in central Taiwan, where he trailed by a 39 percent-31 percent margin, according to the TVBS poll.

Enditem/J

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If you love to travel, there's a good chance you also enjoy reading about travel. From coffee table books that showcase breathtaking photography (and make the best gifts) to memoirs and travelogues, books about travel never fail to inspire wanderlust.

Plus, there's no better travel accessory than a book. A good book is a must-have in any carry-on bag. Luckily for you, we've rounded up eight new travel books that will provide just the right inspiration to book a trip in the new year.

Related: More travel books





Literary Places by Sarah Baxter

Courtesy of Amazon

This book is not your typical city guide. Travel journalist Sarah Baxter focuses on destinations that have been heavily featured in literature and makes the places described on the page come to life. Baxter includes a wide variety of locations, including New York City through the lens of "The Catcher in the Rye" and Naples as told by Elena Ferrantein "My Brilliant Friend."

To buy: amazon.com, $10

Turquoise Coast by Kinay

Courtesy of Amazon

This book will not only look beautiful on your coffee table, but the stunning photos will take your breath away. You won't be able to help getting lost in the rich colors of the Turkish Riviera, and you might even want to book a trip to the coast after reading.

To buy: amazon.com, $85

Wild Horses of the Summer Sun by Tory Bilski

Courtesy of Amazon

Iceland is a hot spot for outdoor and adventure travel. If you've been curious about booking a trip, pick up Tory Bilski'smemoir, which follows the author and a group of female travelers bound together by their love of Icelandic horses as they make their way through the northern region of the country.

To buy: amazon.com, $18

Wherever You Go: A Guide to Mindful, Sustainable, and Life-Changing Travel by Daniel Houghton

Courtesy of Amazon

For those interested in the travel industry, this book by a former CEO of Lonely Planet offers fascinating insight into what it's like when it becomes your job to travel the world.

To buy: amazon.com, $17

Story continues

Wanderlust USA: The Great American Hike by Cam Honan

Courtesy of Amazon

Many of us daydream about traveling all over the world, but there's always plenty to see right here in the US. This photography book showcases gorgeous images of landscapes across the country, including redwoods in California and Atlantic cliffs in Maine, all of which will make you want to take a hike immediately.

To buy: amazon.com, $34

How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to Be Together by Dan Kois

Courtesy of Amazon

Lauded as a funny and relatable memoir, "How to Be a Family" follows Dan Kois, his wife, and two pre-teen daughters on a global adventure, as they leave their everyday lives in Washington, DC and move to New Zealand, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Kansas, all in one year.

To buy: amazon.com, $17

A Month in Siena by Hisham Matar

Courtesy of Amazon

If you are dreaming of traveling to Italy, Hisham Matar'smemoir about Siena is a must-read. His month-long stay in the Tuscan city focuses on art, specifically works from the Sienese School of Painting, and the book follows the relationship between the author, the city, and the art that surrounds him.

.

To buy: amazon.com, $18

The Art of Looking Up by Catherine McCormack

Courtesy of Amazon

This book features beautiful photography of unique ceilings all over the world and the art that adorns them. Art historian Catherine McCormack provides an in-depth guide to 40 of these ceilings, from the Vatican Palace in Italy to the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

To buy: amazon.com, $40

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week.
Ed Simon at berfrois:

The approach of a decades end draws the mind to those sorts of considerations, the way in which the arbitrary conclusion of a certain segment of calendrical time imposes order onto the disorder of human events. Our approaching decades conclusion is the rare variety of prediction that necessarily and by definition shall absolutely come to pass (even if all the missiles should go off before the Times Square ball drops).

Since it was always a matter of contingent decision, the arrival of January 1st, 2020 was foretold the moment that the Gregorian Calendar was adopted (1582 in France, Italy, and the Hapsburg lands; 1750 in Great Britain and her colonies; 1918 in the newly established USSR). Its arrival was of course foretold the moment the previous Julian Calendar had been established as well, albeit anyone still counting from that archaic system wont see the new decade until the date of January 13th in our calendar. We cant help but think in those decimal units of decades, centuries, millennia, and we assume that as an organizing principle they help us understand things about human alteration, about shifts and changes in culture, society, politics, technology, and so on.

more here.
Kim Jong Un: North Korea ending test moratoriums



Seoul, Dec 31 (AFP) Dec 31, 2019



North Korea is abandoning its moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, leader Kim Jong Un has declared according to state media Wednesday.

The North has previously fired missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland, and has carried out six nuclear tests.

A self-imposed ban on such tests -- Kim declared they were no longer needed -- has been at the centrepiece of the nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington over the last two years, which has seen three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, but little tangible progress.

Analysts said the declaration amounted to Kim putting a missile "to Donald Trump's head" -- but that escalation by Pyongyang would probably backfire.

Any actual test is likely to infuriate Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Kim's "promise" to him not to carry them out, and has played down launches of shorter-range weapons.

Negotiations between the two sides have been largely deadlocked since the breakup of their Hanoi summit in February, and the North set the US an end-of-year deadline for it to offer fresh concessions on sanctions relief, or it would adopt a "new way".

"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the official KCNA news agency cited Kim telling top ruling party officials.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," he added.

The full meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party -- an indication of a major policy shift -- and the KCNA report came ahead of Kim's annual New Year speech, a key moment in the North Korean political calendar, reviewing the past and setting out goals for the future.

It will be Kim's eighth such address, after he revived the tradition started by his grandfather -- North Korea's founding leader Kim Il Sung -- but discontinued during his father's rule.

Kim made clear to party officials that the North was willing to live under international sanctions to preserve its nuclear capability.

"The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.

Washington had "conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop" and sent high-tech military equipment to the South, he said, and stepped up sanctions against the North.

"We can never sell our dignity," he added, saying Pyongyang would "shift to a shocking actual action to make (the US) pay for the pains sustained by our people".



- 'Geopolitical chicken' -



For months, Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington has insisted it takes more tangible steps towards giving them up.

"North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to Donald Trump's head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee," said Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington.

"Kim Jong-un is playing a dangerous game of geopolitical chicken," he added.

"He is gambling that threatening another demonstration of his ability to hit the US homeland with a nuclear weapon will somehow push America into granting more concessions."

But the strategy was unlikely to be effective, he said, as Washington was likely to respond with "more sanctions, an increased military presence in East Asia and more fire and fury style threats coming from Donald Trump's Twitter account".

The US has already indicated that it will react if the North carried out a long-range missile test.

At the weekend Trump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said the administration would be "extraordinarily disappointed and we'll demonstrate that disappointment".

"We have a lot of tools in our toolkit, and additional pressure can be brought to bear on the North Koreans," he said.

An ICBM launch would also be likely to frustrate China, the North's key diplomatic backer and provider of trade and aid, which always stresses stability in a region it regards as its own back yard.

But ties between Pyongyang and Beijing have warmed markedly in the past two years, with Chinese President Xi Jinping paying his first visit to the North as head of state in June, and Beijing and Washington at loggerheads over trade and other issues.

In December China and Russia -- another key economic partner for the North -- proposed loosening UN sanctions against Pyongyang, and analysts say Kim is likely to seek to exploit rivalries between Washington, Beijing and Moscow.
Israeli Prime Minister said Wednesday he would seek immunity from corruption charges, likely delaying any trial until after March elections, when he hopes to have a majority coalition that will shield him from prosecution.

Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust. After failing to assemble a governing majority following back-to-back elections last year, he will get a third shot at remaining in office in March.

Wednesday's announcement essentially turns the upcoming election into a referendum on whether Netanyahu should be granted immunity and remain in office, or step down and stand trial. A recent poll indicated that a majority of Israelis oppose giving him immunity.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu repeated his assertion that he is the victim of an unfair conspiracy, lashing out at prosecutors, the media and his political enemies. Claiming credit for a series of economic and security achievements on his watch, he said he would seek to invoke the law that would protect him from prosecution as long as he remains in office.

"In order to continue to lead to great achievements, I intend to approach the speaker of the Knesset in accordance with chapter 4C of the law, in order to fulfill my right, my duty and my mission to continue to serve you for the future of Israel," he said.

Normally, a request for immunity would need to be approved by the parliament's House Committee and then submitted to a full vote. But the House Committee doesn't exist because a government was never formed after September's election. Court proceedings cannot begin until the question of immunity is settled.

The opposition Blue and White party said it will seek to form the House Committee before the March election to take up the question of immunity. But it remains unclear whether it will be able to move forward. Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein, a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, said he would hold talks on the matter next week.

The Blue and White leader, former military chief Benny Gantz, said it was a "sad day".

"I never imagined that we would see the day that the prime minister of would avoid standing before the law and the justice system," he said. "Today it's clear what we're fighting for. Netanyahu knows he's guilty."



Netanyahu said he was not evading justice and still plans to go to court to fight the "fabricated accusations".

"The law is meant to ensure that elected officials can serve the people according to the will of the people," he said.

Should Netanyahu succeed in assembling a 61-seat majority in favor of immunity, he would avoid prosecution.

But that still appears unlikely after the March vote, with most polls predicting another split decision that would leave Likud and Blue and White deadlocked, with neither able to secure a parliamentary majority.

The uncertainty means it could be many months before a new government is formed, leaving the question of immunity on hold with Netanyahu remaining in office.

The indictment, on charges of trading political and regulatory favours for positive press coverage and accepting lavish gifts from wealthy supporters, marked the culmination of three long-running investigations.

Netanyahu has dismissed the allegations as an "attempted coup" and has vowed to battle them from the prime minister's office.

Netanyahu is desperate to remain in office while he fights the charges. The powerful position would allow him to rally public opposition to what he says is an unfair witch hunt He can also use the office to grant political favors to allies who agree to vote in favor of immunity.

The question of immunity is just one of the hurdles Netanyahu faces.

While Israeli law does not require a sitting prime minister to resign after being charged with a crime, it is vague about whether an indicted politician could be tapped to form a new government after new elections.

On Tuesday, Israel's Supreme Court began discussions on the matter. If the court decides Netanyahu is ineligible, it could potentially bring his three-decade political career to an abrupt end after the March election.

The court gave no indication on when it would issue a ruling on the politically sensitive case. Disqualifying Netanyahu would deeply divide the nation and precipitate a legal crisis over separations of power.

The prime minister has long accused judicial and law enforcement officials of trying to drive him from office and repeated his claim Wednesday night that only the voters can choose who will lead the country.

He received a boost last week when he easily defeated a senior Likud member in a primary election for the party leadership. The vote shored up his base, but he faces a much greater challenge going into the general elections.

An opinion poll conducted this week by the iPanel and Midgam research firms found that 51 per cent of respondents oppose granting Netanyahu immunity, with 33 per cent in favour. The poll questioned 507 people and had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.

Netanyahu has been in power for more than a decade and is Israel's longest-serving leader. His refusal to make concessions to the Palestinians and his tough stance toward Iran have made him a hero of the political right, which regularly wins more than half the vote.
The US has deployed hundreds of troops to Kuwait after an attack on the American embassy in Baghdad, an American official said on Wednesday, telling AFP they would likely be sent to neighbouring Iraq.

"At least 500 members of the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division have left Fort Bragg in the US, and up to 4,000 may ultimately be deployed," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Political activist and lyricist Javed Akhtar has negated the Uttar Pradesh Minister Mohsin Razas remark on the alleged PFI link to the violent anti-CAA protests which involved stone pelting and damaging of public property. I dont think the statement by Mohsin Raza is right, if today PFI is related to SIMI, tomorrow there would be someone else for them,'' Akhtar said.

READ | 'UP Govt Will Clamp Down Perpetrators Of Violence':Dy CM On SDPI-PFI Role In Anti-CAA Stir

Counters government's clarification

Over the explanation of the central government which says CAA is the delivery of promise made by Mahatma Gandhi to the non-minorities in Pakistan who were the victims of partition, Akhtar asked, ''What has partition got to do with Afghanistan? He added that the Indian constitution doesnt allow divide on the basis of religion.

READ | UP Police Seeks Ban On PFI For Involvement In Anti-CAA Protests

Earlier in the day, citing several reports and investigations that exposed Popular Front of India (PFI) link to the violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act, Mohsin Raza had said that PFI is another version of SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) which is banned for its radical Islamist extremism and said that PFI brainwashed the Muslims and instigated them against the Citizenship Act. He had further opined that PFI was somehow backed by Pakistani intel agency ISI.

READ | REPUBLIC INVESTIGATION PART 1: PFI Started Planning Earlier This Year

Investigation reveals SDPI and PFI role behind the violent protests

The investigation has found SDPI and PFIs role in inciting violence in the anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh and Mangaluru. As per sources, the SDPI began hiring activists a month in advance from November 1 onwards. Thereafter, pamphlets were distributed among the Muslim community spreading misleading information with regards to the Act. For instance, the pamphlets stated that property rights would be snatched, bank accounts would be closed and so forth. Muslims were exhorted to gather in large numbers and asked to fight after Friday prayers. The nation-wide protests claimed several lives of the protesters and policemen.

READ | AIMIM Slams SDPI-PFI For Alleged Role In Anti-CAA Violence, Backs UP Police Probe

The amended Citizenship Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh facing religious persecution in the three countries and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
By Rasana Gasimova



The number of visitors to Azerbaijans national parks increased by around 24,000 people compared to 2018, Arzu Samadova, Chief Advisor at the Department of Protection of Biological Diversity & Development of Specially Protected Nature Areas of the Ministry of Ecology and National Resources has told local media.

A total of 104,276 tourists visited Azerbaijans national parks in 2019. Of these, 93 804 people were locals, and the remaining 10 472 people were foreigners.

Samadova said that this trend is a result of the work carried out to inform people, as well as organization of interesting and vibrant events in national parks intended by people from a variety of age groups.

National parks are favorable natural areas for the development of ecotourism in the country. As a relatively new phenomenon in global tourism activities, ecotourism is an environmental tourism oriented to nature preservation.



Currently, Azerbaijan has ten national parks, 11 state natural parks and 24 state nature reserves.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources informed that it plans develop a program for the development of the country's national parks. The program will be aimed at increasing the number of visitors to national parks, and defining the gaps in this area.

For about two years, Ministry of Ecology jointly with The Regional Environmental Center Azerbaijan Representative Office carried out work on creating eco-corridors in the Shahdag National Park.

Jointly with the communities, an ecotourism program was prepared for the Shahdag National Park. This program includes development of ecotrails. The main function of the project is creation of infrastructure. Implementation of this project in other national parks also depends on the success of work in the Shahdag National Park.
In 2019 (from January to December), the highest number of killings were recorded in four south Kashmir districts of Pulwama (12), Anantnag (5), Shopian (5) and Kulgam two  a total of 24 killings.

Hyderabad: Contrary to the claims of the Centre that no civilian was killed in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5  the day Article 370 was abrogated  the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) have documented at least six killings at the hands of security agencies. They are also pursuing another accident case wherein three youths from Kupwara district of North Kashmir died mysteriously.

In 2019 (from January to December), the highest number of killings were recorded in four south Kashmir districts of Pulwama (12), Anantnag (5), Shopian (5) and Kulgam two  a total of 24 killings.

The North Kashmir districts of Baramulla (3 killings), Kupwara (6) and Bandipora (3) jointly recorded 12 civilian killings and the Central Kashmir district of Srinagar recorded eight civilian killings, Jammu district witnessed 3 civilian killings, Poonch (9) and Rajouri (4). Districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Reasi witnessed one killing each.

The Annual Human Rights Review, 2019  an exhaustive report which summarises key human rights issues facing Jammu and Kashmir  presents a grim picture of the situation in the Valley, both before the scrapping of Article 370 and after.

According to the report, one of the six persons who died at the hands of security forces was identified as Usaib Altaf Marazi (17) of Palpora, Srinagar, a 12th standard student. The report alleges that he was beaten by the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and pushed into the river on August 5 and that he died later.

The report further states that violence in J&K in 2019 saw similar trends as witnessed during the last decade.

Children are victims of state violence

The others are  Fehmida (34) of Bemina who died after inhaling a mixture of teargas and pepper smoke fired by police on August 9; Mohammad Ayoub Khan (57) of Safa Kadal who got suffocated after inhaling teargas and pepper smoke fired by police on August 17; Abdul Gaffar Wani (65) of Hyderpora who too was suffocated after inhaling teargas on August 22, Asrar Ahmed of Elahi Bagh, a class 11 student who was hit by a pellet and tear gas shell on August 6 and succumbed on September 4, and Riyaz Ahmed Tikrey (30) of Kupwara, whose family alleged that he was tortured and killed in police custody.

The JKCCS and APDP are currently pursuing the killing of three youth from Kupwara district of North Kashmir in an alleged road accident near JVC hospital in Bemina, Srinagar on August 5, 2019, which, according to the family members of the deceased was caused by the use of tear-gas shells by the state forces. The names of the three youth are Syed Firdous Shah of Kachhama, Kupwara, Mustafa Chechi of Hajibal, Kalaroos, Kupwara, and Shabir Ahmad Barra of Sarkuli, Kupwara.

The report further states that violence in J&K in 2019 saw similar trends as witnessed during the last decade. This year at least 366 people were killed in different incidents of violence and there were extrajudicial executions of at least 80 civilians in J&K, besides killings of 159 militants and 129 personnel of the armed forces.

Among 80 civilians killed in 2019, 12 are women. As in the past, children continued to be victims of state violence in J&K.

Eight children were killed in various incidents of violence in 2019. Besides becoming victims of extra-judicial executions, children also faced illegal and unjust detention, ill-treatment including torture, at the hands of armed forces during detention and fear of further reprisals.

According to the report, the use of pellet shotguns, first introduced in Kashmir in 2010, continued throughout 2019.

The excessive use of force by the Indian armed forces, especially the firing of pellets and teargas shells, resulted in at least six deaths in 2019. This year four people died due to pellet injuries and three died due to inhalation of excessive tear and pepper gas.
Gen Bipin Rawat on Wednesday took charge as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff in what is seen as a watershed moment for India's military planning to bring in convergence among the three services for effectively dealing with future security challenges.

As CDS, Gen Rawat will be the Principal Military Advisor to the defence minister on all tri-services matters besides helming the newly set up Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a series of tweets, called the creation of the DMA and institutionalisation of the post of CDS a momentous and comprehensive reform that will help the country face the ever-changing challenges of modern warfare.

Creation of the CDS as single-point military adviser to the government was strongly recommended by the the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.

"This institution carries tremendous responsibility of modernizing our military forces. It would also reflect the hopes and aspirations of 1.3 billion Indians," said Modi.

The CDS will have a key role in ensuring optimum utilisation of allocated budget, ushering in more synergy in procurement, training and operations of the services through joint planning and integration.

The other major mandate of the CDS is to facilitate indigenisation of weapons and equipment to the maximum extent possible while formulating the overall defence acquisition plan for the three Services.

"The CDS is mandated to facilitate integration, ensure best economical use of resources allocated to the armed forces and bring uniformity in the procurement procedure. I want to assure you that the Army, Navy and Air Force will work as a team and the CDS will ensure integration among these," Gen Rawat said.

He was speaking to media after witnessing a tri-services guard of honour outside the headquarters of the Defence Ministry.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane were present on the occasion.

General Rawat also laid a wreath and paid homage to the martyrs at the National War Memorial.

Former Army Chief Gen (retd) V P Malik called the institutionalisation of the CDS as a much awaited measure to optimise combat power of India's armed forces, adding it will bring about greater jointness, synergy, better civil-military relations.

Gen Rawat was appointed to the post on Monday, a day before he was to retire following a three-year tenure as the Army Chief.

An alumnus of St Edward School, Shimla, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Gen Rawat was commissioned into the 11th Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in December 1978.

He has a vast experience in operations across a wide spectrum of conflict and terrain profiles.

He commanded an Infantry battalion along the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Sector, an Infantry Division in the Kashmir Valley, and a Corps in the North East.

He had also commanded a multinational brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC).

Gen Rawat is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the Higher Command and National Defence College courses and, has attended the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, the US.

During the span of over 41 years in the Army, General Rawat has been awarded several gallantry and distinguished service awards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours after upping the ante against Iran on Twitter, US President Donald Trump has said he is not gearing up for war with Tehran adding that he prefers peace.

Trump made these remarks while speaking to media as he arrived at the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago for a New Year bash on Tuesday night, Russia Today reported.

"War with Iran? I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran...I like peace...I don't see that happening," Trump said.

Earlier in the day, Trump blamed Iran for the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad and said that the Islamic Republic will have to pay a big price if any American is killed.

Dozens of protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashed windows, set fire to outbuildings and overturned vehicles outside the US Embassy, CNN reported.

This development came after the US conducted strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.

The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the embassy.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy shortly after funerals were held for fighters of Kataib Hezbollah militia killed in Sunday night strikes that the Pentagon launched in response to a rocket attack on a Kirkuk base.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chaired by its president and Home Minister Amit Shah is underway at the party headquarters here on Wednesday.

BJP working president Jagat Prakash Nadda and general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh are also present at the meeting.

The meeting comes two days after Nadda conducted a meeting of party general secretaries.The meeting was held over different issues including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) outreach programme and party's organisational elections.On December 26, party sources had said that senior cabinet ministers and BJP leaders will be deployed across the country in an effort to dispel misgivings about the CAA and Register of Citizens (NRC) being allegedly spread by the opposition.All these senior leaders will be contacting eminent personalities of their respective fields and common people to spread awareness regarding the CAA, sources had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The submissions for the best play are open until 30 January 2020.

Related Three Egyptian theatre makers on jury panel of Sharm El-Sheikh youth festival The fifth edition of the Sharm El-Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth (SITFY), scheduled to take place between 1 and 7 April, has announced details of the award for the best play by an Egyptian or Arab playwright.

The jury deciding on the winner will include renowned writers and playwrights from the Arab theatre scene: Ayman Salama (Egypt), Sami Al-Gamaan (Saudi Arabia), Mufleh Al-Adwan (Jordan), with the coordinator, writer and critic Dalia Hamam.

This year, the prize will be dedicated to the late academic and theatre writer Ahmed El-Sakhsoukh, who passed away in 2019.

The submissions to the competition for the best play are open until 30 January.

The festival's director Engy El-Bestawy stressed that all submissions should be theatrical texts, written either as a monodrama or a play with multiple characters. The writers whose age does not exceed 40 in April 2020 are welcome to submit their works, putting in mind that the texts should have not been published by any online or printed publication. The festival accepts authors who hold Egyptian or any other Arab nationality, regardless of their place of residence.

The festival's president, director Mazen El-Gharabawy, revealed that the award aims to encourage the Egyptian and Arab playwright movement and to reinvigorate the production of new texts for theatre, something that has seen a decline over the past years. El-Gharabawy stressed that Egyptian theatre suffers from a lack of texts written by young and emerging playwrights.

"We hope to see new texts which will communicate the many ideas of the contemporary youth, point to their creativity, as well as concerns," El-Gharabawy commented.

The prizes for the winners total EGP 10,000 and the winning texts will be published in book format and promoted in the Arab theatre scene.





For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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The man charged with stabbing five people during a Hanukkah celebration in New York began boot camp to enter the U.S. Marine Corps but was separated from the service a month later for "fraudulent enlistment," military officials said Tuesday.

A Marine Corps spokeswoman would not provide details on why Grafton Thomas left the Marines as a recruit in late 2002, about a month after he started training.

"Those specifics are administrative in nature and therefore information we are required to keep private," Capt. Karoline Foote told The Associated Press.

Federal prosecutors filed hate crime charges against Thomas on Monday, accusing the 37-year-old of using a machete to wound five people inside the home of a rabbi in Monsey, Rockland County. A criminal complaint said at least one of the victims was in critical condition with a skull fracture.

Thomas is being held without bail. He was charged with five federal counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by attempting to kill with a dangerous weapon. He also has pleaded not guilty to five state counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary.

Thomas' defense attorney, Michael Sussman, told reporters about Thomas' military service during a news conference Monday in which he described his background and yearslong struggle with mental illness. He provided a handwritten resume in which Thomas indicated he trained with the Marines in Parris Island, South Carolina.

Military law defines fraudulent enlistment as a "knowingly false representation or deliberate concealment as to" a recruit's qualifications. That could involve a recruit failing to disclose certain medical conditions, past drug use or an arrest record, including cases that are sealed because the recruit was a juvenile or for other reasons.

Thomas had multiple run-ins with law enforcement before he was taken into custody over the weekend, including an arrest for assaulting a police horse, according to an official briefed on the investigation who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Details related to that case appear to be under seal.

Sussman wrote in an email to The AP on Tuesday that Thomas "was recruited and suffered a wrist injury during basic training" with the Marines.

Thomas' family has said his mental health deteriorated over the years and that he has been hospitalized on multiple occasions.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday had telephonic conversations with heads of government in the neighbourhood to exchange New Year pleasantries and emphasize Indias commitment to the neighbourhood first policy. But it was the call he did not make that became the talking point of the day.

Modi snubbed his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan by giving him a miss. India-Pak relations have remained frosty ever since the Pulwama terror attack that killed over 40 CRPF men.

ALSO READ: Pakistan shares list of nuclear installations with India

New Delhi blamed Pakistan-based terror outfits for the attack. In retaliation, the Indian Air Force struck a terrorist camp in Balakot deep inside Pakistan. It was followed by a short military skirmish between the neighbours. Relations further nosedived when India scrapped Article 370 in J&K on August 5, with Pakistan flagging it at all fora, saying Kashmir could become the flashpoint for a nuclear conflagration.

Clearly, Modi does not see the need to break the ice with the adversary. He, however, began his diplomatic outreach with the rest of the neighbours, sharing Indias vision of peace, security, prosperity and progress for all its friends and partners in the region.

He spoke to Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay; Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa; Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih; Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; and Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. While talking to Gotabaya, Modi reiterated Indias commitment to further expanding the close and extensive cooperation with Sri Lanka.

ALSO READ: Pakistan hands over list of 282 Indian prisoners

Solih expressed his desire to further deepen and strengthen cooperation and explore new areas to work together. Speaking to Sheikh Hasina, Modi said the upcoming birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50 years of the liberation of Bangladesh provided the platform for closer mutual cooperation. In his conversation with the Bhutanese King, Modi recalled last years high points in bilateral relationship, adding he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit of the King to India.

Bid to broaden and deepen bilateral ties

By calling up the heads of state, Modi tried to deepen and broaden bilateral ties with the smaller neighbours, trying to build on the personal rapport he already has with some of them
The Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT), an alliance partner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Wednesday announced its plan for an indefinite sit-in demonstration at Khumulwng, headquarters of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) from January 6 to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act that continues to roil many other parts of the country.

At their demonstration, they would also push for their long standing demand of the separate statehood for indigenous people - Tipraland.

We demand that Tripura be exempted from the CAA. We have protested against this earlier. Besides, we have a demand for Tipraland. In demand of these two issues, we have decided to hold sit-in for an indefinite period from January 6, said IPFT assistant general secretary Mangal Debbarma.

On December 9, the IPFT observed a 24-hour strike seeking exemption from CAA for Tripura.

Later, they met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on December 12 to discuss the issue. We were supposed to be called in New Delhi for a second meeting with the Home Minister after fifteen days from December 12. Till now, we are yet to get a call from him, said Debbarma.

Few parties and social organisations under the banner of Joint Movement Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (JMACAB) had also called for an indefinite strike in the state as part of their protest against the new law since December 9. After three days, they had withdrawn their strike and met Amit Shah to place their demand.

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MaharashtraDeputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar paid tributes at the 'Jay Stambh' near here on Wednesday on the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle.

Lakhs of people congregate every year at the 'Jay Stambh' (victory pillar) near Koregaon Bhima village to offer tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Violence broke out during the bicentenary celebrations of the Koregaon Bhima battle on January 1, 2018 in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the congregation at the victory pillar, an official said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Pawar said he came to offer tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.

"This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar also urged people to visit the war memorial in a peaceful manner.

"I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the NCP leader said.

Prakash Ambedkar also offered his tributes at the victory pillar.

Pune Police last week issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from December 29.

The notices, as part of preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago.

Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima.

Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the violence to the Elgar Parishad conclave held here on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made.

They are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists to the Elgar Parishad conclave.

Several Dalit groups observe the anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle, in which the British defeated the Peshwas of Maharashtra.

The memorial, located at Perne village on Pune- Ahmednagar road, was constructed by the British in the memory of soldiers who died in the battle.

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory as soldiers from the Mahar community were part of the East India Company's forces.

The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eleanor Anderson, from Cleckheaton, was killed in a car crash on December 30

Tributes have been paid to a 'much-loved mother, daughter and sister' who was killed in a horrific road crash days before New Year.

Eleanor Anderson, from Cleckheaton, was killed when her black Ford Fiesta collided with a red Vauxhall Astra van at a junction near Bishop Auckland in County Durham on December 30.

The driver of the Vauxhall Astra, a man in his late 50s, was taken to University Hospital of North Durham to be treated for minor injures and was later discharged.

In a statement, Ms Anderson's family said: 'It is with deepest regret that we announce the death of our daughter, Eleanor Anderson, 29, who was involved in a tragic road traffic collision in Coundon, County Durham.

'She was a much-loved mother, daughter and sister and will be sadly missed.

'We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we can grieve in peace.'

Durham Constabulary are appealing for those who may have dashcam footage of the incident to come forward to help with their investigation.

A spokesman said: 'Officers are appealing for witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage which might help our investigation to come forward'.

Anyone with information should contact Sgt 2469 Bowden on 101, quoting incident number 110 of December 30th.
India and Pakistan on Wednesday exchanged the lists of prisoners and fishermen lodged in jails of the two countries simultaneously as part of a bilateral agreement.

"India and Pakistan today exchanged, simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in their custody. This is in keeping with provisions of the 2008 Agreement under which such lists are exchanged on 1st January and 1st July, every year," an official statement said.

"India handed over lists of 267 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen to Pakistan, who are in India's custody. Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 55 civilian prisoners and 227 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians," it read.

India has called for early release and repatriation of the prisoners, missing defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistan's custody. In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in Pakistan's custody, the statement said.

"The government has also sought Pakistan to expedite the grant of visas to the members of the medical experts team and facilitate their visit to Pakistan to assess the mental condition of believed-to-be Indian prisoners of unsound mind, lodged in different jails of Pakistan; to organise early visit of the Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan, and to organise early visit of the 4-member team to Karachi in connection with release and repatriation of 22 Indian fishing boats," added the statement.

Earlier in the day, the two countries also exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities under another bilateral agreement.

The Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear installations between India and Pakistan, signed on December 31, 1988, and entered into force on January 27, 1991 provides, inter alia, that the two countries should inform each other of nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the agreement on January 1 of every calendar year.

This is the twenty-ninth consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries, the first one having taken place on January 1, 1992, the ministry said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday formalized a medical plan formed in the wake of a massive surge of migrant families to the U.S.-Mexico border and a series of deaths in immigration custody.

The goal was to increase medical care and efficiency. According to the directive, the codified plan includes a sustainable proposal for triage, plus screenings for respiratory systems, instructions to isolate sick migrants to prevent the spread of disease, vaccines for staff and supply of face masks and hand sanitizer. More than 500 medical professionals are on contract to help administer care.

The outcry over medical care began when two children died in Border Patrol custody in December 2018, followed by the deaths of others this year. A year later, Homeland Securitys watchdog found no misconduct or wrongdoing in the deaths of the two Guatemalan children, a 7-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy.

At the height of the crisis, tens of thousands of migrant families crossed into the U.S. and were held in cramped, overcrowded conditions. A flu outbreak in May sickened more than 30 migrants. A 16-year-old boy died from the illness, and video later obtained by ProPublica showed the teen collapsed on the floor for hours, alone, before he died. The video threw into question Border Patrols version of the teens death. An investigation is ongoing.

Over the budget year that ended Sept. 30, there were 859,510 apprehensions by Border Patrol, plus an additional 110,000 encounters of people who tried to enter legally but were deemed inadmissible. There were nearly 1 million crossings from the early 2000s, but those were mostly single men from Mexico who were easily returned, not families from Central America who require much more care.

Immigration officials were involved in more than 20,000 hospital visits this year. Homeland Security worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on creating and implementing recommendations. The department set a goal of formalizing the policies by the end of the year.

We continue to look at new ways to improve care for those in our temporary custody, a CBP spokesman said.

Crossings have declined steeply since a peak in May, due in part to a policy that has forced more than 50,000 asylum-seekers back over the border to wait out their claims in Mexico, where dozens have been sickened and subjected to violence in some parts. And agreements with Central American nations are leading to migrants being sent back to Guatemala and eventually Honduras and El Salvador.
'I Will Be What I See' t-shirts on a clothing line. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media)

If youve spent time with a 5-year-old you know they sometimes say the darnedest things.

One day last September, Carol Schilling and her grandniece Juli Baker were drawing together when Juli stopped what she was doing, smiled and proclaimed: I will be what I see, Aunt Carol!

Kids say lots of things, but this one gave Schilling pause. Channeling her years as a schoolteacher, she asked Juli what she meant - seeing someone being good? or being kind might inspire others to act the same way?

As is often the case when it comes to children, the adult in the room wasnt getting it.

"No, I mean if I see a conductor, I will be a conductor. It means that if I see a teacher, Ill be a teacher," Juli said.

"Aunt Carol, you mustve seen a babysitter, because youre my babysitter!

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Juli's original sketches, which inspired 'I Will Be What I See'

As Schilling, of Robbinsville, searched for the philosophical meaning of these words, she got together with her friend, Paulette Pitonyak.

The two had been teachers at St. Anthonys School in Hamilton across the hall from each other and have remained close.

The retired educators eventually decided Juli was right. Kids will be what they see - literally.

And they agreed that message should be reinforced. And why not with t-shirts? Ones kids can wear proudly, announcing what they want to be, who they are and what they like.

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Juli Baker, 5, the Chief Inspirational Officer. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media)

Inspired, they began taking steps to make the idea into a reality as Juli drew all kinds of stick-figure people, affectionately dubbed Julidorables, to feature on the shirts.

But Schilling and Pitonyak quickly learned that there's more to business than a great idea.

That's when they turned to their friend Irv Brechner, a native New Jerseyan businessman and entrepreneur who, as a teenager along with his brother Howie, published "The 6-FOOT Crossword Puzzle!" which sold over 70,000 copies in the late 1960s.

A partnership was formed and a business was born.

With input from Juli, Schilling and Pitonyak work on the finished designs while Carol Schillings adult daughter, Jen Schilling, does quality control.

You know, we have 66-year-old eyes so sometimes wed miss things," Schilling unabashedly proclaims. Either we forgot an arm (laughing) or we forgot something, so now we have Jen look over things and give it the final OK.

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The business has grown to a website featuring over 170 designs, 34 shirt colors, 27 sizes (babies, infants, toddlers, youth), some of which can be personalized.

And there's even another, more personal aspect to this story.

Juli has a young friend named Josie, who is living with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid deep in the brain.

So Juli had another insight.

In her role as Chief Inspirational Officer, she issued an "executive order" that she would like to help kids that are very sick. So the company decided that a portion of every sale would be donated to the Valerie Fund which supports comprehensive health care services for children with cancer and blood disorders.

When Schilling asked Juli, "Why why do you want to give some money from our tee shirts to sick children?" Juli answered with another of her enigmatic observations, perhaps only as a 5-year-old would, "So maybe they can get a horse!"

Kids say the darndest things.

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Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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US Marines were filmed preparing to be deployed to the US embassy in Baghdad on December 31, after pro-militia protesters besieged the diplomatic post.

Video taken by the US Marine Corps showed marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command preparing to fly from Kuwait to Iraq to reinforce American personnel at the compound within the Green Zone.

On December 31, protesters waving the flags of militia groups descended on the embassy, hurling objects and setting fire to portions of the exterior. Credit: US Marines Corps via Storyful
Dame Edna Rules The Waves

Rating:

The Graham Norton Show

Rating:

These people all have one thing in common: Lauren Bacall, Roger Moore, Ursula Andress, Rudolf Nureyev, Ted Heath, Liza Minnelli, Tony Curtis, Jerry Hall, Sean Connery and Zsa Zsa Gabor. And Joan Rivers. And Dusty Springfield. Oh, and Cliff Richard.

Actually, we can't really count Cliff because he was ejected mid-interview for being insufficiently famous. But the rest were all favoured guests on Dame Edna Everage's chat show in the 1980s.

The original Housewife Superstar retired in 2015, after a farewell tour, and has lived in near seclusion with her untold wealth ever since  only rarely venturing back into the public eye, for instance on the Today programme last September to mark the departure of John Humphrys.

The biggest name on Dame Edna Rules The Waves was Sharon Osbourne

So if she was ever going to revive her wonderful show, with its withering celebrity put-downs and shameless self-promotion, you could be sure her guests would be starrier than ever. Barack and Michelle Obama, at the very least . . . a duet from Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga . . . and would it be too much to hope for a glimpse of Meghan?

Apparently, yes, much too much. As the Aussie empress returned for a one-off special, Dame Edna Rules The Waves (BBC1), the biggest name was Sharon Osbourne, the erstwhile X Factor judge and devotee of the plastic surgeon's knife.

'Of course I recognise you,' Edna said, 'but you've been to the panel beaters a few times.'

Sharon shared a sofa with 'Judge' Rob Rinder, foodie Rick Stein, actress Emily Atack from 2018's I'm A Celebrity and Countryfile's Anita Rani. That line-up would look lacklustre on Celebrity Pointless. For the resurrection of one of the funniest comic characters ever to reign on TV, it was weaker than non-alcoholic prosecco.

I can only guess this was part of Barry Humphries' masterplan. He knew he could command any star to dance attendance on his creation: Elton, Macca, even The Donald would come running. More fun, perhaps, to lay claim to primetime on BBC1, on one of the biggest nights of the year, and serve up a tapas of lukewarm nonentities.

Correction of the old year: How did the Northern Irish hometown of Derry Girls (C4) honour its sitcom superstars, I asked in my quiz of 2019's TV: with the keys to the city or a mural on a pub? A Derry reader tells me the answer is . . . both! Advertisement

In every other respect, the show was unchanged from its heyday more than 30 years ago. The set was identical, apart from the portholes: the Dame was on her superyacht, the Ocean Widow, sailing shark-infested waters to deter the taxman.

She greeted the audience with the traditional shriek of, 'Hello, possums!' and even the house band was still under the baton of Laurie Holloway. Only the silently miserable figure slumped at her side was different. Emily Perry, who played Dame Edna's long-time companion, Madge Allsop, died at the age of 100 in 2008.

As Edna put it, she 'carked it'  a brutal bit of Australian slang. Madge's wrinkles became so bad, she explained, that eventually they joined up and she became ruched. Then it was curtains.

At this point I was laughing so much, Edna could have introduced two gerbils on a wheel and I'd have still felt entertained.

Much bigger stars arrived for The Graham Norton Show (BBC1), including Hollywood's Tom Hanks. Actor Stephen Graham, Spice Girl Mel C and world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua swelled the ranks.

Norton can attract real talents, coax great stories from them and keep control when they get feisty: Hanks fancied chairing the show himself, but the host kept reeling him in.

Still, the question is, would we watch if he had nothing better to offer than Judge Rinder and Emily Atack?

Of course we wouldn't.

Dame Edna wins again.
An enormous cloud of smoke from Australia's bushfires has drifted all the way to New Zealand, leaving some South Island settlements in a haze.

Wind has pushed smoke from the New South Wales and Victorian bushfires 2,000 kilometres across the Tasman.

Images taken in places such as Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, Wanaka and Otago showed a thick haze filling the skies.

Wind has pushed smoke from the New South Wales and Victorian bushfires 2,000 kilometres across the Tasman to cover New Zealand's South Island. Pictured: Otago

Images taken in places such as Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin, Wanaka and Otago showed an orange haze over the South Island. Pictured: Glendhu Bay

One image contrasted a picture of a Queenstown lake just 24 hours before the smoke rolled in with another from Wednesday that obscured the mountains and made it impossible to see the skyline.

A satellite image showed the entire South Island covered in smoke and spreading to the west coast of the North Island.

Aidan Pyselman, a Metservice meteorologist, told Stuff on Tuesday the weather service had been tracking the smoke for a number of weeks.

'It's off and on, when we get a particular setup with the way the upper winds are it tends to come across. We haven't had it consistently but at the moment we've got a front moving on to the South Island,' Mr Pyselman said.

'It's been happening for quite some time since the Aussie bushfires have been going. At the moment it's definitely more noticeable, especially over the South Island.'

One image showed a Queenstown lake just 24 hours before the smoke rolled in with picturesque blue skies

A satellite image showed smoke made it impossible to see the South Island

'It will probably peter out. At the moment its coming across on northwesterly flow, but later in the week the winds will be more southwesterly, so we probably won't see as much.'

Another Metservice forecaster, Cameron Coutts, said this was the fourth time smoke has crossed the Tasman this summer.

He said the intensity of the Australian bushfires over the last week had produced a significant about of smoke.

Aidan Pyselman, a Metservice meteorologist, told Stuff on Tuesday the weather service had been tracking the smoke for a number of weeks. Pictured: Wanaka

'Most of it is at high levels once it reaches New Zealand. There is the odd report of people being able to smell smoke, but it is not really affecting us at ground level at the moment, even though it is quite thick,' he told The Guardian.

The smoke has the potential to increase the chance of rain and thunderstorms.

The smoke will continue to envelop the country until the winds change and no health warnings had been issued.

New South Wales and Victoria faced devastating bushfire conditions on Tuesday and are expected to see similar scenes on Saturday.

At least 200 homes had been destroyed on the NSW south coast and the main streets of towns such as Cobargo and Mogo were devastated.

The smoke will continue to envelop the country until the winds change and no health warnings have been issued at this stage. Pictured: Otago

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that three people were dead and there were grave fears for a fourth person in the NSW South Coast blazes.

More than a hundred fires were blazing across New South Wales as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, hope was fading for four people who have not been heard from in 24 hours in the Gippsland holiday region on the Victorian coast, following the deadly New Year's Eve blaze.

There are 46 fires still burning and 43 properties have been destroyed in the popular holiday destination.

The smoke has the potential to increase the chance of rain and thunderstorms. Pictured: Port Chalmers

After a day sheltering on the beach, tourists and locals in Mallacoota spent the night sleeping in a local cinema.

Many spent New Year's Eve on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

The town of Cobargo has been leveled.

Around 30,000 tourists as well as 45,000 locals were told to leave the East Gippsland region on Sunday in what was poised to be one of the biggest mass evacuations in Australia's history.

There are six watch and act warnings in place in New South Wales in places such as Clyde Mountain, Talmalmo, Dunns Road, Currowan, Werri Berri and Countegany.

In Victoria there are ten fires at a watch and act level including the areas around Sunbury, Goongerah, Walwa, Mallacoota, Tambo Crossing, Alpine National Park, Bainsdale and Buchan Valley.
The government of Cyprus has said it has "full confidence in the justice system and the courts" after a British teenager was found guilty of lying about being gang-raped.

Britain's Foreign Office said the UK was "seriously concerned" about the fairness of the 19-year-old woman's trial and it is understood officials have raised the "deeply distressing case" with the Cypriot authorities.

Lawyers and campaigners criticised the justice system after she was convicted of public mischief at Famagusta District Court, in Paralimni, on Monday.

But a Cypriot government spokesman said: "The Republic of Cyprus as an orderly state has constitutionally established institutions and separation of powers.

"In this context, the government does not intervene in cases brought before the competent courts of the Republic of Cyprus, nor does it comment on positions or allegations which are raised with respect to cases still pending before the courts.

"The government has full confidence in the justice system and the courts of the Republic of Cyprus, which should be left unfettered to implement state laws and deliver justice."

The teenager said she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

But she was charged and the dozen young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

She said she was forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police. She could face up to a year in jail and a 1,700 fine when she is sentenced on January 7.
'No denuclearization' if US continues 'hostile policies' toward North Korea: Kim Jong Un originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

There will never be denuclearization in the Korean peninsula if the United States continues its "hostile policies" against the regime, Kim Jong Un vowed in front of his central committee members.

After an unprecedented four-day policy meeting, North Korea's leader also announced that the regime would develop "new strategic weapons" for its own defense, reported the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Koreas state news outlet, on Wednesday.

(MORE: North Korea may have reconsidered 'Christmas gift': Trump national security adviser Robert O'Brien)

North Korea took "preemptive and crucial measures of halting its nuclear test and ICBM test fire and shutting down the nuclear test ground," as part of its negotiations with the U.S. but wasn't rewarded with "appropriate measures," Kim said.

PHOTO: Attendees are seen during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in this photo released on Dec. 29, 2019 by North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (KCNA via Reuters)

Far from responding ... with appropriate measures, [the U.S.] conducted ... big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop and threatened the former militarily through the shipment of ultra-modern warfare equipment into South Korea, Kim said, according to KCNA.

Kim declared that North Korea will develop its strategic weapons to ensure the security of the state until a lasting peace-keeping mechanism is ready and the U.S. takes back what are considered unfavorable policies toward the state.

"Kim Jong Un is accepting the stalled negotiations between the U.S. and the long-term sanctions imposed on North Korea," Cheong Seong-Chang, director of the Center for North Korea Studies at Sejong Institute, said. "And hes announcing a new direction to enhance the countrys nuclear and missile capabilities."

(MORE: Trump downplays concerns of North Korea's 'Christmas gift': Maybe it's 'a beautiful vase')

Story continues

Cheong speculated a high possibility that the strategic weapons Kim mentioned may refer to new inter-continental ballistic missiles or submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which the regime could test fire in 2020.

"If North Korea puts it into action, it wont be helpful for the denuclearization negotiation and the efforts to settle peace in the Korean peninsula," South Koreas Unification Ministry said in a statement released a few hours after the KCNA report.

PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the second day session of the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Dec. 29, 2019, in a photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (KCNA via AFP/Getty Image)

It was the first time that Kim Jong Uns new year plan was not aired on New Year's Day, since he took office in 2012.

"The change in format from a broadcast new year speech to reports at a plenary meeting may be an effort to buy time. North Koreas new 'strategic weapon' might not be ready," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said. "For now, North Korea may focus on sanctions evasion rather than sanctions relief, and replace denuclearization diplomacy with strategic deterrence and nuclear blackmail."

Reaffirming North Koreas position of "regime security first, then denuclearization," Kim left a margin open for the U.S. to return to the negotiation table.

"The scope and depth of bolstering our [nuclear] deterrent" will depend "on the U.S.' future attitude to the DPRK,'" KCNA reported, citing Kim Jong Un.
How does an airline feed 250 passengers for 19 hours? How does it keep rice or noodles moist for that long? Serve a perfectly cooked medium rare steak on the plane? Or ensure that food is tasty, beautiful and fresh after making its way halfway around the world from kitchen to truck to plane to airplane seat?

Singapore Airlines invited SFGATE cameras out to its inflight kitchens for a look at how it pulls off this amazing feat for some of the longest flights in the world.

Once a quarter, chefs, airline executives and accountants gather in a nondescript beige building next to a Hampton Inn in Millbrae, California. They are there to view, taste and discuss the meals served on Singapore Airlines long haul flights to Asia.

This ritual has recently taken on added importance as the airline chooses meals for its "ultra long haul" flights. Currently, one of Singapore Air's longest flight runs between San Francisco and Singapore, a 16-17 hour odyssey on an Airbus A350-900.

Singapore Air also recently started flying its longest flight, between New York/Newark and Singapore, which clocks in at about 19 hours. Flights like that require new thinking about inflight dining.

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One new concept for ultra-long flights is something like an all-day-brunch or dine-on-demand plan in business class. This means that passengers don't necessarily have to dine when flight attendants push their carts down the aisles. Instead, they can choose from a wide variety of meals at any time during the very long flight.

For example, when you board SIA's SFO-SIN nonstop at 9:30 am, you can choose to have a dim sum or an omelet for breakfast. Or maybe you flew in from the east coast, and would rather have a steak for your first meal? Or maybe just a nice bowl of warm noodle soup. No problem.

As the flight approaches Singapore for a 6 pm arrival 17 or so hours later, some passengers may want breakfast after sleeping during the latter part of the flight. Others who may have slept earlier may be ready for a smoky barbecue sandwich or a bowl of fresh fruit.

If you know what you want before you go, premium economy and business class passengers can go to Singapore Air's website to "book the cook" and order from a special menu of items specially prepared on the ground and served on the plane when requested. (We checked out a few delicious menu items -- like fried prawns tossed with tangy mayonnaise and topped with candied walnuts-- during our visit- see it in the slideshow above.)

The current lowest fares for January flights on Singapore's two dailies between SFO and Singapore are about: $1,000 in economy, $1,600 in premium economy, and around $4,900 in business class. Singapore competes with United on this nonstop route, so fares rise and fall a lot. Singapore Air also flies from SFO to Singapore via Hong Kong using a Boeing 777.

Be sure to scroll through the slideshow at the top for a look behind the scenes at the inflight kitchen and boardroom as execs and chefs taste meals and make decisions. The story is in the captions! You'll get a preview of what it will be like to dine aboard tone of he world's longest distance and duration flights.

What's the best meal you've had on a long distance flight? Would you rather eat or sleep on a flight to Asia? Tell us in the comments!

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Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates!
The Corporation for New Milford Economic Development has announced the Best of the Best Awards Dinner will be held Jan. 23.

The event, which will take place at 19 Main on Main Street, will recognize companies and individuals who are leaders in economic development, private investment, and talent attraction and retention in New Milford.

The public is invited to attend.

Businesses that will be honored include New Milford Hospital, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Hal Fischel ofFischel Properties.

Commissioner David Lehman of Connecticuts Department of Economic and Community Development will be a special guest speaker.

Lehman, who is also Governor Lamonts senior economic advisor, was with Goldman Sachs for 15 years as the global head of real estate finance and investment banking prior to this new role.

The award categories closely align with the mission of the Corporation to promote the economic well-being and improve the quality of life for all area residents, said CNMED Chairman Oley Carpp.

Carpo said the Economic Development Project of the Year was selected from the dozen companies that invested more than $500,000 in New Milford for physical expansions or new construction during the calendar years of 2018 and 2019.

Project of the Year Award

New Milford Hospital, now part of Nuvance Health, will receive the Project of the Year Award for their ongoing commitment to maintaining a state-of-the-art presence in New Milford and investing more than $750,000 into facilities as part of a continuous improvement program.

New Milford Hospital provides high-quality inpatient medical and surgical services in addition to a broad range of outpatient testing, cancer treatment, and primary and specialty care.

Businesses and their employees, and residents from pre-school to retirement ages rely on New Milford Hospital for wellness, emergency and cancer care, and now for family practice and specialty providers, said New Milfords Economic Development Director Karen Pollard.

With the newly completed merger with Nuvance Health, a NY-CT network composed of seven hospitals with 2,600 medical providers, we can now access even more care right here at home, making New Milford more competitive for businesses as well as residents, she said.

New Milford Hospital is most important to our quality of life and to maintaining a healthy and diverse economy, Pollard added.

Employer of the Year Award

The Employer of the Year Award recognizes a New Milford business that invests in their peoples talent and education, well-being and community connections.

Nominees were asked to complete an application and provide information about training programs, on-boarding of new employees, enrichment and quality of life programs, and how they encourage community engagement within the workforce.

While company size was not a consideration, the honoree in this category is also New Milfords largest manufacturing employer.

The Awards Selection Committee singled out Kimberly-Clark Corporation with its top-notch management and human resource teams as the employer of choice in the region.

Pollard said work-force talent is the number one challenge to business growth and expansion throughout the U.S.

Kimberly-Clarks programs and practices are a great example to other firms regardless of size or budget of how to make the most of resources to find and keep the best talent here in town, she said.

Partner of the Year Award

Carpp noted that economic development does not happen in isolation and in fact it is often described as a team sport.

The Partner of the Year Award recognizes an individual, a business, non-profit organization or institution that has collaborated on a project or program and contributed to the success of the Corporation, Carpo said.

This year the Corporation is recognizing Hal Fischel ofFischel Properties, owner of the Bleachery located at the end of West Street along the Housatonic River, once considered an obsolete building.

Carpo noted the Bleachery was built for another purpose in another century and could have been abandoned and torn down, as happened in many other towns.

Instead, he said, it was converted into a multi-tenant flex-space facility, housing companies large and small in a riverfront environment.

Hal Fischel saw opportunity in New Milford, and he still does every day, Carpo said. Hal has kept lease prices reasonable and has made prudent investments to breathe new life into the building, combining modern amenities within the historical structure.

He is also putting together a new venture - a 100-unit luxury apartment building that will utilize the waterfront and existing marina, Carpo said. Hal continues to see opportunity in New Milford, and we cant wait to see whats next, he summed up.

A printed program will feature sponsors, local businesses and award recipients.

Tickets for the dinner are $85 and available individually or in groups, and for tables of eight and 10.

For tickets, sponsorships and program book advertising rates, visit www.NewMilBest.org.

For more information, contact Pollard at kpollard@newmilford.org or 860-355-5001.
TROY  The redevelopment of the long-empty 1 Monument Square site could get a boost in January as the Troy Local Development Corp. and Hoboken Brownstone Company near completion of a land development agreement for the former City Hall location and the start of design work for what could be a $30 million project.

The City Council gave the TLDC responsibility for getting a deal with the New Jersey-based development firm in early December. The city wants to get the 1.1-acre parcel between River Street and the Hudson River developed after four previous attempts failed.

The TLDC was briefed in December by Steven Strichman, Troy's commissioner of planning and economic development as well as a TLDC board member, regarding the talks with Hoboken Brownstone. Strichman indicated that progress is being made in negotiating the details of the land development agreement.

Hoboken will be starting the preliminary design work in January, Strichman said.

This was the first indication that the project will soon be under way in earnest. Hoboken Brownstone representatives have referenced the design preferences reached after several public planning sessions in which they have discussed what they envision building on the site.

TLDC staff indicated there would be at least 120 days of engineering and design work on the project.

Hoboken Brownstone, picked as the developer in July, has estimated at least $30 million would be invested in the mixed-use project of retail, apartments and offices. The development also will include public parking and public amenities that include a connection from River Street to Riverfront Park. A company representative declined Tuesday to discuss the project.

Representatives from the electricians, operating engineers and painters union locals attended the meeting to continue to press for local hiring for the construction jobs on the project. Strichman and the TLDC emphasized that there would be union construction jobs in the parts of the work funded with public money such as the parking garage, which could have as many as 200 spaces.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

There is pressure on Mayor Patrick Maddens administration to get 1 Monument Square redeveloped. City Hall stood there until the structure was razed in 2011 by then-Mayor Harry Tutunjian as the first step to prepare the site for new use. The four proposals that followed were opposed by various members of the public and businesses when they were presented for planning review.

Photos: Previous attempts at developing Monument Square

To avoid that from happening a fifth time, Madden set out to build public support by holding planning meetings in 2018 to find out from residents what they wanted to see built at the site. The results were incorporated into what the city asked potential developers to include in their plans.

The previous four developers for 1 Monument Square included a subsidiary of Bow Tie Cinemas that proposed in 2017 to build a $22.7 million movie theater complex with 11 screens. The previous three proposals: Nigro Companies and its partners in 2011 proposed a $31.5 million project for low-income renters rather than market-rate residences; in 2013, Judge Development Corp. proposed a $50 million plan for market-rate housing; and in 2014, Kirchhoff Companies proposed a $27 million project.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1)  One person was killed and two others were hurt when fires razed houses in a number of areas in Metro Manila amid New Year's Eve revelries.

In Sta. Ana, Manila, injuries were recorded during a blaze that lasted for two almost hours, burning homes in Pasig Line, according to the city government. The fire reached Task Force Bravo, requiring the deployment of more than 20 trucks were to stop the flames from spreading.

The Manila Fire District said the fire left around P2.5 million worth of damage in the area, affecting around 600 families.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

At least 614 families were reportedly affected by the fire. Manila Department of Social Welfare Director Re Fugoso said this could still spike to 700 families.

The cause and the estimated cost of damage are also still being investigated.

Meanwhile, in Pasig City, one person reportedly was killed and around 300 families were displaced when a fire hit a commercial and residential area along Gen. Araneta Street, Barangay San Antonio, on Tuesday.

The fire was declared under control at 2 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Wednesday.

Officials said the fire also reached Task Force Bravo and was under control as of 6:40 a.m.

The BFP also recorded 41 fire incidents from the morning of December 31 to 8 a.m. of January 1. Of this, one is reported to have been triggered by firecracker explosion along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Sto. Tomas, Pasig and damaged a house on New Year's eve.
Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state, says northern governors are not doing enough to help the region surmount its numerous...





Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state, says northern governors are not doing enough to help the region surmount its numerous challenges.





Aliyu, who is the chairman, board of trustees of Ahmadu Bello Foundation, spoke in Kaduna at a reception for the new management of the foundation.





He charged northerners to rise up to the challenges of leadership and find ways to tackle the unending problems of poverty and backwardness, especially in education.





The former governor said the north is endowed with resources in mining and agriculture which must be harnessed for the growth of the region.

When you talk of children out of school, when you talk of extreme poverty, you see it in this part of the world,  he said.





The northern part of the country needs to do more extra ordinary things to fight the challenges properly.





Up till now, the agricultural output has not been in commercial quantity, we should be able to coordinate our activities so that we can take what we call a comparative advantage in Agriculture, mining and other areas.





That is why we think it is important to continue to celebrate the legacies of Sir Ahmadu Bello.





The love for one another whether Christian or Muslim, deliberately developing one another the way Sir Ahmadu Bello did.





Our governors in the 19 northern states are not giving the needed cooperation that will help us; we need to do more than what we were doing, we need to double our efforts. The northern states must unite regardless of which party you have used to win the elections. 





Also speaking, Rukaiyya Rufai, a former minister of education, said the government and the foundation are putting together strategic plans to address challenges affecting the north.





She said the foundation was targeting the education sector and had positioned a high level research team to develop a roadmap to tackle challenges in the sector.





By the time the report is out, I assure you that you will know that the foundation is doing much to address the issues in our education sector, she said.




Opposition leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo won the presidential election in the volatile West African state of Guinea-Bissau, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced Wednesday, but the country's historic ruling PAIGC party cried foul. Embalo won 53.55 percent of votes, according to the provisional results, with PAIGC head Domingos Simoes Pereira on 46.45 percent in Sunday's runoff election. "I declare Umaro Sissoco Embalo to be the winner,"CNE President Jose Pedro Sambu said. Embalo said he would be a "president of national harmony" and appealed for the country to rally behind him, but Pereira blasted the result as a fix and vowed to overturn it. His supporters celebrated close to the tightly-policed hotel in the capital Bissau where the results were announced. They beat pots and cans and sang and danced. Some bore giant red-and-white keffiyehs, the Arab headdress that became Embalo's campaign trademark. - 'Full of irregularities' - In contrast,` Pereira said he had taken advice from legal counsel and would file a petition to have the result annulled. "The provisional results that have just been announced are full of irregularities, annulment and manipulation, which (constitutes) electoral fraud," he told a meeting of PAIGC activists. "We cannot accept a result of this kind," he said. "We are going to put forward all the evidence to show that the results have been changed." Embalo, 47, takes over from Jose Mario Vaz, who came to power in 2014 on hopes of stabilising a country notorious for coups since gaining independence from Portugal in 1974. But his tenure was hampered by a paralysing faceoff with parliament under the country's semi-presidential political system. - 'Harmony' and 'fraud'- The CNE put turnout at 72.67 percent, virtually identical to the first round of voting on November 24, which Pereira won with 40.1 percent against 28 percent for Embalo. Embalo, in a news conference at his campaign headquarters, said: "I will be a president of national harmony." But, he cautioned, "the campaign euphoria is over. I need (the support of) all Guinea-Bissauans in order to make a new Guinea-Bissau". Embalo is nicknamed "The General," a reference to his rank as a reserve brigadier general. He quit the army in the 1990s. Like Pereira, he is also a former prime minister, serving under Vaz between 2016 and 2018, before representing Madem, a party formed by PAIGC rebels. A father-of-three and a Muslim, Embalo is married to a Christian. He fought to overcome his first-round vote deficit by portraying himself as a unifier of the country and by gaining the backing of eliminated candidates, including Vaz. - 'Difficult times' - The United Nations calls on all parties "to continue to exercise restraint during the post-election period," UN envoy for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas said in a statement, congratulating the electoral commission on its "exemplary conduct of the electoral process". Elisa Pinto, an election monitor representing Guinea-Bissau civil society, said the vote had proceeded smoothly and there was a clear result. "The election went off well. One candidate won," she told AFP. But, she added, "he will have a lot of responsibilities at these difficult times... (he) will have to address the public's concern, and the public needs stability and national reconciliation." "Without that, there cannot be development," Pinto warned. Embalo's prime task will be to deal with a legislature dominated by the PAIGC -- the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which led an 11-year armed struggle to end Portugal's colonial rule. Under the constitution, the parliament has the right to designate the prime minister, but this appointee can be fired by the president -- a circular problem that led to the paralysis during Vaz's presidency. - Poverty, graft and coups - Nearly 70 percent of Guinea-Bissau's 1.8 million people live on less than $1.90 (1.69 euros) a day. The country ranks 178th out of 189 on the UN's Human Development Index. Average life expectancy is just 57.8 years. Latin American drug runners have exploited the instability and poverty to make the country a hub along the cocaine-smuggling route to Europe. It also has a notorious image for graft. It was placed 172nd out of 180 countries in Transparency International's 2018 index for perceived levels of corruption. Since independence, Guinea-Bissau has been through four coups as well as 16 attempted, plotted or alleged coups. After the last coup, in 2012, the regional bloc ECOWAS sent a stabilisation force comprising more than 700 troops and police. Armed forces chief General Biague Na Ntam repeatedly declared during the latest election campaign that the military would not intervene.
The BJP workers on Wednesday staged a protest at the Marina Beach in Chennai demanding the arrest of Tamil writer Nellai Kannan for his alleged speech during the protest meet against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The speech given by Kannan was given at a protest meeting called by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on December 29.

The Tamil writer had reportedly used harsh language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the speech.

During the protest, BJP leaders H Raja, La Ganesan, Pon Radhakrishnan, CP Radhakrishnan among other workers were detained by the police.

Further details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trumps hesitation to put in place a full ban has become increasingly clear in recent months. In a televised White House meeting in November, he said he was concerned that a full ban would drive people seeking flavors to unsafe, illicit products. And his advisers, including Brad Parscale, his re-election campaign manager, have warned him that a flavor ban would hurt him with his base and could depress turnout in battleground states.

Tobacco and vaping companies have lobbied lawmakers and the White House against banning flavors, including menthol. They have argued that adult smokers need e-cigarette options to help them switch from cigarettes  and that because 35 percent of cigarettes sold are menthol brands, taking menthol flavors off the market would pose a hardship for those smokers trying to quit.

The companies also say that a full flavor ban would put thousands of vape shops out of business.

Industry lobbyists seeking to protect flavors were joined by conservative organizations like Americans for Tax Reform, which opposed regulatory limits that they said would harm the small businesses that manufacture vaping flavors, retailers that sell them and adult consumers of e-cigarettes.

Juul, which dominates the e-cigarette business, has largely stayed out of the fray amid public backlash over its role in the soaring rise of teenage vaping. Facing vociferous and legal opposition from parents, schools and public health experts, the company voluntarily took its fruit- and dessert-flavored products off the market, and has lost business to competitors selling flavors popular with teenagers, like mixed berry, watermelon and mango.

Competitors have also been selling Juul-alikes, nicotine pods that fit Juuls devices in flavors like Strawberry Milk and Peach Madness.

Earlier efforts to restrict sales of flavored e-cigarettes stalled even as the popularity of vaping nicotine grew among millions of young people. The Food and Drug Administration first sought to ban sales of flavors during the Obama administration, but was rebuffed by the White House after fierce lobbying by tobacco companies and retail shops.
Mariah Careys Twitter account has been hacked and used to post a series of racist slurs.

The attack came as the world prepared to celebrate the New Year, and saw the account taken over for a prolonged amount of time.

During the hack, the official account  which has more than 21 million followers  posted a series of unexplained links, racist slurs, references to a long-time feud with Eminem as well as other bizarre tweets.

Nearly half an hour later, the hackers seemingly lost control of the account and the posts were deleted.

Those posting from the account claimed to be from Chuckling Squad, a hacking group that also took control of Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys over summer as well as other high-profile users of the site.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

In all of those hacks, similarly racist and inflammatory tweets were sent by the accounts.

During the hack on Mr Dorsey, the group used a largely neglected text messaging service to gain control of his account. That appeared to be traced back to a security issue with the CEOs Twitter account.

The phone number associated with the account was compromised due to a security oversight by the mobile provider, Twitter posted from an official account after Mr Dorsey was hacked. This allowed an unauthorized person to compose and send tweets via text message from the phone number. That issue is now resolved.

That did not appear to be the case with Careys account, since the tweets were coming from Twitters own web service rather than a third-party source.

The group has seemingly used other forms of cyber attacks to gain access to other high-profile accounts.
If your New Years Eve included a little too much celebrating and youre in search of a strong dose of caffeine, youre in luck.

Most Starbucks locations are open New Years Day 2020.

Store hours will vary but locations will generally be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Always check ahead for specific hours at your favorite location.

A chance to win a lot of sweet treats from Starbucks

Starbucks Rewards Members can enter the Starbucks for Life: 2019 Holiday Edition Game through Jan. 6. Rewards members can earn up to two game plays per day by making up to two purchases with a registered Starbucks Card or via the app or score up to two free entry codes per day.

There are other ways you can score free entries. You can see that here.

Prizes for the contest are tempting  five grand prize winners will win Starbucks for Life, a daily credit for 30 years that entitles the person to one free Starbucks food or beverage item per day. Other prizes include free Starbucks for a year, six months, three months or a month.

More giveaways include a PlayStation 4 system and code for a 12-month PlayStationNow subscription and Starbucks Bonus Stars.
Screenshot of Metro Video footage

A 42-year-old woman died after an unknown assailant fired several gunshots through the window of a south Houston home Tuesday night, Houston police said.

The victim and her daughter were sitting on the couch of a home at about 11:30 p.m. when the suspect fired seven rounds from the backyard of the house at close range, investigators said. The mother was hit in the head and died of her injuries, while the daughter is expected to survive after being shot and hospitalized.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 11:35:21|Editor: Wang Yamei

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YAOUNDE, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said Tuesday that the repatriation of some 700 Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria is underway.

The first batch of the refugees arrived in Cameroon on Tuesday afternoon. Among the 87 refugees were ex-separatists including key leaders popularly known as General Nambere and General Nkongho, who had surrendered their arms.

"We have come home, and we wish to say please kindly give us another chance," Nkongho told reporters upon arrival at the Nsimalen International Airport in the capital Yaounde.

"I think it's time for other Cameroonians to say no to fighting," Nambere said.

According to the United Nations, as of July 2019, nearly 40,000 Cameroonians are seeking refuge in Nigeria following clashes between separatists and government forces in the two English-speaking regions of the country.
The young woman shot dead next to her husband on New Year's Eve in Yarraville has been remembered as "the most beautiful girl" who loved to dance to Michael Jackson and had a knack of turning any situation into fun.

Lindita Musai and her husband Veton were gunned down at their Salisbury Street home at about 10.30am on Tuesday, just two days after celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

Veton and Lindita Musai were shot outside their Yarraville home. Credit:Facebook/Veton Musai

Multiple sources have told The Age the suspect, a 55-year-old Altona North man, is Ms Musai's estranged father. He remained in a critical condition on Wednesday and under police guard.

Ms Musai, 25, died at the scene, while Mr Musai, 29, was rushed to hospital with critical injuries.
Farmers have helped raise over 73,000 in honour of a rural auctioneer and valuer who died earlier this year aged 59.

A packed ringside of farmers, friends and family jostled to the forefront to bid on a diverse array of lots at Sedgemoor Auction Centre on 21 December.

It was held in memory of Charles Clark, a Greenslade Taylor Hunt auctioneer and valuer, who died of cancer earlier this year.

All the lots had been donated to the Big Farming Charity Auction, organised in Charles's memory to raise money for four charities.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI), the Farming Community Network (FCN), St Margarets Hospice and the Somerset Bowel Cancer Support Group were all chosen.

A varied catalogue ranged from turkeys, livestock and cakes through to holidays abroad and throughout the UK.

The top call of the day was for a luxurious house in Ireland that sleeps up to 14 people, selling for 5100, followed by a fully staffed Sri Lankan Villa selling for 4800.

Many unique items were donated and Charles wife Rebecca Pow MP, secured a bottle of Parliamentary Whisky signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the auction.

This created a significant amount of interest and after some spirited bidding, a local farmer secured the whisky for an astonishing 3000.

Farmers were generous in their support of the auction and the four charities, by donating a number of calves and sheep and producing a record calf price as long standing calf buyers chased up a British Blue bull calf to 1000.

The auction itself raised over 70,000, and with a raffle held in conjunction with the Big Farming Charity Auction, the final outstanding total was in excess of 73,000.
Their marriage vows were until death do us part.

But a number of elderly couples in the province have found they cant remain together when one or both of them need to move into long-term care  and their poignant stories of separation prompted Waterloo New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife to introduce a private members bill to change that.

This essentially came from a sense of frustration that here we are, trying to ensure that people who are married for 60 years get to spend their last days together, Fife said in a recent interview.

One case in particular has stuck with her: an 82-year-old who had been taking a taxi every day to see his wife. He told me he took an oath till death do us part and now I am failing her. He started crying, his daughter started crying  I started crying.

But despite efforts by Fife and her staff, they could not reunite the pair.

Fife said shes also making the case for more funding for long-term care beds, given it costs $842 a day for a hospital bed and $126 for a long-term care bed, and shed also like to see more care campuses  where facilities offer different levels of care to seniors.

The bill passed second reading just before the house rose in mid-December and will now go to committee, and Fife said she was pleased to see members of the governing Conservatives support it.

Merrilee Fullerton, Ontarios minister of long-term care, said, Members of our government were proud to speak in favour of Bill 153 and support the bill through second reading. We understand how important this issue is for many families across Ontario and we remain committed to examining how we can keep loved ones together in long-term care.

She noted the government is spending $1.75 billion to create 15,000 new long-term care beds and redevelop 15,000 existing, older beds in five years to help increase access to long-term care, reduce wait-lists and alleviate hospital capacity pressures.

To date, she added, 7,889 new beds have been allocated and the long-term care funding is our governments largest new health sector spending commitment in the 2019 budget.

However, Fife said shes been flooded by calls from concerned family members who are upset about their parents forced separation.

Kathy Zieglers parents Don and Pat Oberholzer moved into a retirement home together around 2015, but her father was later diagnosed with colon cancer and, when he was discharged from hospital, he was using a walker to get around and needed more care.

He could not return to the home where they were because they didnt have a place for the two of them to be together, Ziegler said. So they moved the couple to another home, but then a few months ago he started falling more and more, his legs are just giving way, and needed a nursing home.

He got a bed more than a month ago and hes doing well as far as participating  but my dad is a very quiet man, not outgoing at all, but the biggest factor is he misses my mom terribly, she said. He misses her  he cries every time I go to see her.

She said its tough on the family too, as they have to shuttle between two places to see their parents.

I didnt know how the whole system works, she said. You dont realize how bad it is until you live it and you actually see your parents apart after 66 years of marriage, she added.

Fife said funding for long-term care has not kept pace with an aging population under the current Conservative or previous Liberal governments, and now 35,000 people are on a wait-list.

The only way right now to get into long-term care is if you are in crisis, she added. So, really, the goal of the bill is to shine a light on the fact that the entire system is in crisis and connected to a failure of leadership by successive governments.

Fifes bill, named the Till Death Do Us Part Act, amends the Long-Term Care Homes Act and its Residents Bill of Rights to allow a patient the right, upon admission, to have accommodations made available for their partner in the home.

Jim McLeod, who lives in Cambridge in seniors apartments, drives every day to see Joan, his wife of 61 years, who is in a long-term care facility in Waterloo. Shes been waiting for more than two years to be reunited with him.

The 80-year-old said its a stressful time for both of us  fortunately, I can still drive, I have a car, but if that day came where I couldnt?

There is a long-term care facility attached to his building, so she could transfer, but it doesnt work that way, he said.

Im not the only one in this situation, he added. Its sad, its really sad. If Joan was here, we could have quite a number of meals together and take part in activities.
Newsfrom Japan

Cairo/Paris, Dec. 31 (Jiji Press)--Former Nissan Motor Co. <7201> Chairman Carlos Ghosn hid in a musical instrument box to flee Japan, a Lebanese media organization reported Tuesday.

According to Lebanese broadcaster MTV, musical instruments were carried into the place where Ghosn was staying in Japan because a party was held there.

The instruments were carried out after the end of the party. Ghosn had slipped into one of the boxes for the instruments before they were taken out, MTV said, indicating that a security company cooperated in the escape.

Ghosn left Japan from an airport outside Tokyo, MTV said, adding that he is staying at a home of a relative in Lebanon.

In Japan, he is accused of financial misconduct. He was awaiting trial on bail.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
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Amazon third-party sellers will not be able to ship Prime customers orders using FedEx Ground and FedEx Home, as of Wednesday.

We have seen a drop in the delivery performance of FedEx Ground and FedEx Home ship methods for Seller Fulfilled Prime shipments, Amazon told sellers in a note provided to the E-Commerce Times by corporate communications manager Patrick Graham.

The restriction is temporary, Amazon said, although no exact date has been set for resuming FedEx Ground and FedEx Home shipments for Prime orders.

Our understanding is FedEx Ground will again be an option for Prime shipments post-peak, FedEx spokesperson Isabel Rollison said.

The restriction will only have a nominal impact on FedExs peak volumes, she told the E-Commerce Times, but it limits the ability of small businesses to manage their business on some of the highest-demand shipping days in history.

Sellers will have to select an alternative shipping method for Prime orders, or turn off their Prime badge if they cannot do so.

They can continue to ship Prime orders through FedEx Express, which is more expensive.

However, less than 2 percent of the population will have to pay more, observed Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

FedEx Ground and FedEx Home will continue to be available for standard shipments.

We want to ensure customers receive their packages on time, and are managing cutoffs for delivery by Christmas, Amazon said. Managing cutoffs happens regularly during holiday seasons.

The restrictions will cause a great deal of pain and expense for third-party sellers on Amazon in the short term, said Constellation Research Principal Analyst Nicole France. I think well see every available shipping alternative used in order to manage the holiday rush.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Possible Signs of Change

Sellers who can leave Amazon will, France told the E-Commerce Times. For those who cant, [this move] softens the field for moving to Amazons own shipping network.

Amazon may be clearing the decks for an expansion of its own delivery service.

The company plans to do more shipping itself, suggested Constellations Wang.

They used a service level and quality dispute as an excuse to send a message to FedEx. They believe they can deliver their packages faster and cheaper than FedEx, he told the E-Commerce Times.

It seems clear that the major motivation is to open the door for Amazons own shipping capabilities over the medium to long term, said Constellations France.

Amazon began expanding its delivery network in May to offer one-day delivery, a battleground where WalMart and Target offer stiff competition.

The company is going to try to upend everything with their own network and their own delivery, predicted Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

They want to add services like taking a photo of where a package was left, for instance, to prove to the end recipient where and when a package was delivered, and to cover liability with the seller, she told the E-Commerce Times.

Amazons Delivery Network Issues

Amazons delivery network has been beset by problems, however.

For one thing, safety and security procedures are lax, according to an NBC News report.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Drivers who have not passed background checks sometimes use company badges with someone elses name and photo on them, while some drivers dont even bother with badges, NBC said. Contractors have been involved in road accidents, resulting in serious injury or death, in some cases blamed on reckless driving to meet delivery deadlines.

The rate of serious injuries is more than double the national average for the industry.

These are growing pains, Constellations Wang suggested.

Amazon is preparing to deliver on its own network and will do it more cheaply than competitors, he said. Amazon has broken the duopoly in shipping with FedEx and UPS. Expect them to cut into both carriers business.

FedEx Sitting Pretty

Amazons shipping restriction might benefit FedEx, which already is viewed as the overnight shipping leader, Constellations Miller pointed out.

They want to cut their operational losses in these volume areas where a premium cant be added to keep margins sitting pretty, she said.

FedEx will compensate for the revenue lost with picking up services, as WalMart continues to try to take pieces of Amazons lunch, Miller predicted.

FedEx earlier this year expanded its pick-up and drop-off points partnership with Dollar General to add 1,500 Dollar General Stores. That will grow to a total of 8,000 by the end of next year.

Theres speculation FedEx might use the breakup with Amazon to offer its services to other companies, such as Target and Walmart.

FedEx earlier this year announced that it wouldnt renew an air shipping deal with Amazon, and this summer declined to renew a ground delivery contract with Amazon.

I suspect FedEx anticipated the potential for Amazon to make the move it did, Miller said. A wide range of technology capabilities present new opportunities for FedEx to streamline and reshape its operations.

The Real Winner

UPS, which already has a partnership with Amazon, might benefit from the restriction on Prime shipping for this season.

UPS is happy to have Amazons volume, Wang said.

However, the United States Postal Service might be the greatest beneficiary.

Package business is up, France said. They have agreements directly with retailers and agreements with the big two  UPS and FedEx  to serve as last mile carriers for local service.

The Postal Service is moving into omnichannel engagements like the Informed Delivery service, she observed. They are trying to become part of the engagement value chain and not just be the shipper.
Hitting out at the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that a 14-month-child has been separated from her parents, who were jailed by the police for participating in an anti-citizenship law protest in Varanasi.

"The BJP government has shown such inhumanity to suppress the civil demonstrations that a small child has been separated from the parents," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

The activist parents of Champak, the infant, were arrested by police in Varanasi for attending a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The grandparents of Champak said that the child's health is getting deteriorated as she has been living away from her parents.

"Chanchal's (Champak) health has deteriorated but the BJP government's bad intention has not been affected. Chanchal's parents are in jail for participating in peaceful protests," Gandhi further said.

The Congress leader further said that it is the "moral duty of the government to allow the innocent mother of this child to go home."

Asserting that the toddler's parents went to protest "peacefully", the family said, "They did not do anything wrong. If something serious happens to our grandchild who will look after her. She needs her parents as she is not eating anything."

"Champak says, 'Amma aao, Papa aao (Mother come, Father come)' all the time. We keep telling her they will come. We do not know what to do," the infant's aunt said.

Ten people died in Uttar Pradesh in various incidents of violent protest against the new Citizenship Act. Two persons died each in Firozabad, Kanpur, Bijnor, Sambhal and Meerut.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iraqi National Security Council Vows to Revise Ties With Intl Coalition, US Forces

Sputnik News

06:10 31.12.2019

BAGHDAD (Sputnik) - The Pentagon claimed earlier it had carried out "defensive strikes" against five Kata'ib Hezbollah facilities in Iraq and Syria in an alleged response to a rocket attack on Friday that killed a US contractor at a Kirkuk base north of Baghdad.

The airstrike by the United States on Shiite militias is a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and might provoke Baghdad to revise its attitude toward the international coalition, the Iraqi National Security Council said in a statement on Monday.

"The Iraqi government condemns these actions and considers them a violation of the sovereignty of Iraq and a serious abuse of the working norms of the international coalition forces, including American troops, who are single-handedly conducting operations without the consent of the Iraqi government", the statement said.

The council said the US acted out of its own interests and conclusions, undermining Iraq's priorities.

"This attack, contrary to the goals and principles for which the international coalition was created, is pushing Iraq to revise its relations [with the coalition] and working methods in legal and political aspects and in terms of security, in order to protect the sovereignty of the country, its security, the lives of citizens and strengthen mutual interests", the statement stressed.

A senior State Department official said during a briefing on Monday that Iraq's authorities have not done enough to protect US troops stationed there and called their lack of condemnation of pro-Iranian militia blamed for a series of attacks on US forces - disappointing. The State Department official also expressed disappointment over Iraqi criticism, adding that the United States does not have "any fear" of a possible backlash against its actions.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of Iran-backed Shia militias in Iraq that includes Kata'ib Hezbollah, said that 25 fighters were killed and 51 others injured in the US attack.

Since 2014, the US-led international coalition has been conducting military operations in Syria and Iraq against the Daesh* terror group, while in Syria the coalition acts without the official consent of Damascus.

*Daesh (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State) is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries.

 Sputnik

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The Times columnist Giles Coren made an alleged homophobic comment against Guardian columnist Owen Jones in his latest contribution to British daily. Coren, in his prediction about the year 2020, said that Jones will get a peerage in resignation honours of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He went on to comment on Jones future and the latter accused the newspaper of printing not so subtle homophobia.

Not exactly subtle homophobia being printed by @thetimes, is it? pic.twitter.com/8SbvRxJMCr  Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) December 31, 2019

Coren, in his defence, claimed that he didnt know Jones was homosexual. The Times columnist said that he just wouldnt attack or mock Jones for being gay, claiming that he has never done that to anybody in 25 years of writing. Ive always quite admired his way of presenting his position. And his articulacy. Its just a joke about the possibility of someone as pure as him being corrupted in the end, Coren replied to a tweet.

Read: Ruth Jones Defends Use Of Homophobic Slur In 'Gavin And Stacey'

Netizens furious

Social media resonated with Jones accusation and lambasted Times columnist for his alleged homophobic remark. ''Speaking from Ireland and as someone who spent many years living in different parts of the UK, its frightening to see events unfold. Unfortunately the shambolic platform and self indulgence of the left has gifted bigots like Coren this opportunity to gloat for many years to come, commented a user.

The Guardian columnist said that one should expect a lot more such comments after recent election results that gave the Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, an overwhelming majority. Jones added that the result is being interpreted as a mandate to say anything and everything about minorities.

Read: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro Slams Corruption Probe Into Son With Homophobic Outburst

Jones has been critical of those mainstream newspapers that keep pushing the agenda of the government without questioning them. Hours after the incident, The 35-year-old political commentator posted a snippet of The Times and took an apparent jibe at the editorial stance of the newspaper.

Whats funny is the very few left wingers with a media platform are treated as illegitimate interlopers who are just activists, and nothing more, while mainstream newspapers behave in a way which the Soviet press would have regarded as too embarrassingly subservient pic.twitter.com/PReBowqq4d  Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) January 1, 2020

Read: Sam Smith Opens Up About Coming Out As Non-binary In A 'homophobic' Music Industry

Read: Everton Will Investigate On Allegations Of Homophobic Chants During Match Against Chelsea
The people at the apeaceful protesta against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) held posters, placards and the tricolour in their hands. (Photo Credit: Twitter)

New Delhi:

On the last day of the year, anti-CAA protesters, including students and activists, staged demonstrations at several places in Delhi, including Connaught Place, Shaheen Bagh and Saket, and expressed hope that the Citizenship Amendment Act would be repealed in the New Year. Around two to three thousand people, including women and college students, gathered at Shaheen Bagh, the tarpaulin-shaded venue for the protest for the two weeks.

The people at the peaceful protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) held posters, placards and the tricolour in their hands.

I have come in the hope that something good happens in the New Year. I have come here because I was told that after Jamia and AMU, if you have to rekindle hope go to Shaheen Bagh, Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India said.?

Quoting legendary film lyricist Sahir Ludhianvis line jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo kahan hain, Yadav, who was a prominent face of the India Against Corruption movement too, told the crowd, Jinhe naaz hai Hind par wo yahan hain (Those proud of India are here).

He also told the protesters that similar demonstrations would be carried out in other parts of the country to oppose the law.

Wo todenge, hum jodenge (Those in power will break the country, but we, the people, will unite it), he said, adding the people can win this fight banking on the Constitution given by B R Ambedkar and the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.

Sara, 16, and her brother Aman, 12, held placards in their hands, both handwritten poetries.

I am not into the Hindu-Muslim divide, my only concern is that the law discriminates on grounds of religion and that should never happen in India, Sara, a Class 11 student, told PTI.

Outside PVR Anupam theatre in south Delhi, nearly 50 protesters, including activist Shabnam Hashmi and lawyer Vrinda Grover, raised slogans against the CAA.

Grover said, We selected this spot (PVR Anupam) because we want to take our protests to each part of the city. Today, several taxi drivers joined us and supported us.

Social activist Hashmi said, The idea was to protest silently and artistically. We encouraged people to sing songs and read important points on NRC and CAA. We explained the impact to all and also distributed pamphlets.

At the Central Park in Connaught Place, Delhi Congress workers led by DPCC chief Subhash Chopra tried to sit on a symbolic hunger strike against the amended citizenship act, economic slowdown and other issues.

However, they were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station.
But consider the cost of securing this and what followed; both Pakistan and Afghanistan ended up playing havoc with each other, becoming tributaries and confluences of extremist influences that have radiated well beyond the region.

After having fought a flawed war in Afghanistan for 18 years  termed by scholars Samuel Moyn and Stephen Wertheim as the infinity war  the US is now looking for a flawed peace. The ongoing US-Afghan Taliban talks appear to be less about Afghanistans peace than about the end of Americas war.

The prospective deal may lend credibility to Trumps claim that he has fulfilled his campaign promise to end Americas endless wars, and give the insurgents a nod of legitimacy. It could also help avoid an immediate meltdown in Afghanistan. But peace will remain elusive. With both Kabul and the Taliban aspiring for full power, a sliver of which each may be willing to share with the other, the conflict is bound to continue.

How should Pakistan address this challenge? First, it has to face some truths. Pakistan may not have been a party to the Afghan conflict but it has been a part of it. It may not have been part of Americas failure but has certainly been part of the Talibans success. This would make Pakistan neither an impartial observer of the war nor an honest peace broker. Pakistan is invested in the future of the conflict and, for better or worse, its conduct matters. Pakistan must think about it carefully. We are not in the 1990s, when Pakistan had the field clear to it after the Soviet withdrawal, and Afghanistan was largely a foreign policy challenge. At long last, Pakistan had a government in Kabul that was friendly.

But consider the cost of securing this and what followed; both Pakistan and Afghanistan ended up playing havoc with each other, becoming tributaries and confluences of extremist influences that have radiated well beyond the region. It is not just the US that has failed in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, South Asia has become an arena for shifting and overlapping coalitions among regional and global players. With the US withdrawal, Iran and Russia will look at the Taliban differently  not as their ally but as the Pakistani surrogate. India will join them. Pakistan will itself face prospects of failure in Afghanistan on one side, and continued pressures from an assertive India on the other  all while continuing to cope with its internal challenges. Pakistan cannot fight on three fronts and continue to live dangerously.

At least on one front Pakistan can and should try to manage the crisis better. If Pakistan continues to see Afghanistan through a security lens, it will remain stuck with the Taliban. The focus should be on Afghanistan and its people and how Pakistan can help save them from having to choose between the rule of the Taliban and continued conflict.

Afghanistans economy (especially its infrastructure) has evolved, education has expanded, womens rights have improved, the media has been revived. There is a greater political consciousness among its minorities. And the Taliban remain unpopular. We should not wish Taliban rule over Afghanistan any more than we wish to be ruled by such outfits in Pakistan.

Granted, Afghanistan is horribly corrupt, divided and unstable. And its fractiousness lends itself to unending struggles for power. But Taliban rule in Afghanistan cannot be justified either as a punishment, a remedy for instability or as a weapon of Pakistans foreign policy. And, for their part, Afghans must understand that Pakistan cannot solve their problems for them, any more than the Americans could. Aiding terrorists against Pakistan or being friendly with its enemies will not help.

Afghanistan can only be fixed by the Afghans, but they need Pakistans help not hindrance. Pakistan needs to be tough with the Taliban and restrain them from monopolising political power. Pakistan maintains it cannot exert any more pressure on the Taliban. That may be a good line to take in Americas war but will not work in the conflict to come. The Taliban unbound will create a reverse ideological and strategic depth in Pakistan as they remain the flagship of extremist movements in the region. We will suffer internally from the blowback of their rule in Kabul. Any foreign policy benefit will come at a domestic cost.

The Taliban is a common challenge for Afghanistan and Pakistan, but neither can address it alone. Kabul must work with Pakistan. Only when Afghanistan and Pakistan come together will the Taliban compromise. Pakistan should understand that what is needed is not ambiguity but genuine efforts at peace in Afghanistan. That will help its relations with the US and Kabul, as well as contain the Taliban  and allow it to focus on more important national challenges.

By arrangement with Dawn
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 22:34:26|Editor: yan

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ANKARA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Turkey blamed the Arab League (AL) of remaining silent on the foreign military-backed attacks that have been going on for months in Libya, semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Wednesday.

The pan-Arab body has not been able to put forward a determined attitude between the "international legitimacy" and the foreign supported military offensive, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement.

Libya has long been divided between two political powers, one in the capital Tripoli backed by the UN and the other based in the east led by Khalifa Haftar.

The army loyal to Haftar has recently launched a military campaign in and around Tripoli to take the city.

Ankara will continue to support the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya, which is the only "legitimate executive body representing Libya," and will make an effort to reach full cease-fire between the warring sides, the Turkish ministry's statement added.

It recalled that the spirit of the UN Security Council Resolution intends to support and strengthen the GNA as the sole legitimate representative of Libya and call upon all UN members to act in this manner.

The statement came following an AL council meeting in Cairo on the ongoing conflict in Libya, which called for efforts to "prevent foreign interference" in Libya.
Hours before Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, one would never know BTS was not the main headliner of the event. The group received unprecedented news coverage before the performance. Afterwards, several hashtags about BTSs appearance on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest trended on Twitter.

BTS | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

The co-hosts of New Years Rockin Eve knew BTS would draw in fans

From the moment BTSs appearance on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest was announced, hype began to spread. While ARMY was happy that BTS would be broadcast to millions of people, ABC placed a huge emphasis on BTSs performance.

Before the New Years Eve program, Seacrest said he expected half of attendees to be BTS fans.

We dont even know what to expect in Times Square with all the people because when they show up, all of their fans show up, so half of Times Square could be BTS fans, he said.

.@BTS_twt took the world by storm in 2019, and now they're here to take Times Square into 2020! This #kpop sensation is performing live (with luv) right now. pic.twitter.com/SrmXWAmUmU  Times Square (@TimesSquareNYC) January 1, 2020

On Good Morning America, Seacrests co-host Lucy Hale seconded that BTS was guaranteed to bring in a lot of fans.

We have Sam Hunt, Post Malone, BTS  which is going to be insanity, she said. About BTS, she added, I dont even know what to expect. I feel like they would draw a million people alone.

BTS was not the main headliner for New Years Rockin Eve

On Dec. 17, the lineup for Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacreast was announced. In the original press release, Post Malone was advertised as the main headliner of the event.

The introduction read: POST MALONE TO HEADLINE AMERICAS MOST WATCHED NEW YEARS EVE SPECIAL.

Making his Times Square debut, Post Malone will be joined by additional performers BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette, performing for the first time with the cast of the hit Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill for Americas biggest celebration of the year, the press release continued.

Hunt performed from 9:38 p.m. to 9:44 p.m. Both Morissette and BTS received eight minutes of performance time. Morissette performed from 8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m. and BTS performed from 10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.

Post Malone performed the closest to midnight and also performed for eight minutes. He closed the evening and performed from 11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.

BTS received unprecedented news coverage

While Post Malone was the main headliner of the event, BTSs performance received the most news coverage. In addition to Seacrest and Hale discussing the crowds BTS inevitably draws, news stations interviewed fans who camped out for the performance.

Weve covered this event, the preparations for many years now, said one news anchor for NBC New York. Weve never seen anything like this Hundreds of people are already here big fans of the Korean boy band BTS.

The day of Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, several different media personalities including Seacrest filmed BTSs rehearsal for social media. With this, BTS effectively became legends at the event before their performance even began.

WE GOT A MAKE IT RIGHT CHOREO IM SCREAMING WHAT A GREAT WAY TO START THIS DECADE #BTSxRockinEve @BTS_twtpic.twitter.com/lmigJaKC3N  sel (@manggaeddeoks) January 1, 2020

The group performed two songs

On Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, BTS performed two songs from their 2019 EP, Map of the Soul: Persona. The group opened their two-song set with Make It Right.

For the first time ever, the song included choreography. The BTS members moved from the iconic Times Square Red Steps and walked past the barricades in the crowd to the main stage.

BTS then performed their hit song Boy With Luv. Despite the cold weather, the members of BTS showed their dedication to putting on a good performance as well as their individual charisma. At one point during the performance, Jimin accidentally threw his jacket over his head and smiled at the camera.

JIMIN JUST DID THAT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION WITH OVER 1M PEOPLE WATCHING SHHSHSHSJ I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! #BTSxRockinEve @bts_bighitpic.twitter.com/F8oiIjesfn  TIN- (@taebokkiii) January 1, 2020

BTS had a successful 2019

The press release for Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest referenced BTS as a global phenomenon. While BTS is considered a phenomenon, its clear from their 2019 that the group is not a fad.

Wired recently named BTS as one of the best artists of the decade. Not just of 2019, of the entire decade. The group won every award they were nominated for at the American Music Awards in 2019, and took home two Billboard Music Awards. They became the first artists in 2019 to sell 4 million album copies worldwide, and they had the highest-grossing tour of May 2019.

The group has fans that provide unconditional support because of their artistry and message, and they have steadily grown in popularity since their 2013 debut. Their presence at Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest dominated headlines. Going into 2020, its clear people are paying attention to whatever BTS does next.
Britain's Lloyds Banking Group suffered an outage on January 1 that left customers of its Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland operations unable to access accounts online for several hours.

Disruption to online services is a periodic problem for Britain's banks, and last month regulators told lenders they needed to resolve problems more swiftly.

Customers of Lloyds Banking Group said on social media that they were unable to use mobile apps or websites to access their accounts since early morning on New Year's Day, a public holiday when bank branches are shut.

The problem took a number of hours to fix, though account holders were able to use telephone banking services and cash machines in the mean time.

"Internet and mobile banking is now back to normal. We're sorry for the issues with it this morning," Lloyds Bank said in a statement. Halifax and Bank of Scotland said the same thing.

Customers of TSB, a lender owned by Spain's Sabadell, suffered weeks of disruption in 2018 due to an IT failure that drew criticism from parliament and regulators and ultimately forced its chief executive, Paul Pester, to resign.
The stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Karnataka on Thursday and Friday. The PM will land at the Yelahanka Airforce Base on Thursday afternoon and take a chopper to Tumkuru to pay his respects at the famous Siddaganga Mutt.

Modi is expected to unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone for a memorial museum of late Shri Shri Shivakumar Swamiji and interact with students.

PM Modi will first perform puja at the place where the 111-year-old seer is laid to rest and then he will interact with the students of the mutt, said union minister for parliamentary affairs Pralhad Joshi in Tumkuru.

A PMO release said the Prime Minister will offer prayers and plant a sapling at the mutt.

Later in the day, he is expected to address farmers at Government Junior College grounds and announce the transfer of funds under PM Krishi Samman Nidhi to six crore farmer families for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18. Apart from this, he will also distribute Krishi Karman awards to various innovative farmers and may also launch a slew of welfare schemes.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has indicated that there would be at least 1.5 lakh farmers present to hear the PM.

In the evening, the PM will come back to Bengaluru to participate at an event of young scientists at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

Modi will dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation at the event which is likely to give a boost to indigenous research capabilities in the defence sector, said the PMO.

He will be accompanied by Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy.

The event is being held in the backdrop of Prime Ministers idea floated five years ago to identify at least five DRDO labs for innovation by young scientists under 35 years of age.

On Friday, PM Modi will inaugurate the seven-day long Indian Science Congress, marking its 107th edition, at the University of Agricultural Science campus in Bengaluru before flying back to Delhi.

Indian Science Congress brings together leading scientists, researchers and science enthusiasts from different parts of the nation.

Flying of drones have been barred in the two cities ahead of the PMs visit due to security reasons.
ALEPPO, Syria  Syrians in opposition-controlled areas of Idlib and Aleppo provinces are suffering under poor living conditions, with most of them struggling to meet even basic needs after almost nine years of civil war. But the recent collapse of the Syrian pound has made their situation even harder. Heating, food, decent housing, clean running water and other services have become quite costly.

Winter has been very harsh this year," Aymen Suweid, a media activist from northern Aleppo, told Al-Monitor. "The vast majority of people in the Aleppo countryside were unable to cover heating costs due to the soaring prices of fuel. The price of a barrel of diesel fuel used for heating stands at 90,000 pounds, which is the equivalent of $100, compared with $35 last year.

He added, Most of the poor people, mainly in the [refugee] camps, opted for wood heaters and stoves and are now collecting firewood and dry tree branches from surrounding orchards. People who are better off are buying coal for 4,000 pounds [$5] a bag, which only lasts three days.

AFP reported this week that some Syrians have resorted to burning pistachio shells to heat their homes.

Mustafa Bakkour, who owns a fuel store in northern Aleppo, told Al-Monitor that Turkey's Operation Peace Spring into northern Syria "has played a major role in the skyrocketing prices today." Turkey, supporting the opposition's Syrian National Army, launched the military operation in October against the Kurdish-Arab alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces.

"The SDF had reduced the fuel quantities entering through the Umm Jalud crossing, which links the areas under its control in Manbij to the opposition-held areas in the Aleppo countryside," Bakkour said.

The SDF completely closed the crossing a few days after the offensive. Large quantities of crude oil [had been coming] from the oil fields in northeastern Syria to be refined later in rudimentary Aleppo refining stations. This was what caused the spike in fuel prices."

With the lack of local oil, fuel derivatives have been imported from Turkey at very high prices. The price of a liter of imported diesel stands at 600 pounds ($0.70) and a liter of gasoline reached about 650 pounds ($0.85). These prices are high compared with normal local production, as a liter of local gasoline used to sell for 350 pounds ($0.50) and a liter of diesel for 200 ($0.25).

The cost of oil derivatives has contributed to spikes in prices for bread, locally manufactured goods and transportation for vegetables and other foodstuffs.

Media activist Omar Hafez told Al-Monitor that the change in the dollar exchange rate against the Syrian pound contributed in a major way to the hike in food prices. The dollar skyrocketed to about 900 pounds from 600.

Consequently, the prices of various goods and commodities needed on a daily basis increased by at least 35%, he explained. The increase amplified the suffering of people amid widespread unemployment.

Ahmad al-Dimashqi, who was displaced from eastern Ghouta to Idlib province, told Al-Monitor, The worker with an average daily wage of 2,000 Syrian pounds, equivalent to approximately $2, can secure his family's bread, drinking water and a few vegetables for cooking, but he can't save to pay rent. How about those who dont work or cant find work? Job opportunities in Idlib are limited.

Dalal Al-Bash, a civil activist from rural Idlib, lamented the high prices and limited purchasing power of Syrians in Idlib and Aleppo provinces due to the pound's collapse.

This has adversely affected peoples lives," she told Al-Monitor. "The new circumstances force them to give up meals or food items such as meat and high-priced vegetables and fruits. People are mainly concerned about securing basic needs as a top priority and such needs have become hard to meet."

Al-Monitor met with media activist Ahmed al-Barraai, who was displaced from the Damascus area to Afrin in northern Aleppo. The vast majority of the population in Afrin suffers under the high prices, he said. The markets have little to no activity. Families can't cover their needs.

Rami Al-Seid, a media activist in western Aleppo, said the humanitarian situation is even more severe in the refugee camps.

He told Al-Monitor, People in the camps can't cover their expenses. They are unable to pay for heating, electricity or water services. They can't even afford medicine and infant formula."
Brazils Ministry of Justice said it fined US tech giant Facebook Inc 6.6 million reais (Rs 11,71,51,381) for improperly sharing user data.

Facebook said in an emailed statement that it was evaluating its legal options regarding the case. (Photo: AP)

Brazils Ministry of Justice said on Monday it fined US tech giant Facebook Inc 6.6 million reais (Rs 11,71,51,381) for improperly sharing user data.

The ministrys department of consumer protection said it had found that data from 443,000 Facebook users was improperly made available to developers of an App called thisisyourdigitallife.

The data was being shared for questionable purposes, the ministry said in a statement.

Facebook said in an emailed statement that it was evaluating its legal options regarding the case.

We are focused on protecting peoples privacy, the company said, adding that it had made changes that restricted the information which App developers can access.

The ministry said the worlds largest social network failed to provide users with adequate information regarding default privacy settings, particularly related to data of friends and friends of friends.

The ministry said it launched the investigation following media reports of the misuse of data by political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica in 2018.

Facebook has 10 days to appeal the decision. The fine should be paid within 30 days.t
The US president said that while families must be protected, his administration also wants to protect a big industry.

President Donald Trump said his administration will soon issue new regulations on flavored vaping products that health experts say have hooked millions of children on tobacco.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a new proposal to restrict the products to the White House on Monday. The regulation will require all pre-packaged flavored vaping pods other than tobacco and menthol to be at least temporarily taken off the market, according to a person familiar with the matter.

We have to protect our families, Trump told reporters before a New Years Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. At the same time, its a big industry; we want to protect the industry.

Vaping flavors that users can custom-mix at vape shops wont be restricted under the new rules, the person familiar with the matter said. The person asked not to be identified because the regulation hasnt been publicly released.

And Trump said that he hopes many or all pre-packaged flavor pods can be returned to the market very, very shortly.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that the new rule would ban most flavored vaping pods used in devices such as those made by Juul Labs Inc. Juul had already voluntarily stopped selling many of its flavors.

The decision caps months of wavering after Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and others announced broad restrictions on flavored products at an Oval Office event on Sept 11.

Fierce opposition arose from anti-tax and anti-regulation conservatives, and Trump retreated from his commitment. The administration has been publicly debating the issue ever since.

The White House had zeroed in on what it thought was a sweet spot: Banning all flavored pods other than tobacco and menthol, while publicly indicating that vape shops could be exempt from any rule. Trump didnt indicate which flavors would be prohibited, but the person said it would be all flavors except tobacco and menthol.

The ban would include the popular mint flavor, and health experts have warned that children may switch from mint to menthol. The Sept. 11 announcement banned all flavors other than tobacco.

In November, Trump held an extraordinary round-table session, with reporters watching, in which proponents and opponents of vaping restrictions hotly debated what course of action ought to be taken. The participants included public health figures, vaping advocates and tobacco company executives.

Trump said he was looking for a resolution where everybodys happy, but the event laid bare the bitter divide  with ban advocates warning that watering down the effort would pose a risk to the health of children, and opponents arguing that it would drive adults back to conventional smoking.

Conservative groups and vaping advocates mobilized a publicity campaign urging the president to back off the Sept. 11 announcement, and said a prohibition could damage his re-election chances.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported last week that more than 2,500 cases of hospitalized lung injuries and 55 deaths had been linked to the use of e-cigarette products. Trump said on Tuesday night that his administration thinks it knows the source of the illnesses and deaths, and added that he hoped flavored products that were deemed safe would soon be allowed for sale again. Were doing a very exhaustive examination and hopefully everything will be back on the market very, very shortly, Trump added.

In South Florida earlier on Tuesday, Trumps motorcade passed about a dozen pro-vape advocates waving signs urging him to reject a ban on flavored products.

However, pediatricians, other health advocates and some lawmakers in his own party had urged Trump to take action to curb a rise in the use of the tobacco products by teenagers.

Weve got almost 6 million kids addicted to nicotine, and theyre getting addicted to nicotine because of flavors, Senator Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican who has written legislation to ban flavored vaping products, told Trump at the November session.
NOBODY talks the political discourse better than our TKC BLOG COMMUNITY and this year some of our ideas influenced public policy, countered popular arguments and offered alternative perspectives.

Kansas City Home Deadline

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KCMO Pays For Good Times

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Israel rings in 2020, new year, new decade Revelers came out to celebrate the end of 2019 and the second decade of the 21st century visiting many pubs and clubs in Tel Aviv and across the country.

El Papa SMACKS DOWN And Then Prays For Peace!!!

On New Year's Eve, Pope lauds the 'beating heart' of a welcoming, hopeful Rome ROME - In a special New Year's Eve liturgy Tuesday, Pope Francis offered a rare direct message to Rome, encouraging locals weary after a year of political bickering that has left many more confused than clear about their future.

The Big Picture

A New Year's Eve of sadness and defiance as 2020 is welcomed around the world Melancholy celebrations marked the arrival of 2020 around the world on Tuesday, as heavyhearted revelers raised a glass in hopes of happier times ahead in fire-ravaged Australia and protest-swarmed Hong Kong. More than a million people descended on Sydney Harbour, as a low haze reminded Australians of ongoing wildfires that have been charring huge swaths of New South Wales, the nation's most populous state.

HAPPY NEW YEAR KANSAS CITY!!!

This is our post for nice thoughts, happy sentiments and well wishes for our blog community.We may not always agree with this blog remains one of the most vibrant, KICK-ASS, critical-thinking, snarky, communities in all of Kansas City.And so, here's one last news blast of the year . . .Thank you for reading this year, don't shoot anybody this evening. Have a safe and fun night!!!
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Linkedin Arya Dipa and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Bandung and Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 13:08 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c320734d8 1 National flood,Bengkulu,West-Java,New-Year-2020,extreme-weather Free

Greater Jakarta is not the only region in the country flooded during the new years celebrations, as some regions in West Java and Bengkulu were inundated by heavy rains that fell throughout Tuesday.

Heavy rain had inundated a section of the Cikampek-Palimanan (Cipali) toll road in Indramayu, West Java for the first time since it was opened in 2015.

Suyitno, the operational general manager of toll road operator PT Lintas Marga Sedaya, said the water came from a deluged field beside the road. The water from a nearby inundated field has overflowed onto the toll road, he said.

Suyitno added that the toll roads drainage system had worked properly as it was only built to allow rainwater to flow off the surface of the road, but not deal with water from land around the toll road.

The 116-kilometer Cipali toll road runs through some forest areas, including ones owned by state forestry company Perhutani.

PT Lintas Marga Sedaya  a subsidiary of Astra Infra, the infrastructure arm of diversified business group PT Astra International  has been operating the Cipali toll road since its inauguration in June 2015.

Read also: Five missing as flash flood hits villages in North Sumatra

We have coordinated closely with relevant authorities, including the Public Works and Housing Ministrys river and coast directorate, to solve the problem, Suyitno said.

Passing vehicles were forced to slow down on the inundated section, while other drivers decided to stop. The water had receded since Tuesday evening, allowing the toll road to operate normally.

A flash flood also hit a residential complex in Cimareme village in West Bandung regency, West Java on Sunday afternoon, after an overflowing river broke a dike in the area.

Heavy rain had caused the levee to break, which later inundated the houses, West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) official Budi Budiman Wahyu said on Tuesday.

He added that the floodwaters reached 70 to 180 centimeters, deluging houses owned by at least 131 families in the residential complex. Some residents took shelter in nearby mosques.

Read also: Flash flood destroys bridge, isolates villages in South Sumatra

Continuous heavy rain had also triggered flooding in Seluma regency, Bengkulu on Tuesday. The flood had deluged at least six villages consisting of hundreds of houses since 8 p.m, according to a statement from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Aside from houses, the flood had also cut off the road connecting Bengkulu city and Manna city.

BNPB spokesperson Agus Wibowo said Seluma Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) personnel had rescued two residents dragged away by the water. The agency, however, had yet to issue an official estimation of the financial losses caused by the flood.

Personnel from the Seluma BPBD and the police were dispatched to assist the affected residents.

Days prior to New Years Eve, flash floods caused by continuous heavy rain had also hit regions in North Sumatra and South Sumatra.

https://twitter.com/infoBMKG/status/1212195135083008000?s=20

Stay safe untuk seluruh sobat BMKG pic.twitter.com/Jv0magRu5J  BMKG (@infoBMKG) January 1, 2020

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), there is a potential for extreme weather in most parts of the country for at least a week. Such a condition was triggered by several local and regional weather phenomena, including an Asian monsoon that increased the supply of wet air over Indonesia.

We suggest people to stay alert to any potential hazards occurring during the extreme weather conditions, such as floods, landslides, strong winds, falling trees and slippery roads, the BMKGs deputy for meteorology, Mulyono R. Prabowo, wrote in a statement.
Bollywood had a thrilling, efficacious 2019. Now, as the film industry readies to churn out a new set of tales and ideas in 2020, we talk to Alia Bhatt, Shraddha Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, who have a loaded year ahead with multiple biggies and potential box-office winners

Your intent must be absolutely clean: Varun Dhawan. 2020 lineup: Street Dancer 3D and Coolie No. 1

The new year seems to have you in an out-and-out entertaining space

I am very excited about this year. But at the same time, I strongly believe that at the end of the day, everything cant just be about your films. That cant define your entire life, journey or how you feel about yourself. As a human being, you grow and learn to do other things too that give you happiness. 2019 too was very exciting as I was shooting for my two films. So, as an actor, mere ko bahut mazaa aaya ke maine yeh do filmein pichle saal shoot kari, which will release this year. Now, I just hope that audiences love them as well.

Varun Dhawan at the Red Carpet of Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2019 in Mumbai. (IANS)

After Kalanks failure last year, do you feel any pressure about your new films?

An outcome cant always be the barometer of your success. I strongly feel that the journey of a film, too, has to be superb. I dont think anyone know ke [ek film] ka kya outcome hone waala hai. Theres no formula at all when it comes to art; there has to be only passion.

In essence, you are saying that the intent must be correct. Right?

Jab aapki niyat sahi ho, toh sab kucch sahi ho jaata hai. I feel the intent has to be absolutely correct. And I can confidently say that Street Dancer 3D and Coolie No. 1 have been made with sahi niyat. To start with, I have huge expectations from Street Dancer. I feel anything that you do with passion, can make a big difference.

2020 will also see you work with your dad in the remake of an iconic film, Coolie No. 1. Excited?

Absolutely! I really wanted to do a mass-y film after Judwaa 2. And working on an out-and-out commercial movie with dad is fantastic. He is the captain of the ship, who makes us have the most fun. Not just Coolie No. 1, on second thoughts, Street Dancer 3D is also an extremely mass-y film.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt at Kareena Kapoors Christmas party in Mumbai on Dec 25, 2019. (IANS)

Wanted to work with Sanjay sir since I was 9: Alia Bhatt. 2020 lineup: Brahmastra, Sadak 2, Gangubai Kathiawadi and RRR

Super-loaded could be the correct terms to describe 2020 for you. Agree?

God-willing, 2020 is going to be quite a year. I think having two releases in a year is good enough but this year, I have four. I hope they all create a little place in peoples hearts. And they are all very special.

To start with, you have a film with your father, Mahesh Bhatt

Working with, and now having my first film [Sadak 2] with dad [filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt] is going to be unbelievably special. Brahmastra, too, is special for so many reasons. I am really excited about it. Then, I am working with Sanjay [Leela Bhansali] sir for the first time in Gangubai.

And is it true that working with Bhansali has been a long-standing dream?

Thats something I have looked forward to since I was nine. So, you can say that the dream I had as a nine-year-old is coming true now. And then, I am thrilled to be working with SS Rajamouli sir, who is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the country and someone, whose films are looked forward to by everyone. Its just great that I am getting to be a part of that films journey. Maybe, we can talk next December and then we can assess how 2020 went by (laughs).

Are you content with the way 2019 panned out for you?

Last year, I had two film releases. While one [Gully Boy] did extremely well, I  as an actor  expected the other one [Kalank] also to be equally loved. But it didnt connect with audiences, and thats how things go. So, you have a high and then, there can be a low as well. I guess thats also a part of learning that nothing is permanent. Everything shall change.

Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor during the promotion of their upcoming film Street Dancer 3D, in Mumbai . (ANI)

I wish 2020 also stays as positive as last year: Shraddha Kapoor. 2020 lineup: Street Dancer 3D and Baaghi 3

You have an array of exciting films lined up this year. What are your expectations?

I wish the year 2020 also stays as positive and satisfying as 2019 was. Now, the New Year also looks extremely exciting to me, as an actor. I love being in front of the camera and honestly, even this year, I would like myself to do what I love the most. I have Baaghi 3 and Street Dancer 3D coming up, which makes things very exciting for me. Plus, I also look forward to work with Ranbir [Kapoor] in Luv Ranjans film, this year.

And personally, how you look at the year gone by?

It was extremely delightful and more so, very satisfying that two of my films got me lot of love from all my fans. It was a busy year but I totally love being busy with work. I would call 2019 a content and happy year  on professional as well as personal front since I could spend some quality time with my family. But this year, a family holiday is definitely on the cards.

Also read: Happy birthday Sonali Bendre: Heres some dose of inspiration from the actor on New Year 2020

Last year, your films  Saaho and Chhichore did big numbers. You must be really satisfied?

Absolutely! To see your work getting acceptance and appreciation is what as an actor, I strive for. Both the films were very different but still, they received love. So, I feel really good and want to keep delivering the best to the audience.

What was the biggest highlight for you?

It was juggling between the shoots that I had to do and then have two back-to-back releases. It was my professional contentment that the biggest highlight. Two different characters and two beautiful scripts are my takeaways from 2019. That makes me do new things and work with fresh energies and different people, and explore new sides of my own self as an actor.

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At least 26 members of Afghanistans security forces were killed in a new wave of Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan, local officials said on January 1.

The insurgents claimed responsibility for all the attacks.

In northern Kunduz Province, at least 10 Afghan officers were killed and four others wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on December 31, the head of the provincial council Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi said.

In Balkh Province, the Taliban killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint. The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.

In another attack on December 31 seven members of the security forces were killed in a gun battle with the Taliban, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.

Earlier this week, the Taliban said it has no intention of declaring a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan.

"In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about a cease-fire... The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no cease-fire plans," the Taliban said in a December 30 statement.

Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa
Tifariti (Liberated Territories), January 01, 2020 (SPS) - The fifteenth Polisario Front conference held in the liberated Tifariti town praised the efforts of the International Solidarity Movement with the Sahrawi people..30

At the end of its work, the conference directed the "highest expressions of appreciation and respect to all components of the International Solidarity Movement with the struggle of the Sahrawi people, a recognition and appreciation for the hard and responsible work being done across all countries of the world to defend the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence and alleviate the suffering of the Sahrawi people in the refugee camps and the occupied territories ".

The conference called the solidarity movement across the world of parties, associations and civil society organizations to intensify efforts to break the media blockade imposed on the occupied territories by the Moroccan authorities, expand the circle of condemnation of the latter and press it to comply with international legitimacy and allow the organization of a free and fair referendum that enables the Sahrawi people to Deciding his fate in every democracy.

The conference also expressed its hope in the International Solidarity Movement to pressure the United Nations to take its responsibilities in protecting Sahrawi human rights, releasing Sahrawi political prisoners in Moroccan prisons, removing Moroccan wall of shame that separates Western Sahara and stopping the ongoing looting of natural resources by the Moroccan authorities. (SPS)

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The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from their embassy in Baghdad for their safety yesterday, Iraqi officials said, as thousands of protesters and militia fighters thronged the gates in fury at US air strikes in Iraq.

On Sunday, US planes had attacked bases belonging to an Iranian-backed militia, a move that risks drawing Iraq further into a proxy conflict between Washington and Tehran.

The attack on the Kataib Hezbollah militia was in response to the killing of a US civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.

The two Iraqi foreign ministry officials did not say when the US ambassador or other staff had left but added that a few embassy protection staff remained.

Outside the embassy, protesters threw stones at the gate while others chanted, "No, no, America! ... No, no, Trump!" Iraqi special forces were deployed around the main gate to prevent them entering the embassy.

US-trained Iraqi counter-terrorism forces were later dispatched to reinforce these units.

A few hours into the protest, tear gas was fired in an attempt to disperse the crowd and some of the militias encouraged protesters through loudspeakers to leave.

"We have delivered our message, please leave the area to avoid bloodshed," said one announcement.

Iraqis have been taking to the streets in their thousands almost daily to condemn, among other things, militias such as Kataib Hezbollah and their Iranian patrons that support Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's government.

But yesterday, it was these militias that were spraying "Closed in the name of the people" on the gates of the US embassy and smashing the surveillance cameras around the building with bricks and stones. Some set up tents in preparation for a sit-in.

US senator Marco Rubio tweeted that Iran was responsible for the disorder.

Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, and many other senior militia leaders were among the protesters.

"Americans are unwanted in Iraq. They are a source of evil and we want them to leave," Mr Khazali said.

The Iraqi government condemned the US attacks as a violation of the country's sovereignty and said it would review its relationship with the US. American officials said the Iraqis had failed to protect American troops and diplomats, and characterised the strikes as "defensive" in nature.

"We warned the Iraqi government, many times, to carry out their responsibility to protect us as their invited guests," said a senior State Department official.

The strikes against Kataib Hezbollah, in which 25 militia members were killed and more than 50 injured, threaten to drag Iraq further into a proxy conflict between the US and Iran.

But the outrage from Iraqis across the political spectrum, as well as threats of retaliation, also underlined the US's growing isolation in Iraq and called into question the continued viability of about 5,000 US troops in the country.

US officials said the strikes were intended to deter rocket attacks such as the one targeting a military base in Kirkuk last Friday that killed an American defence contractor and injured four US troops, the first US casualties in an intensifying series of assaults.

"This was a defensive action designed to protect American forces and American citizens in Iraq, and it was aimed also at deterring Iran," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News. "This was an Iranian-backed rogue militia acting to deny the Iraqi people their basic sovereignty."

The Iranian foreign ministry condemned the actions as "a clear example of terrorism", and a top militia leader vowed retaliation against US forces in Iraq.

The air strikes raised the stakes in the region-wide confrontation between Tehran and Washington that began after the Trump administration withdrew from a 2015 nuclear agreement and launched its "maximum pressure" campaign of economic sanctions against Iran. The sanctions have devastated Iran's economy and led the government to start pulling back from its commitments under the deal.

The US has responded by adding more sanctions, but the lack of a US military response apparently has given the rulers in Tehran more confidence to launch attacks targeting the US and its allies - 11 in the past two months alone.

Two weeks ago, Mr Pompeo warned Iran of a "decisive US response" if the regime or its militias harmed American troops or allies in the region. ( Washington Post)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 03:40:50|Editor: yan

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KHARTOUM, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Sovereign Council on Wednesday vowed to hold those involved in tribal clashes in West Darfur State accountable.

"The unfortunate events witnessed by El Geneina will not pass without accountability. Freedom and democracy do not mean chaos," Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu, deputy chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council, told reporters at El Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur State.

Daqlu stressed the ability of the authorities to reach all the perpetrators and those responsible for the events who will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

He further stressed readiness of the armed forces to ensure security in the state, noting that a fact-finding committee has embarked on investigation procedures.

He added that investigation committees from the armed forces and the police forces have also been formed, saying "whoever seeks to create sedition to reach power will be held accountable and all criminals will face justice."

On Sunday, West Darfur State witnessed tribal clashes between Masaleet and Arab tribes following the killing of a member of an Arab tribe near Krinding camp, leaving at least five killed and eight injured.

Consequently, local authorities in West Darfur State declared a curfew in El Geneina and closed all government institutions, schools and markets.
PERTH, Australia - Australia deployed military ships and aircraft Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, photo provided by Twitter user @AvaTheHuman shows red sky from wildfires burning, in Victoria, Australia. On Tuesday morning, 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. (@AvaTheHuman via AP)

PERTH, Australia - Australia deployed military ships and aircraft Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that have left at least 17 people dead nationwide and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline.

Navy ships and military aircraft were bringing water, food and fuel to towns where supplies were depleted and roads were cut off by the fires. Authorities confirmed three bodies were found Wednesday at Lake Conjola on the south coast of New South Wales, bringing the death toll in the state to 15.

More than 175 homes have been destroyed in the region.

The Australian flag flies above Parliament House as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. Australia deployed military ships and aircraft to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Some 4,000 people in the coastal town of Mallacoota fled to the shore as winds pushed a fire toward their homes under a sky darkened by smoke and turned blood-red by flames. Stranded residents and vacationers slept in their cars, and gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas. Dozens of homes burned before winds changed direction late Tuesday, sparing the rest of the town.

Victoria Emergency Commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters the Australian Defence Force was moving naval assets to Mallacoota on a supply mission that would last two weeks and helicopters would also fly in more firefighters since roads were inaccessible.

"I think that was our biggest threat in terms of what are we doing with the children if we need to go in the water to protect ourselves given the fact that they are only 1, 3 and 5," tourist Kai Kirschbaum told ABC Australia. "If you're a good swimmer it doesn't really matter if you have to be in the water for a longer time, but doing that with three kids that would have been, I think, a nightmare."

Conditions cooled Wednesday, but the fire danger remained very high across the state, where four people are missing.

In this image dated Dec. 31, 2019, and provided by NSW Rural Fire Service via their twitter account, firefighter and police officer hold a possum and her baby after they rescued them under a car at a bushfire in Charmhaven, New South Wales.(Twitter@NSWRFS via AP)

"We have three months of hot weather to come. We do have a dynamic and a dangerous fire situation across the state," Crisp said.

In the New South Wales town of Conjola Park, 89 properties were confirmed destroyed and cars were melted by Tuesdays fires. More than 100 fires were still burning in the state Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level. Seven people have died this week, including a volunteer firefighter, a man found in a burnt-out car and a father and son who died in their house.

Firefighting crews took advantage of easing conditions on Wednesday to restore power to critical infrastructure and conduct some back burning, before conditions were expected to deteriorate Saturday as high temperatures and strong winds return.

"There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.

The early and devastating start to Australias summer wildfires has led authorities to rate this season the worst on record and reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas, but Morrison rejected calls last month to downsize Australias lucrative coal industry.

Morrison won a surprise third term in May. Among his governments pledges was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26% to 28% by 2030  a modest figure compared to the centre-left opposition Labor partys pledge of 45%.

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The leader of the minor Australian Greens party, Richard Di Natale, demanded a royal commission, the nations highest form of inquiry, on the wildfire crisis.

"If he (Morrison) refuses to do so, we will be moving for a parliamentary commission of inquiry with royal commission-like powers as soon as parliament returns," Di Natale said in a statement.

About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with at least 17 people dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed.

Some communities cancelled New Years fireworks celebrations, but Sydneys popular display over its iconic harbour controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revelers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Smoke from the wildfires meant Canberra, the nations capital, on Wednesday had air quality more than 21 times the hazardous rating to be reportedly the worst in the world.

The smoke has also wafted across the Tasman Sea and into New Zealand.
Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy has reacted to rumours of his upcoming film, Shimla Mirchi, releasing directly on Netflix. An Asian Age report claimed the film, that is all set to release on January 3, may not hit theatres this Friday and begin streaming on the online platform instead.

The daily quoted Ramesh Sippy as saying, I am very proud of Shimla Mirchi and Im glad its finally being released. The platform and format of release is the producers decision. Shimla Mirchi stars Rajkummar Rao, Rakul Preet Singh and Hema Malini in lead roles.

Also read: Bigg Boss 13: After being evicted, Arhaan Khan says Sidharth Shukla would have hit Rashami had he not intervened

The report quoted a source as saying, Viacom 18 has taken the decision on its own, Rameshji had no say in the matter. He made the film in 2014 at a meagre budget of 16-17 crores. It was meant to be a small, sweet, romantic film set in Shimla, which Rameshji handed over to the producers in 2015. Why they sat on it for four years and why theyve decided not to give it a theatrical release is not explained. It isnt as if small-town romances dont work in theatres. Viacom themselves have released several such films. Recent films like Lukka Chuppi and Pati Patni Aur Woh have done well. Then why this stepmotherly treatment to Shimla Mirchi?

However, a representative from Viacom 18 Motion Pictures confirmed to Hindustan Times that Shimla Mirchi will release in theatres on January 3.

Shimla Mirchi marks Rameshs return to direction after a long time while he returned to direction after 20 years, he will see his directorial venture release only after 25 years. His last release as a director was Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandons Zamaana Deewana in 1995. Shimla Mirchi was completed in 2014. Ramesh Sippy is best remembered for his cult classic Sholay that also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jaya Bhaduri apart from Hema Malini.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma on Wednesday accused the BJP of doing politics over deaths of children at a hospital in Kota and said adequate funds were not provided for medical facilities when the party was in power.



Talking to the media here, Sharma said the Congress government in the state had brought down child mortality rate.

"BJP's politics over the death of children in Kota is directed by PMO. They don't have anything else to cover-up over the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In 2015, 2016 and 2017 when BJP was in power, hospital authority had sought funds, Why wasn't money released then?" Sharma asked.

"Even if one child dies, it is a cause of concern for us. But BJP is doing politics on this issue. When BJP was in power in the state, the infant mortality rate (IMR) was 7.62 per cent. We have brought it down to 5.5 per cent. We have also brought down the maternal mortality rate," he added.

Ten newborns had died in 48 hours at a maternal and child hospital in Kota last week raising an alarm. According to a hospital official, 77 children had died in the premises in December. (ANI)


Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH), which is in the hospitality business, and is based in United States, led the NYSE gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. With many analysts covering the mid-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Lets examine Choice Hotels Internationals valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity.

View our latest analysis for Choice Hotels International

What is Choice Hotels International worth?

According to my valuation model, Choice Hotels International seems to be fairly priced at around 18.20% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Choice Hotels International today, youd be paying a relatively reasonable price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $87.51, theres only an insignificant downside when the price falls to its real value. Furthermore, Choice Hotels Internationals low beta implies that the stock is less volatile than the wider market.

What does the future of Choice Hotels International look like?

NYSE:CHH Past and Future Earnings, January 1st 2020

Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 18% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Choice Hotels International. 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? CHHs 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 the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value?

Story continues

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on CHH, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic prospect is encouraging for the company, 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 Choice Hotels International. You can find everything you need to know about Choice Hotels International in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Choice Hotels International, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
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Dublin, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The South African Tobacco Industry 2019" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The tobacco manufacturing industry in South Africa, that is estimated to be worth close to R30bn and supported by nearly 8 million adult tobacco users, continues to be seriously affected by the rampant growth in illicit cigarettes. The number of legally-declared cigarettes declined more than 20% between 2013 and 2018, while industry sources say the illegal trade grew to 33% of the total market in 2018. The industry contributed R10.9bn in excise duty to the fiscus in 2017/2018, a decline of nearly R2bn from 2015/16, despite increased taxes.



The rampant illicit trade in cigarettes is blamed for the reduction in cigarette sales volumes of multinational tobacco companies and lower leaf orders to the estimated 176 commercial tobacco farmers and 155 small-scale farmers. At the same time, the e-cigarette market is estimated to have grown to be worth R1bn but faces regulation in the form of the proposed Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill. Another key issue facing the industry is the government's plan to further tighten legislation on smoking and the introduction of plain packaging. Health concerns associated with tobacco are expected to continue to affect consumption.

This report covers the tobacco manufacturing industry, including the size and state of the industry and the factors that influence it. These include detailed descriptions of proposed legislation, the illicit tobacco trade and the e-cigarette market. There are profiles of 16 companies including British American Tobacco South Africa which is estimated to hold 74% of the legal market and 22 out of around 30 brands. There are also profiles of Philip Morris, with leading brands Marlboro and Chesterfield, and its subsidiary Leonard Dingler, which manufactures products such as pipe tobacco and snuff. Other profiles include Limpopo Tobacco Processors, the biggest single supplier of tobacco leaves to local buyers.

Story continues

Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

2.1. Industry Value Chain

2.2. Geographic Position

3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY

4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

4.1. Local

4.1.1. Corporate Actions

4.1.2. Regulations

4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development

4.2. Continental

4.3. International

5. INFLUENCING FACTORS

5.1. Economic Environment

5.2. Health Concerns

5.3. Proposals to Ban the Growing of Tobacco

5.4. Regulations

5.5. Illicit Trade

5.6. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation

5.7. Labour

5.8. Environmental Concerns

6. COMPETITION

6.1. Barriers to Entry

7. SWOT ANALYSIS

8. OUTLOOK

9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

10. REFERENCES



APPENDIX

Summary of Notable Players

COMPANY PROFILES

Afroberg Tobacco Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd

Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd

Best Tobacco Company (Pty) Ltd

British American Tobacco South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Carnilinx (Pty) Ltd

Folha Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd

Gold Leaf Tobacco Corporation (Pty) Ltd

Home of Cut Rag (Pty) Ltd

JT International South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Leonard Dingler (Pty) Ltd

Limpopo Tobacco Processors (Pty) Ltd

Otp Distributors (Pty) Ltd

Philip Morris South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Protobac (Pty) Ltd

Universal Leaf South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Van Erkoms Tabakke (Pty) Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qq9p9s

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.



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The jails want to send you to the hospital to get rid of you, Seiler said, adding that hospitals are eager to do the same. A few days later, he was taken to a shelter in Dayton; a second drug episode got him transferred farther south to Middletowns Atrium Medical Center. The cycle repeated itself when he was again released: He was put in a cab that left him at a downtown shelter run by Shalom, a church-led network that provides homeless people with home-cooked suppers and overnight beds from December through April.
BAGHDAD  Angered by deadly air strikes targeting an Iran-backed militia, dozens of Iraqi Shiite militiamen and their supporters broke into the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday, smashing a main door and setting fire to a reception area in one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory.

American guards fired tear gas, and palls of smoke rose over the embassy grounds.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw flames rising from inside the compound and U.S. soldiers on the roof of the main embassy building with their guns pointed at protesters.

A man on a loudspeaker urged the mob not to enter the compound, saying, The message was delivered.

There were no reports of casualties. The State Department said all American personnel were safe and that there were no plans to evacuate the embassy. But Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said late Tuesday that 750 additional U.S. troops will deploy to the region immediately as a precautionary action.

The breach followed U.S. air strikes on Sunday that killed 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah. The U.S. military said the strikes were in retaliation for last weeks killing of an American contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the U.S. blamed on the militia.

President Trump blamed Iran for the embassy breach and called on Iraq to protect the diplomatic mission.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified! he tweeted from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla.

By early evening, the protesters had retreated from the compound but set up several tents outside where they said they intended to stage a sit-in.

The developments represent a major downturn in Iraq-U.S. relations that could further undermine U.S. influence in the region and American troops in Iraq and weaken Washingtons hand in its pressure campaign against Iran.

Iraq has long struggled to balance its ties with the U.S. and Iran, both allies of the Iraqi government. But the governments angry reaction to the U.S. airstrikes and its apparent decision not to prevent the protesters from reaching the embassy signaled a sharp deterioration of U.S.-Iraq relations.

Qassim Abdul-Zahra is an Associated Press writer.
The dawn of a new decade is an opportune moment to pause and consider - what lessons have we learned from the past 10 years that could transform politics in the 2020s?

Back to the future

In 2010, controversy surrounding political expenses resulted in the introduction of a "fobbing in" system to determine TDs' travel and accommodation allowance. Ten years later, that regime has now been called into question with the Taoiseach criticising it as "too easy to get around" and "too lax".

The rules require TDs to fob in for 120 days to get their full entitlement. However, there is no way to confirm the identity of those fobbing in or the length of time they remain in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The allowances given, without any requirement to produce vouching documents, are extremely generous. Those living within 25km of the Dail receive 9,000 a year, but this increases enormously, to 25,295, for those living within 25km and 60km of Kildare Street. The highest allowance, 34,065, is awarded to those who live more than 360km away.

Politicians undoubtedly travel a lot as part of their job, but there is no reason their reimbursement of expenses should be any different from self-employed workers, who must rigorously keep receipts to justify every kilometre they claim.

The payment of 25,000 to TDs who live within average commuting distances of Dublin city centre is also gratuitous and cannot be justified, particularly in the absence of receipts which document the need for such bumper payments.

Politicians had the opportunity to reform their expenses regime 10 years ago and make it fully transparent, but they failed. If they want to avoid the inevitability of further scandals in the future, a new system should be put into place in which vouching becomes the norm, not an exception.

Social media needs to be tamed

The past decade has seen social media rapidly evolve, becoming entwined with every aspect of our lives. More than 50pc of us now get our news from social media, which is unsurprising considering behemoths like Facebook attract 2.6 million active users in Ireland alone.

The unrelenting rise of largely unregulated social media companies, and the manner in which we now consume information online, has left our political system vulnerable to attack. We know there was Russian hacking and interference in the 2016 American election, but little has been done in the interim to curb the ease with which bad actors can weaponise social media to derail campaigns.

In this country, legislation to regulate political advertising online, and to outlaw the use of bots in pushing political messages, must be prioritised. Thus far, the Government has been happy to allow tech companies to self-regulate. But given the huge amounts of money poured into online advertising and the proliferation of disinformation and fake news, this is no longer acceptable.

Social media users who see ads popping up on their screens should know if they are being specifically targeted by a campaign, why they have been targeted and who has paid for the ad. Limits to regulate the amount of spending during elections, similar to those which already exist for traditional campaigns, should also be urgently introduced.

Social media companies have enjoyed their wild west existence for too long and politics and public debate have suffered as a result. It will be difficult to get this genie back into the bottle, but politicians have to at least try.

Environment takes centre stage

The coming decade will test our resolve in combating the climate crisis as urgent action is now required to mitigate its worst effects.

No one, other than cranks and oil barons, denies the reality of climate change any longer. In Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated we are at risk from rising sea levels, more intense storms and rainfall events, an increased likelihood of flooding and water shortages during the summer.

Ireland had pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20pc by 2020. Instead, the level of emissions will actually rise. This abysmal failure is not just bad for the environment. This year, the Government will spend 150m on carbon credits in an attempt to compensate for missed targets. The EU is also set to impose huge fines if greenhouse gas emissions are not significantly reduced.

For more than a year, schoolchildren across the world have been leading campaigners when it comes to tackling climate change. It's now time for the adults in Leinster House to follow their example and step up. All of our lives depend on it.

A new world order

Those who viewed the election of Donald Trump as an aberration confined to the United States have been proved wrong. The election of Boris Johnson last month has demonstrated that even the most liberal of democracies is vulnerable to the contagion of strongman politics.

Exemplified by their cult of personality and eschewing of democratic norms, Johnson joins leaders like Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, Viktor Orban in Hungary and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, who are intent on reshaping the international world order from globalist to isolationist.

The coming decade will be a test of whether that world order can endure.

Since his election, Trump's protectionist trade policies, virulent criticism of the EU and incessant undermining of international institutions such as Nato have been chipping away at this world order.

The next month will see the unprecedented exit of the UK from the EU, casting Britain adrift from its allies and into a prostrate position as it seeks to replace trade deals it once held by virtue of its EU membership.

The impact of this unravelling of institutions will be felt across the planet, perhaps most acutely in this country, which stands to suffer most from Brexit, particularly if the UK leaves the EU as promised at the end of 2020. If the old world order is to survive the onslaught of Trump and his acolytes, it must reform.

Trump and Johnson swept to power by tapping into the deep disaffection of those who blame globalisation for the loss of traditional industries and their jobs, the unskilled workers who read about the fabulous wealth enjoyed by those who live in cosmopolitan cities while their home towns are ravaged by unemployment, drug addiction and deprivation.

These voters are tired of being ignored. They want political leaders to acknowledge their concerns and to provide solutions that can offer some hope.

Strongman politicians may not have credible answers to these societal problems, but they speak to these voters in a clear way that doesn't patronise or offend.

Unless centre-ground politicians can find a way for globalisation to work for the bottom 40pc as well as the top 10pc, those on the losing side of the equation will continue to vote for those who promise to dismantle its entire edifice. And it will crumble.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the New Year gathering held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 31, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

A New Year gathering was held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Dec. 31 in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the gathering.

Senior leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attended the gathering along with senior members of non-communist parties, leaders of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of personages without party affiliation, leading officials of central departments, members of different ethnic groups and people from all walks of life.

Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects embodies the dream that the Chinese nation has been diligently striving for, Xi said.

As long as the Chinese people of all ethnic groups rally closely around the CPC, give play to the political advantage of the CPC leadership and the institutional advantage of the socialism with Chinese characteristics, the first centenary goal can be secured, said Xi.

The year 2019, which marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, is a key year for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Xi said. "We have worked together to tackle tough issues, done a lot of hard work and harvested a lot of fruits."

Noting that the year 2019 witnessed continued efforts in deepening reform in all areas, Xi said the total number of reform schemes carried out since the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee had increased to 2,217.

Xi also highlighted Party-building efforts including the education campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" among all CPC members and anti-graft work.

At the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the notable strengths of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics were made explicit, he said.

The year 2020 is the concluding year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), Xi noted.

Stressing efforts to deepen reform in all areas and work to maintain stable growth, advance reform, make structural adjustments, improve people's living standards, guard against risks and ensure stability, he demanded securing a decisive victory in the battle against poverty, and ensuring sustained sound economic development and overall social stability.

Xi pledged efforts to safeguard lasting prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus and make new contributions to world peace and development.

Over the past year, the CPPCC has seriously implemented decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and made important contributions to the development of the undertakings of the Party and the country, Xi said.

The New Year gathering was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee.

Wu Weihua, chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, made remarks at the gathering on behalf of the central committees of non-communist parties, All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and personages without party affiliation.
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to see through controversial pension reform in his New Year address to the countrymen on Wednesday.

On December 5, France saw the beginning of the indefinite national strike against Macron's initiative which will take away a number of privileges and special retirement conditions from certain categories of workers, including those working in transport.

As a result of the strike, the work of the country's transportation networks has been thrown into chaos.

"I understand that changes overwhelm. I am aware that the adopted decisions cause fear and pushback. Must we give up? ... The pension reform that I have taken will be passed," the President said.

He added that the government must reach a compromise with the unions regarding the reform as soon as possible.

The strike has been accompanied by several major manifestations in Paris and other French cities. The next one is planned for January 9.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The struggle broke out after the officer pursued a man who fled when police stopped a group of people near the 3500 block of Silver Park Drive in the Suitland/ Silver Hill area of Prince Georges County, Md.
A massive crowd filled the Hong Kong streets for the annual New Year's Day protest march as the months-long pro-democracy movement extended into 2020.

The rally followed clashes between police and protesters in a densely populated shopping district on New Year's Eve.

Police also used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons to break up groups of demonstrators who blocked traffic and lit fires in the street in the working-class district of Mong Kok.

Hong Kong toned down its New Year celebrations amid the protests, which began in June and have dealt severe blows to the city's retail, tourism and nightlife sectors.

Eric Lai, the vice convener of march organiser the Civil Human Rights Front, said he hoped to avoid a recurrence of the previous night's violence.

A huge crowd took to the streets of Hong Kong for the annual New Year's Day protest march / REUTERS

"I really hope that this will be a peaceful protest," he said. "We hope that the police can facilitate us, rather than provoking us, and to fire tear gas and water cannon at us."

Both sides have been accused of provoking clashes, and nearly 6,500 protesters as young as 12 have been arrested in scores of incidents on streets, in shopping malls and on college campuses.

The massive rally followed clashes between police and protesters in a densely populated shopping district on New Year's Eve / REUTERS

Recent protests have drawn participants from across Hong Kong society, sometimes numbering more than a million and packing the central area from Victoria Park to the government office complex a short distance away.

Many people are concerned about an erosion of the former British colony's civil liberties it was promised after being handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, along with a shortage of well-paid jobs and a yawning divide between the city's ruling class and those merely getting by amid soaring housing costs.

This year's event appeared to be significantly larger than in past years, although estimates of the numbers of participants often vary widely between organisers and police.

A protester daubs graffiti during the demonstration / REUTERS

Riot police were positioned in side streets along the march route, but there were no immediate reports of clashes.

Tuesday night's police actions were focused on the more industrial and working-class districts on the city's Kowloon side where protesters were watching a New Year light show.

Protesters use umbrellas to set up a frontline during the protests / Getty Images

The legislation was later withdrawn , but not before the protests expanded to wider calls for reforms in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

On Tuesday, protesters also gathered at the Prince Edward subway station, where four months ago police had rushed in, beating and tear-gassing demonstrators who had no way to escape.

That incident is among many cited by demonstrators as cases of police abuse for which no-one has been held accountable.

Hong Kong fireworks cancelled due to NYE protests- In pictures 1 /28 Hong Kong fireworks cancelled due to NYE protests- In pictures Anti-government protesters gather at Lion Rock REUTERS Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong AFP via Getty Images Pro-democracy protesters take part in a human chain rally AFP via Getty Images A family (centre R) hands out posters to protesters taking part in a human chain rally AFP via Getty Images People raise their mobile phone lights as they form a human chain AP Anti-government demonstrators use the flashlights of their mobile phones REUTERS A customer shops in a jewellery store (background) as pro-democracy protesters take part in a human chain AFP via Getty Images Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui district AFP via Getty Images Pro-democracy protesters hold mobile phones with their lights turned on AFP via Getty Images Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a televised New Year address on a television screen in a restaurant in Beijing AP People raise their mobile phone lights as they form a human chain AP Anti-extradition bill protesters hold lights while forming a human chain REUTERS Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui district AFP via Getty Images Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui distric AFP via Getty Images Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui distric AFP via Getty Images Protesters take part in a human chain rally at the Tsim Sha Tsui distric AFP via Getty Images People raise their cellphones lights as they form a human chain AP A man holds a placard that reads,"Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of out times" AP A man is detained by riot police outside of a police station at Mongkok district ahead of countdown on New Year's Eve Getty Images Protesters rally to remember the deaths and injuries during the months of protests REUTERS Pro-democracy protesters take photos of a 'Free HK' light display AFP via Getty Images

In her New Year address, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the months of protests had brought "sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage", and she vowed to tackle underlying social and economic problems in the coming year.

She said she would "listen humbly" to help bring an end to the protests but also reinforced the importance of the "one country, two systems" framework under which China rules Hong Kong and which brooks no challenge to the ruling Communist Party's ultimate authority.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Mohsin Raza on Wednesday said that Popular Front of India (PFI) tried to give horrible and chaotic dimension to protests in the state against amended Citizenship law.



"In Uttar Pradesh, police acted swiftly. Those who were involved with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), after its ban made a new organisation Popular Front of India (PFI). During protests against CAA, PFI tried to horrible and chaotic dimension in Uttar Pradesh," Raza told ANI.

The minister further said that the PFI wants to radicalise youth and push them towards terrorism.

"They want to radicalise youth and push them towards terrorism. Our police acted against these people. We will crush their ideology," he said.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the role of Popular Front of India (PFI) is coming forward in violence and the Home Ministry will decide on an action against the organisation based on evidence.



"PFI's role in violence is coming forward. The Home Ministry will decide on further action based on evidence. There are many allegations against them including connection with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)," Prasad had told reporters.



Earlier, Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting to impose a ban on PFI citing investigations of the organisation's involvement in the violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on December 19.



PFI, an organisation based in Delhi, was founded on November 22, 2006.



Uttar Pradesh Police had also arrested three members of PFI including its state president Waseem Ahmad. (ANI)


The shooting happened around 1:30 pm on Tuesday.

Two men have been shot in the parking lot outside a Walmart in Tennessee, and one of the victims had life-threatening injuries. (Photo: Representational)

Chattanooga: Two men have been shot in the parking lot outside a Walmart in Tennessee, and one of the victims had life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The shooting happened around 1:30 pm on Tuesday, and the suspect fled in a vehicle, Chattanooga Police Department spokeswoman Elisa Myzal said.

The second victim suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, Myzal said. Both were taken to a hospital.

Police were interviewing multiple witnesses on Tuesday afternoon. They also had called in the Tennessee Highway Patrol to help with the investigation.
As Jacksonville Senior Center members gathered Tuesday in the community building at Community Park to play games, eat and celebrate the new year a few hours early, many asked for a more peaceful world in 2020.

Around 45% of Americans are estimated to make a new years resolution, frequently one promising to make personal self-improvements. Guests at the senior centers party were asked to think about resolutions on a more global scale.

Many said they wished everyone would resolve to get along better in the new year and that the world could move forward on trying to achieve peace.

Jacksonville Senior Center President Barb Becker said she wants everyone in the world to work on treating each other with kindness.

Bill Dobson of Jacksonville added that he hopes people try not to speak badly about others.

If you cant say anything nice, then dont say it, Dobson said.

Doris Bullman of Jacksonville was set to enter 2020 hoping people will spread love to those around them, while Tahnie Smith of Jacksonville said she wished everyone would stop spreading hate and learn to get along in the new year.

Evelyn Scialla of Jacksonville also asked that people resolve to be kind to one another in the new year. Her husband, Pasquale, asked that people be more aware when others are being dishonest.

Look out for all the liars, he said.

Along with peace on earth, Norma Simpson of Jacksonville and Pat Desyllas of Alexander said they would task the the citizens of the world with trying to keep healthy.

Norma Moreland of Jacksonville said she wished that everyone would plan to pray harder in the new year, while Liz Aldridge of Jacksonville asked that people to start 2020 remembering to enjoy their time on the planet.

Enjoy the day, Aldridge said. Life is too short.
Representatives and villagers across six provinces, representing 27 different communities, gathered in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to advocate and petition the government for a resolution to their long-standing land disputes.

The villagers came from the provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampong Speu, Prey Veng, Tbong Khmum, Svay Rieng and Kandal. They filed petitions at the Ministry of Land Management and Ministry of Agriculture to find a quick resolution to their land disputes.

Representatives from Kampong Speu, additionally, petitioned the European Union Delegation in Phnom Penh in relation to their dispute with sugar tycoon Ly Yong Phat.

The government had recently stated that all disputes arising from Ly Yong Phats sugar plantations had been resolved. The land dispute is also part of the EUs investigation into the potential suspension of the Everything But Arms trade preferences.

Soeng Sokhom, a 52-year-old community representative from Kampong Speu, said despite multiple attempts to petition the government, villagers were yet to find an amicable resolution to the dispute.

He also wanted the EU to push the government to pay the villagers compensation for their land, by following a transparent and just process.

Soeng Sokhom said the lack of a resolution had resulted in people migrating from the province or are now burdened with debt.

Some have migrated from their villages because they dont have land, and those who are still living there are poor, and about 99 percent of those living in the communes have loans, he said.

Seng Loth, spokesman for the Ministry of Land Management, could not be reached for comment and the EU Delegation in Cambodia did not respond to requests for comment.

Ly Yong Phat refused to comment on the land disputes in relation to his sugarcane plantations, referring all questions to the Ministry of Land Management.

I dont know if I am wrong or right. I dont know about it myselftherefore, I dont know what to tell you. he said.
Biya vows to crush separatists in December 31, 2019 speech PRC

Cameroon's Head of State, President Paul Biya has promised tougher days for Non-State Armed Group seeking to make of the countrys North West and South West Regions an independent country christened Ambazonia.

Speaking in a televised address to the nation Tuesday, December 31, 2019, President Paul Biya said the countrys military will fight in all professionalism to protect all citizens.

For those who persist in going down the wrong road and continue to use violence, we will have no other choice than to combat them in order to protect all our fellow citizens. Our Defence and Security Forces will, once again, perform their duty with restraint, but without weakness. I wish to reassure them of my full support and high esteem, Biya warned.

He however agreed that without a doubt, the security situation in the North West and South West regions is one of the most urgent problems at the moment. He regretted that: The criminal activities of armed groups continue to disrupt public, economic, and social life in these regions, yet various measures have been taken in recent months to reason with these youths, most of who have been brainwashed. They have been called upon to lay down their weapons, and social reintegration prospects have been offered them.

The leader of the central African nation said decisions had been taken to convince citizens in the two troubled regions of Governments willingness to devolve to local authorities the powers that would enable them to play a greater role in managing local affairs. He confirmed that provisions were to be made to fast-track the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism.

The 87-year-old statesman noted that the Nation at large showed support for Governments policy by expressing, in various ways, solidarity with the populations who suffered the abuses and atrocities of armed gangs.

Biya recalled that a Major National Dialogue, which was preceded, by various peace offers to the insurgents, accompanied by the release of hundreds of detainees, was effectively held from 30 September to 4 October 2019.

The man who has been president of Cameroon for 37 years and counting said a law on the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism that provides for equal use of English and French in all public institutions had gone into effect.

He also said a law to institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities had been passed by lawmakers which to him is a decisive breakthroughs in the countrys decentralization process, notably regarding the status of local elected officials, the functioning of local assemblies and the allocation of additional, substantial financial resources to regions.

Hear him: Concerning the North-West and South-West Regions in particular, the special status granted them takes into account the specificities of the Anglophone education sub-system, Common Law and traditional authorities.

My dear compatriots, as you can see, a new Cameroon is taking shape; a Cameroon that is adapted to present times and looks to the future. To get to where we are, we encountered many hurdles, and as in the past, together, we overcome all of them.

In this seven-year term of Great Opportunities for Cameroon, the Major National Dialogue has paved the way for our country to resolutely embark on the path to peace, national unity and progress, which are values that have always made our country great.

Common Law Lawyers in Cameroon went on strike in October 2016 to protest governments attempts to annihilate the Common Law practice in a constitutionally bilingual and bi-jural Cameroon. The strike lasted for over a year.

Anglophone teachers in the country joined the strike on November 21, 2016 to uphold Anglo-Saxon values under threat in Cameroons two English-speaking regions. Same day, Mancho Bibixy staged a coffin revolution at Liberty Square in Bamenda to protest against the marginalisation and economic deprivation of Anglophones.

Matters came to a head on Thursday, December 8 when the population of Bamenda took to the streets to denounce the politicisation of a strike action they consider genuine and borne of longstanding grievances.

Days of ghost town have since been observed throughout the South West and North West Regions of the country.

On January 17, 2017, Barrister Nkongo Felix Agbor Balla and Dr. Fontem Neba, leaders of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) were arrested moments after the consortium had been banned along with the SCNC.

Same day, internet was cut in the North West and South West Regions. The floodgate of arrests was thus open with the arrest of Mancho Bibixy on January 19, 2017. Journalist Atia Tilarious Azohnwi, Hans Achomba, Godden Zama, Penn Terence and hundreds of other Anglophones would later be arrested and ferried to detention centres in Yaounde.

Separatists have since hijacked the corporatist demands of teachers and lawyers, seeking through the use of firepower the creation of a breakaway state called Ambazonia. Thousands of persons have been killed; hundreds of thousands others displaced and property destroyed as government forces battle armed men.

International agencies, including the United Nations say the humanitarian situation in the troubled regions is dire and have since proposed a mediated solution to end the conflict.
Sneak peek into the latest edition of the Kingfisher Calendar 2020. For those of us who aren't sitting by sunny shores, or don't have beachside plans for the holiday season, a glimpse of these photos is enough to get us on a plane for some sun and sand. (Image: IANS)
Recent college graduates can save money on a new Toyota at San Francisco Toyota.

With another year coming to a close, that means another round of recent college graduates are hitting the real world looking for reliable transportation to get them to and from their new jobs. Those who live in the Bay Area in search of a new ride can visit San Francisco Toyota, as the dealership offers discounts to college graduates through its College Graduate Program.

Qualified college graduates can receive a $500 rebate on all new unlicensed Toyota models when financing or leasing through San Francisco Toyota and Toyota Financial Services. Such models include the popular Camry sedan, the adventurous RAV4 crossover SUV and even the beastly Tundra pickup truck. Graduates can even take advantage of not having to make a payment for 90 days on certain finance programs that are available.

Those who wish to use this program must bring proof of graduation in the past two calendar years or graduation in the next six months as well as proof of current employment in order to be considered for the rebate and financial terms. Certain limitations apply, and those interested should get in touch with San Francisco Toyota to discuss the details.

In addition to the discount on select new Toyota models, recent college graduates can talk to a sales or finance representative about vehicle maintenance and protection plans. With one of these plans, new Toyota models can be serviced and cared for throughout a certain period of time during the ownership or leasing of the vehicle, which can provide added peace of mind to buyers.

Anyone interested in gaining more information about the College Graduate Program or any other special offers from San Francisco Toyota can visit http://www.sftoyota.com or call 415-750-8300 to speak with a representative. San Francisco Toyota is located at 3800 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, California.
Congress Demands Probe Into US Nuclear Waste Dump in Marshall Islands

Radioactive waste from the Cold War era stored under a concrete dome in the Marshall Islands might be leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette has been instructed to report to Congress within six months on the status of the radioactive debris encapsulated in Runit Island, part of Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

The Marshall Islands and surrounding area. (Google Maps)

The United States military carried out 67 nuclear weapons detonations in Enewetak Atoll and nearby atolls between 1946 and 1958, including the 1954 Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb, which was the most powerful test ever conducted by the United States.

According to Military.com, On May 6, 1958, the U.S. set off an 18-kiloton device on a platform at the northern tip of Runit Island, creating a 350-foot wide crater as part of the U.S. militarys Operation Hardtack.

Also in 1958, 130 tons of soil from atomic testing sites in Nevada was shipped to the Marshall Islands, according to the investigative report conducted by the Los Angeles Times. In 1968 the U.S. Military conducted biological weapons testing in Enewetak Atoll, according to the same source.

The mushroom cloud from Castle Bravo, considered the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated by the United States. (U.S. Department of Energy)

In 1977, the Defense Nuclear Agency began a cleanup of the Enewetak test sites and dumped 111,000 cubic yards of soil polluted by radioactive debris into the craterwhich was never linedand covered it up with an 18-inch thick, 377-feet diameter concrete dome, reported the Los Angeles Times.

In 1977 the predecessor of the Department of Energy established the Marshall Islands Program which included a medical care program to evaluate, monitor, and treat cancer that could result from the exposure to radiation of local inhabitants who had not been relocated before the tests were conducted. The program also comprised environmental monitoring and assessment to assist the Marshallese to make resettlement decisions. Enewetak Atoll is now resettled and about 650 Marshallese live there, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Water and food could be contaminated by leaks of the radioactive waste from the tomb, and locals health could be endangered, though experts differ in their assessments of the risks.

In October 2013 Terry Hamilton, a widely respected scientific expert, conducted an evaluation (pdf) of the concrete dome for the Department of Energy and discovered some cracks in the domes concrete, recommending it be repaired.

In recent years, however, he stated that the level of radiation in Enewetak and other parts of the Marshall Islands area has already been so high in some spots due to nuclear tests performed there that any additional radiation due to dome failure or washing over the tomb by storm surge or sea level rise would be insignificant, reported the LA Times.

Another expert, Paul Griego, who worked as a contract radiochemist in Enewetak when the military built the dome in 1978, told the LA Times: I saw the water rising and falling as we filled that dome. I know that limestone is porous. And I know how sick people got.  That dome is dangerous. And if it fails, its a problem.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP in May that the president of the Marshall Islands [Dr. Hilda Heine]  is very worried because there is a risk of leaking of radioactive materials that are contained in a kind of coffin in the area.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) directs the Secretary of Energy to devise a plan to repair the dome to ensure that it does not have any harmful effects to the local population, environment, or wildlife, including the projected costs of implementing such plan.

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) listens to a question during a campaign stop in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

The amendment to NDAA that would require the Energy Department to produce a public report on the status of the concrete nuclear waste facility was introduced by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D- Hawaii).

The Marshallese people are gravely concerned about environmental threats to the integrity of the storage site and the impact on their country, said Gabbard in a statement. The U.S. government is responsible for this storage site and must ensure the protection of the people and our environment from the toxic waste stored there.

Michael Gerrard, a legal scholar at Columbia University told the LA Times that the serious approach taken by the U.S. government to address this environmental issue is a very welcome development.

Enewetak Atoll was held by the Japanese from 1914 until the United States captured it in 1944 during World War II.
A long-lost family album dating back to the 19th century provided the blueprint for the 3m restoration of the iconic Kylemore Abbey.

With 'Downton Abbey' becoming a cultural phenomenon around the globe, there has never been as much interest in magnificent country estates.

A new RTE series, 'Great Irish Interiors', catalogues the painstaking restoration of the Connemara castle back to the full glory of its heyday in the late 1800s.

Kylemore is as colourful as any of its British counterparts after its various incarnations as home to an aristocratic family, a duke and duchess, an order of Benedictine nuns and its last role as a famous boarding school for girls.

The original house had 33 bedrooms, four bathrooms, four sitting rooms, a ballroom, billiards room, library, study, school room, smoking room and gun room, along with 13,000 acres of land at a cost of little over 18,000.

Local archivist and historian Dr Damian Duffy told how he unearthed a family album from its first owner, Mitchell Henry, a wealthy English surgeon who lived there from 1868 until the death of his wife Margaret in 1874.

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The last of the Henrys left the estate in 1903 but a dusty photo album left behind gave vital clues to the Kylemore Abbey Trust, who completed the restoration of the castle this year.

"We are very lucky to have a lot of amazing archive photos in the building so we can look at them and try to bring those archive photographs to life as much as we can," said Eithne O'Halloran, abbey and Gothic church manager at Kylemore Abbey and a former pupil there.

After the last of the Henrys left the castle it was sold to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester in 1903 before being bought by Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium during World War I and founded an abbey there in 1920.

Dr Duffy said the Henry family album dated back to when it was built in 1868.

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"It was in the house for a long time since before the Benedictine community arrived and I just unearthed it recently," he said.

"It was very helpful for the work we did in the exhibition. It gives us some pretty high quality photographs of the various rooms."

He said the album also contained a photograph of a fire drill exercise taken in 1888 at the front of the castle by its own fire brigade.

The documentary follows the painstaking restoration of previously unseen rooms at the estate, which had been an international girls' boarding school until a decade ago.

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The cameras track historic interiors consultant Joanne Smyth and Ms O'Halloran in their tireless search for artefacts, furniture, soft furnishings and wallpapers from Mitchell Henry's Victorian era.

They recreate a stunning new series of rooms to showcase the elegance of the period to the abbey's half a million visitors annually.

The RTE series also shows the fascinating transformation of Emo Court in Co Laois, which was handed over to the State 25 years ago.

'Great Irish Interiors - Kylemore Abbey' will be shown at 8.30pm on RTE One tomorrow and the episode on Emo Court will be shown on Friday.
This is the moment a man was dramatically rescued from the ocean after he jumped from a cruise ship and spent an hour floating in the water.

The man, who has not been identified, was on board the MSC Orchestra sailing from South Africa to Mauritius when he plunged into the Indian Ocean on New Year's Eve.

Search teams were scrambled and spent an hour scouring ocean off the coast of Madagascar for him, before finally sighting him and bringing him back to the ship where he family were waiting.

This is the moment a man was rescued from the Indian Ocean after jumping from cruise liner MSC Orchestra as it sailed near Madagascar on New Year's Eve

Gerhardt Jooste, a financial lawyer from South Africa who was also on the cruise, captured the final moments of the rescue from an upper deck of the ship.

Footage shows a rescue boat being hauled up the side of the cruise liner using two cranes before the man walks off wrapped in a silver blanket.

He then lies down on a backboard positioned nearby, before members of the crew wrap him in blankets.

Mr Jooste wrote: 'Man over board in the Indian Ocean. Miraculously he was found an hour later and he survived.

'Congratulations to the captain and crew.'

Ross Volk, managing director of MSC Cruises, said the man suffered only minor injuries and the cruise was able to continue as scheduled.

MSC Cruises said the man spent an hour in the water before he was found and brought back to the main vessel, escaping with only minor injuries. His family, who were on board at the time, are being offered support

The Orchestra departed from Durban on December 28 and was en route to Mauritius when the man fell. It is due to arrive back in South Africa on January 8, after stopping on Reunion Island

Mr Volk said that it appears the man jumped overboard of his own free will. He added that support is being offered to his family.

The Orchestra docked in Mauritius on New Year's Day, where it is currently moored.

The ship, built in 2007, is capable of carrying 3,200 passengers and almost 1,000 crew, and features a spa, swimming pools, a jogging track, theatre and casino.

It departed from Durban, in South Africa, on December 28 and is due to stay in Mauritius until January 3, when it will depart for Reunion Island.

After an overnight visit the boat is scheduled to return to Durban on January 8. It is not clear whether the man will be allowed to continue on the cruise.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 12:14:23|Editor: Wang Yamei

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MEXICO CITY, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 inmates were killed, five others wounded after riots occurred Tuesday afternoon in a prison in the northern state of Zacatecas in Mexico, local media reported.
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Infrastructure has been in focus in the last six years, and both the States and the Centre have spent Rs 51 lakh crore on infrastructure projects, which will be continued by spending more than Rs 100 lakh crore in the next five years, said Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while addressing her last press conference for 2019.

She further said the task force of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) after holding 70 stakeholders' consultations on infrastructure investment in four months, recommended investments of Rs 102 lakh crore.

The government will be adding Rs 3 lakh crore to Rs 102 lakh crore in two-three days, taking the total investment to Rs 105 lakh crore to boost the infrastructure sector, she said.

Sitharaman also said that infrastructure projects are spread across 18 states and union territories.

The share of private sectors in infrastructure projects pipeline will be at 22 percent while that of Central and State governments will have 39 percent share each in National Infra Pipeline, she said.

"Projects worth Rs 42.7 lakh crore are under implementation, with 63 percent of the total infrastructure project pipeline has already been firmed up," Sitharaman said, adding that power, rail, renewables, urban, irrigation, mobility, water, heath and digital formed the bulk of the crore projects.

She said the private share in national infra pipeline at 22 percent would increase to 30 pecent by 2025.

"We are looking at various steps to reform PPP projects and dispute resolution. We are also looking at various steps towards the enforcement of contracts," she said, adding a robust monitoring framework will be established.

Experts feel this is definitely a positive move for not only infrastructure, but also construction and cement stocks.

"The big infra push by the government was expected since the Task Force had submitted its recommendations. What was awaited was the details of the funding and the initiatives to fix the issues in the PPP model and dispute resolution. The proposed infra spend spread across 18 states and union territories can be expected to give a fillip to revival of growth," V K Vijaykumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

He said from the market perspective, this was certainly a sentiment positive. Capital goods and infrastructure stocks will respond positively, he feels.

Renu Baid of IIFL Institutional Equities also said it was definitely a positive move from government as there were concerns about capex on infrastructure and investment from government.

"There could be near term hiccups about the timing, but from medium-to-long term, it is very strong move. In fact, this was requirement of the day from the government to give a push to the infrastructure sector," she added.

She said the move is positive for infrastructure companies like L&T, E&P firms etc, though there are still some challenges for next two quarters. "We need to see how the government will provide better environment for private companies and drive demand going forward."

"If we look at construction and infrastructure related companies, this step was on expected lines. We have to wait and watch the implementation," Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Group Chairman of Inditrade Capital told CNBC-TV18.

"Private sector participation has been pegged at 22 percent initially, which is supposed to go up to 30 percent by 2025. That will be the critical component as we have to wait and watch what kind of private sector participation comes in in terms of investment in infrastructure projects, considering the state of private sector and availability of credit to large corporates," he said.

Bandyopadhyay said that L&T, and other large road construction names Dilip Buildcon, Sadbhav Infrastructure etc will be on his radar.

He also said that cement, which have not done well in the last six months, have not been his favourite, but he would continue to remain bullish, and all this infrastructure spend would definitely percolate back to good performance in cement companies.

"Companies having capacities in the north and the centre would be attractive, considering the supply-demand status there. The possibility of having an upper hand as far as pricing is concerned, JK Cement, HeidelbergCement will definitely on my radar," he added.

Several infrastructure stocks reacted to the news, which came in late trade on December 31. IRB Infrastructure, KNR Constructions, Dilip Buildcon, Ashoka Buildcon, PNC Infratech etc gained up to 7 percent.

: 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.
B ritain can look forward to a decade of prosperity and opportunity, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.

In his New Year message, the PM predicted a positive future ahead as his government finally ends the rancour and uncertainty of Brexit.

Mr Johnson said that with the UK set to leave the EU on January 31, the Government could look to address other priorities.

As we say goodbye to 2019 we can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held us back for far too long, he said.

We can start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we come together and move forward united, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people.

Mr Johnson, who is spending New Year with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds on the private island of Mustique in the Caribbean, said the first item on his agenda remained his commitment to take Britain out of the EU by the end of January.

At the same time, he said that he was determined to be a prime minister for everyone, including the millions who backed Remain or did not vote Conservative in the general election.

If you are one of them, I want to reassure you that I will be a prime minister for everyone, not just those who voted for me, he said.

I know that you love this country no less, simply because you voted for another party or wanted to Remain.

More than that, I want to work with you, as friends and equals, as we build the future this United Kingdom deserves.

So lets together make the 2020s a decade of prosperity and opportunity.

Mr Johnson said that leaving the EU would enable the Government finally to focus on the peoples priorities  including the NHS.

The loudest message I heard during the election campaign is that people expect us  expect me  to protect and improve the NHS, he said.

The NHS is a wonderful British invention, there for us and our families when we are ill, whatever our background and regardless of ability to pay. So the NHS will always be my top priority.

The Prime Minister said that he was also determined to make the UK the best place on Earth for quality education and cutting-edge science.
Washington DC [USA] Jan 1 (ANI): President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad and said that the Islamic Republic will have to pay a big price if any American is killed.



"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

Thanking Prime Minister and President of Iraq for timely response, Trump said, 'The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request."

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo held telephonic conversations with Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih separately, saying that the United States will protect and defend its people in Iraq.

Moreover, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has also urged protesters to end the violent siege of the American embassy in Baghdad and stressed that "aggression against embassies was an act that security forces would not tolerate."

Dozens of protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashed windows, set fire to outbuildings and overturned vehicles outside the US Embassy, CNN reported.

This development came after the US conducted strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.

The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the embassy.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy shortly after funerals were held for fighters of Kataib Hezbollah militia killed in Sunday night strikes that the Pentagon launched in response on a rocket attack on a Kirkuk base. (ANI)


By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday visited the headquarters of border guarding force Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and reviewed its operational preparedness along Indias borders with Nepal and Bhutan frontiers. Shah was briefed about the organisational structure, deployment, operational achievements and various facets as well as concerns of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other senior officials of his ministry also accompanied Shah.

This is his first visit to the RK Puram-based headquarters of the border-guarding force after becoming Home Minister. He was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon arrival, the officials said. The minister has recently visited the headquarters of other Central Armed Police Forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, the Border Security Force and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police for operational review.

The officials said the home minister was briefed and given a presentation by senior SSB officers, led by Director General (DG) Kumar Rajesh Chandra, about the forces deployment along the 1,751-km India-Nepal and 699-km India-Bhutan borders. Shah stressed that the SSB should ensure the sanctity of the two open borders and while criminal elements are checked effectively, genuine travellers of the three countries are provided easy access across the fronts, they said.

Shah advised the force to make maximum use of technology to guard these borders along the eastern flank of the country. The minister was also informed about the recent procurement of SUV vehicles, arms and ammunition of the SSB, they said.The SSB was raised in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in 1962 and it is primarily tasked to guard Indias borders with Nepal and Bhutan apart from rendering other duties in the internal security domain including anti-Naxal operations.

Guarding the nation since 62

The SSB was raised in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in 1962 and it is primarily tasked to guard Indias borders with Nepal and Bhutan apart from rendering other duties in internal security domain
Any time that someone travels to a different part of the world, they're vulnerable to possible infections for which they don't have immunity. This is obviously the reason why it's important to have vaccinations prior to travel.

Still, it's not a guarantee that you will come out unscathed. This was, unfortunately, the case for Zac Efron as he traveled to Papua New Guinea.

The purpose of his trip was to film the reality television show, Killing Zac Efron, which focused on the High School Musical star abandoning all the luxury and convenience of the modern world while trying to survive in a jungle with minimal supplies.

The show can be described as "[Efron] going deep into the jungle of a remote, dangerous island, and falling off the grid for 21 days."

Contracted Life-Threatening Bacterial Infection

During the filming for the reality show, Efron fell very ill. So badly, in fact, that he was air-lifted to a hospital in Brisbane where it was reported that he had a life-threatening typhoid infection.

It would be several days before anything else was heard on the matter, leaving people all over the world to worry about his well-being.

Efron was one of the lucky ones, though, as the hospital personnel were able to administer life-saving treatment to him. He was ordered to stay in the St. Andrews War Memorial Hospital for several days for observation purposes and precautions before he would be cleared to leave and return to the United States.

Eventually, he was cleared and returned home, where he issued a statement to fans and loved ones on Instagram.

Breaking His Silence

Breaking his silence on Instagram, Efron posted, "Very thankful to everyone who has reached out. I did get sick in Papua New Guinea but I bounced back quick and finished an amazing 3 weeks in P.N.G. Im home for the holidays with my friends and family. Thanks for all the love and concern, see you in 2020!"

From the look of things, it seems like he's in great spirits and the whole world can breathe a sigh of relief. Bouts with typhoid infections don't always have such good prognoses.

Story continues

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's common for people to contract a typhoid infection when contaminated water or food sources are present.

The Purpose of Filming the Show

Before the filming of Killing Zac Efron began, the movie star was asked about his decision to embark on a show that was so extreme.

Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Efron shared, "I tend to thrive under extreme circumstances and seek out opportunities that challenge me on every level. I am excited to explore any uncharted territory and discover what unexpected adventure awaits!"

Little did he know that his exploration of uncharted territory would come with the significant possibility of contracting a life-threatening bacterial infection, but we're glad he's all well now.

Back in Good Health

It's unknown whether he will be moving on with the show, or even returning back to Papua New Guinea, for that matter. But he does seem to have recovered well, as he was spotted over the weekend doing some casual shopping with friends.

A friend of his, Christophe Bertsch, posted a picture on Instagram of the group shopping with the caption, "Thank you Z for showing up at our friends and family shopping. Conor you are the man for the magic! ."

If he does return to resume filming, here's to hoping that he has a safe and exciting 2020 with no visits to the hospital.
The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday observed its 22nd Foundation Day as 'Citizens' Day' as a mark of protest against the amended Citizenship Act.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, congratulated party workers on the occasion and said TMC is observing the day as 'Nagorik Dibas' (Citizens' Day) at the booth-level.

"We are observing the foundation day of @AITCofficial as 'Nagorik Dibas' (Citizens' Day) in every booth of #Bangla. We all are citizens and Trinamool will continue to fight for the rights of the people. Jai Hind. Jai Bangla.

"#Trinamool22 Today @AITCofficial turns 22. The journey which began on January 1, 1998 has been full of struggles, but we have been steadfast in our resolve to fight for the people. We thank Maa-Mati-Manush for their constant support. Our workers are our biggest assets," she tweeted.

The TMC supremo had last week instructed party workers to conduct various programmes to mark the occasion.

The district TMC leaders have organised flag-hoisting programmes and street corner meetings to discuss and highlight the achievements of the party and speak against the amended Citizenship Act, party sources said.

Banerjee, who has been at the forefront in opposing CAA and NRC in West Bengal and across India, has been crisscrossing the state, holding protest marches and rallies against the new citizenship law.

The TMC was founded by Mamata Banerjee on January 1, 1998 with an aim to oust the then Left Front regime from power.

The party achieved its goal in May 2011 after forging an alliance with the Congress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bones discovered in an Idaho cave in 1979 and 1991 have been identified as the remains of Joseph Henry Loveless, a man who escaped from prison more than a century ago after being arrested for killing his wife.

The identification, confirmed by the Clark County Sheriffs Office Tuesday, was initially made by non-profit volunteer organization DNA Doe Project, which said in a Facebook post that the remains were preserved in the Buffalo Cave for as long as 63 years.

Loveless likely died around 1916 at age 46, the organization said. He appears to have been killed and dismembered.

Before his death, Loveless had been arrested at least twice for bootlegging and escaped custody by sawing through jail bars, the organization said.

Around that time Clark County Sheriff Bart May said Loveless killed his wife with an ax and was incarcerated in what was then Freemont County. He escaped again, this time using a saw he hid in his shoe, the organization said. He was never seen again.

Back in 1916, it was the wild West up here and most likely the locals took care of the problem, May said. Well probably never solve the homicide, but we still encourage anyone who has heard stories to contact our office, you never know what piece of information could help.

DNA Doe Project had to overcome numerous hurdles before making a positive identification. Loveless used multiple aliases, had no close living relatives in the national database, and was an off-the-grid outlaw who lacked official records.

The volunteers sifted through more than 31,730 individuals trying to find a connection to the mans DNA.

The Discoveries

The process of identifying Lovelesss bones has been 40 years in the making.

In August 1979, a male torso wrapped in a burlap sack was discovered by a family in a cave near Dubois.

Wearing dark colored pants, white shirt with blue pin stripes, and maroon sweater, the torso was buried in a shallow, 18-inch-deep grave, DNA Doe Project said in a statement.

About 12 years later, a mummified hand was found, along with an arm and two legs wrapped in burlap in the same cave system. Volunteer staff and students from Idaho State University continued to comb through the cave but never found any other remains, including the bodys head, the organization said.

University anthropology professors and students worked with the organizations volunteers to eventually come up with a tentative identification, which was sent to the sheriffs office in November 2019.

A Remaining Relative

May said his office tracked down an 87-year-old grandson of Loveless who lived in California and agreed to meet with deputies and give a DNA sample.

Those results were analyzed by the organization and found to be 100 percent consistent with a grandparents/grandchild relationship, he said.

The grandson had heard stories about their grandma and their grandpa, the sheriff said. But the family stories about Lovelesss death didnt match up with what the organization found through original records and newspaper articles, the organization said.

Lovelesss death remains an open case.

We know he was murdered, but we dont know who murdered him, May said.

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Algiers (AFP) - As chief of Algeria's military for a record 15 years, General Ahmed Gaid Salah became the country's de facto leader after longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned in April.

His death from a heart attack at age 79, announced by state television on Monday, threatened to deepen Algeria's political crisis at the end of a turbulent year.

Many saw the general, a veteran of Algeria's war for independence from France, as the guardian of the system in power ever since.

When Bouteflika appointed him in 2004 to head the armed forces, the backbone of Algeria's opaque regime, he became one of the North African country's most powerful men.

For years, Gaid Salah unwaveringly supported Bouteflika, even backing the octogenarian's unpopular bid early this year for a fifth term in office -- the announcement that sparked unprecedented mass demonstrations.

In early April, Gaid Salah called on his boss to resign. Bouteflika quit the same day.

That left the army chief effectively in control of the country.

- Soldier since age 17 -

Born in 1940 in Batna region, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Algiers, Gaid Salah spent more than six decades in the armed forces.

At the age of 17, he joined Algeria's National Liberation Army in its gruelling eight-year war against French colonial forces.

When the country won independence in 1962 after 132 years as a French colony, he joined the army, attended a Soviet military academy and rose through the ranks.

Gaining a reputation for a hot temper, he commanded several regions before becoming chief of Algeria's land forces at the height of a decade-long civil war pitting the regime against Islamist insurgents.

In 2004, as he hit retirement age, he was picked by Bouteflika to replace overall chief of staff Mohamed Lamari, who had opposed the president's quest for a second mandate.

By 2013, the general had helped Bouteflika dismantle the feared DRS intelligence agency, sending its powerful head Mohamed "Toufik" Mediene into retirement two years later.

Story continues

Today the DRS is defanged, Bouteflika is off the scene and many of his allies, including his formerly powerful brother, are being prosecuted for graft as part of investigations encouraged by Gaid Salah.

Following Bouteflika's departure, the military chief, also deputy defence minister, was undisputedly in charge of Algeria and issued veiled threats to demonstrators.

He exercised considerable influence over the justice department and the civilian administration of interim president Abdelkader Bensalah.

He was also seen as close to new president Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who took office last week following a vote bitterly opposed by protesters.

Tebboune, who after his election had awarded Gaid Salah the National Order of Merit -- Algeria's highest honour -- on Monday announced three days of national mourning.

He also named General Said Chengriha as interim military chief of staff, state news channel Algeria 3 reported.

- No concessions -

Weeks ago Flavien Bourrat, a researcher at the Institut de Recherche Strategique de l'Ecole Militaire (Inserm) in Paris, said Gaid Salah enjoyed relatively unified support within the army.

But protesters, who initially praised him for his intervention to force Bouteflika's resignation, began to despise the general.

He had categorially rejected their key demands of deep reforms, the establishment of transitional institutions and the dismantling of the military-dominated regime.

Indeed, he made virtually no concessions, and was the driving force behind a highly controversial December 12 election that brought Tebboune to power.

The poll was widely rejected by protesters, who argued no vote could be valid until regime figures had left office and reforms were carried out.

Moussaab Hammoudi of the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences in Paris said weeks before Gaid Salah's death that he was "not a great strategist."

"He acts like a brutal soldier," he said. "For him, Algeria is a huge barracks, and making a concession is a weakness."
GFH Financial Group (GFH) has announced the conclusion of its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which was held on 29 December 2019 at the Groups Bahrain Financial Harbour headquarters.

The meeting, which was attended by shareholders, GFHs Board, management and employees as well as members of the media, was presided over the Groups CEO Hisham Alrayes.

The Group received approval from shareholders who accepted the recommendation of the Board to issue Sukuk amounting of up to US$500 million in one or more issuances.

The Group also received shareholder approval for appointing a market maker and to utilise up to 3 per cent of GFHs total issued shares for market making, for the financial year 2019 and until the upcoming AGM for the year ending 31st December 2022.

Shareholders approved and authorised the board of directors to utilise 140,000,000 shares, representing 3.8 per cent of total issued shares of GFH, for a strategic share acquisition in financial institutions, subject to Central Bank of Bahrain approval.
By James Pomfret and Clare Jim

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's protest movement is supported by 59% of city residents polled in a survey conducted for Reuters by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, with more than a third of respondents saying they had attended an anti-government demonstration.

Supporters of the protests outnumbered opponents by a ratio of nearly two to one, with 30% percent saying they were opposed. Of those polled, 57% said they favored the resignation of Carrie Lam, the city's leader. Lam was a particular target of the anti-government demonstrations that gripped Hong Kong for most of 2019 after she attempted to push through a deeply unpopular extradition bill.

Nevertheless, only 17% expressed support for seeking independence from China, and 20% were opposed to "the current path of one country, two systems" - the arrangement under which Hong Kong is governed by Beijing.

Many protesters say Beijing has used its authority under the system to gradually undermine certain freedoms - such as an independent judiciary and freedom of speech - that are supposed to be guaranteed at least until 2047 under the arrangement.

The results of the survey, involving 1,021 people and conducted from Dec. 17-20, also showed a large plurality of respondents mainly blamed the Hong Kong government for the crisis, the worst civil unrest to hit the city in decades, rather than the central government in Beijing.

"The figures are consistent with Carrie Lam's low popularity rate, which shows her ability to lead the government is very low," said Ma Ngok, a professor of government and public administration at Chinese University of Hong Kong. "Resistance and protests will continue next year."

A Hong Kong government spokesman said in a response to the poll results that Lam and her team would "continue to engage the people through dialogue".

China's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, or cabinet, did not respond to a request for comment.

Story continues

The protests erupted following an attempt by the Hong Kong government to introduce a bill that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China for trial in courts that are controlled by the Communist Party.

The bill was later withdrawn, but the protests have escalated into a broader call for greater democratic representation in the city and an inquiry into alleged police brutality in dealing with the protests.

The results of the poll reinforce claims by protesters that their key demands are broadly backed by the general public, according to Samson Yuen, a political science professor at Lingnan University. They also counter Beijing's characterization of the protests as a movement aimed at undermining its sovereignty over the city.

The poll conducted for Reuters also shows little public support for the denunciations of China by hardline protesters, some of whom have called for independence for Hong Kong or scrapping the "one country, two systems" model.

"People go on the street due to their dissatisfaction with police and the political system, not asking for independence," Yuen said.

The survey was the first in a series commissioned by Reuters to gauge public sentiment in Hong Kong amid its worst political crisis in decades. The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute is an independent polling firm.

Among the key findings:

-- 57% of respondents said they wanted Lam to resign.

-- 37% of respondents said they had taken part in protests in 2019, versus 63% who had not.

-- 47% said the Hong Kong government deserved most of the blame for the unrest in the city, 14% blamed the pro-democracy camp the most, and 12% mainly blamed the central government in Beijing.

-- 41% of respondents said they "strongly oppose" Hong Kong independence, and 26% said they "somewhat oppose" it. Only 8% said they "strongly support" independence, and 9% "somewhat support" it.

-- 74% said they wanted an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality in handling the protests. Only 9% said the police deserved most of the blame for the unrest.

The Hong Kong government has rejected calls by protesters and opposition politicians to set up an independent inquiry into police actions, saying that its oversight of the force is adequate.

SUPPORT FOR INQUIRY

The people of Hong Kong "are not seeking a quick fix", said Yuen, the Lingnan University professor. "They think Carrie Lam should be held accountable but it's not the most important thing. They want an independent inquiry to improve the relationship between police and people."

The Hong Kong police did not respond to a request for comment.

Many protesters say they are incensed by what they see as an abuse of power by the police in dealing with the unrest. The police say they have used reasonable and appropriate force against illegal acts including vandalism and rioting.

Since Hong Kong reverted from British to Chinese rule in 1997, many people in the city of 7.5 million have become increasingly angered by what they see as efforts by China to undermine the city's autonomy and roll back freedoms.

When asked whether Hong Kong should keep on its "current path" of one country, two systems, 39% of respondents said they "strongly support" the model, and 29% said they "somewhat support" it.

China has denounced acts of violence in the protests, which it sees as being aimed at undermining Chinese sovereignty.

The large number of respondents saying they had participated in a protest chime with the huge demonstrations the city saw in 2019. On June 9, an anti-extradition march drew an estimated one million people; that was followed a week later by an even larger demonstration.

Widespread discontent was also reflected in city-wide elections for district council seats on Nov. 24, in which pro-democracy candidates won nearly 90% of the 450 seats. While voter participation is usually low in elections for the councils, which oversee things like garbage collection, nearly three million people in the city voted in the November election, or 71% of registered voters. It was the highest turnout in Hong Kong electoral history.

The degree of support for the protests varied sharply by age, education and whether respondents were born in Hong Kong. Younger, better-educated people born in Hong Kong, for example, were far more likely to support or take part in the protests, the poll showed.

For the poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, respondents were randomly polled by telephone in Cantonese, which is spoken by the vast majority of people in Hong Kong. The results were weighted according to the latest population figures in Hong Kong.

(Reporting by Hong Kong Newsroom. Writing by James Pomfret; Editing by Philip McClellan)
Maria Sharapova will begin to rebuild her career in next week's Brisbane tournament AFP/Kena Betancur

The five-time major winner will open her 2020 campaign in Brisbane after being awarded a wildcard by organisers in preparation for the Australian Open later in January.

"To be fair when I was younger I never saw myself playing past 30," the 32-year-old Russian told reporters in Brisbane.

"But I still feel there is a lot in me to give. I still have a lot of fire in me and I am big competitor."

Sharapova has not played since a first-round loss to career-long rival Serena Williams at the US Open in August.

She has slipped to 133 in the world rankings after a 2019 season ruined by a shoulder injury which limited her to 15 competitive matches.

"As long as the shoulder stays healthy and my body allows me to, I hope there is a lot of time left for me," she said.

Sharapova won the Brisbane title in 2015 and joins a high-class field for next week's event spearheaded by Australia's world number one Ashleigh Barty and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka.

World number two Karolina Pliskova is also playing as are fellow top 10 stars Elina Svitolina, Petra Kvitova and Kiki Bertens.

"It's a fresh start after a tough last season," said Sharapova. "There were a lot of ups and downs, there were times when I was ready but the shoulder wasn't.

"But I have had a fairly good off season and I am motivated to compete. At this point in my career when I have that feeling, it's a good sign."

The Brisbane International begins on January 6, with Sharapova then scheduled to play the Kooyong Classic exhibition event in Melbourne before the opening grand Slam of the year from January 20.
Hoping her cinematic voice can help bring about lasting change in how society perceives acid attack survivors, actor Deepika Padukone says her latest film "Chhapaak" should ideally be so impactful that there won't be need for another story on acid violence.

After all, cinema is in itself such a powerful medium, Deepika told PTI ahead of the release of the film based on the life of acid attack survivor-activist Laxmi Agarwal.

The idea behind the social drama is to invoke empathy and understanding rather than paint women who have undergone the ordeal as victims, the actor, who has also produced the film, said in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

"Beyond the gruesomeness, the violence and all of that, there is a story of the human spirit and hope. That's why we're telling the story," she said.

Deepika, 33, said it was a story that spoke to her and she felt pride in attaching herself to the project.

"Chhapaak", directed by Meghna Gulzar and also featuring Vikrant Massey, is the second mainstream film to focus on the subject after 2019 Malayalam movie "Uyare" starring Parvathy Thiruvothu.

"I hope we won't have to constantly tell stories on acid attack survivors for us to see change. I hope with our film we begin to see that change for ourselves as a society and for acid attack survivors.

"If we don't, then we've done something wrong as a society. Cinema in itself is such a powerful medium that hopefully just through this one film we will hopefully be able to see that kind of change and impact."



The actor said there was not much planning behind the decision to back the film financially.

"Sometimes certain films need a little more hand holding, a little more love and support. I felt like I would be adding a little more value as a producer.

"This is a film I'm very proud of, not just from the script point of view but even in terms of the story and its message," she said.

The film, which releases on January 10, will be Deepika's first release in two years and comes after her marriage to frequent co-star Ranveer Singh.

The actor said she used the time to creatively replenish herself.

"It was about finding a film worthy of putting out there. It's not that work at my end had stopped. I was constantly looking for scripts that challenged and excited me.

"I would look at it as time for creative fertility. It's important to nurture yourself. The work that goes on behind the scenes... most often we're constantly on a film set, but whether it's meeting with writers and directors, looking for scripts... That is also part of the creative process and that's what I've been doing."



The title "Chhapaak" instantly evokes the image of acid being splattered, and Deepika said the director wanted a word for the film's name that could also lend itself to a song.

"I think she said 'chhapaak', which is the sound of a splash, is something that could adapt or lend itself beautifully to a song. Perhaps, it also has to do with fluidity and liquid. So on one hand, liquid is known to take different forms, a liquid such as this (acid) can change someone's life forever," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 31, 2019 / The future of digital marketing is as bright as ever. From crafty content creators and technologists to self-made entrepreneurs and leaders, people and businesses all over the world follow well-known digital marketing gurus to learn about the latest marketing trends.

As 2019 comes to an end, we would like to highlight some of the top marketing influencers in the world who have made a huge impact on the industry. These digital marketing experts have influenced thousands of people, and have inspired the world with their ground-breaking achievements enabling digital transformation at every stage. Not only have they invited more opportunities for businesses but they have also provided hope to millions of small start-ups to execute their businesses effectively.

These marketers are the go-to experts that businesses should follow if they want to take their marketing game to the next level. Here are the top 20 marketing influencers of 2019:



1. Neil Patel

Neil Patel is the co-founder of Neil Patel Digital and Kissmetrics. He is an entrepreneur, a blogger, and a digital marketing expert. He started his career at the age of 16 when he launched his first website. Later, he realized the importance of digital marketing and started helping out small scale start-ups.

Currently, he is helping businesses generate maximum sales and traffic through his recent venture called NP Digital. In 2017, he was featured as one of the leading digital marketers on Forbes. Today, his work and contributions have been acknowledged by well-recognized brands and professionals.

He has received over 14 million views on Youtube. He is a New York Times best-selling author and was recognized among the top entrepreneurs under 35 by the United Nations. One of his recent work is called "Hustle', an inspiring book about following dreams and chasing opportunities.

2. Gary Vaynerchuk

Belarusian American entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk graduated from college in 1998. He joined his family's wine business at the age of 14 and expanded the business from $3 to $60 million a year.

Gary decided to leave his family business in 2011. With the help of his brother, he established his own digital media agency and named it VaynerMedia. The agency offers strategic marketing and social media services to businesses and Fortune 500 companies which includes Mondelez and PepsiCo.

Listed as one of the best A-List agencies by AdAge, the agency managed to earn a revenue of $100 million in 2016 successfully. With Gary's consistent marketing efforts, VaynerMedia has collaborated with digital filmmakers and platforms like Vimeo to connect with brands. Today, Gary is considered one of the world's leading digital and social media experts.

3. Nabeel Ahmad

The youngest person on this list, Nabeel Ahmad is a 22-year-old serial entrepreneur, investor, TEDx speaker and well-known marketing strategist. He has founded 5 companies, and has helped many businesses get to the next level by using effective marketing and PR strategies.

Nabeel has been recognised as "one of the top marketing experts in the world" by International Business Times. Earlier this year, Entrepreneur magazine named him as one of the top 15 inspiring entrepreneurs to watch in 2020, alongside industry leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Grant Cardone.

He is the founder of Vertabyte, a digital media agency that works with some of the biggest companies in the world. Apart from that, Nabeel Ahmad is the founder of Mogul Press, a PR firm that specializes in personal branding and media placements.

Nabeel's expertise on marketing related topics is often sought by some of the world's biggest and most renowned media outlets. He is a frequent contributor on Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business2Community, Business.com, and more than 30 other major publications.

4. Rand Fishkin

After dropping out of the University of Washington, Rand Fishkin joined his mother's small business to work and support his family. He co-founded an SEO software company called MOZ which he left in 2014. Now, he operates his own company with the name of Sparktoro which offers software and data insights to people.

He is a well-recognized face in the search engine optimization industry and a digital marketing guru. He loves to help people become better at marketing and learn more about fundamental marketing and technology. He promotes marketing through his Whiteboard Friday video series, blogs, and books.

Awarded as the best-selling author of Lost and Founder, he continues to educate people on marketing. In 2009, Business week featured his name among the 30 best young tech entrepreneurs under 30.

5. Timothy Ferriss

As an angel investor and advisor, Tim Ferriss has advised several startups such as Shopify, Evernote, Trippy, and more. After graduating in 2000, he founded BodyQuicken in 2001 which used to provide online nutritional supplements. Later, he sold his venture to a private-equity firm in 2010.

Tim is a leading author and podcaster. His podcasts cover topics like character development, meditation habits, and morning routines. As an expert advisor and marketer, he has helped many startups raise millions of dollars.

His notable contributions include The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body. He was also listed as one of the notable angel investors by The New York Times while CNN declared him as one of the best angel investors in technology.

6. Grant Cardone

At the age of 61, Grant Cardone is the CEO of Cardone Capital and a well-renowned sales trainer. He is also the owner of seven privately held companies and one of the top social media influencers in the world as listed by Forbes in 2017.

His primary venture, Cardone Training Technologies offers a dynamic sales training platform to currently Fortune 500 companies and small- or large-scale businesses. Recently, he invited more than 50 entrepreneurs and more than 34,000 professionals from all over the world to join his 10X Growth Conference in Miami, Florida. Grant's vision is to strategize sales operations for businesses and improve their revenues.

He has worked with well-established companies like Google, Toyota, Ford, Sprint, and more. He is a New York Times best-selling author and speaker. His book "The 10X Rule" was among the top-selling books in 2017. He owns a youtube channel, with more than 1.27 million subscribers, where he speaks about topics such as entrepreneurship, leadership, and social media.

7. Ann Handley

Ann Handley is a digital marketing wizard who inspires thousands of marketers to achieve real-time results. She is a world-wide keynote speaker and co-founder of ClickZ which offers digital marketing solutions to businesses. She is also the Head of Content at MarketingProfs.

A Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Ann continues to educate millions of people through her videos and books. She is helping people escape conventional marketing methods and also improve their content writing skills through her blogs.

Ann has made several noteworthy contributions. She's been listed as one of the people shaping modern marketing by IBM. Her best works include Everybody Writes and Content Rules which has inspired several content marketers and social media experts.

8. Joe Pulizzi

The leader of the Content Marketing World, Joe Pulizzi has formed multiple startups including Content Marketing Institute. He is a well-renowned speaker, digital pioneer, and an award-winning author. Joe Pulizzi has raised millions through his Orange Effect Foundation which offers speech therapy to children in 25 states.

In 2016, Joe sold his CMI startup to a million-dollar company, UBM. He has delivered speeches to several well-established companies like Nestle, Oracle, Dell, and more while speaking at 400 different locations.

In 2014, he received the John Caldwell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Content Council. His top-selling books include Epic Content Marketing and Content Inc. His book Epic Content Marketing was featured as one of 'Five Must Read Business Books of the Year' by Forbes Magazine. His recent work includes Killing Marketing which was published in 2017.

9. Larry Kim

Founder of the world's best Facebook messenger platform, Larry Kim is the CEO of MobileMonkey Inc. and also the founder of WordStream which provides advanced digital marketing tools.

Considered as one of the most influential experts, Larry offers effective marketing tools to novice and expert marketers so they can become better at paid search. Today, he assists thousands of customers through his multi-million-dollar company.

Larry is recognized as one of the most influential experts and has earned multiple awards. He has been voted as the best PPC expert in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017. He is a featured speaker in multiple events and an active blogger. He has also won the title of "Search Marketer of the Year' by PPC Hero in 2015.

10. Brian Dean

Brian Dean, also recognized as an 'SEO genius' is the owner of the award-winning blog called Backlinko. Currently, he is one of the world's most-sought SEO experts with an annual reach of more than 2.5 million people.

Initially, Brian started his blog in 2013 and struggled until Backlinko was born. In 2017, Forbes listed his blog among the "top blogs to follow'. Previously, he has also offered consultancy services to businesses as a freelancer.

Backlinko enjoys a good reputation in the marketing world. Forbes and The Huffington Post have been following the blog and recommending its resources to people. It has created a positive impact on the lives of several digital marketers.

11. Oli Gardner

Oli Gardner is leading one of the top landing page platforms called Unbounce. The platform requires zero coding skills. He's also recognized as one of the world's top digital marketing speakers. The world admires him for his energy, valuable talks, and unique content.

Oli is an expert in analyzing bad marketing practices. In his 20 year career, he has mastered the techniques of market optimization, information architecture, graphic design, and usability. A globally-recognized leader, Oli loves to share his experiences with the world.

Recently, he developed a theory and coined the term 'Conversion-Centered Design' which explains its 7 principles. Further, he has introduced the Data-Driven Design concept which is an optimization framework that unlocks the true potential of marketing teams by giving them access to significant data including developments of machine learning.

12. Seth Godin

Seth Godin leaves a massive digital marketing legacy behind. He is a well-known author and entrepreneur. Seth founded two companies, Yoyodyne and Squidoo. He sold Yoyodyne to Yahoo and became its Vice President of direct marketing while Squidoo was sold to Hubpages.

He is a New York Times bestselling author and a proud author of 18 books. Seth introduced the concept of permission marketing to the world. In 2018, Godin was appointed into the American Marketing Association's Marketing Hall of Fame. He is also the host of popular Akimbo podcast.

Seth's blog was listed among the 25 best blogs of 2009 by Time. His book 'The Dip' was featured as Business Week and New York Times bestseller. In 2015, his book 'Linchpin' made it to the list of Business Week's '20 best books by the most influential thinkers in business.'

13. Luca Tagliaferro

The Guru of SEMRush, Luca Tagliaferro is famous for guest blogging. He is also leading the top Future Fit Training company as the senior digital marketing specialist which offers personal training courses in the UK.

Luca has worked with renowned marketers and experts around the world. His exceptional research in ROI-based guest blogging for marketing publications has been discussed by famous digital marketing experts like Rand Fishkin.

He has contributed as a guest blogger to Search Engine Land, Crazy Egg, Smart Insights, SEMRush, and more. He has also worked for several small e-commerce companies and large websites. He runs his own blog and writes about Analytics, SEO, and content.

14. Brian Solis

Brian Solis is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and a leading anthropologist. He has been named as "one of the greatest digital analysts of our time'. For an expansive 30 years, Solis has studied the influence of emerging technology on business and society.

His worldwide famous books provide in-depth research for executives and people enabling them to understand the relationship between technology and its impact on people. Solis's book about 'Lifescaling' sparks creativity and allows people to break away from any diversions faced in the digital world.

Currently, he helps brands, startups, and celebrities adopt new strategies and transform digitally. He has helped over 1,000 startups around the world and is also the host of a popular online video series called 'Revolution'.

15. Mark Kaigwa

Kenya-based Mark Kaigwa is the founder of Nendo which is a strategy and storytelling consultancy. He is a world-renowned speaker, digital marketing expert, author, and entrepreneur.

Mark believes in creating better data-driven experiences in digital Africa. He is serving small and large businesses by offering digital growth services to them. He is also working as a Partner and Digital Strategist for AfricanDigitalArt.

For the past 6 years, he has published two of the most influential blogs. During his time in Sub Saharan Africa, he directed films and created an award-winning video game. He has also earned the title of Forbes 30 under 30 best young entrepreneurs in Africa in 2013. He has spoken in more than 20 countries around the world and was an ambassador of the Sandbox Network in Africa which is the best global network of innovators under 30 years of age.

16. Dan Knowlton

Dan Knowlton is a renowned keynote speaker. He has also worked for Social Media Examiner and Content Marketing Institute. He is currently running Knowlton, a digital marketing agency that includes clients such as Boston Consulting Group, Nestle, FIFA, and Eurotunnel.

Dan worked as a marketing specialist in his father's company. In 2015, he decided to launch his own digital marketing firm. In 2016, Dan was named the #12 most influential digital marketer on twitter by Onalytica.

In 2016, Knowlton won the title of Social Media business of the year at the KITA awards.

17. Bryan Eisenberg

Optimization Expert and New York Times best-selling author, Bryan Eisenberg is a keynote speaker and a co-founder of BuyerLegends. He is also the co-founder of the Web Analytics Association.

Bryan and his brother have helped several companies enhance sales by over a billion dollars. They have trained several organizations including Google and NBC Universal. Bryan is also serving as a member of the advisory board for multiple capital-backed ventures like Sightly, Runa, Usertesting.com, and more.

This award-winning blogger has been recognized as one of the top 10 User Experience Gurus. He has been featured on CNN, Advertising Age, Inc Magazine, Entrepreneur, Chicago Business Tribune, and more as an expert in internet marketing and landing page optimization.

18. Jay Baer

Jay Baer is the CEO of Convince & Convert and is a New York Times best-selling author. He plays a significant role as a digital marketer and CX expert for more than hundreds of digital community professionals.

Jay has helped several brands to enhance their digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and word of mouth marketing through his consulting business. Furthermore, his Convince & Convert Media resource hub includes award-winning blogs and podcasts, weekly emails, videos, and webinar series.

Regarded as one of the world's most inspirational marketing and customer service speakers, he also travels to different countries for presentations and professional speaking. Jay has published 6 best-selling books and is the founder of 5 multi-million dollar companies.

19. Barry Schwartz

Specialist in search engine marketing, Barry Schwartz is an editor of Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Land. He is also the CEO of RustyBrick Inc, which helps businesses in managing their sales.

Schwartz is an expert in web marketing and online technology. He has worked over 15 years in driving out valuable search engine strategies for businesses and inspiring them through his blogs. He is currently playing an advisory role for Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

In 2019, he received an award for Outstanding Community Services from Search Engine Land while he was awarded 'US Search Personality of the Year" in 2018. Barry is featured in a variety of publications such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Forbes, and more. He has also been interviewed in shows like CBS Sunday Morning and NBC Nightly News. Recently, he has appeared in TWiT net shows like Google and Tech news.

20. Ryan Deiss

Introducing the latest frameworks in the digital marketing world, Ryan Deiss is not someone to miss. He is the CEO of DigitalMarketer and Founder of RivalBrands. Also, he is one of the most dynamic speakers in the U.S.

Ryan's entrepreneurial journey began in college when he launched his first website. By the time he graduated, his online hobby had already grown into a real business. He is also the Managing Partner of NativeCommerce.com which owns multiple e-commerce groups. He is the creator of "Customer Value Optimization' methodology' and an advocator of digital selling marketing strategies.

Having more than 15,000 community members, his company DigitalMarketer is leading the industry by providing digital marketing certifications and training. He is also the founder of the largest digital marketing conversion conference in North America called Traffic and Conversion Summit. He is also a sought-after speaker and has shared the stage with famous personalities like Gary Vaynerchuk, William Shatner, Dave Ramsey, and more. Currently, he is planning to expand the size of 10 thousand businesses by 2020.

Media Contact:

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SOURCE: Hybrid Media Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/571772/Top-20-Marketing-Influencers-of-2019
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 20:57:16|Editor: xuxin

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ULAN BATOR, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The National Security Council of Mongolia led by the country's president has decided to write off the loans of all pensioners in the country.

President Khaltmaa Battulga announced the decision on Tuesday night while extending New Year greetings to his people via media.

"I am happy to announce that the National Security Council of Mongolia has decided to pay off the loans of all pensioners ... with the aim to help them get out of debt," he said.

It is not yet clear when the decision will be implemented.

There are over 380,000 seniors who receive retirement pensions in the country, and more than half of them have taken out loans, according to statistics.
Right now, most aren't on track to meet even their most modest targets. The world is already about 1 degree warmer than it was before humans started burning fossil fuels. Global annual emissions have increased by 4 per cent since the Paris agreement was signed. And the average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere  "the only number that matters," in the words of Phil DeCola, chief scientist for the World Meteorological Organisation's greenhouse gas monitoring program  is the highest in human history. The world is already about 1 degree warmer than it was before humans started burning fossil fuels. Meanwhile, improved scientific models found that even 2 degrees of warming  once thought to be a reasonable target  could be practically intolerable in parts of the world. To get on track to achieve a less disastrous 1.5 degrees temperature rise, a landmark UN report found that nations must nearly halve emissions by 2030. The UN's 1.5 degree analysis provoked widespread alarm after it was published in 2018. Politicians referred to the report at rallies, teenagers quoted it during school walkouts. "If we don't do something by then," 14-year-old climate activist Alexandria Villasenor said in February, referring to 2030, "it will be the end of my world." But climate scientists caution against treating 2030 as a deadline, and 1.5 degrees as a threshold for extinction.

"Climate change is not a cliff, it's not a pass-fail course," said Georgia Tech researcher Kim Cobb. "If we meet the 1.5 target, there may still be tons of ugly surprises. And if we don't meet it, it's not that everybody's going to die." Bridge walk for climate justice. Protesters cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of climate change action in November. Credit:James Brickwood According to Cobb, the report is better understood as a road map for navigating the perilous path to sustainability. "Our decisions over the next 10 years will affect the magnitude of climate change for centuries to come," she said. "I don't think it can get more sobering than that." The first and most important step will be to reduce fossil-fuel consumption, experts say. According to the latest emissions gap analysis, the past 10 years of inaction have more than doubled the rate at which emissions must fall; to meet the 1.5 degree goal, emissions must be cut by 7.6 per cent each year.

Such action would require "unprecedented transformation of society," the report acknowledged. Loading But many of the solutions needed  both economic and technological  already exist. The report called on the global community to replace coal power with renewable energy, decarbonise transportation and manufacturing, and help developing nations build green infrastructure to meet their growing power needs. Ending subsidies for fossil fuels could reduce global emissions by 10 per cent by 2030, the UN has found. And eliminating "short-lived" greenhouse gases  including methane, black carbon and fluorinated gases, which linger in the atmosphere less than carbon dioxide but trap more heat  over the next 20 years could help Earth avoid between 0.6 and 0.8 degrees of warming by 2050, research suggests. Menon draws hope from progress that's been made on the ground in the past decade, even as global leaders fell short. Global renewable energy capacity has quadrupled since 2010, largely thanks to improved technology and falling costs, she noted. People increasingly see climate change as a threat; a Washington Post poll this year found that 76 per cent of American adults view the issue as a "major problem" or a "crisis." This year's global climate strikes, led by teenagers such as Benson and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were among the largest environmental protests in history.

"We know what we have to do," Menon said. "And we know there are pathways, there are policies, and there are people willing to do it." Loading The rate at which greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere must also increase, said Tufts University climate scientist William Moomaw, a contributor to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Natural systems currently absorb more than half the carbon people produce, and a 2018 study found that conservation, restoration and improved land management practices could reduce the United States' net emissions by as much as 21 per cent. But cutting down forests, dredging wetlands and polluting the coasts reduces that capacity. "If we don't actually reverse the rise of carbon dioxide, so that we are lowering the concentrations in the atmosphere, it's just going to go on getting worse and worse," Moomaw said. In the bleak report released this August, the UN forecast the consequences of inaction on land. Warming beyond 1.5 degrees will lead to high risk of drought, wildfires, destructive hurricanes and outbreaks of agricultural pests, scientists said. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could lower the nutritional quality of crops and raise grain prices. Millions will be at risk of losing their homes, livelihoods and lives to natural disasters, and countries will be destabilised by mass migrations.

Many parts of the world are already experiencing this extreme change; a Washington Post analysis this year found that roughly 10 per cent of the globe has surpassed 2 degrees of warming since the pre-industrial era. Loading "The stakes are high. The climate impacts are severe. And people almost everywhere in the world are experiencing that and waking up," Menon said. "That gives me hope." It's when she considers the political decisions needed to fight warming that she feels pessimistic. At the recent COP 25 climate talks in Madrid, the world's leading emitters, including the US and China, did not increase their commitments to cut emissions. Officials deferred until next year the task of establishing a global carbon trading system.
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com?

So, the natural question for IMPACT Silver (CVE:IPT) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

See our latest analysis for IMPACT Silver

How Long Is IMPACT Silver's Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at September 2019, IMPACT Silver had cash of CA$4.4m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was CA$2.8m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 19 months from September 2019. That's not too bad, but it's fair to say the end of the cash runway is in sight, unless cash burn reduces drastically. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

TSXV:IPT Historical Debt, January 1st 2020

How Well Is IMPACT Silver Growing?

We reckon the fact that IMPACT Silver managed to shrink its cash burn by 52% over the last year is rather encouraging. Unfortunately, however, operating revenue declined by 7.0% during the period. On balance, we'd say the company is improving over time. Of course, we've only taken a quick look at the stock's growth metrics, here. You can take a look at how IMPACT Silver has developed its business over time by checking this visualization of its revenue and earnings history.

How Easily Can IMPACT Silver Raise Cash?

IMPACT Silver seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash to drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Story continues

IMPACT Silver has a market capitalisation of CA$51m and burnt through CA$2.8m last year, which is 5.5% of the company's market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

So, Should We Worry About IMPACT Silver's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of IMPACT Silver's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its falling revenue has us a bit worried. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. When you don't have traditional metrics like earnings per share and free cash flow to value a company, many are extra motivated to consider qualitative factors such as whether insiders are buying or selling shares. Please Note: IMPACT Silver insiders have been trading shares, according to our data. Click here to check whether insiders have been buying or selling.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

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.



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. Thank you for reading.
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has called for a "new beginning" as talks to restore power-sharing resume today at Stormont.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party aimed to secure a "fair and balanced" deal.

The parties have just 11 days to reach a compromise. Secretary of State Julian Smith has warned that he will call a fresh Assembly election if an agreement hasn't been brokered by then.

Mr Smith will hold bilateral meetings with the parties before a round-table discussion at Stormont House.

Mr Coveney yesterday urged Northern Ireland politicians to show leadership and generosity in the negotiations.

He said the new year offered a chance for a fresh beginning and he urged all sides not to disappoint the public again. The dialogue had been paused for the Christmas holidays.

The Tanaiste held pre-talks with Mr Smith yesterday.

On the road to Belfast, Mr Coveney tweeted: "2020 can be a new beginning for politics in NI with leadership & generosity from all sides - we've got less than 2 weeks - let's not disappoint again! NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING!"

TUV leader Jim Allister tweeted in response: "Interloper on the move. Beware."

Mr Coveney stressed Dublin's commitment to restoring devolution in a New Year's Day video posted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outlining his government's priorities for 2020.

"We are determined to work with all of the parties in Northern Ireland to get the devolved government back up and running again, to get the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement functioning again, to bring communities together and to ensure that Northern Ireland can make decisions for itself," he said.

Mrs Foster said that the DUP was approaching the talks constructively.

"We are focused on restoring devolution in a way that is fair and balanced," she said.

"There needs to be an end to the politics of ransom. Collapsing the institutions and then refusing to restore them until a list of narrow demands are met is not the way to move forward. We must use this talks process to ensure that when devolution is restored, it is sustainable and the incentive to collapse is removed.

"The last three years have been wasted opportunities to be fixing our schools and hospitals."

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said: "The choice is now for agreement or elections, but the current situation cannot continue.

"It is in the interests of all our people that we establish good government and real power-sharing based on equality and respect.

"The outstanding issues can be resolved. The test now for every party that has talked up getting back to work is to go back to the Executive table and deliver."

Ms McDonald added: "The first act of a new Executive must be to restore pay parity for health workers, and a new Executive will require a significant cash injection from London to begin the work of repairing a decade of Tory austerity."

Alliance leader Naomi Long said last month's Westminster election results were a message to politicians to restore devolution. "We must have a functioning Assembly so we can deliver for everyone in Northern Ireland," she said.

"So we can resolve the crisis in the health service, ensure our schools remain at a high standard, fix our crumbling infrastructure, protect people from the welfare mitigation cliff edge and stop the worst effects of an impending Brexit."

Mrs Long added: "It is up to each of us as political leaders to prioritise reform and restoration of the Assembly.

"Those reforms, especially of the petition of concern, must ensure not only any restoration is permanent but the institutions are fit for purpose.

"This New Year must be the last with political paralysis and a dormant Stormont. The public are suffering from the absence of locally accountable political decision-making and it has to stop in the next 12 days - no ifs, no buts and no excuses."
Lori Matthews (L) and her daughter enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston on Dec. 31, 2019. (Sonia Wu/The Epoch Times)

HOUSTONDoctors, attorneys, business owners, and others turned out en mass to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts this New Years Eve. For many, it was a way to celebrate 2019 and usher in 2020. And what better way than with the colorful costumes, animated backdrops, and beautiful storytelling dances by New York-based Shen Yun.

Attorney Touched by Shen Yuns Scenes of Persecution

The costumes were amazing. The musics beautiful, said Lori Matthews, a lawyer who attended Shen Yun with her teenage daughter.

Its very, very moving too. I was very touched by the scenes with them fighting the communist party. It was touching. Yes, she added.

Shen Yun is reviving traditional Chinese culture, but it cannot perform inside China today due to the regimes policy of eradicating traditional culture and persecuting people of faith. Shen Yun depicts these real-life stories of brutality and compassion in their stage production.

Upon learning about how spirituality and divine presence was intertwined with everyday life in ancient China, Matthews said, I was very surprised by that. I guess my picture of China was the communist. And I knew they had to try to eradicate any religion. So for me to see all this spiritual meaning behind the dances was surprising.

A Medical Doctors Impression: It was beautiful

Barbara Hayes is a physician who attended Shen Yun in Houston just before ringing in the new year.

We absolutely enjoyed it. It was beautiful. Just breathtaking with all the colors. The interaction with the screen, with the backdrop, that was pretty awesome. The orchestra is fabulous. The music was just wonderful. We enjoyed it thoroughly, Hayes said.

I loved the comic relief parts that were in there too, as well as the serious parts, in talking about China and the other issues going on today in China. So we found that very interesting and quite good.

Musicians Feel Shen Yuns Mission Is Important

From the moment the curtain went up, pianist and cellist Charlotte Carey felt Shen Yun was beauty, just beauty. Artistic perfection. The lines are so perfect.

Rodney Mason is the Director of Choral Activities at Brazosport College. He also plays the piano and sings.

The music is wonderful! I love the orchestravery professional. And the music is unfamiliar to me, the style of it. But its beautiful, Mason said.

Were both musicians. So I think the story, and the foundation of it, and why it was created, its important, Carey said.

Shen Yun combines Chinese instruments and melodies with Western orchestration in its completely original compositions. Did Mason feel that the delicately-balanced harmony works?

I think it works beautifully. They combined it just right. The combination of Western instruments and Chinese is just amazing. Very nice, he said.

Casey agreed: The arrangement is beautiful. They are all just gorgeous.

Something to Remember All of my lifetime

The Mahadevs received something greater than they expected from Shen Yun, and will take home unforgettable memories from the shows divine themes. Wish Mahadev is managing director of a solar energy company and an engineer. He attended with his wife, Raji, and son, Arun.

It was out of this world, Wish said.

Greatfirst time seeing the show and I think Ill probably remember it all of my lifetime. I can say for my age I have not seen anything like this [Shen Yun] in my life so far. I am really thrilled, I should say. They have given more than money is worth  it is a permanent memory in our lifetime, Wish said.

We come from India, a land of spirituality, so this is very, very similar to our own culture and our own spiritualism so we felt quite united with the program aspects, he added.

It is quite elevating. Its not just a casual performance of art, it is touching our mind, I can say that. Absolutely, absolutely uplifting.

With reporting by Sonia Wu, Sophia Zheng, and Brett Featherstone.

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.
The dangerous goods were found off Shatin Pass Road near Lion Rock Country Park in Tsz Wan Shan. The jerry cans of petrol were stashed on a hillside. South China Morning Post



By Clifford Lo





Enough petrol to make more than 100 firebombs, which were to be used to cause chaos at public events around new year, was found hidden on a Hong Kong hillside, police said on Tuesday.



The haul of six plastic jerry cans of petrol was discovered along with 51 empty bottles on a hillside off Shatin Pass Road near Lion Rock Country Park in Tsz Wan Shan, according to Chief Inspector Wong Yi-wai of Kowloon East regional crime unit.



He said police learned the site was being used to store the dangerous goods from suspects who were arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with violent acts during recent anti-government protests.



Wong said the amount seized was enough to produce more than 100 petrol bombs.



"Police have reasons to believe [the petrol bombs] would have been used at public events today or tomorrow and the purpose was to cause panic and chaos," he said.



Sources told the Post on Monday that more than 6,000 police officers would be deployed to handle protest chaos over the new year.



In a video posted on the force's Facebook page, police chief Chris Tang Ping-keung vowed to ramp up efforts to arrest people who broke the law.





Chief Inspector Wong Yi-wai says petrol bombs are treated as offensive weapons. South China Morning Post
Sharon Stone revealed on Monday that she had been blocked from dating app, Bumble, after no one believed it was really her.

However Marvel star, Simu Liu, has now come forward to assist the 61-year-old on her quest to find everlasting love.

The 30-year-old took to Twitter to ask the Golden Globe winner out on a date.

Scroll down for video

Knight in shining armor! Marvel star, Simu Liu, took to Twitter on Tuesday to ask Sharon Stone out on a date after she confessed that Bumble had kicked her off their app as many reported she was a fake account

'I went on the @bumble dating sight and they closed my account. Some users reported that it couldn't possibly be me!' tweeted Sharon.

'Hey @bumble, is being me exclusionary? Don't shut me out of the hive.'

And it wasn't long until Simu replied: 'Hey, I don't have bumble but uh... what are you doing like six months from now?'

Will she take him up on his offer? And it wasn't long until Simu replied: 'Hey, I don't have bumble but uh... what are you doing like six months from now?

Erased? However, while a Bumble spokesman told MailOnline on Monday that her account was back up and running, according to Sharon, that is not the case

The Canadian actor's response comes after the mother-of-three was kicked off the online dating site on Monday.

However, while a Bumble spokesman told MailOnline on Monday that her account was back up and running, according to Sharon, that is not the case.

'@bumble ERASED my account - they did not RESTORE it BTW,' she shared on Instagram Stories and Twitter on Tuesday.

The Basic Instinct star then shared a screenshot of the message from the app, which confirmed she had been blocked, and her profiled removed.

Excluded: The Basic Instinct star then shared a screenshot of the message from the app, which confirmed she had been kicked off the site over concerns she was a fake account

Buzzworthy: Taking to Twitter on Monday, the Golden Globe winner, 61, pleaded with the company to reinstate her account as she quipped, 'Dont shut me out of the hive'

It read: 'You've been blocked. We're committed to keeping Bumble safe, which means we have to enforce certain rules when our values are violated.

'Your account has been blocked because we've received several reports about your profile being fake.'

WHAT IS BUMBLE? Dating app Bumble asks women to make the first move. When a pair match on the app, it is up to the woman to message the man first or the connection expires. In same-sex matches either person can send a message first. The app has three modes  Date, for relationships, Bizz for professional networking and BFF to find friendship. Bumble was set up in 2014 and is now valued at more than $1 billion There are more than 55 million users worldwide Advertisement

Nine hours after Sharon announced her account had been suspended, a spokesperson for Bumble told MailOnline it was back up and running again.

They said: 'Sharon Stone is back on Bumble! Our apologies for the confusion as we're so honoured that Ms. Stone wants to be a part of the Hive.

'However, being the icon that she is, we can understand how so many of our users felt it was too good to be true once they noticed her profile wasnt photo verified.

'Photo verification is just one of the many ways to connect with confidence on Bumble.

'In light of our mix-up with Sharon Stone, we'd like to extend an invitation for her to come to Austin and allow us to host her at the hive for a few hours of profile prep and great food!

Dating app Bumble was founded in 2014 and prides itself on empowering women by giving them a safer environment and letting them make the first move.

Former flames: Sharon was last linked to Angelo Boffa, 42, with the pair dating for nine months before they split in October 2018

When a pair match on the app, it is up to the woman to message the man first or the connection expires.

In same-sex matches either person can send a message first.

The app has three modes  Date, for relationships, Bizz for professional networking and BFF to find friendship.

According to Forbes, the company is valued at more than $1 billion, and has over 55 million users.

Sharon was last linked to Angelo Boffa, 42, with the pair dating for nine months before they split in October last year.

The twice-divorced showbiz legend was first married to TV producer Michael Greenburg, with the couple tying the knot just months after meeting on the set of The Vegas Strip War in 1984.

The couple separated three years later, and their divorce was finalised in 1990.

First husband: Sharon was married to TV producer Michael Greenburg, with the couple tying the knot just months after meeting on the set of The Vegas Strip War in 1984 (pictured in 1996)

Second husband: On Valentine's Day [February 14] 1998, Sharon married Phil Bronstein. They divorced in early 2004 after six years of marriage (pictured in 1999)

On Valentine's Day [February 14] 1998, Sharon married newspaper executive Phil Bronstein and two years later they adopted son Roan, now 19.

Sharon and Phil divorced in early 2004 after six years of marriage, and the actress later went on to adopt sons Laird, 14, and Quinn, 13, and raise them as a single mother.

Back in 2018, Sharon insisted that she won't ever allow herself to be 'defined' by a man.

Speaking to Grazia magazine, she said: 'I was just not that girl who was told that a man would define me.

'I was told that if I wanted to have a man in my life, it wouldn't be an arrangement, it would be an actual partnership. And those are hard to find.'

Sharon added: 'Having three kids certainly will change your reality. And I think that not trying to be a girl and allowing yourself to be a grown-up woman is also very helpful.'

Sharon is certainly not short of offers, however, and previously admitted that she had several younger men chasing after her.

She told More magazine: 'I really get pursued by men in their 20s, like a lot. They probably know there's food in the fridge and that somebody's going to talk to them and ask them how their day was.'

Despite being inundated with offers, Sharon revealed that she wasn't taking them up on it.

'Life and love is like the ocean,' she said. 'Sometimes the tide is in and sometimes the tide is out, and sometimes it's like the frigging Mojave.

'Where's the tide now? For me? Mojave! Fortunately, I like the desert. I'm a desert flower.'
SHERIDAN  From the sacred circle on the outskirts of the Sheridan VA campus, the historic brick buildings that were once known as Fort Mackenzie are obscured by trees covered in blooms of hoar frost.

A light snow materializes and mingles with floating specks of ash.

The ash comes from a large fire banked against cinder blocks and covered in a layer of igneous rocks. Five-gallon buckets of water sit nearby, some with bundles of grass soaking inside. Others line the edge of a small domed structure covered in blankets: the sweat lodge.

Most of the dozen veterans gathered here have never been in a sweat lodge, and know little to nothing about the rites involved.

Soon they will know many things. They will know to never cross between the fire and the lodge. They will know that, when entering, exiting or moving through the lodge, turn to the right. The left is for those who have passed on.

The man who will teach them is Thomas Cummings, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the Crow tribe.

Addressing their questions and expectations about the sweat lodge experience, Cummings tells them a sweat is like the military. It might say one thing on paper, but it is different in the field.

The sweat lodge was constructed by Arapaho elders in the summer of 2019 as a part of the VAs Whole Health program. The program was introduced regionally three years ago when Salt Lake City was chosen as one of 18 flagship sites, according to Sheridan VA Healthcare Systems Whole Health Manager Esther Reece.

Whole Health represents a new approach to providing health care to veterans that encompasses more than traditional Western medicine practices, Reece said.

Really when we talk about Whole Health at the VA, were looking at providing a holistic approach to care that puts the patient at the center of their healthcare and makes them the captain of their healthcare team, she said.

Whole Health addresses every part of a veterans life, including rest, nutrition, physical activity, surroundings, relationships and spirituality, Reece said.

Every veteran treated by the Sheridan VA Healthcare System completes a personal health inventory in an Introduction to Whole Health class that is also open to family members and caregivers. If a veteran is unable to attend the class in person, they can attend via teleconference and still receive the same care.

When veterans fill out the PHI, the category titled spirit and soul is often left blank.

According to Reece, many veterans have a spiritual guidepost that they were taught in childhood or adolescence. Then they grew up, became adults, went into the military. Sometimes the things that they have been through in their military career experience make them feel like maybe they dont have a place in that spiritual element of their life.

When it comes to spirit and soul, Reece said, we all have our own unique thoughts and beliefs, but that one piece can really influence overall health.

The approach has led to a cultural transformation within the entire VA healthcare system, Reece said.

Last year, Sheridan VA was chosen as one of 36 collaborative learning sites to further develop the foundations of a fully implemented Whole Health program.

That provides us with more collaboration with Salt Lake City and also with our national Whole Health partners to begin to implement and bring forth even more offerings here locally and throughout the state, Reece said.

In addition to the sweat lodge, the Sheridan VA intends to offer other wellbeing programs in the future, such as yoga, healthy cooking classes and tai chi.

Were just in the infancy of rolling this out in our VA system and there is much more to come, Reece said.

The Sheridan VA healthcare system serves veterans from Wyoming and the rest of the eight-state Rocky Mountain region for various programs.

The sweat lodge at the Sheridan VA campus is not only connected to the whole health program, but also the spiritual counseling traditionally provided through chaplain services.

Inherent in chaplaincy is the goal to provide care for everyone, said Chaplain Rev. Derek Schultz. This often means encouraging patients to look deeper into their specific backgrounds, and to reach out to people who are a part of that faith or tradition.

According to Schultz, there are 62 different federally recognized Native American tribes in the Rocky Mountain region. Of all the ethnic groups in the U.S., Native Americans have the highest percentage of military service per capita.

Schultz said the sweat lodge, like all the Sheridan VAs spiritual health services, will be available to all veterans. Upon intake at the VA, veterans have an opportunity to participate in what is known as an introduction to spirituality.

The VA plans to offer one sweat per month, run by a rotating group of tribal elders, mostly coordinated by the Helena Indian Alliance. Two sweats were held before late-summer fire restrictions put the program on hold. The sweats resumed in December with a lodge led by Crow elder and Marine Cummings.

At the sweat lodge, everyone gathers near the fire.

Cummings explains that he plans to forgo many of the traditional strictures of the sweat lodge. People are free to come and go as they please. Once the drumming and singing starts, he invites participants to pray, silently or aloud, in any language they see fit, to whatever higher power they believe in.

Im not any better than you, he says. Im not here as a medicine man, Im here as a veteran.

Since completing his active-duty service, Cummings says, he has experienced many of the same struggles as other veterans, such as alcoholism and homelessness. Becoming involved with the sweat lodge has helped him to heal.

He says it is important that veterans know they dont have to stay in the lodge through all four rounds of the sweat. People who have experienced tear gas or grenades might be triggered when the water hits the rocks and bursts into steam.

Cummings lauds the camaraderie of veterans, regardless of differences such as race.

We all bleed red, he says.

After changing into comfortable clothing in a nearby tepee, participants gather near the fire. The towels draped over their shoulders doing little to abate the shivering.

Rocks are lifted from the fire and carried into the lodge, where bearers deposit them in the pit.

Cummings enters first. One by one, the veterans follow. He instructs them to crawl behind him and take their place to his left, forming a circle all the way around the pit of hot rocks.

We crawl because were humble, Cummings says. The lodge is our mothers womb. When you come out, youre reborn.

We call it the common mans lodge, said John Maronick Jr., a Navy veteran and Human Resource Specialist at the VA. Its just kind of a general purpose lodge, which I think is really good for these veterans to experience, most of them for the first time.

Maronick was adopted by a Dakota family as a child. His mother raised him to participate in sweat lodges.

We were taught to carry the song, the music. Learning that, and appreciating the ceremonies and the way the Dakota people teach was really just what I needed when I got out of the service. It was kind of the patch that filled the void when I got home, Maronick said.

When the VA decided to build a sweat lodge, Moronick saw an opportunity to share his knowledge.

Im keeping it as traditional as possible. These ways are ancient, Maronick said. The sweat lodge is one of the very first ceremonies that ever came to the Lakota people. We just try to make sure that we dont deviate that much. Granted its 2019, almost 2020, but the ceremony commands respect.

Not all aspects of the VA sweat lodge adhere to tradition. The ceremonies are open to all genders, for example, while most traditional sweat lodges are gender segregated.

When were working and trying to establish people that can come and provide the ceremonies for us, its crucial that they allow it to be co-ed, Maronick said. We have a lot of sisters that served, and by no means are we going to forget about them.

The door is closed and everyone shifts in the darkness, settling into their space in the tightly packed interior.

A bucket and ladle are passed around for wetting hair. The atmosphere is casual, yet ceremonial at the outset. Jokes and laughter mix with prayers in the Crow language.

The round commences, steam rising and rolling intensely. Maronick offers prayer, sings and drums.

Some people kneel on hands and knees, towels draped over their heads. Others sit upright, letting the steam wash over them until Maronick throws the door open.

Light streams in and everyone looks around, slightly bewildered as the steam clears out. Before the lodge loses too much heat, the door is closed again.

Soon, the darkness is filled with drumming, singing, murmured prayers, moans and sobs.

When the veterans emerge from the lodge at the end of the ceremony, the frost has melted from the trees and the snow has ceased. Patches of blue are visible in the sky.

Billy McGall came to Sheridan after a suicide attempt landed him in a VA hospital in Florida. There was a waiting list to join the program.

You dont have to enter the VA sweat lodge with any specific beliefs, he said. You know, you can go in there with your own beliefs and its still pretty cool and it works well.

McGall said the experience has helped reconnect him to his Christian roots and inspire him to want to help others.

Youre in there and youre in your own little space, he said. Everybody else is dealing with what theyre dealing with. Youre dealing with what youre dealing with. It was a communion, but it was also between you and your God. It was comfortable and it was really cool. It was really spiritual.

While in the sweat, McGall found himself praying by speaking in tongues, something he hadnt done since childhood.

I felt comfortable enough to pray and be in there and pray aloud in my spiritual language while they were singing. I thought that was really cool that I could do that and nobody batted an eye, he said.

After the sweat, McGall said he felt energized and renewed. He was moved to call the woman who raised him to share the experience with her.

The VAs Reece has noted the same kind of enthusiasm for the whole health approach from other veterans.

I think one of the elements that really kind of stood out to me in the very first class when we began offering introduction to whole health was just how hungry veterans are for this type of care, she said. They want to be engaged in their care. They want to know what resources are available to them. And they want to be proactive about their health.

The whole health approach has allowed Reece to view healthcare in a new way. A former diabetes specialist, she spent most of her career working with acutely ill patients. Under those conditions, she did not have as much opportunity to look at health holistically.

It was quite the beautiful picture opening up where I could see our veterans in a whole new light and really appreciate where theyre at, she said. And then meeting them where they are, and really beginning to work with them and help them paint a picture of what they want their lives to look like and what they need to do to achieve that.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

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Libya has been scarred by violence and divided by conflict ever since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in October nine years ago.

Libya has been scarred by violence and divided by conflict ever since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in October nine years ago.

Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra looks at how the oil-rich nation got to where it is now.
Dublin, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Cosmetics Industry in South Africa 2019" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





The cosmetics manufacturing industry has been under pressure from challenging economic conditions. Multinational companies such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble account for the majority of sales in this sector, and may outsource the manufacture of their products to contract or third party manufacturers. There are around 250 players operating in South Africa's formal cosmetics sector, with the growth over the past two years coming mainly from the SMME sector.



The sector is characterised by change, some of it brought on by technology and social media which affect buying choices and force legacy brands to reinvent and renew their products to remain relevant. Cosmetic companies have become more aware of diversity and representation, consumer concerns about sustainability and the use of organic products, and the growing interest in cosmetics by male customers. A large number of cannabis-infused cosmetic products have also been developed.



There has been an increase in the number of start-ups that cater for niche markets such as natural products or ethnic personal care products. The industry offers great scope for SMMEs in line with the growing demand for affordable home and personal care products, as the manufacture of products on a small-scale is a relatively simple process. Manufacturers also have the opportunity to make private label products, which are steadily making inroads. Stakeholders believe that small-scale entrepreneurs can compete effectively if they provide superior customer service, serve a specific local community, or cater for the needs of a specialised niche market.



This report describes the cosmetics industry and the factors and trends that influence it. There are profiles of 69 companies including dominant players such as Unilever. There are profiles of companies such as Avon Justine and Avroy Shlain, members of the direct selling industry, which plays an important role in this sector, and numerous niche manufacturers such as Oh-Lief Natural Products.



Key Topics Covered:





Story continues

1. INTRODUCTION



2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

2.1. Industry Supply Chain

2.2. Geographic Position



3. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY



4. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

4.1. Local

4.1.1. Corporate Actions

4.1.2. Regulations

4.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development

4.2. Continental

4.3. International



5. INFLUENCING FACTORS

5.1. Economic Environment

5.2. Rising Operating Costs

5.3. Government Initiatives

5.4. Health Concerns

5.5. Social Media and Marketing

5.6. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation

5.7. Labour

5.8. Counterfeiting

5.9. Environmental Concerns



6. COMPETITION

6.1. Barriers to Entry



7. SWOT ANALYSIS



8. OUTLOOK



9. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



10. REFERENCES

10.1. Publications

10.2. Websites



APPENDIX 1

Summary of Notable Players



APPENDIX 2

Summary of Main Trade Agreements between South Africa and the Rest of the World





Companies Mentioned



Avroy Shlain Cosmetics (Pty) Ltd

Givaudan South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Boardman Brothers (Pty) Ltd

Brunational (Pty) Ltd

Canway (Pty) Ltd

Environ Skin Care (Pty) Ltd

Esse Trust (The)

Galderma Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Palmer's Cosmetics (Pty) Ltd

Beiersdorf Consumer Products (Pty) Ltd

Union-Swiss (Pty) Ltd

Rolfe Industrial Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Indigo Brands (Pty) Ltd

Godrej South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Essel Products CC

House of Aloes (Pty) Ltd (The)

ISlices Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd

CosQ Manufacturing CC

Creighton Products (Pty) Ltd

Imbalie Beauty Ltd

L'Oreal South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Glaxosmithkline South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Lisa Smit Enterprises CC

Lee Chem Laboratories (Pty) Ltd

M3 Cosmetic Labs South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Marico South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Oh-Lief Natural Products (Pty) Ltd

Tartan Timbers (Pty) Ltd

Tiger Consumer Brands Ltd

Reckitt Benckiser South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Prime Product Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd

Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Revlon South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Johnson and Johnson (Pty) Ltd

Colgate-Palmolive (Pty) Ltd

CAVI Brands (Pty) Ltd

Estee Lauder Companies (Pty) Ltd

Elizabeth Arden (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd

Rain Africa Innovations (Pty) Ltd

L'Oreal Manufacturing Midrand (Pty) Ltd

P and G South African Trading (Pty) Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x3n8uk

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.



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When you woke on January 1, 2010, 'woke' meant woke.

Ten years later, things have gotten a little more complicated.

Back then Brian Cowen was Taoiseach, Barrack Obama was US President and you still bought CDs. You hadn't heard of cronuts and hardly anybody made podcasts.

Now, everybody makes podcasts (thanks a lot, Serial).

As the decade went on, phones would become more expensive than TVs; Ireland would discover proper pizza ovens, and our vocabulary would change forever.

We would come to live in a land of Dadbods and Mom jeans; of 'artisan' food and 'craft' drink, of snowflakes, selfies and... yes, President Trump.

Here's an A to Z of the words that have, overnight, become soooo 2010s...

A is for Avo'

Back then, they were just avocados. And largely bypassed in supermarkets.

Runners-up: Alexa; AirPods.

B is for Brexit

No, wait! Dont go to sleep! This paragraph is only 60 words long, and youve read 20 of them already. In 2010, with David Cameron as Prime Minister and a global recovery in full swing, life looked relatively stable. Then came a certain referendum in 2016 and, well, no newspaper has appeared without this word ever since.

Runners-up: binge watch; bromance.

C is for Covfefe

Donald Trump began the decade hosting The Celebrity Apprentice. In 2016 he became the most powerful man on the planet, and started firing Twitter broadsides that upended our lexicon. Covfeve was just the start... the apparent mis-typing of 'coverage' blew up the internet.

Runners-up: cronut; craft beer; cancel culture.

Expand Close Ash plume from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull crater on May 15, 2010. Photo: Getty / Facebook

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D is for Despacitio

Disoriented yet? Just when you thought this 2017 earworm couldn't get any worse, Justin Bieber chimed in.

Runners-up: duck-face; drone; dab.

E is for Eyjafjallajokull

Still can't pronounce it? The Icelandic volcano wreaked havoc on European air travel in 2010, spewing ash that disrupted some 10 million travellers.

Runner-up: emoji.

F is for Fortnite

How old are you, buddy?

Runners-up: flexitarian; flygskam.

G is for Glamping

In 2010, if you wanted to camp, you did it in a tent. Now, you can 'glamp' your little heart out with everything from real beds to goose-down duvets and en suite loos. You snowflake.

Runner-up: to ghost.

H is for Hygge

OK, Scandinavia, we get it. You are better at EVERYTHING. Back in 2016/17, this take on cosiness ruled the world... and was less guilt-inducing than flygskam ('flight-shame').

Runners-up: hipster; humblebrag.

I is for Instagram

Instagram launched officially on October 6, 2010. Its influencers have gone on to leave no corner of the world un-influenced. Sigh.

Runners-up: iPad; influencer.

J is for JOMO

The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) was already a thing on January 1, 2010. But it took several years of screens to bring us full circle to the Joy Of Missing Out.

K is for KeepCup

In the 2010s, the world woke up to a climate emergency (but continued polluting at pace anyway). At a consumer level, no single product highlighted the new no-no on single-use plastics like the KeepCup.

M is for Mansplaining

In 2010, men explained and women listened. In the brave new world of 2020, 'mansplaining' has been outed for what it is... as has manspreading. Needless to say, both continue unchecked.

Runners-up: #MeToo; manbun; meme.

N is for Netflix

How did we live without streaming? Today, we binge on TV whenever and wherever we damn well want (I'm looking at you, toilet).

Expand Close Shane Ross lingers behind Katie Taylor as she returns home to Dublin Airport. Photo: Frank McGrath / Facebook

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Whatsapp Shane Ross lingers behind Katie Taylor as she returns home to Dublin Airport. Photo: Frank McGrath

Runner-up: normcore.

O is for Overtourism:

Tourism grew at pace; super-popular destinations, not so much. A problem presented, with Venice, Dubrovnik, Barcelona and Santorini to the fore.

Runner-up: Storm Ophelia.

P is for Photobomb

Just ask Shane Ross.

Runners-up: poke bowls; podcasts.

Q is for Queer-Eye

The Fab Five could have been just another fluffy makeover show, but it seized on a cynicism-backlash to spark joy (sorry, Marie Kondo) in living rooms all over the world. Hello, self-care.

R is for Refudiate

Before Donald Trump, there was Sarah Palin.

S is for Selfie

A step forward, or back, in human evolution? History will be the judge, but a decade was all it took to turn us into a species of duck-facing idiots. The Oxford English Dictionary's 2013 Word of the Year.

Runners-up: shade; snowflake.

T is for Twerk

After Dads killed the dab, they got to work on twerking - hitting dancefloors all over the world to wrestle this trend to a painful death. Go Dads!

Runner-up: tablet; troll.

U is for Uber

In 2010, we just took taxis. How innocent life seemed!

V is for Vaping

Just say no, kids.

Runners-up: vegan; viral.

W is for Westeros

In one of the all-time great decades for TV, Game of Thrones was the show that ruled them all, introducing fans to a whole new universe of dragons, Direwolves, Dothrakis and... erm, Ed Sheeran. That ending, though?

Runners-up: WhatsApp; Wild Atlantic Way; wellness; woke.

X is for X-Men

Do they even make blockbusters without superheroes any more?

Y is for Yes

Two referendums brought resounding 'Yes' votes to the nation in the 2010s; on same-sex marriage in 2015 and abortion in 2018. Who would have thought it?

Runner-up: Yaaaas.

Z is for Gen Z

Our last hope? The generation born after 1995 is predicted to become the world's most influential in the decade ahead. Can Greta and Co finally save our planet?

We'll let you know on January 1, 2030.
No Parking sign at Sno-Park Feb 8 2019 View Photo

Sonora, CA  Mother Nature has provided an abundance of snow for winter recreation and the public can show their appreciation by being good stewards of the forest.

Snow grooming has begun for winter trails on Calaveras Ranger District along Highway 4 and Summit Ranger District along Highway 108 in Tuolumne County. The forest teams up with the state of California each season, which typically runs through March, with maintenance continuing if snow conditions allow.

We recognize how important snowmobiling is as a recreational opportunity in the forest. A system of groomed trails is vital to providing that opportunity, in a safe and sustainable way, said Beth Martinez, deputy forest supervisor for the Stanislaus National Forest.

For those heading to Pinecrest, Summit and Mi-Wok District Ranger Sarah LaPlante cautions, Please do not attempt to skate or sled on the ice. It is a dangerous activity that can end with a serious injury. If you walk out on the lakebed, be vigilant about dangers that are usually covered by water, like rocks, stumps, and submerged trash.

Garbage is also a concern when it comes to area SNO-PARKS. Trash is not only unsightly; it can cause health concerns and damage habitat and wildlife. During winter recreation, visitors must plan on packing your trash out, Martinez added.

Another reminder when heading to area SNO-PARKS a parking permit is required from November 1 through May 30 of each year. It costs $5 for a single day and seasonal ones are also sold by specified vendors. Click here for more information.
Whitehall's Sir Humphreys are not known for their tendency to over-react in tricky situations.

So when the Foreign Office professes itself 'seriously concerned' about something, you know it's not just a bit of a worry but a full-on, sirens-blaring, air raid-style klaxon.

The situation in question is the case of a British girl convicted by a court in Cyprus of lying about being gang-raped by 12 Israelis in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa in July last year.

In the summer, after the charges were dropped against them, the young men were seen celebrating as they returned home. Arriving at Ben Gurion airport, they cracked open champagne bottles and chanted 'the Brit is a whore'.

The Briton (centre) is facing a year in jail on a single charge of public mischief after a judge ruled that she lied to police when she accused 12 Israeli men of gang-rape back in July

The girl, 18 at the time, was arrested by the Cypriots and charged with causing public mischief. She faces up to a year in jail and a 1,500 fine.

The fact that the UK is questioning 'fair trial guarantees' offered by the Cypriot criminal justice system, and admitting the case itself is 'deeply distressing', means at the very least something is awry.

In truth, though, it doesn't take a diplomat or even a lawyer to see that what has happened to this young girl is a calamity. Having consented to sex with one of the young men  with whom she was having a holiday romance  the rest of the group aged between 15 and 20 got involved.

The 19-year-old claimed she was gang-raped in Ayia Napa on July 17 later recanted the accusation and was herself accused of lying to police Briton has been found guilty, and now faces up to a year behind bars in Cyprus

Here, the lines get blurred: DNA evidence exists proving that three of the males had intercourse with her, but they claim it was consensual. What's certain is that the boys filmed the whole thing  and shared the footage widely.

Whether their actions constitute rape or not, there is no doubt in my mind that this girl was violated. Not only because the footage was used to humiliate her  an abuse in itself  but also because she was duped into trusting this young man, then taken advantage of in the most vile and cowardly way imaginable by his friends.

Ayia Napa is notorious for its teenage debauchery and drinking, not least among Britons who, like this girl, head there for fun in the sun almost as a rite of passage.

But while drink may have played its part, the real culprit here is a culture of abuse that has corroded the minds of countless young men. One that normalises and even condones this kind of behaviour. And it stems, of course, from online pornography.

A women's rights activist participates in a protest in support of a British teenager found guilty of fasely claiming she was raped by Israeli tourists, during her trial at the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni in eastern Cyprus

This newspaper has long campaigned for hardcore material online to be curtailed  for very good reason. It demeans women, distorts normal relationships  and leads to the sort of grotesque ill-treatment seen in this case.

What happened to the poor girl  a sexual encounter with a boyfriend that turns into an orgy  is exactly the sort of scenario played out in countless hardcore films. I know because I once wrote a piece about online pornography for the Mail. I spent several hours with my head in the sewer, and gang sex was one of the most common scenarios I witnessed.

During the girl's trial, a statement was read from a witness describing how the young men she initially accused had been standing outside their hotel  the same one she was in. The witness also related how they said they would be 'staying in', because 'the English girl was coming and they were going to f*** her  all of them'.

It doesn't matter whether you're in Ayia Napa (pictured) or Aylesbury: the world is full of boys and men whose sexual and moral compasses have been completely skewed by watching porn from a young age

This, combined with their comments after their release, speaks volumes about the young men's frame of mind.

And what breaks my heart is that it's what so many young girls and women have to put up with. It doesn't matter whether you're in Ayia Napa or Aylesbury: the world is full of boys and men whose sexual and moral compasses have been completely skewed by watching porn from a young age.

I have a teenage daughter and I talk to her and her friends about this all the time. Their stories are truly shocking.

What this girl endured is not just a tragedy for her and her family; it's a tragic indictment of society, one that is terrifying for anyone with children or teenagers.

Because we now have a generation of young men who think it's normal to expect a girl to have sex with their mates as well as them. Who think it's fine to film it without her permission and then send the footage to all their friends. And to toast each other with champagne when it's all over.

Nigella Lawson, 60 on Monday

Goddess in shining armour

Nigella Lawson  60 on Monday  claims she would never dream of leaving the house without make-up.

'It takes a braver and more secure person than I am to say: 'Don't put make-up on me and don't brush my hair',' she admits.

Some might think this odd coming from one as genuinely beautiful as Nigella  but I totally get it.

Make-up is not just about how it makes a woman look; it is also  and perhaps more important  about how it makes her feel.

It's about having the confidence to face the world, regardless of what's going on behind the facade.

It is truly, as Nigella says, our 'armour'.

I've never understood dry January. Is there a worse month to go alcohol-free: near permanent darkness, dreary weather and the joy of paying for Christmas?

Which is why I'm delighted to see a group of 42 eminent French figures protesting against 'the puritan Anglo-Saxon obsession of the dry January' (don't you love the withering use of the definite article there, so very French?), warning that it could even 'herald the end of civilisation'.

A slight exaggeration, but I raise a glass to the sentiment.

Could they also do something about ghastly 'veganuary'? Aside from the devastating effects on the digestive system of eating too many beans and the damaging effects on the brain of excessive smugness, surely any of the eco benefits from eating less meat are far outweighed by the fact that, at this time of year, most vege-tables have to be flown in from Guatemala.

How, pray, is that benefiting the planet?

999 calls take the biscuit

The idea of someone calling 999 to complain about an out-of-date packet of biscuits or a mistake in a chip shop order may seem mildly amusing, but I'm afraid this is one area where my sense of humour utterly fails me.

Last year, the Met reported more than 22,000 such calls  that's 22,000 times a life could have been in danger. And that doesn't include calls to fire or ambulance.

I have a solution: most people use their mobile, so calls are traceable. Just send them a bill for wasting police time. Now that would be funny.

If you must quit something this month, take a leaf out of Breakfast TV presenter Louise Minchin's book  do a social media detox.

She's given up Twitter and Facebook for the sake of her sanity, and she's right. The effluent that spews forth from those outlets is far more toxic than any alcohol.

Newly-released National Archive documents reveal that when John Major was PM he briefly contemplated renaming Heathrow airport after Sir Winston Churchill, in the style of New York's Kennedy airport, or Paris's Charles de Gaulle. He must be kicking himself for failing to do so  maybe now he would be remembered for something other than having a furtive fling with Edwina Currie.

Last year, pet insurers shelled out 750,000 to treat 'psychiatric disorders' among pets. One woman sent her Great Dane  which sleeps on a memory foam mattress and lives off M&S chicken  for 'neurological' sessions costing 275 because she thought the animal had developed agoraphobia. Pets need love and care, but if you're paying 275 for a session with a dog shrink, it's you that needs your head seeing to.

Two patronising patrons

Stormzy performs at the 2019 Global Citizen Prize at the Royal Albert Hall on December 13, 2019 in London, England

When rap star Stormzy announced he was funding four Cambridge University grants exclusively for black students, he was accused of racism. So I understand why two private schools, Dulwich College and Winchester College, have turned down a similar offer for white children.

Professor Sir Bryan Thwaites, 96, wanted to give 1 million to fund scholarships for poor white boys. His offer was not only based on race, but also on sex, which made it doubly discriminatory.

Stormzy and Sir Bryan say they are trying to help the disadvantaged. That's just vanity: Stormzy is sponsoring deprived black kids because he was one; Sir Bryan was a white working-class scholarship boy.

If they were true philanthropists they would give the money with no strings attached. Anything else, I'm afraid, is just a giant ego trip.
LUCKNOW: The Yogi Aditynath government in Uttar Pradesh has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), an organisation that is said to have played a key role in triggering violence during the recent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the state.

Sources on Wednesday said that the MHA has received the UP government's proposal calling for a ban on PFI and is likely to take legal opinion before imposing a ban on the organisation. The MHA is also likely to take inputs from intelligence and central government agencies, including NIA, before reviewing the past activities of PFI.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh had earlier sent a letter to the state's Home Department seeking a ban on the PFI. The proposal has now been forwarded to the MHA for necessary action, the sources claimed.

''A number of SIMI activists are now in the PFI and have been instigating violence in the state. Nearly 22 of their members have been arrested during recent protests. The PFI is active in seven states including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Asam, West Bengal, Keala, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh,'' the state's DGP said in his report.

Live TV

State's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya had on Tuesday told reporters that the state government was strongly in favour of banning the PFI. It is said to be a 'recycled' organisation of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was designated as a terrorist organisation and banned in 2001.

Maurya said that the PFI had fanned protests against the against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the state. "Disguised as Students` Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Popular Front of India (PFI) fanned protests in the state. Pursuant to the probe, the truth has come to the fore,'' Maurya told reporters.

Any anti-national in the state and country would not be tolerated, the deputy chief minister said, while warning that if SIMI comes out in a different form, it will be crushed.

The PFI, which was founded on November 22, 2006, is based in Delhi. The protests which affected the state earlier this month saw people expressing their dissent against the CAA and seeking its withdrawal. Various police personnel and protesters clashed during the agitation. The state government also imposed prohibitory orders to avert any untoward incident.

Following the widespread protests, the Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested three members of PFI including its state president Waseem Ahmad.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Snow, wind and choppy water along the shore of Lake Ontario could lead to flooding and difficult travel conditions on New Years Day.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning in Oswego County and a lakeshore flood warning in Oswego and Jefferson Counties Wednesday morning. Each remains in effect until Wednesday evening.

The NWS said high water levels and big waves will cause flooding along much of the eastern shore of the lake, especially at bays, inlets and other low-lying areas.

The agency recommended staying off piers, rock croppings or beaches. The rough water will make for extremely dangerous boating conditions and could lead to local road closures and beach erosion, according to NWS. The flood warning is in effect until 7 p.m.

The winter storm warning in Oswego County calls for six to 10 inches of heavy snow today and winds up to 35 mph. That warning is in effect until 6 p.m.

Other parts of Central New York, including Onondaga and Oneida Counties, might see small flurries Wednesday morning and early afternoon, but little accumulation.

For more weather updates, visit syracuse.coms weather page.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said that the role of Popular Front of India (PFI) is coming forward in violence and the Home Ministry will decide on an action against the organisation based on evidence.

"PFI's role in violence is coming forward. The Home Ministry will decide on further action based on evidence. There are many allegations against them including connection with Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI)," Prasad told reporters here.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh wrote a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting to impose a ban on PFI citing investigations of the organisation's involvement in the violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on December 19.

PFI, an organisation based in Delhi, was founded on November 22, 2006.

Uttar Pradesh Police had also arrested three members of PFI including its state president Waseem Ahmad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In all truth, I want just what Stern has, he said. Ideally Shepard would come in more often than he does now and just sit in here and talk with Monica and other people. He thinks he would prefer that over acting, he said, or, really, anything else.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 07:11:05|Editor: Wang Yamei

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ROME, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Italians need to be more confident and strengthen their social cohesion, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in his New Year speech on Tuesday.

The Italian society was experiencing many difficulties and fractures, which were not overlooked, and yet it should create the right conditions "to allow all of our resources to come to light and express themselves without impediments," according to the president.

Mattarella explained Italy was often looked at with sympathy and confidence from across the world, and not only for its richness in history and culture.

"It is not only the appeal of its (Italy's) arts, landscape, creativity, and its lifestyle, but also for its policy for peace, and for its dialogue ability," Mattarella stressed.

"That same confidence with which we are looked at from outside -- that confidence in our country -- must induce us to have more confidence in ourselves, in order to give shape to our hopes for a better future."

The head of state addressed some of the country's current problems, including unemployment, socio-economic inequalities, corporate crises, and "the need to revamp our productive system."

"Yet, we do have wide resources to face and solve these problems, and to play an incisive role in Europe and within the entire international community," he said.

After urging the whole society to build a stronger "culture of social responsibility", also in the public dialogue that develops through social media, the president focused on the high value and role of the younger generations.

"New generations know better than adults that only with a wider look we can understand and face the global dimension, and the reality of our increasingly connected world," Mattarella said in the second part of his speech.

"They have, for example, the clear perception that the climate change is a very serious problem, which does not tolerate further delays in dealing with."

The emergency caused by recent high-water tides in Venice, or the quakes and floods that hit some central regions were, according to the president, clear proof of how much the environmental protection is "crucial" for Italy.

In the final part of his speech, the head of state thanked research centers, universities, and cultural institutions across Italy for providing "an inestimable heritage of ideas and energies."

"We need knowledge and skills... culture is the great driver of our quality of life, and it makes our country's social fabric stronger," he said.
Protests at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

By Ahmed Aboulenein

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Supporters of Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups who stormed the U.S. Embassy's perimeter and hurled rocks in two days of protests withdrew on Wednesday after Washington dispatched extra troops and threatened reprisals against Tehran.

The demonstrators, angry at U.S. air strikes against the Tehran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group in which at least 25 people were killed, threw stones at the building while U.S. forces stationed on the rooftops fired tear gas to disperse them.

By mid-afternoon, most appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw, issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shi'ite militia, which said the demonstrators' message had been heard.

Young men used palm tree branches to sweep the street in front of the embassy compound. Others packed up equipment and vans arrived to take people away. Some left to set up a protest camp in front of a nearby hotel.

Iraq's military said all protesters had left by the evening.

The protests marked a new turn in the shadow war between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who faces a re-election campaign in 2020, accused Iran of orchestrating the violence. He threatened on Tuesday to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want war.

Iran, under severe economic duress from punishing U.S. sanctions put in place by Trump, denied responsibility.

The unrest followed U.S. air raids on Sunday against Kataib Hezbollah bases in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a U.S. contractor in northern Iraq last week.

On Tuesday, crowds chanted: 'Death to America!', lit fires, and smashed surveillance cameras. They breached an outer perimeter of the embassy but did not enter the main compound.

BIGGEST U.S. EMBASSY

The huge embassy, built along the banks of the Tigris River in central Baghdad's fortified "green zone" during the American occupation following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, is the biggest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world.

Story continues

Washington said its diplomats were safe and it was rushing hundreds of extra troops to the region.

The State Department said on Wednesday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decided to postpone his upcoming trip to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus to remain in Washington and monitor the situation in Iraq. [L1N29606E]

Pompeo spoke on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State Department said.

Pompeo said on Twitter that Abdul Mahdi had agreed that Iraq "would continue to uphold its responsibility to keep U.S. personnel secure and would move the Iran-backed attackers away from @USEmbBaghdad."

Pompeo wrote on Twitter he thanked the emir in the call "for Qatars solidarity in the face of Irans malign regional influence," including the attack on the embassy in Baghdad.

The embassy said all public consular operations were suspended and all future appointments canceled.

The anti-American action came after months of protests in Iraq against the government and the Iran-backed militias that support it. Many Iraqis complain their country has become a battlefield for a proxy war for influence between Washington and Tehran, and that their leaders are too beholden to outside powers.

Iraq's government has long faced frictions in its close relations with the two foes. Trump spoke to Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday and demanded Iraq protect the embassy.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday condemned the U.S. attacks. Iran summoned a Swiss envoy, who represents U.S. interests in Tehran, to complain about what it described as "warmongering" words from Washington.

U.S. officials said 750 extra troops would initially be based out of Kuwait and as many as 4,000 troops could be sent to the region in coming days.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq supporting local forces. The air strikes have galvanized calls inside Iraq to expel them.

Many in the crowd outside the embassy said ending Washington's presence in Iraq was their main goal.

'DEVIL'S DEN'

Despite decades of enmity between Iran and the United States, Iran-backed militias and U.S. forces found themselves on the same side during Iraq's 2014-2017 war against Islamic State fighters, with both powers helping the government recapture territory from militants who had overrun a third of Iraq.

Since then, U.S. troops have yet to leave, while the Iran-backed militias have been incorporated into the security forces.

Abdul Mahdi, who has announced plans to step down in the face of anti-government protests in which more than 450 people were killed, is backed by Iran and its allies.

The militia may have decided to pull back from the embassy to avoid making him look weak or to avert clashes with government forces.

Overnight, demonstrators pitched tents and camped outside the embassy walls, then brought food, cooking equipment and mattresses during the morning, indicating plans to stay before the withdrawal call.

"Our sit-in is eternal, until this devil's den is closed off forever, but don't give anyone an excuse to make your protest violent. Don't clash with security," one protest leader told the crowd from a stage erected at the embassy before the departure.

(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein; Additional reporting by David Shepardson and Chris Sanders in Washington; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Peter Cooney)
In this file photo taken on November 26, 2019, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds a press conference at the State Department in Washington, DC. AFP-Yonhap



U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday he hopes North Korea will choose peace over war after the regime threatened to reveal a "new strategic weapon."



Pompeo made the comment to Fox News shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivered the threat amid stalled denuclearization talks with Washington.



"It remains the case that we hope that Chairman Kim will take a different course," the top U.S. diplomat said when asked for his assessment of the warning. "We're hopeful that Chairman Kim will make the right decision, (that) he'll choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war. I saw that reporting. I hope he doesn't go in that direction."



Trump and Kim have met three times to try to reach a deal on denuclearizing North Korea in exchange for U.S. concessions, but negotiations have stalled due to wide gaps over how to match their steps.






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Six Saudis detained by Yemen's Huthi rebels were released and flown to Riyadh on Wednesday, officials said, as efforts to end the five-year conflict gain momentum.

The release, overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), comes after 128 Huthi rebels detained in Saudi Arabia were freed and repatriated to Sanaa in November.

"We are happy to see a momentum occurring with the release of detainees that has been happening on both sides," said Freya Raddi, ICRC's deputy head of delegation in Yemen.

"Today is important as six more families will be reunited. It is a special moment when this happens, and we are honoured to be part of it."

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the rebels confirmed the six "prisoners of war" had arrived at Riyadh's King Salman airbase on Wednesday, Saudi state media reported.

It was unclear when and under what circumstances the Saudis were detained.

The Huthi-run Al-Masirah television said the rebels had handed over the prisoners to the ICRC, adding that they were waiting for the coalition to reciprocate by releasing "our prisoners".

The Huthis freed by Riyadh in November had been captured in various parts of Yemen between 2015 and earlier this year.

The initiatives coincide with a lull in Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and come after a senior official in Riyadh recently said it had an "open channel" with the Iran-backed rebels.

Riyadh and its allies intervened in the Yemen war in March 2015 to support the internationally recognised government, shortly after the Huthis seized Sanaa.

Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by Yemen's conflict, which the UN has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

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F ifteen people were arrested during the New Year's Eve celebrations in central London, according to police.

As of 2am, at least 15 people had been held by officers specially deployed during the festivities.

Some arrests were made for violent crimes, while one related to an alleged sex attack.

It comes as thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames to watch the spectacular fireworks display in front of the London Eye as the clock struck midnight.

More than 100,000 tickets were snapped up for the sold-out event and people were packed into the streets around Victoria Embankment to welcome the new decade.

Security check revellers as they arrive to celebrate New Year in central London on December 31 / AFP via Getty Images

Three arrests were made for drunk and disorderly behaviour and two for an assault on police.

Two more people were also held for firework offences and a further two for possession of drugs.

One person was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault while another was held for possessing a lock knife.

Revellers gather on the banks of the River Thames preparing to ring in the New Year / Getty Images

Further arrests included one for affray, another for a racially-aggravated public order offence, one for handling stolen goods and a final arrest made for absconding from police custody.

Police said those who were arrested have been taken to central London police stations were they all currently remain in custody as enquiries continue.

Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebrations. / PA

The force has dealt with much higher numbers of arrests at the annual event in previous years.

As the city welcomed 2017, the force made 35 arrests, while in 2015 more than 90 people were held, according to reports.

During this year's event, pyrotechnics featured more than 12,000 fireworks with the display set to a soundtrack inspired by London and Europe as the capital prepares to host several Euro 2020 games.

The soundtrack featured music from Stormzy, Wiley and Bastille.
Distressed betel leaf farmers in Maharashtra have demanded crop insurance cover, claiming its cultivation has almost stopped due to significant financial risk.

An official in the agriculture department on Wednesday admitted there was a decline in betel leaf cultivation in Jalna, Aurangabad and other areas, and said its farming does not fall in the category of insurance cover.

He also said that the betel leaf's dwindling demand in the market and high water requirement for growth were posing hurdles in its cultivation.

Till some years back, betel vines were prominently cultivated in Jalna, Aurangabad and Jalgaon districts.

Several farmers said that unlike for other crops such as wheat, paddy and corn, betel leaf growers do not get any compensation in case of a natural calamity.

"The area under betel leaf cultivation has come down significantly as local cultivators have stopped growing it due to non-availability of a crop insurance scheme. In case of a natural calamity, the grower stands to lose everything," farmer Tulshiram Payghan, from Bharat Budruk village in Jalna district, told PTI.

Betel leaf growers have suffered crop losses in the past due to natural calamities, including drought, excessive rainfall and hailstorm, the 64-year-old cultivator said.

Hence, farmers have been repeatedly demanding insurance cover for the crop losses.

"Farmers in Jalna, Jalgaon and Aurangabad have almost stopped growing betel leaf. If the government doesn't take concrete steps, this sector will end," Payghan said.

Another farmer from Jalna claimed betel leaf dispatches for sale in their area have come down from four trucks per week in 2005 to one mini-truckload now.

Demands made to the government to include betel leaf in the list of farm produce getting insurance cover has fallen on deaf ears so far, farmer Shankar Dabbe said.

He said the area of betel vine cultivation in his village has gone down from 150 hectares in 2004 to 25 to 30 hectares now.

"I never saw such a decline earlier during my 50 years of working in the sector," Payghan added.

When contacted, Jalna district agriculture officer S T Pathan said they have been seeing a decline in cultivation of betel leaf in many parts of the region.

"Every crop is defined in some or the category which helps farmers to get insurance cover for it. But betel leaf is not classified in such a manner. Hence, its growers won't get any aid if their plantation is hit by a natural calamity," he said.

"Lack of availability of market and high quantity of water requirement for the plant to grow are also constraints in cultivating the betel leaf," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities in Lawrence are investigating the fatal shooting of a New Hampshire man Tuesday night.

The Essex District Attorneys office and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque said police received a call reporting gunshots at 7B Summer St. around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Officers responded to the area and discovered a 35-year-old man from Salem, New Hampshire had been shot.

The man was rushed to Lawrence General Hospital where he was pronounced dead soon after arriving there, the district attorneys office said.

Authorities have not publicly released the mans name.

Lawrence police and detectives assigned to the Essex District Attorneys office continue to investigate the killing.
REDDING, Calif.  Police in Redding, California are asking for the public's help in locating a woman who disappeared from the area earlier in December.

The Redding Police Department said that it is in the process of a missing persons investigation for 27-year-old Danielle Renee Bisnell.

"Bisnell was reported missing by family and friends and her current location is unknown, but she frequents Northern California, Oregon, and Nevada," the agency said.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts should contact the Redding Police Department Investigations Division at 530.225.4200.

According to family members, Bisnell left home on December 7 and went out of town. Her last known contact was on December 11 when she returned to the North Point Apartments in Redding. She has not been heard from since.
Melbourne surgeon Jill Tomlinson, a founding member of Destroy The Joint, says our society continues to fear random attacks more than the dangers closer to home. Melbourne surgeon Dr Jill Tomlinson is a founding member of Destroy the Joint. Credit:Wayne Taylor "I think there certainly is an expectation by all women that there is a danger to us when we are outside our houses, and when we walk in and shut the door we are safe," Tomlinson says. "Women are told all the time we need to keep ourselves safe. I think we overestimate the risk, but I think we can identify with these women who were just going about their business." According to Counting Dead Women researchers, 69 women met violent ends in 2012. Most of their names are known only to their families and friends, but three have become household names  Tracey Connelly, Sarah Cafferkey and Jill Meagher.

Tens of thousands of people marched along Sydney Road after the murder of Jill Meagher. Credit:Jason South When ABC employee Jill Meagher went missing in September of that year, with her husband Tom making heartfelt pleas for her safe return, a nation held its breath. Loading But when serial rapist Adrian Bayley led police to her body five days later, public grief and anger boiled over. An estimated 30,000 people marched down Sydney Road, Brunswick, near where Meagher was attacked. She has become a household name, a flashpoint for a cultural shift and an icon of women's rage at being made to feel unsafe.

And yet two years later when talented pastry chef Renea Lau was found dead in Kings Domain  having been stalked, beaten, raped and murdered by a stranger  there was no rally or vigil. Lau, a Chinese national also known as Yuk Ling Lau, had been walking along St Kilda Road on her way to work just after 5am, having stayed the night at a friend's place after church choir practice. After her savage death, Lau's friends and colleagues left flowers around the base of a tree in Kings Domain. The relatively muted public response to her murder did not go unnoticed by Melbourne academic and writer Grace Yee, who wrote an eloquent piece about the "silence" that greeted Lau's death, compared with Meagher's. "I think it just comes down to how people identify with the victim," Yee told The Age.

Tributes left to Renea Lau in Kings Domain. Credit:Paul Jeffers "Jill Meagher was ... people identified with her. She was middle-class, she was a working professional in a respectable job and she was white. Everyone looked at her and said, 'that could be me. That could be my daughter, my sister'. Renea Lau was from overseas. She was Asian, so on the margins. "I was so shocked by the lack of attention in her case." Two months before Ms Meagher was attacked, 40-year-old sex worker Tracey Connelly was stabbed to death in the van she and her partner had parked in St Kilda. Tracey Connelly was stabbed to death.

In 2013, St Kilda Gatehouse held a memorial for Connelly and the 66 other women murdered that year. Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects, determined that all of them be remembered as women deserving love and respect. Locals held a candlelight vigil in Greeves Street, St Kilda, for street sex worker Tracy Connelly. Credit:Wayne Taylor Melbourne women Karen Pickering and Jessamy Gleeson last year established We Keep Vigil to honour every known female victim of male violence because, Pickering says, "the public engagement with different murders was so different". Pickering says the reasons people attend vigils are "complex". "They do want to put their energy and outrage somewhere, they want to come together with others who are grieving," she says. "They want to publicly acknowledge the life of the victim as being much more than her death. In our case, we wanted a visible, visual political action against the murder of women by men."

Murders that take place in public places lead us to wonder whether it could have been us who crossed paths with a killer. Many Melburnians have walked safely through the places that have now become indelibly linked with the attrocities that took place within them: Princes Park, where young comedian and actor Eurydice Dixon was found murdered; Koonung Creek Linear Reserve in Doncaster, where Masa Vukotic was killed; Royal Park, where Courtney Herron was murdered. After international student Aiia Maasarwe was raped and murdered earlier this year near the Polaris shopping centre in Bundoora, her father Saeed made a heartbreaking visit to the car park verge where his daughter was killed, and where crowds were holding a memorial. He told reporters that his family deeply appreciated the public outpouring of grief and support. "It's not good my feeling [about Australia]," he said. "But when I see people like this is makes me to feel, maybe change my mind." Saeed Maasarwe laid flowers near where his daughter was killed. Credit:Paul Jeffers While vigils have become a familiar sight after public murders, so too have debates about women's safety. After Vukotic's murder, homicide squad Detective Inspector Michael Hughes drew fierce criticism when he called on women to take more care in public places.

"I suggest to people, particularly females, they shouldn't be alone in parks - I'm sorry to say that, that is the case," he said. He later clarified his remarks, made in the context of a police manhunt for killer Sean Price, but in the four years since, police attitudes have markedly shifted. After Herron's brutal murder in May, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said: "The key point is, this is about men's behaviour. It's not about women's behaviour. And every time I hear of a woman being attacked in our community ... as a man it gives me pause for reflection ... about what is it in our community that allows some men to think it's still OK to attack women, or to take from women what they want for whatever reason." Even when grief enveloped his family, Bill Halvagis can recall the wider sense of public outrage that followed the murder of his older sister Mersina. The shock that someone could do such a thing in a public place was as brutal as the crime itself.
Despite some hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing in certain quarters, President Donald Trump's decision to give state and local governments a say in whether refugees are resettled in their communities seems to be working just fine.

Contrary to predictions that the change in federal policy would spark widespread bans demanded by immigration hardliners in conservative states, at least 34 governors, including 13 Republicans, have already given their consent and no state has said no since the policy was announced in September.

That's because most political leaders across the nation  and across party lines  recognize that welcoming refugees fleeing war, violence and oppression in their home countries is not just the morally right thing to do but also a boon to local economies and community growth.

These individuals undergo a legal process that Trump administration officials say includes the strictest, most comprehensive background checks for any group seeking to come to the United States. Applicants go through rigorous fraud detection and national security background checks. They must find employment where they are resettled and pay income and other taxes.

These safeguards address some of the biggest concerns about illegal immigration and have a proven track record placing refugees in communities where they thrive and contribute.

That's one of the reasons that business owners, big and small, are among the strongest supporters of the program. Refugees are helping to fill jobs in areas or industries where workers have been hard to find, and they tend to stay longer. A 2018 study by the nonprofit Tent Partnership for Refugees and produced by the nonpartisan New York-based think tank Fiscal Policy Institute found that the turnover rate for refugees in manufacturing jobs was just 4 percent compared to the industry average of 11 percent.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who has had his issues with the refugee resettlement program in the past, has not yet announced whether he will give his consent to resettlement in Texas. But critics may be reading too much into his silence.

Abbott's previous objections to the program were about possible security threats, an issue that some Republican governors say the Trump administration has addressed. Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment.

Mayors and county leaders of all Texas' biggest cities  including Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin  have already sent in their consent letters and others are being added. For years, more refugees have resettled in Houston and Texas than any other city or state in the country.

Betsy Ballard, a spokesperson for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, said her organization and others in the Houston Refugee Consortium are moving forward with the expectation that government leaders will do the right thing.

"We believe we have a moral obligation to welcome strangers, to help those whose lives hang in the balance," Ballard said. "And there is nothing but positives about doing so. These are people who have been completely vetted and approved. We are hopeful everything will work out."

A decision must be made by Jan. 21 so resettlement agencies can secure federal funding in time to plan where to place refugees. The new rules will affect resettlement beginning June 1, 2020.

Although the new policy has created some initial uncertainty and confusion, the president was right to give states and local governments a say in the process.

The answer so far has been a solid yes. It's hard to imagine why Texas would say no.
In the constant search for a vaccine against tuberculosis  which now kills more people around the world than any other infectious disease  researchers have made an unusual discovery.

In tests on monkeys, they found that an almost century-old vaccine routinely given to infants in many countries is far more protective when injected into a vein rather than by the normal route, just under the skin.

Injecting the vaccine into a vein completely protected nine of 10 monkeys who were exposed to large doses of live TB germs six months later, according to the study. The research was led by scientists from the University of Pittsburghs medical school and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and published Wednesday by the journal Nature.

Although routine childhood vaccinations are not generally injected into a vein, an experimental malaria vaccine delivered that way has been successfully given to hundreds of children in Africa, so it is theoretically possible, the authors said.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's entourage have reportedly told Arsenal the striker wishes to leave the club.

According to journalist Ian McGarry, the 31-year-old's agents have revealed the Gabon star does not wish to remain at the Emirates because of the club's current position on the Premier League table.

The Former Dortmund striker has a year and half left on his deal and has refused to sign a new deal with the north London club.

READ ALSO: Notable Ghanaians who passed in 2019

And it is understood Olivier Giroud is interested in heading back to Arsenal after going out of favour in Frank Lampard's side this season.

The France international joined Chelsea as part of a deal that saw Aubameyang join the Gunners from Dortmund and Michy Batshuayi move to the opposite direction.

Aubameyang has scored an impressive 56 goals in 89 appearances, justifying the club-record 56million Arsenal paid for his services in January 2018.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that Thiago Motta has been sacked as manager of Serie A club Genoa after just two months in charge at the west port side.

In an official statement released by the club, former player Nicola Davide will take over from the former Italian international in the New Year.

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The tourism campaign aims at bringing two million tourists by the end of decade kick-started in all seven provinces of Nepal.Nepal's President Bidhya Devi Bhandari torched up Unity Lamp at Dasaratha Stadium formally inaugurating the campaign which will run on for a year."I firmly believe that this campaign which started from today (Wednesday) would take the form of a great campaign through support and participation of all. Nepal is one of the World's fascinating tourist destination; we not only have been consoling our resources and possibilities but also working hard to tap them up," said Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, while addressing the inauguration ceremony in Kathmandu.The Government has claimed that the latest ploy is essential to make tourism one of the supporting pedestals of the economy."Tourism has a key role in Nepal's economic development. Nepal was opened for foreign tourists only after 1951. In the last six decades, big changes have taken place in Nepal's tourism sector. As the country is moving forward towards permanent peace, stability and prosperity, the government has a goal of making tourism one of the key pillars of the Nepali economy. This is the reason the Government of Nepal has declared 2020 as Visit Nepal Year," Yogesh Bhattarai, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of the Himalayan Nation.Mythical creature Yeti has been selected as mascot of the yearlong campaign as well as stickers targeting ambitious drive also was launched over the Viber.Tourism Sector has been contributing around 3 per cent of the total of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With the 15th Five-year plan marching towards completion, the Government has aimed to increase the figure to 10 per cent.Apart from increasing GDP contribution, Nepal government also is aiming to increase the daily expenditure of foreign tourists on a daily basis.Currently, foreign nationals on a visit to Nepal has been expending 44 Dollars each day and the government has planned to increase it to 80 Dollars each day and host 3.5 million tourists each year. For which the government has claimed this tourism action to pave the way to mark 2020-2030 a tourism decade.Indian Tourism Minister attends the programTourists from India always have been topping the list of Foreigners on a visit to the Himalayan Nation. As per data till October of 2019, a total of 169,952 Indian tourists visited Nepal followed by 134, 28 Chinese Tourists.A total of 77,798 tourists came into Nepal from the USA in early 10 months of 2019 while Sri Lanka trailed behind with 57, 240 tourists in the same period.Indian Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, who was also present during the launch of VNY 2020 said, "A large number of people will come during Visit (Nepal) 2020. I think model work of Janakpur would start very soon which would further boost the interest of people as there is Ramayan Circuit, Buddhist Circuit. Another thing I must say is that Nepal's people have own heart of Indians; reliability which is towards them (Nepali) is unmatchable along with I think the cultural relation which we have should be more profound and the flow should always be there, India wants that," Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of Tourism, India told ANI. (ANI)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will focus on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as investments in infrastructure in 2020, the President of the Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has said.

Mr Adesina, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday on the banks performance in the outgoing year as well as the outlook for 2020, said the AfCFTA has the potential to become the biggest thing to happen to Africa in the near future.

Reviewing the growth of the African economy in 2019 against the performance of other regions in the world, Mr Adesina said the AfDB was very proud of what Africa achieved in terms of economic growth in the past year (2019).

Essentially, this year (2019), there are 37 countries that are growing at 3 to 5 per cent, and 20 countries that grow at above 5 per cent. That is incredible, he said.

He said the growth could be validated by understanding what is happening globally, particularly the foreign direct investments coming to Africa, which he described as fantastic.

Africas foreign direct investment this year grew by 11 per cent. When one looks at Asia, which grew by 4 per cent, while globally, foreign direct investment declined by 13 per cent and developed countries declined by 23 per cent, one will appreciate that Africa is actually doing quite well, he said.

Sustaining growth

To sustain the economic growth going forward, Mr Adesina said the priority should be to support the AfCFTA, estimated to be worth over $3.3 trillion in terms of trade volume.

At the end of the day, this will be the biggest thing to happen to Africa, which is why we have resolved as a Bank to focus our attention and resources on in the coming year.

We will continue to do a lot in infrastructure. We are working very hard in the Lagos-Abidjan Highway, the construction that will start by 2022, all the work is currently being done.

We will continue to invest quite a lot in energy, power, which is the source of development. Without energy, there cannot be development. So, the bank is going to do quite a lot this year and beyond, he said.

With the banks shareholders giving a new boost of capital, he said his bank secured a $115 billion new capital that will enable it to dedicate more resources to support African countries, Nigeria and other countries to be able to do more.

Aid, Trade support

On aid to African countries, Mr Adesina stated what the AfDB is doing to ensure the free trade agreement does not affect locally produced goods.

On issues to facilitate trade and competitiveness, he said there are still some basic things that have to be done to realise these goals, particularly infrastructural development.

He said Africa currently has an infrastructure gap of between $68 billion to $108 billion financing gap, adding the AfDB has been working hard to close the gap.

To attract capital for infrastructure development, he proposed the use of the pool of funds totaling about $1.8 trillion from sovereign wealth, pension and insurance (mutual) funds.

If we can just tap a little from these funds, we will close very quickly the infrastructure gap that we are talking about.

However, he said there is the investment of a lot of the sovereign investment funds in other sovereigns outside the continent, thereby making them become the sovereign wealth of others, which they go back to borrow.

He said the African Investment Forum was to enable the bank to garner investment into Africa and to address some of the political, market, and high risks that hinder development in Africa.

Reviewing the achievement of the forum since into operation last year, Mr Adesina said the AfDB was able to secure an investment interest of $37.8 billion in less than 72 hours, with the second forum yielding investment interest of $40.1 billion.
On Dec. 26, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported a physical altercation between Russian and U.S. military personnel in the northeastern Syrian town of Tal Tamr in the Hasakah governorate. According to the report, the incident occurred while the Americans were visiting a mixed Arab-Kurdish area of the town.

It was coincided (sic) with the presence of Russian soldiers in the same area, in which a hassle ignited and developed to hand-to-hand fighting, SOHR reported on its website.

The only sources cited in the report were anonymous locals. In October, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in the region reached an agreement with regime forces to turn over the territory in the wake of a U.S. pullout and the invasion of Turkish forces as part of Turkeys Peace Spring operation. There has been conflicting information concerning the town since the Turkish operation began.

For example, the Syrian state news agency SANA claimed on Oct. 13 that Syrian Arab Army troops were in Tal Tamr and published photos allegedly showing town residents greeting the government forces.

However, on Oct. 14, the Defense Post reported that Syrian government forces were fighting against Turkish-backed forces west of the town. On Oct. 17, a Kurdish news source reported that fighting in the area was continuing.

On Oct. 20, U.S. forces evacuated their base at Tal Samin and, that same day, a convoy of American military vehicles was spotted driving through Tal Tamr toward the Iraqi border. More recently, there have been reports of U.S. patrols in the Hasakah governorate. However, they were reportedly further east, near the Iraqi border, while Tal Tamr is in the western part of the governorate.

Incidents between Russian and U.S. or allied forces often prompt public statements by one or both parties. Polygraph.info has reported on incidents involving near misses between Russian and U.S. naval vessels, like the one that occurred in the Pacific in June. There have been similar incidents involving aircraft. However, this doesnt guarantee that an incident like the one described by SOHR would prompt a formal complaint.

In this case, neither the Pentagon nor the Russian Defense Ministry released a statement about the alleged incident in Tal Tamr. Nor did the Combined Joint Task-Force of Operation Inherent Resolve, the military operation to defeat Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, report any such incidents. Russian state media and major U.S. outlets havent reported on it, and those outlets that have cited the same source - SOHR.

The U.K.-based SOHR has been criticized for publishing claims later found to be false, and for its opaque structure and lack of transparency regarding how it gathers information on the ground in Syria.

Due to the lack of accurate information on U.S. troop deployments in Syria, the lack of official statements from either Russia or the U.S., and the lack of additional sources to corroborate the claim, it is not clear whether any altercation or encounter occurred between U.S. and Russian military personnel in Tal Tamr.
By PTI

JAIPUR: A Rajasthan recruitment board has cancelled its statewide exam held on Sunday for recruiting librarians due to a paper leak, a senior official said.

The paper of the exam and answer key were leaked on WhatsApp two hours prior to the exam, said B L Jatawat, chairman of Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Service Selection Board (RSMSSB) here on Wednesday.

"We have decided to cancel the exam in view of the paper leak. New date will be announced soon," he said.

Police had arrested six persons in connection of the matter, he added.

Nearly 55,000 candidates had appeared in the exam for the recruitment on 700 posts.
Keith is a violent, paranoid person with a long line of assault and batteries with and without firearms. He is a religious fanatic, says hes battling a demon . . . He is not nice to anyone. That is how one of his ex-wives described the gunman in 2012 as she sought a protective order against him. Keith Thomas Kinnunen, 43, who killed church deacon Anton Wallace, 64, and church security volunteer Richard White, 67, at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Tex., had an extensive rap sheet in numerous places across the United States. Included in his troubled history was the 2012 determination by an Oklahoma judge that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial on charges he attacked the owner of a doughnut shop; he was committed to a psychiatric facility. In 2016, he was arrested after being spotted acting suspiciously near an oil refinery in New Jersey while armed with a shotgun; he ended up pleading guilty to criminal trespass.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) investors who have suffered losses in excess of $100,000 to submit their losses now to learn if they qualify to recover their investment losses. A securities fraud class action was filed against the Company and senior executives, and important investor deadlines are approaching.



Class Period: May 9, 2018  Nov. 7, 2019

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Feb. 17, 2020

Sign Up Now: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/GDOT

Contact An Attorney Immediately: GDOT@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Green Dot Corporation (GDOT) Securities Class Action:

The Complaint alleges Defendants misled investors concerning Green Dots business and operations.

More specifically, according to the Complaint, Green Dot, CEO Steven W. Streit, and CFO Mark Shifke misrepresented and concealed that: (1) Green Dots strategy to attract high-value long-term customers was at the expense of one and done customers; (2) Green Dots one and done customers represented a significant source of revenues in its legacy segment; and, (3) consequently, Green Dots business strategy was self-sabotaging.

The truth about Green Dots failed business strategy was revealed over a series of disclosures beginning on Feb. 21, 2019, when Green Dot reported poor FY 2018 financial results, which drove the price of Green Dot shares down about 10% that day.

Then, on May 9, 2019, the Company disappointed investors when it slashed earnings guidance and announced it would be dramatically increasing spending on technology and marketing to attract new users. This news caused a massive 26% drop in Green Dots share price.

On Aug. 8, 2019, Green Dot announced another guidance reduction due to a steep decline in legacy prepaid card product line and the Companys delay in launching its newest BaaS product. This news caused Green Dots shares to plummet another 42%.

On Nov. 7, 2019, CEO Streit blamed disappointing financial results for the third fiscal quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2019 on the continuing year-over-year decline of accounts in its active consumer business approximating 620,000 and revealed these were mostly one-time use accounts. This news caused Green Dots shares to plummet over 18% on Nov. 8, 2019.

Most recently, on Dec. 18, 2019, Defendants announced that CEO Streit and CFO Shifke would be leaving their positions effective Dec. 31, 2019. This news drove the price of Green Dot shares down as much as 15% during intraday trading that day and prompted certain analysts to issue sell ratings.

If you invested in Green Dot between May 9, 2018 and Nov. 7, 2019 (the Class Period) and suffered significant losses, you may qualify to be a lead plaintiff  one who selects and oversees the attorneys prosecuting the case. Contact Hagens Berman immediately for more information about the case and being a lead plaintiff.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Defendants misled investors about Green Dots growth prospects, asset quality, and existing account metrics, said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.

If you purchased shares of GDOT and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Green Dot should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email GDOT@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
New Delhi, Jan 1 : A heart rendering story of a 14-month-old girl child in Varanasi whose life went topsy turvy because of the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests has now found a voice in Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

Priyanka Gandhi, who is on a combative spree these days, slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday over the plight of a 14-month-old girl whose parents were arrested for participating in an anti-CAA protest defying prohibitory orders.

Priyanka Gandhi said that it is the moral duty of the government to allow the child's mother to return home.

On December 19, people gathered in Beniya Bagh area in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to protest against the contentious CAA, defying Section 144 of CrPC imposed by the police.

The parents of the girl child named Chanchal were arrested by the police and have been in jail for the last 12 days.

"The BJP government has shown such inhumanity in suppressing people's protests that such a small child has been separated from her parents. Chanchal's health has worsened but that has not affected the bad intentions of the BJP government. Chanchal's parents are in jail for holding protests in a peaceful manner," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (FURA.V) (FUGMF) (BJ43.F), a new gemstone mining and marketing company with emerald, ruby and sapphire assets in Colombia, Mozambique and Australia, respectively, is pleased to announce that on December 31, 2019 it successfully completed the Companys previously announced acquisition of 100% interests in two mining permits (EPM 25973 and EPM 25978) and three mining licences (ML 70419, ML 70447 and ML 70451) (the permits and the licences are collectively referred to herein as the Licences) for a sapphire mining project in Queensland, Australia (the Acquisition). The Acquisition is described in more detail below and in the Companys press releases dated June 27, 2019, July 22, 2019 and December 16, 2019.



Dev Shetty, President & CEO of Fura, commented:

We are very pleased to complete the Acquisition, which results in Fura becoming the only public gemstone mining and marketing company in the world to hold emerald, ruby and sapphire mining assets (being all three coloured gemstones).

Pursuant to the option agreement that was entered into by the Company and Richland Resources Ltd. (the Vendor) on June 26, 2019, as amended, (the Option Agreement) in exchange for the Vendor (i) transferring all of the issued shares of Richlands wholly owned subsidiary, Richland Corporate Ltd. (Richland Corporate), and (ii) assigning all of the Vendors loans to Richland Corporate to Fura, Fura paid US$1,250,000 in cash to the Vendor. Fura previously paid the Vendor C$25,000 as an option fee payment.

The Acquisition was an arms length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Fura did not pay any finders fees in connection with the Acquisition.

Fura is currently in the process of completing the purchase and sale of interests in three additional ruby prospecting licences/concessions in Mozambique as follows: (i) 75% of the issued shares of Montepuez Minerals Pty Ltd., which owns a 70% interest in mining licence 5030L and an 80% interest in mining concession 8921C; and (ii) a right to earn a 65% interest in mining concession 8955C under a joint venture agreement (collectively, the New Energy Assets). Please see the Companys press release dated November 29, 2018 for further details regarding the terms of this proposed acquisition, which remains subject to TSXV approval.

Story continues

For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact:

Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty - President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760

Brad Scharfe  Director Investor Relations Tel: +1+(778)386-1313

brad.scharfe@furagems.com Public Relations

Tavistock (UK)

Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150

fura@tavistock.co.uk

About Fura Gems Inc.

Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSXV under the ticker symbol FURA.

Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interest in the Licences, and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interest in ruby licence 5572L.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the New Energy Assets, the Companys ability to develop and explore the Licence area, the market price of rubies, sapphires and other gemstones, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration, development and production activities; access to sufficient financing to continue the development of its assets; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations and the Companys assets; legacy environmental risks; title risks; and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities 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.
Seoul [South Korea] Jan 1 (ANI): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced that he is longer bound by his self-imposed moratorium on a long-range missile and nuclear tests and said it will soon show off a "new strategic weapon."



North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that Pyongyang will continue developing strategic weapons unless the United States drops its hostile policy towards the country, state media reported citing Kim's speech at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

North Korean leader accused the United States of stalling the talks for time for its own political interests, according to state media Wednesday.

North Korean state-run KCNA agency reported that Kim had called for further development of strategic weapons adding that the extent of bolstering of "North Korea's nuclear deterrent would depend on the US attitude."

On Monday, North Korea leader Kim Jong-un had called for "positive and offensive measures" to ensure security as a year-end deadline set for the US is drawing closer.

Kim and Trump have met three times since June 2018 but there has been no substantial progress in the dialogue and the government in Pyongyang has demanded that international sanctions be lifted first.

The talks between North Korea and the United States broke down after the failed Hanoi Summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim in February.

Since then, Washington has tried to bring the Pyongyang back on the table for talks but failed to do so.

Meanwhile, North Korea has conducted a number of test-launches of short-range missiles in the months since the last summit. The country is banned from carrying out such tests under the United Nations' sanctions. (ANI)


Illinois started the new year on a high note Wednesday, becoming the latest US state to legalize recreational marijuana as the governor pardoned thousands for past low-level cannabis convictions. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act will allow residents 21 and older to legally purchase marijuana and will expunge thousands of individuals' criminal convictions throughout the state. "We are restoring rights to many tens of thousands of Illinoisans. We are bringing regulation and safety to a previously unsafe and illegal market. And we are creating a new industry that puts equity at its very core," Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement. On Tuesday night, Pritzker granted 11,017 pardons for people with low-level cannabis convictions, the first round of a planned total of more than 700,000. According to the statement, the new law will use 25 percent of the state's cannabis revenue to help "the communities hit hardest" by the earlier crackdown on marijuana. "Today we took another step toward justice, as we continue to address the failed war on drugs and the disproportionate impact it had on communities of color," Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx said in the statement. Illinois residents age 21 and older will now be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, five grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC -- the main active ingredient of cannabis -- contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 grams of cannabis under the bill, which will also create a licensed growing and dispensary system. Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana, along with Washington, DC. Thirty-four states and the federal capital permit medical cannabis treatment. But the US Drug Enforcement Administration still considers marijuana a dangerous substance alongside LSD and heroin. A study by the federal Centers for Disease Control published in August found that states that legalize recreational marijuana see a reduction of at least 20 percent in fatalities linked to opioid overdoses. Marijuana legalization has also been shown to improve a state's economic activity, creating jobs and bringing in new tax revenue. Customer Elise Swopes (R) makes a purchase at Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 2020, the first day recreational marijuana became legal in the state Customers wait in line outside Sunnyside Cannabis Dispensary to purchase recreational marijuana in Chicago, Illinois
BAGHDAD - Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Women light candles for protesters who have been killed in demonstrations during ongoing anti-government protests, in Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

BAGHDAD - Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.

The withdrawal followed calls from the government and senior militia leaders. It ended a two-day crisis marked by the breach of the largest and one of the most heavily fortified U.S. diplomatic missions in the world.

The attack and its volatile aftermath prompted the Pentagon to send hundreds of additional troops to the Middle East an d U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay a European and Central Asian trip.

In an orchestrated assault, hundreds of militiamen and their supporters broke into the embassy compound, destroying a reception area, smashing windows and spraying graffiti on walls to protest U.S. airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia over the weekend that killed 25 fighters.

Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters display Iraqi flags as they gather in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday to disperse pro-Iran protesters who were gathered outside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad for a second day as pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters had camped out overnight at the gates of the embassy. On Tuesday, dozens of the protesters had broken into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows in one of the worst attacks on the embassy in recent memory. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

The U.S. blamed the militia for a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in the northern city of Kirkuk last week that killed a U.S. contractor.

The protesters set up a tent camp overnight and on Wednesday set fire to the reception area and hurled stones at U.S. Marines guarding the compound, who responded with tear gas. There were no injuries on either side and no American staff were evacuated from the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of state-allied militias  many backed by Iran  called on its supporters to withdraw in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

By late afternoon the tents had been taken down and the protesters relocated to the opposite side of the Tigris River, outside the so-called Green Zone housing government offices and foreign embassies. U.S. Apache helicopters circled overhead.

"After achieving the intended aim, we pulled out from this place triumphantly," said Fadhil al-Gezzi, a militia supporter. We rubbed America's nose in the dirt. Trump has vowed to exact a big price for an attack he blamed squarely on Iran.

An Iraqi soldier stands guard in front of smoke rising from a fire set by pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters in the U.S. embassy compound, Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. U.S. troops fired tear gas on Wednesday as hundreds of Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American Embassy in Baghdad for a second day and set fire to the roof of a reception area inside the compound. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

Kataeb Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia targeted by the U.S. airstrikes, initially refused to leave but later bowed to demands to disperse. The militia is separate from the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, though both are backed by Iran.

We dont care about these planes that are flying over the heads of the picketers. Neither do we care about the news that America will bring Marines, said Mohammed Mohy, a spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah. "On the contrary, this shows a psychological defeat and a big mental breakdown that the American administration is suffering from, he said, before withdrawing from the area.

The violence came as Iran and its allies across the region have faced unprecedented mass protests in recent months and heavy U.S. sanctions have cratered Iran's economy.

Iraq has been gripped by anti-government protests since October fueled by anger at widespread corruption and economic mismanagement, as well as Iran's heavy influence over the country's affairs. Those protesters were not involved in the embassy attack.

The Pentagon sent an infantry battalion of about 750 soldiers to the Middle East. A U.S. official familiar with the decision said they would go to Kuwait. Pompeo postponed a trip that was scheduled to start in Ukraine late Thursday so that he can monitor developments in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East, said State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus.

This Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, image provided by Maxar Technologies shows black smoke coming out of the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad. Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence. (Satellite image 2020 Maxar Technologies via AP)

Iran denied involvement in the attack on the embassy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted by media as saying that if the Islamic Republic makes a decision to confront any country, it will do it directly."

Iran later summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires, who represents American interests in Tehran, to protest what it said was war-mongering by U.S. officials.

Public consular operations at the embassy were suspended and future appointments cancelled, it said in a statement.

Tensions have steadily risen since Trump withdrew the U.S. from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and embarked on a campaign of maximum pressure through economic sanctions. Iran has responded by abandoning some of its commitments under the deal.

U.S. officials have blamed Iran for the sabotage of oil tankers in the Persian Gulf and a drone attack on Saudi oil facilities in September that caused a spike in world oil prices. But the Trump administration has not responded with direct military action, apparently fearing a wider conflict.

The U.S. has sent more than 14,000 additional troops to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression. At the time of the attack, the U.S. had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat Islamic State extremists.

The U.S. and Iran have vied for influence over Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Iran has close ties to Iraq's Shiite majority and major political factions, and its influence has steadily grown since then.

Iran helped to mobilize tens of thousands of mostly Shiite militiamen to battle the Islamic State group when it stormed across northern and western Iraq in 2014 as the armed forces collapsed. The U.S. and Iran both provided vital aid to Iraqi forces, who eventually declared victory over the extremists in December 2017.

The political influence of the Popular Mobilization Forces has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of the anti-government protesters, who have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq.

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They have also set up a sprawling protest camp in central Baghdad, and for weeks have been trying to enter the Green Zone. Iraqi security forces have beaten them back with tear gas and live ammunition, killing hundreds.

The militiamen and their supporters, however, were able to quickly enter the Green Zone and mass in front of the embassy, with little if any resistance from authorities.

Iraq's government vehemently condemned the airstrikes on the militia, saying it violated national sovereignty. But Iran and its allies might have also seen the attack as a way of diverting attention from the anti-government protests.

Iran has been trying to provoke the U.S. into helping it solve its Iraq problem, said the Crisis Group, an international think-tank . The Trump administration, by responding to the attacks in Kirkuk and elsewhere with airstrikes, has obliged.

___

Krauss reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Robert Burns in Washington contributed.
A woman in her 20s was rushed to hospital after she fell from a fence in Brisbane's CBD and impaled her upper leg.

Paramedics and Queensland Ambulance Services medical director were called to a location on Queen Street about 3.20am on Wednesday.

The patient had been removed from the fence before the ambulance service arrived.

She was taken to Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital in a stable condition.
Red sky over Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia as bushfires drive residents to seek refuge on the beach, 30 December 2019. Photo: Peter Hoskin / bluesfestblues / Twitter

By Tristan Lavalette

31 December 2019

PERTH, Australia (AP)  Wildfires burning across Australias two most populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions and killed at least two people while more property along the countrys east coast fell victim to a devastating fire season.

About 4,000 residents in the southeastern town of Mallacoota in Victoria state fled toward the water Tuesday morning as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire toward their homes. The smoke-filled sky shrouded the town in darkness before turning an unnerving shade of bright red.

Australias annual wildfire season, which peaks during the Southern Hemisphere summer, started early after an unusually warm and dry winter. Record-breaking heat and windy conditions triggered devastating wildfires in New South Wales and Queensland states in September.

Thousands of residents of Mallacoota in Victorias east are enduring a terrifying time dealing with a massive bushfire thats hit the popular tourist spot. With much of the town surrounded by flames, hundreds of people were forced to evacuate to the wharf on 30 December 2019. Video: ABC News (Australia)

About 5 million hectares (12.35 million acres) of land have burned nationwide over the past few months, with 12 people confirmed dead and more than 1,000 homes destroyed. Nearly 100 fires were burning across the state of New South Wales, which is home to Sydney.

New South Wales state Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said this wildfire season is the worst on record and painted a bleak long-term picture.

Weve seen extraordinary fire behavior, he said Tuesday. What we really need is meaningful rain, and we havent got anything in the forecast at the moment that says were going to get drought-breaking or fire-quenching rainfall. []

The wildfire crisis has reignited debate about whether Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government has taken enough action on climate change. Australia is the worlds largest exporter of coal and liquefied natural gas.

One woman shared this picture of her young son wearing a mask and life jacket as the family fled on to a boat to escape the bushfires at Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia on 30 December 2019. Photo: ABC News (Australia)

Morrison, whom critics have deemed a climate change skeptic, conceded earlier this month that climate change along with many other factors has contributed to the wildfires.

The prime minister took criticism for going on a family vacation to Hawaii in December during the crisis. He eventually cut his trip short and publicly apologized.

Late Tuesday, Mallacoota was saved by changes of wind direction, but authorities said numerous homes were lost. Residents returning home were urged to boil tap water before drinking it. Forest Fire Management Victoria said the wildfires had put heavy demands on tap water that is affecting the supply of water.

Weve got literally hundreds, thousands of people up and down the coast, taking refuge on the beaches. Its the worst fire season we have experienced here in NSW. Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service

Stranded residents and vacationers were reported to be sleeping in cars on New Years Eve, while gas stations and surf clubs transformed into evacuation areas.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews had earlier announced plans to evacuate the trapped people by sea. There were grave fears for four missing people. We cant confirm their whereabouts, Andrews told reporters Tuesday.

Andrews has requested assistance from 70 firefighters from the United States and Canada, while Australias military sent air and sea reinforcements.

Victoria Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed significant property losses across the region. More than 115 communities across Victoria remained under emergency warnings Tuesday night.

Red sky over Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia, caused by advancing bushfires. Jason Selmes evacuated his house to the beachfront of the town. He told CNN it is 10am local time on Tuesday, 31 December 2019, and its pitch black in the area. He also said there are six people with him. Photo: Jason Selmes

Some communities canceled New Years fireworks celebrations, but Sydneys popular display over its iconic harbor controversially went ahead in front of more than a million revelers. The city was granted an exemption to a total fireworks ban in place there and elsewhere to prevent new wildfires.

Fire conditions in Victoria and New South Wales worsened after oppressive heat Monday mixed with strong winds and lightning.

Police in New South Wales said Tuesday that two men  a 63-year-old father and 29-year-old son  died in a house in the wildfire-ravaged southeast town of Cobargo, and a 72-year-old man remained missing.

Residents of Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia gather at the wharf after fleeing bushfires, 30 December 2019. Photo: Peter Hoskinbluesfestblues / Twitter

They were obviously trying to do their best with the fire as it came through in the early hours of the morning, New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said. The other person that we are trying to get to, we think that person was trying to defend their property in the early hours of the morning.

On Monday, a firefighter was killed when extreme winds flipped his truck. Samuel McPaul, 28, was the third volunteer firefighter in New South Wales to have died in the past two weeks. He was an expectant father.

More than 130 fires remain burning across New South Wales, with five at an emergency level. Authorities warned that power would be out for 24 hours along the fire-ravaged south coast of the state.

Raging wildfires trap 4,000 at Australian towns waterfront

Australia fires: Military to be deployed to help rescue effort

31 December 2019 (BBC News)  Australian military aircraft and vessels will be deployed to help emergency services in the fire-ravaged states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.

Thousands of people fled to beaches in the south-eastern states on Tuesday as emergency-level fires spread.

In Mallacoota, Victoria, about 4,000 people sought shelter on the coast.

Two more people have been confirmed dead in NSW, bringing the fire-linked death toll to 12.

Authorities say four people are missing in Victoria and another in NSW.

Map showing fires recorded in Australia in the seven days to 31 December 2019. Graphic: NASA / FIRMS / BBC

Weve got literally hundreds, thousands of people up and down the coast, taking refuge on the beaches, said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Mr Fitzsimmons said it was the worst fire season we have experienced here in NSW.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds have agreed to send military aircraft and vessels at the request of the Victorian government. []

In his New Year message, Mr Morrison hailed the amazing spirit of Australians but warned that the weeks and months ahead would continue to be difficult. []

About a dozen emergency-level blazes stretch across NSW and Victoria. []

Temperatures exceeded 40C (104F) in every state and territory at the start of the week, with strong winds and lightning strikes bolstering the flames.

Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia.

What has happened in Mallacoota?

Residents fled to the beach or took up shelter in fortified homes when they heard the warning siren go off at 08:00 local time on Tuesday.

It should have been daylight but it was black like midnight and we could hear the fire roaring, said David Jeffrey, a local business owner. We were all terrified for our lives. []

Hundreds of massive blazes have destroyed millions of hectares in the eastern states of Australia since September 2019. [more]

Australia fires: Military to be deployed to help rescue effort
The South African Payments Association (PASA) wants to drive the use of technology to reduce the number of cash transactions in South Africa.

This is according to PASAs manager for strategy and research, John Buitendag, who spoke to CNBC Africa about the adoption of digital payments in the country.

65% of all financial transitions in South Africa are in cash, and while it is lower than Africas 95%, it is much higher than global standards.

Buitendag said cash and the cost associated with using cash is a massive problem globally, which is why many countries are modernising and looking at alternatives to cash.

He said the cost of using cash is particularly high in South Africa because of the high crime rate.

This influences poorer communities and small business in rural communities more where the use of cash is the preferred transaction method,

Alternatives to cash

Buitendag said South Africa has a mature card market but highlighted that the barrier of entry remains very high.

He said cash still reigns supreme in rural South Africa where credit card penetration is low and card payment facilities are limited.

He said real-time payment solutions which are very cheap are needed to replace cash in the country.

Using mobile phones for payments is one of the most promising alternatives to cash, as people have their phones with them all the time.

Buitendag said mobile payments will be a key enabler to transform South Africa to a cashless society in future.

He added that the banks and other stakeholders are optimistic about the potential of digital payments in the country.

Educating the market

Buitendag said education is a key component to encourage the adoption of digital payment technologies.

Giving the example of contactless tap-and-go payments, he said there is a perception that it is a dangerous way of paying.

It is, however, one of the safest ways to transact. This is because the card never leaves the owners hand and removes the risk of card skimming.

He added that new technologies like using QR codes hold great potential, but because of a lack of awareness they are not enjoying wide adoption.

Now read: Beware paying a South African fibre installer in cash
Mumbai, Jan 1 : Exactly a year after he was declared India's first fugitive economic offender, a Special Court here has given the green signal to banks to dispose off the economic assets of absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya to recover their dues, official sources said here on Wednesday.

The directions to the consortium of 15 banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) to dispose off Mallya's economic assets like financial securities and shares in his companies, which have been under attachment since 2016, came on Tuesday .

The lenders' consortium has to recover over Rs 6,000 crore plus interest from Mallya, currently in the United Kingdom, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Special Court last year that it had no objections to the same.

The Special Court has, however, stayed its order till January 18 to enable all the parties concerned to file their appeals before the Bombay High Court, the sources said.

Among the assets are Mallya's shares in the United Breweries Holdings Ltd, the value of which is not clear, but which were attached after he was declared a proclaimed offender.

Later in Januaty 2019, Mallya earned the dubious distinction of being declared the country's first "fugitive economic offender" under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

The 15-bank consortium had earlier filed an application in the Special Court seeking release of his assets which could be disposed off to recover a part of the loans extended to him.

Mallya, 65, a former one-term Rajya Sabha Member, who had launched the high-profile Kingfisher Airlines, slipped out of the country in March 2016.

He is facing cases of money-laundering filed by the ED, which has already attached his movable and fixed assets worth around Rs 10,000 crore so far. While some of his fixed assets have been sold, others are pending disposal.

The UK police have once arrested Mallya in April 2017, and in December 2018, a UK court ordered his extradition to India which he has contested. The matter is pending.
The Taliban unleashed a new wave of attacks in northern Afghanistan, targeting members of the country's security forces and killing at least 26, local officials said Wednesday.

The insurgents quickly claimed responsibility for all the attack. The Taliban today hold sway over practically half of Afghanistan, staging near-daily attacks that target soldiers, security forces and government officials but also kill scores of civilians.

In northern Kunduz province, at least 10 Afghan forces were killed and four others were wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on Tuesday night, according to Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi, the head of the provincial council.

And in Balkh province, the Taliban killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint. The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that the insurgents in the Balkh attack had infiltrated police ranks from a while ago, waiting for a chance to strike. Though the Taliban often exaggerate their claims, the insurgents also on occasion disguise themselves in Afghan uniforms to get easier access to their targets.

In a third attack on Tuesday night, a gunbattle with the Taliban killed seven members of the security forces in Takhar province, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.

The shootout took place in Darqad district after the security forces had successfully cleared out the Taliban from several other districts in the past week, said Hajri. Fighting was still underway there on Wednesday, he added,

The Taliban have intensified their attacks in northern Afghanistan in recent days.

They struck a pro-government militia compound in Jawzjan province before dawn on Monday, killing 14 members of the Afghan security forces. A similar militia compound was targeted in Takhar on Sunday, when at least 17 militiamen were killed. On Friday, at least 10 Afghan soldiers died in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint in southern Helmand province.

Story continues

The latest Taliban attacks underscore that the insurgents are at their strongest in the 18-year war, America's longest conflict, even as their leadership, based in the Arab Gulf state of Qatar, has been negotiating with a U.S. envoy. Washington has demanded that a cease-fire take place before any peace agreement could be signed.

The fighting has shown no signs of abating. U.S. airstrikes and operations by Afghan security forces over the past two days killed 35 Taliban fighters in offensives across the country, including an airstrike in Kandahar province that killed 11 Taliban insurgents, the U.S. military said. Several Taliban were also detained, the U.S. military added.

(AP)
Sarah Cook, China analyst at Freedom House, at an event at the Jamestown Foundation on Oct. 15, 2019. (Li Chen/The Epoch Times)

Beijing Is Following the Anti-Falun Gong Playbook in Uyghur Crackdown, Says Expert

Yan Yuhua is one among the millions who have languished in Chinese prisons because of their faith. The first time she was arrested, in 2006, guards put her in solitary confinement in an effort to force her to sign a renouncement of her belief in Falun Gong, a banned spiritual practice. Sleeping, showering, eating, and even lying down were luxuries. They poured cold water over her body and forced her to stand for prolonged periods. They also barred her familyparents in their 70s and a teenage sonfrom visiting her.

Later, she was detained at a brainwashing center for 2 1/2 years. Guards made her wear earbuds blasting propaganda that attacked Falun Gong. Watchers would take turns beating and insulting her.

Stories mirroring the experiences of Yan and other Falun Gong adherentswho have suffered such persecution since the beginning of the Chinese Communist Partys campaign against them in 1999are now also occurring in Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Origins of the Xinjiang Model



Xinjiang is home to roughly 11 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities.

Under the guise of eradicating extremism, Chinese authorities began a campaign in 2014 to monitor, suppress, and persecute Muslim minorities, including by establishing an overarching surveillance network. The regime collected biodata from residents and installed cameras and phone apps to monitor their activities.

Estimates by the United Nations found that more than a million Muslim residents are currently detained in internment camps, where they are tortured, re-educated, and forced to swear allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), in an effort to coerce them into giving up their faith.

According to experts, the tactics used in the current repression were not devised recently, but are the culmination of the regimes two decades of experience in targeting Falun Gong.

The spiritual discipline, which incorporates meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, drew roughly 70 million to 100 million adherents before the CCP launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate the practice in 1999.

Transformation Through Education

The concept of transformation through education, for example, emerged with the persecution of Falun Gong, according to Sarah Cook, a senior China analyst at the watchdog organization Freedom House, in a February 2019 report.

The Chinese regime detains Falun Gong practitioners in prisons and legal education centers (often dubbed brainwashing centers), and previously sent them en masse to labor camps, which were abolished in 2013. In the prisons and centers, detainees are forced to watch propaganda videos, sing pro-CCP songs, and repent for their supposed crimes of faith. Those who resist the pressure are subject to torture.

The euphemism transformation is a way for the Chinese regime to invoke a positive image and frame the process as compassionate treatment, Cook said.

Its such a Falun Gong-oriented term that really emerged and took off.  Then you see this exact same term coming up in Xinjiang, Cook said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

She recalled a 2018 panel about Xinjiang, held at the Hudson Institute in Washington, where she was surprised to hear a China analyst associating the term transformation with Xinjiang. These scholars  are not that familiar with the specific Party language related to Falun Gong, and that was really striking when I heard them say that.

According to an incomplete survey from Minghui.org, a clearinghouse documenting the persecution of Falun Gong, there are 449 brainwashing centers in 173 cities and 329 districts or counties across China.

Such facilities proliferated after the Chinese regime abolished the labor camp system in 2013, Cook noted. The persecution of Falun Gong continues unabated.

Officials

A most telling link between the two persecution campaigns, according to Cook, is the fact that key officials who are now influencing Xinjiang policy originally built their careers through campaigns against Falun Gong.

Fu Zhenghua is currently Chinas minister of justice in charge of funding Xinjiangs political indoctrination programs. From 2015 to 2016, he led the 610 Office, an extralegal agency created expressly to oversee the Falun Gong persecution.

He also held a top post at the Beijing municipal police bureau between 2010 and 2015, during which time Falun Gong practitioners who refused to renounce their faith were reported to have been directly sent to various brainwashing centers following the official dissolution of the labor camp system, according to a 2013 Amnesty International report (pdf).

Sun Jinlong, Party secretary of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a state-owned quasi-military and business conglomerate, also has extended experience with the persecution. In a 2001 national conference, Sun made a public speech denouncing Falun Gong and encouraged officials to tirelessly struggle against the spiritual practice, according to the Partys mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily.

In 2010, while Sun was Party secretary of Hefei city, Anhui Province, he outlined an overall battle work plan to monitor and harass local Falun Gong practitioners, including setting up databases of practitioners and brainwashing centers for stubborn adherents, and conducting door-to-door visits. The plan announced a goal to transform all newly identified adherents within a year. Street-level officials would receive honorary titles recognizing their effectiveness in those efforts, local government records showed.

Their proven track record of harshly suppressing innocent religious believers seemed to be precisely what got them to higher ranks, Cook said.

The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to documenting the persecution of the spiritual discipline, has named both officials as human rights violators.

The Learning Curve

The Xinjiang policy bears other hallmarks of the campaign against Falun Gong.

In terms of terminology, officials executing the suppression in Xinjiang and of Falun Gong have framed reeducation efforts as psychological counseling and have assigned target quotas for security officers, Cook said.

Authorities also use similar terms to refer to the two groups: die-hard Falun Gong practitioners and strike hard detainees in Xinjiang, for example.

Minghui.org has reported extensively on how police have eavesdropped on Falun Gong practitioners phones since the early 2000s to collect intelligence on them. A quick search on the website reveals a dozen cases of prolonged phone tapping, most of which were followed by subsequent arrests. The 20 years of experience in suppressing Falun Gong allowed the Chinese regime to quickly pull together an apparatus to persecute Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

Its like any kind of project management. Once youve done it before, it goes that much faster the second time, Cook said. They know exactly what theyre doing.

She said the recurring patterns showing Chinese officials following the anti-Falun Gong playbook in Xinjiang is cause for alarm.

It indicates that they are playing the long game, have little intention of reversing the policy, and have few qualms about using harsh tactics like severe torture or long prison terms to achieve their aims, Cook wrote in her February report.
Netanyahu is in a difficult situation  he needs to explain why he is running for office with three indictments against him, and that is why he is spinning the story that he is being sidelined by the elite, the legal system and the media because he is so successful and because of his positions, he said. He is telling the public you have to vote for me, it is you who has to decide, not them. 
Founder and leader of Prophetic Hill Chapel, Prophet Nigel Gaisie has revealed in a video captured by this portal that Ghanaian actor Chris Attoh will be shot to death in the same way his late wife Bettie Jenifer was killed.

Prophet Nigel Gaisie who is known to have made several prophecies said during his 31st Watch night service that Ghanaians should pray for the actor because some people are planning to take his life the same way his late wife was killed.

"The Lord said we should pray for one Ghanaian actor who has had international exposure. I saw that he has been shot. He is a Ghanaian actor and the Lord said the way they shot his wife; they are planning to kill him too, " he revealed.

He appealed to Ghanaians to pray for Chris Attoh for God to redeem him.

"Don't joke with my prophecy because the spirit of the Lord is upon me. May he hear and work on it, " he emphasised.
In 1974, Congress passed the Health Planning Resources Development Act. One of its provisions required states to initiate certificate-of-need systems. The rationale went something like this: health care is fundamentally different from other service sectors. Because of the prevalence of third-party payment, originally private insurers but by the 1970s very much including governments, competition among hospitals and other providers doesnt have the usual salutary effects. It doesnt push prices down. It pushes prices up.

For example, if two hospitals in a local area already have MRI machines and a third one acquires an MRI machine, it may not simply compete with the other two for the same patients, resulting in better service at lower prices. Instead, more patients will be referred for MRIs  likely those for whom MRIs are unlikely to be of significant diagnostic value. Hospitals and the doctors affiliated with them will simply want to keep the expensive new machine busy to justify its cost.

This is hardly a ridiculous notion. Indeed, it probably captures some of what happens in some situations, at least in the short run. But it isnt the whole story. Markets are dynamic. Innovations with upfront costs often have downstream benefits. Without robust competition, such innovations are less likely to arise.
Sadie Robertson preaches at Passion 2020, says event helped bring her and husband together

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Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson began the new year by delivering an impassioned sermon before thousands of young adults at Passion 2020 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, offering insight into how her relationship with her husband, Christian Huff, developed.

Robertson, who married Huff in early December, gave a 35-minute message on Wednesday titled The Search is Over.

The 22-year-old actress and reality star challenged young adults by telling them that the answer to their life struggles cant be found on their cell phones or through social media but rather through a commitment to Christ.

Toward the beginning of her sermon that focused on the book of John, she described how early disciples such as Peter dropped everything in an instant to follow Jesus when given the opportunity.

They heard it was the Messiah [and] they followed Him. It was like, wherever Jesus was, they were magnetic. They followed Him, she stressed. You know, relationships nowadays a lot of times start by a follow. But there is a long process that goes from the follow to the actual commitment to being in a relationship with you. But here, there was no process. It was just like, I'm just gonna follow you because you're the Messiah.

Robertson said that her own relationship with her husband was very much a work in progress that started with a follow.

Robertson explained that she and Huff, who was a friend of her sister, kind of got together because of Passion, which is an annual gathering of young adults founded by Louie and Shelley Giglio that began in 1997.

We were at Passion. I wasn't speaking. I was just attending, she told the crowd. I love Passion and have been here for four years. Christian was attending and he somehow saw me. So he messaged me on Instagram. And it was a pretty bold message, OK?

It's really sweet, she continued. It was really kind. He told me I was beautiful. But here's the thing. I didn't see that message until two years later.

After two years, Robertson said she and Huff met in person and she thought he was pretty cute. When she followed him on Instagram, she received a notification telling her that he tried to send her a message two years prior.

So I craft my message and I'm like, Sorry for the late reply. We start the process, she explained. We start DMing.

She said that she and Huff, 21, had the most stereotypical Christian relationship start.

After two weeks, she said Huff sent her a sermon through direct message on the topic of dating, engagements and marriage.

Then continuing on the process, we start texting, but that's not talking, she said. Once we start actually talking on the phone, now we're continuing on the process. Then, Christian decides to come out to Nashville and take me on a date. We go on a date. But we're not official.

There's a process. We start dating, she continued, adding that they eventually agreed to become official boyfriend and girlfriend.

And then these three words started coming out, she said. Not the big words but the I like you.

At that point, Robertson said she was kind of nervous about how serious it was getting between her and Huff.

She explained that she then started pulling out her A-game whenever Huff would come to town by doing things like getting tans and getting her nails done.

I'm embarrassed to say this but Im going to be honest with y'all, I started practicing the dance moves I was gonna do in the car on our way to our dates because I wanted to pull it all out, Robertson admitted.

However, Robertson stressed that no one wants to stay in the I-like-you stage of a relationship. Although she wanted to rush through the I-like-you phase, Huff did not rush despite her frustration.

One time when they went on a beach vacation, Robertson said that Huff told her that he more than liked her but wasnt ready to say that yet. That night, she said they had a tough conversation.

And this conversation was different than a lot of other conversations we had, Robertson said. It wasnt practiced. It wasn't cute. It wasn't very agreeable. It probably didn't bring much satisfaction to the ears to hear. It was real. It was raw. It was like hours of tears and this is what I've experienced and this is what I've been through to make me who I am today.

She added that the conversation was not pretty or cute.

As we begin to talk, we actually truly begin to know each other, Robertson expressed. And something that went a lot further than just being liked by each other. And it was actually the next day that Christian looked at me said, I love you. Isn't that crazy? That after a moment that wasn't very likable, I got to hear the words I love you.

Robertson said that even though God is awesome in the fact that He brought her and Huff into marriage, there was a process.

It's a lot different than when you find the desire of your soul, she said. There's not a process.

They immediately dropped everything they had and they just begin to follow Him.

Robertson told the audience that Jesus skips the phase of confusion in a typical human relationship.

He skips the carrying you along, she said. He's like, what are you seeking? He skips the [period of] leaving our options open for a little while to see how this works out. He's like, Yeah, I know you're a fisherman. Drop your net because I'm going to make you a fisher of men.

He skips that whole I like you phase and goes straight to I love you, she continued, citing John 3:16.

She warned that sometimes people think there is a process they must go through to commit to a relationship with God.

We think we have to go through that whole flow, she cautioned. [We think] I don't know if God really likes me because I didn't do this, this or this, or I didn't perform well or I don't read enough or I don't do enough.

We're not waiting on God to like us enough for Him to say, Hey, Jesus go. He's not sitting up there in Heaven saying, Hold up, let's wait until the sun hits them just right, let's wait till golden hour or let's wait until they say the thing, she contended. Because before the foundation of the world began, He knew you, He knit you together in your mother's womb. So He can skip all that and fully commit to dying for you while you were still a sinner. It wasn't about you being liked.

Pastor Louie Giglio is the founder of the annual Passion gathering. Passion City Church, which began in 2009, now has two locations in Atlanta and another in Washington, D.C.
Donald Trump. (AP Photo)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will stick to his commitments on denuclearization, even as the strongman threatened a "new strategic weapon."

"We did sign a contract, talking about denuclearization. That was the number one sentence, 'denuclearization', that was done in Singapore. I think he's a man of his word," a tuxedo-wearing Trump told reporters before heading into New Year festivities at his holiday retreat in Florida.

The president was referring to a 2018 historic summit he held with Kim in Singapore. The two adopted a vaguely worded statement on "complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" and agreed to "establish new US-DPRK relations".

But the failure to reach an agreement over sanctions relief and what the North was willing to give up in return led to the collapse of the leaders' second summit in February in Hanoi.

The North had set a year-end deadline for Washington to offer fresh concessions on sanctions, but they failed to materialize.

On Wednesday, North Korea's state media reported that Kim had declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and threatened a demonstration of a "new strategic weapon" soon.

In Florida Trump repeated his previous comments that he and Kim "like" each other and have a very good relationship.

"He is representing his country. We will do what we have to do," Trump said.
Non-subsidised (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) LPG or cooking gas prices have increased by Rs 19 and Rs 19.5 paise in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, marking fifth straight monthly hike in the LPG prices. Since August, LPG prices have been increased by Rs 140 per cylinder, thereby burning a hole in common man's pocket.

As per the Indian Oil Corporation, which supplies Indane brand, a non-subsidised LPG cylinder will be available for Rs 714 in Delhi and Rs 684.5 in Mumbai from today onwards. The prices have been hiked by Rs 21.5 and Rs 20 per cylinder in Kolkata and Chennai, respectively.

Here's the list of revised LPG prices across the four metro cities

Delhi Rs 714 (Rs 19 hike)

Kolkata Rs 747 (Rs 20 hike)

Mumbai Rs 684.5 (Rs 19.5 hike)

Chennai Rs 734 (Rs 21.5 hike)

The tax on LPG changes every month, depending on the fluctuation in the average international benchmark LPG rate and foreign exchange rate. With every increase in the international rates, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on LPG is calculated not on the base price but market price changes. With every hike, the government has been providing higher subsidy via the direct benefit transfer scheme to subsidised customers.

However, the non-subsidised category has no such protection. Those buying non-subsidised cylinders pay the market price plus the GST on market price. That's why this time the cost per cylinder for them has gone up by Rs 19-21 per cylinder.

Also read: LPG consumption is bound to increase as base has been formed, Dharmendra Pradhan on CAG report
U.S. Embassy security forces use stun grenades to disperse protesters and militia fighters during a protest to condemn air strikes on bases belonging to Hashd al-Shaabi (paramilitary forces), outside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Jan. 1, 2020. (Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters)

Iran-Backed Militias Withdraw From US Embassy After Security Forces Fire Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas

Iran-backed militias withdrew from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Jan. 1 after security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the mob of Iraqis who gathered at the compound.

The withdrawal came a day after a mix of protesters and militia members and supporters stormed the embassys outer walls, prompting a contingent of U.S. Marines to deploy from Kuwait.

The attack today was orchestrated by terrorists  Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Qays al-Khazali  and abetted by Iranian proxies  Hadi al Amari and Faleh al-Fayyad. All are pictured below outside our embassy. pic.twitter.com/2QfGGrfmDd  Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 31, 2019

The groups gained access to restricted areas and battered walls and windows but were prevented from getting into the buildings by Iraqi forces, U.S. security forces, and Apache helicopters. Some 100 Marines arrived just before midnight from Kuwait to reinforce the security forces at the embassy.

On Wednesday, demonstrators hurled rocks at the building while security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them. By mid-afternoon, most of the protesters appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw, issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shiite militia, which said the demonstrators message has been heard.

Iraqi security forces deploy during the second day of protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Jan. 1, 2020. (DoD/Lt. Col. Adrian Weale/Handout via Reuters)

The group said the demonstrators should withdraw in deference to the Iraqi government which sought to preserve the prestige of the state.

The groups were ostensibly protesting the recent U.S. airstrikes of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, which were made in retaliation for missile attacks that killed a U.S. contractor at a base in northern Iraq.

Crowds rallied on Tuesday to protest, chanting death to America, setting fires, throwing rocks, and smashing surveillance cameras. They breached an outer perimeter wall but did not enter the main compound.

Smoke rises from the reception room of the U.S. embassy that was burned by Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters, in Baghdad, Iraq on Jan. 1, 2020. (Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo)

The huge embassy, built along the banks of the Tigris River in central Baghdads fortified green zone during American occupation following the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, is the biggest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world.

Early reports said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller and other personnel at the embassy were evacuated, but the State Department later said that Tueller was on a previously scheduled trip, that he was returning to the embassy, and that everyone inside was safe.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Tuesday on Fox News that there were no plans to evacuate the embassy or pull out any of the 5,000 troops in Iraq.

The embassy is being monitored. Its safe. The actions that we took today were prudent. Under President Trumps direction, our team worked together today to quickly, decisively, prudently take the appropriate responses to keep our American people safe, Pompeo said during an appearance on CBS.

Soldiers board a C-17 aircraft on Jan. 1, 2020 at Fort Bragg, N.C., to be deployed in Iraq. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/The Fayetteville Observer via AP)

Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the United States was sending about 750 additional troops to the Middle East after Tuesdays attack on the embassy.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, he said in a statement. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world.

President Donald Trump fired off multiple tweets about the situation on Tuesday, saying the embassy was safe.

Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request, he wrote in one tweet.

Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally, issued a warning to Iran on Twitter: President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most. Choose your battles wisely.

President Trump, unlike President Obama, will hold you accountable for threats against Americans and hit you where it hurts the most. Choose your battles wisely. (3/4)  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 31, 2019

The Iranian regimes Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his own tweet that the United States cant do anything.

If you were logicalwhich youre notyoud see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you, Khamenei added.

Trump told reporters that he does not want to go to war with Iran.

Do I want to? No. I want to have peace. I like peace, he said. And Iran should want to have peace more than anybody. So I dont see that happening.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A court in Sudan yesterday sentenced 27 members of the countrys security forces to death for torturing and killing a detained protester during the uprising against Sudans longtime autocrat Omar Al Bashir earlier this year.

The death of protester Ahmed Al Khair, a school teacher, while in detention in February was a key point  and a symbol  in the uprising that eventually led to the militarys ouster of Al Bashir. Mondays convictions and sentences, which can be appealed, were the first connected to the killings of protesters in the revolt.

Last December, the first rally was held in Sudan to protest the soaring cost of bread, marking the beginning of a pro-democracy movement that convulsed the large African country.

That led, in April, to the toppling by the military of Al Bashir, and ultimately to the creation of a joint military-civilian Sovereign Council that has committed to rebuilding the country and promises elections in three years. The anniversary of that protest this month drew teeming crowds to the streets in several cities and towns across the country, with people singing, dancing and carrying flags.

A train packed with exuberant demonstrators, clapping and chanting, arrived in the northern city of Atbara, the birthplace of the uprising, from the capital, Khartoum.
A group of hunky university rowers have produced their raciest calendar yet by stripping off and posing naked to promote gender equality and LGBT rights.

The 2020 instalment shows men from Warwick University's rowing team posing nude in a series of steamy shots.

The men are pictured posing lounging by a villa with only strategically placed limbs protecting their modesty, standing proudly with just an oar to conceal their private parts and flaunting their muscular naked bodies overlooking the sea.

Other shots show the men frolicking on a building site as they balance the oars precariously in front of themselves.

Formerly known as the Warwick Rowers, they've relaunched as Worldwide Roar for their 2020 calendar which is their eleventh edition.

What large paddles! The 2020 instalment shows men from Warwick University's rowing team posing nude in a series of steamy shots

The aim of this year's campaign is to promote LGBT rights and gender equality but to also change the way men are viewed by society.

'We started Warwick Rowers to challenge homophobia. But research at Sport Allies, the registered charity that now receives all WR profits, shows that homophobia is part of a bigger problem; straight men still get a different deal to everybody else,' said project founder and creative director, Angus Malcolm.

'We need to keep challenging homophobia and promoting LGBT rights, but we also need to address gender inequality and encourage better male mental health.

'We believe the calendar is a relevant yet engaging way to confront how we feel able to look at men, and how men see themselves. Happily, both our participants and our supporters around the world seem to agree.'

The men are seen standing proudly witht their backs to the camera and flaunting their muscular naked bodies overlooking the sea

The Worldwide Roar calendar was shot in London and in Spain and is available to buy from their website alongside a range of other products for just 14.99.

Money raised will go to the charity, Sport Allies, which promotes sport as an inclusive and supportive route to personal growth for everyone.

Undergraduate rower, Amir Bouchard, who has appeared in three calendars spoke about how Worldwide Roar is now encouraging men from all over the world to join them.

'We were a bunch of rowers at one English university. There weren't many men from different backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities and age groups, and it was getting in the way of our message of inclusion. So we asked for help, and got an amazing response,' said Amir.

Other shots show the men frolicking on a building site as they balance the oars precariously in front of themselves

Formerly known as the Warwick Rowers, they've relaunched as Worldwide Roar for their 2020 calendar which is their eleventh edition

'British Rowing, Sky Sports, Sport England and many other organisations showed they really get what we are doing. They happily jumped in and helped us spread the word to other athletes.

'This fantastic support led to our biggest, most diverse shoot ever for our new calendar cover, which we shot at Royal Docks Adventure in East London with their very kind support.

'I think those of us from the original Warwick team felt such a sense of pride to be there alongside athletes of different ages, ethnicities and sexualities from a range of sports, including top stars from the GB rowing team and our very first trans man.

'There were nearly fifty men there: men who were different from each other in so many ways, but who had come to Royal Docks to stand naked together for a shared belief.'

The Worldwide Roar 2020 calendar can be purchased for 14.99.
Carlos Ghosn has spent more than a year trapped in a Japanese legal odyssey that's transfixed the automotive world and thrown his life into chaos. Now, having pulled off a daring escape from Japan to Lebanon, he's an international fugitive.

But the executive is also free to speak his mind fully, without legal filtering, for the first time since his surprise arrest on the tarmac at Haneda airport back in November 2018. And this much seems likely: The former head of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA has stories to tell and scores to settle.

At stake is Ghosn's entire legacy. Will he be remembered as the brilliant, cost-cutting manager who rescued Nissan and built one of mightiest auto alliances in the industry? Or will he be just another name in a hall of infamy of white-collar fugitives?

Ghosn said in his statement from Lebanon on Tuesday that he would "finally communicate freely with the media, and look forward to starting next week." So get ready for what's likely to be a blistering public relations assault, starting with an expected press conference, that will rattle some cages in both Japan and France.

Based on past statements by Ghosn and his wife Carole, here's a guide to what may be in store.

"I have not fled justice," Ghosn said in the first emailed statement after his remarkable exit from Japan. "I have escaped injustice and political persecution." An even more robust indictment of the nation's legal system is likely in the weeks ahead.

Ghosn's arrest revived long-standing concerns about the fairness of Japan's judicial system, where prosecutors can grill suspects repeatedly without their lawyers present and enjoy an almost 100% conviction rate.

Under the terms of the executive's bail, the courts restricted contact with his family. In his Dec. 31 statement, Ghosn called the Japanese justice system rigged and said his "basic human rights" had been denied, including the presumption of innocence. Those are issues that he almost certainly would have put on the world stage had his case come to trial.

For months, Ghosn's attorneys have been arguing that all of the charges against their client were bogus, the result of a broad conspiracy among nationalistic Nissan officials, Japanese prosecutors and the government itself.

The goal, according to Ghosn, was to smear him in order to prevent the executive from further integrating Nissan and France's Renault, a plan that threatened the Japanese carmaker's autonomy and was vehemently opposed in the highest echelons of Tokyo officialdom.

In April, Ghosn was detained before a scheduled tell-all press conference, prompting his camp to release a pre-recorded video for such an eventuality.

In it, Ghosn spoke of several Nissan executives whom he claimed turned on him to advance their own interests. The original video named the people; that segment was edited out in the version released to the public.

"I'm talking here about a few executives who, obviously for their own interests and for their own selfish fears, are creating a lot of value destruction. Names? You know them," Ghosn hinted in his video. Now, Ghosn may really be ready to disclose names.

In his video, Ghosn also criticized Nissan's management for the company's poor performance, saying they lost sight of the need to move the alliance with Renault forward.

"I'm worried because obviously the performance of Nissan is declining, but also I'm worried because I don't think there is any vision for the alliance being built," Ghosn said in the video.

Nissan's earnings have tumbled to the lowest level in a decade and the stock was the worst performer on the Bloomberg World Auto Manufacturers Index last year (the second-worst was Renault), so he may hit that note again.

In several interviews, Ghosn's wife, Carole, lashed out at the French establishment for not doing more to help the former head of Renault, who also is a French citizen.

In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, she said President Emmanuel Macron hasn't answered her pleas for help. "The silence from the Elysee Palace is deafening," she said. "I thought France was a country that defended the presumption of innocence. They've all forgotten everything Carlos did for France's economy and for Renault."

It remains to be seen which talking points Ghosn will hit the hardest. Yet this much is clear: He is a fighter, and he has everything to lose if he can't pull ahead in the PR war. That suggests his approach won't be subtle.
Doctor Who Series 12 kicked off with a heart-stopping twist on New Years Day, as The Master made an epic return in an episode laden with guest stars.

The episode saw the TARDIS team try and track down aliens who were targeting MI6 agents, but it seemed they were coming from a threat far closer to The Doctors home.

Jodie Whittaker has also reprised her role as the titular Time Lord after being lauded by fans for her debut performance in 2018.

Doctor Who recap: Its The Master! Series 12 kicks off with an EPIC cliffhanger as the Time Lords nemesis returned in guest star-laden opener, which aired on Wednesday

The first of a two-part episode began with a typical Who mystery, as a woman took snaps of a coded message before electricity gave her a nasty shock.

While its not clear how long Yaz, Ryan and Graham have been travelling with the Time Lord, their ruse of plans to go travelling seemed to have caused some suspicion.

As the trio prepare to go and join The Doctor, theyre kidnapped by the mysterious Men In Black, sparking the episodes best line as Graham brands it the worst Uber ever.

Intense: The episode saw the TARDIS team try and track down aliens who were targeting MI6 agents, but it seemed they were coming from a threat far closer to The Doctors home

The journey takes a dramatic turn as the agent is blasted by a laser from within the cars sat nav, and the vehicle speeds out of control until it is perilously close to a ledge.

Given its only the first episode, The Doctor manages to stop the car and save her fam (the name has stuck), and its revealed that the Men In Black were sent by MI6 and their head man C, played by Stephen Fry.

The episodes key mystery is then revealed, as the woman from the airplane was found unconscious, and it seems that she was targeted by an otherworldly threat as her entire human DNA has been wiped to leave her an empty shell.

C tasks the Doctor with finding out why spies are being targeted, and she decides to track down a rogue spy known as The Horizon Watcher, who was the only member of MI6 who supported the presence of aliens, following the surprising demise of UNIT.

Drama: As Yaz, Ryan and Graham prepare to go and join The Doctor, theyre kidnapped by the mysterious Men In Black, who were sent by MI6 and their head man C, played by Stephen Fry

It even seems The Doctor has gotten with the times, as she quickly gets in touch with the agent on Whatsapp!

C also tells the team of the billionaire tech mogul and former agent Daniel Barton, played by Lenny Henry, who created the search engine VOR, who is described as being more powerful than most countries.

Before they have time to form a plan, C is killed by a laser, and The Doctor and the TARDIS team have to make a speedy escape before being caught by the aliens which seem to be morphed out of light (and are eerily similar to Series Twos ghosts).

The Doctor and Graham decide to go and track down the agent, while Yaz and Ryan go undercover as journalists to interview Barton at his headquarters in San Francisco.

Mission: C tasks the Doctor with finding out why spies are being targeted, and she decides to track down a rogue spy known as The Horizon Watcher

The brief interview is an intriguing one, as Barton touches on failing to trust anyone, and his loyalty is revealed to be even more questionable as Yazs spy scanner reveals he is only 93% human!

Meanwhile The Doctor and Graham track down The Horizon Watcher (or O) to a remote shack in Australia, which is heavily guarded by MI6 agents.

But the bizarre light creatures have followed The Doctor, and O manages to trap one in a chamber after they wipe out the Aussie agents.

The tense confrontation reveals theyre on a mission to rule over the entire universe, and it seems theyre working for Barton, who is caught by Ryan and Yaz confronting them and demanding an update on their plans.

Adversary: C also tells the team of the billionaire tech mogul and former agent Daniel Barton, played by Lenny Henry, who is described as being more powerful than most countries

The episode features a surprisingly emotional moment, as Yaz is captured by the aliens and transported to another dimension, before ending up in the mystery chamber.

It brings on one of the shows few emotional moments as Yaz reflects on her brush with death, before the episode roars back into gear as they don their best bow ties (so very spy) to confront Barton at his birthday party.

Of course Barton denies all involvement, but The Doctor vows to stop his plans whatever they are!

Seeking him out: The Doctor and Graham track down The Horizon Watcher (or O) to a remote shack in Australia, which is heavily guarded by MI6 agents

As he attempts to flee the bash, Daniel is chased by The TARDIS team on their motorbikes, and chase him onto the plane ready to learn about his destination.

But in a dramatic twist, O reveals hes far from just the rogue agent. Hes the Master! The long-time and thought-dead nemesis of the Doctor.

He reveals that he took the form of O years earlier when he first started working for MI6,

Drama: During the episode, Daniel attempts to flee the TARDIS team after Yaz is captured by aliens, and they chase him onto the plane ready to learn about his destination

It seems this reincarnation is a far more unpredictable, as he maniacally reveals the plane has been rigged with a bomb, and hes the one involved with the light aliens.

Bartons whereabouts remains unknown, and as the episode comes to a shocking cliffhanger, the bomb sends the plane crashing back to Earth, but the Doctor has been transported to the dimension, where Yaz was briefly taken after being captured by the creatures.

Doctor Who Series 12 continues on Sunday at 7pm on BBC One.
The BSE benchmark Sensex settled in the green on the first trading day of 2020 on Wednesday, tracking gains in index heavyweights Infosys, HDFC twins and Larsen & Toubro

Mumbai: Stock markets started the New Year on a positive note with benchmark index Sensex gaining 52.28 points or 0.13 percent to close at 41,306.02 on Wednesday as financials, IT, FMCG and power stocks advanced.

The broader NSE Nifty closed 14.05 points, or 0.12 percent, higher at 12,182.50 with 23 of its constituents ending in the green.

#MarketAtClose | Market starts 2020 on a subdued note, Nifty closes below 12,200 pic.twitter.com/KezVjgMblY  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 1, 2020

"Indian markets started the New year on a positive note without much cues on global front as markets remained closed. Sentiments remained positive on report that India's current account deficit (CAD) narrowed to 0.9% of GDP, or $6.3 billion, in the September 2019 quarter, on account of lower trade deficit," said Narendra Solanki, Head Fundamental Research (Investment Services) - AVP Equity Research, Anand Rathi Shares & Stock Brokers.

PowerGrid was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, spurting 2.76 percent, followed by NTPC, M&M, L&T, Hindustan Unilever, HDFC, and Infosys.

On the other hand, Titan fell the most by 2.76 percent, followed by IndusInd Bank (1.72 percent), and Bajaj Auto (1.21 percent).

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday unveiled Rs 102 lakh crore of infrastructure projects of which around one-fourth would be related to the energy sector. Other sectors in which the projects have been identified are railways, urban irrigation, mobility, education and health.

Analysts said the infrastructure spending can be a trigger for boosting the sagging growth.

On sectoral front, BSE Power rose the most by 1.78 percent, followed by BSE Utilities by 1.41 percent. BSE IT index and FMCG rose up to 0.6 percent. Auto, Metals, and Consumer Durables indices remained weak with losses of up to 1.40 percent.

In the broader market, BSE midcap and smallcap indices outperformed benchmarks, rallying up to 0.64 percent.

"Market traded positive in the first leg of trade based on government's plan for major investment in infrastructure expenditure. But given concerns over fiscal prudence and plans to use funds from centre, state and private limited the gains due to lack of liquidity," Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services commented.

In the near-term, auto stocks will be in focus based on monthly sales data which is likely to paint another dismal picture due to muted demand, he added.

Market breadth was positive as 1,363 scrips of 2,621 stocks traded gained while 1,068 scrips declined. Total market turnover was Rs 1,191.44 crore of BSE.
Two police officers have been killed after two Islamic terrorists launched a New Year's Eve attack in Russia.

Mikail Miziyev, 18, and Akhmed Imagozhev, 22, attacked a police checkpoint in Magan, near the border with Georgia, shortly before the clocks struck midnight.

Zelemkhan Kokorkhoev, 34, a married father of four, died after being run over by a Lada Granta driven by the two men and then stabbed.

His partner, officer Zurab Daurbekov, was then attacked and stabbed to death.

Mikail Miziyev, 18, and Akhmed Imagozhev, 22, drove a car at a police checkpoint in the Russian city of Magan on New Year's Eve (pictured), before attacking officers with knives

Zelemkhan Kokorkhoev, 34, a married father of four, died after being hit by the car before the Islamist attackers stabbed Zurab Daurbekov as he sat in his nearby patrol car (pictured)

Miziyev (left) and Imagozhev (right) posed with knives on social media along with the caption 'love and hatred based on Tawhid!'

Kokorkhoev (left) died after being hit by a car and stabbed, while Daurbekov (right) was stabbed to death after being dragged from his patrol car

CCTV captured the moment the men launched their attack, speeding towards Kokorkhoev as he stood on the sidewalk before striking him.

The men can then be seen jumping out of their car and running towards a nearby police patrol car where Daurbekov is sitting.

The officer is pulled out of his vehicle and then stabbed to death as he lies on the pavement nearby.

In the meantime, more officers arrive before opening fire on the terrorists, shooting Miziyev dead.

Police shot and killed Miziyev while Imagozhev (pictured right during an arm wrestling competition) was shot and wounded

Imagozhev, a Russian arm wrestling champion, was also shot in the confrontation but was not killed and is now in hospital.

An image of the pair posing with knives was then uncovered on social media.

A message reading 'love and hatred based on Tawhid!' - referring to the central concept of the Islamic faith - was written underneath.

New Year festivities were immediately cancelled in Magas, capital of the Ingushetia region of Russia, amid a heavy police and security presence on the streets.

A concert and fireworks due to take place at midnight were called off.
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The suspect in Saturday's stabbing attack on Jews gathered for a Hanukkah celebration has been charged with a federal hate crime. U.S. prosecutors filed the charges Monday in the Southern District of New York against 37-year-old Grafton Thomas
US President Donald Trump will travel to Beijing after signing the phase one trade deal at the White House in the presence of high-level Chinese representatives on January 15. Trump took to Twitter to announce that his visit to Beijing will mark the beginning of talks for phase two trade deal.

I will be signing our very large and comprehensive Phase One Trade Deal with China on January 15. The ceremony will take place at the White House. High level representatives of China will be present. At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Read: China Demands US To Roll Back Tariffs In Phase One Trade Deal: Report

Earlier, Trump had claimed that China, during the phase one deal, agreed to many structural changes and massive purchases of agricultural product, energy, and manufactured goods, among others. The US trade representatives had also confirmed the historic and enforceable agreement with China on Phase One trade deal. It said that the US will be maintaining 25 per cent tariffs on approximately $250 billion of Chinese imports, along with 7.5 per cent tariffs on approximately $120 billion of Chinese imports.

President Trump has focused on concluding a Phase One agreement that achieves meaningful, fully-enforceable structural changes and begins rebalancing the U.S.-China trade relationship. This unprecedented agreement accomplishes those very significant goals and would not have been possible without the Presidents strong leadership, said United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Read: China Presses US For More Tariff Roll-backs In 'phase One' Trade Deal

Suspension of additional tariffs

After the deal was finalised, Trump scrapped the penalty tariffs and China reciprocated to it by suspending additional tariffs on some US goods that were set to be implemented from December 15. Chinas State Council Customs Tariff Commission, in a statement, said that the decision was taken in order to implement the results of the recent consultations between China and the United States on economic and trade issues.

The now-suspended retaliatory tariffs were meant to target several imported products including vehicles and auto parts originating from the US. The department clarified that the other already implemented tariffs against the US and Canada will remain in place in accordance with regulations.

Read: Phase One Trade Deal With China To Be Signed 'very Shortly': Trump

Read: Trump, Xi Jinping To Sign 'phase One' Of US-China Trade Agreement
BOCA RATON, FL, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lindos Magnesium, located in the Alps Mountains of Italy, announced plans this week to expand its retail distribution network in the United States for its 100 percent Natural Magnesium.

Lindos imports a naturally effervescent Magnesium directly from an Italian Magnesium spring  Pure Natural Magnesium Directly from the Earth.

We offer the best alternative to manufactured magnesium supplements, said Robert Williams, CEO of the Maryland-based post 9/11 veteran-owned company. We provide pure, organic natural magnesium. Our magnesium drink stands apart from all the other forms of manufactured magnesium, such as tablets, injections, rubs, etc.

And it is the only drink with 220mg of natural magnesium in one bottle, which comes directly from the earth. Our Magnesium is produced by nature and nurtured the way nature intended, he added.

Magnesium is a mineral, which, according to WebMD, is essential for healthy bone structure. Our body does not produce its magnesium, but it is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Eighty percent of the U.S. population is deficient in magnesium.

Williams emphasized the importance of magnesium.

So many people are deficient in magnesium, and they dont even know it. If you are deficient in magnesium, your body cant metabolize vitamin D. This can lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, and cardiovascular disease, he said.

Lindos Magnesium absorbs faster than manufactured magnesium supplements, Williams added. The body easily absorbs our magnesium in about an hour.

Lindos Magnesium is a refreshing and pleasant to drink all-natural magnesium.

Williams said Lindos Magnesium dedicates itself to supporting a healthier lifestyle for everyone.

As a post 9/11 veteran, I believe that wellness is a state of being, Williams said. Wellness is an active process of making healthy choices. It is also more than being free from illness. It is a dynamic process of change and growth.

Story continues

Williams said an excellent first step toward healthy living is drinking and learning about the amazing benefits of natural magnesium.

To learn more about Lindos Magnesium, check out this YouTube video.

For more information, visit lindoswater.com or its social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram.

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Andrew Polin

Lindos Magnesium

561-544-0719

apolin@inhealthmedia.com


Socialists. Leftists. These are tags people are giving our students today. I say lets not typecast them into categories that we have inherited or ones familiar to us. Socialism brings too much baggage. Yes, todays students and youth have a deep unease with unequal education and employment opportunities. Yes, they are sick and tired of the Hindu-Muslim dialogue. But what they are actually saying is give me the future, not the past.

Theyre saying: You want to settle Partition, which happened over 70 years ago. You want to settle Babri Masjid, which happened almost 30 years ago. But I want to look at my present and future. Dont drag me to the past again and again. Understanding this is probably the best way of understanding them.

The last time this country witnessed nationwide student protests at scale was the 1970s. We had the JP Movement, led by Gandhian socialist Jayaprakash Narayan, against corruption. Their demand was the resignation of then prime minister Indira Gandhi. The other instance was the Navnirman Andolan, a socio-political movement in 1974 Gujarat, led by students against corruption in public life.

Then there were movements like the Assam Movement against illegal immigrants in the late 1970s, which was led by the All Assam Students Union and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad. Another one was the Mandal Commission protests, against reservation in government jobs.

The protests we are witnessing now against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are different from anything we have seen in the past. Firstly, geographically speaking, this movement is wider than any other youth movement India has seen. At least 35 universities are participating. It is not supported, driven and controlled by any political party or political face. It is neither left nor right.

The other distinguishing factor is that the issues are not specific to students. Generally, previous student protests were about issues related to the campus, from marksheets to degrees. There hasnt ever been a student protest about an issue that is not student-exclusive and has become such a big wave. The Bihar and Gujarat movements left a mark nationally but both began with specific problems in campuses. The present movement is not just about the police response to protests at Jamia Millia Islamia anymore. And women have taken the lead. No other protest has seen such strong leadership of women.

The manner in which students protested at Jamia and how it was handled is symptomatic of something wider. They are not just fighting police behaviour but also the deeply suffocating environment of university campuses. The quality of leadership at universities has dropped and the desire to control students lives has gone up. This is happening at a time when students aspire to be free on their own campuses. They are nothing like the students of two decades ago, who accepted whatever the teacher told them. The student of today has a very different sense of who he or she is, and you cant confine someone like that to a hostel by 7pm.

At a deeper level, the protests are about whats happening in the economy. The unemployment rate is unusually high. A 2019 report by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy shows that 11 million people lost jobs the previous year. Those in university feel they are headed for a world where employment is an uncertainty. The economy is a deeper cause that creates an overall climate in which something like the Jamia incident becomes a spark.

When it comes to women students, there is a strong aspiration not to be chaperoned as they are at home, not to be told what to do, to be whoever they want to be. This is not feminism; this is just an assertion of dignity. They want equal opportunity, they want equal treatment. They may not subscribe to the socialist dream of a world with no private ownership, but there certainly is an egalitarian streak in what they are doing.

At this moment in history, students and youth are the only social catalysts who can bring about radical change in a situation where the regime enjoys unquestionable majority and power over autonomous, independent institutions like the media and judiciary. In such a situation, only a student protest on the street can poke a hole in hegemony.

What makes students unusually powerful is that their participation is spontaneous. Usually, a movement gets direction when it is not mobilized by organized forces. It is this element that comes as an additional cherry on the top that gives it direction. And students are the cherry on top because they are not mobilized. They have become a barometer of society and the direction of the future, and thats why students and youth have disproportionate influence. Thats why government can withstand a protest by 10,000 but not a protest of 500 students/youth.

We are at the cusp of a student and youth movement, which has the potential to change our public life. It has a wide footprint, the right depth required for such a movement. It does not yet, however, have a face and a name to it. It is not a movement that has come from deprivation and desperation. It is a movement of aspiration. Aspiration for better education and dignified livelihood. Aspiration for a forward-looking national agenda, rather than a backward-looking one.

As told to Pooja Singh

Yogendra Yadav is a political analyst and national president of Swaraj India.

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The restaurant bill was 23 dollars (about 17), but the tip at a small-town US restaurant was much larger  2,020 dollars (1,525).

Things like this dont happen to people like me, waitress Danielle Franzoni told the Alpena News.

The 31-year-old got the tip while working at Thunder Bay River Restaurant in Alpena, Michigan. The credit card receipt said: Happy New Year. 2020 Tip Challenge.

Expand Close Danielle Franzoni (Julie Riddle/The News via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Ms Franzoni, a single mother, could not believe the number, but her manager assured her the tip was legitimate.

She said she was living in a homeless shelter a year ago, and now plans to use the money to reinstate her driving licence and build savings.

They dont know nothing about my story. They dont know where Ive come from. They dont know how hard its been, she said of the couple who left the tip. Theyre really just doing this out of the kindness of their heart.

She later went to another restaurant and left a 20.20-dollar tip, saying: That was my pay-it-forward.
Jaipur, Jan 1 : An infant who sustained critical burn injuries in a hospital in Rajasthan's Alwar district succumbed to her injuries during treatment on Wednesday.

The girl, as per a hospital source, was around three weeks old, and was shifted to the Jaipur based JK Lon hospital after she sustained 70 per cent burn injuries in the Government Geetanand Children's Hospital in Alwar, where she was first admitted for breathing problems.

Her parents said that she was alright on Monday till 10.30 p.m when they last saw the baby. However, on Tuesday morning, they received a call from the Geetanand Children's Hospital authorities informing them of a short circuit incident.

There were more than a dozen children in the ward when the short circuit was reported, who were then shifted to other wards. Two hospital staff members were also injured while saving the children.

However, eyewitnesses claim that there was no staff member available in the ward when the fire broke out and it was only after the dense fumes were seen, that the staff rushed to the ward.

Soon after the incident, the health department formed a three-member committee to probe the case. The committee included veteran medical officers, including joint director S. K. Bhandari, who recorded the statements of the hospital staff.

They reached the hospital and investigated the matter. They also recorded the statements of the staff members and compiled a report which shows gross irregularities on the part of the hospital staff. This report has been sent to the senior officials.

Hospital sources confirmed that the new born babies, who have breathing complications, were kept on the baby warmers in the 'Facility Based Newborn Care Operational Guidelines (FBNC) wards. The short circuit was reported on the baby warmer due to which the fire began.

As per the reports, the infant had an oxygen mask on her mouth, which is said to have caught fire due to which her face received critical burn injuries. She was rushed to a Jaipur based hospital on Tuesday where she succumbed to her injuries a day later.

The incident has come to the fore when the health and medical department was already facing criticism for the death of 91 children in the Kota situated JK Lon hospital.
A construction couple who built a con artists Billings mansion has pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

James and Timilynn Kisling, owners of Kisling Quality Builders, admitted to not paying $320,000 in taxes. In doing so, the couple avoided reporting more than $800,000 in profits on the mansion construction for Larry Wayne Price Jr.

Price, a former vice president of Signal Peak Mine, pleaded guilty in December 2018 to several counts of wire fraud, money laundering and lying to federal investigators about an abduction scheme in which he falsely claimed to be kidnapped by bikers. The charges stem from coal and real estate scams in which the Virginia man stole $20 million from three companies.

The Price mansion is the largest single-family residential building ever constructed in Billings. At 26,000 square feet, the mansions construction costs are estimated at more than $10 million.

In the Kisling case, federal prosecutors accused the couple of working with Price to hide their income from constructing the mansion. The Kislings built a separate $526,132 home for themselves and rolled the cost into the price of their clients $10 million mansion. Price then deducted the costs of the Kislings' home from what he paid them, which meant the compensation was never reported to the IRS as income.

On financial reports for the mansions construction, the Kisling home was identified as the Price Guest House, according to prosecutors.

In year two of the mansions construction, the Kislings needed $275,000 for a Wyoming land buy. Price loaned the money to the Kislings. The loan was then listed as a construction cost for the Price Guest Home instead of compensation paid to the Kislings. Like the money that paid for the Kislings' home, the Wyoming land loan was also not reported as income to the IRS.

While the Kislings pleaded guilty to the charges, they disagreed with the amount of taxes owed to the IRS. The IRS claims the taxes owed are $327,664, roughly $7,000 more than what the Kislings acknowledge.

The Kislings made their plea to U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan. Cavan will now recommend the pleas be accepted by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters.

The Kislings have been released from custody. A sentencing date hasnt been set. The maximum penalty for two counts of tax evasion is five years in prison and a $100,000 fine, plus prosecution costs and three years of supervised release.

James Kisling is 51. Timilynn is 44.

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Global publications have exploded with reports of the most exciting new developments that can be expected in the coming year.

From AI and machine learning to edge computing and blockchain, co-founder and director of Quicket, James Hedley, takes a look at the four most exciting tech trends to watch out for in Africa in 2020  detailed below.

Exponential investment in Africa

Nigerian-based payment ventures have received millions of US dollars in investments, making it the unofficial African capital for fintech investment and digital finance startups, according to TechCrunch.

It was also reported that the continents fintech investment quadrupled to $357 million in 2018, with sub-Saharan Africa being the area with the most expected growth.

So, what does this mean for South Africa?

We can expect even more investment after being listed as one of the top three African countries with the highest amount of investment next to Kenya and Nigeria.

The Southern African Venture Capital Association also announced that venture capital funding grew 31% to over R1.5 billion in 2018, up from R1.1 billion in 2017.

Leading the charge with sizeable investments this year included on-demand cleaning service SweepSouth and business funding company Lulalend.

The continued rise of mobile money

Since 2011, the value of mobile transactions has grown over 890%, with sub-Saharan Africa the worlds largest region responsible for moving money on mobile phones  a total of 45.6% of the activity in the world.

The industry has grown exponentially and there are no signs of the market decreasing.

Mobile money has proven an effective tool for feature phone users who have not yet migrated to a smartphone, and USSD has become one of the technologies that have enhanced the transaction experience for millions.

Rise of the mobile money ecosystem

Hundred of millions of upwardly mobile consumers linked to a cost-effective mobile payment system will create vast opportunities for all sorts of business models.

One only has to look to China to get a feel for the vast range of possibilities this could enable, like the incredible success WeChat has seen with their payment options.

In a recent report, they stated that over 84% of adults using their payment options now felt comfortable not carrying cash.

Reducing data costs

Recently, Vodacom and MTN were ordered by the Competition Commission to slash their data prices, despite introducing price reductions.

The network providers had two months to significantly reduce their data prices, making space for a wider audience to have access to the Internet.

Although MTN has stated they will oppose the ruling, what we can still look forward to is a more inclusive audience who engage with online content, shopping, etc.

Corporates, small businesses and even retailers may look for more ways to engage with their audiences in order to reel in new consumers through online engagement.

Messaging 2.0

We have seen great strides in messaging apps over the last year, with many businesses using apps like Messenger and WhatsApp as forms of customer service channels.

As a society, we have grown to demand immediacy from the brands that we choose to interact with, and we can expect much more from brands next year, sais Hedley.

With updates in chatbots, interactions will be even more nuanced  with bots who are being programmed to deliver feedback more effectively.

BusinessTech

Now read: How Huawei will adapt to survive trade onslaught in 2020
Actor Arjun Kapoors relationship with Malaika Arora has been a constant feature in gossip columns. After staying quiet on the subject for long, some time last year, Arjun confirmed the relationship. Malaika has shared a new picture with Arjun to wish fans on the new year.

Sharing the picture, Malaika wrote: Sun,star,light,happiness.......2020. In the picture, Malaika is sitting behind Arjun, in what appears to be a shack. She is seen planting a kiss on his cheek. The post saw many of their friends and family members showering love. Arjuns aunt, Maheep Kapoor, who is also a close friend of Malaika left a red heart emoji while TV actor Shenaz Treasury said: Awwwwww! Wish you happiness and love always beautiful girl!!!. A fan wrote: Khush Raho... Happiness is life.

Malaika and Arjun have been rumoured to being in a relationship for quite some time. However, in 2018, appearing on TV reality show Indias Got Talent, Arjun and Malaika had walked onto the stage, holding hands. Arjun was on the show to promote his film, Namaste England, while Malaika was one of the judges on the show. Later, they posed for paparazzi together after the screening of his film, Indias Most Wanted, confirming their relationship. Since then, rumour mills have been a buzz that the two would tie the knot soon. Both have consistently denied it. They have, nonetheless, celebrated several holidays together. The couple has gone on holidays often including trips to Maldives and USA.

Also read: Salman Khan asked for a gift, brother-in-law Aayush says it was a conscious decision to bring Ayat into this world on that day

Ending months of speculation and talk, Arjun finally spoke about his relationship in an interview to Filmfare in May last year. Arjun had said, Weve come out because we feel the media has given us dignity. Theres a certain understanding the media has... theyve been respectful, kind, honest and decent about it. That is why I felt comfortable. You recoil when theres a certain gandhagi that comes with the territory. When purposely people irk you by saying, writing or asking things... there hasnt been any of that.

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Diane Abbott's son was in court yesterday after being charged with a string of violent offences including allegedly beating up police, emergency workers and doctors as well as exposing himself in a hospital.

James Abbott-Thompson appeared before a judge at Thames Magistrates Court where he was accused of 11 crimes - most of them on NHS property.

He is alleged to have gone on the rampage attacking nine people including five emergency workers, two of whom were assaulted on the same day.

The 28-year-old faces nine charges of assault, a charge of of racially aggravated criminal damage and one of exposure over the past five months.

George Gross, defending, said: 'The defendant proposes to indicate not guilty pleas.'

Miss Abbott, who has been Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Home Secretary since 2016, was not in court yesterday.

Abbott-Thompson is the only son of the Labour MP and Ghanaian architect Richard Thompson, who divorced a year after his birth following two years of marriage.

James Abbott-Thompson (left on Parliament's Thames terrace), the son of Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, has been charged with 11 new offences after appearing in court last month charged with three others

The 11 charges faced by Diane Abbott's son Abbott-Thompson studied at Cambridge before getting a job at the Foreign Office  Assaulted a person causing them actual bodily harm - August 7, 2019 - Royal Free Hospital  Assault by beating - August 8, 2019 - Mile End Hospital - assaulted a Doctor  Assault by beating of emergency services worker - July 26, 2019  Homerton Hospital - assaulted a police officer  Assault by beating of emergency services worker - July 26, 2019  on Middleton Road - assaulted a police officer  Assaulted a person causing them actual bodily harm - July 26, 2019  within the London borough of Hackney  Exposure - October 27, 2019 - at Homerton Hospital  Assault by beating of emergency services worker - November 7, 2019  at Homerton Hospital - assaulted a nurse  Racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage  November 7, 2019, at Homerton Hospital - destroyed prescription spectacles  Assault by beating of emergency services worker  November 8, 2019 - Homerton Hospital - assaulted a police officer  Assault by beating  August 7, 2019  Royal Free Hospital -  Assault by beating of an emergency services worker  December 23, 2019  Bevan Ward, Homerton Hospital  assaulted a social therapist Advertisement

The alleged attacks took place over the last six months at three London hospitals, the Homerton Hospital in Hackney, the Royal Free in Hampstead and Mile End Hospital in Tower Hamlets.

The last assault on a hospital worker is said to have taken place just two days before Christmas.

He also faces one count of exposure on a hospital ward.

Yesterday the Cambridge graduate appeared at Thames Magistrates Court in Bromley-by-Bow.

District Judge Jane McIvor granted Abbott-Thompson bail yesterday ahead of a further hearing at Wood Green Crown Court next month.

The former diplomat left the Foreign Office in June this year just weeks before the first alleged attack on July 26 when he is accused of carrying out three attacks including two on emergency workers outside Homerton Hospital and elsewhere in Hackney where his mother lives.

Abbott-Thompson had formerly enjoyed a meteoric rise within the Foreign Office after joining Diplomatic Fast Stream in 2014.

After two and a half years in London, he was stationed in the British Embassy in Rome and was appointed as the First Secretary for Exiting the EU.

At the age of just 27 he was working alongside the British Ambassador in Italy advising the British Consul and representatives of the British community in Italy about their rights post Brexit.

The mother of one made headlines when she decided to send her only child to the private City of London School in 2003 after criticising colleagues for choosing selective and independent schools.

She was accused of hypocrisy, but claimed she had done a lot of work on how black boys underachieve in secondary schools.

Ms Abbott spoke about her son during a TV interview when she was running for the Labour leadership in 2010.

Explaining her decisions about his education, she said: 'I knew what could happen if my son went to the wrong school and got in with the wrong crowd.

'They are subjected to peer pressure and when that happens it's very hard for a mother to save her son. Once a black boy is lost to the world of gangs it's very hard to get them back.'

She told the BBC's Andrew Neil: 'West Indian mums will go to the wall for their children.'

Ms Abbott made Jonathan Aitken, the former Conservative cabinet minister who served a prison sentence for perjury, her son's godfather, after she worked with him at Thames Television in the 1980s.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 07:12:05|Editor: Wang Yamei

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LA PAZ, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The first ticket for the upcoming presidential elections in Bolivia was made official on Tuesday when Fernando Camacho, the former president of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee, and Marco Pumari, the current president of Potosinists Civic Committee, announced their intention to run for president and vice president of the country, respectively.

Camacho and Pumari signed an agreement in which they stated they would be running mates in the presidential elections that will take place in March 2020. The text of the agreement was released by the pair on social media.

The two candidates have yet to align themselves with any defined political platform, but said that they were open to becoming the nominees of "any type of alliance, citizen movement, or political party."

Between October and November, through their civic organizations, Camacho and Pumari held town hall meetings across the country following the October 20 presidential elections, in which President Evo Morales was reelected.

The pair began calling for a second round of elections and eventually demanded the resignation of Morales, who left office on November 10.

Though this is the first ticket that has been formally announced for the upcoming elections, other possible presidential candidates include Carlos Mesa, Chi Hyun Chung, Samuel Doria Medina, and Felix Patzi, as well as a yet to be announced candidate from Morales's party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS).
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran will be held accountable for lives lost in attacks on any US facilities.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter hours after protesters angry about US air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the US Embassy in Baghdad.

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"The US Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site," Trump said.
Ananya Panday is ringing in the New Year at Shah Rukh Khans vacation home in Alibaug with her best friend Suhana Khan. It looks like the celebrations have begun early, and Ananya shared a picture of the entire squad chilling together.

The photo featured Aryan Khan, his cousins Arjun Chhiba and Alia Chhiba, their friends Manavi Gaur, Robin Passi, Karan Mehta, Adish Duggal, Arbaaz Seth Merchantt and Manav Chauhan. Ananya captioned the group picture, new year, no new friends #2020 #family.

In less than a day, the picture has already received more than 7,50,000 likes on Instagram. Lovely friends, one fan commented, while another wrote, Happy new year in advance!!

Earlier, Alia shared pictures of their New Year getaway on her Instagram story. Shah Rukhs youngest child AbRam was also seen in the pictures, alongside Aryan, Suhana and Ananya.

Also see: Shah Rukh Khans kids Suhana, Aryan and AbRam are ready to ring in the New Year with Ananya Panday in Alibaug. See pics

Ananya was last seen on the big screen in Mudassar Azizs Pati Patni Aur Woh remake, which also featured Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar. The film was a hit and the actor told Hindustan Times that she was really excited and overwhelmed by the love that her film was getting from the audience as well as the film industry.

Currently, Ananya has two plum projects in her kitty  Maqbool Khans Khali Peeli, in which she will be paired opposite Ishaan Khatter, and Shakun Batras relationship drama, alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi and Deepika Padukone.

Suhana is inclined towards acting and is currently studying at the Tisch School Of The Arts, New York University, before she makes her Bollywood debut. She was recently seen in a short film titled The Grey Part of Blue.

Ananya told Hindustan Times earlier that her best friend was a brilliant actor. She said, Suhana is one of the most talented people I know. She is a great dancer, she sings, she does everything. I think she is amazing. I am really looking forward to her debut.

Meanwhile, Aryan is more interested in direction, and is studying filmmaking at the University of Southern California.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The city of San Francisco has agreed to settle a lawsuit with more than 200 inmates who were swamped with raw sewage for months in County Jail No. 4, attorneys and inmates said Tuesday.

The Board of Supervisors still has to approve the settlement, but Stanley Goff, one of the attorneys on the case, confirmed the agreement to The Chronicle without disclosing the amount.

Inmates who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the tentative settlement is for $2.1 million, which will be split among 217 inmates and other future plaintiffs based on how many days they endured the vile conditions between January 2017 and September 2018.

Its just a decrepit building that needs to be condemned, Goff said. No human being should have to be confined in there.

Fluvio Cajina, another attorney in the case, stressed that the settlement still needed to be finalized but said any deal would include the 217 inmates he and Goff represent along with other potential vicitms in a separate class action lawsuit filed by attorney Yolanda Huang.

Its unclear when the Board of Supervisors, which is in recess until Jan. 6, will take up the settlement. The city attorneys office did not return phone calls and messages seeking comment.

County Jail No. 4, which can hold 371 inmates and sits on the seventh floor of the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St., has been a persistent problem for the Sheriffs Department, which will have a new leader on Jan. 8 when Paul Miyamoto is sworn in as sheriff.

The city operates three other jails, including the intake facility and County Jail No. 2 at Seventh and Bryant streets, and the citys biggest jail, County Jail No. 5, in San Bruno.

The jail at the Hall of Justice, which was built in 1960, is the citys oldest. The building has been deemed seismically unfit, and the rundown jail on the top floor was built in a design from the 17th century with long corridors and individual cells. Some inmates are confined 12 to a cell, which includes an 8-by-20-foot bunked sleeping area adjacent to a small shared room.

Many inmates wear minimal clothing and no shirts because of the buildings lack of ventilation. Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, who leaves office on Jan. 8 after unsuccessfully fighting to get the city to build a new jail, has called the conditions decrepit and depressing.

The sewage catastrophe was a stomach-churning development to the already sad state of the jail. It began in late 2016 when faulty plumbing burst above the district attorneys office on the buildings third floor.

Hazmat crews evacuated the office and repaired the leak, installing a trap device, which caused sewage to back up farther up the line in the jail, attorneys for the inmates wrote in the lawsuit.

Beginning in January 2017, sewage began to spill out of the toilets and pipes in the jail  sometimes three times a day, forcing inmates to walk through up to an inch of standing raw waste, the attorneys wrote.

When the raw sewage floods occurred, the plaintiffs were able to observe visible pieces of fecal matter and used toilet tissue in the water invading their living areas, soiling the plaintiffs personal belongings and causing the plaintiffs to experience physical injuries, Goff wrote.

Because there is no shelving in the cells, the attorneys said inmates lost personal items, which were stored on the floors. Inmates were forced to endure hazardous fumes and nauseating smells as they ate their meals inside their cells, Goff 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.

The conditions continued for more than a year, until September 2018, when the plumbing was fixed.

In an interview Tuesday, Goff said the ramifications from the sewage debacle is just scratching the surface of the problems at the jail.

Its a total contradiction to the image that San Francisco tries to project, he said. The city tries to project that its progressive, but theyre treating these inmates worse than someone would be treated in a Third World country.

The supervisors in 2015 looked into spending $215 million on building a jail to replace County Jail No. 4, but rejected the plan and lost an $80 million grant from the state.

City leaders instead looked into reducing the jail population, and new policies around pretrial release and alternatives to incarceration have seen more defendants released in recent years. But because around 80% of the inmates at County Jail No. 4 are not eligible for pretrial release because they are accused of violent crimes, the jails population has not decreased.

The Sheriffs Department said it may have to send the inmates to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. The supervisors held meetings in 2018 and 2019 to discuss the state of the jail but came up with no solutions.

Note: This story has been updated with a comment from attorney Fluvio Cajina, who said a settlement would include potential plaintiffs from a separate class action lawsuit.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
Muhammadu Fagen Gawo, a member of the house of representatives member from Jigawa state, has died. TheCable reports that the lawma...





Muhammadu Fagen Gawo, a member of the house of representatives member from Jigawa state, has died.





TheCable reports that the lawmaker who represented Garki/Babura federal constituency died at an undisclosed hospital in Dubai on Tuesday.





He was said to be receiving medical treatment for a yet-to-be-confirmed ailment.





Gawo is the third federal lawmaker to die in December.





The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker was elected into the lower legislative chamber in 2015.





In a statement, Muhammed Badaru, governor of Jigawa, condoled with the people of the state and the deceaseds constituency over the lawmakers death.





Dr Muhammadu Adamu Fagen Gawo who travelled for medical treatment was pronounced dead today in a hospital where he is receiving treatment, read the statement which Auwal Sankara, the governors spokesman, issued on his behalf.




The story of how the Lisu of southwest China were evangelized one hundred years ago by the China Inland Mission is a familiar one in mission circles. The subsequent history of the Lisu church, however, is much less well known.brings this history up to date, recounting the unlikely story of how the Lisu maintained their faith through twenty-two years of government persecution and illuminating how Lisu Christians transformed the text-based religion brought by the missionaries into a faith centered around an embodied set of Christian practices.

Based on ethnographic fieldwork as well as archival research, this volume documents the development of Lisu Christianity, both through larger social forces and through the stories of individual believers. It explores how the Lisu, most of whom remain subsistence farmers, have oriented their faith less around cognitive notions of belief and more around participation in a rhythm of shared Christian practices, such as line dancing, attending church and festivals, evangelizing, working in one anothers fields, and singing translated Western hymns. These embodied practices demonstrate how Christianity developed in the mountainous margins of the worlds largest atheist state.

A much-needed expansion of the Lisu story into a complex study of the evolution of a world Christian community, this book will appeal to scholars working at the intersections of World Christianity, anthropology of religion, ethnography, Chinese Christianity, and mission studies.
Per Twitter policy, any tweets that included private information about an individual, including the alleged whistleblower, would be in violation of its rules.

A tweet from US President Donald Trump that identified an intelligence analyst as the alleged whistleblower who helped spark his impeachment was temporarily blocked at the weekend, with Twitter blaming an outage that affected a number of user accounts.

In recent days, Trump shared an unsubstantiated media report and a second post that appeared to name the intelligence community member.

However, the second tweet, from the presidents personal account, was not visible on Saturday to all of his 68 million followers. It was visible again on Sunday afternoon, although the original account that shared the alleged whistleblowers name had been deleted.

Due to an outage with one of our systems, tweets on account profiles were visible to some, but not others, Twitter Support said. Were still working on fixing this and apologize for any confusion. A spokeswoman for the social media platform confirmed that the US presidents account was among those affected.

The spokeswoman added that, per Twitter policy, any tweets that included private information about an individual, including the alleged whistleblower, would be in violation of its rules. Names are not considered private information, she said.

Democrats, some Republicans, and members of the US intelligence community have strongly objected to the effort to reveal the whistleblowers identify, calling it inappropriate and possibly illegal.

Mark Zaid, one of the whistleblowers lawyers, said on Twitter in early November that Republicans had sought to expose our clients identity which could jeopardize their safety, as well as that of their family.

Other Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul and the presidents son Donald Trump Jr, have previously shared links on Twitter to articles from right-wing news outlets identifying what they claimed was the likely whistleblower. However, Thursday marked the first time the president had done so, when he retweeted a link to a Washington Examiner article.

On Friday, Trump retweeted a post from a pro-Trump account that featured the same name prominently, and that has also shared photos of a person who it alleged was the whistleblower.

That retweet briefly disappeared from Trumps Twitter account on Saturday, reported the Washington Post, CNN, and other media.

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

The huge American flag over the halfway point of the Christmas Eve Road March is suspended between a fire truck from the Queensbury Central FD, and another from the West Glens Falls FD  a perfect symbol of how the area comes together to support our annual march.

We have walked over 60 miles in the 16 years we have held the march, and the list is huge of all the community support that we have gotten. But, more importantly, the march has always been about sending a message to those deployed that we remember them at a time of the year we could be comfortably home. I always say that we need to "suffer" a bit to symbolize what the soldiers go through  that is how we send a message to those not home for the holidays.

The marchers were there this year in battalions, but the community was there in other ways: from the police departments, to the fire departments, to the residents of Garrison Road who turn out with hot beverages and donuts, making the march seem so much more community oriented!

There are not enough words here to speak of the many folks who assisted with the march  but just know that our area is not lacking in the area of selfless service.

I had a message from one of the marchers, Gigi Bull, who I think gets to the point of the road march: "As I walked, I thought of all the miles my staff sergeant dad and Army nurse mom had previously marched during WW2 and Korea, and I felt a strong connection to their memories." Gigi finishes by saying "Thank you for this gift," and that's what gets me  that someone would thank us, while she is the one who is spending time supporting others.

Thank you and Hooah!

Arthur Coon, Queensbury

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3 places to visit in 2020

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It is that time of the year again, when people start asking where to go in the year ahead.

Recommendations are everywhere, but this columnists top three choices of places to visit in 2020 offer something for everyone. Most importantly, each place is family-friendly, an important consideration for readers.

3. London

Brexit means there is no better time than now to visit London.

Ignore the well-beaten path and instead experience a different side of the British capital by staying in the trendy Shoreditch neighborhood.

Make The Curtain, an upscale boutique hotel with gorgeously appointed rooms, home base. It is ideally situated and is less than 30 minutes by foot from the Tower of London and other popular sights. Red Rooster, the hotel restaurant, has excellent Harlem-inspired comfort food.

Old Spitalfields Market is a short walk away. Besides artisan crafts and wares there are gourmet food trucks and other vendors. For classic fayre try lunch in the markets shadows at the aptly named English Restaurant.

An absolute must is Christ Church. The early 18th-century baroque work of Nicholas Hawksmoor towers  figuratively and literally  over the neighborhood. The evangelical Anglican church is widely considered Hawksmoors masterpiece and in this columnists opinion rivals the more famous churches of Sir Christopher Wren.

2. St. Helena

Arguably one of the most remote inhabited islands, St. Helena was practically unreachable until an airport opened at the end of 2017. The tiny island, a British territorial possession of just 47 square miles, is located about 1,200 miles off the African coast.

As remote as it is today, it was even more remote when Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled here after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815. The French general-turned-emperor lived at Longwood House for nearly seven years until his death in 1821. Expect a big bicentennial commemoration in 2021, which gives visitors more than enough time to plan the extensive arrangements required to visit. (Airlinks weekly flight to St. Helena originates in Johannesburg, South Africa.)

Beyond all of the history  there is even more than just Napoleon  St. Helena is great for just getting away and disconnecting for a week. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the almost unspoiled beauty of creation.

1. Mayflower 400

They were hardly the first to arrive on the shores of the New World. Yet the Pilgrims factor large in the story of all things America, not least for their contribution to religious freedom.

2020 is the year of the Mayflower, as it marks 400 years since the Pilgrims landed, as any schoolboy will tell you, on Plymouth Rock in present-day Massachusetts.

See also: On the Pilgrim Trail Across England, 400 Years After the Mayflower

Festivities are planned for both Massachusetts and the Old World, where the British commemoration of Mayflower 400 comes to a grand conclusion with the week-long Mayflower Festival in September. Programming includes a maritime festival, military muster and official ceremony on the anniversary of the Pilgrims departing England.

Spires and Crosses is a weekly travel column. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram.
In what could be a major milestone in a bilateral trade war, US President Donald Trump has said that he will sign an initial phase one trade agreement with China on January 15.

The pact, a phase one deal, is expected to reduce tensions between the two economic giants.

The US president on Tuesday said the treaty would be signed here in the presence of high level representatives from China, BBC reported.

At a later date I will be going to Beijing where talks will begin on Phase Two! Trump said.

The ceremony at the White House will include top Chinese officials, the President said on Twitter. However, he did not specify who would represent China, noting only it would be high level representatives.
Just hours before Californias new gig-work law, AB5, is set to take effect, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state from enforcing it upon truck drivers.

U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez, in a five-page order on New Years Eve, discussed the California Trucking Associations contention that AB5 was preempted by a 1994 federal statute that prohibits states from making laws that affect the price, route or service of freight-hauling motor carriers.

AB5, which becomes law on Wednesday, makes it much harder for companies to claim that workers are independent contractors. The trucking group filed a lawsuit in U.S. Distsrict Court for Southern California in November seeking a declaration that AB5s strict employment test does not apply to the trucking industry.

A hearing on the trucking groups request for a preliminary injunction is set for Jan. 13. Meanwhile, Benitez wrote, the plaintiffs have carried their burden for purposes of emergency relief to show (1) that they are likely to succeed on the merits, (2) likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of relief, (3) that the balance of equities tips in their favor, and (4) that their requested relief is in the public interest.

Independent owner-operator truck drivers, many of whom spent $150,000 or more on their big rigs, have been staging protests over AB5, saying that becoming employees would hurt them financially and remove the flexibility they prefer.

AB5 threatens the livelihood of more than 70,000 independent truckers, said CTA CEO Shawn Yadon in a statement in November. The bill wrongfully restricts their ability to provide services as owner-operators and, therefore, runs afoul of federal law.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

AB5 author Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, said in a statement that she was undeterred.

For decades, trucking companies have profited from misclassifying drivers as independent contractors, taking away rights such as meal and rest periods and fair pay, she wrote. We expect they will continue to invest resources in protecting their profits earned on the backs of workers, but we will continue to fight them at all levels to return jobs in the trucking industry to good, middle class careers.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Americas strongest digital privacy law has taken effect in California.

The law, known as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), requires businesses to inform consumers about the ways in which they collect and share personal information.

The law gives consumers the right to request that companies not sell or share their data. It also requires businesses to destroy information already collected if the consumer asks to have it removed.

The law covers the sale of data related to almost any sharing of information that can help a business. This includes information-sharing between companies as well as the selling of data by third-party businesses.

Large online businesses, such as Facebook and Google, are affected by the law. So are major retail companies.

Walmart and Home Depot, among others, say they have added Do Not Sell My Info links to their websites to make it easier for consumers to exercise their rights. The businesses said they have also put the information on signs inside their stores.

Digital experts say it remains unclear how the CCPA will affect the kind of targeted advertising commonly used by companies like Facebook and Google.

Facebook collects large amounts of personal data and uses the information to direct ads at different groups of people. The data could include someones sex, race or religion. Facebook says it does not share that kind of personal information with advertisers.

The experts say that, because the law covers any company that meets conditions for interacting with state residents, the California law might end up serving as a legal model for other states.

If we do this right in California, said California attorney general Xavier Becerra, the state will put the capital P back into privacy for all Americans.

Californias legislation is the nations biggest effort yet aimed at fighting against so-called surveillance capitalism. This term describes the business of profiting from data that most Americans give up - often unknowingly  in exchange for free and often ad-supported services.

In a statement about the CCPA in October, Becerra said that personal data is what is powering todays wealthy digital economy. Its time we had control over the use of our personal data. That includes keeping it private, he said. Becerra added that he sees the law as a historic step forward in putting the people of California first in the age of the internet.

Some experts have noted that some parts of the law will likely bring legal challenges. One such challenge could center on constitutional concerns related to the many different areas covered by the law. The experts say the laws many exceptions could also be problematic, as well as the fact that it only affects information collected by businesses -- not the government.

Critics say the laws exceptions permit companies to keep holding personal information on consumers in some situations, even after individuals request that the data be destroyed. For example, a company can keep personal data if it decides it needs it to finish the sales process. A company could also continue to hold information in a way that the consumer would reasonably expect them to.

Joseph Jerome is a policy director at the privacy group Common Sense Media/Kids Action. He told The Associated Press that the law is more of a right to request and hope for deletion.

The law offers stronger protections for children. For example, it bans the sale of data on children under 16 without permission.

Digital experts also noted that the law leaves it up to California citizens themselves to exercise their new rights. To make the law effective, consumers will need to take direct action to opt out of data sales or request collected information.

Margot Kaminski is a professor of law at the University of Colorado who studies legal technology issues. She told the AP that many people currently do not take the time to read existing privacy agreements because they are long and complex.

Kaminski said, If you arent even reading privacy agreements that you are signing, are you really going to request your data?

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on information from The Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Americas Strongest Digital Privacy Law Takes Effect in California Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

digital  adj. related to computer technology, especially the internet

consumer  n. person who buys or uses goods or services

retail  adj. the activity of selling products to the public in shops or on the internet

surveillance  n. the activity of watching people carefully, often secretly, especially by an army or police force

challenge  n. an expression of disagreement with ideas, rules or someones authority

delete  v. remove something

opt out  v. choose not to be part of an activity
Al-Qaeda claims Mogadishu bombing, death toll rises to 90

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 6:18 AM

Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia has claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing in the capital, Mogadishu, over the weekend, and the death toll from the terrorist attack has risen to 90 people.

The al-Shabab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the blast that took place at the busy Ex-Control checkpoint, northwest of Mogadishu, on Saturday.

"The blast targeted a convoy of Turkish and Somali forces and they suffered great loss," a spokesman for al-Shabab said in an audio message on Monday.

Meanwhile, an international organization, which did not want to be named, said the death toll had risen to 90, adding that university students and 17 police officers were among the victims, Reuters reported.

A Somali MP also confirmed the report, saying in a tweet that he had been told the death toll was more than 90.

Two Turkish citizens were among the dead, as a small team of Turkish engineers was present at the time of the explosion, constructing a road into the city.

Turkey on Sunday dispatched a military plane with medics to help with the treatment of the wounded and to evacuate some of them.

Meanwhile, the Somali intelligence agency said a foreign country had planned the attack.

"A foreign country planned the massacre of the Somalis in Mogadishu on Dec 28, 2019," the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said in a tweet, without naming the country.

Somalia has become an arena for diplomatic rivalry between Turkey and Qatar on the one side and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the other in recent years.

NISA also said it would use assistance from an unnamed foreign intelligence organization in its investigation of the attack.

Al-Shabab has been carrying out attacks in Somalia since 2006. It has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda more recently. The deadliest attack blamed on the Takfiri group took place in 2017, when a truck bomb went off next to a fuel tanker in Mogadishu, leaving about 600 people dead.

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I made a donation to the RFS via Red Cross but I share Gittins views about the cost-shifting of the federal government to protect its damnable surplus and enable it to continue boasting about its great economic management. If it is as good as they repeatedly claim, this morally challenged lot would have long ago recognised the massive economic cost of it its failure to get urgent about climate change impacts and it would not have shovelled vote-buying millions into the accounts of the already well-off. - Ron Sinclair, Bathurst With the fire crisis as a backdrop, how will the PM and the Treasurer be celebrating their glorious surplus on the day it is announced? Champagne, cigars and a taxpayer funded Cabinet dinner? - Robert Mulas, Corlette While talking about our unpaid volunteers, let's not forget the SES. Another group of dedicated Aussies who have to fund raise with sausage sizzles and the like to buy equipment to do their community service of responding to natural disasters such as floods and storms. What kind of cataclysmic weather event has to occur before the prime minister pays them $300 a day? - Pam Valentine, Liverpool I, too, have declined to donate to the NSW Rural Fire Service for the same reasons set out in Gittins article. As a self-funded retiree I still pay taxes to the federal government to support both our country and its citizens. It is up to Morrison, Frydenberg and Cormann to provide additional funding to the states to support the RFS, aged care and the welfare of voters rather than focus on a budget surplus which is a deficit to voters by way of withdrawal of government services. - Warren Bowden, Fairlight Spare a thought for country folk

Thank you for publishing the opinion piece by Brynn OBrien and all your extensive coverage of the fires ('''Stay safe' and get out early'', January 1). For people like my friend waiting it out today in the Bega Valley, which is normally green and beautiful at this time of the year, but is now brown and scorched, information from all sources is precious. As people danced and were merry around Sydney Harbour last night, peoples homes were being burnt down and more of our natural environment was destroyed. Government must lead in solving this crisis, but city folk living in their concrete jungle, alienated from the natural world, need to understand how the destruction affects them as well. Forget the smoke; without trees, we wont be able to breathe, without arable land and water, we wont be able to eat. Hopefully, by this time next year, politicians will no longer look to God for rain. Instead, with the support of voters everywhere, implement policies which will respect the survival of our natural environment and thus the survival of our own species. We can then celebrate New Year without a false conscience. - Lyndall Nelson, South Turramurra Relief from fire trauma We need to talk about the trauma so many people have experienced from their exposure to the bushfires (''On southern coasts, fire rips hearts and homes'', January 1). It could be the direct trauma of losing loved ones, houses or property, being evacuated or cut off from friends and loved ones.

The trauma of being exposed to bushfires nearby, fate dictated by wind direction, and sitting through skies suddenly going black, raining ash and embers, emergency alerts and being cut off from the world. The decision making  should I stay or should I go? When should I go? What should I take? How much should I take? The intense anxiety of being in an apparent apocalyptic world. Worrying that your preparation isnt enough. The ongoing choking smoke. The heartbreak associated with losing so much beautiful bush and wildlife. The recurring nature of extreme fire hazard days and bushfires being controlled and then out of control with a change in the weather. Trauma for local businesses losing their much needed biggest trading days. This needs to be talked about as it is our shared experiences and acknowledgement of this trauma that will help us heal. Its reaching out and supporting each other with kindness and sitting with others feeling, acknowledging them. Providing practical support and giving each other hope to make it through another hard day. We need to talk about this trauma in a meaningful, constructive way. Lets start the conversation. - Laura Beaupeurt, Callala Bay Keep calm and carry on Amid all the hot air from the state and federal politicians, it has been impressive to see Shane Fitzsimmons, the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service in his frequent updates to reporters during this crisis. He, along with officers from the services involved in frontline responses,has remained calm, measured, patient and factual when interviewed. The local rural mayors have also been impressive when interviewed, demonstrating their professionalism, knowledge and care for their communities. Perhaps this level of government could serve as a model for the top tier which clearly is dysfunctional. - Jennifer Carter, Oyster Bay Living in denial

Clearly Joel Fitzgibbon knows something the rest of the world hasnt yet discovered (''Labor can support fossil fuels while battling climate change'', January 1). Contrary to everything climate scientists have been consistently telling us, he assures us that Labor has the policy wit to remain a leader on climate change policy while still supporting the proliferation of fossil fuel industries. Please, Mr Fitzgibbon, share your secrets; tell us how its done. - Peter Outhwaite, Hawks Nest Fitzgibbon is worse than he a denialist, he is dishonest. Australia and the world need to urgently transition from fossil fuels and he should be working with the mining communities to ensure that this is done so that they become part of the new energy economy not an impediment to it. It is simply not possible to continue to burn fossil fuels and address climate change. - Peter Gibson, Wentworthville Today is not the day to be touting support for fossil fuels. Best to stay silent right now, unless you are willing to engage in an honest debate about moving to a lower-carbon future. - Sue Peacock, Cherrybrook Guilt trip Why bother coming back to our fire ravaged country David Elliot ("Did he backflip? Confusion over ministerial holiday", January 1)? We really havent missed you and its apparent that your decision to return from this holiday is motivated by guilt. It beggars belief we are again witnessing a similar situation involving a recalcitrant minister in a moral vacuum bubble. Oh, for leadership with a modicum of integrity. - Judy Finch, Cedar Party

Fatigued firies need help I am very concerned that with increasing death and injuries among our volunteer firefighters more will occur due to fatigue. This cannot continue without direct national input. Its needed now, we need true leadership; relying on volunteers to fight these catastrophic fires is unrealistic. - Eira Battaglia, Seaforth ABC is a lifeline Many Coalition politicians regard the ABC as "the enemy". But out here in fire country, the ABC is our lifeline. On Tuesday, as fire consumed some of our neighbouring towns, and when we received a warning text from the RFS, we tuned into our local ABC to stay updated on what was happening around us.

On Wednesday the fires were less threatening but between Nowra and Batemans Bay many have lost road access, power, access to fuel, internet and phone communication. Through their battery operated radios, tuned to the ABC, residents and tourists at places like Milton are finding out where they can get food and shelter. This is just the sort of service the ABC provides in other disasters in our land of "droughts and flooding rains". To our politicians, I recommend that you supplement the ABC's budget immediately so that it can continue to carry out its role as an emergency service provider. - Mike Reddy, Vincentia Clarity of hindsight Our politicians should seize upon the fact that its 2020 and introduce a new mantra to their climate change policy vision in order to address the wrongs of the past. It should be called Hindsight 20/20. - Shane Joseph, Marsfield Escape from reality

If only we could have fake fires in Australia ("Moscow ships in fake snow as winter heats up", January 1). - Norm Neill, Darlinghurst No snow in Moscow in the middle of winter. Has to be fake news. - Geoffrey Williamson, Woollahra God save the Queen I can see the PM praying very hard that the Queen lives to the age of 101, like her mother.

Why? Because when Prince Charles becomes king, he could sack the PM for doing nothing about climate change ("Earth 'at a tipping point': Royal family launches climate crusade", smh.com.au, December 31). - Bruce Stafford, Tascott Power of 10
Mayor of Philadelphia Jim Kenney listens during a news conference Monday in City Hall. In a letter to City Council Tuesday, Kenney said he will pocket veto six bills passed by City Council this year. Read more

Mayor Jim Kenney ended the year  and his first term  by killing six pieces of legislation that City Council passed in December.

The bills that Kenney rejected had no connecting theme. They would have required developers to give back to the communities where they build, lowered taxes for homeowners and low-income workers, banned food trucks from one block of University City, and changed development regulations in Society Hill.

While the below bills all attempt to address issues of mutual concern, I cannot sign them at this time, Kenney wrote in a letter to Council President Darrell L. Clarke. I look forward to working with you and the new and returning members of City Council to continue to address these issues in the new year.

The mayor did not overtly veto the bills, but exercised a power known as the pocket veto. Every four years, at the end of a City Council term, all legislation that the mayor has not signed or vetoed expires when a new Council takes office. That happens Monday.

It was Kenneys first rejection of approved legislation.

In the new session, Council members can reintroduce the vetoed bills, all of which passed with overwhelming support. Clarke had championed the bill mandating that developers of big projects give help to affected neighborhoods.

We look forward to the resumption of City Council in January, said Joe Grace, a spokesperson for Clarke.

But Jim Engler, Kenneys chief of staff, said he does not believe that the six bills, if reintroduced, would necessarily be passed in their current form in the next session, when Council will have four new members.

There will be new chairs of committees, and there will be new committee members, so it will be a new Council, for all intents and purposes," he said. "We welcome continued conversation about each of these issues.

Developers and community benefits

Grace said the mayors pocket veto of legislation requiring developers to sign community benefit agreements for high-impact projects was particularly disappointing. Such agreements promise benefits for the neighborhood, such as job opportunities, affordable housing, or new parks.

Community stakeholders really engaged on this legislation, offered ideas, testified, Grace said. And also the business community.

 READ MORE: Council advances bill requiring that developers give back to Philly neighborhoods where they build

Kenney, however, wrote in his letter that the city should not be imposing this burden on development projects until there is a better process for registering and maintaining community organizations, which would be responsible for cosigning the community benefit agreements with developers.

While they have an important purpose, we as a government have not done enough to ensure that standards of process and conduct are followed by these organizations, he wrote.

Zoning legislation

Three zoning bills also received pocket vetoes after passing with overwhelming support as part of Councils longstanding practice known as councilmanic prerogative, in which members have the final say over land use matters in their districts, and colleagues agree to support those decisions.

Two would have changed zoning in Society Hill, represented by Councilman Mark Squilla. The citys Planning Commission had recommended against their passage. The bills would have exempted Society Hill from complying with new historic preservation incentives, increased parking requirements, and restricted density, and would have added regulations Kenney called burdensome.

This may inhibit creation of new affordable housing units on blocks that are very transit-oriented, accessible to jobs and amenities, and designed for multiple units, Kenney wrote.

The third zoning carve-out bill would have prohibited food truck operators on Market Street between 33rd and 34th Streets.

 READ MORE: Drexel wants to evict food trucks from part of Market Street

Given the outcry from vendors and others affected, Kenney said, further discussion is warranted before imposing such a sweeping ban.

Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, who sponsored the bill, lost a primary challenge from Jamie Gauthier, who will take office Monday.

Wage tax and homestead tax exemption

Kenney also pocket vetoed two tax-related bills. One would have offered refunds on the citys wage tax to low-income taxpayers, and the other would have increased the annual property tax exemption for owner-occupied residences.

Councilman Allan Domb, who sponsored the wage tax refund bill, said he was surprised and disheartened by the pocket veto.

This is a complete failure on your administrations part to help individuals and families fighting to get out of poverty all across our city, Domb wrote in a letter to Kenney Tuesday.

Kenney wrote in his letter to Clarke that the wage tax bill would be difficult to administer, and that the administration is looking into other options, such as grants, to offer similar relief.

Both of the tax-related bills blocked Tuesday should be considered as part of the citys annual budget process in the spring because of their likely fiscal impacts, Kenney said.
Lawyer Pham Duy Khuong, managing director of ASL LAW

Over the past three years, the fintech market has witnessed strong investment and development, especially in the field of payment intermediaries in Vietnam. Consumers are familiar with e-wallets of brands such as Momo, AirPay, Payoo, Zalopay, Moca, and most of these e-wallets are supported and invested in by foreign investors.

With an economy that mainly uses cash in daily payment transactions and with a young population structure, popularity of IT infrastructure, and telecommunication services, intermediary payment services  with the main function of supporting non-cash payments  are considered as a potential field for investors.

According to statistics from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the agency licensing the provision of intermediary payment services, by mid-November 2019 there were 32 organisations licensed to provide intermediary payment services in the country.

In accordance with the current law, payment intermediaries are classified into two main service groups. The first is providing electronic payment infrastructure services with service groups including the Financial Switching Service, electronic clearing service, and electronic payment gateway service. The other service group is the payment service support with service sub-groups including Collection and Payment Support Services, Electronic Money Transfer Service, and Electronic Wallet Service.

Hot M&A and legal basis

Investment activities in the intermediary payment field have witnessed many merger and acquisition deals in recent years, most notably VNPAY completing a $300 million agreement. In particular, SoftBank Vision Fund committed to invest up to $200 million, while GIC has proposed funding of $100 million.

Previously, Grab invested in Moca to improve its ecosystem in Vietnam in the context that the business was sanctioned by the state bank for providing intermediary payment services without permission. According to the latest published information, Ant Financial - a fintech company from Chinese e-commerce group Alibaba has invested in the eMonkey E-wallet.

Currently, the main legal basis for providing intermediary payment services consists of two legal documents  Decree No.101/2012/ND-CP stipulating non-cash payments, and Circular No.39/2014/TT-NHNN providing guidance on intermediary payment services. Both of these documents have previously been amended and supplemented.

With the development of payment intermediaries in recent years, especially as more overseas investors want to pour money into the field, the issuance of new legal documents to update, supplement, and replace current regulations are an urgent issue for the government.

In November, the SBV announced a draft decree on non-cash payments to replace Decree 101. This can be said to be the most comprehensive and up-to-date draft of the key issues of the intermediary payment market such as regulations on cryptocurrencies, mobile money, regulations on list of customers, and regulations on foreign ownership limit of some services.

However, immediately after the draft of this decree was published, there were some fierce criticisms of the regulations on foreign ownership ratio for some intermediary payment services.

Specifically, the draft stipulates that The maximum percentage of capital contribution of foreign investors, including direct and indirect ownership, is 49 per cent of the charter capital of payment intermediary service providers licensed by the state bank.

This means that financial switching, electronic clearing services, e-wallet, and mobile money services (which are all regulated services that must be licensed by the SBV to provide translation) will limit the ownership of such investors. For the remaining intermediary payment services under the draft, since they are not on the list of services subject to licensing, there is no limit on the foreign investors ownership ratio.

It should be noted that prior to the issuance of this draft, there were no clear legal provisions to limit such ownership in Vietnamese payment intermediaries. As a result, many investors have funded in excess of 49 per cent in payment intermediary service providers, such as Online Mobile Services JSC, with overseas investors up to 63.8 per cent as of November 2018.

Reflecting reality for foreign owner ratios (illustration photo)

Challenge for businesses

According to the report that the SBV sent to the government in connection with the draft decree, the actual and legal basis for which the SBV sets the limit on the percentage of foreign investors ownership percentage is due to intermediary payment not being on the schedule of commitments with the World Trade Organization and major free trade agreements. Therefore, the SBV wants to apply the same management method as it currently applies to credit institutions in accordance with the government Decree No.01/2014/ND-CP of 2014.

Provisions on foreign investors purchase of shares in Vietnamese credit institutions stipulate that the shareholding ratio does not exceed 30 per cent of charter capital of a Vietnamese commercial bank. The SBV believes that the 49 per cent limit is reasonable and balanced so that it can both facilitate the attraction of foreign investment while ensuring the active role of domestic enterprises, avoiding the manipulation of international investors in this field, ensuring security and safety for banking.

In order to be able to contribute more voices of enterprises, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised a seminar to collect opinions of the business community on the draft decree on non-cash payments in Hanoi in December 2019 for comments of businesses in the field. At the seminar, there were discussions on the 49 per cent limit affecting investment and business activities of enterprises in Vietnam in general and development of fintech in particular.

It was recommended that since the government has allowed enterprises with 100 per cent foreign capital in the fields of banking, finance, insurance and securities, there should be no concerns in terms of security and monetary safety in the field of intermediaries.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is that in addition to the ownership limit, the draft decree also contains a transitional provision under which The intermediary payment service providers are licensed before the effective date of this decree with a higher percentage of foreign investors capital contributions than those specified in Article 29 of this decree, which are maintained until the change of such investors or upon expiry of the license to provide intermediary payment services, the provisions of this decree must be satisfied.

If put in the perspective of international investors, when funding a business, the first goal is still to seek profits from that investment. However, the intermediary of payment intermediaries, especially e-wallet services, differs from other business lines in that it is difficult to find profits in the short term, and it requires a lot of capital.

The limit of 49 per cent and with the transitional provisions mentioned above, it is understood that the opportunity for overseas investors to recover capital is very low since none of them are willing to purchase their existing shares in Vietnamese payment intermediaries.

The sale of capital contribution to domestic investors is the only direction of non-nationals, but this option is also very less feasible when not too many domestic investors have enough potential finance to be able to repurchase capital contribution in excess of this 49 per cent while the good sale price will be under concern.

Therefore, the 49 per cent limit clearly presents a significant challenge for businesses currently providing intermediary payment services and foreign investors.

As mentioned, only financial switching services, electronic clearing services, e-wallet services, and mobile money services consist of a foreign ownership limit. In particular, it seems that e-wallet services are the most affected for limiting foreign ownership. Financial switching and electronic clearing services currently have only one service provider, NAPAS, and existing mobile money services have zero licensees.

It is interesting that the SBV and businesses can review and study more carefully based on the fact that now there are a number of businesses whose ownership rate exceeds the limit of 49 per cent.

However, the operation of these businesses still ensures full compliance with the provisions of the law on intermediary payment services and up to now, no problems or risks have arisen affecting security and monetary safety.

In addition, specifically for e-wallet services, in the context of the latest regulations of the SBV (Circular No.23/2019/TT-NHNN will take effect from January 7, 2020), the total limit of transactions via e-wallets of an individual at a service-providing organisation cannot exceed VND100 million ($4,350) a month except for individuals who have signed an application contract of accepting payments with the provider of e-wallet services.

In essence, intermediary payment services are services associated with banking operations, especially e-wallet services. Therefore, risks related to monetary security and safety may be limited or controlled through the control and compliance of co-operative banks and associated banks providing e-wallet service.

The SBV may consider and supplement their rights to temporarily suspend or stop the co-operation with payment intermediary service providers if their operation shows signs or risks causing impacts on monetary security and safety.

Currently, the draft decree is still in the stage of collecting opinions and finalising it before submitting it to the government for promulgation. The SBV certainly needs to thoroughly study issues and opinions for the project to propose the best plan to both meet the state management requirements in the field of payment intermediaries but still harmonise the interests of foreign investors and enterprises currently providing intermediary services.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has formed a panel to decide whether Hum Bhi Dekhenge, a famous composition by Faiz Ahmed Faiz has anti-Hindu context.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The panel will also probe whether the students violated prohibitory orders clamped in the city on the day of the march, whether they posted objectionable content on the social media and whether the Faiz poem is anti-Hindu.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which read: Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge. (When thrones will vanish, only Allahs name will remain), triggered the professor to file a complaint.

The poem was written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz, an atheist, was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.
In the tenth year of its existence, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009, has resulted in an increase of 19 per cent in admissions year-on-year since the academic year 2015-16.

Indus Action, a New Delhi-based not-for profit organisation that works on the landscape of education in the country, came out with the finding in its report 'The Bright Spots 2019'.

There is growing awareness and demand in the society on education. This is also seen in the yearly increase in the children admitted under the Section 12(1)(c) that mandates private schools to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for students from disadvantaged sections.

The rationale behind the inclusion of this Section in the RTE Act was that inequitable and disparate schooling reinforces existing economic and social hierarchies and promotes an indifference towards the plight of others in the society.

Despite the slow start, the RTE act is seeing a significant impact of yearly increase in children admitted under Section 12(1)(c).

Tarun Cherukuri, Chief Executive Officer of Indus Action, said, "It is too early to announce triumph for RTE implementation but every single body working on it deserves to keep some credit for 19 per cent ascend in new school admissions since 2015-16. For Indus Action, there has been no looking back since 2009, but now when positive outcomes are actually visible we are motivated and determined to enrol one million children in mainstream schools by 2020."

According to the report, over 40 lakh children are admitted under section 12 (1) (c) RTE Act, of which 68 per cent children are from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The highest number of students studying under RTE Act were in Madhya Pradesh (1,118,433 students) followed by Rajasthan (675,907 students), Karnataka (639,398 students) and Tamil Nadu (394,032 students).

The report further mentions that more than 1.5 lakh students got enrolled under RTE in Delhi until 2018-19 and 69.65 per cent schools participated in Delhi under RTE. The report also highlights that only 17 states and Union Territories are admitting children as per Annual Work Plan and Budget of the States and Union Territories (AWP&B 2019-20).

The RTE Act is enabling parents from disadvantaged backgrounds to choose school irrespective of what economic or social background they come from. It will lead to more kids moving towards private schools. This shift can be witnessed in few states in the country. Due to this migration to private school, the public schools too are under pressure to enrol more students by improving outcomes to give proper choice to parents.

ALSO READ:Ringing in 2020: Upcoming reforms in Indian education sector

ALSO READ:Highlights of Health Ministry in 2019: Mega reforms in medical education sector, e-cigarettes ban
CARE Ratings jumped 11.37% to Rs 713.05 after the company on Tuesday said the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has concluded its adjudication proceedings.

Sebi on 26 December 2019 slapped Rs 25 lakh penalty on CARE Ratings pertaining to assigning of rating to various non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services).

IL&FS defaulted on its obligations in respect of the commercial papers and inter-corporate deposits, due for payment on 14 September 2018, and rated by these agencies. It also defaulted in interest payments on its NCDs on September 17, 21, 26 and 29.

Sebi noted that credit rating agency failed in assigning rating to various NCDs of IL&FS. Sebi also noted that the default in IL&FS has occurred due to lethargic indifference, needless procrastination and laxity on the part of credit rating agencies. Sebi further said that credit rating agencies should have anticipated the mounting credit risks, the stressed balance sheet position of the issuer and placed the ratings accordingly to alert the market in advance regarding the deteriorating financial profile of the issuer.

Sebi said while there was no allegation of mala fide on the part of the rating agencies, their failure was serious considering the responsibility bestowed upon them by investors and regulators.

CARE said on Tuesday that it was reviewing the adjudication order and considering the appropriate course of action.

Shares of CARE Ratings extended their winning run to seventh consecutive trading session. The stock has advanced 48.96% in seven trading sessions from its closing low of Rs 478.70 on 20 December 2019.

The stock trades below its 200 days simple moving average placed at 733.19. This level will act as crucial resistance in near term.

CARE Ratings is a leading credit rating agency of India. The company provides various credit ratings that help corporates to raise capital for their various requirements and assist the investors to form informed investments decision based on the credit risk and their own risk-return expectations.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Caldera 813 m (2,667 ft.) / Anak Krakatau: 189 mSunda Strait, Indonesia, -6.1S / 105.42E(2 out of 5)1530, 1680-81, 1684, 1883 (Plinian eruption), 1927-30, 1931-32, 1932-34, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938-40, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1946-47, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1958-59, 1959-63, 1965(?), 1969(?), 1972-73, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007-8, April 2009-early 2010, Oct 2010 - March 2011, July-Oct 2011, Jan-May + Sep 2012, 2015(?), 2017, 2018 ( 22 Dec eruption & tsunami ), 2019-ongoingExplosive. Construction of a cinder cone island (Anak Krakatau) inside the caldera formed by the 1883 eruption. Frequent strombolian activity.(16-days study and photo tour to Java, Indonesia)(4-week round-the-world trip to Hawaii - Vanuatu - New Zealand - Indonesia)(expedition to study & observe Anak Krakatau volcano and its activity)

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PVMBG reported that at 0543 on 27 October an eruptive event at Anak Krakatau ejected a white-and-black plume 150 m above the active vent. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km-radius hazard zone from the crater. ...

PVMBG reported that on 29 December an eruption at Anak Krakatau recorded by the webcam generated an ash plume that rose 200 m above the vent and drifted N. According to Simon Carn, satellite images of the volcano acquired by Planet Labs on 30 December suggested that the crater lake was almost gone, replaced by tephra deposits and a growing cone. PVMBG noted that during 30-31 December seismicity increased, minor inflation was recorded, and eruption plumes rose as high as 2 km above the summit (about 157 m a.s.l.). ...

The activity at the volcano has increased during the past days. Small to moderate explosive activity seems now to have become more frequent if not nearly continuous. ...

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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto asked former British Prime Minister John Major in 1996 to arrange a meeting with her Indian counterpart PV Narasimha Rao in London over a cup of tea, but Rao thought she was immature and rejected the offer.

Mentioned in confidential documents with the heading Cup of tea, the initiative described as novel was conveyed by Major to Rao in a letter. Rao read that section carefully twice but turned it down, the declassified papers released by National Archives on Tuesday reveal.

The idea was to make it appear that the two Prime Ministers meet accidentally and privately to discuss the state of relations between their countries. But British officials noted that there was no major multilateral event scheduled in London in early 1996.

Major wrote to Rao: I know I can confide in you that, earlier this year, Prime Minister Bhutto made the confidential suggestion that I might arrange for Narasimha Rao and her to meet over a cup of tea, to give them the chance privately to discuss India-Pakistan relations.

We have always been ready to help Indian and Pakistani leaders establish a dialogue, providing both sides were content for us to do so. That remains the case; and, if you were interested, I would be happy to offer the UK as a venue for a meeting of this kind.

Majors letter was written after the Foreign Office advised Downing Street to make it clear that London was acting as a channel of communication, not launching a UK initiative. British diplomats met Rao in New Delhi to discuss the letter.

The meeting covered issues in Majors letter, such as the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, nuclear disarmament and Bhuttos cup of tea initiative. The ruling Congress and other parties were then in campaign mode for the April election.

The British high commission reported to London: Rao read the passage about Benazir Bhutto carefully twice. Then he said thatwe had better forget about cups of tea until after the Indian elections. Such suggestions might be useful in due course, though it was difficult to drink tea in secret.

He hoped that in time he would be able to dispense with the intervention of friends and talk to Benazir Bhutto direct. He did not doubt her good intentions, but she was immature and was not mistress in her own house. There was no short-cut to summit level dialogue, the note said.

After the election, when the Congress lost and H D Deve Gowda became prime minister, British high commissioner David Gore-Booth reported that he took Deve Gowda carefully through the cup of tea initiative.

Gore-Booth wrote to the Foreign Office in June 1996: I stressed that we were not trying to muscle in where we did not belong and would only act if both sides asked us to do so.

He said that after he had received Ms Bhuttos message he had asked her to first have discussions at Foreign Secretary level. If necessary Prime Ministers could meet thereafterHe had received no response from Ms Bhutto to his offer.

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Four weeks of protests on pension reforms have crippled rail systems and services in France.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for calm across France in his New Years address.

Striking protesters have brought the country to a near-standstill as they demonstrated about pension reforms that would have forced employees to continue working for longer.

And now, even the Paris Operas orchestra has launched an unusual protest of its own.

Al Jazeeras Natacha Butler reports from Paris.
Defence companies working on the UKs first unmanned fighter jet are set to recruit 1,500 staff this year.

The Tempest stealth aircraft will replace the Royal Air Forces long-serving Typhoon and can be controlled remotely.

The top-secret programme is still in the concept phases, with few details set in stone.

The RAFs long-serving Typhoon (above) will be replaced by the Tempest stealth aircraft

But the defence companies behind it  BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardos UK arm and MBDA  are due to present further proposals to ministers at the end of 2020, prompting them to ramp up research and development efforts.

This will see them increase the total number of people working on the project from 1,000 to 2,500, the Ministry of Defence has said. The fighter is being developed jointly by the UK, Italy and Sweden, with BAE and the RAF leading the work.

Rolls-Royce is set to design the engines, while European missile firm MBDA will contribute weapons and Italys Leonardo will develop the sensors and electrical systems. A prototype is planned for 2025, with the jets entering service by 2035.
- 28-year-old Shonisani Masutha from South Africa becomes the 1st black actress to star in a Bollywood series

- Masutha narrates how she did not know she could earn a role in the series but got it to her own amazement

- The series to star Masutha is titled Mahek

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Shonisani Masutha, a South African lady from Limpopo has become the first-ever black actress to star in a Bollywood series.

According to Glamour.co.za, the young 28-year-old lady auditioned for the series titled Mahek via a Skype interview.

The super-excited lady has spoken in an interview, narrating how the experience has been and what she has learned from the singular feature.

READ ALSO: Top pastor prints his face on ladies' undergarments (Photos)

According to Masutha, she least expected to win any role in the Bollywood series as it is something that had never happened to anyone of her skin colour.

Bollywood series which are commonly called 'Indian movies' are never seen with a black cast. To be the first to ever win such a role was a big break for Masutha.

In her own words, the 28-year-old lady said:

I just didn't think they were looking for me. I also didn't think I was good enough to go act in Bollywood as I hadn't booked an acting job in about seven months and my confidence was shaky again. But my agent insisted that I go and try, and so I did".

READ ALSO: Top 7 Black girls who stunned the whole world with their achievements in 2019

The beautiful young lady also recounted how nervous she was during the interview experience and how she was able to toughen herself through it.

"I was auditioning for Zeeworld in the room and for the production company in India via Skype at the same time, it was nerve-racking but as an actress, you take those nerves and use them as fuel to keep you going and I just went for it," she said.

In the Bollywood series, Mahek, Shonisani Masutha played the role of a lady from an African family who moved to India in search for greener pastures.

READ ALSO: Guinness World Records acknowledges biggest ever jollof cooking at AfroChella

While trying to find her feet, the lady gets entangled in various love relationships and has to deal with all sorts of uncertainties.

Shonisani Masutha mentioned what life has taught her with the entire experience.

"This experience has taught me that life starts at the end of your comfort zone and you never knows what coming so you have to stay ready," she said.

Black women have been in the news lately for awe-inspiring unprecedented achievements.

Not long ago, YEN.com.gh reported that Ashley Roxanne Peterson, 24, has become the first-ever Black person in all of history to become an Osteopathic doctor.

Her journey to becoming a doctor started at her young age when she caught the character of serving others from her parents. According to reports gathered, Ashley's parents spend their lives in service to the military and education.

Hurray! YEN.com.gh has won the Online News Portal of the Year award at NCA awards 2019. Click here to view the beautiful photos.

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Source: YEN.com.gh
Shona, 41, says she is looking for someone open and communicative who smiles often and easily

Shona, 41

Dating Past

My marriage ended seven years ago, but I wouldn't be averse to walking down the aisle again. My last relationship ended in 2016. He was so indecisive about everything that by the time he was prepared to commit, I told him it was over.

I'm pretty disillusioned with online dating. If you want to find someone, you need to treat it like a full-time job. I've never been on a blind date, so I thought 'Why not?' Fingers crossed this is my last first date.

Pre-Date Nerves?

I'm an optimistic person and don't get nervous. I was excited to throw myself into this. In my job I put strangers at their ease; I knew I'd adopt the same approach here.

VITAL STATISTICS Divorced, with no children CURRENT ROLE Head of Strategic Events WOULD LIKE TO MEET Someone open and communicative who smiles often and easily. I don't really have a physical type. My favourite saying is: 'Have courage and be kind.' Advertisement

First Impressions?

He was already at the restaurant when I arrived. We met at Ukai in West London. As a foodie I'd already checked it out. He seemed nervous when he greeted me, but was proud he'd got us a table by the fireplace.

Hercules was wearing a cravat slipped into his flowery shirt, a patterned jacket and a trilby hat. That's a first for me on a date!

Easy To Talk To?

Once we got talking, we didn't stop. We covered everything from politics to art and our love of travel. We felt comfortable enough to talk about past relationships and also his daughter.

Embarrassing Moments?

I was a little apprehensive when Hercules drew a portrait of me, and he let me keep it. I've only sat for an artist once, and it is intimate. I was acutely aware of being observed and joked about being his muse.

SHONA'S VERDICT 7/10 LIKED: Hercules is interesting and fun, I just didn't fancy him. REGRETS: I'd like to have got home earlier than 1am. COFFEE OR CAB: Coffee as friends. Advertisement

Did Sparks Fly?

Not for me, but I could tell Hercules liked me. We met at 6pm and didn't leave until after midnight. I joked with my male colleagues that if he didn't fancy me after spending that much time together, I'd be irked. But who knows with men?

Did You Kiss?

Hercules was keen to kiss me, but I offered him my cheek instead. He wanted to get a taxi home with me, but I made it crystal clear that wasn't on the cards.

What do you think he thought of you?

My intuition tells me he likes me  he has messaged me every day about meeting up again.

Would your family like him?

I sent a selfie we took to my mum. She said, 'Not for you, Shona!' She knew he wasn't my type physically.

Hercules, 47, want to meet someone to worship and paint

Hercules, 47

Dating Past

After being married for 13 years, I got divorced three years ago. It was amicable, but we were not in sync. I've had another relationship since, but that didn't go too well.

It is hard to date in London  bars are fine for finding short-term flings, but I'd like to meet someone with a compatible intellect.

Pre-Date Nerves?

I'm used to meeting people at exhibitions. I like to dress up; I'm known for being rather flamboyant (think Oscar Wilde), but that doesn't mean I don't get nervous.

First Impressions?

Shona was wearing black culottes with a leopard-print top and kitten heels. She's jolly with a fantastic sense of humour. I found her good-looking and bubbly.

Easy To Talk To?

VITAL STATISTICS Divorced, with a 14-year-old daughter CURRENT ROLE Artist WOULD LIKE TO MEET Someone to worship and paint, who respects my work, which is as vital as my romantic life. Advertisement

We had three bottles of wine over seven hours and were the last ones to leave the bar. We had croquettes with an aperitif first, and then ordered a fish platter to share.

The drawing was a spur-of-the-moment gesture. I got a pen and paper from the bar as I didn't have my brushes and ink with me. I promised to do one of her at a later date, as I wasn't too happy with it, but I did sign it for her.

Embarrassing Moments?

No, none.

Did Sparks Fly?

Shona's fun to be with, but I don't want to be too revealing about my feelings for her. She is rooted in business and might find my artistic temperament overpowering. I loved her Scottish sense of humour, but I want to be with someone who is right for me.

Did You Kiss?

HERCULES' VERDICT 6/10 I just like to leave room for improvement. LIKED: The romantic environment. REGRETS: None. COFFEE OR CAB: Coffee. Advertisement

As I'd got us settled cosily on the sofa we got quite close. Not only did we pose for selfies, we also had some cuddles and kisses. I don't think she'd normally do that on a first date. I think it was spontaneous for both of us.

What do you think she thought of you?

We covered a lot of ground, but I know I need to keep my options open. I suspect she has some reservations about me and I appreciate that you can't form an opinion about someone on a first date.

Would your family like her?

She'd get on well with my mum, because of her sense of humour.
Nine people died after Indonesia's capital was hit by its deadliest flooding in years, authorities said Wednesday, as torrential rains on New Year's Eve left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged. Thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters as electricity was switched off in scores of waterlogged neighbourhoods across greater Jakarta, home to about 30 million people, with some train lines and one of the city's airports also shut. Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency called on residents to leave flood-hit areas. "The first priority is saving lives," said agency head Doni Monardo. A 16-year-old was electrocuted by a power line, while three more people died of hypothermia, according to the disaster agency. "My son's body was covered with newspaper when my two other children passed by," said Fadrid, who identified himself as the dead teen's father. "People asked them whether they knew the victim. If they hadn't been passing by, we wouldn't have known my son had been killed," he told AFP. Among the victims was an elderly couple trapped inside their home in a district where floodwaters reached as high as four metres (13 feet) after a river burst its banks. Another victim drowned while four people were killed after the Tuesday evening downpour triggered landslides in the city's outskirts. "We have shut down power (in many areas) to avoid more electrical shocks," Ikhsan Asaad, an official at state firm PLN, told AFP. Asaad said he could not estimate how many residents had been affected by the power shutdown. "We're currently focusing on taking measures to ensure people's safety," he added. Angelina Widiyanti was among scores of residents whose houses were flooded with their possessions ruined by the disaster. "We've had flooding several times before but it was never this high," she said from her home, where the power had been cut. "We weren't prepared for this." Authorities said about 19,000 people were evacuated, but that figure did not include residents in Jakarta's satellite cities. "We're evacuating people right now," Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan told reporters. "Everyone living near rivers should anticipate (more) flooding," he added. Images from across the region showed waterlogged homes and cars submerged in muddy floodwaters, while some people took to paddling in small rubber lifeboats or tyre inner-tubes to get around. The disaster marked Jakarta's worst flooding since 2013 when several dozen people were killed when the city was inundated by monsoon rains. Jakarta is regularly hit by floods during Indonesia's rainy season, which started in late November. On Wednesday, service at Halim Perdanakusuma airport, which handles commercial and military planes, was temporarily shut due to severe flooding on its runways, according to the transport ministry. Many flights were transferred to Jakarta's main Soekarno?Hatta International Airport. A woman crosses a flooded area in an inflated inner-tube in Bekasi, near Jakarta A family evacuates their home after heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Jakarta People walk past a car stuck in floodwaters in Jakarta Jakarta residents hit by flooding took shelter from heavy rain under flyovers A horse pulls a carriage through a flooded road in Jakarta
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We have worked for great people from Ellis county and want to bring our client-focused style of legal representation to Ellis County more permanently

Keathley & Keathley Opens Law Office in Waxahachie

The law firm of Keathley & Keathley has opened an office in Waxahachie to serve clients in Ellis County. The Corsicana based law firm opened in 1999 and has been serving clients in Navarro, Ellis and surrounding counties. We have worked for great people from Ellis county and want to bring our client-focused style of legal representation to Ellis County more permanently, said Steve Keathley. By having an office across the street from the Ellis County Courthouse, our clients will not have to drive to Corsicana to meet with attorneys.

The new office is located at 112 E. Main Street, Suite #1, in Waxahachie, Texas. Keathley & Keathley law practice includes criminal, civil, and family law attorneys. Steve Keathley has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer. Steve Keathley served as the District Attorney for Navarro County from 2002 to 2007 before returning to private practice. Sarah Keathley, former Director of the State Bar of Texas, currently serves on the Texas Family Law Council, is a Credentialed Mediator, and practices Collaborative Law.

For more information about the Keathley & Keathley Law Firm call 903-872-4244 or visit their website at http://www.keathleykeathley.com.
New Delhi:

Launched in November last year in India, Jawa Perak carries a price tag of Rs 1.94 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The bookings for Jawa Perak will begin officially on the Jawa Motorcycles website as well as its dealerships on Wednesday at 6 PM. However, the deliveries of Jawa Perak will begin on April 2, 2020. It is to be noted that the Perak is the third from Jawa Motorcycles, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, in India after Jawa and Jawa Forty Two.

Just a day to go for the start of a new beginning. Be amongst the first to own #2WheelsandtheDark, the #JawaPerak. Bookings open Jan 1st, 2020 at 6pm sharp. Take a test ride today, visit: http://bit.ly/2QClALv Deliveries start April 2nd, 2020 onwards, Jawa tweeted on Tuesday.

Just a day to go for the start of a new beginning. Be amongst the first to own #2WheelsandtheDark, the #JawaPerak. Bookings open Jan 1st, 2020 at 6pm sharp. Take a test ride today, visit: https://t.co/EK02WUB1P8



Deliveries start April 2nd, 2020 onwards. #perak #jawalife pic.twitter.com/plB24WDHnq  Jawa Motorcycles (@jawamotorcycles) December 31, 2019

It is worth mentioning here that on November 15, 2018, Jawa Perak was first unveiled in India. At that time, its price was quoted at Rs 1.89 lakh. A jump of Rs 5,000 in the price of Perak might be attributed to its compliance with the upcoming BS6 (BS-VI) emission norms.

Jawa Perak: Specifications & Features

As far as the looks of the Jawa Perak is concerned, the motorcycle keeps the bobber design intact with the low-slung and floating single seat with an integrated taillight, teardrop fuel tank, and a low-set and wide handlebar. The pillion seat is optional on the motorcycle. The distinctive design of the motorcycle also comes with the bullet shell-shaped headlamp long forks and a wheelbase of 1485 mm. The motorcycles engine and spoked wheels get a blacked-out paint job.

Under the hood, Jawa Perak is powered by a BS6-compliant, 334 cc single-cylinder, DOHC liquid-cooled motor that produces 30 bhp and 31 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed transmission.

Also Read: Hero MotoCorp Launches HF Deluxe BS-VI, Price Starts At Rs 55,925

Suspension duties are handled by telescopic forks upfront and a monoshock unit at the rear, as opposed to twin shocks on other Jawa bikes. Whereas, braking power comes from a disc each at the front and rear. The motorcycle also gets dual-channel ABS. It boasts of features like a single floating seat, bobbed fenders and chopped exhaust.
At the start of 2019, it would have been inconceivable to think that the year would bring such upheaval to our biggest companies, writes Margaret Canning.

Happily, the financial problems and subsequent administrations at Harland and Wolff and Wrights Group led to relatively positive outcomes, with both now under new ownership.

But in the case of Wrightbus, around 1,300 lost their jobs with only a limited number so far redeployed by new owners, Bamford Bus Company. Bombardier in Northern Ireland was sold to US firm Spirit AeroSystems.

Economic development agency Invest NI is looking into a new decade with new leaders, chief executive Kevin Holland and chairperson Rose Mary Stalker.

Here we look at what 2020 might bring for the people likely to be our highest-profile business leaders:

Tom Gentile: The Spirit AeroSystems chief executive had warm words for Bombardier in Belfast when its takeover was announced, saying it had an "impressive position in business jet fuselage production" as well as its Airbus A220 wings manufacturing operation.

He said the deal was part of its growth plan of increasing Airbus content. That will be a greater imperative than ever as the company has been a major Boeing customer and will be badly hit after Boeing suspended production of its 737 Max aircraft following two crashes which took 346 lives. Revenue from 737 components brings in more than half of Spirit's annual revenue and the company has said the suspension will hit its "business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows". For that reason, it will be looking at its costs in 2020 - which may not mean much of a honeymoon period in Belfast.

John Wood: The chief executive of InfraStrata plc, the new owner of Harland and Wolff, faces a planning challenge in 2020. The Department for Infrastructure is holding a public consultation into its bid for a marine licence for activities in the seabed off Larne. Opponents cite problems such as potential disruption to birds, tourism and the fishing industry. But the licence is crucial to the activity it wants to carry out at the Islandmagee Gas Storage project - fabrication work for gas storage will be a major part of the work for the Harland and Wolff workforce in future. The consultation closes on February 7, and InfraStrata will be hoping many hearts and minds will be won over between now and then.

Kevin Holland: The former international diplomat is settling in as chief executive of Invest NI at an interesting time, with Brexit a closer certainty at the end of this month. That in theory should free up agencies like Invest NI in how they support existing firms here. But uncertainty will continue as the UK negotiates a free trade agreement with the EU. And now that Brexit is a more tangible reality, what impact will it have on big international investors and the availability of workers?

And he will also have to face Invest NI's age-old perceived problem of not channelling enough investment into the north west. If talks between the political parties succeed, he will get an early bounce from a new Executive, which could finally usher in a lower rate of corporation tax for Northern Ireland.

Jo Bamford: The executive chairman of Bamford Bus Company will be hoping to usher in a new era of renewed productivity after taking over historic Ballymena company Wrightbus. It will be hoping to announce fresh orders early in 2020. Mr Bamford is the son of Lord Bamford, chairman of equipment giant JCB. It will be a personal challenge for Mr Bamford as he sets out to prove that he can make a success of a major manufacturing company in his own right.
Five new countries will be included in the UN Security Council on Wednesday, whereas five other non-permanent members of the Security Council will leave it, with the UN Security Council being chaired by Vietnam in January, RIA Novosti reported.

The UN Security Council has 15 member countries, 5 of whom are permanent and the 10 others are temporary members.

The permanent members are Russia, the US, Great Britain, China, and France. They have a veto power.

The remaining 10 members of the UN Security Council are elected for two years. Equatorial Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Peru, and Poland were elected for 2018-2019, and Germany, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and South Africafor 2019-2020.
Jaipur, Jan 1 : Taking immediate action into death of an infant due to burn injuries caused by short circuit at the government hospital in Alwar on Wednesday, Rajasthan Health Minister Raghu Sharma suspended two doctors, three nurses and terminated services of two contractual employees.

Suspended doctors are paeditician Mahesh Kumar Sharma and Medical Officer Kripal Singh, and nurses are Sharda Sharma, Bharati Meena and Sneh Lata.

Services Tara Meena and electrician Raghunandan Sharma were terminated with immediate effect.

The three-week-old girl was shifted to the Jaipur-based J.K. Lon Hospital after she sustained 70 per cent burn injuries at the Government Geetanand Children's Hospital in Alwar. She had been admitted to the Alwar hospital for breathing problems.

The Minister expressed grief on the infant's death and took action on the basis of a report by the three-member panel, formed to check lapses and irregularities at the hospital.
Cheap and cheerful capsule hotels are forever expanding from their Japanese cradle, including now in Milan where the tiny, stacked rooms are helping the Italian city cope with exploding tourist numbers. With no-fuss convenience for both the city and transport links, digital connectivity and a social side among their chief selling points, the capsule hotels target the Generation Y crowd.

Some people, though, just stay out of sheer curiosity. Croatian tourist Dragan Kupresanin, 31, said he wanted to try the room because it looked like something new, futuristic style... those kind of boxes that you sleep in. After sleeping like a log at Ostelzzz, down a quiet street in the centre of Italys economic capital, hes ready for more.

I really liked it. This kind of hotel should be developed, many people avoid youth hostels because of the privacy problem (with bunk beds etc) but here you have it, he said. In the size of one standard hotel room, eight capsules -- each measuring 1.45 by 1.45 by two metres (4.5 x 4.5 x 6.5 feet) -- are stacked on top of each other, four above and four below, with an enclosed toilet space in the room and showers down the corridor.

Inside the capsule is a mattress with duvet and pillow, two charging plugs for mobile phone or laptop, a lockable cupboard for luggage and a bedside table. All this for between 19 euros a night ($21), including breakfast, and 150 euros during Milans world-famous Design Week.

Japanese origin

The first capsule hotels were born in Osaka, Japan in 1979, travel blogger Agnese Sabatini told AFP. The tiny rooms took off thanks to commuters who had drunk too much or just missed the last train home. Since then, the concept has taken off around the world, first in airports, from Paris to Moscow and Bangkok, and then in cities like Singapore, Seoul or Mumbai.

Nevertheless, in Europe, capsule hotels are rare outside of airports. There is for example the City Hub in Amsterdam and the Lucerne capsule hotel which opened in Switzerland at the end of 2018. Milan is the first Italian city to have a capsule hotel, but the company behind it, ZZZleepandGo, is expanding.

Capsule hotels will be open at six airports, including Milan and Warsaw, by years end, with Vienna and four in Brazil to swiftly follow, making it the biggest such company in the world, says chief executive officer Gianmaria Leto. On top of adding five or six airports a year, our objective is to create one or two (capsule) hotels a year over the next five years in main European cities, said Leto, 32.

With the ambitious expansion plan, the Italian company said it expects its annual turnover to grow to 10 million euros ($11 million) in five years, compared to one million in 2019.

Claustrophobia?

Sabatini says that the only negative aspect of a capsule hotel is the feeling of being closed in, of claustrophobia, that some people get. Otherwise, its a win-win-win: privacy, low cost, and all within reach of the city, said the writer of the Ill B right back blog. Small spaces arent a problem for young people, she said. What they want is technology, like automated check-in, sockets to charge their electronics, but also communal areas to meet new people, she added.

Milan has seen a tourist boom since the citys Expo 2015, thanks to its fashion and design weeks, as well as its Duomo (cathedral), museums and vibrant nightlife. The city went from 4.2 million visitors in 2011, to 6.8 million in 2018, of which 65 percent were foreigners. Last September saw 700,000 visitors, up 18 percent year-onyear, many of them youngsters.

Four years ago there were just three youth hostels, now there are 26, theres exceptional growth, said ZZZleepandGo chief operating officer Fabio Rocchetti. The hotel, which can also be booked via the Airbnb website, attracts a varied clientele, and not just visitors to the city. Some 25 percent are workers or students like Monica Vici, 22, who lives at the Ostelzzz capsule hotel pending finding an apartment.

After or before her classes, she sits at her laptop in the sleek, stylised communal area, while, nearby, people come and go to the hotels 24-hour bar. You have privacy in the bedroom, but theres also a kitchen, you meet lots of people, she said. The staff, all under 40, are very attentive, said the Rome native.

Not all guests fall into the millennial category. The hotel had an 86-year-old guest, and boasts a family room with four inter-connected capsules. English language teacher Patricia Ann Wells, 48, stays here three nights a week and is equally smitten. I like it here because of the friendly environment. Its like being at home, she said.
The Trump administration will ban flavored e-cigarette pods, with the exception of menthol and tobacco flavors, and flavored liquid nicotine products commonly sold in vape shops, a senior White House official told CNBC, requesting anonymity because the information is confidential.

The salvo to vape shop owners was made easier by a provision in the $1.4 trillion spending package that Trump signed earlier this month, prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and e-cigarettes to children under the age of 21, the official said. That new restriction is likely to damper teen vaping, regardless of the administration's approach to flavored pods.

A report from National Institutes of Health's annual Monitoring the Future survey earlier this month said that 14% of high school seniors said they vaped marijuana in the previous month, nearly double the rate from 2018.

It could not be immediately determined whether the new guidance will allow the sale of bottles used to refill vaping devices. Kids have begun to use those devices, sold in vape shops and convenience stores, to refill their vaping pods with products and flavors of their own choice.

The ban will have a limited impact on vaping industry leader Juul, which, under intense scrutiny, has already halted the sale of its flavors in the U.S., aside from menthol, Virginia tobacco and classic tobacco. It will likely be a blow to Juul rival, NJOY, which looked to benefit from Juul's flavor retreat with the sale its own blueberry flavors in stores.

Tobacco companies, meantime, may welcome the new restrictions as a chance to level the regulatory playing field, said one industry insider. Companies like Altria, PMI Group, Japan Tobacco, British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands, have faced waning sales as smokers are dying, quitting or switching to e-cigarettes.

Amid that pressure, Altria shelled out $12.8 billion investment for a stake in Juul, in hopes of capturing a slice of its once explosive growth.

The ban, first reported by the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter, is expected to be formally announced Friday, the official said. The official cautioned that nothing is definite until the announcement has been made.

The Washington Post and The New York Times also reported the pending ban.
The Vietnamese government has made strong efforts to improve the investment climate to facilitate businesses in 2019. How have Singaporean investors in particular performed in Vietnam?

Shanmuga Retman, vice chairman of the Singapore Business Association in Vietnam

Singapore has a long-standing people-to-people relationship with Vietnam and this is going to play an important role in accelerating the deepening of this relationship in the coming years.

The largest international alumni from both the Civil Service College and National University of Singapore since the late 1980s has been Vietnamese public servants and students. Many of them today are successful entrepreneurs, technocrats, and bureaucrats in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the central city of Danang.

This human relationship component will play a valuable role in facilitating trade development from a cross-cultural perspective, understanding the way business is conducted between both countries. Singapore is highly efficient and pragmatic while the Vietnamese business culture is deeply rooted in valuing family, social interaction, and cultivating a personal bond.

Singapore is the third-largest investor in Vietnam, and in 2019 we witnessed significant investments focused in the north, from manufacturing to education. These groups have a long-term view to establish presence in the local market in anticipation of the divestment of state-owned enterprises to secure contracts to serve as a proof of concept to better understand a local partner.

In 2019, we saw a record number of trade delegations organised by the Singapore Food Manufacturers Federation, Enterprise Singapore, and other government-linked companies who have secured sustainable partnerships and projects in the main provinces of Vietnam. My company, MARA Vietnam Co., Ltd. has reported a double-digit increase of trade-related inquiries over the last six months from conducting due diligence to investment sourcing from our clients in Singapore and the rest of the ASEAN.

Some foreign investors have made moves in line with Vietnams strategy to focus on high-tech. Have you seen any movements in tech-related fields among Singaporean businesses in Vietnam?

It is encouraging to see the government making efforts to develop a nation with a highly-skilled workforce that understands technology and embraces innovation from agriculture to the environment.

Vietnamese high-tech groups can take advantage of the Jurong Innovation District, a 600-hectare development that is made up of five unique precincts, hosting a full value chain of manufacturing activities from prototyping and test bedding to production and distribution. The building, a hub-and-spoke model between Vietnam and Singapore, will play a vital role in the transfer of knowledge and facilitating the entry of Singapore based small- and medium-sized enterprises especially in fintech and clean tech.

Most Singaporean investors prefer to operate in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Danang which offer ease of doing business with an adaptable English-speaking workforce. In 2019, the Singapore Business Association in Vietnam (SBAV) saw an increase in trade-related activities to explore opportunities in north Vietnam. One such initiative is the creation of the Central Business District-Innovation Valley by Fundacion Metropoli in the outskirts of Hanoi to create a technology playground and marketplace for Singaporean companies to operate seamlessly in Vietnam. The brainchild is Alfonso Vegara, who was part of One North  known as Singapores Silicon Valley.

The newly-launched Aquaculture Innovation Centre under Temasek Polytechnic is also studying the viability of establishing an agri-food innovation hub in Vietnam to support the development of Vietnam`s aquaculture industry. This will help farmers with deep tech to stay competitive and productive. Meanwhile, the successful $9 billion Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park, the brainchild of Philip Yeo, today remains the showcase of a successful urban economic integration blueprint with seven world-class industrial parks that have generated over 200,000 jobs in Vietnam.

How has the Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement contributed to strengthening bilateral business and investment ties during 2019, and what are the next steps under the agreement?

Bilateral trade figures between Singapore and Vietnam have doubled over the past decade to reach $20.9 billion in 2018. Singapores investments in Vietnam are diversified in various geographical regions and sectors, including services, processing and manufacturing, and real estate. We need to see greater private sector engagement between both countries especially in the development of smart cities and clean energy, and also Industry 4.0 and startup partnerships which was recently witnessed during Danangs Surf 2019.

In July 2020, to foster greater collaboration between cities and provinces, the Vietnam Cities Pavilion will be organised at the World Cities Summit in Singapore to encourage urban solutions and real estate development between both countries.

To leverage the Vietnam Singapore Connectivity Agreement, the SBAV in Hanoi will be hosting a Mergers and Acquisitions Talk on January 9, 2020 at Fortuna Hotel, with leading industry practitioners and experts.

We are taking the lead to encourage Singaporean companies to identify potential acquisition and investment opportunities in food and beverages, logistics, e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, and fintech.

January 2020 marks a year since enforcement of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). How has the deal impacted Singaporean investment in Vietnam?

Vietnam joined the CPTPP talks in 2008 and there were several strategic motivations behind Vietnams participation in this partnership. Thanks to tariff reductions, the country will be able to benefit from increased exports to CPTPP markets which Vietnam does not currently have free trade agreements with. Singaporean and ASEAN companies have recognised that by entering into production networks among CPTPP members, Vietnam can further integrate itself into the global production value chain and thereby promote economic growth and reduce poverty.

In particular, according to Ousmane Dione, the World Banks country director in Vietnam, even under conservative assumptions, the World Bank estimates that the CPTPP will increase Vietnams GDP by 1.1 per cent by 2030.

According to MARA, which advises Singaporean companies entering Vietnam, the country in 2020 can capitalise on its unique position to play the role of a hub that offers investors, services, and a production base for entry into the lucrative CPTPP market. Shanmuga Retnam from Singapore, a partner of MARA, participated in closed-door meetings chaired by the chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to recommend that the government launches a law on public-private partnerships by May 2020 in order to accelerate foreign direct investment to support the creation of vertical global hubs in Vietnam.

Over the next five years, the country will become an increasingly attractive investment destination offering preferential access to the huge markets of the CPTPP for foreign investors, including non-CPTPP countries such as South Korea, China, and Thailand.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 03:09:51|Editor: huaxia

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Protesters set fire to a guard room outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Hundreds of demonstrators on Tuesday stormed and set fire to the U.S. embassy in Iraq's capital Baghdad during their mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by a U.S. bombardment in Iraq two days ago.

BAGHDAD, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of demonstrators, participating in mourning for the Hashd Shaabi members killed by U.S. attack in Iraq, stormed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone on Tuesday, a security official said.

Many of the protesters, wearing Hashd Shaabi's military uniforms, rallied outside the embassy chanting slogans condemning airstrikes by the U.S. forces against Hashd Shaabi bases in Iraq.

The protest then turned violent as protesters set ablaze a guard tower and the outer gate of the embassy, an official from the Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Protesters try to set fire to the outside fence of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Afterwards, the protesters managed to broke into an outer yard of the embassy, but were repelled by the security forces who deployed tear gas against them, the source said.

The clash left some 20 protesters wounded and suffocated, according to a statement by the Hashd Shaabi website.

The demonstrators later set up tents in front of the entrance of the U.S. embassy for a sit-in protest, while some of them wrote on the wall of the embassy "closed in the name of the people."

Protesters gather in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Local media aired photos showing Qais al-Khazali, head of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militia, and top Hashd Shaabi leader Hadi Al Amri and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis participating in the protest.

Iraqi security forces then arrived at the scene.

The office of Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, in a statement, called on the demonstrators to leave immediately, saying that "any attack on foreign embassies is an act that will be strictly prevented by the security forces, and will be punished severely by the law."

Another statement by the office said the prime minister declared a three-day mourning starting on Tuesday for the Hashd Shaabi members killed in the attack.

Protesters gather in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

Meanwhile, Jaafar al-Husseini, spokesman of Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) militia told local media that the protesters had "no intention to attack the U.S. embassy, but the sit-in is to continue until the embassy is closed and the U.S. ambassador is expelled."

The protest came two days after the U.S. forces bombarded headquarters of Hashd Shaabi's 45th and 46th Brigades, leaving 25 killed and 51 injured.

A U.S. military statement said that U.S. forces attacked on Sunday evening five bases of KH in Iraq and Syria in response to repeated attacks by KH against U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. 
A lack of treatment options, overprescription and little official understanding of the scale of painkiller abuse in China are likely contributing to the spread of opioid addiction in the country, per AP analyses.

What's happening: Drug company Mundipharma has "pushed ever larger doses" of painkillers like OxyContin in China, "even as it became clear that higher doses present higher risks," AP found in November. Mundipharma is owned by the Sackler family, which also owns Purdue Pharma, the OxyContin maker accused of helping fuel the U.S. opioid crisis.

AP also found illicit opioid trafficking on China's internet and has identified 13 active vendors selling OxyContin and the painkiller Tylox, including on popular sites like WeChat and Alibabas Xianyu marketplace.

on China's internet and has identified 13 active vendors selling OxyContin and the painkiller Tylox, including on popular sites like WeChat and Alibabas Xianyu marketplace. Yin Hao, who started taking Tylox after being struck in a fight, told the AP that doctors in his northeastern town "didn't seem to know what withdrawal was" when he tried to quit the painkiller.

Where it stands: The Chinese government pulled combination opioid painkillers, including Tylox, from most pharmacies in September, per AP.

The bottom line: "The risks of opioid abuse in China may be growing as pharmaceutical companies look abroad to make up for falling opioid prescriptions in the U.S.," AP's Erika Kinetz writes.

Go deeper: The opioid epidemic is a global issue
Statues of the Founding Fathers under the words of George Washington in Signers Hall at the National Constitution Center, reenacting the final day of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Read more

There has been much talk lately among both Democrats and Republicans of the intents of the founders in the writing of the Constitution, especially involving the powers of impeachment and removal from office.

What has been sorely lacking from this conversation is an awareness of the framers overwhelming conviction that there was nothing more poisonous to constitutional democracies than demagogues  which to them meant a very specific kind of threat.

Less than two weeks after the start of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, George Washington wrote to his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette, on June 6, 1787, explaining that his critical purpose in attending the convention was to prevent a demagogue from gaining power in the politically unstable young nation and thus destroying it.

Washington described how he was pulled out of retirement by an urgent risk to the United States. [A]narchy and Confusion were threatening the security of the American people and the rule of constitutional law. But this was only half the danger.

The deeper risk, he wrote that early June, was that the political chaos created fertile ground for exploitation by some aspiring demagogue who will not consult the interest of his Country so much as his own ambitious views.

In a letter written three weeks later to David Stuart, a Virginia politician and distant family relation, Washington lamented that the widespread denigration of the Articles of Confederation, and the federal government it created, had rendered the situation of this great Country weak, inefficient and disgraceful. He concluded the letter to Stuart by again stating that the political crisis made possible demagogues who pose a dire threat to the United States.

Washingtons greatest fear that summer of decision in Philadelphia was that unwise, self-seeking politicians  even if fairly elected to public office  would tear down the central government and its constitutional laws for the sake of their own advancement and glorification.

Washington, like his peers, did not use the word demagogue as an insult or epithet. He did not employ it as ammunition against those he identified as his political opponents. For the steady, rational Washington, demagogue was a forensic term that described a well-known class of political actors, known since Greek and Roman times, who obtain power through emotional appeals to prejudice, distrust, and fear.

Irrespective of party affiliation, demagogues were a distinct personality type that knew no bounds of politics except fiery self-aggrandizement.

Washington, of course, was not the only framer who viewed our Constitution largely as a bulwark against demagogues. In the surviving records of the speeches given at the Constitutional Convention, the word demagogue was used 21 times by the framers as they crafted the Constitutions essential checks and balances against despotism and tyranny.

Demagogues are the great pests of our government, said Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts during the convention, and have occasioned most of our distresses.

Gerry further described demagogues as pretended patriots, unprincipled politicians who steer the people toward baneful measures through false reports.

James Madison of Virginia twice alluded to the danger of demagogues. Alexander Hamilton of New York spoke of this peril of democracy more than any other delegate, naming it seven times. Demagogues, Hamilton said on the floor of Independence Hall in late June 1787, hate the controul of the Genl. Government.

Later, Hamilton went on to predict an ominous decline in republics from demagoguery to tyranny. As he put it in Federalist No. 1: History will teach us that  of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.

Other framers who raised the red flag of demagoguery during the Constitutional Convention were Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, Pierce Butler of South Carolina, and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia. Mason declared outright that the mischievous influence of demagogues was one of the top two evils that can befall republican forms of government.

This destructive risk of demagogues is one reason the 55 framers of the Constitution adopted the power of impeachment during the historic convention of 1787.

They believed uniformly that some men, though elected by the people, would be temperamentally incapable of serving the public interest under the Constitution. Therefore, they offered Congress the remedy of impeachment and removal from office.

The framers did not view the exercise of this remedy to be an anti-democratic act of nullifying elections. On the contrary, they provided the people and their representatives with these emergency powers for the specific purpose of rescuing our democracy and Constitution from harm and destruction at the hands of demagogues.

Eli Merritt is a visiting scholar in the department of history at Vanderbilt University. @elimerritt. This piece first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
Accusing the Opposition parties of misleading and instigating people on CAA and NPR, Union minister of state for Home G Kishan Reddy said that minorities including Hindus and Sikhs from neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh dont have anywhere else to go, and that we should give them citizenship.

If minorities including Hindus and Sikhs (from neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh) dont come to India, where would they go? Italy will not accept Hindus. Italy will not accept Sikhs. They are poor. They cant go there. It is our moral responsibility to give citizenship to the minorities, including Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan because time to time our leaders promised it, Reddy said in Varanasi.

Even Congress leaders like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former home minister P Chidambaram talked about it, he said, adding that Pakistan failed to give protection to minorities there. That is why population of the minorities, including Hindus and Sikh decreased in Pakistan.

He said that India has given more rights to its minorities.

CAA is not against anyone. It would not affect the citizenship of any Indian. I want to assure all the Indian Muslims, all Christians, Sikhs and other minorities that the CAA is not against them. It will have no effect on the citizenship of any Indian, including Muslims and other minorities, Reddy said.

The CAA came into being after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. That is why it is inappropriate to protest against the CAA. CAA will be implemented across the nation, he added.

Asked if the Centre would force the states saying that they wont implement the CAA, Reddy said that the CAA is an act and all the states have already started preparations for its implementation.

Reddy accused the Opposition parties, including Congress and Samajwadi Party, of misleading minorities on CAA and NPR. He also accused these parties of doing propaganda which is like betraying the country.

I want to ask former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as to why they are misleading the people on CAA? Why they are doing so? Why did Congress not issue even a single line appeal for peace when there was violence during protest against CAA? As a former chief minister, was it not responsibility of the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to make an appeal for peace? But none of the Opposition parties did so, Reddy said.

Reddy said that NPR is a decision taken by the Congress during its rule. He said that the NPR and Census are constitutional obligation and no document is required for NPR and Census.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhis statement that tax will increase after implementation of the CAA as it happened post GST, Reddy said, Rahul Gandhi doesnt know the difference between CAA and GST. He has no idea about NPR and NRC.
Given the array of sweetener deals in the oil and gas sector promised to Russia by Iran in the past year or so  suspended until public outcry over these bargain-basement giveaways has died down  Tehran is now sufficiently confident in its implicit support from Russia that it is going ahead with fully developing a long-disputed area of the massive Caspian Sea oil and gas reservoir: Sardar-e-Jangal.

The wider Caspian basins area, including both onshore and offshore fields, is conservatively estimated to have around 48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas in proved and probable reserves, on the basis of field-level data. Around 41% of total Caspian crude oil and lease condensate (19.6 billion barrels) and 36% of natural gas (106 Tcf) exists in the offshore fields, according to this data, with an additional 35% of oil (16.6 billion barrels) and 45% of gas (130 Tcf) estimated to lie onshore within 100 miles of the coast, particularly in Russias North Caucasus region.

The remaining 12 billion barrels of oil and 56 Tcf of natural gas are believed to be variously located further onshore in the large Caspian Sea basins, mostly in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. The area accounts for an average of 17% of the total oil production of the five littoral states that share its resources, on average totalling 2.5-2.9 million barrels per day (mbpd).

Up until last year, OilPrice.com understands from a source who works very closely with Irans Petroleum Ministry, an informal agreement had been in place between the five littoral Caspian states of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan. This involved oil output targets for each country being set three months in advance, with all revenues - usually at least 95 per cent in U.S. dollars and Euros, but with some local currencies in the mix - paid into a central Caspian oil account. This was then split in equal proportions of 20 per cent between the five littoral states Related: How Tech Is Making Oil Work Safer

In this context, Sardar-e-Jangal was originally discovered in 2002 at a time when Irans total share of the Caspian gas take was assumed to be around 11 Tcf at best. The then-new gas field found at 700 metres depth off the shore of the northern province of Gilan in the Caspian was thought to contain total proven gas reserves of around 50 Tcf, around 10 times more gas than the Shah-Deniz field of Azerbaijan with which Iran has been locked in dispute for years.

In 2012, though, a routine exploration of the Sardar-e Jangal site led to the additional discovery of an oil layer slightly deeper  at 728 metres  that is now estimated to hold two billion barrels of quality crude, of which at least 500 million barrels is thought to be recoverable. Following the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran had hoped to license Caspian exploration blocks under its Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) framework and pursue development of the Sardar-e Jangal field.

To this effect, according to the Iran source, Iran had already engaged high-powered lawyers in New York to challenge the 20 per cent share distribution agreement as it related to this field. According to Iran, the Sardar-e-Jangal field is located in Irans share so Azerbaijan had no claim at all on oil and gas coming from it. However, based on some previously reached agreements between Russia and Kazakhstan on dividing the basin by a line equidistant from the five coastlines, Azerbaijan claims that Sardar-e-Jangal is a shared field.

Iran argued that the geology favours Azerbaijan having easier access to greater reserves, the Iran source told OilPrice.com. So, Iran was proposing that for two neighbouring states there should be a compensatory adjustment clause so that the one that has easier access to greater reserves should receive a maximum reduction of 2.5 per cent of the total value [which would have meant 17.5 per cent for Azerbaijan] whilst the neighbour received an extra 2.5 per cent [therefore, 22.5 per cent] for Iran, he said.

Azerbaijans view that the 20 per cent status quo should prevail was backed by its ally the U.S., he added. Russia didnt want to change it at that point either because it could lose its 20 per cent share and this, crucially, provided a large proportion of the only hard currency it is generating, given just the Crimea-related sanctions, even before the new U.S. sanctions were factored in, he underlined. Related: How Accurate Were This Year's Oil Price Predictions?

Then came one of the greatest swindles in the entire history of the global oil industry (together with the exploitation of Middle Eastern oil by the Seven Sisters) - as analysed in depth in my new book on the oil markets  in the shape of the non-public part of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea agreement signed in August 2018.

On the face of it, the agreement was a case study in dull, procedural legalese. It stated that the public agreement only stipulates that relations between the littoral states will be based on the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and equality among members, and the non-use of threat of force. Publically, it refrained from specifically going to details about share allocations in the resource, and although it referred to the Caspian as legally a sea, it also referred to it having provisions that give it a special legal status.

The actual agreement, though, saw Iran sold out on a massive scale by Russia. It is essential to understand that the original agreement regarding the Caspian Sea was made only between Iran and the then-U.S.S.R. and was a straight 50/50 split. Firstly, according to the very first agreement on the Caspian Sea resources made between Iran and the U.S.S.R. in 1921, this covered fishing rights because that was the only resource of note thought to be in the Caspian at that point. In 1924, though, this 50/50 agreement between Iran and the U.S.S.R. was broadened out to include any and all resources recovered.

In 1991 when the U.S.S.R. broke up into its constituent states, including Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, as well as Russia, Iran was perfectly within its legal rights to simply turn around to Russia and say something along the lines of: As it is your country that has split up, each of the new countries can just take a share of your 50 per cent and we will keep our 50 per cent unchanged. However, according to the Iran source, Tehran decided to be generous for the sake of ongoing friendship with Russia, and do the 20 per cent-for-all split, which immediately meant 30 per cent less for Iran.

Expecting any reciprocation of this goodwill to Russia, though, was a rookie mistake. Far from being grateful Russia saw this compassion as weakness and in the secret part of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea screwed Iran into the ground. All disputes over the Caspian resources hinged on pinning down the exact legal definition of the Caspian as being either a sea or a lake.

If it was designated a sea then coastal countries would apply the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), in which event each littoral state would receive a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles, an exclusive economic zone up to nautical 200 miles, and a continental shelf. In practice, this would mean that countries such as Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan would have exclusive access to offshore assets that Iran would not be able to access.

If it was designated a lake  and this was the informal designation before the most recent agreement  then the countries could use the international law concerning border lakes to set boundaries, by which each country effectively possesses 20 per cent of the sea floor and surface of the Caspian.

In a brilliant move, Russia opened up the channel from the Volga River into the Caspian to prevent the levels dropping, meaning that the Caspian no longer conformed to the legal definition of a lake (which is that it is a localised water deposit standing independent of any river that serves to feed it), which meant that it was now a sea. With that done, Russia then additionally played upon Irans fear of bankruptcy in the fact of the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action only a few months before, and new sanctions, to push it into agreeing a severe reduction in its share of Caspian revenues.

As it now stands, Russias major ally Kazakhstan has a 28.9 per cent share, its wished-for ally, Azerbaijan has a 21 per cent stake, Russia itself has 21 per cent and Iran just 11.875 per cent, with Turkmenistan (seen as largely irrelevant to Russia, holding the remainder). This switch from 50 per cent to just over 11 per cent means that Iran will lose at least US$3.2 trillion in revenues from the disputed and lost value of energy products going forward, according to the Iran source.

Given that Russias share from the Caspian whole is greater, and that its influence over the other Caspian littoral states is even more evident to each of them than before, it is all in favour of Iran fully developing the Sardar-e-Jangal field. According to a comment last week from Ahmad Shirzadi, exploration director at the Khazar Exploration and Production Company, his company is set to move ahead on the development of Sardar-e-Jangal and on exploration operations in the prioritised structures in the middle section of the Caspian Sea.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
After the previous state government had expressed interest in the building, Air India had deferred the plan to sell the landmark building.

Amid the privatisation efforts of the ailing Air India, the national carrier may approach the Maharashtra government to know its stand on the airline's iconic building at Nariman Point in Mumbai, said a news report.

Air India may seek the stand of the new Shiv Sena-led government in the state that if it is still interested in taking over the 23-storey Air India building in South Mumbai, said a report in The Economic Times.

After the previous state government had expressed interest in the building last year, Air India had deferred the plan to sell the landmark building but it reportedly suffers a loss of about Rs 45 lakh per month in the form of rent from a single floor of the building, the report said.

We could not lease the space earlier as the Maharashtra government was supposed to take over the building. With the new government in place, we dont have any clarity yet, so it is better to rent out the space on short-term lease, the report said quoting an Air India official.

Air India has a debt burden of around Rs 60,000 crore and the government is still working on the modalities of disinvestment.

In May 2019, the BJP-led state government had offered the national carrier Rs 1,400 crore to take over the Air India property when it was put up for sale in December 2018, said a report in The Indian Express.

Despite state governments offer was Rs 200 crore less than the reserve price the state-run airline had set, it had decided to go ahead with the offer, the report said.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) had quoted Rs 1,375 crore and Rs 1,200 crore, respectively, for the Nariman Point tower.

In January last year, Maharashtra government, for the first time, had expressed interest to buy the Air India building, reported PTI.

The tower on Marine Drive was the national carriers headquarters till 2013 when it was vacated as part of asset-monetisation plans.

The state government had submitted a bid for the premium property which has 5 lakh square feet of space in the building.

The building served as the corporate headquarters for Air India until 2013 when the head office was shifted to New Delhi.

The Air India building, which is spread over 220,000 sq ft has several vacant floors overlooking the Arabian Sea which have been rented out to the directorate general of shipping, State Bank of India, and Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

Last week, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the bid to privatise the ailing Air India was going ahead well even as the government's efforts in the past to find a suitable buyer for the crisis-hit airline did not succeed.

 With PTI inputs
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex treated their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor to 'books, building blocks and a ball pit' for Christmas, according to a royal source.

Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, reportedly 'couldn't help' but spoil the seven-month-old for his first festive big day.

Speaking to Us Weekly, the source also gave an update on the little one's budding personality, revealing Archie looks set to be a 'confident social butterfly'.

The Sussexes are currently enjoying their festive break in Canada, alongside Meghan's mother Doria Ragland.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured in October with their son) treated Archie Mountbatten-Windsor to 'books, building blocks and a ball pit' for Christmas, a source claims

Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry (pictured with Archie over the festive period), 35, reportedly 'couldn't help' but spoil the seven-month-old for his first festive big day

Revealing details of the family's first Christmas, the insider claimed: 'Archie is Meghan and Harrys world, and they cant help [it].

'For Christmas, they bought him books, building blocks, a baby ball pit. Its not all about extravagant gifts for them.'

They added: 'You can tell Archies going to be a confident social butterfly. He loves being entertained and interacting with people.

'Some children get shy or nervous around new people, but not Archie. Hell go to anyone without kicking up a fuss!'

Harry and Meghan spent their first Christmas with baby Archie in a $14.1 million waterfront mansion owned by a mystery multi-millionaire, DailyMail.com revealed last week.

Baby Archie was front and centre in the duke and duchess' Christmas card this year, pictured

The royal family and the Duchess of Sussex's mother Doria Ragland enjoyed time in one of the most idyllic spots on Vancouver Island.

Their presence in Canada had been confirmed before Christmas by prime minster Justin Trudeau.

The eight-bedroom gated estate on Vancouver Island, Canada, boasts two beaches and views across the peninsula from the four acre property.

Harry and Meghan's presence in North Saanich was first revealed by local restaurateur Pierre Koffel and his wife Bev, who reportedly turned away the royal couple from their high-end restaurant because of their intense security requirements.

Koffel says he was merely visited by the royals' security team and didn't decline their reservations  but has still faced a backlash with 'hundreds' of emails and 'dozens' of phone calls from Harry and Meghan fans berating him for denying their favorite royals their Christmas dinner.

The Sussexes (pictured in Windsor, two days after Archie's birth in May) are currently enjoying their festive break in Canada, alongside Meghan's mother Doria Ragland

The royals have had an action-packed year, with the high point being the arrival of baby Archie on May 6 weighing 7lb 3oz. Pictured: The family in South Africa in October this year

The chef and co-owner of the Deep Cove Chalet in North Saanich told DailyMail.com that he and his wife were tricked into revealing the royals' secret getaway, and have now received 'hundreds of emails, tens of phonecalls' accusing he and his wife of being 'terrible people'.

The restaurateur's wife, Bev, told the Vancouver Sun on Christmas Eve that they had been visited by Harry and Meghan's security detail, casing their restaurant for a potential dinner spot for the couple.

The royals have had an action-packed year, with the high point being the arrival of baby Archie on May 6 weighing 7lb 3oz.

Two days later baby Archie was introduced to the world at a photocall in the Castle's St George's Hall, with Meghan declaring: 'It's magic, it's pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I'm really happy.'

Keen to give him a normal life, Harry and Meghan chose not to use the courtesy title Earl Dumbarton or style him Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, making a personal decision he should be a plain Master.
Nineteen people were arrested for the attack on the Congress office in Pune by supporters of party MLA Sangram Thopte to protest against his non-inclusion in the Maharashtra ministry, police said on Wednesday.

Thopte's supporters attacked the 'Congress Bhavan', located in Shivajinagar area here, on Tuesday and vandalised the property.

They shouted slogans against the Congress leadership for not giving ministerial berth to Thopte, the MLA from Bhor seat here and son of former minister Anantrao Thopte.

The police subsequently arrested 19 supporters of Thopte late Tuesday night and booked them under Indian Penal Code sections for rioting and unlawful assembly, an official at Shivajinagar police station said.

"We arrested 19 people who were involved in rioting, stone-pelting and vandalism at the Congress Bhavan. They were later released on bail," he said, adding that all the IPC sections slapped on the accused were bailable.

Party sources said anger has spread among supporters of political families from the Congress after their leaders were not picked for Cabinet berths in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

Chief Minister Thackeray expanded his month-old ministry on Monday by inducting 36 ministers, taking its total strength to 43.

The Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, joined hands with the Congress and NCP, its traditional adversaries, after its alliance with the BJP collapsed over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post following the state Assembly polls held in October last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She has spent the festive season with her family.

And Jess Wright pulled out all the stops as she transformed into Julia Robert's Pretty Woman character Vivian Ward for their fancy dress New Year's Eve bash on Tuesday.

The reality star, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the character's iconic blue sequin cut out minidress and vinyl thigh-high boots.

Pretty Woman: Jess Wright pulled out all the stops as she transformed into Julia Robert's Pretty Woman character Viv for their fancy dress New Year bash on Tuesday

Jess flaunted her surgically-enhanced cleavage in the tiny dress as well her toned abs- thanks to the costume's cut-out detailing at the waist.

The former TOWIE star finished off costume with a red blazer, black baker boy hat and ditched long brunette hair for a platinum blonde wig.

Jess typed: 'Im gonna treat you so nice, youre never gonna let me go. Seeing the new year in as Viv ... Happy New Year'.

Wow factor: The reality star, 34, showed off her incredible figure in the iconic blue sequin cut out minidress and vinyl thigh-high boots (Julia as Pretty Woman right in 1990)

Divas: Jess' younger sister Natalya, meanwhile, dressed as Tina Turner as she donned an Afro wig and gold sparkly sequin mini dress

Fancy dress: The sisters were joined by mum Carol who donned a Cleopatra costume

Jess' younger sister Natalya, meanwhile, dressed as Tina Turner as she donned an Afro wig and gold sparkly sequin mini dress.

The sisters were joined by mum Carol who donned a Cleopatra costume.

Jess previously spoke to MailOnline about her famous family's Christmas plans as she gushed over her new boyfriend William earlier this year.

Turning heads: The former TOWIE star finished off costume with a red blazer, black baker boy hat and ditched long brunette hair for a platinum blonde wig

Ready to party: Jess typed: 'Im gonna treat you so nice, youre never gonna let me go. Seeing the new year in as Viv ... Happy New Year'

She said: 'We've got a few things planned, its actually really nice to be spending Christmas with someone this year and someone that I love so much.'

This will be Jess' brother Mark's first Christmas back in the UK after he moved back to Essex earlier this year after jetting out to LA in 2017 for a presenting career.

Jess said: 'Were all at my mums this year, shes cooking for all 15 of us or something so thatll be fun. Then in the evening all of our cousins, aunts and uncles come round.'

Carol added that she's happy to have Mark back home, she added: 'I love it when theyre all together, I hate it when one of them isnt around when were doing a big family thing so its nice theyre all available to get together.'
Tagging 2020 as the year of Revival and New Glory, Olukoya urged Nigerians to pray because the year would be messy and confusing.

Read Also: Pastor Tackles MFMs Olukoya Over Christmas Unbiblical Comment

Here are the prophecies below:

1. 2020 is a year where disobedience to God would yield terrible result that no deliverance can reverse.

2. More than any other year the enemy plans to bring the dog spirit (strange sexual perversions).

3. Year where round the clock prayers are needed against national restlessness.

4. This year impatience would lure many Into strange marriages.

5. A year not only to take back what the enemy has stolen but for you to occupy new territories.

6. Hot prayers are required in 2020.

7. This year would be messy and confusing.

8. Year when some many leaders would be shifted away.

9. A year where all things many have planted and watered in the past years would now begin to produce fruits.

10. Year where many who have endured season of darkness and delay would sing their song and dance their dance.

11. Year of returns of long time prodigals.

ALSO READ: Oluwo of Iwo announces separation from his wife, Chanel Chin

12. Year we must return to our accient landmark ( holiness and righteousness.

13. Year of perfection for vision.

14. Year of positive and negative harvest.

15. Extra ordinary and sacrificial giving would yield powerful result this year.

16. 2020 would be an up and down year.

17. Year that the Lord shall tear in pieces kingdom of those boasting against him.

18. Season where that which that has delayed the blessing of Gods children shall be dashed to pieces.

19. Resurrection power would bring back dry bones.

20. The lord would bring fresh start for a lot of people.

21. The lord would bring fresh start for a lot of people.

22. Year for rewriting negative family history.

23. Year of aggressive prayers against voices from foundation.

24. Year of unbelievable answers to prayers.

25. Year of it can only be God testimonies.

26. Year where many captives would divorce their chains.

27. Year for consistently deploying the blood of Jesus.

28. Year when the Lord shall dash to pieces kingdom of evil rulers.

29. Many families shall climb to a new height of victory.

30. Year when sins must be more sensitive to heaven frequencies.

31. Food supplies from the kingdom of herod shall be cut off.
North Korean leader says Pyongyang will show new strategic weapon soon as he denounces USs gangster-like demands.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday said his country would continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a new strategic weapon in the near future, state media KCNA said after the United States missed a year-end deadline for a restart of denuclearisation talks.

As the US makes gangster-like demands including continuing joint military drills with South Korea, adopting cutting-edge weapons and imposing sanctions, there were no grounds for North Korea to be bound any longer by the self-declared nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile test moratorium, Kim said, according to KCNA.

Kim convened a rare four-day meeting of the ruling Workers Partys policy-making committee, started since Saturday, as the US had not responded to his repeated calls for concessions to reopen negotiations, dismissing the deadline as artificial.

He pledged to further develop North Koreas nuclear deterrent, but left the door open for dialogue, saying the scope and depth of that deterrent will be properly coordinated depending on the attitude of the US.





The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future, Kim said, using the acronym for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

We will reliably put on constant alert the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the US and guaranteeing our long-term security.

Hours after Kims statement, US President Donald Trump told reporters said Kim had signed a contract about denuclearisation and that he thought the North Korean leader was a man of his word.

Trump said he got along with Kim and we have to do what we have to do.

But he did sign a contract, he did sign an agreement talking about denuclearisation.  That was done in Singapore, and I think hes a man of his word, so were going to find out, he added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped North Korea would choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war.

Kim had previously said he might have to seek a new path if Washington failed to meet his expectations.

US military commanders said Pyongyangs actions could include the testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it has halted since 2017, alongside nuclear warhead tests.

Strategic weapons

Tension had been rising in the run-up to the year-end deadline as North Korea conducted a series of weapons tests and waged a war of words with Trump.

Kim has called for active diplomatic and military countermeasures to preserve the countrys security amid US sanctions and threats [Ahn Young-joon/AP]

The nuclear talks have made little headway though Kim and Trump have met three times.

A working-level meeting in Stockholm in October fell apart, with a North Korean chief negotiator accusing US officials of sticking to their old stance.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying that there would never be denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula if Washington adhered to what he called its hostile policy.





We will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peacekeeping mechanism is built, Kim said.

He called for his people to brace for an arduous and prolonged struggle and foster a self-reliant economy because of delays in a much-anticipated lifting of sanctions.

The present situation warning of long confrontation with the US urgently requires us to make it a fait accompli that we have to live under the sanctions by the hostile forces in the future, too, and to strengthen the internal power from all aspects.

Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean Studies at the Centre for the National Interest in Washington, said Kim appeared to be gambling that threatening another demonstration of his ability to hit the US with a nuclear weapon would somehow push the US into granting more concessions.

North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to Donald Trumps head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee, he said.
Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying into Beirut via Istanbul, sources tell Reuters.

Fugitive former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn met Lebanons president after escaping from Japan, where he was smuggled out of house arrest by a private security company, two sources close to Ghosn said on Wednesday.

One of the sources said that Ghosn was greeted warmly by President Michel Aoun on Monday after flying into Beirut via Istanbul  and that he was now in a buoyant and combative mood and feeling secure.

In his meeting with the president, Ghosn thanked Aoun for the support he had given him and his wife Carole while he was in detention, the sources said. He now needs the protection and security of his government after fleeing Japan, they added.

A media adviser to the presidents office denied the two men had met.

Lebanese officials have said there would be no need to take legal measures against Ghosn because he entered the country legally on a French passport, although Ghosns French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports are with lawyers in Japan.

The French and Lebanese foreign ministries have said they were unaware of the circumstances of his journey.

Lebanon has no extradition agreement with Japan, where Ghosn faced trial on charges of financial misconduct, which he denied.

Under the terms of his bail, he had been confined to his house in Tokyo and had to have cameras installed at the entrance. He was prevented from communicating with his wife, and had his use of the internet and other communications curtailed.

The sources said the Lebanese ambassador to Japan had visited him daily while he was in detention.

Pure fiction

While some Lebanese media outlets have floated a Houdini-like account of Ghosn being packed in a wooden container for musical instruments after a private concert in his home, his wife called the account pure fiction when contacted by Reuters News Agency.

She declined to provide details of the exit of one of the most recognisable titans of industry. The accounts of the two sources suggest a carefully planned escape of which few people were aware.

Sources said a private security firm oversaw the plan, which was three months in the making and involved shuttling Ghosn out via a private jet to Istanbul before pushing onward to Beirut, with even the pilot unaware of Ghosns presence on board.

It was a very professional operation from start to finish said one of the sources. The other source said Ghosn was in good health.

In a written statement, Ghosn said after his arrival that he had escaped injustice and political persecution and would begin communicating with media next week. Sources close to him said he was unwilling to share details of his escape so as not to jeopardise those who aided him in Japan.

He is staying at the home of a relative of his wife, but plans to return soon to a gated villa in the upscale Beirut neighbourhood of Achrafieh, one of the sources said.

Ghosn was first arrested in Tokyo in November 2018 and faces four charges  which he denies  including hiding income and enriching himself through payments to dealerships in the Middle East.

Nissan sacked him as chairman saying internal investigations revealed misconduct including understating his salary while he was the companys chief executive, and transferring $5m of Nissan funds to an account in which he had an interest.

Ghosn has enjoyed an outpouring of support from Lebanese people since his 2018 arrest, with billboards proclaiming We are all Carlos Ghosn erected in the country in solidarity with his case.

Locally he is considered a poster boy for success in a country where rampant unemployment pushes young Lebanese abroad to find work and the economy relies heavily on remittances amid a deep financial crisis that has sparked a wave of protests.

Ghosn was born in Brazil but is of Lebanese descent, and lived in Lebanon as a child. He oversaw a turnaround at French carmaker Renault that won him the nickname Le Cost Killer and used similar methods to revive Nissan.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has agreed to support West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees protest against National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the amended Citizenship Act (CAA).

I will be happy to associate myself with any concerted plan to rise against the authoritarian regime of the Central government and for saving our democracy, Sharad Pawar said in a letter to the West Bengal Chief Minister while responding to the one written by Mamata Banerjee in which she had urged the Opposition leaders to unite and chalk out a plan to save the country.

Expressing his readiness, Pawar wrote, I received your letter dated December 23, 2019, raising serious concern over the current alarming situation across the nation. I agree with your concern and pledge to stand in solidarity with all like-minded leaders and parties to protest against the implementation of CAA and nationwide NRC.

Earlier, Pawar had opposed the CAA and said that the new law will disturb and hurt religious, social unity and harmony in the country. He had even questioned why only migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are allowed citizenship under the new Act but not Sri Lankan Tamils. In her letter dated December 23, Mamata had termed BJPs rule as a draconian regime.
Patna: With 2019 now back in the rearview mirror and state elections only a few months away, politicians began retooling their electoral strategy as Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi toned down his rhetoric against Janata Dal-U leader Prashant Kishor saying he hoped any bitterness caused by the recent exchange of harsh interaction between the two would fade away and all will be forgotten in the greater interest of Bihar.

Talking to reporters in Patna on the New Year's Day, Modi, who, along with other NDA leaders, had been saying negatives things about Kishor, a Nitish confidant and an experienced political strategist, over the latter's stinging criticism of Modi-Shah's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), said he hoped with the arrival of the new year, bygones will be bygones and the NDA that comprises JD-U in Bihar, will remain intact for the greater good of the state.

"Let bygones be bygones. I do hope that the all the bitterness and mistrust between the two parties fade away in Bihar and people send back the NDA into power with a thumping majority" he said.

As recalled, Kishore has slammed the Center for forcing CAA and NRC on the state governments and has also advocated for the JD-U to get the lion share of seats in Bihar with BJP being a junior party in the state where, he has maintained, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar enjoys more popularity than any other politician in Bihar.

The Deputy Chief Minister has criticized Kishor of over-estimating his strategic skills and has accused him of 'going against the coalition dharma'.



Kishor has also been slammed by BJP leader Nitin Navin and even JD-U leaders like RCP Singh and Sanjay Singh who have gone on record to say the political strategist was making comments that were not in favor of the alliance and might even damage the coalition giving political edge to the opposition parties.
SRINAGAR: Two Indian Army soldiers were killed in a gunfight with Pakistani-backed infiltrators along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district on Wednesday. The names of the martyrs are Naik Sawant Sandip Raghunath, 29, from Munde village of Satara district in Maharashtra and Rifleman Arjun Thapa Magar, 25, of Rip village from Gorkha in Nepal.

Live TV

According to initial reports, the two soldiers were involved in a Cordon and Search Operation in the Nowshera sector of Rajouri when the Pakistani infiltrators opened fire on them.

The search operation was launched following information about the movement of suspected terrorists, said reports. A contact was established with the infiltrators in the forest who retaliated with gunfire injuring the two army jawans, who later succumbed to their injuries.

The incident evoked a strong response from the Indian Army and firing from both sides is currently underway. Nowshera is close to the Line of Control (LoC) and has remained a hotbed of militancy in the past.

The gunfight erupted a day after newly-appointed Indian Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane warned Pakistan that a "new normal" in Indias response mechanism to cross-border terrorism has already been displayed.

Naravane had warned Pakistan on Tuesday that India reserves the right to "preemptively strike" at sources of terror and asserted that a "new normal" in the country's response mechanism to acts of cross-border terrorism has already been "emphatically" displayed.

Hours before taking charge, Gen Naravane also gave a detailed brief on India's security challenges, including combating cross-border terrorism. He said a strategy of "resolute punitive response" was put in place to deal with Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, noting that the policy of "zero tolerance" will continue to drive counter-terror measures.

"If Pakistan does not stop its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we reserve the right to preemptively strike at the sources of the terror threat and this intent has adequately been demonstrated in our response during surgical strikes and Balakot operation," the Army Chief said.

On Tuesday, J&K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh had said that there are 250 militants active in the state, of which 100 are foreigners and the rest are locals.
Mothers Day 2021: Google Doodle wishes mothers all around the world with adorable pop-up card

Happy New Year 2020: Google celebrates with doodle on weather frog, bird

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 01: Search giant Google is celebrating New Year with a doodle featuring a weather frog and a little bird watching fireworks celebration at the rising sun as India and the world enter a new year 2020. This year is also a leap year.

The Google Doodle features a multi-colour firework with yellow, red, blue, green sparks. The frog and the bird can be seen wearing party caps to celebrate the New Year.

Google Doodle was inspired by the weather search. The frog, therefore, symbolises someone who gears up for New Year celebrations in any weather.

"The 2020s are sure to be ribbitting!" Google said.

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

New Facebook tool let users move photos to Google, other platforms

Google has also released eight pictures of New Year's Eve made by Doodler Sophie Diao, where it said, "A few of the Weather scenes you might catch Froggy in today".

Happy New Years everyone!!

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 8:42 [IST]
Perambalur (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 1 (ANI): Tamil writer Nellai Kannan was arrested here on Wednesday, days after an FIR was registered against him for his speech during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest.



The Tirunelveli Police had registered the FIR against the writer for the speech delivered at a meeting, which was called by the Social Democratic Party of India on December 29 last year.

Kannan had reportedly used harsh language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah during the speech.

The police have booked him on the basis of multiple complaints filed by BJP leaders.

Kannan has been booked under Sections 504, 505(1) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code. (ANI)


China's central bank said on Wednesday it was cutting the amount of cash that all banks must hold as reserves, releasing around 800 billion yuan ($114.91 billion) in liquidity to shore up the slowing economy.

The People's Bank of China said on its website it will cut banks' reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 50 basis points, effective January 6. Many analysts had expected such a move was imminent.

The PBOC has now cut RRR eight times since early 2018 to spur more bank lending as economic growth slows to the weakest pace in nearly 30 years.
The Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver starring Marriage Story about their broken marriage and child custody fight has sparked heated online discussions in China even before its release here.

Hardly surprising, it turns out, if the latest official data related to divorce in China is to be believed: The number of divorces in the country is expected to reach a record high in 2019 after posting increases for 15 consecutive years, says a state media report.

Some 3 million couples have called their marriage off in the first three quarters of the year, 200,000 more than in 2018, the tabloid Global Times said in a report on Tuesday.

Divorces soared from 1.3 million in 2003 to more than 4.5 million in 2018, revealed data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA).

The new statistics added to fuel to an ongoing debate triggered last month by a speech given by Zhou Qiang, chief justice of Chinas Supreme Peoples Court at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Zhou revealed that 74 percent of divorces between 2016 and 2017 were initiated by women, adding that divorces came three years after marriage on average and most divorcing couples had an age gap between 0-3 years.

The soaring divorce rate has drawn wide public attention and the related topic was viewed 200 million times on Chinas Twitter-like Sina Weibo platform as of press time, the Global Times report added,

The rising incidence of divorce in China, which has an ageing population and falling fertility rates cant be looked at or monitored in isolation.

Almost 15 percent of people in China are single. This number is set to rise. More divorce, more DINKS (dual income, no kids) and singles, fewer babies, rising costs and stress and a lack of open policies will not help solve the already low fertility rate in the country, freelance writer Wendy Min pointed out in an opinion piece in the tabloid.

The Communist Party of China (CPC)-ruled government is aware of the situation.

A draft of Chinas civil code to be submitted to next years annual session of the National Peoples Congress or (the countrys rubber stamp-Parliament) for deliberation proposes a 30-day cooling-off period for couples who apply for a divorce.

Under the new provision, during the 30 days, either party can withdraw the divorce application from the marriage registration office.

Experts said that the cooling-off period could give buffer time for couples in general and especially those with young children to rethink their decision.

The critically acclaimed Marriage Story releases in China soon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 03:09:51|Editor: huaxia

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, on Oct. 23, 2019.(Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/Handout via Xinhua) HOC MANDATORY CREDIT: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson aims to seek the green light for an ambitious revival plan for the north of England, but challenges remain.

LONDON, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- For British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, getting Brexit done certainly tops his New Year's resolution list, but according to British media, he also aims to seek the green light for an ambitious revival plan for the north of England.

Johnson led the Conservative Party to win 365 out of the 650 seats in the House of Commons in the general election earlier this month, giving him a powerful 80-seat majority.

He claimed spectacular victories in traditional Labour strongholds seats in both northern England and Midlands constituencies. Some had been in Labour's hands for a century.

Since then, expectations for Johnson to upgrade Britain's "industrial heartlands" have grown higher in those areas.

Shortly after the election, Johnson told newly-elected MPs of his plans to direct billions of dollars of investment to the North.

"We will repay your (voters') trust," he said, saying former Labour supporters had "lent" their votes to the rival Conservatives.

TO REVIVE INDUSTRIAL HEARTLANDS

Under Johnson's ambitions, the government would pour 100 billion pounds (some 132 billion U.S. dollars) over five years in a program of road, rail and other infrastructure projects, notably in so-called "red wall constituencies" that switched their allegiance from Labour to the Conservatives in the recent election, said British newspaper, the Financial Times.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid is looking to fund the 39-billion-pound (about 51.15 billion dollars) "Northern Powerhouse Rail" project, linking the big cities of the north of England, and the "Midlands Engine" project that aims to improve transport, skills and training in the country's industrial heartland, said the Financial Times.

It is likely that the chancellor might use his spring budget in 2020 to outline massive investment in infrastructure in areas that switched to the Conservatives, observers said.

More recently, British media said government spending rules may be changed to divert investment into the Midlands and the north of England, in a move aimed at retaining the support of the Conservative's new voters.

Under the new rules, investment decisions for transport, infrastructure and business would be based on improving people's wellbeing in northern England or narrowing the productivity gap with southern England and less focused on overall national economic growth.

The so-called "north-south" divide has dogged British politics for years, with northern politicians saying the rules favoured London and the wealthier south England regions.

RENEWED INTEREST IN NORTHERN POWERHOUSE

These latest developments have sparked a renewed interest in the Northern Powerhouse project, an initiative launched by former Chancellor George Osborne and leading economist Jim O'Neill in 2014 to boost economic growth in the north of England.

The theory goes that key cities in northern England (Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull and Newcastle) are close enough to each other to be united into a single market similar in size to that of the London metropolitan area. It would mean Britain becoming home to two globally competitive city-based commercial hubs.

"Five years ago, London was the only place in the UK that was important in the world," O'Neill said in an interview with Xinhua earlier this year, but the Northern Powerhouse helps raise the profile of provincial cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield.

"A decision about HS2 (a high-speed rail project to connect London, the Midlands and northern England, currently under review) will soon need to be made. Other key actions, especially for Northern Powerhouse Rail, must feature in the budget early next year. This will demonstrate whether the prime minister is truly serious about the north beyond Brexit," O'Neill wrote in the Yorkshire Post earlier this month.

Apart from major infrastructure investment, education, industrial policy and devolution also need to be top priorities for implementing the Northern Powerhouse project, said O'Neill, who also serves as the vice-chair of Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

The Northern Powerhouse, which fell by the wayside under the previous government of Theresa May, is considered as a popular destination for international investment, with nearly 40,000 new jobs created between April 2015 and March 2018. Analysts predict further potential opportunities for foreign investment if renewed interest in the project is to materialize.

Billions of pounds of investment opportunities, ranging from doubling the size of MediaCityUK in Salford to working with Liverpool city council on major regeneration project delivering new homes, were showcased to international investors including Chinese during the past few years.

But challenges also remain ahead for Johnson. After all, the north of England has been in economic decline relative to the south since the late 19th century.

"The reasons why big old industrial cities decline are quite logical in terms of economic forces. And these are very powerful forces not easy to reverse," O'Neill told Xinhua in the earlier interview.

Many towns in the Northern England have still not recovered from deindustrialization of the 1980s. Their labor markets lag behind the rest of the country, with poor employment rates and lower wages, according to British weekly magazine the Economist.

The clearest sign of this economic failure is that young residents are leaving. Towns like Redcar and Scunthorpe have seen the number of 18- to 24-year-old residents fall by more than 20 percent since the 1980s, while the number of over-65s has risen by 30 percent or more, said the Economist.

The area covered by the Northern Powerhouse has a bigger population than many of the European Union member countries. It means there will be plenty of northern eyes focusing on Johnson to see whether he delivers on his promise to reward them.
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Indian market closed the year 2019 on a buoyant note with Sensex and Nifty50 rallying over 10 percent. It was a historic year for D-Street as Sensex made a new high above 41,800 while Nifty50 came close to 12,300 levels.

The year 2020 will also be a year when benchmark indices will hit new milestones and probably Nifty will surpass 13,000 levels and 45,000 mark for Sensex, suggest experts.

Foreign institutional investors continued to reaffirm their faith in Indian market in 2019, and the trend is likely to continue in 2020 as well. In CY19 till date, India has attracted USD 14.3 bn from FPIs and USD 7.5 bn from local mutual funds.

We expect FPI flows could remain positive in CY20 and SIP flows to remain sticky with an annualized run rate of ~USD 14-15 bn. Earnings of Nifty-50 is expected to report a robust 19% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for next three years, a sharp increase over the previous three years CAGR of 8%, Rusmik Oza, Sr. VP (Head of Fundamental Research-PCG), Kotak Securities Ltd told Moneycontrol.

We have used a benchmark of 17.5x forward PE, which is one standard deviation above the 10-year average to derive at our one-year Nifty target. Our one-year target of Nifty-50 and Sensex works to 13,400 and 45,500, respectively. This works to an upside of ~10% from current levels, he said.

Investors are advised to remain stock-specific as the upside remains fairly limited but small & midcaps could play catch up in the year 2020 that could possibly turn out to wealth-creating opportunities for investors.

While midcaps outperformed large-caps significantly in FY15-18, it witnessed a reversal in trend amid liquidity issues along with IL&Fs crisis and other corporate defaults over the past 18 months, ICICIdirect.

In turn, this skewed the investors focus on quality companies with high governance standards and stable growth. Hence, only quality companies in both these indices have outperformed the market as seen in the below table. Going forward also, we believe the quality stock selection approach will continue to find favour rather than an index specific approach, he said.

We spoke to various experts and heres what they have recommended for the year 2020:

Expert: Gaurav Garg, Head of Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited- Investment Advisor

Dabur India:

The stock has closed positive for the eighth consecutive calendar year. Since 2012, the stock has rallied over 360 percent. Dabur is planning to expand into healthcare, foods and personal care segment by acquiring new companies and reviving its sales.

It is also looking towards increased rural penetration by increasing its rural network to cover up to 55,000 villages.

Manappuram Finance:

The stock has traded at a record high of Rs 178 and has rallied over 90 percent in the calendar year 2019 so far. Price has formed higher highs & higher lows formation in the broader time frame.

The financials of Manappuram Finance Ltd show net sales growth of 16.79 percent and core EBITDA growth of 20.58 percent.

The company has jotted down 4.92 percent ROA (Return on Assets), 19.40 percent ROE (Return on Equity) and 14.34 percent ROCE (Return on Capital employed).

The net sales growth of the company being 16.79 percent, core EBITDA growth being 20.58 percent and PAT growth of 14.71 percent signify the sound operations and a profitable business model which provides good scope for appreciation of the stock.

ICICI Securities:

In calendar year 2019, the stock has traded with volatility in first two-months with stock price declining as much as 27.63 percent, and after consolidating in a narrow range, stock price gained over 110 percent since August 2019.

This stock seems to be very promising because of its 46.85 percent Return on Equity and 32.73 percent Return on Assets.

With changing business model i.e. shifting from pure broking to an array of other services like advisory services, wealth management etc., could reduce the volatility in earnings and revenue.

Dividend pay-out ratio of 2.20 is a very lucrative aspect which might give rise to a lot of bullish sentiments along with a cash surplus balance sheet which is icing on the cake.

Affle (India):

The stock was listed on NSE in August 2019 and has jumped as much as 87.8 percent from its listing price within four months.

With a ROA of 20.10 percent, ROE of 43.64 percent, & ROCE of 62.77 percent, it can be said that this is a profitable business. It has had an EBITDA growth of 58.79 percent and PAT growth of 88.87 percent which shows its sound revenue from operations thus it can be a stock with great potential.

Adani Enterprises:

The financials of this organisation boast figures of 14.52 percent ROCE (Return on Capital Employed), 13.62% of ROE and 3.3 percent of ROA along with Net sales growth of 38.36 percent.

This company has receivable cycle of 89.55 days and Payable cycle of 117.66 days which is a very favourable and efficient position.

Expert: Ritesh Asher  Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at KIFS Trade Capital

Bharat Electronics (BEL):

The Company has 37 percent market share in Indian Defense Electronics. Its core capabilities are in radar, and weapons systems, defense communication & electronic warfare.

It derives incremental contributions from non-defense segments like homeland security, cybersecurity, and smart cities, which are expected to contribute ~20 percent to the revenue albeit with lower margins over the next three to five years.

We expect BEL to report revenue, EBITDA and PAT CAGR of 12.9%, 3.6%, 1.8% respectively, in FY19-21.

Wipro:

Wipro is a leading information technology, consulting and business process services company. The company had a dedicated workforce of over 180,000 serving clients across 6 continents.

If we consider the companys half-yearly performance it registered 4 percent YoY hike in sales, the companys cost optimization strategy and strong client relationships will help the company gain lost ground in the long term.

State Bank of India:

SBI is the largest commercial bank in India with over 1/5th market share of the Indian banking sector. It has a strong domestic presence with more than 22,090 branches and an international presence with 198 branches across 37 countries.

Within PSU banks, SBI remains the best play on a corporate recovery in the Indian economy. With heavy NCLT resolutions lined up, we believe asset quality improvement is imminent and project Gross/Net NPA ratios to moderate to 6.9%/3.5% by FY21E, and with government measures to boost the PSU health SBI bank is supposed have brighter future among its peer group.

Jubilant FoodWorks:

The Dominos brand owned company is structurally attractive and have the capacity to outperform micro & macro-economic concerns.

The company is a market leader in the pizza segment through its exclusive rights to operate Domino's Pizza brand outlets in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Pizza is the largest sub-segment in the QSR space, which is expected to grow at more than 15 percent per fiscal over the medium term driven by an increase in consumer propensity to eat out, rising disposable income, a greater need for convenience.

On the financial front, the company is available at an attractive valuation with debt-free status and the Return on capital employed remained above 25 percent.

HDFC Bank:

HDFC Bank is among the largest private sector banks in India with total assets of Rs.12,44,541 crore as on March 31, 2019. The bank is a market leader in the non-mortgage retail asset segments, such as commercial vehicles and car financing.

It has also been expanding its geographical reach over the past few years; incremental branches have been primarily in semi-urban and rural areas. In 2019, bank had 5130 banking outlets.

While if we take a look in banking sector HDFC Bank is available at very attractive valuation with low PE high EPS earning compared to its peer group. The bank maintains healthy financials and risk status as advances and deposits grew amidst weak market sentiments as well operating performance improved with cost efficiencies in FY2019.

Expert: D K Agarwal Chairman & MD, SMC Investments and Advisors Ltd

ICICI Bank:

The bank continues to focus on growing the core operating profit in a risk calibrated manner. The bank aims to improve the share of profitable market opportunities by making a delivery to the customer more seamless and frictionless through digitization and process improvements.

The business of the bank increased at an accelerated pace of 19 percent on a YoY basis to Rs 13,09,632 crore at the end of September 2019, supported by deposits growth rising to 25 percent at Rs 6,96,273 crore at end September 2019. The loan book of the bank increased 13 percent at Rs 6,13,359 crore.

Gujarat Gas:

The company has strong & steady revenue growth momentum and sustainable margins. It shall continue to focus on growing the penetration in the current operating areas by increasing the PNG connections and additional CNG stations while tapping the untapped potential by an expeditious rollout of distribution network in the newly acquired geographic areas as well.

The management of the company is aiming at setting up more than 63 CNG stations in the financial year 2020, for the target to increase the volume of 9-9.5 mmscmd in FY20.

The debt stands at Rs 1,800 crore and the management of the company is looking at an EBITDA margin of around 13 percent in FY20.

JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals:

The company accords high priority to the domestic formulations business, which offers a significant value proposition. It has consistent, strong free cash flows, with a low debt-equity of 0.02x and also plans to continue to pursue focus on harnessing the potential of the existing products, launch new products selectively and achieve increased productivity.

The management of the company is focused on harnessing the potential of existing products, launching of new line extensions and achieving of new line productivity will be pursued with scientific product promotions and aggressive marketing strategies.

Inox Leisure:

With the consistency in performance and a healthy pipeline signal strong growth, the company is expected to see good growth going forward. It continues to impress with industry-leading growth across all parameters.

In addition, strong market position reflected in ability to consistently raise ticket prices and strong screen pipeline will help in increasing average footfalls and consumer spending.

The management feels that there is enough scope for increasing the occupancy levels if the seats can be filled from Monday-Thursday and is exploring different concepts to do so.

KEC International:

The company is continuously performing well and delivering in all the three parameters of revenue, profitability and order intake. T&D business has delivered a stellar performance, backed by robust execution in SAARC and the Americas.

The Railway business continues its growth momentum as it expands portfolio in other segments. The management of the company expects international business to pick up with large order inflow from Jordan, Saudi, Far East (Indonesia, Thailand), etc. and international T&D, sub-stations, and civil infra will be key drivers for FY20.

Moreover, the company has maintained its annual guidance of 20 percent growth for FY20 revenue. The company has a robust and well-diversified order book and its management is confident of 15-20% growth in revenue for FY2020.

The company expects its Railway business revenue to register a growth of 20-25% for FY20 and that of T&D as a whole is expected to register a growth of 15 percent for FY20.

Expert: Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

SBI Life Insurance Co.:

In Q2FY20, Gross written premium grew 33.3 percent YoY driven by new business and renewal premiums which grew 33.8 percent and 32.8 percent YoY respectively.

In H1FY20, SBI Lifes market share increased 200bps YoY to 21.8 percent in terms of NBP (new business premium) among the private insurers and AUM increased 22.7 percent YoY to Rs. 154,760cr.

Avanti Feeds:

AFL is a leading manufacturer of Shrimp Feeds and is also a Shrimp processor and exporter. It has a tie-up with Thai Union Group, Thailand.

In the Feed segment, which contributes ~78 percent of total revenues, although the industry consumption growth is expected to be flat, the company expects growth of 12-15%, driven by market share gains (48% vs. 45% YoY).

The recent improvement witnessed in farm-gate and stabilization in export prices provides a better outlook for both Feed & Processing segments. We have a BUY rating on AFL and it is valued at 16x considering the improved industry outlook, healthy growth & RoE and no Debt.

Expert: Ajit Mishra, VP Research, Religare Broking

L&T:

L&T boasts of a strong order book, high earnings visibility and healthy project pipeline. Further, continuous monetization of non-core assets has been improving its working capital efficiency and likely to improve its returns. The recent correction in the stock has also made its valuation attractive.

Britannia Industries:

The FMCG sector is currently facing a slowdown, however, revival is expected in the medium to long term.

Further, management expects a revival in the economy and thus it continues to focus on strengthening its presence by increasing market share, expanding distribution reach in both rural and urban areas, premiumizing and launching innovative products, steady capacity addition and improved product mix.

Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Company (RNAM):

RNAM is one of the leading AMCs in India with a total AUM of ~Rs. 4,530 bn. The buyout by Nippon Life Insurance (75% ownership currently) from Reliance Capital removes the overhang on RNAM.

Further, the company has taken several initiatives in order to rebrand and strengthen the balance sheet which would help regain lost market share and thereby would narrow the valuation difference with HDFC AMC.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A fishing organization can sue the federal government for banning commercial herring fishing on coastal and San Francisco Bay waters that are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The lawsuit by the San Francisco Herring Association contends federal regulations, which prohibit commercial fishing in national parks, do not authorize the National Park Service to prohibit herring catches in the GGNRA. That area extends offshore from Fort Mason to Ocean Beach on the San Francisco side, from Sausalito past Point Bonita on the Marin County side and around Alcatraz Island.

Without ruling on the scope of the governments authority, federal courts before Tuesday had dismissed the lawsuit as premature. A panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said in a 2017 ruling that the Park Service was only monitoring the waters, and after the suit was refiled, a federal judge dismissed it in 2018 because the Park Service had not issued final rules against herring fishing.

On Tuesday, however, another Ninth Circuit panel said the Park Service had taken final agency action, as alleged in the lawsuit, by enforcing the ban from 2013 onward.

The court cited statements by five fishermen who said they were fishing or preparing to fish off the Marin County coast in January 2013 when they were approached by National Park Service officers, or by state wardens acting under Park Service authority, who told them commercial fishing in the area was prohibited.

The fishermen said they had previously received written notices saying they could face criminal prosecution if they violated the ban. Violations are punishable by fines and up to six months in jail.

Those enforcement actions go further than merely monitoring the waters of the GGNRA with greater efficiency, Judge Daniel Bress said in the 3-0 ruling, his first published decision since the former business lawyer was appointed to the court by President Trump in July. He said officers orders and the fishermens response, complying due to the risk of punishment, showed that the agency had made a final regulatory decision, even if has not issued final rules.

Stuart Gross, a lawyer for the fishermen, said the court had reached the sensible conclusion that herring fishermen dont need to get arrested to challenge the National Park Services jurisdiction over the waters in question.

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 lawsuit, filed in 2013, contends the 1972 law that established the GGNRA did not authorize the National Park Service to designate its waters as part of a national park. Lawyers for the Herring Association say the Park Service apparently shared that view for many years before starting to regulate the waters.

Being able to fish in these waters lowers the impact of fishing on the herring stock, and so it is in everyones interest that fishermen be able to do so, Gross said after Tuesdays ruling.

But U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar of San Francisco ruled in 2014 that the Park Service had legal authority over the bay waters. The appeals court has not yet addressed that issue, but can consider it if Tigar again reaches that conclusion. Tuesdays ruling returns the case to his court.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko.
The National Green Corps scheme, which was revoked for over a decade, has been revived for Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said on Wednesday.

"As a result of persistent efforts of J&K Pollution Control Board (PCB), the Education, Awareness and Training (EEAT) scheme of Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for National Green Corps (Eco-Clubs) has been revived for J&K," the spokesman said.

He said the J&K PCB put efforts for the revival of the scheme in the State Nodal Agency (SNA) meet organized by MoEFCC in Kevadia in Gujarat.

"Consequent to that, the and Forests Ministry has approved the release of Grant-in-Aid of Rs 2.6 crore to J&K PCB," the spokesman said.

Under this scheme, he said the J&K PCB would provide financial assistance to 3,742 Eco Clubs of registered schools in both the regions of the Union Territory along with 96 Eco Clubs of registered colleges, for which funds would soon be released via Direct Bank Transfer by the Board.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On 24-hour notice govt called both houses of parliament

ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday convened both houses of parliament to meet on a 24-hour notice. While the opposition appeared to be wondering as to what was the need for convening the sessions of parliament in such haste, the government said the decision had been taken to take the legislature into confidence over recent important developments.



When contacted, former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani said he had failed to understand the reasons behind convening the sessions within 24 hours. He said in foggy weather many members from other cities would find it difficult to reach Islamabad in time.



He regretted that the Senate session had only been convened a day after the opposition had requisitioned it. He said the government continues to ignore the parliament and pointed out that the Senate would be meeting after a gap of 124 days, apart from a requisitioned session convened in between.



A regular session of the Senate was last held from Aug 29 to Sept 3 while the previous National Assembly session was abruptly prorogued on Dec 16. The NA session under a decision taken by the business advisory committee was to continue till Dec 20, but was abruptly prorogued early for some unknown reasons.



Mr Rabbani said under Article 54 of the Constitution the president might from time to time summon either house or both houses of parliament in joint sitting to meet at such time and place as he thought fit and might also prorogue the same. Article 54 (2) reads: There shall be at least 3 [three] sessions of the National Assembly every year and not more than one hundred and twenty days shall intervene between the last sitting of the Assembly in one session and the date appointed for its first sitting in the next session.



Article 61 reads: The provisions of clauses (2) to (7) of Article 53, clauses (2) and (3) of Article 54 and Article 55 shall apply to the Senate as they apply to the National Assembly and, in their application to the Senate, shall have effect as if references therein to the National Assembly, Speaker and Deputy Speaker were references, respectively, to the Senate, Chairman and Deputy Chairman .



Mr Rabbani said this meant that a constitutional provision had conveniently been ignored by the government, which now is convening both the houses to meet at a short notice.



Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the Senate Sherry Rehman said the government had abruptly called a Senate session without giving a 48-hour notice, which was inappropriate and had caused inconvenience to the Senators during the smog season when flights were unavailable. How will those flying in from Sindh and Balochistan make it?



She said the Senate session had not been called in 120 days despite repeated requests and letters to the ministry of parliamentary affairs, while the upper house still has to meet for 56 days to complete the parliamentary year.



When the government finally decided to call one, they badly mistimed it. Is this some new way to break the oppositions strength in the Senate? Their lack of seriousness is unbelievable, she said.



Ms Rehman said Pakistan was facing multiple challenges like economic and foreign policy issues, but every issue of national or public importance was being decided through ordinances without consulting the parliament, the recent being amendments to the NAB ordinance to avoid accountability.



No wonder PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf) does not care about following the constitutionally laid out procedures in Article 61, she said.



MNA Shazia Marri of the PPP said the out of mind government wanted to run parliament in a haphazard way, just as it was running the country.



She said it was 5pm on Tuesday when the members were informed through media about the parliament sessions to be held the very next day.



Neither were the members taken into confidence nor was the notification of the meeting issued. The members should have been informed about the meeting at least 48 hours earlier. How the members will be able to attend the session in this weather condition? Does the government want the members not to attend the session?



Ms Marri said the government had failed on every front. If Imran Khan cannot run the government then he should go home because people and their representatives are suffering due to his inability to run the country properly. Parliament is not Imran Khans cabinet which he wants to run according to his wishes.
Over the Christmas holiday, Mary and I drove from West Virginia to visit her widowed birth mother who lives in Baltimore. I'll call her Ruth. Mary and I grew up in the Baltimore area.

Wow! What a striking decline in our beloved hometown, once renowned as Charm City. We saw countless blocks of empty trashed row-houses.

Baltimore is also known for great neighborhoods; Fells Point, Little Italy, and so on. We drove through Highland town, pronounced, Hollin town by locals. I was shocked to see so many Highland town businesses which once thrived were gone, the storefronts boarded up. They should have grown rather than failed.

Upon our arrival, Ruth excitedly greeted us with a hug.

Ruth has lived in her Dundalk home for 39 years, a block from the city line. Her companion is Corky, her old fat hound dog. She said thugs from the city have begun spilling over into her neighborhood. There is a party house a few doors down from her with loud music filled with expletives. She called the police a few times but nothing has changed.

We were told that the East Point Mall, once a hub of family activity, has become a place to avoid, infected with drugs and criminals.

Ruth said her old female friend barely escaped being carjacked in Baltimore in broad daylight by locking her doors before thugs could open them. Ruth does not venture into Baltimore unless it is absolutely necessary. Baltimore hit a new record high for homicides over the holidays.

Because Ruth is white and I am black, I sensed Ruth's discomfort expressing how horrible Baltimore's black female mayor has been. Ruth said, I heard her say the police should allow rioters to destroy businesses to get out their frustrations. I told Ruth that she heard correctly. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said, We also gave those who wish to destroy space to do that as well...

Democrat-controlled cities are insanely obsessed with pandering to criminals and illegals against the safety, best interests, and rights of law-abiding citizens. NYC Mayor de Blasio's latest soft-on-crime initiative includes giving freed inmates gift cards and cell phones. The gift cards are ending up at liquor stores. Democrat presidential candidates boldly proclaim that if elected, they will declare war on law enforcement, which includes ICE and police.

Ruth served Mary and me delicious cake she baked from scratch. She moved to Baltimore as a child with her mother and baby brother. The word in West Virginia was those folks in Baltimore don't want to work. Ruth's mom moved to Baltimore for a job. Her mother was never without a job. Ruth's dad stayed in West Virginia working in the coalmine.

Ruth shared a horrible story about a relative who got too close to the fireplace. Her robe caught fire. She pushed her two children outside the house but could not save herself. Grandparents raised the two children.

Hearing Ruth share about the lives of her and her family, Mary and I later discussed how clearly Ruth's generation were not whiners. They simply kept moving forward doing whatever they needed to do to survive. They were not snowflakes.

Mary and I made sure to get-outta-Dodge (Baltimore) before dark. It is truly tragic what fifty years of Democrat control has done to a once great American city.

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American

Help Lloyd spread the Truth

http://LloydMarcus.com
Norbert Niederhauser enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts with family at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, on Dec. 31, 2019. (Lily Yu/The Epoch Times)

SAN FRANCISCOEntrepreneur Norbert Niederhauser, his wife Mayumi Acosta, and their niece from Colombia attended Shen Yun Performing Arts on New Years Eve as a near last-minute decision, as Acosta had wanted to see the acclaimed dance company for over ten years.

I feel like this is the perfect day, said Niederhauser, who grew up in Austria and frequented the opera. The jet-setting couple enjoys going out and travel, so they were thrilled that they grasped their chance to see Shen Yun at the War Memorial Opera House when they finally had the time.

Though more familiar with classical ballet and opera, Niederhauser enjoyed the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization told through classical Chinese dance that he saw on stage.

I felt connected, Niederhauser said.

Niederhauser laughed and said that though he had waited many years before finally seeing Shen Yun, others shouldnt.

You dont have to wait! Put it in your calendar and make it happen, he said.

You are immersed in a story, in different stories, different story parts to experience parts of China, shown through choreography, Niederhauser said.

Acosta was deeply moved by experiencing the ancient culture, which is said to be divinely inspired, a land where heaven, earth, and humankind coexisted in harmony.

Sometimes I felt like I wanted to cry, it was so beautiful, Acosta said.

Acosta is a photographer and attuned to details and beauty, which she saw much of in the performance.

Im really impressed with everything, the choreography, the way they tell the story, she said. The dancers are magnificent; theyre all synchronized, and its just beautiful to see the costumes and everything, I just love it.

Shen Yun Performing Arts curtain call at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, on Dec. 30, 2019. (The Epoch Times)

Its just perfection, I have never seen anything like that, Acosta said, marveling at the perfection and precision of even the smallest gestures. Its just fantastic to see.

The expressions, the beautiful movements, the softness and the speed, just beautiful, I love it, she said.

Acosta loved that Shen Yun was bringing a piece of the authentic Chinese culture and sharing it with the world through art and story.

Its quite impressive, she said.

With reporting by Lily Yu.

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.
AUSTIN  State officials take pride in protecting Texas image as a defender of the unborn, but those fights have cost taxpayers $5.6 million to protect a law struck down as unconstitutional and others that have no resolution in sight.

The legal fights over those state laws and administrative directives that have built additional restrictions on abortions and providers have led Texans to spend $3.1 million playing defense. The costs include staff salaries, travel expenses, filing fees and expert witnesses, according to state records released to Hearst Newspapers. In one case, Texas was also ordered to pay abortion providers $2.5 million for its attorneys fees.

I think its a backward priority for the state of Texas, said Amy Hagstrom Miller, president and CEO of Whole Womans Health, a group regularly challenging the states abortion laws in court. The politicians are introducing legislation thats unconstitutional and its not a secret. Even some of the people introducing it know its unconstitutional.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texans paid $500,000 to anti-abortion activists. Heres what they got.

Anti-abortion advocates say little is more important than protecting the sanctity of life and contend the cost to taxpayers is worth it.

Elective abortion is a systemic injustice of a larger, stronger party taking the life of a smaller, weaker party. With 50,000 abortions per year in Texas, it is inappropriate to quibble about the states return on investment. This is about protecting innocent human life; how much is that worth? said Kimberlyn Schwartz, spokeswoman for Texas Right to Life, in a text message.

Although the landmark Roe v Wade decision that protected womens right to abortion was decided nearly 50 years ago, the issue continues to galvanize voters and politicians. In Texas, Republican politicians like Attorney General Ken Paxton, the states top lawyer, have made anti-abortion issues a priority. Lawmakers attempt to pass new regulations on the procedure during every legislative session. Those new laws are often immediately challenged.

In Washington D.C., anti-abortion advocates are hoping to send a case to the U.S. Supreme Court that will unravel the right to an abortion. And President Donald Trump has added two new conservative justices to the court.

Texas suffered its biggest legal, philosophical and financial loss in recent history in 2016 when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law that put unconstitutional regulations on abortion facilities. The 2013 law required abortion clinics to resemble ambulatory surgical centers, which required costly renovations at most abortion clinics. The law also required physicians to obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in the event of medical complications, although such complications needing a hospital were rare.

Although the Supreme Court ruled 5-3 against Texas, about half of the states abortion clinics were forced to close while the case wound through the legal system. The court ruled neither regulation offered medical benefits that justified the undue burden put on women, who would have to travel further for appointments and face longer wait-times at still-operating clinics. The Texas attorney generals office and the solicitor generals office spent at least $840,000 defending this law, according to state records. A federal judge later required Texas to pay abortion providers $2.5 million for attorneys fees.

For subscribers: Unconstitutional anti-abortion law costs Texas another $2.5 million

The ruling not only nullified Texas law but reverberated across the country. Other states passed mirroring restrictions, dealing a major blow to the anti-abortion movement. While filing a friend of the court brief Tuesday to support a similar Louisiana law to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2020, Paxton urged the court to revisit and overturn its ruling on the Texas case, calling it a departure from prior abortion precedent.

Two days after the U.S. Supreme Courts 2016 ruling, state officials quietly published a regulation requiring customary burial or cremation of fetal remains from an abortion recovered by an abortion clinic or a hospital. Abortion providers took Texas to court and won, then returned to court for a second case after the Legislature passed a law in 2017 to codify the administrations regulation. A district court again rejected the policy. Texas has spent nearly $670,000 defending the policy and is awaiting a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Texas is also awaiting a ruling from the appeals court on a law that bans a common second-trimester election procedure, known as dilation and evacuation. Critics argue the procedure is gruesome, but a federal judge ruled the ban intervenes in the medical process of abortionin an unduly burdensome manner. Records show Texas has spent nearly $930,000 on that case.

Texas is also in court defending a decision to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood and revoke $3.4 million in funding. State officials based their decision on sting videos produced by undercover anti-abortion activists who surreptitiously recorded a Planned Parenthood official who they said was engaged in the illegal sale of body parts. Congressional and state investigations have not supported those claims. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the state and remanded the case to a federal court in Austin. Texas has spent $705,000 on the case.

Another case challenges a slew of abortion restrictions Texas lawmakers have passed over the years. The case, filed by Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Family Planning, has yet to be heard in court and so farhas cost Texas $9,000.

Texas has a long record of fighting abortion. The landmark Roe v. Wade decision that protected a womans right to abortion in 1973 began when a Texas woman sued a district attorney in Dallas County in 1970. Nearly five decades later, abortion still drives political debate in Texas, where a North Texas pastor is convincing small towns to ban the procedure and the use of the morning-after pill, which prevents pregnancy.

For subscribers: City of Waskoms abortion ban prompts new Abortion is Freedom billboards

The amount of money the state of Texas has spent to defend the anti-abortion laws is staggering, though unsurprising, said Amanda Roberti, a political science professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey who focuses on reproductive policy.

Since 2008, state lawmakers across the country have introduced more than 1,600 bills proposing stricter abortion regulations, she said. This represents a time that theres been more activity since Roe v Wade has passed, she said.

Seven states this year passed bills that would ban abortions after six weeks of gestation or less. A so-called heartbeat bill this year failed to gain traction in the Texas Legislature as lawmakers attempted to sideline most social issues in favor of property tax and school funding reform.

andrea.zelinski@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 17:40:56|Editor: Xiaoxia

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COLOMBO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT), which is a joint venture operated by China and Sri Lanka at the Colombo South Terminal in the Port of Colombo, said Wednesday that it handled a total of 2.9 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) or 40 percent of volumes at Colombo Port in 2019.

CICT said in a statement that the terminal has seen an 8.6-percent increase in throughput compared to 2018, and a 322-percent increase compared to 2014. Strong growth at CICT has helped the Port of Colombo increase its total throughput by 2.6 percent in 2019.

Ultra Large Container Carriers (ULCC) contributed to 72 percent of CICT's volumes as the terminal is the first and only deep water port in South Asia capable of handling the large vessels afloat.

the CICT CEO Jack Huang said, "We believe that our unwavering commitment to efficiency and other key performance indicators coupled with our deep water capacity enabled us to grow faster than some of the other terminals in the region."

CICT made a number of investment to the Colombo South Terminal in 2019 including 1.5 million U.S. dollars for Sri Lanka's first Dangerous Goods Storage Facility and 10 million dollars to convert the entire fleet of diesel operated rubber-tyred-gantry cranes to electric ones with zero carbon emissions - reducing carbon emissions by 45 percent and diesel consumption by 96 percent.

Since commencing operations in 2014, the CICT has overseen growth in volumes from 686,639 TEUs in 2014, to 1.56 million TEUs in 2015, 2 million TEUs in 2016, 2.38 million TEUs in 2017 and 2.67 million TEUs in 2018.

The CICT is a joint venture between China Merchant Port Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The Colombo South Terminal was developed by the CICT under a 35-year build, operate and transfer agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
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Washington DC [USA] Jan 1 (ANI): Amid US embassy siege in Baghdad, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Tuesday held telephonic conversations with Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih separately, saying that the United States will protect and defend its people in Iraq.



"The Secretary made it clear that the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq," said Pompeo's spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus.

"Both Abdul-Mahdi and Salih assured the Secretary that they took seriously their responsibility for and would guarantee the safety and security of US personnel and property," she added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi PM has called for an end to US embassy siege after strikes on the Shiite militia.

Moreover, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has also urged protesters to end the violent siege of the American embassy in Baghdad and stressed that "aggression against embassies was an act that security forces would not tolerate."

Dozens of protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashing the main door and setting fire to a reception area, prompting tear gas and sounds of gunfire.

This development came after the US conducted strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.

The US ambassador to Iraq and other staff were evacuated from the embassy.

Earlier, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the embassy shortly after funerals were held for fighters of Kataib Hezbollah militia killed in Sunday night strikes that the Pentagon launched in response on a rocket attack on a Kirkuk base.

President Donald Trump confirmed that US airstrikes on Sunday were a response to a recent attack that killed a US contractor.

In a tweet, he blamed Iran both for the contractor's death and Tuesday's attack on the embassy.

Furthermore, US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had said that extra troops had been dispatched to Baghdad to guard the embassy. (ANI)


Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday slammed the BJP government over the plight of a 14-month-old girl whose parents were arrested for participating in an anti-CAA protest defying prohibitory orders, saying it is the moral duty of the government to allow the child's mother to go home.

On December 19, people gathered in Beniya Bagh area of Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, to protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), defying section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) imposed by police.

Champak's parents, activists Ekta (32) and Ravi Shankar (36), who run an NGO, Climate Agenda, were among those arrested in connection with the protest.

"To suppress civil demonstrations, the BJP government has shown such inhumanity and separated a small child from her parents," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet.

The toddler's health has deteriorated, but there has been no change in the BJP government's intentions, the Congress general secretary said.

"It is the moral duty of this government to allow the innocent mother of this child to go home," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MANILA, Philippines  The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday expressed confidence that strong security is in place in Mindanao as the martial law in the region lapses on New Years eve.

As martial law expires at 11:59 tonight, we are confident of an improved security climate in Mindanao that will work for the benefit of fellow Filipinos, Marine Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP Spokesperson, said in a statement.

Specifically, where ML [martial law] was an issue, it is expected to boost economic activities due to added investors confidence, he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he has decided not to extend the martial law in Mindanao following the assessment and recommendation of his security and defense officials on the situation in the region.

Mindanao has been under martial law since May 2017 after the Maute Terror group attacked Marawi City.

The martial law was initially set for 60 days, but it was extended until the end of 2017, then until the end of 2018 and until December 31 of 2019.

Arevalo said that while the Daesh-inspired local terrorist groups continue to decline, we urge local chief executives (LCEs) and their constituents to press on and build from the gains of ML to maintain the strong security posture now in place.

He also appealed to local government officials to continue their robust partnership with government security agencies.

In the event that isolated incidents of violence and lawlessness erupt in Mindanao after martial law has ended, Arevalo said Proclamation No. 55 is still in effect in the region.

Under such declaration, President Duterte has placed the entire Mindanao under a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence, he said.

He also assured that the military will deploy its forces to curb any form of lawless violence to prevent them from spreading and escalating not only in Mindanao but elsewhere in the Philippines.

[Our] fellow Filipinos can expect that the AFP will continue to push for the amendment of the Human Security Act especially with Senate President Vicente Sotto III assuring the passage of the new Anti-Terrorism Law, he added.

The post AFP confident of strong security in Mindanao after martial law lapses appeared first on UNTV News.
When respected experts were so wrong about something so important, the public might well wonder if maybe Donald Trumps stupendous ignorance could really be worse. But its not clear he learned the lesson that military might does not solve all problems. It would surprise no one if he lurched into a war with Iran or North Korea  or expanded the one in Iraq.
She has become the mononymous young face of the climate crisis, inspiring millions with her words and actions, despite her tender age. Earlier this month, she was named Time magazines person of the year and, according to Sir David Attenborough, she has woken up the world to climate change, achieving what many of those who have been working on the issue for 20 years had failed to do.

Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg at a climate march in December. Credit:AP

But Greta Thunbergs critics would tell a very different story: one in which the teenage activist has been brainwashed and pushed on to the global stage by her parents - a Swedish couple supposedly pulling the strings for ill-defined reasons of their own.

Earlier this week, Svante Thunberg, the 50-year-old actor and Gretas father, addressed this theory directly. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he stated, firmly: When she decided to do this, we said quite clearly that we would not support it.

Questioned by presenter Mishal Husain as to why, he explained: Obviously, we thought it was a bad idea - putting yourself out there with all the hate on social media, and just the idea of your own daughter putting herself at the very front line of such a huge question like climate change.
Canadian immigration in 2020: Expect a big year for provincial and regional immigration programs Impact of Brexit, U.S. elections in new year could leave Canada competing for economic immigrants

Canadian immigration in 2020: Expect a big year for provincial and regional immigration programs Impact of Brexit, U.S. elections in new year could leave Canada competing for economic immigrants

Canadian immigration in 2020: Expect a big year for provincial and regional immigration programs Impact of Brexit, U.S. elections in new year could leave Canada competing for economic immigrants Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Millions of new Canadians will arrive through Canadas various immigration programs during the new decade and several expected policy updates will help to pave the way in 2020.

Heres a look at some of the notable developments that we can expect over the next 12 months both in Canada and beyond that could help shape the future of Canadian immigration policy.

2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan announcement by March

By March, Canadas new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco Mendicino, should be in a position to table the 2019 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The report is usually released by November 1 each year, but this was delayed because of the federal election on October 21.

This report is significant because it provides insight into the federal governments immigration priorities. Perhaps its most notable aspect will be Canadas 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan. We already know the federal governments immigration targets for 2020 (341,000 newcomers) and 2021 (350,000 newcomers). As outlined in Minister Mendicinos Mandate Letter, we should expect a modest increase to the 2022 target that, based on current trends, could be in the neighbourhood of 360,000 immigrants.

Parents and Grandparents Program changes expected by April at the latest

It is expected that the federal government will announce their intake process plans for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) by April 2020 at the latest. While the federal government has an annual target of welcoming about 21,000 immigrants under the PGP, managing the intake process has proven challenging for many years now given demand far exceeds the supply of available immigration spots. It is likely the federal government will roll out a new process that seeks to avoid previous intake process shortcomings.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Ottawas commitment to regionalization is undeniable

Under the 2019-2021 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will look to welcome 67,800 immigrants (principal applicants, spouses, and dependents) through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in the next year, which is an increase of 11 per cent compared with 2019.

Not only are provinces and territories seeking to attract more immigrants through the PNP, but they are also looking to steer more of them beyond their biggest cities. Most provinces and territories see at least 80 per cent of their immigrants settle in the largest municipalities, which comes at the expense of efforts to promote economic development in smaller cities and rural communities. To counter this, a number of provinces and territories have introduced regional PNP streams. For instance, Ontario recently selected three communities to take part in its new Regional Immigration Pilot.

The federal government is complementing the PNP with additional efforts to promote a broader distribution of immigrants across Canada (a policy known as regionalization).

In 2017, it launched the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, which has enabled the four Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick to welcome more than 4,000 more immigrants. Based on the ministers Mandate Letter, we can expect the AIP to become a permanent program in short order.

In 2019, the federal government launched the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) that will ramp up in 2020 as 11 designated communities across Canada begin to recruit newcomers through the pilot.

The ministers mandate also entails the launch of a new Municipal Nominee Program. Details are not yet available, but it is reasonable to expect it to operate in a similar fashion to the RNIP whereby designated municipalities will be able to recruit newcomers who meet their labour market needs. The mandate also indicates the federal government will launch an additional pilot to promote more immigration to rural communities.

A noteworthy observation regarding these various programs is the federal government has now opted to provide provinces, territories, and communities across Canada with just over 50 per cent of Economic Class selection powers. This is a recent development and underscores the federal governments commitment to ensuring the benefits of immigration are spread more equitably across the country.

Over the last few years, Economic Class selection powers have been split 50-50. Prior to the launch of the PNP in 1998, the federal government selected nearly 90 per cent of all economic class immigrants to Canada, with Quebec selecting the remaining 10 per cent.

Will citizenship fees be waived in 2020?

Eliminating citizenship fees is also part of Mendicinos Mandate Letter. The current cost of becoming a citizen is $630 per adult, which some have argued is prohibitively high for low-income individuals and families. It is unknown when the fees will be waived, but we can expect the citizenship uptake rate to temporarily stagnate or decline as eligible immigrants make the rational decision to wait for this policy to be implemented. When it does come into effect, citizenship rates could increase by about 40 per cent by 2024.

Watch out for Great Britain and the United States

It is clear that 2020 will be yet another eventful year in Canadas immigration system.

In addition to federal as well as PNP developments, we can expect Quebec to continue to reform its immigration programsfor instance, in late 2019, the province announced major changes to its popular Quebec Experience Program (which it then reversed) and Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.

We should also be mindful of immigration policy developments outside of Canada.

Once Britain finalizes its Brexit agreement with the European Union, its majority Conservative government may look to launch a new economic class points system that competes with Canada.

In addition, all eyes will be on the November 2020 United States presidential and congressional elections, which will certainly impact Canada in a number of ways.

Canada is looking to modernize its 2002 Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) with the U.S. for managing asylum claims. Since 2017, some 50,000 people have used a loophole in the STCA by crossing into Canada to claim asylum through border crossings not covered by the agreement. Canada may have to wait until after the elections to pursue its modernization agenda.

Moreover, a Republican or Democratic majority across the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate could pave the way for the United States to implement reforms such as the launch of additional economic class pathways, which could also lead to more vigorous competition for Canada. President Trump has often cited Canada as an example of how he wants the United States to welcome economic class immigrants but his administration has lacked sufficient congressional support to make Canada-like reforms.

All this to say, immigration policy is always international in nature, and issues beyond Canadas control including south of the border and across the Atlantic Ocean will impact Canada beyond 2020.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

Kareem El-Assal is the Director of Policy & Digital Strategy at Canadavisa.

 2019 CIC News All Rights Reserved
NEW YORK, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Microcarrier market worldwide is projected to grow by US$559.9 Million, driven by a compounded growth of 5.8%. Equipment, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.8%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$423.5 Million by the year 2025, Equipment will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799109/?utm_source=PRN

- Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 4.9% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$19.9 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$17.2 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Equipment will reach a market size of US$15.6 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 8.5% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$150.2 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies.



- Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Becton, Dickinson and Company; Corning, Inc.; Danaher Corporation; Eppendorf AG; GE Healthcare; HiMedia Laboratories; Lonza Group AG; Merck KgaA; Sartorius AG; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799109/?utm_source=PRN



I. METHODOLOGY



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW

Global Competitor Market Shares

Microcarrier Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %):

2019 & 2025

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

With Gradual Transition to Cell Based Production, Growing

Demand for Cell Based Vaccines Fuels Market Growth

Vaccines Crucial Role in Tackling Rising Incidences of

Infectious Diseases Presents Demand Opportunities in the

Market: Global Vaccines Market (In US$ Billion) for the Years

2017, 2020 & 2022

Strong Demand for Biologics and Emerging Opportunities for

Biosimilars Influence Market Prospects

Increasing Demand for Biologics Driven by Continuous

Investments Extends Growth in the Market: Global Biologics

Market (In US$ Billion) for the Years 2017, 2020 & 2023

Expanding Biosimilars Capabilities in Asia Pacific Triggers

Demand in the Market

Rising Demand for Biosimilars in Asia Ramps up Market

Prospects: Total Number of Biosimilars in Pipeline by Country

(2018)

Pressing Need for Cost Effective Cell Production in Stem Cell

and Gene Therapies Boosts Market Demand

With Cancer Related Conditions on the Rise in Asia, Ensuing

Demand for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Spurs Growth in the

Global Market: Percentage (In %) Breakdown of New Cancer

Cases by Geographic Region for the Year 2018

Ballooning VC Investments in the Biotech Space Drives Growth in

the Market

Global Investment (In US$ Billion) in Biotech Space for the

Years 2016, 2017 & 2018

Technological Advancements and New Product Launches Promise

Cost Effective Cell Production

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Table 1: Microcarrier Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Microcarrier Global Retrospective Market Scenario in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Microcarrier Market Share Shift across Key Geographies

Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Equipment (Product) World Market by Region/Country in

US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Equipment (Product) Historic Market Analysis by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Equipment (Product) Market Share Breakdown of

Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Consumables (Product) Potential Growth Markets

Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Consumables (Product) Historic Market Perspective by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Consumables (Product) Market Sales Breakdown by

Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Vaccine Manufacturing (Application) Global Market

Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country:

2018-2025

Table 11: Vaccine Manufacturing (Application) Retrospective

Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 12: Vaccine Manufacturing (Application) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 13: Cell Therapy (Application) Demand Potential Worldwide

in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 14: Cell Therapy (Application) Historic Sales Analysis in

US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 15: Cell Therapy (Application) Share Breakdown Review by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 16: Other Applications (Application) Worldwide Latent

Demand Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 17: Other Applications (Application) Global Historic

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 18: Other Applications (Application) Distribution of

Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 19: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies (End-Use)

Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country

for the Years 2018 through 2025

Table 20: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies (End-Use)

Analysis of Historic Sales in US$ Thousand by Region/Country

for the Years 2009 to 2017

Table 21: Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies (End-Use)

Global Market Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2009,

2019, and 2025

Table 22: Research Institutes (End-Use) Global Opportunity

Assessment in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 23: Research Institutes (End-Use) Historic Sales Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 24: Research Institutes (End-Use) Percentage Share

Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS

2025

Table 25: CROs (End-Use) Worldwide Sales in US$ Thousand by

Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 26: CROs (End-Use) Historic Demand Patterns in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 27: CROs (End-Use) Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US Microcarrier Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025

Table 28: United States Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 29: Microcarrier Market in the United States by Product:

A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 30: United States Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 31: United States Microcarrier Latent Demand Forecasts in

US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 32: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in the United

States by Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 33: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 34: United States Microcarrier Latent Demand Forecasts in

US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 35: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in the United

States by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 36: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 37: Canadian Microcarrier Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 38: Canadian Microcarrier Historic Market Review by

Product in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 39: Microcarrier Market in Canada: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 40: Canadian Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 41: Microcarrier Market in Canada: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 42: Canadian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 43: Canadian Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 44: Microcarrier Market in Canada: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 45: Canadian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

JAPAN

Table 46: Japanese Market for Microcarrier: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 47: Microcarrier Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2009-2017

Table 48: Japanese Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 49: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: Japanese Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2009-2017

Table 51: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Japan by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 52: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 53: Japanese Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 54: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Japan by End-Use:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 55: Chinese Microcarrier Market Growth Prospects in US$

Thousand by Product for the Period 2018-2025

Table 56: Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in China in US$

Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 57: Chinese Microcarrier Market by Product: Percentage

Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 58: Chinese Demand for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 59: Microcarrier Market Review in China in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 60: Chinese Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 61: Chinese Demand for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 62: Microcarrier Market Review in China in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 63: Chinese Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European Microcarrier Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario

(in %) for 2019 & 2025

Table 64: European Microcarrier Market Demand Scenario in US$

Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 65: Microcarrier Market in Europe: A Historic Market

Perspective in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 66: European Microcarrier Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 67: European Microcarrier Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018-2025

Table 68: Microcarrier Market in Europe in US$ Thousand by

Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 69: European Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 70: European Microcarrier Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 71: Microcarrier Market in Europe: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the Period

2009-2017

Table 72: European Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 73: European Microcarrier Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 74: Microcarrier Market in Europe: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 75: European Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 76: Microcarrier Market in France by Product: Estimates

and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2018-2025

Table 77: French Microcarrier Historic Market Scenario in US$

Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 78: French Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by Product:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 79: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in France

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 80: French Microcarrier Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 81: French Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year

Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 82: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in France

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 83: French Microcarrier Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 84: French Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year

Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

GERMANY

Table 85: Microcarrier Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period

2018-2025

Table 86: German Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in US$

Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 87: German Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 88: Microcarrier Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 89: German Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 90: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Germany by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 91: Microcarrier Market in Germany: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 92: German Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 93: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Germany by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 94: Italian Microcarrier Market Growth Prospects in US$

Thousand by Product for the Period 2018-2025

Table 95: Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in Italy in US$

Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 96: Italian Microcarrier Market by Product: Percentage

Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 97: Italian Demand for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 98: Microcarrier Market Review in Italy in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 99: Italian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 100: Italian Demand for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 101: Microcarrier Market Review in Italy in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 102: Italian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 103: United Kingdom Market for Microcarrier: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 104: Microcarrier Market in the United Kingdom: Historic

Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period

2009-2017

Table 105: United Kingdom Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 106: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 107: United Kingdom Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand

by Application: 2009-2017

Table 108: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 109: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 110: United Kingdom Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand

by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 111: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Table 112: Spanish Microcarrier Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 113: Spanish Microcarrier Historic Market Review by

Product in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 114: Microcarrier Market in Spain: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 115: Spanish Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 116: Microcarrier Market in Spain: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 117: Spanish Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 118: Spanish Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 119: Microcarrier Market in Spain: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 120: Spanish Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

RUSSIA

Table 121: Russian Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 122: Microcarrier Market in Russia by Product: A Historic

Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 123: Russian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 124: Russian Microcarrier Latent Demand Forecasts in US$

Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 125: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by

Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 126: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in Russia by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 127: Russian Microcarrier Latent Demand Forecasts in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 128: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by

End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 129: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in Russia by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 130: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018-2025

Table 131: Microcarrier Market in Rest of Europe in US$

Thousand by Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 132: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown

by Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 133: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 134: Microcarrier Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization

of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 135: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 136: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 137: Microcarrier Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization

of Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 138: Rest of Europe Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 139: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 140: Microcarrier Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period

2009-2017

Table 141: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 142: Microcarrier Market in Asia-Pacific by Product:

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period

2018-2025

Table 143: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Historic Market Scenario

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 144: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 145: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 146: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 147: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A

17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 148: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 149: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Historic Market Review in

US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 150: Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A

17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 151: Microcarrier Market in Australia: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 152: Australian Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in

US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 153: Australian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 154: Microcarrier Market in Australia: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 155: Australian Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 156: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Australia

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 157: Microcarrier Market in Australia: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 158: Australian Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 159: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Australia

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Table 160: Indian Microcarrier Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 161: Indian Microcarrier Historic Market Review by

Product in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 162: Microcarrier Market in India: Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 163: Indian Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 164: Microcarrier Market in India: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by Application for

2009-2017

Table 165: Indian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 166: Indian Microcarrier Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 167: Microcarrier Market in India: Summarization of

Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by End-Use for

2009-2017

Table 168: Indian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Table 169: Microcarrier Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 170: South Korean Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 171: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 172: Microcarrier Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 173: South Korean Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 174: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 175: Microcarrier Market in South Korea: Recent Past,

Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 176: South Korean Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 177: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in South

Korea by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 178: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Microcarrier: Annual

Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for

the Period 2018-2025

Table 179: Microcarrier Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific:

Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2009-2017

Table 180: Rest of Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market Share

Analysis by Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 181: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 182: Rest of Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 183: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Rest of

Asia-Pacific by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 184: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts

for Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 185: Rest of Asia-Pacific Microcarrier Market in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 186: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Rest of

Asia-Pacific by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 187: Latin American Microcarrier Market Trends by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018-2025

Table 188: Microcarrier Market in Latin America in US$ Thousand

by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the Period

2009-2017

Table 189: Latin American Microcarrier Market Percentage

Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 190: Latin American Microcarrier Market Growth Prospects

in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2018-2025

Table 191: Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in Latin

America in US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 192: Latin American Microcarrier Market by Product:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 193: Latin American Demand for Microcarrier in US$

Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 194: Microcarrier Market Review in Latin America in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 195: Latin American Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 196: Latin American Demand for Microcarrier in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 197: Microcarrier Market Review in Latin America in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 198: Latin American Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 199: Argentinean Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018-2025

Table 200: Microcarrier Market in Argentina in US$ Thousand by

Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 201: Argentinean Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 202: Argentinean Microcarrier Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 203: Microcarrier Market in Argentina: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the Period

2009-2017

Table 204: Argentinean Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 205: Argentinean Microcarrier Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 206: Microcarrier Market in Argentina: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 207: Argentinean Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Table 208: Microcarrier Market in Brazil by Product: Estimates

and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2018-2025

Table 209: Brazilian Microcarrier Historic Market Scenario in

US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 210: Brazilian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 211: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 212: Brazilian Microcarrier Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 213: Brazilian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A

17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 214: Microcarrier Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 215: Brazilian Microcarrier Historic Market Review in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 216: Brazilian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis: A

17-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2009, 2019, and 2025

MEXICO

Table 217: Microcarrier Market in Mexico: Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period

2018-2025

Table 218: Mexican Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in US$

Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 219: Mexican Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 220: Microcarrier Market in Mexico: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 221: Mexican Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 222: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Mexico by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 223: Microcarrier Market in Mexico: Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 224: Mexican Microcarrier Market in Retrospect in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 225: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in Mexico by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 226: Rest of Latin America Microcarrier Market Estimates

and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 227: Microcarrier Market in Rest of Latin America by

Product: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 228: Rest of Latin America Microcarrier Market Share

Breakdown by Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 229: Rest of Latin America Microcarrier Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 230: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of

Latin America by Application in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 231: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin

America by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 232: Rest of Latin America Microcarrier Latent Demand

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 233: Microcarrier Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of

Latin America by End-Use in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 234: Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin

America by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Table 235: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 236: Microcarrier Market in the Middle East by

Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 237: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown

by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 238: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018 to 2025

Table 239: The Middle East Microcarrier Historic Market by

Product in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 240: Microcarrier Market in the Middle East: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Product for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 241: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 242: Microcarrier Market in the Middle East:

Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by

Application for 2009-2017

Table 243: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Share Analysis

by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 244: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 245: Microcarrier Market in the Middle East:

Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Thousand by

End-Use for 2009-2017

Table 246: The Middle East Microcarrier Market Share Analysis

by End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

IRAN

Table 247: Iranian Market for Microcarrier: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 248: Microcarrier Market in Iran: Historic Sales Analysis

in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2009-2017

Table 249: Iranian Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 250: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 251: Iranian Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand by

Application: 2009-2017

Table 252: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Iran by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 253: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

Microcarrier in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 254: Iranian Microcarrier Market in US$ Thousand by

End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 255: Microcarrier Market Share Shift in Iran by End-Use:

2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 256: Israeli Microcarrier Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ Thousand by Product: 2018-2025

Table 257: Microcarrier Market in Israel in US$ Thousand by

Product: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 258: Israeli Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Product: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 259: Israeli Microcarrier Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by Application: 2018-2025

Table 260: Microcarrier Market in Israel: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by Application for the Period

2009-2017

Table 261: Israeli Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 262: Israeli Microcarrier Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ Thousand by End-Use: 2018-2025

Table 263: Microcarrier Market in Israel: Summarization of

Historic Demand in US$ Thousand by End-Use for the Period

2009-2017

Table 264: Israeli Microcarrier Market Share Analysis by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 265: Saudi Arabian Microcarrier Market Growth Prospects

in US$ Thousand by Product for the Period 2018-2025

Table 266: Microcarrier Historic Market Analysis in Saudi

Arabia in US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 267: Saudi Arabian Microcarrier Market by Product:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 268: Saudi Arabian Demand for Microcarrier in US$

Thousand by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 269: Microcarrier Market Review in Saudi Arabia in US$

Thousand by Application: 2009-2017

Table 270: Saudi Arabian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 271: Saudi Arabian Demand for Microcarrier in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2018 to 2025

Table 272: Microcarrier Market Review in Saudi Arabia in US$

Thousand by End-Use: 2009-2017

Table 273: Saudi Arabian Microcarrier Market Share Breakdown by

End-Use: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 274: Microcarrier Market in the United Arab Emirates:

Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by

Product for the Period 2018-2025

Table 275: United Arab Emirates Microcarrier Historic Market

Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product: 2009-2017

Table 276: Microcarrier Market Share Distribution in United



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Thousands of people had gathered on the banks of the Bhima river on New Years Day 2018 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a British-era war.

It was an annual ritual a matter of pride for the Dalit communities because it marked the victory of a small British army manned by Dalits over a larger force helmed by the Peshwas, notorious for their oppressive caste practices.

But within hours, clashes had broken out at the spot. Stones were hurled and people thrashed. At least one person died in the violence that angered Dalit groups and sparked nationwide protests. Two years later, two separate investigations into the clashes have unfolded at contrasting pace and taken vastly different trajectories.

The first probe was initiated by the Pune rural police days after violence killed one person on January 1, 2018 on the basis of FIRs by some eyewitnesses to the clashes. But it has since stalled and many of the people named in the FIR  including right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote  have either not been arrested (Bhide) or are out on bail (Ekbote). A judicial commission set up to investigate the clashes within three months is now in its 22nd month of operation and has examined around 27 of an estimated 500 witnesses.

A second probe started months later has taken centre stage. This investigation, helmed by the Pune urban police, focuses on an event, held in Pune a day before the violence, called Elgar Parishad. This probe has also led to the arrest of nine prominent activists and 10 others, all of whom are accused in the case and awaiting trial.

Elgar Parishad was organised by people who were known Maoist-sympathisers. It made us suspect that they must have Maoist-links. They had previous arrests and cases against them. Once we started investigating, we found significant leads and the entire case came about, said IPS officer Ravindra Kadam, who was the joint commissioner of Pune police when the case was registered.

Police say the accused were plotting to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi, planning to smuggle weapons, train students for Naxal-led guerilla operations and further Maoist agenda. They have invoked various sections of the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act, along with Section 153-A (promoting enmity), 505(1)(B) (intent to cause fear or alarm), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), 124-A (sedition) and others of the Indian Penal Code.

The next hearing in the case is on Wednesday. Defence lawyers dismiss the charges.

Two years later, even with the chargesheet they do not have any idea what the charges are. Extremely strange that they have charged a person (Telugu poet Varavara Rao) whose devices they have not been able to access. With all those forensic evidence and higher authorties at play, they do not have a case, said advocate Rohan Nahar, one of the defence lawyers.

The two-member commission, headed by retired chief justice of Calcutta high court, Jay Narayan Patel, and state chief information officer Sumit Mullick, is looking not just at the violence but also the history of the spot.

The aim is to find out the truth from all the allegation, counter allegations, rumors etc., Work is very lengthy...The history is traced beyond 1818...Government is not terming anyone as upper-caste, lower-caste, Dalit, leftist or rightist. Our focus is clear. In a longer run, we want peace in the state, said advocate Shishir Hiray who is representing the state government.

No member of the Elgar Parishad organising team has deposed so far.

Ahead of the celebrations on Wednesday, the government has shrouded Bhima Koregaon in a cloak of security and chalked out a detailed security plan that includes round the clock aerial drone surveillance and a 10,000-strong security contingent.

Three gigantic high-mast lamps are being erected at the Jai Stambh (victory pillar). We have made elaborate security arrangement..., said Pune district collector Naval Kishore Ram.
While new year's eve across the world is all about countdowns and fireworks, things at India's national capital were a little different this time around.

Amid the raging protests against the Citizenship Act, people gathered at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, and students of Jamia Milia Islamia ushered in 2020 by singing the national anthem.

#JamiaMilliaIslamia welcomes 2020 in a style.



What a wonderful site! pic.twitter.com/gswpYkjosf  Tarique Anwer (@tanwer_m) December 31, 2019

Thousands of people, braving the cold and abandoning the new year parties, gathered at Delhis Shaheen Bagh and welcomed 2020 with the National anthem and slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was followed by "Inquilab Zindabad".

As the New Year came around, the brave women of #ShaheenBagh and all those present over again created the imagery that's become so iconic here.#CAA_NRC_Protest pic.twitter.com/CZE5VNpCV0  Vakasha Sachdev (@VakashaS) December 31, 2019

"Of course, I would have been celebrating all through the new year's eve had the situation been normal," a 30-year-old man, who works in a private firm, told PTI.

When a man was asked his name, he requested anonymity and added, "I don't want me being here to be identified with any religion. It's for a bigger cause, it's to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens."

And in a scene that will give you goosebumps, here's the crowd at #ShaheenBagh singing the national anthem to ring in #NewYear2020 .#CAA_NRC_Protest pic.twitter.com/YjS30fmQDE  Vakasha Sachdev (@VakashaS) December 31, 2019

"We are living on Orwellian reality. Absurdity is the new normal. Government is using its brute force at wrong places. Arts, and protests, in general should not be held against the citizens," the 26-year-old artist said, busy writing captions with chalk, on posters that were used by some protesters at the venue.

Shaheen Bagh rings in the New Year with the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/CwbeLbdnrB  Rohan Venkat (@RohanV) December 31, 2019

The protesters say the Citizenship Act amendments and the National Register of Citizens promised by Home Minister Amit Shah, will be used as tools to sideline Indian Muslims.

Shaheen Bagh, near Jamia Millia Islamia, has been a protest venue for people opposed to the CAA and the NRC, since December 15.

In a city that is known for its wild new year parties, it was heartwarming to see so many people coming together to celebrate in a very different manner.
A grandfather choked back tears as he shared how he has been left with nothing but a wooden pelican statue after a ferocious bushfire destroyed his home.

Dave McFarlane's holiday home was reduced to rubble when a bushfire closed in around the small coast town of Mallacoota in Victoria on Tuesday.

Residents and holidaymakers spent the day sheltering on the town's jetty and were told to be ready to get in the water at a moment's notice to keep safe.

When Mr McFarlane returned to his home on Wednesday, he was confronted with the heartbreaking news that it had been completely destroyed by the catastrophic blaze.

The only salvageable item Mr McFarlane found in his home, which he had built himself, was the small wooden pelican statue that his grandson gave him.

Scroll down for video

Dave McFarlane's holiday home was reduced to rubble when a bushfire closed in around the small coast town of Mallacoota in Victoria on Tuesday

Through tears, he shared with 9news he planned to take the pelican home to his grandson.

Mr McFarlane had tried to save his home but was forced to flee to safety.

'It got too bad, so we went. The embers started to come, and it went right over and we figured we'd better go.'

An 'apocalyptic' orange sky took over Mallacoota as the fires closed in.

Many people feared for their lives as they waited for the blaze and thick smoke to pass.

A number of properties have been destroyed as a result of the blaze that tore through Victorias far east coast (pictured: Gary Hinton stands amongst rubble after fires devastated the New South Wales town of Cobargo)

The Victorian town of Mallacoota (pictured) has no power or running water as families face an uncertain future

The town has now been left unrecognisable, with a number of buildings reduced to rubble.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said at least 10 homes had been destroyed.

The tourist town is only accessible by the Princes Highway  which remains cut off.

The large blaze, which saw the sky turn an eerie red, had passed through the town by Tuesday afternoon but the town remains under an emergency warning.

In apocalyptic scenes, families spent New Year's Eve on the pier in Mallacoota (pictured) after being forced to flee

Mallacoota mother Allison Marion took a photo of her son (pictured) wearing a facemask in a boat on the Mallacoota lake trying to stay safe from fire

After a request from the premier on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.

Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.

The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and facilitate evacuations as needed.

Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.
Editors Note: A previous version of this story said that a 30-year-old man was shot by police. Police provided the incorrect age for the man. The man shot by a police officer is 22 years old.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man was shot by Syracuse police who were responding to a menacing call on the citys North Side on Tuesday night, according to police.

A 22-year-old man had what police described as an edged weapon when he was shot in the 700 block of Grant Boulevard, Syracuse Deputy Police Chief Joseph Cecile said at the scene. Initial 911 calls indicated a 22-year-old threatened a family at 707 Grant Boulevard.

Two officers shot at the man and police are working to determine which officers shots hit the man, police said.

The man was transported to Upstate University Hospital; his condition is not known at this time, police said.

The shooting was reported at 5:02 p.m., according to Onondaga County 911 dispatch logs.

Units initially responded to the 700 block of Grant Boulevard for a menacing call at 4:46 p.m., according to 911 center reports. A person inside a residence at 707 Grant Boulevard reported that a person was menacing her, according to scanner reports.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday released the calendar for the year 2020 at an event in Chandigarh.

The calendar released by the Chief Minister was designed by the Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, according to a press release.

MLA Deepak Mangla, Principal Secretary to the CM Rajesh Khullar and other senior officers of the department were also present at the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Concerns that state regulations to protect sage grouse may apply to Wests project have slowed his plans to build a large meditation center on his Cody-area ranch. Wyoming wildlife officials also expressed concern about risk of animals falling into a hole being used in the construction and birds nesting in the structure. Local officials previously had denied a permit for the structure after West's last-minute change to include residential space. In addition to the change, the Park County Planning and Zoning Commission objected to "West already having done considerable work at the site" and told West's representatives to stop.
Indian Army presented a Guard of Honour to their outgoing chief General Bipin Rawat, who later in the day will take over as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). Before taking Guard of Honour, General Rawat laid a wreath at the National War memorial. (Image: PTI)
Following up on e-government dream

Over a week ago, Minister, Chairman of the Government Office (GO) Mai Tien Dung sent a letter to all individuals, organisations, and the business community regarding the use of the National Public Service Portal (NPSP) which was officially inaugurated on December 9.

It has been an unprecedented move from the government, which is calling upon all stakeholders to join hands with the government in boosting the construction of an efficient and transparent e-government, as well as the development of a more business-friendly climate for the country to lure in more investment.

For the NPSP to operate smoothly and serve people and enterprises effectively, we need co-operation from all people and businesses which are the beneficiaries of the portal, Dung wrote in the letter. It would be highly appreciated if each citizen and enterprise set up accounts on the NPSP so that they can enjoy its benefits.

Right after its debut, the NPSP has seen the registration of nearly 8,000 accounts, with the resounding majority being enterprises.

Tran Hai Van, director of Red Lotus Co., Ltd. in Hanoi, has also registered an account on the system.

We trade in assorted goods and often have to physically work with local departments of planning and investment, finance, industry and trade, and customs. The work is often time-consuming and costly, Van told VIR. With the NPSP, we hope our work can be completed more easily.

She explained that enterprises like hers have been obstructed by staff from the departments who often create difficulties for them, though their very mission should be to help businesses.

I think the NPSP is a big step in administrative reform and constructing an e-government, and businesses are quite happy about that, Van said. Now we can also seek more specific information about investment and business right on the system.

In another case, Nguyen Thi Huyen is conducting procedures to establish a branch for Minh Chau Anh Consultancy Co., Ltd. in Hanoi. Due to some errors in the system at the General Department of Taxation, the branch could not be established even though the company had submitted the related dossiers four times.

However, after Huyen sent her complaint to the NPSP, which is connected directly to authorised agencies, the issues melted away.

A new shared platform

Van and Huyen are just two of many whose issues have been resolved by the NPSP, which took around nine months to build.

According to Ngo Hai Phan, head of the GOs Administrative Procedure Control Department, the NPSP will help improve openness and transparency of information on administrative procedures as well as the accountability of state agencies.

The portal is estimated to save the state over VND4.2 trillion ($182.6 million) annually, which will continue to grow with more public services integrated into the system, Phan said.

Initially, the portal will offer five online public services at all 63 cities and provinces  the issuance of driving licenses, announcement of promotion activities, the reissuance of health insurance cards, provision of electricity services, and the payment of electricity bills.

Moreover, it also provides four ministerial-level public services. These are issuing international driving licenses, registration for promotional activities, granting of certificates for origin of goods, and e-tax payments for businesses.

Additionally, other public services will also be provided by localities such as the registration of business households and tax in Ho Chi Minh City, and birth registration in Hanoi, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh.

In the first quarter of 2020, 15 other public services will be added to the NPSP, concentrating on tax, customs, business registration, health, labour, birth registration, security transactions, and collection of fines for road traffic violations.

With the NPSP and the National E-document Exchange Platform (NEEP), the government is gradually constructing an effective e-government which already exists in many nations, said Minister Dung.

In March 2019, the GO officially launched the NEEP developed by giant VNPT. The NEEP will help issue about 400,000 new documents and deal with about two million documents sent and received every day. The time it takes to process documents is five times quicker than previously.

The platform will also help save more than VND1.2 trillion ($52.17 million) per year, after subtracting costs charged by VNPT.

All 31 ministries and ministry-level agencies, 63 provinces and centrally-ruled cities, and the Party Central Committees Office have connected to the platform with e-documents being sent and received quickly and safely.

All document managing software from ministries, agencies, and localities have been connected well and systematically. There will be no delays in the sending and receiving of documents, benefitting people and enterprises, Dung said.

A long drive

In fact, the NPSP and the NEEP are just the first major steps for the government to turn itself into an e-government whose prime targets are to serve people and enterprises, then boost economic growth, and ensure effectiveness and sustainability in the governments macro-monitoring.

In 2018, in order to realise Vietnams dream of streamlining government procedures with online technologies, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc established a national committee on e-government, demonstrating the governments strong determination to wholly transform the way the governmental system works.

Vietnam has also been seeking experience in e-government development from many nations, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Estonia, France, the Netherlands, and South Korea.

However, according to the GO, online public service provision has witnessed slow progress. As of September 2019, the number of these services provided online by ministries and central agencies was only 1,720, which fails to meet expectations.

Commenting on Vietnams efforts to develop its own e-government, Ousmane Dione, World Bank country director for Vietnam said, I am very encouraged by an increased focus of the Vietnamese governments policies on disruptive technology and the digital economy within the context of Industry 4.0.

However, he also made some suggestions.

To forge ahead, or even leapfrog, Vietnam must upgrade the way its government functions. Three types of government relationships are critical  government-to-government, government-to-business, and government-to-citizen, Dione said. Technologies can help in many ways, if we can embrace them strategically to reverse potential disruptions to these relationships.

In his views, the Vietnamese government needs to lead by example and become more digital themselves.

This means not only streamlining systems on an integrated whole of government basis, but also offering digital service platforms that support businesses and reduce transaction times and costs, he said. Online licensing and permit approvals are excellent examples of such digital services. Initiatives such as national digital ID can trigger direct benefits in other areas of the digital economy.

PM Phuc, who is also chairman of the National Committee on e-Government, underlined that, The e-government must put our people at the centre and consider their convenience and satisfaction as a top priority, ensuring that no-one is left behind, he said, adding that public services on digital platforms must be convenient.

Tran Hai Van of Red Lotus also has high hopes for an efficient e-government.

We are still facing some difficulties. For example, last month, we completed all e-customs procedures to import several containers of goods, but were still asked to submit several paper-based documents with the same information we have declared online, all signed and stamped by the companys leader, Van complained, adding that it often takes her company more than a year to arrange tax refunds.
New Delhi: On the occasion of New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (January 1) had a telephonic conversation with Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, The Druk Gyalpo of Kingdom of Bhutan and Lyonchhen (Dr.) Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of Bhutan; Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President and Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka; Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives; Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh and K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal.

PM Modi conveyed to the leaders his New Year greetings and good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own. He emphasized Indias commitment to Neighbourhood First policy and the vision of shared peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of Indias friends and partners in the region.

Live TV

In his conversation with the King of Bhutan, the Prime Minister highlighted important achievements of the last year which led to further consolidation of special ties between India and Bhutan. Prime Minister fondly recalled his last visit to Bhutan and the love and affection he received from the people there. He also emphasized the need to enhance youth exchange programmes between the two countries. The Prime Minister also mentioned that he was looking forward to the upcoming visit of the King to India.

President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa warmly reciprocated the wishes of the Prime Minister and expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka would further enhance their friendly ties in the year 2020. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to closely work together.

Speaking to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, PM Modi reiterated Indias commitment to further expand the close and extensive cooperation with Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Rajapaksa reciprocated the wishes warmly and expressed keen desire to further enhance relations between the two nations.

Prime Minister Modi wished the President and the people of the Maldives success in all their endeavours for development. President Solih warmly reciprocated Prime Ministers wishes and expressed his keen desire to further deepen and strengthen the ties with India by enhancing the existing bilateral cooperation and exploring newer areas for working together.

Speaking with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister, inter alia, congratulated her on being re-elected as the President of the Awami League for the next three years. PM Modi also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali. He noted the progress achieved in India-Bangladesh relations in 2019.

PM Modi also stated that the upcoming birth-centenary of Bangabandhu and 50 years of the Liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government.

In his conversation with Prime Minister Oli, PM Modi expressed his satisfaction at the progress of India-Nepal relations in 2019, with the completion of several projects. He specifically noted the completion of Motihari (India)- Amlekhgunj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline in record time. Both the leaders also agreed for an early inauguration of the Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar and the housing reconstruction project in Nepal through video conference.
Mr. Kinnunen approached Mr. Wallace, who was administering communion, and the two men spoke briefly. No one knows what that conversation was, Mr. Wilson said. The gunman sat down and then went up to Mr. Wallace again, this time pulling out a shotgun he had hidden under his coat.

Mr. Wilson said that both he and Mr. White drew their guns from their holsters. Mr. Kinnunen fired at Mr. Wallace and Mr. White from close range. Mr. Wilson said he had a clear shot at the gunmans head. The thing I teach in our classes, in our training, is you dont do head shots unless thats all you have, he said. And thats all I had at that point.

He fired once. Mr. Kinnunen, bleeding heavily, appeared to be dead in less than two minutes, he said.

In the days since the attack, Mr. Kinnunens family and acquaintances have said he had a history of mental illness and troubles with the law.

He was married and divorced twice, and had one son, his family said.

Court records show that he was arrested in 2012 in Oklahoma, where he was accused of setting a fire in a cotton field by soaking tampons in lamp oil and lighting them. Mr. Kinnunen told a court-appointed psychologist after his arrest that he had tried to kill himself with a firearm at the age of about 19, but that he was no longer suicidal. But he attacked fellow jail inmates, according to the psychologists report, and went on a hunger strike, saying he thought he was being poisoned.

That same year, Cindy Glasgow-Voegle, his former wife, sought a protective order against him. In court documents, she said he had shown up with no money and no car, wanting to see their son. But the boy was terrified of his father, she said; he had a criminal record in several states, and was violent and paranoid.

Ms. Glasgow-Voegle said she had helped him get a job and a trailer, but he quit the job and landed in the county jail for assaulting a man. He told her he was battling a demon.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 18:42:24|Editor: xuxin

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A member of Bangladesh's anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) directs traffic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 1, 2020. Bangladesh has tightened security in capital Dhaka in the run-up to New Year's Eve. Striking force and mobile teams will patrol sensitive Dhaka areas round-the-clock to avert any unpleasant incident. (Str/Xinhua)
Methodical, humble and disciplined, DJ Anrev knew from a tender age of 14 that being a DJ was his true calling. With the unyielding support from his father, peers and mentors, combined with sheer hard work and talent, his win at the recent Red Bull 3 Style local edition held for the first time in Singapore at Yang Nightclub will take him further afield to Russia in April 2020 to compete with world champions that have been handpicked by international judges.

Aside from founding DJ City and holding a mentorship role at E-TracX, an established school for local DJs, Anrev is selflessly committed to seeding the ground for the next generation of young DJs and diversifying his shows by playing at multiple clubs around Singapore. His next goal? Going regional with Red Bull.

Popspoken: What was the transition like for you from being a student to an instructor at E-Tracx DJ school?

DJ Anrev: I actually started learning basic DJing and scratching before I joined E-TracX, being pretty much self-taught up to that point (about 6 years back). I was actually only 14 then!

Regardless, I already knew then that DJing was something I was going to do for life. It was the first skill I had ever picked up where every movement and technique just felt innately natural to me. Everything about it just felt right, it was like I had some sort of special connection with the music. It felt like paradise every second my hands were on the record and fader scratching to some beats!

By the time I turned 15, I was dead-set on mastering the craft. I did my research, and all sources pointed to E-TracX as the place to be, being the oldest and most respected DJ institution in the region. I immediately gave them a ring, one thing led to another, and in no time I was learning advanced turntablism and DJ techniques under the world-renowned turntablist DJ KoFlow.

From the day I stepped through the front doors of the school, I always felt welcome  and soon enough, the instructors and students at the school grew to become a second family to me. Soon enough, after winning a handful of regional and international competitions and doing some events, I was engaged to become an instructor at the academy when I was 18 years old. It was there that I discovered my love for teaching and sharing knowledge with my students, nearly all of which were older than me.

Story continues

One of my proudest moments as an instructors was earlier in 2019, when three of my own students attained Champion, Vice-Champion, and 3rd Runner-Up in the annual Live Mix Maestro DJ battle. In fact, it felt even better than winning these competitions myself. Being able to make a positive impact in someone elses life that way is an amazing feeling that is impossible to describe in words.

Popspoken: Share with us your weekly routine with regards to DJing and how you balance that with spending time with friends.

DJ Anrev: My routine has changed over the years as I evolved as an artist. Back when I was new to the art, I practiced for a good 8 hours every day without fail, even going up to 12-14 hours on some days. It was a lot of effort to sharpen my techniques to a level I was satisfied with. I was (and still am) a perfectionist when it comes to DJing.

Right now, however, my schedule is a very balanced mix of:

Creating new routines Preparing for battles Recording new songs and beats and collaborations with other artists 4. Managing DJcity Singapore Teaching at the school Travelling for meetings and gigs in countries in and around Asia The occasional networking night at clubs

I make sure I also set aside some personal me time for family and friends, amidst my busy schedule. Word of advice though  being an artist requires a lot of discipline and good time management skills!

Popspoken: Which are the top 3 DJ / producers in the world that you admire and why.

DJ Anrev: This has got to be the most challenging question in the interview  itd be easier to list 30 names who have inspired me. But if I needed to cut it down to three names, they would be the following people:

DJ KoFlow (Wayne)  Singapore

One of my closest friends and my mentor. Despite his countless awards and accolades, it is not just that which garners my respect and admiration. It is, however, Waynes unsurmountable work ethic, and his dedication to keep the Hip- Hop culture alive in Singapore that inspires me the most. I have never seen anyone as dedicated to their craft, and as consistent as Wayne. His selfless approach to sharing his skills and knowledge is also one of the main factors that has inspired the way I teach my own students.

DJ D-Styles  United States of America

At my root, I am a scratch DJ. Scratching is what single-handedly fueled and kickstarted my DJ career, and got me the recognition needed to branch out into other fields of DJing. When you talk about the art of scratching, there is probably no artist as revered as the grandmaster DJ D-Styles himself. I have had the honor of having him as a friend and advisor, and despite his massive reputation, he is the coolest DJ I have ever met in person.

He is the guy who can completely obliterate anyone at scratching, and at the same time, a good friend you can chill with over a cup of coffee and chat about life.

DJ Shiftee  United States of America

I first met Shiftee, a two time DMC World DJ Champion at E-TracX during aworkshop he was conducting. Being still new to the scene then, it was my first time watching an internationally acclaimed turntablist perform live. That day, my jaw dropped when I saw this guy moving his hands at speeds that my mind couldnt yet process. Id say quite a few of my techniques have been adapted or inspired by Shiftee himself. Moreover, I have always been somewhat of a Math geek  and it just happens that he has a Masters in Mathematics from Harvard University! We immediately clicked and started talking. Just last month, I visited him at his hometown in New York city  we had a good scratch jam and ate some great Thai food.

Popspoken: Your dad seems incredibly supportive of your career so far, having bought you your first DJ equipment. Does he come regularly to your gigs to support?

DJ Anrev: My dad has single-handedly been one of the sole pillars of support throughout my career as a DJ. Since I started out, he has always been supportive and helpful, never once doubting me. When I joined my first battle, I was unknown in the industry and had no supporters or fans. Yet, my dad was there to help me transport my gear, and stayed throughout the competition to cheer me on. Throughout my entire career, ups and downs, he has unwaveringly been by my side  celebrating with me in moments of success, and making sure to catch me when I fall.

My first DJ lesson, my first gig, my first competition, my first victory, my first loss, my dad has always been around. My entire career in this industry to date, from leading the DJcity team, teaching at the school, competing in the USA, up to winning the 3Style battle last week  none of that will be possible at all without my dad.

Popspoken: Share with us the lowest point in your journey as a DJ in the last 5 years, and what did you to turn for the strength to carry on?

DJ Anrev: This was at a point where Id been winning battle after battle, and started to gain some international recognition. I definitely felt good for a while, but confidence started turning into complacency. Fast forward to mid-2018, I joined a local DJ competition in Singapore. I was extremely sure I was going to win, and everyone around me expected the same of me. That was the breaking point for me since the mounting peer pressure and my own expectations of myself surpassed the amount of stress I could handle. I lost my nerves during the competition and broke under the pressure, botching most of my performance.

Instagram Photo

That was a major wake-up call for me. I decided if I wanted to do this as a career, I need a 180 degree change of perspective. I took some time off DJing, and luckily with the help of close friends, I managed to pick myself back up quickly and move on. From that point onwards, I promised myself Id always stay humble and rooted, no matter where my career took me. I think it is important to recognize that as a rising artist, one of the greatest pitfalls we can experience is our own pride. During my time in the industry, I have grown to realize that the more skilled someone is, the humbler they usually are.

From my experiences, I try to be a good mentor to my students and guide them in the correct route so that they avoid the same pitfalls I went through in my journey!

Popspoken: What do you hope to achieve from this win with the Red Bull 3Style?

DJ Anrev: I hope to raise the standard of DJing and competitions in Singapore  and bring more recognition to our region. Being the first 3Style battle here, this is a major milestone in developing the creative DJ scene in Singapore. Having a representative on such an exclusive world stage is definitely a leap forward for all DJs in the nation. Once we get more recognition and eyes focused on Singapore it will do everyone good in terms of overseas bookings and salaries.

Winning the 3Style is a good milestone in my own career too. With the first Singapore title under my belt, I am better equipped and exposed to continue spreading my love for music through a few avenues:

The DJCity Singapore chapter will benefit from the added credibility, especially with 3Style currently being partnered with DJCity Worldwide. And ultimately, we can educate and inspire more DJs, as well as build and curate the talent pool of DJs and Producers in Singapore. Instagram Photo I will be doing regional gigs, and some tours around Asia pretty soon. This is already in the works and will benefit further with the Red Bull brand name. The win enables me to be better equipped to train more aspiring DJs, and be able to guide them on the correct path to success. Apart from DJing, I will be producing my own records and original tracks, with some collaborations with local and regional artists.

==

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This article DJ Anrev Bags Red Bull 3Style Local Edition And Sets Sights on Regional Markets appeared first on Popspoken.
The route first became infamous between the 16th and 19th centuries when millions of West African slaves were shipped to South America through it. But the distance of approximately 2,500 kilometres (between Brazil and Dakar) has acquired a new type of notoriety since the early 2000s after Latin American drug cartels started using it to ship tonnes of narcotics into West Africa, which are later smuggled by drug mules in smaller quantities into Europe.

Geographically referred to as the tenth parallel because its latitude is 10 degrees south of the earths equatorial plane, the route is known as Highway 10 among international law enforcement agencies because it is the shortest route across the Atlantic.

Gbenga Mabo, the Director of Operations and Investigations of Nigerias drug police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA told PREMIUM TIMES that more than 80 per cent of the cocaine that comes into Nigeria comes from Brazil, through Highway 10.

I dont want to say Brazil is not a producer, but Brazil is not really a significant producer, but because of the borders of Brazil is big, and the Amazon River, Brazil is surrounded by Peru, Bolivia, Chile and others. So, a lot of cocaine gets into Brazil, and a syndicate of Nigerians operates in Brazil and they get it from Brazil to Lagos, he said.

Mr Mabo said Latin American drug cartels prefer to route cocaine through West Africa into Europe because of lax checks at ports, shortage of trained personnel and equipment. He said after the drug arrives West Africa, the cartel works with local syndicates who hire human couriers, whom he described as bulk breakers to smuggle the narcotics to Europe and the United States by ingestion, body packing or on their luggage.

West African Drug Havens

To ensure the smooth running of their drug enterprises, South American cartels needed a haven where they can operate away from the prying eyes of international anti-narcotics agencies. They found a perfect hub in Guinea-Bissau and used the largely uninhabited Bijagos Archipelago as a staging post.

By 2012, it was clear that the tiny West African country had become a full-fledged narco-state and the world could no longer ignore the drug cartels working from there unhindered. After the 2013 arrest of the countrys former navy chief, Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto, by the Drug Enforcement Agency on a boat in International waters near Cape Verde, the cartel lords fled the islands of Bissau and created new havens in Dakar, Lome, Accra and Abidjan.

Jose Americo Bubo Na Tchuto (credit: reuters)

To underscore the amount of cocaine that is shipped from South America into West Africa, within four consecutive days in June, law enforcement agents seized a combine 1.036 tonnes of cocaine hidden in cars on ships travelling from Brazil.

The Spaghetti Connection

Before the Dakar seizure, in September 2018, 1.2 tonnes of cocaine destined for Abidjan was seized at the port of Santos, Brazil. The drug with a street value of N101.27 trillion (250 million) was hidden in the metalwork of a heavy construction machine. The shipment was found to be linked with the Italian mafia families  the Calabrese Ndrangheta and the Napoletan Camorra.

In August, after weeks of cancellations and rescheduling, three French police officers, who were part of the international investigative team responsible for the seizure and subsequent arrests, finally agreed to meet with a member of this reporting team at Assouinde.

Assouinde is a once-thriving beach resort along the coast of the Gulf of Guinea 86-kilometre east of Abidjan. The officers, led by Sylvian Coue, an easy-going man in his fifties, were part of the international investigative team that worked on the seizure. The team was made up of officers from anti-drug agencies from Nigeria, France, Italy, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Ghana.

I had received information from the Brazilian police that the 1.2 tonnes were intended for Abidjan. I, therefore, had the address of the depot where the construction equipment would arrive and be dismantled. At the same time, I had received information from the Italian police that a member of the Ndrangheta clan had been sent here. We chased him and found out that he immediately went to the dismantling depot in the port after arrival. The 1.2 tonnes would be taken out of the machines there, repackaged and sent on to Italy in containers, said Mr Coue, explaining how the alleged masterminds were arrested.

The Italian police later said that the mafia has been shipping cocaine from South America this way since 2014 under the front of a Pizzeria, named Regina Margherita in a posh neighbourhood of Abidjan. The head of the mafias drug operation also doubles as the manager of the restaurant. Multiple sources told these reporters that they found it puzzling that a restaurant that had no more than 10 guests each night could manage to remain in business for so long. One of our sources recalled how his children were hosted to a tour of the restaurant and its wooden oven by the mafia boss that runs the place.

Italian restaurant

The investigation was named The Spaghetti Connection.

I thought: that will make everyone laugh. Pizza Connection, French Connection, Italian Connection, that had all been used. Everything revolved around a restaurant, although not a spaghetti restaurant, anyway, Mr Coue explained, laughing.

Mr Coue explained that the entire operation involved 18 separate teams with each team assigned with arresting one of the 18 original suspects. Each of the suspects, except one who was arrested on the border of Ivory Coast with Liberia, was woken up at around 6 a.m. on June 6, in Abidjan and arrested. He said Uzis (the Israeli assault rifle modelled like the AK 47), automatic guns, 100,000 dollars in cash, luxury cars and an impressive number of luxury watches, were seized from the suspects.

The standard equipment of a good Mafioso, quoi, Mr Coue remarks. Of the eighteen suspects, there was only enough evidence to keep five suspects in custody: four Italians and one Ivorian woman, he said.

photo of the Italian restaurant (credit: Nicholas Ibekwe)

The French policeman was full of praises for the Ivorian government. According to Mr Coue, and the other two policemen, who chose to remain anonymous, the support they got from Ivorian authorities may be due to the desire of the government to rid the country of international crime after the 2016 terror attack near the capital linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and another huge cocaine seizure linked to criminal groups in the country.

In March 2016, gunmen attacked Grand-Bassam, a picturesque town with decaying French colonial buildings, 45 kilometres from Abidjan, killing 22 holidaymakers in and around a beachside hotel. That same year, eight tons of cocaine en route Abidjan was intercepted on the border between Bolivia and Argentina.

This made the government think, Sylvain says, Eight tons is a huge amount. I have been in this field for 30 years and I have no idea how you can possibly hide or distribute such an amount. What happens with the revenues? Who is going to get it? Is it used to finance terrorist activities? It was a wake-up call for Ivory Coast.

Lack of Political Will

Contrary to the French police officers praise of the support they got from Ivorian authorities, a former adviser to Laurent Gbagbo, the immediate past president of country, told these reporters that the seizures and arrest were only possible because the intelligence was not sent to the Ivorian authorities alone.

He was speaking to us at a bar in Zone 3, on the outskirts of Abidjan. The middle-aged aide, who we later learnt doubled as a French spy, said if the Brazilians had notified the Ivorian police alone, they would have said: We searched really hard but we didnt find anything.

Corruption is very cheap here, he added.

Laurent Gbagbo (credit: dw.com)

The French spy, who asked not to be named, said the police have no interest in ridding the country of illicit drugs.

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The police dont chase drugs. They use drugs as a pretext to make a living, by means of blackmail.

However, he said most of the drug seizures (mainly cannabis) recorded in the country were made by the customs because they have financial incentives to do so.

As was shown 15 days ago at the border with Ghana when cannabis was found, customs have extra motivation to follow the law. They work under the Ministry of Finance and they get a bonus with every seizure that is equal to ten per cent of the fine paid (by the arrested culprits). They take advantage of following the procedure, he said.

He also suggested that top officials of the countrys Ministry of Interior have an interest in the cocaine business, that is why only little amount of cocaine has been seized by the countrys law enforcement agencies.

A review of some of the seizures by the country security agencies showed that they hardly make any cocaine seizures on their own without the help of international anti-narcotics agencies.

In 2016, the Ivorian police launched Operation Epervier (Operation Sparrowhawk) to tackle grand banditry, by draining the market for drugs. In the third phase of the operation, 239 fumoirs (smokehouses) were demolished and 5,818 people arrested in two weeks. However, in almost four years of Operation Epervier, only 150 grams of cocaine have been found. Similarly, in August, the director-general of the countrys police while announcing the agencys mid-year achievement said 3446 cannabis balls and 1486 cannabis locks, 40 cannabis stalks were seized. He said nothing about the amount of cocaine found.

As elusive as cocaine seems to have become to Ivorian law enforcement agencies, our investigation revealed that the country is awash with evidence a thriving cocaine business run by international drug cartel and a growing market for local consumption of mainly crack users.

The Nigerian Connection

The Ivorian media describes him as the biggest drug trafficker in West Africa. Ogbonnaya Ukobo Ivoh, a bald-headed Nigeria, popularly known as John was the local drug kingpin in Ivory Coast until he was arrested in December 2018. The anti-narcotics brigade of the National Police of Ivory Coast accused him of helping different drug cartels to traffic all manners of narcotics across the sub region.

John Ogbonnaya Ukobo Ivoh (credit: akody.com)

John allegedly owned several luxury real estates in Abidjan but his operational based was a large hotel named Free World Hotel in the Bingerville neighbourhood in the city.

Multiple sources who requested not to be named told us that John ran his drug enterprise with little cover. One source, who claimed to know John personally, said John was a friend of a powerful minister who shielded him from arrest and prosecution until they fell out over Johns refusal to make the minister an associate in his drug enterprise. John was subsequently arrested. News reports in Ivory Coast said John would soon be tried for drug trafficking.

His arrest was strictly political. It was a war of succession, he said.

Our source provided more information about John:

John is not really in prison. No, his liberty has been constricted. His prison cell resembles that of Pablo Escobar  with air conditioning and a king-size bed. His small dealers are still working for him, his large Washington fumoir was destroyed but rose again the next morning. The network of youngsters around him, working for him, still exists.

He is very nice. He helped many people, he gave money (anonymously) to an orphanage of Grand-Bassam. Theres fumoirs (drug house) where John bought clothes for every addict, he added.

Our fixer also believed that John enjoyed the protection of powerful officials and that he was arrested because some people wanted to take control of the drug distribution from him.

How was he able for all those years to build a huge hotel in Bingerville, two buildings behind, and a discotheque called Blue Rock without the authorities knowing where the money came from? He was paying officials. I believe he was arrested because other people wanted to take over the market, he said.

Johns Free World Hotel (credit; Nicholas Ibekwe)

When we visited Johns Free World Hotel in August, it was dissimilar to the booming operational head of an alleged drug kingpin we were told the place used to be. The huge hotel stood out from the neighbouring buildings, even as it was built at the foot of a hill. It is plastered all over by patterned black and white tiles.

It has all the signs of a rooting enterprise. An extension of the main building was abandoned half-way, a section of its fence has been pulled down for a road expansion project. A large swimming pool at the centre of the hotels open-air bar has fallen into disuse and the water in the pool has turned green from what we suspect to be algae infestation. A well-equipped gym on the second floor was also empty. And there was little sign that people still use it to keep in shape. A disinterested attendant allowed one of the reporters to try some of the equipment without asking any questions.

The Fumoirs  Abidjans Drug Communities

I smoke because I choose to. You must walk your own path without listening to anyone. Do what you have to do, whether good or bad, said one of the men. He has a short greying beard; his eyes were bloodshot, his teeth brown.

He was one of the nearly 20 men who sat under a makeshift tent. Their initial subdued suspicion of our presence at the location soon dissipated after a stranger gifted them a portion of crack cocaine causing them to engage in an animated argument of how to share it.

This tent is run by a babatche, which means a powerful father in Malinke, the language of the Diula tribe. At the entrance of the location, a group of young men sitting in a smaller tent were on the lookout for law enforcement personnel, and perhaps other intruders. Arthur, the tall Ivorian that brought us here, could not say for sure who the babatche was. But he suspected it was a young man wearing thick dark sunglasses and carrying a black leather backpack.

A good babatche is elusive, he noted. But he makes sure there is a regular supply of, mainly cannabis, crack and other illicit drugs. He also makes sure the fumoir does not disintegrate into complete chaos and oversees the supervision of the occasional donations to the local school. He also ensures that the police and gendarmerie are bribed to look the other way.

The fumoir we visited was in Gonzagueville, a poor community between Abidjans international airport and the Port-Bouet seaport.

I have come to make it clear to you that you are not criminals but victims of drug trafficking in the hands of larger powers. They are the criminals, not you. But you pay the price. said Arthur, who is commonly known as Grand-Mere or grandmother. Arthur is a social worker, who takes care of addicts and male sex workers in the fumoirs in Gonzagueville and other poor neighbourhoods in the city.

Fumoirs are the Ivorian cousin of the American crack houses. In the fumoir in Gonzagueville, young men were exchanging small bags of white substance, suspected to be cocaine. Leaving from here to those who can afford it, Grand-mere whispers, you can also get it here, but only of the lowest quality, he added.

We left the fumoir earlier than anticipated because our driver could no longer control his nerves after one of the addicts, who was appointed by the babatche to escort us out, said: A drunk gets behind the wheel. A crackhead falls asleep. Who is the biggest danger? We need new laws.

Apart from being a community of addicts, fumoirs all over Abidjan are also distribution centres for illicit drugs for the rich and the poor. While a gram of crack cost the equivalent of N1,220.00, a gram of pure blanche or white cocaine is sold for the equivalent of N28,400.00.

Photo of a fumoir (credit: Abidjan.net)

Despite periodic police crackdown and demolition of fumoirs across the city, their numbers have continued to increase. For reasons best known to it, the Ivorian government has not invested in clearing the fumoirs for good. In Adjame, one of the bigger ghettos in Abidjan, we saw a fumoir sharing the same fence with a gendarmerie barracks. Sources we spoke to said fumoirs are given advance notice before police raids.

The police destroy the place for the sake of gratuitous display. Sometimes, though, there are violent raids with lots of injured and casualties, said a source at a local NGO that helps to tackle drug addiction in the city.

All our efforts to get government officials to speak to us on the fight to solve the drug problem in the city were unsuccessful. Everyone we contacted declined to speak or simply ignored our calls, text messages and emails.

Few days after we arrived in Abidjan, President Alassane Ouattara decorated the head of the Ivorian Police narcotics bridge, Toure Mabonga, for helping to rid the country of drugs and clearing several fumoirs. Despite multiple efforts to get her to agree to an interview, we received no response to our requests.

We tried to speak with Adomo Bonaventure of the Ivorian Police narcotics brigade, who led the international operation in which four members of the Italian mafias Camorra and Ndrangheta were arrested in June in the case of 1.2 tonnes of cocaine seized in Brazil, but got no response as well. As a last-ditch attempt to get any member of the Ivorian government to agree to an interview, we invoked the Ivorian law on Open Government. According to the law, if a ministry does not respond after two weeks, the law requires the Commission for Access to Public Interest Information and Public Documents (CAIDP) to take action, but the commission too stopped responding to our emails and calls after two weeks.

Microbes

Our investigation revealed that the government may have decided to keep sealed lips because it feared that talking to two foreign journalists may force it to answer questions that may expose how some of its past policies may have caused the drug problem in the country.

For instance, the governments security policy after the 2011 civil uprising may have contributed in no small measure to the proliferation of the fumoirs in Abidjan.

Two days before we left the country, we met a tough-looking but visibly scared 25-year-old, who identified himself simply as Bernard, in Abobo, a sprawling ghetto on the outskirts of Abidjan.

Alassane Ouattara (credit: Teller Report)

Bernard was a member of looting and murderous gang of youth in Abidjan, called Microbes. Microbes are made up of youth who fought on the side of Mr.Ouattara during the civil crisis. Newspaper reports and multiple sources told us that the authorities allowed microbes to operate freely until a year ago when the incumbent defence minister, Hamed Bakayoko, then the mayor of Abobo, decided he has had enough of their trouble.

As we spoke in an empty outdoor bar on a rainy day in August, Bernard kept looking behind him as if he was being followed or watched. He said as a 16-year-old, he and many young people his age from Abobo and environ, joined the groupes dautodefense, a pro- Quattara vigilante group.

I fought on the side of Ouattara, says Bernard. We carried out attacks and monitored who entered or left our part of the city. The elders among us received guns, we were given machetes and knives. We were given pills to give us the courage to fight. I fought with a machete, but I never killed. We were promised that we would get jobs in the army if we won, he added.

After the crisis, not every member of the vigilante group was absorbed into the army. The remnant formed into microbes, he said.

Hamed Bakayoko (doingbuzz.com)

Our chiefs were given jobs in the army, the police and the gendarmerie. We did not get anything. Instead, we were assigned to new chiefs, took the homes of the people who had been driven out. Then, like all young fighters, we became microbes. We were mainly concerned with stealing money, drug dealing and trafficking: we ran around with cannabis, pills and crack. We all used (drugs) ourselves. It gave us money. And it gave us a lot of inspiration.

Bernard refers to the new chiefs who commanded the microbes after the crisis as Babatches, the same term used to refer to the head of fumoirs.

When we asked him about the use of the same names, he explained further.

Dont you know that?, Bernard asks, visibly surprised, the fighters came from the fumoirs. The chiefs of the fumoirs became the chiefs of the vigilante. Some of them made it into the army, police or gendarmerie. According to him, after the uprising, others were allowed to return with government protection.

Three independent sources from Adjame, Angre and Cocody districts corroborated Bernards account of things.

Mr Bakayoko led Ouattaras troops at the time. He has repeatedly openly argued that the media should refer to the microbes as children in conflict with the law instead of the derogatory term microbes. However, almost immediately Mr Bakayoko was named Mayor of Abobo, the attacks by microbes stopped.

We wrote to Mr Bakayoko in August asking about his link with the microbes and whether the cessation of violence by microbes was at his command or not. We are yet to receive a response.

New Market

The proliferation of fumoirs in Abidjan perfectly describes what Yuri Fedotov, the Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), called the new alarming trend in West and Central Africa.

Faced with tighter monitoring on the flow of cash, Latin American cartels are switching to paying their African collaborators with cocaine instead of cash. African syndicates are forced to create a new market for the product, to cash in their payment. This explains the increasing availability of cocaine and use in the continent. In 2004, Africa accounted for a paltry seven per cent of all cocaine use in the world. Seven years later, that number has increased to 15 per cent.

Experts say this trend is a bonus to South American drug cartels. West African countries cities like Abidjan, Lagos, Lome and Dakar are no longer transit ports but are destination ports with growing communities of users.

Indeed, that is a normal dynamic. The African market is now no different from the rest of the world in terms of supply and demand. On the supply side, criminal organizations seek to develop and nurture new markets. On the demand side, we mainly have young consumers who listen to the same music and watch the same series as the rest of the world. They want to consume the same products, including cocaine, said Antonio Mazzitelli, UNODC representative in Dakar.

This report was made with the support of the Money Trail Project (https://www.money-trail.org/)
01.01.2020 LISTEN

The Head pastor of the Full Gospel Church International (FGCI) Miracle Centre in Koforidua has made a passionate appeal to political parties and their leaders to deal ruthlessly the canker of corruption in the country.

According to Rev. Bower Tetteh Solomon Amartey, corruption which has become a major concern for the church of God has gained root in the country and needs to be dealt with immediately to restore all lost hope.

Rev. BTS Amartey who spoke to Citi News on the sidelines of a church service to usher in the new year called on whoever is voted to govern the country in the 2020 elections to fight corruption for the church of God.

Election is not a battle but a decision-making process to choose somebody to lead us, so lets not be biting one another and be fighting unnecessarily. Lets do it in an atmosphere of friendliness. When all is over and the person is chosen lets all come together and rally behind that person to move Ghana forward. My major request to whosoever shall be elected is for us to kill corruption in our country

He has declared the year 2020 as a Year of Fulfillment.

He said the good Lord will this new year fulfill every single promise he has made to all those who serve God diligently and in truth.

Making declarations to usher in the new year, Rev. Amartey called on the congregation to position themselves firmly in Christ in order to be beneficiaries of God's blessings in the year of fulfillment.

2020 is the year of fulfillment, it is a year that you will all see the goodness of the living God in all your endeavours. God will fulfill every single promise he has made in your life, You will be satisfied but all you need to do is to be ready for that breakthrough so position yourselves well firmly in Christ as your testimonies start to manifest.

---citinewsroom
Indore in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the cleanest city in India for the fourth time in a row. According to the Swachhta survey results announced on Tuesday, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh was ranked second in the first-quarter results (April to June), while Rajkot in Gujarat grabbed the second spot in second-quarter results (July-September). The third position was bagged by Surat in Gujarat in the first quarter and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra in the second quarter.

Jamshedpur in Jharkhand has bagged the first position in the category of a city having a population less than 10 lakh, the Central government cleanliness survey stated.

Indore has remained the first place in the cleanliness survey for the last three years, and Bhopal too had been among the top-ranked cities consistently.

We will keep the top position consecutively for the fourth time. We are all prepared for the same and with the support of Indores resident, I am assured that we will get our tag again, Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Asheesh Singh said.

Indore Mayor Malini Gaur said in a tweet that the real test is coming and they will try their best to get the 1st position like last three years. We have successfully bagged the cleanest city of Indores tag for three times and will surely get it for the fourth time. It is time for the real test as Survekshan will be started from January 4, Gaud said.

According to the report was released by urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Kolkata and Howrah came at the bottom of the rankings.

While NDMC bagged 20th rank nationally in the first quarter (April-June) in the survey, it slipped to the 75th spot in the second-quarter results (July-September). The East Delhi Municipal Corporation's (EDMC) ranking in the first quarter was 2,304, but it improved to 1,116 in the second quarter. While North MCD's ranking dropped from 2,974 to 3,722 in the second quarter, SDMC's ranking improved from 3,871 to 1,239.

Puri blamed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for being solely responsible for Delhi's poor ranking in the Swachhta survey and for air pollution and non-implementation of PM Awas Yojana, which aims to provide houses to the urban poor.

The government had launched the Swachh Survekshan League to ensure that municipal authorities continue taking steps to improve sanitation around the year rather than focussing on only a few months to improve their ranking in the Centres annual survey. This time a total of 4,372 cities participated in the league, which included municipal areas with a population in the range of less than 25,000 and over 10 lakh.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act Court (PMLA) in Mumbai on Wednesday allowed banks that lent money to Vijay Mallya to utilise seized assets, ANI reported.

The report further stated that the ruling has been adjourned till January 18. Until then all parties affected by the order can appeal to the Bombay High Court, ED sourced told ANI.

More to follow
The six astronauts of Expedition 60 on the International Space Station celebrated 2020 earlier than you might think. Pictured here: (foreground from left) NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano (center) and NASA astronaut Christina Koch (right). Background from left: Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov, Oleg Skripochka and NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan.

The people of Earth weren't the only ones ringing in the year 2020 at midnight. Six explorers in orbit celebrated the new year's arrival - and indeed, a new decade - aboard the International Space Station.

"Happy New Year from low Earth orbit!" NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan wrote on Twitter as Earth began the year 2020.

Morgan celebrated 2020's arrival with crewmates Christina Koch and Jessica Meir (both of NASA), European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, and Russian cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka and Alexander Skvortsov. Parmitano commands the crew, known as Expedition 60.

Related: The Space Missions to Watch in 2020

More: The 10 Must-See Skywatching Events in 2020

Celebrating a new year in space is a bit different than ringing in Jan. 1 on Earth. For starters, astronauts orbit the Earth 16 times a day, meaning they see 16 sunrises and sunsets as the circle the planet every hour and a half. Then there's their time zone, which meant the station crew saw 2020's arrival before flight controllers at NASA's Mission Control center in Houston.

"The space station operates on Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT, meaning it will only be 7 pm ET when the orbiting astronauts' clock strikes midnight to ring in the new year," NASA officials said in a Twitter statement.

Happy New Year from low Earth orbit! https://t.co/zt54KcjXWKDecember 31, 2019 See more

The year 2020 is a major milestone for the International Space Station. In November, the station will celebrate 20 years of continuous operation with a human crew. (The first station crew Expedition 1 arrived in 2000.)

SpaceX and Boeing are expected to begin flying astronauts to the station for NASA on commercial spacecraft. SpaceX's Crew Dragon will fly an uncrewed in-flight abort test in early January as part of that work.

Meanwhile, Christina Koch is on a record-breaking mission to spend nearly a year in space (328 days to be exact) and has already set a new record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.

This incredible photo by @Astro_Christina as my #Soyuz headed to @Space_Station in September sums up 2019  my most extraordinary year yet. #TheJourney was certainly not only my own, I remain in debt to countless individuals on the ground. #HappyNewYear to all on (& off) #Earth! pic.twitter.com/R7oPKkogqoDecember 31, 2019 See more

Meir celebrated the new year on Twitter with a photo of her own launch as seen by Koch in space in September. The image, Meir said, summed up 2019 as her "most extraordinary year yet."

"The journey was certainly not only my own, I remain in dept to countless individuals on the ground," Meir said. "Happy New Year to all on (& off) Earth!"

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
A WW2 U-864 had become an environmental nightmare due to toxic cargo it holds.

Sunk off the coast of Norway in February 1945 while transporting advanced weapons technology to Japan, U-864 sits on the ocean floor with more than 60 tons of mercury on board.

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There is great concern that this mercury would leak into the sea and cause substantial damage to the environment.

Residents had called on the government to remove the submarine but experts worried that moving it may lead to a catastrophic leak of mercury into the sea.

Instead, authorities decided to bury the sub under sand, rubble and concrete. The effect is similar to the sarcophagus erected over Chernobyl to contain the radioactivity from the nuclear disaster they had there.

The plan expected cost $32 million and it is should be completed in 2020.

The British learned of the Nazis secret mission, codenamed Caesar, by breaking a German code.

They learned that U-864 was planning to avoid Allied patrols in an effort to deliver jet engine parts, missile guidance systems, and mercury (to be used in producing weapons) to Japan.

The British submarine HMS Venturer tracked the German sub for three hours before sinking it. The German ship was only 14 months old when it sank with 73 crew members in 500 feet of water.

It is the only known incident in naval history where one submarine sank another while both were submerged. During her time in service, U-864 was not credited with sinking or even damaging any Allied ships.

The sub lay at the bottom of the sea about two nautical miles off the coast of Fedje for 60 years before it was discovered by Norways Royal Navy in March 2003. The wreck lies in two large sections with a lot of debris from the midhip.

Interestingly, U-864 had no casualties among her crew until she was sunk.

The containers that hold the mercury are rusting and beginning to leak. It is estimated that only 4kg of mercury has leaked so far but even this amount has led to elevated mercury levels in the water there. As a result, fishing has been prohibited in the area.

Metallic mercury is the silver fluid that was used in thermometers at one time. When released into the sea, it is more dangerous than organic mercury. It can contaminate fish which then pass the mercury on to humans when eaten. Mercury poisoning can be lethal.

Even in small amounts, mercury can damage the nervous system and cause heart and kidney problems.

In 2003, the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs received a letter from Wolfgang Lauenstein which informed them of possible mercury on a sunken Uboat off of Fedje. The HnoMS Tyr then located the wreck.

In 2004, a sample of sediment surrounding the wreck indicated a higher concentration of mercury than the normal background. At this point the government began an annual sampling of fish and shellfish from the area.

In 2005, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority recommended that pregnant women and children should avoid eating seafood from the region of the wreck. A survey was conducted to determine the scale of the affected area.

Another survey of the wreck and the surrounding seabed took place in 2006. The stern section of the sub tilted during the survey which made further inspection of the keel impossible.

At this point the government banned fishing and underwater equipment in the area of the wreck.

In 2007, the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs decided to cap the wreck. But this was delayed as others in the government wanted to examine the possibility of salvaging the wreck.

Another Article From Us: Divers Use WW2 Equipment To Return A Crew Member To USS Arizona

They proceeded from that point to examine both options, ultimately deciding to cap it.
He is one of at least 25 people killed since demonstrations began against governments new controversial citizenship law.

In India, the family of a young man shot in the head during a protest says he was intentionally killed by police.

He is one of at least 25 people killed since demonstrations began against the governments new citizenship law.

Police are blaming protesters who they say were carrying illegal firearms. But activists say their investigation shows otherwise.

Al Jazeeras Anchal Vohra reports from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where most of the deaths have taken place.


By Song Kyung-jin





The world is bombarded with the news of Donald Trump's impeachment by the U.S. House of Representatives and the following trial by the Senate.



On the other side of the Atlantic, one of the political pivots has been moving toward the pension reform plan by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, in accordance with his campaign promise to reform the 42 pension regimes and the way that France thinks.



Macron's audacious plan was met with strong opposition and disruptive strikes, along with keen attention from around the world. So, while reaffirming his intent to push through the reform agenda, he offered an interim compromise to delay retirement.



The French government's reform plan is providing timely food for thought to Korea, the world's fastest-aging country with the world's lowest birthrate, which is likely to face similar pension problems in the not-too-distant future.



Korea is one country that should be prepared quickly to take on the imminent challenges posed by the rapid shifts in demography and thus the pension regimes in order to make them fairer and more sustainable for its people.



Rapid changes in Korea's demography are the foremost reason for us to revisit the national pension plan and the three other pension regimes  for government employees, teachers and soldiers.



Korea's population is expected to decline to 39 million by 2067 from the current 52 million, whereas the share of the population aged 65 and over is set to shoot up unprecedentedly fast to 46.5 percent from the current 14.9 percent. The Korean government estimated in 2018 that the national pension fund will be depleted in 2057, three years earlier than the previous estimate. The year 2057 is when today's 20-year-olds are expected to start receiving pensions.



Depletion of the national pension fund earlier than initially expected stems partly from the unbalanced "pay less and receive more" pension structure put in place originally in 1988. It is no longer sustainable with changes in demography and the exponential growth in the number of the insured, from 4.5 million in 1988 to over 22 million as of now.



With this bleak future picture before us, public fears are mounting that the National Pension Service may be incapable of sustaining the world's third-largest pension fund and that they may end up with nil.



The tripartite Presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council had to end its 10-month endeavor to develop a set of pension reform measures in vain Aug. 30, 2018. An estimate was presented that if the pension replacement rate is increased to 45 percent from the current 40 percent and the insurance contribution from 9 percent to 12 percent, the depletion of the fund can be delayed by six years until 2063.



But it is estimated that only when the insurance contribution doubles or even triples, the financing burden will not be transferred to the next generation. In case Korea fails to increase the contribution rates promptly, its social expenditure will be one of the world's highest in 2060 at 28.6 percent of the gross domestic product as compared to the current 11.1 percent, half the OECD average.



Added to it, it is high time for Korea to start engaging in a meaningful social dialogue pertaining to pushing up the retirement age of 60, one of the lowest among OECD member countries.



Public sentiment toward the national pension is somehow off balance, too, which was well-revealed in a government survey conducted in 2018. Of the respondents, 63.4 percent said the insurance contribution should be lowered and yet 53.9 percent argued for more benefits.



In short, people wanted to pay less and get more. If we allow our greed to guide us to stick to the status quo, our children will fall to its victim by having to pay 30 percent of their income as their contribution to the national pension fund to pay for the current pensioners.



No sensible mind would want to leave this pension disaster with the next generation for their legacy. It will be the greatest source of generational divide unknown to us before, if left untouched.



As seen in France, no pension reform comes easy, and any process striving to arrive at any meaningful social agreement will be painful. Nonetheless, this is the only option we at the crossroads can take.



Who then should be doing the hard job of persuading people to bite the bullet? Who should present the resisting people with pension simulators pointing to the pressing need for pension reform?



Pension reform will require fearless political leadership that is strong enough to deal with resisting forces, both business and labor, and committed enough not to back down in the face of strikes and protests that may ground the nation to a halt. The National Pension Service itself also has the responsibility to prove to the public that it can deliver.



If the current government steps in for reform, it will go down in history book as its major achievement. The sooner, the better. The pension fund depletion clock is ticking. If we do not deal with it now, it will deal with us sooner than we think, as often said.





Dr. Song Kyung-jin led the Institute for Global Economics (IGE) based in Seoul and served as special adviser to the chairman of the Presidential Committee for the Seoul G20 Summit in the Office of the President. Now, she chairs an international cooperation committee, the Innovative Economy Forum.




TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (TSXV: FURA) (OTC: FUGMF) (FRA: BJ43), a new gemstone mining and marketing company with emerald, ruby and sapphire assets in Colombia, Mozambique and Australia, respectively, is pleased to announce that on December 31, 2019 it successfully completed the Companys previously announced acquisition of 100% interests in two mining permits (EPM 25973 and EPM 25978) and three mining licences (ML 70419, ML 70447 and ML 70451) (the permits and the licences are collectively referred to herein as the Licences) for a sapphire mining project in Queensland, Australia (the Acquisition). The Acquisition is described in more detail below and in the Companys press releases dated June 27, 2019, July 22, 2019 and December 16, 2019.



Dev Shetty, President & CEO of Fura, commented:

We are very pleased to complete the Acquisition, which results in Fura becoming the only public gemstone mining and marketing company in the world to hold emerald, ruby and sapphire mining assets (being all three coloured gemstones).

Pursuant to the option agreement that was entered into by the Company and Richland Resources Ltd. (the Vendor) on June 26, 2019, as amended, (the Option Agreement) in exchange for the Vendor (i) transferring all of the issued shares of Richlands wholly owned subsidiary, Richland Corporate Ltd. (Richland Corporate), and (ii) assigning all of the Vendors loans to Richland Corporate to Fura, Fura paid US$1,250,000 in cash to the Vendor. Fura previously paid the Vendor C$25,000 as an option fee payment.

The Acquisition was an arms length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Fura did not pay any finders fees in connection with the Acquisition.

Fura is currently in the process of completing the purchase and sale of interests in three additional ruby prospecting licences/concessions in Mozambique as follows: (i) 75% of the issued shares of Montepuez Minerals Pty Ltd., which owns a 70% interest in mining licence 5030L and an 80% interest in mining concession 8921C; and (ii) a right to earn a 65% interest in mining concession 8955C under a joint venture agreement (collectively, the New Energy Assets). Please see the Companys press release dated November 29, 2018 for further details regarding the terms of this proposed acquisition, which remains subject to TSXV approval.

For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact:

Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty - President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760

Brad Scharfe  Director Investor Relations Tel: +1+(778)386-1313

brad.scharfe@furagems.com Public Relations

Tavistock (UK)

Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150

fura@tavistock.co.uk

About Fura Gems Inc.

Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSXV under the ticker symbol FURA.

Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interest in the Licences, and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interest in ruby licence 5572L.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the New Energy Assets, the Companys ability to develop and explore the Licence area, the market price of rubies, sapphires and other gemstones, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration, development and production activities; access to sufficient financing to continue the development of its assets; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations and the Companys assets; legacy environmental risks; title risks; and other risks of the mining industry. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities 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 Kwara State government on Tuesday in Ilorin inaugurated a 13-man Minimum Wage implementation Committee for the state.

The committee has three weeks to work and give the government direction, with recommendations that would assist it to successfully implement the new minimum wage.

Kayode Alabi, the states Deputy Governor, represented Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq where he noted that the last time wage was reviewed in the country was in 2011.

He said that it was evident that a review was necessary despite the prevailing economic challenges.

Mr AbdulRazaq charged members of the committee to be patriotic in handling the assignment and look at ways of domesticating the minimum wage Act not to have adverse effects on the developmental plans geared towards building and repositioning the economy of the state and also not erode the envisaged gains the workers crave for.

As a government, we are mindful of the fact that the expectations of the workers are high, the government is therefore poised to attend to this matter with all seriousness and fairness, he said.

He said, the cardinal interest of the committee, the generality of the workers, the organised labour and the entire populace of the state should be about the growth of Kwara.

He called on the committee to identify new sources of revenue and take into cognisance of the existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to mop up funds that would be channelled towards funding the wage increase.

The governor listed five terms of reference which included the immediate and remote circumstance surrounding the agitation of the civil servants for the payment of N30,000.00 minimum wage in Kwara, the actual rate being paid presently.

The ability of the state government to pay the wage to the civil servants in view of the prevailing economic realities at both federal and state levels, the financial implication and sustainability of paying the wage by the state government and any other recommendation/observation that could assist the government in taking a realistic position on the agitation of civil servants, he said.

Responding on behalf of the members of the committee, the Chairman and state Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Florence Oyeyemi, appreciated the government for giving them the opportunity to serve, promising that they would work assiduously.

She said that members of the committee were drawn from the government and various labour unions.

(NAN)
Srinagar/New Delhi/IBNS: Succeeding General Bipin Rawat, Army chief General Manoj Mukund Narwane on Wednesday said the armed forces are ready for every challenge ensuring the safety of the country.

Wishing the countrymen Happy New Year, Gen. Narwane said, "I assure all the countrymen that our armed forces are always ready for every challenge and we will not allow any harm to befall the country."

In a message to Pakistan, the Army chief said India has all the rights to pre-emptively strike at terror sources if Pakistan does not stop sponsoring terrorism.

Also he said the Army will pay special attention to respect human rights.

Gen. Narwane took charge as the Army chief on Tuesday after his predecessor Gen. Rawat resigned to assume the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

During the course of his 37 years of service, Gen. Narwane has served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace and field. He has served in Counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India, as well as the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan.

During his career, he has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2019), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (2017), Sena Medal, Vishist Seva Medal (2015), and the CoAS commendation card for his service.
A kitten was allegedly attacked by hounds running through woodland during an illegal fox hunt on Christmas Eve.

The seven-month-old cat named Tiger, was found 'ripped to pieces' after an illegal hunt carried out by the Badsworth and Bramham Hunt in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, it has been claimed.

The ginger and white cat, who had been kept at the animal home Cat Action Trust 1977 in Leeds before being adopted with his brother Felix on August 9, was later found dead by his devastated owner.

Following the alleged attack, footage captured by independent hunt monitor and masters student Luke Steele, showed the pack of canines chasing after a lone fox on the morning of the incident.

A kitten named Tiger (pictured) was found 'ripped to pieces' after an illegal fox hunt carried out by the Badsworth and Bramham Hunt in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire, on December 24, it has been claimed

Footage, captured by independent hunt monitor and masters student Luke Steele, later emerged of the pack of canines chasing after a single fox on the morning of the incident

The hounds ran across the grass on the Bramham Estate and they tried to chase the lone fox

During the clip, a lone fox was seen sprinting through grass on the Bramham Estate as it tried to flee from the fierce hounds.

Moments later, the dogs were released and chased after the helpless animal who tried to hide down a badger sett.

Mr Steele said: 'It's absolutely sickening to see a fox being chased to exhaustion by a pack of baying hounds across Bramham Park, an area popular with festival-goers who would be horrified to learn of the cruelty inflicted on hunted wildlife at the venue.

'Bramham Park has important questions to answer about why it hosted the fox hunt in the first place when warned just days before about the Badsworth & Bramham Moor Hunt's record of chasing and killing wildlife.

'The Hunting Act is clear that landowners have a responsibility to ensure wildlife is not chased or killed by hounds on their land and those facilitating hunting could easily find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

The dogs ran through the open area on the morning of the alleged attack on the kitten

Moments later the dogs tried to find the fox who had tried to hide down a badger sett

The hunt was carried out by the Badsworth and Bramham Hunt in Scarcroft, West Yorkshire

'Bramham Park should now fulfil its obligation to prevent wildlife crime and maintain strong community relations by no longer inviting the hunt in light of the events on Christmas Eve.'

Branch leader of Action Trust 1977, Shelia Pickersgill, told Metro.co.uk: 'The owner found the cat.

'The dogs came through and the cat was found all over the place.

'All that's left of him is bits of fur everywhere. 'It's disgusting that this goes on in this day and age. It's barbaric.'

Bramham Estate Resident Agent Nicholas Pritchard said: 'The Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt requested permission to meet at Bramham Park on Christmas Eve; they were allowed to onto the estate on the understanding that their activities fell within the law.

'We have been made aware of a serious allegation that the law has been broken and we will cooperate fully with the Police in their investigation.'

The ginger and white cat named Tiger (right) had been kept at the animal home Cat Action Trust 1977 in Leeds before being adopted with his brother Felix (left) on August 9

The kitten, who was 'ripped to pieces', was later found dead by his devastated owner

Current laws in the UK state that it is illegal to hunt foxes with a pack of dogs however you can use canines to stimulate hunting.

The rules state hunters can use up to two dogs to 'flush' out foxes if the wild animals are damaging their property.

MailOnline has approached Badsworth and Bramham Hunt and West Yorkshire Police for comment.
The Benzie County Record Patriot is taking a look at the top news making events of 2019. The following is part one of two.

January

Government shutdown affects local agencies

A government shutdown over the approval of border wall funding began in December of 2018 and went through January, affecting local agencies such as the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard Station in Manistee remained open, and Coast Guard Operations remained active, despite a lapse in funding.

However, whether or not they received pay on schedule was in question, and Coast Guard officials were advising staff to seek out loans and take advantage of local resources like food pantries.

Some banks offered low or no interest loans to federal employees.

Meanwhile facilities at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore were closed, though the trails remained open. However, operations like maintenance and trash collection ceased. Volunteer organizations, such as the Friends of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, worked to fill the gap in services, picking up trash and cleaning restroom facilities.

A budget was passed at the end of the month, ending the shutdown.

Regional defenders office created

Benzie and Manistee counties worked together to create a regional indigent public defender's office to help those who cannot afford to hire legal representation.

The office consists of six employees shared by both counties, a chief public defender, and assistant public defender, three staff attorneys and an office manager.

The creation of the public defenders office will put Benzie and Manistee in compliance with standards set forth by the state, by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, which include proper education and training of defense counsel, how and where public defenders handle initial interviews, procedures for conducting independent investigations and employing experts and making sure defendants have counsel at all critical stages of legal proceedings.

Jared Henry was later selected as the first chief public defender. He was previously the attorney-magistrate/court administrator/sobriety court project director for Manistee County's 85th District Court.

Beulah finishes water tower project

BEULAH -- After years of work, the Village of Beulah's new water tower was completed and operational on Jan. 18.

The new tower has a 150,000 gallon capacity. The old tower only contained 50,000 gallons.

Located between the Benzie County Sheriff's Office and the Benzie County Animal Shelter, the new tower is on property given to the village through an easement.

The need to replace the water tower came up in May of 2016.

The village was planning on having the tank professionally cleaned, but during a routine visit, Department of Environmental Quality agents heard of the village's plans and told them the tank needed to replaced because it did not meet capacity standards.

The village had applied for a permit to replace the tank with the DEQ 12 years ago, but never followed through with the project. Since then, the DEQ has been keeping an eye on the village.

The original water tank was installed in 1932.

The new tower is just one part of a $4 million water infrastructure improvement project, which also includes replacing aging water pipes.

Feburary

BACN offers extra food pantry visits to compensate for government shutdown

Benzie Area Christian Neighbors gave area residents in need an extra trip to the food pantry in February and March of 2018, raising the limit to three visits instead of two.

The change was in anticipation of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services benefits possibly being delayed as government employees work to catch up after the partial government shutdown.

The change also was to help people struggling to budget Food Assistance Program benefits. MDHHS issued the February payments in late January, ahead of schedule. USDA officials identified this one-time early benefit distribution of food assistance as a chance to provide the benefits during the shutdown.

BACN officials said Feburary and March also was a bad time for people in need because of the cost of heating.

Winter storm shuts down Benzie County

After a relatively mild start, Benzie County was rocked by a winter storm, followed by a month of nonstop snow and record cold.

The weather caused school closures and event cancellations. Accumulation was up to two feet in some places, according to the Benzie County Road Commission. Temperatures dipped below zero, with gusty winds making it feel much colder, and also creating white-out conditions in many areas.

Not only did the State of Michigan close many non-essential government offices, but the United States Postal Service stopped mail delivery for two days in some areas, including Benzie County.

Operations at the Benzie County Government Center, including legal proceedings, also were canceled for several days, and the Benzie County Office of Emergency Management opened a warming shelter.

The extreme cold presented another problem; an ice dam on the Upper Platte River. County organizations, including emergency management and the road commission, along with local law enforcement and the Village of Honor, worked to break up the dam before serious flooding could occur.

Carland resigns from board of commissioners

Coury Carland resigned as commissioner of District 4 (Benzonia) on Feb. 24.

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners received his letter of resignation at the regular meeting held Feb. 12..

Carland resigned because he accepted a full time job with Networks Northwest, in Traverse City, which will require his full attention. He served as commissioner for 4 years. He was first elected in 2014, and was recently re-elected in 2018.

"I'm looking forward to having a private life again, but there are parts of it I'm definitely going to miss," Carland said. "There are a lot of talented people in the community that do impressive work. We're fortunate to have them here."

Gary Sauer, chair of the Benzie County Board of Commissioners, said Carland was a pleasure to work with.

"He is very knowledgeable, and thinks things through," Sauer said. "We didn't always agree, but were usually able to come come to a consensus. He is a good asset for the community he represents. We'll miss his expertise, but we're glad he found an opportunity for employment."

March

Area agencies struggle through winter weather

It wasn't just schools and daily commuters who felt the effects of the severe winter weather Benzie County experienced in February of 2019.

The Gathering Place Senior Center had to be closed 12 days over the course of a month's time, starting with the week of snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures in late January.

Benzie Senior Services uses school closures as a gauge for closing the senior center.

Home delivered meals were not delivered during the closures.

However, this did not mean seniors unable to leave the house had nothing to eat. Seniors who receive home delivered meals also are given a box of emergency provisions.

The emergency boxes contain shelf stable foods that don't need to be cooked, in case of a power outage.

The Benzie County Road Commission also the effects of the snow and ice dropped on Benzie over the course of a few weeks.

Extra road salt had to be ordered, and the near-constant use of equipment caused maintenance issues.

Nye chosen to replace Carland as commissioner

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to appoint Rhonda Nye to the vacant 4th District (Benzonia) seat on the board.

"I am excited to serve the county and to learn how the board of commissioners affect the community," Nye said. "I will give the job my best efforts."

She also said she is at a period in her life where she had the time to serve her community.

Nye has been a resident of Benzie County since 1979. She has a degree in political science from Michigan State University and she and her husband operate long and short term rentals. They also are part of a family-owned plumbing and heating business that has served the community for 47 years.

Nye also has been the clerk for the Village of Benzonia for the past 10 years.

Gary Sauer, chair of the Benzie County Board of Commissioners, said Nye is a "good choice."

Other candidates interviewed were Richard Jenkins and Alan Rose.

Community center organizations begin round table meetings

Area organizations and committees met in Frankfort to discuss providing community services to the residents of Benzie County.

Called the Benzie Area Community Centers Roundtable, the meeting was an ongoing effort in collaboration that began in November of 2018.

"The mission of the Benzie Area Community Centers Roundtable is to gather the representatives of the various community center proposals for the purpose of building trust and deepening relationships through conversation, collaboration and cooperation in order to more effectively fulfill our vision." the meetings mission statement read.

Organizations and committees attending included the The Frankfort Area Community Resource Center Advisory Council, The Platte River Elementary Task Force, the Benzie County Planning Commission and the Benzie County Aquatics Center, the Betsie Valley Community Center, Grow Benzie, Advocates for Benzie County and Benzonia Public Library.

April

Benzie County set to exceed autopsy budget

The Benzie County Board of Commissioners heard a report from the county's medical examiner explaining the increased number of autopsies being performed.

Dr. Lois Goslinoski, the medical examiner for Benzie and Manistee county's regional medical examiner's office, spoke at a March 28 meeting.

Goslinoski said since she began working for the county in 2017, she has been following requirements for when autopsies must be performed.

Goslinoski outlined when autopsies are suggested and when they are required. Autopsies must be performed in the event of sudden and unexpected death, accidental death, violent death and deaths under suspicious circumstances.

In 2018, 34 cases were referred and 25 autopsies were performed, the rest were scene and external exams with medical record reviews.

Goslinoski stated there had been a rise in the number of accidental deaths involving drug overdose. She also explained that death from trauma, such as car accidents and recreational vehicles, often need to be investigated to satisfy consumer protection groups.

BLUA fined for leakage into Betsie Bay

The Betsie Lake Utility Authority worked with the Department of Environmental Quality after correcting issues caused by malfunctioning machinery.

BLUA was fined $7,200 for several violations over several years. BLUA failed to submit discharge monitoring reports 11 times between June 21, 2016 and Oct. 31, 2017. Also, in January of 2018, fecal coliform numbers were too high on several occasions in water discharged into Betsie Bay.

BLUA has since corrected the issues and signed a District Administrative Consent Order in November to work with the DEQ to ensure it does not happen again.

BLUA has a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Agreement discharge permit giving them the authority to discharge into the bay when treating wastewater. The facility is required to send monitoring reports, and levels need to meet certain parameters. In 2016 and 2017, the DEQ did not get some of those reports. In 2018, there were some exceedances for fecal coliform."

The DEQ was told the chlorine used to treat discharge had run out over the weekend, and the problem was fixed the following Monday.

Officials for BLUA said an automatic changeover didn't happen due to equipment failure. The equipment was repaired and a backup put in place, as well as an alarm system to warn BLUA employees of a future failure.

As for the missing reports, a change in computer systems caused the issue.

Area organizations hold regional disaster drill

Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital took part in a multi-county exercise in April, held by Region 7 Health Care Colalition.

The exercise included phone calls and scenario briefing. According to the drill, an explosion had shut down part of Munson Medical Center, and patients were being transferred to Paul Oliver. At the same time, a wildfire in Grayling was requiring another hospital to evacuate patients to Paul Oliver. On top of that, a patient was coming in with a potentially deadly contagious disease.

The exercise was meant to get staff thinking about the resources they have, and how to deal with emergency situations under unusual circumstances.

Employees taking part in the exercise sat in a small briefing room, getting information from phone calls and online.

Other organizations involved included the Benzie County Office of Emergency Management, Benzie Area Radio Friends and emergency management organizations and hospitals as far north as the Mackinac Bridge.

May

Emergency manger announces retirement

Frank Post, emergency manager, announced his intent to retire near the end of the year.

Post said he planed to retire by Aug. 2, after working with the county since 2012. Post first came on part-time as an assistant to the emergency manager. In 2013, he became the county's sole emergency manager.

In the time he worked with the county, post developed emergency preparedness plans, helped update communication equipment for the County's emergency services through successful grant applications and staged full-scale drills and tabletop exercises.

Post said the prolonged period of time between announcing his retirement and when he's planning to retire was to finish some projects so the new manager doesn't have to deal with old business.

Post was named the Local Emergency Management Coordinator of the year in 2017 by the Michigan Emergency Management Association.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore preformed prescribed burn

A prescribed burn at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, the first prescribed burn held in the park, was successfully performed May 7.

According to officials from the National Park Service, the burn included close to 920 acres in several areas near Bass Lake, between Esch and Peterson Roads and west of M-22.

The fire is a tool intended to restore habitat in forested ecosystems in the park.

For safety, the White Pine Backcountry Campground and some of the small roads and trails in the park were closed to visitors during the active burning period.

The area burned contained unique, fire-dependent plant communities known as dry northern forest and wooded swale.

Dry northern forest is typically dominated by a mix of hardwoods and jack pine or red pine. Wooded swales are low areas between post-glacial ridges that support forested wetlands and a variety of wildflowers and other herbaceous plants.

Both are important to the diversity of the Sleeping Bear Dunes ecosystem.

Without fire as a disturbance, the slow encroachment of hardwood species and shrubs eventually out-competes the pines, altering community composition and canopy structure. It also helped to prevent wildfires, burning dead and dry wood.

Plane goes missing off coast of Frankfort

A plane on the way traveling from Ontonagon to Monroe went missing off the coast of Frankfort.

According to the Benzie County Sheriff's Office, Minneapolis Air Traffic Control contacted county law enforcement at around 7:50 p.m. on May 12 and reported they had lost contact with a plane approximately 4.5 miles off the coast of Frankfort. The pilot had last communicated the plane was having engine problems, and had "locked up."

The plane was eventually located, but the plane's occupants, Emanuel Manos, 53, of Monroe, and Randal Dippold, 65, of Perry, were not in the plane.

Later, the body of Emanuel Manos, of Monroe, was found by the Michigan State Police Marine Services Team in about 523 feet of water on May 29.

June

Benzie County Commissioners hear extensive financial review

A long term look at Benzie County Fiances showed while the county was managing money efficiently, there would be a steady decline in the general fund balance.

The study took a deep look at the county's finances, and compared Benzie to Antrim, Arenac, Iosco, Manistee, Oceana and Wexford counties, which the report stated were similar to Benzie.

The report mentions lowering energy costs, seeking grants, repairing rather than replacing, seeking grants and donations and shared services (such as the joint-court system with Manistee County) and cross-training as examples of how Benzie is looking ahead to be sustainable.

However, the report stated the county's operating millage rate, 3.4528 mills, was below average, and that the county relied heavily on special millages, 11 in total, to fund essential county services, such as the jail and animal control.

County officials are still discussing the possibility of raising the millage rate, or overriding the Headlee Rollback.

High water levels start causing problems in Benzie

High water levels in Lake Michigan and connected waters begin causing problems for area residents and cities along the coast.

The sides of the causeway between Elberta and Frankfort began to flood, and after heavy rains, water freely flowed over the road.

While the Michigan Department of Transportation said there was no danger of the road collapsing, they were keeping an eye on the situation.

Adjacent to the causeway, on both sides, parts of the Betsie Valley Trail flooded completely, and one portion was closed to traffic. That portion remains underwater.

In Frankfort, Mineral Springs Park and a marina parking lot flooded, despite the city's efforts to pump the water out, as the groundwater table was so high. That area remains flooded as well.

Elsewhere, beach access was limited, and people with homes along the lakeshore were seeing erosion damage. The historic Fishtown in Leeland saw flooding over the docks, causing damage to shanties and businesses.

Mary Carroll resigns from Benzie County Chamber of Commerce

Mary Carroll, president and CEO of the Benzie County Chamber of Commerce and Benzie County Visitors Bureau (Make It Benzie), informed the organizations' board of directors of her intention to resign from both her positions in June of 2019.

An opportunity out of the area has precipitated her resignation.

Meanwhile a search committee will be formed to begin the process of hiring a new president.

Carroll began working for the organizations on Sept. 10, 2007, replacing Carol Davidson after her retirement.

During Carroll's time, she represented the organizations on many statewide, regional and local boards and committees.

Organizations Included the Michigan Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus, Michigan Association of Chamber Professionals, Pure Michigan Strategic Planning Committee, Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, Benzie Local College Access Network Leadership Team, Benzie Bus Local Advisory Committee and the Benzie County Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Authority.

An individual has been hired to take her place, but no official statement has yet been made regarding the individuals name or any changes at the chamber.
As revellers welcomed the new year in Brisbane and beyond, emergency service personnel were kept on their toes across the state.

Police arrested 46 people during the night in the Brisbane region, though generally praised the crowds - down in numbers on previous years - as "very well-behaved".

Crowds watch a fireworks display during New Year's Eve celebrations in Brisbane. Credit:Dan Peled/AAP

"Those arrest figures were also down on previous years as well, and the indications from the watchhouse and courts this morning is they've certainly seen lower figures than previous years," said Superintendent Christopher Stream.

He said the the 49 charges handed out comprised mostly minor public nuisance, assault and drug possession.
A federal judge cited North Carolinas sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression as she blocked the states new voter identification law.

The decision by US district court judge Loretta Biggs will prevent state officials from requiring voters to show identification in the 2020 presidential election after critics said the law unfairly targets African-Americans.

North Carolina could be a key state in this years election as voters chose Donald Trump in the last presidential vote but also elected a Democratic governor in 2016.

Republican leaders in the state House and Senate have asked North Carolinas Department of Justice to appeal Judge Biggs decision, which blocks the law until a lawsuit filed by the state NAACP and others is resolved.

North Carolina has a sordid history of racial discrimination and voter suppression stretching back to the time of slavery, through the era of Jim Crow, and, crucially, continuing up to the present day, Judge Biggs wrote.

Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Show all 30 1 /30 Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at Uncle Sam Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A baby blimp rears its head amidst a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president't campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Proud Boys have adopted Fred Perry polo shirts as their uniform and many members have the name of the group tattooed on their arms Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A line of police officers separate opposing groups of protesters outside the launch of President Trump's 2020 campaign launch Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A protester hits a Trump punching bag during a protest outside Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Twin Trump supporters pose for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A protester dressed as a caricature of Donald Trump stands outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AP Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A Trump supporter faces off against a protester outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A Proud Boy shouts across the police line at anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A Trump supporter poses for a photo at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A Proud Boy jeers at anti-Trump protesters who are separated from the president's supporters by a police line outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A man dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam An anti-Trump protester faces off against a supporter outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Members of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, jeer at anti-Trump protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A child holds a 2020 US "dollar bill" that features Donald Trump's face at the president's 2020 campaign launch EPA Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Numerous baby Trump balloons are raised in protests outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A supporter wears a T-shirt depicting Trump as a hero at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam President Trump addresses supporters at the launch event of his 2020 election campaign in the Amway Centre in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam An anti-Trump protester calls for the president to be impeached outside the launch event for his 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Supporters of Donald Trump face off against protesters outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AP Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A baby blimp rises behind a group of anti-Trump protesters outside the president's campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AP Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A supporter dressed as Uncle Sam poses at President Trump's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AP Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A member of the Proud Boys, a fascist group, holds a sign up outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida AFP/Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam A supporter bears a Trump flag at the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Reuters Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam Protesters hold baby Trump balloons in the rally outside of the president's 2020 campaign launch in Orlando, Florida Getty Trump 2020 launch: Fascist Proud Boys, baby blimps and Uncle Sam An anti-Trump protester holds a sign accusing the president of being a traitor Getty

The judge said the newest version of the law was similar to a 2013 law that was struck down by a federal appeals court in 2016.

In that case, the court said voting restrictions were approved with intentional racial discrimination in mind and the law targeted African-Americans with almost surgical precision.

Judge Biggs wrote that the new voter ID law did not fix the problems with discrimination in the 2013 law and lawmakers had tried to circumvent state and federal courts" with the new version, which was backed by some of the same key lawmakers as in 2013.

Voters in North Carolina approved a constitutional amendment by 55 per cent in 2018 to require voter photo ID.

The voter ID law would have come into effect for the 3 March Democratic presidential primary.

Recommended How voter suppression and fear sideline minorities in Georgia

Reverend T Anthony Spearman, the president of North Carolinas NAACP, said he was overjoyed by the decision.

Quite frankly, tears are coming to my eyes as I read the decision, Mr Spearman said.

I hope it is something that will encourage people who have not exercised their right to vote to cast their votes.

Judge Biggs also rejected an argument by lawmakers that they had to enact the ID law because voters had approved the constitutional amendment.

While the legislature may [have] had to pass some form of photo voter ID law, it did not have to enact one which suffers from impermissible defects, she wrote.

Republican lawmakers have called Judge Biggs' ruling "inappropriate" and urged the states Department of Justice to seek a stay of the temporary injunction.

Additional reporting by AP
If youre waking up the day after New Years Eve feeling queasy with a headache  youre not alone. Hangovers are rampant on New Years Day, especially (according to this ranking) in Kentucky.

But whether youre just waking up or are already struggling to make it to your local coffee shop, there are things you can do to help yourself recover. Alok Patel, MD, a physician and medical contributor, shared some best practices with Yahoo Lifestyle to help you get through the day. First, he says, its important to understand whats actually happening when youre hungover.

When alcohol is being broken down by your liver, your liver will create this byproduct called acetaldehyde. When this builds up in your body, you start to get some of those toxic effects of drinking, Patel tells Yahoo Lifestyle. You not only get dehydrated but you lose a lot of electrolytes and that will leave you feeling groggy but also with a huge headache.

So what can be done to fix this?

Patel cautions against opting for the classic fixes like a big, greasy breakfast or huge doses of caffeine. Both of these, he says, could actually cause more dehydration and upset stomach. Instead, Patel says the key to feeling better is hydration. If youre hungover, drink water, he suggests. Its also a good thing to take in some electrolytes whether its Gatorade or Pedialyte.

Overall, Patel says that once youve nursed a hangover, it might be a good time to think about making different choices. Get up, get moving, and then try to think about drinking less next time, he says. Because truth be told we shouldnt be preventing hangovers  we should be listening to our bodies and drinking less in general.

For more on how to treat your hangover, watch the video above.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will run the Senate impeachment trial "in total co-ordination" with the White House, which means he'll probably frame it in a way that benefits US President Donald Trump.

When asked why, he says the answer is obvious: Because everyone knows Trump's going to be acquitted anyway by the Republican-controlled Senate, so why bother?

"We all know how this is going to end," he said on 'Fox and Friends' last week.

The limited history of Senate impeachment trials - there's only been one in the modern era - doesn't give us much insight into whether this is normal.

So what's McConnell's endgame in setting the expectations that this trial will be set up for Trump? As we wait to see whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will hand over the articles of impeachment so that a Senate trial can start, here are a few non-mutually exclusive theories.

1. He doesn't want to risk anything that could backfire on Trump.

Opening up the trial to witnesses is a can of worms for McConnell. Senate Democrats - and 71pc of Americans, including nearly two in three Republicans - want to hear from Trump's top aides in a Senate trial. That includes people such as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton. What might these people know about Trump's intentions when he held up Ukraine's military aid? On the other side, Trump wants people such as former vice-president Joe Biden and his family or the anonymous whistleblower to testify.

It's up to the senators to decide what rules will frame the trial, including whether they will have witnesses. They'll decide by a majority vote. McConnell is adept at controlling outcomes in the Senate, but why risk having a situation where the White House lawyers grill Biden and come across looking uber-political, while people who could provide damaging testimony about Trump testify for Democrats? It's easier to close this off to any witnesses.

While McConnell isn't explicitly ruling out witnesses, he is saying he plans to hold the vote for witnesses in the middle of the trial, after opening arguments by both sides and when senators have a chance to ask questions, rather than at the beginning.

The 'Washington Post' has reported that he hopes at that point Republican senators will want the whole thing to be over and just move to vote on whether to acquit or convict Trump, without introducing any new evidence. McConnell points out that's how it worked with Clinton's trial.

2. The Senate trial is an inherently political process.

If the framers wanted a truly impartial impeachment trial, they would have handed it over to the judicial system.

Instead, they left it with Congress to decide a president's fate. We know senators are required to take an oath of impartiality when they start the trial, but there's nothing in the rules the Senate passed in the 1980s that I've seen that necessitates senators place impartiality above all else when framing the trial.

To that effect, during the Clinton impeachment trial, current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was a House member running for Senate. He broadcast that he would vote to acquit. "So a vote for Chuck Schumer is a vote not to impeach the president?" NBC asked him. "Based on the present evidence, that is correct," Schumer said.

To some, that sounds similar to the "I'm not an impartial juror" line that McConnell says today to explain his defence of Trump. In other words, both sides have acted to protect their president during impeachment.

"The bottom line is this is not a jury trial," said a GOP Senate aide. "It's a political event."

Of course, comparing these two impeachments is not apples to apples. There was a years-long investigation into Clinton before impeachment, by a separate special counsel. The House spent only a couple of months investigating Trump's alleged wrongdoing.

3. McConnell didn't want this trial in the first place.

McConnell has stuck by Trump since Trump got elected, and he's not about to abandon the president now.

McConnell feels that the case House Democrats are handing him is too weak to remove a duly elected president from office. Not a single House Republican voted to impeach Trump on either of the counts Democrats passed, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

McConnell also feels that in asking Bolton and Mulvaney to testify, he'll be doing Democrats' investigatory work for them. Pursuing the case against Trump is counter-intuitive to everything he stands for as a Republican and Trump ally.

4. He doesn't think Trump will be convicted anyway.

"Let's quit the charade," he said on 'Fox & Friends'. "This is a political exercise." McConnell's view is a cynical one, but he may be right. For Trump to be the first impeached president to also be convicted by the Senate and thus removed from office, 67 senators need to agree. That's all 47 Democratic senators plus 20 of the 53 Republicans. So far, a 'Washington Post' analysis finds 14 Republican senators who have expressed concerns about Trump's actions, but none who say they agree with his impeachment, much less that he should be removed from office.

A GOP aide said it's more likely some Democrats vote to acquit Trump than Republicans vote to convict him.

If that's true, McConnell has plenty of room to shape this trial in Trump's favour without much blowback from his own party. ( Washington Post)
Calcutta was one of the major cities from where the British ruled before independence, even serving as the capital of the East India Company. Over two centuries later, Calcutta is now set to 'rule' in the capital of England, London. Anjan Chatterjee of Speciality Restaurants is the one behind this, as his new restaurant Chourangi gears up to satisfy the taste buds of the Londoners.

READ: 'Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan!': Butter Chicken Stalwart Pritam's Book Out

Chourangi to London

The brain behind well-known brands like Mainland China, Oh! Calcutta, Sweet Bengal, among others, spoke exclusively to Republic World ahead of the launch. The entrepreneur shared that his focus was on taking 'India's most unexplored cuisine', as the restaurant's tagline suggests, to London.

"London is accustomed to Indian cuisines over the years, but majorly this has been to North Indian food. I'd like to call the food from Kolkata regional. We are looking forward to serve the delicious flavours of the city," Chatterjee says. The menu will be familiar. "We're sticking to almost the same menu as Oh! Calcutta. In fact, Chourangi is more like an offshoot of Oh! Calcutta in London." he says.

The place Chowringhee has been used in popular novels and film titles, but for Chatterjee, it was something that stood for Kolkata, like Oh! Calcutta. "We wanted it to stand for something that is a part of Kolkata, or rather the heart of Kolkata," he shares. He adds that they could not open Oh! Calcutta in London because a Bangladeshi restaurant had already used the name.

READ: Must-have Dishes In Bengali Cuisine - From Begun Bhaja To Daab Chingri

With over 100 outlets of his various brands worldwide, including India, Bangladesh and Tanzania and Dubai, will Chourangi also see its branches spread out across the world? Chatterjee answers, We are not looking that far ahead yet. We have just launched."

He adds, "But we are expanding for sure. Were opening a Mainland China outlet in Houston. While Chourangi opens in January, we are looking at the USA branch of Mainland China around May-June.

READ: Bread Rasmalai Recipe To Give A Twist To The Traditional Bengali Sweet-dish

Anjan Chatterjees success story has been inspirational, from starting as an advertising professional to taking Speciality Restaurants to the heights of profits. It is one of the few restaurant businesses to be listed on the stock market, and reportedly had a turnover of Rs 346 crore in 2018-19. He, however, credits the success to two simple factors: love for food and the desire to serve honest food.

I live to eat, unlike others who eat to live. My conversations with people are about food. Its often one of the first things I ask anyone about," the entrepreneur proudly says. He adds, "We have thrived on our desire to serve honest food. Without any disrespect to anyone, there has been numerous fusion food items, that usually has nothing to do with what the dish is all about. We have consciously tried to avoid this, and keep the basic essence of the dishes alive.

Anjan Chatterjee signs off by saying that his son has now joined the business. And like the youngster has brought the companys focus from just food to food alongside liquor, Speciality Restaurants is always determined to explore various avenues to keep growing like they have till now.

READ: Bengali Aloo Posto Recipe: Try These Easy Steps To Prepare The Delicious Bengali Dish
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the credit cards industry within Asia covering various aspects.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the credit cards industry within Asia covering various aspects including: the introduction and genesis, the market size of a credit cards by value and volume of transaction, number of cards in circulation, segmentation by personal and commercial credit cards, transactions at ATM and POS terminals, the transaction value of credit cards through operators and issuers and total cards in circulation by operators and issuers.

It also covers issues and challenges, trends and developments, SWOT analysis, country profiles of major countries and regulatory framework of the industry.

The report concludes with market projections and analyst recommendations highlighting major opportunities and cautions.

Asia Credit Cards Market Overview and Size

The rapidly increasing the digital payments industry in Asia has scaled up rapidly over the last few years which has led to an increase in credit card usage.

The total transaction value showcased high growth in Asia along with a CAGR of 14.2% for the period 2013-2018.

The rise of affordable smartphones and subsequent internet and mobile penetration has led to significant growth in the digital payments space.

The people in these mature markets are aware of digital payments and have steadily embraced non-cash methods over the years.

The total number of credit cards in circulation increased at a CAGR of 12.9% during 2013-2018.

The current usage of cash in emerging countries exceeds 90.0%. They have seen some traction in the last few years, primarily due to mobile and internet penetration and a focus on financial inclusion through mobile-based services.

In most of the developed countries such as Singapore and Japan, more than 80.0% of adults have access to financial services.

Regulators and governments of emerging and developing countries can set up a separate entity such as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to promote retail payments and further increase the usage and circulation of credit cards.

Asia Credit Cards Market Segmentation

Japan was leading in terms of total cards in circulation and also in the total transaction value of credit cards in the year 2018.

Total credit cards in circulation had a CAGR of 0.9% in the period 2013-2018. Credit card POS transactions increased steadily over the last year within Asia thus, keeping with the governments objective of promoting cashless payments in most of the countries.

Japan was followed by South Korea, India and China in terms of the total number of credit cards in circulation respectively during the year 2018.

Installation of a larger number of POS terminals at merchant locations and the higher number of cards in circulation, especially amongst urban residents, aided the growth of credit card transactions in countries such as China, India, Philippines, and others.

ATM cash withdrawals by credit card are much lower than POS transactions because of high transaction charges in the case of ATM withdrawal. Banks tend to charge 2.5-3.0% of the withdrawn amount subject to a minimum amount.

Comparative Landscape in Asia Credit Cards Market

Competition within the Asia credit card market was observed as concentrated, showcasing the late growth stage.

The competitive growth in the credit card industry of Asia was driven by deep client partnerships, strong cross-border growth, significant long-term growth opportunities, and tailored strategies.

The major operators in the Asian credit card industry were UnionPay International Co. Ltd., Visa Inc., MasterCard International Inc., JCB Card Co., and Shinhan Financial Group Co. Ltd. in terms of total cards in circulation and total transaction value during the year 2018.

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd dominated in terms of total cards in circulation in 2018.

It was followed by China Merchants Bank Co Ltd, China Construction Bank Corp and Bank of China Ltd.

In order to attract a larger customer base, there has been the introduction of various types of credit cards as per the users need such as reward cards for rewards for shopping, traveling and even filling up the fuel in vehicles, there are cards where the design and the appearance of the credit cards can be customized as per the users need, credit cards with NFC technology or contactless technology which helps to make faster payments through POS terminals.

All these customer attraction schemes have made the credit card market in Asia to be recognized as highly competitive, therefore, displaying huge barriers for new entrants in almost every country in Asia.

Asia Credit Cards Market Future Outlook and Projections

By the forecast period ending 2025, it is expected that the total number of credit cards in circulation in Asia will grow at a positive CAGR of 6.8% for the period 2018-2025.

The expected growth in contactless payments through credit cards will be a major growth driver for the increase in the transaction value because of the ease and speed provided.

The total transaction value of credit cards in Asia will have a CAGR of 7.4% during 2018-2025.

Within Asia, major card networks are looking to tie up with banking partners for the issuance of contactless cards.

The role of specific regulatory bodies in monitoring, regulating and promoting digital payments in Asia will have a great impact on the issuance of the credit cards in the future.

Partnerships with FinTech will play a crucial role in the development of the digital payments ecosystem by promoting innovation and enabling open-loop payments that promote the adoption of digital payments.

In countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and others, increased remittance partnerships with international players have opened up the market for more such partnerships with money transfer companies to enable digital remittance transfers to accounts and wallets in Bangladesh.

Thus, there will be more opportunities for FinTech/banks/international players as regulators and the government bodies are also encouraging new solutions that will boost digital payments.

Thien Van

VN banks issues more chip cards for security Despite high costs, domestic banks are issuing more chip cards that meet EMV standards to replace magnetic strip cards in order to improve security and meet the central banks regulations.
The cast of Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls cause merry mayhem when they take over the tent for a festive edition of The Great British Bake Off.

Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Nicola Coughlan, Jamie-Lee ODonnell, Dylan Llewellyn and Siobhan McSweeney are jokingly branded five of the most troublesome people we have ever had in the tent by host Sandi Toksvig, who adds: But I dont think we have ever had more fun.

The TV stars must attempt to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with an alcohol-laced sharing trifle for their signature challenge, which sees a few of them tucking into booze as they whip up sponges, jelly and custard.

The Derry Girls are back on your TV and as calamitous as ever, but with ever so slightly more cake.



The Great Festive Bake Off, New Year's Day at 7.40pm on @Channel4. #GBBO pic.twitter.com/wWAbwKFgvr  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) December 30, 2019

Leith tells Llewellyn the layers of his bakewell trifle are a bit casual, while she brands Jacksons a bit messy and smeary.

Hollywood tells McSweeney her trifle is all over the place, it looks like an aquarium, while Leith adds: It does look like slime.

For the showstopper the contestants must make a two-tiered cake based on their favourite decade.

Llewellyn crafts a 1960s camper van made out of lemon cake, while ODonnell fashions the plane Amelia Earhart landed in Derry in the 1930s out of coconut cream cake.

Were back on New Years Day at 7.40pm for The Great Festive Bake Off with some legendary Girls from Derry! #GBBO pic.twitter.com/0OVNhubs6q  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) December 25, 2019

Coughlan prepares a bowler hat inspired by 1930s Berlin and the film Cabaret out of chocolate cake, while Jackson makes a 1960s peace and love lemon and blueberry cake  admitting she had never made a cake before taking part in the show.

Video of the Day

Meanwhile, McSweeney makes a chocolate raspberry cake in memory of her family camping trips to Cork in the 1980s.

After the final challenge Coughlan says: I am a broken woman, while Jackson says: I dont think it could have gone any worse.

McSweeney jokes: Ive basically ruined the memory of my mother and father, I might not go back in.

The Great Festive Bake Off is on Channel 4 at 7.40pm.
Firefighters battling raging blazes on the New South Wales south coast have shared the terrifying moment a vicious firestorm engulfed their truck.

The Fire and Rescue NSW crew were driving through an intense bushfire just south of Nowra, 160km south of Sydney, when their truck was overrun with flames.

Chilling footage taken from inside the vehicle showed embers flying onto the truck as it drove just metres from the ravaging fire.

Embers are seen flying around the fire truck as the crew drove through the area near Nowra on the South Coast

The crew were just metres away from fires as they drove about 300 metres down the road

Jasper, one of the firefighters in the truck, told Nine News his team was tasked to assist another RFS crew that was under threat.

'We just did what we trained to do and go and save lives. We got probably 300m down that road and we had an amber attack come across,' he said.

'Our driver did an awesome job, got us out of there, turn it around, turned the whole crew around, we had four trucks in that crew and yeah we just got out there the best we could.'

In the footage another crew member can be heard yelling to Jasper to put a blanket against the window to help protect the firefighters from the heat.

The crew had to abandon one of their trucks because the brakes had failed and it was too unsafe to stick around and try to move it.

Chilling footage was taken from inside the vehicle showing embers flying onto the truck as it drives just metres from the ravaging fire

In the footage another crew member can be heard yelling to Jasper to put a blanket against the window to help protect the firefighters from the heat

Another crew member, Irvine, said they were all lucky to be alive.

'We were just fortunate to get out of there. My biggest concern was my crew at that time. However, you know, just it happened very quickly and we were just fortunate to get out. All of us here today are, you know, it's amazing that we made it,' he said.

At least 200 homes have been destroyed on the NSW south coast and the main streets of towns such as Cobargo and Mogo are unrecognisable.

A third person was confirmed dead on Wednesday morning and another has been listed as missing in the South Coast fires.

Residents of Batemans Bay were seen at the beach attempting to stay safe from fires on Tuesday

RFS, NSW Fire and Rescue, NPWS officers and local residents fight a bushfire encroaching on properties near Termeil on the Princes Highway between Bateman's Bay and Ulladulla

The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed on Wednesday that the third person confirmed dead was found in a motor vehicle in Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola.

That fatality added to those of dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, who died trying to protect their property in Cobargo, near Bega, on the state's south coast on Tuesday.

Those in the NSW holiday towns of Bateman's Bay and Bermagui also fled to evacuation centres or the beaches on Tuesday.

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, had been leveled.

Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra i

The town of Cobargo, where Mr Salway and his son died on Monday bravely battling to defend their homes, had been leveled

Batemans Bay has also been 'absolutely destroyed,' according to local Federal MP for Gilmore Fiona Phillips.

'It's just been absolute devastation. The building loss we believe around the Batemans Bay area and Mogo is in the hundreds. It's very, very significant,' she said, according to the ABC.

'The industrial area at Batemans Bay has certainly suffered significant damage and the Mogo CBD is unrecognisable.'

Ms Phillips said hundreds of buildings have been destroyed in the area.

Federal MP for Eden Monaro Mike Kelly said at least 200 homes have been lost on the Far South Coast and he is expecting more bad news.
Freddie Figgers was abandoned as a baby by his birth parents. He has gone on to become a successful entrepreneur. Read more

Hours after he was born in 1989, Freddie Figgers was set down next to a dumpster in a rural area of Floridas panhandle.

A passerby found him alone and in distress, and called police. The infant was hospitalized with minor injuries for two days, then placed in a foster home. The couple who took him in, Nathan and Betty Figgers, lived in nearby Quincy, Fla., and already had a daughter.

Shortly after Freddie began living with them, the Figgerses  who often took in foster children  decided to adopt him.

In elementary school, Freddie Figgers said, other children would bully him and call him dumpster baby when they learned he had been put out with the garbage as a newborn.

Its a rural area, so after it happened, everybody heard about it, said Figgers, now 30. My parents told me the truth about what happened as I grew older. I thought about it a lot as a kid, and Id have to say it was embarrassing when I was younger.

His life hit a turning point when he was 9, he said, when his father paid $25 for a broken 1989 Macintosh computer at a thrift shop. Nathan Figgers, who was a maintenance worker at Florida State University, brought the computer home and set it on the kitchen table so his son could tinker with it.

He thought that a computer might help to keep me out of trouble, said Figgers.

His father was right. Figgers took it apart and put in back together several times. He figured out that he could get it to power on when he installed some components he found in an old radio that belonged to his father.

I still have it, Figgers said of that first computer. Its what sparked my interest in technology.

Hed gotten so good at tinkering with computers that when he was 13, the city of Quincy hired him to help repair its computers, he said. When he was 15, he started his first company, Figgers Computers, repairing computers in his parents living room and helping clients store their data on servers he created.

He was a self-starter and a fast learner. After building his own cloud database, he decided to skip college.

I wouldnt recommend my path to everyone, said Figgers. But it worked for me. When I was 17, I had 150 clients that needed websites and storage for their files. I just kept building from there.

His big break came several years later, in 2012, he said, when at age 23, he sold a GPS tracker program to an undisclosed company in Kansas for $2.2 million.

 READ MORE: Oh, mama! At Einstein, 14 obstetrics staffers gave birth in 2019 and three more are due

Figgers father had developed Alzheimers disease and would frequently wander off when he was confused.

I created a device that I could insert in his shoe that would allow me to track him, plus talk to him through his shoe, said Figgers.

Nathan Figgers died in 2014, shortly after Freddie started Figgers Communications (and developed 80 custom software programs) with the money hed earned from his smart shoe technology.

It was difficult to watch him decline  its something you never forget, said Freddie Figgers. Ive always been so grateful to him and my mom. They taught me not to let my circumstances define who I was.

Some would say that's an understatement.

Figgers, who now lives in Parkland, Fla., is the founder of Figgers Wireless, a privately held telecommunications company that he said was appraised in 2017 to be worth more than $62 million.

 READ MORE: Former juvenile delinquent keeps promise to the judge who gave her a break - and becomes a lawyer

He also runs the Figgers Foundation, which donates to a variety of causes, including relief efforts after natural disasters, college scholarships for high school students and assistance with school supplies for cash-strapped teachers.

The best thing any human being can do is influence another one, said Figgers, who credits his adoptive parents for believing in him and allowing him to channel his energy into creative computer projects at a young age.

Although Figgers does a sizable business selling his smartphones and data plans, he said he is still passionate about combining technology with health care and safety.

He sells a wireless blood glucose meter for people with diabetes that allows patients to download and share glucose levels through Bluetooth technology. And he is working on a project similar to his smart shoe technology to help families stay in touch with loved ones experiencing homelessness.

That could be me on the streets  I could have been homeless or dead if I hadnt been found by the dumpster after I was born, he said.

After Figgers grew up, he learned that his birth mother was a prostitute and had a drug addiction. He said he has not met her, and he has no desire to.

My parents adopted me and gave me love and a future, he said. They did their best to make the world a better place, and now thats all I want to do, too.

Married to Natlie Figgers, an attorney, Figgers said he is caught up in the joy of raising his first child, Rose, who is 2.

Im at a happy place in my life  its important to me to pay it forward, he said. Im just one person, but I believe that if I can have an impact on even one other person, it can multiply. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that.
Iran's supreme leader Wednesday strongly condemned deadly US strikes on Iraq and warned his country was ready to confront threats after US President Donald Trump issued one against the Islamic republic. "I and the government and the nation of Iran strongly condemn this American crime," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state television. They were his first remarks since Sunday's deadly US strikes on the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network in western Iraq. The United States carried out the raids in retaliation for rocket fire that killed an American civilian contractor at a base in northern Iraq on Friday. In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of "orchestrating" that day's storming of the US embassy in Baghdad by protesters angry at the American air strikes. Trump said: "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat." In response, Khamenei retweeted the post and said: "That guy has tweeted that we (the United States) see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran. "First of all, you can't do a damn thing! This has nothing to do with Iran," the supreme leader in his televised address. "Secondly, be logical... The people of this region hate America. Why don't Americans understand this?" he said. "You Americans have committed crimes in Iraq, you have committed crimes in Afghanistan. You have killed people." Khamenei said Iran was ready to respond to any threat. "If the Islamic republic decides to oppose or fight against a country, it will do this explicitly," he said. "We are strongly committed to the interests of our country... We are strongly committed to the dignity of our nation. We are strongly committed to the progress and greatness of the nation of Iran. "Should anyone threaten these, we will confront him without any hesitation and will strike our blow," Khamenei said. "We will never... drag the country towards war. But if others want to impose anything on this country, we will stand against them with all our might." US-Iran tensions have soared since Washington pulled out of a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hits out at the United States in his first public comments since deadly weekend US air strikes on pro-Iran fighters in western Iraq
1Seen above are satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Tongchang, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. On the left is an image from Dec. 17, and the right is from Dec. 18. / Courtesy of 38 North

By Jhoo Dong-chan







North Korea is likely to maintain the status quo combining its hardline stance with an open negotiation channel next year, according to a number of experts in South Korea and abroad.







They also claim it is a very tall task to lead North Korea to complete and irreversible denuclearization without guaranteeing its regime survival.







According to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), Monday, the first RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk aircraft arrived at an air force base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, on the day.







The government purchased four Global Hawk remotely piloted surveillance planes from the United States. The remaining three are expected to be delivered next year.







The ROKAF has not revealed details for its deployment plan, but these unmanned aerial vehicles are expected to strengthen South Korea's surveillance capability amid the heightened threat of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile tests.







Pyongyang said earlier this month that it will send a "Christmas gift" to the United States, but what the gift contains will depend entirely on Washington.







U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Charles Brown predicted during a media conference last week that North Korea's Christmas gift will be a long-range ballistic missile test.







Rep. Lee Hye-hoon, a member of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party and chairperson of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, claimed the Moon Jae-in administration should not appease Pyongyang's demands anymore.







"I believe the government did everything it could possibly do to comply with North Korea's demands, but it just didn't work," she said.







"North Korea is a de facto nuclear power. It will never give up its nuclear status. We also believe its long-range ballistic missile technology is good enough to hit the mainland United States. Decisive action is needed now."







South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon said, however, Pyongyang won't completely leave the negotiation table despite the current standoff between stakeholders for North Korea's denuclearization process.







"North Korea needs dialogue as much as Washington wants," Lee told reporters.







"If North Korea returns to nuke, the international community, including the United States, would have not many options but to strengthen economic sanctions against the North. This isn't what North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wants. There could possibly be mounting doubts about Kim's leadership since he had been out there to talk to his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. There would be advance and setback, but I believe they will eventually return to the table next year."






Skiing can be an entertaining but expensive wintertime activity. To narrow down affordable locations, The Active Times compared 2019 survey data on the most expensive ski resorts from CheapHotels.org and 2018-19 data from HomeToGo about the average price of ski rentals, lift tickets, food and accommodations at 50 affordable ski resorts. These destinations come in near or below the average price of a peak-season one-day adult lift ticket in the United States, which was $94 in 2018, according to ski magazine Snow-Online.com. And while even the least expensive double room at Deer Valley, the most expensive ski resort based on lodging, cost more than $500 per night during 2019s peak ski season, the average price per person for lodging or vacation rentals clocks in around $100 or less on average at these more thrifty places. (Kaitlin Miller, The Active Times)

(Kaitlin Miller, The Active Times)
" " Steve Tyscko holds a carp in Havana, Illinois, on March 11, 2011. Asian carp have spread from retention ponds in the southern U.S. to the Mississippi River to the Missouri and Illinois rivers to the Great Lakes.  John Gress/Corbis

In the 1970s, fish farmers in the southern United States imported Asian carp to clean up the mess left by their catfish. One day, the carp made a break for it and escaped into the Mississippi River. In the 21st century, the Asian carp swims in the waters of at least 23 states, destroying the biodiversity in many bodies of water. How do you kill the fish? The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a poison. Some fishermen, however, go Rambo on them, shooting the fish with arrows as they jump out of the water. Others, however, are catching the carp and eating them. They say it tastes similar to tilapia [source: Kraft].

Dealing with the Asian carp reflects the problems humans face when trying to control or eradicate an invasive species. You would think killing these pests would be an easy thing, considering that when a nonnative species enters a new ecosystem, only about 10 percent of the population will survive. Of those survivors, another 10 become pests [source: CISR]. That is, not all foreign species new to an area will become invasive. What's the problem?

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At first, all infestation is localized. In fact, it's so local that humans don't even know its occurring. Eventually, the species breeds and gradually moves into other areas. However, the climate has to be right, and conditions have to be perfect for an invasive species to take over an area. That means the area has to lack natural enemies, including parasites, predators or pathogens. Some species, such as aphids, spread more easily than others because a male is not required for fertilization. By the time humans figure out an invasive species has taken over the area, it's much too late to do anything about it [source: CISR].

We can try, can't we? Of course. There are two main ways of controlling an invasive species. The first is something researchers call proactive management. That means excluding species by passing laws banning certain animals, plants, food and other products from coming into a country. Officials can catch many invasive species by stepping up border inspections. Proactive management also means destroying an invasive population during the early stages of infestation. In California, environmental officials successfully beat back an invasive weed that occurs naturally in tropical waters. When state officials spotted the plant, they shrouded it with tarpaulins and poured chlorine on top, killing the weed before it had a chance to spread [source: CISR].

The second way to control invasive species is through reactive management. That could mean doing nothing, or it could mean controlling the invaders by limiting their capacity to reproduce. This might mean planting crops that are resistant to a plant disease. It could also mean planting during a time of the year when a pest is not around. We could also use chemicals to kill the pests or introduce a natural predator, such as a parasite or pathogen, into the ecosystem [source: CISR].

What can you and I do? For one thing, go around your house and try to find any plants that don't belong there. Generally speaking, you can tell which plants are invasive if they crowd out the native vegetation. You can also go to this U.S. Department of Agriculture website and print out identification sheets. And please, don't flush baby alligators down the toilet or let a python wiggle out of the bedroom window. Grow only plants native to your area, and try not to move soil or wood great distances. We can keep our boats and fishing equipment clean, and notify custom officials anytime we travel overseas and decide to bring food, plants or animals into the country.

And please, no more kudzu or Eurasian watermilfoil.

Paradise Lost In the United States, Hawaii may have the most invasives, with humans introducing more than 4,600 plant and 140 bird species [source: Kaplan].
Representative image

The BJP may announce its chief ministerial face for the Delhi Assembly polls in the first week of January, party sources said on Tuesday. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has been trying to corner the BJP over the leadership issues in its Delhi unit questioning it over its Delhi CM face.

The Assembly polls for 70 seats in Delhi are expected to be soon announced by the Election Commission.

"Our top leadership has made up mind to declare a party leader as Chief Ministerial face for the Assembly elections in Delhi. The decision is likely to be made public in first week of January," said a senior BJP leader.

The names of senior Delhi BJP leaders including party's city unit president Manoj Tiwari, former Union minister Vijay Goel, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, among others, have been doing the rounds as possible candidates for the post of chief minister, if the party wins the Assembly polls.

Last month, Delhi BJP's co-incharge for Assembly polls and Union minister Hardeep Puri had said the party will contest elections under the leadership of Tiwari and ensure that he becomes the chief minister. Puri, however, quickly withdrew his statement.

The top BJP leadership has so far remained silent over the question of its chief ministerial face for the Delhi polls.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has asserted that his party will better its performance by winning more than 67 seats it grabbed in 2015 Assembly elections.

The BJP lost power in Delhi in 1998. It suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of AAP and managed to win just three seats in previous Assembly elections in Delhi in 2015. The saffron party is trying to come back to power in Delhi after over two decades.
The new video exceeded half-a-million views only six hours after it was posted on YouTube

Opening the new year 2020, famous Egyptian actor Mohamed Ramadan has released a new music video on his YouTube channel titled Bum Bum.

Putting the listener into a party mood, the video begins with the words: "We are going out, Bum Bum."

The soft background jazz music is soon replaced by rhythmic oriental-style beats as Ramadan begins rapping the lyrics.

As Ramadan enters a party, he is offered to drink alcohol, to which he replies, "I don't drink." Yet, he takes the glass.

"My legs are shaking, my body is aching... Suddenly my heart began beating like Bum Bum," go the lyrics, describing the effect of alcohol on the body.

Only hours after its release, the video gained over half-a-million views and almost 80,000 likes.

The video clip is directed by Mohamed Sami, with music by Dezel and Power El 3aly.

Though he initially gained famed as one of Egypt's most popular film and television actors, over the past year Ramadan has turned to singing, attracting a large number of fans to his clips and occasional concerts.

Having signed a singing contract with Rotana, earlier this year Ramadan released the song 'Baba', the video clip for which garnered over 30 million views in its first few weeks after release.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the congregation at the victory pillar. (Photo: PTI)

Pune: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar paid tributes at the 'Jay Stambh' near here on Wednesday on the 202nd anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle.

Lakhs of people congregate every year at the 'Jay Stambh' (victory pillar) near Koregaon Bhima village to offer tributes on the anniversary of the battle, which was fought on January 1, 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy.

Violence broke out during the bicentenary celebrations of the Koregaon Bhima battle on January 1, 2018 in which one person was killed and several others were injured.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure no untoward incident takes place during the congregation at the victory pillar, an official said.

Talking to reporters after visiting the victory pillar, Pawar said he came to offer tributes on behalf of the people of Maharashtra.

"This pillar has history and every year lakhs of people come here. Some untoward incidents took place two years ago, but the government is taking utmost care and elaborate police bandobast has been made here to ensure that no untoward incident takes place," he said.

Pawar also urged people to visit the war memorial in a peaceful manner.

"I appeal to people to come here and offer their tributes, but maintain peace and do not believe in rumours," the NCP leader said.

Prakash Ambedkar also offered his tributes at the victory pillar.

Pune Police last week issued notices to several people, including right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and members of Kabir Kala Manch, barring them from entering the district for four days from December 29.

The notices, as part of preventive action, were issued to all those against whom cases were registered in connection with the violence two years ago.

Ekbote was arrested in March 2018 for allegedly instigating and orchestrating the violence around Koregaon Bhima.

Bhide was also booked and named in the FIR, but never arrested.

The police attributed the violence to the Elgar Parishad conclave held here on December 31, 2017, where provocative speeches were allegedly made.

They are also probing the alleged "Maoist link" of some activists to the Elgar Parishad conclave.

Several Dalit groups observe the anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle, in which the British defeated the Peshwas of Maharashtra.

The memorial, located at Perne village on Pune- Ahmednagar road, was constructed by the British in the memory of soldiers who died in the battle.

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory as soldiers from the Mahar community were part of the East India Company's forces.

The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits.
Samsung Electronics partly halted some semiconductor production at its Hwaseong chip complex in South Korea after about a minute-long blackout on Tuesday afternoon, the company said on Wednesday.

Some DRAM and NAND flash chip production lines were stopped after electricity was cut due to a problem with a regional power transmission cable, and a full recovery is expected in about two to three days, Yonhap reported earlier on Tuesday, citing industry sources.

Samsung, the world's top memory chip maker, is inspecting the production lines for a restart, and the extent of the losses is under investigation, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The incident likely caused millions of dollars in losses, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, but added that there was no major damage. The source declined to be identified as the exact extent of the damage was not yet public.

A half-hour power outage at Samsung's Pyeongtaek chip plant in 2018 resulted in estimated losses of about 50 billion won ($43.32 million) according to Yonhap.

The incident could help curb the increase of Samsung Electronics' large chip inventory, Yonhap said, citing an analyst.
San Francisco, Jan 1 : A top Twitter investor Josh Brown with nearly 1.1 million followers had sold all of his stock in the micro-blogging platform, saying he lacks confidence in "half CEO" Jack Dorsey and his decision to ban political ads on his platform.

"Sold out completely of $TWTR for the first time since the IPO this morning. You can confidently expect it to double now," Brown who is a money manager and blogger tweeted on Tuesday.

Later, on a CNBC show, Brown said: "You've got to separate a service you love from an investable company. They're OK. They're profitable. But they're not serious about getting to the level that Facebook has gotten to and that LinkedIn, under Microsoft, has gotten to".

Brown said he took a small profit when he completely exited his stocks.

Brown's move was influenced by CEO Jack Dorsey's decision to move to Africa for a few months, as well as a policy to ban political ads from Twitter.

"I have been very wrong on Twitter," said Brown.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in November announced he will move to Africa for nearly six months next year to "define the future".

"Sad to be leaving the continent for now. Africa will define the future (especially the bitcoin one!). Not sure where yet, but I'll be living here for 3-6 months mid-2020. Grateful I was able to experience a small part," he tweeted.

Twitter in November banned all kind of political advertising on its platform.

"While Internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics".

"We've made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally. We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought," tweeted Dorsey.

Twitter went public on November 7, 2013. The stock was steady on Tuesday, trading just below $32.




Monroe Schools chief leaving in June



MONROE  School superintendent Fredrika Smith announced in late December that she would be moving on to a new role July 1.

She has taken a position with the Northwest Educational Services District, where she will serve as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. She finishes out the school year in Monroe, with plans to transition to her new role this summer.

Smith became superintendent for Monroe Schools five years ago, after serving as Chief Academic Officer in Puyallup.

Her career started as a special education teacher in Marysville, and she also held educational leadership positions in the Stanwood-Camano, Meridian and Mukilteo school districts.

I am exceptionally proud of the work that has been done by our team of passionate educators in Monroe, she said. It has been a privilege to serve alongside amazing educators and support staff and to live and work in a community that is so supportive of its schools. I am so proud of the work we have accomplished together and the work we have underway.

Smith is a graduate of Lynnwood High School, and earned her doctorate at the University of Washington, graduating in 2012.

The school board will be announcing the next steps in the search for her replacement.



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When Illinois first adult use cannabis shops open their doors tomorrow, we must all remember that the purpose of this legislation is not to immediately make cannabis widely available or to maximize product on the shelves, thats not the main purpose, that will come with time, Pritzker said. But instead the defining purpose of legalization is to maximize equity for generations to come.
On the occasion of New Year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday had telephonic conversations with the leaders of neighbouring countries including his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and emphasised India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Modi spoke to the leaders of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives.

The Prime Minister spoke to Hasina and reviewed the bilateral ties between the two countries.

During the call, Modi congratulated Hasina on being re-elected as the President of the Awami League for the next three years and also expressed his condolence on the untimely demise of former High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Syed Muazzem Ali, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement.

The Prime Minister, at the same time, also noted the progress achieved in India-Bangladesh relations in 2019.

"He also stated that the upcoming birth-centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of the Liberation of Bangladesh and establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties provided important milestones to further progress of the close India-Bangladesh ties, which is a priority of his government," the statement added.

Emphasising India's commitment to 'Neighbourhood First' policy, Modi also dialled his Nepali counterpart KP Sharma Oli and expressed his satisfaction at the progress of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2019, including the completion of several projects, the statement outlined.

The Prime Minister specifically noted the completion of Motihari (India)- Amlekhgunj (Nepal) petroleum products pipeline in record time.

"Both the leaders also agreed for an early inauguration of the Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar and the housing reconstruction project in Nepal through video conference," it said.

On the occasion of New Year, the Prime Minister also talked to Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

"The Prime Minister conveyed to the leaders his New Year greetings and good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf. He also shared the vision of peace, security, prosperity and progress for all of India's friends and partners in the region," according to the statement.

During his talks with President Solih, the latter warmly reciprocated the Prime Minister's wishes and expressed his keen desire to further deepen and strengthen the ties with India by enhancing the existing bilateral cooperation and exploring newer areas for working together.

Similarly, the Sri Lankan President and Prime Minister also warmly reciprocated the wishes of Modi and expressed confidence that India and Sri Lanka would further enhance their friendly ties in the year 2020. The two leaders reiterated their commitment to closely work together towards this end, the statement continued.

Meanwhile, in his conversation with the King of Bhutan, the Prime Minister highlighted important achievements of the last year which have led to the further consolidation of special ties between India and Bhutan.

"The Prime Minister fondly recalled his last visit to Bhutan and the love and affection he received from the people there. He also emphasised the need to enhance youth exchanges between the two countries," the statement said.

Modi also mentioned that he was looking forward to the forthcoming visit of the Bhutan King to India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Finance Ministry on Tuesday extended the 'Sabka Vishwas Scheme', a dispute resolution-cum-amnesty scheme for settling pending disputes of service tax and central excise, by 15 days till 15 January

New Delhi: The Finance Ministry on Tuesday extended the 'Sabka Vishwas Scheme', a dispute resolution-cum-amnesty scheme for settling pending disputes of service tax and central excise, by 15 days till 15 January.

"Keeping in view the response of the taxpayers to the Scheme, the Central Government extended it for a period of fifteen days, till 15 January, 2020. This is one-time and final extension in view of taxpayers' response," an official statement said.

Those taxpayers who availed the Scheme have committed to paying tax dues of Rs 30,627 crore.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had unveiled the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019, in the budget for 2019-20 with the objective of settling pending disputes of Service Tax and Central Excise.

Live since 1 September, the Sabka Vishwas Scheme provides a one-time window to eligible persons to declare their tax dues and pay the same in accordance with the provisions.

According to the ministry, a total Rs 3.6 lakh crore is locked up in 1.83 lakh cases at various quasi-judicial, appellate and judicial forums under Service Tax and Central Excise put together.

Out of the total 1.84 lakh taxpayers who are eligible to avail the Scheme, as many as 1,33,661 taxpayers have so far submitted their applications by the morning of 31 December, 2019.

Their applications involve tax dues of Rs 69,550 crore and after availing various reliefs, the payable amount is Rs 30,627 crore.

Sabka Vishwas is received by the taxpayers as the most beneficial dispute resolution scheme ever announced by the government, the ministry said.

The government has noted a huge interest amongst the taxpayers for this Scheme and would like to ensure that eligible taxpayers who have yet not applied to avail amnesty or relief under this Scheme do not miss out due to the last-minute rush, it said.
Washington DC [USA], Jan 2 (ANI): US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Wednesday postponed his visit to Ukraine, after its embassy in Iraq was besieged by Shiite protesters following airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.



"Secretary Pompeo must postpone his visit to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cyprus due to the need for the Secretary to be in Washington, D.C., to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement, as cited by CNN.

State Department spokesperson also apprised about the current development, saying, "the situation around Embassy Baghdad has improved," but that effort by Iraqi government security forces "to clear militia members from the area immediately surrounding the embassy continue."

On Tuesday, the United States had said that it was sending additional troops to the Middle East, after hundreds of protesters stormed its embassy in Iraq, chanting -- 'Death to America!'

Protesters broke into the US embassy compound in Baghdad, smashed windows, set fire to outbuildings following US air-strikes at five facilities linked to Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, Washington has maintained that the attack was "orchestrated by terrorists," one of whom he named as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Al-Muhandis has been identified by the US as the second-in-command of the Tehran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi group, which includes Kataib Hezbollah, the group that was hit in the US air raids. (ANI)


Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday soon after taking charge of the new post, created to bring in tri-services synergy and bolster India's military prowess.

Officials described the meeting as a "courtesy call" by the CDS.

Gen Rawat assumed charge as the country's first CDS who will be the single-point military adviser to the government as suggested by the Kargil Review Committee in 1999.

"The Raksha Mantri extended his best wishes to General Rawat for a successful tenure ahead," the defence minister's office tweeted.

Gen Rawat's appointment to the post came on Monday, a day before he was to retire following a three-year tenure as the Army Chief.

A key mandate of the CDS is to facilitate restructuring of military commands for optimal utilisation of resources by bringing about jointness in operations, including through establishment of joint/theatre commands.

Officials said bringing about jointness in logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance of the three services within three years is also among the priorities of the CDS.

The tri-service agencies, organisations and commands relating to cyber and space have also been brought under the command of the CDS. He will also function as the Military Adviser to the Nuclear Command Authority.

The CDS has also been made a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by the defence minister and Defence Planning Committee chaired by the National Security Adviser.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 12:20:24|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) rejected foreign interference in Hong Kong's affairs in a statement in the small hours on Wednesday.

The statement was made in response to an open letter from a group of overseas politicians and persons to the HKSAR chief executive. The HKSAR government firmly refutes unfounded and misguided claims in the letter.

In the statement, a spokesperson of the HKSAR government said that over the past six months violence had escalated and reached an alarming level.

Masked rioters vandalized public facilities and shops, committed arson, hurled petrol bombs as well as wantonly attacked police officers and people with different views, the spokesperson said.

An innocent man was set on fire in broad daylight by protesters while a government contract cleaner was killed by a brick thrown at him. So far, 520 police officers have been injured on duty. Meanwhile, no protesters were killed as a result of direct police action.

The extent of students and minors being involved in such violent protests is particularly worrying, the spokesperson added.

On New Year's Eve, rioters hurled petrol bombs in various districts, causing damage to a police vehicle and three private cars, according to Hong Kong police.

Despite the rampant violence, police exercised restraint in law enforcement, the spokesperson said, noting that police did not initiate actions against protesters and only responded with appropriate and proportionate force when protesters took part in illegal activities.

The actions and response of police over the Christmas period, and at all times over the past six months, were only in response to the blatant disregard for public safety and order by radical protesters, the spokesperson said, adding that police acted with restraint and the minimum force necessary to restore law and order.

The spokesperson further stated that the HKSAR government is determined to safeguard the core values of Hong Kong at all times as they are "the cornerstone of our long-term prosperity and stability."

Noting that the extensive media coverage -- local, international and in the digital world -- about the protests and events, the spokesperson said it is "unprecedented in Hong Kong's history."

"That in itself is evidence enough that the freedom of the press is well protected, and citizens of Hong Kong continue to enjoy the freedom of participating in lawful and peaceful demonstrations to express their views," the spokesperson said.
In Hue, heavy rains do not dampen locals enthusiasm as they flock to the downtown area to welcome New Year.
The mother of a British teenager found guilty of lying about being gang-raped in Cyprus has backed calls for a tourism boycott of the country.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that she supported the campaign and that she believes the resort town of Ayia Napa is unsafe.

The place isnt safe  it is absolutely not safe. And if you go and report something thats happened to you, youre either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or, in the worst case, something like whats happened to my daughter may happen, she said.

The teenager said she was raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of Ayia Napa on July 17.

But she was charged and the dozen young men, aged between 15 and 20, who were arrested over the incident, were freed after she signed a retraction statement 10 days later.

The woman said her daughter is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hallucinations, and is sleeping for up to 20 hours a day because of a condition called hypersomnia.

She needs to get back to the UK to get that treated  thats my absolute primary focus. She cant be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode

It needs resolving otherwise shes going to carry on having this for the rest of her life, the woman said.

She said her daughter had planned to go to university this year after being accepted for the courses she applied for and being offered a bursary at one institute.

So, no question, she would have gone to university, but it was in a career that she wouldnt be able to do with this public mischief verdict, so  again, life-changing for her  she needs to totally rethink her options.

The UK is seriously concerned about the fair trial guarantees in this deeply distressing case and we will be raising the issue with the Cypriot authoritiesForeign Office

A crowdfunding appeal to raise money for legal support for her daughter has passed 80,000.

The help teen victim get justice in Cyprus GoFundMe page was set up by British lawyer John Hobbs in August to raise cash for the 19-year-olds legal representation.

The teenager claimed in court she was raped but forced to change her account under pressure from Cypriot police.

The Foreign Office said the UK was seriously concerned about the fairness of the womans trial and it is understood officials have raised the deeply distressing case with the Cypriot authorities.

Lawyers and campaigners criticised the justice system after she was convicted of public mischief at Famagusta District Court, in Paralimni, on Monday.

Shes been unable to get the treatment she so sorely needs and every day shes not having treatment the worse it gets

And the psychologist who assessed the woman as part of her defence case, Dr Christine Tizzard, said she was concerned the trial had not fully considered that she had been diagnosed with PTSD.

She told The Guardian: The salient point is that she was diagnosed with PTSD. Thats a standalone diagnosis. Its a valid diagnosis and it hasnt really been fully represented.

Aside the fact it hasnt been fully represented, it means shes been unable to get the treatment she so sorely needs and every day shes not having treatment the worse it gets.

But the government of Cyprus has said it has full confidence in the justice system and the courts.

Cypruss attorney general said on Tuesday that he could not suspend the trial because she had levelled grave accusations against police investigators that had to be adjudicated in court.

He said the womans allegation that police coerced her into retracting her rape claim could not have been left to linger so he could not move to suspend the trial.

In a statement, Mr Clerides added: Any intervention on the part of the attorney general, either for reasons of public interest or any other reasons, would have constituted nothing more than an obstacle to ascertaining the true facts of the case, as well as interference in the judiciarys work.

Judge Michalis Papathanasiou said he believed the woman had made false allegations because she felt embarrassed after realising she had been filmed having sex in a video found on some of the Israelis mobile phones.

The woman has been on bail since the end of August, after spending a month in prison, and could face up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (1,500) fine when she is sentenced on January 7.
On New Years day, January 1, an estimated 67,385 babies were born in India  17% of the estimated 392,078 babies born in the world that day, according to Unicef.

India and seven other countries accounted for at least half of total global births. The other countries are: China (46,299), Nigeria (26,039), Pakistan (6,787), Indonesia (13,020), the United States (10,452), Democratic Republic of Congo (10,247) and Ethiopia (8,493).

The United Nations (UN) World Population report released in June last year says India is projected to overtake China as the worlds most populous country this decade  by 2027.

Each January, UNICEF celebrates babies born on New Years Day. As the calendar flips each January, we are reminded of all the possibility and potential of each child embarking on her or his lifes journey  if they are just given that chance, said Henrietta Fore, Unicef executive director, in a formal release issued by the organisation. To be sure, the numbers are estimates. UNICEF worked with the World Data Lab on these. The estimates for the number of babies born on January 1, 2020, draw on the latest revision of the UNs World Population Prospects (2019). Building on these datasets, World Data Labs (WDL) algorithm projects estimates of the number of births for each day by country, the UN agency said.

In 2018, 2.5 million newborns died in just their first month of life; about a third of them on the first day of life. Among those children, most died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections such as sepsis. In addition, more than 2.5 million babies are born dead each year.

Over the past three decades, the world has seen remarkable progress in child survival, cutting the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday by more than half. But there has been slower progress for newborns. Babies dying in the first month accounted for 47% of all deaths among children under five in 2018, up from 40% in 1990.

Child mortality is a huge public health concern in India with about 0.76 million babies dying in the neonatal period, and nearly 3.5 million babies being born premature, according to government data. In September last year, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative report was released, showing significant progress on the child nutrition front in the country. Over the past 27 years that have been analysed as part of the study, there has been a two-thirds decline in child mortality rate and what is attributed to malnutrition, but it is still a leading cause of mortality in children, highlighting the fact that a lot more needs to be done, said Dr Lalit Dandona, Indian Council of Medical Research distinguished scientist and national chair of population health.

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Samoa and Kiribati to be the first to welcome 2020

Samoa and Kiribati to be the first to welcome 2020

The tropical islands of Samoa and Kiribati will be the first in the world to welcome 2020, as they are located just west of the international date line which runs down the middle of the Pacific Ocean.



Fireworks to welcome in the new decade will explode over the Samoan capital Apia for locals and tourists who have timed their visit to be ahead of everyone else on the planet to enter the New Year.



In 2011 Samoa took a leap into the future by shifting its time zone west of the international date line in a bid to boost tourism, beating New Zealand into the new year by just one hour, Deutsch press agency (dpa) reported.



The island nation's celebrations are expected to be somewhat muted by the tragic measles outbreak which killed 81 people since October.



A six-week state of emergency was only lifted by the Samoan Ministry of Health on Saturday, after a successful vaccinations drive reached nearly all the approximately 200,000 people living on the island.



American Samoa, just 220 kilometres to the east of Samoa on the other side of the international date line, will be the last to ring in 2020.



American Samoa is 25 hours ahead of Samoa as Samoa puts clocks forward one hour for summer, while American Samoa does not.
[January 01, 2020] AZZ 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against AZZ Inc. - AZZ

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until January 3, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against AZZ Inc. (NYSE: AZZ), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 3, 2018 and October 8, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. What You May Do If you purchased securities of AZZ and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you 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 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-azz/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by January 3, 2020.



About the Lawsuit AZZ and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On May 17, 2019, post-market, the Company disclosed a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to preparation and review of revenue reconciliations after adopting a new revenue recognition standard. On October 8, 2019, the Company disclosed that its 2Q2020 financial results were delayed "to allow the Company additional time to complete the review of the Form 10-Q for its fiscal year 2020 second quarter ended August 31, 2019." On this news, the price of AZZ shares plummeted nearly 14%.

The case is Atayi v. AZZ Inc.,19-cv-00928. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191231005210/en/

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'Our confidence has been strengthened by the fact that the Supreme Court has decided to examine the Constitutional validity of all that has been done on August 5.'

'That in itself is an achievement because the Supreme Court could have very well said you don't have a case at all.'

'The very fact that the honourable court has decided to admit it for regular hearing, and refer it to a Constitutional bench, tells us that the Supreme Court has found merit in our case.'

Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Srinagar residents buy warm clothes to protect themseves from the bitter cold in the Kashmir valley.

Normal life has been disrupted in Jammu and Kashmir from August 5, when the Centre announced the scrapping of Article 370 conferring special status on Jammu and Kashmir and breaking up the state into two Union territories, Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.

With the Internet shut down and telephone lines down to prevent the spread of rumours, communication has been badly hit.

While landline connections and SMS services were subsequently restored, political activists including the Abdullahs, Mehbooba Mufti, et al have been under house arrest, preventing any political activity.

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has started hearing the petition against the scrapping of Article 370.

Interestingly, in October 2015, Justice Hasnain Masoodi of the Jammu and Kashmir high court had ruled that Article 370, conferring special status on the border state, was a permanent feature of the Constitution of India.

The retired judge is now a member of the Lok Sabha from Anantnag in Kashmir representing the National Conference.

"There is a huge gulf between the core thinking of our party and that of the political forces presently holding the reins of power in New Delhi. Article 370 had so many positive dimensions, but the present dispensation in New Delhi thinks it was a negative thing," Justice Masoodi tells Athar Parvaiz in an interview for Rediff.com.

The Supreme Court has started hearing the petitions against Parliament's August 5 decision to scrap Article 370. How hopeful are you about a positive outcome?

We were always confident about our case. And that confidence has now been strengthened by the fact that the Supreme Court decided to examine the Constitutional validity of all that has been done on August 5.

That in itself is an achievement because the Supreme Court could have very well said that you don't have a case at all. But the very fact that the honourable court has decided to admit it for regular hearing, and refer it to a Constitutional bench, tells us that the Supreme Court has found merit in our case.

Secondly, the honorable court has not allowed things to get delayed. We have some 10 petitions in the court; hearing on one of them is going on and those of others will follow.

We have no doubt in our mind that we have a rock-solid case. We believe that whatever they did with us -- be it scrapping our special status or bifurcation of the state -- cannot be sustained.

We firmly believe that it is a gross violation of the Constitution which will not stand scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

As per the Reorganisation Act after New Delhi's August 5 decision, as many as 153 Acts of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir have been repealed and 106 new laws have been applied to Jammu and Kashmir. How do you perceive this scenario?

Our stand is clear; we say it is not the question of how many new laws have been applied and whether they are beneficial or not. Our thinking is totally different when it comes to the implementation of laws in Jammu and Kashmir -- we see under whose jurisdiction the law-making falls; it is more about our autonomy and identity.

For example, during Sadiqsahib's (G M Sadiq, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir) regime, we have formed so many legislations in Jammu and Kashmir after copying the central Acts -- the Industrial Disputes Act, Labour Act, Compensation Act and many others.

At that time we had thought since these are welfare legislations, we can copy any law from the Centre that is for the public good and empower disempowered sections of society and then enact it as per our own constitutional framework and compliance of our state legislature.

It was based on the policy of making our own laws, the mirror copies of central Acts in many cases, under our constitutional framework.

We made a strong RTI Act in 2009 than the Centre had made in 2005 because our constitutional mechanism provided us that kind of autonomy. But those powers (our residuary powers) have been snatched from us with the August 5 assault.

This power had enabled us to make a law called the Happy Childhood Act which they (the Centre) couldn't have dreamt of; it was not even there anywhere else in South Asia.

Similarly, we had a law called Right to Education from the 6th to 11th standards. We had it much before the amendment in the Constitution of India.

Some people say the central Forest Act, which has been applied to Jammu and Kashmir, should be used by the Gujjars and nomads of Jammu to get forest rights. Do you agree?

We don't see it that way. Our viewpoint is clear -- we say we used to make laws on our own and we should get that power back as per the sentiments of the people of the region.

By the way, the Bharatiya Janata Party had opposed implementing the Central Forest Act in Jammu and Kashmir, citing Article 370 when it was said that the law can benefit Gujjars and nomadic communities.

Also, during Mehboobaji's (Mehbooba Mufti) regime, an order was passed called the Mine and Mineral Concession Order, which had scope for outside miners to come and carry out mining operations in Jammu and Kashmir and extract minerals including sand pebbles etc.

But the BJP campaigned against it and spearheaded the opposition in the assembly saying we can't allow it because of Article 370.

Then, they made the government scrap it!

Many in Kashmir say the elected Lok Sabha members from Kashmir should have protested strongly against the August 5 decision of New Delhi and resigned. What are your thoughts?

When we are in Parliament we question them, we tell them how a Constitutional fraud has been played on us after we embraced the Union of India.

We keep agitating against it whenever we get an opportunity; we keep reminding them about the public disapproval which the August 5 assault has met.

We feel we will miss that opportunity if we put our papers in protest.

Secondly, the international media and think-tanks contact us because we represent Kashmir in Parliament.

Having said that, if our political party, which we are members of, thinks that quitting is a better option and wec can serve the public interest more efficiently, then we will not take even a second to resign.

After all, we have been elected Parliament members when the National Conference gave us its mandate to contest the election.

We have not been elected as Independent candidates. If that was the case, I could have taken the decision individually.

We need to discuss it with our party leadership and then take a decision on it. But our leadership is under detention.

Has the National Conference thought about its future course of action?

Not yet. We are not being given any chance to meet; how can we think of the future course of action?

Our leadership is not free. All our important leaders from our president to district presidents in Kashmir are under detention.

Once we are able to meet, our party leadership will take a decision on the basis of those deliberations as to what would be our future course of action.

What is your personal view? Do you think that there is a need for radical thinking?

The party leadership will take the final decision on the path we need to take post the August 5 assault.

As far as my personal views are concerned, there is a huge gulf between the core thinking of our party and that of the political forces presently holding the reins of power in New Delhi.

Article 370 had so many positive dimensions, but the present dispensation in New Delhi thinks it was a negative thing which was responsible for all the ills.

As high court judge you had ruled that Article 370 was a permanent feature of the Indian Constitution. What do you have to say about it now?

Our ruling was based on a proper understanding of the Constitution of India and the Jammu and Kashmir constitution.

Article 370 has a self-contained code which means it has a mechanism within the Article which makes it a permanent feature of the Constitution of India.

Our ruling was later echoed in the Supreme Court of India judgment in 2017, which said that notwithstanding the language, it (Article 370) has over the years assumed a permanent character and permanent feature.
Despite expressing public outrage over the 1995 execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni environmental activists, by the Sani Abacha-led military junta, the British government resisted repeated appeals by late South African president, Nelson Mandela, and the Swedish government to impose oil and other sanctions on the Nigerian regime, recently declassified documents have revealed.

Members of the Ogoni 9, as the group was known, were executed on November 10, 1995 after a military tribunal found them guilty of the killing of four pro-government chiefs in the Ogoni community. The execution of the activists elicited global condemnation as well as calls for sanctions to imposed on the Nigerian ruling military junta.

John Major, Britains prime minister at the time, described the execution as terrible adding that he was interested in a fundamental and lasting change in the way Nigeria is governed.

Recently released files, however, revealed that top British officials who were secretly worried that far-reaching sanctions on Nigeria would hurt Britains 5 billion commercial interest in the country, actively sought to take some of the heat out of the sanctions debate.

The files revealed that top British officials including diplomats at the British High Commission in Lagos even lobbied on behalf of Shell and tutored the oil giant, on how to deflect the pressure from South Africa and some European countries for the imposition of economic sanctions on Nigeria.

A day before the execution of Mr Saro-Wiwa, a playwright, and his other Ogoni cohorts, British officials quickly compiled a list of top UK investments in Nigeria and valued them at 5 billion. Shell, which was at the centre of the crisis topped the list with one file claiming that the company was interested in Nigerias gas reserves and would soon embark on the largest industrial project in Nigeria this century.

Deceiving Mandela

The released files also revealed that despite its public posturing, from the outset the involvement of the British government in the crisis was driven by how it would impact its commercial interests. After the execution of the activists, British officials listed possible sanctions that could be imposed on Nigeria but listed a freeze on financial assets of Nigeria leaders, trade sanctions, and an oil embargo under the heading: other option with greater risk to UK interests.

We believe we should hold in reserve for the time being any measures of this kindwhich would, of course, place a disproportionate burden on the UK because of our close ties with Nigeria, Sam Sharpe, the private secretary to UK foreign secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, told the prime ministers office, South Africas Daily Maverick, reports.

Similarly, Mr Majors private secretary, Edward Oakden, warned that a trade embargo would hit the UK disproportionately hard while adding that Shells commercial interests were at risk.

Thus, it was not surprising that the UK prime minister gave Mr Mandela the runaround when he phoned him four days after the execution asking for trade sanctions against Nigeria in order to exert real leverage. Mr Major told the South African leader that We would consider this adding that he did not have a closed mind about trade sanctions

Nelson Mandela

But a note prepared for Mr Major for the phone call with Mr Mandela showed that top officials were already decided against pursuing sanctions against Nigeria. The note, which was prepared by Mr Oakden claimed that an oil embargo would not be enforceable and that there was strong UK commercial interest against this: Shell. The note also added that on the imposition of sanctions, the foreign secretary thinks we should try to hold the line.

Perhaps, worried at the UK reluctance to impose sanctions on Nigeria, four days after the phone call, on 18 November, Mr Mandela wrote a letter urging Mr Major to take the lead in advocating oil sanctions.

But Mr Major s aides wrote that he was not keen on the idea of oil sanctions.

However, Mr Major chose to be disingenuous in his reply to Mr Mandelas letter. We have not ruled anything out at this stage, he wrote.

Mr Major also added that he was not certain that sanctions on Nigeria would receive international support at the time. He did not mention that his concern was actually about how the imposition of sanctions would affect the commercial interests of the UK.

Shells Lobbyists

The declassified files also revealed that top UK officials worked closely with Shells executives during the crisis to the point that they even tutored the officials of the oil giant on its public relations posture. Officials of the UK High Commission in Lagos exchanged notes with executives of the company a day after the execution of the activists. One of such notes stated that Shell was obviously very concerned that Ogoni hot heads could react to targets of opportunity.

A week after the execution, a Shell executive, John Jennings, met with Lynda Chalker, the then minister for Africa, and lamented that Shell had not so far been very successful in getting their message across to the public.

He said he was worried that international environmental activist groups such as Greenpeace and the Body shop were planning a strategy meeting aimed at bringing about a consumer boycott.

Ms Chalker then tutored Mr Jennings that Shell should broadcast the facts about their wider contribution in Nigeria. She also reassured him of effort at resisting pressure coming from the South Africans and some European partners for further economic sanctions.

Ms Chalker further asked Mr Jennings if the UK government could share with Mr Mandela a letter by Shell to Mr Major highlighting its positive impacts in Nigeria. But in line with the dishonesty of the British government on the issue, an official suggested that the letter should be passed to him [Mandela] but not specifically by us. We dont want to appear to be endorsing Shells position.

The letter to Mr Major had described as emotional the claim that the company was responsible for the environmental devastation in Nigeria saying they were false and misleading. The letter blamed the spills in Ogoni on sabotage and added that Shell was spending $120 million on environmental, health and education matters in Nigeria.

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John Major, Britains prime minister. [PHOTO CREDIT: BBC]

Impressed by Shells argument, Mr Oakden further suggested that the UK could argue against oil sanctions on Nigeria by using a similar argument the British government used in opposing sanctions on South Africas apartheid government, which was that oil sanctions would hit hardest the poor people least able to cope.

Tongue Lashing the Swedes

Apart from Mr Mandela, the Swedish government also went frontal in the call for sanctions on Nigeria. However, the move by the Swedes to get the European Union to impose sanctions with far-reaching impacts on Nigeria was bitterly rebuffed by the Brits, the Daily Maverick reports.

One British diplomat described the demand by the Swedes thusly: Bloody cheek, Swedish  Nigerian trade = 0.

The Swedes at their sanctimonious worst. They used to behave like this over South Africa, another official wrote.

Unbelievable. On second thoughts, all too believable. I constantly underestimate the Nordic capacity to posture, while others bear the practical consequences, said yet another British diplomat.
Iraq protesters storm US Embassy in Baghdad



By ICH & Agencies



December 31, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Outraged Iraqi protesters on Tuesday stormed the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, protesting Washingtons attacks on armed battalions belong to Iranian-backed Hashd Al-Shaabi forces, Anadolu Agency reports.



At least 25 people were killed in weekend US air strikes on positions of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia group, in Iraq and Syria.



Hundreds of Iraqi protesters gathered early Tuesday near the embassy to show their anger at the US attacks.

Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many, Trump tweeted Tuesday. We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. A few hours later, the president seemingly called for the Iraqi people to overthrow the Iranians, writing in a separate tweet , To those many millions of people in Iraq who want freedom and who dont want to be dominated and controlled by Iran, this is your time! Iraqis are rising up against US neocolonialism in their country



The US bombed Iraq, massacring 25 fighters who have led the fight against ISIS



So Iraqis responded by attacking the US embassy



The US took over Venezuela's sovereign embassy. Now it got a taste of its own medicine pic.twitter.com/jXiThl0PQq  Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) December 31, 2019 Thousands of protesters made their way into Iraq's typically off-limits Green Zone surrounding the embassy, seemingly undeterred by Iraqi security forces, where they chanted Death to America, No, no, no America, and No, no, no Trump. Protesters broke into the heavily-guarded embassy compound Tuesday and proceeded to light fires, shatter security cameras, and cover walls with anti-American graffiti. The embassy evacuated its main employees to an unknown location as tension mounted in front of the embassy. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses said that prominent leaders of the Hashd Al-Shabi factions were leading the protests, while protesters began erecting sit-in tents in front of the embassy compound. US illegally invades Iraq.

Bombs Iraqi soldiers on Iraqi soil only yesterday.



But you want to cry about the sovereignty of an illegal embassy that takes up 1/4 of Baghdad being violated? https://t.co/wmUlxfQLnP  Syrian Girl  (@Partisangirl) December 31, 2019 Iraqs Foreign Ministry also condemned the weekend attacks, calling them a clear violation of Iraqs sovereignty. Iraq is an independent country, said a ministry statement, adding that it will not allow Iraq to be turned into a battlefield or a crossing point for an attack, or its territories to be used to target neighboring countries. This article was originally published by " Middle East Monitor " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here
The Madhya Pradesh police blamed negligence in maintenance for the crash of an elevator which killed industrialist Puneet Agrawal and five members of his family at his farmhouse in Indores Patalpani area on Tuesday night.

Agrawal (53) was the founder and managing director of Prakash Asphaltings and Toll Highways (India) Ltd, also known as PATH India. The accident took place on Tuesday evening.

Apart from him, his daughter Palak (27), her husband Palkesh (28), Agrawals grandson Nav (3) and two relatives, Aryaveer (11) and Gaurav (40) were killed in the elevator collapse. Nidhi, another relative, sustained serious injuries.

The elevator was used for going to the top of a 70-ft watch-tower-like structure which was under construction, said a police official.

It appears that negligence in the upkeep of elevator resulted in the crash, said Badgonda police station in-charge Robert Girwal.

We have cordoned off the site and probe is on, he added.

Town inspector of the Badgonda police station Robert Girwal said, During a New Years Eve party they were coming down in a lift when the lift fell from a height of more than 70 feet. The bodies were handed over to the family after a post-mortem examination. An investigation is on to find out how the mishap occurred, he said.

According to police, the lift was not fully set up and was used for lifting building materials in the under-construction tower.

(With agency inputs)
01.01.2020 LISTEN

The Managing Director of Ghana Post Company, Mr. James Kwofie, in his New Year message, has reflected on the many achievements and successes chalked by his outfit within this shortest period of 3 years.

According to him, the Ghana Post did not only improve in the area of revenue and financial performance but rather a massive improvement in technology, innovations, services and accomplished in helping its customers and other stakeholders all over the world.

The Ghana Post MD made this known in his official New Year Message released and circulated to the press.

Below is the Full Message:

New Year Message From James Kwofie: Managing Director Of Ghana Post

The beginning of a year is a good time to look back, reflect on achievements and look forward to see what we still need to accomplish in the year.

As I look back on the last decade, it is remarkable how well our company has performed in the last 3 years, not only about our financial performance, but also how we have improved in technology, innovations, services and accomplished in helping our customers and other stakeholders all around the world. Ghana Post is currently an exceptional innovation service company with an extraordinary heritage and a promising future.

The year 2019 was another record year across many measures for our company as we added;

 The flexibility in the payment of letter boxes, giving customers convenience of paying bills through mobile technology (using on-line and USSD)

 Agency Banking with Fidelity Bank is operational in some selected branches in Accra and we are hoping to extend to other regions next year.

 Our partnership with Allianz-life to roll out Postassurance services has facilitated the convenience in bringing insurance services to the door step of communities in Ghana through selected Post Offices.

 Ghana Post is also offering online payment solution termed GhPostpay.

We have delivered and we have confidence that we will continue to deliver in the future.

2019 was not just a year full of great achievements but most importantly, a year full of incredible relationships and beautiful bonds. We take this opportunity to thank you for walking with us through thick and thin. None of this could have been possible without you.

Thank you for making 2019 so special for us. As we begin a new year, we eagerly look forward to working with you for many more years and after.

We wish all a happy and exciting new year!
Tania Maduro and Syngin Colchester have sent ripples throughout the 90 Day Fiance community on Season 7 of the TLC show. 29-year-old Tania is an activist and herbal medicine advocate from Connecticut, while Syngin is a laidback traveler and bartender from South Africa.

After the two met in Syngins home country (after Tania gave up on another guy shed flown out to meet, no less), sparks flew right away. But Tanias immediate desire for a baby, her dishonesty about the unfinished she-shed the couple would be living in in the U.S., and her sudden departure for a 30-day class in a different country put a strain on their relationship.

On the Dec. 29 episode, I Dont Have a Choice, 90 Day Fiance fans came out in full force against Tanias behavior. While Tania enjoyed her time in Costa Rica at a monthlong herbal medicine intensive, Syngin stayed with her mom in Connecticut, feeling abandoned and out of place.

Viewers thought Tania was overly flirty during her trip and dismissive of Syngins feelings. Tania, for her part, headed to social media to defend herself and call out the show for making her into a villain.

Tania Maduro | Tania Maduro via Instagram

Many 90 Day Fiance fans called Tania out for abandoning Syngin

Many 90 Day Fiance viewers couldnt comprehend the fact that Tania decided to take off to Costa Rica for a full month in the middle of her first 90 days in the U.S. with Syngin. Syngin, for his part, said he felt abandoned at times by Tania and simply wished she would call him each day.

Most fans seemed to agree that Tania owed him more time and communication after he made the effort to travel to the United States for her. In particular, they thought she should at least honor Syngins wishes and let him know she was home safe after partying with her new friends in Costa Rica. Tania wants Syngin to commit to a baby but she cant commit to a Im home text, argued one Twitter user.

Others thought the trip seemed to be more about partying than about a workshop. So did Tania go to Costa Rica for educational/humanitarian purposes? Because all weve seen is clips of her partying and hanging around a hut with other girls, wrote one critic on Twitter.

Many fans said theyd simply head back home in Syngins position. One social media user wrote, for example, If I was Syngin I would have already gone home. No one has time for the living conditions or bull**** that Tania and her family are putting him through.

Viewers also criticized Tania for flirting in Costa Rica

On the most recent episode, Syngin and Tania also argued about potential flirting and infidelity. Tania admitted she liked to flirt with guys occasionally away from Syngin and that she danced and drank with other men she found attractive at bars in Costa Rica. Syngin was so worried, he even asked her sister whether shed been unfaithful to other men in the past.

In one particularly memorable moment, Tania and Syngin FaceTimed alongside the guy Tania was dancing with at a club. Tania really had the nerve to put the man she was flirting with on FaceTime with her fiance! Lmao, wrote one incredulous Twitter user.

Other 90 Day Fiance fans thought Syngin was right to be concerned about Tanias faithfulness. Syngin has every right to be worried about Tanias fidelity. Shes even flirting with the cameras around, one viewer wrote on Twitter.

Tania defended herself on Instagram

On Instagram, Tania seemed to imply that she was being portrayed as the villain on purpose by 90 Day Fiance producers and editing. One fan asked her how realistic her characterization on the show really was.

In an earlier comment you said that youre being portrayed as the villain in this seasonHow much stuff is actually not shown to us? a viewer asked Tania on her personal Instagram.

Tania replied, Would love to have this conversation. But cant! In a second comment, she added, We sign contracts, seeming to imply that her contract with TLC didnt allow her to reveal details or perhaps disparage the production crew, show, or editing. You just think a multimillion dollar production company just out here filming us for days at a time and only airs 5 mins of each will let us share more details about filming? Tania challenged the critic.

Some 90 Day Fiance fans were skeptical of Tanias claims, while others seemed to believe her. Other cast members, like Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio, have revealed what they think of TLCs editing. Still, everyone on the show seems to have a different contract, indicating Tania might be telling the truth.
Irish PM, thousands of others usher in 2020 in jam-packed Goa

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Panaji, Jan 01: Thousands of people, locals as well as tourists, brought in the New Year amid mid-night masses at churches and fireworks on the beaches in Goa.

Prominent among them was Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose father hails from neighbouring Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. Varadkar arrived in Goa on December 30 and is staying in a resort in North Goa district.

Local Christians attended various churches across the state.

The ceremony welcoming the New Year began at the churches at 11 pm and culminated with a midnight mass at 12 o'clock with the ringing of bells. Traditional New Year dances were witnessed at various spots, especially in Catholic-dominated Salcette tehsil of South Goa district. The beaches came to life from the evening with thousands of revellers. The police maintained a close vigil.

New Zealand, Australia, Japan welcomes 2020 with gaiety

NEWS AT NOON JAN 1st, 2020

A huge rush was seen at popular beaches such as Miramar, Calangute, Candolim, Baga, Sinquerim, Keri, Morjim in North Goa and Colva, Benaulim, Betalbhatim, Palolem and Galjibag in South Goa. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Porvorim) Edwin Colaco said that more than 700 policemen were stationed at various points to ensure that law and order were maintained. The police had also set up a special patrolling helpline, he said.

The coastal state is one of the favourite destinations for domestic and foreign tourists to ring in the New Year. The special bashes organised on the New Year's eve are expected to continue till early hours of January 1, and celebrations at some places may spill over to January 2, as the government has relaxed the ban on playing music late at night for two days.

Lanes leading to beach villages in North Goa are the main party arenas. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant greeted people on the eve of New Year. "I urge everyone to rededicate themselves and put in renewed and determined efforts to achieve socio-economic development and take Goa ahead in all areas of human endeavours," Sawant, who took over as CM in 2019, said in a message.
In Tuesday's much awaited televised New Year's Eve address, French President Emmanuel Macron said his government would push through a pension overhaul that has sparked one of the country's biggest transport strikes in decades. He called for a "rapid compromise" with unions.

Macron gave no sign in his address that he would back down on the plan to overhaul France's complex pension system, saying "the pension reform will be carried out."

While acknowledging concerns about the plan, not least that it could require people to work longer, Macron said "these worries cannot lead us to inaction."

"That would be abandoning those who the system has abandoned, youths who would pay the price for our inaction," he said.

The pension overhaul, a centrepiece of Macron's sweeping plan to reform the French economy and institutions, would replace the current system of 42 separate schemes with a single point-based system which the government says would be fairer and more sustainable.

But unions are resisting a new "pivot age" of 64 when workers would qualify for a full pension, beyond the official retirement age of 62.

The strike, which began on 5 December, has severely impacted train and metro services, upending travel plans for tens of thousands of people during the holiday season. It is proving a key test of Macron's ability to implement his vow to reform France after coming to power in 2017.

The government has already offered some concessions: police and firefighters would still be able to retire earlier, and Macron said "we will take into account difficult tasks so that people who do them can retire earlier."

Unions vow to keep up the pressure

Macron's call for a "Christmas truce" during the strike went unheeded and unions have vowed not to back down ahead of new talks with the government set for 7 January.

Another day of mass protests is set for 9 January, when teachers, dockers, hospital workers and other public-sector employees are expected to join the strike for the day.

Story continues

And energy workers at the hard-line CGT union called Tuesday for a three-day blockade at the country's oil refineries and fuel depots starting 7 January, raising the prospect of petrol shortages.

"This government isn't listening at all, we need to put more pressure on them," Thierry Defresne, a union official at French energy giant Total, told AFP.

Far left leader talks of 'declaration of war'

Macron's speech was his second major attempt at damage control, following last year's address at the height of the "yellow vest" protests demanding a better standard of living.

At the time he announced some 10 billion euros in financial relief for low earners, and union leaders are hoping their strike, now in its 28th day, will also lead to concessions.

Reacting to Macron's comments, Yves Veyrier, secretary-general of the Force Ouvriere (FO) Union, one of France's biggest, said: "I don't get the impression that there is much room for negotiation."

Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, head of the France Unbowed (LFI) party, added on Twitter: "These are not (New Year) wishes but a declaration of war on the millions of French who reject the reform".

Macron also raised foreign policy issues during his 18-minute address, noting that he wanted a strong relationship with post-Brexit Britain.

"The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union is a test for our country. I will strive to maintain a solid relationship between our two countries," he said.

(with AFP)
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy marchers thronged the streets of Hong Kong for a massive rally on New Year's Day, looking to carry the momentum of their movement into 2020 as police and hardcore demonstrators faced off again.

Hong Kong has been battered by nearly seven months of often-violent unrest, with frequent clashes between the police and hardcore protesters as the city battles its biggest political crisis in decades.

Despite a peaceful start on Wednesday, violence erupted near the march as it snaked through the Wan Chai district on the financial hub's main island. Riot police used pepper spray and tear gas, while hardcore protesters lobbed Molotov cocktails.

The Civil Human Rights Front, the umbrella group which organised the march, had permission for the march from city authorities, but they were ordered to end it soon after the clashes began.

"The police have... asked us to dismiss the rally," the organisers told marchers using megaphones. "Please calmly and slowly leave the scene right now." In now-familiar scenes, riot police were seen taking positions at several locations, including the Wan Chai subway station.

Black-clad, masked protesters also gathered to set up makeshift barricades, while some businesses were vandalised in the afternoon.

The unrest in Hong Kong was sparked by a proposal to allow extraditions to mainland China, bringing millions out on to the streets in June last year. It has since morphed into a larger revolt against what many fear is Beijing's tightening control.

Despite the continued unrest, China and the Hong Kong administration have refused to cede to the protesters' demands, which include fully free elections in the city, an inquiry into alleged police misconduct, and amnesty for the nearly 6,500 people arrested during the movement -- nearly a third of them under the age of 20.

"It is sad that our demands from 2019 need to be carried forward to 2020," the CHRF's Jimmy Sham said at the start of the rally.

Activists have accused the police of brutality and rights violations, while city authorities -- and the central government in Beijing -- have accused pro-democracy protesters of rioting.

China has also alleged that the unrest has been fanned by foreign powers, and has bristled at criticism from rights groups and governments of the way the protests have been handled so far.

Hong Kong saw in the new year with an evening of peaceful protests that descended into tear gas-choked clashes between hardcore demonstrators and the police overnight.

Thousands of people linked arms to form human chains that stretched for miles along busy shopping streets and neighbourhoods on New Year's Eve.

Later, protesters set fire to barricades in some parts of the city as the police launched 2020's first volleys of tear gas and used water cannon to disperse the crowds.

The protest movement has become quieter since the city's pro-democracy camp scored a landslide victory in a municipal-level vote in November -- seen as a referendum on the Beijing-backed government -- and violent clashes at some of the city's university campuses.

But protesters have vowed to continue their fight for greater freedoms.

"Hong Kong people have been pushed to a hopeless situation. That's why today we have to come out," a masked protester said in a speech at the rally on Wednesday.

The unrest that began in June last year is the biggest crisis the former British colony has faced since its return to Chinese rule in 1997.

Under the terms of that handover, Hong Kong enjoys unique freedoms unseen on the mainland, but fears have increased in recent years that they are being chipped away as Beijing exerts more control over the territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian defense experts were surprised when, at the end of 2019, the government signed a licensing agreement with Russia for Indian production of another 464 Russian T-90 tanks. India already has a little over a thousand of these tanks, most of them assembled in India from Russian made components. The new batch of tanks will cost $3.12 billion, or $6.73 million per tank. However, 62 percent of that amount will be paid to Russia for licensing fees and Russian made components. The licensing fees alone are 38 percent of each T-90s cost. The Indian Ministry of Defense is demanding that India be allowed to produce 80 percent of the tank components versus the current 40 percent. Russian and many Indian manufacturing experts believe using a higher proportion of Indian components is not practical. There have already been a lot of problems with the T-90 and the cause is often the quality of Indian made components. The most expensive imported T-90 component is the engine and associated mechanical devices. The current force of T-90s was built under the terms of agreements signed in 2001, 2006 and 2007. Because of current sanctions the Russians will be paid in Russian rubles, obtained from the sale of Indian products to Russia or currency markets.

Currently, India has about 3,500 tanks in service. Two-thirds of them are improved Cold War era Russian T-72s. Most of the rest are T-90s, which are also based on the T-72 but given a new designation to reflect all the new components and features. Russia itself does not use many T-90s as the Russian army prefers another improved (more than the Indian version) T-72B3M that is cheaper than the T-90. More reliable and more user-friendly. Most of the T-90s Russia did buy are in storage.

Since 1990s India has had one problem after another with its tank fleet. A major problem was the effort to develop and produce the locally designed Arjun tank. The army was forced to buy the first 120 of these in order to keep an Indian tank factory going. After several years of use, over 70 percent of those Arjuns were inoperable because of technical problems, mostly relating to imported spare parts. Over half the Arjun components are foreign made and the procurement bureaucracy, the army and the Arjun factory cannot agree on specifications and quantities of these parts. In addition to that, there were dozens of unresolved technical problems with Arjun. All this added up to about a hundred separate problems that had to be resolved to increase the readiness rate. The government seems to agree that Arjun was a failure but the project had a lot of political support and another 120 Improved Arjuns were built and delivered in 2016.

In 2010 when competitive tests involving in tests of mobility, endurance and gunnery were conducted at the urging of DRDO, the government defense research and development organization. This resulted in an unexpected victory by the Arjun. This was surprising because until then Arjun was considered an expensive and embarrassing failure. Development of the Arjun began in the 1980s and by 2006 the army had received only five of them, for testing and evaluation. The evaluation did not go well. Originally, the Arjun was to have replaced thousands of older Russian tanks, but after so many delays, the army only reluctantly accepted enough to equip one Armored Brigade. The new test reports resulted in renewed pressure on the army to buy more Arjuns.

One good thing came out of this competition and that was the agreement by the Arjun developers to address the many technical problems with Arjun. To spare government or military officials embarrassment this was described as an effort to develop the next generation battle tank. Called the FMBT (Future Main Battle Tank), this vehicle aimed to build on the success of the Arjun.

This pitted the Defense Ministry weapons development and procurement bureaucrats against the generals. The bureaucrats were under pressure to deliver because the competition was won by Arjun mainly because it was assumed that Arjun would have fixed all the problems it was having with its electronics and some other components. The main problems were with the fire control system, the engine, and the fact that its size and weight prevented it from being used with current tank transporters. Thus the FMBT was to be lighter (50 tons) and based on what worked in the Arjun and other modern tanks. The FMBT is expected to replace older Russian tanks. The result was called Arjun 2 and it fixed most of the Arjun problems, including the size and weight issues. Arjun 2 weighs 50 tons and 60 percent of the components are Indian made. All this is optimistic, given what happened with the original Arjun and Indian developed weapons in general. The Arjun was originally intended as a replacement for most of the older T-72s and that still might happen. The problem with the FMBT effort is that the development of the Arjun went on for over three decades and DRDO has demonstrated an inability to do any better.

In 2009 the Indian-made T-90s cost about $3 million each. India has already bought 700 Russian made T-90 tanks, at a cost of $3.5 million each. The Arjun 2 is expected to cost over $5 million each. The high price is due to a lot of high tech. This includes an active defense system to defeat anti-tank missiles, a much more powerful engine, lots of electronics and a hermetically sealed crew department to provide protection against chemical weapons and radiation. All this stuff is tricky to develop, just the sort of thing DRDO excels at screwing up. This is mostly the fault of the DRDO bureaucrats, who are not very good at using all the technical and manufacturing talent India has.

Back in 2006, India adopted the Russian T-90 as its new main battle tank. By 2020, India will have 2,000 upgraded T-72s, over 1,500 T-90s, and a few hundred other tanks, including over 240 Arjuns, depending on how the Arjun 2 works out in practice. This will be the most powerful armored force in Eurasia unless China moves ahead with upgrades to its tank force. The border between China and India is high in the Himalayan Mountains, which is not good tank country. India's tank force is mainly for use against Pakistan.

The T-90 is a highly evolved T-72. Originally, the T-90 was a fallback design. The T-80 was supposed to be the successor to the T-72. But like the T-62 and T-64 before it, the T-80 didn't quite work out as planned. So the T-72, with a much improved turret and all manner of gadgets, was trotted out as the T-90. Weighing 47 tons, its 7 meters (23 feet) long, 3.4 meters (11 feet) wide and 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) high. Same package, better contents. And with well-trained crews, it can be deadly. The original Arjun was a larger vehicle (59 tons, 10.7 meters long and 3.9 meters wide).

Arjun 2 is similar in size to the T-90. Indian armor experts, both military and civilian, are hoping the Arjun 2 is more like the T-90 than the Arjun. But the most worrisome aspect of the FMBT, or Arjun 2 project is DRDO which also developed Arjun. It's feared that the DRDO wonks have not learned from the many errors made with the Arjun. The hope is that the FMBT 2 will not be another DRDO disaster. That is optimistic as the development of the Arjun took over three decades and DRDO has demonstrated the same poor performance with numerous other weapons that are still in development or recently entered service.
Imperial Valley News Center

Court Rules in Favor of FTC in Case Against Mortgage Relief Scammers

Las Vegas, Nevada - The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada has ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission in a case against the operators of a scheme that deceived financially distressed homeowners by falsely promising to make their mortgages more affordable. The defendants also charged consumers illegal advance fees and unlawfully told consumers not to pay their mortgages to or communicate with their lenders.

The case was originally filed by the FTC in January 2018, and the court issued a temporary restraining order against the company at that time.

In granting the FTCs motion for summary judgment, the court found that the defendants practices violated the FTC Act and the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule.

Under the terms of the newly issued final order, the defendants will be permanently banned from the debt relief business and will be banned from misleading consumers about the terms of other financial services they may offer, as well as from making misleading claims in advertisements.

The ruling also imposes an $18.5 million judgment against the defendants. The order requires that the contents of numerous bank accounts be turned over to the FTC, along with the proceeds from selling assets belonging to the defendants. Among the assets that will be liquidated are a Park City, Utah ski chalet, an office building, a Mercedes Benz S550, and a Porsche Carerra.

Funds received as a result of the order may be used by the FTC to provide redress for consumers affected by the defendants scheme.

The defendants subject to the order are Preferred Law PLLC; Consumer Defense LLC (Nevada); Consumer Defense LLC (Utah); Consumer Link Inc.; American Home Loan Counselors; American Home Loans LLC; Consumer Defense Group LLC, formerly known as Modification Review Board LLC; Brown Legal Inc.; AM Property Management LLC; FMG Partners LLC; Zinly LLC; Jonathan P. Hanley; and Sandra X. Hanley.
If you follow space news and astronomy, the past year offered no shortage of highlights. Astronomers provided humanitys first glimpse of a black hole. China landed on the moons far side. And the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing inspired us to look ahead to our future in space.

The year to come will be no less eventful:

No fewer than four missions to Mars could leave Earth this summer.

NASA may finally launch astronauts into orbit aboard capsules built by SpaceX and Boeing.

We expect to learn more secrets about the interstellar comet Borisov.

And private companies are working to demonstrate new abilities in space.

However much you love space and astronomy, it can be challenging to keep up with the latest news in orbit and beyond. Thats why weve put dates for some of these events on The Timess Astronomy and Space Calendar, which has been updated for 2020. Subscribe on your personal digital calendar to be automatically synced with our updates all year long. (We promise not to collect any personal information from your private calendar when you sign up.)

[Sync your calendar with the solar system.]

Below are some of the launches, space science and other events to look forward to.
A relative of missing children Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan was recently targeted in drive-by shooting that he believes was linked to their disappearance and three other suspicious family deaths after their mother, Lori Vallow, allegedly joined a doomsday cult with her new husband.

Brandon Boudreaux is the ex-husband of Lori's niece. Lori is currently on the run from police with her new husband Chad Daybell, who are persons of interest in the disappearance of Joshua, seven, and Tylee, 17, who have not been seen since September.

On October 2, Brandon was shot at while driving home from the gym in Gilbert, Arizona. The bullet missed his head by mere inches as the shooter fled the scene, according to court documents obtained by The Arizona Republic.

An ongoing police investigation revealed that the shooter was driving a Jeep registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's estranged husband who was shot dead by her brother, Alex Cox, three months earlier.

Three weeks after the shooting, Chad's wife Tammy Daybell was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Chad and Lori tied the knot days after Tammy's death.

Cox joined the list of mysteriously deceased family members on December 12 as the search for Joshua and Tylee intensified.

Brandon has now said he believes the children's disappearance, the three deaths and his attempted murder are connected to a dangerous religious cult that Chad recruited Lori into about 18 months ago.

'I just don't know how people can get so wrapped up that they can end up in this space where these people are. It's just so radical, so different,' Brandon told The Arizona Republic this week.

Brandon Boudreaux, a relative of missing children Joshua Vallow and Tylee Ryan, was targeted in drive-by shooting that he believes was linked to their disappearance and three other suspicious family deaths after their mother, Lori Vallow, allegedly joined a doomsday cult with her new husband. Brandon said his ex-wife Melani, Lori's niece, demanded a divorce after she began spending time with the alleged cult. Brandon and Melani are pictured together

An ongoing police investigation revealed that the person who shot at Brandon on October 2 was driving a car registered to Charles Vallow, Lori's estranged husband (pictured together). Charles was shot dead by Lori's brother three months before the drive-by

Chad (left) and his new wife Lori Vallow, 46, (right) went on the run in November after authorities learned Lori's children have been missing since September. In a press release issued Monday Rexburg police said they have 'information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them'

A multi-state police search is underway for seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (left) and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan (right), who were last seen in Rexburg in September. Joshua and Tylee were never reported missing by their mother or her new husband

Brandon said his ex-wife, Melani Boudreaux, had begun spending time with her aunt's cult, a radical offshoot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called Preparing for People, before she suddenly demanded a divorce over the summer.

'I thought I had a happy marriage, so it was pretty overwhelming,' Brandon said.

Timeline of Joshua and Tylee's disappearance July 11: Lori Vallow's husband, Charles Vallow, killed in self-defense by her brother, Alex Cox, in Arizona following an argument between the three people August: The last time Joshua's grandparents, Kay and Larry Woodcock, said they saw the boy via FaceTime August: September: Lori moved children Joshua and Tylee to Rexburg, Idaho September 23: The last time Joshua was seen at his school in Idaho October: Activity found on a Venmo account that may belong to Tylee October 19: Chad Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell, dies at their home in Rexburg. Officials rule her death to be of natural causes October 22: Tammy is buried in Springville, Utah Late October: Lori and Chad get married November 26: Out-of-state relatives ask Idaho police to perform a welfare check on Joshua. Lori and Chad claim he is in Arizona with a family friend. Police also learn Tylee has not been seen since September, either November 27: Police execute a search warrant at Lori and Chad's home, discovering the couple have fled the city December 11: Tammy Daybell's body is exhumed from the Utah cemetery December 12: Lori's brother, Alex Cox, believed to have died in Arizona Advertisement

The parents to four young children were in the middle of divorce proceedings when someone tried to kill him in the October drive-by.

Brandon said he was about to pull into his driveway when the Jeep passed and he saw a gun fitted with a silencer extend from one of the windows. A shot rang out as the bullet shattered his driver's side window, narrowly missing his head.

The Jeep was later found to be registered to Charles Vallow.

Charles and Lori, Joshua's adoptive parents, were estranged at the time of his death. Lori had asked him for a divorce after she joined Prepping for People, Brandon said.

Charles, who lived in Texas, went to pick up Joshua at Lori's home in Chandler on July 11. When he arrived, the couple got in an argument.

Cox, Lori's brother, intervened and shot Charles dead in front of Joshua and Tylee.

Charles' death is still under investigation, according to the Chandler Police Department.

Cox himself died on December 12. Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine his cause of death.

Lori and her two children moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad lived, soon after Charles' death. Family members say they stopped hearing from Joshua and Tylee around that time.

The children were last seen in Rexburg on September 23, but were never reported missing by their mother or the man she married days after his previous wife's sudden death.

Tammy died on October 19 of what authorities initially thought was natural causes. The investigation into Joshua and Tylee's disappearance led authorities to look into Tammy's death. Her body was exhumed on December 11 to perform an autopsy.

Chad Daybell's previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died at their home in Rexburg, Idaho, in October and was buried in Springville, Utah. Chad's new wife, Lori, was also widowed in 2019 when her husband, Charles Vallow, was shot dead by her brother, Alex Cox, in July in Chandler, Arizona

Chad married Lori days after his previous wife, Tammy Daybell, died under suspicious circumstances on October 19. Tammy and Chad are pictured together

The complex web of deaths surrounding Lori and Chad came to light earlier this month when Rexburg police issued a statement asking for information about Joshua and Tylee's whereabouts.

The search for the children began in November when police tried to do a welfare check on Joshua, who is autistic.

Rexburg police say Chad and Lori have repeatedly lied about where their children are - initially saying the boy was in Arizona - and aren't cooperating with the investigation.

The couple had disappeared from their Rexburg home when police returned with additional questions and search warrants.

No charges have been filed against Chad or Lori in Idaho or Arizona but they are considered persons of interest in the children's disappearance.

In a press release issued Monday, Rexburg police said they have 'information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them'.

They also slammed the mother for her refusal to help with the investigation and confirmed they know the children are not with Lori and Chad.

Police said Monday: 'Despite having this knowledge, she has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter.

'It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen instead to leave the state with her new husband.'

Officials are now calling on Lori and Chad 'to do the right thing' and 'be honest', saying: 'This entire investigation could have been avoided if Lori and Chad had simply been honest with law enforcement.'

The release also states: 'We are aware that in the weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell told witnesses that Lori's daughter had died a year before the death of her father, which is untrue.

'Around that same time Chad told another witness that Lori had no minor children.

'We strongly believe that Joshua and Tylee's lives are in danger.'

Police also addressed why they haven't filed charges in the case, stating: 'Our primary concern at this point is simply locating Joshua and Tylee and charging decisions will be made in due course based upon the evidence available.

'If we find that harm was done to these children within our jurisdiction, we will prosecute whoever caused that harm.'

Lori and Chad issued a statement on December 24 through an attorney, saying they love their son and daughter and look forward to addressing 'allegations once they have moved beyond speculation and rumor'.

Police say it appeared the couple abruptly left the house and city. They said they don't believe the couple had the children with them. How the couple left the city is unclear.

Police 'strongly believe that Joshua and Tylee's lives are in danger'. A release also states: 'We are aware that in the weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, Lori Daybell and Chad Daybell told witnesses that Lori's daughter had died a year before the death of her father, which is untrue'

The search for the children began in November when police tried to do a welfare check on Joshua, pictured. The boy was adopted and has special needs

Chad, a self-published author who writes about near-death experiences and doomsday events, is a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He was excommunicated from the church after he declared that he was a prophet, DailyMail.com exclusively revealed earlier this month.

Chad allegedly claimed to have prophesied the death of his previous wife three weeks before she died

A friend of Chad's revealed this week that the 51-year-old had claimed to have prophesied the death of his previous wife Tammy weeks before she died.

Two of Lori's relatives - one of them Brandon Boudreaux - have expressed suspicion that the children's disappearance may be linked to their mother's newfound religious beliefs.

Her former mother-in-law, Kay Vallow Woodcock, wrote in a December 20 Facebook post: 'Things started changing over the past 18+ months when Lori began spending all her time with a new religious group, that we refer to as a "cult".'

Kay and her husband Larry Woodcock told Fox 10 that they last saw Joshua via FaceTime in August and that Lori had moved the two missing children from Arizona to Idaho shortly before they went missing in September.

Kay said that Lori's personality had changed over the last 24 months.

'To think that within the last two years she has completely changed into a monster, I'm making an understatement,' Kay said.

She added: 'Something happened to her. She just turned off and once she got involved with that cult with Daybell, she just turned off the person we knew just went away.'

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Rexburg Police Department at 208-359-3000, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-THE-LOST.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 01:22:42|Editor: yan

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Annabelle Ding, admission representative at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in New York, the United States, on Dec. 6, 2019. An increasing number of Chinese students have put U.S. visa obstacles, along with social instability and climbing tuition fees, into perspective, and moved on to other global destinations for higher education as well as institutions at home, as industry professionals have observed while looking back at 2019. TO GO WITH "Yearender: Chinese students move on from U.S. visa obstacles" (Xinhua/Li Rui)

by Xinhua writers Xia Lin, Zhang Yichi

NEW YORK, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- An increasing number of Chinese students have put U.S. visa obstacles, along with social instability and climbing tuition fees, into perspective, and moved on to other global destinations for higher education as well as institutions at home, as industry professionals have observed while looking back at 2019.

"Chinese students' enthusiasm for American higher education has been dampened by the U.S. administration's visa policy, which has delayed or denied entries to many of them, especially those aiming for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees," said Annabelle Ding, admission representative at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

According to the non-partisan think tank Migration Policy Institute (MPI), new international student enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities dropped for the third year in a row, and the number of student visas issued to Chinese applicants went down by 54 percent in fiscal year 2018 from fiscal year 2015. Not incidentally, the United States reportedly saw an increase of only 1.7 percent for Chinese students in fall 2018, the lowest in a decade.

"Recent U.S. policies have affected its image and reputation, obstructed its exchange with other countries, and undermined its own interests," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in November.

"Today, it is all the more important for us to create positive conditions for exchange of students as well as people-to-people ties with an open and inclusive attitude," Geng said.

VOICES AGAINST VISA POLICY

Lindsay Zou founded offerbang.io to provide career education for international students and professionals, after dabbling in Wall Street as a financial executive upon completion of her schooling years in New York and Beijing.

"I've met Chinese students hurt by visa delay or denial. As a consequence, the upcoming ones are overshadowed. Seeing the hardship of studying and job finding in the United States, they'd rather stay in China for higher education, relinquishing their overseas plans at all," she said.

Lan Yang just won his master degree of computer science at Pace University this year and found a job as a product and User Interface/User Experience manager. Some of his Chinese friends and classmates were not as lucky as him.

"As I know, you have to wait longer to get your student visa, which worries not only the students themselves but their parents. For those who are still planning their studying trips to the United States, it is an omen clearly spelt - they react in no other way but jump to a conclusion that America is unfriendly toward Chinese students," he said.

Rachel Banks, director of Public Policy at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, was recently quoted by The China Press as saying that the U.S. administration's visa policy and its leaders' comments were the prime factor that stemmed the influx of international students.

U.S. President Donald Trump and White House officials have denied such accusations.

Caroline Casagrande, deputy assistant secretary for academic programs in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, told Xinhua at the end of November that "our visa policy is matching our discussion, which is coming from the highest office in the land. The president recently said out of the Oval Office (that) we welcome Chinese students into our universities."

What Casagrande referred was Trump's remarks made on Oct. 11 in the White House. "Our universities are available. The world comes in. They use our universities. We have the greatest system in the world. And China is not going to be treated any differently," Trump told reporters.

However, U.S. universities and education organizations picked up a different tone.

"We want the pathway (of coming to the United States) to be very clear and very transparent and very predictable. And what we're hearing from Chinese students is that's not always the case," Brad Farnsworth, vice president of American Council on Education, told Xinhua recently.

Months earlier, top universities like MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Yale, Harvard and UC (University of California) Berkeley voiced their concern that their government's visa policy created "toxic atmosphere" and ran counter to their doctrine of openness and transparency. Chinese students were always welcomed by U.S. universities, they added.

For the 10th consecutive year, China remained the largest source of international students in the United States in 2018/19 with 369,548 students in undergraduate, graduate, non-degree, and OPT programs, a 1.7-percent increase from the previous year, said the IIE report.

International students, making up 5.5 percent of the total U.S. higher education population, contributed 44.7 billion U.S. dollars to the country's economy in 2018, an increase of 5.5 percent from the previous year, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Meanwhile, according to NAFSA's recent statistics, the consecutive slump of new international students since 2016 has led to a loss of 11.8 billion U.S. dollars to the U.S. economy.

"To be frank, it is no more the choice of choices, but one choice of choices for Chinese students to get enrolled at an American university. I recommend that they make dual options for higher education: maybe one is coming to the United States and the other is to other nations, including China itself," said Ding.

Canada, Australia and China have been catching up in attracting international students, said a report issued by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) at a summit on the internationalization of higher education jointly hosted by the CCG, World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) and Institute of International Education (IIE) in December in Beijing.

China now accounts for 10 percent of the world's total international students, ranking No. 3 on the global charts in this category, and plans to host 500,000 international students at all academic levels by 2020, it added.
Mickey Mouse and his friends are ready to ring in 2020 and, thanks to the magic of the internet, you can join them.

Walt Disney World in Orlando is celebrating New Years Eve with a magical pyrotechnics show, Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks. The extravaganza will start at 11:45 p.m. ET (10:45 p.m. CT) on Dec. 31, lighting up the night sky over the iconic Cinderellas Castle in the Magic Kingdom.

It wont just be fireworks on display. Disney said in its blog the live stream will start a few minutes before midnight to share some of the highlights of what to expect in Disney parks in 2020.

You can watch livestream below or check out the Disney blog.

Given the crowds at Disney, watching the fireworks online may be the easiest way.

Earlier on New Years Eve, Disney watchers reported the Magic Kingdom was having to turn away some guests due to overcrowding. Disneys Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Disneys Animal Kingdom are still welcoming guests.

Guests who are in the Magic Kingdom are reporting waits of up to three hours for popular rides such as Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
She revealed in January of last year that her engagement with Johnny McDaid had been called off.

But Courtney Cox and her hunky 43-year-old Snow Patrol frontman looked happier than ever while ringing in the New Year.

The 55-year-old actress took to Instagram on Tuesday night to share a sweet snap of herself kissing Johnny with their eyes completely open as they welcomed 2020.

She and the musician were celebrating in his native UK as she captioned the image: 'I can see clearly now 2020! Happy New Year from the UK [three heart emojis]'

'I Can see clearly now': Courteney Cox took to Instagram on Tuesday night to share a sweet snap of herself kissing Johnny McDaid as they welcomed 2020

Regardless of their plans for marriage changing, the couple's union seems to be stronger than ever.

Back in January 2019, Courteney appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show as she revealed the couple were no longer engaged.

She explained: 'He's not my fiance, we were engaged to be married but now we're just together.'

Lots of love: Regardless of their plans for marriage changing, the couple's union seems to be stronger than ever (Courteney is seen playing piano on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall with his band Snow Patrol last month)

'We're just together': Back in January 2019, Courteney appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show as she revealed the couple were no longer engaged

We broke off our engagement and he moved to England, then we got back together and it's actually better than it was before. Everything's better.'

Courtney and Johnny first began dating in late 2013. They announced their engagement in June 2014.

The pair broke off their engagement in December 2015 but got back together six-months later.

Prior to Johnny, the Cougar Town star was married to David Arquette from 1999-2012. Their divorce was finalized in May 2013.

David and Courteney remain close and share daughter, Coco, 15, together.

Bond: Last week Courteney's only child - 15-year-old daughter Coco - joined her for a family Christmas Eve Tradition with Laura Dern and her children

Last week Courteney's only child joined her for a family Christmas Eve Tradition with Laura Dern.

Cox and Dern, 52, both shared photos of the actress' gathering with their kids including the Big Little Lies star's son Ellery, 18, and daughter Jaya, 15.

Cox also shared a throwback pic of a young Coco and Ellery from seemingly one of the first years of their Christmas Eve get-togethers.

'I love this family and our Christmas Eve tradition. Some things never change...much,' Cox added, with the hashtag #family.

Kids: Along with the throwback snap of Coco and Ellery, Cox shared one of Coco and Ellery today, both all smiles

The photo featured Cox in a red sweater with Coco above her in a red dress flanked by Jaya, Ellery with a black hoodie and black sunglasses and Dern in a grey outfit with gold hoop earrings and orange sunglasses.

Along with the throwback snap of Coco and Ellery, Cox shared one of Coco and Ellery today, both all smiles.

Dern shared the same group shot as Cox, adding the caption, 'Christmas Eve morning ritual year 14!!!! Love to all!'

Throwback: Cox also shared a throwback pic of a young Coco and Ellery from seemingly one of the first years of their Christmas Eve get-togethers

It is shaping up to be an exciting 2020 for Courteney as she made headlines a few months ago when it was revealed that they will reunite with the rest of their Friends stars in a new reunion special for HBO Max.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed in November that the entire Friends cast, including Cox, BFF Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer, will return, along with creators David Crane and Marta Kaufman.

Sources stress that no deals are in place at this time, but the fact that all of the cast members and creators are willing to come together again is a big step forward.

There is no indication as to when production may begin, or when it will debut on HBO Max, which is slated to launch in May 2020.

While Cox has not appeared in a movie for the past few years, she's been focusing on producing, serving as an executive producer on 9 Months with Courteney Cox for Facebook Watch.
But heres the problem: The Platform is directed toward causes and ideals that, since the early 1900s, have been embraced by the Democratic Party while often held at arms length by the Republicans. The more we adhere to The Platform as a newspaper, the more we get labeled as liberal.

We cannot afford this appearance if we want to honor The Platforms call to maintain our independence. At the same time, we cannot abandon our rock of truth.

It wasnt always this way. In the late 1800s, the Republicans were the ones fighting for racial justice while Democrats, especially in the South, stood squarely for policies of racial segregation and oppression. That would seem to have aligned the newspaper more toward Republican ideals, especially as Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency following William McKinleys assassination. But Pulitzer absolutely detested Roosevelt, which helped drive the newspapers opinion pages away from the GOP and add to the inappropriate appearance of partisanship.
Phuket survives New Years Eve with no deaths

PHUKET: Phuket managed to survive New Years Eve, Day 5 of the Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the New Year, with no deaths, Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan announced at the daily morning briefing of the campaign at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Jan 1).

Wednesday 1 January 2020, 04:12PM

Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan at the meeting this morning (Jan 1). Photo: PR Dept

Referring to the official report compiled by the Phuket Provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), Vice Governor Wongsakorn explained that during the 24 hours of Day 5 of the campaign, from midnight to midnight on Dec 31, Phuket recorded 15 people injured in 14 separate accidents. Eight of the accidents were in Muang District, three were in Kathu, and three in Thalang, V/Gov Wongsakorn said.

The latest report brought Phuket's official tally for the Seven Days campaign so far to 38 people injured in 43 accidents.

Vice Governor Wongsakorn also reported that police in Phuket issued 1,437 fines for moving violations during the 24 hours of Dec 31, as follows:

 38 fined for operating an unsafe/illegally modified motorcycle

 106 fined for not wearing seatbelts

 404 fined for driving without a licence

 31 fined speeding

 60 fined for ignoring traffic signals

 73 fined for ghost driving (driving opposite traffic flow)

 43 fined for dangerously cutting off other motorists in traffic

 49 fined for using mobile phones while driving

 38 people were arrested for drunk driving during the period

 595 people fined for not wearing helmets

While Phuket has so far managed to avoid any fatalities during this years Seven Days road-safety campaign for the New Year holidays, the island saw 92 people killed and 9,365 injured on Phukets roads throughout 2019.

According to statistics on the Thai Road Safety Committee (ThaiRSC) website, there were 9,457 road accidents in Phuket throughout the year  9,320 of those accidents involved motorbikes.

All of those killed in Phuket road accidents throughout last year were on motorbikes, none of those killed were in cars, the website statistics reveal.

Phukets Muang District, specifically areas in and around Phuket Town, remains the most lethal, with the district home to 5,083 reported accidents throughout the year, resulting in 43 people killed in 5964 people injured.

Thalang District during 2019 saw 33 people killed and 1,729 people injured in 1,511 accidents, while Kathu District, which includes Patong, saw 16 people killed and 1,672 injured in 1,471 accidents.

Nationwide, a total of 42 people were killed and 567 injured in 542 road accidents across the country yesterday.

The latest accidents brought the death and injury tally for the Seven Days campaign to 256 dead and 2,588 injured in 2,529 road accidents across the country from Dec 27 to 31, Veera Khengkasikarn, inspector-general of the Education Ministry said today (Jan 1). (See story here.)
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Brisk and cold with a mix of clouds and sun. There might be a stray flurry or snow shower later in the day, mainly north of the area..

Tonight

Partly cloudy, breezy, and bitterly cold. Wind chills close to 0 degrees. There might be a flurry or snow shower, especially north.
New Delhi:

Fuel Rates Today: For the past few days, the prices of fuel (Petrol and Diesel) were surging marginally. However, on the very first day of the year 2020, the prices of fuel remained unchanged. According to the Indian Oil website, on Wednesday (January 1), the petrol rates are Rs 75.14 per litre in Delhi, Rs 80.79 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.80 per litre in Kolkata, Rs 77.71 per litre in Bengaluru, and Rs 78.12 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai remained at Rs 67.96, Rs 71.31, Rs 70.38, Rs 70.28, and Rs 71.86 per litre, respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.40 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 68.28 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 74.60 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 66.99 a litre.

It is worth mentioning here that on December 31, the prices of petrol and diesel were increased by up to 10 Paise and 19 Paise per litre, respectively.

How To Get Petrol, Diesel Rates Via SMS

You can check the latest rate of petrol and diesel via SMS. IOC customers can send RSP to 9224992249, BPCL users can message RSP at 9223112222 and HPCL customers can send HPPRICE to 9222201122 for the latest prices.

Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day?

The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on.

Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City?

The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
More than half a million hectares have been burnt in Victorias destructive East Gippsland fires, with the military expected to start helping the relief effort as more blazes have started.

Seven emergency alerts remain in place in Victorias east, four people are still missing and thunderstorms continued to create dry lightning, sparking new fires overnight.

The fire threat in our state has increased overnight. There were some more thunderstorms come through with dry lightning and we have a number of new fires in Mount Hotham, King Valley and we have 45 going fires in the east of the state, Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp told ABC News on Wednesday.

Three fires in East Gippsland have already joined and Crisp said there is worry that a fire burning in northeast Victoria at Corryong could join with them too.

Some blazes are now spreading between NSW and Victoria.

The fire that drove thousands of people to shelter on the beach at Mallacoota is now about 100,000 hectares and moved into NSW.

Crisp said 24 structures have been destroyed at Buchan, 19 at Sarsfield, 10 at Mallacoota and 10-to-15 at Cudgewa.

After a request from Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday, military personnel will start arriving to help with the relief effort.

Aircraft including Black Hawk helicopters are expected to land in the east of the state on Wednesday with other aircraft and naval vessels due in the coming days.

The aircraft are expected to help move fire crews, supplies and help with evacuations as needed.

Naval vessels including the HMAS Choules left Sydney bound for the East Gippsland coast on Tuesday evening and training vessel MV Sycamore has also been deployed.

It comes as thousands of people remain stranded in remote communities because of blazes as firefighters continue their efforts.

Parts of the Princes Highway will be opened on Wednesday to allow people to escape.

The state government also announced a bushfire response task force to avoid red tape in dealing with fallout from the blazes.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville will visit the region on Wednesday.

According to forecasts from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), early January is likely to see a weakening of the current positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) to neutral, which when heightened in spring, is often associated with a more severe fire season for southeast Australia in the summer months.

This is likely bring increased rainfall to northern Australia, Dr. Wenju Cai, Director of the Centre for Southern Hemisphere Oceans Research at CSIRO, told the Australian Financial Review. However, for the intense bushfire conditions in eastern Australia, the effects of these drivers are likely to linger, senior BOM climatologist Robyn Duell said, according to local media reports.

If we look at the first quarter of 2020, we can see that days remain likely warmer than average.

Evenings are also likely to be warmer than average. So again, a continuation of that elevated risk of bushfires and heatwaves will likely continue into the first quarter of 2020.

In terms of rainfall, we have quite a neutral outlook.

For most of Australia, theres no strong indication either way of it being particularly wet, or particularly dry.

With additional reporting by NTD.
Allaying fears of the Muslim community with respect to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister G Kishan Reddy here on Wednesday assured the community that there is nothing against them in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

"There is nothing against Indian Muslim or other communities in the Act. The Act is not against any religion or citizen," said G Kishan Reddy.

While addressing a press-conference, Reddy who is MoS, Home Affairs also said: "You have full right to protest under democracy but I would like to ask why are you protesting? Against whom the Act is?"

"Even if you are doing mindless protest you have the right to do so but you don't have the right to destroy public property and set buses and other public property on fire. You don't have the right to pelt stone," said G Kishan Reddy.

Since the enactment of CAA on December 12 last year, protests have erupted in various parts of the country including the capital.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Carlisle Area School Board could vote Thursday on a tentative four-year contract between the teachers union and the school district.

The contract is listed as an action item for a special meeting of the board with a recommendation from the negotiations committee. Two other board committees are scheduled to meet starting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the large group instruction room of the Fowler building of Carlisle High School.

If approved, the contract will cover the term Aug. 16, 2020, to Aug. 15, 2024. No details of the contract were available by press-time. The committee agenda indicates that the contract highlights will be attached to Agenda Manager on the district website at www.carlisleschools.org.

District administrative offices are closed until Thursday morning due to the holiday. Superintendent Christina Spielbauer said Tuesday morning that the administration is finalizing the highlights document, which she said will be posted on Agenda Manager Thursday morning.

The action item reads that the negotiations committee recommends approval of the tentative contract. School board President Paula Bussard deferred comment to Spielbauer.

The Education Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to hear presentations on proposed new course offerings for 2020-21 and on the Best Buddies Class and Club. The Governance Committee is also scheduled to meet to discuss minor revisions to board policies governing curriculum development, the nondiscrimination of students with disabilities and nondiscrimination in employment and contract practices.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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US President Donald Trump has ordered some 750 American soldiers be deployed to the Middle East, with about 3,000 more prepared for possible deployment in the next several days following an attack on the US embassy compound in Iraq.

Mr Trump said that Iran was fully responsible for the attack in which no US casualties or evacuations were reported.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday night that in response to recent events in Iraq, and at Mr Trumps direction, he had authorised the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Mr Esper did not specify the soldiers destination, but a US official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, Mr Esper said in a written statement.

Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airbornes quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Mr Esper said.

The US official, who provided unreleased details on condition of anonymity, said the full brigade of some 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

The breach of the embassy compound in Baghdad on Tuesday revealed growing strains between the US and Iraq, raising questions about the future of Washingtons military mission there.

.Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2019

Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday afternoon: They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat. Happy New Year!

Story continues

American airstrikes on Sunday killed 25 fighters of an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah.

The US said those strikes were in retaliation for last weeks killing of an American contractor and the wounding of American and Iraqi troops in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base that the US blamed on the militia.

The American strikes angered the Iraqi government, which called them an unjustified violation of its sovereignty.

Iran killed an American contractor, wounding many, Mr Trump tweeted from his estate in Florida.

We strongly responded, and always will. Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible. In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!
Firefighters create a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian bushfires continue to rage as firefighters started the new decade trying to tackle the deadly blazes.

With fireworks welcoming 2020 in Sydney, emergency workers tried to take advantage of better weather conditions on New Years Day in rural Australia.

The countrys military has been deployed to help communities affected by the fires, which have killed at least 17 people and forced thousands of residents and visitors to flee to the coast.

Firefighters used the cooler climate on Wednesday to restore critical infrastructure and carry out back burning but conditions are expected to be worse by Saturday.

There is every potential that the conditions on Saturday will be as bad or worse than we saw yesterday, said New South Wales Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers.

ABC News reported that a volunteer firefighter was killed after his truck was flipped by a fire tornado in Jingellic, near the border between the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

28-year-old Samuel McPaul had been mustering cattle caught in a paddock.

The crew decided to move away from that area and, quite unexpectedly, very suddenly, they experienced extreme winds and what could only be described as a fire tornado that lifted the back of the truck, fully inverted it and landed it on its roof, trapping three people, three crew that is, and unfortunately, one of them fatally, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service district manager Superintendent Patrick Westwood said.

Vehicles gutted by bushfires in Lake Conjola, New South Wales. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters create a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison - who was criticised for going abroad as the wildfires raged - said: Sam McPaul was a brave firefighter and a member of the Morven Rural Fire Brigade.

In one of the cruellest developments, Sam and his wife Megan are due to have their first baby next year.

I cannot imagine the terrible sense of loss and grief that Sams family are now feeling.

I have spoken to Megan to extend my deepest sympathies and our love and support at this terrible time and express that same sentiment on behalf of the entire country. Sam McPaul was the best of us.

Story continues

A house and vehicles gutted by bushfires are seen in the town of Lake Conjola. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Lake Conjola in New South Wales was gutted by the blazes. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

A young father and his father have also been killed trying to protect their property in Wandella, in New South Wales, ABC News reported.

Patrick Salway, 29, and father Robert, 63, were found dead at the burnt-out property.

Patricks wife, Renee, wrote on Facebook that her family was broken.

I love you now, I love you still, I always have and I always will, she said.

I will see you again Patrick, my best friend.

Hope you are up there fixing things in the stars tonight.

The Australian Defence Force is using its navy to bring supplies to the coastal town of Mallacoota in a mission that could take two weeks.

Helicopters will also bring in firefighters, with roads in the area having become inaccessible.

More than 100 fires were still burning in New South Wales on Wednesday, though none were at an emergency level.

A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

A firefighter puts out a back burn. (Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

Residents and visitors were forced onto the beaches, with the sky turned into ominous hues of red and orange.

Authorities consider this to be the worst summer for wildfires on record, with calls for Scott Morrisons government to do more to tackle climate change.
The year will end on a snowy note across portions of the Great Lakes, Northeast and Northwest. Truckers trying to get home for the holiday, or making deliveries before ringing in 2020, will hopefully make it on time safely.

SONAR Critical Events and radar: Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 10 a.m. EST

Several more inches of snowfall could pile up today, Dec. 31, and tonight from Michigan and northern Indiana to northern Ohio and upstate New York. This includes cities such as Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Traverse City, Cadillac, South Bend, Erie, Clevalend, Orchard Park and Jamestown. Slow-downs are likely on I-90, I-94 and I-96 through these areas. Gusty winds will be an issue, leading to blowing/drifting snow and occasional whiteout conditions.

My walk home from my last mid shift this morning with snow covered roads in Caribou. Just getting started. #mewx pic.twitter.com/0uGJRiMmEL  Matthew Strauser (@pitpenguins87) December 31, 2019

More snow will also cover roads from eastern New York state to Maine, including the Adirondacks, Berkshires (western parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts), Green Mountains and White Mountains. Freezing rain and sleet will add another layer of difficulty for drivers, resulting in icy conditions on I-95 from Portland to Bangor and Millinocket. Most coastal areas of northern New England will see rain, a rain-snow mix or a rain-sleet mix.

Besides making trouble on the highways and byways, this storm could delay freight movement on runways. Looking at FreightWaves SONAR Critical Events, any air cargo at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (ICAO code: CLE), Albany International Airport (ICAO code: ALB) and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (ICAO code: MHT) have the highest chance of delays. This is indicated by the orange color coding on the map above. The storm may also make it difficult to load/unload freight at some intermodal ramps in the region, and disruptions at port operations in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Ashtabula, Ohio are possible.

Story continues

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued various winter weather alerts in these regions. These alerts are housed inside SONAR Critical Events and update automatically as conditions change.

In the Northwest today and tonight, look for periods thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rainfall in the valleys of Washington state and Oregon. Strong winds will kick in from time to time, especially in coastal areas along the Pacific and Puget Sound. Meanwhile, freezing rain and snowfall will hit the high elevations of the Cascades, as well as the northern Rockies in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. On New Year's Day and Thursday, Jan 2, areas of heavy snowfall will spread into Nevada and the Wasatch Range in Utah, in addition to the central and southern Rockies. Some mountain areas will be slammed with 12 to 24 inches of total snowfall, along with gusty winds and very low visibility at times.

SONAR Critical Events and radar: Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 10 a.m. EST

Major metropolitan areas included in the impact zone include Seattle and Salt Lake City. Disruptions are likely at Seattle-Tacoma International (ICAO code: SEA) and Salt Lake City International ((ICAO code: SLC) airports and the Port of Seattle, as well as several oil/petroleum facilities and railroads in the region.

Other notable weather today, Dec. 31

High winds will give truckers trouble in southern California. Northeasterly gusts will reach 40 to 60 mph from San Diego to Los Angeles, affecting travel on portions of I-5, US-101 and the Pacific Coast Highway.

High winds will also create a high risk of blowovers today and tomorrow on I-15 in Montana, from Great Falls to the Canadian border; in Wyoming on I-25 between Chugwater and Wheatland; in Wyoming on I-80 over the summit between Cheyenne and Laramie as well as between Arlington and Elk Mountain.

We hope all of you had a great 2019 and wish you all the best for a happy, healthy and successful new year! Have a great day, and be careful out there.

Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay

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A would-be mother-in-law in New Mexico who was tasked with making a phone recording of her future son-in-law proposing to her daughter apparently missed the moment as she accidentally took a selfie video. The incident reportedly occurred at the penguin exhibit at the Albuquerque Biopark when Susan Griego recorded the video while watching Benjamin Steele Bacon proposed to her daughter Amber Griego. However, the couple told the media that the selfie video made the proposal more memorable.

Read: Real Life Fairy Tale:Actor Playing Aladdin Proposes To Girlfriend Playing Jasmine On Stage

Amber said that the incident was a perfect start. She added that it describes their relationship in a ransom and natural manner. On the other hand, Amber's mother admitted to the media that shes probably not very good at photography.

Read: WWE NXT: Angel Garza Proposes To Girlfriend After Becoming The NXT Cruiserweight Champion

Brother stops man from proposing to girlfriend

In yet another unique proposal fiasco, a man who described his story under Reddit's account 'Justnofamily' said that his brother and his fiance had been trying to make him postpone his proposal to his girlfriend which he planned on New Year. The man reportedly met his girlfriend two years ago and planned to propose on zero hour. Yet his brother who got married on December 21 and his wife don't want him to propose to his girlfriend so soon as it will shift the focus of the family from their marriage.

Read: Anthony Davis Might Soon Propose To His Longtime Girlfriend Marlen P

Woman proposes man after turning him down for 18 times

In another incident, a UK mum got down on one knee to propose to her sweetheart after turning down his marriage proposals 18 times. Michelle Davies decided it was the right time for marriage after being diagnosed with cancer. Michelle told the media that Jason first proposed to her way back in 1992.

Read: A Fan Proposes To Bhumi Pednekar On Twitter, Actress' Reply Wins Hearts

Read: Kareena Kapoor Confesses Declining Saif Ali Khan's Proposal,said 'want To Know You Better'

Read: Gloucester Man Proposes To Girlfriend With A Unique Tattoo Idea
3 1 of 3 Connecticut State Police Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Connecticut State Police Show More Show Less 3 of 3





SHERMAN  A Georgia man accused of scamming thousands of dollars from an elderly resident earlier this year was taken into custody over the weekend.

Kevin Ortega, 21, of Marietta, Ga., was charged with second-degree larceny and second-degree attempted larceny Saturday after Connecticut State Police troopers traveled down to the southern state and arrested him on a warrant.
The Janata Dal (United), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party which opted to sit out when the union cabinet was being formed in mid-2019, soon after the elections, has finally started discussing the issue with its partner, leaders of both parties said on condition of anonymity. If all goes well, the JD(U) may have three portfolios -- all ministers of state, but one with independent charge -- these leaders added.

The JD(U) supported the BJP on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. It subsequently said it would not allow the compilation of a National Register of Citizens in Bihar, but the Union government subsequently clarified that a national-NRC isnt on the books.

A senior JD(U) leader said a broad consensus has now been reached on the party joining the cabinet. The JD(U) won 17 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, but was apparently annoyed by the BJPs offer of one ministerial berth. The relationship cooled for a few months after that with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanding the state cabinet without giving representation to the BJP. However, in the past month, there has been a thaw.

NDA leaders claim the JD(U)s support to the BJP on CAA in the Rajya Sabha was significant as it helped the ruling party to pass the bill .

This person added that if the JD(U) joins the union ministry, it will also send across the message that ties between the two allies in Bihar are strong -- an important message to send out ahead of crucial assembly polls in 2020.

A senior BJP functionary said the details of how many JD(U) members will be inducted has not been finalised, adding that this could happen when the Union cabinet is expanded. On record, however, the JD(U) insisted that there is no such plan. The partys chief general secretary K C Tyagi described the possibilities of JD(U) joining the union ministry as mere speculation.  There has been no discussion on the subject within the party, he said.

D M Diwakar, social scientist and political watcher, feels the RJD has less to worry on account of AIMIMs inroads in Seemanchal and efforts to mobilise minorities by protesting against CAA. The Muslim minorities feel the RJD is the only force which could safeguard their interests in Bihar as it has support base among backward and weaker sections. I feel Tejashwi and Rjd leaders are foucussing on Seemanchal to raise its pitch against CAA to consolidate its grip among muslims,  Diwakar said.

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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong for an annual New Years Day march as anti-government protests continued into 2020.

Police said the demonstration was mostly peaceful but claimed officers were forced to use water cannon, teargas and pepper spray to bring an end to the rally following outbreaks of violence.

Rioters set barricades, threw bricks, debris and petrol bombs, started street fires and vandalised multiple banks and shops along the route, Hong Kong Police said in a statement.

Protesters were also accused of spraying insulting comments about a judge on the wall of the High Court.

Authorities insisted they used the minimum necessary force because of a grave threat to public safety.

The police force also rejected rumours that its own officers were responsible for smashing the glass of a bank in the Wan Chai commercial district, describing the allegation as groundless and fabricated and calculated to discredit the force. Five people were arrested for criminal damage.

The government has already started the oppression before the New Year began, said Jimmy Sham, one of the leaders of the Civil Human Rights Front that organised the march. Whoever is being oppressed, we will stand with them.

The rally, which is organised annually by pro-democracy groups, was the largest anti-government protest in recent weeks. Organisers claimed more than one million people took part.

It followed six months of protests sparked by the proposal of legislation which would have allowed extradition to mainland China. Organisers have set out five key demands including an investigation into alleged police misconduct, the release of arrested protesters and the resignation of Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam.

Recommended Hong Kong police fire tear gas at protesters wearing Santa hats

Its hard to utter happy new year because Hong Kong people are not happy, said a man named Tung, who was marching with his mother, niece and two-year-old son.

Unless the five demands are achieved, and police are held accountable for their brutality, then we cant have a real happy new year, he added.

Ms Lam said in her new years address that the months of protests had caused sadness, anxiety, disappointment and even rage.

She vowed to tackle underlying social and economic problems and to listen humbly to help bring an end to the protests, but also reinforced the importance of the one country, two systems framework under which China rules Hong Kong.

In his own new years address, Chinese president Xi Jinping referred to the protests, saying: Hong Kongs prosperity and stability is the wish of Hong Kong compatriots and the expectation for the people of the motherland.

Additional reporting by agencies
An Iran-backed Iraqi militia broke up its encampment outside the US embassy in Baghdad, a move that could ease tensions between Tehran and Washington that escalated after fighters attacked the compound.

The Popular Mobilization Units had called on the fighters and their supporters to leave the area Wednesday, out of respect for the decision of the Iraqi government that ordered this and to preserve the stature of the state." The last protesters were gone by late afternoon and moved their tent camp across the Tigris river to an area facing the embassy, militia members reported.

The PMU is the umbrella group to which the Kataieb Hezbollah paramilitary unit belongs. The assault on the embassy Tuesday was precipitated by deadly US airstrikes against Kataieb Hezbollah bases in Iraq and Syria earlier in the week, and carried out by group fighters and their supporters.

The message of the protesters has been delivered," Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamad Alhakim said on Twitter.

Escalation threatened

The rare direct US assault on the Iran-backed militia and the attack on the embassy threatened to spiral into a broader confrontation. The US and Iran are already facing off over the Trump administrations crippling economic campaign against Tehran and suspected Iranian reprisals, and additional American forces were ordered to the region after the embassy attack.

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will delay a scheduled trip to European and central Asian countries including Ukraine to monitor the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," his spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump blamed the attack on Iran, which denied involvement, and Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that his country was ready to strike back unhesitatingly" against any retaliation from Washington. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran summoned the Swiss charge daffaires, who represents US interests in Iran, to relay its objections to the American airstrikes.

The US raids were ordered in retaliation for a rocket assault in Iraq that killed an American contractor involved in the US-led fight against Islamic State.

Anti-government protests

Iraq has been roiled in recent months by anti-government protests fueled, in part, by Tehrans powerful influence over the country. U.S. officials had boasted that anti-Iran protests in Iraq signaled a grassroots rebellion against Tehrans influence, but the attack on the embassy turned Washington into the focus of anger instead.

On Tuesday, Iraqs outgoing prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, reiterated his denunciation of the US raids but called on protesters to leave the compound, threatening severe penalties for attacks on the mission.

Earlier today, US troops fired tear gas to disperse pro-Iran fighters and their supporters gathered outside the embassy.

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So, squatters have rights? Isnt that interesting? While acknowledging the serious lack of affordable housing in the Bay Area, allowing homeless people to take over private property, because it is currently vacant, is a very dangerous, slippery slope.

For responsible leaders of cities to even consider supporting this action is astounding and shows a certain chutzpah that is almost amusing. Shame on Oakland city leaders for even considering this.

Plain and simple, squatters should not have rights and city leaders should actually lead and not interfere with property owners.

George Mathews, Antioch

Repurpose retail

Concerning Talbots Toyland to shut: a sad day (Business, Dec. 31): Now that this San Mateo store is joining Toys R Us and FAO Schwarz in the graveyard for brick-and-mortar toy retailers, the question I have is this: With online buying replacing in-store purchases, is the era of mall shopping about to end?

If so, why not convert these huge retail spaces into some much-needed affordable housing?

Finn MacLaughlin, Daly City

Radical steps

Without question, radical ideas to ease homelessness are necessary. A visionary, philanthropic real estate friend has described a concept to me whereby the city negotiates a relatively small parcel of Treasure Island from the developer to build navigation centers or small, efficient houses with all necessary mental health and addiction support facilities for several thousand homeless individuals, complete with shuttle service to San Francisco (and Oakland).

He has computed the costs and has concluded that it would be far lower than what the city now spends annually on homelessness. The major stumbling block is the lack of political will and leadership.

Jay Mall, San Francisco

All about greed

For die-hard Raiders fans in the Bay Area and new fans in Las Vegas, I recommend that, when buying team swag, they stick to simple Raiders gear rather than Las Vegas Raiders, because, I predict, within a decade the team will be the Dubai Raiders because with the Davis family, its always been, Just the money, baby.

Steve Horwitz, Moraga

Think positive

When I grew up, I was taught very early, If you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything. I find Mick LaSalles column These 2019 films were beyond bad (Datebook, Dec. 31) very cruel and not worth reading.

Im hoping Mr. LaSalle can overcome his cynicism and start the new year writing with hope and encouragement for those in the movie industry who are trying to reflect what is going on in our world.

I need movies more than ever now to assuage the pain I feel from the everyday news chatter. Lets make this year one of hope and cheer, not criticism and negativity.

Barbara Lustic, Napa

Stop the wall

The Democrats give President Trump a pass on many things, but the latest constitutes political malpractice: giving in to Trumps demand for border wall funding, paid for, not by Mexico, as promised, but American taxpayers. Trump was disingenuous in telling his followers that they would not pay for the wall. I figure the cost per American is over $4,000.

A Democratic successor should remove it and restore solar panels to the White House.

Bill Collins, Pacifica

By the numbers

In Oakland zips past S.F. with housing (Dec. 29), The Chronicle reports that the variety of impact fees to build a single housing unit in San Francisco come to more than $165,000. Lets look at the impact of these impact fees. To amortize this amount with a 30-year loan at 5% costs $886 per month. The starting property taxes on this amount are at least $137 per month.

Therefore, to pay for city fees only, for a single housing unit, it costs over $1,000 per month for 30 years.

No land, no construction, just fees: over $1,000 per month.

Albert Sukoff, Berkeley
by Austin Bay December 31, 2019

Christmas came and went, and North Korea failed to deliver an unspecified but ominous "Christmas gift" to the U.S. As I finish this column, New Year's Day looms. Kim Jong Un's slimy regime still has enough holiday season to ignite a ballistic missile or nuclear firework display.

Alas, if Kim reverts to Little Rocket Man, he must live (perhaps die) with the consequences of his decision to end his missile- and nuclear-testing moratorium. Punitive confrontations with the Trump administration -- ever-tighter economic sanctions being the least of these harsh measures -- will darken Kim's new year and subsequent desperate years.

For the moment, North Korean brink-breaching detonations are speculation. Indeed, at the latest North Korean communist party conclave, Kim mouthed tough-guy phrases like taking "positive and offensive measures" that usually signal confrontation with Washington and Seoul.

Yet Trump administration officials suggest that Kim has reconsidered his violent gift-giving. If Kim has had second thoughts, why, prospective condos on the beach and South Korean K-pop girl bands playing Pyongyang gigs definitely have more diplomatic and psychological impact than the wildest optimists imagined.

We will see, but let's concentrate on what is. Serious, factual events matter, and several verifiable events in December 2019 demonstrate that thoughtful U.S. and allied North Korean denuclearization diplomacy continues, as do efforts to address a global task with which de-nuking North Korea entwines: strategic defense measures to counter enemy ballistic missiles.

Start by following the money. On Dec. 20, President Donald Trump signed Fiscal Year 2020's National Defense Authorization Act. The Pentagon budget gave the Missile Defense Agency $10.4 billion and specific guidance to accelerate development of systems to intercept hypersonic weapons. In case you missed it, Russia, via its leader, Vladimir Putin, is touting its hypersonic missiles. The bill accelerated development of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, a space-based missile-tracking sensor system and the next-generation interceptor to defend the United States homeland.

Kim is improving his threat tech? Sure. Well, the U.S. and its allies are improving both defensive and offensive strategic systems. Review my first-paragraph wisecrack "perhaps die."

The U.S. defense budget is a diplomatic signal to North Korea draped in economic and military power clothing.

Also on Dec. 20, China's foreign ministry revealed that senior Chinese officials had met with U.S. special representative to North Korea Stephen Biegun and informed him that China wants America and North Korea to "resume dialogue," with both parties making concessions.

China gave no specifics, but Beijing repeated a pro-North Korea joint Chinese and Russian proposal at the U.N. that asked America to ease economic sanctions.

No dice. The economic chains remain, and odds are they will tighten.

On Dec. 24, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Of course they smiled, but the deep subject was U.S.-supplied missile defense on the Korean peninsula.

According to Reuters, Moon informed Xi that South Korea fully supports American missile defenses. Reuters noted that during his 2017 presidential campaign, Moon had supported delaying the deployment of the U.S. Army's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system, or THAAD. As president he reversed course. Why? THAAD can intercept North Korean short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles. This gives Kim Jong Un second thoughts (surprise attack might not work!) and thus protects 50 million South Koreans from North Korean missile attack.

A THAAD battery is now positioned in southern South Korea. If Kim gets feisty, it may be reinforced with additional launchers.

That is what military types call an operational response to threat.

Look, dictators break deals, and when they do, unfortunately, war may erupt.

Let's hope that doesn't happen and Kim focuses on beachfront condos. He should contemplate a terrifying alternative: U.S. Air Force B-52s, B-1Bs, a variety of U.S. Navy and U.S. Army missile systems, South Korean F-15 Strike Eagles, Japanese aircraft-delivered missiles and an impressive suite of sneaky drone aircraft-delivered weapons wreaking hell on North Korea.

It's a new year. Kim Jong Un, choose your future.
Flag bearer of NDC, John Dramani Mahama

01.01.2020 LISTEN

Former President, John Dramani Mahama has attributed monetisation of elections held in the country to dissipation of state funds.

The flagbearer for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) indicated that citizens get agitated when politicians misuse state resources and are often inclined to ask for their share of the graft during elections.

Mr Mahama further questioned the 62 million President Akufo-Addo has spent on foreign travels in nine months.

So when you go to the people and say vote for me, what should they tell you? They will say the 62 million you chopped give me some before I vote for you. That is clearly monetisation, he added.

The Minority in Parliament on December 19, revealed that government expended 62 million on foreign travels and described the development as worrying.

Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson who disclosed the figures further demanded accountability from government and argued that the amount spent could have been used to provide basic amenities for the suffering Ghanaian.

This spending is something that we dont have to encourage. I strongly believe that the time has come for Ghanaians to demand accountability from the Office of the President in terms of the expenditure that goes on there. Within the last nine months, it will surprise you to know that, the President has spent almost 63 million on foreign travels, he stated.

Commenting on the issue, Mr Mahama at the 38th Anniversary celebration of the 31 December Revolution at Winneba in the Central region, said it amounts to wasting the taxpayers' resources.

He also noted that the Electoral Commission (EC) request for over 400 million is another attempt to misappropriate national funds.

According to the former President, the current voters' register is only seven years old and an upgrade of the software could rectify the issues the Commission is dealing with at a cost of 200 million which is far lesser than compiling a new register.

Myjoyonline
At least 20 high-speed railways are expected to start operation in 2020, according to Economic View's calculation.



The Yinchuan-Xi'an high-speed railway is expected to open at the end of 2020. The trip between Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, will be shortened from 14 hours to 3 hours.

The Beijing-Shenyang high-speed railway, a line of around 698 kilometers, is expected to open at the end of 2020. Trips between Beijing and Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, will be halved to 2.5 hours.

The Taiyuan-Jiaozuo high-speed railway is expected to open in December 2020. The trip between Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, and Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, will halved to 2 hours.

The Weifang-Laixi high-speed railway is expected to open at the end of 2020 within East China's Shandong province. It will shorten the trip between the provincial capital Ji'nan and Yantai to 2 hours.

In 2019, more than 5,000 km of high-speed railways went into operation. The total length of China's high-speed railways has reached 35,000 km.




As per an estimate by the South African government, corruption has cost the economy $700bn.

Corruption scandals in South Africa are expected to remain in the headlines in 2020.

Former President Jacob Zuma has denied the charges against him and is appealing a trial on deals made during his presidency.

In the next part of Al Jazeeras series looking at the biggest stories of 2020, we examine how Zumas time in office has shaped the country today.

Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller reports from Johannesburg.
Gardai investigating the brutal murder of a man whose decapitated body was found on the grounds of a vacant house in Cork city last weekend are still combing the property for forensic evidence.

The team probing the brutal killing of Francis (Frankie) Dunne, 64, whose dismembered body was found to the rear of Castlegreina House on Boreenmanna Road last Saturday, secured a 48-hour extension on New Years Eve of the designation of the property as a crime scene.

Garda technical experts are still conducting detailed forensic examinations both of the grounds and of the buildings, located close to the citys South Link Road. A weapon has yet to be recovered.

They have the option tomorrow of seeking a further 48-hour extension to its designation as a crime scene to continue their examination.

The fact that the property is still a designated crime scene four days on from the discovery of the body is an indication of the extensive and detailed nature of the massive garda probe.

A team of up to 40 gardai and detectives working on the brutal murder held a conference this evening to assess progress.

They are satisfied that Mr Dunne, who was originally from Churchfield on the citys northside, but who had been engaging with various homeless agencies for some time, was alive last Friday afternoon.

He was last seen at the nearby Clanmornin House - a high-support housing unit run by Cork Simon, where he had been living on and off since July.

Gardai are now trawling through hours of CCTV footage, harvested from several sources, including buildings, petrol stations and offices, as well as using dashcam footage from private cars, taxis, and buses which travelled through the area between Christmas Day and last Saturday, to build a picture of Mr Dunnes final hours.

They hope to trace his last-known movements and have spoken to members of Corks homeless community, and to those who work with the homeless, in the hope of identifying those he was with.

Mr Dunnes naked body was found by a man searching for his missing cat in undergrowth on the grounds of Castlegreina House at around 4pm on Saturday.

The alarm was raised and gardai sealed off the scene. His head and arms were found nearby following a search.

A post mortem the following day confirmed that Mr Dunne died in violent circumstances and a murder probe was launched.

Gardai have declined to discuss the nature of Mr Dunnes injuries or the results of the post mortem for operational reasons.

But it has been reported that he died from severe head injuries following a suspected beating, and that his head and arms were removed after death.

Gardai are understood to be following several lines of inquiry in relation to the identity of the killer or killers, on the motive for the killing, and on why he suffered such severe injuries afterwards.

They are also trying to establish whether the person or people involved in the killing or dismemberment intended to dump the limbs elsewhere but were disturbed before they could.

It is expected that Mr Dunnes remains will be released to his family tomorrow at which point funeral arrangements will be finalised.

Mr Dunne's family, who have appealed for privacy, described him as "one of a kind, a character, one of the funniest people to know" and said he was not homeless, but living in a shelter for the homeless.

They said they tried to help him as recently as last week but that sadly he "preferred the streets".
People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Hundreds of people raced from the sandy shores of Brigantine and into the Atlantic Ocean Wednesday afternoon to raise money for the Fisher House Foundation during the 20th annual Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge.

Thousands more joined the party, lining the beach to watch those brave enough to jump into the 46-degree water. While the air temperature was a few degrees colder at plunge time, at 41 degrees, it felt like 34 with the wind chill. But for those exiting the water, it may have felt more like 20.

A costume contest is also part of the annual tradition, with some of this year's participants dressing up with a "Seas the Day" mermaid and shark theme, a Western theme, and Philadelphia Eagles' "Underdogs" theme. One participant created an elaborate lobster costume from boxes.

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

While event organizers did not have a total for how much was raised this year, last year's plunge raised approximately $80,000 for the Fisher House Foundation, which builds comfort homes at military and VA medical centers around the world, providing military and veterans' families a place to stay, free of charge, while a family member is in the hospital.

The Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge -- encouraging participants to "Get wet for a vet" -- has raised more than $680,000 in the past 20 years for Fisher House.

Scroll below for more photos of this year's costume contest and polar plunge.

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A Zumba class performs during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People dance before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People dance before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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A Zumba class performs during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Participants await the sound of the cannon so they can run into the ocean for the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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A Zumba class performs during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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A Zumba class performs during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People participate in a costume contest before the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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People run in and out of the ocean during the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Lee Gelernt has spent much of 2019 crisscrossing federal courts across the country trying to halt some of the Trump administration's most controversial immigration policies. As the top immigration litigator at the American Civil Liberties Union, Gelernt is accustomed to high-stakes legal fights with different administrations. But in the past 12 months, the veteran civil rights lawyer has been going toe-to-toe with what he described as a relentless slew of "radical" proposals. "The administration has literally every month enacted new fundamental restrictions on the rights of immigrants and in particular, the rights of asylum-seekers at the border," Gelernt told CBS News. The past year has arguably been the Trump administration's most successful one in its quest to restrict asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, overhaul the nation's legal immigration system, crack down on undocumented immigrants, alter America's status as a safe haven for refugees and challenge decades of bipartisan consensus that robust immigration is key to America's economic and social prosperity.

Arizona Accepting Refugees

Members of the volleyball team practice at the Phoenix-based Valencia Newcomer School, one of a handful of public schools in the U.S. dedicated to helping refugee children and other newly arrived minors. Ross D. Franklin / AP

The chief concern for some advocates is the lasting impact the administration policies could have on America's ethos and image around the world.

"After World War II, the United States and the world said never again will we turn our back on people fleeing persecution," Gelernt said. "And now that's exactly what we are doing."

Border policies that "effectively eliminate asylum"

For much of early 2019, U.S. officials at the southern border were overwhelmed by an unprecedented flow of Central American families and unaccompanied children trekking north.

Story continues

Advocates and government watchdogs detailed squalid conditions in crowded detention centers. Unaccompanied minors and families with children were held in Border Patrol stations designed for adult men for longer than standard practice. Following the December 2018 deaths of two Guatemalan minors in U.S. custody, a 16-year-old died in a Border Patrol station during the spring crisis at the southern border.

In March, President Trump moved to end foreign aid to El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, faulting their governments for not doing enough to stop their citizens from fleeing. The next month, Mr. Trump announced a "tougher" direction at the border that fueled the ouster of top officials at the Department of Homeland of Security, including its chief, Kirstjen Nielsen.

In May, U.S. border officials apprehended more than 133,000 migrants, a 13-year monthly high. Border officials warned of a "breaking point" and "full-blown emergency."

But in the months since, border apprehensions have plummeted, reaching about 33,000 in November. Along with more aggressive immigration enforcement by the Mexican government, the administration has attributed the sharp drop to a series of restrictive and controversial policies it implemented this year.

Mexico Migrant Smuggling

A Mexican migration officer walks a migrant youth to a government van after the he was rescued from the cargo hold of a truck at an immigration checkpoint in Medellin de Bravo, Mexico. Feliz Marquez / AP

The most effective policy, from the administration's point of view, has been the so-called "Remain in Mexico" program, through which the U.S. has returned about 56,000 asylum-seekers to Mexico to wait for the duration of their U.S. immigration proceedings.

Tens of thousands of asylum-seekers from Central America, Cuba, Venezuela and other Latin American countries who would otherwise be in the U.S. are stranded in overcrowded shelters and squalid makeshift encampments in northern Mexico, including in crime-ridden cities like Ciudad Juarez and Matamoros, located in a region the U.S. government warns American travelers not to visit due to rampant violence.

Advocates and even some of the asylum officers implementing the program have been withering in their criticism of Remain in Mexico, saying it violates international obligations against returning migrants seeking refuge to dangerous places. The group Human Rights First has denounced hundreds of reported kidnappings and assaults. Last month, an asylum-seeking father from El Salvador was killed and dismembered in Tijuana after he and his family were placed in the Migrant Protection Protocols, the administration's official name for the policy.

A CBS News series over the summer detailed the due process concerns about the policy, which makes it extremely difficult for migrants to secure U.S.-based lawyers generally needed for successful asylum claims. According to data by researchers at Syracuse University, only about 4% of migrants in the program have had lawyers represent them in proceedings in the U.S.  which, for many migrants, now occur inside makeshift tent-like courts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Out of about 24,000 completed cases in the program, only 117 migrants have been granted asylum or some other form of protection, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). Under an expansion of the policy in early January 2020, some asylum-seekers returned by the U.S. to Mexico will have to travel more than 340 miles by car through territory where cartels often vie for control of the drug trade to attend hearings in a U.S. immigration court.

"Remain in Mexico has definitely affected and reduced apprehensions," Taylor Levy, an independent immigration lawyer based in El Paso, told CBS News. "However, I don't think that's a good measure of success, because the program has seen utterly horrific humanitarian consequences."

Levy said Remain in Mexico has also depleted the morale of the relatively small cohort of immigration lawyers in the area willing to represent asylum-seekers returned to often dangerous cities like Ciudad Juarez, which she frequently visits to assist migrants.

"So many of us thought that family separation was the worst things could possibly get," she said. "Remain in Mexico is exponentially worse. It is so much human suffering that we have to confront every single day that it's very draining and it's been very difficult psychologically for both myself and for most of my colleagues."

The administration has also used other tools this year to keep thousands of other migrants waiting in Mexico, continuing a practice known as "metering" to limit the number of would-be asylum-seekers who can express fear of persecution to U.S. officials at ports of entry along the southern border.

Asylum-seeking children pass their time in an encampment where they live in Matamoros

Honduran asylum-seeking children pass their time in an encampment near the banks of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico, on December 7, 2019. Veronica Cardenas / Reuters

Perhaps the administration's most ambitious effort to limit asylum at the southern border is a rule rolled out over the summer that renders migrants who traveled through a third country, like Mexico, ineligible for asylum in the U.S. In practice, the rule can block off asylum to any non-Mexican migrant, from Central Americans and Cubans, to Brazilian and African asylum-seekers.

Unfavorable court rulings limited the regulation's implementation for weeks, but the Supreme Court allowed the administration to enforce the restriction in September. Since then, officials have placed more than 1,000 asylum-seekers in a program in the El Paso and Rio Grande Valley sectors of the border to fast-track the deportation of those subject to the asylum restriction.

Officials also started a pilot program to assign some Border Patrol agents to screen asylum-seekers for "credible fear," a task that has been typically overseen by asylum officers trained in U.S. and international refugee law.

Under another plan currently held up in court, the administration hopes to detain migrant families with children for longer periods of time than currently allowed by litigation surrounding the landmark Flores Settlement. In November, the administration rolled out a proposal to bar asylum-seekers who cross the border without authorization from getting work permits while their cases are adjudicated.

Under the tenure of former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, the U.S. secured agreements with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to reroute asylum-seekers to these countries. So far, only the deal with Guatemala has been implemented, but advocates worry that asylum-seekers won't receive adequate protection in countries with fledgling asylum systems and that have seen tens of thousands of their own citizens trek north in the past year.

Officials announced earlier this month they are considering sending Mexican asylum-seekers to Guatemala, a move that would undermine the administration's assertions that its agreements with countries in Central America are designed to offer migrants protection closer to their homes. Unlike migrants from Honduras and El Salvador, who are already being subject to the U.S.-Guatemala agreement, Mexican asylum-seekers do not travel through Guatemalan territory to reach America's southern border.

Unaccompanied migrant children, who traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border in record numbers this year, are exempt from both the Remain in Mexico program and the asylum agreements with the Northern Triangle nations. But they can be disqualified for asylum under the third country transit ban if they are not from Mexico.

For Gelernt, the ACLU lawyer, the changes the administration instituted this year have all but shuttered America's asylum system for the vast majority of migrants seeking protection at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"The policies now effectively eliminate asylum  which is a historic moment in this country," he said.

"Trying to radically change legal immigration"

While the southern border has emerged as the epicenter of the nation's debate over immigration, changes implemented by the Trump administration that could dramatically change America's lawful immigration regime and its demographics have garnered less attention.

"What has been going on at the border is so visual and so visceral that I think it's the thing that has absolutely dominated everybody's attention with respect to immigration issues," Leon Rodriguez, the last U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) director under President Obama, told CBS News. "A lot of these other issues are very bureaucratic, very technical but very impactful for the families that are affected."

Now led by a team that includes hardliners and top officials who previously worked for an anti-immigration group, USCIS has spearheaded most of the changes to the legal immigration system under the Trump administration. The agency Rodriguez used to lead administers petitions for asylum, refugee status, green cards, U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits.

"The overall thrust of what the administration has been doing is pretty much at every turn to restrict immigration, both in terms of the overall numbers of people who are able to acquire immigration benefits, but also as to any individual applicant or petitioner, to make it infinitely more difficult for them to attain those benefits," Rodriguez said.

Immigration Statue Poem

Ken Cuccinelli championed sweeping restrictions to the legal immigration system at the helm of the USCIS. Evan Vucci / AP

For the former USCIS director, the so-called "public charge" regulation represents the administration's most important effort to restrict immigration.

Relying on the "public charge" term codified into U.S. law in 1882, the same year President Chester Arthur signed the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act, the regulation unveiled in August would make it easier for the government to reject applications for green cards and visas from immigrants or prospective immigrants whom officials determine rely  or will rely  on certain public benefits, like government-subsidized housing and food stamps.

The proposal, which was slated to take effect in October, is currently held up in court. But researchers have already documented a "chilling effect" that has prompted some fearful immigrant families, including those with U.S. citizens, to drop out of essential welfare programs.

Nearly two months after the roll out of the "public charge" rule, the White House issued a sweeping proclamation that would allow the government to reject visa applications from would-be immigrants it determines will not be able to pay for health insurance or cover medical costs.

The plan, which was blocked in November by a federal judge in Oregon, could deny entry to approximately 375,000 prospective immigrants each year, according to an estimate by the non-partisan Migration Policy Institute. Like in the legal challenges to the public charge rule, advocacy groups said in their lawsuit against the proclamation that it would disproportionately affect people of color.

The stringent requirements proposed by the "public charge" rule and healthcare-related proclamation were not the only moves the administration took this year to limit legal immigration and pathways to American citizenship.

A proposed rule by USCIS published last month would significantly increase petition fees for immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship, for young undocumented immigrants known as "DREAMers" looking to renew protections from deportation and for victims of crimes who are seeking to stay in the country through their assistance to law enforcement.

The proposal would also make the U.S. one of only four nations that require asylum-seekers fleeing persecution to pay a fee to file affirmative requests for protection.

"The administration is trying to radically change legal immigration and the changes they are seeking would disproportionately affect people of color and poor people," Gelernt of the ACLU said.

Another accomplishment for immigration restrictionists in 2019 was the continued decimation of America's refugee program, which enjoyed bipartisan support for decades.

Over the past three years, the Trump administration has dramatically slashed the number of refugees the U.S. is helping to resettle, recently imposing an 18,000-person cap, the lowest ceiling since the refugee program was created in 1980. Mr. Obama set a 110,000 year cap for his final year in office. Mr. Trump reduced that number to 45,000 in fiscal year 2018, to 30,000 in fiscal year 2019 and to 18,000 for the next 10 months.

"The United States, in a number of respects, has closed itself off from the world," said Rodriguez, the former USCIS director.

Germany Greece Migrants

Refugees and migrants disembark from a ferry at the port of Elefsina, near Athens, Greece. Petros Giannakouris / AP No "silver bullet" to counter Trump's immigration agenda

As in the previous two years, the courts in 2019 blocked some of the Trump administration's top items on its immigration agenda, but some policies have been allowed to continue pending litigation.

The courts briefly blocked the Remain in Mexico program and third country asylum ban, but have since allowed both policies to be enforced. In recent weeks, circuit courts have lifted three of the four nationwide injunctions against the "public charge" rule, leaving only one standing.

Federal courts are expected to rule on more high-stakes immigration cases in 2020, and could allow the administration to implement some of its currently blocked policies. A solidly conservative Supreme Court could also make a highly-anticipated decision next spring on the administration's efforts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program that shields young undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Even Gelernt, one of the administration's top foes in court, recognizes the limits of his work, saying there's no "silver bullet" to fight the president's policies. "Everything can't be laid on the doorsteps of the courts."

"What we saw during the family separation crisis is that public outcry was just as critical as the court actions; and that ultimately what we need, and what every civil rights movement needs, is the public to come out and forcefully say that they don't want this thing done in their name," he added.

One of the main challenges for Gelernt and other immigrants' advocates in 2019 was eliciting the same kind of massive public uproar that occurred in 2018 during "zero tolerance" policy, which led to the separation of more than 2,800 migrant families. The challenge will continue in 2020, since most of the administration's main policies, like the Remain in Mexico program, are being implemented outside America's borders or through often obscure bureaucratic changes.

Migrants pray at the government-run Leona Vicario migrant shelter, temporarily closed by health authorities following a varicela outbreak between Central American migrants, in Ciudad Juarez

Migrants pray at a migrant shelter in Ciudad Juarez as they await their asylum court dates. Jose Luis Gonzalez / Reuters

"The real challenge for us, given all the other issues that are on the table, is to make people realize that the administration is still doing awful things, and to make sure that people understand that families, including children, are being caught up in these asylum policies," Gelernt said.

The trajectory and additional consequences of the Trump administration's immigration agenda this year will largely hinge on the result of next year's presidential election. If the president wins reelection, Gelernt said he will face "more of the same, maybe even an increased level" in court. If the Democratic nominee is triumphant, reversing course won't be easy.

"Simply unwinding everything that the Trump administration has done will be a significant task," Gelernt said.

DNC Chair Tom Perez on the state of play for the Democratic nomination

Petraeus says U.S. had "lost the element of deterrence" before Soleimani strike

Murphy says Soleimani strike could put U.S. "on a course" for war with Iran
People around the globe bid farewell to 2019 and welcomed in the first year of the new decade.

New Zealand was one of the earliest countries to greet the New Year. In Auckland, half a ton of fireworks were set off from the Sky Tower above the city center.

In Australia, more than a million people gathered at the Sydney Harbor to see fireworks.

Thousands of South Koreans filled the cold streets of Seoul for a bell-tolling ceremony. The bell is rung annually 33 times by celebrities and other prominent people.

Crowds gathered in Tokyos Shibuya City to count in 2020. Tokyo will also host the 2020 Olympics, a highly anticipated event for the capital and the entire nation.

In Bangkok, Thailand, the public welcomed 2020 with a spectacular fireworks display over the Chao Phraya river.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and threatened a demonstration of a "new strategic weapon" soon.

Analysts said the announcement, reported by state media on Wednesday, amounted to Kim putting a missile "to Donald Trump's head" -- but warned that escalation by Pyongyang would probably backfire.

Washington was swift to respond, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging Kim to "take a different course" and stressing that the US wanted "peace not confrontation" with the North, while Trump played down the development.

Pyongyang has previously fired missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland, and has carried out six nuclear tests, the last of them 16 times more powerful than the Hiroshima blast, according to the highest estimates.

A self-imposed ban on such tests -- Kim declared they were no longer needed -- has been a centrepiece of the nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington over the past two years, which has seen three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, but little tangible progress.

Any actual test is likely to infuriate Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Kim's "promise" to him not to carry them out, and has downplayed launches of shorter-range weapons.

Negotiations between the two sides have been largely deadlocked since the breakup of their Hanoi summit in February, and the North set the US an end-of-year deadline for it to offer fresh concessions on sanctions relief, or it would adopt a "new way".

"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the official KCNA agency cited Kim as telling top ruling party officials.

"The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," he added, referring to the North by its official name. The full meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party was an indication of a major policy shift.

State television showed veteran newsreader Ri Chun Hee reading out the KCNA dispatch over footage of Kim addressing the officials and general imagery of the country.

The broadcast appeared to stand in place of Kim's usual New Year speech -- normally a key moment in the North Korean political calendar.

Kim acknowledged the impact of international sanctions imposed on Pyongyang over its weapons programmes, but made clear that the North was willing to pay the price to preserve its nuclear capability.

"The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.

Washington had "conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop" and sent high-tech military equipment to the South, he said.

For months, Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington has insisted it takes more tangible steps towards giving them up.

"North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to Donald Trump's head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee," said Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington.

"Kim Jong-un is playing a dangerous game of geopolitical chicken," he added.

The strategy was risky, he said, as Washington was likely to respond with "more sanctions, an increased military presence in East Asia and more fire and fury style threats coming from Donald Trump's Twitter account".

Kim's moratorium comments were "ominous", said Leif-Eric Easley of Ewha University in Seoul, but added that he could be looking to "elicit concessions by approaching Trump's red line without crossing it".

The US has already indicated that it will react if the North carries out a long-range missile test.

Speaking to Fox and CBS after Kim's announcement, Pompeo said a resumption of nuclear and missile tests would be "deeply disappointing".

"We hope that Chairman Kim will take a different course... that he'll choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war," Pompeo said.

"We want peace, not confrontation," he added, with Seoul's unification ministry adding that a strategic weapon test "would not help denuclearisation negotiations".

Trump himself was emollient, saying that he thought Kim was "a man of his word" and that at their Singapore summit "We did sign a contract, talking about denuclearisation".

An ICBM launch would be likely to frustrate China, the North's key diplomatic backer and provider of trade and aid, which always stresses stability in a region it regards as its own back yard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday hit out at European leaders for their failure to increase their financial contribution to the battle against corruption.

"Why is it that the United States is always giving foreign countries money, and Germany, and France and all of Europe, they're not doing much?" he asked reporters.

The president was speaking as he arrived to host a New Year's Eve reception at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Blake Rubin, a Worcester defense attorney who ran for Worcester District Attorney last year, and Fabian Beltran, a defendant Rubin represented who was convicted of human trafficking after a trial last year, have been indicted and accused of witness intimidation.

Another attorney, Angela Cavanaugh, has also been indicted. Cavanaugh represented a witness in Beltrans case, which was connected to the Kilby Street gang in Worcester. Gang members were accused of taking advantage of womens heroin addiction by forcing them into prostitution and withholding money paid for sex acts, instead giving the women drugs.

Indictments against the three were handed up on Dec. 19 by a statewide grand jury in Suffolk Superior Court and have been transferred to Worcester County. The indictments accuse the three of engaging in witness intimidation and conspiracy on May 26, 2018. Further details of the allegations are not yet clear.

Rubin and Cavanaugh are slated to be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court on Friday. An arraignment date for Beltran has not yet been scheduled, and it is not clear if Beltran has an attorney.

Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Rubin said he could not comment on the charges. Peter Ettenberg, a Worcester defense attorney who is representing Rubin on the new indictments, said it was too soon to comment on the case.

Neither Cavanaugh nor her attorney could be reached by phone Tuesday afternoon.

The case is being handled by the office of Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz. A spokeswoman for Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said the matter does not involve Earlys office.

Beltran was found guilty by a Worcester Superior Court jury last year of human trafficking and deriving support from a prostitute. Judge Daniel Wrenn sentenced Beltran to 6 to 8 years on the human trafficking charge and 4 to 5 years for the deriving support from a prostitute charge. The sentences run concurrently.

The victim in Beltrans case testified that he took advantage of her drug addiction. In 2016, officials said Beltran was among Kilby Street gang members took the profits after forcing drug-addicted women into prostitution.

Beltran was also accused of witness intimidation for allegedly arraigning bail for a witness who was slated to testify against him during his trial.

Court documents in Beltrans witness intimidation case indicate that on May 26, 2018, Beltran recruited several people to arrange bail for a witness who was scheduled to testify for the commonwealth in the human trafficking case.

Beltran gave the witness an amount of heroin, rock cocaine, and US currency to assist her in getting to the state of Maine where Beltran wanted her to stay until the case was closed, court documents filed in Worcester District Court read. Beltran told the witness that if she was in Maine, investigators would not be able to locate her and therefore she could not testify against him.

But according to court testimony in the case published in the Telegram & Gazette in 2018, jailhouse calls suggested that the lawyers involved in the case knew that the witness was being bailed and would not appear in court for testimony."

I am offended," Rubin responded at the time. That kind of insinuation, your honor, quite frankly is probably politically motivated.

On Jan. 9, 2019, a nolle prosequi was filed in Worcester District Court, stating the commonwealth no longer intended to proceed with the witness intimidation case in district court.

Rubin has represented clients in several high-profile cases in Worcester County, in both state and federal court. He is the lawyer for Momah Kamara, the man charged with second-degree murder, arson and burglary, accused of setting a Dec. 9, 2018, blaze that killed Worcester Firefighter Christopher Roy.
Days after Puducherry Lt Governor issued an order declaring as null and void the appointment of a retired IAS officer as State Election Commissioner by the territorial government, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday said Kiran Bedi has "no authority" to rescind it.

The Chief Minister told reporters that Bedi has no authority to cancel or rescind the appointment made by the government.

"The Home Ministry had only given the guidelines on the modality of appointment in the future.

The incumbent T B Balakrishnan, appointed by the government, will continue and he has already commenced work to redraw the territorial limits of the wards and appoint election officers."



Terming the appointment as "fait accompli", the Chief Minister said none could tamper with it.

"The appointment has become a fait accompli and neither Kiran Bedi nor the Home Ministry can quash the appointment of the present SEC, he said adding the order of the Lt Governor declaring Balakrishnan's appointment as null and void only "deserves to be thrown into the dustbin."



"In case a move is to be made to replace him, the process adopted should be on the same lines followed for impeachment of a judge of a High court through a resolution in the territorial Assembly," he said.

The territorial government had appointed T M Balakrishnan as the SEC in July.

On December 20, the Lt Governor hadissued an order declaring the appointment of Balakrishnan as "void ab initio".

Narayanasamy said his government would bring in a special health insurance scheme called 'Chief Minister's Health Insurance scheme' to provide medical assistance and ensure cashless treatment for all families now left out of the 'Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan.'



This special insurance scheme would cover around two lakh families who were not covered under the Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan, he said.

The government would spend Rs 18 crore to provide the health insurance scheme under its scheme.

Flaying Bedi for 'impeding' welfare schemes, he said the government would not be cowed down by any interruption and would implement them.

"Our decision to supply rice instead of cash equivalent to the quantum of rice as maintained by Kiran Bedi to card holders would hold good soon," he contended.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -When the ostensible murder victim showed up at a family funeral, Gunalakshmi Karupaya thought her prayers had been answered. Here was living evidence that could overturn her husband's death sentence.

Yet more than two years later, Mainthan Arumugam remains in prison, one of nearly 1,300 inmates facing execution in Malaysia. It may be the largest death row in Southeast Asia - and one that, like Mainthan, has become a rallying point in a country on the cusp of a potentially historic legal shift.

After an upset election last year that ended the ruling coalition's six-decade run, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government issued an immediate moratorium on executions. It also promised to abolish capital punishment, a legacy of British rule and a mandatory penalty for almost a dozen offenses. The subject has been intensely debated ever since.

Any change would have significance beyond Malaysia's borders. Nearly half of the prisoners on death row here are foreign nationals, and more than 100 are women, Amnesty International reported this fall.

The report found that 73% of death row inmates had been sentenced for drug trafficking, with most convicted of transporting small amounts of drugs. It also documented the use of torture for "confessions," restricted access to legal counsel and a pattern of unfair trials.

The circumstances that entangled Mainthan, a father of four who worked as a scrap metal trader in the capital, represent "the most preposterous case," the executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia told a public forum in November. "Mainthan was sentenced to death for a murder," Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu recounted. "There was indeed a body. But the person who he supposedly killed is still alive."

He and three other men were arrested in August 2004, a few days after police found charred body parts in a Kuala Lumpur neighborhood. They were charged with the murder of a man who had eloped with the sister-in-law of a friend of Mainthan's. During the trial, Mainthan said he had only helped find the couple, who were brought to his house before the friend took them away.

The prosecution largely built its case on the evidence of two witnesses who claimed they saw a bloodied person on Mainthan's workshop floor the night before the body parts were discovered. But the four suspects said that person was an occasional worker for Mainthan - known as Devadass - who they believed had stolen from a neighbor. They had admitted to beating him up, but nothing more, and testified that he went to a hospital for treatment.

The problem was, defense lawyers could not locate Devadass to appear as a court witness. The judge publicly doubted his existence, dismissing him as a fictional "afterthought." All the suspects were found guilty, but three had their convictions overturned on appeal. Only Mainthan's was upheld.

So Gunalakshmi was astonished to spot Devadass at her mother-in-law's funeral in March 2017. Devadass was almost equally surprised: He had no idea her husband was on death row. He promptly signed a statement explaining that he was the only man assaulted at the purported crime scene on that night nearly 13 years earlier. Gunalakshmi soon filed an application to reopen Mainthan's case. The family expected it to be the turning point that would win his release.

"I thought Mainthan would be out soon," she reflected recently, sitting in the makeshift house where she has raised the children on her salary as a school cleaner. While she doesn't dwell on the family's hardships during the past 15 years, exposed electrical wiring and threadbare furniture betray their ongoing struggle.

Criminal defense attorney Amer Hamzah, who began representing Mainthan in 2014, said he rarely takes on cases after the appeal process ends, but he was struck by the "many unanswered questions" this one raised. He spotted a jarring anomaly in the evidence; the identity of the victim named on the charge sheet did not match the identity of the dismembered body, as revealed by fingerprints. Then Mainthan's family told him about Devadass suddenly reappearing.

"Based on the inadequacies in the evidence, Mainthan should not have been found guilty," Amer said. Testing Devadass's testimony would be "the best way to assure justice is done. Not only to Mainthan, but also to the deceased."

The country's highest court disagreed, an outcome that wasn't a shock; judges are very conservative about reviewing decisions, said lawyer Khaizan Sharizad Razak, who co-directed a documentary about Mainthan's case that shot it to prominence. "But if the court has such a high threshold for reopening a case, we're all stuck."

Malaysia's death row inmates live years in limbo. The last known executions were in 2017, when the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty says the country executed four people by hanging. Amnesty International counts 30 executions there from 1998 to 2018, based on what the organization describes as reports "from credible sources."

Yet the government's proposed changes could set prisoners on a new course. The call for abolition was lauded as a critical reform in a part of the world where most countries retain capital punishment, although some rarely apply it. At the same time, it angered families who have lost loved ones to violent crime. They were supported by opposition politicians and other proponents of the law.

The government has since backtracked and now is focused on repealing only the mandatory death penalty as it applies to 11 offenses, including murder and hostage-taking. (The death penalty remains optional for nearly two dozen other offenses.) Disappointed but undeterred, reform advocates still view the proposal as an opportunity to start righting a decades-old wrong - and as a first step toward abolition.

Public opinion is also more nuanced than presumed, according to Ngeow Chow Ying, a lawyer who has campaigned against capital punishment and who convened the November forum. Recent surveys that went beyond a simple for or against question, "to present specific scenarios" in which the death penalty could apply, suggested there would be little public opposition to abolishing the mandatory death penalty, she said.

A bill to do so is expected to be introduced in Parliament by March. The law minister has also raised the issue of resentencing inmates already on death row. How this should happen is under discussion.

Mainthan is closely following the debate through his family and their visits to the prison. Now 48 and much thinner, his hair streaked gray, he has been held in solitary confinement nearly a decade. He continues to hope for a favorable decision on his request for a pardon from the state leader - in his case, the sultan of Selangor. Such action is his last resort. Neither the sultan nor Mahathir has commented on the case.

At home, Mainthan's clothes remain ready for his return, folded neatly in the small bedroom where everyone sleeps. His youngest child, just 16 months old when he was arrested, only remembers seeing him through the glass window that separates prison visitors from inmates.

Gunalakshmi looks tired, but her voice is unflinching. "He has hope. I have hope," she said. "We will fight again and again to get him back."
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Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American Embassy began to disperse on Wednesday after US troops fired tear gas.

Protesters threw stones at the building and set fire to the roof of a reception area inside the embassy compound and burned tyres.

Dozens of Iran-allied militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy overnight, a day after they broke into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows before pulling back.

It was one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

The US Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas Wednesday as more crowds arrived and after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area. Smoke rose from the building. There have been no reports of any injuries since the protests began.

Members of the Iraqi Federal Police and other security forces were seen at the scene.

The militiamen were protesting deadly U.S. airstrikes that targeted an Iran-backed militia over the weekend, killing 25 fighters. Those strikes were in response to a rocket attack on an Iraqi army base that killed a U.S. contractor.
A beloved great-grandfather who was described as a local 'larrikin' has been identified as the first victim of bushfires in Victoria's East Gippsland region.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found passed away in his fire damage residence in Buchan on Wednesday morning.

His body was discovered by his nephew Jason who informed the rest of the family.

Mr Roberts neice, Leah Parsons, told the Herald Sun her uncle and two of his mates had been painting his house before bushfires closed in on the area.

Mick Roberts, 67, was found passed away in his fire damage residence in Buchan on Wednesday morning

The great-grandfather (pictured with his late mother) who was described as a local 'larrikin' has been identified as the first victim of bushfires in Victoria's East Gippsland region

An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region, Australia

'They ran into the river on the property but they couldn't get him to go,' she told the publication.

'He said he needed to go into the shed for a minute and they never saw him again.'

Mr Roberts had just returned to his 450 hectare cattle property in Buchan after spending Christmas in Melbourne.

He had a daughter, step daughter, step son, and great grandchildren who are 'numb' with grief according to Ms Parsons.

'We are devastated and numb. He was my favourite uncle  his home was a constant swinging door of people who would come to visit. He was very very loved.'

She also said he was seen as a 'legend' and 'storyteller' in the local community and was the type of person who would defend his home and would 'not run from anything.'

The town of Buchan has been ravaged by the East Gippsland bushfires with 24 structures in the town destroyed.

About 200 residents are reportedly sheltering in the local pub, there is no power in the town and roads remain closed.

The East Gippsland fires now cover an area of about 550,000 hectares, have destroyed at least 50 strucutres, and several people are reported missing.

Emergency warnings in the region were downgraded to 'Watch and Act' status on Wednesday.

The Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules has been deployed to the region and is expected to arrive off the coast of Mallacoota on Thursday morning.

A firefighting helicopter tackling a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 31, 2019) - good natured Products Inc. (TSXV: GDNP) (the "Company" or "good natured"), and Integral Wealth Securities Ltd. (the "Agent") today announced the successful completion of the closing of a first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of convertible debenture units (the "Units") announced on October 10, 2019 for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,740,000. The Company expects to close the remaining tranche of the Offering on or about January 31, 2020.

In the First Tranche, the Company has issued 2,740 Units at a price of $1,000 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of a CAD $1,000 principal amount, 10% subordinated unsecured convertible debenture (each, a "Debenture") due sixty (60) months from the closing date and 938 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). Each Debenture is convertible at a conversion price of $0.23 per common share ("Share") of the Company. Each Warrant entitles its holder to acquire one additional Share at a price of $0.16 per Share within the 24-month period following the closing of the First Tranche.

Proceeds of the First Tranche will be utilized for closing costs and to redeem a portion of the Company's existing 10% convertible unsecured debentures due February 2022 (the "2018 Debentures"), of which $4,604,000 principal amount is currently outstanding. The 2018 Debentures will be partially redeemed at a 5% premium, plus accrued interest since August 28, 2019.

In connection with the closing of the First Tranche, the Company paid Integral Wealth Securities Ltd., plus certain members of the selling group, an aggregate cash commission of $170,050. The Company also issued to the Agent and certain members of the Agent's selling group an option to purchase an additional 708,940 Shares from treasury at a price of $0.16, exercisable at any time within the 24-month period following the closing date of the First Tranche.

The closing of the First Tranche is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). The Units and Warrants issued by the Company in connection with the First Tranche are subject to a four month "hold period" expiring on May 1, 2020 under applicable securities laws.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction.

Acceleration Right

The Debentures will be subject to an acceleration right exercisable by the Company which will force the conversion of the Debentures into Shares at the $0.23 conversion price. This right is exercisable if the Company's Shares trade at or above a volume-weighted average trade price of $0.33 on the TSX Venture Exchange on any 20 consecutive trading days. If the acceleration right is exercised by the Company, the conversion will occur immediately.

Related Party Participation in the Offering

Jim Zadra, Director of the Company, subscribed for 25 Units having a subscription price of $25,000. Following the closing of the First Tranche, Jim Zadra will beneficially own or control 477,264 Shares on a fully-converted basis (i.e., assuming conversion of the Debentures purchased in the First Tranche), representing approximately 0.5% of the issued and outstanding Shares on an undiluted basis.

As an insider of the Company participated in this Offering, it is deemed to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101-Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

Each Share of the Company provides the holder with the right to one vote per Share. The Debentures and Warrants do not entitle the holder to any voting rights. Therefore, all Debentures and Warrants subscribed for pursuant to this Offering provide the subscriber, including the related party, with no additional votes at present but the holder thereof will have one vote per Share if and when issued upon the conversion of the Debentures or the exercise of the Warrants.

Other than the subscription agreement between the aforementioned insider and the Company relating to the issuance of the Units pursuant to the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement with an interested party or a joint actor with an interested party in connection with the Offering. Neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, a related party, has knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities that has not been generally disclosed.

The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 (pursuant to subsections 5.5(c) and 5.7(1)(b)) as it was a distribution of securities for cash and neither the fair market value of the Units distributed to, nor the consideration received from, interested parties exceeded $2,500,000. The Company has one or more independent directors in respect of the Offering who are not employees of the Company and all directors of the Company approved the Offering. The material change report in connection with the Offering was not filed 21 days in advance of the closing of the Offering for the purposes of Section 5.2(2) of MI 61-101 on the basis that the subscriptions under the Offering were not available to the Company until shortly before the closing.

About good natured Products Inc.

good natured is producing and distributing one of North America's widest assortments of better everyday products made from the highest possible percentage of renewable, plant-based materials and no BPAs, phthalates or other chemicals of concern potentially harmful to human health and the environment.

By combining cutting-edge renewable material technology and the latest sustainable design features, good natured creates planet-friendly products and packaging that do good for the planet, good for human health and good for business by driving incremental sales, minimizing waste and improving logistics, all bundled up in a fresh and friendly brand.

For more information: goodnatured.ca

About Integral Wealth Securities Ltd.

Integral is a private, independent investment dealer founded in 2003. We provide objective advice, investment transparency, and access to innovative products and solutions for our clients. Licensed by IIROC and headquartered in Toronto, we operate from seven offices in Canada.

Integral's private client group is experienced advisors with a track record of results in providing sophisticated wealth management solutions for affluent clients. Integral's capital markets capital markets group has established capabilities in market making, energy banking and private capital solutions. The group works closely with institutional and ultra-high-net-worth investors seeking attractive risk-adjusted returns through equity and debt investments in both public and private markets.

On behalf of the Company:

Paul Antoniadis - Executive Chair & CEO

Contact: 1-604-566-8466

Investor Contact:

Caleb Jeffries

Kin Communications

1-866-684-6730

GDNP@kincommunications.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Information in this news release that is not current or historical factual information may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of securities laws. Implicit in this information, particularly in respect of the potential closing of any additional tranches of the Offering and the amount to be raised, are assumptions regarding the general market conditions for offerings such as the Offering and TSX-V approval of the extension of the Offering on the same term.. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned that the closing of the Offering is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including relating to general market conditions, and accordingly the Offering may not be able to be completed on the terms currently expected as set out above, or at all. Other than as required under securities laws, we do not undertake to update this information at any particular time. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on our current estimates, expectations and projections, which we believe are reasonable as of the current date. The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. 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/51095
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A 31-year-old woman killed by celebratory gunfire and four people injured outside a nightclub are among 13 people shot during a nine-hour stretch late New Years Eve and early New Years Day in Cleveland, police said.

The violent end to 2019 and start to 2020 included at least 10 separate shootings between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

It marked the second straight year that New Years Eve came to a brutal end in Cleveland. On Dec. 31, 2018, three people were killed and two others were hurt in a shooting at a party on the citys West Side.

In one of the 10 overnight shootings, a 38-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting his live-in girlfriend while he popped off rounds just after midnight Wednesday on Merrill Avenue near West 58th Street, police said. Cleveland police officers arrested the man at the scene, but he has not been formally charged in the deadly shooting, according to court records.

Investigators have not reported arrests in any of the other nine shootings from overnight. Few details have been released about each of those cases.

Four people were shot about 1 a.m. Wednesday at Club Medusa on St. Clair Avenue near East 13th Street, police said. Investigators did not specify whether the shooting happened in or outside the club, which advertised a New Years Eve party on social media.

In another incident, a 30-year-old man was reported to be in critical condition after he was shot in the chest and back about 10 p.m. Tuesday on Woodland Avenue near East 55th Street, police said. An ambulance took him to MetroHealth for treatment.

A 16-year-old girl also suffered a gunshot wound to the foot before her parents brought her to MetroHealth about 2 a.m. Wednesday. The girl refused to provide details of the shooting, but said it happened near East 55th Street and Kinsman Road, police said.

Other shootings reported late Tuesday and early Wednesday include:

A 27-year-old man with a gunshot wound walked into Marymount Hospital about 6 p.m. Tuesday. The man said the shooting occurred in the area of Turney Road, police said.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the abdomen about 6 p.m. Tuesday near Mohican Park on Triskett Road near Berea Road. Someone drove him to Fairview Hospital for treatment, police said.

A 69-year-old man was shot in the back about 9 p.m. Tuesday on Roanoke Avenue near West 30th Street, police said. An ambulance took him to MetroHealth.

A 22-year-old man was shot in the leg about 11 p.m. Tuesday on East 146th Street near Harvard Avenue, police said. An ambulance took him to a hospital for treatment.

A 34-year-old man was shot in the face about midnight Wednesday on North Boulevard near East 102nd Street, police said. An update on his condition was not immediately available.

A 27-year-old man was shot in the foot before someone drove him to St. Vincent Charity Medical Center about 3 a.m. Wednesday. The man refused to provide any information about the shooting, police said.

To comment on this story, visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments page.

Read more crime stories:

Man fatally shot girlfriend while popping off rounds to celebrate New Years Day in Cleveland, police say

While homicides in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio dip, the killing of children soars

Appeals court lowers bond for Strongsville Catholic priest accused of possessing child pornography

Where does each criminal case related to the Cuyahoga County Jail stand?

Akron police identify officers involved in deadly shooting
PMF members and supporters continue sit-in near US embassy in Iraq, as US-Iran tensions escalate.

Hundreds of Iraqi members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and their supporters hurled stones at the United States embassy in Baghdad for a second day on Wednesday, while security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades in a bid to drive them away.

US troops also fired tear gas to disperse the protests, led by the Iranian-backed PMF  an umbrella grouping of paramilitary organisations that mostly consists of Iranian-backed Shia militias and that was integrated into Iraqs armed forces.

They were gathered outside the US embassy compound in Baghdad for a second consecutive day. Dozens had camped out at the gates of the embassy where they stayed the night.

The protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area on Wednesday, as smoke rose from the building. Protesters also firebombed a second gate, setting another fire.

Meanwhile, US soldiers were seen on the roof of the main embassy building, as Washington said it was deploying 750 additional troops to the region.

The PMF later on Wednesday issued a statement calling on its supporters to withdraw from the compound in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government, saying your message has been received.

Some of the protesters could be seen taking down their tents, while others vowed to stay. A spokesman for the Kataib Hezbollah militia, Mohammed Mohieh, told The Associated Press news agency that the sit-in will continue.

The protests mark a new turn in the tensions between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump, who faces re-election in 2020, on Tuesday threatened to retaliate against Iran but said later he did not want to go to war.

The protests also cast uncertainty over the continued presence of US troops in Iraq.

Crowds had rallied on Tuesday to protest against deadly US air strikes on armed group Kataib Hezbollah bases in Iraq and Syria, setting fires, throwing rocks and smashing surveillance cameras. They did not breach the huge embassys main compound, however.

Overnight, demonstrators pitched tents and camped outside the embassy walls.

Bringing in supplies

Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn, reporting from Baghdad, said the security presence near the checkpoint leading to the embassy was significantly higher on Wednesday morning compared to the previous days.

The people are actually manning the checkpoints and controlling the crowds, but the fighters and supporters of the PMF are being allowed to pass through, Foltyn said.

Were watching people  theyre bringing supplies, weve seen gas canisters [being taken] to the people camping out here, to basically resupply them and it very much looks like the hundreds of PMF supporters  are determined to stay, she said.

Iraqi security forces made no effort to stop the protesters on Tuesday as they marched to the heavily fortified Green Zone after a funeral for those killed in the US airstrikes, nor did they intervene on Wednesday as the protest resumed.

Separately on Wednesday, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei condemned the US attacks.

The Iranian government, nation and I strongly condemn the attacks, Iranian state TV quoted Khamenei as saying.

Trump accused Iran a day earlier of orchestrating the violence at the US embassy and said Tehran would be held responsible. Iran rejected the accusation.

Al Jazeeras Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Tehran, said for the first time, Khamenei responded by saying that the US cannot do a damn thing.

He made a reference to the US president by saying that guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad, and we will respond to them, Jabbari said, referring to Khameneis Twitter post.

The supreme leader also said that if the Islamic republic decides to challenge and fight it will do so unequivocally and that the Iranians are not after wars  They will strongly defend the Iranian nations interests, dignity and glory.

Zeidon Alkinani, a researcher on identity politics in Iraq, said Iran was trying to pull attention away from the anti-government protest movement in Iraq that began in early October. Demonstrators demanding an overhaul to the countrys political system, installed after the US invasion, have continued to take to the streets for three months.

This is one of the very few tactics that Iran is using to denounce and minimise the influence of the protest movement  which heavily created a very strong and prominent anti-Iran sentiment, Alkinani told Al Jazeera.

Both Iran and the US do not want the protest movement to succeed in Iraq, because the Iraqi government has a dual partnership between the US and Iran, Alkinani said.

Show of power

Senior Iraqi army officers had negotiated with those gathered outside the embassy in an attempt to convince them to leave but failed to do so. Washington is putting pressure on Iraqi leaders to ensure the security of its staff.

According to Foltyn, high-level PMF leaders are currently negotiating with the Iraqi government, meaning there might be a deal soon that would lead to the halt of the sit-in.

The PMF will not leave in a way that will reflect poorly on them, they have to leave out of their own will, Foltyn noted.

This was a huge show of power of their defiance, that theyre able to march in the Green Zone, that theyre able to reach the gates of the US embassy, she said.

The incident marked a sharp escalation of the proxy conflict between Washington and Tehran  both influential players in Iraq  while mass protests are challenging Iraqs own political system nearly 17 years after the US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The protests followed US air strikes on Sunday on bases operated by Kataib Hezbollah, which killed at least 25 fighters and wounded 55.

The strikes were retaliation for the killing of a US civilian contractor in a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base, which Washington blamed on Kataib Hezbollah.

The PMFs political influence in Iraq has risen in recent years, and their allies dominate the parliament and the government. That has made them the target of mass protests since October that are unrelated to the attack on the embassy.

The anti-government protesters have attacked Iranian diplomatic missions and the local headquarters of parties affiliated with the militias across southern Iraq. They have also set up a major protest camp in central Baghdad.

For weeks, the anti-government protesters have been trying to enter the Green Zone housing the government and the US embassy, but have been beaten back by security forces, who killed hundreds of anti-government demonstrators in clashes.
Apeejay Surrendra has filed draft papers with regulator Sebi for its proposed initial public offering to raise up to Rs 1,000 crore.

The IPO comprises a fresh issue of up to Rs 400 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to Rs 600 crore.

The amount to be raised through OFS comprises up to Rs 125.4 crore by promoter selling shareholder, up to Rs 354.9 crore by Apeejay Pvt Ltd, up to Rs 84.7 crore by Apeejay House Pvt Ltd and Rs 34.9 crore by investor selling shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

The company proposes to utilise the net proceeds towards repayment/prepayment of certain borrowings availed and for general corporate purposes.

The book running lead managers to the offer are ICICI Securities, Axis Capital and JM Financial.

The shares of the company are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.

The company has presence in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR as well as in other major cities such as Coimbatore, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jammu, Navi Mumbai, Raipur and Visakhapatnam, the DRHP stated.

The hospitality company has pioneered the concept of luxury boutique hotel in India under "THE PARK" brand. The company is part of the Apeejay Surrendra group, a leading Indian conglomerate.

The group's business is spread across industries such as hospitality, shipping, tea, real estate, retail brands such as Oxford bookstores, and education.
Congress eyeing lucrative portfolios but is affected by alliance constraints.

Mumbai: Talks between Congress state president Balasaheb Thorat and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the Sahyadri Guest House over the exchange of portfolios seem to have failed, said a Congress source.

The central leadership is likely to intervene in the same, the sources added. Mr Thorat spoke to Mr Thackeray about the exchange of portfolios during the meeting Wednesday. The Congress leadership demanded the agriculture and rural development portfolios from the two allies but they are unwilling to accept this proposal.

To a query about portfolio distribution, Mr Thorat argued that there will be some stress due to the fact there are only a limited number of portfolios and departments available for each party. However, he added that the problem will be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, senior minister Jayant Patil dismissed reports of differences between the Congress, NCP and Sena over the allocation of portfolios.

The state NCP chief said that an announcement regarding portfolios is expected by Wednesday or Thursday.

In fact, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar sounded confident while claiming that the allocation of portfolio will be completed by Wednesday. Speaking to media after the meeting, Mr Pawar said, The portfoios will be distributed by tomorrow (Jan. 2) evening. Everything is fine in the MVA government.

Usually, ministerial portfolios are announced the same evening that the ministers take oath. However, the chief minister has not been able to allocate portfolios even two days after swearing in of the Cabinet because of the rift among the ruling parties.

In the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, the Sena has been allocated 15 ministries including (the chief minister's post) home, urban development, water resources, state road development, industry, higher and technical education, agriculture, general administration and transport.

While the NCP has been given 16 ministries including rural development, finance and planning, social justice, cooperative, irrigation, excise, food and civil supplies, housing, labour and minorities.

The Congress has been allocated 12 ministries including revenue, power, school education, medical education, PWD, tribal development, and women and child development.

The Congress inducted four senior leaders, including former chief minister Ashok Chavan. Sources said that Mr Chavan is likely to be made energy or PWD minister. However, he is said to be eyeing the revenue department.
New York, Jan 1 : While the bitter US-China trade war appears to be coming to an end this year, researchers now report that a growing number of Chinese scientists working in the US and other parts of the world are returning to their homeland to enhance China's research productivity.

The Ohio State University researchers found that more than 16,000 foreign-trained Chinese scientists have returned to their homeland since Beijing has opened up to international engagement.

More than 4,500 left the US for China in 2017 -- nearly double the number who left in 2010, helping grow the country into a scientific powerhouse.

According to the researchers, it is still in America's best interest to try to retain as many of China's best scholars as possible and be welcoming to those who visit.

"If we lose that attraction, if we discourage people from coming here, it will take a toll on the US scientific system," said Caroline Wagner, associate professor in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.

"In our lifetime, China has joined the global scientific community to become world-class in a number of critical fields, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and materials science," Wagner added.

"As more of their researchers return home, that rise is going to continue".

For the study, the researchers used a scientific publisher's (Elsevier) database that allowed them to track researchers based on their publications in scientific journals.

The authors traced the paths of Chinese authors who first published in China and then subsequently in a different country, or, first published abroad and then in China, to track individual mobility.

Results showed that the number of Chinese researchers going to the US is larger than the number going to Europe. Chinese scientists are more likely to return to their home from Europe than from the US.

"The most elite Chinese scientists are more likely to stay in the US than go home -- and that's good for the US," Wagner said in a paper published in the journal Science and Public Policy.

"But increasingly, we found that people are going back. The US has been lucky that many top scientists have stayed. But China has programmes to attract them back to their homeland," she noted.

Overall, Wagner and her colleagues found that 12 per cent of studies published by researchers in China were by those who had worked in other countries - and that is probably an underestimation.

More importantly, those who worked abroad and returned to China published more high-impact research than scientists who didn't work abroad.

"Once they go home, those who worked elsewhere are more productive at the international level than people who stayed in China," she said.

In previous research, Wagner has found that the more open a country is to cross-country scientific cooperation, the stronger its scientific impact.

That's also one reason why China is fine with the fact that many of its scientists stay in the United States, Europe or elsewhere.

"Chinese leaders value the connections. It is a way to create linkages with the worldwide scientific community," she said.

A variety of indicators suggest that China's science and technology capabilities are on a sharply rising trajectory.

China's spending on research and development as tracked by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has increased faster than overall economic growth in the country.

China ranked second in the world in the number of papers published in indexed scientific journals in 2017.
Such actions may be aimed at concealing the prohibited activities of Russian armed formations, maneuvers and training of troops.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission reported "denial of access" in the occupied areas of Donbas, that's according to Ukrainian members to the Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center.

At a spot daily report, the OSCE SMM says their monitors were denied access at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr) and Prymorske.

Read alsoDonbas update: invaders violate ceasefire five times

Also, members of illegal armed groups denied SMM monitors access to a compound near Mykhailivka.

"Such actions may be aimed at concealing the prohibited activities of Russian armed formations, maneuvers and training of troops," the JCCC members wrote in the report published on the Joint Forces Operation Facebook page.
Rifles are displayed on a table at a shooting range during the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival on Oct. 12, 2019 in Greeley, Pennsylvania. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Hundreds of Counties Across America Have Declared Themselves 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries

NEW YORKHundreds of local counties, cities, and towns across America are declaring themselves Second Amendment sanctuaries or constitutional counties as part of an ever-expanding movement over the past few years that has surprised even those who enacted the sanctuary resolutions in the first place.

Local officials in these counties generally state that they wont follow new gun laws they believe are unconstitutional. The movement has increasingly gained momentum since 2018 after one of the first sanctuaries was enacted in Effingham County, Illinois, in response to newly elected Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who had vowed to push new gun control legislation in the state.

Pritzker was one of a dozen Democratic governors who penned a letter in September asking President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass sensible gun legislation. The governors want the administration to authorize new red flag laws, require universal background checks, and outlaw assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, among other proposals.

They say enacting such proposals will break the cycle of gun violence.

In interviews with The Epoch Times, county officials who passed Second Amendment legislation said the new proposals infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens, and called the strength of the growing sanctuary movement a direct message to state Democrats, though some noted that the measures were largely symbolic. County sheriffs said much the same in interviews.

David Campbell, a member of the Effingham County Board, whose county was one of the first to pass Second Amendment legislation, in April 2018, said he was surprised to see the movement take off so fast.

We were actually the first ones to pass it with the word sanctuary,' Campbell told The Epoch Times.

It all started right there, and then it just blossomed. I think we are into 15 states now. I get calls constantly from other states and from other counties wanting a copy of our resolution and a map of how we did it.

In Illinois, Campbell said it took less than two years for 70 of the 102 counties in the state to pass some form of sanctuary resolution.

Its sending a message to those legislators, letting them know that they better be paying attention, he said. They took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. If they fail to do that, I think a lot of people are going to get voted out. Youre going to see a huge turnout in our next election cycle.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, 87 out of 95 counties in the state have passed measures affirming their support for Second Amendment rights. Local leaders and an increasing number of sheriffs in the state similarly argue that gun reform measures that could be approved by their state legislature early this year are overreaching.

They did it in almost two months, Campbell said, referring to Virginias counties. Its just amazing.

Dick Saslaw, the top Democrat in Virginias state Senate, has proposed similar gun control legislation to Illinois Democrats, with the addition of raising the minimum age to buy a rifle or shotgun from 18 to 21.

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was first passed by Congress on Sept. 25, 1789, and was ratified on Dec. 15, 1791. The text reads that a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Despite the new sanctuary laws being largely symbolic, Campbell said that his countys state attorney and sheriff have said they will not prosecute or go after anybody if they are law-abiding citizens.

We Are Afraid

In early December, Culpeper Countys Board of Supervisors in Virginia voted 70 to affirm itself as a constitutional county, prompting a standing ovation by residents present for the vote.

Like many other local officials, Sue Hansohn, a former member of the Culpeper County board who served from 2016 until November 2019, believes the focus should be on mental health problems and on enforcing existing gun laws, not creating more.

She said residents in Culpeper are concerned that the state will ban certain guns or restrict what they can use. She said taking away the firearms of law-abiding citizens will cause a black market to immediately open up.

We are afraid, and residents feel like they would be left defenseless if they wont be able to have their guns, she told The Epoch Times.

Hansohn said she understands the fear generated from mass shootings but thinks theres a deeper underlying issue thats not being addressed.

Theres a lot of mental health problems, and our state is not looking at that at all, she said. I dont think passing all these bills is going to make a difference because if anybody wants a weapon theyre going to get one.

A lot more can be done on this front, she said, suggesting that the state open more treatment centers and work with professionals such as psychologists and counselors to figure out how to help troubled people. She said officials need to really address why so many people are out there committing these crimes, noting that a lot of them are young adults.

President Donald Trump has previously talked about reforming mental health laws and enacting the death penalty for those who commit serious hate crimes and mass murders.

Hansohn said she knows many people who collect guns and would never harm anyone. She gave the example of a 92-year-old Culpeper resident she knows who still buys guns.

I think people across the United States are all alikethey just fear their rights are being taken away, she said about the gun sanctuary movement. People dont want to allow it to happen if they can stop it  they feel threatened by these bills.

Campbell also said there needs to be more focus placed on addressing mental health, noting that the man who recently shot up a Dallas-area church in Texas most likely had some kind of mental problem to go into a place of worship and just start shooting people.

Jack Wilson, a church security member, shot the active shooter within seconds. Wilson was a reserve deputy who at one point had his own shooting range.

Our Forefathers Fought for That Right

Meanwhile, a coalition of 21 state attorneys general is asking the Supreme Court to expand the scope of protection afforded to gun-ownership rights and to strike down a Maryland law that denies concealed carry permits unless applicants can convince local officials they have a good and substantial reason to be granted one by local authorities.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, and the other state officials filed the friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court on Dec. 18.

The Supreme Court, in the 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.

In Virginia, former Wise County Sheriff Ronnie Oakes told The Epoch Times that he wholeheartedly supports the Second Amendment.

I do support it, and I feel that our forefathers fought for that right, Oakes said. I encourage everybody to have some type of protection as far as a firearm.

Oakes retired from his position on Dec. 31 after two decades of service. Wise County officially became a Second Amendment sanctuary on Dec. 12.

The end game, according to Campbell, is for legislators to take note that they should not prosecute law-abiding citizens, though he noted it remains unclear just how much impact these sanctuary counties will have overall.

I really think in the long run, its going to take some time and take some education, he said. But I think if we stay vigilant and work together, we will see the majority of these legislators follow the Constitution.

As most of Virginias counties have declared their support for the Second Amendment, one sheriff went further, saying he would deputize citizens as auxiliary deputies, if need be, to protect their constitutional right to bear firearms.

Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins told The Epoch Times that local officials are becoming fully awake on the goal of stopping what he described as government overreach and restriction of our constitutional rights.

These [gun] restrictions will do nothing to stop a person that is hellbent on evil, and killing innocent people, Jenkins said in a previous interview.
I f 2019 was the year of the remake and reboot  Lion King, Aladdin, Dumbo, Shaft, Hellboy, Cats  2020 is sure to be all about the sequels.

While the last few years could all stake the same claim, 2020 really is crammed with them. Besides the few mentioned below, countless franchises are cashing in with the next episode. Some are very welcome  Keanu Reeves is sure to be a giddy pleasure when he and Alex Winter revive their 80s glory with the third Bill & Ted (out August 21 in the UK)  while others seem to have made it through the studios despite a lack of any obvious demand (who asked for another round of Peter Rabbit (March 27)?). Among those out this year are Ghostbusters: Afterlife (July 10)  a chaser to 1989s Ghostbusters II, rather than the 2016 mistake  Minions 2 (June 28), the ninth (!) Fast & Furious (May 22) and a follow-up to chilling 1992 horror, Candyman (June 12). Theres plenty of buzz about that one.

Of the reboots, Robert Downey Jrs take on Doolittle (Feb 7) looks to rewrite Eddie Murphys messy 1998 attempt, with the first trailers looking promising. Disney hasnt run out of their classics to mutilate  Mulan promises to be a hit come March 27  but are once again turning to theme park rides for inspiration, with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt vehicle Jungle Cruise out on July 24.

Below are our picks of whats to come for the first half of the year. Much of the rest of the year is yet to be confirmed, but who knows, maybe a Marriage Story will come out of the works. One things for sure  2020 already looks set for its own Cats; Sonic The Hedgehog (July 14) has all the hallmarks of being a horror. Either way, heres to another blockbuster year.

1917, Jan 10

Official trailer for '1917' released

Already out in America, and hailed a masterpiece by critics, Sam Mendess First World War epic looks set to storm the 2020 Oscars. The film follows two British soldiers in battle-scarred Northern France, who are tasked with delivering a message  with 1600 lives depending on it. The films unusual style  it appears to all be in one shot, as with 2014s Birdman  has already drawn admirers. Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, and Colin Firth are among the cast. War film fans should also keep an eye out for Second World War U-boat drama Greyhound (May 8), starring Tom Hanks.

Bad Boys for Life, Jan 17

Bad Boys For Life - Trailer 2

Will Smith finally granted Martin Lawrences long-standing wish in 2018, agreeing to the long-awaited third instalment of the Bad Boys franchise, which began back in 1995. Despite trouble getting things off the ground  the idea has been mooted since 2004  it looks like Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are as bombastic a pair as ever, as they reunite from respective midlife crises to take on a cartel mob boss out to exact a longstanding revenge. Expect nostalgia-fuelled fun.

Bombshell, Jan 17

Bombshell - Trailer

Blonde ambition goes off-message in this taboo-busting ensemble drama, starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, about the fall of a true-life predator, Fox News chief Roger Ailes (John Lithgow).

Birds of Prey, Feb 7

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)  to give it its full mouthful of a title  looks like a chance for Margot Robbie to shine as the title character, after 2016's disappointing Suicide Squad. Free from the Joker  Christ, imagine that break-up  Quinn is expected to come into her own as she and her new gang team up to protect a young girl from vicious crime lord The Black Mask (Ewan McGregor). Robbie also acts as producer.

Parasite, Feb 7

Parasite - Trailer

We Need To Talk About The Kims... A gloriously funny and bloody dissection of social immobility from South Korean genius Bong Joon-ho. The Kims, a working class family, seize an opportunity to inveigle themselves into the lives of the neurotic, fragrant Parks. All the characters ring true, especially the stinking rich ones. It became the first Korean film to win the Palme dOr at the Cannes festival last year with a unanimous vote.

Greed, Feb 21

Director Michael Winterbottom says Sony have watered down his portrait of a fashion tycoon (Steve Coogan) who bears a striking resemblance to Philip Green. Winterbottom might not have been allowed to name names, but this mockumentarys a hoot.

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Feb 28

In 18th-century Brittany, a female painter is bewitched by her angry, acutely observant subject (the wonderful Adele Haenel). Look out for the ground-breaking abortion scene (featuring an adorably inquisitive baby). As in Carol and Call Me By Your Name, a gay affair ends in tears, yet we come out smiling.

Onward, March 6

Pixars latest follows a pair of elf brothers (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) who head out into the world in source of ye olde magic  and the top half of their father, after a spell to bring him back to life only goes so far as his waist. Expect lots of laughs, and more than a few tugs at the heartstrings, too. Octavia Spencer and Julia Louis-Dreyfus also lend their voices.

A Quiet Place: Part II, March 20

A Quiet Place Part II - Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures

In the tense original, a family were preyed on by noise-sensitive aliens. Director John Krasinski seems the last man on earth to make a meh sequel. Yippee! We reckon the adventures of newly widowed-mum-of-three, Evelyn (Emily Blunt), will have us sucking our popcorn so as not to break the spell.

Mulan, March 27

Disney Mulan Trailer

Disney is at it again with the remakes, turning this beloved 1998 cartoon into a live-action film. Hopefully itll be better than last years Dumbo, and less eerie than the Lion King update. Liu Yifei takes the title role.

No Time To Die, April 3

No Time To Die - Trailer

Bond is back, with Daniel Craig in his fifth  and last  outing as 007. Craig is joined by Rami Malek as new villain Safin and Ana De Armas as Paloma, a CIA agent on the case with Bond. Expect all the hallmarks of Bond  the Astons, the watches  as he does his bit to rescue a kidnapped scientist. With Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought in to help tidy up the final scripts, expect it to be a step-up from 2015s dreary Spectre (you know, the one that prompted Craig to say hed rather slash his wrists than return).

Rocks, April 10

When her mum buggers off, 15-year-old east Londoner Rocks (Bukky Bakray; astonishing) is forced to take charge of her little brother. With the help of friends, she keeps interfering teachers and social workers at bay. For a while. Like The Florida Projects Moonee, Rocks wont just break your heart, shell smash it to smithereens.

Promising Young Woman, April 17

Promising Young Woman - Trailer

In this rape-revenge comedy produced by Margot Robbie, heroine Cassie (Carey Mulligan) sets out to punish the sort of outwardly decent man who sees a blind drunk woman and thinks Im in! One of Mulligans co-stars is the polymath Bo Burnham (who directed last years gem, Eighth Grade). Very promising indeed.

Black Widow, May 1

Black Widow - Trailer

The endless saga of superhero movies rolls on. Still, at least its for a decent character: Scarlett Johanssons Black Widow has proven hugely popular with fans since her screen debut in Iron Man 2, and has since come to the fore in the Avengers. The first trailer was met with rave reviews, and with a huge supporting cast including David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, Florence Pugh and O-T Fagbenle, expect this to be something of a runaway success.

Legally Blonde 3, May 8

While there is a literal Barbie film out in 2020  Margot Robbie is set to voice a live-action take on the doll, directed by Greta Gerwig  expect more from Reese Witherspoon as she returns for the third time as ditzy-but-not-really Elle Woods. Some 17 years have passed since Woods was last on screen, but like, why wouldnt this be great? Details on the plot, sadly, are very thin. Still, Geminis and law students alike shouldnt object to this one.

Top Gun: Maverick, July 17

Top Gun new trailer

Its definitely another case of Playing With The Boys here, as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and the Iceman (Val Kilmer) both return to screens  and the skies  for the follow-up to the 1986 smash. Three decades later, Maverick is no longer the young hot shot, but a seasoned flight instructor, this time helping train Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of the late Goose. From the first trailer, it looks to be a spectacle of aerial acrobatics, and the rest of the cast is fairly high-flying, too  John Hamm, Glenn Powell, Jennifer Connelly and Jay Ellis also star.

Tenet, July 17

Tenet - Trailer
Fireworks erupted from Taipei 101 as January 1, 2020, kicked off in Taiwan.

This footage shows people counting down and the fireworks lighting up the darkness.

The fireworks display from Taipei 101  Taiwans tallest building  has been the islands customary show to celebrate the incoming new year since 20042005. Credit: wei19930601 via Storyful
From shuttering of a 27-year-old airline to repeated grounding of planes to ailing Air India, headwinds blew across the once-fastest growing domestic civil aviation space in 2019 while a spike in regional air connectivity served as a silver lining in relatively cloudy skies.

If Jet Airways going bankrupt left hundreds of people jobless and shattered decades-old supply chain network, frequent Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engine woes for Airbus 320 neo aircraft continued to pose safety concerns even as aviation watchdog DGCA came out with stringent directions.

Global ban on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the wake of two fatal accidents came as a blow to many airlines worldwide, including SpiceJet, which has largely pinned hopes on these fuel-efficient planes for its ambitious expansion plans.

In 2020, the Centre expects sale of Air India and privatise more airports while AirAsia India is likely to get green nod for international flights. Besides, Vistara and IndiGo are anticipated to increase the number of overseas flights.

On the airlines side, differences between IndiGo's co-founders and co-promoters -- Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia -- came to the fore in July. The promoters' spat, which is far from over, also brought the alleged corporate governance lapses and other issues under the regulatory scanner.

After surging over 18 per cent in 2018, domestic air passenger growth sputtered to a five-year low in April 2019 before flying back into double-digit expansion of 11.86 per cent in November.

At the same time, domestic passenger traffic grew at the lowest in the last five years till October with April seeing 4.5 per cent degrowth.

On the contrary, when the domestic economy expanded by a healthy 7.15 per cent in the January- December period of 2018, the domestic air passenger volume surged a robust 18.60 per cent.

Under the regional air connectivity scheme or UDAN, as many as 134 routes commenced operations between January and October while some 335 routes were awarded during the year, covering 33 airports, comprising 20 un-served, three under-served and 10 water aerodromes.

Speaking at a business event in Mumbai in December, Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said if the economy has to reach the USD 5-trillion mark, some sectors would have to grow in double digits and that aviation sector is the one which has the potential to grow.

His observations only seem more apt when one looks back into the performance of aviation sector in the year gone by vis--vis economic growth.

Jet Airways, whose closure left 20,000-odd unpaid employees in the lurch, also became the first domestic airline to undergo insolvency proceedings.

The demise of Jet Airways, which used to operate over 600 flights on national and international routes per day, resulted in around 20 per cent capacity deficit, resulting in skyrocketing fares.

The government also temporarily allotted hundreds of airport slots owned by it to other carriers, with an aim to contain soaring airfares in the peak holiday season. Even though SpiceJet and IndiGo started flights on many ex-Jet Airways' routes, it was not enough to meet domestic air passenger demand.

SpiceJet also took Boeing 737 planes that were earlier leased by Jet Airways.

In the wake of frequent glitches in P&W engine-powered A320 neos, IndiGo ordered CFM engines for its 280 A320/321 neo planes.

During the year, IndiGo also placed an order for 300 Airbus aircraft, its largest ever worth an estimated USD 33 billion to replace old planes in its fleet and operate non-stop flights to long-haul destinations such as London and Tokyo.

In March 2019, aviation regulators -- including the DGCA -- banned 737 MAX aircraft after two of these planes met with accidents within a span of five months, killing around 350 people, allegedly due to faulty software systems.

SpiceJet had to ground 13 737 MAX planes in March.

Nevertheless, competition among the airlines remained fierce, causing fares to remain comparatively low. IndiGo and SpiceJet, India's two biggest airlines, reported Rs 1,062 crore and Rs 463 crore in the second quarter of 2019-20.

With airfares remaining low even during the festive season around Diwali, 2019-20 is likely to remain a tough year for Indian airlines revenue-wise, according to market analysts.

AirAsia India -- a joint venture between Tatas and AirAsia Investment Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Malaysian airline group AirAsia Berhad -- is likely to get approval for flying overseas in 2020.

Vistara -- which connected Indian cities to international destinations such as Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok and Colombo in 2019 -- is also expected to start flights to distant destinations such as London and Tokyo once it starts getting deliveries of wide-body 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing in February 2020.

While disinvestment-bound Air India's net loss in 2018-19 was around Rs 8,556 crore, its current total debt is over Rs 60,000 crore.

The fate of the Maharaja continues to be uncertain with Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri even saying that the airline would go out of business if it is not privatised.

The new year is also expected to see movement forward in construction of new airports at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), in September, recommended privatisation of airports at Amritsar, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Indore, Raipur and Trichy. Privatisation of these aerodromes is likely to be completed in 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a country that offers its citizens a reward more than 12 times the annual workers salary for snitching on porn producers, sex workers are not surprisingly treated as criminals and social pariahs. But China has taken at least a small step forward in its treatment of sex workers, ending this week a brutal program of forced labor known as custody and education.

Chinese legislators voted to end the system as of December 29, after three decades of what activist Shen Tingting called forced labour, compulsory testing for sexually transmitted disease  humiliation and physical violence for sex workers who under Chinese law may be detained at education centers without charges, according to a report by The Borneo Post.

In 2013, China abolished its decades-old re-education system, in which criminal and political offenders were sent to forced labor camps to be "educated." But the system remained in place for sex workers, and their clients.

Even though China is believed to have several million sex workers, sex work, like porn, is illegal in the Peoples Republic of China. Even without the custody and education system, sex workers are still subject to detentions up to 15 days, and fines as high as $725a significant sum, with the average Chinese worker taking home only about $11,000 per yearaccording to The Independent newspaper.

The group Human Rights Watch has described sex workers in China as being beaten, blackmailed, and harassed by government authorities.

Chinas government-run press agency, Xinhua, announced the elimination of the custody and education program in a report on Saturday. But the mouthpiece for the ruling Chinese Communist Party also said that the program has played an important role in maintaining a good social atmosphere and public order.

Photo By Daderot / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
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Tata Motors on January 1 reported a 12 per cent decline in total vehicle sales in domestic market to 44,254 units in December. The company had sold 50,440 units in the same month in 2018, Tata Motors said in a statement.

Total passenger vehicle sales last month stood at 12,785 units as against 14,260 units in the same month previous year, down 10 per cent, it added.

Tata Motors President (Passenger Vehicles Business Unit) Mayank Pareek said, "Our focus in December has been to drive retail and minimise the network stock in order to facilitate a smooth transition to BS-VI."

He further said, "Having almost completed our planned production and despatches of BS-IV, we will start moving to BS-VI production and despatches from January and step up our volumes in the coming months."

Tata Motors said its commercial vehicle sales in December 2019 stood at 34,082 units as against 40,015 units in the year-ago month, down 15 per cent.

Tata Motors President (Commercial Vehicles Business Unit) Girish Wagh said retail was higher than wholesales at 13 per cent in December with further stock reduction, as the company moves closer to BS-VI transition.

"Enquiries continued to increase gradually, with fleet owners realising the economic benefits of replacement of their older vehicles now. Increasing enquiries and lower stocks augur well for future volumes and realisation, early indication of which can be seen in December," he added.
A few weeks ago the world received the United Nations Emissions Gap Report 2019, which again laid out in jarring detail how much humans have heated up the atmosphere through carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels. Not only is the science incontrovertible, but the impacts already are playing out before our eyes, and its probably too late, given the fast-rising temperature and political realities, to fully corral the problem. But its also inarguable that the world must act anyway  quickly  if it is to avert climate changes most damaging effects, and that we desperately need innovative, persuasive and courageous political leaders to show the way.

Yet over the past year, and in the face of these ever more dire reports and warnings about the crisis that confronts us, President Trump has blithely continued to push policies and regulatory rollbacks that will increase carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. Another study released in November warned that despite the overwhelming evidence that the world needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, humankind will in 10 years be producing twice as much coal, oil and natural gas as it can safely consume and still limit the most severe impacts from human-caused global warming. That is disastrously wrong-headed. Governments around the world should be pursuing policies that will significantly reduce production and consumption while investing to support faster innovations in creating, distributing and storing renewable energy. Instead, Trumps policies are designed to further increase U.S. production of oil and natural gas as part of his effort to make the U.S. the dominant producer of energy in the world.

So what did the Trump administration do this year to exacerbate the situation? It eased restrictions on the drilling of oil and gas wells in some sensitive habitats and drastically expanded the amount of federal lands available for leases by the oil, gas and coal industries (as well as mineral mining, which creates a different set of problems by exposing sensitive land to degradation). As part of that expansion, it shrank the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah and issued an executive order opening nearly all federal waters to offshore drilling (which the administration put on hold after legal setbacks). Trump loosened regulations limiting methane emissions at drilling sites. And after a Republican-led Congress in 2017 lifted the 35-year-old ban on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the administration moved this year to fast-track leases even as legal challenges work their way through the courts.

The Trump administration also this year finalized its rollback of the Obama administrations Clean Power Plan, which would have further restricted greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, and replaced it instead with the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, a dubiously named policy that would do the opposite of what it seems to promise. The new rule not only contributes to global warming but seeks to shore up a domestic coal industry already dying because of market forces. (Other forms of energy production are cheaper.) The administration also reversed the Obama administrations rejection of permits for the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline that will increase the flow of tar sands oil from Alberta to U.S. refineries.

Of course, those policies are what the nation should expect from a president who is skeptical, to say the least, that human activity is driving climate change. Its true that just about any Republican administration would have sought to reduce regulations, but Trumps full-on attack on the science of climate change and his abject support for fossil fuel industries stand out. (In fact, even some major oil companies recognize the global implications of burning their products.) Trump is the only national leader to renege on commitments made in the 2015 Paris agreement to cap the rise in global temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Although our government played a vital role in reaching the Paris agreement, we will be the only nation in the world not in it.

By any objective assessment, his policies are pushing the nation  and by extension the world  into an environmental future of excessive heat, extended droughts, more frequent and stronger storms, rising seas and regional migrations of species  including humans, adding fuel for conflicts over natural resources.

If Trump thinks the Paris agreement posed an unfair economic burden on the U.S., as the administration described it, he ought to contemplate the costs of dealing with a warmer and more unstable climate. Americans  and the world  are going to pay one way or another for our generations of emitting greenhouse gases, whether Trump believes it or not.

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As war of words between Washington and Tehran escalates, analysts explain why the Islamic Republic will not back down.

In a sharply worded response to United States President Donald Trump, who alleged Iranian involvement in a rare protest at the US embassy compound in Baghdad, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued an equally strong response  saying Tehran will openly confront any country that threatens its national interests.

Demonstrators who sympathise with or belong to the Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces, or PMF), breached the outer walls of the heavily fortified US embassy compound in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday, setting parts of its perimeter on fire  an angry reaction to deadly US air raids days earlier against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia associated with PMF.

Trump on Tuesday warned he would hold Iran responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities.

On Wednesday, Khamenei said during a public event in Tehran: For one thing, you are damned wrong because this matter has nothing to do with Iran.

If Iran decides to confront a country, it will do so openly. But everyone must know that we are strongly committed to the countrys interests and we shall not hesitate to intervene and deal a blow to any party who attempts to pose a threat to the country.

Irans Ministry of Foreign Affairs meanwhile used diplomatic channels to summon a Swiss envoy representing US interests in Tehran, and issued a strong protest against warmongering statements.

The ministrys statement attempted to distance Iran from events in neighbouring Iraq, saying Iraq is an independent country.

It also described language by US officials against Iranian influence in Iraq as a violation of the United Nations Charter.

Mohammad Marandi, head of the North American studies department at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera: Iranians dont take the American threats very seriously because a military confrontation with Iran would not mean a victory for the US.

The price of any American attack against Iran would be too high, and the cost to the entire region would be even higher.

Marandi argued that the US, having spent trillions of dollars on the conflict in Iraq, which was a total failure, wants to use Iran as a scapegoat to justify its failure.

Iranians will not accept to being treated as a scapegoat and Iran is not afraid of the US.

Hussein Royvaran, who teaches international relations at the University of Tehran, told Al Jazeera that Iranians reject Washingtons threats against their country because it was the US that violated Iraqi sovereignty and killed Iraqi members of Hashd al-Shaabi, which he described as an official Iraqi military unit.

He said that the US has committed a crime in Iraq and should bear the consequences of its actions, referring to the protest around the US embassy compound  which came to an end on Wednesday as demonstrators left the area.

Royvaran said the US has military bases in Iraq and enjoys political sway in the country, meaning Washingtons remarks about Iranian influence should be viewed with caution.

American officials think that Iran should just protect the American bases in Iraq, something Iran will never do.

The US is waging an economic war against Iran, he said, in reference to punishing US sanctions against Iran after the US pulled out of a landmark nuclear agreement last year.

Rejecting US references to the Hashd al-Shaabi as Iranian proxies or mercenaries, Marandi said Iran helped establish and arm the paramilitary force in order to defeat ISIL (ISIS), a group that emerged only after the US destroyed Iraq following the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @ali_reports
New Delhi/IBNS: Beating extreme cold on the last day of 2019, several anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, protesters in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh ushered in the New Year 2020 with slogans as well as National Anthem on Tuesday.

Continuing the protests for over two weeks, the agitators-led by mostly women brought their children to the place to raise voice against the contentious law which will grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain but not Muslim refugees who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before 2015.

Several people were also seen waiving National Flag at the protest site and started to sing the National Anthem when the clock struck 12.

The country has been witnessing widespread protests against the CAA with some of them turning violent in Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka.

Delhi has witnessed protests turning violent in Jamia Millia University, the students of which were assaulted by police sparking an outrage across the country. The students were also spotted in a video throwing stones at police.

Image Credit: Screenshot grab
Ever since San Antonio pastor Bill Tucker took the dramatic step about a year ago of arming his congregants to guard against potential mass shooters, church leaders across the country have reached out to him for advice on how to emulate the approach.

A shooting Sunday at a church in the suburbs of Fort Worth only has intensified the question of whether houses of worship should draft members of their own to carry concealed firearms.

Midway through a service at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, a man pulled out a shotgun and opened fire, killing two people before a volunteer security guard drew his own weapon and fatally shot the attacker.

Now theyre thinking to themselves, It couldve been me, said Tucker, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church on the North Side. Thats what terror is all about. Its creating fear and anxiety to the point of changing peoples behaviors.

Concordias proactive approach to security was made possible in 2017. That year, a mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs killed 26 people and prodded legislators to loosen gun restrictions. Now, licensed congregation members and security teams are permitted to carry loaded firearms into Texas church buildings unless signs are posted prohibiting guns on the property.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas loosens gun laws after deadly attacks

Tucker said he had no idea how many of his own congregants, who total about 9,000, arrive armed to services at Concordia, which does not post any signs prohibiting firearms.

Its Texas, brother, he said.

Many local religious leaders declined to discuss whether members of their own congregations carry concealed firearms.

You dont want to advertise that, said Sarwat Husain, president of the San Antonio chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. They want to keep (volunteer security guards) hidden. But I know that each and every mosque (in San Antonio) has a violence preparedness plan.

Husaid added, We are sadly living in times where gun violence has become just an everyday thing. Especially the worshiping centers have to be equipped.

The night before the attack on the church in White Settlement, a machete-wielding man stabbed five Hasidic Jews at a Hannukah gathering in a New York suburb. In San Antonio, Rabbi Alan Berlin at Temple Beth-El was reluctant to release details about any security teams there.

We dont want any particulars in the newspaper, Berlin said. But weve always taken security seriously for decades, and were in constant contact with both local and federal law enforcement. They let us know when theres anything we should be aware of. They advise us on steps we should take, and we follow their recommendations.

At Concordia, a member of the volunteer security team agreed to discuss his involvement, but he requested anonymity out of concern for his own safety.

I believe in protecting my home. I view my church as my spiritual home, the congregant said. I was approached by a member of the staff of the church. Given my military background, she thought I would be a good fit for it.

On ExpressNews.com: Some San Antonio religious leaders rely on security teams for church safety

Concordia has contracted with Paraclete Consulting Group, a local firm that provides firearms training. Before the congregant was admitted to the security team, the firm interviewed him and administered a series of tests on a shooting range, he said.

They basically oversee the development of the volunteer team, the congregant said, adding that volunteers receive year-round training and must requalify every year.

The congregant was hesitant to endorse the more recent state law that allows any churchgoer  even those not on a security team  to carry a gun into services.

One of my concerns is, yes, if something were to happen, youd have a lot of people pulling out guns, he said. It can create some confusion.

When the assailant at the church in White Settlement opened fire, at least half a dozen other congregants drew their own weapons and began moving up the pews, news reports indicated. One of the victims in the shooting was a member of that churchs own armed volunteer security team.

The shooters odd garment  he was wearing a trench coat  already had attracted the attention of volunteer security guards before he began shooting.

Its just the people who stand out, the congregant at Concordia said, describing his approach to staying vigilant. You dont try to profile, but in a sense you kind of are. Its unfortunate that thats the state of our society today. We have to be able to adjust to it to ensure that the majority of people who are going there to worship, to be with their church family, that we can keep them safe.

He added, Every time I get prepared to go to the church service, it crosses my mind as I walk out the door  is this the day that my family loses their father? But at the same time, if there is an active shooter and there is no security team, me and my family could become victims.

bchasnoff@express-news.net
New Delhi, India  The Indian capital of New Delhi entered 2020 reeling under an intense cold wave, with the homeless people on its streets bearing the maximum brunt.

The Delhi government set up nearly 200 night shelters, but they are not enough to host all the citys homeless, forcing hundreds of them to spend their nights in the open.

We have around 40 beds which can accommodate a maximum of 60 people, depending on the size of the families who can share a bed, Sunil Kumar, who manages a night shelter near the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, told Al Jazeera.

We can provide two or three blankets a person, but it doesnt serve the purpose in such biting cold. There should be some room heaters too, he said.

While some kept themselves warm by lighting bonfires on the sidewalks, dense fog blanketed the city on Wednesday with the night temperature falling to 2.4 degrees Celsius (36.3 degrees Fahrenheit), disrupting road, air and rail traffic.

On Monday, the Indian capital recorded its coldest December day since 1901, with the maximum temperature plummeting to the lowest ever at 9.4C (48.9F).

The maximum temperature also dipped to less than 10 degrees in large parts of northern India, Kuldeep Shrivastava, head of the regional weather forecasting centre in New Delhi told Al Jazeera.

Apart from the capital, Indian states and territories that continued to face a severe cold wave included Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Usually temperature dips in the month of January, but this time mercury has broken the record of decades in December itself, Shrivastava added.
Ukraine starts transmitting Russian gas to EU under new deal

16:00, 01.01.20 5156

Ukraine has signed agreements with all neighboring operators to ensure transit.
Violence has rocked the nation. The protests are no more silent. Whose fault is it -- the demonstrators or the police? The blame game continues.

A day after Jadavpur University professor was roughed up by BJP activists while he was returning from an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act rally, now Kolkata based filmmaker Ronny Sen has claimed that he was attachd with a dagger and asked to refrain from posting against CAA and NRC.



Facebook/Ronny.Sen

"Last night I was attacked with a Bhojali, which is a weapon to kill, in front of Bidhannagar College in Salt Lake, Calcutta. It was totally unprovoked and was a cowardly attack by a middle aged right wing Hindutva lumpen. This guy Avijit Dasgupta calls me and starts abusing me on the night of 28th Dec and he was angry because of my posts against the NRC/CAA/NPR. I clearly tell him its none of his business and he should not call me again. He kept on sending abusive messages none of which I replied to but finally yesterday night he attacked me with a Bhojali. I am safe and unhurt. Immediately I lodged a police complaint last night. Its such a revelation that attacking, killing, shooting, people in the name of nationalism is so normal in todays India," he wrote on Facebook.



This incident comes to light one day after Doyeeta Majumder, who is an assistant professor at the Jadavpur Universitys English department, was manhandled by BJP activists while she was on her way from anti-CAA rally.



Recounting the incident, she wrote on Facebook, "On my way back from an anti-CAA rally, I ran into a saffron outfit at 8-B area in Jadavpur, and got totally roughed up and hit by BJP 'bhodromohilas' (well behaved women). I am fine, no lasting harm done, only shuddering at the infinite horrors in store for us.



shiksha.com

The saffron speaker was spewing naked hate speech against Muslims for a good few minutes, then turned and pointed at the campus and started saying 'this University (JU) is the root of all evil, they all chant Allahu Akbar every day'. I snorted out loud, and shouted 'mithye kotha' (lying), twice. That is all it took. In seconds, I was surrounded by a mob of mashima (aunt)-like women who started pushing me down and hitting me. A young man tried to protest, he was roughed up too.



Ultimately, I was dragged kicking and screaming (sic) by two (presumably BJP) men who kept saying 'Didi ar jhamela baraben na, chole jan, chole jan (didi, dont create more fuss, leave this place).



"Those women, who looked like people who would normally pester you to eat an extra piece of fish or mishit (sweet), were literally baying for my blood.



Once again, I am fine, no blood spilt, no bones broken, but that this could happen to me in Jadavpur, where I live and work, at the hands of middle-aged middle-class women, is a sign of the times we live in. If you think this will not happen to you, you are really, really deluded.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC) has partnered with Pasadena Celebrates 2020, an initiative of the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA), to bring the suffrage story to the big stage at the New Year's Day Rose Parade Presented by Honda. The float will lead this celebration as participants ride and follow behind a suffrage-themed float in the 131st Rose Parade.

The Pasadena Celebrates 2020 "Years of Hope, Years of Courage" float's inclusion in the parade marks the beginning of nationwide celebrations to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which secured women's constitutional right to vote. The float's theme ties into the overarching theme of the annual Rose Parade, "The Power of Hope."

"Our presence in the parade is a creative and dynamic way to celebrate the beginning of the 2020 Centennial, and the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission is honored to be involved," said Anna Laymon, WSCC Executive Director. "The suffrage movement united people from across the country to fight for women's right to vote. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone in our democracy with America as we kick off our 2020 celebration in the Rose Parade.

"More than 37 million people tune into the Rose Parade each year. This is an excellent opportunity to reach millions with the story of the brave and brilliant suffragists, and to create anticipation for commemorations throughout 2020," she said.

"This fabulous float, along with the nationwide events and activities planned for 2020, are all about sharing the history and untold stories of the women's suffrage movement," said Jennifer Siebel Newsom, First Partner of California and one of 14 commissioners of the WSCC.

"I'm proud that my home state of California kicked off the centennial year with the "Years of Hope, Years of Courage" float where participants united to amplify the history of the women's suffrage movement in the annual Rose Parade."

"What a unique opportunity to speak out with this message to the world," said Nan Johnson, who led the Pasadena Celebrates 2020 effort to create the "Years of Hope, Years of Courage" float. "Our volunteers and sponsors worked so hard to pay tribute to the suffragists and we're thrilled that the Rose Parade honored that work with Most Outstanding Presentation of the Rose Parade Theme Award."

Five descendants of suffrage leaders will join NWHA members and people from across the country to participate in the parade. Those riding the float include Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells; Coline Jenkins, great-great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Marci Magnatta, a 5th generation distant relative of Susan B. Anthony; Ernestine (Tina) Martin Wyatt, great-great-great-grandniece of Harriet Ross Tubman; and Kenneth B. Morris Jr., great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass.

Viewers can expect to see a massive float, followed by 98 women and two men representing the thirty-six states that ratified the 19th Amendment. Participants will be dressed in white and wearing purple and gold replica sashes provided by the WSCC, to pay tribute to suffragists and their fight for women's rights.

The celebration will continue through August 26, 2020, the date the amendment was signed, with activities planned across the country. Visit womensvote100.org to learn more about the suffrage movement, the WSCC, and upcoming Centennial events.

About the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission

Congress passed legislation to create the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission (S.847) in April 2017. The WSCC was created to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for women's suffrage. The original bill, sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, garnered bi-partisan support, with each female member of the U.S. Senate acting as a co-sponsor. The legislation details that the Commission will meet at least once every six months until it terminates on April 15, 2021. Congress appropriated $4 million for the Commission to perform its duties.

About the National Women's History Alliance

The National Women's History Alliance, formerly the National Women's History Project, is a leader in promoting Women's History and is committed to the goals of education, empowerment, equality, and inclusion. The NWHA is the catalyst, the content provider, and the behind-the-scenes director of a myriad of activities promoting women as leaders and influential forces in our society. For over 30 years, the NWHA, founded in Santa Rosa, California, has established a nationwide presence as the number one resource for information and material about the unfolding roles of women in American history. The NWHA leads both local and national efforts, and consults, publishes, distributes, inspires, advises, and networks with a wide variety of institutions and activists in the field. #CelebrateHER100.

Contact for Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission:

Lynnette Johnson Williams  [email protected]

Contact for NWHA's Pasadena Celebrates 2020:

Marta Escanuelas  [email protected]

SOURCE Pasadena Celebrates 2020
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FIANNA Fail councillor Eddie Ryan has lashed the partys top brass after revealing he has still not been formally added to the partys Limerick general election ticket.

Cllr Ryan has made no secret of his desire to run for Dail Eireann, and took part in a selection back in January, where he was told he would be informed of his addition within months.

Now, potentially only weeks out from a general election, Fianna Fail has yet to add a running mate for Mr Collins who topped the poll in 2016.

There has been no decision made. Its two-and-a-half years since Fianna Fail asked me to be a running mate to Niall Collins. We eventually had a convention in January this year. I did not hear one word since from Fianna Fail, Cllr Ryan said.

He said he feels it is unfair, and questioned if it is correct to treat people in this manner.

And Mr Collins has even waded into the debate, calling on Fianna Fail to show the Galbally councillor some respect.

Cllr Ryan, who comfortably retained his local authority seat in Cappamore/Kilmallock over the summer, claimed he had been approached on an informal basis by Fianna Fail general secretary Sean Dorgan almost two years ago with a view to running in the general election.

He claimed he asked Mr Dorgan who knew of their meeting, and he said party leader Micheal Martin, and Limerick TD Mr Collins.

"I asked him if he was meeting anyone else, he said, no, were offering this only to you, he told the Limerick Leader.

On this basis, Cllr Ryan took up the offer, with party leader Mr Martin also telling the Limerick Leader that following Mr Collinss huge surplus in 2016, Fianna Fail would return to a two-candidate strategy.

However, weve had a council election since then, and its still not been mentioned. I havent been told whether I am or I am not the candidate, either way. I dont know is this the way to treat people? I dont think so. Its not my way of doing business anyway, he added.

Cllr Ryan pointed out that Fianna Fail had long since completed its city line-up, with Willie ODea and Cllr James Collins.

And he says he believes he can win a second seat for Fianna Fail in what was once a stronghold for the Soldiers of Destiny.

Currently, the rural Limerick constituency has one Fianna Fail TD in the shape of Mr Collins and two Fine Gael TDs, Patrick ODonovan and Tom Neville. The rural constituency was a rare bright spot for the party in what was a tough election for them nationally.

Asked if he felt he could win a seat from the current government party, Cllr Ryan said: Youd expect so. Bear in mind that in 2016, we did surveys which showed me and Niall Collins at 44% and Fine Gael at 36%. Fine Gael managed to take two seats on 36% which is unprecedented and unbelievable.

Mr Collins called for Cllr Ryans addition, saying the process is dragging on far too long.

I would call on Micheal Martin, the party leader to complete this as soon as possible. Fianna Fail need to show some respect to Eddie Ryan and not leave him wait any longer, he said.

Fianna Fails head office had not responded to a request for comment from the Leader as this paper went to press.

However, its understood there are concerns over the need to have at least 30% female representation on the partys ticket nationally. If it does not, it risks losing up to 80% of its funding, equivalent to 1m a year.
Attackers waving the Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group flag burn property in front of the U.S. embassy compound, in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 31, 2019. (Khalid Mohammed/AP)

Supporters of Iran-Backed Terror Group Withdraw From US Embassy in Iraq

Supporters of an Iran-backed terrorist group began to withdraw from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Jan. 1, a day after they stormed the outer perimeter and prompted President Donald Trump to dispatch extra troops to the region and threaten reprisals against Iran.

Dozens of attackers linked to the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah terrorist group smashed a main door to the embassy compound on Dec. 31 and set fire to a reception area, but didnt breach the inner compound. The attack was in response to U.S. airstrikes that targeted the same terrorist group and killed at least 25 people. No U.S. casualties or evacuations were reported after the attack.

The day after, demonstrators outside the embassy waved Iraqi and Kataib Hezbollah flags, hurled rocks, and chanted death to America. The embassys outer walls were left with scorch marks and graffiti. U.S. forces stationed atop rooftops fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. American Apache helicopters flew overhead and dropped flares over the area in what the U.S. military called a show of force.

By mid-afternoon, most of the protesters appeared to have obeyed a call to withdraw issued by the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group that, at the time of its formation, was composed of Iran-backed militia and terrorist groups, including Kataib Hezbollah.

Young men used palm tree branches to sweep the street in front of the embassy compound, while others packed up equipment and vans arrived to take people away. Some left to set up a protest camp in front of a nearby hotel.

The protests mark a new turn in tensions between Washington and Tehran playing out across the Middle East. Irans economy has been crippled by sanctions Trump reimposed upon Washingtons withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Since the withdrawal, Tehran has publicly breached the nuclear deal, ramped up its nuclear program, and attacked oil shipping vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Trump on Dec. 31 threatened to retaliate against Iran for the attack on the embassy but later said he didnt want to go to war. The measured approach is similar to last summer, when Trump called off airstrikes against Iran in response to the downing of an American drone.

The Iranian regimes supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Jan. 1 condemned the U.S. attacks. Iran summoned a Swiss envoy who represents U.S. interests in Tehran to complain about what it described as warmongering words from Washington.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a written statement on Dec. 31 that in response to recent events in Iraq, and at Trumps direction, he authorized the immediate deployment of the infantry battalion from the Armys 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He did not specify the soldiers destination, but a U.S. official familiar with the decision said they will go to Kuwait.

This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today, Esper said.

Additional soldiers from the 82nd Airbornes quick-deployment brigade, known officially as its Immediate Response Force, were prepared to deploy, Esper said. The U.S. official who anonymously provided unreleased details said the full brigade of about 4,000 soldiers may deploy.

The 750 soldiers deploying immediately were in addition to 14,000 U.S. troops deployed to the Gulf region since May in response to concerns about Iranian aggression, including its alleged sabotage of commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. At the time of the attack, the United States had about 5,200 troops in Iraq, mainly to train Iraqi forces and help them combat ISIS terrorists.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a supporter of Trumps Iran policy, called the embassy breach yet another reckless escalation by Iran.

When an Iran-backed militia killed an American in Iraq last week, it met with a firm response. Now our embassy in Baghdadsovereign U.S. territoryhas been attacked in yet another reckless escalation. As the President notes, Iran must be held responsible, Cotton wrote on Twitter on Dec. 31.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) blamed Iran for the episode but faulted Trump for his maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic regime.

The results so far have been more threats against international commerce, emboldened and more violent proxy attacks across the Middle East, and now, the death of an American citizen in Iraq, Menendez said, referring to the rocket attack on Dec. 27.

Despite decades of enmity between Iran and the United States, Iran-backed militias and U.S. forces found themselves on the same side during Iraqs 20142017 war against the ISIS terrorist group, with both powers helping the government recapture territory from the terrorist group, which had overrun a third of Iraq.

Since then, U.S. troops have yet to leave, while the Iran-backed militias and terrorist groups have been incorporated into the security forces.

Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi, who has already announced plans to step down in the face of anti-government protests in which more than 450 people were killed, is backed by Iran and its allies.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Started by two college students on the campus of UCLA in 2008, Adam Block Design has become a leader in the custom greek apparel industry. In 2018 the company moved to Las Vegas, after it was acquired by Pacific Prints, LLC to compliment Pacific Brandwear (https://www.pacificbrandwear.com), their custom apparel brand, focused on small business promotion and uniforms.

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"Plus, we provide free design services with every order and all-inclusive pricing," Ruvalcaba said of Adam Block Design, a company that's focused on sororities and fraternities. "At Adam Block Design, our custom sorority shirts are professionally printed to ensure your greek apparel is of the best materials. From the softest V-neck sorority T-shirts to a wide range of high-end tank tops, we offer all types of custom clothing that surpasses the very definition of chic graphic tees. If you're looking for custom, you've come to the right place. We can put a custom design on any brand, any style or any color."

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YPSILANTI, MI  Melisa Tasker and her team want to get people in need of mental health care through the right door at the right time.

The longer someone waits, the more debilitating their illness can be, Tasker said. Receiving help in times of crisis is important, but recognizing mental and behavioral health issues before an impending crisis is even better.

Those are the goals of the CARES Team, a new subsection of Community Mental Health that is tasked with serving thousands of potential clients who need help with a mental illness.

Created in May as part of the 2017 mental health and public safety millage, CARES  short for Crisis, Access, Resources, Engagement and Support  acts as an information center and out-patient clinic for non-Medicaid recipients with mild-to-moderate mental health issues.

In the year since the 1-mill property tax was first levied, the $3 million program has referred about 565 people and conducted about 352 face-to-face intake interviews through November, according to CMH data.

Tasker, program administrator, said the behavioral health teams new abilities to provide case management, therapy, peer support specialists and more begin to fill a gap that has long made mental health care inaccessible or unnavigable for many.

A lot of times, we respond to crises more than we try to prevent them, she said. This program is really trying to prevent a crisis. Thats really the mission of what were doing. Were trying to give people an alternative to having to wait until theyre sick enough to be hospitalized to get treated, which is what was happening before.

The services

It starts with a call to the triage team at 734-544-3050. A CMH clinician may reroute the caller to CARES after a brief screening. Then CARES will interview the caller  often either a person seeking help or someone calling on their behalf  to determine case management goals. The level-of-care assessment helps determine how often a professional should see the client. Lastly, a CARES team member connects the individual with resources: a group, a psychiatrist, a health provider or something else.

Crisis services professional Kristi Gardner said addressing immediate risks are a key part of the conversation. Often, professionals begin by determining if the person may harm themselves or someone else.

Additionally, about half of face-to-face clients have co-occurring disorders, or a mental health diagnosis as well as a substance abuse disorder. Crisis service professionals must assess which ailment needs immediate treatment.

The needs of the caller are often not immediately known. Some call CARES at the recommendation of others, and it takes several questions to find out what kind of crisis they are having and help they need.

Sometimes people will say, Im calling because my X-Y-Z family member says that I need help, Gardner said. Which seems very innocuous, right? That's why we always, always, always ask. I think in suicide prevention in general, it's just the best practice to always ask. You have to ask because someone may absolutely be feeling that way and not disclose it to you unless you ask them about it very pointedly. Are you having any thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or kill yourself? Very matter of fact.

All of this, Tasker said, cuts out unnecessary calls and long waits that clients often face.

Were really trying to break the barriers down, Tasker said. I think sometimes when you call a large (organization), like a health care system, and you want an appointment and you hear youre not going to get there for seven months, thats a huge blow. The fact that you can call our number and you can get help right away while youre waiting to go is incredibly helpful.

The call

The program goes beyond the Ypsilanti-based call center. Case management, a psychiatrist and a nurse are all part of the makeshift clinic that can help clients while they wait for more complete treatment through a healthcare provider. Counselors and social workers will also see patients who have been recently discharged from a psychiatric unit for follow-up care and stabilization.

The main offices are in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, but one mental health professional is in Dexter, Manchester and Chelsea once a week and two are in Whitmore Lake twice a week.

Mental health professional Brenna McMahon conducts intake interviews, which help assess the proper treatment plan for the client, manages cases and co-facilitates one of the four support groups. Part of her job is coordinating resources for clients so they can focus on treatment, she said.

Its hard to be able to go to a psychiatrist or therapy appointment or go to group (therapy) if you havent eaten or dont have a stable living environment, McMahon said. Making sure the basic needs are met is one of our primary focuses so that they can address their mental health.

Community Mental Health is also building a 23.5-hour observation center in Ypsilanti  an alternative to the emergency room or a psych unit. The five-bed center will host patients that may need to detox further, sleep longer or be observed longer without taking a bed in the psychiatric unit. At the end of the stay, they can be discharged, reinstated, hospitalized or connected to an out-patient provider. The center is under construction and has no anticipated opening date, but Tasker said she hopes it will be open in early 2020. Finance Director Nicole Phelps said the observation centers startup costs are expected to be about $400,000.

The funds

In total, the CARES Team and its goals represent nearly half of the annual tax levy allocated to Community Mental Health. The tax was first levied in December 2018 and was expected to raise about $15.4 million in its first year, with $6 million set aside for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. CARES Team should get about $3 million for all its services and new staff, Phelps said in a statement.

Washtenaws mental health millage isnt the first of its kind in the state, though it levies the most. Jeff Wieferich, director of the Bureau of Community Based Services in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said two other counties have additional mental health millage funding: 0.3-mills in Ottawa and 0.5-mills in Jackson. Ottawa County raised $3.1 million in the 2018 fiscal year and Lifeways, which operates mental health services in Jackson County, projected it would raise about $2 million, according to an MLive article.

Each time these millage proposals were on their respective ballots, proponents argued the tax was needed in place of lagging state funding. To Wieferich, the millages reflect a communities investing in themselves.

Theres a limit to what the state can fund in terms of behavioral health services, Wieferich said. Its good because a healthy community is a more productive community.

Judy Gardner, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Washtenaw Chapter, said the crisis team has made an impact. She said she recently heard from two people within a week who sought resources from her advocacy group that also used CARES to get to the hospital during a crisis. Those in need started at the emergency room in the past, but now can be more directly treated because of the crisis teams connections.

They can provide those stabilization services and other links to other area people in the community, Gardner said. Because otherwise, someone may just end up at the ER. And they may sit for a day or two, and maybe be seen, maybe not, maybe transferred somewhere else.

The millage-expanded services are funded through a sunset date of 2025.

Its really important to get mental health care when you need it, said Tasker. The longer you wait, the longer itll take to get better and the more debilitating it can be. Its really important to us that were getting people the care they need at the right time instead of waiting for someone to be in a crisis.
Twelfth & Brown store owners Sharon and Ron Smith enjoy making their downtown Lake Geneva business look festive during the holiday season.

Their efforts this season brought their business at 729 Main St. top honors for best use of theme and overall display in the Lake Geneva Business Improvement Districts holiday window display competition.

Sharon Smith said that while she was excited to win awards, the real purpose of participating in the competition is to help customers get into the holiday spirit.

Its about doing something different and unique, she said. Its more about getting people to stop and come into the store/

The theme for this years competition was Frostys Magical Christmas, which coincided with the theme for Lake Genevas downtown holiday parade, too.

Smith said she and her husband get in the spirit every year.

Its fun decorating our windows for the holidays, she said. Its a way to be a part of the community.

About 30 downtown businesses participated in this years window competition.

An award decided by judges also was presented for best use of merchandise, while store customers voted on awards for community choice and social media choice.

C.R. Goodfinds, 731 W. Main St., received the community choice award.

Store owner Tom Konopacki said even though he was pleased by the award, the real honor, he said, was helping downtown Lake Geneva look festive during the holidays.

Its fun, he said. Its for bragging rights to win.

Gallery Matisse and Matisse Too, 830 W. Main St., received the best use of merchandise award.

Store owner Robert Skibitzki said he incorporated a display in three of the businesss windows. One of the displays included three iron spheres that he stacked to look like a snowman.

It took him several weeks to come up with the designs, but only two days to build them. His daughter also designed one of the displays for the competition.

Skibitzki said he has been decorating a storefront window on his business during the holidays since 1976  before any competitions were started.

When they started the competition, I stepped my game up a little bit, he said. I did three windows instead of one. I enjoy doing it.

Gallery 223, located at 223 Broad St. and operated by the Geneva Lake Arts Foundation, received the social media choice award.

The art gallerys display featured a life-size Frosty the Snowman carrying a paintbrush. It was designed by foundation members Laurie Sell and Kathy Kerner.

Kerner said the snowman, made out of cardboard and paper-mache, took several hours. She said they had to submit a photograph for the design two weeks after the theme for the contest was announced.

That was kind of a quick turnover for something like that, Kerner said. But Laurie and I think quickly on our feet.

The gallerys design received the social media choice award by receiving the most likes  more than 80  on its Facebook page.

Kerner said the design received a lot of attention from people who visited the gallery, and a customer purchased the Frosty for $150.

It made for a good conversation piece for people who walked in, Kerner said.

This was the second year that Sell and Kerner designed an award-winning window display for the art gallery. The design duo last year won a best use of merchandise award.

Im really proud of that, Sell said. We enjoy volunteering our time to the gallery and to the foundation.

Kerner said she enjoys participating in the competition because not only does it attract people to the gallery, it helps make downtown look more attractive during the holidays.

The shopkeepers do a really nice job anyway, she said. But during the holidays, its extra special.

Several award winners already are thinking ahead to next seasons contest.

Smith said the competition creates a friendly rivalry among business owners.

Its just a way for businesses to get more involved and to do something fun, she said. Its something for the customers to enjoy as they are walking up and down the streets of Lake Geneva.

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According to an article published in 2017 by Reuters, climate change is putting the approximately 12 million residents of Colombia at higher risk from natural calamities such as landslides and flooding. These have a higher chance of ending the lives of many and the wide destruction of infrastructure and vegetation.

There has been news of the youth's involvement with climate change all over the world. It had been the issue of environmental talks by many nations.

Most damages imposed on the environment cannot be reversed. Many of the younger populations of the world are participating in protests to require the adults of this generation to do actions regarding climate change.

Recently, Francisco Javier Vera, 10 years old, had given a message to the congress of Columbia through a speech he delivered to the public. The 10-year old's speech had caused fascination for many people.

Vera included in his speech that he was the representative of the "Guardianes por la vida". He also requested everyone who is listening to his speech to be conscious of the destruction that humankind had imposed on the environment. He said that the damages to the environment were caused by everyone. He asked the senators of the country to do an action as legislators to save the lives of its people by doing something for the environment.

Vera requested the law-making bodies of Columbia to prevent "fracking" campaigns, testing on animals, sole usage of plastic products, and the maltreatment of animals. He even claimed that his children are tasked to fight for the betterment of the planet.

The country had experienced intense rain and had put lots of cities and towns in the country at a higher risk of endangerment. Cities like Mocoa and Manizales had witnessed destructive avalanches and floods that had ended the lives of a minimum of 330 residents in just a month.

Residents who are living in the Andean country's risky cities are populated by 49 million people. These cities are mostly close to riverbeds. Some are located in mountainous areas.

One of the disaster prevention programs of the country is the shifting of neighborhoods from high-risk areas to a safer location and the creation of strong walls that can prevent landslides.

There are more or less 500 municipalities in the country that are at a higher risk of flooding and landslides. It is a vulnerable country that is highly impacted by the alarming effects of climate change.

Some organizations help save the environment. One organization is Conservation International. It aims to save the global environment to preserve the benefits that the environment is naturally providing to the global community.

The organization partnered with the government of Columbia in the implementation of a climate change adaptation campaign.

Through their partnership, a country-wide climate change law was established and many other projects for the high-risk areas in Columbia.

The organization plans to identify the actions needed for the success of the campaign by researching the areas at high-risks. Then, the implementation of some of the successful plans in other areas in the world to different Columbian locations. Finally, it aims to get the residents of the country involved with the adaptation projects.
The British teenager, face covered, a leaves the Famagusta District Court in Paralimni in eastern Cyprus. (Photo by Iakovos Hatzistavrou / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)

A crowdfunder which is raising money to help a British teenager who faces a year-long prison sentence in Cyprus has reached its new target in just one day.

The 19-year-old was found guilty of public mischief after she retracted her claim that she had been raped by up to 12 Israeli tourists in Ayia Napa in July.

Her lawyers have argued she may have withdrawn the claim because she was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The woman, who was set to start university in September, has claimed she was forced to retract her statement after being interrogated by police for hours without a lawyer.

Her mother says they plan to appeal the case and the British government says it is seriously concerned about the fair trial guarantees in this deeply distressing case.

The teenager arrives at court covering her face. (Photo by Iakovos HATZISTAVROU / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)

Now, a GoFundMe page set up by British lawyer John Hobbs in August to pay for the womans legal representation has hit its target of 105,000 - having reached 80,000 yesterday.

The target was increased today to keep the case going.

Thank you all for your kindness, wishes of hope, and support in making this fight against injustice possible, Mr Hobbs wrote on the page today.

Notwithstanding the very welcome high level interventions in our daughters fight for justice, we need to be resourced to run an appeal to the Cypriot Supreme Court.

Initial calculations suggest this may cost a further 25k, plus QC and expenses, so we have raised the target commensurately.

If our luck changes and we can avoid the appeal then any surplus will be applied to charities and causes with similar intentions.

The woman faces up to a year in jail and a 1,700 euro (1,500) fine.

She has received support at home and protesters have demonstrated for her outside the court in Cyprus.

Women's rights activists stage a protest in support of a British teenager accused of falsely claiming she was raped by Israeli tourists. (Photo by Iakovos HATZISTAVROU / AFP) (Photo by IAKOVOS HATZISTAVROU/AFP via Getty Images)

Her mother has told the BBCs Today programme she backs a tourism boycott of the country.

She has also criticised Ayia Napa, a popular party town on Cypruss east coast.

It isnt safe  it is absolutely not safe. And if you go and report something thats happened to you, youre either laughed at, as far as I can tell, or, in the worst case, something like whats happened to my daughter may happen, she said.

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She said her daughter continues to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hallucinations, and a condition called hypersomnia, which can make her sleep for up to 20 hours a day.

She needs to get back to the UK to get that treated  thats my absolute primary focus. She cant be treated here because hearing foreign men speaking loudly will trigger an episode

It needs resolving otherwise shes going to carry on having this for the rest of her life, the mother said.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, on Wednesday, held a meeting with senior officials of the finance department and state GST commissioner over the new tax regime and impact on state revenue after the taxes subsumed into the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July 2017.

According to the senior state government officials, Thackeray, raised the issue of reduction in revenue in the state after the GST was rolled out by the Centre.

The meeting was attended by cabinet ministers Jayant Patil, Aaditya Thackeray, GST commissioner Rajiv Jalota, and other senior government officials.

The chief minister took a review of the system after the GST came into force. There are issues arisen after the GST was rolled out, the revenue has gone down. The GST commissioner has given us a clear picture of todays scenario. There is a delay in compensation by the Centre and it is a cause for concern for the state government, said Patil after the meeting.

The chief minister has already written to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking legitimate dues of 15,558.05 crore from the Centre towards the GST compensation until November 2019.

A senior GST official said that the chief minister was sensitised about the new tax

regime.

The CM and cabinet ministers were told about the GST, and data was shared on the revenue generation of the state. He (Thackeray) raised the issue of delay in compensation from the centre and sought how revenue through GST can be increased. But the latter is subject to clearance from the GST Council. With regards to the compensation, we have received part payment along with other states, a senior official said requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, the gross GST revenue collection for December 2019 has crossed 1 lakh crore mark, showing a 16% rise in revenue year-on-year. It is for the ninth time since the inception of GST that monthly collection has crossed the mark of 1 lakh crore.

The GST collection for December stood at 1.03 lakh crore, of which CGST (Central GST) amounts to 19, 962 crore, while SGST and IGST have been recorded at 26,792 crore and 48,099 crore, respectively.

Cess for the month stands at 8,331 crore (including 847 crore collected on imports).

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Alleged former Isil member Lisa Smith has been released from Limerick Prison where she was being held on remand.

The former Defence Forces member was escorted from the jail in a white prison van at around 4.45pm yesterday and was brought to an undisclosed location where it is understood she was met by a family member.

The escort, which is not usually provided to accused persons granted bail, was provided by the Irish Prison Service for security reasons, a source said.

Ms Smith had been granted bail by the High Court but the District Court had rejected an attempt by a third party to lodge an independent surety on the grounds he had previous criminal convictions and was not related to Ms Smith. Yesterday a 5,000 surety, of which 1,000 was to be lodged, was accepted by the courts. Ms Smith was to lodge 500 of her own cash.

Ms Smith (37), whose address cannot be published for legal reasons, was said to be anxious to be reunited with her two-year-old daughter.

The Co Louth woman is charged with being a member of an unlawful terrorist group "styling itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (Isil), also known as Isis, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, between October 28, 2015, and December 1, 2019.

As part of strict bail conditions set by the courts, Ms Smith must reside at an address in the north-east and sign on at a garda station twice daily between 10am-1pm and 3-6pm. She was also ordered to obey a curfew, having to remain indoors from 8pm to 7am.

She cannot leave the jurisdiction or apply for travel documentation.

She must also provide gardai with a contact mobile phone number within 48 hours of taking up her bail.

Ms Smith, who denies the charge, has also been banned from accessing the internet or using any social media and she must not have contact with non-garda witnesses in the case.

Ms Smith, who left Ireland and married after she converted to Islam, had been found in a Syrian refugee camp.

After a trek to Turkey with her daughter, they were brought back to Ireland on December 1.

Ms Smith was remanded on bail to appear before Dublin District Court again on January 8.
To truly appreciate Cusco, Peru, one must first understand the Quechuan words pacha (meaning "world"), and yanantin, a term that describes complementary opposites that work in symbiosis without destroying or altering either one. The dualities that make Cusco what it is today are a manifestation of these ancient terms; it is a city that honors both tradition and history while embracing progress. Around the city, visitors will find a mix of hotels, restaurants, and shops that fuse contemporary design with preserved Incan handicrafts, as well as menus curated from ingredients sourced exclusively at higher altitudes. It is this union of past and present, old and new, that helps Cusco uphold its sense of self, and bridges one world to another.

Historic architecture of Cusco along steep street northwest of Plaza de Armas, Peru Photo by Anna Gorin. Image courtesy of Getty.

Where to Stay

Belmond runs the monopoly in much of ancient Peru, as its the only luxury hotel group across Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. Ease your way into Cuscos high altitudes by beginning your journey at Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado, a tranquil Andean hideaway in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Adrian Houston

Each room sits on a raised terrace overlooking the Urubamba River and boasts colorful and airy living spaces that include alpaca fabrics and other artisanal decor. At Hotel Rio Sagrado, no detail is overlooked to ensure ultimate relaxationfrom the heated bathroom floors to the stuffed-animal heating pads in the shapes of alpacas. The hotel also features an outdoor pool and a spa accessible via the outdoor pathways, lined with cascading water to add to the tranquility of the property.

Photo by Danielle Hamilton. Image courtesy of Hotel Monasterio.

Photo by Janine Costa. Image courtesy of Hotel Rio Sagrado.

Once visitors are ready to acclimate to Cuscos higher altitudes, they can book a stay at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, a former convent turned modern oasis in the heart of the historic city. The property preserves its original 17th-century Inca stonework and features hand-carved wooden balconies, colonial frescoes, and an ancient fountain at the center of its cloistered courtyard, with infusions of modern comforts like oxygenated suites, a fine-dining restaurant that surrounds the pool, and a spa. For something more traditional and slightly more grand, stay at Belmond Hotel Monasterio next door.

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Monastario, Cusco Image courtesy of Hotel Monasterio.

Photo by Adrian Houston. Image courtesy of Palacio Nazarenas.

Where to Eat

Photo by Gustavo Vivanco. Image courtesy of MIL.

No visit to Cusco is complete without dining at MIL, Peruvian Michelin-star chef Virgilio Martinezs latest restaurant. Set at 12,000 feet up in the Andes overlooking the prodigious Moray ruins, its the ultimate destination restaurant, as well as one of the worlds best sustainable fine-dining spots, serving traditional dishes with only high-altitude ingredients.

Photo by Gustavo Vivanco Leon. Image courtesy of MIL.

Back in the city, if youre an adventurous eater and want a taste of the local fare, visit San Pedro Market where youll find various food stalls that will give you a taste of everything. For a casual lunch while exploring the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, stop at Pachapapa for traditional meals in a trendy atmosphere. Order the roasted cuy, or guinea pig, to indulge in one of Cuscos local delicacies, and dont miss the tres leches cake for dessert.

View of San Blas square, Cusco, Peru Photo by ElOjoTorpe. Image courtesy of Getty.

For a less traditional meal, head to Cicciolina, set on the second floor of an old colonial house. There, youll find Italian-Peruvian fusion dishes served either as tapas or regular portions, depending on where in the restaurant you sit. If you want to dress up, visit the fine-dining restaurants Illariy and El Tupay at Hotel Monasterio, or Senzo at Palacio Nazarenas, where youll find both locals and tourists enjoying what could be considered some of the best food in the city.

What to Do

Image courtesy of Palacio Nazarenas.

Youve come to Cusco for Machu Picchu, to be sure, so make your visit worthwhile by getting there aboard the luxurious, Belmond Hiram Bingham train which just underwent a renovation last month. The first aspect of the renovation includes a temporary art collaboration by Peruvian artist and illustrator, Fito Espinosa, whose whimsical mural can be seen on the exterior of the 1920s-style observation car. To complement the artwork, Belmond also introduced an inventive cocktail list by sought-after Peruvian mixologist, Aaron Diaz, as well as updated uniforms by Peruvian fashion designer Jose Miguel Valdivia.

Image courtesy of Hiram Bingham.

Aboard the luxury train, youll enjoy lunch and dinner as well as beautiful, rural views through the Andes. Upon your return from Machu Picchu, visit the local markets like Centro Artesanal and Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco to shop the local trades. Next, head to the Bohemian neighborhood of San Blas to explore Cuscos creative community and art galleries. Not unlike other bohemian neighborhoods, youll also find various acai bowl spots in the area in case youve reached your quota on guinea pig.

Image courtesy of Hiram Bingham.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
Documents from the Will County States Attorneys Office show Patrick J. OBrien is charged with one count of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated domestic battery and three counts of aggravated battery. The charges were filed Dec. 24.
New Delhi: After its Maharashtra fiasco, there is a growing demand from the state BJP to involve Union minister Nitin Gadkari more in the organisational related issue.

A majority section within the BJPs state unit felt that Gadkari was sidelined during the entire election related activities, included ticket distribution and campaigning, by former Chief Minister Fadnavis camp.

This section is also of the view that if Gadkaris expertise were used by the state leadership, the BJP would had retained power and Shiv Sena would not had joined the Oppositions camp.

The BJP not only lost the state to the Maha Vikas Aghadi, led by its former ally Shiv Sena, dissidence has resurfaced in its state unit, which the party top brass had managed to keep a check on after 2014.

Many BJP leaders have started questioning the election related decisions, including ticket distribution, taken by the then Devendra Chief Minister Fadnavis.

The political circle have been abuzz with rumours that after Modi retained power at the Centre in 2019, attempts are being made to cut Gadkari down to size.

Considered close to the RSS, Gadkari is known for his administrative skills and often acknowledged as the top performing ministers in the Modi government.

Eyebrows were raised after the BJP ruled states, including Gujarat, announced implementation of the amended provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, a key decision of the Road Transport ministry headed by Gadkari.

Despite political differences and ideologies, Gadkari has good rapport with many leaders from the opposition parties and is considered by many within the Maharashtra politics as a trouble-shooter for the BJP.

Nitin Gadkari, sources said, was also not in favour of BJPs attempt to form a Devendra Fadnavis led government with NCP leader Ajit Pawars support. Devendra Fadnavis failed the floor test.

Even in Vidarbha, which is considered as the stronghold of Gadkari, and from where former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also hails, the Union ministers election rallies were restricted to few segments. The BJP won 29 seats in the region where it had won 45 assembly constituencies in 2014.
OAKLAND (BCN)

The lawyer for a transient man charged with murder for the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Nia Wilson at the MacArthur BART station in Oakland last year is asking that his trial be moved out of Alameda County because she doesn't think he can get a fair trial locally.

In a change of venue motion she filed on Monday, attorney Christina Moore, who represents 29-year-old John Lee Cowell, wrote that "prevalent and persistent news coverage has demonstrably prejudiced potential jurors of Alameda County."

Moore said 55 percent of respondents in a survey the defense recently conducted of 470 Alameda County residents said they believe Cowell is definitely guilty or probably guilty of murder.

She said those numbers include people who indicated they have no familiarity with Cowell's case, but 81.5 percent of the 315 people who said they are familiar with the allegations against him said they believe he definitely or probably is guilty of murder.

Moore said nearly 40 percent of those people said "they did not need any additional facts before deciding the issue of guilt."

Moore wrote, "These shocking numbers demonstrate the pervasive prejudicial effects of the media coverage of this case and the extraordinary circumstances that this coverage have created."

Cowell is charged with murder and attempted murder for allegedly stabbing Wilson and her sister, 26-year-old Letifah Wilson, on the platform at the MacArthur station at 9:36 p.m. on July 22, 2018.

Cowell also is charged with a special circumstance allegation that he killed Wilson while lying in wait, a charge that would result in life in prison without parole or the death penalty if he's convicted.

Cowell is white and Wilson was black and many black community members said after she was killed that prosecutors should consider charging Cowell with a hate crime.

But prosecutors never found evidence that would support that enhancement.

Moore wrote, "The pervasiveness of the news coverage and public interest derives, in part, from the speculative perception that this was a racially motivated crime, despite the fact that there is no evidence in support of that perception."

Moore blamed Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and celebrities such as Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and actresses Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon and Regina King for fueling what she described as "that speculative theory."

According to Moore, when Schaaf addressed the allegations against Cowell she said, "It may be time to recognize that if there is no explicit racial bias, but there is implicit racial bias, then maybe the proof should shift to the defense."

Moore said if Schaaf's proposition were accepted it "would violate the very notions of fairness that the criminal justice system is founded on."

A hearing on Moore's change of venue motion is scheduled for Jan. 6, the same day Cowell is scheduled to return to court to have a judge assigned for his trial.

The motion could further delay the long-delayed case against Cowell, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge James Cramer suspended the criminal proceedings against Cowell on Dec. 27, 2018, saying there was "substantial evidence" that he was mentally incompetent to stand trial.

But at a hearing on July 17 Cramer reinstated the criminal proceedings against Cowell, based in part on a new doctor's report that found that Cowell was competent to stand trial.

At a hearing on Dec. 20 Moore said she thinks there are new indications that Cowell is mentally incompetent to stand trial based on a recommendation by a psychiatrist who had been appointed to evaluate Cowell's current mental state but couldn't do so because Cowell refused to meet with the psychiatrist.

At a hearing on Dec. 24 Cramer said Cowell's trial can proceed but ordered that an additional evaluation be done by psychiatrist Jason Roof of the University of California at Davis.

Cowell's trial could be suspended again if Roof indicates in his report, which is scheduled to be discussed at a hearing on Jan. 15, that he thinks Cowell is mentally incompetent.

District Attorney spokeswoman Teresa Drenick declined to comment on Moore's motion for a change of venue.

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Scores of protesters took a mass pledge at India Gate here on Wednesday to "defend the Constitution" by opposing the recent changes in the citizenship law.

The strength of protesters as well as visitors, who were out to celebrate the New Year, led to the iconic monument area getting extremely crowded, causing the traffic to virtually crawl in adjoining areas.

Slogans like "kagaz nahin dikhayenge" and "tanashahi nahin chalegi" rant the air before and after protesters took the pledge.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Though national leaders are gripped by inertia, powerful actors are nudging the needle forward on climate action.

Young climate activists commanded the worlds attention in 2019, but as the sun rises on a new decade, the jury is out on whether their pleas to global policymakers will translate into concrete action in 2020.

Time magazines Person of the Year, Swedish teen climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg, set the tone for the challenge ahead, tweeting on New Years Eve, This coming decade humanity will decide its future. Lets make it the best one we can. We have to do the impossible.

With her Fridays for Future climate marches, the focused Scandinavian teenager zeroed in on an idea taking root across the planet: youth cannot trust adults to embrace the facts about greenhouse gas emissions and take meaningful action to combat global warming.

Report after report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that without significant reductions in the amount of fossil fuels burned by countries around the globe, average temperatures will continue to rise faster and faster. But many national policymakers continue to be gripped by inertia as they weigh the cost of emissions mitigation against the potential near-term hit to their countries economic growth.

But not everyone is turning a deaf ear to climate warnings. Powerful actors  from subnational politicians and lawmakers, to sovereign wealth fund managers, to investors and the private sector  are nudging the needle forward on combatting global heating. And 2020 may yet produce an event that prompts national leaders to take stronger action.

Greta Thunbergs appearance at the COP25 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Spain capped a year of relentless advocacy, with observers from around the world fixated on every word from the ecological oracle [Ben Piven/Al Jazeera]

Bright spots in dark days

Activists are calling for a host of measures to pull the planet back from the brink of climate destruction, from cutting back the coal, oil and gas consumed for energy, industry, transportation and buildings, to coastal adaptation, natural resilience and carbon removal.

Yet, from New York Citys UN Climate Action Summit in September to Madrids COP25 gathering in December, delegates of national governments did not commit to an enhanced system for drawing down emissions.

An accord on carbon markets is still a sticking point, as big emitters want to trade credits from the past to get off the hook later. And vulnerable societies are furious that developed nations refuse to enact a loss-and-damage approach so that poor countries need not cover costs for catastrophic consequences of extreme weather.

Carlos Fuller, the lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States, said that the UN climate conference was a defining moment for us. It must trigger a decade of ambition.

At this stage, we are being cornered, Fuller added. We fear having to concede on too many issues.

But there are causes for hope as political parties, corporate executives and ordinary investors tune into dire predictions flagged by scientists.

In the United States, the Green New Deal highlighted inaction by the federal government under Republican President Donald Trump. Though that combination of renewable energy incentives and new jobs has not materialised, subnational actors in the US are ensuring that states and cities uphold the goals of the 2015 Paris climate pact as the White House pulls out.

Former United States Vice President Al Gore is among the members of the political opposition most vocal about maintaining US leadership in the fight against global warming [Ben Piven/Al Jazeera]

Calls for World War II-scale mobilisation have echoed beyond the US, but who will pay for the transition is unclear. And despite objections by climate watchdogs, natural gas continues to be developed as a bridge fuel before enough solar and wind power is generated.

The ambitious European Green Deal in Brussels staked out a new goal for the 28-member European Union bloc to become climate-neutral by 2050. And after victories this year at the ballot box, greener authorities from sunny Spain to thousands of city halls across the planet are implementing better policies.

The language for describing the climate emergency in the media has also evolved, responding to the gravity of the situation and the unsustainable rate of human consumption.

Pushing the needle

Amazon and other large companies continue to receive criticism from investors about their carbon footprints. Asset managers such as BlackRock have been targeted by the socially responsible investment community for failure to divest from fossil fuels.

Nevertheless, impact investment is exploding, with a strong emphasis on solving climate problems. And Norways enormous sovereign wealth fund, among others, has taken bold stances against oil project financing and deforestation in Brazil.

In the private sector, hundreds of firms are pledging to meet science-based targets, while big purchasers demand that their suppliers use electricity from cleaner sources.

Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP, said that 630 institutional investors managing $37 trillion in assets called on governments to upgrade their national plans.

Political leaders can and should take confidence from the groundswell of business action, he added. But so far, their response has not been commensurate with what is needed.

Even so, many analysts say money is the bottom line as bulging populations take advantage of cheap and plentiful energy, while carbon pricing schemes have yet to win over hearts and minds.

Although many climate experts know what should be done, the best way to expedite change is up for debate [Ben Piven/Al Jazeera]

Three possibilities could force the hands of global decision-makers, however.

If a climate-driven act of God sets off a true financial crisis  with insurance firms unable to stay afloat after unprecedented wildfires and cyclones  political leaders could respond in kind.

A major technological breakthrough in renewable energy storage or geoengineering may bring down the cost of switching from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.

And strategic rivalries, such as competition between China and the US, could catalyse domestic moonshot projects.

In the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow this year, climate activists hope that world leaders will seek  and take  advice from their young guiding stars on how best to move forward.
Bigg Boss 13 saw a surprise eviction on the last episode of 2019. Arhaan Khan was voted out of the ongoing reality show being hosted by Salman Khan. Arhaan, who has been very close to Rashami Desai and had picked up fights on her behalf with Sidharth Shukla, has now spoken about it. He also lamented that his past, including his first marriage, was discussed on the show.

Arhaan has been among the three contestants receiving lowest number of votes for past few weeks. Speaking with Times of India in an interview, Arhaan said, Everyone has a past and I had mine too. There was some misunderstanding which Salman Khan sir cleared also. You must have seen, we became normal within an hour when the topic came up (about his child). Everyone faces some or another hurdle in life and we also had our share of ups and downs. I have not seen in the past 13 seasons that someones personal life has been discussed. It was very unfortunate that it was discussed. But I am happy that all this has made my relationship with Rashami stronger.

Also Watch | Bigg Boss 13 public review

You must have seen Sidharth tore my shirt off during the fight. I had only intervened to save Rashami. In fact, I could have retaliated but I did not do that as I wanted Salman sir to notice the violence. The fight was going on and Salman sir suddenly came and we did not get time to change and I had to sit there with that shirt. Sidharth would have hit Rashami had I not interfered in that fight. And everyone felt this including me. I did not make an issue of my shirt because I felt the Aisi Ladki comment made by Sidharth against Rashami was more important to be discussed, he said.

Also read:Inside Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khans gorgeous New Year party with Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma, Varun Dhawan-Natasha

However, he also said that Kamya Punjabi and other celebs were not wrong in criticising him. I dont think celebrities like Kamya Panjabi and others are wrong if they have spoken against me. They dont know me personally so whatever they have said is based on what they have seen on social media, through trolls or others opinion. If they get to know me personally, I am sure their views will change, he told the daily. Kamya, Devoleena Punjabi have been voicing their concerns for Rashami ever since she proposed him on the show.

Arhaan had been evicted from the show earlier as well but re-entered the house as a wild card entry.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, January 1, 2020 12:32 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207239e 1 City Jakarta-flood,New-Year-2020,Halim-Perdanakusuma-Airport,commuter-line Free

Massive floods marked the first day of 2020 in Greater Jakarta on Wednesday after heavy rains pounded the the capital and its peripheral areas since New Years Eve.

The rain that has soaked the capital city since Tuesday has caused floods in housing areas, at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta and disrupted train networks.

The Transportation Ministrys air transportation director-general, Polana B. Pramesti, said the airport has been closed since midnight, since its runways were inundated by up to 80 centimeters of water.

We cant predict when the water will recede, she said in a statement.

At least 10 flights were reportedly delayed while others have been redirected to Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten.

Many train trips in Greater Jakarta were also disrupted because of water that had submerged stretches of railway tracks along the Manggarai to Tanah Abang line. Railway tracks in Tanah Abang Station in Central Jakarta were submerged under as much as 50 cm of water, causing state-owned train operator PT KAI to temporarily stop commuter line trains operating from Tanah Abang to the Serpong, Maja, and Rangkasbitung stations in Tangerang.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has reported that at least seven subdistricts in four districts were hit by floods on Tuesday, submerging housing areas and streets. Areas in Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, North Jakarta, East Jakarta and West Jakarta were affected by flooding.

In East Jakarta, 12 neighborhood units in Cipinang Melayu were inundated 30 cm to 80 cm deep by the overflowing Sunter River while Pinang Ranti was inundated by from 20 cm to 70 cm of water.

Residents travel using a dinghy on Wednesday morning in a flooded housing area in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. (Antara/ Fakhri Hermansyah)

In North Jakarta, areas affected by floods included Cilincing, Kelapa Molek and East Kelapa Gading, while in West Jakarta, 11 neighborhood units in Cengkareng were hit by floods 60 cm to 70 cm deep.

In South Jakarta floodwaters inundated one neighborhood unit in South Manggarai and Tebet up to 90 cm deep.

Several areas in Greater Jakarta were also affected by floods. In Pondok Gede and Rawa Panjang, Bekasi, West Java, floodwaters have inundated several residential areas.

In Tangerang, Banten, floods hit the Pulo Indah housing complex in Cipindoh with water reaching depths of up to about 1 meter.

Sabrina, one of the residents, said floodwaters came to the area at about 3 a.m. "The last time we experienced flooding was in 2012. Usually, floodwaters never inundated our houses."

Floods also caused landslides in Bojongkulur and Bumi Mutiara Bogor, West Java, resulting in heavy damage to two houses.

A motorcyclist pushes his vehicle down the middle of a flooded street in East Jakarta on Wednesday. (Antara/Aprillio Akbar)

Flooding also disrupted several roads in the capital city. The Jatinegara toll road was inundated by up to 60 cm at the 3.8-kilometer point, causing all vehicles to be rerouted to Rawamangun exit toll.



Floodwaters inundated the Joglo toll road's exit in Srengseng, Kembangan, West Jakarta by up to 50 cm and Jl. Daan Mogot in Cengkareng, West Java. Several motorcyclists were trapped in the areas because the water caused their machines to break down.



"I could not turn on my motorcycle because water has entered the muffler," Supriadi, one of the motorcyclists, said as reported by kompas.com.

Several other roads were also affected by floods, like Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, and the Cawang Interchange Tunnel in East Jakarta, which were submerged up to 50 cm deep.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed officials in the Jakarta administration to get directly involved and help evacuate the affected areas.

"I want all the officials in the Jakarta administrations to make sure that all government buildings and schools are ready to be used as evacuation shelters. Prepare public kitchens, healthcare posts, medicines, sleeping mats, public toilets and other basic needs for evacuees," Anies said on Wednesday morning. (nal)
In France last year, thousands took to the streets to protest a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents.

How beautiful would it be to see thousands of people, Jews and non-Jews alike, walking arm-in-arm through the streets of Brooklyn?

Such an effort is planned for Sunday. Marchers will gather at 11 a.m. at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan, just north of Chambers Street near City Hall, then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The event was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York and the UJA-Federation of New York, along with other groups. This is a chance for people of all faiths and backgrounds to show critical support for New Yorks Jewish communities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio can help by joining in, coming together in unity to march against anti-Semitism alongside New Yorkers.

Both men, along with many other New York public officials, have already responded with moral seriousness to the rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Mr. Cuomo rightly described the Monsey attack as domestic terrorism, and said he would propose a state law to help address the scourge when the Legislature returns to work in Albany this month. Jersey City, N.J., where a man and a woman killed three people in an anti-Semitic attack at a kosher supermarket last month, is also grappling with how to respond.

In New York, Mr. de Blasio over the weekend said the city would increase police presence in heavily Jewish areas. Thats a sensible step in the short term, given the palpable fear in New Yorks Orthodox communities especially. But longer term, flooding Brooklyn communities with police officers is not the solution, particularly given the history of overly aggressive policing tactics in minority neighborhoods.

The mayor announced a broader initiative in which community groups would meet regularly to help prevent hate crimes. A similar model has shown promise in fighting gun violence in New York. Improving New Yorks mental health system should also help. A vast majority of those struggling with mental illness will never become dangerous to others, let alone carry out hate crimes. But some close to Grafton Thomas, the man charged in the Monsey attack, have said he has long struggled to find treatment for serious mental illness, statements that shouldnt be ignored.

Other incidents appear to have been carried out by young people, sometimes in neighborhoods with long histories of tensions between Jewish and black and Hispanic New Yorkers. Mr. de Blasio has also committed to including anti-hate crime curriculums in the citys schools, with a strong focus on middle and high schools in communities adjoining Orthodox neighborhoods.
The Red Cross has urged people with loved ones affected by the bushfires to listen to them and seek help if necessary.

Lack of sleep, nausea, anger and guilt could be signs a survivor is not coping.

The Red Cross has urged people with loved ones affected by the bushfires to listen to them and seek help if necessary. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

After an intial sense of euphoria at surviving, some people experienced an emotional rollercoaster and struggled to return to everyday life, according to Andrew Coghlan, the Australian Red Cross' head of emergency services.

He said for many survivors, bushfire was a very abnormal experience and their reactions were normal. Its not something that people are used to seeing or dealing with.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-02 02:40:47|Editor: yan

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LONDON, Jan.1 (Xinhua) -- Holding a majority of 80-seat in the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to win the sprint to leave the European Union (EU) on Jan. 31. However, any "leaving party" champagne celebrations will be short-lived as that "victory" is just phase one of a longer race -- reaching a trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020.

Ivan Rogers, who served as Britain's permanent representative to the EU, said the country's departure from the bloc will be just the starting point in a rocky and uncertain journey that may continue for years.

Rather than having everything "boxed off" by the end of January, Rogers, speaking to Xinhua in a recent interview, said the negotiations could almost certainly stretch into the second half of third decade of the 21st century.

Johnson has repeatedly insisted that he will not extend the 11-month transition period, by the end of which the talks with Brussels on future relations are supposed to be concluded.

When Britain leaves the bloc at the end of January, the transition period will then begin and its trading relationship with the EU will remain the same. It will continue to follow the EU's rules and contribute to its budget.

In an end-of-year interview with the French newspaper Les Echos, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said both sides needed to think seriously about whether the 2020 deadline was enough to reach an agreement.

Admitting that she was very worried about how little time was available, the president said: "It would be reasonable to evaluate the situation mid-year and then, if necessary, agree on extending the transition period."

If a trade deal is not agreed by December 2020, without agreed extension, it would leave Britain trading on World Trade Organization terms with the EU, with the likelihood of tariffs on imports and exports.

Thomas Raines, head of Europe Program at the think-tank Chatham House, said the first order of business for Britain is to pass the withdrawal agreement.

"Then, the question becomes about the level of ambition ... It is an exceptionally ambitious timetable to negotiate, ratify and implement a new relationship before the end of the transition period in December 2020," said Raines in a recent article published on the website of the think-tank.

Raines spells out three possible outcomes: a "no trade deal" outcome; a bare-bones agreement to end the transition period, but with an extended period not called "extension" for further negotiation; Johnson extends the transition.

"No option is ideal. The first is the most economically disruptive, the second means the EU will be in an even stronger position to dictate terms and the third means breaking a manifesto pledge," said Raines.

Commenting on the possibility of ending the negotiation and ratifying the trade deal in 2020, Rogers said: "There's an absolutely zero chance of this happening ... We've already had three and a half years (since the 2016 EU referendum) and we haven't yet started the difficult stuff."

Citing the example of the trade deal between the EU and Canada, Rogers said: "It took about seven years to negotiate from beginning to end."

There was also a cautionary note from Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK.

"Overall we think the fact that the transition period is likely to be only a year is going to leave quite a lot of uncertainty for businesses. The possibility of a cliff edge at the end of the year is quite high, which is not great news. It is not something we're likely to see resolved early. It is likely to drag until much later," Selfin told the Daily Telegraph.
Nearly 70 brave Winnipeggers decided to "bare" the cold on New Year's Day  literally  in the annual Polar Bare Run.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nearly 70 brave Winnipeggers decided to "bare" the cold on New Year's Day  literally  in the annual Polar Bare Run.

Gathering before 9 a.m., creativity was the watchword as runners in Santa hats, New Year's Eve hats and sashes, tutus, costumes and bathing suits  some in just their undergarments  prepped for the dash at Assiniboine Park.

Clemus Laurila decided on an "island girl" theme, wearing a coconut bra and lei skirt.

"I've been doing this for the last three years, and it's a challenge to run out in the cold," she said, noting Wednesday's crowd was the largest she's been a part of.

The Polar Bare Run has been a tradition in Winnipeg for at least 15 years, founded on the idea that a cold city needed a cold event (to complete it wearing barely any clothing) to show off its roots.

Aldo Furlan (middle) and Jason Bruce (left), organizers of the Polar Bare Run, lead the pack.

In recent years, event organizers such as Jason Bruce have encouraged donations to Siloam Mission.

"For the last three or four years, we usually average about four or five full bins of food, and it's been anywhere between $100 to $200 in cash donations," Bruce said.

Shortly after 9 a.m., the run started: it was -9 C, but felt like -14 C with the wind chill. Runners chose between two routes: one that was roughly 500 metres and a longer one around 700 metres.

Coral Wiebe wears a bib that reads "Idiots Running Club" as part of her running attire.

"This is nice running weather," said Laurila, adding recent years have been around -27 C.

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Participants left the warming centre cheering and screaming as they set out for a loop around the park's duck pond, their breath visible under the cloudy sky.

Runners pose for a group photo after taking part in the Polar Bare Run.

After about five or six minutes, almost everyone was finished the run. A few people decided to finish off strong by doing snow angels before sprinting back inside.

Marc Hache was the first to finish the run.

"I feel great, what a way to start the year," he said.

camryn.patterson@freepress.mb.ca
US President Donald Trump has said that war with Iran is not a good idea even as he threatened Tehran after Iraqi supporters of pro-Iranian regime factions attacked the American embassy in Baghdad, forcing its diplomats to stay inside for safety.

His statement came hours after hundreds of angry Iraqi Shiite militia supporters, including women, broke into the US embassy compound in high-security zone on Tuesday after smashing a main door near parking and setting fire to a reception area chanting "death to America" in anger over air strikes that killed at least 25 fighters of the Iran-backed militia in Iraq, the Kataeb Hezbollah.

President Trump, in his brief interaction with reporters, said that the situation in Iran has been handled very well.

"We had some great warriors come in... this will not be a Benghazi... they got in there very quickly," he said in response to a question as he walked up to the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago for the New Year's eve party.

Asked about the possibility of a war with Iran, the US President said: "I don't think that would be a good idea for Iran... I like peace... I don't see that happening".

Earlier, Trump threatened Iran after the attack on the American embassy which was one of the worst in recent years.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning; it is a Threat. Happy New Year!" he warned in a tweet.

"The US embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site. Thank you to the President & Prime Minister of Iraq for their rapid response upon request...," trump said in another tweet.

Soon thereafter, the Pentagon announced deployment of additional troops in Iraq as part of its effort to secure its personnel in Baghdad.

"At the direction of the Commander in Chief, I have authorised the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the 82nd Airborne Division to the US Central Command area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq," US Defence Secretary Mark T Esper said.

Approximately 750 soldiers will be deployed to the region immediately and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days, he said.

"This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against US personnel and facilities, such as we witnessed in Baghdad today. The United States will protect our people and interests anywhere they are found around the world," Esper said.

On Tuesday, Trump spoke to Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi of Iraq.

"The two leaders discussed regional security issues and President Trump emphasized the need to protect United States personnel and facilities in Iraq," the White House said in a statement.

According to State Department spokesperson, their first priority is the safety and security of US personnel.

"US personnel are secure and there has been no breach. There are no plans to evacuate Embassy Baghdad," said the official.

US Ambassador to Iraq Matt Tueller has been on previously scheduled personal travel for over a week and reports that he has been evacuated are false.

"He is returning to the Embassy," the State Department spokesperson said.

The Iranian-backed demonstrations in front of the US embassy should not be confused with the Iraqi protestors who have been in the streets since October to decry the corruption exported to Iraq by the Iranian regime, the official said.

"We have made clear the United States will protect and defend its people, who are there to support a sovereign and independent Iraq. We are closely monitoring the situation in Iraq and call on the Government of Iraq to protect our diplomatic facilities as per their obligations," said the spokesperson.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is continuously monitoring the situation.

"The embassy is being monitored. It's safe. The actions that we took today were prudent. Under President Trump's direction, our team worked together today to quickly, decisively, prudently take the appropriate responses to keep our American people safe," he told CBS.

Responding to questions, Pompeo said that the US never contemplated evacuating the facility.

"But the American people should know that President Trump and our team are working diligently to make sure that we keep this facility secure.

"We've known for a long time that there was this risk. It's been 40 years that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at this, and we've watched them continue to take actions. We saw them take actions that killed an American in Iraq just this past week. We saw the United States act decisively to respond to that in a way to signal to them that we would do precisely what I've said, precisely what President Trump said we would do, when American interests and American lives were at stake," Pompeo said.

The Secretary of State described this as a serious situation.

"It's a serious situation. We're watching. We'll make sure that we're doing all the things that we need to do, and we'll continue to ask the Iraqi government to do the things that they have a responsibility to do," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian government has cleared the way for the resolution early in the New Year of an escalating row with the United States over ground-handling operations by their respective airlines that could have led to severe tensions and potentially ended Air India flights to America.

The Modi government approved December 26 a Standard Operating Procedure that would allow designated foreign airlines - from the United States in this instance - to manage their own ground-handling, something that is called self-handling, which would include security functions, according to people associated with the discussions.

They also said Indian officials have informally conveyed the decision to the Americans and are expected to notify them formally in the first week of January. This would be followed by the United States lifting its ban on Indian airlines conducting their self-handling at American airports.

The US department of transportation slapped the ban on July 31 after protracted negotiations with Indian authorities over permission to FedEx, the worlds largest airline for freight tonnage, to let them conduct their own ground-handling operations. Indian security agencies had taken over this function in 2018.

The transportation department has overarching mandate over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the American counterpart of Indias civil aviation regulator DGCA.

The United States had argued the new system was in contravention of the open skies bilateral agreement from 2005, which allowed self-handing.

Indian officials dealing with these negotiations had feared that further lack of progress would have led to severe tensions and graver consequences such as the possibility of Air India not being allowed to fly to the US.

These people said Indian ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who is now headed back for New Delhi as the next foreign secretary, took an aggressive approach to resolving the issue given his focus on problem solving and nipping the problem in the bud.

It was a version of the same drop everything, and all hands on board approach the embassy displayed had on his watch in previous instances. Right from dealing with the situation arising from the apprehension of 600 Indian students enrolled in a fake university in January to the threat of violence from pro-Khalistan protestors the same month. Or during the discussions to restore preferential US trade benefits to India, which remains part of ongoing trade discussions.

The embassy followed up the issue diligently and step by step with the ministries concerned. And when the time came, it was escalated to senior levels and security agencies were forced to back off, paving the way for the adoption of a Standard Operating Procedure, put together following discussions with Americans around September.

It permitted American airlines to do their own ground-handling but also made them incorporate measures required by Indian security agencies.

The package was ready for announcement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit in September for the UN general assembly and a meeting with President Donald Trump.

But it was decided not to make the announcement as discussions were under way for the trade deal, which was to be the big-ticket draw, according to those familiar with these developments.

An announcement is now expected in the first week of January, or shortly after. And that will be a fitting resolution for India and the United States to ring in the New Year.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Occasional snow showers. High 21F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 9F. NNW winds shifting to ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-01 13:40:29|Editor: zyl

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LONDON, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday night that the first item on his agenda "is to fulfil the will of the electorate" and take the country out of the European Union (EU) by the end of January.

In his first New Year's message at 10 Downing Street, Johnson said that the bongs of Big Ben at midnight was the starting gun being fired on what promises to be a fantastic year and a remarkable decade for Britain, urging people of Britain to join together to make the 2020s a decade of prosperity and opportunity.

Speaking of bringing Britain out of the EU, he said, "This should have happened already, but we were thwarted by a Parliament determined to use every trick in the book to stop us leaving the EU."

As 2019 is waving goodbye, Johnson said Britain can also turn the page on the division, rancour and uncertainty which has dominated public life and held the country back for far too long.

"We can start a new chapter in the history of our country, in which we come together and move forward united, unleashing the enormous potential of the British people," he added.

"We can finally spend 2020 getting on with delivering on the people's priorities: boosting the National Health Service (NHS) with the biggest cash injection in its history, renewing schools, backing scientists, building better infrastructure, controlling immigration, making our streets safer, cleaning up our environment, and making our Union stronger," he said.

Reaffirming his promise that the NHS will always be his top priority, Johnson said one of the government's first actions will be to pass a bill enshrining in law a record funding settlement for the NHS, providing an extra 34 billion pounds (45 billion U.S. dollars) a year.

"We will undertake the largest hospital building program in living memory," he added, promising a boost in education and cutting-edge science.

Concluding his message, he cited new trading relationships with nations around the world, generating jobs and growth as well as British scientists and engineers transforming the way people live, curing incurable diseases and making transport cleaner, greener and quieter.

British politicians will return next week to the House of Commons to continue the passage through parliament of Johnson's Brexit bill to end Britain's nearly-half-a-century membership of the EU.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Patrol and Fire department was alerted to a serious traffic accident that took place on L.B. Scott Road December 31st, 2019 around 11.30 pm.

According to the information gathered, both the Mitsubishi Lancer and the Hyundai I-10 were traveling in the same direction, on L.B Scott road heading in the direction of the Emilio Wilson Park, when the driver of the Lancer made a left turn to go onto the Flamboyant road.

The driver of the Hyundai I-10 was overtaking at the same time and collided with the back part of the Lancer who was making the turn

. The impact caused the Lancer to burst into flames. The driver of the Mitsubishi lance suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by the paramedics.

After causing the accident, the driver of the Hyundai I-10 fled the scene. The police traffic department is investigating this road accident.
The Indian and Chinese armies on Wednesday held two ceremonial meetings of their border personnel in the Union Territory of Ladakh on the New Year Day, a defence spokesman said.

The ceremonial BPMs were held at Chinese BPM Hut at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD meeting points, the spokesman said, adding the Indian delegations for the two destinations were led by Brig H S Gill and Col Manoj Kumar and the Chinese delegations by Senior Col Bai Minand Lt Col Lee Ming Ju respectively.

"Both sets of delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The meeting reflected the mutual desire to maintain and improve relations at functional level in border areas," the spokesman said.

He said a cultural programme showcasing the Chinese culture and traditions was also organized by the Chinese side.

"The delegations parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and trust along the borders," the spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
D onald Trump has threatened Iran after blaming the nation for an attack on the American embassy in neighbouring Iraq.

The US President wrote the threat in a tweet posted on New Year's Eve which said Iran would "way a very big price" for the incident on Tuesday.

The embassy compound was set upon by a crowd of angry demonstrators furious over the deaths of militia group members who had been killed in US airstrikes.

In the tweet, President Trump wrote: "Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities.

"They will pay a very BIG PRICE!

"This is not a Warning, it is a Threat.

"Happy New Year!" He added.

Violent scenes sprung out of a march by thousands of mourners on the heavily-fortified Green Zone where government offices and a number of embassy's are located.

An angry mob set a guard post on fire and breach the reception area of the compound, forcing US troops to fire tear gas.

Iran has denied it orchestrated the incident and has condemned the "audacity" of the claim.

Protesters burn property in front of the U.S. embassy compound, in Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday / AP

The US airstrikes targeted an Iranian-backed force, the Kataib Hezbollah militia in western Iraq and eastern Syria.

At least 25 fighters died in the US bombing of their bases on Sunday, which Washington said was a retaliation for the death of an American civilian worker killed during a rocket attack on an Iraqi military base.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the strikes had violated his country's sovereignty. The leader of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, warned that its response "would be very tough on the American forces in Iraq".

Mr Trump has said he expects Iraqi forces to protect the embassy and its staff, and thanked Prime Minister Mahdi for the action already taken during the attack.

US defence secretary Mark Esper announced around 750 soldiers would be immediately deployed to the region.
WASHINGTON  As 2019 will go down in history books as the year Congress impeached America's 45th President, 2020 will feature a fierce battle over Donald J. Trump's acquittal and likely, an equally fiery fight over his re-election.

A monumental showdown over presidential power and disputed facts was the signature of 2019 in the halls of the U.S. Capitol, lines that were traced and darkened over Trump's three years in the Oval Office, said Michael J. Malbin, professor of political science at the State University of New York at Albany.

"Nothing Congress has done this past year is remotely as important as the Houses decision to impeach the President," said Malbin on Tuesday. "By implication, that also puts the Presidents actions and reactions on the same level of importance. Whether you agree or disagree that the facts support removal, or wish that a censure might have sufficed, the historic significance cannot be gainsaid."

The umbrella of partisan conflict hung over many of Congress's legislative achievements, but lawmakers still succeeded in advancing some legislation that will touch the lives of upstate New Yorkers despite the political gridlock.

Although Americans started 2019 with 34 full days of government shutdown  the longest in U.S. history  before the close of the year, Congress passed a $1.4 trillion spending package that Trump signed into law, keeping the federal government afloat until September.

That spending bill directs over $31 billion in grants, loans and contracts to New York to fund education, transportation, health care, human services and many, many other things in fiscal year 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

The appropriations package will also give the Capital Region's 6,600 federal employees, who started the year with several weeks without paychecks, a 3.1 percent raise. The bill also raises the age to buy tobacco to 21 nationally and eliminates several health-related taxes that funded the Affordable Care Act.

Likewise, a massive defense bill signed into law in December awarded all federal employees 12 weeks of paid leave and gave military service members a 3.1 percent pay raise. It created a new branch of the military, the Space Force, and boosted defense spending.

Both the spending and defense legislation included provisions that will result in more testing and monitoring of toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS (for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that have contaminated the waters of Hoosick Falls and other communities. That legislation was the result of a strong push from several New York Democrats.

In 2020, House Democrats have said they will try to take PFAS regulation farther by passing legislation mandating clean up of the chemicals, but it's unclear that such measures could pass the Senate. U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, is a leader in that effort.

In July, Trump signed into law legislation that permanently replenished the Sept. 11 Victim's Compensation Fund that pays claims to first responders and others sick with World Trade Center-related illnesses. Reauthorizing the fund and supporting 9/11 victims has been a major priority for New York lawmakers for decades, particularly Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both New York Democrats.

Over 1,500 upstate New York residents have registered to receive 9/11 aid and more than 76,000 people from the New York state.

Lawmakers in 2019 also finished negotiating the U.S-Mexico-Canada trade agreement that will rewrite the rules of international commerce in North America. The House passed the USMCA in December and the Senate is expected to do so in early 2020. The agreement will present many changes for the billions of dollars worth of goods New York exports to Canada and Mexico each year. It will also provide new market access to New York dairy farmers.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

New York farmers, many of whom have struggled financially, also won relief when U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, saw his Family Farm Relief Act signed into law in August. The law lifts the debt ceiling on farmers seeking bankruptcy protection in order to rebuild their finances.

Delgado also introduced legislation that became law to rename a post office in Pine Plains after Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon M. Kent, a 35-year-old U.S. Navy cryptologist from upstate New York who was killed in January by an Islamic State attack in Syria.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, saw her Women's Suffrage Centennial Coin Act signed into law, requiring the Treasury to mint coins to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2020 of the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

Trump and Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, stamped their mark on the federal judiciary by continuing to appoint record numbers of judges in 2019. On the day the House impeached Trump, the Senate approved nominations for 13 new conservative judges.

Democrats used numerous committee hearings and lawsuits to challenge Trump administration policies  particularly controversial immigration curbing steps  and explore the president's business record, finances and campaign contacts. Special Counsel Robert Mueller produced a lengthy report concluding that member's of Trump's team did not conspire with Russia, but refusing to make a judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice.

That investigation pushed some Democrats to support an impeachment inquiry, while many more backed the idea after a whistle-blower revealed that the Trump administration's withholding of military aid to Ukraine was connected to the president's effort to prompt Ukraine to investigate one of his 2020 political rivals.

Schumer is playing a key role in crafting the impeachment trial regarding Trump's conduct toward Ukraine as he spars with McConnell over whether witnesses should be called to testify. That trial is expected to begin early in 2020 amidst significant partisan rancor, as lawmakers refuse to agree on many facts about how the Ukraine scandal unfolded.

"Important for the long term is the nearly complete partisan division over not only the outcome but over bare facts," said Malbin. "When facts are treated as merely partisan opinions, whether on this issue or others, deliberation becomes nearly impossible. Whatever the immediate outcome, the country will have to work for some time to deal with the consequences."
Holding national flags and placards which read: "Born in India, Lived in India, will die in India", thousands of Muslims hit the streets in this port city on the New Year day, demanding that the Modi government withdraw the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The people participating in the massive rally, took out from the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here, raised slogans against the Central government's decision to implement CAA and carried photos of Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.

The rally and the convention to declare agitation against the CAA was organised jointly by a coordination of Muslim organisations, including Samastha Kerala Jamiyathul Ulama, Kerala Muslim Jamaat, Dakshina Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen, Jamaat-e-Islam and Muslim League.

Various other Muslim organisations in the state are also part of the joint council which has claimed that lakhs people under different Mahallu committees have attended the rally.

The protesters, who were charged emotionally, held the placards with photo of Ambedkar and a slogan: "We are Indians firstly and lastly."



"India is our nation," was written in a placard under the photograph of Mahatma Gandhi.

The rally culminated at sprawling Marine Drive, five kilometers away from the stadium.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (2nd L) and former premier William Lai (R) display a certificate after registering as presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the upcoming election at the Central Elections Committee in Taipei on Nov. 19, 2019. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Detailing Chinas Strategies for Interfering in Taiwans Upcoming Elections

TAIPEI, TaiwanBeijings efforts to influence Taiwans presidential election are under close scrutiny, as voting day is less than two weeks away.

On Jan. 11, Taiwanese citizens will elect a new president and vice president, as well as 113 representatives to the island nations parliament (known as the Legislative Yuan).

Since Taiwan transitioned into a multi-party democracy in 1996 and held its first presidential election, Beijing has consistently sought to influence election outcomes in favor of pro-Beijing candidates. That year, Beijing conducted a series of missile tests months before an election, with the aim of intimidating Taiwanese voters and dissuading them from voting for a pro-independence candidate.

The issue of independence is a sensitive one for the regime in Beijing, which views Taiwan as a renegade province that must be united with the mainland, through military force if necessary. However, Taiwan is a de facto nation, with its own elected officials, military, and currency.

U.S. officials and experts are concerned about Beijings election interference. In November, the United States de facto ambassador to Taiwan Brent Christensen announced that Washington would work with the Taiwan government to combat malign actors [that] are using disinformation campaigns to make people lose faith in democratic institutions.

Former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon highlighted the importance of safeguarding Taiwans democracy during a Dec. 14, 2019, Taipei forum on strengthening the partnership between Japan and Taiwan.

As goes Taiwan, I believe goes the rest of Asia. And as the rest of Asia goes, so goes the world, Bannon said.

Social media giant Facebook also is taking notice. The platform, hugely popular in Taiwan, was to open a war room in Taiwan on Jan. 1 to combat disinformation ahead of the elections. The Taiwan office will coordinate efforts along with Facebooks Asia-Pacific base in Singapore and its U.S. headquarters and European office in Ireland.

Beijing has resorted to the same methods in influencing the 2020 elections as the 2018 general elections, when Taiwan voted for county, town, and village officials, said Hu Yuan-hui, a professor at the Department of Communication at Taiwans National Chung Cheng University.

He categorized them into four main methods: disinformation campaigns, military threats, government incentives, and coercion.

Incentives and Threats

On Nov. 4, 2019, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office announced 26 measures to boost bilateral cooperation.

According to Chinas state-run media, these measures include allowing Taiwanese citizens to seek protection and assistance at Chinese consulates around the world, and permitting Taiwanese companies to participate in Chinas research and development of the 5G next-generation wireless technology.

Hu said that was an example of Beijing trying to influence Taiwans elections through incentives to both Taiwanese people and companies in China. By announcing these measures, Beijing is seeking to sway voters toward casting ballots for the opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), which advocates for closer ties with Beijing.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who is running for reelection, is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which traditionally advocates for Taiwan to formally declare independence from the mainland. While shes said she wishes to maintain the status quo, Beijing has consistently criticized her and her party for promoting independence.

Tsais opponents are KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu and James Soong of the pro-Beijing People First Party. The Chinese regimes state media have previously praised Han because of his efforts at advancing cross-strait relations.

As for coercion, Hu pointed to the Chinese regime releasing a military white paper on July 24, 2019, which threatened to unite the island with military force, including by arranging jets to circle the island. The paper, titled Chinas National Defense in a New Era, also accused pro-independence forces in Taiwan of being a great threat to cross-strait stability.

On Dec. 26, 2019, Chinas aircraft carrier Shandong sailed through the Taiwan Strait. In response, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted that while the transit was seen as an effort to interfere with the elections, local voters wouldnt be intimidated.

Disinformation Campaigns

Past online campaigns have focused on supporting particular parties and candidates. On Dec. 13, 2019, Taiwans government-run Central News Agency (CNA) reported that Taiwans Facebook office removed 118 fan pages, 99 groups, and 51 duplicate accounts for failing to adhere to the platforms community guidelines. While Facebook didnt provide any specific names, netizens noticed that several fan pages for KMT candidate Han were no longer viewable.

In the leadup to the elections, fake news has emerged regarding the election process.

These fake news are trying to suppress Taiwans democratic voices  while creating a false impression that the elections are unfair, Hu said in an email interview.

Taiwans Central Election Commission issued a press release on On Dec. 23, 2019, denouncing a fake message that began circulating online, including on Facebook. The message claimed that the commission had replaced all election staffers this year, which could allow the voting results to be manipulated.

In another release on Dec. 29, 2019, the Commission clarified that a picture that had circulated on Facebook and on the messaging and news app Line was fake. The picture wrongfully claimed that the commission had secretly added a ballot item about a nuclear power plant.

On Dec. 12, CNA, quoting the Ministry of Justice, reported that local officials were investigating 74 instances of disinformation, five of which were related to election interference.

Video-sharing platform YouTube has also become a platform to disseminate disinformation.

Local non-profit media organization The Reporter, in an investigative report published last week documented how mainland Chinese YouTube personalities were able to promote pro-Beijing information to Taiwanese viewers.

For instance, Zhang Xida, a reporter with Chinas state-run China National Radio who has a YouTube channel called Xida Talks About Taiwan, is based in Taiwan. He is originally from Xiamen, a city in Chinas Fujian Province where the Hokkien dialect is spoken.

While Mandarin is the official language of Taiwan and mainland China, because many Taiwanese are descendants of mainland Chinese who immigrated from Fujian during the Qing Dynasty, the Hokkien dialect is spoken by about 70 percent of Taiwans population.

Many Taiwanese falsely believe that his videos were produced by Taiwanese locals because Zhang also occasionally spoken the Hokkien dialect in his videos, according to the report.

Zhang made a Facebook video that spread false news earlier this year, accusing Tsai of selling out the country by giving the Japanese government more than $20 billion annually. The report prompted an investigation by Taiwans Ministry of Justice.

The report quoted an unidentified media expert, who said Beijing views Fujian as a bridgehead to influence Taiwan, as indicated in remarks made by Chinese leader Xi Jinping last March.

That month, Xi met with representatives from Fujians provincial government. According to Chinas state-run media, Xi stated the importance of turning Fujian into the first home for Taiwanese people and companies.

Election Betting

Taiwan also has the unique phenomenon of illegal gambling rings devoted to betting on election outcomes. This time, people are wagering on whether Tsai or Han will win the vote.

Taiwans Criminal Investigation Bureau announced on Dec. 17, 2019, that it had seized illegal gambling funds of 36.8 million New Taiwan Dollars (about $1.2 million) during nationwide raids, including 24 cases of illegal election betting operations. Thirty people were arrested in connection with election betting.

Local English-language daily Taipei Times reported on Dec. 23 that an illegal gambling ring for election betting, located in the northern city of Taoyuan, was taken down by local police. The ring had an alleged money flow of 250 million New Taiwan Dollars (about $8.3 million).

Taipei Times reported a few days later that police in several cities raided and shut down an international gambling syndicate. According to a local prosecutor, the syndicate and an affiliated underground bank have transferred 13.9 billion in New Taiwan Dollars (about $461 million), most of which comes from China. In particular, the prosecutors office is probing an election gambling pool that allegedly provides financial and political support from China for Han.

At a local forum about the Chinese regimes influence campaigns, Michael Mazza, a visiting fellow from the U.S.-based think tank American Enterprise Institute (AEI), warned of Beijings past use of such underground gambling rings, which offer better odds on its preferred candidates, to affect Taiwans voting patterns.

Having placed bets on such candidates, people are likely to influence their friends and relatives into backing the same candidates in order to win the bets.

Anti-Infiltration Bill

On Dec. 31, Taiwans parliament (known as the Legislative Yuen) passed an anti-infiltration law, meant to counter Beijings influence operations in local politics. It will take effect once Tsai signs it into law this month.

According to CNA, the law bans people from taking orders and funds from outside enemy forces to support local activities, such as political donations, lobbying, and other attempts to interfere with elections. People found guilty under the law will be subject to a maximum prison sentence of five years and a maximum fine of 10 million New Taiwan Dollars (about $333,400).

Hours before the parliamentary vote on the measure, Lee Yeau-tarn, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies at Taiwans National Chengchi University, explained in an email to The Epoch Times why Taiwan needs the law.

Lee said that without the law, Chinese infiltration would make Taiwans elections unfair, leading to a decline of the islands freedom and democracy.

He called on the U.S. government to lead countries against Beijings totalitarianism and prevent it from meddling in other countries democracies.
In his New Yearas address released Wednesday, Emperor Naruhito said he hopes that 2020 will be a happy year free of any major disasters. The message was released as he begins his first full year as the symbol of state after ascending the chrysanthemum throne last year.

The 59-year-old emperor expressed his relief at completing a series of ceremonies accompanying his enthronement on May 1, the day after his father, former Emperor Akihito, abdicated as the first Japanese monarch to do so in about 200 years.

aMeeting with many people from home and abroad and being given warm blessings on many occasions, the past year has been deeply moving for both the empress (Masako) and me,a he said in the statement.

He also referred to powerful typhoons and torrential rain last year and said his aheart aches as many precious lives were losta in them. aI pray that there will be no disaster this year,a he added.

The emperoras New Year message is the first since the practice was halted under his fatheras reign in 2017 in an effort to reduce the workload of the 86-year-old, according to the Imperial Household Agency.

But the emperor and empress did not release any poems in the New Year, as the previous emperor and empress customarily did , as they could not prepare them in time in a year full of enthronement-linked events, the agency said.

The couple completed all enthronement ceremonies in December.

Among key ceremonies they took part in were Novemberas Daijosai, the Shinto-style thanksgiving ritual, and the Sokuirei Seiden no Gi ceremony for proclaiming the enthronement before international guests in October.

His enthronement marked the start of a new imperial era called Reiwa, meaning beautiful harmony, and the end of Heisei, meaning achieving peace, under his fatheras reign, which spanned 30 years.
Young jobseekers attend the "2019 Busan youth ASEAN overseas job fair" at Busan City Hall on Sept. 30. The fair offers job opportunities at 36 firms in five Southeast Asia countries Cambodia, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Korea Times file



By Kim Hyun-bin



With young Koreans struggling to land jobs here, many are now looking to other countries' job markets.



According to the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) 5,783 people found jobs overseas last year, which is a 3.6-fold increase from 2013 when there were only 1,607.



The number is a small fraction compared to the total youth unemployment, which stands at 3.99 million people, but experts predict the figure will continue to rise in the coming years.



A total 1,828 people landed jobs in Japan, followed by the U.S. with 1,380, Singapore with 405, Australia with 397 and Vietnam with 383.



Most were employed in business administration and services accounting for 3,567 people, followed by IT at 1,056 and machinery operation with 223.



According to job search website Incruit, which surveyed 1,118 young jobseekers, 47.6 percent responded that they are open to working overseas, if they fail to land a job in Korea.

Respondents were allowed to make multiple selections, with 33.5 percent saying they would prefer to work in the U.S., followed by Europe with 23.9 percent, Japan at 14.1 percent, China at 13.7 percent and Southeast Asia at 12.2 percent.



Most respondents cited "abundant opportunities" as the reason for choosing the U.S., while people who selected Europe were motivated by the better welfare and working environment when compared with Korea. Japan was picked due to its close proximity.



The long-term economic recession has taken a toll on the youth employment rate, making it more difficult to find a job in the country. According to the Korea Economic Research Institute, Korea's youth unemployment for people between 15 and 29 years old stood at 9.5 percent last year, which is a 2.4 percentage point hike compared to 2008, when Korea suffered from the global financial crisis.



The average OECD unemployment rate dropped 1.3 percentage points to 9.1 percent in the same period.



Among the 36 OECD nations, Korea dropped from 11th to 22nd place in the cited period.



The government has been aiding and encouraging young people to seek overseas employment through programs that provide consultations and information on job opportunities overseas.



The Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KOTRA and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea jointly established the "K-Move" center to better aid young people seeking overseas employment, by offering training, internship and employment education.



"We provide tailored information to the individual and provide consultation for people seeking overseas employment. Many were very satisfied with the program," an HRDK official said.



Experts say, however, there are many that failed to adapt to foreign work environments leading to early resignation and return to Korea.



The HRDK did another survey of 220 people working abroad in Vietnam, Indonesia, the UAE, Qatar and Germany, and found out of a 100-point scale the overall satisfaction stood at 56 points and only 49 percent of respondents said they would recommend overseas work to others.



Some 20 percent of the respondents pointed out work conditions differed from the job description.



Experts emphasize when working abroad one's job performance becomes important, making one's education and language abilities crucial to carrying out daily tasks.




Irish prisons are struggling to provide "safe custody" for inmates due to overcrowding, the head of the Irish Prison Service (IPS) has revealed.

Caron McCaffrey, director general of the IPS, outlined her concerns in an interview with the Irish Independent.

"There has been a sharp increase in the numbers in custody since 2017, which is a concern for me as director general as overcrowding severely impacts our ability to provide safe custody and rehabilitative services," Ms McCaffrey said.

"In 2018 the average number in custody began to increase. We saw a rise in the number in custody from 3,646 at the end of December 2017 to 3,911 at the end of December 2018.

"This trend continued into 2019 with an increase between January and July from 3,904 to 4,061 on July 31, 2019. To date, as of December 23, 2019, our numbers are 3,948.

"The number of women in our custody has also increased over this period. On December 23, 2019, there were 178 women in custody and 66 on temporary release - a total of 244 in the system," she said.

Ms McCaffrey said the IPS is implementing a number of measures to tackle the increasing problem, including the introduction of a prison population management plan to address rising numbers, which will provide an additional 200 beds early in 2020.

"Additionally, a new replacement wing in Limerick Prison is currently under construction which will provide an additional 90 male beds and 40 female beds in 2021.

"We are currently adding an extra 60 spaces in Wheatfield Prison and 30 extra spaces in the Midlands Prison," Ms McCaffrey said.

Meanwhile the IPS has to manage feuds between dozens of different gangs in the country's jails, including criminals involved in the deadly Hutch/Kinahan feud.

Last year, it emerged there were 28 different gangs and factions operating within Mountjoy Prison alone, with more than 230 prisoners on protection within the prison.

Ms McCaffrey pointed out that the gangs within our prisons have been "identified, targeted and profiled".

"Gang members are being managed on a daily basis through segregation and separation throughout the prison system," she said.

Despite the huge problem of overcrowding in jails, Ireland still has a comparatively low rate of imprisonments at 78 per 100,000, compared to the European average of 127.9.

There has been a major increase in the use of drones to fly drugs and contraband into Irish prisons in the past two years.

Addressing this issue, Ms McCaffrey said: "The prevention of the flow of contraband continues to be a priority for the Irish Prison Service.

"Advances in technology, such as the use of drones, does give rise to additional challenges for the Irish Prison Service and the service is constantly reviewing security arrangements in this regard.

"The Irish Prison Service is currently testing an anti-drone system in one of our Dublin-based prisons.

"This solution has been in place for a number of months and initial findings of this test are positive.

"The operation of this pilot will be evaluated and, should the test prove to be successful, consideration will be given to rolling out this system to other prisons."

In July, it emerged that some IPS staff were breaching rules by being drunk on duty and failing to follow procedures for night checks and escorts.

This led to the IPS announcing that it would publish a new code of ethics - but this has not happened yet.

"We are currently finalising the code of ethical behaviour and hope to have it completed early in 2020," Ms McCaffrey said.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Wed, January 1, 2020 16:37 740 48be62e941b44f04afae568c3207b707 1 National bandung,KCIC Free

Heavy rainfall caused flooding as deep as 2 meters at the Padalarang underpass in West Bandung regency, West Java, which Regent Aa Umbara Sutisna blamed on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway construction project.

The flood subsequently led to heavy congestion on the regencys major thoroughfare as well as an alternative route to Lembang, which lasted for hours and affected hundreds of vehicles.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project is being carried out by the Indonesian-Chinese consortium, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC).

"There were no floods before the KCIC project. The West Bandung administration is not responsible for the floods; its the high-speed railway project," the regent said.



He urged KCIC to take action and prevent further flooding in the Padalarang underpass.

[Representatives of] KCIC must come soon. The flooding must stop. It shouldn't harm the people of West Bandung.

Additionally, dozens of families in Margajaya village, Ngamprah subdistrict, West Bandung regency, were forced to leave their homes and take shelter at nearby mosques on Tuesday afternoon, when an embankment burst following heavy rain.

West Java Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD West Java) operational control manager Budi Budiman Wahyu said heavy rainfall coupled with the broken embankment had led to flooding in residential areas.

"Flood waters reached 70 to 180 centimeters in depth. Houses were inundated," he said.



A search and rescue (SAR) team has evacuated 31 families affected by the floods. Twenty-one of them have taken shelter at Attin mosque and the remaining at Al-Ikhlas mosque.

"Their houses are filled with mud, so victims will have to temporarily take shelter," said SAR Bandung team leader Edwin Purnama.



Another 131 families have been affected by the recent floods, the team said.



Aa Umbara has instructed BPBD West Java to build a temporary embankment by using sand bags.



"I don't know whether the embankment was built by the Public Works Agency or a private developer, so Im not sure about its quality," he said.

Topics : bandung KCIC
A truck traveling at a high rate of speed through the West Side collided with a van pulling out of a residence Wednesday morning killing an adult male, a 14-year-old girl and injuring two other children in an ensuing fire caused by the impact, according to San Antonio police.

Authorities responded to the wreck just before 12:30 a.m. in the 3400 block of West Poplar Street just five miles from where many residents were celebrating the New Year at Hemisfair.

According to a news release, a white Chevy Silverado was traveling at an estimated speed of 100 to 120 miles per hour when it struck a van pulling out onto the street. Police say the male driver, 31, is believed to have been killed upon impact. The 14-year-old girl was ejected from the van as it spun around and had died by the time authorities had arrived.

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The two other children, ages 1 and 5, were rescued by a family member from the nearby residence. Both sustained second degree burns to the upper body and face due to the van catching fire at impact. The children were transported to University Hospital. It is unclear what their condition is at this time.

The Chevy Silverado continued east on Popular Street and then eventually struck a private fence and utility pole a block away from the crash site. The suspects, who police say are two Hispanic males, then fled on foot.

Police say the suspects remain on the loose despite a search of the area and the address of the truck's registered owner. The identities of the victims have not been released and their relationship was also not disclosed.

Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact its Traffic Investigations Unit at (210) 207-7635.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
New Delhi, Jan 1 : General economic slowdown, as well as financing constraints and seasonal factors, subdued passenger and commercial vehicle sales during December.

At present, the auto sector suffers from a consumption slowdown due to high taxation, stagnant wages and a stressed rural sector.

On Wednesday, automobile major Maruti Suzuki India reported that its overall sales which includes exports and off-take by other OEMs grew by 3.9 per cent to 133,296 units from 128,338 units sold during the corresponding period of the last year.

Similarly, the company's domestic sales including those made to other OEMs increased by 3.5 per cent on an year-on-year basis to 125,735 units in December 2019.

However, the company's sales of light commercial vehicles in the country fell 5 per cent to 1,591 units.

On the other hand, the automobile major's exports zoomed by 10.2 per cent in December to 7,561 units from 6,859 units which were shipped out during the corresponding month of last fiscal.

In contrast, Hyundai Motor India's overall sales, including exports declined by 9.9 per cent to 50,135 units from 55,638 units sold during December 2018.

Besides, the company's domestic sales during the month under review edged lower by 9.8 per cent to 37,953 units from 42,093 units sold during the corresponding period of 2018.

Similarly, the company's exports went down by 10.06 per cent to 12,182 units from 13,545 units shipped abroad in December 2018.

"The year 2019 has been a challenging year for the Indian automotive industry. As we gear-up for a significant year 2020, we will offer BS VI in both petrol and diesel engines across different models in our product portfolio," said Tarun Garg, Director - Sales, Marketing and Service, Hyundai Motor India Ltd.

Another automobile giant Tata Motors' overall sales, including exports in December declined by 13.84 per cent on a year-on-year basis to 46,903 units from 54,439 units sold during December 2018.

The automobile manufacturer's domestic sales fell by 12 per cent to 44,254 units last month, compared to 50,440 units during the same period last year.

Segment-wise, commercial vehicles sales during the period under review fell by 15 per cent to 34,082 units from 40,015 units.

Similarly, passenger vehicles' sales declined by 10 per cent last month to 12,785 units from 14,260 units which were shipped-out during the like period of last year.

Commenting on the sales performance, Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said: "Our focus in December has been to drive retail and minimise the network stock in order to facilitate a smooth transition to BSVI." "Our marketing campaigns and attractive consumer schemes resulted in the highest retail sales this fiscal. December retail was 83 per cent higher than the off-take and the dealer network stock has been reduced to lowest ever level.

"Having almost completed our planned production and dispatches of BS IV, we will start moving to BS VI production and dispatches from January and step up our volumes in the coming months," he added.

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) reported a 1 per cent fall in its total sales in December to 39,230 units from 39,755 units sold during the corresponding period of 2018.

Further, the company's total domestic sales inched-up 1 per cent to 37,081 units from 36,690 units sold during December 2018.

However, exports plunged by 30 per cent to 2,149 units from 3,065 units shipped out during December 2018.

Veejay Ram Nakra, Chief of Sales and Marketing, Automotive Division, M&M said: "Our performance in the month of December is as per year end sales outlook and currently we are also comfortable with our overall stock levels." "As we get into the new year, we are fully equipped to roll out our BSVI products and have taken all requisite measures for a smooth transition over the next three months." Grant Thornton India LLP Partner, Sridhar V. said: "Sales reflective of the conditions prevalent during the year with December expectedly being true to the norm when sales is at its lowest." "Discounts and push at the dealers end has kept some momentum but it is far from any true recovery."
In a year many bankers and companies called challenging for initial public offerings, one independent Canadian firm bucked the trend  outperforming the countrys biggest banks in the process.

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. earned top spot for arranging IPOs for the first time in its history. The Toronto-based firm also extended its streak of managing the largest number of Canadian equity financings for the third year in a row.

IPOs arent easy: theyre tough to get done, generally speaking, and were good at that, Canaccord Genuity chief executive officer Dan Daviau said in an interview at Bloombergs Toronto office. Were entrepreneurial, were agile, were aggressive, were all those things that you want if youre an issuer.

Canaccords No. 1 ranking for IPOs comes in a year that saw large stock sales led by the big banks pulled, including GFL Environmental Inc. and Triple Flag Precious Metals Corp. Still, companies raised about $3 billion ($2.3 billion U.S.) from Canadian IPOs in 2019, up 13 per cent from 2018, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Rankings and data are as of Dec. 30 and may change as more deals are recorded.

Canaccord oversaw 20 IPOs and claimed 56 per cent share of the total amount raised in Canada, the data show. The firms expertise with special purpose acquisition companies helped, after managing offerings by Subversive Capital Acquisition Corp., Mercer Park Brand Acquisition Corp. and Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp. SPACS, as they are known, are publicly traded pools of funds set up to make acquisitions. Those three IPOs collectively raised $1.34 billion, priced in U.S. currency. Citigroup Inc. ranked second after working with Canaccord on Bespoke, its only Canadian transaction. Bank of Montreal was third.

Canaccord benefited by its focus on riskier mid-sized companies that large Canadian banks tend to ignore. Its also competing with fewer firms amid industry consolidation. This year, its closest rival, GMP Capital Inc., sold its advisory and trading business to Stifel Financial Corp.

Companies raised $29.6 billion from secondary share sales in Canada in 2019, with Morgan Stanley ranking No. 1 with 16 per cent of the market for equity and equity-linked financing  the first time a foreign firm took top spot since 2000, the data show. The New York-based firm arranged two sales for Restaurant Brands International Inc. totalling $3 billion, had a role on Shopify Inc.s $694-million offering in September and lead a $354-million deal by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. in October. Royal Bank of Canada was second with a 13 per cent share followed by Bank of Montreal with 12 per cent. Canaccord was fifth with a 9.5 per cent share, but managed the most equity sales overall at 67.

Foreign firms also dominated advisory work for takeovers involving Canadian companies after being credited for a number of global deals touching the nations pension fund managers. Canadian entities were involved in 3,682 announced takeovers valued at $331.1 billion to Dec. 30, the data show. The biggest was London Stock Exchange Group Plcs $27 billion takeover of Refinitive Holdings Ltd., a financial data and trading platform owned by Blackstone Group Inc., Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Singapores sovereign wealth fund and Thomson Reuters Corp.

Daviau, whose firm advised on 21 takeovers totaling $5.85 billion, said private equity and large institutional investors will 100 per cent continue to drive acquisition activity.

Values are good right now: the market is high, stock prices are generally pretty good, people feel pretty comfortable about using that paper to buy something or similarly sell themselves, Daviau said. For the next six months it feels like a very strong M&A market.

Daviau sees a particularly active market in Canada for technology and mining, which he anticipates will be robust next year with more transactions, especially those involved in precious metals.

Cannabis companies will continue to find it hard to raise capital, though Canaccord is becoming increasingly active in doing debt financing for the industry, and consolidation is on the rise, he said.

Canaccords deal-making gains arent prompting Daviau to deviate from his strategy of expanding wealth management to offset capital markets volatility. The firm pivoted a couple years ago as an extended slump in resource markets eroded their investment-banking business.

We are a wealth manager with an investment bank attached to it now, he said. Its not the majority of our revenue, but it certainly is the majority of our earnings.

Canaccord has more than doubled Canadian assets under administration to $20 billion since fiscal 2016, while turning its once money-losing North American wealth division into one that earned $26.8 million profit last fiscal year. The firm has hired 41 advisory teams for the Canadian wealth business in the past 18 month and plans to add more.

Hes also interested in buying any domestic wealth managers not owned by the big banks, including Richardson GMP and the Canadian operations of Raymond James Financial Inc. if they were for sale.

We dont believe theres a lot of wealth transactions out there, but clearly if one became available we would be interested, Daviau said.

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Across the globe, revelers ring in new decade originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

From tourist centers to town squares, revelers across the world welcomed the new decade as they rang in the year 2020 Tuesday night.

In New York City, nearly a million and a half people jammed Times Square to watch the traditional ball drop. Confetti fell from the skies as revelers sang along to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York."

PHOTO: Confetti drops over the crowd as the clock strikes midnight during the New Year's celebration as seen from the New York Marriott Marquis in New York's Times Square, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Frank Franklin Ii/AP)

President Donald Trump, celebrating the new year in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago resort, took to Twitter to post "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

(MORE: Decade rewind: How our lives have changed -- or not -- since 2009)

In Moscow, celebrants enjoyed unseasonably warm weather as they jammed Red Square for a fireworks display over the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his traditional new year's greeting just moments before the clock struck midnight, saying, "As we look forward with excitement to the chiming of the bells, we believe and hope that all our wishes are bound to come true."

PHOTO: Fireworks explode around the London Eye wheel during New Year celebrations in central London, Britain, January 1, 2020. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

In London, fireworks lit up the sky above the London Eye observation wheel on the River Thames as tens of thousands looked on.

(MORE: The 10 memest memes of this decade, the decade of the meme)

Crowds in Paris filled the Champs-Elysees to watch fireworks soar over the specially illuminated Arc de Triomphe as lasers shot from the historic arch.

PHOTO: Spectators watch a musical performance during an event marking the New Year on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang on December 31, 2019. (Kim Won Jin/AFP via Getty Images)

Revelers in Pyongyang, North Korea, celebrated with music and dancing in Kim Il Sung square.

In Brazil, fireworks rose over Rio de Janeiro's famous Copacabana beach as an estimated 2 million people jammed the shore and the surrounding area.

PHOTO: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JANUARY 01: Fireworks are seen on Copacabana beach during New Years Eve Celebration on January 1, 2020, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Revelers in Seattle, however, had to make do with a much quieter celebration, as high winds delayed the fireworks display that organizers had planned for the city's Space Needle observation tower. When the clock struck midnight, celebrants were instead treated to a laser light show set to music.

(MORE: Top sports stories of the decade: From storybook women's World Cup win to Usain Bolt's track dominance)

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In Rome, pilgrims crowded St. Peter's Square to greet the Pope Francis, who called for kindness and understanding in his New Years Eve address.

God delights in seeing how many acts of good are done every day," the pope said. "We are called to encounter others and to listen to their existence, their cry for help. Listening is already an act of love."
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 31/12/2019 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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A Winnipeg-bound passenger train carrying 13 people derailed just north of MacGregor Tuesday morning.

MacGregor is located about 90 kilometres east of Brandon.

This Via Rail passenger train derailed Tuesday morning just north of MacGregor. (RCMP via Twitter)

The southbound train, which started its trip in Churchill, encountered what Via is calling an "unexpected incident" at about 6:45 a.m., triggering the arrival of police, fire personnel and emergency crews to the site along the CN-owned track.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said Tuesday an investigator from Winnipeg has been deployed to assist with the investigation.

Via Rail spokesman Karl-Philip Marchand Giguere said in an email Train 692 derailed due to an "unexpected incident."

The train consisted of two locomotives, which derailed on their side, while the five railcars remained upright after the derailment, Giguere said.

"First responders reached the site quickly to attend to the eight passengers and five Via Rail crew members," he said.

Two of the passengers and three crew members were taken to hospital for medical attention and have all since been released.

All the passengers were taken by bus to their final destination in Winnipeg.

"Environmental crews are en route to proceed with the cleanup as information available at this time indicates a minimal amount of fuel leakage from one of the locomotives before the train is removed from the site," Giguere said.

He added Via Rail is collaborating with the infrastructure owner as well as the authorities to determine the cause of the incident, which is currently under investigation.

See Thursday's newspaper for more.

 The Brandon Sun
Yet, the large gathering, the biggest seen in the territory in weeks, underscored the continued momentum behind the anti-government movement now in its seventh month. Organizers said more than a million people participated, while police put the number at about 60,000. As Hong Kong authorities double down on denials of wrongdoing and balk at charges that basic freedoms are being eroded, protesters say they will not back down or give up  setting the stage for more clashes that will continue to pose a major headache for Beijing, also contending with greater demands for autonomy in nearby Taiwan.
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State-owned hydropower giant NHPC said its Director (Projects) Ratish Kumar has been given additional charge as the company's chairman and managing director.

The appointment was made as its CMD Balraj Joshi has retired on Tuesday.

The power ministry has entrusted the additional charge of the post of NHPC's CMD to Kumar with effect from January 1 till March 31, or till the date of appointment of a regular incumbent to the post, whichever event occurs first, NHPC in a regulatory filing.

"Balraj Joshi ceased to be chairman and managing director of the company with effect from afternoon of December 21, 2019, upon attaining the age of superannuation," it added.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 31, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan sent a congratulatory address on the occasion of the New Year and Christmas holidays on December 31.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents Office, the address runs:

"Dear compatriots,

Dear friends,

The year of 2019 has come to an end and all of us filled with new hopes, kind wishes and expectations, are preparing to see the coming year in.

Naturally, our people first of all desire peace, want to leave, create, develop and strengthen the native country. Each of us wants to see our relatives and friends happy and healthy.

The pivotal guarantee for bringing all this to life is our victorious Defense Army, whose brave soldiers and commanders are at any second, even at this very moment, standing in emplacements and trenches, ensuring the security and independence of our state and homeland, the inviolability of borders of its frontiers.

On this festive day I would like to first and foremost congratulate our servicemen, from private to general, wishing them good service, sound health and success.

I want to commemorate all those, who have been martyred for the defense of the Motherland, who are not physically present in their families and hearths. May God enlighten the souls of all our martyrs!

Dear friends,

The passing year has overall been successful from the viewpoint of our country's socioeconomic development. The positive dynamics registered during the last years has been maintained in almost all the spheres.

Naturally, there is still much to do. A number of important projects aimed at increasing our people's well-being will be implemented in the coming year in the fields of house construction, agriculture, healthcare, education and science, culture, infrastructure and many other ones.

For Artsakh the year of 2020 will be rich of political processes as well. Events of nationwide importance will take place, particularly the presidential and parliamentary elections, a new president and National Assembly will be elected.

I am more than confident that our people will, as always, demonstrate high civic responsibility and that the elections will be held in fair, transparent environment, in line with democratic principles.

At the same time, the natural and dynamic development of the state, the effective implementation of the outlined programs and solution of the set tasks should be ensured. I am sure, so it will be.

Dear compatriots,

I extend my most cordial congratulations to all of you, our brothers and sisters in Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora on the New Year and Christmas holidays.

May the year of 2020 be full of success for our people and homeland! May all our cherished wishes and desires come true! May love and warmth reign in our families!

I wish you robust health, happiness, new success and all the best.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!"
The Witcher is undoubtedly a show full of surprises and thrills. The characters in the show exist in different timelines and that pretty much sums up the entire shows story and how the timelines are connected. The Witchers Henry Cavill is already popular with his role as Superman for the recent DC movies, and he has once again proved his talent by portraying the role of a Mutant monster hunter with such dedication. However, if you like The Witcher and its storyline, here are some of the shows you can look up on Netflix:

Also read: HBO Hands Out Series Order To Drama About 1980's LA Lakers

Vikings

Vikings is the story of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok. The story depicts his phase as a mere farmer who rises up to become a fearless warrior and commander of the Viking tribes with the support of his equally ferocious family. The acclaimed show has also won a Canadian Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. If you loved the dark tone in The Witcher, you will definitely like this one.

Castlevania

Castlevania is inspired by the popular video game series. This anime series is a dark medieval fantasy. It shows the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan, Trevor Belmont, who is trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hands of Vlad Dracula Tepes. This fantasy story is one of the most shocking yet brilliant ones.

Also read: Best HBO Series: A List Of The Best HBO Original Series You Can Binge Watch

The Last kingdom

The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories series of novels. With its medieval theme set surrounding mountains, lakes, and forests, the show is mostly shot in Hungary. With most scenes in Budapest. The story revolves around Danes, who captures Uhtred during the invasion of England and raises him as one of his own.

Lucifer

As the name suggests, the story revolves around Lucifer, who has returned to Earth in order to redeem himself. The devil himself runs a club in Los Angeles and tries to reminisce about his past. He also does it in a way that he sometimes ends up doing good.

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Tandis que Zac Efron a ete hospitalise en urgence apres avoir frole la mort, 2020 est enfin la ! Et qui dit nouvelle annee dit aussi nouveaux projets, nouvelles resolutions ou encore nouveaux bonheurs a venir. Et pour nos celebrites preferees aussi, les prochains mois risquent d'etre mouvementes. En attendant de decouvrir ce qui nous attend, on a decide chez melty d'etablir la liste des evenements qu'on attend le plus pour 2020. Alors que Scott Disick a fait une magnifique declaration a sa cherie Sofia Richie, decouvrez sans plus attendre ci-dessous ce qui pourrait peut-etre se realiser prochainement.

Meghan Markle : Montrer un peu plus son fils Archie

En 2020, on espere que la duchesse de Sussex affichera un peu plus son fils Archie. Ne en mai 2019, le petit garcon est tres protege par ses celebres parents et seules quelques rares photos partagees sur les comptes officiels du couple ont permis de decouvrir le visage du bebe. Comme pour ses cousins George, Charlotte et Louis, on aimerait donc le voir un peu plus souvent dans les magazines ou sur les reseaux sociaux.

Camila Cabello et Shawn Mendes : Un baiser officiel sur scene

En 2019, Camila Cabello et Shawn Mendes ont annonce au monde entier etre amoureux. Sur scene, ils se sont deja illustres ensemble pour defendre leur duo "Senorita". Pourtant, meme s'ils nous ont deja reserve de belles declarations en public, ils ne se sont encore jamais embrasses officiellement sur scene ou a la television... On croise donc les doigts pour 2020 !

Rihanna : Un bebe avec Hassan Jameel ?

A plusieurs reprises, Riri a ete annoncee enceinte ces derniers mois. Pourtant, la chanteuse de 31 ans ne l'est pas encore meme si elle file le parfait amour avec son cheri Hassan Jameel. Alors 2020 sera-t-il le bon timing pour mettre en route un enfant ? En tout cas, la superstar n'a pas cache dans la presse son envie de fonder une famille tres prochainement.

Ashley Benson et Cara Delevingne : Un mariage en 2020 ?

Ashley et Cara font partie des couples phares de l'annee 2019. Les deux jeunes femmes ne se cachent plus et assument au grand jour leur amour. Sur les reseaux sociaux, la mannequin n'a pas hesite a declarer sa flamme a sa belle a l'occasion de l'anniversaire de celle-ci en decembre dernier. Entre un baiser enflamme dans une baignoire et un moment inoubliable a bord d'une montgolfiere, elles nous ont fait rever. Peut-etre aurons-nous droit a un joli mariage en 2020 ?

Angelina Jolie et Brad Pitt : Leur divorce enfin prononce

Angelina Jolie et Brad Pitt  Credit(s) : Stephane Cardinale - Corbis

Separes depuis 2016, Angelina Jolie et Brad Pitt se dechirent depuis pour obtenir la garde de leurs enfants. Si elle compte bien les avoir rien que pour elle, de son cote, l'acteur se bat pour avoir un droit de visite et soigne ses addictions. On leur souhaite pour le bien de leur famille de finaliser enfin une bonne fois pour toutes leur divorce histoire de definitivement tourner la page.

M. Pokora et Christina Milian : La naissance de leur fils

L'interprete de "Tombe" est sur le point de devenir papa pour la premiere fois. En couple avec la star americaine Christina Milian, deja maman de l'adorable petite Violet Madison, Matt a mis entre parentheses sa tournee afin d'etre present pour le grand jour. En effet, son petit garcon devrait pointer le bout de son nez en janvier. On a deja hate de decouvrir sa bouille !

Le Met Gala

Evenement people incontournable chaque annee, le Met Gala. Sur le tapis rouge du Metropolitan Museum of Art de New York, les plus grandes stars se livrent une veritable guerre pour trouver la tenue parfaite qui fera le plus reagir la toile et les medias dans le monde entier. En 2020, le theme sera : "About Time: Fashion and Duration"... Tout un programme !

Kate Middleton et le Prince William : Un rapprochement sincere

Alors que tout le monde pensait que rien ne pouvait atteindre le couple royal, le Prince William a ete soupconne cet ete d'avoir trompe sa femme Kate Middleton avec son amie Rose Hanbury, marquise de Cholmondeley. Une rumeur qui n'a jamais ete pleinement confirmee mais qui pourrait avoir fragilise le duc et la duchesse de Cambridge. En 2020, on souhaiterait donc les voir plus soudes que jamais pour prouver a tous que tout va bien entre eux.
JIM WATSON

Rudy Giuliani is prepared to do more than just testify at President Trumps upcoming impeachment trial. The former New York City mayor made clear in comments to reporters on Tuesday night that hes ready to pull out all the stops to defend his clientand that apparently includes giving lectures and doing demonstrations. Asked if he would testify at the trial, Giuliani appeared unable to settle on a single, coherent answer.

I would testify, I would, um, do demonstrations. Id give lectures, Id give summations. Or, Id do what I do best, Id try the case. Id love to try the case. Well I dont know if anybody would have the courage to give me the case, but, uh, if you give me the case, I will prosecute it as a racketeering case, which I kind of invented anyway, Giuliani said at a New Years Eve gala at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort.

He also dodged a question about whether he had any plans for another trip to Ukraine, an activity that has been at the center of the impeachment proceedings against Trump, which center on allegations he abused his power to pressure Ukraine to do him political favors. Giuliani, accused of hijacking American foreign policy to run a dirt-digging mission in Ukraine that would boost Trump domestically, returned from his latest trip earlier this month claiming to have boatloads of evidence to exonerate Trump and incriminate Trump's political foes, including former vice president Joe Biden and many Democrats.

So far, however, despite Trump claiming Giuliani would be filing a report with the Justice Department on his Ukraine findings and Giuliani saying he planned to brief the Senate on the matter, his findings have apparently not been embraced as the smoking gun against Democrats that he believed they would be. As The Daily Beast reported earlier this week, some Republican senators have actively avoided Giuliani ahead of the impeachment trial over concerns that his Ukraine findings may be mingled with Russian conspiracy theories. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who first called on Giuliani to share his findings, has urged him to make sure its not Russian propaganda.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 1, 2020)  The Philippine government condemned the alleged murder of another Filipino domestic worker in the hands of her employer in Kuwait.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin summoned on Tuesday Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh to discuss the death of Jeanelyn Villavende.

"The friendship between your country which gives our people the jobs they cannot find at home and our people whose faithful service make the life of your people easier depends on justice being done the murdered maid," Locsin said in a statement.

"An eye for an eye, a life for a life. I beg you give her justice. We will go after the Filipino recruiters and government officials who put her in harms way," he added.

Villavende's death 'clear violation' of agreement between PH, Kuwait

The Department of Labor and Employment said Villavende's death was a "clear violation" of the agreement signed between the Philippines and Kuwait two years ago.

Malacanang expressed a similar sentiment on Wednesday.

"We consider Jeanelyn's tragic death a clear disregard of the agreement signed by both our country and Kuwait in 2018 which seeks to uphold and promote the protection of the rights and welfare of our workers in Kuwait," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

It referred to the deal providing protection of the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Gulf state.

Meanwhile, the Labor department said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will provide burial, livelihood assistance, and scholarship to the Villavende family.

"The department looks forward to the swift resolution of the case and that justice will be served to Villavende and her family," Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said in a statement.

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office, meanwhile, is closely monitoring the results of the forensic investigation while coordinating with the family of Villavende for the repatriation of her remains.

Deployment ban encouraged anew

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Wednesday that Villavende's death calls for an immediate suspension of the deployment of Filipino household workers and organize their voluntary repatriation from Kuwait.

"The Philippine government must compel the Kuwaiti government to immediately bring the perpetrators to justice and make them accountable for the death of our OFW, said TUCP president Raymond Mendoza.

Kabayan Rep. Ron Salo called on the Foreign Affairs department to make sure of appropriate legal representation of OFWs and give priorities to areas with a high rate of worker violence.

He also encouraged the identification of alternate work destinations abroad and the creation of jobs at home.

"Moving forward, DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) must develop new markets in jurisdictions where there is high respect for human rights and where our OFWs, particularly our domestic helpers, will be treated with respect and dignity. Train domestic helpers for other skills so they wont have to work as domestic helpers where they are more prone to abuse, or worse, death," Salo said.

Before the 2018 bilateral labor deal, the Philippine government ordered a total deployment ban of new hires to Kuwait as it learned about the killing of household helper Joanna Demafelis. Her bruised body was found inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait, where it may have been kept for over a year.

READ: FW found in freezer in Kuwait is back home

Demafelis' female employer was found guilty for her death later on.

READ: Female employer of OFW Joanna Demafelis found guilty of murder
New Year celebrations saw Punekars partying outside, enjoying the winter chill at restaurants and pubs that were open till 5 am as well as ordering food at home and welcoming the new decade enjoying the view from their terraces.

Hrishikesh Joshi and his wife, celebrated with their relatives residence in Padmavati with homemade Pav Bhaji and sweets. However, a lot of families preferred ordering food home with a substantive rise in restaurant deliveries.

Ganesh Shetty, president, Pune Hotels Association said, '' We have received a good number of people for lunch and several others pre-booked their tables with us for dinner. However, there was also a 25 per cent increase in home deliveries this year with people preferring to celebrate at home.''

Jayant Patkar, an HR consultant, this year instead of travelling out of Pune decided to host a house party with 20 of his friends. "My daughter will be appearing for her Class 10 exams in March and hence we could not afford to go out of town this year. Therefore, I decided to have a potluck at my place, where each person was supposed to prepare or order a dish and we shared the food among us bring the new year together.''

A total of 150 restaurants in Koregaon Park were almost full with table reservations. Praful Chandavarkar, owner of Malaka Spice, said,We had the years highest number of reservations for lunch on the last day of 2019 with 800 reservations for the night. Despite this there was a 12 per cent increase in home deliveries to nearby areas.

While in Baner too, restaurants saw tables get booked swiftly. According to Ashwin Shetty, owner of Mr Rabbits and Burrows, ''Those who prefer to go out pre-booked their tables for the evening, however, we kept openings for walk-ins too. We also had plenty of home deliveries through Swiggy and Zomato, but we are yet to calculate how many numbers.''

As the food delivery platform of choice in Pune, Swiggy saw a spike in the number of orders this New Year. We have worked with our restaurant and delivery partners over the last couple of weeks to ensure that those Puneites who choose to celebrate the new year in the comfort of their homes have a hassle-free and reliable delivery from the wide variety of restaurants on Swiggy. While we anticipated maximum orders to come in between 8 and 11 pm, consumers also ordered from Swiggy as late as 2-4 am. Keeping in mind this is an occasion celebrated with friends and family, we worked with restaurant partners to curate menus for bulk orders as well, said an official from Swiggy.
The Irish government has published its National Cyber Security Strategy, it is an update of the countrys first Strategy which was published in 2015.

The 2019 National Cyber Security Strategy aims to allow Ireland to continue to safely enjoy the benefits of the digital revolution and play a full part in shaping the future of the Internet.

The report warns the national economy and the confidence in the State would be undermined by a major cyber attack on one of the numerous data centers that multinational tech giants have built around the country.

The new National Cyber Security Strategy urges reform to protect critical infrastructure from major cyber threats, it also warns of possible interference in Irish elections by foreign states.

Ireland is home, according to some estimates, to over 30 per cent of all EU data, and to the European headquarters of many of the worlds technology companies. reads the Strategy. Our economic success is therefore closely bound up with our ability to provide a secure environment for these companies to operate here, the paper warns.

An outage or incident affecting one of those facilities could have immediate disruptive effects on infrastructure or business across the EU or globally. In turn, this means that the infrastructure supporting these centres , public and private, now has an elevated security and economic risk associated with it,.

Ireland infrastructures suffered a number of serious cyber security incidents in recent years that demonstrate the urgency to improve the national cyber defen s es .

The document flags fundamental challenges in securing classified information in some Government departments and agencies, which extends to sensitive information obtained from other states and international bodies. reported The IrishTimes .

The growth of the Irish economy in the next years depends also on its capability to offer secure infrastructure to the tech firms that have chosen the country to establish their data centers.

The security of every process, service and piece of infrastructure in Ireland, from the electoral process through to military infrastructure and the security of public sector data has to be approached in a different way, because they are all, to some extent, dependent on connected devices and can now be targeted directly from anywhere on the planet, the report warns.

The concept of critical infrastructure has changed since the first publishing of the strategy, now new essential services have been identified, like election processes and systems, and it is necessary to address the cyber threats that could impact them.

The Strategy call for legislative provisions in terms of the security measures that critical infrastructure and operators of essential services must implement.

Pierluigi Paganini
'A Formidable Force': China's Rapidly Modernizing PLAN Has More Ships Than US Navy

Sputnik News

22:40 31.12.2019

China's People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) commissioned six warships in December, helping the fleet to remain technically larger than the US Navy while expanding its ability to project power and bringing it closer to being able to meet Washington toe-to-toe on the high seas.

Quality and Quantity

In December 2019, the PLAN commissioned six warships: two Type 056A missile corvettes, two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, one Type 055 guided missile destroyer, and the aircraft carrier Shandong, a highly modified design based on the Soviet Union's Admiral Kuznetsov-class carrier, according to Navy Recognition.

With the new warships, the PLAN fleet totals some 300 vessels, 10 more than the US Navy's 290, according to China Power at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank. However, the structure of the two fleets is very different, with Washington sporting nearly two dozen aircraft carriers and helicopter landing docks of various types used for blue-water power projection and one-third of PLAN forces being small missile boats used for littoral patrols.

The PLAN's legion of smaller ships aims to help it secure the vast coastal waterways surrounding the East Asian country, but most importantly the string of islands both natural and artificial it has claimed in the South China Sea. There, the PLAN is buttressed by the expansive Maritime Militia, which James Kraska, a professor and research director in the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law at the US Naval War College, described as "an inexpensive force multiplier" of armed fishing boats and other vessels.

Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies think tank at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told the South China Morning Post that the size of the PLAN has remained relatively stable in recent years, "but the overall quality of the ships has improved, since each new destroyer and frigate inducted into service, for example, is larger and much more capable than the ones being replaced."

The Type 052 guided-missile destroyer Harbin (Hull 112) attached to a destroyer flotilla with the North China Sea Fleet under the PLA Navy steams in waters off the Yellow Sea during a maritime training exercise in mid-January, 2018

The most recent ships commissioned are all blue-water warships loaded down with missiles, torpedoes and aircraft, as exemplified by the Shandong, which at 70,000 tons is the largest such warship outside of the US and equivalent to the UK Royal Navy's newest carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth. The PLAN's Type 055 is a 12,000-ton guided missile destroyer, the world's largest of that type, and the smaller, 8,000-ton Type 052D destroyers are just as capable in missile strikes, air defense or anti-submarine warfare.

China's Naval Strategy

A December 20 report by the US Congressional Research Service noted that "China's navy, which China has been steadily modernizing for roughly 25 years, since the early to mid-1990s, has become a formidable military force within China's near-seas region, and it is conducting a growing number of operations in more-distant waters, including the broader waters of the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and waters around Europe."

While some of those include military ops, such as the recent joint exercises with Russia and Iran in the Arabian Sea, they also include anti-piracy patrols and escorting commercial vessels through dangerous waterways, such as those near Somalia and the eastern coast of Africa. China Global Television Network (CGTN) noted on Friday the passing of the 11th anniversary of the PLAN's anti-piracy patrols as well as the expansion of the navy into humanitarian aid, such as that offered to the Maldives in 2014 and Yemen the following year.

"China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is assessed as being aimed at developing capabilities for addressing the situation with Taiwan militarily, if need be; for achieving a greater degree of control or domination over China's near-seas region, particularly the South China Sea; for enforcing China's view that it has the right to regulate foreign military activities in its 200-mile maritime exclusive economic zone (EEZ); for defending China's commercial sea lines of communication (SLOCs), particularly those linking China to the Persian Gulf; for displacing US influence in the Western Pacific; and for asserting China's status as the leading regional power and a major world power," the CRS report notes.

As the report notes, China's goals in a conflict inside the Second Island Chain - that is, west of the Mariana Islands, Micronesia and Guam - are primarily anti-access/area-denial. In other words, to make it too dangerous for US naval forces to operate there.

To this end, the PLAN and the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) have specialized in a series of long-range anti-ship missiles that far outpace US anti-ship missiles and even US warship radars. These missiles, with ranges of between hundreds and thousands of kilometers, can be launched from warships, land-based installations and aircraft, including an air-launched ballistic missile fired from a specialized version of the H-6N bomber.

Washington's Response

Washington has responded to these plans with a shift toward the "Indo-Pacific," spelling out in a June strategy report how "a negative shift in the regional balance of power could encourage competitors to challenge and subvert the free and open order that supports prosperity and security for the United States and its allies and partners. To address this challenge, DoD [Department of Defense] is developing a more lethal, resilient, and rapidly innovating Joint Force, and is increasing collaboration with a robust constellation of allies and partners."

The Pentagon report notes that "under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party," China aims to "reorder the region to its advantage by leveraging military modernization, influence operations, and predatory economics to coerce other nations," advising that the US buttress its partnerships with other nations in the region in order to lure them away from China's heavy soft power influence, which it exercises via economic partnerships such as the Belt and Road infrastructure project.

Not included in the report is how Washington has steadily outsourced patrolling parts of the region to Australia, which has itself embarked upon a massive, $65 billion naval expansion aimed at reducing its dependence upon the US Navy.

Another June report, by the Center for a New American Security, called attention to Beijing's long-term plan to come from behind, overtaking the US technologically by 2049 in a three-stage program of steadily expanding capabilities.

While the Trump administration has long made a goal of expanding the US Navy's fleet to 355 ships, the Pentagon has struggled to comply, pushing instead for an attitude not unlike Beijing's: replace the aging warships with newer ones instead of extending their lifespans. A recent spat between Pentagon planners and the White House's Office of Management and Budget was uncovered by Defense News, which published portions of a memo showing the aging USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier at the center of a budgetary dispute that would have culled about five ships in total, slowed down some upcoming construction plans and cancelled several retrofits of older cruisers.

The Navy has repeatedly sought to block a costly mid-life refueling that would extend the nuclear-powered Truman's life for another 30 years, attempting to force the ship into an early retirement in a bid to save nearly $4 billion. At the same time, the Navy penned a contract with shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls for a $13 billion double-buy of the new Ford-class carriers, which will replace the older Nimitz-class ships like the Truman. However, the Trump administration pushed back, cancelling the Truman's planned early retirement in April and rejecting budget proposals last month that failed to include the ship's mid-life refueling.

Newly appointed US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly has doubled down on US President Donald Trump's goal of a 355-ship navy by 2030.

 Sputnik

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The venue was packed with more than a thousand people waiting to see Pete Buttigieg, and a chant had broken out for the Democratic presidential candidate a few minutes before he took the stage.

Kasey Peters, inside the hall, did not chant along. He did not hold up a sign for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, like some around him, or outwardly applaud Buttigieg's remarks. The 31-year-old compliance analyst was there just to listen.

The Saturday event was only Peters' second time seeing a candidate in person this Iowa caucus cycle. He saw Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts nearly a year ago, when she first announced her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Peters had effectively tuned out the crowded race since then, and he's still undecided.

A woman listens to Former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential candidate, on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, at the Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa.

Things will change in the weeks ahead, as Peters goes to other candidate events and reads up on policy proposals.

Now that were getting closer to caucus, Im diving in, he said.

With a month to go before the Feb. 3 caucuses, Iowans like Peters appear to be everywhere. Multi-candidate events draw large turnouts from fervent supporters, but there are also those in the first-in-the-nation caucus state who are not sure which candidate to support. They're only now beginning to venture out to see the candidates in person, despite the inundation of political ads on television and nearly 2,000 public events candidates have hosted in Iowa in 2019.

I am one of the undecided, declared Jenny Burton, a social worker who attended the West Des Moines Buttigieg event. Burton noted that she had met author Marianne Williamson in Des Moines a few days earlier. Burton is actively considering multiple candidates, including Williamson and Warren.

Im trying to get in with anybody whos coming to the community," Burton explained about her caucus strategy in the weeks ahead.

Burton added about the candidates: "I respect all of them, almost equally. Thats why its so difficult for me to narrow it down to one."

Story continues

The crowd listens to then-South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg speak at a campaign event on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at the Skate Pit in Knoxville, Iowa.

'Undecideds' spark hope for low-polling candidates

In September, a Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll showed just one in five likely Democratic caucusgoers said their minds were made up, while 63% said they could still be persuaded to support a different candidate.

An Iowa Poll released in November showed an uptick in decision-making: More respondents  then at 30%  said they had a first choice and their minds were made up. But 62% who said they had a first choice also said they could still be persuaded.

That indecision has been a lifeline for several presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses, despite a shrinking debate stage that has limited some candidates' exposure.

Dave Waters of Boone saw Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey speak in Adel on Dec. 20. The senator, who failed to make it onto the debate stage in Los Angeles the day before, was on Waters' list of possible picks.

Waters said he has usually decided which candidate to caucus for by now.

Theres too many good ones, Waters said about his dilemma this time.

Some likely caucusgoers are in no rush to figure things out.

Jim Oxendale, who saw Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at a Dec. 22 event in Ida Grove, said he wont make a final decision until the last 15 minutes before the caucuses.

The crowd listens to then-South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg speak at a campaign event on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at the Skate Pit in Knoxville, Iowa.

"I think this is a very serious thing," said the 70-year-old Oxendale, who also lives in Ida Grove. "And it makes me nervous to commit to somebody too early because were a long way from February."

After hearing former Vice President Joe Biden speak in Tipton on Saturday, West Liberty resident Faye Petersen said she is "beginning to think that perhaps hes the one."

Even so, Petersen added, she is still undecided  she also likes Klobuchar, Booker and entrepreneur Andrew Yang  and she fully expects to change her mind at least a few more times before she attends her caucus.

I will make it up before then, she said, dismissing any pressure to choose.

Every darn one of them is way better than what we have, Petersen said.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Des Moines Register.

Still a lot of candidates to choose from

Peters, who attended the Buttigieg event in West Des Moines, said he tuned out for most of last year because there were so many candidates in the race. That number has dropped only a little, from a high of more than two dozen to 15 candidates.

Peters said while his interest in Warren has subsided, he likes Buttigieg. He is also intrigued by former Rep. John Delaney from Maryland.

Hes someone Id like to look a little more into, Peters said of Delaney.  Hes kind of been someone Ive paid attention to the whole time hes been in the race.

Peters said he knows several friends who are undecided like him. He said some have expressed interest in Sen. Bernie Sanders from Vermont and Yang.

Everybody is still exploring, he said.

Rachel Foubert is also undecided, but that wasnt always the case.

The 25-year-old teacher had committed to caucus for Kamala Harris. Now that thesenator from California is out of the race, Foubert is actively looking for the next person to support. She attended a Biden event in Williamsburg on Dec. 27, in part because it was close to her home in North English, about 30 miles away.

But Foubert has found no favorites yet that resonate with her the way Harris did. So she plans to see as many candidates in person as she can. The Biden event was the first for her. She said she was drawn to Bidens experience with foreign diplomacy.

I just want someone who can beat Trump, Foubert said.

Sometimes the decisions come unexpectedly.

Mathew Kelly came to see Buttigieg at a town hall in Knoxville on Sunday with his young daughter. Kelly said he liked Buttigieg and Klobuchar, and he planned to give himself some time to make a decision.

I think I just need to hear them speak and do more research, he said before Buttigieg addressed the crowd.

After the event, Kelly signed a card committing to caucus for Buttigieg.

Register reporters Brianne Pfannenstiel and Austin Cannon contributed to this report.

Barbara Rodriguez covers health care and politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at bcrodriguez@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8011. Follow her on Twitter @bcrodriguez.

Your subscription makes work like this possible. Sign up at DesMoinesRegister.com/Deal.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa caucuses: A month out, many Iowans still haven't decided
New York children are more likely to live in poverty than in 31 other states. This is not a new trend. For more than a decade, the percentage of New York children living in poverty has lingered at 20 percent. And, due to structural inequities, child poverty among New York children of color has long exceeded 30 percent.

In some New York communities  including Rochester and the Bronx  more than half of the children live in poverty. When we also account for children living in near-poverty  that is, at up to 200 percent of poverty, or less than $51,500 for a family of four  1.5 million of our children are living in families struggling to pay rent, heat their homes, access transportation, and make food last through the end of the month.
Ever since Mursel Mistanoglu arrived in Anna Campisis home state of Nebraska from his native country of Turkey on TLCs 90 Day Fiance Season 7, the couples cultural differences and language barrier have caused major issues.

In particular, Mursels refusal to tell his family back home about Annas three sons has been a sticking point for the unlikely pair. On last weeks episode, Anna finally issued an ultimatum to Mursel: Tell your family or were done. On the Dec. 29 90 Day Fiance episode, I Dont Have a Choice, Mursel dealt with the aftermath of obliging Annas wishesand things went even worse than either of them had ever feared.

Anna Campisi | Anna Campisi via Instagram

Mursel told Anna he had to return to Turkey

Mursels family responded to the news that Anna had three children with as much venom as possible. The 90 Day Fiance stars mother even told Mursel shed never liked Anna and wanted him to return to Turkey immediately.

Im so angry with your family, Anna told Mursel as the couple sat weeping over the news. So what are you going to do now? she asked her fiance, still holding out hope for the best.

But she wasnt about to get her wish. I dont want leave you but my family very bad. Very aggressive, Mursel said before confessing that he planned to return to Turkey right away due to his parents wishes. Heartbroken, Mursel curled up on the floor and bawled.

The 90 Day Fiance stars wrestled with a possible breakup

For her part, Anna was unimpressed with Mursels inability to fight for their marriage. Im really pissed and upset that Mursel is 38 and cant stand up to his parents, Anna told TLC producers.

But Mursel and Anna would have to break up, her husband-to-be claimed, unless his parents changed their mind. Explaining that he was facing incredible pressure from all sides, Mursel said, They dont allow us to marry because it is against Turkish culture. I will probably return to Turkey.

And while the 90 Day Fiance star admitted it wasnt at all what he wanted, he didnt feel it was his decision to make. I want to oppose it but they are older. I spent many years with them. Because of that I cannot stand against them, Mursel asserted.

Annas mom confronted Mursel about his decision

Anna and Mursel then took on the heartbreaking job of telling Annas mom and sons about her fiances impending departure.

Annas mother, like her daughter, was not at all impressed with her would-be son-in-law. Well, this is just such bull****, she snapped. So you come here for 90 days, you break my daughters heart, and now youre going to go back to Turkey like nothings wrong?

Mursel lamented the childrens loss and their pain over their mothers heartbreak. I can see in their faces an incredibly upset look. I am quite sorry about this, Mursel cried.

Its really depressing because I thought he was gonna help me a lot and hes now leaving, Annas young teen son Gino confessed to producers.

Again, Annas fiance claimed he had no part in the decision. The 90 Day Fiance star panicked and nearly fell apart as he declared, I want it, but its all over. I have to go back to Turkey. I dont have a choice.

Mursel sadly headed to a hotel to prepare to leave, but the couples devastating video calls that night suggested that neither Mursel nor his future (possible) wife was completely ready to give up just yet.


Navy ships will reach the east coast of Victoria on Thursday in a mammoth exercise to provide essential supplies to communities trapped by fire, while being ready to evacuate people stranded on beaches.

The two vessels are due to arrive one day earlier than first promised and will be off the coast of Mallacoota with helicopters capable of transferring food, water, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

A house destroyed by fire in Mallacoota near the border of Victoria and NSW.

The Australian Defence Force scaled up its assistance on New Years Day with a Black Hawk helicopter rescuing three people from the New South Wales town of Moruya while another Black Hawk evacuated at least one person from Mallacoota in Victoria.

But a decision is yet to be taken on whether the military will be needed for large-scale evacuations from Mallacoota and other towns ringed by fire, amid forecasts that conditions will worsen on Saturday.
Irans highest political and religious authority went after Donald Trump on the presidents favourite medium on Wednesday, hurling insults as Washington and Tehran squared off over the storming of the American embassy in Baghdad.

That guy has tweeted that we see Iran responsible for the events in Baghdad and we will respond to Iran, said Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis English-language Twitter account, translating similar statements posted to his Persian-language account, as he retweeted Mr Trumps accusations.

First: You cant do anything, he continued. Second: If you were logical  which youre not  youd see that your crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan have made nations hate you.

It appears to have been the first time Mr Khamenei, or the account operated in his name, has retweeted anything by Mr Trump, and a rare instance of him directly addressing the American president.

It came as members and supporters of the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia in Iraq began to withdraw from the site of the US embassy in Baghdad after attempting to storm it twice in two days in response to US airstrikes on Sunday which killed 25 members of the group and injured at least 50 at its bases in western Iraq and eastern Syria.

The airstrikes angered Iraqi officials and much of the public. Though the militia is considered a terrorist group by the US, many Iraqis regard its members as heroes for fighting Isis, or are at least sympathetic to the young mostly poor militiamen who join it. The US launched the attacks in response to a barrage of rockets that landed on a base in northern Iraq on Friday that killed an American military contractor and injured US soldiers.

Washington claimed Iran was behind the attack but has provided no evidence and has yet to disclose why it believes Kataib Hezbollah, which is among a number of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias hostile to Washington, was responsible. Independent security experts have argued that pro-Iranian Iraqi militias were probably behind the missile strikes, among a long-running series of attacks on bases across Iraq where Americans are stationed.

Story continues

Funeral processions for the slain militiamen on Tuesday turned into angry marches that evolved into a rowdy demonstration at the US embassy compound in Baghdad, where protesters managed to make their way into the entrance and set fires. They eventually were convinced and coerced into leaving, but were setting up a protest encampment outside the fortress-like facility, the largest and most expensive US diplomatic mission in the world.

Clashes erupted again on Wednesday morning, with reports that some protesters were injured by teargas before being convinced to leave by the leadership of the Popular Mobilisation Units, the government umbrella organisation under which Iraqi militias who fought against Isis operate.

The US has begun to bolster security at the compound, reportedly deploying hundreds more troops to Iraq, including marines that landed at the facility in helicopters on Wednesday.

In the tweet that provoked Mr Khameneis ire, Mr Trump said Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities.

He added, They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat.

Bizarrely, Mr Trump ended the tweet with, Happy New Year!

Mr Khamenei, in a tweet on Wednesday, wrote that if Iran wants to fight a country, it will do so openly, a statement which appears to contradict four decades of Iranian security strategies which emphasised asymmetric and clandestine action.

We are committed to the interests and dignity of our people and we will confront whoever threatens that without any consideration and hurt them, Mr Khamenei wrote in his tweet.

Read more

Ambassador and staff evacuated as Iraq protesters attack US embassy

Iraq condemns deadly US airstrikes on militia bases as violation

US strikes militia bases in Iraq and Syria after death of contractor

US contractor killed after 30 rockets fired on Iraq military compound

Mass grave containing remains of 643 civilians discovered in Iraq
Scoot has continued the new year celebrations with a massive sale on cheap flights to 20 popular holiday destinations.

The Singapore-based budget carrier has launched its 'Silly Season Sale' to mark the start of 2020 with international flights from Australia from as little as $135 with one way tickets to several European destinations starting from $329.

Flights to Singapore from $135 from Perth, $159 from the Gold Coast, and $179 from Sydney or Melbourne.

Feeling Japanese? A one way flight to Osaka (pictured) from $249 from Perth, $269 from the Gold Coast, and $279 from Sydney or Melbourne with Scoot

Flights to Athens (via Singapore) from $329 from Perth, $339 from the Gold Coast, or $349 from Sydney or Melbourne.

Flights start to the German capital of Berlin from $329 from Perth, $339 from the Gold Coast, and $359 from Sydney or Melbourne.

For those looking for a getaway closer to home, Scoot also has stacks of cheap fares to popular Asian holiday destinations such as Japan, Bali, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Cheap flights to Singapore (pictured) start from $135 from Perth with Scoot

Airfares to Bali flights are from just $189 while a number of Thailand destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai all start from $185.

Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos are also on sale with flights to Kuala Lumpur from $169, Ho Chi Minh City from $179 and Luang Prabang from $189.

If you're looking to head to Japan, flights to Osaka start from $249 from Perth, $269 from the Gold Coast, and $279 from Sydney or Melbourne.

Other destinations include Hong Kong (starting from $199), Manila and Cebu in the Philippines (also from $199) while a cheap airfares to Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan from $219.

The budget carrier's Silly Season Sale includes cheap airfares to Berlin (pictured)

Flight on sale are for travel from now until October 31 but exclude blackout periods.

The sale begins 1pm Thursday (AEDT) and runs until 2.59am January 7.

The sale follows Tigerairs domestic flight sale launched as Wedneaday with flights as little as $49.
Naftogaz not holding talks on purchase of Russian gas with Gazprom now  Naftogaz head

NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy is not holding talks with Russia's Gazprom on direct purchase of natural gas now, Naftogaz Ukrainy CEO Andriy Kobolev said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"A rather intense and emotional discussion is ongoing among the Ukrainian government and wider political elite. After its completion, I think we can return to this issue. So far, Naftogaz is not holding such negotiations," he said.

Kobolev also said that Ukraine's significant gas reserves in underground storage facilities, accumulated on the expectations of a possible interruption of gas transit across Ukraine from January 1, allow the country not to import significant gas volumes in the coming months.

At the same time, during the first quarter of 2020, Naftogaz Ukrainy will import 1 billion cubic meters from Slovakia as guaranteed volumes of gas contracted with large European traders.
ISRO on Wednesday announced that four Indian Air Force pilots have been selected for the ambitious 'Gaganyaan' manned space mission programme, whose astronaut training would commence soon in Russia.

A day after Union Minister Jitendra Singh said India will launch Chandrayaan-3 most likely in 2020, Indian Space Research Organisation chairman K Sivan said the activities for the mission were going on very smoothly and the take-off may shift to next year.

Addressing a press conference here, Sivan said four Indian Air Force airmen have been identified for the country's maiden manned space mission and their astronauts training would start from the third week of this month in Russia.

"We had good progress in 2019 as regards Gaganyaan. And many of the designs were completed and astronauts' selection process is over. Now four are identified for training purpose..that process is also completed," Sivan said.

On Chandrayaan-3, he said the work was going on smoothly.

"One major announcement I wanted to make here officialy is that the government has approved Chandrayaan-3 and the project has been formed.

The activities are going on for Chandrayaan-3 very smoothly and its configuration will be similar to that of Chandrayaan-2," he said.

It will have a lander, rover and a propulsion module, he noted.

Asked about the launch date, he said it would be announced only when the project nears completion.

He also said the launch of Chandrayaan-3 may shift to next year.

Work on both Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan, was going on simultaneously, he added.

Noting that Chandrayaan-2 orbiter's mission life was seven years, he said it would be used for the third lunar mission as well.

Giving an estimate of the project cost for Chandrayaan-3, Sivan said, "This particular cost of lander and rover configuration thing is about Rs 250 crore. The total cost of the project is Rs 615 crore."



The objective of Chandrayaan-3 would also be to land in the lunar south pole, he said.

On the launch pad to come up at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, Sivan said, "apart from the space port at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the land acquisition for a second one has been initiated in Tuticorin district."



As regards the choice of location, he said, "It was mainly to get advantages of southward launch especially for SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)."Observing that the pad, once set up, would be used for launching SSLVs initially, he said it may be expanded for big ones in future.

On future missions, he said, "25 missions have been planned for 2020."



"The missions that were planned in 2019 and could not be completed would be finished by March this year," he said.

Asked what went wrong with the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2, he said it was due to velocity reduction failure.

"The velocity reduction failure was due to internal reasons," he said.

Chandrayaan-2 mission was India's first attempt to land on the lunar surface. ISRO had planned the landing on the south pole of the lunar surface. However, Vikram hard-landed.

Sivan also congratulated the Chennai based techie who recently located the Vikram lander that hard-landed and maintained that it was the space agency's policy not to release pictures of the crashed module.

The space agency has sought an allocation of Rs 14,000 crore from the Centre in the budget for 2020-21 for various projects.

India has signed agreements with Russia and France for cooperation on the ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I was speaking with friends recently, and we were discussing the Canadian Pension Plan.

On average, over the span of your working life, you will contribute approximately $100,000 or more to the pension plan. But wait  if you are to pass away before receiving the pension benefit, that $100,000 investment disappears, and your family is left with a $2,500 death benefit.

In what world is that fair?

If I had $100,000 in RRSPs and I pass away, those funds would become part of my inheritance shared with those I had chosen in my will.

Can you imagine how people would be up in arms if the bank said, sorry we are keeping the money invested in RRSPs for ourselves?

This is just one layer of the rotten onion we call government.

J. Andeson
From health battles, expanding families and political woes, well-known Northern Ireland faces have been reflecting on their last 10 years and what lies ahead in 2020.

East Belfast woman Maxine Mawhinney (62) is one of the best-known journalists of our time, and as a BBC News anchorwoman delivered the news that Princess Diana had died.

The mum of two daughters and three grandchildren says she has had a "lively" decade and is looking forward to the next one.

"It has been a really busy decade for me," she said. "I celebrated 40 years in journalism. I left the BBC after 21 years.

"I got married. I got breast cancer and my daughter produced my three grandchildren. So personally and professionally it was quite the decade.

"It's also been the start of a new career speaking, hosting and writing. I've joined the senior faculty of the Karolinska Institutet University in Stockholm where I lecture in communications. I'm writing a fiction novel. I also turned 60 but as it's the new 40, I'm not slowing down at all," she said.

"Looking ahead, in 2020 I want to spend more time in Northern Ireland with my family and also bring friends there to show them all the fabulous things on offer."

Read More

UTV political editor Ken Reid is looking forward to 2020 after the arrival of a new granddaughter.

The 64-year-old father-of-three has battled leukaemia, but is now back to health and back on our screens.

"On a personal note the past decade has inevitably had ups and downs," he said.

"Health-wise, it saw a cancer diagnosis and some pretty heavy chemo, a toe amputation and surgery, six months in a wheelchair and a leg bypass, something I would not recommend.

"On the plus side the treatment I've received has been world-class.

"Once or twice it was not certain a return to work would be possible but I made it.

"Work-wise it has been the decade of Brexit and a troubled Stormont. The end of a political age in many ways. As for the next decade, there are signs of a new generation of politicians coming through. Our future is in their hands.

"Brexit hasn't gone away and will continue to cause division and controversy. As for Stormont, we are now entering the last chance saloon.

"Family is my main priority and the birth of my first grandchild Summer was a remarkable experience. Roll on the next decade!"

Londonderry-born actress and movie producer Roma Downey (59) said she is looking forward to an exciting decade, packed with film and TV projects.

"A decade ago my kids were young teenagers and now they are all young adults," she said.

"So that was a big achievement, to raise a beautiful family. But seeing them grow up so fast makes you ask the question, 'Where does the time go?'

"Professionally, I am president of LightWorkers - the faith and family division of MGM Studios and I'm preparing to launch our LightWorkers streaming platform. I am super excited about that.

"Additionally we have a new show launching on Netflix on New Year's Day called Messiah, which I am also excited about.

"I love to travel and hope to get back to Northern Ireland in the summer. I have been gone many years, living most of my adult life here in the States, but I always love to get back to Ireland to see family and friends and water my roots in Derry."

Downtown Radio's Drivetime DJ Neal McClelland has an exciting decade planned. The 46-year-old said having children has instilled in him a fierce work ethic which will see him evolve even further professionally in the 2020s.

"The best thing about the last decade or so for me was definitely the birth of our children," he said. "We have got three children - Lottie who is 12, Jessica who is nine and Jude, who is seven years-old.

"They have filled our house with noise and madness, but becoming a father has really levelled me in the direction of where I need to go, from a work ethic point of view.

"We have moved house twice in the last decade and are still working on that. So it has just been really head down and continuing on.

"Last year I got my black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu, so this year I'm going for my second. It will also be about less alcohol, more training and healthier eating.

"The next decade will be a really exciting one for me. The work I do with Downtown Radio is very much ongoing, but I'm also working on other projects and courses revolving around mental health, DJing and music. I would like to keep doing that."
- Hector and Nonhlanhla said I Do in the classy Theba Eco Hotel in South Africa

- The couple became a darling to many after Hector went down on one knee in a KFC restaurant to propose to his lover

- The bride aged 28 and the groom who is 37 became a national couple of the year 2019

A couple that broke the internet with a unique marriage proposal at KFC Evaton Mall, Vall, in South Africa has finally said I Do.

Nonhlanhla Soldaat aged 28 and Hector Mkansi, 37, professed their vows on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, in a colourful wedding ceremony graced by friends and relatives.

READ ALSO: Auntie Boss Actress Silprosa flaunts her well-endowed curves during vacay

Nonhlanhla and Hector broke the internet with a cute marriage proposal. Photo: Austin Malema Source: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Senator Murkomen shows off ecstatic dance moves as he welcomes new year

According to a report by W24, the couple exchanged their vows at Thaba Eco Hotel in a very colourful and elegant wedding.

In a video shared by the hotel on Twitter, the venue looked classy and was covered in creamy yellow colours and green flowers.

READ ALSO: 'Tutaendelea kuifanya Kenya kuwa bora Uhuru asema huku akitoa wito wa umoja 2020

According to the photos, the bride was walked down the aisle by her mom dressed in a creamy yellow flowing gown.

Their fans kept sending them congratulatory messages for the big step they took in life.

The couple became a darling to many for their incredibly unique proposal after a video surfaced on social media showing Hector popping the question.

The footage showed the man getting down on one knee at a KFC in South Africa to his emotional girlfriend.

The KFC South Africa took to its official Twitter page to try and track down the happy couple by sharing the video.

Many sponsors also showed interest and promised to cater for their wedding.

TUKO.co.ke wishes Hector and his newly wedded wife Nonhlanhla a happy marriage.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

Kenya's youngest Reverend- Victor Githu | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
It was never my intent to offend anyone. But obviously I did. For that, I am truly sorry, I apologize," Kesan wrote. "Since this was brought to my attention, I have become very careful to make sure that my words and deeds dont offend or cause discomfort to anyone going forward.
Seoul:

North Korea is abandoning its moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, leader Kim Jong-un has declared according to state media on Wednesday. The North has previously fired missiles capable of reaching the entire US mainland, and has carried out six nuclear tests.

A self-imposed ban on such tests -- Kim declared they were no longer needed -- has been at the centrepiece of the nuclear diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington over the last two years, which has seen three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, but little tangible progress.

Analysts said the declaration amounted to Kim putting a missile "to Donald Trump's head" -- but that escalation by Pyongyang would probably backfire. Any actual test is likely to infuriate Trump, who has repeatedly referred to Kim's "promise" to him not to carry them out, and has played down launches of shorter-range weapons. Negotiations between the two sides have been largely deadlocked since the breakup of their Hanoi summit in February, and the North set the US an end-of-year deadline for it to offer fresh concessions on sanctions relief, or it would adopt a "new way".

"There is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any longer," the official KCNA news agency cited Kim telling top ruling party officials. "The world will witness a new strategic weapon to be possessed by the DPRK in the near future," he added. The full meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party -- an indication of a major policy shift -- and the KCNA report came ahead of Kim's annual New Year speech, a key moment in the North Korean political calendar, reviewing the past and setting out goals for the future.

It will be Kim's eighth such address, after he revived the tradition started by his grandfather -- North Korea's founding leader Kim Il Sung -- but discontinued during his father's rule. Kim made clear to party officials that the North was willing to live under international sanctions to preserve its nuclear capability. "The US is raising demands contrary to the fundamental interests of our state and is adopting brigandish attitude," KCNA cited him as saying.

Washington had "conducted tens of big and small joint military drills which its president personally promised to stop" and sent high-tech military equipment to the South, he said, and stepped up sanctions against the North. "We can never sell our dignity," he added, saying Pyongyang would "shift to a shocking actual action to make (the US) pay for the pains sustained by our people".

For months, Pyongyang has been demanding the easing of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, while Washington has insisted it takes more tangible steps towards giving them up. "North Korea has, in effect, put an ICBM to Donald Trump's head in order to gain the two concessions it wants most: sanctions relief and some sort of security guarantee," said Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington.

"Kim Jong-un is playing a dangerous game of geopolitical chicken," he added. "He is gambling that threatening another demonstration of his ability to hit the US homeland with a nuclear weapon will somehow push America into granting more concessions." But the strategy was unlikely to be effective, he said, as Washington was likely to respond with "more sanctions, an increased military presence in East Asia and more fire and fury style threats coming from Donald Trump's Twitter account".

The US has already indicated that it will react if the North carried out a long-range missile test. At the weekend Trump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said the administration would be "extraordinarily disappointed and we'll demonstrate that disappointment". "We have a lot of tools in our toolkit, and additional pressure can be brought to bear on the North Koreans," he said.

An ICBM launch would also be likely to frustrate China, the North's key diplomatic backer and provider of trade and aid, which always stresses stability in a region it regards as its own back yard. But ties between Pyongyang and Beijing have warmed markedly in the past two years, with Chinese President Xi Jinping paying his first visit to the North as head of state in June, and Beijing and Washington at loggerheads over trade and other issues.

Also Read: White House Warns North Korea Over 'Christmas Gift' Threat, Says Would Consider 'Other Tools

In December, China and Russia -- another key economic partner for the North -- proposed loosening UN sanctions against Pyongyang, and analysts say Kim is likely to seek to exploit rivalries between Washington, Beijing and Moscow.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Organizers of the desert frolic known as Burning Man sued the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, claiming it unjustly charges them millions of dollars in unnecessary fees and engages in a pattern of prejudicial conduct that is threatening to ruin the annual festival.

It is the latest conflict between the nonprofit group Black Rock City LLC, which organizes Burning Man, and the federal agencies that have jurisdiction over the land and roads leading to the Black Rock Desert, about 150 miles northeast of Reno, where the nine-day event is held.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 13 in U.S. District Court in Washington, accuses BLM and Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt of ongoing, unlawful, and prejudicial conduct... that threatens the viability of the iconic Burning Man Event.

BLM has been charging our organization for unreasonable costs and Burning Man has been seeking relief for these costs for nearly four years, said a statement sent Tuesday by Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley, the event spokesman. This case is our attempt to break this cycle.

In 2019, Black Rock City paid the BLM $2.95 million, not including the commercial use fee.

A woman at the BLM office in Winnemucca said Tuesday that nobody was available to comment about the lawsuit.

The Burning Man festival, which got its start as a small gathering in San Francisco, has grown dramatically since it began 27 years ago. Tickets have sold out for the past nine years, usually within minutes of going on sale.

What the attendees get is an instant city, with events and plenty of counterculture tomfoolery, over nine days. In 2019, 78,850 people attended, generating an estimated $75 million for the local economy.

Black Rock City is required to reimburse BLM for the cost of providing law enforcement and oversight, plus 3% of its gross receipts. The event brought in nearly $44 million in revenue in 2018.

The suit claims costs increased a whopping 291% between 2011 and 2013 while the number of attendees only rose 39%.

The suit claims the Interior Board of Land Appeals and BLMs Winnemucca office have never offered adequate justification for the cost increases and have unreasonably denied relief in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

It also accuses the government of unreasonable delays in issuing decisions, hampering Black Rock Citys ability to plan and budget for the festival.

Defendants pattern and practice of delay has also had the effect of institutionally biasing the administrative decision-making process, the lawsuit said, threatening the rights of BRC and its participants to use public lands.

Black Rock City claims it has filed six appeals of what it claimed were excessive and unjustified fees over the past four years to no avail.

The lawsuit comes four months after the organization complained about a series of vehicle stops and searches for drugs conducted by officers with the U.S. Department of the Interior on people heading to the annual festival. They complained that officers stopped trucks and trailers the week before the event on Nevada Highway 447 on the way to the Black Rock Desert and, in several cases, conducted lengthy searches using police dogs.

A department spokeswoman said at the time that federal, state and local law enforcement officers were patrolling the highway at the request of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, which has jurisdiction over that portion of the roadway, in an effort to keep opioids off their reservation.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite
North Chinas Tianjin and the city of Anyang in Central Chinas Henan province both reported two new cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant over the weekend. Both cities have launched new rounds of mass testing and designated more Covid-19 risk areas to control the spread of the virus

Jan 10, 2022 06:18 PM
Baghdad: US troops fired tear gas as Iran-backed militiamen and other protesters gathered outside the American embassy in Baghdad for a second day on Wednesday.

The militiamen and their supporters had camped out at the gates of the embassy overnight, a day after they broke into the compound, trashing a reception area and smashing windows before pulling back. It was one of the worst attacks on a US diplomatic mission in years.

Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters outside the US embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday. Credit:AP

The US Marines guarding the embassy fired tear gas as more crowds arrived and after the protesters lit a fire on the roof of the reception area. Smoke rose from the building.

The protesters began withdrawing from the perimeter on Wednesday afternoon and moving to a protest camp in front of a nearby hotel.
Nearly 100,000 people are expected to gather Wednesday at MetLife Stadium to celebrate the Siyum HaShas, a major event for Orthodox Jews  and officials say security will be tight in the wake of recent attacks on Jewish residents in the region.

The celebration comes three weeks after the mass shooting at a Kosher market in Jersey City and five days after the mass stabbing at a Hanukkah celebration at a rabbis home in Monsey, New York, just across the New Jersey border.

Wednesdays event is for Jews across New Jersey and around the world who have spent the last 7 1/2 years rigorously studying the Talmud, the book that guides Jewish life and law.

They celebrate the completion of that study at the Siyum HaShas, reading the 2,711th  and final page  at the event.

The last celebration, in 2012, drew more than 90,000 attendees at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Wednesdays gathering marks the end of the 13th cycle since the studies began in 1923.

Gov. Phil Murphy is scheduled to attend the celebration.

The New Jersey State Police has developed a robust security plan for the event with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, according to Major Brian Polite, a state police spokesman.

Polite said the goal is to ensure a safe and secure environment for all attendees, workers, and responders for the duration of the event.

He also said the State Police is communicating with agencies in neighboring state and NJ Transit to "ensure safe and efficient transportation to and from the stadium."

Today and everyday we want to remind everyone to remain vigilant, and that if you see something, say something," Polite said.

He urged people to call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ, email tips@njohsp.gov, or call 9-1-1 if they see anything suspicious.

Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, the chief operating officer of the Siyum HaShas, told NorthJersey.com that security security will be similar to that of a presidential visit and the stadium will be the safest place to be Wednesday.

The Anti-Defamation League says there were more than a dozen incidents last month in which Jews were threatened, harassed or assaulted in the New York and New Jersey area.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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America Ferrera had jubilant news Tuesday when she announced she was pregnant with her second child.

The 35-year-old Superstore star showed off her growing baby bump in a sweet photo shared to Instagram.

She was joined by her son Sebastian, 19 months, and her overjoyed husband Ryan Piers Williams, 38.

America and her family were pictured near El Paso, Texas, and she covered up against the chilly weather in a burgundy ribbed sweater and black leggings with cream-colored snow boots.

The fiercely private actress had Sebastian turned away from the camera as he raised a hand to touch his future sibling.

'Welcoming Baby #2 in 2020!' she wrote in the caption. 'Happy New Year from our wild & growing bunch.'

Great news: America Ferrera, 35, announced she was expecting her second child in a sweet Instagram photo with her husband Ryan Piers Williams, 38, and their son Sebastian, 19 months; pictured in 2016

'Congratulations!!!! This is the most exciting news ,' wrote Reese Witherspoon, while Judith Light wrote, 'You are the sweetest family. All love to you all in this New Year.'

'YAYYYY!!! Congratulations again beauty!!! ,' wrote Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Melissa Fumero, who revealed she was expecting a baby of her own last month.

One Day At A Time's Justina Machado also congratulated her and wished her a happy new year.

NYE celebration: 'Welcoming Baby #2 in 2020!' she wrote in the caption. 'Happy New Year from our wild & growing bunch'

Home life: The post was the second time in a week America showed her son Sebastian, after sharing a sweet Christmas morning photo with the whole family

America's pregnancy announcement was the second photo in recent days to feature her son Sebastian, whom she usually keeps away from the public eye.

She previously shared a photo with the family in matching red plaid pajamas on Christmas morning as she and Ryan leaned in to kiss Sebastian in front of a Christmas tree.

'I hope you get kiss attacked today by some bunny you love,' she captioned the sweet snap.

Going strong: America met Ryan, an actor and director, when he cast her in one of his student films at USC. They got engaged in 2010 and married the following year; shown in November

America first met Ryan, an actor and director, when he cast her in one of his student films while both attended the University of Southern California.

The couple got engaged back in 2010, and they tied the knot on June 27, 2011.

This is the second New Year's Eve Pregnancy announcement for the Real Women Have Curves star, after she announced her first pregnancy at the end of 2017.

She and Ryan welcomed Sebastian in late May of last year.

Growing family: The couple welcomed their first son in May 2018; pictured in December 2018

America opened up to Health about her experiences raising a child last year.

'[Parenthood has] absolutely changed us as individuals,' she said. 'It changes what we talk about and what we focus on. For so long, it's been just the two of us, and we've had an amazing life together.'

The actress currently stars on NBC's hit comedy Superstore, currently in the midst of its fifth season.

The workplace comedy will return to the air after its mid-season hiatus on January 9, 2020.
Dont forget to eat pork and sauerkraut today. If not, you could risk your luck.

Pennsylvania Dutch lore dictates eating the fermented cabbage and pork will bring good fortune in the new year. Its central Pa.'s version of black-eyed peas.

The superstition suggests because a pig roots forward, eating pork on New Years Day helps a person to move ahead. The thought is you dont want to eat chickens, which scratch backwards in a direction nobody wants to move.

Of course, you can prepare your own pork and sauerkraut using these recipes. But if youd rather go out to eat, here are some places in the Harrisburg region where you can order pork and sauerkraut.

Campbelltown Volunteer Fire Company

The fire company will host an all-you-can-eat pork and sauerkraut dinner 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Price is $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Take out will be available.

2818 Horseshoe Pike, Campbelltown, 717-838-3707

Capitol Diner

The 24-hour diner will begin serving pork and sauerkraut starting at 10 a.m. The meals come with mashed potatoes, choice of soup or salad and one vegetable for $10.99.

800 Eisenhower Blvd., Swatara Township, 717-929-2279

The Chambers Hill Fire Co.

The fire company will be preparing and serving an all-you-can-eat New Years pork and sauerkraut dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The meal includes pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, dessert and beverage. Cost is $11 per person and $5 for children ages 4-12. Proceeds benefit the all-volunteer fire company.

6400 Chambers Hill Road, Swatara Township, 717-564-8009

Flinchys

The restaurant opens at noon on New Years Day with a pork and sauerkraut buffet for $12. Its first come, first served. Unfortunately, the restaurant is not accepting reservations.

1833 Hummel Ave., Lower Allen Township, 717-761-9000

Hershey Road Family Restaurant

Executive chef/owner Scott Levy and his staff will be serving pork and sauerkraut as well as items off the regular menu. The meal will include mashed potatoes and one side dish. The restaurant will be open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and the pork will be ready starting at 11 a.m.

257 N. Hershey Road, West Hanover Township, 717-545-2529

Newberry Township Fire Department

All you can eat pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, vegetable, homemade bread, beverages and desserts. Will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or until sold out. Cost is $10.

2145 York Haven Road, Etters

Tree of Life Lutheran Church

A pork and sauerkraut luncheon will be served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with pork, sauerkraut, hot dogs, mashed potatoes, collard greens, dessert and drink. Price is a freewill offering. Money raised from the dinner benefits Tree of Hope, which is helping to build Hope Academy, a girls school in Guatemala.

1492 Linglestown Road, Lower Paxton Township

Wooden Nickel

This Millersburg restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. serving traditional pork and sauerkraut.

219 Market St., Millersburg, 717-692-3003

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HONG KONG, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam cheered on frontline police officers in a visit to the Police Headquarters on Tuesday.

While Hong Kong experienced an unprecedented difficult situation in which rioters committed extremely violent and vandalistic acts, police officers faced enormous workload and pressure, Lam said.

Frontline police officers have had to work long hours in recent months. Some have been injured on duty, while some officers' family members have fallen victim to doxxing.

Lam encouraged police officers and thanked them for discharging their duties with professionalism to maintain law and order in Hong Kong.

Lam said she believed that police officers will continue to stand fast in their posts, enforce the laws without fear or favor and discharge their duties in the spirit of "serving Hong Kong with honour, duty and loyalty" to protect its residents.

The entire HKSAR government team will continue to support the force to enable society to return to normal as soon as possible, she said.
on Wednesday rejected India's new Army chief's statement that New Delhi reserves the right to "preemptively strike" across the Line of Control (LoC), terming the remarks as "irresponsible".

In an exclusive interview to PTI barely hours after taking charge of the 1.3-million strong force, Army Chief Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane on Tuesday said India reserves the right to "preemptively strike" at sources of terror. He asserted that a "new normal" in the country's response mechanism to acts of cross-border terrorism has already been "emphatically" displayed.

"If does not stop its policy of state-sponsored terrorism, we reserve the right to preemptively strike at the sources of terror threat and this intent has adequately been demonstrated in our response during surgical strikes and Balakot operation," the Army Chief said in New Delhi, in a stern warning to Islamabad.

Reacting to Gen Naravane's remarks, the Foreign Office in a statement said, "We reject the new Indian Army Chief's irresponsible statement regarding 'pre-emptive strikes' across the LoC" inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

There should be no doubt about Pakistan's resolve and readiness to thwart any aggressive Indian move, inside its territory or PoK, the statement said.

"No one should forget Pakistan's befitting response to India's Balakot misadventure," it added.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.

India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26. The next day, the Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1.

"Despite India's provocations, Pakistan would continue contributing to all efforts of promoting peace, security and stability in the region and beyond," the statement said.

Ties between the two neighbours further worsened after India on August 5 revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into two union territories. Reacting sharply to India's decision, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled India's ambassador in Islamabad.

Pakistan has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue but India has categorically told the community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter. It has also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
D erry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson has defeated her co-stars in a special festive edition of The Great British Bake Off.

Host Sandi Toksvig jokingly branded them "five of the most troublesome people we have ever had in the tent".

She added: "I don't think we have ever had more fun."

Jackson defeated her co-stars Siobhan McSweeney, Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Nicola Coughlan and Dylan Llewellyn / PA

The TV stars attempted to impress judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood with an alcohol-laced sharing trifle for their signature challenge.

A few of them tucked into booze as they whipped up sponges, jelly and custard.

Jackson, who had never made a cake before taking part in the show, triumphed after winning the duo over with her Irish cream trifle, decorated with green sugar shamrocks, and her 1960s-inspired showstopper cake.

She also impressed during the technical challenge, when the contestants were tasked with making salmon and beetroot blinis.

After she was announced as the victor she said: "I'm stunned. I can't believe I won, I'm delighted."

Hollywood praised Jackson for being the "most consistent over the three challenges, adding: "For someone who has never baked before coming into the tent, to do what she has done, fantastic job."

Leith added: "I've always said if you can read you can bake, and the Derry Girls proved that today."

The group did struggle with a number of their efforts and Leith told Llewellyn the layers of his Bakewell trifle were "a bit casual", while Jackson's was branded "a bit messy and smeary".

The Derry Girls struggled with a number of their efforts / PA

Hollywood told McSweeney her trifle was "all over the place, it looks like an aquarium", while Leith added: "It does look like slime."

O'Donnell was told her showstopper cake, shaped like the plane Amelia Earhart landed in Derry in the 1930s, was "as tough as old boots" after she mixed up the table spoon and the teaspoon while measuring out the baking powder.

Meanwhile, Coughlan's bowler hat cake inspired by 1930s Berlin and the film Cabaret was branded "quite musty" and Llewellyn was told his 1960s camper van lemon cake was "nearly inedible".

McSweeney made a chocolate raspberry cake in memory of her family camping trips to Cork in the 1980s, which she said looked "so weird".

Hollywood told Siobhan McSweeney that her trifle was 'all over the place' / PA

After the final challenge Coughlan said: "I am a broken woman."

Jackson said: "I don't think it could have gone any worse."

McSweeney joked: "I've basically ruined the memory of my mother and father, I might not go back in."
Chloe Ferry channelled her own unique sense of style when she headed out into the sunshine in Thailand on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old teamed a skimpy black semi-sheer bustier with a long animal print skirt which had a high thigh-split running up the side.

Flashing her leg as she headed out, Chloe swapped her beloved heels for a pair of flip-flops, putting comfort first.

New year, who's this? Chloe Ferry teamed a semi-sheer bustier with a thigh-split animal-print maxi skirt as she headed out in Thailand on Wednesday

Adding a pop of colour to her ensemble, she had treated herself to a neon manicure and pedicure and wore her blonde locks in a ponytail.

While her ex Sam Gowland wasn't pictured with her, they are believed to be on the trip together, leading people to speculate whether they are back together.

Chloe and Sam have had their fair share of break ups since their romance first went public back in 2017.

Take a walk on the wild side: Flashing her leg as she headed out, Chloe swapped her beloved heels for a pair of flip-flops, putting comfort first

Ace in lace: Chloe's top was a little skimpy in design and struggled to contain her assets

But she was spotted in the background of one of his hairdresser's social media snaps as he got a fresh new haircut ahead of the trip abroad.

Both Sam and Chloe were tagged in the photo that was shared on the hairdresser's Instagram page.

Chloe and the MMA fighter have recently shared snaps of themselves on holiday in Thailand.

But despite their desperate attempts to avoid featuring each other in their posts, they have each been open about sharing snaps from their tropical holiday.

In October, Chloe revealed that she had finally called it quits on her relationship with Sam for good following their turbulent romance.

She confirmed her single status following speculation that the former couple had rekindled their relationship during a then recent trip to Dubai.

The couple went public with their romance in October 2017 but split in May earlier this year after she accused him of cheating with Love Island beauty Amber Davies, something she vehemently denied.

Snapped: Chloe was recently snapped waiting patiently for Sam as he got a fresh haircut before jetting out to Thailand, leading to rumours they have reconciled




BANGALORE, India, Jan. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Fleet Management Market Analysis

Fleet management market growth can be attributed to fleet owner's growing emphasis on fleet productivity and cloud-based fleet management software deployments. Fleet management software is a GPS-like vehicle-based system, but the difference is that it is also logs data into networks, and establishes back office device data communication. Market research has revealed that the division of the automotive industry had the largest market share in 2017 and is expected to record the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Get Free Sample Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Auto-1C138/fleet-management-market

Efficient management of the fleet needs a lucrative management system for operations that can execute all procedures without much error. The impact of wireless technology adoption in fleet management is expected to increase the growth of the market, owing to its advantages such as quick access & response, wide-area coverage, and cost reduction.

Trends Influencing The Global Fleet Management Market Share

The growth of the fleet management market is driven by rise in need to manage fleet in a more efficient way, increase in concerns about the safety of a vehicle and the associated driver, stringent government regulations toward vehicle maintenance and tracking, obligatory incorporation of electronic logging device in fleet, rise in adoption of wireless technology owing to their decreasing costs and easy availability.

In addition, compliance to government regulations to minimize co2 emission and continuous tracking of driver behavior, vehicle tracking and others have resulted in high market prospects. Furthermore effective communication network with emergence of 4G, 5G and other wireless technologies has influenced rapid growth. However, cost sensitivity among local players and less integrity of information restrain the market growth. Transportation and logistics industry is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the fleet management businesses in the near future.

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Region Wise Fleet Management Market Analysis

During the forecast period, North America will account for the largest market share.

will account for the largest market share. Due to the booming e-commerce industry and increased demand for efficient transport logistics operations, the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The region also provides the fastest-growing smart fleet management market in the world due to increased demand for smart transportation.

Fleet Management Market By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Lamea

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Fleet Management Market Key Segments

Key Market Players

Tomtom N.V.

Navico

Fleetmatics Group Plc

At&T Inc.

Mitac International Corporation

Ibm Corporation

D. Systems

Telogis

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Freeway Fleet Systems

Others

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Fleet Management Market By Vehicle Type

Light Commercial Vehicle

Heavy Commercial Vehicle

Aircraft

Railway

Watercraft

Fleet Management Market By Component

Solution

Driver Management Solution

Operation Management Solution

Driver Management Solution

Services

After-Sales Services

Claim Inspection Services

Vehicle Tracking/Follow-Up Services

Customer Relationship Management (Crm)

Fleet Management Market By Communication Technology

Gnss (Satellite)

Cellular System

Fleet Management Market By Industries

Retail

Government

Transportation & Logistics

Automotive

Others (Manufacturing, Construction, And Energy

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Reports Related to The Subsegments of Fleet Management Market Report:

1. Global IoT Fleet Management Market

With the increasing number of fleet vehicles, higher maintenance costs, and unpredictable fuel prices around the globe, fleet companies are increasingly concerned about achieving high operational performance with reduced costs. IoT makes this possible by facilitating real-time control and data transmission over the cloud server using networking system such as 4 G or future 5G, thus allowing efficient management and reducing fleet management costs. Further to achieve optimum results, IOT fleet management provides predictive maintenance and data analysis

The global market size of IoT Fleet Management in 2017 was US$ 3810 million and is expected to reach US$ 17500 million by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 21.0 percent between 2018 and 2025.

The key factors driving the IoT fleet management market's growth are increased demand for streamlined business operations, real-time fleet tracking, and an increasing number of fleet security government mandates. Routing management represented the IoT fleet management market's largest share with 38.4 percent in 2016. This segment's growth can be attributed to increasing global road freight traffic and ongoing R&D initiatives aimed at developing innovative products.

The IoT fleet management market is expected to have the largest share in the North America region with 38 percent in 2016. Growth in this region's IoT fleet management market can be attributed to increased fleet vehicle purchases, high adoption rates of advanced technology products, and government regulatory innovations.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-L394/global-iot-fleet-management-market

2. Global Automotive OEM Fleet Management Market Analysis

Global Automotive OEM Fleet Management is a framework designed to control, track and monitor commercial vehicles effectively by fleet operators.

In 2018, the global market for automotive OEM Fleet Management Services was xx million US$ and is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, rising at a CAGR of xx% between 2019 and 2025.

The light commercial vehicles sub-segment of the market in North America is expanding at a substantial pace due to the extensive usage of these vehicles to transport daily goods in the region. Due to high vehicle production in the region, Asia Pacific is likely to hold a prominent share of the global market. During the forecast period, the demand in Latin America is projected to expand at a significant rate of growth. Further, the market is expected to grow with a significant increase in the number of passenger and commercial vehicle production facilities in Mexico and Brazil.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-2Z205/automotive-oem-fleet-management-services-market

3. Global Fleet Management Software Market

Fleet management software is developing rapidly with the preamble of big data analytics solutions. Big data analysis increases the health and actions of drivers. Predictive analytics, a big data analytics division, helps fleet operators handle corporate fleets proactively in the highly competitive automotive fleet industry. Fleet management businesses that spend on cloud computing and Big Data Analytics solutions will remain strong on the software market for fleet management as these technologies provide numerous benefits.

In 2018, the global Fleet Management Software market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% between 2019 and 2025.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1K206/fleet-management-software-market

4. Global Commercial Vehicle Fleet Management System

Commercial Fleet Management System for Vehicles (CV FMS) is a centralized system that provides operators with efficient fleet management. FMS covers functions such as car finance, vehicle maintenance, telematics for cars, driver control, speed management, fuel management, and health and safety management. FMS combines technologies for hardware, applications, and networking.

Based on market research it is expected that North American countries will contribute significantly over the forecast period to the growth of commercial vehicle fleet management systems.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-4J165/commerical-vehicle-fleet-management-system-market

5. Global Automotive Fleet Management Market

Due to rapid technological advancements in the automotive industry, today's vehicles are incorporated with advanced technology to directly manage fuel purchases and record telematics data to manage driver behavior and predictive maintenance scheduling.

Market growth can be attributed to the increasing ecommerce sector and cab services that have significantly increased the need for efficient fleet management solutions. The rising size of the automotive fleet for transport and logistics is the main factor in the growth of automotive fleet management solutions worldwide.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-34S309/automotive-fleet-management-market

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New Delhi, Jan 1 : The political slugfest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the violence and arson during the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests peaked on Wednesday -- the first day of the new year, as both the parties levelled serious allegations against each other.

At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar blamed the AAP for its alleged role in sparking anti-CAA violent protests in Delhi last month.

"Violence on the CAA issue was spread by AAP and the Congress in Delhi. AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan made a statement to instigate riots that spoiled Delhi's atmosphere," Javadekar said.

In December a series of anti-CAA protests rocked Delhi, which panned-out into episodes of violence and arson, which included destruction of public property -- public buses were set afire and private vehicles also damaged.

Javadekar said: "Now the people of the national capital and the country have understood their politics. Hence, there is peace in Delhi. Everyone has understood that CAA is not against any religion. No matter how much AAP and Congress try, we will not let them spoil the atmosphere of Delhi. AAP's MLA was allegedly involved in a video clip, which could have potentially instigated the people." The political battle in Delhi is shaping into a direct contest between the AAP and the BJP. The AAP continues to target the Centre's policies for the national capital.

Earlier, the AAP continued its political tirade against the BJP to provide clarity on the regularization of more than 1,700 illegal colonies, which house nearly 40 lakh people.

Though the Congress -- another major political party -- is also critical of the recently released Delhi government's report card identifying ten key developments, the AAP has chosen to train its guns on the BJP.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, during a press conference, shot back at the BJP for accusing the AAP of involvement in the anti-CAA protests and violence.

"The entire country knows which party has the mastery to fuel riots," he said, countering the BJP's allegation that AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's statement instigated riots that spoiled Delhi's atmosphere.

Initially, Sisodia began the interaction with mediapersons attempting to corner the BJP, saying the party favours expensive education and deliberately sanctioned a four-fold increase in the CBSE examination fee.

But, in the middle of the interaction when queried on the AAP's role in the violence, Sisodia said: "AAP does not favour riots, and it is an attempt to divert attention before the upcoming Delhi polls... Delhi main purane tape nahin chalenge (Old tapes will not work in Delhi)." Sisodia, without naming the BJP, slammed the party and said it has a mastery in inciting riots.

The BJP, on the other hand, referring to the AAP's report card, called the Arvind Kejriwal government's performance a bundle of lies and betrayal of the people of the city.

With the Delhi elections round the corner, the BJP has upped the ante by raising crucial issues.
Before going any further, it's important to define what Netflix means by "popular," because the company has long been known for coyness when it comes to releasing viewership data for the shows and movies on its service.

But according to a new ranking from Netflix, the most popular title of the year for the streaming giant's Australian and US viewers was something completely different: the not-so-well-reviewed Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston crime comedy film Murder Mystery.

When many people think of Netflix in 2019, especially during awards season, they probably think of movies like The Irishman and Marriage Story  prestigious titles with inescapable "for your consideration" ads, ecstatic reviews and social media chatter. Or they might think of shows such as Stranger Things and Russian Doll.

The California-based firm has only recently begun releasing data for how many people are watching some of its originals. And even those numbers are of limited use because they lack the context a third-party data firm could provide, such as comparisons to traditional TV viewership and shows on rival services. In the time it takes to parse what Netflix's data actually means, one could watch a decent chunk of Martin Scorsese's latest mob epic.

For its New Year's top 10 lists, Netflix calculated popularity based on how many people watched at least two minutes of a piece of content in its first 28 days of release, according to a person familiar with the methodology.

Yes, two minutes. That's not a typo. If someone clicked on a Stranger Things episode because it was featured on the homepage and got about as far as the opening credits, that counts for Netflix's popularity roundup. Think how YouTube counts views based on how many people start watching a video, not by how many finish.

This is different from how Netflix generally determines viewership. With its movies, for example, it's a view if the person gets through 70 per cent of the run time. Netflix earlier this year said 73 million US households watched Murder Mystery in its first four weeks. This month, Netflix said The Irishman was watched by more than 26.4 million US households in its first week.
China's central bank announced Wednesday it was cutting the reserve requirements for banks, freeing up about $114 billion to boost lending and spur the slowing economy.

The People's Bank of China will cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) on January 6 by 50 basis points, it said in a statement, reducing the amount of cash banks must hold.

Lowering the ratio frees up more money for banks to lend to small businesses.

The central bank cut the requirement three times in 2019 to bolster the Chinese economy, which grew at the slowest rate in three decades last year.

State news agency Xinhua said the latest cut will "offset the impacts of cash demand" ahead of the Spring Festival in late January.

Nomura investment bank chief China economist Ting Lu said in a note that the move reflected Beijing's concerns over tightening credit and other pressures on the economy, but was likely to have only a limited impact.

"We believe the economy has yet to hit the bottom given strong growth headwinds. The market may turn much more optimistic about China's growth prospects, similar to early 2019, but we recommend caution on the economic impact of the RRR cut," he wrote.

Cooling domestic demand and a bruising trade war with the United States have contributed to the economic slowdown.

Washington and Beijing last month announced a "Phase One" trade deal, de-escalating their nearly two-year trade war as President Donald Trump reduced or cancelled some tariffs while Beijing promised to adopt trade reforms and buy more US farm exports.

The partial trade agreement will be signed in the middle of January, Trump said Tuesday, announcing that he will also travel to China for continued talks.

prw/gle
The Centre had delayed the release of compensation to the states, promised under the GST regime to any state whose annual revenue from the new tax failed to grow by more than 14 per cent. The five states  Punjab, Kerala, Delhi, Rajasthan and West Bengal said in a joint statement: The GST compensation for the month of August and September, required to be paid by the central government ...

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2019 is ending on a sombre note  the economy is in a shambles and the nation is polarised as never before. The Modi-Shah duo must discard its Hindutva projects for a better year ahead





by Ashok K Mehta





Looking back at 2019, the defining image of the year captured by The Indian Express was on its front page, ironically on Vijay Divas, of the Delhi Police brandishing thick wooden rods against hijab-clad students trying to protect a male student outside the Jamia Millia Islamia university. The picture brought back to memory iconic images of Qutubuddin Ansari pleading for mercy with a sword-wielding Ashok Mochi alongside during the Godhra riots. The month of December saw a tsunami of protests over the utterly hasty and misguided Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The lid on the pressure cooker blew off following a history of lynchings, negation of Article 370 and the reduction of Jammu & Kashmir to a Union Territory, the passage of the triple talaq Bill, the victory at Ayodhya  all targetting Muslims  concurrent with the youths anger over joblessness and a plummeting economy.





Even as more than 20 people were killed across the country during anti-CAA protests and riots, neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah uttered a word on the offending CAA. Instead, Modi waxed eloquent over India aspiring to become a $5 trillion economy. Earlier, Shah had said, You can keep protestingCAA-NRC will be implemented. Insensitively, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the State which became the fulcrum of protests and maximum casualties, tweeted: We will take revenge. In pursuing religious agenda, the Government is hurting the social fabric of the country, which could lead to serious fissures in internal security that can diminish national security in turn.





In February, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted surgical strikes, claiming without any convincing evidence, that nearly 300 Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were killed in Balakot. The mere fact that the IAF had entered the Pakistani air space and bombed Balakot was commendable. But the Government milked the Balakot strikes to win the 2019 elections, like it had utilised the Uri surgical strikes of 2016 to win several State elections. The Government fought the federal elections over national security, nationalism, Pakistan-bashing and deifying the soldier when the reality on defence and national security is otherwise: Absence of institutional defence reforms and scant attention to military modernisation due to negligible funding, complex arms procurement procedures and an ill-though concept of Make in India. To the Governments credit are the construction of the National War Memorial and the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), another box it will tick in its election manifesto. Whether or not a CDS will better the uneasy civil-military relations and streamline defence planning, decision-making and defence preparedness is yet to be known. Only additional defence reforms and budgets can ensure the same.





Kashmir has been in lockdown for five months now without internet, restricted access to cellphones, the entire political leadership is under detention and theres a silent civil disobedience movement. Digital India will soon bag the world internet shutdown prize. In 2018, it claimed records in highest frequency, longest duration and 68 per cent of the worlds shutdowns. The shutdown and lockdown have cost the State Rs 20,000 crore. Former State Jammu & Kashmirs downgradation to a Union Territory is held together by an overwhelming presence of security forces, who will feel the heat when an alienated Kashmir reawakens from its hurt and anguish.





New Delhi is crafting new laws to alter the electoral arithmetic in Jammu & Kashmir so that Muslim-majority Kashmir does not call the shots in the re-engineered Union Territory. The Army, which is now permanently in aid to the civil authority in the former State, will probably spend another generation holding it together following the missteps of abrogating Article 370 and 35 A and the reorganisation of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which are all under judicial scrutiny.





The fear of CAA in National Register of Citizens (NRC)-implemented BJP-ruled Assam and the consternation and protests that have followed in the North-east have rekindled the ghosts of the past. After suffering from the ravages of insurgencies, the North-east, except Manipur and now Assam, has been peaceful. The Nagaland Peace Accord of 2015 was scheduled to be sealed and signed on December 11 at Kohima in a full and final settlement of the Naga political question, marking a closure to the mother of all insurgencies.





This did not happen probably for two reasons: The protests in the North-east prevented Prime Minister Modi from travelling to Kohima; or contrary to claims, NSCN (IM) was not ready to sign the final agreement because of its demands for a separate flag and Constitution, two State symbols taken away from Jammu & Kashmir. NSCN(IM) has the potential to fish-in troubled waters in the North-east. Even without its messing around, the North-east will remain politically disturbed. It is strategic absurdity to keep two frontier States in unrest and dissonance.





On CAA, India has ruffled feathers of abiding friends in the neighbourhood, especially Bangladesh. EU countries, the US and human rights bodies have pointed fingers over religious distinctions made in India and human rights violations in locked-down Kashmir. Indias foreign policy orientation has visibly shifted from non-alignment to issue-based multi-alignment, maintaining strategic autonomy. Focus on Neighbourhood First and Act East has dissipated to the nebulous Indo-Pacific in a bid to contain China rather than concentrating on the Indian Ocean Region.





The postponed 22nd round of India-China border talks were not held in Agra as planned but in New Delhi due to CAA protests, which also took down India-Japan talks. Since the boundary question has been off the table for some time, the Wang Yi-Doval dialogue is more about maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border, based on the Wuhan strategic guidelines. Mandarins in South Bloc have pretended that Pakistan does not exist in the neighbourhood but its reckless Pakistan- bashing has willy-nilly re-hyphenated India with Pakistan.





The CAA has brought the identity issue at the centrestage. The Army was called into Assam and Tripura for flag marches. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Anil Chauhan endorsing the Governments hard policy decisions was beyond their remit.





The military is one institution that has remained apolitical, professional and secular. The lessons from Blue Star in Golden Temple and the demolition of Ayodhya are not forgotten. The Army has sizeable number of Muslims, who have proved their loyalty to the tricolour. It is motivated by regimental and generational loyalties, derived from izzat, dastur and iqbal (honour, tradition and welfare). Nationalism is only a later addition.





This last column of 2019 ends with a somber signal. The economy is in a shambles and the country is polarised as never before. On the external security front, India faces a two-front situation. The Governments partisan agenda has created two internal security situations in Kashmir and the North-east. Looking ahead, one hopes Modi and Shah will act like Vajpayee and Advani and discard their Hindutva projects to usher in a happier 2020.





(The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander IPKF South, Sri Lanka and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff.)
Embattled PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, denies wrongdoing.

Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he would seek parliamentary immunity from prosecution in the three corruption cases he faces, a move that could delay criminal proceedings against him for months.

Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust over allegations that he granted state favours worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israeli media barons in return for gifts and favourable coverage.

He denies any wrongdoing, saying he is the victim of a witch-hunt by the media and left to remove a popular right-wing leader.

A trial cannot begin once an immunity request is made, and Netanyahu announced the politically risky move in a speech on live television just four hours before a deadline for an application was to expire.

Netanyahu, who was re-elected leader of the ruling Likud party last week, has often accused judicial and law enforcement officials of trying to drive him from office and said only the voting public can choose who will lead the country.

He said in his address that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he was entitled to Parliaments protection.

His allies have issued stern warnings against what they call an activist court overstepping its authority.

Normally, a request for immunity would need to be approved by a parliamentary committee and then submitted to a full vote. But the committee charged with handling such matters does not exist because a government was never formed after Septembers election.

The attorney general cannot file the indictment until the question of immunity is settled, delaying any court proceedings.

Amid deep political deadlock, Parliament seems unlikely to decide the issue before Israels March 2 election.

Netanyahu will need the support of 61 of its 120 legislators for immunity to be granted, the same majority that eluded him in attempts to form a government after national ballots in April and September.
Toms River police were searching Tuesday evening for a man who robbed a Chase Bank and made off with an undisclosed amount of money, authorities said.

At aboyt 3:20 p.m., the man walked into the bank, located in a bustling Route 37 shopping center that includes a Shop Rite, and passed a note to the teller demanding money, according to a statement from the Toms River Police Department.

After he was handed the money, the man fled on foot and was last seen walking west in the parking lot of a Buffalo Wild Wings located just a few feet away in the shopping center, police said.

Anyone who could help identify the person in the pictures above was asked to call Toms River Police Detective Ryan Quinn at 732-349-0150 x 1361.

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.

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All bull markets come to an end, and this past decade has been a remarkable one for investors who've escaped largely unscathed from any corrections. While no one knows when the next recession will hit, there's good reason to believe we're closer to the next one than the last one.

Now would be a good time, then, to clad your portfolio in armor to protect it from the inevitable downturn. One of the best ways is through investing in quality, dividend-paying stocks, a key attribute for investors living off their stocks in retirement.

Here's why global energy giant ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) may be one of the best stocks for income-loving investors girding themselves for the fall.

On top of a production boom

We don't hear much about oil's impact on the stock market these days. It wasn't that long ago that every tick higher in the price of a barrel caused ripples across most markets. That hasn't really happened much in recent years, and that's thanks to the U.S. becoming the world's largest energy producer over the past decade.

According to the Federal Reserve, the impact from higher oil prices on the U.S. economy "is likely a small fraction of what it was a decade ago and should get smaller still if U.S. oil production continues to grow as projected."

Primarily because of fracking, the U.S. has accounted for virtually all of the increase in oil production and for half of all natural gas, which saw the largest increase for any country in history. Sitting atop that boom is Exxon, which itself is the world's largest energy company, and it may be ready to bring even more to market.

Along with Hess and China's CNOOC, Exxon owns the largest portion of a new oil field off the coast of Guyana that just began producing its first oil and is expected to hit full production of 120,000 barrels per day within a few months. Recoverable resources for the area are estimated to exceed 6 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

A new discovery in the area was also just reported by Exxon, and as many as 750,000 barrels per day could be produced by 2025. It will begin production within five years of having made the discovery, some four years ahead of the industry average, and generate a 10% return even if oil falls to $40 per barrel. It has similar returns on its Carcara project off the coast of Brazil, too, that should begin producing its first barrels in 2023 to 2024.

Oil is north of $60 per barrel now, but having spent the past few years preparing its business to run on lower oil prices, Exxon is among just a handful of producers that can still profit if a new bear market swamps the industry.

Not just production, but refining, too

While Exxon's production capabilities are prodigious, it has also structured itself beyond its upstream capabilities to have leading downstream refining projects. Earlier this year, it announced it was investing $9 billion in six major projects, including hydrofiners, hydrocrackers, and cokers, giving it the ability to break down heavier crudes containing longer hydrocarbon chains into higher-value products like diesel and gasoline.

Exxon also plans to invest $2 billion in the Permian Basin to support its logistics projects in coastal refining, terminal capacity, and marine export. The combination of investments upstream, downstream, and in chemicals allowed it to outline a path forward that it says will let it double its earnings by 2025 to $31 billion.

A consistent track record in all kinds of markets

Exxon is one of the more innovative leaders in the energy industry, yet it has been served well by a conservative management team that has paid dividends to investors for over 100 years and has consistently raised the payout each year for the last 37 years.

Even during the Great Recession, which sent shock waves through the oil industry, Exxon was financially stable enough to continue paying out its dividend.

The yield is almost 5%

Despite the superlatives, ExxonMobil stock has underperformed the market over the past year as investors avoided the sector, rising just 1% compared with the S&P 500's 30% gain. That low price represents an opportunity for retirees.

The yield on Exxon's dividend is now 5% as a result of the depressed share price, but without adding too much risk, even though it has substantial negative free cash flow at the moment. Because it is investing large amounts in its capital expenditures, it has relied upon debt to pay for it, but has committed to doubling its cash flows as well over the next few years.

A focus on the future

Finding secure, dividend paying stocks now means an investor can concentrate on locating the best payouts without concern about the market's volatility over what may be a tumultuous time. Your income will continue regardless of how the market performs.

There are a number of stocks that could fit the bill for retirees, but ExxonMobil may be one of the best suited for the task.
JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel on Tuesday began preliminary pumping of gas from a lucrative field in the Mediterranean Sea to its coastline rig, just days before it is to sign a a major pipeline deal with Greece and Cyprus.

The start of the so-called flushing process took place after repeated delays due to legal challenges from wary Israeli residents who remain skeptical of the grandiose project that Israel vows will wean it off coal and revolutionize the economy by turning the country from an energy importer to an unlikely exporter.

Israel's focus on its newfound gas reserves over the past decade has faced stiff domestic criticism from environmental and social welfare activists. They say the government has been too generous toward the gas tycoons behind the exploration, and that the massive investment has steered resources away from focusing on renewable energy sources.

More recently, local activists have been urging Israel's Delek Drilling and its U.S. partner, Noble Energy, to move a proposed shoreline treatment gas rig farther out to sea. The activists fear what they call the catastrophic consequences of spreading toxic water and air pollution toward their homes.

Residents held demonstrations Tuesday, with some leaving their homes and keeping children home from school in protest.

Delek, Noble and the Israeli government insist that the most stringent safety measures have been put in place, and accuse their critics of waging an irresponsible scare campaign.

Aside from the economic benefits, the promise of gas appears to have helped Israel grow closer to Arab governments and other Mediterranean countries.

The leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Israel plan to sign an agreement on Thursday for the building of the eastern Mediterranean natural gas pipeline, which will run across the Mediterranean from Israels Levantine Basin offshore gas reserves to the Greek island of Crete and the Greek mainland, and then to Italy.

The EastMed pipeline is expected to satisfy about 10% of the European Union's natural gas needs, decreasing energy dependence on Russia.

The Leviathan reservoir was discovered in 2010 some 125 kilometers (75 miles) off the Israeli coast, and together with the discovery of the smaller Tamar field, ushered in a wave of optimism for a country that used to take an almost perverse pride in thriving with very few natural resources.
US President Donald Trump said that Iran will be held accountable for lives lost in attacks on any US facilities.

"Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost, or damage incurred, at any of our facilities. They will pay a very BIG PRICE! This is not a Warning, it is a Threat," Trump wrote on Twitter hours after protesters angry about U.S. air strikes on Iraq hurled stones and torched a security post at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

"The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is, & has been for hours, SAFE! Many of our great Warfighters, together with the most lethal military equipment in the world, was immediately rushed to the site," Trump said.
Business group, opposition blast DPP over anti-infiltration bill

ROC Central News Agency

2019/12/31 22:24

Taipei, Dec. 31 (CNA) A business group and opposition parties blasted the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government Tuesday for pushing through an anti-infiltration bill earlier in the day which they fear could be used by the government to suppress those who hold different political views and hinder cross-strait exchanges.

Lee Cheng-hung (), president of the China-based Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland (ATIEM), told CNA that he found the passing of the bill "regrettable and disappointing."

The head of the largest Taiwanese business association in China said forcing the bill through the DPP-controlled legislature "blatantly disregards the opinion of the Taiwanese people."

Lee said the bill lacks concrete definitions of what constitutes an act of infiltration, meaning the authorities are free to decide whether the law has been broken based on their own interpretations.

This poses a threat to Taiwanese people, especially those who regularly conduct exchanges with Chinese counterparts, he said.

Lee called on the DPP government to act cautiously with the newly passed bill especially with upcoming presidential and legislative elections on Jan. 11 instead of using the law to impact the election results.

Lee's comments were made in response to the passage of the bill which criminalizes political activities backed by "hostile foreign forces," mainly referring to China.

The bill cleared its third reading around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after lawmakers conducted a clause-by-clause review of the 12-article act amid protests by opposition parties.

The main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) warned that the bill could be used by the DPP government to level unsubstantiated accusations against people, especially those who live in China.

In addition, forcing a bill that was only initiated a month ago through the legislature disregards the welfare of millions of Taiwanese business people and students. It could also impact regular exchanges with Chinese people, a KMT press release said.

A smaller opposition party, the People First Party (PFP), which has advocated against the bill's passage, said the DPP-initiated bill has become law before lawmakers had a chance to conduct a more detailed discussion of its content.

This led to a loosely written bill that means Taiwanese people could face prosecution simply because they live and work in China, said PFP spokeswoman and popular TV presenter Belle Yu ().

Yu further questioned whether the DPP government plans to use the new law to gain political advantage ahead of the Jan. 11 elections.

Defending the government's decision to push through the bill with minimal review, President Tsai Ing-wen () said Tuesday the bill is meant to deter individuals and organization from taking instructions from China to infiltrate Taiwan's politics and sabotaging the nation's democratic system.

She dismissed concerns expressed by the opposition parties that the bill could criminalize regular Taiwanese people as "groundless and unfounded."

As its name suggest, Tsai said the bill is meant to be "anti-infiltration" not "anti-exchange," she said, adding that Taiwanese people who study or do business in China will not be affected.

Meanwhile, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the nation's top policymaking body on China, said the judicial authorities will only punish criminal activities when they find solid proof after a rigorous fact-finding process and legal proceedings, though no mention was made as to the standards to be applied for the launch of an investigation.

The Executive Yuan also said the related authorities will draft follow-up measures for the anti-infiltration bill soon, to reinforce the government's ongoing efforts to safeguard the nation's democracy, without further elaboration.

According to the DPP, the bill complements existing law and is intended to prevent hostile forces from intervening in the nation's democratic political system or influencing national security through "infiltration sources."

"Infiltration sources" are defined in the bill as organizations or institutions affiliated with the government, political parties or other political groups of a foreign hostile force, and individuals dispatched by those entities.

A hostile force is defined as a country or group at war or in a military standoff with Taiwan that upholds the idea of jeopardizing Taiwan's sovereignty by non-peaceful means, which clearly refers to China, although MAC Minister Chen Ming-tong () said the bill applies to all foreign hostile forces.

It prohibits anyone from making political donations, influencing elections, proposing the recall of government officials, or launching a public referendum, at the instruction or with the financial support of an infiltration source.

It also prohibits lobbying on issues concerning national security, diplomacy and cross-strait affairs, at the instruction or with the financial support of an infiltration source.

The maximum penalty for such actions is five years in prison or a fine of NT$10 million (US$330,578), according to the bill, which will officially take effect after being promulgated by the president.

In related news, Taiwanese tycoon Terry Gou (), who has also voiced concern over the bill, pledged Tuesday that he will provide legal assistance to anyone who faces prosecution for allegedly violating the anti-infiltration bill in the future.

Also on Tuesday, Zhu Fenglian (), a spokeswoman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the passage of the bill is yet another example of the DPP's attempts to jeopardize cross-strait exchanges and create confrontation between China and Taiwan.

(By Chou Hui-ying, Wang Cheng-chung, Miao Zong-han, Wen Kuei-hsiang and Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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If you felt the need to take a swim in Lake Michigan in January, Wednesday turned out to be the perfect day for it.

Kenoshas traditional New Years Day Polar Plunge returned to Simmons Island Beach near the Beach House.

Its our first year back here in a long time, organizer Dan Vaccaro said.

He said the plunge was moved to the beach further north along the shoreline for several years because low lake levels and ice shelves near the Beach House made conditions there dangerous. With lake levels up and just a skim of ice along the sand, conditions were perfect for the return.

Its best when the air temperature is lower than the water temperature  then the water doesnt feel so cold, he said.

Just before swimmers hit the water, the temperature on the beach was 28.

The Scout Leaders Rescue Squad puts divers in the water and ropes to guide plungers to a specific area of the beach for safety. But other than that, the Polar Plunge is a do-it-yourself event. Theres no sign up, no fee, and Vaccaro never knows how many people will show up.

Sometimes its 10, sometimes its 200, he said.

Family dives in to honor patriarch

On Wednesday, about 21 members of the Jandrowski family took the plunge to honor patriarch Anthony Jandrowski of Kenosha, who died Dec. 30.

His daughter, Tricia Strash, said family had come in from as far as California and South Korea to help care for Anthony while he was ill in his final week.

We know he would think we are all crazy, Strash said, but six of Anthonys children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren ran into the lake at 11 a.m.

Were defying him, his granddaughter, Stacy Gilliland, said with a smile. But then again, maybe he would like it, she said, saying her grandfather had a running joke that when he got a drink of water from the tap he was having Lake Michigan Straight.

Taking the plunge

Shay Majors of Kenosha was doing his 11th Polar Plunge. I havent figured that out yet, he said when asked why he does it. Still, he convinced his younger brother, Duandre Majors, to come along for the first time this year.

Among the most colorful of the plungers was a man in Green Bay Packers gear, a cheesehead and holding a sign about the Rose Bowl.

Asked about his outfit, the man pulled a hand-written note from his pocket and handed it over. A formal statement, he said, that he had prepared in case the Kenosha News decided to show up and put this in the paper a year from now.

The note identified the man as Sonny Brewsbros, but honestly who knows. It spoke of New Years Resolutions, the Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers. He then pulled a second note from his pocket, this one written on a scrap of newspaper. This cake walk weather brings out the plunging riff raff, it stated. We seasoned hardcore plungers prefer to have the waves crashing down on us and snot icicles dripping from our noses and mustaches!

Seasoned plunger or not, when Sonny waded into the water in his shorts he didnt bother to take his coat off and never got much deeper than mid-thigh. So regardless of the temperature, snot icicles seemed unlikely.

Shay Majors, on the other hand, dove underwater and was the second-to-last plunger to come back to the beach, stopping to high-five divers on the way.

After this, Im going to go home, drink a beer and take a hot shower, Majors said.

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday postponed a trip to Ukraine, the country at the heart of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, after an attack on the American embassy in Iraq, the State Department announced. Pompeo had been due to travel at week's end to Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Cyprus. But on Tuesday, a mob of pro-Iran demonstrators stormed the US embassy in Baghdad over American airstrikes that killed two dozen paramilitary fighters. Pompeo's travel was pushed back "due to the need for the secretary to be in Washington, DC to continue monitoring the ongoing situation in Iraq and ensure the safety and security of Americans in the Middle East," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus announced. "Secretary Pompeo's trip will be rescheduled in the near future and he looks forward to the visit at that time," she added. The trip would have made Pompeo the most senior US official to visit Kiev since a scandal erupted in 2019 over a controversial phone call in which Trump allegedly tried to pressure his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to find dirt on Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. Pompeo, a staunch Trump defender, was set to meet with Zelensky and other top Ukrainian officials, Ortagus said Monday when the trip was first announced. But the following day, the embassy in Baghdad was besieged. Demonstrators finally left on Wednesday. No US personnel were injured in the attack and US officials said they had no plans to evacuate. Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress on December 18 and faces trial in the Senate, possibly later this month, though top Democratic and Republican lawmakers are still sparring over how it will be conducted. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will not travel to Ukraine after an attack on the US embassy in Baghdad
MANILA, Philippines  The Philippine National Police-Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) released on Wednesday (January 1) a record-breaking report on New Years Eve related incidents, as well as the arrests it conducted during the revelry.

The PNP recorded no deaths nor injuries due to stray bullets or due to illegal discharge of firearms.

It also recorded only one arrest in Region 3 when a civilian openly discharged a firearm.

In total, from Dec. 16, 2019 to Jan. 1, 2020, the PNP reported that it has made 21 arrests for illegal discharge of firearms.

This comprised of one arrest each in Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9; three each in Region 10, the NCR, and 2 each in Regions 4A, 5 and 11.

Two arrests were made by the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) which involved members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while the PRO11 arrested one police officer.

A total of seven was reported injured due to illegal discharge of firearms in the NCR (2) and the PROBAR (5).

Meanwhile, three incidents of stray bullets were recorded in the NCR (1) and PRO13 (2) during the said period. (with details from Harlene Delgado and Lea Ylagan) /mbmf

The post PNP releases record-breaking report of incidents, arrests in New Year revelry appeared first on UNTV News.
In a year in which the United States mounted an unprecedented effort to undermine Chinas largest telecommunications company, Huawei made sure it got the last word.

The firm announced Tuesday that its revenue surged 18 per cent to more than $120 billion in 2019 despite a ban on U.S. exports to the company starting in May.

Despite concerted efforts by the U.S. government to keep us down, weve made it out the other side and continue to create value for our customers, Eric Xu, one of Huaweis three rotating chairmen, said in a statement. These figures are lower than our initial projections, yet business remains solid and we stand strong in the face of adversity.

The New Years Eve message capped the toughest year yet for the telecommunications giant, which was pushed into the centre of the U.S.-China trade war.

In addition to being blacklisted for U.S. suppliers, the company was indicted in January by the U.S. Justice Department, accused of stealing American technology and violating trade sanctions against Iran. As a result, the companys chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, has been under house arrest in Vancouver, fighting extradition to the U.S. She is the daughter of Huaweis founder and chief executive, Ren Zhengfei.

Huawei fought back by suing the U.S. government and launching a public relations campaign. Still, the company has struggled to dispel fears it poses a national security threat to other nations because of its dominant position in manufacturing next-generation 5G mobile network equipment.

The companys murky past, which includes Rens tenure in the military, generous state support and evidence of spying and intellectual property theft has contributed to widespread distrust of Huawei among the U.S. and some of its allies.

The companys 5G business continues to grow, however, as Washington hasnt been able to persuade many other governments to follow the U.S. in banning the Chinese companys networks. Huaweis competitive prices and technology have given it a leg up on 5G competitors such as Europes Ericsson and Nokia.

Huawei is the worlds second-largest smartphone manufacturer, and sales of its handsets helped propel Huaweis 2019 revenue, Xu said.

Continued access to components needed to build those phones has been crucial.

Analysts said Huawei has survived by increasingly relying on its own chip manufacturer, HiSilicon. It also switched from U.S. suppliers to those in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea after it was blacklisted by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, American suppliers that produce their equipment overseas are still allowed to do business with Huawei. These factors together allowed Huawei to forge ahead, said Dan Wang, a technology analyst for research firm Gavekal.

Huawei has been successful in replacing components, Wang said. Its a big surprise to the U.S. government. Were in novel territory.

Where the company will struggle, analysts say, is in producing a viable alternative to Googles suite of apps, which are no longer permitted on Huaweis phones as a result of the blacklisting. While that wont hurt the companys China market, where Google is banned, it will affect its foreign markets, particularly Europe.

Huawei will have to persuade app developers  many who are cash-strapped because of the nature of their business to take a chance on Huaweis mobile ecosystem rather than a sure bet such as Google.

The software is crucial, Wang said. Its quite likely overseas smartphone sales will suffer.

Xu said in his statement that the company expected to remain blacklisted by the U.S. in 2020 and warned of slower growth.

The political and economic conditions will accelerate Huaweis bid to become more self-reliant, Ren told The Times in an interview last month.

Huaweis ability to overcome U.S. efforts this year highlights the complications of a so-called decoupling strategy by Washington and Beijing  disentangling the supply chains and relationships that hold the worlds two largest economies together.

Were on the cusp of a soft decoupling, said Paul Triolo, a Washington-based technology analyst with Eurasia Group, a consultancy. Right now its fairly easy to move supply chain around. It will be really damaging if the Chinese economy designs (alternatives to) U.S. technology. Huawei is an example. Its already designing U.S. tech. If this becomes the trend, the damage becomes irreversible.
The European Parliament sends a fleet of chauffeur-driven cars hundreds of miles every month... with hardly any passengers in them.

The convoy of 105 vehicles makes the 560-mile round trip from Brussels to the French city of Strasbourg, despite most MEPs choosing to fly or go by train.

This is so MEPs have a limo on standby should they wish to attend functions or go on trips around town.

Last month the EU passed a motion declaring a climate emergency in a bid to force its institutions to do more to tackle climate change.

A fleet of chauffeur-driven cars, sent by the European Parliament, drove hundreds of miles with hardly any passengers in them (file image). This comes one month after the EU passed a motion declaring a 'climate emergency'

But the disclosure renewed criticism of the so-called travelling circus, which sees around 4,000 Brussels officials and politicians decamp to Strasbourg for one week every month.

Brexit Party MEP Alexandra Phillips said: This shows that the EUs virtue signalling on tackling climate change is nothing more than hot air.

Its an absolute disgrace that hardworking British taxpayers are footing the bill for this extravagant nonsense. Brexit cant come soon enough.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP, leader of UK Conservative MEPs, said: This just underlines the total waste and extravagance in having two seats for the European Parliament.

British Conservatives have led the campaign against Strasbourg for years. Most MEPs are against it, but its in the EU Treaty and the French government blocks change.

Geoffrey Van Orden MEP (pictured at voting session during a plenary session at the European Parliament on December 17), leader of UK Conservative MEPs, says this 'underlines the total waste and extravagance in having two seats for the European Parliament'

Mercifully, on 31 January [when the UK is due to leave the EU], British MEPs will cease to be caught up in this.

Brussels already splashes tens of millions of pounds of European taxpayers cash every year on chartering special trains for the hundreds of MEPs and their staff to travel to Strasbourg.

The decision to host a second seat for the parliament was dreamt up to appease France and was enshrined in the EU treaties.

MEPs (pictured, united countries represented in flags) also enjoy grace-and-favour perks of a 90,000 annual salary and 3,900-a-month expenses, which they do not have to provide receipts for and last year voted to keep secret

It involves 2,500 boxes of material being moved from MEPs offices in Brussels to the French city, where they stay in hotels and dine out courtesy of the taxpayer. The arrangement is thought to cost more than 100 million a year.

Last night a European Parliament spokesman defended its convoy of cars being sent every month.

They claimed it was sound financial management because it would be cheaper than having a fleet which stays in Strasbourg.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, left, speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, center, and European Council President Ursula von der Leyen, second right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels on December 13

They said 15 of the 120-strong fleet are fully electric and only 105 can make it to Strasbourg. They are believed to be mostly hybrid and petrol cars.

In November, just 25 MEPs went to the full plenary session in Strasbourg by car, meaning the vast majority of vehicles make the journey to Strasbourg with no passengers.

MEPs have access to the chauffeur-driven fleet in Brussels and Strasbourg at a moments notice, by simply catching a lift down into the parliaments basement where they are on standby. They simply flash their badge and tell the chauffeur their destination before being driven there for free.

The European Parliament in session in Strasbourg. Mr Farage has been an MEP for two decades

MEPs also enjoy grace-and-favour perks of a 90,000 annual salary and 3,900-a-month expenses, which they do not have to provide receipts for and last year voted to keep secret.

They can claim an additional 300 (255) a day for turning up to the debating chamber.

Any change to hold hearings in Brussels-only would require a unanimous decision by the European Council at a summit of the blocs 28 leaders, soon to be 27 after Britain leaves on January 31.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 1/1/2020 (740 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Accidents happen.

That's something Bob Rae advises all federal political parties to keep in mind as they enter a new era of minority government.

The former interim Liberal leader knows a thing or two about minority governments. As a New Democrat MP, he moved the motion that brought down Joe Clark's fleeting Conservative government in 1979.

As NDP leader in Ontario, he struck the 1985 deal that ended the Progressive Conservatives' 42-year reign in that province and installed David Peterson's Liberal minority government.

And, back in the federal arena as a Liberal MP during Stephen Harper's second Conservative minority government from 2008 to 2011, he was involved in the Liberals' unsuccessful attempt to form a coalition government with the NDP.

So, Rae speaks from experience when he expresses skepticism about the conventional wisdom that Justin Trudeau's Liberals won a strong, stable minority in the Oct. 21 election  13 seats shy of a majority  and should have little difficulty surviving, with the help of one or more opposition parties, for at least a couple of years.

"The one thing that can and has gone wrong (in past minority governments) is what I would call the unintended consequences of rhetoric or people assuming what other people know or assuming ... 'Well, if we do this, they will inevitably do that,' " he says in an interview.

"And you sort of say none of that is inevitable and you've got to be aware that things can go wrong."

With the Conservatives about to embark on a leadership race after Andrew Scheer's abrupt resignation, Rae is reasonably confident that the Liberal minority is in no danger of being brought down in the short term, at least not until the official Opposition chooses a new leader.

But even a leaderless Opposition is no guarantee of survival  as Clark discovered when the Liberals joined the NDP to defeat his government's maiden budget despite the fact that Pierre Trudeau, the current prime minister's late father, had stepped down as Grit leader. The Conservatives miscalculated the number of opposition MPs who'd show up, lost the confidence vote and plunged the country into an election they thought they could win because the Liberals were in disarray.

As it turned out, Pierre Trudeau was persuaded to rescind his resignation and led the Liberals to victory in early 1980.

The lessons from that episode are "learn arithmetic" and take nothing for granted, says Rae.

During the few days that Parliament has sat since the election, conventional wisdom about the stability of Justin Trudeau's minority seemed justified.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet cut through the usual posturing and suspense to immediately declare that his 31 MPs would support the throne speech. He was clear that he has little interest in triggering another election any time soon.

That freed NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose cash-strapped party could ill afford a snap election, to take a harder line. He declared that his 23 MPs won't "blindly support" initiatives that don't meet New Democrat standards.

Still, both the NDP and the Bloc ultimately supported the supplementary estimates, the process for keeping the money flowing for government programs and operations  the Liberals' first test of the confidence of the House of Commons.

But Rae cautions that one should not assume the Bloc will always be so compliant. And he warns that Singh should be careful about laying down conditions for NDP support lest he back himself into a rhetorical corner.

"If the Bloc thinks they can win a whole bunch more seats in Quebec, which is all they're interested in ... they might decide to change their mind," he says.

"And sometimes when those things happen they can happen so quickly that other parties might not have time to react or their rhetoric has put them in a position that they can't really back away without losing face."

For Trudeau, Rae says the key will be to open trusted channels of communication with the opposition parties to anticipate what they might do and prevent surprises.

It will be equally critical, he says, to ensure open lines with ministers and Liberal backbenchers, to create an "early warning system" that will alert the government to any brewing internal problems before they erupt in public, like the SNC-Lavalin debacle.

Anything that erodes public support for the Liberals, he noted, will encourage opposition parties to bring them down.

That goes double if the country slides into a recession, compromising Liberal policy of running up deficits supported by a growing economy, and leaving the government with less room to honour its election commitments, much less the expensive add-ons opposition parties might demand in return for supporting the budget.

But even assuming the government manages to sail through confidence votes and avoid self-inflicted wounds and unpredictable crises, House of Commons committees will offer opposition parties another venue in which to create mayhem for the government.

It's at committees, with opposition members outnumbering the Liberals, where they can set the agenda, force amendments to government bills and generally let loose without fear of triggering an election.

Trudeau got a taste of that in the opening few days of the new Parliament, when all opposition MPs backed a Conservative motion to create a special committee to examine Canada's fraught relationship with China. The committee is to be empowered to repeatedly "order" Trudeau, ministers and the ambassador to China to appear as witnesses.

Conservative foreign-affairs critic Erin O'Toole has already signalled his party's intention to use the committee to bolster its contention that Trudeau is an embarrassment on the world stage.

The trick for Trudeau in the coming months, says Rae, will be to keep his eye on the "big picture," on what he wants to accomplish, to remain calm in the face of provocation and let opposition parties get "ensnared in negativity and scandal-mongering."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 1, 2020.
Dublin, Dec. 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "US-China Trade War Impact on Cross-strait Relations: From an IT Industry Perspective" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.





To keep his campaign promise, Trump signed an executive memorandum to impose higher tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the United States in March 2018, involving large amounts and plenty of goods. Since then, the trade fight between China and the US has started and become intense over the years. This not only affects the global IT industry supply chain but also has its toll on the Taiwan-China relations which have been on tenterhooks since 2016.



This report outlines key issues resulting from the trade fight and their consequences for both China and Taiwan in the IT sector, examines their relations from cooperative and competitive aspects, assesses their opportunities in the context of China-US tradefight, and provides recommendations for next steps.

Key topics covered:



Current key issues arising from China-US trade war, touching on consequences for China

Key emerging IT industry sectors in China

Analysis of Taiwan-China relations from both cooperative and competitive aspects

Assessment of cross-strait opportunities and recommendations for next steps

Companies Mentioned



AMD

AOS

CECEP Lattice Lighting

ChangXin Memory Technologies

GlobalFoundries

Guo Gao MEMS

Hai Kwang

Hanking Industrial Group

Hikvision

HiWafer (Chengdu)

Huali Microelectronics (Shanghai)

Huawei

Intel

JHICC

Micro Sensor

NVidia

CanSemi

Seagate

SiEn (Qingdao)

Silan Microelectronics (Hangzhou)

Silex Microsystems AB

Sino King

SK Hynix

SMIC

Sugon

Tacoma

Tsinghua Unigroup

TSMC

UMC

XMC

Yandong Microelectronics (Beijing)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hqdt73

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It's the end of a decade and in San Francisco the end of something special.

San Francisco's "Beach Blanket Babylon," a wonderfully campy show known for its outrageously inordinate hats and silly spoofs, is closing the curtains after two final performances on Tuesday night.
Duom Deng Biar is part of a farmers group in Twic East in Jonglei, South Sudan, where a poor harvest has led to widespread hunger. If I feel hungry, it is okay, but the children should not, said Duom. We are feeling hungry. What we have cultivated, we have finished, she said. The family tried to get a second harvest, but the lack of rain meant that the seeds dried off. I have a lot of challenges. One son is still in school, and I have to sell our chickens, so that I can pay the school fees, she said.

Cape Town  Zimbabwe, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central Sahel region dominate the demand for food aid as the world enters 2020, says the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

In an analysis published on New Year's Day, the WFP says millions of people will need help in the coming months.

"The sheer scale and complexity of the challenges in Africa and other regions will stretch the resources and capacity of WFP and other agencies to the limit," the agency adds. Around the world, the analysis points to conflict, instability and economic collapse as combining with climate shocks to contribute to food shortages.

The analysis highlights the crisis in Zimbabwe, where it says "amidst an imploding economy, the situation... is increasingly precarious as the country enters the peak of its 'lean season' when food is at its most scarce and the number of hungry people has reached its highest point in a decade." The WFP plans to provide aid to more than four million Zimbabweans.

Read the WFP's global analysis [PDF]: WFP Global Hotspots 2020